A
braham gasped for air. His wide eyes beheld the Time Tunnel. Otis and Haymaker were on either side of him. He’d been strapped to the gurney again. Ottum stood beside him with a needle in her hand.
She tossed the needle into a waste bin. “How do you feel?” she asked.
“Like punching you in the face.” He was upright and positioned behind the five computer stands. Dr. Jack, Eugene Drisk, and Colonel Dexter stood behind the center station with triumphant smiles on their faces. “And them.”
“This isn’t something that you need get upset about. It is a glorious day. The tunnel is working, and I can go back home.”
“What do you mean, it’s working?”
“See for yourself.” She turned him away from the computer and directly toward the Time Tunnel.
He could see Big Apple, Fleece, and Lord Hawk talking amongst themselves on the other side. Lord Hawk pointed at the fiery gemstones from the Crown of Stones mounted in the ring. They were placed in order at the one, three, five, seven, nine, and eleven o’clock positions. A chronic hum came from the Time Tunnel, almost as loud as the diesel generators.
“It works?”
“No one has passed through it yet, but in theory, according to your experts, yes,” she said. She petted his face. “It’s a shame that you picked the wrong side to be on. But don’t feel bad. Ruger did too.”
Dr. Jack and Colonel Dexter broke out in laughter. Eugene Drisk had a gleeful look on his face.
Jack turned and looked at Abraham. “Bring him over. He needs to see this.”
The orderlies wheeled him over to the central computer station.
“This is Abraham, isn’t it?” Jack asked.
Brushing Abraham’s hair out of his eyes, Ottum said, “Yes, it’s him.”
“Yeah, it’s me, jerk. I’m surprised you didn’t know that.”
“I’ve been busy.” Jack pointed at the screens. “Look at what we have here.” He chuckled.
The images were moving on the screens. The images showed aerial views of the canyon leading up to the tunnel on some screens, while Abraham could see soldiers standing on the rocky ledges on the other monitors. They were the same ones attacking the Henchmen. The second screen showed what appeared to be a chopper chasing after the Fenix. Ripped-off flesh and blood dripped from Simon’s body. The third screen showed a dusty scene of the Henchmen, including Ruger Slade, half buried in rubble. Abraham’s stomach turned into knots.
“Those are drones,” Jack said. “I don’t know why we didn’t think of it earlier.”
“I thought of it,” the older Eugene Drisk said. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. I thought of everything. And thanks to the retrieval of the Crown of Stones, not only will we be able to move back and forth in our own bodies, but we can use the smaller door to soul swap as well. Two men enter at the same time and swap. Just as easy as Freaky Friday
.”
“Why would you want to do that?” Abraham asked with an incredulous look.
Eugene tossed his head back. “Ha! You of all people should know why after being in Ruger Slade’s body. Oh, how I can’t wait to take it back.” He studied the monitor. “I hope the last round of fire didn’t damage him too bad.”
Jack flipped his hands out and said, “There you have it. A new world awaits. And we have it all under control.”
“We who?”
Jack pointed at Big Apple’s trio. “The Sect, the Shell, the Corporation, or Drakeland. Does it really matter at this point? We won. We are the conquerors of a bold new world.”
Abraham laughed. “Be careful what you wish for. Titanuus is full of surprises.”
“I think we’ve seen them all,” Jack said.
“So what do you need me for?”
“Funny you should ask. Quite possibly, we don’t, but you make for an excellent test subject,” Jack said. “You know, with your special connection to Ruger. After all, you are the one that led us to all of this. If it wasn’t for you, we never would have realized the potential to swap our essence from one body to the other.” He looked at Colonel Dexter. “We need to fetch Ruger. Bring him here.”
“My pleasure,” the deep-voiced Colonel Dexter said. He gave Abraham a cocky look. “It’s going to be fun catching up with Mandi.”
“Look at this!” Eugene pointed at the screen. Simon huddled in the rocks with his wings shielding his back. The chopper’s gunfire was tearing him to pieces. “And to think that flying rodent had me worried. It looks like their doom is sealed.” He motioned toward the Time Tunnel. “Come on, everything is in order. Titanuus awaits.”
With nothing but the Time Tunnel ring between them, the two groups on either side faced off. Ottum stepped forward and stood right beside the tracks leading inside. “I would like to go first.” She lifted her narrow shoulders. “I really don’t have anything to lose.”
“Be my guest,” Dr. Jack said.
“Red rover, red rover, let the zillon babe come on over,” Big Apple said as he blew a smoke ring from his side to the other side. “He clapped his stubby hands. “Come on, now.”
Ottum hopped from one side to the other. She swooned, started to fall, bounced up, and showed a big smile.
Jack clapped his hands. “Hot dog! We’ve got it mastered.”
Abraham dipped his chin to his chest. This can’t be happening. What happened to Smoke and Sid? Are they captured? Somebody has to stop these madmen! I have to do something!
Behind Fleece, Luther and King Hector were lying on separate gurneys. The crown looked as though it had been ripped off King Hector’s head. A sick feeling formed in the pit of Abraham’s stomach. Somebody needs to pay for this!
“Dr. Jack!” a scientist said from behind the central computer station. She pointed at the monitors. “You should come and see this.”
A wellspring of hope built up inside Abraham as Jack hustled over to the station.
Jack’s eyebrows lifted. He put a cigar in his mouth and lit it. “Well, will you look at that? It appears Ruger Slade has surrendered.”
