The Time Stone, Third Edition (Extended Version)
Chapter 76

On board the Gorge Hunter, the five were back adrift on the seas glad to be leaving the island. Cutlass stands on the mast and barked orders to his crew as they made their way back to the mainland.

“What a quest that was” thought James overlooking the crashing waves on the bow of the ship.

“I still don’t get how we remember those kids like Jose, but they don’t remember us. Time looping is serious business.”

“Well, best way I know how to look at is … don’t” says Drax.

“You will just drive yourself crazy.”

“Yeah” says Mercedes. “We can’t be complete harbingers of all strange things we encounter.”

“Speak for yourself” says Tina laughingly.

“The ROBP beings in the obelisk were also part of the loop just like the kids. They’re destined to revisit the disaster over and over again with no apparent end in sight, never being able to move forward, and never recognizing their dilemma, truly a forbidden land that time never forgot” Mercedes says.

“Yeah” says Tina as the four grieved in silence for a moment. “So we got the Dark Star. That is an awesome victory.” Tina continues. “What we do now is get it back to those who could use it to save their world from annihilation. We did a good thing.”

“Yeah, we could inadvertently shift the balance of power in the world” says Drax. “Is that the right thing to do ethically?”

“Well, hell yeah” says Tina.

“We can’t let people be slaughtered like animals. Genocide is wrong no matter who does it.” Mercedes says.

“Exactly my point” says Drax.

They stand in sudden silence.

“Defenses Up” yells Cutlass from his post high in the masthead.

“What the heck?” James asks.

“There is another ship approaching, the battle legions,” says Yulelka running up the deck alarming the gunners who were preparing their cannons for launch. She yells up “the projectiles are armed, Captain and the defenses are raised” as the metallic hatches of the side of the ship flared up like wings of an eagle. The Gorge Hunter rounded about and approached its nemesis like a demon flaring after its adversary in battle. The battle legions’ ship approached like a stingray above water hovering rapidly near death.

“Fire” yells Cutlass waving his new replacement sword. “The winds are on our backs and time and fate are on our sides!” The Gorge Hunter repaired and ready after its last confrontation was like a glider along the ocean towards the battle legions ship and the two armed furiously fired their energy weapons simultaneously striking one another, the orange shields of light on the battle legions ship glistened as the Gorge Hunter suffered damage to its hull and crew as people were unprepared, and flung themselves and their items in midair upward and out into their watery graves.

“James we got to do something” says Tina.

“We should try the time stone again” says Drax.

“Maybe the dark star can help” says Tina. She held the object and focused it outward, but nothing happened.

“Let me see” says James. He grabbed and held out the black piece of metal glistening in the sun strangely and curiously as if not of this world, upon James’ focus, the sword emitted a powerful spiking immensely hot white beam of energy and he projected it towards the battle legions’ ship sending the energy beam towards it and piercing the orange shield of energy and neutralizing it and causing the beam to tear apart the very fabric of the hull and crew vaporizing it in an instant as the Gorge Hunter passed through the spot where the battle legion ship stood on the open waters, and the Gorge Hunter continued on its way full speed ahead towards mainland. “Yes!” yells Cutlass.

“Yeah!” yell the four as they pump their fists in the air and cheered on the happy crew in the successful testing of their new weapon.

“It is truly invincible” says James as the Gorge Hunter slid across the water like a figure skater on ice, as it made its way towards its destination, the mainland of Chronix Bay. “Indestructible.”

“What happened?” asks Tina. “I thought our Scorpion car could do the same thing.”

“It is not as strong a frequency” replies Drax. “The Dark Star is truly the innovation of an advanced civilization. James’ hand didn’t even burn off. I think it’s somehow connected to the holder power as James was able to use it and you weren’t so maybe they created it for him meaning he is destined to replace it.”

“That is truly bizarre” adds Tina.

“You’re telling me” says Drax.

“Just glad we were able to be successful here” says Mercedes.

“Yes for now” cautioned James.

“The armies are fast approaching from the north!” screamed Alana, as she led a group out of the encampment. “We have to lay low to take them by surprise. It may not be our best strategy and it’s a long shot, but it’s all we got.”

“What about the travelers we sent out to replace the weapon?” asks one of the troops, dressed in a long armor and weapon attachments.

“It’s been a week and we haven’t heard back. I think it’s safe to say they failed. We have to do what we have to do to survive.” She replies. “Get the barrier guard ready.” She barked orders as the men started around a wooden cart with several catapults and cannons of energy waiting for fueling. They prepared to take action to fire them when ordered. Daryl and his party came out armed and ready with their laser rifles and flash grenades ready for the onslaught.

“We received word on the intercom that another URO army is heading our way from the south.” he yells walking fast.

“Great, the Oligarch must feel lucky today.” She responds. “Too bad our jumper friends couldn’t replace the dark star.”

“I guess it’s left to the stuff of legends” says Daryl jokingly then looking up as a blur of light flashed on the horizon and a single jet stream approached. “What’s that?” asks Daryl. The lights began to decelerate and appear as a red vehicle hovering in midair with its front joints expanded and scorpion-like tail soaring high made of silver and lit up like an ornamental rocket.

“Oh my God” screams Alana as she recognize the occupants. “It’s them. They have returned.”

“Great Caesars Ghost” screams Daryl as he and his men ran over to the field where the vehicle is slowly landing. “You made it” he yells.

“We made it” yells James hopping out as the car struck the dark terrain.

“And we got the dark star” says Tina as they all piled out of the car.

“Amazing” says Alana as her eyes lit up.

“No sweat” says Tina.

“Just in time… look” Alana pointed as they saw an immense fighting force approaching over the hillside near the citadel. There, stretching for miles is a line of beasts armored and suited ready for bloodletting and carnage. They roar and march forth waving their scythes, as the citadel loomed overhead beckoning their call and stride. The balcony below the main pinnacle at the apex of the citadel beheld three figures who stands overlooking the destruction about to unfold in proud achievement, three figureheads ruling the Oligarchy Brigade Guardians from the view of the public, each with their traditional religious headgear, garbs, and outfits embodying the main focus of a series of ancient orders, knowing they were protected from harm by their invincible energy barriers. They turn to one another and smile as they look forward then and held their right hands up each with a relic of historical meaning in their sacred orders.

With that General Stormy gave the word to his Lieutenants who commanded the front lines with pride, “today we strike to take back our lands and our hopes in the name of the powers that our forefathers gave their lives for. Today we strike a blow against the rebel forces once and for all and annihilate the last vestiges of intolerance to our way of life. Ready the Scythes!” The roar from the crowd of beasts emanated into the air to be heard from miles away in the rebel encampment, and the groups of villagers and poor farmers were prepared with their amateur gear and weapons, swords from plowshares, and iron-clad laser rifles.

“We are prepared to die today, but we will fight to our last breath.” says Daryl proudly.

“We got our people ready to hold down the ground forces,” Says Alana, “but we could use some help from above.”

“That is why we are here. Let’s do this” says Drax. With that they smile to one another and the four entered their vehicle and flew off into the night. The old priest stands nearby and smiles, “may God be on their foot heels.” Alana and Daryl look at one another with a more reassured sense of confidence as their hopes were increased by their renewed assistance. They held hands as they marched forward, beckoning to their own lieutenants to prepare their respective groups for the move forward.

“Fire on our mark,” she yells as they moved on. The armies of man versus beast marched toward one another appearing to meet halfway down the line of scrimmage in the midst of the dark terrain. They marched for yards when suddenly General Stormy acknowledged to his men “like the days of old, we run when we smell fresh blood,” he opens his mouth revealing a pair of sharp fangs and wide bloodshot red eyes menacing as with his comrades who appeared like men, but who have the bloodline and hunger of the beasts they commanded. “Run when you see the whites of their eyes men,” says Daryl. With that the small armies of farmers and peasants began to run towards their foe with rage and anger in their eyes and fury in their hearts. The beast armies ran forth shaking their scythes in midair. The rebels fired their laser rifles as they ran striking their foes. Many of the beasts threw their scythes and a few struck their prey in the chests impaling them to the ground. Other beasts approached and fired energy pellets from their tripod scythe blasters. The remaining quarries ran forth towards one another and struck their targets with all the frustration of their minds and emotions.