Far Pangaea 80 : Frankly Avalon

Glaring about it sounded like a guitar but not quite, "A lute I think. I hear the sounds of wood creaking too. Something moving over that hill. Kubrick? Go check it out." In response both orbs uncertain who was whom nor even cared. They were merely automatons after all, flew off and did a recon. It was safer this way. Not knowing what might be around the next corner.

The barking increased the second the drones slipped out of view. Returning just as quickly the drones zipped toward James leveling out for a shared report. Between the two orbs a link was established. As if a tiny TV monitor in the air. Hard to see in the sun until Moe stood up behind it with brightened gaze. His dark fur the perfect backdrop for James to see a wagon pulled by a single horse on the road just over the hill. Driven by a man that James chuckled, "Whoa! It's young Gandolf."

Racing over the hill in chase of the drones halted a familiar sight. There he stood. Sniffing the air for recognition.

"XANDER!" James raced toward his dog. The German Shepard greedy to reach his true Master after all this time. The reunion a messy one at best. The dog's excessive licks drowning the laughing young man in saliva.

"It's good to see you Master. I knew you would find me." Xander's microchip invading access to James inner telepathic link. Standing on top of James Xander looks up and tilts his head seeing Moe, "Master? Who is other Master?"

"Xander this is Moe. A past version of Me."

"That explain other Master then."

"Other Master? That must mean..."

"Salutations Young Man. I see my traveling companion has made a new friend. Two perhaps. A shave and grooming he surely needs."

James sits up to see the Man who had been driving his wagon joining them. Jaw dropped James nudges Xander aside. Released, the dog darts over to Moe and sniffs at him with a whine. James heard the dog say, "You smell bad. Wet fur like Xander."

Grinning James was more intrigued by the man before them, "Are you...Merlin?"

"One of many names I possess. Aye! Who might you be?"

"Hi. My name is James Ian Pryce. My friend there is Moe. You made friends with my dog I see."

"Thy dog? Ye must have been searching high and low for him. Lost he was. He has been a worthy traveling companion indeed. Did you know he talks?"

"Yeah, I trained him to talk. Thanks for keeping him safe. Wow! I'm really talking to Merlin. Ummm! I know this might sound strange but...well, you are Me. I mean I am you. In a later life. My magic is science. You met my Mom recently. A woman with long red hair. Very beautiful."

Merlin looks puzzled, "Nay my friend. I have met no young Damsels in quite some time. I have been away from the world of man to further my studies." He fidgets with a skeptical expression, "You are Me you say. How be that? We look nothing alike."

"I know. My friend Moe there is also Me. He was born millions of years ago. I was born millions of years in the future. As you can see my clothing looks nothing like yours. My flying friends Kubrick and Scorsese are from the future as well." James takes a breath from his ramble, "I know it must be hard to believe but it is true."

"I see. Forgive me Lad. I must go. The King awaits. I have been summoned."

"King?" James bulges his eyes and swallows dryly, "As in King Arthur?"

"Arthur you say? I am afraid I know no Arthur. The good King Uther. Uther Pendragon."

"Whoa! I think that was Arthur's Dad. Ummm? Where exactly are we?"

"Why Avalon of course. Good day to ye Young Squire. Care long for thy pet."

"Right. Thanks. Wait!" James realizes something, "My Mom must have met your older self. Hi-Brasil."

"A mythical land I am afraid. Upon the distant sea. A place known only for it's ghostly appearance. I have indeed traveled there and studied long. How do thee know of such a place hidden from mortal eyes?"

"I know a lot of things. Like King Arthur is the son of Uther. He will grow to be a great King. Who will wield a mighty sword called Excalibur. As a boy he will pull the sword from a stone when nobody else can."

"Fairy tales Young Lad. The King and Queen are expecting as we speak. I journey to the castle to christen the child upon birth. As before good day Young Lad."

"Awww, Maaan! That means the Knights of the Round Table don't exist yet. Nor Morgan Le Fey. Or her sisters. Way early."

Merlin pauses and turns, his staff firmly on the ground. With a crease in his brow he studies the boys, "Le Fey I hear from thy lips. How be it ye know the name?"

"Well, I read it. Books in my time. History books. I don't think it's ever been proven that even you exist. Although I know because like I said, you're Me in a past life. Morgana Le Fey is the half-sister of Arthur Pendragon. Legends I'm sure were not accurate. I can really only relate what I read. I know Morgana Le Fey tried to kill Arthur many times. Never succeeding. At least that's what Thomas Mallory wrote. I'm sure he didn't know the truth either. Books get written about legends and myth all the time. Just check out the Bible."

"Bible ye say? Art thee a demon here to sway my journey? A talking dog to slow me down until thee could escape from Hell?"

"That would be a no. I'm just a boy."

"With strangely evil eyes."

James had forgotten about his Mercurio altered look, "Oh these. I didn't use to look like this. A few days...well a billion years ago I got dipped in a grotto. By a crazy old man. He tried to kill me. Well, he did kill my older self...yeesh I know how this sounds...look Merlin I'm not evil I swear."

Moe peps up not helping, "Moe see God." He offers a cheesy grin.

"Blasphemy! None may envision the face of God." Merlin riles up. A blue mist rising from the ground around him. The reaction made James put his hands up in front of him defensively.

"WAIT!" James panics. Merlin suddenly ceasing his spell in preparation.

"Thy lips did not move. Ye speak within my thoughts. How be ye able to do that which I may do?"

Stunned James lowers his hands and stands erect, "I'm a telepath. All of us are. Even Moe there but he just hasn't figured out how to do it yet. I wondered if you could read minds. Cool." Then, it dawns on James, Ruby had said nothing of her encounter with Merlin nor noting any usage of telepathy. Only that he was able to transform into rabbits. Something that bothered him in her relating the story. He had never imagined Merlin to be a morph. He himself did not have that ability. Yet, magic was involved. Merlin of the highest order of Sorcerers. Anything was possible.

"Can you turn into animals?"

"Animals ye say?"

"Yeah. My Mom said that you turned into rabbits when she met you. Of course that was on Hi-Brasil. I know the island has rabbits. Lots of them."

"Indeed. Overrun the isle be. Not even I have dared to attempt a spell so vile. Fearful of being trapped in such a form."

"Sooo! Did my Mom meet your older self or someone else?" James looked pale, "Merlin? Did anyone else live on Hi-Brasil besides you and the rabbits?"

"The isle comes and goes I fear. Others caught upon it for too long are trapped. Until it reappears."

"You say Arthur hasn't been born yet. Yet, you know of Morgana Le Fey who most likely also hasn't been born yet. How is that possible?"

"Arthur you contend. Yet, the Royal Family are expecting a girl. It has been foreseen."

"Foreseen by who?"

"The Pictish Oracle Helena. Written years ago. The blind Enchantress. She who vanished by stepping into the purple light. She who trained me."

"Doesn't ring a bell."

"Why would a bell be rung? Ye are a strange Lad indeed."

"A saying where I come from. Sorry. So, Morgana is alive now. How old is she?"

"A grown woman. Banished by the King for her treachery."

"Maybe Mallory got his story twisted. Okay, so where is Morgana now?"

"Unseen for over a year. In hiding I fear. Plotting."

"Man, I just don't get it. How can she be born before Arthur? I mean if Arthur isn't even in the oven. So weird."

"King Uther be the half brother of Morgana."

"Did you disguise Uther as his enemy Gorlois to let him sleep with Lady Igraine?"

"Who might Gorlois and Igraine be?"

"Yeah Mallory was waaaaay off. So Uther is actually Arthur. He never actually married Igraine if she never truly existed. So, where did the sword in the stone come into being?"

"Ye know of the sword?"

"Excalibur. Yea?"

"The one on yonder hill?" Merlin points in the distance. James turning to look around. Where had Moe and Xander gone? Following the Magician's hand James discovers a legend. A misconceived one at that. Certainly a sword in a stone. A very rusty sword.

"That's Excalibur?" The boy gulps.

"Aye. Of a name. Of many names. None may pull it from the stone. Until the day Uther passes."

"Why doesn't King Uther possess the sword?" If he was really the Arthur of legend with a mistaken identity. James was so confused.

"The King planted the sword with my assist. Magic holds it bound until his future heir becomes old enough to rule. A son has yet to be born."

"Right. Only a King can wield the sword. So, if Uther is having a baby girl that rules her out. Man, if I ever meet Thomas Mallory I'm gonna give him a wedgy."

"Wedgy?" Merlin shakes his head. So many words he did not understand. Shrugging Merlin turns away, "I must go. Fair thee well Young James of Ianpryce. Where might that be?"

"Long ways off. We need to get home. Give the Royal Family my best wishes."

"As ye offer, it shall be."

While Merlin fades down the hill toward his horse and wagon James begins his trek up to join Moe and Xander. It was then he noticed Moe reach for the swords hilt. Stopping in his tracks he observes the primitive man pull the sword from the stone. Eyes bulging James turns to make certain Merlin was gone.

"PUT THAT BACK!" James yells racing up to snatch the sword from his grasp. Within the hand of James Ian the rust crumbles away and returns to its former glory. In all of the confusion and awe of meeting Merlin and getting Xander back he had forgotten the music he had heard earlier. From the edge of the woods in the distance a loud voice calls out.

"THE SWORD HAS BEEN REMOVED. A NEW KING HAS RISEN."

James looks at Moe who ignored the voice to see his reflection, the primitive mumbling barely audible and pointing at the blade, "Face of God." James Ian tries to replant the sword. The stone would not reclaim it.

"Oh, shit. Mom is going to kill me."

More watchers from the tree line file out to greet the boys. Dozens to be precise. There was no where to hide. In minutes the boys were surrounded. The jubilation hard to resist. This pocket dimensional vacation was going down hill fast. Being uphill that meant they were on a roll.

A lone rabbit rears up on its hind legs to watch them. The orb drones Kubrick and Scorsese gravitate over the rabbit. Going unseen by the locals. As if powerless the drones drop to the ground and roll away lifelessly. The rabbit bolts into the woods and disappears.

Pangaea.

Colonel Ruby Goddard sprawled out on a table in the X'Orr. Nude, as the Ganthorian scientist and banished Royal, Harpea prepares to examine her. Like any true sonogram an ointment is carefully spread over the Mother's belly. It was warm and soothing. So relaxing she felt like going to sleep. The more Harpea glazed her with the ointment the stranger she felt. Eyes locking onto one another Ruby sighs, "Are you trying to put me to sleep?"

"Of course not. I merely want to make the fetuses feel at ease for what I intend to do."

"What do you intend to do?"

"Why abort your children. That is what you wanted."

"Abort? What? Noooooo! I--" Ruby Goddard leaps up from the table sitting in a ball of sweat. Peering around her she realizes that she was all alone. Fully dressed. In her mind she felt violated but knew that was not the case. She had simply fallen asleep while waiting on Harpea to return. The Science Officer making her rounds to observe any repairs to the X'Orr before devoting her time to Ruby. Fanning herself the Colonel decides to get up and stretch. Unsettled she considered that her dream might be an omen. The alliance with the Ganthorians could still all be a ruse. The dream could easily happen in reality if she let her guard down. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. How many times had she heard about alien abduction and their probing. This could be one of those scenarios.

"Get it together Goddard." She puffs her cheeks and caresses her belly, "Sorry guys. Jitters. Everyone alright in there?" She needed comforted that she wasn't crazy. In response her tummy glows with two letters, "Y and A". A tender smile she felt better. That is until her stomach added another array of letters. This time JA then MES followed by GO and NE.

"James gone? What? Where?" Ruby looks terrified suddenly. In her thoughts she calls out, "James? I know you can hear me. Where are you right now?" Nothing. No reply. As Harpea enters her room Ruby leaps from the table shoving past her, "Exam has to wait. James is gone. Have your people do a search of the X'Orr. I'll run over to the Hilton and look for him." She halts for a moment to look back at Harpea, "Call him with your telepathy. Please. Just in case he can't hear me."

"Calm yourself Colonel . I shall make the effort." She seals her eyelids and sends out her best attempt at tracking him, "I find only thought residues. Facing a wall aboard the X'Hal. He and the monkey man."

"Wall?" Ruby grows pale, "Oh crap." Racing out she dodges Ganthorians with Harpea hot on her heels. Running down the ramp she notes the return of Greta Winston and the Roman Centurion, Antonaeus Gaicazar. Greeting them would have to wait. Standing in shock the couple stare at one another before following. Greta heading inside while Gaicazar as ever remained outside. He would check the perimeter. For nothing in particular. Having noticed the Away team flying off on three Technorides.

Inside Ruby and Harpea rounded a corner until they reach the armory. Slowing up they walk over to the very same spot Ruby had entered the walls dimensional rupture. Touching the wall Ruby felt nothing but solid metal. Harpea had no idea what was going on.

"It was right here."

"Yes. The residue remains. Somehow they went through this wall. Yet, I know the designs of all Ganthorian vessels. There is nothing beyond this section."

"You're wrong. I went into another dimension through this very same spot. The same way I somehow re-entered this dimension through a similar wall on the X'Orr when we were underground. How do you think I just showed up there?"

"I see. A pocket well disguised. One moment please." Harpea removes a tiny device from her utility belt. An analyzer that allows her to recreate the images of James Ian and Moe before stepping through the wall. It was there they noticed the rabbit as well. And the two drones that followed the boys in through the rabbit hole.

"Oh my God! How do we get them out of there?" Ruby frets.

"Remain calm. I am locating the dimensional frequency. If there is a portal it must reopen from time to time. If not visible to our eyes."

"You can open it?"

"Perhaps. Be warned that too long beyond any doorway such as this would trap you forever."

"How long do we have to rescue the boys?"

"I do not know. They have been gone for roughly thirty minutes. Perhaps two hours. Within Time is quite different. An hour could be two days. Finding them will require more than yourself Colonel."

"Exactly why you're coming with me."

"You will need someone capable of reopening this portal from this end. The opposite end could be anywhere. Open air. A much more difficult location to pinpoint."

"I'll go with ya." The women hear a voice. Turning they see Greta Winston concerned and holding her cowboy hat in her hand.

"Greta? Thank you."

"Want me to go get Anton? Take him with us?"

"We don't have time. We're shorthanded as it is. Leave him here. Harpea? Can you open this portal or not?"

"I can. A moment longer if you please. Let us be certain I can track you. A way also to find the spot you enter from." The Ganthorian leader moves away to the armory and returns with both a life fiber suit which is offered to Ruby to change into , and two wristbands. Similar to a wristwatch, "These bands are tracking devices. For myself to locate you and for you to locate the boys. A beacon on these bands can trace telepathy as well as any recent dimensional residue of their arrival. Follow the needle as if a compass. Do not remove them for any reason. Two more should you find James and his pet monkey. I can use the signals they emit to keep a general location of your positions. In case yet another rescue mission is required. Remember time is of the essence. Find the boys and turn this dial on the band. I shall then attempt to open another portal for your exit and return."

"Attempt? Ya'll make it sound like it might be a box canyon. One way in no way out."

"Something like that. Are you sure you wanna go?" Ruby pauses.

"Hold!" Another voice arrives. Madigan Ridge and her daughter Sophia had heard their riled up exit from the X'Orr. Tracking them down they managed to catch up just in the nick of time.

"Maddy? I need you here to keep our team aware of any problems. You're the level head. My second in command."

"I am?" Madigan looks shocked.

"You go Mom." Sophia nods, "Let me go along too. For...James."

"Your mom needs you here. To maintain peace." Ruby tries not to look leery of Harpea but their alliance was just too newly minted.

"You may trust me Ruby Goddard. I will get you back." Harpea reaches in to touch Ruby's tummy as the Colonel strips down to change into her life fiber, "For my sister."

"I thought she wasn't your sister? Change your mind?" Ruby winks at Harpea. The woman wincing yet nodding her affirmation at the same time, "Right. How do we explain a naked woman who can't wear clothing to any locals." She eyes Sophia, "It might not just be Merlin we run into this time."

"Relax. I'll be your Knight in shining armor."

"Wrong sex. Fine. We're running out of time. Let's go." Hesitating for one last order, "Have your Scientists scan those rabbits. I want answers when we get home."

Harpea agreed then rescans the wall locating the triggering frequency. Science had much to offer. Her race beyond most others concerning tech and time. However, a pocket dimension would be unstable. Time travel a much harder nut to crack. At least on the return run.

"Follow me Ladies." Ruby sizes up the blue glow and departs. Followed by Greta then Sophia. Maddy ushering a 'Be careful and Good Luck."

Seconds later they were gone.

"I will not fail your Colonel." Harpea glares at Madigan, "Or, your daughter." A nod of trust meant more to Harpea than she could ever acknowledge. It was time that she change all of her colors.

Outside near the crops Antonaeus Gaicazar notes the rabbits. All seemed to be looking toward the X'Hal. All standing on their hind legs. As if watching. He too would share in their observation. Not that he knew what he was even looking for.

Avalon.

The portal opens and the trio of beauties step out. A far different location than the boys had ventured into. This time the women found themselves surrounded. Not by a populace of soldiers. By something totally unexpected. All three stood in awe. Ruby and Sophia offer a unified likelihood of destination.

"Stonehenge?"

Between a rock and a hard place indeed. Greta Winston tilts her hat back whistling at the sight.

"Yup. Box canyon."