“Tell me you have something.” Director Nova said.
Osteen smiled, “of course. I’m the most brilliant scientist on Earth.”
“That’s debatable,” Dr. Henderson stated.
“What do you have?” Nova insisted.
Osteen swiveled in his chair and picked up a mechanical glove. “Okay, this is one of three pieces of equipment. This is the Neutralizer Glove. It focuses the users’ powers while neutralizing the specific morphon, giving the hero strength. You punch with this, it will still deliver a massive blow that can put a hole in a mountain, but it won’t register as a strength type morphon hit. Oh, and this,” he put the glove down and picked up a visor, “neutralizing eye beam emitter. Same type of stuff, use laser eyes and will do damage without registering. And there’s this, “ he picked up a boot, “same thing. Kicking will work the same.”
“Good. How fast can we replicate this stuff?” Nova asked Dr. Henderson.
She checked her tablet. “My team is inputting the data into the atomic-3d printer program now. All our locations across the planet will begin printing these items. We can put out at least a hundred an hour at max capacity.”
“Get them going as soon as possible. The moment you start printing, signal all bases. The heroes are already waiting for them.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
Nova turned, “I’ll be in the arboretum if you need me.”
“Mr. Nova.” Osteen stopped him.
“Yes?”
“I was hoping this might help me not be in so much trouble. I mean, I know the moment all this is over, I’m going back to prison. Perhaps you can put a good word in for me doing all this to save this world.”
Nova said, “this world is in danger because of you. Many lives have already been lost because of you. I promise, there aren’t enough good words or favors anyone can do for you now. All I can offer is perhaps I might convince them to not execute you...but I make no promises.”
Without another word, Nova and Nova left the lab.
Santa held the clock aloft with his magic while the others focused their power. Gar stood in the middle, an odd aura of energy emanating from him. When he turned his head or moved a wing, there was a delayed shadow of himself. He was not moving in regular time.
Nova approached this scene. “Well?”
Chase, not part of the process, answered, “I don’t know. They’re trying to reconnect, but Gar hasn’t begun speaking about the future.”
General Nova watched this next to his counterpart. “If my people found a way to communicate backwards, we have to know what they need to tell us.”
Director Nova nodded. “If they know the outcome of our plan, and are either warning us or telling us what worked, we need to know.”
Suddenly, Gar looked directly at General Nova. “General...”
Santa said, “he is making a connection to you. Go to him before it is broken.”
General Nova walked over to Gar and reached out. “What is it? What do you need to tell me?”
Gar quickly reached out and took Nova by the arms, holding him tight. Both of their bodies phased in time.
General Nova stood in a realm of energy and light. In front of him was Gar.
“Where am I? What is this place?”
Gar looked at him with a happier face. “General Nova. Is this the past?”
Nova nodded, “you are in my past. Wait...” he looked at Gar deeper, “you are different.”
“I was sent to tell you something important that will save the future.”
“Why? What has happened?”
Gar strained as he faded for a moment. “This won’t last much longer. Drochah and his legions are fighting the mechas while he is fighting the heroes. The battle is crossing all time. They said that time is falling in, but I don’t understand. Gah!” Gar faded completely and then returned. “I’m slipping back into the future. I have to tell you what must be done. He can be stopped, but only in the future. But, you must bring with you the six, only they can take away his heart. Bring us the six...it is the only...” Gar faded completely.
General Nova opened his eyes, and he was once again in the Arboretum. He stood before Gar, who was now not phasing in and out of time.
Gar asked, “what just happened? I was here, but then I was in a scary place where big robots were fighting and something was cracking the sky. I couldn’t understand it.”
Santa wiped the sweat from his brow. “You exchanged places with your future self.”
Father Time added, “someone had to make direct contact and be pulled into the time slipstream, otherwise, he couldn’t communicate.”
“Boy, I gotta headache. Any of you bums got a powder?” Rutkowski sat on the grass and held his head.
“Chase, escort Rutkowski and Peyton down to Medlab 1. They can give them something for the pain.” Nova ordered.
Santa asked, “did it work? Did you get their message?”
General Nova nodded, “yes. Drochah is in the future, fighting the Mecha armies. He has broken time to a critical point. Time is about to collapse into a black hole...if I interpreted the information correctly.”
“If he is there, does he leave this time for the future?” Director Nova asked.
“No. His power is great, his control over time even greater than I imagined. I know now what he plans on doing. The core is not meant for an augment or some other creation, it is meant for him. He will put it in himself and become godlike. With that kind of power, amplifying his already powerful control over time-travel. He’ll break time and be in both time frames.”
Father Time said, “that makes sense. However, since time is already fractured and changing, it is possible to interrupt his plans still.”
“The only way we can stop him is to take away his power. Gar from the future gave me a clue about that. Drochah must have his power ripped out of him completely.” General Nova said.
“How?” Director Nova asked.
The General said, “Gar said something about the six. These six can tear his heart out. Do you have any idea what he is talking about?”
“Yes, I do.”
0 Comments