A Collision In Time

For me, my awakening came when I was kidnapped.

– Patty Hearst

Winter, 3203 BC (November 9th, Gregorian), between Uruk and Eridu, Sumeria

Dov followed Kushim and Iamma through the gates of Eridu. She shivered, soaked to the bone from the relentless rain. The slick limestone road led them onto a bridge over marshes that marked the transition between farmland, the Euphrates River, and the ocean. Eridu floated upon dozens of islands, connected by a network of platforms marking the city’s boundaries.

Across the bridge, the road widened into a boulevard. Fruit trees lined the edges, decorated with silver and gold dedications to the gods of Sumeria. They passed carved limestone temples set in rectangular patterns that pointed citizens toward the ziggurat, splendid in front of them.

“What an impressive city,” Dov said to Kushim. “It’s magical, even in the rain.”

Kushim smiled. “Inspired by Enki priests and built by a hundred generations. Eridu is a meeting point for three peoples.” He pointed out groups of distinctive citizens. “Those who live by the water, those who live by the land, and those who live above and direct the other two.

“And three great waterways. The Blue River that passes first through Uruk, the irrigation canals for farming, and the sea beyond the marshes, the Great Saltwater.”

The Persian Gulf, assumed Dov.

Arion, who led the group, stopped at the massive base of the ziggurat. “Here we wait. I don’t imagine we will remain here long. I have already asked for an audience.”

“An audience with who?” asked Dov.

“Why, Enki, of course.”

Emerson glanced at Dov. “This will be interesting,” he subvocalized.

* * *

Uriel buzzed through the window and circled twice around Ariel. A few minutes later he walked into the kitchen, back in human form.

“Ariel, it’s time.”

“Agree. I considered your rescue options and I think the visual simulation makes the best plan. It is the scenario most likely to be successful, especially given the militarization occurring across Uruk. We will be believable. The speed of culture shift is concerning, I must say.”

“Inspired by our friend Asmodi, no doubt.”

“Indeed. Shall we begin?” Uriel gestured and a computer interface appeared.

“Proceed,” said Ariel.

The forms of the two robots shifted as the lightwaves surrounding them bent and distorted. Moments later there stood two ethnic Sumerians. Skin, hair, and eyes had darkened, Bodies now appeared shorter, stockier, and more fit, and they wore the black tunic and white belt adopted by the newly formed Uruk militia.

“We look positively violent,” said Uriel.

“We shall fit into the mood of the city, then,” Ariel responded. “Let’s proceed.”

Together they left Kushim’s home, exiting via the narrow alleyways to avoid detection. The late morning brought intense rain and unusual darkness as the clouds wrapped themselves above the ground like a quilt upon a bed. Guarded by three drones flying overhead, Ariel and Uriel brought only critical technology. They’d destroyed and buried the remaining equipment.

They made quick progress toward the ziggurat, staying vigilant and moving in the shadows of the buildings. To their surprise, they encountered no guards, and in fact very few people of any description.

“Is today a day off from work?” Uriel wondered as the base of the ziggurat loomed in front of them.

“It does seem rather quiet. We are fortunate.”

They moved quickly to the entrance that led to the prison. Uriel passed first through the unbarred door, a nano-drone buzzing by him to scout the path. They waited inside the empty corridor as Uriel gathered the data.

“All clear?” Uriel said once he had monitored the surveillance data.

“Was that a question or comment?” whispered Ariel.

“The halls are empty,” responded Uriel. “It was both—this is an unusual circumstance. Perhaps, just good luck.”

* * *

Cara braced herself as she heard the wood beam slide. She clenched her fists and stood ready. The door opened a crack. She raised her arms and adjusted her posture.

A Sumerian guard’s head peeked in, and he smiled. “It’s me, Uriel. I’m in a disguise and here with Ariel.”

Cara did not respond. “Is this a trick?” she subvocalized to Uriel.

“Ah, smart,” said Uriel.

Cara collapsed, crying. “When I heard the door, I thought the worst,” she sobbed. “I was ready to fight. How are you both? How is Dov?”

“Dov is anxiously awaiting your return,” Ariel said, following Uriel into the cell. “Believe me, she wanted to be here.”

Cara nodded. “I’m sure she did.” She sighed.

“Cara.” Ariel touched a bruise on Cara’s cheek. “I am so sorry.” He took her hands and helped her up. “Let’s go.”

Ariel guided the way, retracing their steps back along the corridors. He stopped and held his right hand up. “Shh.”

“I see that,” Uriel subvocalized. “We have company.”

“What did you see?” Cara whispered, not bothering to subvocalize.

Ariel subvocalized, “The lead drone is relaying a visual: three men are nearing us. Stay behind us, Cara. Keep walking, and look down.”

They turned a corner, and three men in black tunics approached them. The two groups halted a short distance apart.

“We have come for the prisoner,” the lead man barked. His eyes narrowed, and he frowned. “Who are you?”

“He is stressed,” subvocalized Ariel to Uriel, the communication passing in milliseconds.

“He doesn’t recognize us; of course he is nervous,” responded Ariel. “I have gamed this, and there is no easy way out.”

“The prison guard’s dilemma,” joked Uriel.

“This is no time for a joke. We’ll need to use the drones and incapacitate them for a few minutes. The scenario has by far the best odds of us escaping quickly and with minimum long-term harm. Agree?”

“Agree.”

“We have been told to escort the prisoner to Noha,” Uriel said in perfect Sumerian to the three guards. “Let us pass.”

As Ariel addressed the guards, Uriel subvocalized, “Cara, we are going to administer an intense, high frequency sound wave and a flashing light, focused on the three Sumerian guards. You will see it, but it won’t impact you. Expect the men to faint. They may suffer hearing loss for a few days, but they will be fine.”

Cara nodded. “Got it,” she subvocalized.

“No,” the lead guard yelled. “She is mine! Surrender —”

The three guards grabbed their ears and bent over, howling in pain. One by one they dropped to the ground, unconscious.

Ariel, Uriel, and Cara ran forward, pausing to check the way was clear before they exited the ziggurat. Uriel sprinted head and away, following a drone into the rain.

“Where did he go?” asked Cara.

Ariel subvocalized, “He is retrieving a barge for us. We are to meet him in an hour.”

“A barge?”

“Come, let us hide.”

They slipped into a narrow alley.

“Yes, we will travel by river downstream to Eridu, where our friends wait.”

“Wait, I have an idea,” Cara said. “Stay here. I will be right back.”

* * *

Despite the rising water and increasing current from days of rain, Uriel guided a barge carefully under the bridge where he planned to meet up with the others. Carefully using poles and rope, Uriel held the barge in place within thick reeds and vegetation and settled down to wait, redeploying the spotter drone. Ariel would easily spot it. He leapt ashore and gathered rushes to further camouflage the barge.

The process had taken far less time than he needed. “Ariel,” he subvocalized. “Can you hear me?”

“Yes,” Uriel responded eventually. “The network is really degraded. Must be the weather.”

“How is Cara?’

“She is fine. It’s difficult to hear you; the network keeps dropping.”

“Doesn’t matter, I am ready for—wait…I hear something,” Uriel said, hearing voices nearby. He crouched and peeked above the vegetation. A parade of unusually dressed soldiers emerged from a nearby building and marched into the square that bordered the spot where they had planned to meet. Not long thereafter he watched as thousands of men, some on horses and others well armed, streamed into the port square.

“Do you see what’s happening?”

“Indeed,” Uriel responded slowly. “What are we to do?”

“You stay hidden,” Ariel responded. “Wait as instructed. I am on my way. I will need to deploy the stealth fields.”

* * *

Cara returned. She wore a black tunic and had wrapped the belt around her hair to shorten it. “My disguise.” She smiled.

Ariel smiled. “Great idea. We have to meet Uriel now, but there are complications. There is a huge number of recruited militia between us now. So I have reconfigured the drone to provide a stealth cover over us, like a blanket of white light that shields us from sight. Stay close to me. Your disguise is perfect Plan B, just in case.”

On Ariel’s prompt, they moved ahead, Cara matching Uriel’s stride. She gazed upward, curious. “How does it work, Uriel? I can’t tell what the drone is doing.”

“It projects particles that effectively bend incoming light away.”

“Cool. And sound waves?”

“A small amount of dampening, but sounds do pass though.”

“Okay,” she subvocalized.

Ariel directed them around the pottery manufacturing center and headed toward the underside of the bridge to meet with Uriel.

They turned a corner and froze.

In front of them stood thousands of soldiers—infantrymen, spearmen, and formations of archers, blocking their way to the bridge and the meeting place where Uriel waited with their escape. The militia stood in packed columns and tightly formed lines, weapons held at the ready. None glanced toward them.

“Oh my god,” whispered Cara. “Are you sure they can’t see us?”

Uriel subvocalized, “We are unseen, I assure you. We will pass through the men toward where Uriel is hiding. They will not see us. You must not make any sound or make contact with them.”

Cara nodded.

They proceeded forward. He was just about to begin moving through several ranks of infantry when he felt Cara freeze up.

“Wait,” she subvocalized. “We are leaving footprints in the mud.”

“Ah, thank you, Cara,” said Uriel. “You are clever.”

They proceeded again. Step by step, slinking through puddles of swampy water, they hid their footsteps and moved past hundreds of infantrymen.

“What are the men doing?” subvocalized Cara.

A horn interrupted. Cara and Ariel stopped and investigated the source of the sound. Two men stood on the crown of the ziggurat with crude cornets. They blew their horns again.

“Keep going,” Ariel urged. “We are almost through. Don’t be distracted. Keep marching.”

At the sound of the cornets, thousands of soldiers shifted and tightened their formations. A bowman brushed Ariel and glanced over toward him. He seemed confused and murmured to the man beside him.

Ariel tightened his grip on Cara’s shoulder. “Another ten meters,” he urged. “The spotter drone is just ahead of us.”

An unmistakable voice projected from afar. “They escape,” Asmodi yelled.

“The soldiers can’t see us,” Ariel encouraged her, subvocalizing. “Keep tight. We are almost there.”

They slid by the last row of infantrymen. An arrow flew by Ariel and hit the ground meters away. A commander screamed at a group of men, who broke their formation and sprinted toward them, still confused about where to run and who to capture.

“Run,” Uriel called. “Follow me.” He instructed the drone to maneuver above the barge. The barge disappeared as the drone’s stealth perimeters engaged around it. Immediately the escapees became visible.

Ariel positioned himself with one foot on the now invisible barge and the other on the muddy beach, ready to assist Cara.

“I don’t know where to jump,” Cara said, her voice cracking. “I can’t see the barge.”

“Leap of faith,” Uriel yelled. “Jump.”

Cara took Ariel’s hand and they jumped together.

A pile of blankets offered a warm welcome. Cara rolled off the blankets and watched silently as soldiers ran up and down the beach scanning for them, occasionally loosing a harmless arrow.

Uriel pushed the barge farther from its mooring. The surging Blue River did the rest of the work, propelling the water taxi forward toward Eridu, hidden in plain sight.