The Time Stone, Third Edition (Extended Version)

Chapter 73

The ship arrived anchoring down near the island. “We can make our way via shuttle boat” says Cutlass as the small vessel is released from the lower decks after the front bow lowered and opened.

“We’ll go alone” says Drax.

“No,” demanded Cutlass, “I go with you. I lost seven men on that battle and want to make sure we don’t lose anymore. Yulelka you be in charge until I return.”

“Yes, Captain” she replies and ran back.

“Alright, let’s go” says Drax. The five adventurers boarded the small shuttle boat on the side of the ship. Drax felt nervous that Cutlass insisted on coming.

The shuttle boat like a miniature version of the Gorge Hunter rode across the water to the deserted dark beaches of the great island, a large tapestry of inlets that curved landscapes near rocks threatening to tear them apart if they dared venture too close. The waves rocked them back and forth, but the trail of energy vapor emitting from it kept them on course until they touched based. Cutlass joined the foursome on their quest for the dark star as his skills in leadership and fighting may prove beneficial thought Drax.

After docking on the shore, the five adventurers marched towards the inlets in the mountainous region to the north using only Drax’s handheld scanner and their wits as their guide. Then suddenly they observed several objects in the sky like dark dots getting closer and closer before approaching close enough.

“It’s those vampire things” says Mercedes.

“The beasts” says Drax standing ready to fight.

“They can fly” says Tina.

“We can see that” says James.

“We shall prevail” says Cutlass with his large raspy voice as he is reaching for his sword and swinging it towards the nearest beast. The beast repelled itself against the wind. Drax reached for his elfin glove, put it on, and began firing several intense projectiles of hot white light from it. As his colleagues ducked and dodged the blasts and ran for cover on the sandy dunes ahead, Drax continues to fire from his glove and emit hot white piercing beams of energy towards the prey floating above them, viciously snarling as they swooped down to attack. The beasts moved around until one is struck and fell. The rest flew off into the distance.

“They were the same beasts we fought in the woods, but with wings” says Tina.

“That was close” says Mercedes.

“We should keep moving” says Drax. They walk for miles until reaching the base of the mountain at the far side of the great island. Drax led the way with his wrist device’s light beacon.

“Spooky” says Tina.

“Yeah, but I am not afraid” says James, “I will protect you.”

“My hero” says Tina.

“We need to get up there” says Mercedes looking up at the caves to either side of them, built into the mountain walls at the end of the island passing, but with no precipice just openings in the rock face.

“I know just the thing” says Drax.

“Yes.” Mercedes responds knowing what he is referring to.

“Am I going to see the Scorpion car now?” asks Tina jokingly.

“Indeed” Drax says fiddling with his wrist device and pressing the right keys. Over twenty-five minutes passed and James became restless.

“What exactly are we waiting for?” asks James.

“Patience my young pupil” says Drax sarcastically. “Good things come to those who wait.”

“You’re summoning the scorpion car again” says Mercedes.

“What is that?” Cutlass asks.

“That…” says Drax as within a few more moments the vehicle they used to ascend the cavern of lights is hovering towards them with its underbelly lit up completely like a baseball stadium shining down into the waters below making great movement on the Gorge Hunter as the crew and Cutlass began to imagine as he conveyed that they were magicians who can summon things at will. “We are not magicians” Drax replies, “just very lucky, lucky it has enough ultra-power to cross the oceans at full speed to get here in almost no time at all.”

“Lucky the signal was not too far to summon the car here” says Mercedes smiling.

“Lucky we didn’t die of boredom waiting” screams James.

“I told you, there is no distance too great” says Drax. “Let’s go.”

“Awesome” says Tina. With that and Tina expressing a shock of joy and bewilderment, the five adventurers squeezed into the scorpion car and flew upward levitating against the wind currents into the inlets of the mountain range. Hovering near the cave opening above, they noticed that the cave opening is too small and narrow for the Scorpion car to fly through. “This is just great” says Tina sarcastically.

“Don’t worry” says Drax. Drax saw a weak spot in the rock he detected with his scanner. “I think there is something there” Says Drax as he pressed a series of commands on the console and the primary weapon illuminated the sky before them, Drax pulls the vehicle in reverse and back away a few yards, and a flash of brilliant white light emanated from the Scorpion car’s primary battery weapon. The weapon blasted a hole in the side of the mountain in a terrific explosion. The debris flew out at them, but moved to the side avoiding them. The smoke cleared and the crew realizes the opening is much larger now.

“How did that happen?” Asks James shocked.

“The scorpion has internal deflectors” says Drax. “You aren’t the only one with some powers.” With a flick of a switch, Drax drove the scorpion car into the hole they created as the dust, smoke, and debris was still clearing. The darkness is blinded by the light of the vehicle emitted from all sides of the vehicle hovering its way into the cavern.

As they managed their way hovering above the deep empty cavern, the light beacons shone throughout as Drax drove and Tina scanned with his handheld scanner. “There is something unusual here,” she says. “Like what?” Drax replies. “Look” she pointed as the lights shone on some spots on the walls with cave pictographs and archaic writings. “It’s more of the old language we saw before,” says Drax.

“Another riddle?” asks Mercedes.

“I don’t think so. It just says beware thee who open the door, the winds of time will corrupt you.” Drax says.

“A warning?” asks Mercedes rhetorically.

“Let’s keep moving” says James seeing a more narrow passage ahead not too small to fly into and they proceeded into it. The darkness lit only by the beacon continues until they could see daybreak on the other side. Soon they were exiting the cavern and hovering above a land of green pastures and trees, orchids, sunny skies, rainbow visions in the air, and light beacons of technological design similar to those seen in the cavern of lights.

“We have seen this technology before.” says Mercedes.

“Yes” says Drax “it is the Pregivers.” and they continue above the vacant land until they saw it was not vacant miles into the terrain.

“This is totally unlike the other side of the great island,” says Tina.

“Blessed be,” says Cutlass “This is remarkable.”

“Look” says James pointing to small people below.

“Are they midgets?” asks Tina.

“Dwarves or ‘little people’ is the politically correct term” says Mercedes humorously.

“No” says Drax lowering the vehicle with a press of a few buttons so that the appearance of the inhabitants of this land is apparent “they are children.”