Chapter 11
Don't think for a second I'm going to teach you about the devices, so you can kill my brother!
Acorna I don't care about that! Hell I might not even join the core after we complete the missions to keep whoever in jail. I just want a timeline so I can keep on living in.
I'm glad we're on the same page then. After this mission is over I want you gone from my life, Acorna said.
With that she turned to enter the core. While Terl keeper an eye in the radar to see if he could spot Ari's ship.
So how was the mission Acorna? I see Terl returned. Glad to see you returned, but how I'd like to know?
We retrieved the piece of key. No thanks to the bank manager. The pompous ass didn't want to see anyone, and told me that he doubled the guards to protect the vault.
As I was about to call you when I seen Ari, and allie breaking into the bank, so I left the guards try to handle them if they could. If not I was by the exit to capture them. While I was dealing with them upon their exiting the bank, this jackass showed up, points at Terl and gets a time distortion device placed on him. So it was let them escape and disarm the device, or let him die and capture my brother. I couldn't watch another person die before my eyes.
Now we're back here.
Hmmm, I feel like there something's missing from that story, but you retrieved the key. I'm guessing it not that important then, and I'll handle the bank manager myself, High Magistrate Aaroun said.
Let's hear your story Terl, High Magistrate Aaroun said.
It doesn't differ from Acorna's. Except that I was caught by guards on my planet, because I felt bad about leaving Acorna, and I just jumped to get away. That's what let me find her, sir.
Interesting you jumped across galaxies, to find her I take it, High Magistrate Aaroun asked? Like I said before your destinies are intertwined.
I'm not sure sir, Terl said. All I know was I was dead meat if I didn't get out of my current predicament.
Take a few days rest, I'll talk to the council, and get the next piece of keys location. I'll let you know when I have the information.
Thank you High Magistrate Aaroun. They both said.
Ari appeared next to the house. Old memories he said to no one in particular. I know she must have been in the vault, trying to create new devices. Whether to use it against me, or to gain the council's trust I'm not sure; but it's the only reasons for her to come back to this place. Ari started looking around, there too much dust on the floor. No footprints, or other signs of anyone being in here recently. That doesn't bold well he thought to himself. The vault is still here at least, but without the codes there's no way to open it. I wonder, if my little sister isn't as smart as she thinks herself to be. He starts to ram shack the house, in search of the codes. Damn it, I got to have something to offer Mastermind, or it'd be my ass he'll torture next! Hmm, maybe if I offer my sister as his next victim I'll be safe from him. But first I need to have her I'm my clutches, I know he won't accept Chihiro, because she no use to him besides as a play toy, until he gets what he really wants.
As High Magistrate Aaroun walked into the council chamber. He announced that one of the piece of the key was safe. Acorna has once again proven herself loyal to the Time Flitter core, and held up the piece.
Magistrate Peyna eyed the piece of key. Are you sure she gave you the real piece? We don't need any screw up, or have them fall into the enemy's hands!
It's the real deal I checked it out myself Magistrate Peyna, High Magistrate Aaroun replied. Like I said, "I trust her with this mission.
A mission the council didn't agree to send her on, let alone provide her with support, or weapons to use just in case. Magistrate Krej replied. You alone decided to send an untested, untried, unarmed, unsupported core member on a dangerous mission. While her bloodline is in question. Yes we know what her parents did for us, but you all have to understand that blood is thicker than training. Her brother did turn on us, and helped IT to try to destroy all timelines, and everything as we know it.
Yes, I decided to send her on this mission, for 2 reasons. 1. is to prove her bloodline isn't what you all want to believe. 2. because no one else would be more dedicated to bringing Ari in and stopping him from releasing IT from jail. Besides were short on members, or have you forgotten what the time war did to our numbers? As for unarmed she has knowledge on the devices we use, and claims to know weak points in them, most of our trained member can't claim that. As for unsupported well she has backup.
"Who is her backup?" Magistrate Peyna asked.
I decided that fate would provide the assistant she would need, and told her to trust in herself. High Magistrate Aaroun replied.
But that doesn't answer our questions, it raises even more questions. Magistrate Peyna said. Like what training does it have? What type of background does it come from. How strong is it, and could it propose a future problems for us. How much does it know about us, and what we're trying to achieve?
Gentlemen we can stand here all day arguing over what fate has set in our hands or we can trust MY decision. One piece of the key won't be enough to stop IT from returning if I'm correct in thinking we have spies in our ranks. We need to gather all the pieces of the time key and figure out how to destroy it so it won't be used to unlock the time lock. You all know as well as I do if the key is made whole the entering Altair won't be a problem, let alone escaping the time eddies. If that happens you all know what that means! They shook their heads in agreement.
Chapter 12
You failed me, now the council thinks they have a piece of the key. Luckily I pulled a switcharoo, while everyone was arguing. Fail me again Ari and you will be my next victim, do I make myself clear!
I'm sorry Mastermind; I was caught off guard by the boy, it won't happen again. Ari replied. It better not, because our Master is waiting to be released. The only reason I'm not making you my play toy is because we now have 2 piece of the key, and we're closer to freeing our Master from prison, I alone can not retrieve the pieces of the key without my absence being noticed by the other council members. It's time to use the secret weapon you've been hiding against your sister. With that he vanished.
Man is he scary, Chihiro said. You don't know the half of it, Ari replied. My only problem is I don't have any secret weapon. "You don't?" Chihiro asked. After my parents found out I was working with the master they locked up the vault so I couldn't retrieve any of the forbidden devices, or create any new ones. I've tried all the codes my parents used in the past, and even torched them to get the code from them, when my sister walked in on us I decided to kill them instead of letting them pass on any knowledge to her. But knowing my parents they left her knowledge on how to open the time vault lab.
So what are we going to do then Ari? Chihiro asked. If we fail again it's our ass' Mastermind will have.
The only thing I can think of is sit and wait by my old home for my sister to show up, or wait until Mastermind gives us the information about the next piece of key. Until then I'll figure something out.
Members of the council it's time to reveal the next piece of key location. So we can have it retrieved. High Magistrate Aaroun announced.
We may agree that the pieces of the time key needs to be retrieved. But we don't agree that a novice core member, and an unknown person should be retrieving them pieces. Magistrate Krej said.
At least let us meet the this person who Acorna found before we reveal the next location. Magistrate Peyna said.
As we sit here and bicker back and forth between each other, Ari gets closer to unlocking the prison. I don't know how much information they have on the piece of the time key. But from both time banks cameras it shows Ari and allies unlocking the vault, not our members. That is what let's me know we have spies within our ranks. They even may be one of us who's supplying the information to them. I can't say how many spies they have within our ranks. But I intend to find out. I've already started a few independent investigation into this matter, and it would help ferret out the traitors quicker if we have we release the next pieces location. High Magistrate Aaroun said.
Like you said High Magistrate Aaroun we might have traitors in our mists, and you want to retrieve the time key pieces; using one person who the council doesn't fully trust, and another the council has never seen, and know nothing of. Magistrate Peyna stated. At least let us meet the them and find out something about them before we send them out on this dangerous mission you alone assigned them to.
Sighs, I'll agree to your request Magistrate Peyna, but first let them retrieve the next piece so they have some credibility within your eyes. Two pieces being retrieved would prove to the council they are not traitors, and are best suited for this mission.
The council voted and agreed with High Magistrate Aaroun plan of action.
Acorna, Terl you next destination is Gallifrey. I'll warn you the council will want to speak with both of you after this mission is over. It's best to have Ari, and the piece of key to prove yourself to them. If not Ari then at least have the piece of the key. I don't think I can convince them to let you both to stay on this mission if you don't have one or both in your possession when you return.
We understand High Magistrate Aaroun. We will do our best they replied.
I'll also send a strong worded message to the bank manager so you can retrieve the piece of key with no hassle.
Meanwhile
Ari the data for the next mission is coming in. Chihiro said.
Let get a move on it then. Ari said.
What do you think I'm doing? Besides it's close by on the planet Gallifrey. We shouldn't even see her while we retrieve the next piece. It's a good thing you decide to go back home.
I went there to try and find out if my sister or parents let any clues to the code for the time vault, and why my sister was there in the first place.
They landed next to the vault went in and retrieved the piece of key.
I don't like this Acorna. Something just doesn't feel right about the mission. Look how far the entrance to the core are from the time vaults. Terl said.
It was during the second time line that the council didn't know who to trust. Near the end of the war they had the vault built to hold items of great importance. Since they didn't know who was on who's side they didn't want the vaults close to the core entrance. The Time Flitter Core barely won, and it costed us 4/5ths of our members. Close to half our members was working for IT to destroy time itself. We only won because the old council members fought IT into the the time lock, then sent the prison into the very planet It was starting to destroy time from. We lost a few good council members during that battle, or so I was told. I wasn't part of the war being fresh in boot camp, my parents and brother was though. One day the instructors told us to go home, they couldn't guarantee our safety any longer, and needed the instructors to help fight. Many of the cadets wanted to stay and fight, including me. But we were sent home anyways. That's when I saw it happen. The worst day of my life, and what fuels me to put him behind bars for the rest of his.
I'm sorry you had to go through that Acorna. Terl said. But there's still some things not adding up. Like what does Ari mean by the core true intentions? Who's helping Ari? Why your parents quit making new Time devices for the core. How come the core isn't recruiting new members to fill up the lost ranks. "I'm sorry, but I don't have the answer to those questions, and I doubt the council would answer them even of I asked." Acorna replied.
At least tell me why your parents quit making time distortion devices Acorna. They must have known something for them to stop informing the council of any new devices.
That I can't answer either. I was born in the second time line before the war began. Besides were here. Hmm that's strange.
What's strange? We're getting a message from the bank. "Message repeats, The time vault has been broken into suspects are at large. Message repeats, The time vault has been broken into-" Just our luck Ari has come and gone before we even get here. The council won't be happy able this, not one bit.
How did they get here before us is what I'd like to know.
I think I know the answer to that. With that she turned the ship around.
