Caleb and the girls gathered chairs from surrounding tables and sat around the man. On the table in front of him lay the two Hearts of Candracar.
How did you get this? Will demanded. The man took a sip of tea before answering.
From you, he responded. Or to be precise, I will get it from you.What are you some sort of time traveler? Taranee asked. The man reclined in his chair.
One of the Heart's many powers, he responded.
Do you have a name? sassed Irma. Or should we just call you Patch?For the love of that is good and holy, please no! the man begged. You called me that ever since I lost my eye in a Lurden patrol when I was six. My initials are C V, so everyone else calls me Joint.Things are that bad in Meridian in the future? Caleb asked in a concerned tone.
Things are that bad on Earth in the future, Joint answered. Maybe I should say Meta-Earth.Where's that? Hay Lin probed.
Here and there, Joint answered. It's the unholy result of the joining of Metamoor and Earth. But I should digress from here. I really should begin at the beginning.Yes the beginning, Will pondered. That's where I usually begin a story.Sometime not too far from now Phobos will discover the tomb of Metamoor's worst tyrant: The Merger, Joint set out. The Merger has the power combine things. Phobos sends after you the four Elemental Lurdens. They fail, but kill a friend of yours in the process. Elian, I think his name was.Elyon's a girl! an irritated Cornelia butted in.
My mistake, Joint amended. Continuing on. The Elemental Lurdens are brought before Phobos where they are to be punished. The Merger has a better idea. Together they form what we in the future call a Mega-Lurden. It's huge, ugly, and smells worse than a pasling family reunion. It's a bear to put down too. A Mega-Lurden also is very effective. Over the next year and a half the best you come out in is a draw. The worst is at the death of the pasling known as Blunk.
All the while The Merger feigned loyalty to Phobos he plotted. The plot came to fruition when The Merger joined himself with Phobos. Merger-Phobos got the Idea in his head to merge Earth and Metamoor. With his combined power it wasn't easy but it did happen. After that Merger-Phobos learned of Earth's own dark past. He emulated and perfected the use of such things as Gulags, concentration camps, and genocide.
And seeing these things happen, people of Earth join the rebellion. You are some of its foremost leaders in thirty years. Taranee gulped. Tell me years are much shorter in the future.The Meridian calendar recognizes three hundred and fifty four days, Caleb threw out.
I've never been much for telling time, Joint admitted. But you should know we were winning the war.So Patch, why are you here, Irma asked.
The leadership was taken out in raid, Joint explained. We had never seen that many Mega-Lurdens before. Even you, the Guardians of the once present Veil, fell before them.So that's why you have the Heart? Will inquired. Because I'm dead?And why it changed color, Joint added. It's going through a time of mourning. Its keeper died holding it. Someone I looked up to.
Well at least I have being a role model to look forward too, Will replied sarcastically. So what aren't you telling us?Personal things, Joint answered. You know who married who. What the names of any of your children are, if you have them things like that.
Why should that be? Hay Lin asked.
If we change the future, the circumstances will obviously change, Joint concluded. You shouldn't be locked in to doing something just because it happened in a future that's not going to come. Cornelia taught me that while we were fixing a combat wagon. Everyone looked at Cornelia. Joint simply drank his tea.
What? So I know the difference between a radiator hose and an alternator belt. What does that prove? Cornelia defended.
What about future circumstance? Irma reminded.
Joint asked defensively. I haven't doomed her to a life as a mechanic, have I?I think we'll have no problem there, Hay Lin turned aside.
Why are you doing this? Taranee asked.
The Merger's Mega-Lurdens destroyed everything I care about, Joint proclaimed. I have the chance to stop them before they get a chance to be born and I'm not about to lose it.Joint tell us everything you know about Lurdens, Will ordered. Mega or otherwise. Caleb can you have one of your spies in the castle tell us when this Merger arrives?It'll be dangerous so it had better be worth it, Caleb vaguely threatened.
I can show you their weak spots, Joint offered. Will that be enough?It'll have to be, Will resigned as she returned the Heart of Canracar from the present to her pocket. We don't know how much time we have on this, so ladies, let's get going. The girls got up to leave the restaurant. Joint followed behind after grabbing his stuff.
Where are you going? Caleb interrupted. There's still the matter of your bill.Quite right, Joint admitted. He opened up his brief case and pulled out a wad of 100 dollar bills held together by a band. He threw it at Caleb who caught it in one hand. That enough? Joint asked as Caleb looked at the money.
More than, Caleb responded slightly befuddled..
Cornelia marveled. Is that all money in there?Nothing but, Joint answered back. You want some? Joint tossed banded wads at all the girls. I knew it was worth something here. In the future it's only two uses are kindling and toilet paper.