The Journeyman Project 3: Legacy of Time
Gage discovered Agent 3 hiding two weeks from his present at the Vega Thalon Prison Colony. When he went to apprehend her, she showed him a bitter and faithless Dr. Elliott Sinclair who confirmed that it was the Cyrollans who destroyed Atlantis.
When Gage and Michelle returned to the present, they are met by Commissioner Baldwin who immediately has Agent 3 taken away. He then tells Gage that a fleet of powerful ships are making a direct line for Earth. Jhessela, the Cyrollan Ambassador, explained that the Qou'Thalas, an ancient enemy of the Cyrollans, are on their way to steal Earth's time traveling technology as well as the Legacy, a relic containing the knowledge and experience of the Sosiqui, a race that were mysteriously wiped out centuries before recorded history. Gage volunteered to retrieve the Legacy by jumping back in time to one day before the cities are going to be destroyed. Now he's on his way to Atlantis, and hopefully, the temple where the Legacy is hidden.
Date: October 5th, 1262 B.C.
Place: Atlantis; Mediterranean Sea
Gage materialized on the top of the same windmill where he saw the Cyrollan ship. The intact city reminded Gage of Venice complete with canals and locks. The Greek-looking building was also intact. It was surrounded by a lake that was somehow elevated from the rest of the city.
"Look to the center of the city, Gage," Arthur instructed. "That's the intact temple that the Cyrollans obliterated into flaky temple dandruff. The rest of the city revolves around it like it dominated every aspect of their civilization." Exploring the roof, Gage noticed that one of the windmill's spars was missing a sail. Arthur just kept commenting about Atlantis' beauty. "The inhabitants of this city were ingenious! Look at the series of concentric sea walls. It looks like they built a canal and lock system to control the water level within the city. They drained out the crater to expose more usable land. But if they're reclaiming land, why do they keep the water level high in the center? Oh well, we have a lot of ground to cover so if we get stuck, we can always time jump to another location. Don't worry, I'll log the precise coordinates so when we choose to return, we'll hand precisely on the spot where we left."
Gage went down into the windmill through the trap door. He was now inside the Windmill's gear room. A large pillar surrounded by gears was at the center. A doorway led onto the Windmill's spars. Another trap door led down into the living quarters of the Windmill. "Looks like the only exit," Arthur observed. "Unless you want to jump out the window." Gage started to descend the spiraling staircase until Arthur halted his progress three-fourths of the way down. Down in the living quarters was a man sewing a windmill sail. "That must be the Keeper of the Windmill. Since you don't have any Atlantian guises in your Chameleon Database, it might be wise to meet him later. Let's find another way out."
"Good idea," Gage said and retreated back up to the Windmill gear room.
"We need to find the Legacy," Arthur reminded him. "If the Cyrollans and the Qou'Thalas were battling over the central temple, then that's where we should begin our search."
"Yes, but how to get out without letting the Windmill Keeper seeing us?" Gage stared at the doorway leading to the Windmill's spars. "Arthur… do you remember what you said earlier about jumping out windows?"
"Oh no, you're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you thinking what I think you're thinking? I think you are." Gage went over to the lever and began turning it. Nothing happened. Gage looked down at the mess of gears. "Man, figuring out what all these gears do would be like finding a needle in a place where you wouldn't normally find any needles like a balloon factory or a… bakery… or a cheese shop… can I start this over?"
Gage scanned the floor and saw two gears lying to the right of the ladder. Picking them up, he placed them on two pegs in between the lever and the main shaft. Turning the lever caused the spars to rotate around. Gage turned the lever until the spar with the broken sail was lined up with the doorway. He then walked out onto the spar. Noticing the sea wall connected to the windmill, he turned the lever one more time and Gage started to move around the windmill. When he was even with the seawall, he jumped onto it. The sea wall was about ten feet thick.
"Way to go, Gage, Jackie Chan has nothing on you."
"Arthur, tell me everything you know about Atlantis."
"The first mention of Atlantis was by Plato in his works Timaeus and Critias. According to Plato, Atlantis was a utopia that existed somewhere in the Western ocean. It wasn't sure whether Plato was talking about the lost continent or fabricating an elaborate concept to help prove an argument, as he was known to do. There have been several underwater ruins discovered since the early twentieth century that had thought to have been Atlantis but the estimated dates of the ruins were nowhere near to the hypothesized date of Atlantis's existence. From the looks of the city, Atlantis was influenced by the Minoan culture and… and I'm boring you, aren't I?"
"Every little bit of information is helpful."
"Well we shouldn't stand here for too long. From up here we're likely to be spotted." Arthur pretended to call down to someone, "Oh, hi down there… who, us? Oh, just a couple of windmill repairmen doing their job (Gage, quick, show them your butt crack). Anyway, we should find a disguise quickly before we really are spotted." Gage took a look around, noticing a docked Egyptian ship. Gage walked along the sea wall until he came to the buttress of a crane that was touching the yardarm of a docked ship. He tight-roped walked to the main mast and climbed down onto the ship.
"Avast, ye scoundrels, you face Arthur the Terrible and Blackwood the… Mildly Terrible-But-Still-Righteous-Bub, strike ye collars and prepare to be boarded. Don't mind me, I'm feeling particularly naughty today."
Gage was about to scold Arthur for joking around in a time of crisis when he heard a voice call out, "Alms for a blind old beggar!"
"That sounds like its coming from around the corner," Gage commented.
"If he really is blind, who better to catch with the Chameleon Scanners without being seen," Arthur said. Gage leapt from the boat onto the dock which was covered with containers of various shapes and sizes. He followed the dock until he came to an old man sitting on the ground. He was dressed in rags and even had a bandage over his eyes.
"Computer, activate Chameleon Scanners," Gage commanded. The camera lens projected a red scanning beam which went over the beggar's image. Gage was about to turn to leave when he stepped on a creaking board.
"Sir," the beggar called. "Could you spare a few coins for a blind old beggar?"
"Sorry, I can't help you," Gage said.
"Looks like nasty weather," the beggar commented making Gage wonder if he really was blind. But more than that, the beggar said it more like a question than a statement.
"That's strange," Arthur said. "Even a cautious weatherman would tell you today's a parasailing day."
"I… don't believe so," Gage replied.
"Really? I could've sworn I felt a storm moving in. In that case, I think I'll remain here and get some rest."
"The beggar had a good idea," Arthur commented. "If we're going to be walking around Atlantis, we're going to need some money. Since Atlantis doesn't seem to have any phone booths (or a banking system for that matter), we should check the Egyptian ship, with so many supplies on board, coins are bound to be in surplus there."
Gage boarded the ship and explored it. He found no coins but he did find two other items of interest: a silk scarf and a gaff, a spear with a hook on one end. As Gage approached the bow of the ship, he saw a human arm off to the side. He transformed the Chameleon Jumpsuit into an image of the beggar and came onto the bow. An Egyptian man was sitting on the ground in chains. Gage decided to capture his image as well.
"Yes?" The man irritatingly asked Gage.
Gage decided to take a page from the beggar's book. "Would you spare a few coins for a blind old beggar?"
"Oh, right, coins." The Egyptian handed Gage a pouch of coins. He then stared at Gage like he was waiting for something. "Is there not something you wish to say?"
"Um… thank you, friend," Gage replied.
"No, that's not… that is, you say…" the Egyptian sighed heavily. "I fear you were not whom I was expecting."
"He's a cagey fellow," Arthur critiqued. "But I guess being locked up would do that to you. Still, he seems to be waiting for something, or someone."
"I must go now," Gage said sounding as close to a native as possible.
"Very well."
Gage returned to the dock. This time, instead of going to the beggar's spot, Gage followed the path in the opposite direction to the other side of the dock. There was a boat docked on the side. The man who was besides it was pudgy and dark skinned. He was playing some sort of flute. Realizing that an Atlantian beggar with Egyptian coins might seem a little odd from the Atlantian's point of view, Gage transformed the beggar's image into the Egyptian's then went down the steps to the side dock.
"Where can I take you?" The man asked.
Ah, so he's a ferryman, Gage realized.
"Take me to a place where the fun never ends," Arthur sang. Fortunately, the ferryman couldn't hear the A.I.
Gage quickly realized that this could be the break he was waiting for. "The Temple," he said.
"I can take you there, for ten dremoy." Gage didn't know how much ten dremoy was in Atlantis but he decided to give the ferryman one coin then work his way up from there. He handed the coin to the ferryman, who studied it for a moment before motioning for Gage to get on the boat. On the way, the ferryman made small talk with Gage. "I am Kashani, but everyone calls me Kashi," he introduced. "You must be the Captain of the boat they captured just this morning. I know how you feel, I'm a victim too. The Atlantians capture any boat that passes by. That's how they've kept this city secret for thousands of years. Whenever a ship passes too close, they capture it and they force the crew to live as second-class citizens. No one is allowed to leave. The rules are very strict."
Kashi transported Gage to a dock in front of the temple. The dock extended around a partition and under a canvas. Gage followed the dock and came face-to-face with a guard dressed like a Roman Centurion. Gage took particular note to the double-breasted axe emblem on his chest plate. "No second-class citizens in the Temple," he declared.
"Why not?" Gage asked.
The guard sighed, "By the creed of the Templars."
"Who is allowed in?"
"Only native Atlantian citizens making deliveries or possessing a gold temple medallion may enter."
"What kinds of deliveries are made to the Temple?"
"Anything the Templars have need of. For example, today deliveries are expected from the Olive Oil and Potter Shops."
"You said that you had to have a medallion. What medallion is that?"
"A gold medallion bearing the seal of the Temple. Only native Atlantians are allowed to have one."
"I see, well it seems I'm not going to be able to enter the Temple."
"Good day," the guard bid. As the guard turned to return to his post, Gage scanned his image and then returned to the ferry.
"Where would you like to go now?" Kashi asked.
"Disneyland!" Arthur cried.
"The Potter Shop," Gage requested.
"That will be ten dremoy." Again Gage handed him a gold coin and got on. "Do not lose hope; you are not alone in your plight. Many of the non-natives refuse to live as captives. They have formed an underground resistance and are planning to escape the island. Last I've heard they were almost ready. They will probably contact you soon if they have not already. Hey, do not tell anyone what I have told you."
"Okay, Kashi."
When Gage stepped from the dock, he found himself facing a small entryway. There was an entryway and an open hallway leading around the corner. Upon entering, Gage found two doors both leading into the same room. A pot-bellied man was standing by a large pot smoothing clay onto it. He was wearing nothing but a skirt and sandals and literally had clay on his face.
If there was a caste system in Atlantis, the Potter might not accept a lowly beggar or a foreign Captain. That meant there was one disguise that would work: the guard. Gage switched chameleon disguises and entered the Potter Shop. Gage quickly surveyed the room, noting the large kiln off to the side. "Good morning," Gage greeted.
The Potter cast one look at Gage and immediately returned to his sculpting. "I am sorry, but I'm much too busy for customers today. Perhaps if it's not a problem, you could come back in a couple of days."
"Why are you so busy?"
"I have a dozen pots to fire before the Kalos Kalyre celebration. It's unfair," the Potter whined. "The festival is finally here and I have to miss it because I have to make the wine enfore."
"Kalos Kalyre?" Gage asked temporarily going out of character.
"The final day of the festival, the great battle! Honestly, I am much too busy, maybe you should come back in a couple of days."
Gage kept pressing the Potter for information. "What's in the kiln?"
"My pots, if I do not watch them they could crack and if that happens I'll never make it to the festival! Oh, if only my sister will finish making the olive oil."
"You have a sister?"
"Yes, she makes olive oil, her shop is next door."
"Well it looks like you have a lot to do. I'll just be on my way."
"Things will be back to normal in two days, I promise."
As Gage turned to leave, he noticed a barrel of clay in the corner. He picked up a lump from the barrel and after scanning the Potter's image into the Chameleon Database, he left.
"Boy, he was a real crybaby," Arthur complained as Gage left. "He was like 'I don't want to do this, I want to go to the festival.'" Arthur erupted into a mocking tone of the Potter's voice. "Someone should just tell him to grow up." Gage chuckled.
Gage made his way around the side to the Olive Oil Shop. Outside, olives dried in the sun while barrels of already made olive oil waited. Arthur told Gage that olive oil was actually quite common among the exports of early Mediterranean cultures. Walking inside, Gage found himself surrounded by jars and pots. A woman with dark curly hair was pounding olives in a vat.
"Good morning," Gage greeted.
"Well good morning," she returned looking up from the pot of olives. "I'm surprised to see an Atlantian who is not at the festival. My brother and I aren't only because we have to work."
Gage feigned stupidity. "Might I know your brother?"
"Perhaps, he is Talos, the Potter next door. I should warn you that he is very cranky because he has a lot to do and can't make it to the festival. I think he sometimes forgets that sacrifice is the purest form of homage to the Earth Mother."
Gage pretended to be interested in the jars as he whispered, "Arthur, what can you tell me about the Earth Mother?"
"Many ancient cultures believed in dualism, that everything has an equal and opposite. These can take many different forms. Going by the Minoan culture as an example, the Earth Mother is the counterpart to Father Sky. They are husband and wife, brother and sister, parent and child (must be tough when filling out an application form). The Earth nurtures the people like a mother and the sky watches over them like a father."
"Where do you deliver all these jars?" Gage asked the Olive Oil Vendor
"Some will go to residences and some will go to the Temple but most we'll deliver to the coliseum for the Kalos Kalyre celebration."
Gage was about to ask the Olive Oil Vendor what the Kalos Kalyre was when he realized that she might become suspicious if a native suddenly started asking questions about an important celebration. So he said good-bye to her and left the Olive Oil Shop. He changed his Chameleon Disguise from the guard to the Captain. He reentered the shop.
The woman noticed Gage's new form. "Oh, forgive me," she said as she wiped sweat from her brow. "I wasn't expecting any customers today. I just assumed that everybody would be at the festival or preparing for the Kalos Kalyre. It's easy to forget that not everyone on the island shares in our beliefs."
"So what happens at the festival?"
"The festival is a five-day celebration ending with the Kalos Kalyre. It only happens twice in a lifetime so everybody participates, there is always much food and wine, beautiful music, dancing, and entertainment of all kind; it's really quite a party."
"If you don't mind me asking, what is the Kalos Kalyre?"
"Well… I suppose I could tell you a little bit about the great battle." The Olive Oil Vendor put down her mixer. "You see, it is our belief that the Earth Mother's children await to possess her healing powers as their birthright. Tomorrow when she reveals the source of her powers, the Gaealith, they will lock together in a battle of greed that could destroy themselves and their mother all together. This battle is called the Kalos Kalyre."
"The Earth Mother's children?"
"The sun and the moon, each is so certain that the Gaelith belongs to himself alone that they jealousy chase each other around the sky day and night but they only come together once in a great many years." It was obvious that this battle was the Atlantian's interpretation of the solar eclipse. And the vendor's story reminded Gage of the Qou'Thalas's message about possessing the Legacy as their birthright. Suddenly Gage realized that there was more to this legend than meets the eye. It was as if the people of Atlantis knew about the battle between the Cyrollans and the Qou'Thalas that was going to take place tomorrow. The Sosiqui must've known about this but how?
"Where will the Earth Mother reveal the Gaealith?"
"In the Temple," the vendor replied, and then like she was reading from a text, she recited, "it will flow up out of the Earth on a column of water and as the water flows over the Gaelith, it will become endowed with healing powers and refill the reservoir. At least that is how the Templars have told us it happens, they are the only ones allowed to witness the miracle."
"Who are the Templars?"
"They are the priests. Some say the Earth Mother gave them the secret of eternal life. But who would know, they almost never leave the temple. Only once have I ever seen one of them."
"Does the healing water really work?"
"Oh yes, but non-natives are not allowed in the Temple." She shrugged her shoulders apologetically.
"How does the battle end?"
"If the battle ends peacefully, the Earth Mother retains the Gaealith, and the people of Atlantis enjoy many more years in good health. If not, the Earth Mother perishes and Atlantis along with her. But we have been here longer than anyone could remember and we have seen many Kalos Kalyre."
Gage risked asking a tough question. "Why do you celebrate the Kalos Kalyre?"
"Oh there are many reasons, really, but most see it as an excuse to live life to its fullest before the end comes." Gage said good-bye to the woman again and as he turned to leave, he noticed that a jar had the same double-breasted axe as an emblem, just like the temple guard's breast plate. Gage removed the lump of clay from his temporal pocket and pressed it against the emblem. After replacing the imprinted clay in his temporal pocket, he left.
"Okay, we have our medallion," Gage said. "But we still need to make it gold. But where to find gold here?"
"We can't," Arthur said. "The prime resource metal for the Atlantians was called Orichelcum, a metal similar to copper. Any gold was probably imported from other countries."
"Then I guess we'll just have to search the city of gold," Gage said dropping the Captain's image.
"Great, hold on to your stomach, Gage, because we're off to El Dorado!"
"Set coordinates for El Dorado, 524 A.D. Initiate time jump!" Gage disappeared.
Main Cast
Gage Blackwood, Agent 5: Jerry Rector
Arthur: Matt Weinhold
Atlantis Cast
Beggar: Gene Chronopoulos
Captain: Richard Tanner
Kashi: James Hazelwood
Guard: Fredrik Cavally
Potter: Lyle Kanouse
Olive Oil Vendor: Dominique Debroux
