Chapter 5 – Revelation
- (X) -
August 22nd, 1944
Tennyson Memorial Plumber's Facility
(Inside Mount Rushmore)
The room was tall, filled with equipment, and constructed deep within Mount Rushmore, below and behind the iconic heads that were carved there to provide cover for the creation of the facility. Despite the hundreds of meters of stone between the facility and the surface of the mountain, each strike from the attacker rocked the large room Jeffrey Tennyson was standing in enough to throw of his balance.
Jeffrey pushed up the visor he was wearing to reveal his mostly gray hair and blue eyes. He looked angrily at the young, green skinned, and tentacle alien beside him. "Is there anything you can do to hold this steady while I work?"
"Would you like me to go out and ask Brozz to stop?" suggested Xylene sarcastically.
Jeffrey grumbled and slammed his visor down again. He reached into the huge metal ring and began soldering on the last few circuits of the device.
"Be careful!" shouted a voice from within the metal contraption. Jeffrey straightened himself and flipped his visor up again as a small Galvan climbed his way out of the hole Jeffrey was working in.
"Damn it, Azmuth, I know," said Jeffrey with a scowl. "You don't have to tell me constantly."
"Stop being so sloppy, then!" said Azmuth. He pointed his finger sharply at the human.
"We're in a bit of a rush, you know," said Xylene.
"If you don't do it right, it won't work at all!" said Azmuth. "You humans are always in such a rush to finish."
"Hey," said Xylene.
"And you're no better," finished Azmuth. "Or haven't you figured out why you've been bounced around the Plumbers so much?"
"I hear you don't have a very good track record yourself," said Xylene with a frown.
"That's because nobody treats Galvans with respect," said Azmuth. "Just because I'm so short you think you can brush me aside."
Xylene rolled her eyes. Jeffrey then brushed Azmuth aside so he could finish what he was working on.
"Unbelievable," said Azmuth as he skulked away. "This is my design you know!"
"We know!" said Jeffrey and Xylene simultaneously.
"Hmph," said Azmuth.
The room vibrated again from the attacks outside. Azmuth steadied himself by putting a hand on the ring. After the rocking stopped, he looked at the huge contraption and gently ran his hand along the metal exterior. "Not a bad piece of work, if I do say so myself."
"If it does what it's supposed to do, I'll agree," said Jeffrey, still up to his elbows in the hatchway.
"It will," nodded Azmuth. He paused. "Then what will you do?"
Jeffrey paused and looked briefly up at Azmuth, then to Xylene. He sighed and looked back down at what he was doing. "If it works, then nothing. I'm done."
"Done?" asked Xylene.
"Yeah, done," said Jeffrey. "Fighting this monster has been my family's awful legacy. I want nothing to do with it anymore."
"If we capture him—" started Azmuth, but Jeffrey wouldn't let him finish.
"Then we're succeeded," said Jeffrey. "You can go back, take all the credit, and maybe get that research laboratory you wanted. Just leave me and my family out of it. I will be the last Plumber in the Tennyson family."
"You don't mean that..." said Xylene softly.
Jeffrey looked up again and pushed up his visor. "Yes, I do, Xy," he said. "I watched my father and his best friend die right in front of me. He watched his aunt die, and she saw her father die. Being a Plumber is just a countdown until that day when I gotta lay down my life and pass the curse onto a new generation." He shook his head. "No. I'm through. When this is done, I'm retired."
Xylene and Azmuth stared as Jeffrey looked down into the hatch and plugged in the circuit board he was working on. "Maybe – if it's not too late – Esther and I can finally have kids."
"Y-you waited on children until you could get rid of Brozz?" asked Xylene.
"What choice did I have? I won't have children when there's the chance an alien is going to drop out of the sky and pull out my spine."
"You know, even if you retire, there will still be visitors to your planet," said Azmuth. "The galaxy is too small these days."
"Then I hope I'm leaving the Plumbers in capable hands," said Jeffrey, looking up at Xylene and Azmuth.
Azmuth watched Jeffery close the hatch and flip the switch on the exterior, causing the huge ring to light up and begin to hum.
"Your heroism is not limited to the battles you've won," said Azmuth kindly.
"There will be other heroes," said Jeffrey. He picked up the two plazma pistols on the counter and put them back into his holsters.
"There are already heroes," said Azmuth. "But I think the name Tennyson will not soon be forgotten."
Jeffrey grinned boyishly. "Assume we don't all die here today." He put his hands on his hips as he felt the rumbling from another attack by Brozz. "So what do you say? Shall we see who it is at the door?"
- (X) -
Charmcaster and Phil stood behind nearby trees looking out over the Black Forest Hills at the lizard-like Brozz attacking the back of Mount Rushmore. Paradox was chewing gum and standing in the nearby clearing.
"Are you sure it's safe here?" asked Phil again. "We're awfully close and you're doing absolutely nothing to hide yourself."
Paradox nodded. "Brozz will be singularly focused on getting to Jeffrey Tennyson. We needn't worry unless we get in his way."
"Are we planning on getting in his way?" asked Charmcaster with an arched brow.
Paradox pulled out his watch and studied it. "Not long now," he said quietly. He pocketed the timepiece and looked at Charmcaster. "You two will be. I won't."
"Gee, thanks," grumbled Charmcaster.
"I don't get it, what are we supposed to do?" asked Phil. "There is no way my gun is going to take out that... thing."
"That may be true, but there are more Plumbers within that mountain who might be able to help," said Paradox with a nod. He pointed at the mountain. "You see?"
The sound of grinding stone roared through the valley as part of the back of Mount Rushmore opened up and revealed a gigantic metal ring that was possibly the size of a football field across. Phil stared, flabbergasted.
"That's totally not there in the present," said Phil.
"What is that?" asked Charmcaster.
"A prison," said Paradox. "A very special one, made specifically for the criminal out there right now." He looked again at his watch. "And one, I'm afraid, that won't work without your help. So, it is time for you to get to work."
"Wait—what?" said Phil.
"What do you want us to do?" said Charmcaster.
"Sorry," shrugged Paradox. "Spoilers." He reached out and touched each of his two companions on the nose and they vanished in a spray of light. In the distance, near to the action, he saw the flashes of their arrival.
Nodding to himself, Paradox studied his watch. The hands on it weren't moving. He frowned.
"So that wasn't enough," he said. "What am I missing?"
- (X) -
Phil jumped into the giant hole that the Ring emerged from and tumbled to get out of the way of Brozz's fist. He rolled next to Xylene and held his gun at the ready.
"Hi! I'm Phil ," said Phil. "How can I help?"
"What are you doing here?" asked Xylene, testily. "There aren't supposed to be any more human Plumbers."
"Let's just say we're both surprised I'm here, and deal with the matter at hand," said Phil. He motioned toward Brozz with his gun. "I'm assuming there is a plan. What's the plan?"
"Uh, beat him until he falls," said Xylene, experimentally.
Phil sighed. "Just like old times." He looked at Xylene for a second more. "I still don't know what Max ever saw in you."
"Who?" said Xylene.
"Nevermind," said Phil. He stood up and ran back towards the fight going on between Jeffrey, Azmuth, Charmcaster, and Brozz.
- (X) -
Jeffrey grabbed his arm and rolled away from Brozz's second swing, all too aware that a misstep would result in every bone in his body turning to dust. The newcomer, a woman in purple with white hair covered his escape and flung white bolts of lighting at Brozz.
The lizard-alien staggered with each shot from the apparent magician, and Jeffrey was relieved to find someone with an attack the Chamatronian hadn't yet adapted to.
"Are you an Anodite?" asked Jeffrey as he tried to catch his breath.
"Ugh, no," said Charmcaster as she cast another spell. "I'm from Ledgerdomain."
"Where?" asked Jeffrey.
"Nevermind," grumbled Charmcaster. She pulled out her bag and opened it wide. "COME FORTH!" A dozen stone golems came charging out of her tiny hip-bag and began leaping onto Brozz and beating him with their fists.
"Wow," said Jeffrey.
"Yeah, I know," said Charmcaster with a sly grin.
"You need to position him in the center of the device!" yelled Azmuth as he scampered over.
Charmcaster looked at the Galvan with a puzzled expression. "Who are you supposed to be?"
"Azmuth. But the better question is who are you?" said the Galvan.
"Just consider me a friend," said Charmcaster. "Center of that ring, right?"
"Just long enough for me to activate it," said Jeffrey. He pulled out a heavy gun from his back holster. "Here, you'll probably need it."
Charmcaster raised an eyebrow. "Uh, no thanks. I've got my own guns." She turned on her heel and held her hands to her sides. "All right lizardman, lets rock." Her hands glowed brightly. "RAVA EELARTAS GALLAMETROY!"
Black clouds billowed out from Charmcasters hands and surrounded Brozz. Flashes of lightning and the sounds of thunder echoed out of the cloud. She laughed as several bolts struck Brozz, flinging him against the rockface.
"I hope you can control that lightning," said Azmuth wearily.
"Chill out, short stuff," said Charmcaster.
Phil and Xylene jumped down to Charmcaster and Azmuth were standing. "Your plan seems to be working better than our plan," said Phil.
"Don't get too relaxed, he's a Chamatronian," said Xylene. "He'll adapt before long."
"Doesn't seem to be putting up much of a fight right now," said Charmcaster with a wide grin. Her lightning struck Brozz a fifth time as the winds spun around his writhing form.
"Push him into the center of the ring, then!" yelled Azmuth.
"You got it, Azmuth," said Phil. He pulled out a metal rod and screwed it onto the end of his gun and began running to one side of the lightning storm.
Azmuth stared at the man as he ran and rubbed his chin in thought.
"I'll get to the control panel," said Jeffrey. He ran back towards the large control monitor in the back of the facility.
Xylene looked towards Azmuth. "This is really odd," she said.
Azmuth nodded.
- (X) -
Phil aimed his gun into the cloud but hesitated. "I can't see a damn thing in there," he called out. "Ease off the lightning."
"Your funeral," said Charmcaster as she let the glow on her hands die away. The clouds almost immediately began to dissipate.
Phil quickly lifted his gun and looked down the sights. "Hey, I said ease off, not turn off!"
"It's not like my magic has a dial on it!" yelled Charmcaster back.
Phil lined up his gun and fired as soon as he had a clear shot on the alien. The giant cylinder splintered apart halfway between them and exploded into a silver netting that surrounded the lizard. A thin metallic cord extended from the end of the gun to the netting, which Phil wrapped around his hand and began to pull.
"Geeze, this guy is heavy," groaned Phil.
Xylene ran over to Phil and grabbed the cord to help. Together they slowly started pulling Brozz towards the center of the ring.
"That's good, just a little further," said Jeffrey as he watched them on the giant monitor.
"You're pretty strong," commented Phil.
"My species is naturally stronger than yours," said Xylene.
Phil grinned at her. "I know."
They both pulled on the body for a few more second.
"You know, I thought this would be harder," said Phil.
The cord suddenly pulled taught and then yanked back pulling Phil and Xylene back towards Brozz. The lizard flipped back onto feet and pulled Phil and Xylene towards him. As they flew though the air Phil twisted his torso and kicked Xylene away just before he felt the large fingers of Brozz grab his neck.
Brozz coughed as he struggled for air.
"Easy enough for you?" growled Brozz.
A large beam of yellow energy impacted Brozz squarely in the back, causing him to stagger forward. A half second later a computer console flew across the room and slammed into his arm, splintering into a hundred pieces that showered the alien in silicon.
Phil pulled his gun out again and fired four times into Brozz' arm, loosening the grip enough to wiggle free. He landed on the ground hard, slamming his knee in to the stone hard enough he couldn't help but let out a short scream.
"Get clear!" yelled Jeffrey. He was holding a large rifle that was glowing yellow.
Charmcaster held out a glowing hand. "META QUINIX!" she shouted. Phil found himself surrounded in a red glow and was quickly yanked away from Brozz.
Jeffrey fired repeatedly at Brozz, each shot sounding like a canon and releasing a wide beam of yellow energy. The first two pushed him the back and nearly toppled him, but the third and fourth were quickly batted away by the alien.
"Damn," said Jeffrey. "He's getting quicker."
"Tennyson!" shouted Brozz. He began running towards the human Plumber, quickly closing the distance between them.
Inches before his fist came flying into Jeffrey's chest a metal manipulator arm swung from the rafters of the facility and batted Brozz away, sending him flying into a computer console on the opposite side of the room. It exploded into a shower of sparks and light.
Jeffrey looked in the opposite direction and saw Azmuth standing at the control console and looking back with an amused expression.
"Thanks," said Jeffrey.
"The center of the ring," repeated Azmuth.
"Right," nodded Jeffrey. He turned and grabbed a new gun from his belt and attached a conical emitter onto the end of it. He ran towards the slowly moving pile of ruined computer equipment.
To the side, Charmcaster was quickly flinging out stone golems from her pouch and sending them marching toward Brozz. She shook her head when she saw Tennyson running full bore in the fray.
"We're gonna need to work together," she announced to Phil and Xylene - who was helping Phil stand on his bruised knee.
"I'm open to suggestions," said Phil.
"He seems to be vulnerable to magic," said Charmcaster. "You lure him into the right position and I'll make sure he stays there long enough to activate the machine."
"What should we do?" asked Xylene as she motioned towards Azmuth.
"It'd be nice if you could keep us from getting killed in the process," shrugged Charmcaster. "Get to it."
Phil looked up at the suspended metal ring and judged the center as best he could. Jeffrey had sent Brozz into the corner of the facility, which meant their target had a long distance to cross. He considered his options.
"Hey, scaly-face," shouted Phil. "This is best you can do? A busted knee?"
"Yeah," called out Xyele. "He's... uh, still got a face. You haven't hit that face yet!"
Phil looked at Xylene. "I don't think that's helping. Can't you use your telekinesis to pull him over here?"
Xylene shook her head. "He adapted to that a long time ago. It just gives me a headache when I try."
"ACK!" squealed Jeffrey as he tried to avoid getting hit by Brozz's counterattacks. "I could use help here!"
"Ah, right," said Phil as he brought his gun to bear and began firing. Xylene lifted pieces of machinery and toolboxes around her and flung them towards Brozz. Jeffrey ducked under a flying desk and then began running towards Phil and Xylene.
Brozz turned his back to the onslaught and then leapt backwards into the air and landed between Jeffrey and Phil. Scampering to stop his momentum, Jeffery jumped to the side to dodge a violent kick from the alien. He rolled onto his back and pulled out a small metal orb and threw it.
Brozz caught the device which promptly exploded in his hand, throwing schrapnel everywhere. Jeffery held his hands over his face to protect it from the debris and felt several pieces of metal cut into his legs and arms. When he lowered his arms he saw Brozz still standing there.
"Tickles," he said with a grin.
Jeffrey looked up and saw the edge of the ring above him. Brozz was still not in position, he had to be moved at least another twenty yards back. He swallowed and then tightened his grip on his last gun.
"This is the end for us, Brozz," said Jeffrey. "Too many years."
"I agree," laughed Brozz. "I have been getting bored of you. Got any relatives to take your place once I crush you?"
Jeffrey got to his feet. He winced slightly as he realized some of the cuts on his legs were quite deep. "No," he said confidently. "No more. Just you and me." He slowly brought his gun up behind his back and touched it with his other hand.
"Pity," said Brozz. "I'll just have to destroy your planet next."
Jeffrey narrowed his eyes. "Over my dead body."
"Well, that was the implication," said Brozz. He curled his lips up exposing his rows of sharp teeth.
"Fine," said Jeffrey. Then he swung his arms around and ran straight into Brozz, pushing his gun flat against the alien's chest and holding it there firmly. A giant hand rose up and swiftly descended towards the Plumber's head.
Then Jeffrey's gun exploded in a brilliant display of orange light and smoke. The explosion flung both Brozz and Jeffrey in opposite directions covered in smoke and debris. Brozz landed and slid across the floor from his momentum, eventually coming to a rest right in the center of the ring.
"Now!" yelled Azmuth.
Phil and Xylene looked towards the unmoving form of Jeffrey on the other side of the room.
"Damn," cursed Phil and two ran full out towards the control console. He felt his legs burn as he pushed them beyond his limits. Then he felt his legs go even faster and almost seemed to be lifting off the ground. He looked down to see his rapidly moving legs encased in a white-purple light.
Charmcaster held her glowing hands up as she pushed Phil along after and faster towards the control console. The aging Plumber ran seventy yards in fifteen seconds.
Phil slammed his hips against the control console when he finally reached his destination, the pain shot up his spine and immediately gave him a headache. He pushed the aches aside, however, and focused on the display. Phil recognized the layout of the controls, standard Plumber configuration, and quickly brought up the operators screen for the containment vessel.
"Hurry!" yelled Xylene as she – at normal speed – ran to reach him. "He's getting up."
"No, he isn't," said Charmcaster. She turned her attention to Brozz and held up her hands again. "ERADIKO!" Brozz was suddenly encased in purple light and enclosed in a bubble.
Phil finally found the activation protocol and started it. The giant ring began to glow white. Energy crackled along its exterior, and the humming noise grew in volume. A section of the floor beneath Brozz's feet suddenly broke open and revealed a shiny silver cylinder that opened along its side and quickly closed around the alien. The cylinder then continued to rise until it was level with the glowing ring.
A series of six thick rods extended from the cylinder and attached themselves like spokes to the ring and causing the energy to flow down them and into the cylinder. The whole thing shook and fluctuated in color between orange, green, and white.
A series of red boxes appeared on the control console. Phil frowned. "This isn't good," he said. "He's resisting stasis."
"That isn't possible," said Azmuth. He lowered the mechanical arm and climbed upon it, then sent it over towards the console. He jumped down onto the metal panel and looked up at the display. "His adaptive abilities are nearly unlimited." Azmuth's voice was full of awe.
"Don't be impressed," said Phil. "How do we stop it?"
"We can't," said Azmuth. "I hadn't anticipated this. His energy signature is wildly variable. There may be no single force that can contain him forever. Any barrier his body encounters it changes itself to find a way to overcome and eventually duplicate. The possibilities are limitless."
Xylene - who was kneeling beside Jeffrey's unconscious form and gently tending to his exposed wounds - looked up at the glowing ring. "So that's it? Jeffrey's family will never have freedom from Brozz? He'll forever be hunting them?"
Charmcaster stepped towards the ring. "My magic worked on it before, maybe I can do something." She reached into her magic pouch and pulled out a small black book with silver accents on it. She flipped through the pages quickly. "Here. A binding spell." She looked back toward Phil and Azmuth expectantly.
"Go ahead," said Azmuth with a nod.
Charmcaster looked back and held up her hand. "Ayerdih Gravis Thrasius Erectum!"
Giant glowing purple runes appeared in the air around Charmcaster and circled her, drawing large amounts of energy from her body. First four appeared, then sixteen, then sixty-four. As each rune emerged more energy flowed from Charmcaster, and she struggled under the drain. She dropped to her knees when the last row emerged but she still kept her hand up and pointing towards the cylinder.
She lifted her eyes and grit her teeth. "SCRIBO!"
The runes flew off and burned themselves into the cylinder and into the rest of the ring structure. As each rune bound itself to the machine the gentle white glow turned purple and grew in intensity.
Finally the last of the runes had left Charmcaster and she lowered her arms to her sides, slumping on her knees and breathing heavily.
The screen before Phil and Azmuth turned green again.
"It worked," said Phil. "Or at least, the drain is much slower. It might just hold him for a very long time."
"That's an understatement," said Azmuth. "The decay is one one-billionth of its previous rate. It could hold him for millions of years like this." He turned and stared at the caster. "And again, I am impressed. I would never think such power could come from... well, from one so young."
Phil raised an eyebrow and looked at Azmuth with a grin. "Remember you said that in about fifty years."
Azmuth's turned quickly to face Phil. "What do you mean? Who are you, anyway? You know Plumber protocols but I've never seen you before. There should only be one human Plumber."
"Best not to think about it too hard," said Phil. "We'll be out of your hair in no time." He looked at Azmuth's smooth head. "Well, metaphorically speaking."
"We need to get Jeffrey to a hospital," said Xylene. "He's in a bad shape and there is only so much I can do with my abilities to keep him stable."
"I can take him," said Phil. "It's probably better for a human to do it in this era, anyway. Don't want to spook the doctors."
Azmuth frowned again at Phil.
"So, what do we do with this thing?" asked Charmcaster when she caught her breath again. She pointed up at the glowing containment vessel and ring. "Can't just leave it here in Mount Rushmore. Someone's going to find it."
"We'll turn it over to Command," said Xylene simply.
"The Plumber Central Command?" asked Phil. "No way. They'll be too tempted to open it again."
"Why would they do such a thing?" asked Xylene, appalled.
Phil looked to Azmuth with an expectant expression.
Azmuth sighed. "He is the only known Chamatronian. His abilities are unparalleled in the universe. He merits study." He shook his head. "I agree with you. There is no way he'll remain locked up forever."
"And when he gets out he'll come right here," said Phil. "So think again. You need to send this somewhere it'll never get disturbed again."
Charmcaster looked up at the opening in the facility and the night sky above. "I have an idea," she said. She raised her hands and - with effort – caused them to glow again. "A-ATHERVO!" she shouted.
The entire ring began to glow and lift out of the facility. The glow from the magics interacting turned it into a huge glowing disc in the night sky. Charmcaster pointed her hand into the night and then with a flick of her fingers, the disc went flying up into space.
"What did you do!" asked Phil.
"I sent it into deep space," said Charmcaster. "As far away from any planets or star systems I could sense. Once it reaches the edge of the galaxy, nobody will find it again."
"It could take years for that to happen," said Phil.
"It will take thousands of years at that rate," said Azmuth. "But once it leaves the confines of the Milky Way, it will be almost impossible to locate again without reference. It's not a bad idea."
Phil shook his head. "I hope you're right."
Azmuth shook his head. Then he turned to Charmcaster. "So, where is Ledgerdomain?"
- (X) -
Paradox stood on the Black Hills and watched the glowing disc fly off into space. He consulted his watch yet again. Still the hands had not moved.
"This is the start of the disturbance point," he said to himself. "So what is causing the disturbance?"
A second later a large hand gripped him around the torso and lifted him off ground.
"Ahh!" shouted Paradox as he felt the fingers tighten and begin to crush his ribs. He tried to twist himself free but could move at all. He tried to remove himself from the time path he was on but the disturbance in the timestream interfered and anchored him down.
The hand turned so Paradox could see who was holding him. The timewalker looked into the angry face of Brozz.
"So," Paradox struggled to speak. "It's you."
"It's me," said Brozz. He tightened his grip even further and Paradox felt a rib break.
"W-why?" asked Paradox.
"I'm not sure, to be honest," said Brozz, thoughtfully. "But I told myself I would understand after I'd copied your powers."
"Nobody can copy my powers," said Paradox. "Only the Celestialsapiens have the ability and why would they lower themselves to my level- AAHHCK!" Another rib broke.
"You're wrong," said Brozz. "And I know because I've already met my future self and he looks an awful lot like you."
Paradox's eyes widened. "No! It's you! Not me. I thought it was me! I thought the madness had returned but... oh my!" He looked around, alarmed for the first time in millennia. "I'm the disturbance. I've caused this paradox."
Brozz frowned at the time walker but slowly his expression changed to one of fascination. "Y...yes," he said. "You're right. In trying to stop me, you created the disturbance you were trying to prevent. Good show, old man." He looked to the sky. "I can see it now, the lines of fate leading to this moment." He laughed. "It was inevitable. Surely you could see it."
"I can see event, not cause," said Paradox. "And you should see no more than I."
"But you've never looked into the heart of a star, or saw the birth of a black hole," said Brozz. "The cause is obvious if you know how to see."
Paradox winced as he felt more bones crack. "Y-you are still bound by causality! If you saw yourself in the future you... ack—you still need to make sure that event happens as you remembered it!"
"Or what?" asked Brozz.
"Or everything will be lost," said Paradox. "If you unravel a closed loop it will disrupt the flow of time. You could find yourself trapped outside of reality and nobody will remember you ever existed!"
"Sounds like a good backup plan," said Brozz with a grin. He squeezed again.
"AHHH!" screamed Paradox as his bones snapped and his organs were punctured. Suddenly his skin began to crack and light seeped out. The splinters spread across his face and body until he was nothing but a human shaped ball of light which exploded into sparkles that drifted away in the breeze.
Brozz looked down to see a blackened skeleton wearing goggles and a labcoat in his hand. The skeleton then began to crumble to dust and the alien opened his fingers to let all that remained of the timewalker to fall to the ground.
The last thing that fell from his fingers was a brass pocketwatch.
Brozz closed his eyes and shifted his form, shrinking in size and shape until he looked identical to the timewalker he'd just killed.
"Now then," said the new Paradox as he adjusted his goggles. "I need a magician."
Then, in a flash, he was gone.