Day 12 ~ Day 18

One day the group awoke weary eyed and worn out. They did what they had become accustomed to doing every morning for the past six months. Everyone working to get into a bathroom so they could get to breakfast then head to the training facility.

Throughout the morning this is what could be seen by anyone who passed by. The main door was left wide open. Rose was sitting on one of the couches reading a Bible that she’d managed get someone to find for her. Marian had started joining her in the morning and they’d talk about what they’d read on the way to the facility if the got a chance. Most of the times John could be found studying until the last possible minute. Then he'd rush around to finish dressing. Everyone else was usually in a blur of motion. Occasionally someone could be heard yelling at a bathroom door. Servants would come and go to make sure everyone had everything they needed for the day. Daniel would cry out that he’d lost his notebook. Someone else might stop to help him look for it. JoAnna could be seen hunting around for a missing shoe or jacket or electronic gadget she’d lost during her studying the night before. No one ever saw a person move about so while they studied. Rodger carried  around another electronic gadget that most people couldn’t figure out if he was studying or had built himself, all the while brushing his teeth and pulling on socks.

Mornings were a bit chaotic for everyone. On several occasions it led to several people being upset with someone. This proved difficult to handle during training. Everyone needed to be on good terms and cooperating with one another. Training not only helped them to learn about each other but it also gave them each a level of respect. Everyone seemed to notice when someone failed. However they were quick to notice when someone succeeded. Everyone did their best to encourage and help each other. They were all reliant upon each other. There wasn’t anyone better to understand what they were going through then the people who were going through the same things.

Most of the times their homework was based on an individual basis yet there were alway projects that needed to be worked on with a partner. The original break up of the group was what they usually were set together with. The instructors still liked to mix things up that way they could see who and how the group worked together.

Anyway the group didn’t know it but this day was different from all the others. There wasn't to be any training. All the studying they’d done was the last they’d do. Whatever they had been working on wouldn’t be important any more. When they showed up at the training facility they were brought together as a group to do one last thing.

“Today,” an instructor began, “We want to see how far you’ve progressed. Today you are going to release the AstroShip into space. I hope to see your dedication, determination, and open mindedness put to the limit. This should be the best take off ever.”

Now the group had gotten so used to training that simulations had become a part of them. The closest they’d come to actually doing the work was the piloting they’d been doing on the AstroStars. So when they got everything ready down to the last itty bitty detail to set the AstroStar into space, they had no idea that they’d actually done it for real.

The look of their faces when they felt the ground rumble beneath them. They gathered together to watch the take off of the ship they’d soon be taking through space. After the AstroStar had been launched the instructors brought the group outside. There they found a group of people had gathered. Everyone was setting things up for a party.

King ShaHarn greeted them from behind. “All these people are here for you. Their hope for this world rests in your hands. Let them celebrate this successful day. Oh and by the way, I guess someone should tell you that your training is over.” The king walked out and conversed with his people. Grabbing a glass of whatever was being served near him. It looked like fruit juice but it could have been wine or some such beverage.

For the group it seemed strange to be celebrating. They thought they still had training to do. They thought they was still training they NEEDED to do. None of them was sure about feeling comfortable or ready to set off looking for a madman.

“Well, you can all stand around and stare at each other but I’m going to find  something to get rid of the crater hole in my stomach.  All that stressing about whether I was going to remember everything really made me hungry.”

“We get up on that ship and I don’t know how we are going to keep him fed.” Joshua said and everyone chuckled a little before they were surrounded by people.

All day people shared their excitement with members of the group. Everyone wanted to know what they called themselves. Which of course they didn’t have an answer for. It wasn’t something they had talked about. There was music and quite a wide variety of it. The food was all around in different varieties and quantities. Anna kept after Daniel to make sure he didn’t indulge himself on more than he ought.

There was food that they hadn’t seen before. The king had tried to keep their meals as close to what they were used to as was possible. At the party though he didn’t have quite the same amount of control as he did in the castle. Marian wondered what was from space and what had been created on earth. There was always new food being made here even from back when she was at home. Of course the only way to find out was to ask someone their. She did so occasionally.

That night when the air chilled, the people began to disperse. The bone fire still blazed. The music ended. The dancing continued in the hearts of the people as they made their way home. When the group returned to the castle it was with a smile on their face. Homesickness crept into the pits of their stomachs as the got around for bed. It wasn’t long before they were all nursing warm cups of cocoa, tea, or coffee as they sat together in the sitting area.

“Well this is exciting.” Marian broke the silence.

James laughed but it was more of a sad nervous sound that escaped past his lips. “Am I the only one was doesn’t feel like they're ready for this?”

There was a common look past around and a few who only stared into the depths of the rugged carpet.

“It has been a while since we’ve been here. When we were doing all those things it felt like time past by so fast. I hardly noticed when a day started and ended. Now I can’t help but wonder if we are even a tad bit closer to being home.”

“Like you keep asking yourself if this was even a step in the path toward home.”

“We still agree that this was the best move for us to make though right?” James watched as everyone replied that it was what they agreed. “We can try to turn back now but I think after this we won’t have a choice but to move forward.”

Julie slightly changed the subject bring it more around to the belief that they weren’t all mentally crazy. “Did anyone else get asked what they call ourselves?”

Yawning Daniel tried to nod, “Yeah they kept asking me. What did they mean?”

“Well, you know like a group name. Like AstroVallians or some such thing that would help make us sound like a team.”

“What do you all think? Should we come up with a name? Any ideas on what we might use?”

Marian stifled a yawn, “I like having a group name. Although I think Astro anything would be a little like overkill.”

“I think so too,” agreed Anna. “Something to do with earth might be good.”

“I t-t-think somet-t-thing like R-r-rangers w-w-would be g-g-good because it w-w-would be like the T-t-texas R-r-rangers." John managed to finished after suffering through his stutter.

His black leathery cloak billowed out behind him as he stormed through the heavy double doors. “WHAT am I hearing?”

The three men sitting at the table stood. One of them knocked over the chair he was sitting in, another clutched his hands together tight against his waist.

A girl, with hair the color of ripe strawberries that knit together in tight curls in a tight skimpy piece of dress, stepped up close to him. “Let them have a chance to explain, my sweet Sleek. I’m sure they can have some good reason for causing you so much distress.”

His eyes seemed to bore into the man standing closest to him. The man spoke as he studied his dark colored shoes.

“When the missile launch failed...”

“I KNOW what failed tell me what is happening now!”

Eyes wide the man stumbled over his words. “Task force they created sir.”

“WHAT?”

“Wha-What he meant to say sir was that the Earthlings have created a task force.”

“Their purpose?”

“ShaHarn is sending them to find you, sir.”

“HA! Ha, ha! He’s what?”

“They are a group of teenagers sir, recently trained to use the spaceship they have created. Their mission is to hunt you down and bring you to Earth. They call themselves the Rangers, something about the first law keepers of the old Earth days.”

“Study your history and know your enemy, Klitar.”

“Sir you should know,” the only man who hadn’t spoken was the one standing farthest away from the moody cloaked man. “There is a bit of news that didn’t make it through the lines to us. It was interrupted.”

“Is the hole patched?” He gritted the words out through his teeth.

“It is happening as we speak, sir.”

“Very well don’t let it happen again. I want to know everything you can tell me about that force field. I think I have an idea how to deal with earth before they try to deal with us.”

“Do you want information on the Rangers sir?”

“If my plan works we won’t need any of that. They’ll never make it out of Earth’s orbit. Now get me that information!”

It was their last day on Earth. They, of course, hoped to see it again one day soon but it wasn’t likely to be as soon as they wished. Daniel sighed, “It feels like I’m going to be going on a diet. What are we going to eat out there?”

Anna laughed, “Didn’t you read about the food simulators?”

“Are you serious? I thought they were joking. You mean we are going to have to eat that green mush stuff that taste like real food but definitely doesn’t hold up for consistency?”

“No, Daniel,” Peter patted in on the back, “That part was the joke. The food simulators work to produce real looking food. Besides we are carrying enough stuff to make a few meals. We’ll also be stopping at planets along the way so I’m sure you can pick up a thing or two to eat.”

“I think what I’m going to miss the most is everything we’ve always loved about this place. Sure it is going to be fantastic to see all these new worlds and all the things in space that we’ve always read about. However imagine not waking up to the sun rising. No blue sky, no wind rattling the windows, no green grass or trees, no giant expanse of water, imagine not waking up and smelling or breathing in this beautiful place.”

John looked to James as though he was seeing the man in a different light. Then he turned and viewed the whole group. Capturing the image of them all in his mind. He caught Rose’s eye, he smiled and blushed. Turning away again he breathed in a deep breath of air and walked off toward the transport that was waiting to take them to the port up in Earths orbit.

As they left Earth they could see people all over the globe preparing to celebrate the beginning of their mission. It made them happy to be the cause of such hope but with it came the realization of how many people they’d be letting down if they failed.

Day 10 ~ Day 11

“Do you want to tour the ship now or would you like to wait until it is in space?”

Julie looked around at the girls sitting down and the rest of the looks on the on the faces if the others.

“Actually sir, I think we need to tour a nice serene quiet area where we can talk some things out. You might know us from the future but we were only just getting to know ourselves. We have a lot of things to talk through. As a matter of fact we only introduced ourselves to each other yesterday on the way to your castle.”

“Rebarto I think our friends could use to visit the lake. Why don’t you see that they get there and have some time to themselves?”

“I’ll see to it my lord.”

Transported to a place where swans swam upon a crystal clear lake. The grass was as lush and green as ever. However it wasn’t what the group was thinking about. The sat about in a disorganized circle.

“I guess since I suggested we should talk I should start off.”

“You weren’t the only one Julie.” Rose grabbed Marian’s hand.

Marian smiled feeling reassured. “Julie was right though. We have a lot of things to discuss. Like is this what we want to be doing?”

“It does seem like we are being pushed and prodded,” Peter admitted.

“N-n-no, t-t-this isn’t p-p-pushing an-n-nd p-p-prodding. T-t-this is m-m-more like h-h-herding.”

“We do seem to be doing whatever this kings wants and what they tell us our future selves have said we would do.”

“James, do you think that our future selves would want us to dictate our lives on what they may or may not have said about us. Are we supposed to just buckle down and walk in some straight line from here to their future. Do you think that was what they’d have done to get where they were at. It is like reliving a life and people don’t get to do that.”

“Unless it is Groundhog Day,” Daniel added to what JoAnna had to say. A few of them laughed but the rest looked on in bewilderment.

“What has Groundhog Day to do with re-living life? I thought it was just when we found out whether we were going to have an early Spring or not.”

“Well it was made into a movie,” Daniel began.

“Where there was this guy,” Anna continued.

“Who had to relive this one day over and over again. No matter how the day ended he just couldn’t get something right and he’d repeat the day the next morning.” Joshua finished off, “When he finally got things figured out his days finally went on as if everything he’d been through was a dream.”

“Anyway, JoAnna is right,” James brought the subject back to what they were trying to discuss. “We shouldn’t let our future selves dictate what we do now. I think we should take into consideration what they have had to say but this is our life to chose what we will do.”

Rodger couldn’t contain himself anymore, “So you're all saying that you don’t WANT to fly a spaceship?”

They glanced around to size up how everyone was feeling.

“I just think everyone wants some time to let everything digest. This is a lot of responsibility put on our shoulders. Do we really think we are capable of it?”

“You know Peter, I think we are capable. I think that is one of the things we should listen to our future selves about. They would know more about us. About what we are capable of than we would right now. I mean Joshua, besides your name I don’t know anything about you. Carol, I couldn’t even guess at what you favorite color might be. We,” Marian was standing at this point motioning at all of us in a circular motion with her finger. “We don’t know much about one another but they did. They have done whatever it is we are about to do and they thought we were great. However I’m probably in the same boat most of you are in. I want to go home more than anything in the world. I miss my mom and my little brother. I even miss the cat. Worse yet, I miss my big brother. All I want to do is go home even if it is just to say good bye.”

Marian sat down in almost a collapsing manner. Rose reached out and grabbed her hand again. “I think we need a vote,” she said.

“Who is in? Who wants to get to know each other better and... ride in a spaceship? Rodger that does sound really cool!” James watched as everyone’s hands hit the air. Some of them were slow in coming a few were watching other peoples hands but they were definitely all raised.

“So anybody just want to give up, go home, and forget any of this craziness ever happened?”

They laughed and spent the rest of the day talking about their lives, about all the things that were important to them and quite a few things that weren’t. When Rebarto came and suggested taking them back to the castle, the agreed. At dinner they told the king that they all agreed to start learning all the things they would need to know for their mission.

“So you have agreed to go for us?”

“Yes sir. We had a nice long talk today and it seems that as much as we’re home sick we want to see this adventure through.”

“Very good! You can all start training tomorrow. So perhaps an early night would be in order?”

They did go to their rooms early but it was late into the night before they actually want to sleep. Whoever the musician was trying to lawl them to sleep with his sweet songs must have become very depressed by the time they actually crawled into bed.

“So today we are going to show you some of the basics of the training course just to see where everyone is at and give us an idea on what you need to know most. Our job is to make sure you are comfortable, sure of yourself, and know how to fly. That is the AstroStar and AstroShip of course,” The main instructor joked. “We are going to take you in groups of two. The reasons for this are simple. One, the instructors will be able to observe how well you work together. Two, some of the things you will be doing today require assistance. Three, some of the assignments will be competition. You are the hope of the globe. You are what we all depend upon so I will be making sure you know your stuff before letting you board our ship. From now on plan to work as hard as you ever have before.”

Once they were split it didn’t take their instructors long to put them to work. Peter and his sister were taking a language class that was set up as a series of multiple choice answers of a touchable screen. “There are no right and wrong answers today. This is not a test, more like a pop quiz so we will know how much you know. We want you to do your best but to make it a little more fun why don’t you race to see who can get through it first.”

“Hussel, hussel, let’s get you two through this course. Come on, come on, we don’t have all day!” He blew a whistle as the instructor watched the Taylor twins run through and obstacle course that rivaled something like is used in the military. Sure they might have been doing sports in school but that didn’t compare with the rigorous course set before them. They they tripped and stumbled the instructor made the things they could do easily much harder by setting challenges.

John and Carol were set up with Astronomy. There are things that we normally know about stars and things we don’t know. This instructor didn’t bother with asking questions he just assumed that they wouldn’t know what he was talking about. So instead of filling in gaps he was just going to cover everything. Most importantly was a replica of what the ships navigation system were like.

For Anna and Daniel things were a little different. They were taken out on a little survival  camp trip that would last over night. The instructor stayed with them but all the surviving us up to them. The were dropped off with a map and few supplies and asked to travel from their drop off point to the training facilities.

The tech geeks were eager to see what all Rodger knew. So he and JoAnna were sent through all kinds of computer systems that the ship would contain. It turned out that JoAnna was too bad with tech talk and that Rodger wasn’t so bad at teaching her what he could to help her through whatever the instructors asked of them.

That left James and Marian with hands on and book research in all things mechanical, from basic plumbing to warp drive engines. It was long, boring, grueling, and useful but it didn’t help make them in anyway excited. All the hands on was from a computer that had images that could be touched and moved with the hand. That was probably the coolest part for them. They’d seen things in movies but everyone knew it was green screen and placed in later. This was actually real and happening to them.

For the rest of the week they continued to switch places. Sunday they were given off to continue studying and relax a little. There was of course homework due in on Monday. because they needed these young people to be top notch and ready in the shortest amount of time possible. There were also courses on food prep, medicinal and bandaging, and languages. (Which remained mostly the same throughout space as what they were on Earth. Though some had slight variations and accents.)

It wasn’t like they got through the course in a week and were ready to start flying around. Oh, no, these young people were in for a lot more work. Although the best part was when they were finally ready for their first AstroStar test drives. They’d been doing simulation games for weeks. Now to finally being able to take the spacecraft to the air. There was excitement all around even though they were nervous.

Day 9

When they did awaken Daniel was sure it was to the smell of bacon. No one else could smell it but he seemed to be able to. They of course at this moment had no idea they’d slept through and entire day. Everyone took turns in the bathrooms. It worked out well. In not too long a time everyone was dressed and ready to find out what it was that they were supposedly destined to be a part of. When no one came they pulled the cord that the servant had showed them before they’d gone to sleep.

“I feel kind of awkward letting someone else do things for me.”

“I know I’m not so sure I like the future if we go back to having servants.” Peter affirmed what his sister had said.

“Technically, not to take such things away from Rodger,” Marian smiled at him.

“By no means, go ahead.”

“Servants weren’t necessarily a bad thing in our history. I’m not sure how currency works here but in our past history servants were a sign of wealth. As were of course slaves. The difference between slaves and servants was that the servants usually received a wage while slaves were usually kept in a state that caused them to remain slaves. They didn’t get a choice who they wanted to be unless they managed to escape or scavenge up enough money to buy their freedom. With a servant they get to choose their course in life. Some of them got paid quite well for the work they performed.”

“So you don’t mind servitude?”

Marian wasn’t sure of Joshua was accusing her of something or just genuinely curious about what she thought. “I think that it servitude it done properly there isn’t much cause to be troubled by it. Anyone who is forced to do what they don’t want is just cruel. However if people want to do that kind of work and are paid fairly. I don’t see a problem with it.”

It seemed as though Joshua was about to say more but the door opened and one of the servants walked in. “How may I be of service?”

“Well, we were thinking it might be us who are needed but we don’t know exactly what we’re supposed to be doing. Could you give us a hand?”

At first the man looked at him in a bit of alarm but then something seemed to register. He nodded as if to himself. “Would breakfast be agreable? The king will speak with you afterward.”

After they’d eaten the king did show up with Rebarto not far behind him. He almost would have seemed like a little dog except that he was always so happy and that he held himself in a way that made people think something of him. It was like he was privileged to have his position and he demanded the respect that came with it. Not that he was in some way obliged to be there at his masters beckoning call.

“I hope you all slept well? How was the food?”

“It was all very fine and I’m sure we all thank you for your kindness. But I’m sure you can imagine what it is like for us to want to know what has been so far planned for us. There are a lot of things we might not agree on. I know there is a lot of things we aren’t used to but most importantly I think we’d like to know why we are here. Please tell us.”

The king’s face grew quiet grave after hearing James words. “Yes, yes, come everything is ready. It is time for you to know what faces you.”

He led them to an open balcony. It had no rails, instead it was more like a platform on which there were some kind of aircraft. These are AstroStars. You named them yourselves when you were here last time.”

“Wow! Do we get to drive?” Rodger was nearly bouncing from one foot to the other.

“Not yet.” He gave another deep laugh. “There is a lot of learning for you to go through. Our scientists and technicians have put together quite a program for you. These men and women will drive today.”

Once everyone was seated. It didn’t take long for them to get to a landing site with a huge building that seemed to have a huge AstroStar sticking up through the roof.

“Come in and see what has been built for you.”

Peter stopped him, “Wait, so you built us a ship? No,” He looked back up at the building, “A spaceship?”

“Yes, does that seem to be a problem?”

“It is okay Rebarto. I think I know where Peter is going with this.”

“Come I will tell you the reason for the AstroShip as we walk. There is much anticipation at your arrival. An I’m afraid that not everyone welcomes it as they should.”

The group followed him as they walked toward the massive building. There were people everywhere. Little motorized carts, more aircraft, and even a few robots that seemed to be very adgil ran about amongst the people.

“Technology was taking over the planet. Everyone was going cybor and jobs were being done by machines and robots. People didn’t have jobs to do anymore. As far as our historians can tell that is what caused what happened to us. Humans just didn’t know where to turn. They stayed in their homes watching television and playing games that got more advanced all the time to the point where people were contracting strange disease scientist didn’t know how to fight. I’m sure there were a lot of things that causes these problems although the inactivity of people seemed to be a major cause. Then there was the fact that people didn’t have jobs and weren’t making the money they needed to keep living. Everyone still needed to be able to pay for all the things that robots and machines were creating. Some of the business owners and such were making tons of money. However it wasn’t going anywhere. The man in charge, you wont know him and I can’t be telling you too much of your future, anyway, he mandated that every job a robot or machine was doing that a human could be doing was to be giving to them. A wage was set for a while but then it seems that people went back to bartering for items. Currency has become unnecessary. People work, they eat, everyone has a place in society. From the paperboy to the man who travels the globe in search of the new printed on the paper, from the farmer to the fruit merchant, from the mechanic to the ferryman, from the lawyer to the clockmaker that needs help with a lawsuit. Life is the currency that flows through the air we breath.” He stopped to open the oversized metal door. “That is what ended up bringing us to space travel. I wouldn’t say we overpopulated the planet but the taste for adventure couldn’t be sedated by Earth anymore. We didn’t have any alien landings or anything but the human race has done their best to populate space as far as they can reach out. Which isn’t as far as some of them would like to touch. The curiosity of man is never satisfied.”

“That is really fascinating but I still don’t see why we're here.”

“Aw, well earth has become sort of a distant mother planet. There are those born on other planets that have never seen Earth. It is one of these such people who is causing us a bit more trouble than we can handle. I have been told that he is part of a cult who thinks that the human race has sinned against God by allowing our people to travel out beyond the place He created for us. There is more to it then I know, I’m sure. One thing's for certain that we can not allow him to continue threatening to destroy earth. He already sent one missile to Earth. We have shields up protecting the planet.”

“Force fields?”

“Rodger, I’m sure it is something like that. So we need you to travel out into space and find him. We would like for him to be brought back to Earth if at all possible.”

“Couldn’t anyone travel out to get him?”

“At first that is what I thought we would do. However you arrived and told us it needed to be done by you. I don’t know if we did something and you had to come and fix it or what but I do know that we have gone to a lot of work to make this the way you told us it would be.”

“Enough of all that. Come and see. Rodger I know for a fact that you're going to get a kick out of this.” He and Rebarto pushed open the double doors.

There before them was the biggest thing they had ever seen. It wasn’t quite like the AstroStars although very similar. The silvery metal gleamed in the fluorescent light of the high ceiling. Over half of it was bathed in sunlight from the partially opened roof.

“This will be launched just before your training is finished. You will have a good grip on how to handle her by then. Once she is christened you’ll be free to go. That is a ways off yet.”

The group could only stare up in awe at what they were looking at. In their day none of this was in the near future. It was all still a dream that even the geeks weren’t sure how to reach. It was almost too much to take in. There wasn’t a nice way to tell these young people that they were being sent into space to find a guy at was planning on destroying a whole planet full of people. Not only that but they had been transported to the future to do it. Who would do that to someone?

Marian sat down where she was. It was all too much to ask. For what insane reason would she want to go into space. Why would her future self allow such a thing? All she wanted now was to go home. It wasn’t the ideal place but at least it was something she was familiar with. Something she could grasp at and understand. There were a lot of things she wanted to do but it was all back home. How was she ever going to get back there?

Rose came over and sat down with her. “We all need to talk about this don’t we.”

Day 8

Once inside they were inside they noticed how rich the furnishings appeared. Everything was covered in colors of gold and silver, blues and purples, reds and oranges. The masonry and craftsmanship was extraordinary. Nothing compared to what they were seeing.

“Everything in here was created by human hands. Mostly here on planet earth.” He said the last part like Americans would when they say made in the USA.

“Are you saying that there weren’t any machines involved in the creation of this castle?”

“Good question Marian. Yes. Mostly this building was created by humans. They only machines used were those that were needed to haul and lift the materials.”

Rebarto led the room into a large open room. It was furnished with couches and chairs and tables. There was a huge fireplace at the one side. The windows were big enough for a person to stand in and spread his arms out.

Smells of fresh baked bread wafted in. Following it were people carrying fruit and trays of cheese and crackers, jars of juice and water, glasses and plates followed. Behind them came a tall man whose stature seemed to demand the attention of anyone near him. His gaze fell upon each member of the group. Meanwhile the people had disappeared leaving the food and drink on a large table the sat close to the floor.

Rebarto was at the man’s right side. Somehow they had missed him leaving them but here he was returning with a man who looked as though he could crush them with his dark bare hands. Around the man’s wrists and upper arms were thick bracelets of gold that only seemed to enhance the man's muscular appearance.

“Come, welcome, join me at my table. Everything we have done is to try to make you as comfortable as possible. Although it seems we can not quite get the periods in time straight with your customs. For this I deeply apologize.”

The twelve youths sat about the table. The two men joined them. Food was passed around and everyone began to eat.

“We still have a lot of questions,” James started the conversation.

“Like why we are here. No one seems to want to give us an answer for that yet.”

“Forgive Rebarto. I asked him to allow me to explain to you why you were sent for. I wish that it could have happened after our first meeting but each of you seemed to remember this happening before our meeting. It took some time for our people to get everything ready for the mission. Plus it wasn’t easy tracking down the exact time and locations with which it equip you with your rings. Rebarto had to do quite a bit of Transporting to get things just the way you’d all remembered them.”

“That is all fine and dandy but when are we allowed to go home?”

“Here and already wanting to leave Anna,” The man smiled as if he knew something, “Don’t worry you’ll all get home safe and sound. You’ll hardly even know you weren’t home. I admit that our scientist don’t quite have all their T's crossed and I’s dotted. However they seem to think that as a group you will be able to return home when each of you is ready. They believe that the power of the rings is connected. That when each of you put on your ring you were slightly transformed. Like a new piece was added to your genes.”

“Are you saying that you allowed us to be changed without our consent?”

“In a way we had you're consent. Although I’m afraid it was your future you who consented. You are the only ones who can bear this burden. These gifts are not created for everyone. Only one person in each generation can weld the ring and use it to it’s full potential. For that reason our scientist have no idea what you will be capable of. Just because the ring allows you to use it in a way it is shown in the records not to be thus with whomever you pass it on to. The rings adapt to be able to best assist you. At least that is what my scientist can agree on.”

“Are you saying we have super powers?” Daniel asked the man between mouthfuls of food.

The man’s smile widened, “Yes Daniel. It is one of the many possibilities.”

“Cool. And this cheese is the best I’ve tasted.”

“That is compliment indeed.”

“So why exactly are we here? I’m getting a whole lot of stuff about burdens and destiny, futures and pasts but I don’t understand why we are here right now. Are we needed for something?”

“That question I will gladly answer in the morning. I will show you what my people have been working on here. For now know that you are the only hope we have of saving earth. The future you assured us that this was the only way.”

The man started to rise up from the table. “Come you will be shown to your rooms. Everything will be told to you in the morning and then preparations will be made to fulfil the needs of each of you. Rest peacefully.”

“Wait! We don’t even know you're name yet?”

The man laughed deep inside his chest, “I am King ShaHarn Servant of the Keeper of Earth.”

“ShaHarn? Hum. Not bad at all.”

“Glad you approve Daniel Jones.”

Their rooms were up two flights of stairs. Three rooms lined both sides or a larger room. It was a sitting area with more couches and cushions. From somewhere music could be heard.

“Each of these rooms will house two people. They have what you call bunk beds in them. Four baths are across the hall. This is similar to the arrangement you will find on the ship.”

“Nagarausta!”

She bowed her head and hurried from the room, “Sorry, this tongue,”She muttered as she went.

“Forgive her, she is new and sometimes slips up. She is learning fast, just not fast enough sometimes.”
“Did she mention a ship?”

“Rodger! Not now,“ Demanded Joshua crossly. He was getting a little tired of all the technical questions the redhead couldn’t refrain from.

“What?!”

They all just shook their heads. There was no way around it the guy was a full blown geek.

“If you are in need of anything we are happy to serve. This cord will call someone to your room. If that is everything I’ll leave you to rest.”

The slim man left them to claim their own rooms.

“I’m not sure how we want to do this but I’m think boys on one side girls on the other.”

“That would just leave us to decide who our roomies are and who gets which side.” Marian grinned at James. The race was on. All the girls gravitated to the one side and all the boys to the other. However when they got there it didn’t take them long to step back out.

The boys were laughing so hard. They couldn’t say anything.

“Yeah that is what we thought.” Julie gestured to the room she and JoAnna had just left. “It is a little masculine in there.”

They traded sides and settled down. Teleporting had taken more out of them than they realized but they wouldn’t know that for a while.

James and Joshua, Rodger and Daniel, Peter and John each shared rooms on the right side of the sitting area. On the left side was Marian and Rose, Carol and Anna, Julie and JoAnna. The next twenty-four hours they slept without making a stir. A whole day would pass before any of them would awaken.

Day 7

The siblings had been gathering stumps from the woods and old chairs being thrown away by the neighbor hood. They had something the constituted for a table and chairs. It was there upon then that the two found their rings. Once they were slipped onto their fingers they forgot about them. Although it wasn’t for long.

Suddenly they blinked out of existence. It was as if they had never been. As if they were written out of history. Then just as suddenly they appeared somewhere else. It was a room full of people. People who seemed to be just as confused as they were.

“Where are we?” Questioned the chubby boy who was glancing around at everyone around him as though they might have the answer.

Another boy grabbed the red door and was about to yank it open. One of the girls collapsed on the ground shouting, “NO!” As though she’d just awakened to her worst nightmare.

“Marian?”

“James? What, what is going on?”

A light above the door shown green. The read door began to vanish back into the wall. A figure of a man stood in the bright light. Once he’d stepped in the room the door returned and it took everyone a moment until their eyes could adjust.

“Teleportation really isn’t that bad. You’ve just experienced it all wrong. Sorry, the time travel makes your eyes tender to the light. Besides the fact that it probably isn’t quite something you will be used to. I suppose I’m getting ahead of myself again.”

The salty air tasted in her mouth. She watched as the waves bounced off the rocky shore line back into the ocean. She was living with her father who was on business the first day of school. Which she didn’t mind so much other than it had thus far been utterly boring. He’d spent all day talking to these three men in and office. Then he had to stop out at this lighthouse for some reason or another. He’d told her to stay in the car but she’d been sitting all day. Besides who wanted to sit in the car when they had the perfect chance like this to breath in some fresh salt water. She watched as a boat pulled into the harbor across the way. It was a big freighter and she wondered what cargo it might be carrying. Did they just make a stop to fuel up or for supplies? Were they going to leave their load at the dock the way the other boat was doing?

Even if she could stand around until they docked she wouldn’t be able to find out what they were doing. The whole process was going to take much longer than she’d ever have time for. Standing outside all night until the next day really wasn’t in her plans

“JoAnna!”

She turned to see her father at the car. He wasn’t happy. Was it because of his meeting or was it because she hadn’t listened to him? Running to the car helped to remove some of the chill that had been taking over her body. Still she was a tad excited to get back in the car and turn the heat on a little.

“I thought I said stay IN the car?”

“Of course Daddy but their was the ocean and the cute boats.”

“You mean boys?”
JoAnna blushed. “No. There weren’t any boys.”

He squeezed her hand. “I know honey I was just picking. I’m thinking some of Phil’s thick potato soup for lunch. What do you say sweetheart?”

“We only get to go see Phil if you're upset about something. It sounds good anyway.” She sat back in her seat.

Phil worked in a restaurant in town. He made the best food she’d ever had. Of course it was most of the food she’d ever had lately. Her mother had died a few years back from something her father didn’t like to talk about. Ever since he’d been pretty sad and had worked even harder than ever.

When the came in the glass door a bell jingled. Phil peeked out around the corner. “Hey! My two favorite people! Mabel will be out for your orders in a moment.”

“Alright we’re sitting in the usual booth.”

They sat down and waited for Mabel. She was the only waitress in the place. It was said that Phil didn’t hire more people because he was picky about the way his food was served. Which could have been true because Phil was pretty particular about the way his dishes were handled. For instance he’d once introduced them to a new recipe he’d created. It was a chocolate, cream cheese, and strawberry dish that had been scrumptious. Although when she’d gone to dip her spoon in he’d corrected her by having her use a fork. Apparently it was better to use the fork for this dish because when the food seeped through the prongs of the fork into your mouth it mixed in a special way. She’d laughed but grew serious in an instant when she saw the offended look on Phil’s face. It didn’t matter how she ate it just that it’d been wonderful. However she suspected that it probably had more to do with he didn’t have the money to hire someone else.

Phil’s place was just a small diner. The great thing about it was he didn’t stick to burgers, pizza, and fries. He was a chef and he like to bring new foods to his regular customers. That was how he kept them regular. Everyone loved his creations. Well, except for this split pea thing he’d made with seaweed or some kind of sea plant. It hadn’t looked half bad but the smell. No one could get past it. Other than that his food had been fantastic.

The dinner was always neat and tidy. Once in awhile a band would come through and Phil would ask if they wanted to play. If they did their food was on the house. He believe music was important. About as important as food. JoAnna’s father had said his belief had to do with a girl he’d meet in school. Someone people said he was still in love with. JoAnna had often wondered what she looked like and if Phil kept in contact with her. She wasn’t curious enough to ask or find out.

“Well Miss Bonner. What will it be today deary?” Mabel was fond of the word deary.

“Two Creamy Potato Soups, a basket of Rolls, and a side of Bacon strips.”

“He still doesn’t add enough bacon does he?”

“No not at all.” They laughed.

“Alright anything to drink?”

“The usual.” She grinned at Mabel’s ‘I know what you're going to say’ look.

“Be back with your order in a jiff.”

“MABEL!”

She giggled. “I’ve been doing that to him all day!” She left to grab their orders.

Phil didn’t like Mabel to act like she worked for a fast food place. He worked hard at his creations and he could always tell when she was making things appear to be faster than they were.

“So I have a lady coming to spend the afternoons with you until I get home from work. That way you can start school tomorrow.”

JoAnna looked up in surprise. “I’m too old for a babysitter.”

“Just hear me through JoAnna. I just want someone to be there when you get home. Someone who can make sure you have a good dinner and see to it that you get help with your homework if you need it .I wish I could be there for you all the time sweetheart but when I took this new job I signed up for longer hours. We agreed that would be the best thing for me to do right?”

“Yeah but I still don’t think I need someone looking over my shoulder all the time. I’m old enough to take care of myself.”

“Can you do this for me? It’d make me feel so much better if she was there to make sure your home from school safe and sound.”

“Alright but that means I get to order dessert.”

He smiled, “At least you didn’t ask for a new dress.”

Mabel brought their order. “Two Potato Soups, Bread basket, and bacon. It took me awhile to make sure that he gave you the bacon. He is still insisting that you're ruining his soup.”

“He’ll get over it won’t he?”

“Lets hope so. And you're usual. That was hazelnut coffee for you Mr. Bonner and you're special Miss Bonner.”

“Thanks Mabel. I get to order dessert later. Do you think Phil will make his Special Chocolate Deluxe?”

“After the bacon... I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks again Mabel.”

JoAnna unwrapped the napkin and took out the silverware. Something dropped out into her lap. She picked it up with her finger and watched as it slipped over her knuckle. It was beautiful! The stone glittered in the diner light. The design around the band was so unique and intricate.

“JoAnna, aren’t you hungry?”

She looked up, “Oh! Well, yeah. I was just.”

She glanced back down for a moment. “I don’t remember.”

Then suddenly she wasn’t there. It was like she had faded out. Everyone at the diner seemed to think she was there but it was only like a portion of her remained behind.

Where JoAnna was it didn’t feel like she was anywhere else but where she was. Which she had no idea. There were all these people. People around her age. People she didn’t know.

Someone dashed for the door and looked about to open it but there wasn’t a knobe. Before he could take notice he went to someone he recognized. At least someone knew something.

“So it happened to you too,” He said.

“Yeah but this is bad. What will my mom say?”

“What will all our parents say?” Asked another boy from the group. His hair was in cute red curls all over. Squared glasses framed his face. If he wasn’t a geek then they didn’t exist.

“Where are we?” JoAnna repeated the other boy’s question. Everyone turned to look at her. Yet there gaze didn’t hold for long as everyone’s attention was drawn to the opening door. It opened like a prison cell. Where was this strange place? Do prison cells have solid doors? Why aren't there any windows? And who was coming through?

JoAnna felt herself step back. What must her father be thinking?

A man stepped through and as their eyes adjusted to the dimming light. The young people could see his long choppy haircut. It seemed to half cover his face. “Oh, I’ve gotten it wrong again haven’t I.” He was beaming from ear to ear. There was a spring to his step and it was like he’d never had a sad day in his life. JoAnna wanted to pinch him and make sure he was real.

“Teleportation really isn’t that bad. You’ve just experienced it all wrong. Sorry, the time travel makes your eyes tender to the light. Besides the fact that it probably isn’t quite something you will be used to. I suppose I’m getting ahead of myself again.”

“Wait time travel,” James asked.

Rodger nodded in assent, “Yeah that was what I thought I heard too. Wasn’t there something about teleportation?”

“Okay, let’s take this one thing at a time. Yes you’ve teleported. Yes you’ve just traveled through time.”

Everyone asked questions all at once.

“So when are we?”

“What about our families?”

“Can we ever get back?”

“Where are we at now?”

“W-w-why are w-w-we h-h-here?”

“Are we...”

The man held up his hands. “One at a time. Just one. I’m here to answer all your questions. Although I’m sure once I get started you’ll each have just as many more. Okay Rodger you first.”

“How does the teleporting, time traveling work?”

“You know we knew you were going to ask us about that and we have decided it would be best not to tell you. See Rodger if we tell you anything about it the information would alter your true future. I’m sorry but you’ll just have to wait and find out in your own times.”

“Rose how about you sweetie.”

“You know all of us don’t you?”

The man laughed, “Sort of. We’ve met before but you won’t know about that because it is in your future.”

“What about our families back home?” JoAnna cut in. It might have been rude but she needed to know what her Dad must be going through when she just disappeared.

“Well Miss Bonner, you needn't worry about your father. He still thinks you are wherever you were. At first time travel was stopping time when the time travelers would travel. We had to fix that because it was messing with the time continuum. We also couldn’t have you just vanish because you still needed to be living in you're times. If you aren’t continuing to live then it messes all kinds of things up. So a fraction of who you are remains. It is very important that it happens just so or things get really hairy. Like once when... Oh nevermind. That is beyond the point. We have it down to a science know so no one gets hurt.”

“John?”

“W-w-why ar-r-re w-w-we h-h-her-re?”

“Well.” The man scratched his head. “Well why don’t I just show you. Come along with me. Watch your eyes you still might be a bit sensitive to it. Goes away faster if you stand in the light for a few moments. They just didn’t want you all to be blinded when you first arrived. Apparently that may still be one of the side effect. Their looking into it.”

He led the twelve teens out into the open air. It did take a moment for their eyes to adjust but what they could see made their jaws drop.

“It is astonishing!” Rose clapped her hands like it was a wondrous art display.

“How do they...”

“Not now Rodger. When you're ready you’ll hear everything.”

“Come along it isn’t that far to the palace.”

“Did you say palace as in castle?” Peter glanced at his sister before jogging up to the side of the strange man.

“Yes I did.”

“Wait? What’s your name?”

“I am Rebarto, the servant of our lord the king.”

“Wait are we in the past?”

“Do you really think they had flying cars in the middle ages, Joshua?”

“Of course not but they have servants in the future?”

“Your way of life is much different to what you're used to. Don’t judge before you come to understand.”

“When are we in the future?”

“From your calendar it is the year 5050. However because of intergalactic trade... Yes their are other living planets. It is a long story you will all hear soon enough.”

“There really are aliens in outer space!”

“Rodger, you do always jump to conclusions. Why don’t you introduce yourselves to one another?”

As they did, they discovered that each of them had a ring. It wasn’t hard to deduce what had brought them here. The bigger question was how were they going to get back.

The group couldn’t help but stare at the huge castle before them. It looked new yet of an old design. They didn’t figure it could have been built that long ago because it didn’t have an old feel to it at all. However the strangest part was that it seemed to be built on clouds. They weren’t quite like that in the sky. The clouds were like blue cotton candy just without all the fibery look. It was the strangest most fascinating thing they has thus far seen. Rodger tried to ask questions but Rebarto just stalled his answers.

Note~ I reached 10,000 words! Now 3,000 plus words tomorrow to completely catch up!