"Paradox (story 2): The Backward Journey (Chapter 11)" by Steven P. Love

Chapter 11

         While still face down on the ground Jahnus suddenly awoke to a dead silence. He coughed and groaned with discomfort as he rose up to his hands and knees.

         “That didn’t go as well as I had hoped,” Jahnus muttered to himself.

         Suddenly, someone in brown leather boots stepped in front him. Jahnus looked up tiredly to see what seemed to be another human being looking down upon him. The man was clad in some kind of light brown uniform with a star shaped silver badge on the left side of the shirt that had the words ‘Deputy Sheriff of Maricopa County’ stamped across its middle.

         The man then smiled and extended his hand to Jahnus. “Need a hand, Jon?”

         Jahnus was hesitant but then saw something familiar in the man’s eyes. Trusting his instincts Jahnus reached over and took the man’s hand. Upon rising to his feet Jahnus looked curiously at the man. “Who are you?”

         The man chuckled. “Boy, your mother certainly did a job on your memory. Here, let me fix that.” The man then placed his right hand on Jahnus’s left temple. Suddenly Jahnus’s mind was flooded with the memories of his other life, the life of when he was known as Jonathan Kearny.

         Jon took a deep breath as he closed his eyes and tried to process the rush of information into his mind. After a few seconds he then opened his eyes and looked into the other man’s eyes with stunned surprise.

         “Clyde…is that really you,” Jon asked with astonishment.

         “In the flesh…well…maybe not real flesh, but you know what I mean,” Clyde quipped with a smile. He then extended his open arms to Jon. “Don’t I get a hug for old time’s sake?” Jon was hesitant at first but then gave Clyde a manly embrace of friendship and gratitude.

         “I remember everything now,” Jon said as he stepped back. “The Vyans, the fight I had with Lylithia and her demons, my arrival here...” Jon turned to gesture toward the arena stands when he saw himself still lying on the ground; face down with the crystal dagger in the side of his head and Kupa’s foot on his back. The whole scene was frozen like a movie on pause.

         “Clyde…um, am I…dead,” Jon asked as he stared at his own body with a shocked expression.

         “Not exactly,” Clyde replied in a nonchalant voice as he came alongside Jon. “I simply took your consciousness outside of space-time so that we could have a private chat.”

         “Why,” Jon asked with a confused expression.

         “You’re at a proverbial crossroads in your destiny, Jon,” Clyde stated. “What you do from this point forward will determine the fate of all future history, not only for the Earth, but perhaps the entire Universe.”

         “All right…no pressure,” Jon chuckled sarcastically.

         Clyde smiled. “Your mother felt it was a bad idea to reveal myself to you this way. She’s sort of a ‘non-interference’ kind of person; likes to let Evolution run its course. I, on the other hand, prefer to shake things up from time to time by taking a more direct involvement. By the way; she’s the reason you had no memories of your former life when you arrived here.”

         “My mother removed my memories…deliberately,” Jon asked with surprise.

         Clyde gestured toward Obsidyanna, frozen in time on the balcony looking down in horror at Jon’s body.

         “Be honest with me,” Clyde requested. “Would you have fallen in love with that creature if you still had all of your memories?”

         Jon looked up at Obsidyanna and sighed. “Probably not.”

         “Exactly,” Clyde affirmed. “Your dear old mom felt that by removing your…past baggage, so to speak, you would have a more open mind when the time came to meet and fall in love with your…destiny.”

         “I did fall in love with her,” Jon confirmed. “But…now that I remember everything I feel as though I’m somehow betraying Eckara.”

         Clyde laughed. “Don’t fret over trivialities. In actuality Obsidyanna is Eckara.”

         Jon turned to face Clyde with a stunned look. “What do you mean?”

         “Princess Obsidyanna is Eckara’s first incarnation,” Clyde explained. “That’s why Eckara was drawn to you and you to Obsidyanna. To use a human term; she’s your soul mate. Your destinies are intertwined. It’s kind of romantic in a karmic sort of way.” Clyde let out a short chuckle.

         “What about Eckara,” Jon asked curiously. “What happened to her after I left?”

         “She’s still alive, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Clyde assured Jon with a smile. “Right now she’s following her own destiny, relatively speaking. But rest assured; you two will encounter each other again in, oh, 65 million years or so.”

         Jon looked at Clyde with a more serious expression. “When we last met you mentioned that you helped keep the balance of the Universe. What did you mean by that?”

         Clyde chuckled. “That’s a very good question. But to properly answer it we’ll need a change of perspective.”

         Clyde then grinned as he snapped his fingers.

         Suddenly, Jon found himself standing in blackness surrounded by small fuzzy spiral discs and spherical speckles of light.

         “What is this place,” Jon asked with an expression of awe.

         “The Universe, from my perspective of course,” Clyde replied.

         “You mean that all of these little…,” Jon started to ask as he reached out to touch one of the spirals of light.

         “Whoa, whoa, Jon,” Clyde yelled as he motioned for Jon to stop where he was. “Please…while you’re here keep your hands at your sides and for my sake don’t touch anything.”

         Jon seemed confused but complied with Clyde’s request.

         Clyde sighed with relief.

         “Good thing I stopped you when I did. You almost destroyed a galaxy containing over 80,000 civilizations,” Clyde stated to Jon’s stunned surprise.

         While keeping as still as he could Jon looked around with amazement and apprehension at what seemed to be an endless blackness filled with the tiny galaxies as far as his eyes could see. “Why are you showing me this?”

         “I wanted you to see your inheritance, so to speak,” Clyde answered.

         “My inheritance,” Jon asked with bewilderment.

         “All of this,” Clyde said as he gestured about at the vast expanse surrounding them. “Will be yours…when the time comes.”

         “I don’t understand,” Jon said with a perplexed expression.

         Clyde came over and put one arm across Jon’s shoulder in a way that was like a father about to break bad news to a son.

         “Nothing is forever, Jon,” Clyde stated. “When the time comes you and Eckara shall take our place as the caretakers of the Universe.”

         Jon looked at Clyde with shock and disbelief. “But I always assumed that you and mom were…immortal.”

         “Even Gods eventually die,” Clyde said with a smirk as he then stepped in front of Jon. “Let me tell you a little story, Jon. Your mother and I were among the very first forms of life to evolve in this Universe. Our kinds were unique. No other form of life that evolved after us ever came close to our level of purity.”

         “There were others,” Jon asked curiously.

         “Many others,” Clyde confirmed.

         “What happened to them,” Jon asked. “Are they still around?”

         “Sadly not I’m afraid,” Clyde said with a sad expression. “Billions of years ago there was…a war, a war that was unlike anything you could possibly imagine.”

         Jon appeared shocked. “Beings as evolved as you actually fought wars.”

         Clyde nodded. “For millions of years we fought amongst ourselves, and most of us died.”

         “It hard to imagine how immortals can actually kill each other,” Jon remarked.

         “Just as one mortal can kill another mortal, one Eternal Being can kill another Eternal Being,” Clyde sighed. “In the end only five of us survived. But we don’t die the same way as ordinary mortals. When our kind dies our life force or essence if you prefer, is dispersed throughout the Universe where it becomes a part of everything. In a way, your ancient cousins are still with us. It was their life energy that provided the ‘spark’ for corporeal life to emerge. Probably explains why sentient beings today still fight over the same petty things that we did. I guess you could say our bad dispositions were our legacy. Kind of sad, if you really think about it.”

         “I think I understand,” Jon said with revelation in his eyes.

         “Epiphanies can be a wonderful thing,” Clyde said with a smile.

         “You said that five of you survived,” Jon recalled. “I take it that you and my mother are two of them. Where are the remaining three?”

         Clyde waved his hand again and this time Jon found himself in deep space on a more relative scale with the surrounding stars and nebulae. In front of him was the fiery glow of a spiraling vortex. At the center was a spherical zone of blackness.

         “Quite a sight isn’t it,” Clyde asked while standing alongside Jon as they both stared into the abyss in front of them.

         “They’re in a Black Hole,” Jon asked with curious surprise.

         “In a way,” Clyde explained. “After the war the Universe was in tatters. There was so much damage to the subspace domains that reality itself was on the verge of winking out of existence. Naturally we couldn’t let the Universe simply go poof with us in it. What you call ‘Black Holes’ proved to be the perfect solution to two problems. One; their immense gravity acted as a kind of needle and thread, knitting together the torn fabric of the subspace dimensions. Second; they also acted as one-way doors into parallel domains, giving us the perfect place to imprison the three vilest of the Ancients.” Clyde then smiled. “Your Vyan friends came to call them the Dark Ones.”

         Jon looked at Clyde with another expression of revelation.

         “Vahlaria told me that Lylithia brought these Dark Ones to Earth several thousand years ago,” Jon recalled. “Did Lylithia release them?”

         “The Universe is far from perfect, Jon,” Clyde explained. “The war left it filled with temporal rifts, worm holes and a myriad of other phenomena that Earthly Physicists have not even begun to fathom yet. Lylithia did not release them. She merely showed them a way out that we had not anticipated. Luckily for the sake of the Universe they were weakened by their war with the Vyans. But eventually they’ll regenerate and recruit another ally to help them escape again. It’s just a matter of time.”

         “Why don’t you just kill them,” Jon asked bluntly.

         “To put it simply; there are three of them and two of us. Do the math,” Clyde answered just as bluntly. “The Dark Ones have escaped several times over the eons, and each time they started wars with other sentient beings, destroyed whole star systems and just generally pissed us off. In the end we managed to force them back to their Hell each time. But your mother and I have grown weary of these battles. Even now they are plotting a new escape. Your mother and I have a plan to stop and contain them once again, but it will take all of our remaining power. Most likely we won’t survive as Eternal Beings. That is why we created you.”

         “What,” Jon asked with stunned surprise.

         “You’re our ultimate weapon against the Dark Ones, Jon. You will be able to do something that we can’t; tap into the very energy of the Universe itself and keep the Dark Ones from ever gaining an advantage again,” Clyde stated while looking hard into Jon’s surprised eyes. “How’s that for a Grand Design?”

         “What the hell are you saying,” Jon demanded.

         “You wanted to know how we kept the balance of the Universe,” Clyde asked rhetorically. “Well, there it is. You’re the Balance.”

         “Why this Time Paradox,” Jon asked appearing stunned and confused. “Why did you have to send me back in time? Why allow me to fall in love with a Vekolth woman? What was the point of that?”

         “To prepare the way for Mankind,” Clyde answered. He then waved his hand and both he and Jon were back where they started; in the Arena where Time was still frozen. “The human race that bred your biological father will never evolve as long as the Vekolth are still here, Jon.”

         Jon looked at Clyde with an expression of grave apprehension. “You don’t expect me to…exterminate them?!”

         “Of course not,” Clyde chuckled. “I would never ask such a terrible thing of you. Actually, they’ll end up destroying themselves very soon. The Time of the Vekolth’s reign on this world has come and gone. Best to let them pass into history so that a new species can arise and take their place.”

         “Then why am I here at all,” Jon asked sounding confused. “If the Vekolth are destined to die from a disaster of their making then why should I be here; just to watch it happen and do nothing?”

         “No Jon, you are here for her,” Clyde stated as he gestured toward Obsidyanna. “You’re here to save her and only her.”

         Jon suddenly had a realization. “I forgot. Obsidyanna…she’s destined to become the mother of the Vyans.”

         “And in time…re-incarnated as Eckara,” Clyde said with a smile. “Just as I and your mother roamed the early Universe together, planting the seeds of life on countless worlds, you and Eckara will continue our work, keeping the balance of Good and Evil, keeping the Dark Ones contained.”

         “But if I become as powerful as you say then why shouldn’t I just destroy the Dark Ones,” Jon asked with a desperate expression.

         “Because they serve a purpose,” Clyde explained. “As much as I hate to admit it the Dark Ones are actually necessary for the continued evolution of life in this Universe. To use a metaphor; if there is no darkness how would you recognize the light.”

         “And if there is no Evil then how would I recognize what is Good,” Jon echoed with concurring realization. “I understand now.”

         Clyde smiled. “I think you’re finally ready, my boy.”

         Clyde gave Jon a reassuring pat on the shoulder before turning to leave. “By the way, Jon, when I restored your memories I also gave you full access to all of your power. Try not to destroy any galaxies. They’re awfully hard to put back together.”

         “Clyde,” Jon called out to his old friend.

         Clyde turned to face Jon with his usual smirk.

         “How do you know that all this…power won’t corrupt me,” Jon asked. “How do you know that I won’t be worse than the Dark Ones?”

         Clyde smiled broadly. “That’s the reason why we chose to have a human father raise you. For a mortal he gave you a good solid moral center. You should be proud of him.”

         “One last matter,” Jon said with a smile. “I need to see the real you.”

         Clyde grinned. “Well…at least I don’t have to be a burning bush this time.”

         Jon stared in awe as Clyde began to glow with a sun-like radiance. Suddenly, he transformed into a swirling translucent sphere of white flame-like light with sparkling particles dancing about inside.

         “Farewell…my son,” Clyde said in a voice that seemed to come from all around. Jon gasped with amazement as the sphere of light suddenly brightened to the point where he could see nothing else.

         Jon then suddenly found himself lying on the ground, still feeling the pain of the crystal dagger in the side of his head and Kupa’s foot on his back. But he knew that the discomfort would pass in a few moments. He continued to lie still, pretending to be unconscious and vulnerable while listening to the mixture of boos and cheers coming from the Arena stands.

         “This is a glorious moment,” Tarnara cheered as she watched her son basking in the glory of his triumph in front of the crowds. It did not matter to her that most of the people were aghast and disgusted. Only the religious extremists were cheering and celebrating Kupa’s victory. “With this imposter’s defeat my authority among the Believers is now secure. They will never challenge me again.”

         Lylithia did not appear to be sharing in Tarnara’s optimism. She had an expression of grave concern on her face. She called out to Kupa telepathically. “Kupa…kill Jonathan…now!”

         Feeling Lylithia’s influence Kupa stepped off of Jon’s back. He used his foot to kick Jon over onto his back in order to execute the final strike that would kill Jon.

         The religious extremists cheered as Kupa raised his mace high above his head, readying it for the final death blow to Jon’s head.

         Obsidyanna could not look. She covered her face with her hands and cried.

         But then, when Kupa made what he thought would be the final strike, the mace impacted an energy field just above Jon’s head. The recoil deflected the mace back so hard that it flew from Kupa’s hands.

         Suddenly, the Vanadians gasped with stunned surprise as the being they knew only as Jahnus arose. They cheered jubilantly as he reached up and pulled the crystal dagger from his head. White light radiated briefly from the wound before it healed.

         Obsidyanna cried with joy when she realized that the man she loved had apparently risen from the dead. Even Trekell choked back tears at the sight of Jahnus peeling off his broken armor and defiantly staring at a stunned Kupa.

         “HE’S ALIVE,” Tarnara screamed to Lylithia. “Do something!”

         “This shouldn’t be happening,” Lylithia gasped with disbelief.

         Kupa, overcome with rage, made a mad lunge toward Jon. But Jon was ready. Just as Kupa seized Jon by his torn clothing Jon stabbed Kupa with the same dagger that he had just pulled from his own head. The crystal blade pierced Kupa’s armor and went right into his heart. Kupa’s face contorted with agony.

         At the same time Lylithia clutched her own chest and cried out in pain as if her telepathic link allowed her to feel Kupa’s dying moments. Tarnara stared in dismay as Lylithia collapsed to the floor.

         “I’m sorry,” Jon apologized with regret in his eyes as he pulled the blade out of Kupa’s chest. The dagger made a screech-like sound as the blade scraped the metal armor during its withdrawal. Kupa just dropped to his knees with blood pouring out of his armor.

         “Mother,” Kupa cried in a subdued voice as he fell onto his back and exhaled his last breath.

         “NOOOO,” Tarnara screamed at the top of her lungs as she scurried out onto the field toward her son. She fell twice before finally reaching his body where she crouched down beside him. She cried as she gently caressed his face. “My poor boy, I knew I should not have trusted your life to that witch.” Tarnara then looked up at Jon with rage. She pulled a small projectile weapon from beneath her cloak and aimed it at Jon. The crowd fell into stunned silence.

         “You killed my boy,” Tarnara yelled angrily as she fired the weapon.

         The crowd gasped with awe as the bullet seemed to slow to a stop in mid-air just in front of Jon. Even its trail of distorted air was visible like rippling water, as if it was frozen in time.

         Jon then simply reached out and plucked the bullet from the air with his fingers. He then approached a gaping Tarnara and dropped the bullet in front of her.

         “It’s over, Tarnara,” Jon declared as Obsidyanna came rushing up beside him. “Go home.”

         Jon then turned with Obsidyanna holding onto his right arm and proceeded to walk off the field. The Vanadians in the stands started cheering jubilantly.

         “Please…don’t ever scare me like that again,” Obsidyanna pleaded with a relieved voice as she held onto Jahnus tightly.

         “This is not over, Jonathan Kearny,” Tarnara cried out as her guards began loading her son’s body onto a stretcher.

         Jahnus did not turn back to respond. He and Obsidyanna simply kept walking toward the exit at the edge of the field. But Obsidyanna appeared perplexed.

         “What’s Tarnara ranting about,” Obsidyanna asked curiously. “Who’s ‘Jonathan Kearny’?”

         “I am,” Jon replied.

         Obsidyanna gasped with happy surprise. “You finally remember who you really are.”

         Jon nodded with affirmation. “Apparently my near death experience triggered the return of my memories.” Jon smiled at Obsidyanna. “I remember everything.”

         “Looks like we’re going to have some interesting conversation after our wedding tonight,” Obsidyanna surmised with a grin.

         “It certainly looks that way,” Jon told her with a broad smile.

         “Thank you,” Obsidyanna said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

         “I always keep my promises,” Jon assured her.

         “Tell me something,” Obsidyanna asked. “Should I start calling you ‘Jonathan’ now?”

         Jon grinned. “Jahnus is fine for now. Besides, I think you’re people prefer me as ‘Jahnus’.”

         Just as Jon and Obsidyanna were exiting the field they didn’t see Jakor seething with hatred while he watched them from the stands. As the rest of the Vanadians began dispersing from the Arena to celebrate Jahnus’s victory several of the robed religious zealots gathered around Jakor.

         “This is a travesty,” one man spoke out in a subdued voice. “We cannot allow this alien to marry our Princess!”

         “But what are we to do,” another man asked in desperation. “This ‘Jahnus’ imposter has killed the one hope we had of retaining our influence in the royal court.”

         “I shall take care of it,” Jakor assured them. “By the end of this night the Jahnus imposter will be gone.”

         “But you saw what happened in the Arena,” another man reminded Jakor. “This alien is not mortal.”

         “I won’t have to kill the alien,” Jakor stated with conviction. “When I am finished he will have no choice but to leave Gaia…forever.”

         The other Believers realized what Jakor was planning. They smiled and nodded with approval.

         The rays of the setting sun streaming in through the giant triangular shaped stained glass windows illuminated the Palace’s Great Hall with a soft yellow glow. Several hundred people, including all the Ministers and their families stood waiting with anticipation as Trekell walked up the steps and onto the landing in front of his Throne Chair. From behind the Throne Jahnus emerged to take his place on the right side of the Throne Chair. When Trekell turned to face the people he then gestured with a smile toward the center isle.

         The people all turned to see the Princess walking slowly up the isle in her long formal silk dress adorned with her Tiara and her mother’s necklace. It was the first time she was actually happy to wear the formal attire. She smiled as her favorite music was being played on the Palace Organ. It was a moment of pure happiness for Obsidyanna. Many of the wives in the audience cried with joy as she walked past them. The younger women sighed with envy.

         When Obsidyanna finally climbed the steps she took her place on her father’s left side. When she turned to face the people they all cheered and clapped their hands in congratulatory applause. She then tossed a bouquet she had been carrying toward the crowd. Several young girls practically fought each other to grab them. Obsidyanna laughed as one victorious girl held the tattered flowers above her head.

         After the audience finally quieted Trekell motioned for Jahnus and Obsidyanna to turn and face each other.

         “One of the proudest duties a King has is to join his child and the betrothed in matrimony,” Trekell stated as Obsidyanna and Jahnus looked affectionately into each other’s eyes. Trekell then looked at his daughter. “Do you, Obsidyanna, my dearest daughter of Queen Tirana, accept this man to be your husband now and forever? Do you promise to love him, honor him and teach him our ways?”

         “I do,” Obsidyanna replied while keeping her eyes fixed on Jahnus’s.

         Trekell then looked at Jahnus. “And do you, Jahnus, take my daughter Obsidyanna to be your wife now and forever? Do you promise to love her, honor her and through her learn the ways of our people?”

         “I…,” Jahnus started to reply but was interrupted when Jakor burst in through the main doors to the Great Hall.

         “What is the meaning of this intrusion,” Trekell yelled.

         The crowd began murmuring with confusion as Jakor stormed up the isle toward them. When he reached the steps he glared angrily at all of them. “I have come to protest this obscenity!”

         “You have no right to disrupt my marriage,” Obsidyanna yelled at Jakor with rage in her eyes.

         “How did you get past the guards,” Trekell demanded.

         Jakor smirked. “My fellow Believers distracted your guards. I took that opportunity to make my grand entrance…your majesty,” Jakor stated with angry sarcasm. He then ripped open his long coat revealing a vest filled with brick-like objects and wires protruding out of them.

         Trekell, as well as many others in the Hall, gasped upon recognizing the bricks; they were a very powerful explosive used in mining operations. The vest had enough to blow half of the Palace apart. The crowd started to move instinctively toward the main doors.

         “Nobody leaves this room,” Jakor yelled out as he spun around displaying the explosive vest and holding what appeared to be an electronic trigger.

         “You know that won’t hurt me,” Jahnus stated as he stepped forward toward the edge of the landing and looked hard at Jakor.

         “I may not be able to kill you,” Jakor acknowledged angrily. “But I can kill all of them!” He then gestured at the cowering people.

         “What do you want,” Trekell asked in a more diplomatic voice.

         Jakor chuckled sarcastically. “What do I want?” He then glared at Obsidyanna. “I want her to renounce this…this abomination!”

         “That is not going to happen,” Obsidyanna yelled defiantly.

         “I thought as much,” Jakor stated calmly. He then looked at Jahnus. “Their blood will be on your conscience.” Jakor then pressed the button on the trigger.

         “NOOOO,” Trekell screamed.

         At the same split second Jahnus raised his hand and time slowed to a stop just as Jakor’s vest began to explode. With the whole room frozen Jahnus calmly walked down the steps and stopped in front of the frozen flames of the exploding vest. Jakor’s body was completely enveloped by the flames and his head was already separated from his body.

         “Such stupidity,” Jahnus remarked to himself. He then waved his hand in front of Jakor’s flaming form. Suddenly, a glowing temporal duplicate of Jakor seemed to separate from the exploding version.

         Jakor gasped with shock at the sight of his exploding self. He then looked at Jahnus with awe and dread.

         “I cannot allow you to harm these people, Jakor,” Jahnus told him.

         Jakor choked up and trembled. “Then let me die.”

         “Why,” Jahnus asked with a perplexed expression. “Why do you hate me so much that you must kill yourself?”

         “Because you cannot be our ancient ancestor,” Jakor said while sniveling.

         “I never once claimed I was your ancient ancestor,” Jahnus told him.

         “Then what are you,” Jakor asked with suspicious eyes.

         “I’m just a traveler,” Jahnus said.

         “Why did you come here,” Jakor asked more curiously this time but still had an expression of suspicion.

         “I’m here for the Princess,” Jahnus explained. “She has a great destiny ahead of her, and it is my job to see that she fulfills it.”

         Jakor then looked at Jahnus with a curious expression. “But I heard from…”

         “You heard wrong,” Jahnus corrected.

         “Then…you’re not here to corrupt or mislead the Vekolth,” Jakor asked more calmly as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

         Jahnus shook his head. “Your people’s fate is their own. I cannot do anything to interfere with whatever future awaits them.”

         Jakor then looked at his exploding form with regret. “I guess…I made a pretty stupid mistake, didn’t I.”

         “We all make them,” Jahnus said with a sympathetic smile. “Even those who would be Gods make mistakes. But the important thing is that I have the power to reverse this. I can give you your life back…if you want it.”

         Jakor looked at Jahnus with surprise. “You would do that…even after what I tried to do?”

         “I have the power to grant you one of two possible futures,” Jahnus told him. “I can let you die, or…I can send you back to a time before you made that less than wise decision that led to this…near tragedy. I can even let you retain your memories of this event so that you can make the right decision next time. It’s your choice.”

         Jakor looked at the version of himself that was exploding and knew that there was only one choice he could make. “I don’t want to die a pointless death. I don’t want to be remembered as someone who threw their life away because of a misguided belief.” Jakor then looked at Jahnus with hopeful eyes. “Send me back.”

         Jahnus then waved his hand and both versions of Jakor vanished. Jahnus then returned to his place in front of Obsidyanna. He then waved his hand again and time reversed to the point before Jakor entered with his explosive vest.

         “And do you, Jahnus, take Obsidyanna to be your wife, now and forever,” Trekell asked again from Jahnus’s perspective. “Do you promise to love her, honor her and through her learn the ways of our people?”

         “I…,” Jahnus hesitated as he glanced over toward the audience to see Jakor, except that this time he was standing with the audience members dressed in formal attire and smiling. Jakor then reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a camera and snapped a photo of the moment. Seeing that the prior history was not going to repeat itself Jahnus then smiled at an anxious Obsidyanna and finished his vow. “I definitely do.”

         “Then in accordance with our traditions you may now seal your union with a kiss,” Trekell told them happily.

         Obsidyanna immediately jumped up and embraced Jahnus tightly while giving him a very passionate kiss. Many of the younger women in the audience snickered as Obsidyanna’s tail began to rise out from under her dress indicating her state of arousal.

         Trekell cleared his throat as a hint that it was time to move on. Obsidyanna reluctantly stepped away and turned with Jahnus to face the crowd.

         “I now present the new heirs to the Throne of Vanadis,” Trekell proclaimed to the joy of the people.

         As the people continued their applause Obsidyanna leaned close to Jahnus and whispered, “You know, I have the strangest feeling that my father said your vows twice.”

         Jahnus smiled. “Perhaps he did.”

         When Jahnus and Obsidyanna descended the steps Jakor came over to meet them. He handed Jahnus a small paper copy of the photo he took of their wedding moment.

         “I just wanted to thank you,” Jakor told Jahnus. “You changed my life, for the better.” He then shook Jahnus’s hand and left as the rest of the people started gathering around to congratulate them.

         Jahnus handed the photo to Obsidyanna who looked at it curiously.

         “How did you change his life,” she asked curiously.

         Jahnus smiled. “I just gave him some friendly advice during a…uncertain time in his life.”