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

Chapter 2

         “Are you sure no one else knows,” Doctor Avra asked as he began scanning the Stranger, now lying on the medical exam table in the main isolation lab.

         “With certainty, no,” Trekell admitted. “But it was after midnight when the Stranger fell from the sky. I’m hoping that those few Vekolth who were awake either did not see his descent or just thought the flashes of light and thunder were a freak storm.”

         “Let’s hope,” Avra said. “He’s obviously some kind of Alien. Until we can find out what he is and where he came from it probably is best to keep him hidden from the populace.”

         “Why,” Obsidyanna asked curiously. “He could change our whole perception of the Universe. Our people would know with certainty that we’re not alone.”

         The Doctor chuckled sarcastically. “Despite our advancements in technology and social enlightenment there are still large numbers of Vekolth that are superstitious and fearful of anything that is.., shall we say, different.”

         “The Doctor is right,” Trekell told Obsidyanna. “Queen Tarnara is very superstitious. She would view this Stranger’s presence as a threat to her Kingdom’s spiritual beliefs.”

         “They have always been a backward culture,” Obsidyanna scoffed. “The same technology we use to enhance our daily lives they use to build weapons while their people live primitively.”

         “Weapons that are more powerful than ours,” Trekell reminded his daughter. “Our defense shield and the possibility that you might marry her son are the only things keeping her from declaring war on us. Our treaty with her Kingdom has always been shaky at best.”

         Suddenly, Obsidyanna felt faint. She almost stumbled.

         “Are you all right,” Trekell asked as he held Obsidyanna and allowed her to lean upon him for support.

         “I’m all right,” Obsidyanna said as she straightened her posture. “I’m just a little tired.”

         “With the excitement of this discovery I’m not surprised,” Avra told her smugly. “Why don’t you get some sleep? It’ll take me until morning to run a full battery of tests anyways.”

         Obsidyanna nodded in reluctant agreement.

         As Trekell led Obsidyanna toward the lab entrance she stopped and looked back at the Doctor. “There’s something else about him, Doctor.”

         “And what might that be, my Princess,” Avra asked curiously.

         “He saved our lives,” Obsidyanna said.

         The Doctor’s eyes widened with great curiosity while looking to Trekell for an elaboration of Obsidyanna’s claim.

         Trekell sighed. “I wasn’t sure if I should have told you before you finished your exam of the Stranger.”

         Avra put his scanning device down and came over to them.

         “I need to know any pertinent information about this Alien in order to make a thorough and objective examination,” Avra stated in an almost demanding tone.

         Trekell first looked at his daughter and then back at the Doctor.

         “A Thunder Hunter attacked us just as we were about to load the Stranger onto the ship,” Trekell said. “I thought that we were dead, but he…awakened and destroyed the Thunder Hunter with some kind of energy weapon.”

         “Weapon,” Avra asked with disbelief. “He’s completely naked. I found no weapon or other objects on his body during the initial exam.”

         “It’s hard to explain…”

         “It was a ball of light,” Obsidyanna interrupted.

         “A what,” Avra asked sounding confused.

         “He threw a ball of energy at the Thunder Hunter,” Trekell answered. “The instant this energy ball hit the Hunter it disintegrated into a pile of ash. It was just an unbelievable sight to see. That’s why I wanted to wait until you completed your exam before telling you.”

         The Doctor looked back at the still unconscious Stranger with an expression of apprehension. “I wonder what other surprises I’ll find.”

         Upon returning to her chambers Obsidyanna let out a sigh of relief as she lay down in her bed.

         “The Doctor was right,” she acknowledged in an almost sarcastic tone. “I was so excited at our discovery I forgot that I’m dying.”

         “You’re not dying,” Trekell lightly scolded. “At least not today, now get some sleep. You’ve got a tutorial to attend tomorrow.”

         “Sometimes I wonder why I should bother,” Obsidyanna sighed pessimistically as she closed her eyes.

         Trekell gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Sleep well,” he whispered.

         As a precaution Doctor Avra activated a medical containment field around the Stranger. In essence it was a force field that allowed the Doctor to draw blood, take tissue samples, and even do an operation while keeping the patient completely immobile. Since the Stranger was a completely unknown species and might be able to create unknown forms of energy it was only prudent to keep him immobilized during the tests.

         After one last check of the field strength the Doctor began by drawing a blood sample for DNA and other biochemical tests. As the Doctor pierced the Stranger’s skin he was startled by the sight of glowing red fluid that began filling the syringe.

         He immediately withdrew the syringe and stared at the red luminescent fluid. He muttered, “By the stars.”

         As the first rays of sunlight reflected off of the gleaming towers of the Vekolth city Obsidyanna joined her father on the balcony for breakfast.

         “How do you feel,” Trekell asked as Obsidyanna sat down across from him.

         “Rested,” she replied as a Palace servant came in and placed a silvery metal tray of her favorite foods on the dining table. Obsidyanna waited for the servant to leave and then looked to her father. “Has the Doctor learned anything about our…..guest?”

         “He’s been in the lab all night,” Trekell said as he went over his day schedule on a hand held electronic display. “I’m sure he’ll contact us when he’s finished.”

         Suddenly, a little feathery winged lizard-like creature glided onto the balcony and landed on the table near Obsidyanna.

         “Booboh,” Obsidyanna greeted her pet happily. “You made it back home. I’ve wondered where you’ve gotten to.”

         The little creature stood on its hind legs and made a barking sound as it begged for food.

         “Are you hungry,” Obsidyanna asked as she held a piece of fruit just out of the creature’s reach. “Here you go.” She tossed the fruit over the edge of the balcony and the flying lizard immediately took off after it. She giggled as the flying lizard snatched the fruit from the air and glided away.

         Trekell shook his head disapprovingly. “You know how I disapprove of your pet at the table.”

         “I know,” Obsidyanna smiled while taking a defiant bite of fruit.

         Trekell just sighed at his daughter’s insolence.

         A chirp from Trekell’s wrist communicator interrupted the little tiff with his daughter.

         “Trekell,” he said into the tiny audio pickup of the device.

         “Your Majesty,” the Doctor answered. “I need you to come to the lab immediately.”

         Trekell immediately got up from the table to leave. “I’m on my way.”

         Obsidyanna took one last mouthful of food and then joined her father with anticipation.

         A whoosh of air sounded as the Doctor opened the vault-like door of the Isolation Lab to allow Trekell and Obsidyanna inside.

         “What have you learned, Doctor,” Trekell asked as they all went over to the observation window where they could look in on the Stranger from behind a protective shield of transparent metal.

         “More than I think you’ll believe,” Avra stated nervously.

         “Your report, Doctor,” Trekell insisted.

         Avra gestured toward the Stranger with an excited expression. “That Being is the most unusual form of life I’ve ever encountered.”

         “What do you mean,” Obsidyanna asked.

         Avra led them over to a monitor display and brought up the data he had collected during the night.

         “The first test I ran was on his blood,” the Doctor explained. “His blood is not blood as we know it, but rather some kind of super conductive fluid that is highly charged with a form of energy that I’ve never seen before.”

         Both Trekell and Obsidyanna appeared dumbfounded.

         “I also found that he can instantaneously regenerate damaged tissue,” Avra continued. “I discovered it when I went to obtain a skin sample. An instant after I removed a small section of skin on his arm it grew back within a few seconds, with no visible scarring.”

         “If you can discover how he can do that we might be able to help our own people with this genetic degradation that has been plaguing us,” Trekell suggested with hope.

         “Speaking of genetics, that is the most intriguing discovery I made,” Avra said barely containing his enthusiasm. “I ran a genetic comparison test. The results were….” The Doctor just could not seem to finish his report.

         “What, Doctor,” Trekell demanded.

         “This Being…..is related to us,” Avra blurted out.

         “WHAT,” Trekell exclaimed in shock.

         “The DNA tests show that his genetic structure is 98.6% compatible with the Vekolth,” Avra stated. “However different he may appear from us on the outside he is related to our kind.”

         “How can this be,” Obsidyanna asked with awe as she peered through the window at the Stranger.

         “This has to be a mistake, Doctor,” Trekell insisted. “The Vekolth have been in existence for over 10 million years and we have never encountered a being like him in our history.”

         “Perhaps because we have not encountered his kind yet,” the Doctor suggested.

         “What do you mean,” Obsidyanna asked.

         “Perhaps he is from our future,” Avra theorized.

         “Impossible,” Trekell scoffed.

         “Our scientists have long theorized that Time travel is possible,” Avra said. “Perhaps he represents what we will become in a future we cannot yet conceive.”

         “This isn’t a theory, it’s a fantasy,” Trekell scoffed again. “Besides, how would you attempt to prove such a preposterous theory?”

         “I’m glad you asked,” Avra said with enthusiasm as he went over to a cabinet and pulled out a thin rectangular device just slightly larger than his hand. “The Physicists have been working to perfect a new way of dating the age of living beings.”

         “I’ve heard of it,” Trekell acknowledged.

         “This is one of the latest prototypes. When I used it on myself it measured my age with an accuracy of a few days of my actual age,” Avra explained.

         “How does it work,” Obsidyanna asked curiously.

         “As you know, all matter in the Universe resonates with positive and negative energy charges we call Quantum resonance. The frequency of the resonance does not change because that is the foundation of our reality, but the intensity of those energy levels change over time because of universal entropy,” Avra explained. “Eventually the energy levels drop to a point where the particles emitting those energy signatures cease to exist. Just like the decay of radioactive material the rate that this energy level drops is very predictable. Traditional radiological dating can only be done accurately with inanimate or dead material. It does not work very well with living creatures because radioactive isotopes are always being replenished as living creatures feed and grow. This new method does not rely on radioactive isotopes. It simply measures the Quantum energy levels of the material, regardless of whether it is alive or not.”

         Avra held the device in front of Obsidyanna and touched several buttons on it in sequence. He then smiled at her. “You are a beautiful 20 years, six months and three days old, Princess.”

         “Impressive,” Obsidyanna said with amazement. “It was only off by one day.”

         Avra showed the display to both Trekell and Obsidyanna.

         “The age of the subject is always displayed as a positive number to indicate that the object being measure originated in our Past,” Avra explained.

         Avra then opened the door to the lab isolation chamber where the Stranger was. Trekell and Obsidyanna stood near the door way as the Doctor approached the still unconscious Stranger.

         Avra waved the device over the Stranger’s body and then came back over to Trekell.

         “This is not possible,” Trekell said with disbelief while gaping at the readout.

         “Although accuracy with a number this large is probably off by at least a few decades it does show….”

         “This creature is not from 65 million years into our future,” Trekell yelled.

         They were all startled when the Stranger suddenly stirred to consciousness.

         “Stay here,” Trekell ordered Obsidyanna as he and the Doctor cautiously approached the exam table.

         Avra and Trekell stood on opposite sides of the exam table looking down at the Stranger with both intense curiosity and apprehension.

         “Can you understand me,” Avra asked.

         The Stranger muttered something but it was in an unintelligible language.

         “Obviously not,” Trekell concluded with a disappointed expression. Trekell then decided to try himself. While gesturing at himself he said, “My name is Arvon Trekell.” He then gestured toward the Stranger in an effort to provoke an intelligent response. But again the Stranger just responded unintelligibly.

         The Doctor and Trekell went back into the observation area of the lab so that they could converse more privately.

         “What are we going to do,” Trekell asked.

         “I honestly don’t know,” Avra admitted. “But if he’s not hostile maybe he can be taught our language.”

         “That could take weeks, even months,” Trekell exclaimed while keeping his voice restrained so that the Stranger could not perceive his frustration.

         While Avra and Trekell’s attention was diverted Obsidyanna quietly made her way closer to the Stranger. She glanced back at her father and the Doctor to make sure that they had not noticed her movement. She knew that her father would not allow this but her curiosity had to be satisfied.

         Obsidyanna stopped just a few steps from the exam table. The Stranger looked at her with a curious expression.

         “Hello,” Obsidyanna said softly.

         “Eckara,” the Stranger said.

         “Is that your name,” Obsidyanna asked curiously.

         Suddenly, the Stranger sat up; overloading and shutting down the containment field that was suppose to restrain him. Obsidyanna seemed mesmerized as the Stranger extended his hands to her.

         As if under some kind hypnotic influence Obsidyanna reached out and took his hands.

         Suddenly the whole chamber was filled with a sun-like radiance.

         “OBSIDYANNA,” Trekell screamed in terror as he ran into the lab to rescue his wayward daughter, but he and Avra were driven back by the blinding radiance.

         Then, as suddenly as it had begun the intense light winked out.

         Trekell ran into the lab and yanked his daughter away from the Stranger. After dragging her catatonic form back into the observation area Obsidyanna snapped out of her trance-like state. She looked at her father and the Doctor with a curious expression.

         “What, what happened,” she asked as she stood up on her own.

         “You don’t remember,” Avra asked.

         “I remember taking the Stranger’s hands,” Obsidyanna said. “I thought that he was trying to communicate with me. Now I’m here.”

         “You don’t remember a bright light,” Trekell asked.

         Obsidyanna shook her head negatively. “No, I don’t.”

         “How do you feel, Princess,” Avra asked curiously.

         “I feel fine,” Obsidyanna stated. “As a matter of fact, I feel better than fine.” She then looked at her father with joy in her eyes. “The constant pain; it’s gone!”

         “Doctor,” Trekell looked to Avra desperately for an explanation.

         The Doctor quickly scanned Obsidyanna with a portable medical device.

         “This is…incredible,” Avra said with excitement.

         “What’s wrong,” Obsidyanna asked curiously.

         “Well, I’ll have to perform a more in depth scan to be sure but you’re in perfect health,” Avra reported sounding almost giddy.

         “Stay here,” Trekell told Obsidyanna as he and the Doctor went back into the chamber. The Stranger was still sitting up and seemed to be waiting patiently on the exam table.

         Trekell came within a few steps of the Stranger and looked into his curious looking eyes. “I don’t know if you can understand me, but I’d like to thank you.”

         “You’re…..welcome,” the Stranger replied.

         The only sound that followed was the Doctor’s medical scanner dropping to the floor as both of them gaped at the Stranger in complete awe.