"A Matter Of Time"
The city of Atlantis was the only remaining section of the once great and now lost continent of Atlantis. After the earthquakes (that had sunk the land mass) all but the most essential personnel were air lifted off the ruined continent. They were returned to their planet, somewhere near Alpha Centauri (about 4.4 light-years from Earth).
Aquatic engineers were dispatched and repair crews immediately took to task the building of a dome over the ruined city. Normally, after such a disaster, the efforts to civilize the primitives of the selected planet would have been aborted, but too much had already been done. Had the educating been discontinued, the civilization would have ended in ruins—not unlike the city.
After months of construction, the dome was finished and the city beneath it was drained and rebuilt. At this point, the advisors began their return to the planet, only to find that the civilization that they had unexpectedly abandoned on the surface had now decayed and changed on its own, without their knowing influence. The primitive’s belief in gods had all but vanished.
The leader of the Atlantians, Zytus, sent forth one advisor. His task was to fully ascertain the damage and to try to reacquaint the people of the Earth with the ideals and teachings that had been so abruptly halted. This advisor was nailed to a cross, mocked and laughed at as he died. Zytus vowed that from that day forth, that no Atlantian could interact with anyone from the planet above without his express permission.
As the centuries past, Zytus began to selectively give his permission—on a limited basis—for one or two Atlantians at a time to take the form and substance of a human being. To achieve this, their immortality was revoked so that these advisors would live and die as humans. Immediately following death, their essences were returned to Atlantis and they were then reborn and raised in Atlantis.
Their contributions, as wondrous as they were, are noted in history books as the achievements of great men or women. The list of these hybrid humans is a lengthy “Who’s Who” of our greatest inventors, artisans, doctors and government officials. Unfortunately, I am not permitted to reveal any of these names here, by order of Zytus. This is the Atlantis that Melissa, Cindy, Lisa, Rob, Cleo and Woba now found themselves exploring.
“Have you enjoyed your learning experience?” asked Athena, greeting them at a small, outdoor cafe.
“This place is marvelous,” noted Cindy, “my knowledge and understanding of the world has been increased 100 fold.”
“That’s too bad,” sighed Athena.
“Why?” asked Melissa.
“Because the knowledge you have attained here, may not leave here. Your memories of this place will have to wiped clean when you leave.” There was a moment of solemn silence.
“Let us not worry about that now,” smiled Athena, “Larry and Little Neptune have just arrived. We must join them.”
“Are they all right?” asked Cleo.
“They are,” nodded Athena pleasantly, “they were brought here by our liaison to the seas, Oceanus.”
“Poseidon,” stated Lisa.
“As you wish,” Athena stated. She guided the group into a large, circular building in the center of the city.
* * * *
Elsewhere:
“Have I not been good to you in the past?” asked the glowing mass of deep red energy, in a deep and ominous tone.
“Of course you have,” responded the glowing mass of yellow energy that was the Time Keeper.
“Then you must do this for me,” stated the red mass with an evil, threatening twist to his voice.
“If I did what you asked, I would not survive the wrath of Zytus.”
“If you do not do what I ask, you will not survive my wrath,” stated the red mass of energy angrily, disappearing into a puff.
* * * *
“Now that you are all here, it is time to return you to your own time,” smiled Poseidon.
“We want to thank you for everything,” I stated, finishing up an input adjustment I was making to Rob.
“It is our pleasure, I assure you,” smiled Athena.
“Yes,” came the deep, rich, familiar voice of Zeus (or Zytus as he is known in Atlantis), as he seemed to materialize out of thin air, “you have all restored my faith in mankind. Maybe someday we shall aggressively resume your training as a race. The other civilizations of the universe anxiously await your integration.”
“Thank you, Zytus,” replied Melissa with a slight bow.
Zytus bowed toward Athena and on that signal, she turned toward us, waved her hand over our heads, and we all disappeared into a puff of white smoke.
“I think I shall miss them,” smiled Athena, trying to hide a tear.
“Now, now,” consoled Poseidon, “you know it is for their own good. Besides, maybe Zytus will allow us to begin with them...” Zytus cleared his throat, disapprovingly.
“...when they are a little older, of course,” added Poseidon.
* * * *
We found ourselves inside a dark cave. The air was thick and stale and motionless. The only sound was that of escaping steam.
“Athena was sending us home, wasn’t she?” asked Cindy, looking around.
“As far as I knew,” replied Melissa, “Ow!” she added, touching the rock wall, “it’s hot.”
“Well, Rob?” I asked, knowing the answer, “are we home?”
“Unknown.”
“If he says ‘unknown,’” began Lisa, “I take that to mean ‘no.’” She looked at me with a questioning look.
“What?” I asked.
“Figure out where we are!”
“All right, all right,” I said.
“Do not bother,” came an evil voice, as a deep, red glowing mass of energy materialized from the side of the cave.
“I don’t like this,” whispered Cleo.
“Neeeee!” reared Little Neptune, trying to kick at the mass of energy.
“You have been nothing but a nuisance to me since your arrival in ancient Greece,” stated the evil, red mass as it began to take form, molding itself into the shape of a man.
“That isn’t who I think it is,” gulped Woba, “is it?”
“You bet your sweet bippy it is,” chuckled the Lord of Evil. The glowing mass of evil energy was now taking shape. Lucifer, Hades, Satan—whatever you want to call him—solidified in front of us. He was the embodiment of evil.
Dressed in black, the large figure of a thin man stood before us. He had a long, black flowing beard and thin evil eyebrows. His skin tone was dark with traces of red, burnt from the fires that must normally surround him.
“How did we get here?” asked Lisa.
“You are here because I want you here,” chuckled our adversary, “but if you must know, the Time Keeper is an old and dear friend of mine. When those do‑gooders tried to access the Time Tornado, you were diverted—sent here to me, with no hope of escape.”
“Volnos, Ictos, Frrompton, Zalgart,”
I quickly stated, installing the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field.
“Do not bother,” stated the evil one, jabbing his pointy finger into my stomach, “that Spell Book is useless here.”
“Rob, anti‑matter,” I whispered.
“Do not bother,” smiled Lucifer, throwing his outstretched palm toward Rob, letting loose a bright, orange fireball that immediately disabled our robotic friend.
“Damn you,” I said, growing angrier.
“Too late,” laughed Satan, “I am already damned.”
“What do we do?” whispered Melissa, clinging to my arm.
“We have a little fun,” smiled Hades, grabbing Melissa and pulling her towards him. “You are an awfully pretty one,” he added, stroking her hair.
“Leave her alone,” I ordered, stepping forward.
“Your impertinence was amusing at first, but you have now grown tiresome. Incubus!”
A little, red creature with little horns, a pot-belly and a pointy tail appeared from behind a rock—mumbling or chattering something unintelligible through the drool that was running down his fat cheeks. He was about three and half feet tall. He bowed low before the Lord of Darkness.
“Take these...things to my stable.” The incubus nodded and out of his stomach emerged three smaller incubus’ (incubi?). After quickly growing to the height of three and half feet, each one attached a leash to Little Neptune, Cleo and Woba.
“As for the humans,” stated Satan, “my playroom will make a nice home for them. I could use the diversion after I finish with this wench.” Melissa turned and slapped him hard on the cheek.
“Feisty, bitch!” he stated, “On second thought, take her to the observation room.” The original incubus nodded again and split himself into four more incubi.
“You can watch the others in the playroom—until they’re through...” Satan paused as if searching for just the right word. Finally he grinned the most evil grin, “...through with living. Take them!!!”
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