New Arizona – December 16, 2500
The controller, sitting behind the control panel of the New Arizona Portal looked a little confused and scared. He glanced up from the panel to the metal Portal framework. A framework that made a sort of gateway. A gateway to another time. His confusion was not lessened when the Portal started to spark into life. Blue and white sparks started to appear inside the framework. Another check with the Portal told him that something was happening. He pushed a communication button on the left-hand side of the panel. Immediately Professor Steinbeck’s face, the man in charge of the SAT (Space and Time) Laboratory came on in place of the computer screen read out.
“What’s the matter? You look terrified.” Steinbeck said when he saw his employee’s expression.
“There appears to be someone—or something—coming through the Portal.”
Steinbeck sat in silence. His face was just as astonished as the controller’s was.
“Are you sure, son?” Steinbeck said, not believing his own ears.
“The Control Panel reports that the Portal has been activated. The blue and white light is starting to appear in the framework. What do I do Professor?”
Steinbeck jumped to his feet. The screen was now showing a view of the office wall behind where Steinbeck had been sitting. The Controller turned the communicator off, returning the screen back to the computer read-out. He started to panic now. He felt like pushing every button on the panel, trying anything to stop the Portal from activating any further. There was no telling what would come through the thing. He was the only line of defence. What if there was a giant creature coming through? His thoughts were running a load of different doomsday scenario’s about what was going to appear. Professor grabbed his arm as he was about to push the emergency cancel button.
“Don’t touch anything. There is only one person who can be coming through that Portal. And it’s about time that she did.”
The controller looked up at Steinbeck confused even more now,
“I know this is my first time on the Portal Control sir, but are you sure about this.”
When Larna appeared from the Portal’s blue and white light, the controller had his answer. He also had a stunned expression on his face. The last thing he had expected to see was a beautiful woman walking out of the light. Steinbeck also had a stunned expression, but for a totally different reason.
Larna shook her head, sending her auburn coloured hair swirling around her like a cape. Larna Fox was twenty-one Erayears old. Since the nuclear explosion in the year 2000, the ageing process has been slowed. Now a person ages the equivalent of one year, every seven years. So their ages are now given in two forms – Erayears and Chronoyears. Chronoyears being the actual amount of years that a person has been alive, and Erayears being their relative age to the present day. Larna stood five feet eleven inches tall and weighed around nine and half stone. With a figure of 36B-24-35, her figure was a match for any present day supermodel. Not only did she have the figure of a model, but the looks as well. With looks closely resembling the actress Hudson Leick, she could captivate any man living. The tattoo of the Chinese for Eternal Devotion adds to her mystery. Hazel eyes stared back at the two men staring at her. She moved down the ramp away from the Portal, swaying her hips in a provocative and sexy walk.
“Have you never seen a grown woman before, gentlemen.” she said with a broad smile on her face.
The controller looked at Larna’s outfit. He had never seen anyone wearing such clothes. Everyone in the future wore rubber-like clothing. Yet this woman was wearing a black leather skirt over the top of black fishnet stockings, with a very close tight pattern, which made her legs look even sexier than they were without them, a black leather shirt, with a black leather motorbike jacket over the top. The jacket had so many zips and buckles, the controller considered it to be an old form of restraint. The heavy-duty motorbike boots on her feet did not look like anything he had ever seen. Larna stood at the foot of the ramp. Her hands on her hips, with one foot slightly in front of the other with that knee bent slightly.
Professor Steinbeck moved around the side of the control panel. The controller stopped him.
“What if she’s dangerous?” he asked.
“Son—” Steinbeck said as he turned his head to look at the young man, “—She is dangerous.”
Steinbeck moved away from the panel. He came up to Larna and gave her a large hug. Larna returned the hug.
“It’s good to see you Prof.” she said, glaring at the young man with a fierce stare.
“I never thought I’d see the day when you walked back through that Portal. How did you get away from that Jordan guy?”
“That’s a long story. There were times during it when I thought that I’d never see home again.”
“Well you’re back now.”
“I see some things have changed around this place.” Larna said walking towards the boy,
“Training young kids to control this thing now.” she finished as she came right up to the control panel.
The controller just sank into his chair, not wanting to get too close to this woman. However, he found himself being drawn to her delicate features, the soft touches of make-up, and the pouting red lips, surrounded by a black surround. Larna turned to look at Steinbeck. Steinbeck, a grey haired man of sixty-five Erayears, moved across to her a little slower.
“He’s just a part-time employee. A trainee you could say.”
“He’s cute.” Larna said, teasing the poor young man.
“Cut it out Larna. You know that you’d kill him if he made any move towards you.”
“It would be a pleasure killing this one though.” Larna replied shrugging her shoulders.
“Professor Steinbeck!” the young controller exclaimed, “If this woman does not identify herself immediately, I’m afraid I’m going to have to call the police.”
Larna reached inside her inside jacket pocket. She pulled out her identification card, which had a computer-generated image, her name, and her priority clearance rating. She held it in front of the young man’s face.
“Satisfied now kid.”
When he read the PC rating of one, he nodded his head with embarrassment. He had never met anyone with that high a clearance before. She must be something special to get a PC rating like that. Larna turned to Steinbeck.
“Is Aspel still around?”
“Oh yeah. Not many things have changed since you last left. According to us you’ve only been gone for just over thirteen hours. Thirteen, extremely long, hours.”
“Just checking. Who knows what I changed in the past without realising?”
“He’s missed you more than he’s letting on you know.”
“Really. He always was a weak bastard.”
“Give the guy half a chance Larna.”
“He’s been trying to fuck me ever since I saved his life this time last year. He thinks he can control me.”
“No one can do that.”
“Damn right.” Larna stated as she walked towards the transportation platform against the furthest wall away from the Portal.
She stepped on to the platform and moved to the computer panel on the back wall. She entered the SC (Space Co-Ordinates) Number for the police station and pushed the transportation button. When she moved back into the centre of the platform she gave an old military salute to Steinbeck before disappearing from the SAT Laboratory. Steinbeck walked away, leaving the young controller with a lot of questions, and very few answers.
Larna reappeared almost instantly on the transportation platform on the second floor of the police building. The second floor was the main detective’s office. It was also where the office of Commander Tom Aspel could be found. Aspel was the man who had been given the task of looking after and giving Larna her orders. All the detective’s in the office had immediately stopped working when she had appeared on the platform. She stepped off it and shook her head.
“What is it with everyone? You all look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Aspel came out of his office just as Larna finished speaking. When he saw all the non-activity he started to give his men a lecture.
“What are you all doing just sitting around—” he was stopped mid- sentence when he saw Larna at the far end of the room.
Larna walked down the aisle between desks, coming right towards him. Tom turned to his secretary, who was sitting just outside his door.
“Tell me that I’m dreaming this.”
“If you are sir, then I’m dreaming also.” the young, blonde, very attractive secretary said in reply.
Larna came to stand right in front of her boss.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been hit by the same disease as everyone else in this place. I know, in the past, that I’ve not been too welcome in this place, but I thought things had changed since those days. I do still work for you don’t I.”
“Of course you do.” Tom bit back.
“Then why are you all so surprised to see me?”
“We thought that Jordan had killed you. When he took you off Freedom and back in time, we thought that that was the last we were going to hear of Larna Fox.”
“It’s going to take more than Craig Jordan to kill the Fox. Surely if you know me at all, you would have realised that.”
“Only in my dreams Larna. God—” Tom made a move to give Larna a hug.Larna backed away.
“If you’re going to do what I think you are, then I suggest we go into your office first.”
Tom stopped himself. He glared at all the other detectives in the office, hoping that they had not realised what he was about to do. He quickly turned and went into the office. When Larna had closed the door behind them, all the detectives smiled at each other and got back to work. They all knew the feelings that Tom had for Larna. It was obvious from the way he acted around her.
Once the door was closed, Tom gave Larna a huge hug. Larna did not know whether to return the hug, especially after what Steinbeck had told her about Tom’s feelings towards her. Tom broke off the hug and moved around the desk to his chair.
“You obviously got away from Jordan then.”
“You could say that yes.”
“How’d you do it?”
“That’s quite a long story.”
Tom looked down at his watch. He looked like he was thinking something over for a moment or two before he spoke again.
“Do you like Stakeball?” he asked.
Skateball was this time’s form of Ice Hockey. It was combined with elements of American Football, but added the element of danger in the game. It was played on an ice rink, with two teams trying to score five points in every period, with ten periods in total. Each team selected one player to play each zone and they went on a one against one with the opposition. The idea was to score five goals, or to force the opponent into one of the traps set up on the ice. Trap the opponent and get an immediate five nil win for that period. It was a very violent and aggressive sport. So much so that the players all wore strong protective body suits with spikes and various forms of sharp instruments on the suit. It was played in a specially designed stadium, on an isolated island that used to be Alaska. Only people with high levels of credits could get inside.
Larna did not know how to take that offer. It could lead Tom up a blind alley somewhat, giving him the impression that she wanted to take their relationship further. Larna shook off those feelings. It was crazy to think like that. They were workmates. He was her boss. Steinbeck had made her paranoid saying what he did. Larna nodded her head.
“Sure I used to watch it in shop windows.”
“Never been to a match then?”
Larna raised her eyebrows at Tom slightly.
“How could a wanted criminal get into the Skateball stadium?” she asked bluntly.
Tom got to his feet. He realised the mistake he had made immediately.
“Then lets go and watch the game now. Dynamo-Magic, your favourite team, are playing the Blue Force.”
Larna thought it over for only a second before getting to her feet also.
“Sure why not.” she said as she pulled the door open.
Tom smiled as he followed her down the aisle between the desks to the transportation platform. Larna stood in the centre while Tom entered the SC code and transported them both over to the Skateball stadium.
“Commander Aspel, it’s lovely to see you again. It’s been a long time.” the man at the reception desk said as Tom and Larna stepped off the transportation platform of the Skateball Stadium.
“It certainly has George. I’ve never had the company to come here with before.”
George turned his gaze towards Larna now. He was quite taken aback by the stunning looks and fantastic figure. Commander Aspel was the last person he expected to be accompanying such a fine beauty as she. Tom turned his head to look at Larna. Larna felt like she was a waxworks dummy in a shop window, with all these people looking at her like lovesick puppies. Larna turned her attention to the cheers of the crowd.
“Who’s winning?” she asked innocently.
“Dynamo-Magic. Three nil in the first set.” George answered, still quite confused as to how
Tom had managed to get Larna here with him.
Tom looked around the observation room, looking for a clear space.
“Is my table taken?”
“No sir. I always keep it free until half time. You’ve usually come before then.”
Tom walked off towards his table. Larna followed after him quickly, not wanting to get lost. George just stood and admired the rear view that he was being given. He shook his head with shock when he had watched Larna finally disappear from sight.
“She’s too hot to handle.” he sighed as he walked to his reception office.
The Skateball Stadium was designed like an old Roman style Gladiator arena. The sides of the ice rink go up steeply all around the ice surface. At the very top of the slopes observation booths run around the whole stadium, giving everyone a perfect view of the action from whereever they sat. Tom, being a high ranking official, had one of the best tables, running along the halfway like so he got one of the best views possible. The action was fast and furious, just like Larna remembered from the shop window observing of her younger days. Tom held a chair out, being the perfect gentleman. Larna ignored the offer by going to the other side of the table. Tom sighed as he sat down. Larna was not bothered with the match going on below her, she just wanted Tom to give her some answers. Tom caught on to the stares after a couple of minutes. He had been too interested in the game to notice Larna staring at him. He coughed to clear his throat.
“What’s the matter?” he asked nervously.
Larna looked around the scene surrounding her. There was nothing wrong with the place, just the company. Something just did not feel right.
“I thought that we came down here to discuss something?” Larna stated firmly, wanting to get Tom to hurry up and get on with it.
“Do you never give yourself time to relax?” Tom asked, going back to the game.
“I’m not here to relax.” Larna replied.
She was about to say something else, but was interrupted by Tom jumping to his feet and yelling ‘foul’ at the top of his voice. Larna shook her head. She knew that this had been a mistake from the moment she had agreed to come here.
“Tom, sit the down and tell me what we came here for.”
Tom turned his head slowly. His look suggested that he had been trying to avoid talking to Larna about something ever since she got back. He was either struggling to find the words, or the issue was a very sensitive one to Larna. Tom sat down just as slowly as he had turned his head. He hated to be rushed, but Larna was not a patient person at the best of times. Now she was even worse. Tom lowered his eyes as he started to speak.
“When Jordan carried you off, it felt like he had taken my heart with him.”
Larna lifted her eyebrows. This was so sickly sweet that she thought she was going to throw up.
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone else. Those thirteen hours felt like thirteen years.”
“Get to the point!” Larna exclaimed.
“I want you to marry me Larna. I want you to be the first Mrs Tom Aspel.”
Larna did not how to take that last statement. She was quite surprised. Tom took in a large gulp of air. From the look on Larna’s face, she was either totally overwhelmed by the suggestion, or he had just killed himself. Tom broke the silence first.
“Well, what do you say?”
“The answer is no—not yet.”
“What do you mean not yet?” Tom asked, unsure by what Larna was trying to say.
“What about your wife?” Larna stated more than asked, “Wouldn’t she be a little upset about you taking a second wife?”
It was now Tom’s mouth that was dropping wide open. Larna got the distinct feeling that she had just said the wrong thing.
“You’ve been trying to get inside my knickers for over a year now. All with the same outcome. The fact that you are married stopped me then, and it will stop me now.”
“Larna, you must be dreaming. I’m not married. I’ve never been married.”
Suddenly Larna heard a blipping noise inside her head. That was a signal from her time travelling computer aid that something was wrong. The Time, History And Location Analyser, Thala for short, attached to her left wrist, helped Larna by accessing the Factual Historical Information Implants that had been surgically attached to the inside of her skull. Those Implants gave Larna every single piece of data concerning people, places and events going right back to 1980. Thought processes operated the Thala and the responses were given to Larna in her subconscious thanks to a modified FHI Implant. Tom, of course, did not hear the noise. The only sign that something was wrong was when Larna made the Thala appear on her wrist by activating the operations function. When it was activated the Thala lost the power to keep it hidden from eye view, as it was at all other times. Tom looked down at the machine, wondering why Larna had suddenly switched it on. After a couple of seconds the machine vanished again. Tom glared into Larna’s eyes.
“What’s the matter? What’s going on?”
Larna shook her head. There was a problem, but hopefully it would all become clear sooner or later. Tom was about to ask again what the matter was, only with more urgency this time, when his personal communicator started bleeping. It was Larna’s turn to wonder what was going on as Tom pulled the little disc like communicator from his inside pocket.
“This is Commander Aspel.” Tom said after flipping up the top to switch the communicator on.
The face on the other end was Professor Steinbeck. Tom smiled wide.
“Professor, this is an unexpected call.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you at the game Commander, but there has been an incident down at the Laboratories. I was wondering if you could come down.”
“Right away Professor.”
Tom got to his feet as he closed the lid of the communicator and pushed it down into inside pocket again. Larna slowly got to her feet, wondering what was going on. Tom started off towards the transportation platform. Larna could not understand why events had taken such a turn. One minute Tom was proposing to her, the next he was rushing out like his house was on fire. Perhaps someone had found out about the change of history that had occurred since she got back. Larna quickly dashed after Tom before he got too far away from her.
Larna joined Tom on the transportation platform as Tom finished entering the SC number for the SAT Laboratory. Larna jumped on to the platform next to him.
“Would you kindly tell me what’s going on?”
Tom said transport, but nothing else. A split second later Larna found herself standing on the SAT Laboratories platform. Professor Steinbeck was standing in front of her. He looked surprised to find Larna there.
“I didn’t know that you were with the Commander.”
Larna shrugged her shoulders and smiled. Tom spoke next.
“You said that there had been an incident.”
“Yes I did. Come this way, I’ll show you the security film of the incident.”
Larna and Tom followed after Steinbeck quickly. They went into one of the security offices, which were just beside the transportation platform. The guard inside immediately got to his feet. Steinbeck just pointed to the screens.
“Replay the incident would you.”
The security officer complied instantly. The view was of the Time Portal. It was not activated at the start of the film. Commander Aspel watched the screen closely. Larna had a gut feeling as to what was going to happen next. Steinbeck gave his own running commentary.
“This happened about half an hour after Larna got back.”
“What happened?” Tom asked watching the screen.
Suddenly the Time Portal started to spark into life. A blue and white light appeared in the grey metallic framework. As they watched a woman came flying through the blue and white light. She was only wearing a white lace bra and white lace briefs. Her flaming red hair was scattered around the floor in random patterns. The image was switched off a moment after that. It was now the security officers turn to speak.
“I’ve done a check on all the records of every Living Quarters, but have not find her identity anywhere.”
Tom and Steinbeck looked at each other with puzzled glances. Larna was just staring at the screen.
“I can tell you who she is.”
Everyone looked around at Larna with surprise. Larna moved away from the screen to look out of the door.
“Try searching the datafiles of the Brisbourney Institution of Education. Look under the name Delaney. Lauren Delaney.”
Larna faces a battle with a Devil Worshipper, who takes the Devil’s existence a little to the extreme. Prophet Damien Lucifer wants to create a time wide anti-Christ church. He has started in Bostary.