Markman sat in the commissary at the Culpeper underground laboratory, sipping coffee as he recounted the capture of Moriana. When he came to the part about resurfacing into his body to find an angel hovering over the cathedral’s pulpit, John Paul stood so abruptly his the cup and saucer were knocked to the floor.
“My God, you saw him?! You actually saw Michael?”
“Big guy with wings? Didn’t say much. Moriana went berserk.”
“Oh, my Lord. I am shocked, totally shocked. Did he look at you? Did he see you?”
“We stared at each other for quite a spell there. He seemed curious. It felt weird.”
“So you can confuse even an angel?” joked Cassiopia, as she leaned over to pick up John Paul’s cup and saucer.
John Paul remained standing. “That is amazing! You realize his image is the last thing a few entire armies have seen.”
“It was the last thing Moriana saw. I can tell you that.”
“Oh, this is just so incredible. Seeing an archangel in person. Oh, if only I had been there. The vision of a lifetime.”
Cassiopia interrupted. “John Paul, please. You said there is good news about the war?”
Paul gathered himself and took his seat. He shook his head and smiled at Cassiopia. “Forgive me. Yes, that is of the highest concern. The news is, it is all but over, Cassiopia. We will win. There is no doubt of that now. Some things have changed.” John Paul shifted in his seat and began again. “A few days ago some very peculiar things began happening. Some of the Salantian soldiers were coming through the vortport already injured, some of them seriously. There was only one logical explanation. They were being attacked from the other side. In fact, their situation grew even worse hour by hour. Vortports began opening in very inappropriate places. One such port opened on the cliffs of Peru, four thousand feet above the shoreline. Salantian soldiers began charging out and falling to their deaths. Several dozen did so. It is clear they are under attack from the other side. It supports what Moriana told Scott about convincing the Salantians to attack Earth early before they were ready. Their legions became spread too thin. The Crillians have gained a foothold and are on the offensive. The Salantians are now in the worst possible military situation for any army.”
“You are sure, John Paul?”
“We are certain.”
“But what will happen here on Earth now? Too many people have seen Salantians. You can’t possibly hide the existence of extraterrestrials,” said Cassiopia.
“Ah, my presumptuous Cassiopia. You underestimate how many people do not wish to believe such things, and how far they will go to avoid the truth. There are so many alternate explanations. Hoaxes, publicity stunts, mistaken sightings, mass hysteria, swamp gas, need I go on? Many soldiers have fought them. All have been directed not to discuss it. Some will. Others will discredit them. Many will believe and talk about it for years to come. The majority will consider it a passing amusement and go on with their lives. The requirements for daily living will continue regardless of such fantastic tales. Game shows, reality TV, and soap operas will displace the monster stories. Our militaries will clean up the evidence. Photos will fly around the conspiracy websites. Even some authentic ones will be proven to be hoaxes. The entire episode will fade with time and become a pastime for conspiracy theorists and sci-fi lovers. Some day, when all of society is ready for it, the truth will slowly be dispensed. Those of us who lived during this time will be long gone.”
Cassiopia seemed unconvinced. “Really?”
“Oh yes. How many images of artificial structures on Mars and the Moon are posted on the web these days? Have they affected society much? Did an alien spacecraft crashing on a ranch in Roswell change the path of society, even though it was announced in the newspaper by the military the day after?”
“That was real?”
“Of course.”
Markman interjected, “I’d like to hear that story, John Paul.”
“Some other time, Scott. Some other time. I had one other reason besides this debriefing for asking the two of you here. We need one more sensesuit trip to Crillia before wrapping up our study of the sensesuit computer. We are seeing something in the code that we’d like confirmed.”
“You need me?” asked Markman. “Can’t just anybody go in?”
“They could,” replied John Paul, “but the unit has been shut down for some time now while our resources were devoted to the war. Something has happened that may provide an answer you have personally been looking for. You have the most experience in there. You’d be the best one to go in and check on things. It should take less than an hour and we can wrap everything up.”
“No problemo,” replied Markman.
Forty-five minutes later, Markman stood, suited up in the sensesuit test area. Cassiopia and John Paul looked on from their control console. With a nod from John Paul, he pulled on the helmet and waited for the clicks and hisses that would begin his last visit to Crillia.
The suit powered up, and as always, the first sun of Crillia began to rise in the east. For some reason, the sun seemed much larger this time. Markman stared down at the busy world of Crillia. Something seemed different. He could not quite put his finger on it.
“Good morning, may I help you?”
Markman turned to look into the Centrex Pyramid. An unfamiliar figure stared back. The creature wore a long white cloak with large open sleeves. His fingers were long and green and interlaced. Large dark eyes cast a warm but cautious gaze from a dull green face. Where a nose should have been there was only two small apertures and below them a small slit for a mouth. The creature was six feet tall.
“I am Ectra. May I inquire as to the reason for your visit?”
“Where is Trill?”
“Sir, I know of no one by that name. From where do you come?”
“You don’t know Trill? How about DuMont in the Terra Nova Castle. Could I speak with him?”
“Again, I know of no one by that name. The Terra Nova Castle is currently hosting delegates from around this sector for the election of new off-world ambassadors. It is not open to visitors. Again, may I ask the reason for your visit, and from where you come?”
“I’ve come from Earth, to check on Crillia.”
“Ah, Earth, our dearest compatriot planet. But, Earth already has its ambassadors at the Terra Nova negotiations. Why would you come in this manner to inquire about Crillia?”
“Earth has ambassadors here now?”
“Of course. They docked at the Skyway Terrace a week ago. They will be here another ten cycles. I fail to understand your confusion.”
“Lector was it?”
“Ectra. Sir, I ask you again, for what reason are you visiting us?”
Markman looked around at the pyramid control room. All seemed to be as it was, except for the individual standing before him. “I apologize, Mr. Ectra. Actually I’m from a different time.”
“And what time would that be?”
“I’m from a time when Salantian invaders tried to destroy both Crillia and Earth.”
Ectra’s expression seemed to change to one of amazement and understanding. “What is your name, visitor?”
“I was known here by the name Richard Baker, but my real name is Markman, Scott Markman.”
“I do not know of anyone by either of those names, but the historical episode you described remains one of Crillia’s darkest and most heralded victories. It happened centuries ago, during a time when Crillia was nearly lost, as you have said. It left a mark on our people that will never be forgotten. We are taught that when Earth entered the conflict, the momentum of the battle shifted in our favor. Together our two planets defeated an enemy that neither of us could have stood against alone. It is the reason our two peoples are such close allies to this day, and the reason our defenses will never allow such an event to occur again.”
Realization came to Markman. “Then you are a real Crillian?”
“Of course. Who else would I be? And, Scott
Markman, I expect you are not aware that if you are really visiting us from the past, you are in violation of a host of intergalactic laws. Though I understand your situation, I would suggest you return to your time and place. You could cause a serious diplomatic scandal by being here.” Ectra pointed at a transparent tablet on a table across the room. It gently lifted and floated to him. He stared down at it, as though looking for the names Markman had given him.
Markman realized then that the Coffer of Dreams had been constructed by real Crillians, for Crillians. He turned and looked out the pyramid balcony for a last look at Crillia. “You have just one sun?”
The Crillian gave a short laugh. “Yes, but it is all we need.”
“Thank you for allowing me to visit. If you’ll disengage me, I’ll just step into the transport tube.”
“Scott Markman, how is it you know of the Terra Nova Castle, and transport tubes, and such?”
“I’ve been here a number of times when things were different.”
“The implications of that scare me, Scott Markman.”
“It’s okay. Things turned out just fine.”
Ectra nodded, then passed his hand over the crystals and for Markman the Aurora City went dark for the last time.
Chapter 24