The Time Stone, Third Edition (Extended Version)

Not so far away, but by only a few miles, Broad Staffnight led his entourage through the jungle guided by a skinny four foot tall balding dwarfed local named Pablo. Pablo speaks a few English words and guided them through the dusky evening skies with his flashlight, and a backpack almost as big as he was. He speaks in Spanish as they understand as if in English. He is frightened. “Come this way, this way sirs and madam,” he smiles at Elizabeth, “this is the market of the town.” He pointed to a shanty town of scattered wooden homes, old clay huts, and fruit stands surrounding a clearing, the vegetation and trees form the woods offering a quaint backdrop to the rustic commerce and exchanges of everyday life.

“Wow, this is totally different from the capital where we landed into” speaks Elizabeth.

“Come on. That’s the idea. He told us this is the old market place. We should find the answers we seek there.” Broad says loosely interpreting for Pablo.

“Are you going to tell me what is really going on, Broad?” asks Elizabeth.

“OK” Broad says grabbing Elizabeth by the arms and looking at her in the eyes sincerely as he beckons with his eyes for the rest to go on into town. They followed the trail leaving Broad and Liz behind talking. “I know we have seen some crazy stuff” says the former Army ranger turned tycoon business man, choosing his words carefully.

“Broad, you have always been upfront with me in the past. Please tell me what the heck is going on.”

“They’re from another universe, a parallel dimension along our space/time continuum.” He blurted it out and then realizes the absurdity in what he is saying. He speaks with a high level of excitement.

“Who is that?” she asks.

“They are the stuff of legends. The beasts are sky gods and legendary as referred to by the locals. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever experienced” he uttered as if waiting for the right opportunity after seeing the fright in her eyes. “There is an experiment gone wrong and they wound up here on our Earth. That’s all I can say, but trust me Liz when I tell you the stories of the beast warriors are all true. They have been adjusting to life in our universe, on our planet, but in different Times all over our history. This could be the origin of myths, legends, religious folklore, some have theorized, but the possibilities are endless and stakes are heavy, as our world isn’t big enough, it is dying and hungering for energy, new technology, relief from overpopulation and this concept opens up the universe to us. We can find new sustainable renewable sources of energy. We will find the stone of legend at least and unite the world in a grand orchestration under our regime.” He speaks with jubilance in his voice.

She smiles in return, “this sounds kind of crazy, but if I didn’t see what I saw in Mr. Cumberberry’s office… this whole thing now seems to fit perspective.” Liz wondered.

“Come on. Let’s settle in before it gets too dark to travel” Broad says.

They wandered into the little town.