Virus Love: What is Truth? (c) 2005 Jeremy Gosnell

Virus love.
Virus Love (c) 2005 Jeremy Gosnell

“We have found no successful cure for the virus, even though it is benign, we do seek a cure, for it interferes with the actions of spreading his word.”

By this point my thoughts were fixated elsewhere; somewhere other than the supreme priest’s mouth, somewhere searching the walls for the answer – for the truth. Shortly after Priest Valorous finished his monologue on the viral implications of love, High Priest Seibel took the stand.

“How far we have come, how far we have traversed, and through the wretched mine field of democracy, to the founding principles of communistic society, to our final reproach the green fields of religious and singular monarchy rule. To live in his words, the words of the one savior – the one deity who proved above all others that faith was the founding principle of perfection. Here, now, in 2280, we the human race have evolved from lowly lust loving bacterial entities, to perfected, intelligent, and moral understanding beings … a long road it was, but a necessary one. To think that one man planted the seed of this, planted what has grown into modern epoch in the minds of the human race, first in old America, then across the world – Lord Bush – Lord Bush! He who burned the heathen faggots, fried the heretics, and slaughtered the unwilling. To Lord Bush we bow. Although it has been brought to my attention, as well as the attention of the high Conservative Council that love has reared its chemically unbalanced head again – Here in modern society, trying to convert otherwise moral and conscious beings into lust craved vampires who seek nothing more than total anarchy. Those who are maddened enough to desire peace are easily conflicted with this terrible virus, taken over by it, destroyed by its implications, and devoured by its unmerciful power. For over forty years I have not heard of one being who has fallen afflicted by this horrible atrocity to modern welfare, but make no mistake that if we do not find the one who is afflicted with love – we in the supreme duty of perfecting the great American Empire will destroy all of you – and fry your internal organs until you scream in such pain that whether inflicted with love or not, you will be willing to talk. I currently wage war on more than nine hundred star systems, and have no problem making this one a desolate place where only morals and contempt will grow. Am I clear?”

The High Priest finished, his voice shuttering out in the tone of an innocence held in the wrap of inescapable duty. He was a frightened man, frightened by what he had done, the lies and mistruths he had performed and I assumed that he knew that when his time in the universe was through it was not the “green fields” that awaited him, but the fiery pits below. I sat somewhat at ease, and yet somewhat uneasy, I knew I had become afflicted with something, though I knew not what it was. My assumption was that it was possibly love, though I felt it not towards another – just in general towards all things. It had started when I befriended mutton on the animal world of Honoraria. He was a friendly creature who followed me around awaiting droplets of food from my sustentation pack. I was able to condition him to do various tricks and maneuvers and I often found him entertaining me and other members of my missionary team late into the night.

My fondness for my mutton friend had grown, more so since I had left Honoraria and returned back to the sovereign American system and was again forced into the gray tapestry of modern life. I ate what the council determined was morally right for me to eat, I slaved to the Arenac Corporations and I gave all I had to society’s rich, those the council had deemed the pure. Soon though the fondness I held for the mutton was now branching off and occasionally when I would pass a female in the city. I would be encouraged internally to speak to her. I knew it was against all forms of Conservative Restriction for a male to speak to a female, although I felt compelled or pressured to do so.

Such things were reserved I knew for the rich, the pure. Carnal embraces, drinking fine wines, and bathing in glamour – they were so pure that such things would not taint them. They could fall in love, they could even “make love” like in the days of old, but I, a lowly peon, servant of the great white rich – the great and all powerful pure would be executed if I spoke to a female! How dare my mind foster such implications!

My feelings of togetherness had caused me to question normality. I was seeking truth where I knew I had been told only lies by not only the council, but even those I was nearly close to. Their minds functioned in a different pattern than my own and thus they thought my seeking of wholeness and reality was insane; that reality had been placed before me and I could not grasp it. I thought them insane as well and I decided to embrace my quest and seek out the truths that had remained so hidden.

You can imagine my shock then, when after months, nearly years of searching the archives I came across – truth. What is truth I asked myself? The shock of it all, love it was not a virus but a natural human emotion. Peace was not wrong but right – it was right for a being to be peaceful and seek to not hurt another living creature. The teachings of the one they promoted were untrue and skewed, distorted and unreal. The one had spoken greatly of love and in his time on old Earth he had loved many. Why had such wonderful and enlightening teachings been abandoned in favor of war mongering madness?

The real question that loomed before me was different though, how to make the people of America aware of the truth? The council had forbid free speech and any word spoken against the monarchy was ruled as treason; the punishment was a torturous execution. Free will, free thinking, all the things the one had supported had now been ruled unlawful and disastrous to a free society … though I soon learned my society was not really free.

Truth? What was it? How could I expand what I had learned from months of studying to the general population without getting caught … or worse executed?

“Life, the one gift we have been endowed by our eternal father. A chance for success, for failure, for love or indifference. It is inescapable, for it is eternal by forthright and justice. We must find our father again … we must heed his call.”
-The achieves – page noted 227788 -Lord Masterson

Part 2
Lord Masterson awaits

“He awaits you in his chamber young Faulkner.”

Masterson’s assistant was waving me into his chambers, deep within the belly of the council interior. Masterson had been a dear friend of my father’s, and once, almost twenty years ago had supported a revolution of free thinkers that sought to bring back the age of knowledge. After the Conservative Coalition had the internet destroyed in 2100 there was no massive communication between citizens or societies and such madness had overtaken many in search of knowledge. The free thinkers wanted to hearken back to the age when information was shared and available and Masterson had secretly supported their efforts. Somehow he had avoided the council’s watchful eye and remained vigilant in his support of true freedom.

I assumed Masterson above all others would support my ideas and be able to somehow steer me towards my goal of freeing the minds of citizens abroad. In my mind, he must have already had some idea of the truths hidden beneath the ancient archives and would be unsurprised when I reflected some of my knowledge onto him.

As usual Masterson was calm and quiet. He was an intent listener, he did not question, just calked his head in silence taking in what I had to say. I spoke of peace and unity, universal truth and love. Masterson listened, and finally after I had finished my entire presentation he spoke.

“Faulkner, you have become, as do many young men, your father. I remember when your father was your same age, him standing before me as you do now, saying words of similar intent and meaning. We learned then, as you will soon, that no matter what regard this is presented in it will ultimately fail. The council, the beliefs, and the process are too concrete and well footed in success to offer any real way to be destroyed. They follow the madness of Lord Bush, and they revel in war and suffering, dining in hatred and miscalculation. They are the sludge of our universe, and yet they are in control. Each member of the council knows what you have just shared with me. They know and yet they support and represent lies and mistruths – failures and poor judgment. I am sorry – Faulkner you have so abruptly learned of these truths – though I beg you to forget them just as quickly as you introduced yourself to them.”

I have to admit I was somewhat shocked by Masterson’s reply, I expected from him some level of support. I was almost amazed that this man, the one who was begging me to forget my new found knowledge, had just decades earlier supported the largest free thinking movement of modern times. What had changed within Masterson’s heart, what darkness had overtaken his mind? I knew a different approach to these issues was in order.

“One last question before I depart Lord Masterson” I said.

“Of course my young friend.” He replied.

“What if a rich were to die, one of the pure executed by someone who advocated free thinking?” Masterson’s face became white, “I am going to act as though I did not hear those words escape your lips, and I suggest they are never uttered again.”

I decided I would not take Masterson’s suggestion.

“If we cannot speak freely of our thoughts … If we cannot share our thoughts with others, and contemplate and refine them, then what we ask what is the purpose of thinking at all.
-The Free Thinkers Movement – 2100

Purity

Masterson had changed, much like the entire universe had changed. America, it was the virus, it was the plague that had overtaken the hearts of many, and I, one of its many peons was searching for a cure. A cure for the cure … The pure, this rich as I had started to call them lived above society. The doors without knobs, the rooms without windows, this is where they lurked. None were more pure according to the council’s standards then Andrewartha Arenac of Arenac Corporation. The largest American supplier of military arms, funded mainly by the council itself, he was according to the teachings of the council, the purest of all men.

Odd, I had been watching Arenac for weeks now, and he seemed to be anything but pure. He invited several different females into his home on regular occasions. Dined them with the finest food, and after slipping them some sort of drink, escorted them to his bed where he partook in carnal exercises of many varieties. Was this purity or the workings of a rotten being consumed by wealth?

I decided a visit to Mr. Arenac was in order. Why not, my thoughts alone had branded me a heretic; I was consumed by the viral implications of love. When the council found out I was not flowing in the direction of monarchy rule I would be terminated like all the others. An impact of some sort was required of my new found liberation. I had found an exterior duct that could be used in gaining entrance to Arenac’s home, and used it as a way to bypass his security. Once inside I was amazed by the gadgetry and glitter that had been applied to his everyday life … this man, in all reality was a living god, his home like a scene from heaven itself. Though I felt I brought his day of judgment with me, only today I would play the roles of both judge, jury, and liberator … I would liberate him from his purity – and plunge him into darkness.

As he approached his door, I swung around, kneeling above his entrance like a hawk awaiting its prey. As the door slid open …

“Mr. Arenac, you have held our society in the grip of slavery too long.”

“Is that a chaser in your hand” he asked?

“Yes Mr. Arenac, that it is” I replied.

“You plan to kill me” he laughed?

“No Mr. Arenac, I plan to liberate you unto hell.”

With that I fired my chaser blasting open his chest cavity. Blood and bile spilled from him as he made his last few gasps of life, and passed on to eternity. The deed was done, the revolution had begun.

“The patterns in the glass lead us to believe that Mr. Arenac was in fact shot with a Cornelian Chaser. Since this type of weapon is only issued to Priest Scribes and Monarchy Guards in training we do believe that he was terminated by someone within the council. Likely, a victim, of the viral implications of love …
-Governor of investigations into internal matters of faith speaking on the death of Arenac Corporation’s founder

Part 3
Patterns in the glass

“Thus, as in the wake of all things we are brought to the here and the now.”

Both Priest Valorous and High Priest Siebel stood, stunned by my story. Their faces filled with anger and hatred but too afraid to make any motion, for they knew not what strategy I had concocted to escape the situation I had been placed. It was obvious I had come to the council session by choice, seated myself where I had by choice, and made an honest attempt to confess to both being infected by love and murdering Arenac by choice. These issues alone had obviously concerned the priests, for I had made it clear that death was not something I feared.

“Here in my hand is a list of four hundred and forty five demands. Written in accordance with diplomacy and thought sharing between I, and many members of American society. This is what we the people of America demand – or we promise you the council and the Conservative Commission war on these terms!” It is a Declaration of Peace, a Declaration of Love based on the true teachings of the one.”

I tossed the two priests the writing, and prepared myself for their reaction. Siebel opened his mouth to speak first …

“Re-institute the age of knowledge.”

“Re-connect the founding fibers of the internet so that all citizens can learn, think, and share their ideals to better inspire and enlighten them.”

“Stop the nine hundred source wars across the galaxies and free all political prisoners taken for your own personal benefits.”

“Stop the consequential slavery held by the rich, the ones you call pure, and allow each man to choose their own destiny as taught by the one in the ancient scrolls.”

“I refuse to read another word of this blasphemy! Young Faulkner you are no more than an insolate trader that will be executed here and now before the masses! Guards of the Monarchy seize this madman and purify him of his affliction!” Siebel yelled.

Though the guards did not move.

“MEN SEIZE HIM.” Still they stood at the ready, no movement, just their stance.

“I will not tolerate this lunacy from any member of this council, I am contacting the Lord Valises and his army will deal with you mal contempt.” Siebel was silent.

“I am sorry High Priest, though I fear that I now command your army. They have sworn alliance to me, and the revolution. You can either meet the demands of the declaration or my army will destroy you, and challenge Valises when he arrives.”

“I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS!” Just as Seibel finished his phrase his head was removed. One shot from my chaser, and the revolution had begun.

900 star systems. 900 armies. 900 Priests. That is not counting Valises, some say he cannot be killed, others claim he is no more than a myth. Once the line was crossed we can never turn back. It is not love that acted here today, but one must embrace the darkness before they can revel in the dawn. I will be both night and day, I will bring you home.

“Look my friends, at the sky above. The rain has dissipated, and a new day is beginning. How beautiful those skies appear, how sweet, how warm the sun does shine. Embrace this day like all others … look beyond it, but yet become one with it. With monumental love we move forward, unto today, unto tomorrow we are afflicted with fear.

Fear not my friends; fear nothing… for we are one. Always and forever we stand against the madness. We are the calm before the storm; we are the sweet wind on the tail of the dawn”
-The One

The Obstacles of Science (c) 2011 Jeremy Gosnell

The Obstacles of Science

(c) 2011 Jeremy Gosnell

He was more religious then I although he was my best friend and it was that reason alone that I decided to take him along. I was a scientist and he was something of a purist one could say and over the years of our friendship we had many arguments concerning the origin of humanity. Most of our disagreements ended in a discussion about the possibility of evolution. In reality neither of us were supporters of Darwin’s famous theory although while he was totally against it I was able to find some parts of the theory that that I understood. Having him with me today would be a great asset to me; mainly since it would give me a broader second opinion to think about. In turn this could open my mind to the thoughts of another. Together we could formulate stronger more fluent ideas about the origin of these creatures and what they really were. I needed him not only for his strong spiritual sense but also for his remarkable and never ending positive attitude.

Over the years I had been highly criticized to the point where my peers were not making expressive views about my work; they making fun of me. It was the area I chose to study that made them laugh and snicker during my seminars at the university. With funding I studied an area of science that many professionals argued was a waste of time. I made several trips yearly to Alberta and Northern Canada in pursuit of my subject. All of which over the years had turned up nothing but more questions and dead ends. It was after seven years and over a hundred thousand dollars in funding, countless ridicule from my colleagues that I had given up my work for a more concrete area of study.

On a Thursday during mid-fall my attitude towards science had reached an all-time low. For years I was able to bite my tongue while I was called a fool for pursuing an animal that many believed to be nothing more than a hoax. For me as a scientist it was a dark time. A time that it appeared as all my hopes of being remembered for something great were being thrown out and I would be quickly forgotten. In reality I had never made any great stride or discovery in the field but I always maintained my passion. As I sat there that day drowning in my own gloom the ringing phone almost went un-answered. In the darkness of that afternoon it seemed like the only ray of light. I had given up so much in pursuit of science; my wife, friends, a social life - this call may have been my chance to re-coup my desperate losses.

“Ethan Conrad.” The voice on the other end of the line asked. The accent was Canadian.

Not an established Canadian accent like you would find in Montreal but a more broken one.

“Speaking” I answered in my normal monotone voice.

“I contacted your office and they gave me your home number, I hope you don’t mind me calling you at home like this.”

“Well if you are calling to tell me that I am a fool and should give up on the study altogether then yes sir I do mind you calling me at home.” My reply seemed to give some pause.

“No sir, this is the Canadian Wildlife and Game Commission out of Alberta and we are calling to well tell, I mean ask you to come and take a look at an animal we recently took into our custody.” This made me think, and it was clear that he was keeping many details about this “animal” hidden as if he was afraid that I would turn his offer down.

“What type of animal are you talking about?” I asked.

“Well we were hoping that you could tell us.”

It was drawing closer. The moment I had waited for as a scientist my entire career and soon enough so many un-answered questions; many of them I myself had raised would be answered.

“Well Ethan this is it, your time to prove to me that I was wrong all along.” John said with a grin.

“If this is what I think; what I am hoping it is then it won’t prove anyone wrong, just prove a lot of people right.”

John laughed, having him there my best friend and constant ally; even while others called me an idiot felt good and re-assuring.

“This is it.” the pilot yelled as we began to touch down on a small landing pad out in the Alberta wilderness.

It was obvious this was the only Fish and Game station for at least sixty miles.

As we entered the facility Thomas Ashton the Ranger who had called me a few days earlier was present ready to brief us on the situation.

“It was one of our men who first spotted the creature about ten or so miles from here, he was hurt pretty bad when we found him, obviously had been hit with an off-road vehicle or something. It is obvious that the people who hit him thought he was a person, or were too afraid to stop since they must have taken off.”

“First off I want to thank you two gentlemen for coming out here on such short notice and second of all I want to warn you of the dangers and precautions about being around this creature. We have had him in custody for about one week, and there are some quick do not’s we have learned right off. Number one, this guy is big; we are positive it is a male for obvious reasons and he is about seven and a half feet tall and weighs two hundred and eighty pounds. And make no mistake about it none of that weight is fat; he is solid muscle so I don’t want anyone other than my guards in the unit with him, that is simply not up for negotiation. Second he is loud and seems to be sensitive to any type of noise, so when talking around him it is best to use your softest possible voice, even a whisper if possible. The noise he makes is extremely scary and intimidating so when you first hear it, which you will, he makes it every time we get close. Please do not make any sudden movement, those bother him too. He was tired for the first few days but he is in tip top shape now so be careful.”

As we walked down the corridor behind Thomas he continued to talk about how well the facility was equipped. He spoke about how they were ready to handle Bear and other large and powerful mammals and even this creature was no a burden on the unit.

As we approached the individual came into view. Bigfoot, Sasquatch, whatever you wanted to call it was standing right there before me. I had studied it, searched for it, wondered if it even existed and there it was right before my eyes. Its size was huge and the grunt it made as we approached was loud not unlike the similar groan of a huge Silverback Gorilla. It was a marvel to science and while it looked much like a Gorilla in build; its stance and features were far more humanistic. It glared at us with an obvious intelligence. I was sure the animal knew it was in captivity and was smart enough to realize that struggle was futile at this point. I took a position kneeling down. Showing this amazing animal that I was not aggressive.
John was simply awe struck and while I must admit that even I myself was somewhat intimidated by the animal’s presence, it was clear that the sight of it simply shocked John.

As shocking as this situation was for both of us it was clear to me that I would need several days to examine the creature and that most of this time would alone time with the animal.

It was this request that did not set well with the head ranger and for a moment I did not think I would receive any chance to study the creature at all. After some bargaining I was able to work out four hours a day alone with the creature for two days, at that time I was to compile a one thousand word report on what I found. “Well Bob I don’t see any reason for me to stay, it looks like you have finally gotten what you have been waiting for” John said still sporting the awe struck look from before. “Listen I didn’t invite you here just to be a passive observer, I want some of your views to appear in my initial analysis of this creature, so it doesn’t sound overly one sided.” Me reply had surprised him and the look that was giving me so much haste before had suddenly disappeared.

The creature was far more intelligent than I had originally anticipated. I had assumed in earlier theories that a Bigfoot or Northern Gorilla as I called them when I was speaking to members of the scientific community would have an intelligence somewhere between that of a Mountain Gorilla and a human. Lacking the ability to speak but being able to understand language in simple phrases and possibly being able to be taught to read certain sentences. While observing the animal though it was clear that it was much more adept to learning than I had originally thought and after only eight hours with it I was certain I was on the verge of teaching it to read. When spoken to it lost its animal instinct to be afraid, and it was clear it had finally realized that I was by no means there to harm it. Though after my days were up though the head ranger came and asked for my report. As I pleaded for just a little more time with the creature it was clear that I was not going to get it. “So what is to come of this specimen” I asked wondering if they would expose his existence to the world. “He will be euthanized for further studying; we need to be sure that these creatures are not harmful before we decide if we are going to allow them to continue their existence.” The ranger’s reply had exposed my worst fears about the well being of the animal.

It would have been the perfect opportunity to set myself apart from the rest of the scientific crowd. A finding that many had told me would never come; a creature that they argued simply did not exist. That argument may still continue among my colleagues. It’s the human races ability to destroy even the most mysterious parts of nature that made me do what I knew I had to. I freed him, back into the vast wilderness from which he came, and in doing so burned all chances I had at the great world wide recognition that I had been waiting for, that had been the burning flame that kept me traveling and studying for all those years. Although as I watched him jog out through the forest, first seeing his movement clear, then as he gained distance seeing him disappear I knew in the eyes of nature I had done what was right. It may take science and humanity another hundred, maybe a thousand years to find this amazing creature again, and in the end its freedom was more important to me than seeing it in a zoo or seeing my picture in a magazine.

Billy Mattock (c) 2011 Jeremy Gosnell

Billy Mattock
(c) Jeremy Gosnell 2011

One thing most of the world’s population is totally unaware of is the existence of time travel. Not only does this once fictional and questionable method of travel exist, it is used daily by many people from very different walks of life. Time travel, or as those in the scientific field call it, multi-flexural inter-dimensional shifting, has been around for over one hundred years. The president of the United States is unaware of it, most foreign nations know nothing about its existence, and ninety-nine percent of the world’s individuals are totally oblivious to its relationship with life.

Time travel as we know it today was invented in 1887 by a farmer named Robison Brunt. Mr. Brunt, who held no scientific degrees; was a simple man who raised his family and lived off the land. One day when the summer heat had thrown Robison into a tired and agitated state he decided to cool off in the comforting shade of his barn. He noticed there on that day; light sifting through his barn window, breaking into a prism, and finally segmenting into various forms of color. It looked as though a multi-stage rainbow had formed at the end of the prism and as Robison sat there nearly in a daze he watched the color wheel begin to spin. At first he thought his tired and weakened state was making him delusional until his young son Matthew came into the barn.

“What is it father?” he asked with eyes widened.

“I am not certain my boy, it’s some kind of prism, or rainbow or the like” Robison replied.

As the father and son watched in awe the wheel started spinning faster until finally it was moving with such velocity that the colors blurred together creating a giant blob.

“I’m afraid father” young Matthew yelled.

By this point the spinning color wheel was making a high pitched squeal – loud like a jet engine or rotating helicopter blades. Matthew had his hands over his ears though Robison sat in awe of what was taking place. His jaw was wide, eyes gaping; the wheels of his mind were spinning nearly as fast as the one before him.

Soon a small white portal just large enough for a man had opened. Through its shimmering visage Robison could see something.

“A city” he exclaimed.

In tears young Matthew had fled the barn. It was a city unlike any city Robison had ever seen. Buildings touched the sky, giant contraptions soared in the heavens and millions of people! Without any fear and not knowing what lied beyond the calm waving surface of the portal Robison stepped through. In a matter of one second Robison Brunt of Hampshire, New England went from 1887 all the way up to 2,087 in the time it would have taken Farmer Wolcott to open a stubborn peanut shell. Standing there in the midst of it all – in Hampshire, New England 2,087 Robison had unlocked the door to time.

Today we have a machine called the Giga Flexor that opens these flectural portals for us. Robinson had used a piece of glass he called Flexor Pane to create time portals and while this method was successful it needed a perfect ray or light on a perfectly clear day and a perfect spot in the stratosphere to function. The Giga Flexor only needed electrical power and someone to press the large red button on its top to function. It would spin several Flexor Panes around at high speed, blast them with a sudden ray of pure white light and boom – a Saperstein Portal to the future or past was created. The hell of time travel was this, you never knew where you were going, past or present, future or location. Every time a Saperstein portal opened, no matter where it opened from it took you someplace, sometime different. Even now in 2,014 and after traveling time in and out we cannot find a way to control where any Saperstein portal leads. We just hold our breath jump through and hope for the best. Even Robinson Brunt himself never knew where he was going or how he would find his way home.

Now there is some consolation in all this time jumping uncertainness. The Gala-po-tator! This device invented by Robert Saperstein (the man who discovered just what the Saperstein portal was) could warp any time traveler back to his original place and time – just two seconds before he left.

Now I don’t want to confuse anyone so I’m going to stop with all the technical talk right about now. I am sure most of you get the idea and I just want to get to the meat of the story. There is one international organization that governs everything that takes place within the realm of time travel. It is highly secretive and never spoken of but any person whom travels within times’ barriers is a proud member. The Time Traveler’s Guild is the name of such an organization and within it is everything from traveler’s logs to portal information all the way up to my department, (The International Time Continuum Policing Agency or ITCPA for short). Our mission, goal, and sole purpose is to make sure that no time traveler or guild member does anything that would burden or stress the course of time. Since our inception nearly eighty years ago we had a one hundred percent success rate! That was of course before the actions of one Billy Mattock.

Billy had seduced and slept with women from the Renaissance period, the dark ages, early America, and the future. He had smoked cigars with Thomas Edison, chatted with Benjamin Franklin, and ridden on the first railway train ever to cross the country. The worst part about all this was not only the fact that time was changing because of Billy; it was that he took delight in posting photographs of his exploits on the internet. Searching a message board proved to us at the ITCPA that some believe Billy’s photos were fake while others thought he was some kind of god.

All in all this made a real problem for my department. One of our most important missions was to make certain that the general population was unaware of time travel’s existence. Now, suddenly Billy Mattock was posting pictures of Giga Flexors on the internet and young people were inquiring about where they could find them. All types of bollix was going on with the space time continuum. In Florida they had discovered some new species of giant crocodilian. It wasn’t a new species of giant crocodile it was a very old species, one that had gone extinct millions of years ago. Billy had gone back to the Cretaceous Period and played “Peta-Pro” doing what he could to save those reptiles from extinction. In the ITCPA’s mind it was just a matter of time till Billy ruined the whole world.

On October the 4th ITCPA’s lead chief Robertson Leland stormed into my office.

“You know Peter” he shouted, “We have to do something about that Billy Mattock. He thinks he is god you know, just today on that website he maintains he had posted that he had the powers of god. Right next to those words was a picture of Mattock next to Abraham Lincoln. Who does he think he is kidding?” Leland shouted.

“Hum sir” I replied, Where does the agency think Mattock is now” I asked.

“You won’t believe this Peter we think he is going to assassinate the president by killing him just after he is born!” Leland exclaimed.

“What do you want me to do with Mattock if I find him sir?” I asked.

“I don’t know Peter think of something, we can’t make a show of this that is for sure. It’s the agencies purpose to treat these matters with discrepancy but something must be done, Mattock is losing control.”

“Yes most certainly” I replied.

“Frankly Peter I think you’re the man to do it. Your quick, smart, cunning and witty – I want you to go back in time and find Mattock and stop him.”

“Of course” I conceded.

“We think Mattock is working in the year 1959, planning on waiting for President Cloddy to be born and then planning on killing him as a child. We are sending you back under the guise of a foreign diplomat friend of Cloddy’s father – Jefferson Cloddy.”

“Sounds interesting sir” I ended.

The sad truth was we really didn’t have any official power to do much of anything. Since we were such a secret entity of an already secret Traveler’s Guild it was to our benefit to remain as silent as possible. Over our eighty year existence the ITCPA had no reason to do anything extravagant. Most time travelers were so pleased to be able to use such a unique form of transportation that they hardly ever broke the Traveler’s Code. Billy Mattock was a unique case and frankly our agency knew nothing of who Mattock was, where he came from, and how he had become what the ITCPA called a “Time Terrorist.” We knew of course what Mattock looked liked from his photos on the internet though even his appearance changed with startling speed. In all honesty that day in October I had no idea how I was going to locate Billy Mattock or what I was going to do with him once I found him.

The ITCPA had devised a unique color code that determined just how high Mattock’s threat level was on any given day. For the past several weeks the threat level indicator had been at red, meaning severe threat expected. So like any good ITCPA field officer I put on my gear (blue jeans, t-shirt, and baseball cap) grabbed my Gala-po-tator and headed to the Flexural Portal center.

As always Dr. Simons was working and ran me through the usual briefing that any field agent gets before traveling into time.

“We don’t know where your going” Simons warned, We don’t know how we are going to get you back, and all we ask is that you complete your mission in the most discreet manner possible.”

With that Simons asked me to enter the Giga Flexor, which I did and with that he smiled.

“Who you after” he asked.

“Well you know Doc’ that information is private, but since you asked – Billy Mattock.” The doctor chuckled, “Good Luck.”

With that I found myself caught in a whirl wind of flexor panes and light with a sudden swoosh that lifted me off my feet and dropped me down in 1959. Looking around I realized I was in Quiet Cove, Connecticut two days before the birth of President Cloddy. Now I am certain most of you are wondering just how I was able to gauge where I was going and so on and so forth. The truth of the matter as with anything time travel related is simple – I wasn’t able to gauge where I was going, in fact I had no clue where I was headed, just in this instance I got damn lucky.

Ill be the first to admit I am not much of investigator, field agent, or professional of any type. That’s why I liked working for the ITCPA, I didn’t have to do much. I made neat charts and graphs that explained how in eighty years we had been one hundred percent successful and why. The why was easy, not very many people traveled through time and those who did weren’t interested in causing each other problems. Suffice to say I didn’t have a clue how to find Billy Mattock and better yet I didn’t know where to begin looking. Other than his appearance we had no idea what Mattock was up to in 1959.

Then came another shocker – I hadn’t actually arrived in 1959 like I initially thought. It was actually 1979, this was bad because if Mattock had decided to kill President Cloddy right after his birth the deed was done and my work had failed. The good news was he hadn’t. The reason I knew this is I caught the tail end of a broadcast were Jefferson Cloddy was campaigning for the senate on television with his young son in tow. Assuming I could relax until I found a guild member who could lead me to a Giga Flexor I rented a hotel room and decided to enjoy my stay in the era.

The receptionist at the Fowlers’ Inn was a cute hippy with long blonde hair and a genuine smile.

“There you go sir where are you traveling from?” she asked.

“Uhh, just put down, uhh Era, Era Georgia ma’m” I replied with a sheepish grin.

So I went to my newly rented room, enjoyed a cold beer and decided to get some rest and set out early the next day in hopes of locating a Time Travelers Guild lay over. Finding a layover, even for a member of the guild was not easy. Nowhere were these travelers’ stops broadcasted and they could only be identified by the guild seal that would appear on their doorway. It appeared like Quiet Cove was a small area and finding a guild could prove easier than in a metropolitan zone. So as night approached I started resting my eyes when suddenly a knock at the room door startled me. My initial assumption was that it was morning and the cleaning service wanted into the room. I glanced at the wall clock, “2 a.m.”

I jumped up, ran to the peep hole only to find no one there. After looking around I decided to attempt to fall back to sleep although just as I reached the sheets another knock came. This time I ran to the door and swung it open. There not but several inches from me was Billy Mattock. Under his arm, totally naked and rubbing his back was the sweet, cute hippie girl from the counter. Her hair was so long and toiled around that it hung over her breasts nearly to her stomach. She was smiling a somewhat delicate sneer and blew me a kiss as I glanced her way.

“Go get some rest Sarah” Billy said, “Peter and I have something to discuss.”

“How do you know my name Mattock” I demanded.

“I know everything about you Peter, I am Billy Mattock, I was even there the day you were delivered into this world” Mattock replied.

With that Sarah snuck from under his arm and dashed down the hall giggling.

“Beautiful isn’t she?” Mattock asked. “Earlier while you were downstairs you wanted to kiss her” he said, “if you would like that and more it can be arranged” he gestured down the hall.

“Arranged” I asked, “what kind of business are you in?”

Mattock laughed, “Don’t worry I’m not pawning off the women of the ages or something like that, I was just being friendly.” Sarah isn’t even real.” he continued.

“Not real” I muttered.

“No, not real, or at least not a real human being, she is a Lapser, a sex robot from 3,400 a.d. – looks real, feels real, but all in all she is just a machine” Mattock said.

“Th-that’s it Mattock” I yelled, “by, by order of the International Time Consortium Police you are under arrest for, for, fooling with the realm of time.”

Mattock turned and laughed – “really.” Well if that is how it must be than I am yours” Mattock said.

As I got up, attempting to take Mattock under my grasp a force, stronger than any man but silent and hidden kept pulling me away.

“It’s a thorn warp halo field” Mattock said. “Invented in the year 4,000 a.d. by beings from the planet Alfaro.” Let me explain something to you Peter he continued. I have seen all the ages of the Earth, I have seen its birth, its life and its conclusion. I have seen its earliest people, the life of this planet and watched it decay into madness and self destruction. I want nothing Peter, I have experienced all and want nothing. I just want to open the door.”

I was confused, “Open the door” I asked.

“Its like this Peter either we all get to play or no one gets to play, I have something very powerful in my possession something I invented to give me leverage over the Time Traveler’s Guild, leverage over the ITCPA and leverage over you.”

“What is it” I asked.

“I call it a ‘Flux Portal Regulator’ it’s a device that allows me to dial in the location that any given Saperstein Portal will open. It is the device that allowed me to deliver you here, to 1979 and this exact location. The best feature of the device; it will, after pressing the top button deliver you back to your original destination just four seconds before you left. Without a doubt it’s more powerful than anything the Time Traveler’s Guild has ever created.”

“Your right, without a doubt” I replied.

“So your guild can either open the doors to time traveling for everyone, equal opportunity, free of charge or Ill travel back to Hampshire, New England 1887 and invite Robinson Brunt over for lemonade thus eliminating the possibility of him seeing a flectural portal break open through his barn’s glass. I pondered the possibility and if this Flux Portal Regulator could do what Billy claimed nothing other than sheer brute force could stop him.

“Well, umm of course I would have to discuss this with the guild” I said.

“Sorry Peter” Billy said standing up, Oddly enough my time for discussions ended long ago.”

“Well I can’t answer you without asking the guild first” I demanded.

“I wasn’t asking the guild to help me with this matter Peter, I was asking you – man to man – to help me. If you can’t decide for yourself than I know what I must do.”

With that Billy Mattock disappeared.

_________________ 2011 present day…

“Peter, Mr. Wilcott please wake up” Dr. Mattson called.

“Your hypnosis for today is complete sir” she said smiling.

“Anything valuable today Doc’” I asked.

“Afraid not Peter mostly delusions, you talked about traveling through time and chasing Time Terrorists” she laughed. A Convincing and well thought out story though, but mainly just delusions.”

The Grimsby (c) 2011 Jeremy Gosnell

The Grimsby

(c) 2011 Jeremy Gosnell

The vast southern ocean rolled beneath the Grimsby. The gigantic whaling vessel was swaying as arctic waters lapped over the ship’s sides slapping the crew in the face. Pillars of ice swirled around reflecting the last glimmer of the day’s sunlight. Soon the bright Antarctic evening would fade to black and the twinkling stars above would illuminate the sea with shimmering star light. The word research was painted in bold black letters across the Grimsby’s side. The true name of the vessel was unknown to any but the crew, The Yushin Maru number two. The history of the ship was painted red, blood tarnishing the ship’s image. It was the whaling fleet’s harpoon craft. A scout boat would set out before the Yushin to find migrating whale pods and this leviathan of death would hunt the peaceful animals down.

An explosive tipped harpoon would strike the whale rupturing the large animal’s lungs and after much suffering the creature would die. The research indication allowed the Japanese whalers a quick escape from international law. In 1986 a global moratorium on whaling had been imposed and any member of the United Nations was forced to cease hunting any species of cetaceans. A loophole existed and the Japanese sought to exploit it. A small portion of whales could be killed yearly in the name of scientific research. Using the Japanese Cetacean Research Commission to masquerade as scientists the fishermen shipped the whales that were killed to fish markets and restaurants all over Japan.

Each member of the large whaling ship knew that they were involved in a precarious game of cat and mouse; a game that was essentially illegal. With no international force to impose the moratorium’s strict regulations, the Grimsby was free to hunt whales. As the cold Antarctic air turned black Captain Ayako Cho looked down at the ship’s sonar. He was searching for large biological contacts that would indicate a pod of Minke Whales. The sonar screen was blank; each beep reminded Cho that there were no whales on the horizon tonight. In reality Cho wanted a different profession. His father, Akio had been a whaler and Cho’s entire family was filled with former fishermen. It wasn’t a choice for the young Japanese man; it was a necessity and long nights on the Southern Ocean served as his rite of passage. He was a successful whaler and experienced seamen. Cho’s true love was art and as he watched the rolling sea before him he remembered when he first presented his father with one his paintings.

“Why are you wasting your time Ayako making paintings. Your life is on the sea. You cannot escape this truth” Cho’s father yelled.

The young child Ayako was ready to cry. He knew that doing so would bring disrespectful to his father.

“It is my passion father” the young man said.

“Your passion, you are my son and you are to become a fisherman as I have been my entire life Ayako. Running around making paintings is no way to support a family. The sea is where you will go.”

Ayako looked away knowing that he and his father would never come to an understanding. Instead of going to college Ayako took to the water, learning the ropes of whaling. He winced each time a harpoon would pierce a whale. Each time he would watch the mysterious creature thrash as blood poured from its blow hole and in agony it died. Ayako hated the profession. His father was a cruel and calculated man. Whaling had made him emotionless and unkind. Ayako feared that if he remained a whaler for any longer it would transform him into a wretch.

He feared for what it would do to his wife and young son back in Japan. He feared that he would become the same callous man that his father had. A man who lacked any emotion and was unable to connect with his children or wife; Ayako hated his father and feared that this violent life hunting throughout the sea would make his young family hate him. Looking down at the sonar blinking beneath his gaze Ayako drifted back to the moment. Spring would eventually end and the Minke Whales would leave their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean. Ayako had to reach his quota and he knew that time was of the essence. Just as he closed his eyes preparing for a nap the sonar buzzed signaling a contact. He blinked, the contact was large. He was certain judging from its signature that it couldn’t be a single whale; it must have been an entire pod.

“Imagine that” the Japanese fisherman muttered to himself.

The contact was far too concentrated to be a pod of whales. It was something else. Ayako grabbed the vessel’s radio calling out to the crew.

“We are on top of a large contact. I am unsure of its origins but am confident it is neither a whale nor pod of whales. Please take harpoon position.”

Ayako watched out the bridge window as a harpoon gunner jumped behind the massive gun on the vessel’s bow.

“We are thirty meters from the object” Ayako yelled to the gunner.

“10 meters” the captain exclaimed.

Suddenly an enormous roar filled the air. The Southern Ocean beneath the Grimsby came to life in a dynamic display of lights. The roar was growing louder as the brightness beneath the ocean intensified. From deep within the frozen waters a gunship had emerged breaking through the icy surface with the blasting grind of powerful engines. The craft was roughly half the size of the large whaling ship with short wings that were propelled by swirling turbines. It was entirely black with no cockpit and an extremely smooth metallic exterior. Lights flashed over the gunship as two fifty caliber machine guns dropped from compartments on the vehicle’s underside.

“Is it American” the captain yelled out to the harpoon gunner.

“I don’t know” the gunner replied.

The gunner stepped away from the harpoon his hands in the air. As he dropped to his knees the captain could hear a prayer for mercy. The ship flew closer now overlooking the bridge. Ayako reached in his desk drawer brandishing a pistol. He stepped out onto the deck overlooking the Grimsby.

“What do you want” he asked the massive gunship.

A single shot fired from one of the cannons on the machine’s underside. Ayako’s head exploded blasting brain matter all over the deck. The weapon was nearly silent and the only sound that signaled the captain had been shot was the immense pressure burst of his splattered head.

The young fishermen fell to the deck still twitching as his nerves expired. The object circled the massive whaler seemingly inspecting the vessel. The crew watched, awestruck by the machine. The gunship increased its altitude appearing to leave the vessel alone; robbing them only of their captain. Suddenly from behind the craft swept in. Machine gun fire tore through the Grimsby’s hull; several of the ship’s crew members were torn to pieces; splattered across the deck. Screams erupted as blood stains coated the vessels walls and the whalers watched as their friends crawled, dragging the remains of their limbs behind.

The gunship swooped to the whaling ship’s other side. Quickly it began firing taking out the bridge and blasting the port side of the hull wide open. The remaining crew stumbled to get to higher ground as the ice cold Antarctic water poured in from all around.

The craft moved to the stern of the ship again erupting in flames as the large machine guns fired upon the remaining crew of the ship’s higher decks. Body parts and fluid flew across the bridge windows. The craft increased its altitude as a tiny rocket departed from its left wing. The Grimsby erupted in flames, keeling over to one side as it was consumed by the ice berg specked waters of Antarctica.

The Gift (c) 2011 Jeremy Gosnell

The Gift

© 2011 Jeremy Gosnell

This city is seamless and bland. The walls surround me but they are dank and meaningless. The smog rolls in over the clouds, taking over the atmosphere and leaving the world dark and gray. I am alone in a city that I seek to forget but cannot seem to leave.

Jared awoke.

Rebecca, he thought slowly getting up from his bed. Nearly two months earlier his wife of eleven years had left him alone. A whirlwind of change rushed through his mind. The move to New York City, the job he never wanted, the deep emptiness in his heart, his longing for home; he had given up everything for her and now in that empty apartment he was alone. Struggling through the darkness he reached the fridge. As the door creaked open a gentle light illuminated the interior. He slammed the door shut opening the freezer. His hand quickly made its way towards a bottle of Grey Goose. Sliding the lid off he pressed the bottle to his lips taking sudden gulps. He choked the vodka down.

“Why!” He yelled remembering the moment that Rebecca left him.

Staring out the apartment window the city was alive. People moved like oil coursing through the cylinders and valves of a firing engine. Lights flashed as bars and clubs pulsed with the rhythm of life. Sirens wailed as Jared quietly hoped that nobody was dying amidst the dark city streets. Where was Rebecca? It was her; she had brought Jared to this terrible place. He hated this city. The smell, the air, and the inescapable darkness that surrounded it; the city had infected him. Slowly he felt himself becoming a lifeless wretch. Just as Jared took another deep gulp of vodka his apartment door swung open.

“Jared.” A voice called out. It was Rebecca’s voice.

Swinging around Jared mistook Rebecca for an angel. The dim light of the hallway was reflecting off her golden hair. A flannel scarf was tied tightly around her neck. Her slim corduroy jacket highlighted her slender features.

“Becky.” Jared muttered staring back.

“Jared, I wanted to talk to you.” Rebecca was nervous and afraid.

“Just wait Becky don’t say anything. I just wanted you to remember how we met. Silhouetted by the light, you smiled at me and took a mental picture with your hands, remember?”

Rebecca nodded her head yes.

“I kissed you just after that. You said it was the defining moment of your life.”

“It was.” Rebecca replied.

“Then Christ Becky why did you leave? Please tell me you have had a change of heart. Is that why you are here tonight?” Jared was holding back tears.

“Jared, I am in love with someone else. I came tonight to pick up the last of my things.”

Just as Rebecca finished a man stepped through Jared’s doorway. He was tall and handsome a muscular build gave way to a false demeanor.

“Who the fuck are you?” Jared asked.

“Jared this is Michael my boyfriend.”

“Listen asshole you better not say one thing out of line to Rebecca or I’ll fuck you up.” Michael yelled spitting on Jared’s apartment floor.

“Really Becky this is what you want to do?” Jared asked.

“Shut the fuck up you pussy and let her get her shit.” Michael snapped back.

Jared chuckled.

“What pretty boy you don’t like being put in your place.” Michael laughed as he reached into Jared’s sink smashing one of his pint glasses.

“Michael stop.” Rebecca yelled.

“What Becca your pussy ex-boyfriend can’t handle to lose his precious glass.” Michael laughed reaching into the sink grabbing another glass.

Pop! Michael’s head exploded. Brain matter and blood dotted Jared’s cabinets as the large body slammed against the tile floor.

“Jared.” Rebecca was in shock.

“My gift.” Jared muttered not sure what to say.

“Jared I know. He deserved it. He shouldn’t have come with me.” Rebecca was in tears.

“I can’t control the power anymore Becky. Not without you. I can’t control it.”

Rebecca left. The city was dark and once again Jared was alone. The city suddenly seemed lifeless and empty.

I will retreat into the mountains Jared thought, just the universe and I.

-the end …