Toys and Time Machines

By Neil Dabb

On a distant planet a time machine is waking from several millennia of slumber while Jefferson Hayes seeks it’s secrets. In the mean time Cal Wheams is taking time away from his writing to pursue one of his other hobbies, that of a toy maker. With the awakening of the machine a mysterious visitor will visit Cal and ask him to make a toy that will lead Cal into his own past, as well as pit him against one of the vilest villains in the galaxy. Now Cal must conquer the ghosts from his past in order to save his friends, and do it all before the time machine goes dormant for another dozen millennia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Neil Dabb
• Release date: Mar 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311769442

Neil Dabb

Neil grew up in Smithfield, Utah, and currently holds a General Class license amateur radio license. He was a material handler for over 10 years while obtaining a BA from Utah State University. He has been a freelance writer for most of that time and has been published in a variety of magazines over the years.Neil worked for Utah State University for twelve years with the Junior Engineering program. He enjoys writing, Frisbee (disc) golf and bonfires. He is the father of five children and lives in Logan Utah.

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Toys and Time Machines

Neil Dabb

Copyright 2014 Neil Dabb

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Toys and Time Machines

by

Neil Dabb

Chapter 1

I have been hesitant to tell this story for many reasons, security being the biggest. I did not want anyone to know where I was during my absence from the capitol, nor was I anxious to have anyone learn of the time machine while it was still changing.

Now however, the machine is completely dormant, and amply protected, so I can share the story that affected me and my friends in ways I still don't completely understand.

An overly pretentious man had named his son Zeus, thinking that it would motivate him to live up to his name. Zeus's classic greek features supported the strength Zeus had shown growing up, but dealing with the ever increasing pressure to be God-like got old quickly. He was still a man, one who had been appointed (as I had) as co-president of the presses. Now, that the war between the presses was over, he had some time to relax.

As life settled into a routine, Zeus Jerod found he couldn't take his eyes off Jennifer, his mate, especially since her father had sent her an ancient locket from a world her father was working on. He thought perhaps it was just the fact that the locket sat nestled between her full breasts, but even on those rare occasions when she took the locket off, he still found himself admiring the ancient workmanship.

Jennifer, the blonde lover he had rescued during the war used her clothes to accentuate her medium build, and was less enthusiastic about the locket. She had told him which planet the locket had come from, but little else about how it was found or where on the planet it was found. That lack of information made it all the more intriguing.

Zeus had almost forgotten the time he'd spent with the archaeologists on his home planet. He had been only twelve when he had gone with his mother to visit his grandfather. Those two months with his grandfather had been enough to get him hooked on archeology as a hobby, and he made the pilgrimage to visit his grandfather every year after until the old man died. After that he focused on his profession as a writer, convinced that he'd given up that part of his life, until he saw the locket.

I don't suppose you know what this writing is? he asked handing it back to Jennifer.

Dad didn't say, and I've never been interested in any of that stuff, Jennifer said, forcing the hard memories of her father dragging them to distant digs, back into the recesses of her mind. She had been too young to understand much of what was going on, and after her mother had died, the trips had stopped, so she never pursued it further.

Zeus was silent for a long time after that. He couldn't take his eyes away from the locket, and not knowing any more of the history had only whetted his appetite to learn all he could.

If you're really that interested I'm sure dad would show you around the dig where he found this, Jennifer said quietly as she ran her fingers under his chin, pulled his head up and looked into his dark eyes. But you'll have to go alone.

Zeus was silent. He was hesitant to leave Jennifer alone again. The last time he'd left her, he'd nearly lost her to a deadly foe.

There was motion in the heart of the machine. Minute, but motion still the same. The machine itself could feel the first tremors of the awakening. The machine had watched the time-line and used pieces that would lure others to it's heart, thus it's current facade. Soon it would be time to perform it's task, and release the guardians.

Lives would change, and then the machine would move on, waiting for the next stop on it's never-ending journey.

It was silent on the tiny planet where Jefferson Hayes was taking a break from the management of the dig. The husky greying man was taking his dose of the oxysic. He knew there were potential dangers associated with the drug, but he'd done fine so far, and no one else appeared to suffer ill effects. It made working on low oxygen planets much easier despite the risks.

He looked up at the rock formation above the open pits where they were working, its face looking down at him. They had been working around the formation for the past month looking for another way in. This was just the next in the ever increasing circle they were making around the formation. Jefferson knew that it wasn't the most logical means of pursuing the artifact he was looking for, but the direct method had proved far too dangerous, and he couldn't bring himself to leave her. He'd determined that the formation was a her, and he was determined to make every effort to find another way in. He thought once again about making another attempt at the main entry, just to make sure, but the risk was too great, and he was too old to deal with that kind of loss again. Seven good workers had died in that first attempt.

He leaned back and closed his eyes. He had lost his wife while he was away business. He had nearly lost his daughter in the war, and now his niece was here with him and would be in danger if they pursued the direct course again.

He shook his head as he continued to admire the formation. It had been over forty years since he met Marissa. Her striking features had intrigued him from the first time he saw her, and it was those features that he saw on the mountain, and that kept him searching despite the dangers involved, even out here. She'd been so young when she died, he thought, and they'd had so little time together....

Finally he looked away. At least Jennifer wasn't here to make things worse.

Zeus hated to leave. He tried one more time to convince Jennifer to come with him.

I'm not sure I can bring myself to see my father now, she whispered.

But I thought you loved your dad.

He's changed since he went to manage that dig, she said, recalling the dark times when she was young. And I'm not sure it's for the better.

Then come with me and fix things.

You can't fix my father. Once he's made up his mind, he'll stick with it forever, she said, as the memories re-surfaced and threatened to overwhelm her. I'll wait for him here.

Zeus was silent. He knew Jennifer believed she was right, but he also knew a few things about her father that she didn't. He left assuming that she would be safe until he returned.

We found him out in the far area, Deanna said as she covered the body again. He apparently ran out of oxysic, but he shouldn't have died so soon.

He shouldn't have died at all, one of the orderlies muttered.

Have the autodoc perform an autopsy, Jefferson said grimly as he moved away.

Deanna hid her concern as she motioned for two orderlies to take the body away. She pulled the elastic out of her shoulder length auburn hair and shook her head. She quietly moved toward him. Jefferson's actions were in line with what anyone in his position would do, but somehow she expected more from her uncle. She stopped when he looked up.

Deanna knew the risks of oxysic, just like everyone else did, including Jefferson. Yuri had simply been one of the unfortunate ones to loose the gamble. She turned away. She would have to think long and hard before she took her next dose. She methodically put the elastic back in her hair as she left the tent. Going without oxysic for long periods of time was not enough to kill someone by itself. There had to be something else.

Jefferson was surprised to have his daughter's lover show up at the dig, but he'd always approved of Zeus and on one level looked forward to the camaraderie. He picked the young dark haired man with the large black mustache from the crowd immediately, and then was disappointed at not seeing Jennifer there with him. On the one hand, he missed his daughter and the help he suspected deep down she might be able to give him.