Masters of Time and Space (Dawn of Adventure)

By Gerald Lopez

Thomas Hadley’s life is changed forever in this campy, fun, and sexy sci-fi fantasy.
When handsome man from the future Captain Reginald P. Barrington lands his spaceship in back of a farmhouse he meets the love of his life—Thomas. And Reginald doesn’t think twice about whisking the handsome Thomas away for an exciting adventure through time and space. But danger awaits the new twosome in corners of the universe Thomas never even knew existed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gerald Lopez
• Release date: Apr 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463349328

Gerald Lopez

Gerald was called to write at various times in his life. When he was young, the writing consisted of plays and short stories. Then he explored the fine arts and literature, earning a bachelor’s degree in the latter while minoring in art history. In his studies he was fascinated by and enjoyed analyzing characters, their personalities and motivations. To him it’s always been the characters who make a story special. Once again writing has taken hold of him. In the past it was just an amusement, but now—for Gerald—writing is a passion to live, eat, and breathe.

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Copyright © 2020 by Gerald Lopez

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Wherever possible, the syntax and spelling in this book follows guidelines set forth in The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th Edition, and in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary.

Cover Art Copyright © 2020 by Gerald Lopez

Acknowledgments

My special thanks go to the following:

To John for his helpful comments and suggestions.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Contact the author

About the author

Other books by Gerald Lopez

Masters of Time and Space

(Dawn of Adventure)

Gerald Lopez

Chapter 1

Matters of Time and Space

WHILE IT HAD to Be You by Dorothy Lamour played in the living room, Thomas adjusted his tie so that it was straight. The sound of a loud crash outside caught his attention. He walked to the backdoor and peered around the yard but didn’t see anything unusual. Then he spotted something strange—the metal clothesline poles had been bent and twisted.

Tornado? Thomas thought. No, those usually sounded like a train coming. Looking more closely at things, he noticed that a large section of grass around the clothesline was squashed down as if a heavy object had been on top of it. Hmm, very curious.

While on the back stoop he took in the lay of the land for a final time. The farmland had been in his family for many years. He was glad that his cousin had agreed to buy it from him, so it could stay in the family. It was quiet when he went back inside so he put the needle back to the start of the record and played the song again.

Here’s to you, Dorothy. You were always Pop’s favorite.

"The only other noise in the house was the sound of Thomas’ dress shoes on the wood floor as he walked back to his bedroom.

Sorry, cousin Ray, Thomas said, even though there was no one to hear him.

It wasn’t as if he and his cousin had ever been buddies. In fact he’d never felt close to anyone really. There was his grandfather who’d recently passed away but Thomas had never completely confided in him—or anyone for that matter. Thomas was an only son whose mother had died right after giving birth to him. Two years earlier his father’s liver gave out due to his boozing—there was no one around to love Thomas or vice-versa. Looking in the mirror of his dresser, he reached for the brush and ran it through his thick, wavy, dark brown hair. He was tan and fit from working the farm. Even his eyes were brown—at least his one good suit was navy. That would break up all the brown.

What a stupid thing to think about, Thomas thought, then turned to the noose in the corner and the stool beside it.

The way he had rigged it, the bar he’d set up would support his weight and not come loose. This was the cleanest way he could think of to end things. His clothes had been packed in a suitcase and left by the door along with his guitar and good coat so that Ray’s wife could donate them to charity. He’d left a simple note explaining things and made sure the house was neat and tidy. All of the farm animals had been sold to a neighboring farmer and the money put in an envelope which Thomas had dropped into the church offering basket that morning.

When he wore his suit to church earlier the pastor’s wife had complimented him on how nice he looked. Although she had noticed the small stain on his white shirt and offered to clean it for him.

Sweet woman, Thomas thought. But do small details like a stain on a shirt matter at all when it’s a man’s last day on the planet. He sighed. The record had ended so he walked back to the living room and started it again. Probably a delaying tactic on my part. Or maybe so that I don’t feel alone this once.

Lets do this thing, Thomas said. Just me and you Dot. He saluted in the direction of the record player to Dot or rather Dorothy Lamour, walked to the stool, and stepped onto it.

Pardon me, pardon me, Sir, a man said as he walked in the room. I do hate to bother you while you’re attempting to hang yourself but I could use a hand outside. Only if you have the time of course. Silly me, why wouldn’t you have time? And it actually does ‘have to be you’ because there’s no one else around to help.

Thomas turned to look at the man and couldn’t figure out what to make of him. He was strangely dressed in an odd and mismatched assortment of clothing pieces. The man was fit, tall, and tan with a goatee and straight, dirty blond hair that hung slightly below his shoulders. When he smiled his blue eyes sparkled. But he was wearing red, white, and blue striped boxer shorts with nothing underneath—if it wasn’t so bizarre it would be vulgar. Green rubber boots, an orange net tank top and open multicolor shirt over it only added to the crazy factor. Topping things off was a straw cowboy hat with a couple of feathers dangling down from leather strips. On top of the hat were two pairs of worn, leather goggles like a pilot might wear.

Umm, Thomas said.

Oh, excuse me, Sir, The man said, then offered Thomas his hand and helped him off the stool. I am Reginald P. Barrington, madcap semi-scientist and explorer extraordinaire. And I could definitely use your help, handsome.

Thomas looked around the room then smiled. Is this some sort of joke?

No, Reginald said. "You can call me Reginald. Just never Reggie—ugh I hate that name—Reggie." He shivered then chuckled.

I’m Thomas Hadley. Sorry, what did you say you needed my help with?

I’m not sure I ever said, Reginald said. My vehicle. It’s parked just outside your backdoor. My apologies about the clothesline. Such a nineteen-fifties thing—I love it! I’d take your whole homestead with me, it’s so quaint. But I have nowhere to put it. I’m more of a traveler myself. Come along, come along. There are things for me to see and people to meet. He looked Thomas up and down. They sure don’t make them like you anymore. The fifties were a good decade—very good. How tall are you, farm boy?

Six foot one, Thomas said.

You’ll be alright inside old Bessy then, Reginald said. That’s Bessy with a ‘y’ at the end and not an ‘ie’, I thought it was funnier that way. Come along.

Reginald left the room followed by Thomas.

By God you are a handsome man, Thomas, Reginald said catching Thomas’ reflection in a mirror on the wall. I hope you don’t mind me saying so. You really are striking.

Thank you, Thomas said. I’ve always just thought of myself as average.

Average is one thing you most definitely are not, Reginald said as he flung open the backdoor. If it ‘had to be’ anyone helping me I’m glad it’s you.

Thomas looked around but didn’t see any sort of vehicle.

She’s got a special plating on the outside that makes her invisible, Reginald said, helping Thomas down the back steps. I’m only five eleven myself, just so you know. Anyway, explorer ships like mine always have invisible plating that can be activated so we don’t shock the natives. He laughed loudly. Wouldn’t want the townsfolk coming after us with pitchforks, would we, Thomas?

No, Thomas said.

Reginald walked onward until he seemed to bump into something and fell on the ground.

That’s the problem with invisible ships, Reginald said. The door’s always hitting you in the gut. Things will be visible once we’re inside. I’d better warn you, my Bessy’s just an economy class model, so don’t expect too much.

Thomas’ jaw hung open when he followed Reginald into a now visible spaceship interior. He gasped. There were dusty, dirty tubes hanging from above, pulled out of walls and seemingly everywhere in the brown and steel, circular interior. The silver metal, paneled floor was covered in ankle-deep trash.

Don’t mind the garbage for now, Reginald said. It’s mostly wrappers, papers, and junk off my toys from two thousand and nineteen. Sit in that passenger seat by the left wall, if you would please.

Thomas saw the cushiony gray chair with high back that was sunk into the floor and he sat in it. When he did so, Reginald handed him two wires that he’d pulled out from the wall next to the chair. After applying spit to his fingers, Reginald put the wires together so they touched and sparked. Instinctively, Thomas jumped back.

Have no fear, Reginald said. If anything, the wires will just give you a mild shock. Take them from me. If you keep ‘em together you might not even get shocked. You just need to hold them until we’re off the ground.

Is it safe? Thomas said.

Sure, Reginald said, then laughed. Much safer than putting your neck in a noose. He handed Thomas the wires, cleared some papers off his chair, then sat down. OK, cross your fingers and toes, Thomas. Here we go.

Reginald placed his palm on the dark console in front of him and it instantly lit up in colors of red, green, and blue. There were what seemed to Thomas like a limitless number of buttons and things to push on the console.

Oops, almost forgot, Reginald said, then took a small, plastic, circular container out of his shirt pocket, removed a tiny pill from it, and gave it to Thomas. Pop that in your mouth, it will help. This may be a bumpy ride. He put it in Thomas’ mouth since his hands were holding the wires.

Thomas swallowed as Bessy began to rise.

What is this thing? Thomas said. Some sort of experimental plane.

Nope, Reginald said. Bessy’s an economy class explorer spaceship.

Spaceship! Thomas said.

You got it. Now be sure not to let go of those wires or God only knows where we’ll end up.

Am I dead or dreaming? Thomas said.

Nope, Reginald said. I don’t think so. We can pinch ourselves later to check.

The once dark window in front of the ship’s console suddenly became clear and Thomas could see the farmhouse below. He also noticed something funny when the dashboard light strip turned on. Across the front of what could only be described as a dashboard were numerous small dolls no more than a couple of inches in height.

Did you win all those dolls at a fair? Thomas said.

I wish, Reginald said. One day I stopped by two-thousand and nineteen Earth and went to the store. They had these curious round L.O.L, SURPRISE! balls with a doll or figure inside. Well I started with one and became a total addict. Those are the wrappers you see everywhere. Once we enter the stream I’ll get you a ball to unwrap.

Stream? Thomas said.

Oh yeah, Reginald said. I forgot you don’t know about that on nineteen-fifties Earth.

Are you an alien? Thomas said.

Reginald laughed. Nah, I’m just as human as you. l’m thirty-six this year—don’t I look good for my age? He chuckled. The streams are how we travel around the galaxy and through time. They’re sort of like these roads in space.

Thomas braced himself when he noticed how high off the ground they were getting.

Admit it, Thomas, this is better than hanging yourself, isn’t it?

If it wasn’t for his need to keep the wires together Thomas would’ve been trembling from fear.

Hanging isn’t a pretty thing, Reginald said. It’s not instantaneous and you soil yourself. Not pretty at all.

I had originally considered slitting my wrists in the tub, Thomas said.

‘That probably would’ve been a better way to do things, Reginald said. Not that I’m advocating either."

Understood, Thomas said. Umm, when do I go back home?

Do you want to go back? Reginald said. It seems to me that you were trying your best to leave it behind.

Thomas could feel tears streaming from his eyes.

Reginald got up from his seat, grabbed a tissue out of the container by his seat, and wiped Thomas’ eyes.

It wouldn’t do to get those wires in your hands wet, Reginald said. Hold them tight a sec, OK?

I will, Thomas said.

Reginald bent down and gave Thomas a quick but passionate kiss on the lips.

You looked so sad, I couldn’t resist, Reginald said.

Who’s steering the ship? Thomas said.

She’s on automatic, Reginald said. Was the kiss too much?

No, Thomas said. I don’t know. But, how did you know?

Know what? Reginald said.

That I’m… that I—I’m a degenerate who people would put in jail if they knew, Thomas said.

I guessed as much, Reginald said. A gorgeous hunk of a man wants to hang himself, he has to have a reason. It’s not the depression from the twenties, so had to be repressed homosexual from the fifties. Things like being gay don’t matter in my time. People just have sex with whoever or whatever they want to at the moment or are attracted to—no big deal. I prefer men myself. Never have liked vagina much-uuugh. Just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine. Women are cool as friends and stuff. I just wouldn’t want to do one. You know, I’d forgotten they put gays in jail in the past. Horrible situation—not to mention the electric shock therapy. Hopefully you didn’t suffer through any of that stuff.

No, Thomas said. What time are you from?

Oh I was born in two thousand and ninety-three, Reginald said. It was a very good year for wine on the planet Saluscious Sorgen.

Thomas tried not to look out the front window once they were above the clouds.

What will happen to me now? Thomas said.

You helped a guy out and I was just a stranger to you back then, Reginald said. I’m not about to leave you on your own in a new world or universe I should say. Thomas, do you like going on adventures?

I don’t know, I’ve never been on an adventure.

Oh well, there ya go. This will be fun then. You can shack up with me here in Bessy. I’ve got bunk beds behind us. He nodded toward the back, then put on the main interior light.

Thomas could see two bunk beds against the back wall. One bed had sheets with Superman on them and the other a dog and van.

I’m not one for plain, gray sheets, Reginald said. You recognize Superman I’m sure. The top bunk’s sheet has characters on it from a cartoon called Scooby-Doo. You wouldn’t have heard of it. That door to the right of the beds is the toilet. I’ll show you how to use that later. And don’t worry, I have no expectations from you in the sex department.

That’s the last thing I’m worried about at present, Thomas said as they rose into the atmosphere above Earth."

Although, Reginald said, as he got back in his seat. I am greatly tempted to take you to Nadjarow where everyone walks around in the nude.

That would be embarrassing, Thomas said.

Why? Reginald said. Do you have a small winky?

No, Thomas said.

It must be a huge one then—I’m not surprised.

No. Just average I suppose. I’m just an ordinary man. Do people like me have these sort of adventures?

Who really knows? Reginald said. But you are—having an adventure that is—and it will be a great one I can promise you that much.

How do you know?

Because it’s all a matter of time and space, my new friend. Time can be a little boring but exploring space and planets is always fun.

Bessy began to shake and Thomas’ heart raced.

We’re getting ready to enter a stream. Thomas, hang on to your undies—if you’re wearing ‘em. Reginald laughed. Me, I don’t care much for underwear. I prefer letting the boys hang free if you know what I mean. This part’s the doozy—hang on. Yahoo!

Thomas felt sick for a second as Bessy was swept up as if by a giant wave.

Chapter 2

The Stream

BESSY WAS CAUGHT up in a glowing, neon amber stream in space and she was not alone. Thomas could see other ships of varying sizes in front of them. Some were round like saucers, others oval or organically shaped. A few looked like ships.

This is amazing, Thomas said.

"The first amazing sight of many to come," Reginald said, then bent down and pulled up part of the metal floor to reveal a storage compartment.

Thomas looked at the wall across from him and noticed it was full of shelves containing more of the small baby dolls or figures.

Reginald, you really are addicted to those things.

You can let go of the wires now, Reginald said, then spoke again when he saw that Thomas had dropped the wires. Catch. He tossed him a colorful round ball. Unwrap that for me. Just peel the wrapper away from wherever you see the imprint of a zipper. And toss the wrappers on the floor. We’ll clean the old girl up later. You’re house was nice and tidy by the way.

Thanks, Thomas said, getting busy unwrapping the ball.

Maybe you’ll bring me luck and find the elusive doll that I’m missing to complete my L.O.L Sparkle line.

Don’t you know what’s in the ball when you buy it?

Nope, Reginald said, that’s part of the game. I end up giving the doubles to friends or associates. If you find a double you can keep it. I need to go piddle. Excuse me.

What about driving or flying Bessy? Thomas said.

She’ll be fine. I’ll only be gone a minute.

Reginald left Thomas who was busy with the ball. When he returned there was a pile of paper in front of Thomas.

I got a unicorn, Thomas said.

He jumped when Reginald let out a loud cheer.

You’re bringing me luck already! Reginald said, then took the