The Time Stone, Third Edition (Extended Version)

“Across the world and throughout history there have been tales of legendary warriors who fight against all odds to defeat their foes. Often these heroes are faced with more than mere men, and are said to have interacted or fought against all manner of weird mythical creatures. Here are some of the stranger tales of how legendary warriors and weird mythical beasts have intermingled down the ages.” Professor Davis Armstrong Kowalski lectured at the Punisher Hall in Chronix Bay University before a class of young and eager learners, some of whom were falling asleep, seeking elective credit by taking his course in the studies of Ancient Cultures’ Mythology, but others, a small few, eagerly jotted down every word. He knew they only cared about acing the exam and that his words were meaningless. He sighed as he turns the slide on the large device before him to change the image on the projector screen to those of several bird-like men in rapid succession. “ Many cultures worshipped beasts known as the ’sky watchers’ or those who descended from above and taught humanity everything from our laws, our abilities to make fire, and our knowledge about space and the universe, even things like time. The oriental cultures have believed in mythical spirits known as The Tengu from ancient Japanese folklore that take the form of part man, part bird. They are believed to be protectors who came from above.” He sighed as he continues with the lecture expecting it to be long, his eye slightly veering towards the clock on the wall showing he indeed has a long way to go until the period is over. He smiles at his youngest student, his nephew Howard sitting in on the class at age ten, eagerly doodling and taking notes on the topic of Birdmen. Professor Kowalski felt pride as he is watching the young Kowalski and potential future anthropologist he is molding.

Inside the headquarters of Temporo Inc.’s illustrious and elite Research and Development Unit, the corridors were lined with bright alloys, silvery and polished of titanium. The doors slid open, parting upon approach and the lights fixtures were partially golden, emitting a rainbow of colors lighting up the walkways and corridors. The main hangar, miles beneath the surface, is laced with narrow tubing.

“How fast does this go?” Elizabeth Peters asks, on the elevator heading downward at superior speeds.

“Normally, 90 KPH, but can go up to 600 max on a good day” says Dr. Malcolm Weeble, Broad Staffnight’s scientific attaché on staff. “We aim to follow the most stringent efficiency protocols when generating any new innovation, madam. We certainly welcome all inquiries as well.”

“Thank you.” Broad says interrupting, impatiently sensing Dr. Weeble’s obvious display attraction for his secretary Elizabeth and wanting to stop him from embarrassing either of them. Dr. Weeble, a short and balding individual waddled across the floor like a little penguin as they exit the elevator on the ground basement level.

“Come this way.” He escorted them around a narrow bend of work benches and hardworking scientific geniuses in lab coats toddling over various inventions before them.

Elizabeth is in awe at the amazing technology before her, some looks like everyday objects, a pair of boots, a hammer, a cape, but each one Dr. Weeble assured her is a high tech top secret piece of equipment with a special purpose in mind.

“We tend to create a lot of sabotage in our line of work and that is why we aim to disguise our products so the real world out there doesn’t become privy to this advancement, as it is not part of mainstream development as of yet. We have a lot of high tech clients like the Department of Defense, US military, major computer software corporations…” The doctor started.

“Enough doctor, just show us the prototypes.” Broad interrupted again. “Tell us.”

“OK, come here and see” he leads them to a table nearby and shows them some items on the table, a small device that fits in the palm of one’s hand that has dials and a screen like a cell phone, a set of keys with a joystick pad attached, a vest with spikes and plating of metal, and a long tube with muscular arm plating.

“This is a lab of wonder” Elizabeth says picking up the hand held unit.

Milton Drax walks over with CEO Mark Cumberberry. Drax walks over to the table where the gadgets were laid out. “I see this party started without us.” Drax says.

“Thanks for joining us Milton” Broad says as he nodded to Mr. Cumberberry also.

“The first item on the agenda is the multiplication piercer body armor capable of deflecting weapons of any kind, protecting it’s’ wearer through any known natural phenomenon.” Dr. Weeble holds up the metal plated vest and demonstrates how a knife won’t penetrate it. “It covers the body and face, protecting them from harm in a crisis.” He presses the chest plate inward and it retracts a hood, long sleeves, and armored pants and feet coverings for the wearer made of the same material. With a second click, the clothes retract to the single plate for the chest area only.

“Fascinating” says Drax. “What else you got?”

“This is an arm gun.” Dr. Weeble holds up the long device. “It’s an offensive brand to go along with the defensive as one is not as good without the other. The device is worn on the arm and fired like a cannon. It generates electronic projectiles.” He put the device on his arm and grabbed the end of it. It started to charge up by lighting all around it.

“Uh Doctor, let’s move on. Save the demonstration.” Broad uttered.

“Uh, right, there is one of each for each of you; next is the crème de la crème, a super ride… here.” He picks up and hands the car keys to Broad. “I know how much it is important for the man to do the driving in the family.”

“Thanks.”

“The keys are for what’s in the garage, a super charged up and hyped up luxury vehicle equipped with the latest technology in electro kinetic trans-metamorphosis and multi-phase generator invisibility technology. Upon pressing the red button on the keychain, the car changes to a… well it’s a surprise, but you needn’t take the car with you because when the time is right, it can come to you. It is called the XL Zoom Scorpion,” he hit a, button on the keys and a small stop sign emerged from the side of the key box attached. Dr. Weeble clipped it back in. “That is my mistake.”

“Moving on Doctor” Broad says with a look of arrogance and impatience showing that he is growing tired of the usual diatribe.

“Yes, lastly, all the technological wonders before you and more along with a full database of our super computers back at base can be accessed by holding this even from half way across the globe or beyond. This one is about as powerful as a cold fusion reactor or a rocket.” Dr. Weeble picked up the small cell-phone-like device and held it out pressing the sides with his hand and it began to blink in a variety of colors like the room, controlling it and all around it. The lights blinked off and back on. “If there is enough energy, the power issue wouldn’t be a cause for concern.”

“How does that work?” Drax says.

“Well…” began the doctor.

“Never mind now” scorned Broad.

“Wow, amazing” says Elizabeth.

“Come on” Broad says “we got our equipment and we got our mission. Let’s get our luggage.”

“Already packed, Sir” says Elizabeth.

“We’re just an ordinary group of brave quest seekers, aren’t we?” Drax says.

“Where are we embarking to?” Elizabeth asks.

“According to our calculations the next attack that we are seeking will be in Turkey.” Mr. Cumberberry says, and Broad looks at him seriously and with a curious smirk.

“Yes” says the doctor as he moved about to the desk “we calculated it using the sunstone device and figuring the proximity of the next landing based on the triangulation of the last two and the projected origination points where the beams of light emitted from the sunstone landed. That device is amazing, it was built by the ancient Aztecs, amazing how a primitive culture developed it, but we know they must have had help, even then it must have taken decades…” He speaks very fast and Broad began to lose patience.

“Enough doctor.”

“Oh OK… thanks and good luck” yells the doctor as the four walks away with the bag of new equipment in check and Broad led his entourage down the brightly colored halls.

The four co-workers led by their fearless leader Broad were on the relatively uneventful flight to Turkey, with a layover in Prague.

“Why couldn’t we get direct?” Broad says.

“I’m sorry. It is hit or miss on the early bird schedule.” Elizabeth shrugged.

“Well, you know this trek of Milton’s, it’s a farce. This is a pointless escapade to quest the hell out of the object and beasts. He is out of his mind, we have been obliged to follow through but we are going to carry on our own quest.”

“I read the report, boss.” She nodded giving him the cute schoolgirl smile she gave him before with a wink. “I will stand by you.”

“Good!”