To Be A King • 4
The Backstory • Part four of a six-part sci-fi fantasy. New chapters every Tuesday.
If you are new to the story, you can begin here:
In the previous chapter, Rattar took Cliff through the stones and showed him the village.
As we sat in the ship, the General explained how he had sent the pilot back to Tokanda under strict orders of silence to get supplies for a multi-day mission. When the pilot returned, they started making trips into the stones.
“I had to make sure what I was seeing was real. Can you imagine what would happen if the Council found out about this? They would use it to go back and alter history to suit their plans. Planting counselors to alter events and become leaders, or worse. If it really was Earth in the past, I planned to destroy the portal. That’s why I had the planet classified as N1. I didn’t want anyone finding this.”
“So why haven’t you destroyed the portal?”
“After three trips through the portal, one of my men, Sgt. Habar went crazy. He killed the other three men in the squad. I managed to wound him and escape through the portal. I want you to go back through and find him. He needs to face justice.”
“Won’t that require you telling the Council about the portal,” I asked.
“I don’t want you to bring him back. I want you to take him out. No one can know about the portal except you and me. Habar needs to pay the price for his treason and murder where it happened, there on Earth. I’d do it myself, except he knows me. He doesn’t know you. You can find him and get close.”
“Why not just destroy the portal and trap him there?”
The General paused and gave me a strange look.
“Because I plan to stay on Earth, and I need you to destroy the portal for me.”
“What?”
“Listen, Cliff. Sitting around retired will kill me. And I’m sick of alien planets. I want to spend the rest of my years on Earth, living in the past. Think of the adventure. It will keep me going.”
“Sir, I…”
“I am asking as a friend, Cliff, but I will make it an order if necessary.”
My mind was spinning. The General opened a bin and pulled out some ancient-styled clothes, money, and a printout of Habar’s photo.
“On our first trip there, we stole clothing and money to blend in better. Here is everything you will need. You can take a handgun, but you must keep it out of sight. Habar has one, and I have no doubt he will be carrying it. There is a small village not too far east of the farm. That is where he killed everyone. Start there. Return when your mission is complete.”
“What if I can’t find him?” I asked.
“A wounded stranger with a funny accent? He will get noticed. You’ll find him. Don’t talk to him. You might give yourself away. Just get close and complete the mission.
And remember, the time you spend there won’t pass here. You can spend a week there, and it won’t even register here. You will still be back to Liz by tomorrow. And in six months, you will be retired, history will be safe, and you can forget this ever happened.”
“I don’t think there is any way I could forget this.”
The General snorted. “I guess not. But you can get on with your life.”
Next part:
Thanks for reading and responding. You make it fun.
Mark
The plot just exploded with complications. Bravo, Mark. I'm ready for a wild ride.
Interesting concepts in this story, Mark, and not difficult to follow like some Substack sci-fi. I'm looking forward to the next.