nuBSG fanfic "Battlestar Urantia"

[BolianAuthor]

BATTLESTAR URANTIA - "Farewell to Nauvoo" (EP. 010)

This has all happened before, and will happen again...



CONTINUED...

BATTLESTAR URANTIA - BSG-53

The scarred Battlestar sat in space, high above Caprica, surrounded by the ships of her ragtag fleet, as a team of dozens of Raptors, Colonial Shuttles, and Vipers made their way from Urantia, over to the massive ship from Earth, which was holding position nearby, as the Omironian Warship Ironstar sailed alongside the mammoth ship.

The team of Colonial craft drew ever closer to the Earth ship, until the first of the Raptors began to angle towards the port hangar pod of the mighty ship, in preparation for landing.

PORT HANGAR DECK - EARTH SHIP

A mass of over a hundred people were gathered in formation on the flight deck, as the first Raptor came to a soft halt, into final landing position. After a long series of seconds, the hatch to the Raptor opened up, and cautiously, a pair of Urantia Marines, with rifles at their sides went to the hatch, and made sure everything was okay.

Finally, they determined that there was no threat, and gestured that it was okay for the main occupants to emerge.

After a second, the form of Admiral Standish entered into view, and the commanding officer of Urantia stepped down from the Raptor, and onto the deck of the Earth ship.

For a very long moment of awkward silence, the Urantia people and the Earth people merely regarded the sight of one another, not really sure what to make of the situation.

Finally, after a long moment, a man pushed his way through the crowd, and stepped to the front of the formation, standing straight, as he saluted Admiral Standish.

"Sir... I am Captain Edwin Fox, commanding officer of the Wanderstar Orion. On behalf of the crew and myself, welcome aboard." the man said, smiling.

"Admiral Tyler Standish, of the Colonial Battlestar Urantia." Standish replied, as Fox offered his hand, and Standish took it, both men shaking hands.

"Colonial?" Fox inquired.

"The Twelve Colonies of Kobol." Standish replied.

It took Captain Fox a few minutes to realize what Standish was telling him, until finally, the realization dawned on him...

"Ahhh... you... you're the first ones... the first of the exiles to establish homes outside of Kobol... the Twelve that stayed behind." he stated, remembering his history. "I must admit... I was surprised when we learned that your group had visited Omiron... you folks were a long way from home." he added.

"We were forced to leave, when our worlds were attacked by Cylons... all Twelve Colonies were nuked... destroyed." Standish replied.

"Cylons?" Fox asked.

"Machines... robotic soldiers." the Admiral explained.

Suddenly, Captain Fox turned to the man next to him, whom Standish assumed was his second in command, and whispered something to him, as if asking a question, as both men suddenly wore puzzled expressions.

"Clymians?" Fox asked his second, as the other man raised his eyebrow in puzzlement, shrugging.

"Clymians?" Standish asked, repeating the word.

Captain Fox looked back to Standish, an almost apologetic expression on his face.

"You say these Cylons... destroyed your worlds... via nuclear attack?" Fox asked.

"Yes." Standish said.

Captain Fox lowered his head for a moment, before looking up again, and stepping to the side, as everyone else followed suit, the crowd of Earth people dividing into two large groups, creating a long line on the deck... a pathway, that led to two objects, at the far wall of the deck...

Admiral Standish's expression slowly turned from a look of calm, to a look of confusion, fear, disdain, and near-disgust, as he now regarded the sight at the far wall of the hangar deck...

On either side of the door to the deck, were two large glass enclosures, like those found in a museum. Inside each of the two glass enclosures, stood a single object... objects that looked very familiar...

A Cylon. But not a Colonial Cylon, vintage or modern... this Cylon looked like a cross between the old and new model, and the helmet was different... it wore a helmet that looked like that of a Samurai. The two robotic warriors stood silent inside their respective glass cases, on either side of the door, as if still silently guarding it, their mirror-shiny bronze armor gleaming in the light of the deck, as both Cylons held long swords in their right hands.

The look on Admiral Standish's face could not have been any more obvious... it was a look of anger and disappointment, as he now again faced Captain Fox, glaring at the man.

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[Macker]

Hmmm....Clymians...now there's an interesting word. Waiting with baited breath....

 

[Radiogod]

Bruce,

You've got a winner here. I am loving this twist and plot direction. I can see another movie similar to Razor or EJO's "the plan" coming out of this if you play your cards right.

Drive on Standish, Drive on!

 

[BolianAuthor]

Bruce,

You've got a winner here. I am loving this twist and plot direction. I can see another movie similar to Razor or EJO's "the plan" coming out of this if you play your cards right.

Drive on Standish, Drive on!

Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it. Just keep in mind, that EVERYTHING that has gone on in this series, good AND bad, all fits in to the larger story, and plays a role in influencing where it will ultimately go.

Tyler Standish was always meant to be someone that went from being a hero, to someone that for a while, you ended up absolutely hating and despising, until you see him rebuild himself, and with help, pick himself up from the bottom, to again put himself in a hero role.

We will very soon see the fleet back at Emilon, for a while, en route to tracing the course of the Battlestar Galactica, and we will be introduced to the character of Eliza's mother, Glynnis Winnow, in an arc that will help explain why the Emilonian pilgrim fleet had to leave the world.

There are big changes coming, as the BSG Urantia series enters it's final phase, and gets ready to end. I think you'll like how it all ends up coming together, and ending.

 

[TariAdama]

Nice job Admiral!

 

[BolianAuthor]

BATTLESTAR URANTIA - "Farewell to Nauvoo" (EP. 010)

This has all happened before, and will happen again...



CONTINUED...

A small group of Cylon "skinjobs" gathered around the pool of milky liquid that contained the Basestar's Hybrid, all of them watching with curious and intense fascination, as the female Hybrid's eyes looked upwards, distantly, and without any singular focus, and spoke in rambling and cryptic sentences.

"Throughout history the nexus between man and machine has spun some of the most dramatic, compelling and entertaining fiction. End of line. Yes, yes and merrily we go. Reduce atmospheric nitrogen by point three percent. It is not much consolation that society will pick up the bits, leaving us at eight modern where punishment, rather than interdiction, is paramount. Please, cut the fuse. They will not harm their own. End of line. Then shall the maidens rejoice at the dance. End of line. The children of the one reborn shall find their own country. Contact is inevitable, leading to information bleed. End of line." the Hybrid stated, as suddenly, she seemed to awaken, with a jolt of energy, as her eyes shot open, growing wide, and she lifted her head slightly, as if in discomfort, looking up to the ceiling, and with a gasp, shouted out, at the top of her lungs... "JUMP!"



BATTLESTAR URANTIA - BSG-53

The Battlestar and her fleet were now fully integrated with the new arrivals from Omiron and Earth, as the entire fleet sailed slowly over the rotating globe of Caprica.

ADMIRAL STANDISH'S CABIN

Inside the large quarters, the Admiral and Grae put the final touches on the dinner table setting, as Eliza set the finished dinner on the center of the table, and everyone sat down, to begin to eat, as Eliza led everyone in a prayer, before they began to pile the food onto their plates.

"Thanks again for coming, dear." Eliza said, smiling to grae.

"No problem." Grae offered. "It's been a while since I had a good home-cooked meal." she added, now looking to the Admiral. "So, what's these rumors I heard, about there having been Cylons on that ship from Earth?" she asked, as Tyler looked to her.

"You should know better than to listen to rumor." Standish began, salting his food. "And they weren't Cylons. At least... not our Cylons." he added.

"Hah! So it's true, then." Grae shot.

"They looked a bit like Centurions... but they were inactive... they were museum pieces. We won't know more, until we've had a chance to compare our historical archives with theirs. Colonel Hindri is pulling our files as we speak, and Captain Fox said that he'll send someone over from his ship within the hour." Standish replied.

"'Tis rather uncanny, though." Eliza offered. "If you get to thinkn' 'bout it... the fact that two so separate cultures, end up to be developin' their own war machines, which end up turnin' on them, and destroyin' them." she said.

"Not to mention how similar they look to each other." Standish said, softly. There has got to be some explanation for that." he added, looking to Eliza, as he changed the subject. "So... how are things in the pilgrim fleet? Everything okay on the Sepia Moon?"

"As fair as can be expected." Eliza began. "Father Ethem still has a hard time bein' without Ezra. He's been transferrin' a lot of the womenfolk from other ships, to the Prophet Star." she explained.

"I see..." Standish began, as everyone was suddenly interrupted by a loud klaxon blaring from the hallway outside. The ship had just gone to Condition One.

CIC

The Condition One alarm blared, as Colonel Hindri looked up to the DRADIS.

"What've we got?" he called out.

"One Cylon contact, Sir... Cylon Basestar." Miss Zamfir replied.

Hindri picked up the phone from the cradle, and activated the intercom.

"This is the XO. Action stations, action stations! This is not a drill, repeat... this is not a drill. All hands to action stations!" he relayed, setting the phone back down.

BATTLESTAR URANTIA - BSG-53

Wings of Vipers came screaming out of Urantia's launch tubes, and made a mad rush towards the new arrival... a lone Cylon Basestar, that was holding position in the distance, at a slight off-kilter angle.

CIC

Colonel Hindri kept watch on the DRADIS, as Miss Zamfir called out some new readings.

"Sir, this is strange... the Basestar... she's not launching any Raiders, and her weapons are not active... she hasn't locked onto us." she stated.

The news puzzled Hindri, as he merely looked at the icon representing the new Basestar, on the DRADIS, a look of confusion on his face.

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[Radiogod]

Perhaps another rebel basestar?

 

[BolianAuthor]

^

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Remember the very last thing the Hybrid said, before she jumped the ship... "Contact is inevitable, leading to information bleed. End of line."

Everything the Hybrid said is actual Hybrid dialogue, from BSG, and it was pieced together, to be relevant to the storyline at hand. Everything she said will play a part in what's to come, even down to the line about maidens rejoicing at a dance.

 

[BolianAuthor]

Starting with the next installment of BSG Urantia...

 

[Macker]

Y'know, I just had a strange thought (slightly off-topic):
I wonder if the First Hybrid had the same reactions when jumping that particular base star he ran...much like the regular hybrids?

 

[BolianAuthor]

BATTLESTAR URANTIA - "Farewell to Nauvoo, Pt. II" (EP. 010)

This has all happened before, and will happen again...



CONTINUED...

BATTLESTAR URANTIA - BSG-53

The squadrons of Vipers kept on course, from Urantia, to intercept the Cylon Basestar that had just jumped in, and was silently holding position, not a single Cylon Raider in the sky.

CIC

Admiral Standish walked to the command table, looking to the DRADIS, as Hindri handed him the SITREP papers, and began his report.

"Sir, we've got a single Cylon Base Ship... just jumped in, and is just sitting there, Sir. She hasn't launched a single Raider, and her weapons are all powered down." Hindri stated, as Standish looked to him, suspicious.

Suddenly, the Officer of the Watch called out some new readings.

"Sir! I have the Cylon Base Ship on the horn... someone wants to speak to you, Admiral." Miss Zamfir relayed, as Standish looked to her, with one eyebrow raised.

"Put them through." Standish calmly ordered, as he turned to the command table, picking up the phone, and putting it to his ear. "This is Urantia Actual... this is the Admiral." he simply stated, waiting a few silent seconds, for the reply.

Finally, the answer came, in the form of a familiar voice.

"Hello, Admiral. This is Cavil." the man's voice said, over the speakers, as Standish's eyes opened wider, and he grew a look of some anger.

"I have nothing to say to you." Standish shot back.

"While that's all well and true, Admiral, there IS something that WE have to say... to you... you and the commanding officer of that new warship you've got with you." Cavil stated.

"What is it you want?" Standish asked, using all his might to remain calm, and not show his anger.

"I want you, and the other commanding officer, to come on board our ship. We have someone who wants to meet with you." Cavil said.

"Like hell." Standish shot back. "I'm not setting foot on your ship. I'm not giving you a chance to take anyone prisoner, or kill anyone. Now my birds are in the air... tell me what you want, before I give the order to blow your ship out of the sky." he added.

"We haven't launched anything... and our weapons are inactive. That should say something about the good faith of our invitation." Cavil began. "I could come over there, but, of course, if I were to do that... I'd bring friends... protection. Protection that you may not want walking all around your Battlestar." he added.

Standish turned to face Hindri, as he paused the comm channel.

"Get the Chief up here, and get me both of the Omiron warship commanders, on standby." he told Hindri, who silently nodded, in recognition of the orders, as Standish again spoke into the phone. "Fine." he continued. "I'll come on board your ship. But I will bring friends of my own. That is NOT negotiable." he stated, firm.

"That will be fine, Admiral. I'll send a Heavy Raider to pick you up in two hours. Until then." Cavil stated, ending the transmission, leaving the Admiral to look up at the DRADIS icon representing the Cylon Basestar.



CYLON BASESTAR

From the midsection of the massive black ship, dozens upon dozens of vintage Raiders began to swarm out, along with a single Heavy Raider, which took a central position, as the wings of vintage Raiders surrounded it, flying escort, as the group headed towards the Battlestar Urantia.



BATTLESTAR URANTIA - BSG-53

ADMIRAL STANDISH'S CABIN

Admiral Standish finished loading his sidearms, and placing them in his holsters, as Commander McAllister looked on.

"You sure you want me along for this?" McAllister asked.

"Sure... if things get crazy over there, you're my backup. We don't know those new people from Earth very well yet, and I'm not willing to gamble our trust on them, if things start to go south over there." Standish replied, as he walked over to his desk, and picked up a large white disk, about the size of a smoke detector, with a single red light in the top middle of it, and placed it in a small pack bag, and began to lift it to place over his shoulders.

"What's that?" McAllister asked.

"Insurance." Standish replied, as Eliza emerged from the rack part of the cabin, and walked to him, embracing him.

"Be careful over there... and come back safely." she said, kissing him.

"Count on it." Tyler replied, returning her kiss, before breaking the embrace, and looking to McAllister. "Let's go." he added, as both men left the room, leaving Eliza alone in the Admiral's cabin.

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[Radiogod]

Hmmmmm, now that's odd. I probably would have gone over there in a raptor. Wouldn't wanna have to rely on Cavil for my ride home

 

[BolianAuthor]

^

Hehe... well, let's just say that what's coming will be very interesting. Standish will handle things in ways that Adama may well have done, if Roslin had not convinced him to do things her way.

 

[Macker]

Hmmmmm, now that's odd. I probably would have gone over there in a raptor. Wouldn't wanna have to rely on Cavil for my ride home

Or perhaps a Raptor-T?

 

[BolianAuthor]

BATTLESTAR URANTIA - "Farewell to Nauvoo, Pt. II" (EP. 010)

CONTINUED...

BATTLESTAR URANTIA - BSG-53

CIC

The hands of Urantia's Deck Chief placed a small white device, about the size of a smoke detector, with a top-central red light on it, upon the command table, as Admiral Standish picked it up, looking it over.

"This is it?" Standish asked. "The smallest they've got?"

"Aye, Sir." the Chief began. "The Weapons Officer on the Earth ship said that the nuclear device inside there is the smallest they have. It's not as powerful as you'd like, Sir, but it'll get the job done... it'll blow a big ol' hole, right in that Basestar's midsection... give you enough time to get back, before the fireworks begin." he added.

"How much time do we have?" Standish asked, looking to the Chief.

"Fifteen minutes, Admiral. Once you press the activator, it'll work just like our FTL countdown clocks... the timer display will come on, and will start to cycle down to zero, from fifteen minutes." the Chief began. "Sir... do you really think they'll let you back on that Heavy Raider?" he asked.

"No... I don't." Standish replied, looking the Chief in the eyes, with a look of total seriousness. "Which is why we'll need a Raptor on the ready, to meet us on the Basestar, and bring us back." he added.

"Sir... what makes you think you'll be able to get to the Raptor?" the Chief asked.

"I'll make it. As soon as I activate my location transponder, you jump that Raptor right up to the Base Ship, and get inside. The Cylons won't follow me... if they do, I'll use a remote detonator, and set off the nuke en route to the Raptor. Once I'm safely off the Cylon ship, I can deactivate the nuke, via remote." Standish replied.

"But, Sir... you don't have any remote detonator... and there'll be no way to stop the countdown, once it starts." the Chief said, puzzled.

"I know that. But the Cylons don't." the Admiral replied.

"You're taking a big gamble with this... going over there, and all. May I ask why, Sir?" the Chief asked.

"This is the first time we've been approached by the Cylons, with their guard down. If there's any chance at all that something's not right... that they're playing us, setting a trap... I want to use that to our advantage, and take out that Base Ship using as little of Urantia's resources as possible... let them know that they're not gonna catch us off-guard." Standish explained, looking to the Chief, who returned the Admiral's look.



TWO HOURS LATER



BATTLESTAR URANTIA - BSG-53

PORT HANGAR DECK

Admiral Standish and Commander McAllister walked up to the large Cylon Heavy Raider, which was surrounded by a circle of heavily armed Urantia Marines, as the hatch slowly opened, and after a second, a group of four Cylon Centurions stepped out, their metal feet clanking on the plank, as their red "V" scanners roved from left to right, emitting a loud buzzing sound.

The Centurions took position, two on either side of the gangway plank, and the innermost of both sets of Centurions switched from hands to guns, but did not fire.

"SIR!" yelled out the Marine Leader, as he and his men all raised their rifles in aim, ready to fire.

The two Centurions on guns looked around from side to side, as if scanning the room... something whcih the Admiral picked up on.

"Hold your fire... they're just making sure we don't fire on them... just as we are." he said.

Finally, after a very long and tense silent moment, the unarmed Centurion to the left of the Admiral gestured with its head in a manner as if to say "Come on, let's go.", as Standish and McAllister cautiously walked to the four Centurions, and began to walk up the plank, into the craft, the two unarmed Centurions following them in, as the two armed Centurions still held focus on the Mariens, with their guns, before finally turning around, and following the others into the Raider, the hatch closing behind them.

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[Macker]

I wonder who else is aboard that base ship that we don't know about....

 

[BolianAuthor]

BATTLESTAR URANTIA - "Farewell to Nauvoo, Pt. II" (EP. 010)

CONTINUED...

CYLON BASESTAR

The cool moisture was beaded all over the face of the Hybrid, as her lips uttered the thoughts of her mind, as she continued to look upwards, in a distant fashion, as her ramblings continued.

"A fusion of man and machine... a fusing of families. The children have wandered long and far. End of line. The eye of Orion must continue to look forward. Three, two, one, they cannot go home again. False prophets are among them. End of line."

A group of Skinjobs led by Cavil stood watch over the Hybrid, listening to her ramble, with confused expressions, as they tried to interpret her words.

"What the hell is she talking about?" Cavil asked, frustrated.

"We can't know for certain." one of the Simons replied. "Only the Hybrid knows what is going through her mind." he added.

"It has to do in some way with the Urantia's fleet, as well as those new arrivals, or she wouldn't have instructed us to bring Standish over here as well." one of the Sixes added.

Still looking frustrated, Cavil furrowed his brow, as he looked to the closest Simon.

"You sure about those readings our Raider took? The scan results have been verified?" he asked.

"Yes. And I have rechecked, and re-verified them. It's real." the Simon replied, as Cavil and the rest again turned to face the Hybrid, who was still speaking.

The white light around the Hybrid's milky pool highlighted the layer of dew on her nose and mouth, as she continued to speak.

"Another leader will emerge, from outside the group... the one true leader. All this has happened before, and will happen again. End of line." she stated, halting abruptly, and closing her eyes, as she almost appeared to slump backward a little into her pool, as if now sleeping.

"They're here." Cavil said, as he stood up, the others following suit.

CYLON LANDING BAY

The Heavy Raider gently set down on the deck, amid a group of modern Cylon Raiders, all in neatly arranged rows.

BASESTAR CORRIDOR

The heavy clanking of the Centurion's metal feet resonated through the long and dimly lit corridor, as Admiral Standish, Commander McAllister, and Captain Fox were led to the Control Room, where Cavil and the others were waiting for them.

Four Centurions were in front of the group, and another four were behind them. Commander McAllister felt slighly nervous, as right behind his head, the loud metallic buzzing of the Centurion's scanner filled his ears, menacingly. He turned to face Standish, who seemed unphased by it, and was wearing a look of serious determination. Whatever he had planned, and whatever he figured Cavil had planned, the Admiral was not going to be taken for a ride. He was going to show the Cylons that they could no longer mess with humanity.

Finally, the group arrived at the entrance to the Control Room, and the Centurions led them in, as Cavil and the others turned to face the new arivals.

Admiral Standish took stock of his surroundings... there were numerous raised platforms where a few modern Centurions stood, their steel armor gleaming in the light of the room, as their scanners buzzed loudly, as they scanned the room around them, in a constant protective vigil. Finally, Standish turned to face Cavil, who walked up close to him.

"Ah, Admiral Standish... so glad you could join us." Cavil began, now noticing that Standish's eyes were still searching the room, as if looking for something. "Is there something you're looking for?" he asked, as Standish now looked to him with angry eyes.

"Where is she?" he asked. "D'anna."

"Ahh..." Cavil replied, clapping his hands together once, as he stepped a few paces closer to the Admiral. "I assume you mean the Threes. Yes, well, unfortunately, we determined that there was a fundamentally fatal flaw in their design... so, we had that model line boxed... put in cold storage, if you will. The Threes... the ones you called "D'anna"... aren't here anymore." he stated. "Also... your weapons aren't necessary here. If you would... kindly hand them--" he began, just as the Admiral pulled out his sidearm, and aimed it right at Cavil's head.

Just as the Admiral did that, every Centurion in the room switched to guns, and stepped down from their platforms, their loud buzzing now more intense and menacing.

"I'm not disarming, so you can hold us hostage, or kill us. My weapons stay, and your Centurions stand down, or I give the order, and those two warships from Omiron out there throw everything they have at this ship, and it all ends here." Standish said, seriously, looking right at Cavil, his eyes unwavering.

For a very long series of seconds, Cavil and the other Skinjobs looked to Standish, guaging if he was bluffing or not. Finally, Cavil realized that he knew the Admiral was serious, and relented, inclining his head in the direction of the Centurions.

"Stand down!" he called out.

As the Centurions slowly relented, and backed off, Standish also slowly re-holstered his weapon, as Cavil now turned his attention to Captain Fox.

"As for you..." Cavil began. "We've been looking forward to meeting you. Welcome home." he offered, offering an awkward smile, as he looked to Captain Fox, as Standish now also looked to Captain Fox, a mix of anger and confusion on his face.

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[Radiogod]

This is getting good. I predict the smell of burnt toast will soon be in the air...

 

[BolianAuthor]

Aye, well, it is a part of a complete breakfast, hehe.

Have your jam and jelly ready...

 

[BolianAuthor]

BATTLESTAR URANTIA - "Farewell to Nauvoo, Pt. II" (EP. 010)

CONTINUED...

CYLON BASESTAR

Admiral Standish kept his watchful gaze on Captain Fox, as Fox glared at Cavil, at a loss for what to say.

"What are you talking about... I've never met you..." Fox stammered.

"Are you saying he's a Cylon?" Standish shot out, not looking away from Fox.

Cavil wore a sour look, as he caved, finally trying to explain what he could.

"I'm not saying he is... but one of our Raiders did... or at the very least, detected traces of what look like Cylon technology, on that ship of theirs." he offered.

"They've got what look like two Centurions on their ship... museum pieces. They look almost like a middle step... between your old and new Centurions." Standish told cavil, now looking to the Cylon man.

For a long moment, Cavil just glared at Standish, as the other Skinjobs watched.

"Well, then... in that case... I think you should both follow me. There's someone on this ship who has to speak to both of you." Cavil began, indicating for all three men to follow him, as he walked.

The group was led by Cavil to the entrance to an adjoining room... a room that hosted a large tank of milky white fluid, inside which, rested the Hybrid of the Basestar. Cavil led the men to the foot of the Hyrbid's pool, just as a group of four Centurions took position behind the group, standing watch.

"What the frak..." Commander McAllister uttered, at the sight of the half-woman-half-machine, lying in the pool.

"This is our Hybrid. She controls all ship functions. She IS the Basestar." Cavil stated, looking to Fox and Standish. "She insisted I bring both of you over, so she could speak to you." he added.

The group of three men approached the Hybrid, cautiously walking around the perimeter of the pool, looking at her, studying her. After a long moment, Captain Fox knelt down, and gingerly reached into the pool, with his hand, testing the water, to see if it had any effect on waking her.

Nothing happened, and on the other side of the pool, Standish followed suit, and also knelt down, scanning the Hybrid with his eyes, before also reluctantly also testing the water with his own hand.

Suddenly, when both men's hands were in the pool, the Hybrid's eyes shot open, and she reached out, and grabbed both men's wrists, with her hands, as she spoke, with a gasp.

"The two are among us. The pathfinder, and the leader. Two roads, past and future, cross. An intersection, the present." she said, as she suddenly gasped again, and both Fox and Standish suddenly saw nothing but a bright white light, which engulfed their entire field of vision, until it suddenly vanished, and was replaced by another vista...



The sounds of the city traffic filled the air... car horns honking, brakes screeching, people conversing, and distant sirens. The sun was shining bright in the blue sky, as a few spacecraft slowly sailed about in the sky, on their way into orbit, while a handful of people gathered in the city park, enjoying a picnic, amongst the green grass, and the backdrop of the city's tall and gleaming skyscrapers.

Suddenly, over the horizon, a magnificently brilliant flash of white light was seen, and a second later, another. Mere seconds later, a set of twin mushroom clouds began to rise into the air, as the people in the park began to get up, running and screaming.

TO BE CONTINUED...