THE SHARPEST LIVES
The
first thing Bobby and Courtney felt as the flume deposited them at
Third Earth was darkness.
It
pressed over them like a dark cloud suffocating them in its inky
blackness.
"Bobby,
what's going on?" Courtney's voce sounded small and
insignificant against the dark world they interred.
Bobby
strained his eyes looking for Courtney but to no avail. He groped
around in the darkness searching for her hand. Atlas he found it and
squeezed it tight.
"I
don't know Courtney. Third Earth was never like this..." His voce
trailed off while remembering Third Earths futuristic look.
Courtney
leaned closer to Bobby longing for light and color.
"Do
you think we might have landed in a different territory?" She
asked.
"I
don't think so." Bobby said is voce uncertain and diminutive in
the darkness.
He
was about to say more when a bright beam of light appeared in the
distance slowly moving toward the huddled figures lost in the
blackness.
"Look!
Courtney almost screamed with delight. "Someone's coming to help
us!"
Bobby
stared at the light with a tentative gaze. "I don't know about
this." He said and moved Courtney behind him protectively.
As
the light moved closer, Bobby and Courtney saw a hunched figure
moving with the light.
As
it drew near they saw that the light was in fact, radiating from a
gnarled staff that the human figure held in his hand.
At
last it came in front of Bobby and Courtney. The staff shined so
bright it blocked the sight of the figure that held it. As they
stared trying to see the humanoid figure a voce resonated from the
shimmering brightness.
"Atlas,
Bobby Pendragon comes to Third Earth. You don't know how long I
have waited for this moment!"
With
shock Bobby recognized the voice.
St. Dane.
"YOU!"
Bobby shouted. "What have you done to Third Earth?!"
The
light dimmed to show
St. Dane
evil form.
"Ah
my boy,"
St. Dane
said smugly. "That is a story to tell. You see, you have lost. I
now control Halla!"
Bobby
stared with disbelief and horror while St.
Dane
laughed with triumph.
"Your
fellow travelers tried to defeat me while you rode with you
girlfriend through the ages but without you, they are weak and
pathetic." St.
Dane
smiled at the memory.
"Oh
that was a glorious time!" He went on while Bobby seethed with
hatred. "I especially enjoyed killing your friend Spader. He was
always such a rebel." He laughed again. "Now before I kill you I
have got to tell you how much I loved killing all your friends. It
was so much fun I sometimes go back through time and do it again."
His eyes flashed.
"NOW
DIE BOBBY PENDRAGON!"
St. Dane
yelled and plunged the shining staff into Bobby's chest.