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.