When a highly intelligent carnivorous creature that has raided the galaxies like forever in search of new nourishment sources decides to attack the Earth … Who ya gonna call!!!!!   

The Edge of Nightfall

(©2016/17/18)

by Tony Stewart

What are heroes, if not human folk who display incredible courage under duress?

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Short Fat Stubby Finger Stories PRESENTS:

THE Edge of Nightfall

By Tony Stewart

LEGEND:  LINK TO EPISODE 12 (1)

“How in the world did you do that?   You were standing right beside me.   I saw everything through your eyes and we watched everything as it unfolded, so how did you appear in the room with him and give him a pill without my being aware of what you were doing.   And come to that, you said you couldn’t interfere at this stage.   It was too early, you said.   You hadn’t made contact with him until much later, you said.   So why and how did you enter the room to give him that pill?” Johann asked in a mixed tone of disbelief at what he had just witnessed, and at the same time mocking Arkerious regarding the lecture he had only finished giving mere moments before the screen blew up in Joseph’s face regarding interference in events.

“Perhaps I said too much, “Arkerious replied in what Johann took to be a deep and serious tone, “and yes I did say that I had not made contact with Joseph at this stage.   It would appear that I lied, wouldn’t it?”

Johann smiled knowingly: ‘Got him!’ he thought to himself, ‘I’ll teach him to be patronising.   From now on he will treat me with a bit more respect and start talking in straight terms without all the twiddle-de-de that he likes to spin.   I have had enough of time lines and changes to history by a creature that travels through space and time in search of souls to devour… what is it, a reincarnation of a TARDIS … where’s the good doctor when you want him?   I just want to know how to eliminate this thing.   I so wish that Arkederious hadn’t informed me that weapons would have no effect on this creature… that it was all up to one man … not this time … not again.”

“I am sorry, my friend,”   Arkerious  continued,   “please forgive an old man his foolishness.   I am, after all, two thousand; two hundred and twenty years of age, so I expect shades of senility are beginning to arrive in my brain.   Perhaps I will make more mistakes as this goes on.   Perhaps I should pull out and let things take their own course before I do something irreversible.   Yes, that is what I will do.   I am sure Joseph will win the battle, regardless of the changes that are beginning to happen.   I shall return you to Earth immediately, my friend, and leave it to you to be on the watch out for Rangor should something go wrong.”

Johann looked at Arkerious with horror in his eyes.    “No, Arkerious … you can’t do that.   We’d be lost without your experience.   I am sorry if I chastised you a bit.   It just gave me such a shock to see you in the room and standing beside me at the same time.   I never felt any change in our link up so I assumed that you must have been already there in the past, and I didn’t understand why you had told me you hadn’t.    Please don’t leave because of me.   I am sure that you must have thought it necessary to do what you did.   I am sorry for questioning you.”   Johann, his expression almost pleading, looked at the old man who stood at his side and was taken aback by the smile that began to appear on his companion’s face; surprised, that was, until everything clicked into place and he quickly began to realise that it was he, and not Arkerious, that had been mocked.   “I have got something wrong, haven’t I?”

Arkerious looked kindly at Johann as he replied.   “Thank you, Johann.   I am sorry for leading you on.  I was never going to leave your planet stranded at the mercy of Rangor, but it was necessary for me to judge how much you really understood … and I can see you still have some distance to go to fully appreciate what is going on – and it now becomes even harder for you because there is now no longer a set path to follow.   Everything is beginning to change and we must be careful in how we approach the future from this moment on.   You really have to get it into your head that what you are watching now is the present, not the past … only I have seen this situation in the past before it changed.   I cannot take you back to a time that no longer exists … even I cannot go back there now because there is no longer anywhere to go – not in this particular time zone.   What you saw earlier, the Grimshaws and Lord Trentham, was possible because nothing there has changed, but this – this is the present – and second by second it becomes the past.   And once it becomes the past it becomes permanent; new rules now apply to this time zone.   The time zone that I once viewed no longer exists … will never exist.   The past is changing … and so will the future as a result.”

You and I are going to move ahead to the next time zone in Joseph’s future and should we see just one thing beginning to go out of kilter we have to take what action we can to try and correct it immediately.   It will be difficult, but if we fail …”   Arkedious let the words fade in the air as he symbolically stretched out his arms at the elbow before turning his hands upwards and outwards.

“Do you mean that we are going to remain here and watch it … or are we going to actually travel through time and arrive, as you keep stating, in the present?”

“That is exactly, correct, Johann – we are going to do both.”

Johann closed his eyes and shook his head slowly from side to side, his actions adding even more pressure and pain to his already pounding headache.

“Johann,  Arkerious spoke softly as he replied, “I do not need a machine to travel through time or space.   Guardians are born with the ability to travel through spacetime using mind control.    It is both a perk and a necessity for us to be able to do our duty to the universe effectively.    We were created to safeguard certain planets and there are many things we need to perform our duties that may sound like science fiction to your world, but please remember that at the moment you are not on your world, nor are we of your world.   Think about it … at this very moment in time you are on a different planet than your own , and you are in a dimension of a universe your astronomers will never come across in a trillion years of stargazing – and yet here you are watching events that have, are, or will sometime in the future, take place on Earth … and you didn’t arrive here in a bus or a plane … or a flying saucer for that matter.    I brought you here with my mind power.   So regardless of what you fully understand, you have to let your mind accept that we can do things that can defy the possibilities of an Earth mind.

And to answer your question fully, we will travel forward in time to the next time zone in Joseph’s timeline that has any known importance in Rangor’s defeat which, in this particular case, is only a few days hence.   Our bodies will still be in Garocia in one sense, but we will have physically travelled in space and time via my mind, not in my mind – and what we will see before our eyes will be happening in real time … and we will be in the centre of the environment … in a room, a cafe, on a bus,  or wherever the event is taking place, you will feel intact.   You will have a body, arms, legs in which to move about freely – yet feel safe in the knowledge that nobody else will be aware of your presence.   Check your watch for the date and time now – then check again once we can see the change in our surroundings.   The future will become the present for us and whatever happens in that timezone is actually happening.   I cannot freeze frame the action that we witness, I can only freeze the transmission, so if we have to attempt to interfere in an event; have to with no other choice on offer, we must do so as the events are taking place.    We cannot see something then go back in time to that time zone to change it… we will not be allowed to re-enter it once it has been created, at least not to change things that went wrong for us, it is part of the rules when interfering in time.   You only get one chance at changing the past … when it is happening.”

“What would happen if we did try to go back.”

“We would only be able to view the events … see the past as we saw it happen.   We would not be able to change anything that was now the past in that time zone because it would now be a fixture in time.”    Arkerious paused for a few seconds to allow Johann time to digest what he had been told before finally continuing,   “Do you have any other questions that will help you in your under standing of what we are facing and doing, Johann?”

Johann pondered for a moment on what Arkerious had asked before answering – choosing his words carefully when he finally spoke.   “Alright, I think I comprehend what we are going to do, it will just take a little time to fully sink in, but the event that we just witnessed with Joseph … how was it different?   How did you know that it was different?    What did you see that I didn’t?”   Johann asked, his thumping brain wishing it could have been a request for a headache tablet that he was asking for rather than an answer that, more than likely, would be intent on aggravating his brain by an even greater degree.

“I originally only arrived in that time zone by accident the first time I viewed it; a serendipitous moment, you might say.   I had been distracted by something far removed from Joseph’s timeline whilst viewing the same scene as you saw prior to the one where the monitor exploded.    While it is true that I can do several things at the same time without much difficulty; more than two things can be slightly tricky at times, depending on the circumstances.    And in this case the reason for the interruption to my viewing had been so serious I was forced to mentally contact a second source for a decision on the matter I had been presented with, which meant I had what you on Earth call a ‘multi-party-call’ running through my mind.   While I was being distracted by the three way conference my mind would have automatically moved on to the next time zone following the one that had just concluded which was not the one that you have just witnessed, and I could have easily missed seeing it it should it have finished before my conference ended.  My mind would have automatically pressed forward to the following time zone once the one I had been watching finished.

I had decided that I had seen enough of the zone that I had been visiting, however I also considered the sequential viewing of the timeline I had been watching to be imperative, so I conditioned my mind to fast forward that projection to its very end, pause the timeline, then allow whatever was happening in Joseph’s life at that stage to continue in real time speed.   The scenes that now appeared in my mind would continue in real time providing me with hours and hours of free time to pay due attention to the conference that I was tied up in without missing the time zone that I was waiting to review.   My intention, of course, was to jump forward to the next important time zone the minute I had finished sorting out the other problem which I eventually did, but not before my eyes casually took in what we were watching a minute ago.

There might have been events taking place prior to the images that began to roll around inside my mind that could have set alarm bells ringing, but I had failed to take much notice of what was taking place when the viewing began, accepting what I saw simply as mundane images that passed through my head.   As far as I was concerned, my mind had already verified events and had already selected the next important time zone, the one where we are about to head to.   As it was, I certainly saw nothing that seemed out of place in an office environment during my occasional glances at the projection.   I did, however, actually watch it just prior to the point where Joseph left the building, which was when my conference finished, and I moved the timeline forward to the next time zone of interest … and there had been no explosion before Joseph left the room.

The only problem that I could see was in the fact that once I have viewed a time zone for that length of time it automatically upgrades itself to being essential viewing, which is why it appeared this time around.   I could have cancelled it and jumped to the next time zone when we began viewing it a few minutes ago, but I decided that it would make a perfect scenario to give you some experience viewing the zones from inside my mind, and therefore in the environment, because there was nothing special to see in that particular time zone to distract you.   I was not expecting any problems when the scene commenced, however I am aware what can happen to an outsider’s mind when it enters the mind of a guardian for the first time.   It messes with the brain somewhat similar to using virtual reality glasses for the first time, or so I am led to believe.   It can disorientate you because it seems so real, yet it is surreal at the same time, but most lifeforms that have been invited in for a viewing usually find that they can manage within a reasonably short time.”

Johann nodded his head in admittance that Arkerious was correct in his thoughts, for he was surprised at how quickly he himself had adapted to the impossible, and wondered what other wondrous things lay before him on Garocia … or even Earth for that matter considering the reason for his being on Garocia.   But the sudden rush of excitement that had began to run through his mind was just as quickly tempered by the headache that was once again pounding away inside his head.

“However,”  Arkerious continued, “on this visit to that time zone, seconds prior to the monitor exploding, my senses told me that the creature was close by, which was why I had to go to Earth immediately … to protect Joseph.”

“Well, if that was all that he was able to do to Joseph, blow up his monitor and give him some concussion … then Joseph should have no trouble defeating him.”

“It is not quite that simple, Johann.   I am of the impression that Rangor was trying to establish a physic link with Joseph, and he is terrifyingly close to achieving his aims.   Although Joseph escaped this morning’s attack the creature will eventually realise that he has failed to kill him; that something went wrong with his attempt to link, and will attack again.   Perhaps in this time zone, perhaps the next, but he will strike again.”

“But if he failed to link with Joseph why did the screen blow up?”

“I believe, and it is only a guess, that somebody else may have been incorrectly identified as Joseph, somebody positioned physically close in proximity to the office, which is why only the very edge of Rangor’s link scan picked up Joseph while it was targeting the false target, but the scan’s return signal from Joseph was possibly so weak Rangor may have been taken it for an echo rather than a potential target.   However, because Joseph’s signal had been picked up it, even though it had been dismissed as a potential target, it would still have been at the very edge of the target range – and the energy Rangor released at his target would would have carried the same distance as the scan had.

It was fortunate for Joseph that I picked up on events early and interfered.   I had no idea that Rangor was attacking anything until my senses picked up on the increased energy levels in the office.   That is when I first telepathed to the building itself and created a barrier between Joseph and the monitor which caused the energy to deflect back onto the monitor.   You didn’t notice my presence inside the building until you saw me give Joseph the pill because you were distracted by something else in the room at that particular moment.   This is a good example of what I am trying to amplify in your understanding of mind links;  when our minds are linked for the purpose that they are in moment, it is the same for you, as it is for me.   We can see the same things, hear the same things, do the same things, but you can also move around independently.   You will have the opportunity to do things, see things, hear things that I don’t … and the same applies to me.  Between us we will see and hear everything that we need to share to safeguard Joseph … and the Earth.   It is as if we are really there, which, in fact, your mind really is.   Johann, I don’t think that trying to explain to you how our minds and bodies are split in two and are occupying  space on two worlds simultaneously will do you any good.   All you need to do is believe that is what is happening.   Otherwise simply enjoy the moment and utilise it to its fullest.  Your eyes are as good as mine in this situation, and even though you do not have the sensory skills that I possess, your brain is still intelligent enough to notice anomalies once you rid your mind of questions as to how everything is happening and simply accept that it does.  I really need your observational help during these viewings.   It is extremely important that you let go of your reservations and fear and accept things for what they are … not for what you don’t understand and therefore fear.   You cannot be seen by anybody else in the environment, and you should be fairly safe, but please remember that you cannot touch anything.   I can because of my special gifts, but you can’t … well not at the moment, at least.”

Johann felt slightly exhilarated at Arkerious’ words.  “Do you mean that I will someday?’  he asked hopefully, imagining himself doing a Harry Potter with a perfect invisible cloak.

Arkerious smiled, and Johann was all but certain that Arkerious’ face bore a trace of of crimson for no more than a millionth of a second before he answered.   “I am sorry, Johann … a slip of the tongue.   As for the pill that I gave Joseph, in order to answer another of your many questions, it contained chemicals that will distort his brain waves for quite some time.   It won’t have any effect on his thought processes, but it will prevent Rangor from filtering  them should he succeed with his attempts to link with him.”

“What did you mean before, when you said that you telepathed there?  Isn’t telepathy the ability to communicate through minds rather than speech … wouldn’t you have teleported there?”

“Nice question, my friend, but you are not quite on the mark.  To teleport would imply that there was a portal there that I could have teleported to.    Portals do exist on Earth, however they do not exist in every nook and cranny around the planet.   The nearest portal to Joseph was far too far away from where he was for me to have been of any help to him should I have chosen that form of travel.   I really don’t think that I would have had time to run down several floors in order to run down several streets to the subway, wait for a train, ride on it, and then run several more blocks and up three flights of stairs in order to save him.   It wouldn’t be a prudent thing to do in the circumstances.    I do have the capability to travel through space, as well as time, but what I needed under those circumstances was a guidance system to get me to the correct point of entry.   I don’t exactly have an inbuilt g.p.s, so I need to find a source that will be both reciprocal and responsive to my needs and in this case I chose Joseph.   I made contact with his mind and the rest, as they say, is history.   Joseph’s mind was so full of background information that I was simultaneously feeding into him he was hardly aware of my making contact.   Mind you, he sensed something and tried to fight it, though I am uncertain if it was my contact or Rangor’s attempt to link with him that he fought in his mind.   Whichever it was he was weakened by all that was going on inside his mind and I was able to do what I needed to without his having any knowledge of my arrival.   Once I was in his brain, I could travel back and forward between Earth and here, which I had to do once I realised exactly what was happening and came back here for the pill.”

“You went and returned twice … and I had no idea whatsoever that you had even left Garocia.”   An astonished Johann whispered hoarsely,  “I really don’t know what to think.   You are doing my head in, Arkerious, more and more with every word you utter.”

“And, unfortunately, there is more that you need to fully understand, Johann.   Firstly Rangor is not simply a creature; nor is it human like either.  It is a life force; not a life force as you are familiar with … but a life force never the less.   It is, to a degree, a life force that you are familiar with inasmuch as it has communicative ability, thought processing and other attributes that an intelligent life force requires to exist, but it also possess a lot more capabilities than your mind would be capable of processing at this stage.   And, it also requires the essence of the life force of other life forms in order to continue to survive – a parasite if you wish, however you can judge by its longevity that it is quite successful one.

It is also an extraordinarily large parasite.   Its true size, the size it adapts to during an attack on a planet, would allow it to traverse the entire length and breadth of Great Britain as it feeds in less than an hour.   However, when it attempts to enter a hostile planet, one that is protected such as Earth, it appears far smaller in size, and this is where it may get a bit complex for the average human to comprehend with ease.

What is attempting to kill Joseph; what is trying to enter your world to prepare it for annihilation; what has communicated with mankind and other worlds over the centuries in order to gain entry on Earth is not a physical presence, or at least not in man’s way of understanding the physics of a physical presence.   But believe me, even in this form it is still has the potential to cause irreparable damage to your way of life.

The creature itself, Rangor; the creature that will destroy all but a token representation of life on your planet should it be allowed to arrive in your world, is not trying to enter your planet at the moment, it is somewhere in the universe millions of miles from Earth.   And even it it was close by we have the power to prevent him from attacking the Earth, at least at this stage, but we can’t prevent it from entering the planet in a mental capacity.   This anomaly in our abilities to protect allows Rangor to send a proxy; a mind produced image, to try and sneak through the back door, so as to speak, and create an entry point for itself.   Rangor has the power to split its mind in two; literally.   Not quite the way that we are at the moment.   We have projected ourselves across time and space, but our capabilities are limited.    Rangor has far more power at his beck and call in this matter.    He has the capability to create an unconstrained ‘mini-me’ of himself to do his bidding independently; yet totally tied to him.   Everything that the effigy says; hears; every action that it takes; every death that it causes, is all communicated directly to Rangor as it happens, and yet the effigy is allowed to make its own decisions on the actions that it takes.   And please note my choice of words here because the creature that Joseph is about to do battle with reports back to Rangor; it does not request permission to do anything; and Rangor does not send down instructions to the proxy – Because the proxy is Rangor.

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