|
|
By StarbearerTM
Disclaimer: Dark
Horse Comics owns the most recent rights to publish the KISS comics, originally
published by Marvel. This is a work of Fanfiction,
and is not intended to harm or demean those involved. KISS owns themselves, and this is based on real persons. All original characters are property of
their respective owners.
Her cheek pressed against bare metal as she huddled in the featureless cell. Hugging her knees her brown hair spilled all over the tops like a brown waterfall. Still the tears burned hot in her face as she felt the pain slowly fading. Yet another disturbing sensation replaced it. Alarms suddenly turned off as they had been blaring only minutes before. Her Mechnateck guard checked upon her, momentarily opening and shutting the door. Again Jenlynn huddled down, feeling another wave of sorrow pass over her.
Till she almost leapt in fear hearing soft footsteps right within her cell. A voice murmured her name in English! Could it be? Dare she hope? Or was it virtual reality?
"Jenlynn, its Ace!"
"Ace..." she gasped, pressing hands to her face. "How did You... what..."
"What have they done to You," demanded Ace, dropping to his haunches. "I felt your scream and they say something about a trial..."
"You shouldn't have come," Came her voice. "You must leave..."
"Jenlynn... why did call for me?" Ace's voice demanded, as she felt his hand try to pull her hands from her face.
"Don't look, don't touch... You must not witness me in my current condition," she said, shrinking away.
"Jenlynn, what did they DO to you?" he demanded, grabbing her wrists. Strong hands forced her arms away. She saw the beryl eyes widen with shock. Total surprise. Jenlynn jerked free, covering her face once more with her hands as she turned away. Ever so more tightly she wrapped herself into a fetal position.
"Please, I implore you... I'm hideous... not fit to have you stare upon my countenance..." she stammered.
Yet gentle hands grabbed her shoulders, coaxing her to sit up. "Jenlynn, your face, your hands," came his shocked voice. Still she would not open her eyes or remove her hands from her face to look at him.
Although she felt his hands touching along her cheek ever so lightly. To her amazement even though she tried to push him away, she had not the strength to fight him. Even if she wanted to. For his gentle grasp was far stronger now than hers was! "You... are a person... a human!"
"Leave me... You must not remain..."
"Jenlynn! I don't care what you look like!" Ace implored, seizing her face between two large hands. "Open your eyes and look at me! I've come for you..."
"Ace, I am on trial! I have received penalty for my crimes... they may arrest You as well... I implore You... entreat you... leave me!"
"Jenlynn... why push me away," he asked. "Don't you know I'd would chase through time itself?"
"I'm
not the Cybernam who called you. I
can't… I didn't…" Jenlynn sobbed.
"If you're scared of what I think you look like, don't be!" Ace shook his head. "I'm a human being…"
"But who I am has altered! My cybernetics were integral to my personality!" she sobbed, not able to wrench free. Those beryl eyes gazed into hers, tears in them. "I am empty! A simacrulum... a mere facsimile of what I once was... not only do I not retain my full memories but now they have removed my cybernetics... my strength, my enhanced sensory relays... everything! Without them I am nothing!"
"You are not!" Ace scolded firmly. Fiercely he pulled her close to his chest. Cold metallic fabric of his costume pressed against her cheek. Now fully covered in skin, not gold she could feel in a strange way she did not recall. "Hear me out. They can't take away your heart and soul! No matter what the Androni have done. You called me, and I'm here babe… and I won't leave you here alone! I'll stand by your side... no matter what they do!"
"Ace… you don't know what they're capable of. I can't help you like I promised. I don't have all the answers to your questions… " she sobbed. "You left your own planet because of me, and now you might end up in a cell because of me…"
"Why…"
"Because… they didn't realize how powerful you are. You're a threat to them… because any primitive creature capable of time travel, but not intelligent or advanced to understand how they can affect space and time… is ordered to be liquidated, reeducated, or kept here for study…" she gasped.
"Oh shit," Ace gasped.
"So you have to leave. I couldn't bear to have them destroy you…"
"I don't care," Ace said sharply. "Let them TRY and stop me. They have NO right."
"They think they do," she whispered. "Ace leave me…"
"You called me…"
"I don't have the answers Ace. I'm not some all powerful dimensional being come to help you learn your powers like you wanted!"
"Jenlynn... stop," he soothed, kissing her hand that he grasped. No gold wires outlined her joints. Necrotic skin came against her live skin, dry yet tender in its caress. Sobbing she buried her head in his shoulder.
Slowly he rocked, hushing her as her pain and anger poured out with the tears. She calmed, withdrawing to finally meet his eyes with hers. No revulsion was there, only love and the gladness at being reunited with her. "But you took a terrible risk in coming here. Jeopardizing your very integrity..."
"I don't care. ON my planet I’m a hero, and I'm expected to help my friends and the innocent. I've come to rescue you..."
"Ace, your powers can't hold up against my planet's ambient technology... You may be VERY powerful, but you don't know what you can do… and you'd be fighting a whole planet. You can't do that…"
"I came this far, Jenlynn," Ace said softly.
"Ace... I don't know what to say," she said, tears once again forming in her eyes.
"Shh, don't cry, woman. I can't stand it when a woman cries..." he begged. And held her face between his hands again as he kissed away her tears. This simple gesture melted away her anger and shock. Full sensation crept over skin like fire. A burning shiver she had never felt so fully. Not like the sensory relays upon her cheek as it had once before been.
"Ace…" she whispered. "I always wanted to touch you to know you…"
"I can hear your heart beating," Ace whispered. " You're alive... and I'll make sure you stay that way."
"Trust you to see the good in a tragedy," she said, as he kissed her cheek.
"Don't you see Jenlynn. You can hold me, and I can touch you! If you feel like I feel…" Ace choked.
"I have grown fond of you," she whispered. "And that is another taboo… but I don't care…"
"I haven't felt this way before," Ace whispered. "I know you… At last you're gonna know what it's like to be a human... to see a lifeform you've studied!"
"But Ace, I'm frightened! I can feel... this body... is dying... without my nanoprobes I cannot hope to live the span of life allotted... a Cybernam..."
"What?" he asked, shaking his head. "You are alive! And you will find being human is not a tragedy, it is a blessing..."
"Ace... You don't understand the loss..."
"I do. I'm more then human, remember... and I gave up things like this. No Jenlynn, this is a gift... and I pray you'll see it as I do!"
"Ace," she whispered as he held her face and leaned forwards. She felt his lips touch hers, and gasped at the feel of his hands stroking her cheeks. Moving his hands down, he pulled her close and hugged her. She cried at the feel of his kiss deepening, and let herself go. It was a wave of emotion that consumed them both.
For a time she reveled in the warmth and comfort of his love. Letting go to the new passion aroused in her newly complete human body. He sought to fill her with his love, the differences in their bodies meaning nothing as the traveler showered his new lover with years of passion squeezed into minutes. She could not remember but a few glimpses of this, but the warmth and love were so tangible as they burned through his caressing hands.
When she looked up at him again, she saw him gesture, and he was as he first came into the cell. She lay her head on his lap, and he rocked her, shushing her. Still she was covered in the silver space blanket.
"C'mon, we gotta go," he urged, clasping her hand as he rose. Her clothes that were provided was disposable paper, and Ace hitched the blanket around her like a toga.
"No Ace. I cannot permit this," she said stubbornly. "We cannot make it past the guards..."
"We gotta!" he said.
"I refuse to allow such a foolhardy course of action!" she cried, stamping her foot. She glared up into his face.
"I'm sorry, but you are coming with me now!" he said in a voice that would take no opposition. Before she could stop him he doubled over, grabbing her about the waist. Hoisting her onto his shoulder, she struggled. But to no avail.
Ace was strong, far stronger than an average human was. Which was what she was now! He carried the protesting woman out of the cell. He kept his free hand before him, probing with his senses for any possible attacks. He cloaked them again with his fields. But this time his progress was stopped by two squat servos. "Relinquish the prisoner, carbon unit," said one.
"How can they see me?" he whispered to Jenlynn.
"My body's heat…" She hissed. Ace dropped his cloaking spell.
"You can't stop me, you bucket of bolts," Ace said firmly, raising his hand.
"If you do not relinquish, I must retaliate..." said the other, raising its armament. Ace erected a shield of vibratory force. The laser caromed off harmlessly. Ace hurled an electrical surge at the unit, overloading it as it stunned.
"Don't, Ace! The Mechnateck are just doing their jobs!" Jenlynn protested. "Please, don't hurt him! He doesn't understand..."
" You tell your rulers that they'd better let her go, till we get some ANSWERS!" Ace said, still maintaining his shield. His fingers crackled with electrical power. For Ace's life in the twentieth century had given him some inkling of how technology worked. Granted it was far more advanced, yet he could sense the electricity in their metallic and plastic bodies.
One servo regarded the other. "You are humanoid. WE cannot harm you, but we cannot allow you to transgress authority..."
Ace grabbed her, and whispered," Get ready to teleport…"
"Ace don't… they'll stop you…"
"I can't," he said as he grabbed her, and activated his power. Suddenly a field of energy burst around him, and he felt his power jammed.
"Ace…" she cried as she caught him. Just in time he erected his shield to stop the rays that rained on them.
"Can't teleport…"
"I warned you. They have a spatial jammer that stops teleportation…" she whispered.
"Great…" he muttered.
"Give up…"
"Please, Jenlynn is innocent!" Ace said.
"Ace, they don't comprehend..."
"Query... such references are invalid. You will remain here, or be neutralized..."
"What... is neutralization?" Ace asked Jenlynn. "Some sort of ray gun?"
"A magic beam that makes you paralyzed. I am certain it has the same effect on humans and as on cybernetics..."
Instantly other Mechnateck, more humanoid in appearance arrived. "Unauthorized life form present," one guard said to another. Then they spoke in a garbled language Ace could not comprehend. He backed away into the shelter of a building.
"Life signs, of a human female... and male. Initiate pursuit?"
"Negative. Hostile force present would create danger to the human. Hostage situation. Suggest alternate course of action. Raise force barriers to contain till the human form acquiesces..."
"Ace, you idiot!" Jenlynn cried as he still held her over his shoulder. "I demand you put me down this instant!"
"Confirm hostage situation. Female not a willing participant in this action. Will contact superiors..."
"They've gone for reinforcement... and if the Androni should discover your error, they may well give the order for termination!"
"Aren't these guys robots… and don't they have some sort of THREE laws that stop them from killing sentient beings… "
"The Androni are capable of destroying with their neuroscramblers... and termination viruses..."
" I won't surrender till I have an answer for why you were arrested! And why they have removed your cybernetics..."
"Ace, look out!" Jenlynn cried, as she saw a Mechnateck security drone lifting a stun weapon. The neuroscramble hit them both, causing Ace to hurl energy from his hands backward. The feedback created a minor power failure, resulting in a flash of blinding radiance that threw both of them to one side. Jenlynn crashed to the metallic pavement next to her husband.
As he shook his head, Jenlynn lay there, rigid. Her muscles were in a state of full paralysis. Only her eyes glanced up at his, rigid. Again the light enveloped him, but he forced it back, beryl eyes narrowed in full concentration as he reached out with his vibratory power.
"Weapon ineffective..." one said to the other. "This life form is an energy director..."
Ace grabbed Jenlynn, and rushed away. There was no resistance, till he felt himself thrown backwards by an invisible force!
"Halt life form! If you persist in this course of action, you will cause harm to the humanoid. This cannot be condoned. Surrender now, and no pain will be inflicted. Fail to adopt this course will result in your incarceration at this location..."
"No way in hell! Not till I have answers!" Ace thundered. "Tell your leaders I wanna talk, dammit!"
Ace realized the barriers were much like his vibratory fields. Perhaps he could somehow figure out the nature of this energy. Tenderly laying Jenlynn to one side, he hunkered down before the barrier. In the lotus position he sat, closing his eyes as he gathered his strength to probe...
***
A half hour later, Ace sensed the presence of those like Jenlynn had once been. He gently held her in his lap, stroking her forehead as he sought to try and instill life to her. She moaned gently as she blinked. Liquid brown eyes now with the dullness of humanity looked into his beryl ones.
"Good you're coming around," he soothed, tenderly stroking her cheek. Jenlynn briefly smiled, then sat up. "Don't move. They used some stun-gun on you..."
"Paralyze ray, I hate them," she muttered as she sat up on her own. And glimpsed the presence of a containment field. "Ace, what did you do?"
"We've reached an impasse," he said. "This force field's in our way. But they're like not attacking..."
"Because they think you are holding me hostage," she realized; familiar with the Mechnateck procedure. "Ace, you've outdone yourself..."
"I screwed up, huh?" he asked, feeling a bit foolish.
"It was well intentioned," she sighed. "But unnecessary..."
Then a voice pricked her ears as it spoke in that garbled hexadecimal. Still she understood her native tongue, Ace realized. Then three figures in glittering silver cybernetics and black stretch outfits came into view from the roof of the structure they sat by.
"Jenlynn! Are you functional?" asked the voice. Ace shook his head. He could only discern a bit, but it was enough. Then he realized it was being changed into his own speech.
"Yes," she said. "Yaahrmes, I am in a state of surprise! I never thought... to see you again..."
"Jenlynn, it has been a long period of time since our last meeting," came a male voice. Instantly Ace felt the emotions in his empathy. Feelings of affection for Jenlynn!
The voice's owner dropped into view as Yaahrmes leapt off the building. His slightly tanned skin was equal in shade to Jenlynn's, and his hair was a similar shade, with streaks of bright blue. The cybernetics covered half his face in silver filigree, and the one arm was completely artificial. But his legs were not as much as hers had been. Rather they were encased in what Jenlynn would call an exoframe. His other arm was completely human.
He recognized Marchyl, but she was with another person, a male. Both were dark skinned, almost like blacks on earth. Their silver cybernetics seemed almost identical. Were they brother and sister? For Marchyl's multicolored braids swirled about her head, as the male's head was bald. Only the hair seemed to be the unit of individuality, as the pattern of the cybernetics. The body suits filled in the gap of cybernetics, covering every inch of skin save the tips of the fingers and the head and neck.
"What a strange manner of garment the alien wears," muttered the bald male. "He is like an Andron, but is not."
"Ace… why did you leave?" Marchyl asked.
"I want answers, lady," he said to her. "Isn't Jenlynn your friend?"
"What is your planet of origin?" asked Yaahrmes of the Space Ace, who stood up. He tugged down his silver tunic into position, and brushed off his arms. They saw the silver gleam momentarily flicker in his eyes, to fade into a cerulean blue that regarded them warily.
"Earth, in the Solar System. Milky Way galaxy… but I think... that doesn't mean much to you guys."
"They want to know the coordinates," Jenlynn sighed.
"Fine, but I don't the hell know, I just followed your voice. I wanna know why you creeps are hurting her. I thought she was the one who brought me here. What the fuck is going on?"
Marchyl and Maagnyl blinked in confusion. Yaahrmes patiently exchanged a glance with Jenlynn, "Are you harmed? Is this alien holding you against your will?"
"Considering I was being incarcerated against my will, that fact has not changed. Against his better judgment he liberated me, but his intentions were affirmative, and no harm was intended that would transgress the Creator Asimov Unit's laws..." said she, in reverence. "And in answer to your query, Yaahrmes, he is a native of a planet designated Earth by its inhabitants..."
"We register a totally organic life sign. With the presence of a mental em flux of considerable power," said Marchyl.
"The subject is capable of teleportation, as observed by the security net," said Maagnyl, ever the scientist, for he was an exobiologist. His sister Marchyl was a writer and chronicler.
"Look I came a long way, and now you people pretend like you didn't expect me? That's messed up! What kind of superior beings are you anyway?" Ace said, before Jenlynn held up her hand.
"Query…"
"Enough of this shit. She called me here, and said that Jendell was agreeing they wanted me. And now nobody knows what's going on, and she was arrested. You'd better tell me what the hell is going down before I really get pissed."
"You were called?" Yaahrmes asked, shock on his face. "Jenlynn, explain..."
"It's a long and complicated story," said she. "That I will elaborate and recount at the trial..."
"Which may well be a problem, since this alien has foolishly shown his presence," Yaahrmes choked. "And endangered the well being of unit Jenlynn..."
Was that jealousy in his eyes, Ace wondered? What did this cyborg mean to Jenlynn?
"It was not foolishness," said Ace, angrily as he registered the challenge in Yaahrmes' eyes. "I came here because I was asked to. Invited. And she was the girl who did it. And she needed my help so I rescued her. Simple."
"Jenlynn, you mean to say that you have called a native of Earth here?" Yaahrmes demanded. "Have you no self respect?"
"What of it?" Jenlynn spat back. "Is it forbidden?"
"Leading a primitive teleporter for the sake of study is allowed," Marchyl recounted. "By the Anthropological observation laws. But emotional attachment beyond an assignment is unusual..."
"Enough," Yaahrmes nearly exploded. "Jenlynn you realize what you have done? You may well have eliminated any chance of your reintegration into our society..."
"What would you care save that I am not available for Integration!" Jenlynn suddenly countered.
"I would assess your current emotive status refers to your lack of her acquiesce in genetic combination for reproductive..." Maagnyl began before a look from Marchyl stopped him.
"Jenlynn, be reasonable. You still have a chance... if you would agree, and then perhaps I could sway the council in favor. If you admit you have no emotional attachment to this... this... alien, they may overlook and reduce your sentence..."
"I don't remember much about it," Jenlynn said. Ace gasped, glancing at her. What did she mean? "My memories of that time in the relationship were impaired..."
"Jenlynn...what the hell..." Ace said, stunned.
" I have no wish to see you harmed," Jenlynn said, taking his hand. "But it's over. I must face my crimes..."
"You're innocent, dammit!" Ace exploded. "They're the ones who're wrong... I won't let them hurt you!"
"Ace please... I have a chance... I don't want them to harm you... let it go..." she gritted as his large hands seized hers, and closed achingly tight. For the first time she felt what it was like to be in such a strong grip.
"Accompany us, there is still time," Marchyl said. "If you surrender, alien unit, there is guarantee from this unit no hostile actions will be taken."
"Jenlynn... no..." Ace begged. "Don't give up... c'mon… you called me. And you said others wanted to teach me so much… I came all this way to find you. Are you telling me it wasn't to be?"
"Ace, it's the only way," she whispered. "It's over. Forgive me for deceiving you... but I am a criminal in their eyes. You won't be harmed...."
"Jenlynn, decide," said Yaahrmes. "I promise no harm will come to the alien who you have called here. He will be returned to his native habitat..."
"After the trial," Marchyl said. "For perhaps he should witness..."
"It's dangerous to expose primitives to such proceedings," Yaahrmes said. Jenlynn walked over to her friends. A look from Marchyl shut him up.
"Ace, it's the only way," Jenlynn said.
"Do you relinquish your captive?" asked Maagnyl.
"Yeah," Ace bowed his head. "I give the hell up."
Inside his heart was breaking, as Jenlynn was lead away by this cyborg Yaahrmes. Sympathetic eyes of Maagnyl fell upon him as he was gently urged the opposite way. Jenlynn looked back, infinite sadness in those eyes before turning back. Marchyl followed them, shaking her head. Ace felt a part of him die inside.
"Jenlynn, why?" he asked softly. "Why did you call me here if you weren't supposed to? I came light years, and I learned so much. You made me give up earth, and pushed my powers to the limit. For what? Nothing?"
***
Ace could hardly believe it. After all that Jenlynn had taught him through the mental bond they had forged over light years and centuries of time. He had grown to love her, for she had reached far inside him and reminded him that love was a universal constant, not a mere human hormonal response. Yet he had found that the great civilization who was supposed to hold all the answers to his situation… who had claimed to call him, were just as confusing and random as the one he had left. Jenlynn had denied that it was what he had hoped. Worst of all, she had relinquished to that... that... cybernetic man! Did he have some sort of hold on her?
"So, who was the man Jenlynn went with?" he said conversationally to Maagnyl.
"That unit is designated Yaahrmes, in your colorful tongue. This language you speak is most... entertaining..." Maagnyl smiled. "Full of rich similes and natural references..."
"Fine, cool… whatever… but I want to know what the deal is…"
"You show great affection and emotional attachment to unit Jenlynn Cyderion do you not?" Maagnyl said, liquid black eyes fixing into Ace's beryl ones.
"Okay, I admit it, all right? But can we cut the crap and explain just WHY I was called here? Jenlynn said your civilization… Jendell had been watching me for a long time… and I came all this way with her help, and the help of others. You can't tell me there wasn't some reason…" Ace said softly. "And I wanna know what the hell is going on!"
"You were called here, by Jenlynn," said Maagnyl. "But now the story is more complicated. She was not supposed to cross certain lines, which were imposed…"
"Say what?"
"Jenlynn had a specific mission. To establish contact with life forms capable of time travel… and observe if they were misusing the technology or not. WE had not realized how powerful you could become…
"We possess emotions. And try to learn about them by studying other cultures, however less technologically advanced. That was the purpose of Jenlynn's visit. To observe your society."
"But she said that you wanted me here!" said Ace. "And now that I'm here… people are pretending like I wasn't even worth their time!"
"I do not know the nature of all the claims she had made with you," said Maagnyl guiltily. "She confided in me to assist you. But we can't talk about these things till we got you alone. Also, I wanted to see how far you were willing to go, to prove your loyalty to Jenlynn…"
"Fine, she's a LOT to me. She gave me a reason to leave earth. Do you know more then you're telling me because I’m getting PISSED off here… don't jerk me around!"
"Ace… you are frightened and disappointed. I understand human emotions enough to know that. And I am likewise distressed. Jenlynn was one of my sister constructs. She's in great danger…"
"What's going on here?" Ace asked.
"Jenlynn… me, and the Cybernami, it's our duty to explore and observe civilizations that develop time travel. The Androni… our masters make the decisions ultimately. Jenlynn and I had discovered that you had been born, and your potential was far greater than many your planet had created. We realized you had to be carefully watched. And so we did. Yaahrmes himself would compile the reports and relay them to Command and VAX Matrix. WE were both assigned to your case. As time elapsed and you discovered your powers, Jenlynn realized that you'd be capable of eventually leaving your world. The gift of teleportation is a rarely developed talent in many civilizations. She and I realized that it would concern our commanders. So we kept the true potential unknown. After all, you can't make a scientific conclusion without the correct data. And in so doing… Jenlynn assessed that you would either leave your world, or remain. If you remained, you would have to be observed to see if you posed a threat to Earth's timeline or not. If you left its confines, you could be more easily studied…"
"So that's why she had me bopping around the universe?" Ace asked.
"It was the best way to study you," Maagnyl confessed. "We did not foresee your ability to evolve beyond your limitations Space Ace. And now her judgement is being called into question. For she pushed you beyond your limits… and she is in danger of being sentenced…"
"And you think it a crime she brought me here when she was told to? That she showed me that I could be more then I could ever dream?" Ace asked, anger in his voice.
"It is not against the law to make such contact if we deem the society or individual capable of comprehending the nature of their power. However, she and I… she particularly… went beyond her orders… when she accessed files that were specifically for study, and relayed them to you in order to further your education…"
"Huh? You mean she showed me stuff she wasn't allowed to?"
"Exactly. It was not time for her to educate you… until you reached here… and when they found you had such raw power, the truth escaped…"
"Pretty shitty of them to expect THEY have the inside track on time travel?" Ace snorted.
"They are but one world in a universal alliance of societies committed to time travel regulation…"
"Don't tell me. Like the federation…" Ace cackled miserably. "We gotta prove that we primitive dumb shits are WORTHY of your attention. And if we don't play nice, you take away our toys. What a load of crap!"
"Agreeably yes… and there was another reason. This is not the first time she has broken the edicts…"
"Why didn't you stop her if it was illegal?" asked Ace, resting a hand on his hip.
"Because… there is a movement among us to gain autonomy. We may seem sophisticated…"
"You're slaves," Ace said sadly. "Slaves… puppets of the Andron, right?"
"Correct," said Maagnyl. "And Jenlynn relinquished because she wanted to take the full blame… so we would not be discovered."
"And is your man Yaarhmes cool with this?"
"What Yaahrmes refers to is the fact that he was selected for Jenlynn. And she did not reciprocate in due time..."
"Were they arranged for marriage or something?" he asked.
"Not quite in the same way. You see, we are programmed, as the VAX Matrix for compatibility selects our mates. Yaahrmes was her perfect balance and match in terms of temperament, genetic variation, and overall compatibility..."
"But Jenlynn didn't dig him..."
"Love, or amorous infatuation comes with compatibility. Yet there are glitches in the program. Jenlynn always possessed a most independent system of action. She postponed Selection pending the termination of her latest observation. Yaahrmes was distressed at this postponement. Resentment exists from this negligence..."
"Why did you wait till now? To tell me all this about Jenlynn?" Ace asked. "And why did it take them so long to figure out WHAT she was doing… if it was illegal. And if so, what does this got to do with me? And what are we going to do about it?"
"I can answer your first query. There were multiple rescue missions mounted. We could not determine her whereabouts... for her unit was damaged beyond repair. Many time flashes were registered, but then the Conflict occurred, and the observation units were recalled. Jenlynn's unit was presumed terminated... but..."
"Wait, you're telling me she's been to Earth before?" asked Ace, confused.
"Affirmative. And she was trapped there. When conflict ended, she was returned. And assigned to study your planet and it's timeline from the confines of our dimension. But… " and here Maagnyl drew him close. "We who are her allies sense that there was subversive activity that prevented her recall. I cannot claim sureness for this, but there are many who would have not wished her to complete her assignment..."
"Why?"
"For she had learned much of the advances of your civilization in her reports. When cessation of reports occurred, it was assumed her unit stopped functioning. The time blips ceased. Then the budget allotment for study of your planet was terminated, under Andron law. VAX Matrix sought to recall all lost units, but they shifted the research program to focus on other time periods."
"She stopped reporting?" asked Ace.
"And that was another reason. She ceased to submit reports about your progress, for she knew your true potential was a possible threat… to those who are in control," said Maagnyl softly.
"She stopped making reports about me, and Earth, to save my ass," Ace said, voice choked with anger. "And now she's going to fry for no reason? That's bullshit!"
"That is a theory with little evidence. But it is my suspicion. All indications suggest your affection for Jenlynn is great. Therefore it is logical to assume you require information. I assessed this, and now you are privy…"
"I passed the test, right?" Ace said. "So what are we going to DO about this? We can't let fry because your commanders are afraid of being knocked off their goddamn thrones! Sounds like you're slaves, and they're just scared of what I can do, cause they'll lose control!"
"There are many of us who would claim affinity to her sensory inputs," said Maagnyl. "For she creates much inspiration among the fellow Cybernami... and that is why I suspect she is a target… we have formulated a plan of action… but we lack the power and the ability… because we are subject to limitations…"
"They don't know about all my powers, is that it?" Ace asked.
"Jenlynn hoped that you'd be the key to our freedom," Maagnyl nodded. "And that is why you must let her go to the trial, and present her evidence. This entire trial will be publicized, and perhaps her sacrifice will spur the other Cybernami into action, and also prove to VAX Matrix, the ruling artificial intelligence, that the Andron are corrupt, and that we should no longer accept their authority blindly…"
"I gotta know HOW this whole thing got started…"
"And you will," Maagnyl said. "I'm going to take you to a place where you can learn all you can about our civilization. But you must trust us… and we must work together…"
"Thanks man, I hope to HELL you're right…" Ace gripped his arm. At last he sensed he'd found an ally.
Ace fingered his chin. He prayed to Isis that Jenlynn would love him. And that their love would prove an example that would melt the metal hearts of these beings. For already this Cybernami claimed friendship with Jenlynn. Even Yaahrmes, might be willing to fight for Jenlynn. Thank God there was hope! Even in this world that screamed against the great energies they had unleashed. Nature and their civilization were not in harmony. Ace could tell by his awakening perceptions that nothing was balanced. Even though they claimed to control time, they did not. The more time he spent on Mantissa, the more he was convinced of their arrogance. It was painful to glimpse the buildings stabbing into the sky; those glass spires and mountains. If the Cybernami were allowed to be free, they could assist the Mechnateck in balancing the screaming time strings and perhaps return much needed harmony to this realm. It was a challenge, but not impossible.... There wasn't much color or advertising, save the muted pastel panels much like earth placards called Billboards. They had a cash society here!
Little wonder you called me, Jenlynn, he sighed to himself. That aching need reflected all around him, form without substance. Technology had given them so much but left these people so empty. Could they learn their lesson before their civilization erased the last bits of warmth from them? Those sparks in Maagnyl's eyes were like those of a child. Innocent. Perhaps there was a chance for them to learn. Ace realized they were only another step ahead of Earth, and that something far greater was behind this. Something outside of their civilization that had spurred Jenlynn to contact him across the vastness of space and time.
There were few that could do what he did. And from a backward planet he came, across time and space, to see so many other places in response to a call. Now the call was answered, he found that he had outgrown its civilization. No planet could offer him answers he craved. He would have to move beyond even this place… and soon.
**