Lost in Time Chapter 10

[Ed Man]

The Review
Chapter 10

The next day Josh was in his office thinking of how favorably Sherpa had spoken of the Ancients when she mentioned anything about them. Her dad was one of them and that had to be a big reason for her taking up for them. This was not someone not liking a room and remodeling or tearing it down it to suit their taste! These were living beings with homes, families and friends trying to live out their life just like everyone else.
[Josh] “Sarah can anything be done for the Goanna to stop the DNA from converting back to its human form.”
[Sarah] “No the race will reach a point somewhere generations in their future when they will become sterile and the race will die out. The only option is to a genetically modify each one closer to a human or a lizard. The best choice would be human. The lizard would be just that a reptile a little smarter than normal but still a creature with no similarities to humans or development skills they in a since would become animals.
The Goanna are close in relationship to human form and aptitude and the human DNA will slowly win out destroying the Goanna. They will start having deformity’s several generations forward as the human DNA starts restructuring its self back with every new generation.”

[Josh] “Give me a image of what they will look like after the genetic restructure and get me Jags I need to tell him and work up a image of Jags I know he’ll want to see it.”

Josh sat down with Jags and explained what was happening to his people and how the Ancients had decided to wipe out their whole race because of it. Josh then explained the option of going through a genetic restructure to make them more human and stabilize their declining DNA or face extinction.
[Josh] “Jags please think about it I can’t undo the wrong done to you and your people but I can save the future of you and your people this way.”
[Jags] “Save us! By making us human! That’s not saving us!!!”
[Josh] “I’m sorry Jags I know it’s a extreme change for you to consider but thank of it this way. It will give you a chance to live on and know that someday you can hold a grandchild of your own and love it even if it looks like a human. But you and your descendants will have a chance to live on.
Jags I know I’m putting a lot on with all this but I need you to talk to your people and tell them so they can think about what they want to do. Jags I’ll support you and your people regardless if they do or do not get the procedure done. I just want you and your people to know you now have a choice.”

[Jags] “Can we see what we will look like if anyone wants to do it?”
[Josh] “Yes just ask the computer to show you your image, no one else can see your image unless you show it to them. You can do it now or after we get settled or not at all the choice is up to each of you to decide what to do.”
[Jags] “Some of us knew about the DNA problem and how humans didn’t have the unstable code in their DNA. Our doctors were working on a solution when the war started I read about the research in a security file while we were waiting in the ocean base. They wanted to ask the Ancients for help and the Ancients ideal of help was to eliminate us all.
I’ll call a private meeting with my people today and tell them. And set up another meeting in two weeks and see what they think. Will that be alright?”
[Josh] “That sounds good to me Jags. We’ll be having a lot of new people coming and going in the next few months. Anyone wanting the operation could be placed one at a time or the whole group on a ship if they want to start over and want to remain anonymous. It may sound like a depraved and immoral solution but you know as well as I do people are not very honorable about being different in any way and this would give anyone wanting it a new start.”
[Jags] “You may be right I’ll tell them and ask they keep the whole meeting classified. Thank you Josh I know you’re trying to help us and I appreciate it.”

Jags had just left the office when Josh received a call from Sherpa. “We are in my office and ready to go.”
Josh was able to jump close to the building they were in because of the surveillance already in place.
[Josh] “Sherpa have everyone stand up if you would I’m in position.” Josh moved to the transporter while Sherpa had the group to stand up. “Sarah transport them onboard.”
[Josh] “Welcome onboard please have a seat.” Josh replied as the group moved a table. The group was a little shaken from the fact they were just transported onto a ship from a secure office.
Josh talked to the group a little and offered them some refreshments while he explained how he needed their help. Josh showed them the ship trying to calm down the group a little before the jump and tour of the base. One of them explained that he thought that he had just been dematerialized and reformed onto the ship. Josh explained how the transporter and jump drive moved hole objects easing the tension of the worried group. Josh had them strap down in their seats for the jump and docking. Josh went back to the group to tell them they were there when Sherpa asked. “Is there a problem we’re waiting on the jump and docking?”
[Josh] “We’re already here please follow me. I have a transport waiting outside the ship.”
Josh took them outside to the small transport where they all stopped to look at the ship they were on.
[Josh] ‘That is one of our new assault and fleet support class ships that you just arrived in.”

One of the men asked as they looked at the ship? “Commander how many crewman do you need to fly the ship I didn’t see anyone onboard but you?”
[Josh] “One person can operate the ship but a full crew would be six. When fully loaded it can hold 18 fulltime personnel, 6 crewman and 12 soldiers all the time. With a short time mission capability to hold a extra 12 soldiers so each ship can hold 30 people.”
The group was looking at the large size of the base and docking bay as Josh replied. “I want to show you our newest capitol ship that is almost ready to launch already named the Judge.”

Josh took the group on a visual tour around the outside of large ship then docked the transport on the Judge and showed them the bridge and finished sections of the ship before returning to the transport.
One of the Directors asked? “Where will the 10,000 people live on the ship?”
[Josh] “This is our Destroyer I show you it next. The ship is not finished but you can get a ideal of the size of it as we fly around it. Then I’ll take you to the docking bays control room where you can see a detailed design of what the ship will look like when its finished.”
Josh could see the amazement on the faces of the group when they seen the size of the big ship as they flew around the bay a couple of times looking at the massive ship. They went to the control room where a 3D image was.
[Josh] “You can in large and look at any section of the ship by just asking here I’ll show you.”
Josh stated enlarge the docking bay. A 3D image docking bay appeared instantly.
“You can also watch a visual tour of the ship on the monitor.” Josh stated as he backed away to let them explore the 3D model on their own while he explained some of the basics of the ship and the crewman and passengers needed to fill the ship.
One of the directors stated. “Commander if we get you the people you’re asking for we will imprison within a year! We will help what we can but that is just to many people to just go missing at ounce.”
[Josh] “Sherpa didn’t you tell them why we need to leave the planet?”
[Sherpa] “No I thought I would leave that one for you to explain.”
Josh looked at Sherpa completely dismayed and asked? “And why not!?”
[Sherpa] “It’s a lot to handle. I thought it best for you to tell them here.”
Josh pulled her of to the side in privet and asked? “Do they know about your father and what is going on because of him.”
[Sherpa] “No but they know my father is a Ancient. My father knew I trusted them and left me of the loop so I had no ideal what was going on when the attacks on the Goanna homeland happened so my reputation is not very good with them right now. But I do trust them so tell them everything and get it over with.”

Josh sat the Directors down and explained everything to them from who he was to what was going to happen and why and how.
Then the Directors understood it really didn’t matter in less than a year the planet would be in chaos about a virus that was spreading and the gate would disappear closing of the sector into quarantine.
Then reopening the sector later just long enough to destroy anyone who remained along with any signs of them ever being there.

The Directors talked between them selves for a while looked at Josh and said. “Take us and our loved ones and we’ll fill the ships up and give you the best pilots and military under our command to start training right away.”
[Josh] “You have a deal come with me to see the Doctor and he will give each of you a shot and a PDA with a earpiece. When you place it in your ear you can use your PDA to contact me, the base or each other ask Sherpa she has one.”
Sherpa was the center of attention on the trip to the Doctors office as each one asked question after question until they got to medical and seen the Doctor.

[Sherpa] “Josh we need to get back as soon as we can we been gone a long time if they find out were gone it will be hard to explain.”
[Josh] “You office has already been buzzed twice and your assistant got told not bother me until we get done both times by a remote surveillance unit I already had in place using your voice so you should be alright. The base computer was monitoring the office and responded to the assistant. Your PDA will replay everything so you’ll know what was said.”

On their way back Josh told the Directors how his Medical Department could help the disabled vets they had back into top physical condition. The Medical and all the other departments would be in touch to work out a list of the first ones sent. After some discussion on transportation they all decided to take everyone to a secure military warehouse in a remote area and transport them onto ships. Transporting the ships crew and their families were the first ones needed at the base for training. Ten ships would be jumping back and forth from the base to the sight carrying 25 people a trip every 30 minutes.
When the ships were finished the crew would launch the ship and move to the selected sight and transport the passengers directly onboard.

Sherpa pulled Josh off to the side right as they were about to transport back down to her office. “This is all been like a bad dream I’m stuck in.”
[Josh] “I understand it’s a lot to deal with. If I ask you something will you tell me the truth?”
[Sherpa] “Yes go ahead and ask.” [Josh] “How long have you lived?”
[Sherpa] “Now Josh you know better than to ask a woman about her age. I’ll tell you if you pick me up later for dinner you do have a glider don’t you or do you just want to zap me out of my room or wait for me on the bed until I come out of the shower?”
[Josh] “Do you want me to take you to dinner or are you just being sarcastic?”
[Sherpa] “Yes I want you to take me to dinner later will you?”
[Josh] “Are you going to be nice?” [Sherpa] “Yes if I have to. I have a standing reservation with a local restaurant can you make to my place in two hours casually dressed?”
[Josh] “I’ll be there tell your guards to be looking for me.”

Sherpa smiled at Josh when she stepped onto the transporter pad. Josh transported them down and jumped back to base and docked woundering what she was up to as he went to get ready.
Two hours later Josh was looking at the apartment door buzzer thinking to himself. “What are you doing here and what does Sherpa want?” Josh buzzed her apartment.
Sherpa answered over the intercom. “I’ll be right down.”
One of her guards came out and looked at Josh as he went by and went to the garage and got into his glider.
Sherpa walked out saying. “Don’t mind him he’s just doing his job he’ll be following us to the restaurant in their glider. He’ll set in the waiting room watching from a distance.”
[Josh] “You look nice tonight Sherpa.” As he stuck out his arm while Sherpa slid her arm around his with a smile as Josh escorted her to the glider. Josh opened the door of the glider for her as she slid into the passenger seat and straped in.
As Josh started the glider he asked. “Sherpa where are we going?” They laughed as she placed the directions onto the gliders flight planer.
[Josh] “If you have something privet to talk about talk while we’re in the glider it’s secure.”
[Sherpa] “We can talk business during work hours lets enjoy the dinner and each others company while we still can.”
Josh pulled the glider into the garage of the restaurant got out and looked around before going to open the door for Sherpa to get out of the glider. The Guard was waiting at the door watching as they made their way over to the elevator going down into the restaurant. The guard asked Josh on the ride down. “I noticed you looking over the area have you had some security training?”
Josh replied as the door opened. “I’ve taken a few classes.”
The guard went to the waiting area while a waiter directed Sherpa and Josh to a table.
Sherpa replied as they sat down. “A few classes!”
[Josh] “I’m just a simple business man having a friendly dinner with a lovely government official.”
[Sherpa] “Simple is a massive understatement but the lovely part was nice.”
Josh noticed a man awkwardly pushing a cart their way. As the man drew closer he pushed the cart up close to the table between Josh and Sherpa. Josh watched as the man drew a knife from the side of the cart and made a lunge at Sherpa. Josh jumped like a cat on the man grabbing his forearm above the knife and pulling his arm back in a twist making the knife slip loose onto the floor while slamming his face into the table. As he tried to back off the table Josh then used the mans own momentum slamming him backward onto the floor placing the knife at the mans throat asking. “Who are you and who hired you to kill Sherpa?!” Josh demanded as he held the mans arm in a locked position with the knife to his throat.
“I work here please don’t hurt me I’m just the cheese boy.” The manager and guard had made it to the table as the man stated. “I stumbled I wasn’t trying to kill anyone.”
The manager stated. “Sir he does work for us can you please let him up and we can go into the office and clear this up?”
Josh looked down at the feet of the man his shoe was untied, he had tripped on his on shoestring. They all went into the office as the guard ran a background check on the cheese server. While the cheese man set there with a cool rag on his fase and nose trying to ease the pain and bleeding.
A few minutes later they had the video tapes of the unpleasant incident.
They all watched as the man seemingly looked to be trying to stab Sherpa with the knife as he stumbled and most likely would have injure Sherpa if Josh had not stopped him.
Josh felt sorry for the young man as he sat there with the rag on his face he could have stopped him if he had known he had just stumbled. The guard told Sherpa that the man had no record or criminal ties he was clean.
Josh replied to the server. “I’m sorry I hurt you it looked like you were trying to stab Sherpa.”
The manager replied. “I want to but this all behind us the server was at fault the tape shows it plainly I’ve placed you orders in carry out and if you give us a second chance I make you the best dinner you ever ate tomorrow night on the house.”
[Sherpa] “Thanks you know this is my favorite restaurant. What about the boy he looks like he’s hurt?”
[Manager] “I’ll get him medical treatment and give him four weeks pay and fire him. He endangered the life of a customer I’ll have to let him go if I don’t I would lose my security rating.”
[Server] “Please Sir my wife just had a baby I need this job!”
[Manager] “It is regretful but I have to let you go, you know the rules.”

Josh gave the boy one of his business cards. “I’m sorry about everything if you call me I’ll give you a job with a real future for you and your family.”
The young man put the card into his pocket.
Josh and Sherpa got back onto the elevator as the Guard held the door open stating. “Do you thing I could take a few of the classes you had?”
Sherpa snickered at the remark as the elevator door closed.
Josh looked at Sherpa like he was about to speak as she squeezed his had a little shaking her head no at him. After getting into the Glider Josh asked. “Sherpa why don’t you want your guards involved with our mission?”
[Sherpa] “After the assassination attempt is over and everyone thinks I’m dead maybe. One of them may be the one setting me up.”
Josh laughed at the remark stating. “If I wanted to get to someone a guard would be my first choice for a inside source.”
Sherpa smacked Josh on the arm saying. “Your real funny mister simple business man.”
[Josh] “So tell me?” [Sherpa] “Tell you what?”
[Josh] “How old are you that’s what.”
[Sherpa] “I’m 87 years old but I just got renewed five years ago back to 20 so I’m a 25 year old and I age a lot slower than normal people so I’ll live about 125 more years before I die. What about you how old are you and how long will you live?”
[Josh] “I’m 28 and I have lived in two different universes and two different time periods.”
[Sherpa] “And how long will you live?”
[Josh] “You know I’m not normal will you keep it to yourself?” [Sherpa] “Yes.”
[Josh] “I was designed by an Ancient in the future to help the different races in these sectors of that time period make advancements in their technologies so they can fight of and destroy a enemy that was coming to annihilate them all.”
Sherpa sat thinking for a few minutes about what Josh said. Then while Josh was landing the glider in her apartment garage Sherpa said. “Are you going to tell me how long you’re going to live?”
[Josh] “A long time.” [Sherpa] “How long a time?” [Josh] “Around eight hundred give or take.”
[Sherpa] “That the same time span the Ancients live.”
[Josh] “How much do you know about the Ancients?”
[Sherpa] “I’ve already told pretty much everything I know.”
[Josh] “You didn’t mention that. Will you answer some questions about the Ancients.”
[Sherpa] “Yes. Come on up to my apartment and eat this carry out with me and I’ll answer what I know.”

[parameter]

What a predicament for the Goanna! Having to become Human to survive..!
Bad enough being a Human...! I understand our genetics have a fault!; in that the male gene will degrade over a couple of thousand generations.. Aargh! Stood on my tail again...
Anyway, I am glad I am not the only Ancient in these forums..

[Gvork]

Ancient age wise or alien wise?

Thanks Ed Man, loving the story.

[Ed Man]

They have just lived a long time. Because of mans wickedness God shortened their days to 110 years so long life doesn’t make them wise just old.

I'm glad you're enjoying the story