Zaratorio 5: Tweets 200 to 250

Zaratorio 5: Tweets 200 to 250

By Clive Mason-Hall 

Lightly edited from the original Twitter messages.

Planning to add some 'visuals' shortly. (Lysenko is on the cover.)

[Ukraine, 1870]

'Another stranger in the village, sir. He says he is called Babich, but he has no papers.'

'I see. Why does that concern us?'

'He wants to set up a workshop and conduct experiments ...'

'What kind of experiments? Nothing to do with poisons, I hope.'

***

'Excellent work, Paulina! This electrical apparatus will allow us to finally release the true power of Sonyakolo!'

The Buzhan warrior smiles. Perhaps she too will soon be a fully-fledged biotempador ...

Zaratorio goes looking for the ring of power, and soon finds it.

'Our first port of call must be twenty-first century Kyiv so that we can find the child, Harnii, once again.'

Paulina looks puzzled, but says nothing.

***

'The data is truly bizarre. Everyone in our paranormal network agrees that Zaratorio has left the nineteenth century. Why?'

'Don't worry, Lauren. I think I can explain', says Anton.

'Basically, the chrono-signature of the Emergency Concealment Module (ECM) is shielding Amber and the Smith family from many of Zaratorio's powers. He never knew he was so close!'

'But we should recognise it was a lucky break', says Krystle.

'It wasn't that kind of concealment that Admiral Pathway had in mind when she brought the ECM to you!'

***

'Our simulacra detectors have gone crazy', exclaims Jennifer.

'I suspect that just as Zaratorio's instincts took him to the nineteenth century, he now realises that we are waiting for him', replies Anton.

'Yes, that makes sense. And the "visitations" are just a distraction.'

***

It seems there are two competing theories regarding where Zaratorio has gone. Perhaps he is in the far future, but maybe he has reached the dawn of time?

'Yes, I can't believe it either. There have been no traces of his chrono-signature for thirty days!', says Lauren.

***

Zaratorio, Paulina and Inga are walking through a strange wilderness that none of them have ever visited.

'Don't worry ladies. This shows the power of Sonyakolo. We have travelled over a googol of solar years into the future and yet this part of the universe isn't heat dead!'

***

Krystle, Anton and the others have agreed that today is the day to bring Professor Amber and her party back into the present.

***

'MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURE, MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURE'

***

'It must have been Zaratorio; and he must have developed a new chrono-weapon. There is no other explanation' says Jennifer.

***

SPIS INTERNAL EMAIL

'Our network of paranormal researchers has found some unusual chrono-activity near Kyiv in the year 1050. All members should reread their biographies of Yaroslav the Wise!'

***

'We seem to be back in the Middle Ages!' says Mark.

Brenda smiles, and holds his hand.

'Fortunately the Concealment Module replicates much more comfortable clothing than we had when we first visited the ancient steppes.'

'And the clothes it makes blend in with our surroundings!'

***

'So, Krystle, is this Yaroslav some kind of saint who saved many serfs from famine and death?' asks Lauren.

'Unfortunately not – although he did create a legal code which probably reduced the amount of blood feuding between the Rus' aristocrats of that time.'

'But that still means Professor Amber and the others are in considerable danger?'

'I fear so. Medieval Ukraine was a violent place ...'

***

Zaratorio stroked his beard. 'Well, at least I have disrupted the accursed SISP, but how do I become the king of time and space?'

'Only bread and cheese to eat yet again?' asks Paulina, changing the subject.

Zaratorio: 'It's fairly basic molecular manipulation, but there are limits to what I can do with these rocks!'

***

Anton has a problem. The ECM makes the lives of time travellers much easier, but it also masks their chrono-signatures.

'I think we should have a word with Circe – perhaps an amnesty would help?'

The local biotemp has not tried to escape for some time, but she shows no indication that she wants to co-operate.

***

'So did you learn anything?' asks Jennifer.

'Not directly,' replies Anton. 'But we did get talking about exo-planets, and that gave me an idea!'

'Exo-planets affect their parent stars. So, we won't be able to get a chrono-fix directly, but we may be able to see the effects of the ECM elsewhere in the time vortex.'

'That's a very smart idea, Anton. Let's try and figure out the technicalities' says Krystle.

Several days pass. No one at the SISP is confident that they can bring the whole party back to the present.

Lauren sighs. 'I am so worried about Amber and the others.'

'Perhaps we need to send me back into the past with a piece of kit I have been working on?' suggests Jennifer.

'I have managed to recreate one of Admiral Pathway's holo-specs – a miniaturised EVM control panel.'

'I should be able to manipulate my time jump while I am in transit, which will increase my chances of finding our travellers.'

***

Anton and Krystle accept Jennifer's plan and agree that the time network data, the chrono echoes plus a distorted message from Amber all point to the eleventh century CE.

#PeaceinUkraine #NoToWar

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TO BE CONTINUED!