Chosen Legacy (Book Five of the Chosen Universe)

Chapter Twenty-Two

AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you want to read the backstory of Jeirmi and Eloise, check out Tales from the Rebellion, Chapter Ten, Timeless. A lot of the newer characters mentioned in this chapter who are from Eltar tie back to the Rebellion stories, including Stone and the people he mentions.  I'll do my best to give brief recaps so you understand what's going on even if you didn't read those stories. On a similar note, if you read Go, Go, Wildcats, you're about to see some familiar faces...

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ALEX
He watched his prisoner as he began to stir. Blood was caked onto his body, head, and hair. Bruises and cuts covered nearly every inch of exposed flesh, and there were more underneath his shredded t-shirt. Wes raised his head slowly before trying to fight against the ropes binding him to the chair.

"It's no use, Wes," Alex taunted him. "You try every day, and you never get anywhere. Even if you could loosen the ropes, you're still handcuffed.

"Alex, why are you doing this?" Wes asked. "What did he offer you to make you betray the team?"

"In exchange for my services, I get to destroy you, Wes. After all, you destroyed my entire life. It's only fair."

"You've lost your mind..." Wes mumbled, shaking his head.

Alex punched Wes in his side, making his already severely wounded ancestor cry out in pain. He began to beat him again, taking out all of his rage with his fists. Only when Wes passed out did Alex step outside of the prison.

Zell sent a communication to him using the technology Alex had given him. "My dear boy, I have need of your services," he said.

"Of course, Great Zell," Alex said. "What can I do for you?"

"I fear that a problem has fallen into the time you're in. His name is Jeirmi, and he is an Eltarian with the power to walk the time line. I had trapped him outside of it, but it seems my current injured state causes a ripple in that place and he has found his way back into time. You must find him and prevent him from encountering the Rebels."

"Sure, that's easy enough. I'll just trap him with Wes," Alex said.

"He is wounded. Keep him that way, or he will use his power to escape."

"No problem."

"Remember, my boy... Be careful. If anyone from that time suspects why you are there, you will fail as the one who came before you."

"I won't fail, Great Zell. I know the rules of time travel, remember? Besides, she was a fool."

"She was, but at the time, she had earned the opportunity to prove herself. Do not make her mistakes, Alex."

As Alex began to search for Jeirmi, he had a bad feeling. He spotted a pretty, bouncy teenage girl with blonde hair crossing the street. She looked perfectly ordinary as she cheerfully chatted with her ditzy friends. It was clear she was incredibly popular. She didn't seem to have a care in the world. Then, suddenly, she looked up as if she sensed something.

"Sorry, guys," she said casually to her friends. "I've gotta motor."

"I thought we were going to the movies," one of her friends protested.

"I just remembered that there's something I'm supposed to be doing... Family stuff," she added with a roll of her eyes.

"Okay. We'll catch you later, I guess," the friend said. She walked away with the other girls.

The blonde began walking quickly toward an alley. Alex decided to follow her. That was when he realized he'd screwed up.

A man lay motionless on the ground. His head was bleeding. "Oh my God!" The girl cried. "Mister, are you okay? This looks, like, really bad..." She seemed to realize the man was unconscious then. She immediately pulled some sort of kit out of her bag. She started taking care of his wounds before pulling out a stone of some sort. She tapped it twice before saying firmly, "Laby."