Time Warp (2 page)

However, the cave did offer some protection from the elements, and Jeramaya saw this to their advantage. The hovercraft lights switched on automatically, sparing them from the surrounding darkness. Jeramaya comforted his son and quickly activated a distress beacon that was attached to his hovercraft If, Jeramaya had known something like this were to happen, he would have worn teleportation tags, that allowed the control room to pin point his position, and they could easily have been save with in an instant. However, this was only supposed to be a short field trip with his son and he did not think it would be necessary for them to wear the location tags.

Jeramaya turned the hover lights off, hoping to save the batteries so the distress signal could go on throughout the night
. Luckily, he was wearing his protective work suit that carried a number of items that he could find useful. For instance, florescent sticks, that he often used when repair works had to carry out on the control stations scanner, dishes that forever searched for any objects or signals coming from deep outer space.

Jeramaya snapped one of the sticks and began to search the cave, with his son gripping tightly onto his arm
. They began to walk further inside the cave, and for some reason it started to feel warmer, the sound of running water could be heard in the distance, which came to a surprise to Jeramaya, as he knew all the water around the planet was suppose to be frozen solid.

They walked deeper and deeper
into the cave, until they came to an opening where a huge tavern began to open up before them. The air felt easier to breath, it seemed the oxygen levels inside the cave were higher than those on the outside.” what’s that sound daddy”, asked Luka.

“I don’t know son,” Replied Jeramaya, as he tried to fix his ears to the soft rustling sounds that were coming from inside the tavern
.

They slowly walked further along when the most remarkable thing happened, the cave lit up completely; it seemed the
florescent light was being magnified. Tiny dots could be seen moving along the water’s edge, the wall around the cave must contain some kind of a natural, florescent substance. Tiny lights flickered around the floor and on the walls, moving around like insects. Jeramaya switch his lamps back on and could not wait to investigate, he approached the running water where a pool had formed. Jeramaya bent over slightly and put his hand into the water, it was warm to the touch. It seemed there must be some kind of underground spring, rising up from within the earth’s crust. The warmth allowed algae and moss to grow around the walls of the cave; in return, tiny insets had evolved, eating the algae that must have contained the florescent substance. Oxygen was being produced in side this massive cave, ether from the warm water where air bubbles could be seen rising towards the surface, or maybe from the moss itself. It looked like a whole Eco system had evolved that had managed to adapt to its new environment creating life. Something that even the greatest minds would be honored to witness themselves, knowing that whatever happens to their planets weather, or Eco system, new ones would evolve to conquer and take over, One life form giving way to another, inherited by anything that could cope and adapt to this ever-changing environment.

Jeramaya w
as fascinated by this discovery and logged the caves position into his portable navigation device. He searched for an adequate place to spend the night with his son Luka, who was also surprised and lucky to see this event, since Luka had been born underground he had never seen an insect before in his life, or even a stream for that matter.

He cuddled up towards his father, and watched the insect’s own florescent lights, which they emitted through their bodies, as they danced along searching for food, wh
ich there seemed to be plenty.

Finally,
Jeramaya closed his eyes to settle and
rest for the evening; he knew the rescue team would be here in the morning, to take them back to Laya who was most probable worried sick. However, she knew her husband often had to venture out side during the freezing winter months, and he was capable of overcoming anything that might stand in his way. He himself was a survivor just like the tiny plants and insects that had adapted to their new surrounds, providing the very basic of life’s essence, oxygen. Without it, there would be no way Jeramaya and Luka could survive outside the barren, icy planet that his homeland had become.

The following morning Jeramaya
was, awaken by the sounds of people calling his name the rescue team had arrived. Laya was glad to see Jeramaya and Luka had returned home safely, and embraced her son with delight. “Mummy we saw little things crawling on the ground”, Luka told his mother.

Not that she really took much notice of what he was saying, however, the scientific team that were informed of the discovery, were over whelmed to hear of Jeremy’s find, and With in no time at all they assembled a team of scientist to record this event
. Hoping they could learn anything, they could from the insects that took advantage of their surroundings, and had managed to sustain life.

Jeramaya was awarded for his discovery,
and for the capability to survive his small although, life threatening ordeal. The governing council knew that Jeramaya had what it takes to become a leader, a pioneer to lead their people when the day finally came to
colonize a new planet. They knew that with his determination to succeed, he would push his people to their limits, so they themselves could survive whatever circumstances they might have to face. However, if this day ever did arrive, is something that everyone could now only dream of.

.

               
CHAPTER TWO

        Earth present day

C
arl handed Jessie the last sample container; she placed it inside a plastic, holding rack while air bubbles slowly made their way to the surface, as they breathed. Carl formed part of a marine, biology team stationed in the Mediterranean Sea. They were on an expedition, collecting sand and mud samples from the seabed just off the coast of Greece, studying the effects of pollution in one of the major shipping lanes.

Carl
gave the ok signal and Jessie responded, they started to make their way to the surface, following the anchor - line where two spare, air-tanks lay dangling half –way, They would need the extra air to complete the decompression, process.

  Carl got there first
taking the demand valve; he placed it into his mouth, and pressed the release button expelling a blast of air. Jessie did likewise and winked over to Carl, He ignored her, not that he did find her attractive more the contrary, having the figure and pozaze to go with it.

Jessie knew she had what it took, although, she was considered to
o be some - what of a tease. Carl never gave Jessie the attention she wanted; maybe that is what made her try that little bit harder. Jessie continued teasing Carl rubbing her hands up and down her slim curved body, she even lowering the sip on her wet suit exposing a lot of cleavage, Carl just shook his head and looked at his watch, their time was up. Carl pointed to the surface; Jessie gave the ok signal and slowly followed behind. However, as they began to ascend, Carl noticed the waves were breaking on the surface; it seemed the weather had changed since they had begun their dive. White crest could be seen everywhere as Carl and Jessie tried to swim to the back of the cruiser, That would sometimes rise and fall with the swell that had now developed, making it extremely difficult for them to climb on board.

Nick, a skinny looking guy with scraggly long hair, which he tied up into a ponytail, Reached down to take the sample box before helping Jessie out of the water and onto the diving ledge where Jessie took off her mask, and unbuckled her diving gear. Carl on the other hand was not as lucky as the waves pounded their boat; Carl had to swim away forever escaping being crushed as their cruiser constantly rose out of the water, only to come crashing back down again. Carl waited for the right moment and took the chance, kicking his feet as hard as he could; he scrambled on board just before another big wave struck their boat.

Jason, a tall
dark skinned masculine bloke, watch Jessie as she was making her way towards her bunk. He smiled at her, as she brushed passed him on the narrow gangway, only she lost her balance just as another large wave struck. Jason held out his hand and grabbed Jessie from around the waist,” Thanks Jay”, she said.

“My pleasure mam
”, replied Jason, who had his eyes fixed on her partly exposed breast. “Yea right in your dreams “, said Jessie, as she knew what was going through Jason’s mind, and instantly pushed him away, “If you were in my dreams girl, ids never wake up” ,replied Jason bearing his white teeth as he smiled. Carl and Nick laughed; although, to Jessie it was all fun and games, part of her daily routine.

Jason shouts to Carl, “You all clear?”

“Yes! Take her away. “

Jason started the anchor winch, the engine roared to life sputtering water out of its cooling system
. Jason gave the thumbs up and slipped a CD into the disc drive, the music blared, adding spirit and rhythm to the air. Jason swayed and jived to the sounds of his favorite R&B songs, turned the cruiser around and heads for Rhodes harbor. Nick stowed all their gear away, securing the air tanks so they would not bounce around, while Carl stripped down to his bathing suit, and throws a towel over his course, curly dark hair.

Jason pushed the throttle lever three quarters of the way down, bringing their 35-foot cruiser, up to planning speed. They glided across the sea, sometimes a wave would break on the bow sending water across the deck, sea spray would filled the air dampening the heat from the afternoon sun. Jason pushed on wanting to make good time since the boys had a basket -ball match that evening, the last in the series, Land Miners against Amphibians, which Really meant the off - shore expedition team, against the on- shore team. It was no big league; however, it meant the losers would have to pay for their night out on the town.............

Jan was still in Brussels, where she had attended a seminar on the effect's earthquakes, and seismic tremors had on building structures
. After the disaster in Turkey, where a medium size earth- quake had a devastating effect, causing a lot people to lose their lives due to poor building materials. Jan and her colleagues were giving scientific facts on just how earthquakes actually affected building structures, and what means could be implemented in the building codes, to minimize their affect as much as possible.

Carl and his crew had just docked inside th
e calm, waters of Rhodes harbor, Jessie got off first wearing a tight pair of shorts that reveled, the cheeks of her buttocks, her golden hair swayed from side to side as she walked down the gangway. Nick and Jason whistled as Jessie walked over to a flashy convertible, where her middle age boyfriend waited patiently. She raised her middle finger in the air, just as her boy friend started to drive away. Nick cried out, “any time! “, and gave Jason a high five, Carl just let them have their fun, and was just about to disembark when his phone rang. “Hello.”

“Car
l its Jan, are you picking me up from the airport tonight? “ 

“What time do you get in?
“ Asked Carl, “About six thirty. “ 

“Sorry Hun
! I have a game at that time, “replied Carl. “ Fine I will meet you at the gym, “said Jan, and cut off.

It appeared she had forgotten that Carl had a game that evening, it didn’t bother her as they had a mutual under- standing not to put each other out, maybe that’s why they got on so well
. “Hey Carl don’t forget tonight “, said Nick.

“ Don’t worry I will be there
“, answered Carl, walking towards his car, leaving Jason and Nick to hose the deck down, and clear all the scuba- gear away.

Carl still had to take the mud samples they had collected, over to the lab to be analyzed, the data they had collected would give vital information on how bad the pollution in the Mediterranean had become. Since the sea’s only main opening was bottled necked, the Mediterranean was considered to be one of the most polluted waters around the globe. Strict measures had been implemented to minimize raw sewage and chemical dumping, to be completely abolished from entering these waters. However, only so much could be done to avoid further depletion of marine life.

Carl had just reached the administrative buildings, which housed the foundation for the protection, of marine species and water contamination unit. He parks his bright
, blue pickup truck right in front of the stairway, and then briskly walked inside. The cool, air hit Carl as soon as he walked into the corridor, were checkered tiles lined the floor way. Several old photos, hung on the walls, showing how the old building had changed over the years. Carl walked towards a reception desk only no one was there, in fact it seemed like everyone had already gone home. Then out from nowhere, he heard a familiar voice, it was Steve, “hey Carl, glad to see you made it back in time.” Carl turned around, and gazed across the hallway, as a young man about the same age as himself, walked towards him, his footsteps echoed in the silent corridor. Carl pulled his sunglasses onto his head, smiled and picked up the sample box, being pleased to see a familiar face. “So where is everyone?” said Carl.