Timeless

Timeless is over. It's been over for a long time, I just never bothered to post about it. I wrote myself into a corner, and I can't get out of it. Plus, I haven't the foggiest idea of what I would add next.

So I am deleting everything I previously wrote and starting over.
Here are some things you can expect in the new Timeless:

• It will be in first person.
• Totally new characters.
• Totally new plot.
• Totally new title.

- Andy

Exclusive Timeless Interview: Farlough Rapshok

Welcome to an exclusive interview.

This interview will be posted here, and only here. You will not find it anywhere else unless somebody copies it without copyright permission.

That said, I bring you...

Farlough Rapshok.

Me: Hello Farlough. Having a good day today?

Farlough: No, actually. I'm still on this blasted planet, am I not? And who are you?

Me: Point taken. I'm the editor of your story, and would you be willing answer a few questions?

Farlough: No. Go away.

Me: *clears throat* *gestures to viewers*

Farlough: Um...hehe...on second thought, I'd be happy to answer your questions.

Me: Thank you. First question: Habla Inglés?

Farlough: Huh?

Me: Yeah, I didn't get that question either...next, how old are you?

Farlough: 24. 18 in your world.

Me: *scribbles on notepad* What's your middle name?

Farlough: That's classified.

Me: Interesting... *scribbles more* What is your favorite color?

Farlough: Malachite.

Me: What?

Farlough: It's a color. Look it up.

Me: Uh, okay. How do you spell that?

Farlough: M-A-L-A-C-H-I-T-E.

Me: *writes that down* Have you ever heard of an iPod?

Farlough: No.

Me: Have you ever been to public school?

Farlough: No.

Me: Do you know who Trevor McNevan is?

Farlough: Trevor....my cousin?

Me: No. Not him.

Farlough: You sure?

Me: Yes. I've checked your family tree.

Farlough: How the heck did you get a hold of my-

Me: *clears throat* What is your weapon of choice?

Farlough: A double-sided axe.

Me: Define "Antonym."

Farlough: An extended version of "ant," perhaps?

Me: Hmm...*consults notepad* Let's try this from a different approach. Have you ever been to a castle?

Farlough: Oh yes. Many times. I stole from a king once...well, more than once.

Me: Did you ever get caught?

Farlough: Once. That was why I was banished to Earth.

Me: Have you ever wielded your weapon of choice against a trained enemy and defeated him?

Farlough: Yep.

Me: Have you ever had an alcoholic drink?

Farlough: Once. It was gross.

Me: Do you have any friends? If so, please give me their names.

Farlough: Reles and Tony.

Me: Last names?

Farlough: Firebane and Amador.

Me: How long has it been since you've seen Reles?

Farlough: A while.

Me: Do you have an exact time or date?

Farlough: Uh...57:39 on the 66th of....um...I forget which month.

Me: And were you on good terms with him?

Farlough: We were never really on bad terms.

Me: Thank you, Farlough. Now, from my notes, I will construct a psychological evaluation of your personality, as well as take a few guesses of your past and how you were raised. Give me a moment.

Farlough: *waits*

Me: Alright, here you go:

Name: Farlough Thatsclassified Rapshok
Age: 18
Gender: Male 

Personality: Prone to fantasies usually set in medieval times. These fantasies can cause him to attack others, steal from places (which he views as castles), and believe that he is old enough to drink even when he is really underage. He also believes he is related to famous people. 

Past: Grew up in an extremely sheltered home, where he invented these fantasies for himself for lack of anything to do. He has also managed to create alternate personalities, whom he views as his "friends." His mother probably referred to herself as the "queen," and his father as the "king." The parents may have treated him like a commoner, which probably led to his life of thieving. When he was caught, he was expelled from his home onto the streets. 

Diagnosis: Multiple Personality Disorder, Trauma 

Recommendation: St. Elizabeth's Hospital for the Criminally Insane

Farlough: WHAT??? YOU LITTLE -

Timeless - Part 8

 Tony started the car again and drove back onto the road. “I need to do some serious thinking, and I’m tired. I’m going to stop by a restaura- I mean, a place to get food. “Oh, good,” Farlough said with relief, patting his stomach. “I'm hungry.” About five miles later, Tony pulled into a fast food restaurant. Farlough stared at the sign. “Who’s Mc. Donald?” Tony rolled his eyes and got out of the car. Farlough followed him, and the two went inside the restaurant. The place was nearly empty. Tony walked up to the counter and ordered a coffee. Farlough, after several minutes of staring at the menu, selected a hamburger and a soda, not knowing what either of them were. Tony paid and handed Farlough a cup. Farlough stared inside of it. “It’s empty.” “Uhh... Yeah, it is,” Tony replied. “You need to get it from there.” He pointed at a soda fountain. After another minute of careful consideration, Farlough settled for a Sprite. "Now what?" Tony groaned and grabbed the cup from Farlough. He filled it to the top with Sprite and handed it back to him. By that time, their order was ready. Tony selected a table near the door, just in case they needed to exit quickly. Tony sipped his coffee. Farlough watched Tony. "Seriously, how many of those have you had in the past 24 hours? It tastes awful, and it can't be good for you." Tony pretended he didn't hear him. Farlough unwrapped his burger and stared at it in silence. "You're supposed to eat it," Tony whispered. "I knew that," Farlough said with a glare. He took a hefty bite of the burger. Lettuce spilled out of the back. Then, acting as if he knew exactly what he was doing, he took an enormous gulp of his soda, and promptly misted the floor. Tony forced a cough to cover up his laughter. The rest of the meal was normal. Farlough finished the rest of his burger in three bites, and didn't touch the soda again. Tony took longer. He didn't speak, and the only time he would move would be when he took a sip of his coffee. Finally, he sighed and leaned back in his chair. “We can’t go back to the house,” he said. “Of course not.” “We can’t hide.” “Right.” “We can run, but they’ll catch up eventually.” “Mmm hmm.” “So, I don’t know what to do.” Tony said with a shrug. “Well, we’ve been here for a while and they haven’t found us yet . . . right?” Tony glanced through the nearby window and suddenly sat up straight. "Hey, where the heck is our car?"

Word count

We just reached 5000! Yeah!!

Timeless - Part 7

Tony started to stand. A small, dark green object landed next to them. Farlough pointed at it and looked to Tony questioningly. Tony glanced at it for a second, and his eyes widened.

"GRENADE!" he yelled. He grabbed Farlough and pulled him out of the way.

The grenade exploded, and the shockwave knocked them flat on their stomachs. Pieces of shrapnel flew above their heads, landing on the ground and tumbling for a few feet, kicking up dirt before coming to a dusty rest in the gravel.

"I think that car of yours is history," Farlough remarked as he rolled over and sat up.

Another grenade flew through the air towards the two men. Before it hit the ground, Tony stood up, caught it, and lobbed it back at the enemy. Several seconds later, it went off, scattering the killers.

"They may be good at killing, but they certainly aren't the brightest assassins," Tony said as he helped Farlough up.

Tony jogged to the remains of his car and pulled out his briefcase.

"I'm lucky that this is still intact," he said to Farlough as he patted it. "It'll come in handy later."

 "Where do we go now?" Farlough asked. "We have no car."

"You're right, we don’t." Tony replied as he started walking again. He stopped in front of the assassins' gray suburban. "But the killers won't need this one anymore."

Farlough nodded in understanding.

Tony placed his briefcase in the back seat and ripped open a panel underneath the steering wheel. Farlough climbed into the passenger seat.

“What are you doing?” he inquired, intrigued.

“Starting the car.”

“I thought you were supposed to do that with keys.”

“I don’t have the keys to this car.”

“So what are you doing?”

“Starting the car without keys.”

Farlough crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. “Show-off,” he muttered.

A moment later, the car roared to life. Tony strapped on his seatbelt.

* * * * * * * * * *

After several minutes of driving, Farlough spoke up. "Tony?"

Tony sighed. "What now?"

"Is it just my imagination, or is there a giant bird with spinning wings behind us?"

Tony shook his head. “It’s just your imagination.”

“Well then why is it making so much noise?”

Tony glanced at the rearview mirror. A helicopter, almost at ground level, was hovering behind them. Tony cursed and started to drive faster.

"Don't tell me it's another batch of assassins," Farlough complained.

A missile struck several feet from the car, causing the car to shake.

Tony rolled down his window. "Farlough, since you are stuck on this planet, I may as well give you driving lessons."

Keeping his foot pressed firmly down on the gas pedal, he let go of the wheel and reached for his briefcase.

Farlough instinctively grabbed the wheel. "I really don't think now is the best time!"

"Just keep holding the wheel," Tony said as he pulled out an automatic from its case. He glanced at Farlough. "And stay on the road."

He shoved a mag into the weapon and looked up. "I need a better angle. Get into the next lane. The one to the left."

“Well how am I supposed to do that?”

“Go to the right!”

Farlough steered to the right and nearly drove off the road. Tony grabbed the wheel with one hand and jerked it back onto the road.

"Not that far right!" he exclaimed.

"Sorry," Farlough said as he tried to steady the car.

Another missile streaked past the car and exploded in front of them.

“These guys are a terrible shot,” Farlough said as he steered to the right to avoid the crater. Small rocks cracked the car’s windows. Farlough nearly drove off the road again.

“Keep the car steady,” Tony said as he started to lean out of the window.

“Uhhh . . . I’ll try,” Farlough replied uncertainly.

Tony pulled off his seatbelt and leaned out so he was facing the chopper. He cocked the gun, took aim, and began firing. For a few moments, the bullets didn’t seem to do much damage. Then the tail of the chopper exploded, and the helicopter started to spin. Tony continued firing, and yelled to Farlough.

“TURN LEFT! TURN LEFT NOW!”

“But we’ll go off the road!” Farlough yelled back.

“I DON’T CARE! JUST TURN LEFT!”

Farlough sighed and turned the wheel hard to the left. The car careened off the road and into the rocky plains. Tony stopped shooting, leaned back into the car, and took the wheel again. Farlough looked through the back window just in time to see the helicopter crash.

Farlough glanced at Tony. “I think I need a few more lessons.”

Tony brought the car to a slow stop in front of a huge boulder. He let go of the wheel and put his forehead on it, exhausted.

“Yes. I think you do too.”

Timeless - Part 6

Farlough pushed at the belt release. “It’s stuck!”

“What?”

“Are you deaf? It’s STUCK!”

Tony glanced through the cracked back window. Seven men in assorted dress were getting out of a gray suburban. “Quick, lean the seat back.”

“How?”

“Find the lever on the side of the seat,” Tony said, opening the glove compartment.

Farlough found the lever. “Now what do I do?”

“Pull it!”

He did.

"It's kinda hard to do this while sideways... Now what?”

Tony was getting agitated. “Lean back!”

“Okay, okay!” The seat tipped back, allowing Farlough to slip through.

Tony grabbed three pistol magazines and a revolver from the compartment and slammed it shut. No time for stealth, he thought. Action time. He offered his gun and the magazines to Farlough.

“What about the other one?” came the reply.

“I don’t have time to show you how to use it. Maybe later.”

Farlough took the extended weapon and nodded his thanks. “What about the big gun you brought?”

“I don’t have time to load it. It takes a while," Tony smashed the window to the sunroof with his fist. 

By this time the attackers were exceptionally close. Tony scrambled out of the car. Motioning for Farlough to follow his lead, he got down on his hands and knees in front, between the headlights. He checked his revolver to make sure it was loaded and poked his head around the side. A bullet smashed the side view mirror, spraying shards. One shard glanced off of Tony’s forehead and he pulled back, blood oozing above his eyebrow.

The setting was an abandoned dirt road. They were about six miles from Tony’s home and approximately nine miles from the city. Tony wiped the blood from his head and moved away from the side of the car. He pulled Farlough down as bullets smashed through the windows.

Farlough had to yell to be heard over the obnoxious noise of the guns firing and glass shattering. "What do we do now? We can't just stay here! They’ll blast us to bits!"

"I know," Tony said as he jumped up, turned, fired two shots through the broken windows of the car, and kneeled down again. "They're closing in on us; we need to move soon."

Farlough rolled his eyes. “Obviously,” he remarked as he fumbled to load the gun Tony had given him.

"I think I hit one," Tony commented. "But as far as I can tell, my second shot didn't hit any of the others." He peeked over the edge of the window and saw the remaining six moving towards the car. He moved down again and said to Farlough, "They're coming. We now have only one option.”

“I think I know what you’re thinking.”

“Well then -”

“But I don’t think suicide is such a good idea.”

Tony slapped his forehead. “I meant we should run.”

Farlough thought for a moment. “That works too.”

Timeless Book Cover

Created By Drummerguy and CrazyAndyMan.

Timeless - Part 5

“Just a moment, I need to grab some things,” Tony said as he hurried out of the room.

Farlough followed. “Hey, where are you going? We need to leave before more assassins come!” he paused and watched Tony rush around the room, accidentally knocking things over in his hurry. “What do you need, anyway?”

Tony approached Farlough and handed him a gun.

Farlough looked at the weapon. “What’s this?”

“A .45 pistol," Tony replied. "It's probably better than any weapon you’ve ever used.”

“How do I use it?"

"It's quite simple, actually," Tony replied. "You just aim at your target and shoot."

“I still like my knives better, but I’ll use this sometimes. What did you call it?”

“A gun,” Tony said as he pulled out a long briefcase.

“And what is that?”

Tony looked up. “Another gun, but much bigger and more powerful. Now, let's get movi-"

He stopped and pulled Farlough to the ground just as the sound of an Automatic started and bullets broke through the window.

"Stay here!" Tony ordered. He crawled to the edge of the window. I have 4 seconds before the gun will stop shooting, he thought. Then, while he is reloading, I can jump up and shoot him.

Just as Tony predicted, the sound of the gun stopped four seconds later. He jumped over the edge of the window, aimed his gun towards the shooter, and pulled the trigger. To his horror, the gun jammed. He threw the worthless pistol to the side and sprinted towards the man with the gun. The man stuffed a full mag into his empty weapon. Tony stopped in front of the man and pushed the gun upwards as the shooter fired several shots. With his free arm, he punched Tony in the face and ripped his weapon free from Tony's grasp. He slammed the end of the gun into Tony's head and kicked him in the leg. Tony lost his balance and fell on his back. The man pointed his gun at Tony's head, and started to squeeze the trigger...

A knife flew through the air and into the side of the assassin. He looked up in surprise and was greeted by another knife to the heart. He dropped to the ground, dead.

“Now, we really have to get out of here before more guys come,” Tony said as he swung the door to his car open and got in.

Farlough retrieved his knives and followed Tony.

“Where will we go?” Farlough asked.

Tony shrugged. “I haven’t figured out that part yet. I guess we’ll just start driving until I think of a good place.”

Farlough nodded. Tony put the key in the ignition and the car rumbled to a start.

“I hate these ‘cars’,” Farlough said.

Tony smiled. “You will have to get used to them, especially since you’re stuck here forever.”

The car pulled out of the driveway and started down the road. The two were silent for some time.

Tony broke the silence. “We will go into the city,” He said. “It will be harder for those creeps to find us there.”

“What is it that these guys want from you?” Farlough asked.

Tony shook his head. “I honestly have no idea. I’m not some rich dude, and I don’t think I have something in my house that I don’t know of.”

Farlough sighed. “Whoever they were, they put up a good fight.”

“Yeah, but so did I.”

Farlough looked at Tony. “Where did you learn to fight like that?”

“It’s a combo of three different fighting styles that I learned years back,” Tony replied. “I was a field agent then, but . . . not anymore.”

“Why is that?”

“Because . . .” he stopped.

“Go on,” Farlough said.

“I failed a mission. A big one. I had to find somebody, and I nearly lost my whole team.”

“That’s tough.”

“Yeah, but I’m almost glad to be out of the field. It’s not easy work.”

Farlough stared out of the car’s window in silence for a few moments. Tony suddenly grunted and took a sharp turn to the left. Farlough looked at Tony.

“What?”

“We’ve had a grey suburban following us for sometime now. I think it’s the assassins.”

An grenade explosion from behind them sent the car off the road. It overturned and landed on its side.

Farlough rubbed his shoulder. “Ugh, I think you’re right...”

Tony yanked off his seatbelt. “Get your seatbelt off and get your weapons out. We’ve got some fighting to do.”

Timeless - Part 4

Farlough sat cross-legged, facing the wall. He didn’t say anything, didn’t make a sound. His hood was pulled down farther than normal. Unseen by Tony, his eyebrow twitched angrily.

Tony folded his arms. “You can’t stay there forever.”

No answer.

“Even if you stay there until you die, I can still move your body an inch to the left to prove my -”

“Don’t say another word.”

Tony fell silent.

Farlough straightened ever so slightly, but just enough so that Tony could see his cheek behind his hood. “I’m not in a joking mood,” Farlough said.

“Me neither.”

“You can at least be quiet, like I told you,” snapped Farlough, slumping over again. As he shifted, his hood slid partly back, revealing his left ear. He quickly pulled the cloth back over. But before that, Tony saw a blonde streak amidst the tangled mass of brown hair.

“What’s with the blonde?”

“What’s with the blonde what?”

“Hair. I saw it.”

Farlough grunted. “It’s a long story,” he said pointedly, wanting to end the discussion.

Tony continued anyway. “Enlighten me.”

Farlough stood up quickly, balling his hands. “I told you to keep your trap shut. Why don’t you listen?”

“Maybe I don’t want to.”

Farlough spun around, slammed his fist down on the table, and roared, “SHUT UP! I can’t STAND this! YOU try getting banished from your planet for the rest of YOUR life!”

Tony’s coffee rattled.

Farlough froze. “Act normal,” he mouthed.

“You know what,” said Tony, rising from his seat, “I’ve extended all this hospitality to you, driven you all over the place, believed your fantasy worlds, and what do you do? You bang all over the walls and tables, you -”

“It was just the table.”

“- knock over my coffee, you -”

“I didn’t knock it over, idiot.”

“- call me names -”

“I thought ‘idiot’ was an endearing term.”

“- and you are REALLY getting on my nerves. I should just throw you out of the house right now!” He backhanded Farlough’s cheek.

Farlough staggered back, seemingly winded by the blow. He landed in an armchair and tipped it back, rolling into a crouch while driving his knife into the back of the chair.

Tony stood stock-still, confused.

Farlough grinned. “I think we had him going there for a while.”

“Had who going?”

Farlough lifted up the chair and Tony peered underneath.

A man. A man with a hole in his chest.

“What . . . how did you . . .”

“Good acting, by the way.”

“Acting? I wasn’t acting!”

“Ah, that explains the sincerity.”

Tony drew his gun and pointed it at Farlough’s neck. “Don’t move, or I’ll shoot.”

Farlough obeyed.

“I’m still mad at you, you know,” said Tony, squeezing the trigger.

The recoil brought his arm up a few inches, but Farlough didn’t flinch as the bullet skimmed past his neck and slammed into the brain of second intruder.

“Jeepers, dude. I can’t believe you would scare me like that. And I think there’s a red mark on my neck now.”

“Good,” replied Tony, turning away. “You deserved it.”

Farlough placed his hand on his chest and said innocently, “Me?”

“Yes, you. That was my favorite chair. And I think you’re endangering me by coming here. Apparently somebody wants you dead, and they won’t let someone like me stand in their way.”

“Hardly. They were unarmed.”

Tony scowled and grabbed the man behind the chair, lifting him up by his limp leg. He ripped off the man’s oversized boot. A few small grenades fell out, and Tony caught them before they hit the ground.

“I think they were suicidal,” he said. “You’re lucky they didn’t kick you.”

Farlough snorted. “Kick me? No, they were after you. Do you owe a bunch of money to somebody?”

“Not that I know of . . .”

“Exactly. Let’s get out of here.”

Timeless - Part 3

Tony pushed a cup across the table towards Farlough.

“What’s this? Poison?” Farlough asked as he peeked inside the cup.

“No, it's coffee."

Farlough stared at the cup for several seconds before he picked it up and started to drink.

"You were doing some strange things last night," Tony continued. "I was sitting at my table, wondering what was wrong with you, and when I came back to the sofa, you were gone."

Farlough froze at his first mouthful of coffee, made a face, and quietly spat the drink back into the cup.

Tony ignored him and went on. "I saw that my front door was open, and I found you writhing on the grass. Then, you jumped at me and said something about a king. I'm guessing you remembered something."

Farlough nodded. "I did."

Tony sipped his own cup of coffee. "What?"

“How I got here.”

“Really? How?”

Farlough hesitated before saying, "I was banished from Ragon for my crimes."

Tony choked on his drink. "Banished from where??"

“Ragon,” Farlough replied in surprise, wondering why this man didn't know about the place.

Tony put his hand over his face. "You're confused..."

"No, you're the one who's confused."

Tony place his hands on the table and looked Farlough in the eye. "How so?"

"Because you obviously don't have a clue what my home planet is."

"What?!" Tony exclaimed. "Your home planet?? There's only one planet that has life!"

"No," Farlough said. "There isn't."

"You need some serious help," Tony mumbled.

"Do I?" Farlough stood. "Follow me," he said as he walked out Tony's front door.

Tony grunted, stood, let out a laugh, and followed. He stopped by where he kept his guns and grabbed a revolver, just in case.

* * * * * * * * * *

Outside, Farlough started to walk down the street.
“What are you doing?” Tony asked.
Farlough turned. “I told you already, I’m going to the portal!”
“Why not drive there?” Tony said, pointing to a nearby truck.
Farlough looked at it suspiciously. 
Farlough was a little uneasy. “Okay, but if it flies, I want nothing to do with it.” He started towards the vehicle.
When both were inside, Tony put in the key, and the engine roared to life.
Farlough flinched at the sound and scooted up in his seat.
“Strap in,” Tony said as he took his seat belt and pulled it over himself and clicked it into place. Farlough watched Tony closely and did the same.
“So, where to?”
“Make this ‘car’ move,” Farlough replied. “It’s at an old abandoned house.”
Tony gave Farlough a strange look. “That place? That’s a little less than a mile here. No one's lived there for years."
“Well, that’s where it is.”
Tony looked back to the wheel. “Why are you doing this, Tony?" he mumbled to himself.
Soon, they arrived at the edge of the small town.
“There,” Farlough said, pointing to an old house covered with moss.
I see it, I see it," Tony replied.
Farlough left the door open, and they both made their way through the overgrown brush towards the house.
“So, you say the 'portal' is here?”
Farlough nodded.
"And it leads to a planet called 'Ragon'?"
Farlough smiled. “You’ll see soon enough.
By that time they were at the front door. Farlough opened it and went in.
He then stopped in the middle of the room. Tony watched as Farlough got on his hands and knees and opened a much hidden trap door. Both climbed down the unsteady ladder. 
Tony gasped. A shimmering purple mist was in front of them.
Farlough grinned. “Do you believe me now?”
Tony simply shook his head and stared. "You got me."
The mist started to move. Farlough took a step back.
"Someone is coming through."
He was right. The mist came into the form of a man. A man Farlough recognized as Reles.
"Reles!" Farlough exclaimed. The two embraced each other.
"Why did you come back?" he asked.
"To warn you," Reles replied. "There is a group of men who want to kill you. I overheard them talking about it. I told the king, and he had guards search the whole kingdom for them. But they were not found. I do not know who they are or why they want you dead, but from what I've heard, they have been to earth several times and they know how to use many of earth's contraptions and weapons. I would help you, but the king has forbidden it. I musn't interact with you, because of your banishment."
Farlough stared at the ground for several moments before speaking. "Surely you could reason with the king-"
"I already tried," Reles interrupted. "He will not change his mind."
He sighed. "This is goodbye. I am very sorry this had to happen."
He stepped back into the portal, and was gone.
Tony, who had been watching the entire time, said, "Come, Farlough. We should go back to my house."
He went up the ladder. Farlough looked at the portal one more time, and went up as well. 

Timeless - Part 2

As the man fell asleep, Tony sat down at his table with a cup of coffee to ponder the man’s strange behavior.

* * * * * * * * * *

He stares up at the sky, soaking in each star and every constellation. They are foreign. A voice sounds, but no words are formed. It is a scream; a long, loud, wail to the cold, merciless night. He bows his head down low and squeezes his eyes shut, clenching His fists so hard that blood trickles over His fingertips and dries, leaving a black stain on His knuckles.

Then it hits Him. A scene, slamming into His mind for hardly a second.

But a second is all He needs.

The scene shows Him, with His hands tied behind His back. His friend, Reles, stands in a nearby doorway with his head hung low. An unfamiliar man in royal garb, possibly a king, balls his hands into fists.

“I don’t want to do this, Farlough. But you leave me no choice,” says the king.

The Man grits His teeth. “Let it be, my king.”

The king reaches over to a wall and pulls a lever. The stone in front of the Man shimmers into a deep purple mist, reaching out with violet dust, threatening to pull anybody in that moves too close.

“Go in, Farlough.”

“Yes, sire.” The Man gets up, His hands still tied, and takes a step forward.

Suddenly, His world transforms. His mind swims into darkness and He lands hard on the ground, blacking out.

* * * * * * * * * *

Tony stared at the man lying on the ground. He had been there for over an hour, first screaming to the stars, then falling to the grass.

The man stirred. Tony nearly jumped out of his socks.

“Unnngh . . . no . . . My king . . . why would you do this to me?” he moaned. “I was the best! NO! I could have done so much! WHY?” He jumped up and grabbed Tony by the shirt collar, drawing back his fist to strike.

Tony instinctively pushed the other man away. "Calm down! I’m not a king,” he said.

The man let his arms hang limp his sides. His face softened. He dropped to his knees on the ground in front of Tony, and started sobbing.

“I’m so sorry . . . so sorry I couldn’t stay . . . Reles . . . I’m so sorry . . .” Tears streaked down his cheeks.

Tony was frozen in place. “Sir, are you okay?”

The man stopped crying for a moment. “Farlough. I am Farlough. Who are you?”

“I’m Tony. Why did you leave the house? I can take you to a hospital, if you want.”

“Hospital. What’s a hospital?”

“Uh . . . It’s a place where doctors can attend to you and stuff like that. Or, if you would prefer an insane asylum -”

“I’m not unhealthy. I’m just fine. Why would I need to go see a doctor?”

Tony was really worried now. “Well, for one, you have amnesia -”

“Whatever that is.”

“- and the doctors can help you get your memory back.”

Farlough glared at Tony. “No they can’t. Doctors are powerless to stop sickness.”

Tony sighed. “Well, at least come back into the house.”

Farlough looked at the one-story building with obvious disgust. “That’s a house?”

**********

Timeless - Part 1

He doesn’t know where He is. The Man is just a shell of what He once was. Images flash through His mind, but they are just that: images. Each image has a person He recognizes, but can’t place. His memory is fractured. Thousands of questions run laps around His brain; but all He can remember are two names:

Reles Firebane.

Farlough Rapshok.

He cannot tell which one is His. The cold floor seems to drain His brain cells like plants sap up rainwater. Something is in His hand.

A knife.

He doesn’t know how He obtained it, yet He knows that it is crafted of fine diamond and coated in steel. How does He know this? He just does. There is no explanation.

Something touches His shoulder. The Man whirls around, snarling and brandishing His knife. Another man is there. He speaks:

“Calm down, buddy,” He says. “I’m here to help you.”

Another picture shows itself in His head. A person He knows is Reles. Again, He just knows.

But this man in front of Him is not Reles.

The Man scowls and He feels something coming out of his throat. Words.

What do the words say? They say, “You did this to me.”

The other person frowns. “I don’t think so. I just walked up and you were just lying here in the middle of the street. A car just about ran over you.”

The Man tightens His grip on the knife.

“I do not know about this ‘car’ you speak of, but you had better leave before you find this sticking out of your chest.”

Where did that come from?

The pedestrian’s frown melts, replaced by a mask of fear.

The Man grins sinisterly, then gives his mind over to the evil battling for control of his body. He switches the knife to His left hand and delivers a powerful punch to the passerby’s jaw, sending him reeling to the ground. Sheathing His knife, He starts running. For no reason at all. His mind is not his own anymore, and He is not sure He can retrieve it from the depths of the blackness in His heart. Why does He harbor this contempt for everybody? The thought is immediately pushed away by an invisible force.

He stops in front of a house. Bounding up the front porch, He rams a fist into the door and falls to the ground, unable to keep Himself awake any longer. Black mist swirls around the edges of His consciousness, and He topples backwards.

Asleep.

* * * * * * * * * *

Tony Amador jumped at the sudden pounding at his door. He glanced at the clock as he moved towards the door. Why would someone come here at this hour?

He shook his head and opened the door.

An unconscious man was sprawled on his doorstep.

Tony gasped and looked up to see if there was anyone else nearby.

There was nothing but the dark street. He knelt down beside the figure and checked his pulse. It seemed fine.

The man bolted upright and drew a knife. "Get away from me!" he yelled.

"Easy, buddy, easy," Tony said. "I'm only trying to help."

"Yeah, that's what the last one said," the man replied hoarsely. "Where am I?"

"<state name>," Tony replied. "What's your name?"

"No, what planet am I on?"

Tony eyed him curiously. "What... Planet?"

The man groaned and let his head hit the floor again.

After several moments of awkward silence, Tony repeated his question.

“Your name. What is it?

The man squeezed his eyes shut, thinking hard.

“Farlough . . . or Reles. I forget.”

Tony nodded. “What happened to you?”

“I . . . I don’t know.” the man said dazedly.

"Amnesia, most likely," Tony mumbled.

“I have no clue what amnesia is.”

Tony furrowed his brow.

“Is there anything you can remember?"

The man closed his eyes again, trying to recall what had happened. His skin bunched around his eyelids as he clenched them tighter.

After a few seconds,

“There's nothing."

“It’s alright,” Tony said. “Try to get some sleep, maybe you will remember more in the morning. I'll help you to the couch.

"The what?"

Tony shook his head and pulled the other man up. They slowly made their way to Tony's sofa.

The man lay back down, and slowly dozed off.