Chapter 12

The light slowly receded, and Xander’s vision began to clear. They hadn’t made it to the exact place they’d met, so he’d known they wouldn’t return to the JUMP room. Wherever they were, he just hoped it was safe for the time being. Xander had no idea how long it would take...Charlie...The Time Keeper, to wake up. He’d never met one before, much less JUMPed with one.

Blinking his eyes a few times to try and clear them, Xander looked around the room they were in. Fortunately, from what he could sense, they were alone. He wouldn’t have to let go of her just yet. His vision finally cleared completely, and he looked around the room, his heart squeezing hard in his chest as bile rose up in his throat. They were in a puzzle prison.

The walls were light blue, the same color they used in medical rooms, and he and Charlie were on a decent sized plateau, with stairs leading up from where they were and stairs also leading down. There was a door, but it was nowhere near the stairs. It was at least ten feet higher than the top step, and about five feet over. There was a small ledge, but no visible way out. It was one of the more simplistic puzzle prisons, yet very effective. Maybe with her––when she came around––they would be able to get out, together. It was most likely used for only one prisoner, and he was very thankful it hadn’t been currently occupied when they arrived.

Moving to the corner, Xander pulled The Time Keeper with him, sitting with his back in the juncture, and the butt of his AR under his right arm keeping it pointed at anyone who may make an appearance. Unfortunately, this position also made them vulnerable, but with her out of commission, he was out of other options. If things got bad, he might need to use her as a distraction, but he prayed it wouldn’t get to that point.

His mind raced as he tried to figure out what their best options were. No matter what happened, he needed to get them out of here, soon. Before anyone found them. It would be too easy for someone to come, take the Time Keeper, and leave him to his death; and Brick’s death as well.

“So, what’s the strategy? I see your mind racing, and for a split second, you looked like my dad playing chess,” Charlie said, talking around a small grin.

“Well, I don’t know, but now that you’re awake, we can try to get out of here together,” Xander answered her.

“Where are we?” She sat up slowly, and looking around, pulled her own weapon and scooted up beside him.

“We didn’t make it to our meeting place before the JUMP cycle finished, so we ended up off course. We’re in a puzzle prison. I haven’t decided if this will work to our advantage or not. So far the only advantage is, we landed in a place where no one is shooting at us.”

“Yet,” she said.

“Yes, yet,” he answered.

“Since we have a few seconds, do you mind telling me what just happened? I mean how does all this work?” Charlie asked, honest curiosity in her eyes.

“There was a teaching, an ancient one, which stated that things are only as they are when they are relative to what you expect them to be,” Xander began, his eyes always searching the puzzle prison.

“The Theory of Relativity, yes,” Charlie said.

She was constantly surprising him. This may be easier than he thought.

“Well, if that’s the case, then think of my world as my relativity, and yours as your relativity, and each of our worlds are relevant only to us. What you have the ability to do, is to change relativity, and to join worlds, time, and space. You can bend it all. You, can escape relativity, and there are those who would use your ability for good, and those who would use your ability for evil, or at least their own gain,” Xander only prayed she wouldn’t ask him whose hands he was planning on placing her in.

She seemed to think on what he said for the shortest of moments. He didn’t know if she believed him, but after a moment, she nodded her head once. A short movement before she looked around the prison cell for seemingly the first time.

“So, that door is the only way in and out, right?” Charlie asked, her voice getting stronger by the minute.

He wanted to ask her how she was holding up, but didn’t know her well enough to know if she would take offense or not. Besides, he was going to turn her over to Sojo, he didn’t want to get to know her. He couldn’t afford to.

“Right, and so far, no one knows where we are, but they must be scrambling around trying to find us, because they know the JUMP was completed. Which means our time is limited,” Xander said, catching her up.

Seconds later, the door opened, a soft whoosh of air, and a young red-headed boy stood at the opening. Instinct had both of their weapons trained on the kid.

“Xander? Is it you?”

“Yeeess,” Xander answered warily.

“I made the JUMP, who am I?” the boy asked, obviously trying to make certain he wasn’t being tricked.

“Lennie? You’re Lennie, the Wizard in the walls?”

The kid’s face lit up from the inside out. “You got it! I located you two using the same program I had to find the girl, I see you found her.”

“I sure did, Lennie; but we have to hurry because there was a leak somewhere and others JUMPed after me, and are after her. We need to get out of here and get to my ship, so we can all get to safety. Can you get this puzzle solved?”

“Not fast enough if they JUMPed after you,” Lennie answered. “I found you because of my program. At least they don’t have that.”

“I’ve got an idea. Xander,” she turned her head, locking eyes with him. “How much can you bench?”

“How much what can I what?” Xander asked, she confused the hell out of him.

“How much weight can you lift? Can you pick me up?”

Standing up, Xander took the opportunity to really look at her. He’d had the privilege of holding the top half of her next to him while she was unconscious, and aside from the soft curves of a woman, she had toned muscle, and the trained body of a Specialist. Taking a deep breath, he finally boldly asked her; “What do you have in mind?”

“On the top step, if I put one of my feet in your hands, you throw while I jump, I should be able to land on the ledge, and if Lennie there will catch me if I get topsy-turvy, then I’ll be able to haul you up.”

Xander stopped breathing. He just stopped. This woman was crazy.

“Do you know what will happen if I over or under throw you? I could kill you,” he said.

“I could have been killed a thousand times up until now, but I haven’t been. Do you know why?”

Xander could only shake his head.

“Because I’m not done yet. I have something in my life I’m supposed to complete, and I’m not done yet. So, if you can lift me, then I can make it. Besides, I’ve already done all the dangerous right?”