Star Child by Paul Alan Page B

just like when he stepped through the Teserak’s time bubble, the Galaxy’s blackness poured around him like glass.
    “It is our home that exists in more than one place, and you now exist between Earth and our home world. Your reality was altered when you crossed our time barrier.”
    Jason knew enough about the physics of Space and Time to understand the significance of what the little creature was saying. He asked, “Time barrier? How much time has been displaced when you brought me across your home’s time barrier?
    “It has been nearly five Earth years.”
    It took a moment for Zeruiah’s words to sink in before Jason thundered, “Five years! I need to get the hell out of here! I need to get back to the tunnel immediately!” Jason hysterically searched for a handle. He continued, “I need to get back to Mars! I need to get back to Lexis, now!”
    Jason’s mind eroded in a complete state of desperation, driving his emotions to explode in chaotic panic. All his muscles tightened as he frantically pushed on the chamber’s door, but to no avail, it would not budge; he was intent on breaking the door down and pushing his way out of the home’s membrane. Though, he would still have to run for the tunnel in the alien atmosphere, which was quite toxic to humans.
                  “You will never make it to the tunnel alive. You barely survived our atmosphere coming here.”
                  Without out reason, he frenziedly yelled, “Fuck you, Zeruiah! Get me out of here!”
    Zeruiah’s face brightened when he spoke. “Sleep now, Jason, all will be taken care of.” The little being waved his hand, and a calming effect pulled Jason into a relaxed state of mind; he drifted off into an induced but relaxed slumber.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    S ETTLING O LD S CORES
     
     
    Dividing the early evening’s fog, the auto’s high beams played hide-n-seek with every twist and turn in the road. The car’s electrical engine silently turned the wheels that gripped the pavement as it weaved through the large redwood forest.
    At the road’s edge, fingering fern tops stretched up through a most convincing vaporous mist that seeped out under the woodland’s undergrowth. The artificial weather presented patterns similar to ancient Earth’s Pacific Northwest on Level 7. Its flawless design offered a carefree living environment, allowing residents to exist in a state of oblivion of their underworld’s confinement.
     
    The car interior’s skin sizzled to life, and a woman’s image appeared. Thomas lovingly asked, “Hey, Boo, how was your day?”
    “I was shopping on Level 5.”
    “You went slumming, huh?”
    “Well, I can always find some real bargains down there.”
    “Did you buy me something on your excursion?”
    With a mischievous smile on her face, she said, “I bought you this.” Felicia held up a red-laced lingerie.
     
    Though the two were showing signs of middle age, she was still a very attractive woman. Three hundred and sixty-five years is a long time on any planet but they would live another three hundred years according to their DNA upgrade.
     
    “Is that my dessert?”
    “You know it, stud.”
    “You’re so insatiable, Felicia, and that’s why I love you.”
    “Thomas, you’re in for the ride of your life tonight…I’m gonna make your toes curl.”
     
    The two fell madly in love during their college days at Oveam Park University. If Thomas could not find Felicia at home, she was usually shopping on Level 5.
     
    “I think I’m going to need to recharge my reserves to satisfy your needs. What’s on the dinner menu?”
    “I was thinking surf and turf would supply you the energy, Thomas.” Felicia’s image blinked from interference on the car’s monitor.
    “Good one, honey,” he replied.
    “Thank you, sweetheart…you know how much I love ancient idioms.”
    “Yes, and you know how much I