The Great Altruist by Z. D. Robinson Page B

Jadzia. “What can I do to help?” she asked.
     
                “For starters, can we get out of this horrible place forever?” Jadzia answered.
     
                “Of course,” Genesis said.
     
                Before Genesis could prepare for departure, more guards rounded the corner. Just as they were about to catch a glimpse of the two women, Genesis rushed to her friend’s side, grabbed hold of her, and disappeared, unsure of where they would end up. The flash of light had hardly dissipated when the guards arrived and saw their unconscious colleagues, now awake and unaware of where they were and what had happened.
     
     
     
                Genesis emerged from the stream with Jadzia in tow, both of them unaware of where they were. They stood in the middle of a city street, with people bustling about everywhere, many of them aghast at the sight of a naked woman in plain sight. Jadzia, suddenly aware of their stares, came to and ran to the edge of the street and jumped behind a garbage container. Genesis hid herself behind Jadzia’s neck where her long hair obscured her. It wasn’t long before Jadzia realized what was different from where they just left: they were in a country she’d never seen before.
     
                “Where are we, Genesis?” she asked.
     
                Genesis peeked out over Jadzia’s shoulder. “I have no idea. I told you that I could get you out in a pinch, but I had no time to prepare. We could be on the far side of the world.”
     
                “I think you’re right.” Jadzia looked up at the signs hanging from the buildings, all of them in bold Japanese writing. “Are we in the same time as when we left?”
     
                “No, but I don’t know when we are. I had to get you out of there as fast as possible.” Genesis climbed atop the container and flew around the corner cautiously. Jadzia stayed where she was, inches from the garbage, but safe. A moment later, Genesis returned and said not a word. She paced back and forth along the rim of the container with her arms folded and seemingly unconcerned with her detection.
     
                “What is it?”
     
                “I sense something wrong,” Genesis answered.
     
                “Yeah, I know. We don’t know when we are.”
     
                “That’s not what I meant.”
     
                As Genesis finished her sentence, both of the women were instantly blinded. A deafening roar growled down the street as everything that stood fell to the ground. The two women’s eyesight returned as the massive flash of light subsided. Jadzia tried to discern where the sound came from and as she peered around the nearby building, a wall of fire raced down the street, tearing every building down where it stood. Genesis raced in front of Jadzia as the fire approached and raised her arms high over her head. With a powerful scream, Genesis pushed her hands toward the debris and instantly, a wall of energy surrounded the two women. The wall changed into a bubble and encased them. Massive chunks of wood and fallen structures bounced off of the bubble like they were made of rubber. The fire rushed over the bubble and warmed the interior air. Genesis channeled more of her power into the bubble and instantly, the air cooled to normal. Jadzia remained curled into a ball.
     
                The fire passed a moment later, but no one standing before the explosion remained. Genesis caught her breath and picked up Jadzia and carried her back behind the container, which had toppled and been crushed, its contents vaporized. Jadzia soon came to and tried to gather her bearings.
     
                “What just happened?”
     
                “I think a bomb just went off,” Genesis said.
     
                “No bomb could have done that!”