Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 21:01:05 -0500 From: Lee McDougal <leo1980@gay.com> Subject: "Through the Time Warp" chapter 11 Can you sense the end is near? I know I can. Just three chapters left (counting this one). Thanks for making it this far, and make sure to come back for the other two chapters. Please send your comments to leo1980@gay.com and visit http://home.gay.com/leo1980 if you haven't already. :-) Through the Time Warp (My Adventure with Nsync) Chapter 11 If I had in mind a fun filled walk for we seven friends...I would have been barking up the wrong tree today. This was anything but fun; in fact it was torture. It had to be at least 100 degrees...and nothing to drink anywhere. The hot sun would most likely fry our brains, and then burn up our remains. Or of course we might dehydrate...or there's always sunstrokes. Needless to say I wasn't exactly Mr. Cheerful. My only thought for hope would be to leave this time zone, and hope the last jewel wasn't here. "You guys I'm sure we were supposed to come here for a reason, but I think we should get out of here. We've been walking for a while now...and there's no sign of anything!" I stated. "But Lee what if the last jewel is here." Joey stated the obvious argument against warping out. "But what if it's not...and we kill our selves out here for nothing!" Justin argued, and I must say it made sense to me. "It doesn't matter...I've already checked the jewels guys. They aren't reacting right now. They still need time to charge from the last trip I guess." Jerry said holding up his jewel. He was right too...the jewel wasn't shinning like it normally would. "I guess we better keep looking then." Lance said taking my hand. He could tell my spirits were giving out. "Lance...I don't know how much longer I can." I whispered to him. "You can make it man!" Joey said patting me on the back. Joey became a sense of strength for us all that day. We would have all given up if it weren't for him. We walked in silence for another hour. "Did anyone think to look in the glove box of the car? The jewel might have been in there." Josh stated all the sudden. "No, I guess we didn't think about it. Do you think we should walk back to the car?" Chris asked. "I don't think we can make it back before dark. The sun's starting to set." Lance said pointing at the sun that was turning red, and lowering in the sky. "Thank God! I don't think there's a dry spot on my body, and I'm almost tempted to drink my own sweat." Joey said as he rung the sweat off his shirt he had removed...actually we had all pretty much shed layers of clothes. "Now the fun part...at night it gets really cold here. We have to go from one extreme to another." I informed them. "I'll like the change myself." Justin said. "But it's not good for us physically though man. We need to find some stuff to start a fire when it does get cold." I told him. "I have a lighter." Jerry informed us. "Good...now let's see if we can find something to burn maybe." Joey said. After walking around in the sand a while...we realized there wasn't much of anything to burn, but we did find some small weeds and such. It wouldn't last all night, but it would help. But for now we could walk anymore. Tonight when it was cooler we would have to look again. Lance and I found a rock to set on, and the others found place to rest as well. Justin opted to set with us again. I guess Justin and Lance must have been close, because he liked to stay close to the two of us...well since the dinosaur thing anyway. "Hey Justin. You hanging in there man?" I asked him. "I'm doing as well as possible I guess. Do you guys mind if I set with you?" He asked. "Not at all, have a seat." Lance answered for us. "Thanks. I guess it's silly, but I don't want to be alone tonight. There's no telling what's out here-scorpions, snakes...all kinds of bad stuff." Justin said. "That's always a possibility man, but we should be fine as long as we stick together." I tried to reassure him. But since he said the magic word snake...I was more than a little worried myself. Rattlesnakes are famous for hanging out in areas like this. And there was no way for us to get any anti-venom out here. Sleep didn't come to me that night. I felt almost responsible for the lives of those around me, or maybe I was just worried about my own skin...but either way I couldn't fall asleep. Lance lay next to me asleep, with Justin on my other side. He didn't seem to be interested in sleep either. "I can't sleep Lee...what do you think will happen tomorrow?" Justin asked. "I don't know Justin. If we don't find water, we won't last long. My throat is so dry...It hurts to talk." I told him. "I know what you mean. Maybe we could dig for water or something." He suggested. "With what will we be digging? I don't think we have anything to help us here. Isn't there water in a cactus?" I asked. "I think so, but how do you get to it? Wouldn't you need a knife to cut into it?" Justin asked. "Not as thirsty as I am. I'll rip it open with my bare hands if needed." I told him. So Justin and I went on a short walk for a cactus. But unknown to us, we weren't alone. Joey nearly scared the life out of us that night. "Where are you guys going?" He said from right behind us. "Joey! Don't do that shit!" Justin screamed as he tried to calm back down. "Where did you come from?" I asked startled as well. "I've been following you for a good five minutes trying to catch up with you. Now, as I was saying...where are you going?" Joey asked again. "We are going to find a cactus and see if we can get some water out of it." Justin told him. "So you were going to leave the rest of us out?" Joey asked. "Not at all, but you were all asleep...or so we thought. And we didn't want to get everyone's hopes up. I might not work." I told him. The three of us walked for another ten minutes before we located a cactus. Justin tried to pick off one of the leaves, but he couldn't find a place to grab it without getting pricked. It was getting rather annoying. Neither of us had any luck at it. "Okay this sucks. We just have to stand the pain long enough to get the leaf off I guess." Joey said. Putting on a tough face he grasped the cactus leaf and started to pull up...I waited for his scream of pain, but it didn't come. Instead he was laughing. "Look the leave turned into a jewel..." Joey said "How did the leave turn into a jewel?" I asked. "I think it was the jewel all the time, but it only showed it's true form when I had the bravery to grasp it." Joey explained. I had to agree with his assumption. "What color is it?" Justin asked. "I don't know dumb ass; it's too dark to see." Joey said. "Let's take it back to camp, and check it out." I suggested. After we got back to camp we saw that our small campfire, had indeed fizzled out. In fact it was probably out when we left, but I failed to notice. Luckily our bags had warm clothes, so we weren't hurting too much for heat. We managed to wake up Lance and the others... Jerry still had a lighter, and when he held it up to Joey's jewel...it was obvious that it was purple. And best of all it was fully charged. We could get out of there! And best of all it was the sixth jewel. We were going home! "This is it you guys! We are finally going home!" Josh screamed. We were all thrilled! I couldn't wait to return to my home again...maybe I could even introduce Lance to my family. And of course we have that date to go on! We held the jewels up together, and their powers combined into a flash that light up the desert for miles. With that the time warp began...that was to take us home! **************** As the time warp ended we weren't in the van at all... We were setting at a fine table with all the food and drinks anyone could want. We were confused by this, but it didn't take us long to start eating anyway. Our empty stomachs and dry throats did the thinking for us. We drank and ate quickly no one stopping to talk. It was only after our hunger was satisfied that we started to worry about our location. "Where are we? I thought we were supposed to go home?" Lance asked. "This is certainly not the van...but it could be in our own time zone?" Justin asked. "I don't know...it doesn't quite feel right." I said. "I'm just glad there was food here." Joey threw in. "Yes, but where is here?" Chris asked. "You are in the time vortex...the center of the universe from which all time flows." A familiar voice stated. It was Mary...from the future! I didn't know how she got there, but I think we were all glad to see her. "Mary! How did you get here?" Justin asked hugging her tightly. "I'm afraid I haven't been truthful with you Justin...my name isn't Mary. I don't really have a name, but a title. I am the princess of time. I have been watching over you. That's why I was in the future when you needed a place to stay." She told us. "Why didn't you do something back there when they were killing us?" Joey asked. "I am not allowed to interrupt that test... I would have saved you all if possible, but as you can see...you saved yourselves." She concluded. "So what are we doing here?" Justin asked as he took her hand. "You must face a final task before you can go home. You have to enter the last portal...that will take you home. But you can only reach that portal, by facing your greatest fear." The princess told us. "Will you go with us Mary?" Justin asked. "I cannot do that. I must go help other time travelers to find there way home. I'm very proud of you all. You have come so far. Do not be discouraged now! You are so very close to home. When you feel that you are ready, enter the double doors and it will send you to your challenges. Good luck and God bless you all. Justin walk with me a moment, please." `Mary' stated. Justin and `Mary' walked off to say their goodbyes. I really hated to see her go, but I know her job was very time consuming...or something like that. If she would have had time or the interest in telling us...she could have explained many things to us. I would have loved to hear her views on humanity through out the ages, and what concept of time she actually has...if any. I would have loved to know if she still ages in her form. But I was almost sure she was ageless...much like this world that were in. We all agreed to spend the next day and night resting before facing the last trial. Lance and I decided to take a short walk through the gardens. We really needed to talk out things. "Lance when am I going to see you again?" I asked him. "What do you mean? You're going to spend the first 2 days with me when we get back." Lance said. "I mean after that? Will you visit me between tours?" I asked. "I thought you'd want to come to Orlando with me during my off time?" He asked. "That would be lovely." I agreed. "How long have we been together Lee?" Lance asked. "I don't know...time stopped meaning anything to me a long time ago I guess." I told him. "Exactly! Since the day we met time hasn't meant anything. And it never will again. We will always be together in our hearts...so please don't worry about us being apart." Lance told me. He was right. Time wasn't anything to us anymore...if anything this trip has taught us, it's that time is only a concept of the mind...and no more real than rainbow. Sure we can see a rainbow, but we never get to touch it...and eventually it slips away...just like time. It's something we can't control, yet at the same time...we don't have to let it control us. We spent that day and night together and away from the others. We needed our space to really let our feelings show. Just simple kisses and touches became a language that told the other how much he loved him. Lance and I were blissfully happy that day. We forgot about the test or fears that were ahead of us. ******** "Josh, I love you." Jerry said as he kissed at his neck. "I love you Jerry." Josh said as he continued to run his hands down Jerry's back. The two had not made love yet, but this would be the first time of many. Their lips met once more as they grinded their bodies together...they would soon be as one. As they rolled around in a grassy field. ********** Justin walked with Mary for a while before they stopped, and Mary turned to him in tears. "Justin, I don't know what to do. I've fallen in love with you, and that is against all the rules." Mary told him. "Mary, what's wrong with falling in love?" Justin asked confused. "I'm not supposed to care about my feelings. I'm supposed to help others, and protect the gates of time from evil. My place is here, not with you." Mary explained. "But what about my feelings Mary? I love you, and if you really want to help me...then don't leave me." Justin pleaded. "I do want to help you, but don't you see the consequences of me leaving my post, could be... I can't even begin to imagine how horrific things might turn out." She said. "But isn't there a way to find a replacement or something?" Justin asked. "There is only one way Justin, and I cannot ask that of you." She said. "What is it my love?" Justin asked. "The only person that can replace me is my daughter...and I don't have one." Mary said. "So in other words, if you were to have a daughter...You could retire?" Justin asked. "Yes." She told him. "So if I was to marry you, and we had a daughter...she would have to come to stay here?" He asked. "Yes it's the only way...She would be allowed 16 years on Earth though." Mary told him. "So I'd have to raise her alone?" Justin asked. "No, I'd be allowed to stay on earth, after the wedding. But the daughter must be born within the first year." She told him. "Well...then that only leaves one question. Will you marry me?" Justin asked. "I don't know Justin...I don't know if I can be human. I'd be giving up a lot you know!" She said. "What a lifetime of loneliness?" Justin asked. "A lifetime...try an eternity." She stated. "You live forever?" Justin asked. "As long as I'm here I will. But if I marry you, I'll become human...And will die like anyone else." She said. "Mary I love you too much to ask you to give up your life here, but I'm not going to pretend I don't want you to. I want you to be in my life forever! I'll give you the time you need...Just promise to time travel back and tell me pretty soon after I get back." Justin said smiling at her. "I will. I promise I will." Mary said as they kissed once more. Then she was gone through a time warp, to help some other group of travelers. ************ "So what is it you need to talk about Chris?" Joey asked. "Um, this is really hard to say." Chris started. "Come on man, we are like family! You can tell me anything." Joey said. "Okay... I'm gay." Chris said. "And this is what you wanted to tell me?" Joey laughed. "What's so funny?" Chris asked. "I've known you were gay for a long time now man. I have lived with you for years, and you have shown any interest in women practically ever." Joey said. "Well, neither have you." Chris stated. "Oh, well...I guess I just haven't been looking a lot lately." Joey answered. "Joey...I...I...love you." Chris said. "I love you too man." Joey said giving him a hug. "No, I mean I love you." Chris said his face flushed with nerves. "Oh...okay I see what you mean now. I'm so sorry Chris, but I'm straight." Joey said crushing him. Chris didn't let his pain show then, but instead gave Joey another hug, and then walked off. Chris would do a lot of crying that night. He had revealed his true feelings only to have his heart broken. At that moment, Chris didn't think he'd ever smile again. *********** The next morning we all met back at the house we arrived in, and there before us stood the doors that let to the last challenge. What great fears lay ahead of us? We all had a look of fear on us, except for Chris whose head was hung low. "Are you guys ready?" I asked. "I guess...we have to stick together you guys!" Justin said. "We can make it!" Lance threw in. "We've come this far, and we aren't going to stop till we make it home!" Joey finished. Our bravery was boosted enough to were we were able to open the doors, and charge through... To be continued. Send your comments to leo1980@gay.com