Wednesday, March 19, 2014 – 6:02 PM EST – The Compound – Old Saybrook, Connecticut



After the events of just a couple of hours ago, I've called an emergency meeting among the powers that be within my Compound. A despondent Caitlyn sits by herself. Her legs crossed and her head resting on her hand, staring at the crackling fire in the fire place. I pace back and forth on the carpet nearby as one by one, those invited, turn up inside the library.

Matthew and Nova are the first to arrive. They continue to chat quietly as they wait for me to begin. Within a few more minutes, both Jacob and my father also arrive.



ASMODEUS: “What is the meaning of all this? I was headed for a breakthrough with Nathaniels NAZI bunnies!”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Shut up and sit down.”



Nova comes over to me, whispering.



MR. SUPERNOVA: “Do they really never question your authority?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Actually, they do it all the time. Dad picks his battles though depending on my demeanor. It's not one he wants to fight.”

MR. SUPERNOVA: “Oh. Got ya.”



Jacob speaks up.



JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “So, you going to tell us what's going on?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “We've lost Thaddeus.”

ASMODEUS: “What? Like in a sofa cushion?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “No, like into an alternate time dimension.”



The men stare at Sebastian. All looking confused.



MR. SUPERNOVA: “I think they think you're crazy.”



I advance toward the men.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Long story short. Nova took me back in time, I brought Caitlyn back here with me when I returned. It caused a rift within the time vortex that just so happened to settle right on Thaddeus' crib. Now, I must travel to find him and bring him back before that vortex seals up for good.”

ASMODEUS: “Son, are you feeling okay? Because that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “LISTEN! I don't have time to explain everything. I need to get ready to go! My son, your grandson needs me! Caitlyn can explain things, just give her some time.”



Jacob and Asmodeus just look at each other before staring at the floor.



MR. SUPERNOVA: “It's true. He hasn't much time. The rift in the vortex may stay around for years. Or it may close up tomorrow.”



Nova holds his arm out toward the mantle in order to lean against it. Of course, he misses and tumbles right into the fire. He yells out for a second before climbing out of the fire. Matthew is there with a fire extinguisher to put him out.

Nova then brushes himself off.



MR. SUPERNOVA: “I really need to pay more attention.”



All of us just stare at Nova.



MR. SUPERNOVA: “What? Do I have a booger?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “No, your hair is on fire.”



Nova turns to look in the mirror and notices his hair really is ablaze. He pats his head numerous times, stamping out the fire.



MR. SUPERNOVA: “Okay, where were we?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “You know, time vortexes.”

MR. SUPERNOVA: “Oh yes. Matthew...”



Matthew retrieves a cell phone from his pocket.



MATTHEW: “Sire, this cell phone will act as your travel device. I've taken the liberty of snapping its first photograph. When you reach any time thread and want to come back, all you have to do is select the picture, then use your thumb and fore finger to expand it. That'll transport you back to this realm.

“Always take a picture when you end up in a new realm, that way if you need to return there, a simple flick to expand the photo is all it takes.”



He hands the cell phone to me.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “That's amazing. How did you get that done so quickly?”

MATTHEW: “Actually, that was my first task from Nova. He thought something like this would happen and wanted us to be prepared for it.”



I slide the phone into my pocket.



JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “I'm not sure what made me do it...”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Do what?”

JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “You know that spring loaded dagger thing I made for you?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Yeah, what about it?”

JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “I changed the blade from a 7 inch, to a 12 inch. I assume you might need that on your journey. So, I made you two of them. One for each arm. I'm not sure where you're going, but going equipped with weaponry could prove to be a life saver.”



Jake hands me the two homemade dagger sleeves.



JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “Again, I'm not sure why I did it, but I also modified your cape.”



I don't like people touching my cape.



JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “I had steel plates riveted into place along the chest and back areas. Then, I covered the plates in leather. So, it looks exactly like your old cape, only it weighs about another hundred pounds.”



He lifts the cape out of a large box sitting nearby.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I love it!”



I lift the cape and put it on.



JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “Oh yeah, I added that sweet hood from Assassins Creed.”



OMG I have a hood!


I lift the hood up over my head. The hood has a triangular shaped piece of steel armor that is attached to the point of the hood that rests, pointed downward, on my forehead.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Now this is bad ass.”

CAITLYN: “Get your ass upstairs and into that crib! Bring my son, back!”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Yes, dear.”



Jacob, Matthew and Nova follow me up the spiral stone staircase.



MR. SUPERNOVA: “All this damn money and you still don't add an elevator.”



I pay not attention to him. Instead, I keep squeezing my fists in order to engage the daggers attached to my wrists.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Jake, did I ever tell you I'm glad you waste time playing stupid video games?”

JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “Well, that game was the inspiration behind the spring loaded weaponry. And that sweet hood.”



As I come to the top of the stairs, I realize the leather, imitation spikes that flowed down my arms of the cape, have also been plated with steel armor.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “This is the coolest cape ever.”

JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “You remember that time Luca Arzegotti stole it and wore it around?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Yeah, that little shit head couldn't even carry this one. It has to weigh another hundred pounds, easy.”



We make it into the room and I come to a stop beside Thaddeus' crib. I'm suddenly saddened. I hadn't thought about it prior to this, but my poor little boy is stuck somewhere in another time. Probably scared. Not knowing where his mommy and daddy are.



MR. SUPERNOVA: “You may be entering extremely hostile times, Sebastian. Be careful.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Thank you, Nova. But, I'll be fine.”



I lift one leg over the side of the crib and lower it inside. Half of it disappears into the vortex. Part of me wonders what it looks like on the other side. Is there someone waiting on the other side? Staring at this half leg, just suspended in mid air?

I quickly shake the feeling and lift my other leg inside too. I have that odd falling feeling, yet my feet feel firmly planted on solid ground. Through my eyes, all I see is space whizzing by. Stars, planets, satellites, galaxies. Flying by at light speed. Maybe faster. One star in the distance seems to come closer at a much slower rate until it explodes and goes supernova right in front of me. I close eyes. When I reopen them, I'm literally stuck in the middle of a battlefield. As I look around, I realize its a version of time that predates my Compound. The grounds are recognizable, yet the building itself is gone.

I stand in the middle of this battlefield which I also assume is prior to the American Revolution. White men on horseback on my left, Native Americans on horseback on my right. One red man comes running towards me on foot. He has a Tomahawk raised high and I decide it's either fight, or get scalped after only a few minutes in this time.

The Indian, I'll call him Tatanka, swings the Tomahawk at me. I side step it, but he's fast. He turns and swings it again. I catch his swinging arm with my left. With one squeeze of my right wrist, the brand new twelve inch dagger springs into action. I plunge the dagger into the base of Tatanka's throat. He gushes blood around the dagger, but soon falls to the ground. I rip the dagger from his throat and then waste no time in pulling out the cell phone. A single flick of the picture sends me right back to my bedroom. The three of them still stand there.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Definitely not the right time thread!”

JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “What makes you say that?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I couldn't feel his presence. Nova, what happens if I kill a man in another time?”

JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “Jesus! You were gone thirty seconds! Who'd you kill?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I didn't have a choice! It's not my fault Tatanka was running at me with a Tomahawk!”

MR. SUPERNOVA: “It's changing history, or the future, but in another time. It could mean absolutely nothing to this time thread.”



I step into the crib again.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Ya know, this is actually kind of fun.”



Without another word, I'm back into the time vortex. When I come out the other side, I'm extremely quick to get back to my reality.



MR. SUPERNOVA: “That might be a new record.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “That was definitely not the right time. Even if it was, he's on his own.”

JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “Why's that?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I was gonna need more than a couple twelve inch daggers.”

MATTHEW: “What'd you see?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Dinosaurs, man! One of them scary as hell raptors were flicking its tongue at me.”

MR. SUPERNOVA: “Remember to be careful. Each time you pass through the vortex, it seals up just a little bit.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Yeah well. I couldn't stay there if it wasn't the right time.”



Back through the vortex I go. Once I come out the other side, I'm in a strangely familiar place.

The Compound.

Except its not MY Compound. The room I'm in reminds me of my own bedroom, but at the same time, it's completely different. It's filled with elaborate, yet dated wooden furniture. Amazing crimson and gold tapestry hangs upon the windows.

I walk toward the window and look outside. Out in the courtyard, numerous men and women are hard at work plowing and planting. I look along the facade and I realize that my Compound is now a castle. Something tells me, its a future time thread though. The trees and shrubs that are present in my real time thread are still present, just advanced in age.

Behind me, I hear powerful footsteps. Then voices.



???: “I don't care how old he is! I want his head!”



The powerful, thick New England accent reminds me of John F. Kennedy. When he enters though, that thought quickly vanishes. He's a short, rotund man........ wearing......... a crown......

What the hell is going on?

The man takes one look at me.



???: “Guards! GUARDS!”



A handful of men appear, flanking the rotund crown wearing man.



???: “You there! Who are you!?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I could ask you the same thing.”

???: “What is your purpose here!? How did you get in here!?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I own the place.”



I'm not sure why I said that. Obviously, in this time thread, that's not the case.



???: “We've got a jokester on our hands here!”



The man chuckles.



???: “Sit.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “No thanks.”

???: “You dare defy your King!?”



Oh shit. Where the fuck am I?



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “You? You're the King?”



I laugh out loud, which obviously doesn't settle well with this King.



KING: “You know, young man, insulting your King is punishable by death! Is that the fate you'd like?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I'd like to see you try.”



Why must I say these things?



KING: “Very well. Guards, take him down to the cell. With that other miscreant.”



The guards, in near full armor flank each side of me. They're short, too. I could probably over power them both, but I didn't want to press my luck. The two men begin to escort me through my own Compound.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “So, y'all like following orders from that midget?”

GUARD 1: “King George is a fair man. You've insulted him in his prized possession.”

GUARD 2: “You just don't insult the King. And you don't insult Duke Castle. That's the mistake that boy made.”



Once we're down in what used to be my Dungeon, the guards shackle me to the wall. Next to me, stands a small boy. Maybe fourteen or fifteen years old. Blond haired and blue eyed.

I turn to the kid.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “So, what are you in for?”

BOY: “I insulted King Numbnuts.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Same here.

“Where you from?”

BOY: “I'm from... I don't really know.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “How'd you get here?”

BOY: “I'm not even sure.”



I look at the boy harder.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Hey kid.”



He looks up at me. I notice a fleck in the colored part of his eye. Just like Caitlyn's.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What's your name?”



I don't even know why I asked. I already knew the answer. His name is...



BOY: “Thaddeus.”



Fade to Darkness.