Chapter #14

Marshall wonders if this meeting in any way will change the way history is written. He also wonders what to do with this mail laying all over the ground.

Tosha still has her head resting on Marshal's shoulder. This is strange because Tosha's people do not show much emotion and none to any out side species. So her behavior is especially strange. Yet Marshall feels comfortable with it since she has been casually flirting with him all along .

He eases the big bike onto its stand and reaches down for a weed to chew on. He leans back against Tosha feeling her warm firm body press against his back.

Tosha sits up abruptly and points, almost knocking Marshall off his seat.

"We need to go there"

Marshall looks in the direction Tosha is pointing and asks Where, Love? I don't see anything but desert." squinting to try to look farther than he can.

Tosha points again, right past his head, kind of banging her arm off the side of his head as she does.

"Over there, Marshall. See the glimmer of light. NO, Not there, there!" Then, she grabs his ear and whispers softly

Don't call me love!" Letting go of his ear she again points

"GO there now!"

Marshall turns, looking at Tosha and rubbing his ear like she did some great damage. He then props his feet on the handle bars and reclines against her again pressing her firmly against the high rise backrest on the seat.

"What's the fuckin' hurry? You already told me it has been here a long time. Fuck it, what's a few more hours I am tired and I am taking a nap." he says very sarcastically.

You could see Tosha's blood boil.

"You inferior little piece of Herwsaltr smelkightr! You just don't understand do you?" She begins hitting him and shoving him till he does fall off the bike. Tosha then gets off it also and takes a swipe at Marshall as he stands up, just missing him and causing him to fall back down again. She kicks at him as he spins away easily avoiding her.

"That is a time box, Marshall. And I have to go out there and download the information from it as soon as possible. Otherwise, the cannibalistic Somewhateans who almost succeed in taking over this planet in the future will in fact take over now. We have to keep that from happening!" She is still kicking and swinging wildly at Marshall who is having fun dodging her at every turn.

"So, Love (giggles) where does that put me in this picture? I mean, you know what the hell your doin', why ya need me for then? Just go out there and get the fuckin' box."

"OH Marshall! Sometimes you just make me so mad!" She kicks the ground, stirring up a small dust cloud. "I need you to defend me, protect me while I download the information." The fight has left her eyes. Tosha stands there like a little girl who just lost her teddy bear, almost ready for tears. Her head down she looks to be beaten.

Marshall cocks his head a little and smiles. Then reaches out and pull her close to himself in his best attempt at a warm, tender hug. Then he asks

"Um… why don't your people come down here to protect you? I mean, Gods, you all have been here how long?"

Tosha pulls away and motions for Marshall to follow her back to the bike as they walk she begins.

"Our people are not warriors. Although we had some men who were very highly trained. They are no more; all were killed by the blue scourge that will in the not so distant future almost completely wipe out all life on this planet. But at that time when things look their worst, some brave warrior will mount an offensive that will eventually rid this world again of them. But, it is at great cost. So if the aliens find this box now, they will take over now and this world will never recover. Your people will be raised as food and entertainment for these despicable beings. Your people will fight in grand buildings with the gladiator style fights being broadcast throughout the known Galaxy and beyond. And this world will be stripped of all its great resources, including water." Tosha pauses for a moment then turns and takes Marshall's face in her hands."I need you to take me to the time box. Then you must defend me. Marshall, you really don't know all that is at stake."

Marshall climbs on the bike and kicks it over and as almost always it starts on the first kick. He then pulls it upright and waits for Tosha to climb on the back. She again points into the distance at the faint glimmer of light so far away. Marshall kicks the bike into gear and twists the throttle hard throwing dust, rocks and gravel high into the now evening sky. They race across the open desert floor, a plume of dust and the roar of manmade thunder are all that are accompanying them.

Once to the area of the glimmer of light Marshall stops the bike, turns off the motor and listens as the warm breeze blows past him. He puts down the stand as Tosha dismounts.

She stretches tall for a moment then glancing around she heads for the glimmering box in the sand.

Marshall stays close to the bike reloading and checking the carbine. Watching in all directions for something, anything to move. Thinking since the area is so flat it will be hard for anything to come up unnoticed. Marshall's attention is drawn to Tosha who begins to strip off clothing as she removes tape that holds keys to her body.

As she removes her clothing she explains

"These keys have to be kept at my personal body temperature until just before I use them. Some must be kept warmer than others but none can be away from my body for very long before they are inserted into the boxes lock in the special order only I have been programmed with."

She inserts the last key and the box begins making a whirring sound. As the noise grows louder Marshall hears the sound of gravel and sand crunching behind him.

"Don't bother turning around, Marshall." The voice says in what sounds almost British in accent and nature. "It seems Tosha has done her job as usual; very well." the voice seems to have an unusual sound as if the letter "s" is being held a bit to long.

Marshall's skin crawls as Tosha still with her back turned begins to stand. She stretches tall again raising her hands well above her head Her tight fitting leather top lays on the ground in front of her and her tight fitting leather pants with all but one foot out of them. Slowly, she turns towards the two men. First she turns her head to look into the new person's eyes. Their eyes meet and all falls silent for what seems an eternity. Nothing moves, no one says a word. Tosha's eyes begin to glow as the lighter skinned alien is mesmerized.

Marshall makes his move; spinning quickly he levels the carbine. A shot is fired as the light-skinned man suddenly moves with catlike reflexes, pushing the barrel of the gun aside just in the very nick of time and them backhanding Marshall with enough force to lift him off his feet. Marshall tries desperately to regain his balance as the alien attacks again.

Tosha retrieves the data she needs still in a state of undress. Then as Marshall is again pummeled, she picks up the carbine and shouts something in her tongue toward the fighters. The alien stops for just a second to look up. Tosha squeezes the trigger and shoots the light-skinned man directly in the face.

Grabbing Marshall in one hand and her clothing in the other Tosha signals her ship to retrieve them. A beam of light and they are gone.

On board another ship a doctor examines a patient.

"I have done all I can, Master. There should be no external scarring. But you may have a speech impediment. Part of your tongue is missing now."

The light skinned man looks into the mirror checking every angle he can.

"What kind of ssspeach……." He turns to the Doctor and asks"Will I alwayss hold my S'ss too long?"

The Doctor looks down at the floor and then answers

"Yes, Master, I am afraid so."

The light skinned Alien then stands up and without looking at the Doctor again, heads in the direction of the door. As it opens he pulls out a small throwing knife and with great skill throws, striking the doctor directly between the eyes. The door closes behind him as he walks silently down the hall. Wondering when he may return to this planet and gain his revenge.

Marshall wakes as Tosha slides gently under the coverings next to him. He takes pause as to why she would do this.

But for now he will not put a lot of thought into it.