Chapter 26: Pelligrant’s Station
When Jackson was pulled out of a warping booth at Pelligrant’s Station he was once again feeling a bit queasy. It was a different section of the station this time, but all the aspects were the same: the booths, the conveyor belts, the clear tubes, and the giant tree looming in the background known as NESMOD.
Being escorted to the base of the NESMOD Network, or rather, being pushed and pulled to the base of the NESMOD Network by three hooded figures who worked for Those In Charge, is not an ideal circumstance for sight-seeing. Had Jackson come to Pelligrant’s for a more leisurely purpose, or any purpose of his own, either time he’d been there, he might have read some of the free-standing information screens scattered about the premises. He might have learned about the rich and fascinating history behind the station’s origin, and some of its lesser-known secrets, such as a concealed VIP hatch that can lead a visitor to an overhead pod where you can look down on all of the travelers, and enjoy a frothy bellellbaberry drink (by appointment only).
As it was, Jackson was trying his best to understand the situation that he now found himself in. His instinct to do nothing was kicking in strongly, but so too, now, was his growing instinct to act boldly and bravely on his, and his mission’s, behalf.
“Where are you taking me?” he asked his captors.
“Never you mind. You’ve caused enough trouble as it is,” said the shortest of the tall hooded figures.
“What is that smell I keep smelling?” asked Jackson.
“Erridiox,” the tallest said with a sinister smirk. “A rare element that creates fear in almost all who smell it.”
“Don’t tell him anything he doesn’t need to know!” warned the shortest.
“Well, he doesn’t need to know anything,” replied the tallest.
“Right! That’s my point!” said the shortest.
“Wait, I thought that was my point?”
“What does it matter, now?” said the third. Besides, I think he needs to understand the gravity of the situation he’s in. Maybe it will make him more… cooperative.”
“... Perhaps you’re right,” said the shortest as they traveled along.
Jackson remembered those words. He’d heard them before from the Watchmaker: ‘the gravity of the situation’. He remembered there was still something that he was missing. And despite his predicament, and despite the Erridiox, he decided to press on.
“I haven’t done anything!” said Jackson, aware of the false nature of his statement, but hoping to get them talking more.
“Pffft,” said another. “Winning the Presidency of Earth. Ruining our plans to steal the water. You call that nothing?”
Jackson’s eyes glanced to and fro. All he could tell for certain was that the NESMOD tree was getting closer.
“Ok, so Those In Charge are behind the Byzong’s plans to take our water. Why though?” asked Jackson.
“You said it yourself in the debate, didn’t you. Your oceans are one of the most valuable parts of Earth. But not just valuable, powerful. And not just Earth, but the universe,” said the shortest.
“You’re talking about salt water, aren’t you?” asked Jackson, as they half-ushered, half-carried him along.
“Naturally occurring salt water has properties beyond comprehension. Beyond comparison. And they are the only fuel that will fill our thrusters. And that is why we will do anything, absolutely anything, to get it,” explained the shortest, with more than a hint of threatening.
“Thrusters? Thrusters for what?” asked Jackson.
The hooded figures stopped for a moment and looked at each other. The two taller ones nodded at the shortest.
“Very well. I’ll tell you. Those in Charge have built a Planet Pusher.”
“A Planet Pusher?” Jackson wondered if Rozwell had ever tried to acquire one of these Planet Pushers for his shop. But in his wondering, Jackson had underestimated both the size and rarity of a Planet Pusher, as they are larger than most planets, and only one had ever been built.
“Capable of moving planets wherever we want. The thrusters are the most important part. Once we have enough ocean water, the Planet Pusher will be unleashed upon the universe.”
“To…push….planets?”
“Yes, of course!” said the shortest. “To push planets into the Rainbow Realm!”
“But why?” Jackson asked.
“The universe has become too spread out. In order to properly rule it, Those In Charge need to trap the planets in the Rainbow Realm.” said the shortest.
“Especially the ones that are causing trouble for us,’ said the tallest, with a smirk. “Soon they’ll all be following the rules of the realm, under our watchful eye.”
“But you got in the way, didn’t you?” said the shortest. “You… and the Pocket Watches.”
They stopped at the base of the NESMOD and surrounded Jackson.
“We’re all tired of the Pocket Watches getting in our way! They’ve foiled our plans for the last time. And you’re going to help us find them,” said the third.
Slowly, from all directions, more hooded figures stepped out of booths and off of conveyor belts. Dozens and dozens appeared and crowded around Jackson. The air grew thick with elemental fear. He was the new President of Earth, but in that moment, he felt powerless.
But what he saw next, among the hooded crowd coming towards him, was somehow worse. It was Tarza, being brought forward by two hooded figures.
“Jackson!” she said, giving him a hug.
“Tarza! You’re okay!” he said.
“I am, but… I think we’re in a bit of trouble,” she said.
“That’s right you are. We are The Bureau of Top Secret Investigations for Those In Charge, and we are through playing games.”
“Wow, we were so close on the name. We just had it flipped,” said Tarza.
First we will take the Pocket Watches out of the equation. And once they’re gone, we will be free to make this new President hand over Earth’s oceans, just like we planned,” said the shortest.
“Never!” said Jackson.
“We’ll see how you feel without the Pocket Watches to help fight your battles for you.”
The bubbly blue woman with orange hair came walking over to assist them.
“Good Morning! I mean, it’s sunrise somewhere, am I — oh my, what a large group!” she said with a smile.
“It’s official business for Those in Charge,” said the shortest.
“Oh my! What an honor- I’m a big fan! And what a strong scent you have! It reminds me of… I want to say, my nightmares?” she said, still smiling. “I’ll be happy to accommodate you all in a set of our Carrier Class Trains. Now, where are we going today?”
“She’ll tell you,” said a gruff hooded figure, nudging Tarza forward. “We know you use your little pocket watches to reach your headquarters. We’re finally going to find out where you’ve been hiding. Bring out your watch.”
“Another time destination? What are the odds of –- wait a second!! You two again?!” she shouted, looking between Tarza and Jackson. “You’re… you’re the fugitives! But, like, also a President now, somehow?”
“We’ve got it handled,” said the gruff one.
She gave a smug smirk and looked down on them. “Well, good! I knew you two wouldn’t get away with it. Whatever, you know… it is.”
“Now, give us the watch,” said the shortest.
“Don’t do it!” said Jackson.
Tarza didn’t know what else to do. They were trapped and she was running out of options. She placed her hand in her pocket, holding onto the pocket watch. She knew she was seconds away from giving up the location of the Pocket Watches. The last line of defense against Those In Charge. And what’s more, her friends.
Jackson desperately wished he could take them both away to somewhere safe.
Just as he’d thought they’d finally won, it had all come crashing down. And he needed help now more than ever. He wished he had a Phonus to call whoever could help. And that’s when he thought back to his call with the Clockmaker. Then he thought back to his conversation with Watchmaker. He put his hand in his own pocket and felt the watch he’d been given.
They’d both said the same thing to him about what to do if he ever got into trouble: flip it.
“Flip it how?” he wondered. “Flip what exactly?”
Then he remembered what Tarza had said. The Bureau of Top Secret Investigations for Those In Charge. They had the words flipped.
He thought back to the words on the back of the watch. “The Watchmaker’s Clock never stops.”
Suddenly, it clicked.
“Of course!” said Jackson.
“Huh?” said the gruff one.
“Um… nothing!” He turned to Tarza. “It’s no use. We have no choice but to take them there.”
Tarza looked at him with confusion and disappointment.
“All I ask is that we use my watch. As a new member of the Pocket Watches I’ve never gotten to use it and… well, if the Pocket Watches are going to be disbanded, then I’d like to use it at least once.”
Tarza looked at him intently. She knew that he wasn’t a Pocket Watch. But she didn’t know why he’d lie. His face was pleading, “trust me,” and without thinking another thought, she did.
“Yes, it’s only fair,” she said.
“Fine, fine. We don’t care whose watch, just get moving!” said the shortest.
The orange-haired woman held out her hand and tapped her toe impatiently.
Jackson pulled out the watch from his pocket and placed it in her hand. He was hoping beyond hope that he was right.
She set the time into the system and the roots opened up all around them for transport. Hooded figure after hooded figure climbed in. And finally, Jackson and Tarza.
As they shot into space in a fleet of trains, Jackson went over the words again and hoped beyond hope that he was right.
The Watchmaker’s Clock never stops, he had remembered.
And then he flipped it.
The Clockmaker’s Watch never stops.
The watch he’d been gifted, never stops.
It had always kept the time of the planet it had been built on. A planet not named Ridgea.
A planet named Uldon.