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He had been transfixed. The first time, he had ever met one of ITs, he had to say ‘IT’ because he did not know of anything re that race. Its gender or ? Some Human(a) origins but that too could be insulting to some. In truth Human(a) were not with those ‘Efru’ (Ears).
The ‘glassy stare’, made him feel as though IT was also curious?
“You are Nodu of the Arcan?” He nodded. “You are.” He paused to recall th name. “Yie of the Caijia.” IT smiles, SMILED interrupting him. 
The object in her hands grasped tightly, irradiated by a band of colour. The inner core of it almost blinding as the light intensity flared.
“The celestial clock. I have held onto it, after it was seized from the raiders.”
Trusted by ITs people, to deliver it back to its rightful owners; the Arcan. “Do you, know, if it still works?” Yie shook her head. She he had now been made aware of its ‘gender’. Her answer was no surprise.
The craft they had taken it from, was NOT capable of controlling the device “I, do not have the means to test it.” He had her follow him to the
Portei Semperu’.
Stepping into it she was astonished by its compact size. Larger than she had expected, but they could be deceptive as they came in all shapes and sizes. Terminals fixed and some were regular common designs.
A means, to get from there, to somewhere else, from a fixed point in time to another that could be anywhere. What she held in her hands, was the power controller, the high energy version, capable of operating an entire ‘terminal array.
This was NOT a regular Portei, it was a craft. The interior, was equipped, with a full array, of various controls, seating and, a lower deck area, for comfort, relaxing, chilling. NOT the same, as her own races
in layout, BUT.
Recognising the configuration and, controls from shared knowledge re the Kets Akademy.
A place where the Kets go to gain life experiences, learn about other races and technologies.
The power, navigation controls were not unusual to her.
The empty shell, in the middle, of what we would know, as a console, was distinct and she recognised it as the housing for the Celestial clock? He placed it there and, the screens, illuminated, pulsing away.
The Arcan tech, was NOT taught. This ‘celestial clock’, as her race knew it, was strictly Arcan and, only they were allowed the use of and, the ability to, repair, install, maintain such devices.
Powering collider tunnel devices, enabled quick transfers from one point to another, at light speed.
To a Portei Semperu on land, in space or ! Time travel, the ability to shift in time, was only known to the Arcan.
They, were VERY strict, about WHO could do that.
Rules applied, to the ones, they call the O M I N I I who, were unlike the Omini, keepers of the gateways, to other worlds, dimensions and more, generated, created and maintained by them. Often serving the Gods of creation.
The penultimate Gods.
Nodu was an Arcan, but of the house of Omer. Scientists, would be a good description but he was and, had been recognised, as being one of their best, for his skills, were almost close to those of an Omini.
THAT among his own, had gained him a lot of respect. Always polite, intuitive and well liked. HOWEVER, he was not, without his idiosyncrasies. He was bored. YES, bored. The more he learned, the more he absorbed, until he had reached stalemate.
All that he could, he had. All was not strictly true. Some aspects, including time travel, was NOT permitted for him to know. The use, of the celestial clock, within the Portei Semperu mainframe, as one capable of such; was forbidden.
Secretly, he, had reviewed the data. Sure he, could adapt a system ILLEGALLY, more than capable to allow him to do just that. BUT?! To do something like that on his own, was not something he was interested in.
A sociable aspect to him, was now entertaining Yie. She liked him, for his humour, though it could be, a little darker than she was used to, the confidence he exuded intermixed with his charisma was intoxicating.
How long, she had been on that planet and of course the usual DISCOURSE, had been fun, amiable and the more they talked the more they were becoming good friends.
If and IF, time was quickly passing, they were too caught up in the moment to realize, how late it had become.
Pitch black, OK, some stars. A thick mist had descended making visibility almost impossible.
Given the situation, Nodu had been quick to suggest that Yie stayed over so to speak and could have the reserve recline unit. An integrated sealed, well almost sealed unit, usually used for travel through hyper space.
The unit, emitted pulse waves, of a rem nature, that were soothing and relaxing. IT scanned the occupants thought waves, reacted and for some, removed the more disturbing ones.
Soon Yie was fast asleep. Nodu had returned to the Celestial clock and was aware that all seemed to be in working order. More than aware ealier of how cramped this area was with Yie stood next to him but he could do little other than a major refit to change that.
Overnight, he, could carry out, some other diagnostics and tests, plus apply some updates to the systems whilst they both slept. Returning to his adjacent recline, he slipped into it, after taking care of other necessities, to finally fall asleep. The systems were lighting up, buzzing and carrying out the instructions that had been given.
The Celestial Clock Nodu knew, should be removed, from the systems when they were in CRAFT SYSTEMS diagnostic / updating mode. Whether it was tiredness, or some forgetfulness, brought on by the scent of Yie still on his nostrils, one could never know.
What was a FACT however, was the systems, doing some strange things, linked to that Celestial Clock.
The audio systems, had recorded the conversations between Nodu and his guest, captured their thought waves?
The intimations, of a desire, by both of them, to get out of this ‘boredom’ both of them had come to recognise that lay within them, was being fed into the systems.
The systems AI entity a sentient life form and though Nodu understood it functions, its functionality he had never fully understood them. The being within it so to speak, speak being the operative word here was talking.
Talking to another,communicating! Listening and that? Was a very powerful being. An ancient being, who smiled, yes SMILED. Now the instructions were being ‘parsed’ into the crafts systems to make some radical alterations.
Ones that modified the Celestial clock, converting it into a craft capable of time travel and ?
Time shifting. The interior of the craft, had changed. New additions to its structure; to its controls.
On waking, the two of them, had done their necessary chores and, were now clean and tidy, before their refreshments had been consumed. Watered and fed, in a very convivial mood, they were both sensing some disappointment at the thought of being parted?
They headed up to the main control area. As they followed each other in they stared and let out a gasp.
BIGGER much BIGGER area than before. Spacious was an understatement. “I did not think you could do that to a craft like this and so fast!”
Nodu was quick to mutter under his breath “ Neither did I”!
Now in front of the Celestial clock! Its face, had changed.
Data and more ? What it had been, to now, the night before
The screens, illuminated, to show outside of the Portei Semperu.. NOT, where they had been, NOT her planet.
They stood there, continuing to stare, before turning to look at each other. Nodu, had moved, to now discover the truth. Telling her, she was taken by surprise BUT to his surprise; she was not upset by the news.
“You mean we have travelled somewhere in time? “ He nodded..
but WHERE?
To be continued..
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