In a flash, Bakari was at the base of the cinder cone. Even though the actual distance was several miles, all Bakari had to do was to use his inner eye to see himself in another place and he’d be there. Just another perk for being an extension of the Time Portal, he thought. He usually saved his energy and traveled around on Borealis like everyone else—in real time—in real space. But this was an exception. He had to do this without Sam knowing what he was up to. Five minutes left.
Bakari centered his short half-flesh half-plastic self on the trail. Glad he still had some feeling in this body, he wiggled his metallic toes against the sharp edges of the lava-rock gravel. Then he looked up to where Sam and the Blue Monkeys stood near the top of the cinder cone. The big dog was silhouetted against the bright blue sky. Bakari had shielded himself so Sam wouldn’t spot him.
Bakari had no doubt he’d be able to pull this off. But he did have some concerns about what kind of shape he’d be in when it was over—in just two minutes. Bakari used the remaining time to survey the scene.
Everything was proceeding just as in his vision. The outsiders’ ship had arrived. The humans were climbing onto the beach. From there, they would take a trail to the top of the cinder cone—where Sam and the others waited. The humans wouldn’t even pretend to be peaceful. One of them would immediately pull out some sort of weapon to shoot Sam in the chest. When the Blue Monkeys would try to stop them from leaving, the humans would kill them too.
It was time. Now the humans are in for a surprise, Bakari thought to himself. Looking inwardly, he quickly located the coordinates of a safe place in time and space. He took a deep inhale into his plastic lungs. Staring up at Sam and the Blue Monkeys, he imagined a bubble around them. That triggered the familiar chiming sounds of time travel. Then the bubble was empty. Bakari knew this would take almost all his energy reserves. He smiled weakly. Then he collapsed to the ground.
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As always, you do a terrific job with these action sequences. What I particularly like about this one is how good you are about getting in the character's body. I love Bakari wiggling his metallic toes against the sharp edges of the lava rock gravel. This really grounds us with him, and makes him real for us. Great!
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