Chapter 27: Eldington Microphones

For a multitude of reasons, that are simple on their own and collectively complicated, and will be explained right now, Jackson did not know for certain if they were headed in the direction of Uldon or Ridgea. 

Objects in space are never at rest. The stars, planets, and even galaxies themselves are always moving. This means that even if Jackson remembered which direction he had exited Pelligrant’s Station in (the first time left,  when heading to Ridgea), it would not help determine if they were headed there now, since Ridgea’s position had changed since then. However, Ridgea’s relative location to Pelligrant’s Station would not have changed much, that is to say it would have changed an insignificant amount, considering that Ridgea is a great distance away, compared to the relative distance of its orbit. To put it in Earth terms, it would be like moving a marble that is a mile away in a small circle- the marble would still be in the same general direction from you as you walked towards it. Therefore if Jackson remembered the direction of Ridgea from Pelligrant’s Station, you might assume that he might be able to determine if they were headed there now. However, however, that does not take into account that Pelligrant’s Station itself might be moving as well, since all objects in space are in motion, meaning Jackson would not know how much the station itself had moved and in what direction since he was last there, and could therefore not determine if he was on track for Ridgea once again. However, however, however, Pelligrant’s Station happens to have a Gyroscopic Equal & Opposite Force Alignment System (GEO-FORCE), keeping it in the same relative position from the center and corners of the universe, meaning that if Jackson remembered the direction in which he’d left Pelligrant’s Station, he could be confident that the planet of Ridgea was located in the same general direction in which he had traveled last time, since the station had not moved, and Ridgea’s movement would not have affected the direction they would need to be heading in to reach it. However, however, however, however, having no information on where Uldon was located (besides a pocket watch with what he hoped was the correct time destination), Jackson could not know for certain whether or not it was near Ridgea or on the other side of the universe, so even if he could remember in which direction they had left the station the first time, and recognized they were headed in the same direction, he would not be able to know if that was also the direction of Uldon, and could not determine to which planet they were currently headed. However, however, however, however, however, Jackson did not remember which direction they’d left Pelligrant’s Station from the first time, and had paid even less attention while leaving the station this second time, so this subject is decidedly moot.

Inside the train, he and Tarza sat in silence. When the hooded figures settled in and began chatting to each other, they finally began to whisper.

“Jackson,” said Tarza. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“So do I,” he said. “... and that’s President Jackson.”

She couldn’t help but laugh.

“Quiet you two!” said a hooded figure.

Tarza looked out the window, equally unsure as Jackson about where they were headed, but for reasons that do not require an in-depth explanation. 

The Erridiox inside the train was stinging Jackson’s nostrils. 

“What’s going to happen when we get there?” asked Jackson to the hooded figures.

“You’re going to take all of us to your headquarters, and we’re going to apprehend the Pocket Watches. 

“You can’t do that!” said Tarza, turning back to them. 

“Of course we can! Those in Charge are in charge of doing what’s best for the universe and we will do whatever we want… I mean, whatever it takes, to make that happen,” said a particularly nasty hooded figure.

“It’s not right,” said Tarza.

Jackson pulled out the Clockmaker’s Watch and looked at the face of it. It was as simple as he remembered. But, for the first time, he noticed a small latch on the side. He looked around to see if anyone was watching, then clicked open the latch. The face of the watch opened up to reveal the inside. Jackson saw dozens and dozens of gears and dials. He watched with fascination as they spun and turned and clicked, each to a different rhythm. It was one of the most complex pieces of equipment he had ever seen. It had been made with an extraordinary amount of care, and Jackson hoped beyond hope that he had been right to hand it to the attendant at Pelligrant’s Station.

A little while later (three complete spins of the largest gear in the watch and one quarter spin of the smallest), the train began to slow.

“We’re almost there!” said a hooded figure. “Ready all teams!”

The planet was straight ahead, and Jackson and Tarza couldn’t seem to get a good view of it from their seats in the back. As they entered the atmosphere, Tarza and Jackson looked out the side windows but were blocked again, this time by gaseous bursts along the outside of the train. Within moments, the train touched down.

As they exited, Jackson saw a dozen more trains, all settled along the same set of tracks. The station they had landed at looked shiny and new. If Jackson didn’t know any better he would say it had been freshly built.

Once they were outside and had a chance to look around, the hooded figures began to murmur. 

They were at the bottom of a deep, cavernous ravine. The sides were towering over them, with rich orange stone. But even more disconcerting, was that the station itself was surrounded by a metal cage with an open top.

“I don’t understand?!” where are the Pocket Watches, said a hooded figure.

“Where are we?! What’s the meaning of this?!” demanded another.

“Wait a second… I know this planet! This isn’t right!” said the nasty one.

Jackson and Tarza stepped out last. When they did, a gold cube descended from the top of the ravine and hovered over the cage. The hooded figures looked up in confusion as the bottom of the cube opened, and two metal claws came shooting down towards the trains. Before anyone could say a word, the claws clutched Jackson and Tarza.

“Stop them!” shouted the closest hooded figure. But it was too late. The claws lifted Jackson and Tarza up out of the cage and flew them to the top of the ravine. 

On their way up and out, the pair finally got to see the planet they had landed on. It was a planet of metal and rock, with impressive structures all around, but empty rivers and oceans. And Jackson knew they were empty because, on Uldon, there was not an ounce of salt water left.

Just as they were dropped gently on a platform with five stately and important-looking Uldonites, the massive cage lid slammed shut on the station and hooded figures down below with a loud clang.

“Let us out!” shouted a hooded figure, barely audible to the Uldonites above. The rest began to shout and talk over each other.

One of the Uldonites stepped forward, holding an Eldington Microphone, the finest, most advanced free-standing amplification microphone on the market, with over 120 settings and a gold-coated tip. Had Jackson been using an Eldington Microphone, rather than a podium amplification system, during the debate, it is doubtful that he would have had any technical difficulties. 

The Uldonite was much older than the Watchmaker, but Jackson noticed that she had the same eyes. 

“A lovely entrance,” she said to Tarza. “Welcome to Uldon.”

“A most stunning planet,” she complimented. “My name is Tarza.”

“Oh I know. My grandson has told me much about you. But you,” she said turning to Jackson. “I believe we’ve spoken once before.”

“You’re the Clockmaker!” said Jackson.

“I am,” she said, bowing ever-so-slightly.

“How did we get here?” asked Tarza.

“It seems that your friend here figured it out. He used my watch as a compass and tricked Those In Charge to coming back to Uldon. And this time, we made sure we were ready. A fine job, Jackson.” 

Tarza peered over the edge at the cage. “What’s going to happen to them?” she asked.

The Clockmaker smirked. “That’s my favorite part.” She lifted up the Eldington Microphone and began broadcasting her voice throughout the canyon.

“Who speaks for you?” asked her now booming, deep, and gravely voice. “It’s a little voice alteration setting I like to use,” she whispered to Tarza and Jackson, covering the gold tip for just a moment. 

“I do!” shouted the particularly nasty hooded figure. “Now let us out or you’ll be in big trouble!”

“Silence!” said the booming voice. The hooded figures cowered back.

“Those in Charge have been tried and found guilty of stealing the oceans and seas of Uldon!” said the voice.

“Uldon?!” shouted another hooded figure. 

“Oh no, oh no,” said another.

“How dare you! Those in Charge can’t be guilty of anything! They make the rules! They’re… in charge!” the hooded figure shouted.

“Those of us in charge have more obligation than any to do the right thing. To make just rules and to follow them, always,” boomed the Clockmaker. 

“You’re no match for Those in Charge!” shouted the particularly nasty hooded figure. “Last time we were here we stole your water and there was nothing you could do about it! Your planet is only built to bunker in, not do battle!” he said with a sinister smile.

“That’s right,” answered the voice. “And there’s nobody better at it than us. Our Uldonite structures can keep anyone out for as long as we want.” She covered up the golden tip again and whispered to Jackson and Tarza. “I’m going to pause now for dramatic effect.”

“And keep anyone in for as long as we want, too!” echoed the voice.

The hooded figures again murmured amongst each other, looking at the cage that held them. 

“Our cages are built to last for 200,000 years. Give or take. And they will not open by force,” she finished.

The hooded figures began to realize their predicament. 

After a long pause, they heard a faint cry from below.

“What do you want??” asked the hooded figure.

“Our water,” said the voice.

The hooded figures stomped around and made scowling faces up at them, but given the distance, and the fact that hoods covered their faces, it did not have the desired effect (or any effect at all).

“Your cage was specially built by our finest engineers. If you ever want to get out of there, there’s only one way. You sit at the bottom of what was once the Marzal Sea. When the salt water is returned and the sea levels on the entire planet rise, so too will your cage.”

She pointed to a lever sticking out of the sea wall, just below the top.

“Every dry sea bed, every empty ocean, and every formerly salty stream on the planet has levers like these. Only when they’re all switched up at the same time from the water returning, will your cage rise and the key be unlocked.”

“... and if we refuse?” asked the hooded figure.

“Then you’d better make yourself at home,” she echoed again.

There was a pause. It was not for dramatic effect, but for great consternation. The hooded figures were beat, and they knew it, but they did not like to be beaten, and they did not accept it easily.

Jackson and Tarza held their breath for a moment, waiting for their answer.

After much thinking, the particularly nasty one called back up…

“I’ll need to contact the Rainbow Realm.”

“It will be arranged,” she said.

“Now,” she said to Jackson and Tarza with a smile. “Join us for a sip of tea?”

Jackson and Tarza looked at each other in disbelief, then followed the Clockmaker and other Uldonites. They sat down at a white iron table with mechanized chairs. 

“You…you did it. Thank you for saving us,” said Jackson.

“It was the least we could do. You did deliver them here to us,,” she replied. 

“Will they bring back the water?” asked Jackson.

“They will,” she said. “The Bureau of Top Secret Investigations for Those In Charge is too important for them to let sit in a cage.”

“You know their name too?” asked Tarza.

“We do now. We’ve been quite busy as of late... The truth is, we allowed the theft of our oceans to stand for too long. Had it not been for my grandson and you Pocket Watches, we might never have gotten our water back. And you,” she said to Jackson. “Your call is what changed everything.”

Jackson blushed. “Well, I’m glad to hear it.”

“What will you do now?” she asked them.

“I guess I should probably get back to Earth, now that I’m President.”

“Are you now?” asked the Clockmaker. “Very impressive.”

“And I should probably get back to the Pocket Watches,” said Tarza.

“Oh?” said the Clockmaker.

“We might be safe from Those In Charge for now, but there are plenty of threats out there. It’s a big universe,” she answered. 

“It is.” 

Jackson took a sip of the tea in front of him. It made him feel warm inside. 

He had a question to ask but, of all the tasks that had been set before him, this one felt the most daunting to him. He took another sip and then a deep breath.

“What if… what if I came with you?” he asked. “Maybe I could help you, and the Watchmaker, and the rest of the Pocket Watches.”

Tarza smiled. “We would like nothing more. And I dare say we’ve never seen a resume like yours before. But… what about Earth?”

“Well, I suppose, um… well….” Jackson searched for an answer.

“Perhaps I could be of assistance,” said the Clockmaker, snapping her fingers.

A young Uldonite came forward holding a purple box and laid it on the table.

“After our call, I sent a team to Bandango Fazaar. They found the shop you had been hiding in. It was in quite a state of disarray. The shop owner had apparently abandoned it- some nefarious characters from his past had found out he was there. Sifting through the rubble, they were able to find what I sent them for.”

The Clockmaker opened up the box and revealed the Phonus.

Jackson couldn’t believe his eyes.

“It has come in handy more than once already. Go on,” she said. “Give it a try. Consider it a thank you.”

Jackson looked at Tarza. She shrugged and nodded her head.

He picked up the Phonus and said “Hello.”

“Hello?” answered a voice. 

“Who said that?” said another.

“It’s me… um, Jackson.”

“Jackson! Where are you?! Are you and Tarza okay??” Jackson recognized the voice this time.

“Arn?” he asked.

“Yes! It’s me! I’m here with the Cabinet of Secretaries. “Where are you?? We don’t see you!”

“I’m actually on Uldon. It’s a long story,” said Jackson.

“Uldon?! Preposterous!” said the Secretary of Aliens.

“Hush now,” said a voice he recognized as Olga Svarinski’s.

“Is Tarza with you? Are you both okay?” asked Arn.

“Yes, we’re safe. Actually… we’re doing great. Those in Charge won’t be bothering us, for a while at least.”

“Huzzah!” said Marshall. “A great victory for the Exterior!”

“What are you talking about?!” said Marsha. “What does this have to do with the Exterior.”

“They’re on another planet! It doesn’t get more Exterior than that!” he shouted.

“Arn has been extremely helpful since you left,” said Olga abruptly. “But I’m afraid I have to ask, will you be coming back soon?”

“I’m sure we’d all love to hear about what happened. And, well, there are many matters still to attend to, I’m afraid,” added Arn. 

“Why don’t you take care of them, Arn,” said Jackson.

“Well, some of these matters are not suited for a Vice President to—”

“You don’t understand,” interrupted Jackson. “I mean, why don’t you be the President.”

“But… You can’t mean it,” stumbled Arn.

“I do,” said Jackson. “Olga, can it be done?”

“It certainly can. If that’s what you want. All you’d have to do is resign,” she answered.

“Jackson, you shouldn’t do anything in haste, this is a big decision,” said Arn.

“I became President in haste. Pretty much everything I’ve done has been in haste. And to be honest, I think I’ve gotten pretty good at it.” Tarza smiled at him as he spoke.

“But this decision is one I’m sure of. I was never meant to be President. And something tells me you were. And besides, I have other work to do… Olga, I resign as President of Earth.”

“Do we have at least two witnesses to this resignation?” asked Olga loudly.

Jackson held out the phone. 

“It is witnessed by Tarza, former engineer of the Byzong Fleet.”

“And witnessed by the Clockmaker of Uldon.”

“Well then,” said Olga over the Phonus. “President Fickle’s resignation is effective immediately.”

Jackson let out a sigh. “Wow, that was easy.”

“I won’t let you down, Jackson. Thank you,” said Arn.

“I know you won’t,” he said.

“Come see me when you get back,” said Arn.

“I will,” said Jackson.

“Now, time to get to business President Brule,” said Olga.

Jackson hung up the Phonus without another word.

“With Arn becoming President, it would seem there’s an opening in the Pocket Watches,” said Tarza. 

“I wonder,” asked Jackson. “Do you know what time it is on Ridgea?”

She pulled out her pocket watch and smiled.