The ancient stones of Göbeklitepe stood silent in the darkness. Eleven thousand years of human history watched as Marcus prepared to leave one world for another.

 

Some members of the Keepers had arrived at the site. Marcus, Tom, and Beau were carrying the machines and cargo to the stone arch above the Earth seed. The resonance regulator hummed. The portal frame sparked with potential energy.

 

Marcus talked one last time with his counterpart on the phone.

 

"This is it then." Terran Marcus said.

 

"This is it."

 

"Good luck out there. Save our people."

 

"Take care of Irene. And yourself."

 

"I will. And Marcus..."

 

"Yeah?"

 

"Give Malachar one from me."

 

Marcus smiled despite everything. "I will."

 

He called his father next. Explained as best he could that he was leaving. His father didn't understand most of it but he understood enough. His son was going somewhere far away to do something important. That was enough for a father to say goodbye.

 

Baran and Hasan had brought the promised bribe to the security guards to make them look away. But they were still cautious about not harming the relic site.

 

"Don't worry Ahmed." Hasan reassured the nervous guard. "They won't harm anything. Let's get to the security shed and give them space." He pulled the two guards away from the zone.

 

"They won't do any satanic ritual, right?" Ahmed asked.

 

"No, no." Hasan pulled the guard along. "Put some tea on for your Hasan abi."

 

When the guards and Hasan left, Beau and Tom started unpacking their machines. Marcus noticed Baran and his cousins at the far corner, observing the environment. The Keepers had been helpful throughout. Marcus made a mental note for Terran Marcus to send some sort of gifts for them.

 

"Hasan is such a respected person here, huh?" Marcus said.

 

"Yeah." Beau answered. "I believe even if he hadn't bribed them they would still let us in."

 

While they were assembling the machines, Tom spoke up. "Marcus I am worried about Numan."

 

"I called him all day. He didn't pick up." Marcus's jaw tightened.

 

"Something must have happened. He can't be that bitter from your..."

 

"I know Tom but..." Marcus opened his arms helplessly.

 

"I didn't see him yesterday or today either." Beau said quietly.

 

They connected the devices. The resonance regulator locked into place with a satisfying click. Marcus ran copper wires from the portal frame to the seed interface. The Technology Seed and mind-freeing machines sat in their crates, ready to travel between stars.

 

Tom connected the generator. The machine rumbled to life, feeding power into their creation.

 

The last experiment at Hasan's courtyard had been successful but without the full influence of the Earth seed it hadn't been exactly a success. Now it had to work. There was no other option.

 

The air began to shimmer.

 

But a commotion was erupting at the side of the security guard shack. Shouts. Then car engines started encapsulating the environment. Tom and Beau were looking that direction, trying to understand the situation.

 

Then they heard a gunshot.

 

The portal flickered. Sparks flew. And in an instant it came to life.

 

The green, unnatural lightning-flickering portal was open. A window to another world. Energy crackled and whipped around the stone arch, ancient and alien all at once.

 

At the far corner someone was shouting.

 

"Marcus! Tom!" The shouting started coming near. "Hurry! They are here!"

 

Numan was in heavy breathing, panting. His face was bruised. His hand was cradled against his chest. One finger bent at a wrong angle.

 

He was running full speed from the northern side. Footsteps were coming from the southern side.

 

"What is going on Numan?"

 

"No time..." Pant. "...to explain..." Pant. "Go!"

 

"Stop them! Stop those infiltrators!" The voice owner was Philippe. He was running toward them with local police. Flashlight beams cut through the darkness.

 

Numan picked up the seed copy and shoved it into Marcus's hands. "Run! I will crush the gate with Beau! They won't reach you!"

 

Marcus looked at his cousin. At the portal crackling with impossible energy. At everything he was leaving behind.

 

Marcus and Tom entered the portal in a hurry. The green light swallowed them.

 

Numan raised the hammer to bash the portal controls. Beau reached for his hand.

 

"Beau?" Numan was puzzled.

 

"Stop them!" Philippe was shouting. The police had caught up to them. Flashlights blinded. Voices demanded surrender.

 

Beau looked up at Numan. His eyes were calm. Certain.

 

"You go ahead too. I will break it. Don't worry."

 

Numan's eyes filled with joy. A dream he thought was stolen given back in an instant.

 

He nodded. Jumped at the small portal.

 

The green light took him.

 

Beau watched until Numan disappeared. Then he brought the hammer down on the resonance regulator. Sparks flew. The portal flickered once, twice, and died.

 

Philippe arrived just in time to see the last traces of green energy fade from the ancient stones.

 

"No!" He screamed. "NO!"

 

But they were gone.

 

All three of them.

 

Gone to another world.

 

Beau stood among the wreckage of the portal, hammer in hand. The police surrounded him. Philippe's face was twisted with fury.

 

But Beau just smiled.

 

"They made it." He said quietly. "They made it."

 

And that was all that mattered.