45.Ship to Golden Golf

When all those creatures and advanced technologies began to survive in this new world, they gradually lost sight of their original duty. They became engulfed in a relentless struggle for food, power, and dominance—driven by hunger, jealousy, and primal competition.

The human beings who had once time-travelled to this era slowly vanished, for they were too weak to endure the brutal challenges of survival. Yet, in their stead, certain beings emerged—creatures that combined raw power with sheer will, laying the foundations for an entirely new civilization.

This breakthrough sparked a tremendous wave of technological advancement that eventually propelled life into the vast expanse of space—a realm now revered as the divine land.

For thousands upon thousands of years, civilizations prospered in this realm. However, amidst their soaring achievements, they forgot the very reason that had driven them to time travel and settle here in the first place.

Those who had hoped to reverse the tide of destruction by journeying back in time were either slain or lost to oblivion, and their noble quest had never been fulfilled.

Sambh's voice broke the heavy silence. "Is this my purpose too?" he asked, his tone mingling uncertainty with a hint of determination.

Weismier, the wise elder among them, answered solemnly, "This is the true purpose of every time traveller from the future of Earth. We all share this burden and destiny."

Ruchi, ever inquisitive, interjected, "But what about the connection between you, Sambh, and Sage Sandh? Why would someone like him, who I've never seen among our organization, be so intent on killing you—as if he had been waiting for you all along? He even mentioned that he was ordered to kill you but was shot by someone else."

Weismier listened carefully before responding, "I have no clear idea who fired that shot from within the room, but there is someone who can answer this question." He paused as Sambh's eyes narrowed in thought.

"There is someone," Sambh said slowly, "who might explain it all—the one who looked exactly like me, who killed every duplicate of my father."

Both Ruchi and Weismier leaned in, asking in unison, "Who?"

"Sayera," Sambh replied without hesitation.

Ruchi's eyes widened in surprise. "Who is this Sayera, and when did you meet him?"

Sambh recalled his first arrival in the city. "When I first came here, I attended the jury for the registration of new arrivals. That's when I saw him—a man caught as a thief for stealing the three diamonds of the Tower."

Ruchi's tone was laced with astonishment. "I never expected him to be your colleague!"

Weismier then asked, "Is he still here?"

"He told me to meet him in the prison," Sambh replied. "He must be waiting there."

After a brief silence, Ruchi added, "I checked the prisoner files on Prison Island, but there's no one listed as Sayera. The record shows only one man—the thief who stole the diamonds—and his name is Bdoll."

Sambh confirmed, "Yes, it is him."

"Wait—how can that be?" Ruchi asked, perplexed.

Weismier explained, "He is not a fixed entity. He constantly changes his form, as he is merely a program that hacks into minor technologies and nearby robots. He must have taken over Bdoll's body."

Ruchi smiled wryly. "In this era of advanced technology, such corruptions are as rampant as diseases."

Weismier added reassuringly, "Yet, he never truly harms anyone—he only seeks to help."

With that, Ruchi opened a shimmering portal. "Let's go to Prison Island," she declared. "We will surely learn the truth from him."

Sambh hesitated for a moment before asking, "Ruchi, can we free him?"

After a brief pause, Ruchi answered, "Yes, of course. Once you meet him, he will willingly relinquish his current form and adopt a new one to assist us. It is only natural that an innocent soul like his should not be punished."

They bid farewell to Weismier and stepped through the portal. Before parting, Weismier called out, "Sambh, you're leaving me too early. Don't worry—I will help you reach Golden Golf to meet Sage Sandh and uncover the truth. Once you free Sayera, return to the merchant ship bound for Golden Golf. That is your path forward."

Sambh nodded in gratitude as he began walking away, and with a final flash, the portal closed behind them.

As they journeyed onward, the weight of their past and the mysteries of their future pressed upon them. The world they had built—where survival was won through fierce competition and advanced technology—had once been a sanctuary.

Yet, in the chaos of evolution and technological prowess, the original purpose of time travel had been lost. The noble mission to save humanity from total destruction had faded into obscurity, replaced by selfish pursuits and ceaseless rivalry.

Now, with the promise of uncovering hidden truths, Sambh, Ruchi, and Weismier faced a crossroads. Their conversation had only deepened the enigma surrounding Sage Sandh, the mysterious figure whose orders had once sealed Sambh's fate.

The mention of Sayera—this elusive, shape-shifting program masquerading in different bodies—added another layer of intrigue. Who was he really, and what role did he play in the grand tapestry of time?

As the trio moved further into the unknown, the dark silhouette of Prison Island loomed ahead like a grim sentinel. Its rugged cliffs and shadowed alleys whispered of secrets long buried, of lives twisted by technology and fate. The chill in the air seemed to carry echoes of a past where human ambition and desperation had reshaped destiny itself.

Ruchi's voice broke the silence, steady yet filled with anticipation, "Sambh, do you think freeing him will answer the questions that haunt us?"

Sambh's eyes glinted with a mix of determination and uncertainty as he replied, "I believe it is the only way to finally understand our purpose. Our past is intertwined with our future, and every revelation brings us one step closer to restoring what was once lost."

Their words hung in the air, charged with the promise of discovery and the threat of unforeseen consequences. They approached the foreboding gates of Prison Island, a sense of urgency and trepidation took hold.

In that moment, as the island's secrets beckoned and the wind whispered of a destiny yet unfulfilled, the path ahead was shrouded in both hope and peril. The journey had only just begun, and the ultimate truth—hidden in the labyrinth of time—awaited them in the darkness beyond.