Manhattan, New York
1942
"Sir, she's returned," a man said as he opened the door and walked into Egor's office. The blinds were pulled down and closed.
Egor had his back turned, facing the man. Upon walking into his office, Egor turned around.
Just outside of his office, there was the training arena. It's where veteran Tinkerer's (those who have experience) trained the new recruits. For every Tinkerer who had more than fifteen years of experience, there was one new recruit. Each trainee must learn and retain the skills they've been taught by their mentors.
The very existence of the Tinkerer's all began back in 1938. That year, an extraterrestrial object plummeted through the atmosphere. Containing a mysterious payload, it struck ground. About 15-20 miles from the City, the impact vibrations and shockwave ripped throughout the ground. It shook, and shook. Minutes later, the shaking and rumbling subsided.
An asteroid? A comet? Or a meteor? For now, until it's inspected and investigated, its origins remain unknown. As much as it was a mystery, many were drawn to its unearthly nature.
Egor, at that time, was amongst many who ventured to the crash site. As it descended towards the ground, it lit up the night sky similar to the brightness of the sun. A trail of smoke was all that was left after it impacted ground zero.
It was only when Egor examined it more carefully that something strange occurred. Upon touching it with his hand it impulsively began glowing green. A tiny green spark shocked his band.
"Bloody hell," Egor mumbled to himself as he rapidly shook his hand. He inhaled sharply as the pain traveled throughout his body. Gone! Whatever this may be, he couldn't allow for it to fall into the wrong hands.
After years of studying, crafting and testing different concept ideas of weaponry, he came across a futuristic idea: a silver ring, with a small piece of the emerald. By incorporating the emerald into the design of the ring, he handcrafted a prototype version.
"She has?" Egor asked, "this soon?"
"Yes. She's waiting for—," the man told Egor. But he was cut off by the opening of an oval-shaped portal. Stepping through the portal, came his soon-to-be wife Suzanne.
"You're back already?" Egor asked as he looked up and over to Suzanne. She did the same towards him.
"I'll show myself out," the male Tinkerer said as he turned around to walk back to the door. Opening and walking out, he gently closed it behind him.
"I arrived too late," she began explaining, "by the time I arrived, Amy was gone."
Egor nodded his head, rubbing his chin. Curious to know more, he walked out from behind his desk; approaching Suzanne.
"How?"
"Jumpers? Must've gotten to her before I could," she continued explaining.
Suzanne tossed her green hood back behind her; it now draped behind her back. A few nicks, scratches, and bruises, she had taken a beating.
"What happened to you? Are you okay, my love?"
"I'm fine," she told him honestly, "really. You mister…you worry too much."
"Did you retrieve the ring and camera?" Egor asked. "What about Amy? Is she here with you?"
"Jumpers got to her before I arrived. By the time I got there, I was too late."
Egor scoffed and shook his head with frustration. He turned around, beginning to rub his beard again with a hand. Sighing heavily, he turned around to face Suzane again. She could sense that he wasn't satisfied with what happened. But can you really blame her? It's not her fault. She only tried to help. Again, to remind you, she was too late.
"What about the camera?" He asked, "did you find it?"
"No," she answered, "When I returned, I was in Central Park under an oak tree. At first, I didn't see anything. When I did, however, I saw an unconscious woman lying on the ground. Didn't take me long to figure out who she was."
"And?"
"She wasn't alone."
"She wasn't?" Egor asked. "Who else was in the park with Amy?"
Suzanne closed her eyes to try and remember who she'd seen. There was Amy on the ground, and then another woman standing by her. When she awoke and got up, the other woman introduced herself.
"You okay, hon?" Emma asked as she reached into her red leather purse.
Amy looked over at Emma and nodded her head. She raised her hand and began massaging her forehead. Looking around, she tried to get a better idea of where she was and what happened. She wasn't in her attic anymore.
"Where am I?" Amy asked.
"Why you're in New York City darling," Emma answered as she examined Amy's physique from head to toe. She was dressed differently, which was odd. Emma wore white gloves on her hands.
"Say..you're not from around here, are ya darling?"
"What?" Amy asked.
The last thing she remembered was being up in her attic, holding the very camera that had belonged to her grandmother. After that, everything was a blur. The next, she woke up lying in the middle of the pathway, with Emma standing over her looking down. Was this time travel? If it was, Amy had to be careful of what she says, does, and acts. One wrong word, move, or action could ripple through time and change the future.
"Tell ya what darling," Emma said, "come with me…back to my hideout. There's food, water, and some fresh linens. We'll figure this out, the two of us. But not here."
Suzanne opened her eyes. She was tense and frightened by the memory of what she'd seen earlier in the park.
"What? What'd you see?" Egor asked.
"It's her," Suzanne said. Egor placed his hands on her cheeks and looked her straight in the eyes. "It's Emma. They've taken her back to their–their hideout."
Suzanne grabbed his hands and held them. She was panicking inside and out. Egor knew this. But there was little they could do by standing around.
"I disguised myself as a woman walking her dog in the park so I wouldn't be made. Emma knows my face. And if she'd seen me, who knows what she would've done to Amy."
"Without her. Without the camera. We won't be able to stop them. We need to get her back," Egor exclaimed, "She's more powerful than we think."
"Easier said than done," Suzanne mumbled.
Egor sighed as he thought mentally to himself for a moment. Their plan? What's their plan?
"Tell everyone to suit up and get ready," Egor asked as he turned around and walked back over to his desk.
"What's our plan?"
"We're going to rescue Amy," Egor said, "whatever it takes to bring her back safely, that's what I'm willing to risk."
"We cannot just waltz in there and demand they hand her over," Suzanne said. "They won't give her up without putting up a fight."
"Like I said darling, whatever it takes to bring her home."
"You're choosing to ignore the risk behind doing this. For all we know, they could've manipulated her into thinking they're the good guys. Telling her that we're the bad guys."
Egor turned around, slamming his hands down on his desk in anger. Suzanne jumped.
"She is our only chance at winning this ever-lasting war," Egor said, "now listen to me. Why can't you just trust I know what I'm doing?"
"Pompeii. 79 A.D," Suzanne said. Egor scoffed and smiled. He shook his head. She smiled too, but put her hand in front of her mouth.
"You're joking, are you not?" Egor asked. "Are you still mad about what happened?"
"How do I say this without sounding like a ragging doll head?"
"You aren't making fun of me are you?" Egor asked, "because that's what ragging means."
"Does it now?" Suzanne asked.
"It does."
"Fine, I'll go ready a team. I'll come back and let you know when we're ready. I didn't mean to snap your hat, love."
"It's quite alright dear," Egor said as he looked up and over at her with a reassuring smile on his face; although it was subtle. "Be quick now."
On the other side of the City, Amy still believed that she was with the right people. After all, Emma did show her the ring she'd been wearing. It did match Amy's ring…down to the minute detail. When the two rings were near, they glowed impulsively. That was enough to convince Amy that Emma was a good guy. That the Jumpers, who are tricking her into thinking they're the real Tinkerers, were the good guys.
Amy had left her room after sometime talking to Ruth. After a change of clothes and a warm shower, her training was due to begin shortly. The ring she possesses is no longer on a necklace around her neck. It's now on her finger.
As they walked down the hallway, Amy had numerous questions. Questions that she hoped Ruth would be able to answer for her. There are other Tinkerers walking about.
"Good morning," Ruth said with a nod and subtle smile.
"Good morning," Helen, a female Tinkerer said.
"I'd like for you two to meet Amy, our newest recruit," Ruth nodded once to Amy.
"Pleasure to meet you," she said. "I'm Amy."
Helen and Bernard were walking in the opposite direction, heading who knows where to do who knows what. When Helen held her hand out to shake Amy's, Ruth noticed that she was wearing their orange and silver rings and not the green ones they were given to wear.
"Ahem," Ruth muttered as Bernard and Helen glanced over to their left at her. Amy did this too. Without making it too obvious, Ruth scratched the back of her head.
Bernard was first to notice that they were wearing the wrong rings. If Amy had noticed, she could've become suspicious of them. That was the last thing any Jumper wanted. Maintaining their cover was a must if they wanted to maintain their lie. They need to stay one step ahead for many reasons. Anything could go wrong…and it almost did. If Ruth hadn't stepped in, their cover would've been compromised.
Emma and the masked man came around the corner. They were walking towards everyone gathered in the hallway. Bernard and Helen both quickly swapped their orange rings out for the fake emerald-green ones given to them by Emma.
"They're going to come for her, you know," Shockwave muttered to Emma. She turned her head and looked up at him. She put on a smile to not bring attention to what was going to happen or what they were talking about.
"Amy dear," Emma said as she held her hand out. "I see you've settled in just fine."
"A warm shower, fresh linens. You've been so generous. Thank you," Amy replied.
Emma walked up to her. "Walk with me."
Amy grabbed Emma's hand, the two of them walking back over to where Shockwave was. Ruth, Bernard, and Helen all watched them disappear around the corner.
"You dimwits almost blew our cover," Ruth said in anger. "Idiots!" Ruth then stormed away. As she did, she shouted "idiots" again before turning left and going down a different hallway.
Amy, Shockwave, and Emma had come upon a room with its door wide open. Emma held her hand out, signaling to Amy to go into the room first. She went in after her, and Shockwave went in after Emma. He closed the door behind him.
By flipping a switch, Shockwave turned the lights on. On all four walls, there were framed pictures of past Tinkerers. The rings they'd worn were resting on a stand, covered and encased in a glass box.
"This is where we honor and remember our fallen heroes," Emma said.
"Extraordinary," Amy said in awe.
"It is," Emma replied as she glanced back over her right shoulder at Shockwave. He looked at her. Nothing further needed to be said. He nodded his head, walking back over to flip the other light switch.
Flip! Amy walked over to a framed, painted portrait of a woman. A name, just under the painting, was lit up by a single spotlight.
Hiss! Whoosh! The east wall, the one Amy was standing by, began slowly coming down. Gears could be heard as they cranked and turned. The air hissed as it escaped through the crevices of the wall.
"Woah," Amy mumbled as she took a few steps back from the wall. As it continues to lower down, she turns to look over at Emma and Shockwave. "What's happening?"
"I'm curious. Tell me, did Suzanne ever tell you about the battles she fought or the enemies she encountered?" Emma asked as she approached Amy. Emma now stood to her left.
"If she had, I'd answer yes," Amy said, "I've only ever been told stories about you, the Tinkerers. What you did to keep the world safe; and the city itself too. If she did tell those tales, I'd remember."
Emma looked back over her shoulder at Shockwave, nodding her head once. After doing that, Emma turned around. Everyone was looking into the dark abyss of what was behind the wall. Once it was down completely, the air hissed again.
"Lights please," Emma said back to Shockwave.
Flip! Click! There was a short delay in between flipping the switch, to the actual lights turning on. Click, click, click. Row by row, light by light, they all flickered to life. The first thing Amy noticed were the cages scattered around. A good number of them were occupied by people. Men, women, children, elderly.
"They're back," a caged up woman shouted, "they're back!"
"Who's back? I can't see?" A man exclaimed.
The old man was blind. This is why he asked that question. Many moaned, many groaned. Many banged on their cages, while others shouted harsh slang words at Emma, Shockwave, and even Amy.
"They're coming," Shockwave blurted out, "they're coming."
Emma glanced over at Amy. Amy could see the panic in her eyes, reflecting back at her. This is when Amy started to get a bad feeling in her gut. A feeling she only encounters if she's in danger. Little did she know…she was.
The jig was almost up. Emma and Shockwave were preparing to reveal their true selves to her. Emma pretended to be nice, warm, and welcoming. But that was just all part of their disguise. Standing next to Amy, Emma slowly reached into her blue dress front pocket. Cautiously taking what she grabbed out, she slid the green ring off her finger. By putting her orange and silver ring on, she dropped the green one onto the floor. Amy looked over at her, then down at the floor. Just as she did, a bright orange burst of energy shot out of Emma's right hand, obliterating the green ring and turning it to dust. Amy jumped and gasped.
"Sweet Jesus," Amy said. "What was that for?"
"To destroy that ratchet, quaint ring."
Amy tilted her head slightly, scratching her head a few times.
"Who are these people? Why are you keeping them in cages? I thought your ring was green. So why did that energy blast come out of your hand orange?"
"In time you will see," Emma said, "In–."
Shockwave had lost patience and blasted Amy with a burst of black energy; similar to thick black smoke. Amy yelped as she flew back a few feet, falling and sliding on the floor. As she continued to slide, it came to an abrupt stop when her head smacked right into the wall.
Laying flat on her back, she remained unconscious. Emma turned around to look back at Shockwave. She's pissed.
"We don't have much time left," Shockwave told her, "and I grew impatient."
Emma rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. Shaking her head, she turned around and walked over to where Amy was lying on the floor. Getting down onto her knees, she grabbed Amy's right hand to check for a pulse.
Although weak and faint, she's still alive. Her breathing seemed normal too, showing no signs of injury. As for her head…well that's a whole different story. She was bleeding out of her ear and nose.
"Prep the damn machine!" Emma asked as she got back up."We don't have much time. I have a feeling we won't be in hiding much longer."