CHAPTER 137: THE LEGEND OF GURBANOV

Marcus was packing the sandwiches he had prepared all morning when he ran into homeowner Harry. He now felt obliged to make cheap meal alternatives since four people were trying to survive without actually earning any money.

Harry took an apple from the counter and greeted Marcus with his usual energy.

"You guys here for a couple more days huh?"

"Yeah it will actually be resolved today I think. Whether we are going back or not." He remembered Harry might be asking for the daily fee. "But don't worry I will be sending you today's money."

"Oh thanks. No I wasn't asking for that." Harry leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. "I noticed your cousin doesn't eat much protein and I never see him working out. How is he so buffed?" His face twisted with genuine confusion. "I mean I'm grinding all day. Following the most perfect routine. Keeping my nutrition exact." He shrugged his sculpted shoulders.

Marcus chuckled. "Well he is a bit different. He grew up in a place that was all organic." He had to lie. He couldn't tell him that magic was Tom's steroids.

Today they had a meeting with Alexi Gurbanov. Marcus had done his research on the man. Apparently the half Russian, half Azerbaijani man had been present for most important anthropological discoveries on Earth. After a fallout with his government officials, possibly embezzlement, he had come to the USA. Now he was mostly lecturing given his age.

Marcus woke Tom and they took a ride to NYC once again. Again Marcus had to drag Tom away from admiring every technological wonder. While walking on the corridors Tom touched Marcus's shoulder.

"You see that close image of this planet's moon?" Tom asked.

"Yeah."

"Your ancestors went there with a metal ship. Is that true?" Tom looked puzzled.

"Who told you that?"

"Yesterday we were talking with Harry. He showed me moving pictures. You call them movies."

"Yes. Nearly fifty years ago brilliant scientists did that but they are not really ancestors."

"Amazing. This planet is so much more than.."

"Wait you talked with Harry? How?" Marcus puzzled over the communication issue.

"I learned some. He taught me some with images. Whatever he wants to tell me, when he pushes buttons it shows up on the screen."

"Oh I get it."

"He showed me muscley guys and pointed at me but I couldn't get what he was asking." Tom shrugged.

Marcus chuckled but stopped Tom because they had arrived at the office. Marcus knocked on the door and opened it.

Dr. Alexi was an old thin man with short white hair and a clean shaven face with a white moustache. He welcomed them with a slight Russian accent and a straight demeanor. He had a hardness like a military man. His posture was rigid despite his age.

"Come sit," he said, pointing to chairs. "Marcus right?" He pointed at them.

"Yes sir."

"Lawson mentioned you are curious about Göbeklitepe. What exactly are you wondering? You are not a journalist or student." His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Marcus settled into the chair and thought for a couple of seconds about where to start.

"Sir I am not going to beat around the bush. Me and my cousin are from another planet." He took a deep breath with the sentence and looked closely at what Alexi was going to do.

Alexi didn't move. His demeanor didn't change. He simply raised his hand. "Go on."

"That sign you sent the photo to Professor Lawson? It matches a sign on our planet." Marcus stopped again.

This time Alexi rolled his eyes. He was losing interest.

"I think life on our planet originated there." Marcus pressed on.

Alexi was intrigued. He turned his complete focus to Marcus. "Why would you think that?"

"I think that sign is this planet's Earth seed sign. And when I said life originated there I didn't mean human life but whole land life."

Alexi raised his hand and scratched his head. "Who are you? Who are you really? Why is the other kid not talking?" His tone was turning interrogatory.

"Sir my cousin doesn't speak English because he is from Valdris. Valdris is a country on a planet called Ephus. And an insane wizard with hopes of conquering the universe made a portal to travel. Somehow he sent us here."

This was Marcus's last hope. He had to get some reaction. If Alexi knew about a secret organization like Celestine suggested this was the moment.

Alexi let out a mocking sniff. "Good imagination kid but what do you want from me?"

"We want to get back to our planet and we were hoping to find people who formed an organization to help people like us."

"Organization huh!" He waved his hand and smiled. "Helping people like you. There are people like that. They are called insane and the place is called..." He started tapping his mouth mockingly. "...an asylum."

Marcus tried to protest but Alexi cut him.

"Kids I am an old man and I have a lecture in twenty minutes. Please leave. I can't deal with you."

Marcus stood up. So did Tom. Tom opened the bag and was about to reveal the Earth seed copy but Marcus stopped him.

"You are right. My theory is correct. And if you show me just a sliver of that organization I can show you something you will never see even if you live a thousand years more."

"I don't have time for delusions nor energy. And whatever you think you have don't show me. Please leave before I call campus security." His voice hardened. "I got news of you Marcus Chen. You were expelled from your college. You are living in a delusion. Get help. And find proper care for your mute friend." He waved them off dismissively.

Tom started talking in Valdrian. "Sir I know you don't understand us but I wish you a good day. But it seems you upset Marcus so we are leaving." He bowed his head politely.

On the way back Marcus was furious. His fists clenched at his sides.

Tom tried to calm him down. "If he knows anything it is normal he doesn't believe us right away."

"He knows shit and hides it from us. He somehow learned about my expulsion and didn't believe us in the first place. How could he know? He has connections." Marcus fumed.

"Marcus calm down. We won't be stuck here. At worst I believe Palwin will open a portal and save us." Tom smiled hopefully.

"Maybe that is more possible than finding people here huh?"

They got out of the ride and were walking to Harry's apartment. Suddenly a van stopped near them and four guys with ski masks and baseball bats got out. They pushed Marcus and Tom toward an alley.

Tom was trying to be extra careful not to drop the seed so he followed their pushing.

"What is going on here? We don't have money!" Marcus tried to stop the attackers.

"We are not here for the money. Who told you to question Alexi? Who told you he is a member?" The one at the front with skulls on the ski mask demanded.

Tom carefully put down the seed and his demeanor visibly changed. He was clearly trying to tap into his enhancement magic but Earth's low aura was taking its time.

Marcus glanced at his cousin and stepped between him and the attackers. "Look you won't believe no matter what I say because we learned from an alien. And from her account she is not even from this universe."

The attackers laughed.

"Grandpa told us they may just be lunatics. But somehow you know words from the ancient tongue. Talk now or.." He swung the bat at the air.

Marcus was trying to deescalate the situation but the attackers seemed more bold with the supposed stupid statement. And he was feeling Tom getting buffer behind him. His muscles hardening.

"Guys please listen. We are not crazy. We need help. Whatever that organization is we are not looking to expose you."

"Shut up and give us the names. There is no way lunatics like you find us. Who sent you?" He swung at Marcus's knee this time.

Marcus jerked back with pain, crying out.

Tom's full enhancement wasn't complete but he jumped at the attackers anyway. With a grab he caught one and threw him at the near wall like a towel. The man crumpled. Tom pushed another one a few yards back.

When the tall one swung aiming for Tom's head Tom didn't even cover up. The bat shattered on his skull but Tom didn't look fazed. With a quick jab he knocked the attacker out.

Now only the talker was left and he seemed visibly afraid. His bat trembled in his hands.

Marcus interfered and stopped Tom from advancing.

"Look we are not lunatics. My cousin has enhancement magic. In this state he can defeat any Earthling one on one. Now take us to your idiot grandpa because we have proof."

The man's eyes darted between Tom and the unconscious bodies of his friends.

He swallowed hard. "Okay."