CHAPTER 140: PROOF

Alexi took the seed copy. He put on his glasses and sat down in an armchair. His furious face changed to puzzlement and then excitement.

"What is this?" he asked. It was the only thing he let out from looking and examining. His fingers traced the intricate patterns.

Marcus took back the seed. "This is a copy of my planet's, my other planet's, Earth seed." He gave the seed back to Tom and took out his phone. He video called other Marcus. When he picked up he was driving.

"What is it Marcus? I am driving to meet Mr. Hudson." Marcus answered on the screen.

"I am trying to convince Dr. Alexi of our situation." He flipped the phone so Alexi and Numan could see. "That one driving the car is not my twin. If you learned about my college problems you can learn that I don't have a brother or a cousin in this world."

"What does all this mean?" Numan asked, staring at the screen.

Marcus closed the phone. "It means I am one of the people that travels to other worlds. But I am now in a conundrum. I was living a double life since I was born."

"Go on." Alexi gestured, leaning forward in his chair.

"Nearly a year ago I thought I was cursed to live every day, twenty seven hours in a remote village. But when our village flooded with refugees and magical empire attacks we were escorted to the capital." He saw Alexi's eye roll at the word magic. "Yes magic. If you don't believe me ask your grandson how my cousin beat his friends like children thanks to his enhancement magic."

"Just go on." Alexi said again, his skepticism warring with curiosity.

"Apparently some other person was pulled from our world to fix Ephus but he used the powers given to his Ephus body and knowledge from this world. He turned his resources against the people of Ephus and created a giant empire. And when we were promised a way to fight back in exchange for this Earth seed copy..."

"Someone gave you a way to fight back but asked you to steal this?" Numan asked.

"Stop interrupting him. Let him finish." Alexi brushed off his grandson.

"This looked and felt like just a regular metal container before we copied our planet's Earth seed. Now it can start life when planted on a planet under the right conditions."

"How do you know all this?" Numan asked again.

"Stop interrupting." Alexi turned back to Marcus. "You are avoiding the most important aspect. How are you here?"

Marcus took a deep breath. "When I got information that Malachar wasn't present in his headquarters, which is located above the origin of the Earth seed, me, my cousin Tom, and my business partner Aldric tried to implement an operation. But he came back. And when we wounded him he opened a magitech portal. Yes he built a magitech portal above the Earth seed. His minions pushed me and Tom through that portal in order to drop us in space. But somehow the portal opened at my other body and we materialized here."

"That is crazy." Numan said. "You, a resident of another planet, traveled maybe thousands of light years in a second. Is that what you are saying?"

Marcus sighed. "Unfortunately yes. And we need to get back to my planet because Malachar will probably attack again. Our country has mines and millions of workforce he wants."

"Even with all that show it is impossible to believe Marcus." Numan said. His arms were crossed.

Marcus was observing Alexi because he hadn't made any comment about his story. Him believing was the most important thing because only he could make the connection to other Keepers and their knowledge and relics.

"Even if I believe your story..." Alexi raised his finger. "If. We cannot send you back. But most importantly who is this mysterious provider who can protect you from that evil force and has a container that can copy a planet's DNA?" Alexi asked.

"That is not important." Marcus tried to brush it off. He wished Celestine would be here to explain but without knowing if she would ever show up or not Marcus didn't want to bring knowledge of a bigger than life being. "Numan mentioned that when our planet was in need not everyone who came here helped. They followed their own agenda. My friend, if I can say that even, she wants to stay neutral about our conflict. So she only wanted the seed copy in exchange for information on stopping Malachar's magic."

"It is an impossible feat. There are no records of traveling other than thoughts. And who knows what thoughts are? I cannot accept traveling to another planet in full flesh and blood."

"I showed other Marcus. He ruined his life so my life on Ephus could become normal. So people of Ephus can live a normal life. He is still busting his ass to make money so when we find a way to return we can bring an arsenal to stop Malachar once and for all." Marcus finished his last words in tears. They streamed down his face unchecked.

"Without him. Without his sacrifice. Malachar would have taken over the world and would be planning to conquer now that he has developed a machine to travel." He kneeled on his knees, begging now. "Just... please introduce us to other Keepers. Maybe someone... one person may have something they are holding that can help us return."

Alexi was still in doubt. But Marcus jerked at a cutting sound. When everyone turned to where the voice came from, Tom was holding the globe. Now cut into two parts. When he let it fall to the ground his right hand shone. When Marcus looked closer he noticed Tom's hand had turned into a blade with his transmutation magic.

Tom put out his transformed hand toward Alexi. "Alexi. I magic. I am from another world. Send us back." He finished his sentence with crooked English. "Please."

When Marcus turned to Alexi his demeanor of doubt had changed completely.

He only nodded.