CHAPTER 157: THE PORTAL PLANS

The next day, after they got prices for the supplies, Beau and Marcus and Numan sat head to head trying to make a plan.

Papers covered the table. Jean-Pierre's old blueprints. Lists of materials. Cost estimates scribbled in multiple currencies. The morning sun streamed through the window of Hasan's estate, illuminating the magnitude of what they were attempting.

"With Baran's generator directly near the Earth seed we can only build half a door-sized portal." Beau suggested, tapping his pencil against the calculations. "It is so nice of him to lend it to you."

"It is enough for us. Right Tom?" Marcus turned to his cousin.

Tom was in the corner, a piece of leather and a small awl in his massive hands. He was trying to recreate what Baran had taught him, his tongue poking out in concentration. He looked surprised by the question.

"Sorry what Marcus?"

"Beau is saying we can only build a small portal."

"How small?" Tom asked in sudden panic. His hands stopped moving.

"Half the size of that door." Marcus pointed at the wooden door to the hallway.

Tom relaxed visibly. His shoulders dropped. "Yeah that is okay. I am not too big to enter there."

"Okay." Beau pulled out another sheet covered in his precise handwriting. "The resonance ring primary structure will cost us nearly five thousand dollars."

"What?" Marcus asked. "Why?"

"Copper tubing. Iron core segments. Quartz crystal points. These need to come from the west side of Turkey. I already ordered." Beau ran his finger down the list. "Also need silver wire. Jean-Pierre noted it was very important. And neodymium magnets."

Marcus sighed. "Also we need to build a modulator too."

"Yes. It is also needed. It will take the unknown field and electricity and tune the ring."

"How much is that going to cost us?"

"Nearly six thousand dollars." Beau immediately started listing the items. "Frequency drive. Copper induction coils. Capacitor bank..."

Marcus stopped him with a raised hand. "Okay okay."

Numan cut in. His face was hesitant. "Marcus if you don't have any money... I don't either." He opened his hands to the sides in an apologetic gesture. "My parents were basically broke. But I can ask from my grandpa."

Marcus was frustrated. He felt like a beggar constantly looking for money, asking from everyone around him.

"No, no. My counterpart got this. He will be on his way to get some."

Hopefully, he thought but didn't say.

The door knocked and Philippe Aguillon and his kids entered. Claire's eyes immediately found Tom in the corner.

"Is it possible we borrow Tom? I wish to see his magic with my own eyes." Philippe asked with barely contained excitement.

Marcus saw Tom didn't want to leave. After learning about the Aguillon lineage, about Victor being Malachar, he wanted nothing to do with them. But Marcus forced him to go with a meaningful look. They needed to continue Jean-Pierre's work without distractions.

After they left Numan brought up another problem.

"How are we going to build on Göbeklitepe with all those tourists, cameras, and security?"

Beau had clearly thought about this already. "We can build here. We should need a toolbox and welding machine. After we build it we can sneak in at night and send these two to their planet."

"Aren't these going to be heavy?" Numan asked.

"Tom can carry. I've seen him lifting half a ton."

"What?" Beau looked surprised.

"Yeah. His strength is out of this world. Literally." Numan rubbed his jaw unconsciously. "He toyed with us like we were kindergarten kids."

"Why would he beat you? He is a calm kid." Beau asked, confused.

"Well..." Numan blushed.

"It was a misunderstanding." Marcus cut in quickly.

"Anyway I need to leave." Beau stood and gathered his papers. "I will order some materials from the southern region of Turkey to arrive on time."

Beau left and Marcus was alone with Numan.

The young man sat across from him, fidgeting. There was something he clearly wanted to say. His leg bounced nervously.

"Is there something you want to say Numan?"

"Yeah... yeah."

"What is it?"

Numan took a breath. His eyes met Marcus's.

"I want to come with you."

Marcus was about to automatically ask where but then he realized. Numan was asking to come to Ephus.

"Numan I don't know. It is a one-way trip and our world is in shambles. There is no guarantee we will defeat Malachar."

Numan bowed his head. His hands clasped together in his lap.

"You are a smart person. You saw everyone revering my grandpa. Even in their short lives they remember my parents very well. But me."

"What about you?"

"I am doing nothing in this world Marcus."

"You are helping us."

"Yes. And after that?" Numan's voice cracked slightly. "I have no expertise. No job. No money. I am basically waiting for grandpa to die so I can inherit his house."

"Changing worlds is not the answer. Ephus is not the solution."

Marcus understood where Numan was coming from. He had no aim, no passion in this world. But taking a modern kid to Ephus would be a disaster. I cannot play god, Marcus thought.

He watched Numan shrivel more under his words. The young man seemed to collapse inward.

"Sorry but..." Marcus had no words to say.

And Numan didn't seem to want to hear anymore.

The silence stretched between them. Heavy with disappointment. Heavy with things unsaid.

Finally Numan stood and walked out without another word.

Marcus watched him go. Part of him wanted to call him back. To say yes. To give him the adventure he craved.

But Ephus wasn't an adventure. It was a war.

And Marcus wouldn't condemn anyone else to that fate.