ALL IN GOOD TIME...(closed for heartofcourage)

[Ikely]

Character appearance: http://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/051019/13/4356d71fe66f7.jpg

30 November, 2018

Sergeant First Class Aaron Rader arrived at the non-descript building located in a faraway corner of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Aaron had been with Project Pegasus for 2 years now.

He had been recruited by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency into the project which was classified Cosmic Top Secret following his leading some extremely dangerous black operations in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan as a member of the Combat Applications Group, also known as Delta Force.

When he was made aware of the tasks that Project Pegasus he was stunned silent for over an hour. But there was going to be no way he did not accept the offer.

Aaron had learned that in the late 1960’s the government had created a teleportation device that allowed for human beings to travel through time.

They had put Aaron through 6 months of training on how the system worked. It was difficult material to learn. Aaron had majored in business administration at the University of Georgia. The material he was directed to learn was stuff like quantum mechanics.

The basis for the ability to travel in time rely on the works of Nicola Tesla. Tesla found a way to derive a certain kind of energy from the quantum plenum. This was energy that Tesla called “Radiant Energy” and demonstrated that this energy is pervasive and latent throughout the Universe.

This energy has as one of its properties, the instructors taught, the capacity to bend the fabric of time-space.

In the 2 years since coming onto the project Aaron had witnessed Lord Cornwallis surrender his army to the Continentals at the Battle of Yorktown. Aaron had been on the grassy knoll in Dealy Plaza in Dallas on November 22, 1963 and was one of the few people alive who knew the facts about the second gunman.

At the start of the project the technology was used to gather strategic intelligence from the future. To give the government an advantage in foreign policy.

Then came Grozda Sokoloff.

The former Bulgarian secret police soldier, who took part in the torture and murder of antigovernment dissidents in Bulgaria who had suddenly become a billionaire financier managed to either bribe or threaten some of the physicists who worked on the project and had them build him one. They had discovered that Sokoloff and his crew were teleporting back in time trying to bring about his utopian ideal world, as well as make themselves wealthy beyond all comprehension. Aaron and his team now spent most of their time teleporting and preventing it.

So now Aaron and his team mate, Mike Randolph were getting briefed on their current deployment.

They were to be teleported to Egypt, 2569 B. C. The electro optics were indicating that someone from the future had teleported to that period and was removing large amounts of gold from the recently completed Great Pyramid of Giza. That had to be Sokoloff.

If he got the shot, Aaron was going to put a bullet through the man’s face.

They strapped into the containment vessel, which was located in the plasma containment room. The subjects being moved through time had to remain totally motionless or bad things would happen.

Once strapped down the switch was thrown and the blue haze illuminated, which was followed by blackness.

When Aaron opened his eyes, he allowed the nausea of time travel to dissipate. Mike was already up and collecting his gear. The technicians had put them down on a hill 100 meters west of the pyramid at night. They had no idea how long they had before the sun rose so the set to work.

Aaron and Mike wore their digital dessert camouflage uniforms and armour plates.
They quickly established there hide site and found their target. A period Bedouin tent near the entrance to the pyramid.

Aaron was behind the 6 X 48 scope attached to M1A.

Aaron was watching the tent for less than half an hour when he saw movement coming from the tent. The first subject was very dark skinned and dressed in local garb. The next subject was wearing a long flowing white robe. Zooming in on the face, Aaron saw it was a Caucasian male.

“Do you have eyes on the White face?” Mike whispered softly.
“Yeah, he is out of place…just a little.” Aaron flicked the switch, from SAFE to FIRE.

More subjects came out. Only 3 were Caucasian looking. They were dead men walking.
Aaron got a good sight picture and relayed to Mike the target he was prosecuting. He let out a breath, centered the cross hairs right between the eyes, then at the bottom of the exhale, Aaron squeezed the trigger.

The head exploded.

The local Egyptians, who were living their lives 2000 years before the birth of Christ had no idea what had just happened. The White men did.

They began scrambling for cover.

Aaron called out his second target and Mike replied immediately with range to target.

The trigger was squeezed and another Time Violator was extinguished.

The third target thought he had cover but he was incorrect. The 7.62x39 round easily went through the wood and killed him.

Just as Aaron was going to punch Mike in the bicep for a job well done, Mike hissed, “New target…20 meters just right of that wagon...”

Aaron quickly scanned and saw him

He was dressed as an Egyptian noble, but it was him.

Grozda Sokoloff.

Aaron was sighting in and he saw that the socialist billionaire was not even trying to get to cover. Aaron thought Sokoloff was going to make it easy for him.

Then Aaron saw he held a device in his right hand. Sokoloff held it up over his head.
Then he appeared to squeeze it.

A black circle, surrounded by a signal blue haze formed and began moving at high speed toward them.

“Mike! Don’t fuckin move!” Aaron screamed as he grasped his rifle and the case with computers and other equipment.

The black orb moved over him. The screeching sound of time travel filled his head. Then blackness…

Aaron came to.

He was lying in a forest. The only sound he heard was Mike screaming.

Mike’s molecules had merged and become superimposed with a large oak tree.

Aaron staggered to his feet and walked over to the molecular mess that was still living...in a sense.

Mikes right ankle and foot was 4 feet above the left side of his face. Mike’s left eye showed crazed fear and pain.

Aaron pulled his Glock .40 pistol.

“I’m sorry Mike.” Aaron said over the screaming.

He placed the barrel of the pistol on Mike’s left temple, just below the tree bark his face had merged with and pulled the trigger.

The screaming stopped.

Nausea passed over Aaron. He threw up then managed about 7 steps before he passed out into the grass.

 

[heartofcourage]

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/22000000/Mary-Tudor-the-tudors-22057900-500-368.jpg

England, 1546

The pounding of hooves was the only sound that broke the stillness of the morning. Lady Grace Winthrop enjoyed a good morning ride before breaking her fast. The mornings at home were always so beautiful compared to those in the dreadfully cramped and dirty cities. She had taken her leave from court for a brief time, following the death of her beloved brother, allowing her time to grieve before she returned to serve her Queen once more. While she enjoyed the time she spent in Queen Katherine’s company she found that she was growing weary of life at court. It was a serpent’s nest of vicious women and scheming men, especially since there was rumor that King Henry’s health was in decline, God save his soul.

She had been married young as most girls had been and was a widow by age 16. Her husband, a great deal older than herself, left her in good standing with a title and a modest fortune. Grace had little to complain about by way of her life, if only she could stop her younger brother, now the Viscount, from arranging another unwanted marriage. It hadn’t agreed with her the first time and she doubted the feeling would have changed by now.

Grace pulled her steed to a stop upon hearing a man’s horrifying screams coming from a clump of trees that bordered her family’s property. She listened as they continued before the sound of a shot ended it and only silence remained. Highwaymen? Surely not on her land. Still, she couldn’t ignore the sounds that she’d heard. With caution, she kicked her horse into the direction that the sounds had been coming from.

Under the canopy of trees, Grace came upon a man laying on the forest floor. She pulled her horse to a stop, staring down at him with a look of curiosity. He was wearing clothing that was most strange. The pattern and cut was like nothing she had ever seen before, even on the most eccentric of men at court. He was carrying strange items with him, objects that looked like weapons but nothing like what was used in that day and age.

Grace dismounted, her full skirt of silk rustling as she slowly made her way to his prone figure, nudging at him with her foot. When he didn’t respond, she leaned over and grasped his shoulder, shaking him to get a response.

“Sir? Sir, are you alright?” She asked, wondering if he had been the one screaming that she had heard out in the fields

 

[Ikely]

Aaron felt first the cold, dewy wetness of grass on his face.
Then he felt the grip on his shoulder.

That made the fog in his head clear up.

He was fully conscious but he acted as though he was unconscious.

“Sir? Sir, are you alright?”

It was a female voice. It had a very rich British accent.

Aaron still could not take any chances. With right arm fully extended he swept around knocking the female to the ground. He rolled over on to her, and wiggled up between her legs, mashing the silk of the skirt down into ground under him.

He and snatched out his Cold Steel Tanto fighting knife from its sheath and held it against a very dainty white neck.

His jaw clenched and his nostrils flared as he prepared to terminate this woman if he was attacked.

He stared into those frightened hazel colored eyes. Aaron broke his situational awareness to study her rich, pouty lips.

Snapping out of his spell, he noticed the young woman’s style of dress. He was no longer in Ancient Egypt.

Aaron leaned in close to the woman’s left ear. He thought that if he were not wearing his armor, he would be able to feel her ripe breasts against his chest.

“God damnit…snap out of it!!” he screamed to himself.

His lips mere millimeters from her left ear, Aaron whispered “Year…what year is it?”

 

[heartofcourage]

Grace was shaking the strange man’s shoulder when suddenly he pounced. She screamed when he legs were knocked out from beneath her, the ground coming to meet her back as the air was pushed from her lungs in the most painful way. Her hood flew from where she’d carefully pinned it that morning, her hair unbound and wild about her head as she struggled to come to terms with what was going on. She could hear her horse whinny in the background before the sounds of his hooves retreated back out of the forest.

She coughed, struggling to get air back into her chest as the man suddenly was crawling upon her, his body wedged between her legs. She looked up at him with a frightened gaze, her fingernails clawing at his face for being so bold as to assault her. When he wrists were grabbed and pinned and a wicked knife held to her throat, she halted her struggles, staring up at him with frightened eyes. Certainly he would rob her and kill her. She had heard stories of highwaymen assaulting wealthy members of the aristocracy. Dear Lord in heaven, please save me, Grace prayed as the man leaned over her.

She could feel the warmth of his breath against her ear, his body not firmly pressed against hers. She was panting for air, panic coloring the world in muted colors as she feared she would faint. Then he asked his question and what a strange question it was. She’d known some men who had not known the date after long periods of travel, but never the year.

“The year of our Lord 1546.” She answered back in a small voice, fear lacing her tone as she waited for him to finish with the knife he so incessantly pressed against the skin of her throat.

 

[Ikely]

“1546….1546.” Aaron repeated the young woman’s answer.

Aaron’s mind was going 1000 miles per hour.

He was in trouble. Whatever that thing is that Sokoloff had manipulated it had sent them to 16th century England. Sokoloff had to have been caught up in it. He was somewhere in Henry VIII’s realm also.

Aaron was no longer focusing on the beautiful maiden he had pinned to the earth. He was racking his brain for information of this time period.

When he was in college, he had had a very sexy professor who taught English History and she loved this time period. He was trying to remember anything she had taught him.

“1546…1546…1546…” Aaron repeated again

England had been at war with France or is at war with France.

Aaron sat up off of the young woman’s chest and merely sat, only slightly on her thighs, just to keep her from running. He put the knife back in its sheath.

“Are you at war with France?” Aaron asked quietly.
She answered.

Aaron’s eyes darted back and forth. King Henry VIII is king, but Aaron seemed to recall that in 1546 he did not have much longer to live.

Aaron stood up and walked over to his equipment. He slung his rifle then made sure his Glock, which was in a drop leg tactical holster was secure.

He opened his case and checked the laptop computer. It was still seated in case and the military grade lithium–titanate battery was still in place. The battery was super charged and could power the computer as well as his other electrical equipment all day, every day for the next 6 months.

He needs to find a place to launch the distress beacon. The Nano computer would generate a micro space and be teleported back to the time Aaron had left. Then the technicians would at least know in what time period he was. Then a message could be sent to him using the Nano technology and they could arrange for him to get back to 2018 or at least close to it.

But he needed a place where he could work without being observed.

Aaron turned to look at the woman over his shoulder.

She was absolutely beautiful.

“I apologize for grabbing you roughly. You are free to leave.”

Aaron turned back to his equipment and began rigging the carry straps on the box for the hike

 

[heartofcourage]

Grace stared up at the strange man as he kept repeating the year over and over as if he didn’t believe her. He looked confused, perhaps a bit out of his mind, and the knife at her throat remained a constant reminder that he was dangerous. She had never been so scared in her life as she was in that moment and she continued to pray silently for God to save her.

Suddenly, her prayer was answered as he lifted up off her chest, the knife moving and her hands free. He still straddled her thighs, but at least he sheathed that dreaded knife once more. She shook and struggled to catch her breath in frightened gasps as he asked her if the kingdom were still at war with France.

“No, sir. We are no longer at war with King Francis.” She answered in a quiet voice, wondering just where this man had been for so long that he didn’t remember the peace treaty in June. Could he have been hit on the head and lost his memory?

Suddenly he stood and moved over to his strange belongings and Grace scrambled to her feet, staring at him with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. She stood and retrieved her hood, holding it to her chest as she stared at him. Her hair was unbound around her shoulders, her skirts hopelessly crushed and stained from his rough treatment and all he could do was apologize for grabbing her and tell her to leave?

Her horse was surely on its way back to the manor by now and when it arrived without her, her brother would send his men to find her. It might take some time, but her best plan would be to stay put….with this strange man.

Grace dared to move forward towards him, leaning to look at his face. He didn’t appeared to be injured. She looked closer at his clothing, reaching out to feel the unfamiliar fabric. The box he held was also odd, nothing like it in all the kingdom.

“What is all this?” She asked, reaching out to touch the box that he was attaching straps to. “Where did you come from? Have you been hurt? I heard a shot while I was riding and found you on the ground.” She couldn’t help the torrent of questions that escaped as she watched him move in a methodical fashion. He acted like he had done this many times before.

 

[Ikely]

“No, sir. We are no longer at war with King Francis.”

Her answer to his question began rattling around in his head as he finished rigging the carry straps to the composite box housing all of the electronics.

If they were not at war then he was in the fall of 1546. That narrows it down and could help the tech’s when he sent the distress beacon.

Aaron started doing an ammo count for the sniper rifle and the pistol.

He felt her touching his dessert camouflage blouse. He turned his head quickly and almost leaped out of his skin, but he checked up. This had happened before, when a period human had contacted him, either by accident or design, and were being curious.

“What is all this?” She asked him, her voice now quite calm and resolute.

Aaron again stared at her face.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, though a little rumpled from when he threw her to the ground.

With her hair now draped over her shoulders, she was a hottie, albeit a 16th century hottie.

Aaron was now having some pretty erotic thoughts about her.

Aaron smiled real big and almost laughed out loud. He was having horny thoughts about a woman who lived and died over 400 years before he was born.

“These are my belongings. They are very important and they are very fragile so I have to keep them in this box so they are not damaged.” Aaron did not even try to hide his accent.

“Where did you come from?”

Her face was regal looking but Aaron was having trouble deciding how good her body was because of all the clothing.

“I am from very far away. I traveled a great distance to get here, but now all I want is to find the person I am looking for, conduct my business, and then go home.”

Her eyes were so enticing and seductive.

She was probably the best looking woman on the island. Aaron remembered some of the art from this period from his history class and the women sure were not depicted as hotties like the one he was looking at.

Aaron had finished his equipment checks. The only thing he wished he had was an assault rifle. The sniper rifle was fine for long range, precision kills but he wanted an assault rifle for more close up contact.

"Have you been hurt? I heard a shot while I was riding and found you on the ground.”
The question brought up some very interesting possibilities. He would need some time and privacy to get the equipment functioning. He also wanted to see if he could track down Sokoloff.

“I am fine, I am not hurt.” Her eyes kept drawing him in. If he were a period human here, he would want to get to know her more.

“But, my lady,” Aaron hoped he was using the correct words, “I am very tired after having traveled the great distance and could use some food, if you know of an inn or somewhere I could rest, I would be most thankful.”

Aaron asked softly, all while letting her hands explore the strange clothing he wore.

 

[heartofcourage]

Grace listened to his explanation of why he was there in the middle of her family land. Certainly his protectiveness over the box he carried had played a part in attacking her. That had to be the reason for his actions. She had seen many noble men who were viciously protective of their personal possessions. Perhaps she’d simply come upon him at the wrong time.

She couldn’t help but notice how handsome this man was. He had the dark good looks of some of the Spanish courtiers but his voice didn’t carry their heavy accented English. He sounded just like her eldest brother, God rest his soul. He had spoken in a deep firm voice with nary an accent and while many thought it strange, she thought nothing of it.

She couldn’t help herself as she traced her fingers over the odd lines of his clothing, frowning as she came across a strange contraction that had sharp teeth like a small animal. She grasped the tab on a far end of the tiny teeth and pulled, jumping back at the loud zipping sound that was emitted as the tiny sharp mouth closed over his breast.

Grace was snapped from her adventure as he mentioned finding a place to rest. “Forgive me, sir. I know not where my head is.” She gestured towards the entrance of the forest. “My family manor is over the hills. If you would escort me, my brother, the Viscount, would surely give you lodging. My steed is no doubt already on his way back to his stable and it should not be too long before his men come looking for me.”

 

[Ikely]

Aaron allowed the woman to explore the zipper on his assault pack, as well as the Velcro pockets on his blouse and trouser leg.

He finished making ready for the hump to the manor house that she said they were walking to and where, if her brother allowed, he would be crashing.

Aaron slung the hard case onto his back where the molded side fit perfectly to his back. The assault pack was slung on top of the hard case.
He placed the rifle’s single point sling over his head then tapped the Safari land molded drop leg thigh holster which had his Glock held firmly.

He adjusted the straps on the thigh holster so that the top strap was nestled just under his crotch and the bottom strap wrapped around the middle of his thigh.

The woman just stared, wide eyed.

Aaron did one bounce to check for noise discipline and hearing nothing banging or hitting together he looked at the woman and said, “After you, ma’am.”

It was actually not a bad hike. But as they approached the manor, his presence was drawing a lot of attention.

Aaron indexed his trigger finger just above the trigger and prepared in case the situation went, as they said in the Army, all pear shaped.

As they approached a group of men came bounding up with hands on sabers.

They looked at Aaron with serious protective look on their faces.

Aaron’s eyes were transitioning from target to target
Before anyone had uttered a word, Aaron had killed all of the men in his mind 3 times.

Then the woman spoke and she sounded like she was in charge.

 

[heartofcourage]

Upon reaching the manor, Grace wasn’t surprised to see her brother’s men advancing upon them with a look of concern. They’d certainly dispatch the stranger beside her if they thought that he’d done anything to her.

“Milady, are you alright?” One called, coming upon then with his hand resting securely on his sword.

“Of course. There’s no need for you to draw your weapons.” She said as all three men bowed their heads and formed around them to escort them into the manor. “My horse reared and threw me when I heard gunshots. I had the good fortune to run into my friend here and he chased the danger away before anything serious could happen.” She explained briefly to the men.

“George, would you kindly tell my brother that I need to speak with him? I’m going to escort my guest to the great room.” Her words were short and to the point as she addressed the first man who had approached them.

She gave no other explination as she nodded for the stranger to follow her into the house. The great room was covered in ancient hanging tapestries, bright sunlight coming through the casement glass and a warm fire burning in the hearth. Fresh rushes had been spread across the floor and herbs strewn about to clear the air. It was sweet and clean, just as she’d asked for when she arrived to find the estate in a state of shambles. Her brother, Henry, was a good man, but not a great Viscount. Their brother, Alexander, God rest his soul, had been groomed from a young age to take the position and with his sudden death, their estate had greatly suffered.

“A drink for our guest, please, Mary.”, She said to the young serving girl that waited in the great room before she looked at the stranger as he seemed to be taking in everything around them.

When they were alone, she bid him to sit next to the fire and she took her own seat, looking him over for a moment before speaking.

“When my brother comes we will say that you are a messenger for Mistress Anne, the King’s Beloved Sister. He won’t question that. You are from Flanders and you have been given the task of taking an important missive to King Henry.” Grace was sadly an expert at the art of lying. So many years at court it had become second nature to lie to save her skin and now she would use that extraordinary gift to save the stranger before her. “First though, I need to know your name.”

 

[Ikely]

The woman was clearly in charge. The men began bowing and scraping for her. She probably did not know it, but she had saved their lives because Aaron was fully prepared to eliminate any threat.

“George, would you kindly tell my brother that I need to speak with him? I’m going to escort my guest to the great room.”

So there was a male around. Aaron wondered if the brother was the real “shot caller “in the manor.

The beautiful woman gave Aaron a subtle nod and he followed her into the great room.

It was straight out of a history book. Aaron could not help the staring. He maneuvered to a corner and dropped the hard case and the canvass assault pack. He propped the rifle up in the corner after clearing the weapon. He jammed the magazine and the bullet into his cargo pocket on his left thigh. Then began walking slowly around, studying everything about the room.

The fire popped in the hearth and Aaron thought that might explain why he was so hot.

With a gesture of her hand, she indicated she wanted Aaron to sit. Not really wanting to sit, because of the tactical situation, he hesitated. Then he looked into those eyes.
Aaron took a seat, but kept the edge of his ass on the edge of the seat so that if he had to pop up and go to work he could easily.

Aaron also slid the holster guard off so that he could draw the Glock .40 calibre quickly if it came to that.

“When my brother comes we will say that you are a messenger for Mistress Anne, the King’s Beloved Sister. He won’t question that. You are from Flanders and you have been given the task of taking an important missive to King Henry.” Aaron noted how easily she had come up with a cover story.

Aaron nodded and said in a soft tone, “Very well.”
“First though, I need to know your name.”

Aaron considered giving her his cover name. A background was created for all personnel who were transiting the space-time continuum. It was believed that if one encountered their family or even their own selves in the past or the future they could utilize the cover story to redirect.

“My name is Aaron.” He announced.

Aaron watched her face intently. He was certain she had to be the most beautiful woman in the whole of 16th century Britain. Her looks were very distracting for Aaron, and he had to keep reminding himself to stay on alert.

“Milady,” Aaron tried using the same term that the others had used when addressing her, “I am still in need of carrying out my work. The reason for my presence in your land is that I must find a gentleman. He too is a foreigner.” Aaron began racking his brain again.

The sexy professor he had had in college had been so attractive as to cause most of the guys in her British history class to not hear a word she had said during lecture. But right now he needed those lectures and not images of his professor naked in a bed.

What were people from North Africa called??

Then it came to him.

“The man I am looking for is dressed like a Moor, though he is not brown skinned. It is very important that I meet with him.”

Aaron felt like maybe he could use this beautiful, effective liar, to his advantage.

“It is very important; it could be a matter of life and death.” Aaron said

==========================================

Grozda Sokoloff

Sokoloff had recovered quickly from the time jump.

Having the Enhanced Plasma Modulator gives him an easy escape method. The problem is that everything from the future goes with him.

Now he was caught somewhere in a time he did not know. He also knew that the men from Project Pegasus had to be there with him.

Sokoloff managed to find a village and walked in and acted as a weary traveler.
He spoke to the man who seemed to be in charge and arranged for a place to sleep.
He was brought food that contained mostly vegetables and a soup.

That was when he noticed one of the men, an older person had a very young wife, maybe 20 years old.

After speaking with the man, he gave him several gold coins he still had from the Egypt trip and bought a night with the woman. She did not want to be with him but Sokoloff did what he did best. If he could not buy her or talk her into it, he took her. He forced her with only minimal violence.

He ripped her clothes off, and then bent her over the bed and he raped her from behind.

Once he was done, he focused again on how to kill the government men who were with him in this time period.

He told the men of the village that he had to speak to the king. That he had word of an assassination plot against his majesty.
One of the men said he would run over to the manor house and let the viscount know of the plot.

“Good,” Sokoloff thought. Now he could get the ball rolling and end his problem with the government men.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Aaron.”

She said the name simply, committing it to memory as he spoke of needing to find a gentleman. She frowned at his description of a man dressed as a Moor who wasn’t one. It certainly was strange, but nothing that day had been normal.

“I can send a man to the village to see if they might have seen a man such as that.” She offered just as her brother came into the great hall.

She turned to greet her dear brother, dropping into a slight curtsey as a gesture towards his new rank and title. He would always be young Henry to her though, a younger brother barely a few months separated from her but remembered as a hellion. He liked sport, drink and women, but had been forced to take responsibility once their brother had passed away.

“Henry, I would like to introduce Aaron…” She hadn’t asked for a last name and she immediately realized one folly. “Aaron Davies.” She made up the name on the fly. “He is a messenger for Mistress Anne and he’s been charged with taking something very important to the King.”

Her brother stared at this new comer with a shrewd look, appraising him as if he could see through the thinly veiled lie that his sister so skillfully constructed. “Why is he dressed so strangely?”

“He was attacked on the road, brother dear. The highway men took his clothing and left only his smallclothes behind.” Her brother cast a doubtful look upon her. “They are the latest style in Flanders.”

“Hmmm…That might explain the strange appearance.” Henry said with an agreeing nod. He had no love for anyone from outside of England. “I fail to see what more we can do for him. He should be sent on his way to London if that is where he is intended to be.”

“Brother, be hospitable. He has been through a terrible ordeal and the least we can do is offer him lodging for the evening. He has asked that we send someone to the village to see if a traveling companion of his might be there.” She didn’t mention the part about this companion being a Moor or as strange as Aaron was.

“You undermine my authority, Grace?” Henry asked in a suddenly cold voice. “In front of a guest, no less.”

Grace was taken back for a moment, glancing at Aaron as her brother suddenly turned on her. “No, sir, I do not. I simply think it best to allow him to stay briefly to recover. I apologize for overstepping myself.” She bowed her head, biting her lip as she awaited her brother’s judgement.

“Very well. Davies, is it? You may stay the evening. We will see about your friend, but I expect you gone in the morning.” That was it. The Viscount had spoke. He glanced at his sister briefly. “And Grace, we have matters to discuss. I have received a proposal from Lord Latimer for your hand.”

“Yes, milord. After the evening meal we shall discuss it.” She said softly, her head bowed as her brother turned to leave. She closed her eyes and sighed, knowing that as a wealthy widow, he would marry her off to someone without her consent.

She looked at Aaron, a sad look now upon her face. “Well, Aaron, let me show you to a room.”

It was then that a messenger burst into the hall, gaining all their attentions as he grabbed the Viscount by the arm. “Sir, someone in the village says there is an assassination plot afoot. He is demanding to speak with you urgently.”

 

[Ikely]

Aaron liked it when she said his name.

He liked everything about this 400 year old woman.

She offered to dispatch someone to determine if Sokoloff was in the area. That was about all he could expect.

A man walked into the room. The woman dipped slightly at his entrance. Aaron did not move and the man issued a piercing stare at him.

The woman added a sur name for Aaron. It was simple and easy to remember. Besides, he did not anticipate being around long enough for it to become a problem. She then followed the story she had concocted.

He made it very apparent he did not like the way Aaron was dressed.

The woman generated another story to cover for them. The woman had a knack for generating stories. It appeared to Aaron, almost political.

He ordered that Aaron be sent away, but she stood up for him and the man grew angry at her.

Aaron felt the incredible urge to slap the taste out of the man’s mouth but reigned himself in.

When he directed the comment that Aaron had to be out by morning, Aaron glared at him. Aaron’s eyes drilling a hole in the man’s face.

“Well, Aaron, let me show you to a room.”

That was the best news he had heard in a while. He needed to send the distress signal then catch a combat nap. That was when the messenger burst into the room speaking of an assassination plot.

His history was rusty but Aaron was certain that no assassination plot against anyone happened on the history timeline.

Aaron felt that Sokoloff was close and was stirring up trouble for him.

Everyone in the manor house was now running around.

Aaron picked up his gear and his rifle and fell in behind the woman as she escorted him to his room.

All he wanted to do was send the signal, then strip down and sleep for a while. He could track Sokoloff in the evening. In fact, Aaron was forming a plan to leave the house in the night, find this village then remove Sokoloff from this plain of existence.

Falling in alongside the woman Aaron asked, “This village, where is it?”

He had his answer and now knew he would make the hump over there and see if he could find his target.

In the bedroom, he dropped his gear near the bed. Without thinking he came out of the digital camouflage blouse and stood looking at the woman as he removed his gun belt and holster.

He was wearing his UnderArmour body contouring shirt that set off his toned body. His chest and biceps highlighted by the shirt.

He moved closer to the woman and said, “Milady, I still do not know your name.”

Was she staring at his chest?

 

[heartofcourage]

Grace looked over her shoulder to make sure that Aaron followed her along the corridors and up a winding narrow staircase until she came to an unoccupied room. It was clean and warm in this part of the manor, being just above the kitchens. It would suit his needs for the evening, that must she was sure of.

“The village is just down the road on the way to London.” She said, pointing in the general direction of where the little town was situated. “Not far from here at all.”

She watched as Aaron worked in a methodical fashion. He reminded her very much of a solider, not a messenger. Perhaps he’d once been a one. She knew many men who had service the crown in such a capacity, many of them against King Francis.

She was surprised when he began to strip his clothing, leaving him standing in his pants and a strange looking piece of cloth. It showed every contour of a hard muscular body. She shouldn’t have looked, but Grace found she couldn’t look away from him. She’d never seen someone so handsome before in her life.

Of course, she wasn’t an innocent maid any longer. She’d been married, lost her virginity, and then lost her husband. She was happy in the widow role she found herself in today. Certainly her dead husband was nothing compared to the man who stood before her. Not even close.

Aaron came closer and asked her a simple question, her eyes moving from where they stared so rudely to look at him as he asked for her name. Had she not told him yet?

“Grace.” She said in a soft voice. “Lady Grace Winthrop.”

She couldn’t help it as she raised her hand to touch the soft, smooth fabric that covered his chest. It was a bit like silk, but a rougher texture. It stretched and moved in such a way that she’d never seen before. She had to stop touching him, she thought with a sad sigh, her hand pulling back as she remember who she was.

“I will have some fresh clothes brought to you. Perhaps you would see it fit to dine with me this evening?” She asked him, hoping terribly that he said yes. Anything to keep her brother from having the conversation about marriage to yet another elderly Lord that she desperately didn’t want to have.

 

[Ikely]

Aaron was looking down into her eyes as she said her name.

Aaron repeated the name out loud in an equally soft voice, “Lady Grace Winthrop”

He felt her finger tips now tracing the outline of his chest muscles. Aaron felt the urge…the desire to be with this woman. It was against policy and procedures for time jumpers to engage in relations with members of the opposite sex when in a different time period. It was to protect the timeline. If someone became pregnant when they were not supposed to, there could be a major distortion of the timeline which could cause a ripple effect with disastrous outcomes.

But no policy or procedure could stop nature, and nature was taking its course as he felt his cock thicken in his pants.

When her fingertips grazed the nipple on his left chest she suddenly withdrew her hand, saying she would have clothes brought up. Then looking up at him she asked him to eat with her later.

As she stared up at him he thought he saw desire in her eyes as well.

Aaron reached out and ran the fingertips of his right hand over her left ear, through the hair, while the thumb gently rubbed the side of her face.

Aaron knew he was making a huge mistake but he could not help himself.

With his hand now cupping her head he leaned down close to her face and said, “Lady Grace, it would be my honor to dine with you.”

Grace’s beauty held Aaron in rapture.

He now knew that, given the opportunity, he was going to violate the policy.

 

[heartofcourage]

Grace smiled at this strange man as he reached out to touch her ear, his thumb rubbing against her cheek. As he brought his face down towards her, she felt her heartbeat increase, the palms of her hands grow slick with sweat as she rubbed them against her rumpled skirt.

He was going to kiss her, she thought, her chin tilting upwards towards him. Oh, please let him kiss her.

He would dine with her that evening. It made a large smile break across her face as she was sincerely happy that he had agreed to such. Perhaps with luck her brother would stay in the village for the evening meal and leave the both of them in peace.

“You’re a very strange man, Aaron.” She said softly, her eyes looking straight into his with an emotion that she’d never really felt before. “I’m very happy to have met you.”

It was then that she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. If he wouldn’t kiss her, she would remedy that. It was brash and forward, only a harlot would have such thoughts, but she couldn’t help them. He was so handsome. He was kind. He was mysterious.

Lady Grace knew right in that moment that she was utterly lost.

 

[Ikely]

The smile on her face was beaming.

She was smiling and looking deep into his eyes when she said he was strange. Aaron smiled back at her.

Then she moved forward and kissed him.

Aaron returned the kiss, and then pulled her tight into his body.

He felt her pert breasts pushing against his chest.

Aaron started kissing her passionately. His lips parted hers and he felt her mouth open slightly. His tongue moved and searched out hers.

He felt her hot, slippery tongue touching his and he sucked her tongue into his mouth. He moved his thigh, trying to get it between her legs so he could rub it against her crotch but the clothing prevented it.

He was sure she could feel his surging cock pressing against her body.

He gently bit down on her bottom lip and pulled it out for an instant, then returned to caressing her tongue with his.

He allowed his hands to travel down her back, then along the sides of her breasts. He could feel the taut breasts as they pushed against the material of the dress which held them.

He broke the kiss and began putting butterfly kisses on her neck and throat, sometimes sucking the neck.

As he returned to kissing her luscious lips Aaron wondered if they would even make it to supper.

 

[heartofcourage]

Grace had never been kissed quite like that in her life. It was an amazing and heady experience that left her weak at the knees. She was surprised to feel his tongue caressing inside of her mouth and she tentatively allowed hers to follow his lead. She moaned softly when encouraged her motions.

The feel of his hands on her sides was wonderful, the crush of her breasts against his hard chest a new feeling as he held her tightly. She could feel his cock hardening against her, promising a new world of pleasure that she’d never dreamed of before.

A gasp left her as she felt his teeth bite at her lower lip, his tongue soon soothing over the abused tissue before he claimed her mouth once more. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her nails digging into flesh as she struggled to find an anchor in the storm that she was swirling in.

His lips against her throat were wet and hot, a shiver passing down her spine as he sucked upon her pulse. He was doing incredibly wicked things to her. Then he returned to her lips once more and she was swept away again.

“Aaron.” She sighed his name as she felt his strong thigh trying to press between her legs.

“Aaron, please…” She wanted to beg him for so many things. “Someone might find us.” She finally said, coming to her senses at the most inopportune time.

 

[Ikely]

Aaron felt the young woman’s eager body respond.

Just as his hands moved up to caress the tender breasts she put a halt to what was going on and what surely would have happened.

“Aaron, please…” adding “Someone might find us.”

Aaron took one step back to look at her.

Grace had a very flushed look to her skin and a smoldering gleam in her eye.

“Yes, you are right.” Aaron said
“Please let me know when supper is ready and I will be down.”

Aaron stepped in again, kissed her deeply, tongues intertwining, then he broke the kiss and walked over to his belongings.

 

[heartofcourage]

Grace couldn’t help the aching void that was left when Aaron kissed her so sinfully a second time and then walked away. She wanted to beg him to continue but she knew she had done what was best for them both. Nothing could come of a liaison between the two of them. Then why did she feel that she’d made such a grave mistake?

“Aaron?” She asked, watching as he knelt beside his belongings. She felt like an untried maid as she nervously twisted her fingers together, trying to find the words that wouldn’t make her sound completely hopeless. “Perhaps after dinner…we might try this again?”

She didn’t even give him a chance to respond as she turned and fled from the room, her cheeks flaming from being so bold. The man would surely think she was a harlot now if he didn’t before.

Grace calmed herself and found a servant, telling him to present Aaron with some new clothing. He and her brother were abou the same size and surely would be able to fit into his clothes. She then saw about dinner and then changed into a new dress, carefully pinning her hair back underneath a hood after the last had been hopelessly crushes during the incident in the woods.

She thought about the hard crush of his body against hers and couldn't help but blush as she was laced into a new gown by her lady's maid. She hoped that he wouldn't deny her what she had asked her. She hoped that she wasn't wrong about his advances. For the first time in a very long time, she allowed herself simply to hope.

 

[Ikely]

Aaron was standing over the hard black case containing his electronics when he heard her say, “Perhaps after dinner…we might try this again?”

Aaron turned to look at her but she had closed the door and was gone.
“Holy Shit” he thought to himself.

He began breaking out the equipment he would use to send the distress signal but his mind was now racing.

He knew he was going to violate the policy prohibiting sexual relations while in another time period. There would be no way he would not sleep with Grace if given the chance.

The purpose of the policy was simple.

Having sexual relations with someone from the time period one was working in could lead to very poor decision making. A time jumper could become partial to their partner which could cause them to take actions that could change the course of the trajectory of the time line. That is change history. One change, no matter how minor or innocuous could have repercussions that would ripple through time. The period subject could have been meant for someone else and because of a liaison with the time jumper now are not going to be with the one they were meant for.

Then, there was the chance of pregnancy. If the female was meant to have a child at a later date but now is pregnant from the time jumper it could cause them not carry they original child, who may have been meant for some greatness or importance later in history.

It was what Aaron and the team called the “First Commandment” because if it was discovered you violated that policy, you were done. You would be removed from the project, charged with a federal crime, and then placed in a federal prison for life.
It was a huge decision.
The ramifications could be historical, no pun intended.

But Aaron was certain, he was going to violate the policy if given the chance and judging by Graces’ question, he believed it was going to happen.

The thought of what was going to happen later in the evening kept his cock thick and fat.

Aaron had the equipment out. He had the computer up and was entering the text of the message the nanobot would send back to his time.

“This is an Alpha2Kilo priority message. This is Delta-92. I am in the year 1546. Target X-ray has the ability to manipulate the time line. I am with him here. Will track target and execute the mission if possible prior to retrieval.”

Aaron completed the necessary procedures and dispatched the nanobot. The housing unit was black composite and after opening the tiny hatch on the top he entered the sequence on the laptop and clicked on “DISPATCH”. There was a flash of blue, like the strobe of a police car light bar, followed by the sound of static electricity being discharged then silence.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and it opened.

The male servant was bringing the clothes that Grace had ordered.
The servant stood open mouthed staring, his eyes bugged out.

Aaron calmly stood and positioned himself between the servant and the equipment.

In a calm voice Aaron said, “Please put them over there….and close the door when you leave.”
“Yes…sir.” The servant stuttered.

He placed the clothes on a stool then backed out of the room never taking his eyes off of the equipment.

Aaron now had to think of a story to tell Grace because he was sure the servant would tell her of what he saw.

Aaron closed and locked the hard case. He rose and pulled his undershirt off. He went and picked up the first article of clothing, a white linen shirt, with puffy sleeves. Then he looked at the black pants. They were going to be extremely tight. Then there were the boots that appeared to reach the knee.

Aaron let out a heavy sigh, and then took his digital camouflage pants off. His still thick cock was highlighted by his tight boxer briefs.

Aaron tried to pull the pants on. It was uncomfortable, so he removed his briefs and went commando, no underwear.

The pants hugged his ass and after some adjusting covered his cock and balls so as to not make them very obvious. However, if any one looked at his crotch, it would not leave a lot to the imagination.

He pulled the boots on, and then attached his combat knife and sheath to the waist band of the pants.

Aaron gave himself a once over in the mirror and saw that the shirt had an extreme V neck , that went down to below his chest. The collar was large and covered his shoulders.
The pants were snug and the boots were polished black leather with the tops just below the knees.

He saw that his whiskers were starting to show as he had not shaved in a day.

He desperately wanted to find Sokoloff, kill him then get back to his time.

But first, he had to dine with Lady Grace, and maybe violate a policy.

 

[heartofcourage]

Grace was overseeing the evening meal when a servant tried to tell her about the strange things that he’d seen Aaron’s room. She simply gave him a look and told him that it was best that he keep that information to himself. The threat was clear and the servant took it very seriously.

She had to wonder just who this man was and what he was up to. She was beginning to realize more and more that he wasn’t just a simple messenger, but something perhaps a little more sinister? She didn’t know and with her emotions all in turmoil, it was hard to make a good judgment on him.

When dinner arrived, Grace was relieved to know that her brother was staying in the village that evening. No doubt to bed women and spend his coin on drink, she thought bitterly to herself as she waited for Aaron to appear.

She fussed over her dress, smoothing out the wrinkles in the red silk and adjusting the jewels at her throat. She didn’t know why it mattered to her so much what he thought but she found herself wanting to please him immensely.

Hearing the door open from across the way, Grace turned and felt her mouth go dry at the figure that Aaron cut in the borrowed clothing. She indecently let her eyes linger on areas that they shouldn’t have, taking in his appearance as if she were a woman starved and he were her nourishment.

“Good evening.” She said softly, her voice faltering. “I see the clothing is a good fit.”

 

[Ikely]

Prior to moving towards the dining room, Aaron went to his assault pack and opened the main compartment. He pulled out a 1 liter bottle of water and drank from it.

It had been a long time since he had had any food and water.

He was about to get the food, but he feared that 16th century Britain did not have water that was safe to drink.

After drinking half of the bottle, he put it back and then double checked the weapons and insuring the safety was on, on each weapon. He did not want the period people to pick one up and accidently shoot themselves in the face.

He took one more look at himself in the mirror then walked towards the dining room.

Aaron found the door and opened it and walked in.

The Lady Grace looked absolutely ravishing.

Her red silk dress practically lit the room and Aarons gaze was drawn to her neck and throat by the very exquisite jewels there.

Aaron wanted to rip her clothes off and start pumping her right there.

Aaron noticed that Graces’ stare went straight to his crotch, where his 7 inch cock was stirring.

“Good evening.” And then she said “I see the clothing is a good fit.”

Aaron laughed out loud, saying “Are they really?”

Aaron circled the room never taking his eyes off of her.

Aaron felt the pang of hunger now in his stomach as it growled for food.

He wanted to eat then he wanted to get the good Lady Grace naked and in a very sturdy bed.

He walked up to Grace and took her right hand. He brought it up to his lips and he planted a kiss on it just above the index and middle knuckle. Aaron let his tongue slide quickly between her fingers for and instant then he looked up and said, “Lady Grace, you look very beautiful tonight.”

Yeah, he was going to get no sleep before pushing out to hunt Sokoloff later in the night.
=======================================================

Grozda Sokoloff

Sokoloff held the, what he considered primitive, people in rapture with his tales of the assassin.

He described to the villagers, as well as the local magistrate and the viscount who had recently arrived, how the assassin, dressed in strange clothes and carrying weapons that could only come from the 7th level of hell was going to find his way to the palace, find his highness, King Henry VIII and kill him.

Sokoloff said that everyone needs to be on the lookout for the assassin but do not try and kill him or capture him. Sokoloff told them that he was most probably a spawn of Satan and it would not end good if they tried to take him by themselves. He told them they should immediately come and get him and he would assist them in his capture.

Sokoloff then told the magistrate and the Viscount that anyone assisting the assassin should immediately be executed. Once they came in contact with the assassin there was nothing they could do to save the person. They would be tainted forever and execution was the only option.

The Viscount said that he agreed and that he would decree that anyone in the village or on his lands who assisted the assassin would be beheaded immediately.

Sokoloff nodded his head at the Viscount who seemed like he had been drinking alcohol and had already tried to woo some of the females. He would be in the village the rest of the night and into the day probably drinking and carousing with women.

Sokoloff thought that he would be here a little longer then he should, because the Viscount as well as the magistrate both wanted to drink and carouse as opposed to getting a posse and hunting the government agent. But when they did get off of their ass and start it should not take that long. Sokoloff could take the man out then he could jump.

Since it was going to be a rather long bit of time before they would move to catch the agent he might as well enjoy the delectable young 16th century women…and maybe young man as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

Grace shivered at the compliment. Or was she shivering at the way he kissed the back of her hand, his tongue gently sliding between her fingers. She let out a sigh before she took a step away from him and had the good grace to blush.

“Thank you, sir.” She said as she motioned for him to sit and then called for the servant to begin serving.

A meal of roast boar and fish was placed before them and she encouraged Aaron to eat his fill. She smiled as he didn’t shy away from the suggestion. She thought over what she really wanted to ask him probably a hundred times before she decided that there was no better time to ask the haunting question. She allowed a servant to fill their wine before she dismissed them and looked pointedly at Aaron.

“Aaron, I must ask you a difficult question.” She reached across and grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. “Please know the answer will not change how I feel about you, but I simply have to know…where did you come from?”

She appraised the look that he gave her and she decided to push the question a bit further.

“I’m not a stupid girl. Your clothing is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The items that you carry are strange. Servants are talking that you must have come from another time entirely.” She laughed at the notion of that, knowing that no one could simply hop through time. “I simply wish to know where you have come from.”

She stood from her seat, walking around the small table to stand at his side. She let a hand trail through his short hair, fingers tracing across his cheek as she looked down into his eyes. Could she say the next part of her query? She didn’t know if she had the courage.

“I would ask you take me with you when you leave.”

 

[Ikely]

Once seated at the table Aaron wasted no time eating.

Though the presentation was not what he was accustomed to, the food was delicious. He had really been hungry so he ate probably more than he should have.

Throughout the meal, Grace had a look on her face that seemed to suggest she had something on her mind. There was something she wanted to say.
Aaron suspected the servant had said something to her about the things he had seen earlier.

Aaron had prepared for a question along the lines of “What are those things?”

He was not prepared for the question he was asked.

Grace leaned over and grabbed his hand and squeezed.
“Please know the answer will not change how I feel about you, but I simply have to know…where did you come from?”

She went on, saying the servants believed he had come from another time.

Aaron set his jaw.

He knew he would bed this woman if the chance came. That was 1 violation. It was part of a greater policy prohibiting contact with period humans. Any statement or information given to period humans relating to the future, their future, was strictly forbidden. This information, no matter how minor, could have serious consequences. So serious, that he could suddenly find himself stuck forever in this time.

But he knew he fully intended to sleep with Grace. If he was knowingly going to violate that policy, how bad would it be if he told her the truth? He didn’t have to mention facts of the future. Besides, there would be no way anyone in the 16th century would believe it.

Grace walked to his side, and began running her fingers through his hair, then trace the outline of his now clenched jaw. She stared deeply into his eyes.

“I would ask you take me with you when you leave.”

Aaron felt himself flinch ever so slightly at the request.

She was so beautiful. He felt like he wanted to spend every moment with her.
But there was no way she could come with him. He knew it.
If he showed up back at the lab with Grace in tow, he would be sent to prison never to be seen again and Grace…she would be terminated.

Aaron swallowed hard and thought about how he was going to articulate his answer.

Aaron reached and took her hand into his and interlaced his fingers with hers.

“Grace, I am going to answer your second question first. There is no way I can take you with me. Your life would be in danger.” Aaron said softly.

He held her gaze. Her eyes were so inviting.

“The truth is, Grace, I do come from another time.” That was policy violation number one for the night, Aaron thought.

“I come from the future. The man I am looking for also comes from my time. But he is evil, and only wishes to do harm.”

Aaron allowed the facts to sink in.

He thought, if she bails out, he would just gear up and push out to find Sokoloff.

“I am to find him and return him to our time…or kill him.” Aaron finished.

Aaron was already thinking that the pleasant evening in her bed was out the window and he would be on his way shortly.

Aaron rose to his feet and turned and brought her in close to him.

“I understand if you want me to leave. I just need a few moments to collect my things then I will be gone.” He said softly.

“Grace, you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever encountered in my travels.”
He looked into her eyes for a reaction.

Aaron continued, “I wish for you only the best and maybe, one day in the future, we will meet again.”

Aaron leaned over and kissed her lips gently.