*label ok1861_start

*if (ally_akkaron > 0)
	Actually, now that you've found Akarron, you're pretty sure nothing in 1861 can help you.
	*page_break Back we go...
	*goto_scene hub_0 after_hub_info

[b]'THE COLOSSAL CAVE'[/b]

You open the door and peek out, then step into into the Oklahoma sunlight. Holt follows you. The two of you are wearing flannel shirts and blue jeans (apparently Frankie keeps a closet stocked with clothes from many time periods). "Well," Holt says, nodding. "Town."

You close the door and look at the little shed you exited. Actually, it looks like an outhouse. Terrific. Fortunately, it's hidden behind a hillock and nobody is around. The pair of you walk toward the town visible in the distance, really just a cluster of buildings.

As you walk, you look around at the passers-by. Nearly all of them are Native American. You take a moment to lean over to Holt. "So what's going on around this time?"

Holt looks around, then leans in toward you to murmur. "Everyone's worried about war. You know, the North and South."

"Oh. Right!" Suddenly your American history class returns to your memory. The Civil War started in 1861. "It hasn't...I mean, no one's fighting now?"

"Oh, they're fighting," Holt says. "Secession previous winter, fighting started in April. But we're in 'Indian Territory' in early summer. Everyone is divided over who to support. Many people want to remain neutral."

"People always make things so complicated," you mutter.

"By being people." Holt smiles and straightens up, aiming his walk toward a tavern.

*page_break So two adventurers walk into a tavern...

It's not the 'Wild' West, but it's pretty rough. You and Holt sit at a table near the wall. A young woman in a long dress wipes off your table. "What can I get you gents?"

"Beer," Holt says.

You stare at him. "We're, uh, on duty!"

"Yeah, but I could use a beer! You got beer right?"

"Sure we do," she says, running a hand through her blonde hair. "Everyone's got beer."

"And information," you say. "Anything weird happening recently?"

"Oh, fighting, war," she says.

"The usual," you say. "I mean, unusual."

"Hmmmm," she hmmmms, stuffing her rag in a pocket. "Heard rumors of some spider monster out in the hills.

You and Holt exchange a look. "Maybe I should have a beer too," you say.

*page_break

"It's some Union trick," the Creek mutters, pushing his way through the grass. "I hear they're testing weapons around here.

"I doubt it," Holt says. "They got enough trouble with actual battles."

"The white government has limitless resources," your guide says.

"Nobody has [i]limitless[/i] resources," you say. "Trust me on that."

"Close enough as makes no difference." Your small party rounds a hill--then stops.

In a clearing you see three more people standing around a large, dark hole in the ground. They look like Creeks wearing 'modern' garb, just like your guide. Everyone stares at each other. "It's you!" your guide suddenly spits. "Opothleyahola!"

"You know me," one of the men says. "I take it you don't want to join."

Your guide unholsters a gun, though he keeps it pointed at the ground. "You're poisoning the people against ourselves!"

"Hey," you say, inching to the side. "There's no reason for any fighting..."

Suddenly everyone is looking at you. "You speak our language?" Opothleyahola looks at you with keen eyes. Uhoh! Your comp automatically translates languages. But the settings--yes, you're [i]speaking[/i] English, even though you can [i]understand[/i] anything spoken.

"Uh, yeah," you say. "We travel a lot. We picked up a few things."

"Do you know anything about this?" The Creek leader waves at the hole.

"You're denying your involvement?" Your erstwhile guide is now yelling. You hear shouts from somewhere nearby.

You and Holt look at each other. Suddenly one of Opothleyahola's men swings a knife at your guide, who fires his gun. More Creeks appear, in moments a skirmish erupts.

"Come on!" you say, grabbing Holt's hand. You both dive into the hole.

*page_break Ouch!

You land in a dimly lit cave. "Ow! Ugh..."

You push yourself up, but Holt grabs your arm. "Is that..."

A shadow appears on the wall. A many-legged shadow, coming closer, hissing...

"Oh!" you say. "An Ikatak!"

A large, yellow, spidery being approaches. "You recognize me?" it murmurs.

*page_break Oh, of course...

"Aliens," you say. "Well, alien to us. Usually friendly to humans." You nod to Holt. "Don't worry. Probably. They don't have time travel. So wait, how did you get to 1861?"

The Ikatak makes an elaborate shrug. "I'm not sure. I was caught in something, I think it was a conflict between two other factions. I'm not certain of your time systems, but I think I'm from around 3000 or so. My ship crashed. My name is Akkaron, by the way."

"This is your ship?" Holt looks around. The cave is metal, its edges crushed and ragged.

"Somewhat," Akkaron says. The creature seems to be bilateral, front and back having a face. Its mouth is in the top of its torso, like a blowhole. Its eyes appear to be opaque red. "Most is crushed, destroyed."

"Do you have a dimensional envelope?" you ask. "We have a great need of one! Creating a time machine to fight in a conflict...it's a long story."

"I see!" Akkaron tilts its head. From above you hear more shouts, coming closer. Someone is climbing down. "I have explored, somewhat, but I am tired of this warlike time."

*set ally_akkaron 1

"You can come with us!" you say. "The only problem is whether they will find your ship's technology..."

"I will cause a localized explosion with the dimensional envelope," Akkaron says. "Don't worry, I will be able to retrieve it afterwards. Can you get us out of here?"

"Of course!" you say. "But let's hurry, right?"

"Indeed, let us hurry!"

*page_break That's that.

*goto_scene hub_0 after_hub_info

*finish

