The boys had gathered plenty of wood to build a fire. They were sitting around telling Tatiana about their journey that had led them here.
"What brings you to Atlantis?" asked Tatiana.
"This big wave!" remarked Dacota. "It was huge! We flew over..."
"That's not what she means Dacota," interrupted Mike. "The Professor built this time machine. He calls it the Scorpium, and we have been traveling everywhere."
"Yeah, the other day we were being chased by dinosaurs," Sheldon said.
"Dinosaurs? What are dinosaurs?" she asked.
"They're big monster lizards," replied Aaron.
"And this flying one picked us up and dropped us in a volcano!" Dacota added.
"Then the volcano exploded, and we went flying way in the air!" explained Sheldon.
"Wow, it sounds like you have had a perilous journey," she said.
"No, no pearls," remarked Dacota.
"But we did find a treasure on the beach!" said Sheldon. "That's where the Professor found the map to Atlantis."
"And after being attacked by a huge octopus, tossed around in two gigantic whirlpools, escaping the killer whales and riding down the back of a tidal wave, here we are," Mike said sarcastically.
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"You are all very brave men, to have survived your journey here," stated Tatiana.
"Not Mike," replied Aaron. "He screamed all the way."
Everyone laughed, except Mike.
"Shut up Aaron," he said as he punched him in the arm.
"What is your home like?" she asked.
"It's nice," replied Aaron. "Not as much excitement though. It's kinda quiet except on the weekends."
"Yeah, that's when dad stays up late with us and plays games and stuff," said Sheldon.
"One time we turned all the lights out and played hide-n-seek," added Dacota. "And dad was looking for us. I made it back to base, but he found Mike and chased him all around the house. Mike tripped over the couch and knocked the lamp off the table and it broke. Dad wasn't even mad."
"It sounds like you have fun with your dad," she said. "Why do you call him the Professor?"
"Huh, oh the Professor is not our dad," stated Mike. "He's our friend. We hang out with him after school, while dad works."
"Where is your dad?" she asked.
"He's probably at home watching baseball and having a dew," replied Aaron.
"A dew?" she said bewildered.
"Yeah, Mountain Dew," Aaron said. "It's a drink. I think he's addicted to it."
"Isn't he worried about you?"
"He doesn't even know we're not there," stated Mike. "We traveled through time. We will just go back when we left, and it will be like we were never gone."
"Well, I am glad that you have come to Atlantis, to help us. It is very kind and brave for you and the Professor to do
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so. After it is all over, I hope that you are able to make it home safely to your dad."
Brial and the Professor came over to the fire. They had been making plans to rescue Tallion and Trilus, and were ready to leave.
"Tatiana, we are ready to leave," stated Brial. "We will be back before dawn. And we will have Tallion and your father with us, I promise."
"And the Scorpium," said the Professor. "You guys listen to Tatiana, and stay out of trouble. Got it?"
"Yes Professor," everyone replied.
Brial and the Professor turned to leave.
"Professor," shouted Sheldon.
The Professor turned and looked at Sheldon. "Yeah?"
Sheldon held up his fist. "Solid dawg."
The Professor held up his fist and smiled back. "Solid Sheldon."
They disappeared into the cave.
"What does solid mean Sheldon?" asked Tatiana.
"It means whatever you want it to mean," he answered. "That time it meant, be careful."
Tatiana smiled at Sheldon.
Brial and the Professor hiked through the cave and talked about their plans. The Professor kept close track of the passages they took, just in case something happened and they were split up. Brial helped him recognize special features and markings to help him. They had made it through the lava room and into the final passageway.
"Once we get to the outside, we can look over the fields and the city," said Brial. "I will point out where the Scorpium is, where the guards are, the tower and where they are keeping Trilus and Tallion."
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"Good," replied the Professor. "If we can make it to the Scorpium first, I think we will have a better chance of freeing them."
"Then that is what he will do," said Brial.
They reached the end of the cave, and walked out onto a ledge overlooking the rest of the island. From this point, they could see over the jungle and across the fields, right into the city. The city was beautiful at night. The three pyramids and the tower overshadowed the rest of the city. Brial pointed out where the Scorpium was, which was closest to them. It was being kept in a hidden harbor at the base of the tower. It wasn't going to be easy to get to, but they had to try. It was their only hope in rescuing Trilus and Tallion, and having any chance against the invaders.
Suddenly there was a bright light followed by a strong gust of wind. But there was no sound. Brial and the Professor instinctively covered their eyes and dropped to the ground. There was another flash of light and another gust of wind. This repeated two more times.
"What was that?" asked the Professor.
"It was a sign," answered Brial. "They have found us."
"A sign, what kinda sign? And who has found us?"
"The Kartravians. They are here, and they have left us a warning."
"The Kartravians, the people you have been trying to avoid."
"Yes."
"What kinda warning are you talking about?"
Brial pointed out over the fields. "Look over there, in the fields. They have left a message."
Out in the field was a group of symbols that had been formed by the flattening of crops. The symbols were large
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and created a message that Brial and the Atlanteans could decipher.
The Professor stared out over the field and then his jaw dropped. "Crop circles?" he murmured to himself. "They're real and they do mean something. This is unbelievable."
"What does it say?" asked the Professor.
"I can not be certain from here, but it is a warning. I can make out the sign of the Kartravians, and the sign of the 'Emerald Eye'. The council will be able to read it from the tower, but they won't see it until morning. This might help convince the council to listen to you."
"Well, we must go tell them before they execute Trilus and Tallion."
"There is no need to go tonight. The council should hear us now. I will go early in the morning and speak before them. This time they must listen. Now we must go back and rest. I will tell Tatiana of the sign."
Brial and the Professor turned around and headed back through the volcano. They reached the shelter to find Sheldon asleep with the dog in his lap, and everyone else sitting around the fire. They were all surprised to see them back so soon. Tatiana stood and approached them.
"What has happened Brial? Why are you back so soon?"
"When we reached the other side of the mountain, there was a flash of light and a strong gust of wind," he said.
"The Kartravians," she replied.
"Yes, they left a sign in the fields. They are here for the 'Emerald Eye'."
"What did it say?" she asked.
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"I am not sure. I could not read it from the mountain, but the council will be able to read it from the tower. It might help us, and force the council to listen to the Professor."
"You are right Brial, but we will have to go early."
"I will go early Tatiana, but alone. Let me get word to Tallion and speak to the council. I will then return to tell you the news."
Mike and Aaron listened, but didn't know what was going on.
"What is he talking about Professor?" asked Mike.
"It was incredible guys," he stated. "You should have seen it. There was this big flash of light and then a strong gust of wind, but no sound whatsoever. Then, when it was all over, there was a message in the field. A crop circle."
"You mean a real crop circle. Like the ones they say are made by aliens?" asked Aaron.
"Yeah, a real crop circle. I always thought they were just pranks," stated the Professor.
"What did it say?" Mike asked.
"I don’t know," shrugged the Professor. "I’m not a crop circle reader."
"Huh," said Mike. "Oh yeah. It was probably written in another language."
"Duh, Mike," remarked Aaron, as he held his finger and his thumb in the shape of an L on his forehead.
"Shut up Aaron," he replied back.
"I don't know about you two, but I'm getting tired. I think I will join Sheldon and the dog, and get some sleep."
"Yeah me too," replied Aaron.
"Same here," said Mike.
The Professor called Dacota over and they all got ready for bed. The Professor walked over to Tatiana and Brial, and told them they were calling it a night. Tatiana smiled, and
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offered to help get everyone enough covers to sleep well through the night.
Everyone settled down and slept for the night except Brial. Hey sat by the fire thinking about the sign, his people, and the danger they were about to face. It was enough to get him to leave now instead of in the morning. He quietly walked over to Tatiana and woke her. He told her that he was leaving to warn Tallion, her father and the council. She placed her hand on his shoulder and wished him safety and good luck. The Professor was stirring, and happened to look over and see this, and frowned. Tatiana glanced over to look at the Professor. The Professor quickly closed his eyes, and pretended that he was asleep. Tatiana smiled and then closed her eyes.
Brial hurried through the mountain and then across the fields, reaching the outer canal. He found the boat that they had taken earlier and rowed across to the other side. He knew that no one had seen the warning in the field yet, and that if the guards found him, they would take him prisoner. If he wanted to read the sign, he would have to sneak into the tower.
Brial watched for guards, and then ran to the tower. He made it to the top without being seen. He walked to the edge and looked over the fields. There it was plain as day. The warning left by the Kartravians. Brial looked over the symbols and deciphered the message.
"The Professor was right," he whispered to himself. "I must get to Tallion and tell him."
Brial headed down the tower and made his way through the pyramid. He hurried around a corner a little too fast and was spotted by a guard. Before he could react, the guard grabbed him.
"Brial, how could you betray your own people."
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"I haven't," he replied. "The Professor and the kids are here to help. The Kartravians have left a sign in the fields. We must tell the council."
The guard ignored him and took him to the cell with Trilus and Tallion.
"You can tell it to the council in the morning."
Trilus and Tallion woke to the sound of the cell door. Tallion stood up when he saw it was Brial.
"Brial my friend. What has happened? Where is my sister and the Professor?"
"They are ok Tallion. They rest in the shelter on the other side of the mountain."
"Why are you here?"
"The Kartravians are here. They left a sign in the fields."
Trilus stood up and approached Brial. "What did it say?"
"That we have until the day of the next moon to hand over the 'Emerald Eye' or be destroyed."
"Just like the Professor said," remarked Tallion. "The council must listen now."
"The council will not hear us until morning," stated Trilus. "All we can do is wait. Let us rest now. We will need our strength for the battle that comes."
Everyone woke to the sound of the cell door opening. It was morning, and the guards had come to take them before the council. The three prisoners were led through the pyramid and into the great hall, where members of the council, along with the Goma, Tarrikan were awaiting them.
Tarrikan stepped forward to face the prisoners. "Trilus, Tallion and Brial. You have been charged with treason, which carries the sentence of death. You are granted to speak."
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Brial quickly stepped forward. "Goma, we have committed no treason. The Kartravians have arrived. They left a sign in the fields last night. I witnessed it with my own eyes. You must go to the tower and see before you commit us to treason."
A member of the council stood up.
"Nonsense!" he said. "This is just to delay their execution to give them another chance to escape."
This infuriated Trilus. He stepped forward and pushed aside the guards.
"I am an Atlantean! Not a traitor! I bleed the same as you!" he demanded. "My eyes have seen the blood of many Atlanteans spilt for the freedom and safety of our people. Too much blood, and there will be no more. I may have grown old and gray, but I am guardian of the 'Emerald Eye'. I have warned you of invaders. This Professor is not one of them. I speak the truth, and so does my son, and so does Brial. If he says there is a sign, then there is a sign. If I am to die, I will die as an Atlantean defending our people. Not as a traitor!"
"Trilus, you have been heard," said the Goma. "We shall go to the tower and see the sign."
He motioned to the guards. "Guards, release them."
Tarrikan walked down the stairs and headed towards the tower. The members of the council, the guards and the freed prisoners followed.
At the top of the tower, everyone stood and looked out over the fields. Brial pointed out the message sent by the Kartravians. The Goma and the council read the message, and now believed them.
Tarrikan placed his hand on Trilus' shoulder.
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"Trilus, my friend," he said. "I am sorry that I did not believe you. Now we have little time. Can this Professor help us?"
Tallion jumped in. "Yes, I believe he can."
"Then bring the Professor before the council," replied Tarrikan. "We will listen to what he has to say. Hurry my friend. Time is short."
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