Meanwhile on the other side of town a stranger in a dark cloak approached the fine home of the most influential man in town. Judge Oakley had only lived in this town for less than a year, sanctioned by the governor to keep the peace. For someone of Oakley's wealth and influence it seemed like a step down, but the stranger in the dark cloak suspected something about Oakley no one in town knew, not even members of its local government.

He knocked on the door lightly at first and waited. When there was no answer he sneaked around the back, only to be greeted by two very large Dobermans. The stranger had no fear of being prey to such predators. He had some tricks of his own. As one of the dogs lunged towards him he quickly sifted to the other side of the large wooden fence. The other dog quickly raced towards him, but he shifted again. After a while the stranger saw this as a game. These dogs couldn't be that stupid thinking they would ever catch him, no one could, not even those pampered Sadian kids chasing him throughout time. If he could trick them then he could trick these stupid dogs.

He took off at a steady pace letting the dogs chase him, then stopped, but before either of the dogs could touch him he shifted again then reappeared in on the low tree branch, but not so low that the dogs could reach him. He laughed at their efforts, until he heard a female voice a short distance away.

"Are you done playing around?" she asked. The stranger looked up as the woman shooed the dogs away. They disappeared through an open door which the woman shut as soon as they ran through. She approached him casually. Her skirts swayed softly in the evening breeze as did her reddish brown hair. Her hazel eyes dug into him which suddenly made him nervous. "The judge has been expecting you," she said in a low voice.

He jumped down from the tree and landed on the ground. He lowered the hood to his cloak revealing a half scarred face. He thought for sure a beautiful woman such as her would gasp at his appearance but she remained standing in front of him, unaffected by his appearance.

"How could the judge be expecting me?" he asked. "I never sent word that I was coming."

"The judge knows many things," she said, leaning in close to him. "Not much happens in this town without the judge's knowledge."

"So my feelings about the him are true," he said. "He's a Sadian."

"He's more than a Sadian. He's a god," she said. "Now come, Charles, the judge is waiting."

"I prefer Charlie," he said as she took his hand and led him towards the house.

She giggled seductively at him. "I prefer Charles. Makes you sound more intelligent, and you may call me Pamela."

When he entered the house he looked around in awe. Never had he seen anything this luxurious. Pamela led him though a pair of French doors. He noticed the room had plush carpeting and one long couch and a single chair. On the other side there was a bar and grand piano by the window.

"Just make yourself at home, and the judge will be with you in a moment," Pamela said as she walked out the door. She looked back at him then swung her hips as she left the room.

He wondered if she was really interested in him or was the judge ordering her to flirt with him so he would lose his focus. He poured himself a drink and sat down on the couch. He downed his drink in one gulp and reached into his pocket. He opened his hand to reveal a crystal.

"Well, little baby, I'm going to find out just how much power you actually have. If this so-called judge is a god he'll know what you're all about."

Soon he heard footsteps outside the door. Charlie stood up as a middle aged man entered the room. Charlie didn't know what the judge looked like but this man just had to be him. The man approached him cautiously.

"Are you Judge Oakley?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, I am," he said, staring down at him, "but everyone around here knows that. I'm surprised you don't."

"I'm not from around here," Charlie said, "and if I told you where I'm from you wouldn't believe me anyway."

"Try me, boy," the judge said. "That scar on your face, doesn't look like a typical wound a person could have gotten around here. And I don't believe it could be a deformity from birth. So tell me who did this to you?"

Charlie became agitated as he replayed in his mind the incident with Cree at the lab. That bitch was going to pay dearly for what she did to him, but he didn't want sympathy or even questions about his scar.

"Doesn't matter," he said. "I'll get my revenge." The last statement he didn't mean to come out, but his feelings were overpowering him.

"Then it was a female," the judge said and laughed. "A weak little woman mangled your pretty face."

"Shut up!" Charlie shouted, losing his temper.

Suddenly he felt the judge hand around his throat. "Never speak to me in that tone of voice, boy." There was a spark in his eyes that terrified Charlie. "Men have died for less."

The judge loosened his grip enough, giving Charlie the chance to defend himself. "You kill me, this goes with me." Charlie opened his hand to reveal the crystal. Judge Oakley quickly let go of him.

"Where did you get this?" he asked and grabbed for it, but Charlie was too quick. He shifted across the room holding the crystal between his thumb and forefinger giving the judge a clear view.

"Not that easy, judge," Charlie said. "I don't trust you, until I know you won't stab me in the back this stays with me."

"I want that crystal!" Judge Oakley shouted. "And I want to know how you got it."

"Simple time travel," Charlie said. "You see, judge, I'm from 300 years in the future. In my time there was a scientist, called himself Brown. He made a deal with me. I deliver the Faigon boy to him and he gives me a copy of all those delicious powers that kid and his friends possess. There was just one problem, that bitch Fanta brought some reinforcements, so he was only able to copy one the powers, Jordon Demsey's powers. Can you guess what that power was?"

"Time jumping," the judge said. "That is one power I wish to possess, and that crystal."

"All in due time," Charlie said. "But as for yours. I learned that you can possess people, take their bodies while killing their essence from within."

"Where did you...?"

"The ancients... They spoke of a god called Osirus. Cursed and blessed with the gift of possession, able to jump into a new body once the old one expires. How many times have you been killed only to possess the body of your murderer, ultimate punishment I believe. Wouldn't these paranoid, pious villagers love to know the true nature of their beloved judge and protector?"

"Did you come here to blackmail me?" the judge said, "because I could kill you right now, better yet kill this body and possess yours. Then I would have your abilities and memories."

"Not a good idea unless you want people to believe that you killed Judge Oakley," Charlie said. "And it would not only be the villagers you would have to worry about. Even if you time jumped out of here, you would still be hunted by those annoying Sadain kids, and I'm psychically connected to one of them, plus these powers are only a copy, not as good as the original. You're better off with Jordon's body. The power originated from him, and you would gain all his knowledge, and that boy has some brain."

"Where do I find him?" Judge Oakley asked.

"Not sure but he's close," Charlie said. "I can feel him, and where he is so are the rest of his friends. Once we find them, you could take his body and execute the rest of them."

"On what grounds?" the judge asked.

"Witchcraft," Charlie said. "Couldn't be hard to prove, they all have powers, get them to use them in front of a crowd and their executions will be justified. We just have to bring them out of hiding."

Just then Pamela entered the room. She was carrying a tray of refreshments and snacks. "Pamela, I told you not to disturb me."

"Well, judge, I couldn't help but overhear," Pamela said.

"Then you know there are Sadians hiding amongst us," Judge Oakley said.

"Yes, one I can think of," Pamela said. "And I heard the word 'execution'."

"They can't hide for long," Charlie said. "Even if they managed to get their hands on the proper attire to blend in they would still stand out like a sore thumb. One of them doesn't even look human."

Judge Oakley looked intensely at him. "What do you mean?"

"Jenny Wilson is who I mean," Charlie said. "The girl has blue skin."

"But only the ancients..." Judge Oakley said.

"Precisely," Charlie said. "Now, is there anyone in town who would hide a girl like that, anyone... different."

"That Gamgee family," Pamela said. "Everyone knows there's something odd about them. All those stories Samuel tells. No one believes him, but there's got to be some truth."

"There is," Judge Oakley said. "He's friends with Michael Thomason and his wife Laela. If anyone would hide Sadians it's her, being one herself." Judge Oakley thought for a moment. "Pamela, I need you to do something."

"Anything, judge," she said.

"Bring me Ethan Bordon," Judge Oakley said. "Tell him I have a special job for him."

"Certainly, judge," Pamela said and left the room.

"Who's this Ethan Bordon?" Charlie asked.

"Just a pawn," the judge said. "He'll flush out those Sadians before long." The judge walked over to the bar and poured two glasses of whiskey. He handed one to Charlie. "To our alliance?"

Charlie didn't say anything just slowly drank the whiskey. He still didn't trust this guy and wondered if he should have sought him out at all.

To be Continued...