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The question of whether Vance was dead or not became more than academic when he found himself in a bathtub up to his chin in ice water like some forgotten cocktail garnish, a demonic woman standing over him, and no memory of how he got there.
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Chronologs of a Combat Archaeologist - Chapter 1 — This Is Your Life…

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Chapter 1 — This Is Your Life…

The portal expressed open in front of me. An odd sensation of déjà vu rippled through me as the brightly lit studio became visible through the portal. I stepped through into the replica staging chamber my boot clanging onto the metal gantry, instantly transitioning from my home in New Mexico to Sydney.

“Welcome to Dig Operations Bunker One,” Manny Monsoon said as I walked towards him along the gantry like I was some sort of model.

“I am pleased to present,” the talking-head and popular Chronolog Surf Master Manny Monsoon said, “Xelia Numinal the latest sensation among Terrestrial Combat Archeologists.”

I was nearly to the guest entrance side of the horseshoe-shaped couch surrounding the 3D projection pit and well within the primary scope of the interview’s chronolog as Monsoon finished his welcome exhortation to an audience that was only virtually there. He stood watching me with a broad, welcoming smile as I closed the final few strides to his position at the opposite end of the viewing couch.

I stopped at my end of the couch and reached out over the 3D projection pit to grip his hand. His handshake was firm, but not aggressive.

We both took a seat as the applause of the virtual audience faded.

“Thank you for having me on Explorers, Manny.” I said, leaning back and crossing my legs to give the audience a good look at my heavy boots, a signature of my profession.

“I am delighted, Xelia,” Monsoon said, “that you could find time in your busy schedule to accommodate me.”

I chuckled, “Please, Manny, it is really my pleasure.”

“First,” Monsoon said, his gaze running from my boot to my face, “I’d like to know how your latest body upgrades feel?” His lips quirked in a way that said he was pleased with his double entendre, which I knew because the body I now inhabited was not that of the gangly woman who had chosen to become a combat archeologist.

“Very alive,” I said, knowing that I wasn’t answering the way he wanted.

His smile didn’t falter as he nodded and chuckled in return. He conceded ground intuiting that I wasn’t going to elaborate, but I knew he would circle around to the topic of my body and its modifications again. Instead, he said, “You have such an interesting name.”

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes at one of the most common questions I fielded.

He continued, “Tell us about how you acquired the delightful name ‘Xelia’? And spelled with an ‘X’, not a zed?”

“Yes, with an ‘X’,” I said. “It comes from my mother Eiza’s side of the family, particularly an archeologist with the same name who studied the Aztec calendar nearly two centuries ago.”

“And Numinal. That’s not your original family name, is it?”

I suppressed a squeak of embarrassed laughter. For some reason I couldn’t quite articulate, I was still uncomfortable with my celebrity tag. I said, “No, it isn’t. I was born Xelia Newtal.”

“Ah,” Manny said, reaching up to stroke his prominent chin.

“Yes, it is a bit awkward-sounding,” I said.

He beamed at me. “I must say that, in my humble opinion, you deserve the appellation of Numinal.”

I couldn’t suppress the blush, and said, “You are exaggerating.” But I knew he was right, I just hadn’t expected him to latch on to my celebrity name with such relish. Naive of me, I know.

“Indeed, I am not,” Manny said comfortable with his hyperbole. “As everyone could see when you walked out, you are divine.”

I didn’t respond, but only hoped he wouldn’t pull up images to contrast my current state with my earlier one.

Either he saw my embarrassment and decided to be merciful, or he had other plans, as he changed the topic again.

Next Chapter

Chapter 2 — … And Your Death

Chapters

  • Chapter 1 — This Is Your Life…


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