CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

Dr. Randolph got along well with Lazarus and his son. In fact, ever since Philip found out about Randolph and his ex-wife, check-ups on the boy were the highlights of the Doctor's week. The boy reminded Dr. Randolph of himself as a kid, they were of the same side of the coin.

"It must feel good to see your boy is back to perfect health."

"You have no idea, Doctor."

Dr. Randolph finished examining the boy. Lazarus stood adjacent to them peering out the window. He looked up at the suns and remembered that weird day his boy saw two flames in his daddy's eyes. It didn't happen to the kid, so Lazarus deemed it fit not to tell the Doctor about it. Lazarus rubbed his eyes.

"Is everything okay with you, Laz?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, and please thank your colleague again for what he did on that day."

"I will," Dr. Randolph said as he left the apartment, "He often asks about the boy's condition."

A reassuring lie, but for who?

It was getting late. The suns were already setting behind the buildings. Dr. Randolph walked the empty streets of Chinatown. A fluttered flap and before he could turn around, DarkFlood had swooped him up and into the air as his cape covered his sight. When they landed he was on a rooftop and DarkFlood was standing crouched down on the edge before him.

"I'm sending you away, Doctor."

"What? Why?"

"It is for your own good."

"To keep me safe from who you!?"

"No, you have not seen the world that is coming. The one that I have seen in my dreams."

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"Your visions are back?" Dr. Randolph recalled.

"Doc, they are clearer than ever, and they all have one thing in common. You." Philip went on, "Almost every human saw fire in their eyes the day the second sun appeared. They will all become the next evolution of mankind. But you doctor, you are of the one percent of humans in the world that will not be affected by the two suns." DarkFlood shook his head and reassured Randolph that this was nothing personal and for his own good.

"They're going to enslave your kind."

"You say it like there is nothing we can do about it."

DarkFlood did not have the time to explain to him the realm of his existence. His ever growing power illuminating and eliminating his humanity.

"And here," DarkFlood gave him a cylindrical container holding Sensei's scrolls, "Take this."

Randolph took it and realized where he was going. "I thought you couldn't get back to them if you didn't know where you dropped them."

"I've been meditating up here for ten hours. The time is now, my memory is clear and present in my mind's eye."

"But what about Lazarus and the boy, and you. Who’s going to save your ass next time?"

"You will be reunited with them shortly," DarkFlood comforted, "And for me, that's none of your concern anymore. It never was." Philip closed his eyes and opened his hand for Randolph to take. Doctor Randolph looked around, he could not take anything with him apparently. It was now or never. If he stayed, he would risk losing all the basic freedoms of a life he took for granted.

The Doctor took Philip's hand as DarkFlood and disappeared from the Manhattan night skyline. DarkFlood returned to the roof in the blink of an eye, but without his companion. Philip was truly on his own, now for what was the worst to come yet.

Dr. Randolph gathered his balance and senses as he came-to after the epic teleportation. He looked around, he was surrounded by mountains. "My God." he exclaimed. Talking made him feel good. The air up here was cold and crisp. He breathed in and when he turned around he saw a small town amongst the slopes.

"Welcome to the Himalayas," greeted Jason, sensei's grandson.

Dr. Randolph hugged Jason.

“Not a hugger, Jack?” asked the kid.

“It’s just Philip now. The jig is up.”

Randolph handed the container holding sensei’s scrolls over to the rightful owner. After that, Jason led them up to the small mountainside town, his family's town. And above that there was a building in the summit, a manor within the clouds.

"What is that?" asked Philip.

"The Temple of the Flood."