Sharukhan stared at the comet that dominated the night sky. He was a handsome time templar with dark skin, black hair and striking green eyes. Many women of Atlantis desired him, but only one had his heart, Vidya.

Tonight was the night he must tell her. “How can something so beautiful, be so deadly?” He thought as Vidya walked up and took his hand. Together in silence they stood on a grassy knoll that looked over the harbor.

The mushroom-shaped buildings on the water's edge glowed a dim orange light, generated by the cold electricity of bio-luminescence plankton that lived within the walls. Atlantis was a city that lived in organic harmony with nature.

The comet discovered two weeks ago, was on a collision course with Mu.

“Appa” said seven-year-old Vidya. “Do you think Amma knows about the comet?”

“Of course my little Rani, she sees and knows all.”

“I wish she never died.” Her eyes cast downward.

“Me too,” he answered.

Sharukhan tried to control himself as memories of Ramyana rushed into his mind. His wife had died after childbirth. He remembered baby Vidya tracing her mother’s face with her chubby fingers.

“Vidya sit, we must talk.”

“Sure Appa, about what?”

“We did not win the lottery.”

“Oh.”

“We won’t be leaving with the others on the Vimana ships to Solon.”

“That’s ok Appa, I already knew we weren’t going because we never packed like the others.”

He strained to keep his face from contorting. How do you tell your seven-year-old child about the end of the world?

“We’re going to die, aren’t we?” she said matter of factly.

“Not if I can help it,” he replied.

The few left behind only had two choices, time travel or death. For some even time travel was not an option as it took several months to alter the genetic structure to withstand the rigors of temporal travel. Forutnatley, Vidya was born with the correct DNA.

As a father, Sharukhan wanted his daughter to live, but what kind of life would she have as a time templar?

“Come Vidya, we are going to the temple.”

“I thought you said I wasn’t allowed.”

“Tonight is special. We’re making an exception for cute little girls.” He said playfully grabbing her nose.

Vidya giggled.

Sharukhan spoke into the small bluish crystal he wore around his neck, “Time Templar”.

They were instantly transported deep below the ocean to the Temple of Time. The device was a Billouri-Sheesha that could open a short distance portal. Vidya wore one that had belonged to her mother.

The temple was constructed entirely of flawless quartz crystal. Only Time Templars, high vedics trained in the art of time travel could enter the sacred pyramids.

“It’s so beautiful,“ said Vidya, amazed at the kaleidoscope of colors that refracted off the walls.

In the center of the room was a glowing round slab made of a strange gelatinous material. It was the cosmic wheel of karma, the vehicle of time travelers.

“Appa are we underwater?”

“Hush, little Rani,” said Sharukhan as he pointed towards a giant figure in the shadows. An enormous white snake lay coiled in a corner. Atop its cumbersome layers appeared to be a man asleep.

“Greetings, Lord Vishnu.”

“Welcome Sharukhan, I’ve been expecting you. You’re the last one to leave,” said the figure as he climbed down. He slowly removed the hood of his white robe. “I see you have brought a friend.”

Vidya had never seen someone of the Udnih people. His skin was deep blue and he had four arms, each hand held a lotus flower.

”Who do we have here?” said Lord Vishnu. He knelt to take a look at her.

“My daughter, Vidya.”

“She looks like her mother.” Lord Vishnu smiled, revealing a double row of pointed teeth and yellows eyes that squinted like fish.

“You have lots have teeth and arms,” she said.

Lord Vishnu laughed. “She is also forthright, like Ramyana.”

“Do you know who I am?” he said to her.

“You’re Vishnu, the immortal guardian of time.

“That is right and this is for you,” said Lord Vishnu as he handed her a lotus.

“Thank you” said Vidya with a bright smile. She watched as her father and Lord Vishnu walked a short distance with their backs turned. Vidya could barely hear, what sounded like an argument.

“She is a child, it has never been done.”

“Lord Vishnu, if I may be blunt, she is all I have left.”

“Time travel is an uncertain science. Vidya could lose her corporal form, her consciousness would exist without a body. She could suffer temporal amnesia and never know who she is or arrive in a physical form with retained consciousness? Worse, she could be trapped between realms.”

“I have travelled 9,000 years in time, this world is doomed. The future does not know of our entire civilization. ”

“We do not know the effect on children.”

“I will not leave her,” answered Sharukhan defiantly.

“Look at her,” said Lord Vishnu, “She holds the thousand petal lotus of time as if it were a simple blossom.”

At that moment the waters outside the crystal pyramid began churning and bubbling from heat as the comet drew closer to Mu.

“It is time to go,” said Vidya with a calm wisdom.

“Yes, I suppose it is your destiny,” replied Vishnu.

She climbed onto the jelly-like slab and lay down in the center.

“Fear not Appa. I will remember what you taught me. In the far future our planet is called Earth. Never lose my Billouri-Sheesha. Call Lord Vishnu’s name for help and…”

“..know that I will find you,” Sharukhan added.

The wheel began to turn, lifting her spirit higher and higher. As she rose, she witnessed the comet as it slammed into Mu.

She wondered if her father survived. Next came a blinding white light and then silence.

When she came to, Vidya lay on a wet floor that seemed to be rocking back and forth.