“I take it that’s a long shot; he may not be able to help us.”
Correct, Cole. But I hope observing him using his powers can give me the necessary sensor information to try and devise an inter-reality time bridge of our own.
“That sounds optimistic, doesn’t it?”
It’s not like we have any other options at the moment, Cole; unless you’re willing to accept that we live in this timeline from now on?
The thought is intriguing and not that unpleasant. A world that doesn’t need to keep its cities under domes to survive, pre-World War Three, and where some humans dedicate their life to help instill justice and peace seems appealing. But then who will take care of our Earth? If I’m gone from our timeline, who will stop the likes of Ahmed? Right now, it’s not like we have the luxury to think about such things. A nearby explosion jolts me out of that train of thought.
“TAINHA, give me a countdown.”
A digital countdown appears at the top right corner of my holographic HUD. It counts down from fifty-seven minutes.
“Help!” someone screams nearby.
Cole, this superhero needs our assistance.
He has powers; let him get himself out of his own mess.
“Why should we care? We can’t render assistance to every human in need, or we’ll never locate Cronos in time.”
Cole, he’s Cronos’ brother, he could—
“Understood,” I cut TAINHA off.
I jump out of cover and grab my sonic shotgun and set it to precise shooting mode. Two robots are about to finish off the downed superhero. My X-Ray vision, doubled with TAINHA’s medical sensors, show that his leg is broken in three places. He’s not getting back up anytime soon, and in less than three seconds, the pair of robots will finish him off. I can’t let that happen. With my free hand, I fire a couple of repulsor shots toward the robots, trying to get their attention and aggro back on me.
The robots adjust their course and run toward me. Firing my sonic shotgun, I hit the first robot in the head, temporarily disabling him by sending him crashing backward. I set the sonic shotgun to max power blast where it can deliver incredibly deadly shockwave blasts, but it takes a few seconds to charge. Instead, I send the shotgun spinning in the air, which temporarily diverts the incoming robot’s attention as it follows the shotgun’s trajectory. Using the distraction, I grab and activate my nano blade, using it to take the robot’s head clean off its body. The metallic head bounces a couple of times with resonating metallic thuds before rolling a couple more yards. The red LED eyes flicker for a second, then die off. The rest of the robot’s body continues running straight and falls off the roof.
I deactivate my nano blade and put my foot on the chest of the other robot before it manages to get back on its feet, picking up my shotgun on the way. I aim it dead center to its head and fire the shot. The recoil from the super-charged shockwave setting sends me flying high and back but not before permanently flattening and fusing the robot’s metallic head with the cement ground.
I magnetically reattach the shotgun to my back and walk toward Cronos’ brother. He is moaning in pain and holding his broken leg. At first, he tries to crawl away from me.
“I’m on your side,” I say.
I extend an open palm toward him, and he grabs it cautiously. Before I have time to try and get him back up, I feel I’m losing control of my body, and the arm holding the man swings hard while my other arm shoots forward on its own and ignites the reactor mode of my repulsor.
What the hell?
Before I can ask TAINHA what’s happening, we’re both in the air. I’ve lost control of my motor functions, and she’s over-riding me. Anger rises in me, but in the next second, a giant metallic hand smashes down exactly where we were standing and demolishes a large chunk of the skyscraper. Landing nearby, I feel control returning to my body.
I’m sorry, Cole; there was simply no time.
“That’s alright, TAINHA, no need to apologize; thank you for intervening.”
Anything for you, Cole.
Sometimes I feel she’s not just an artificial augment in my brain, but a part of my conscience and as well as a friend. The life of a Rewind agent is very lonely; we are not allowed friendships with other humans outside of the Rewind staff, and ever since I first signed up with the agency, she’s been the closest I’ve had to a friend. In fact, she feels so much like a part of me. It’s a strange, but very deep bond—one I tend not to talk about, especially when she says something I interpret as almost romantic in nature, as she did just now.
Maybe I’m reading too deeply.
We’d better not stay here too long, she adds. We attracted that cyborg’s attention by dispatching so many of its minions. In doing so we’ve painted a target on our backs.
I check Cronos’ brother and realize I don’t even know his name. He’s lost consciousness, probably the speed at which we threw him off the ground coupled with his already severe injury.
“We need to help him. Have medical repair nanites loaded with painkillers delivered to my index finger.”
Are you sure? We may need some of these later if you incur damage.
“Right now, I’m fine, and he’s not. What’s his name by the way?”
Phaser.
“Does everyone have a stupid name in this universe?”
Is that a rhetorical question, Cole?
“I guess it is. Never mind, then. I take it that, like Cronos, it’s an indication of what his powers are?”
Yes, he can phase through solid matter apparently.
“That can prove to be practical. Are the medical nanites ready?”
They are, Cole. I’ve also added a stimulant to bring him back to consciousness faster.
“What would I do without you, TAINHA? Thank you.”
You’re perfectly welcome, Cole, and I sure hope we never have to find out.
I allow myself a smile as I press my index finger against Phaser’s neck and my built-in medication hypo-spray delivers the nanites loaded with drugs into the man’s bloodstream. It doesn’t take long for his eyes to blink open.
“Thank you for saving my life. I— I don’t know you. Are you fighting for the coalition?”
“Well, let’s just say today I am. I’m not from around these parts.”
“My name is Phaser; I’m grateful you saved my life. I hope I can repay you one day.”
“It’s funny you should say that; we need your help.”
Phaser looks around, briefly.
“We?”
“I mean myself and my artif—”
Cole! TAINHA interrupts me. I don’t think mentioning an Artificial Intelligence at this point is wise. One is trying to kill them and take over their world.
She spoke directly into my mind, as opposed to her usually activating part of my inner ear, so it feels like she’s talking directly next to me. Thought communication, as I call it, is her normal way of speaking, but I suggested she try to make herself more human by simulating real speech via my auditory system.
“My partner and I got separated; I hope she’s doing fine,” I lie.
“Perhaps I can help you find her once we’ve dealt with Oblivion. You were about to ask me something earlier.”
“Yes, I need to find Cronos.”
The man furrows his eyebrows. I can tell he is hesitant to talk about his brother.
“May I ask why?”
“This is going to sound strange. But we’re not from this time, and we would like to ask his help to get back to the future.”
Phaser chuckles.
“The future? Are you serious?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“If what you say is true, can you tell me if we manage to destroy Oblivion today?”
I wish I knew, pal.
“With my help, you can.”
What are you doing, Cole? We’re only intervening to achieve our main goal, which is to return to our time.
I get that, but we want him to cooperate. I’m not
exactly sure what else I can tell him at this point to gain his trust.
“If you help me find Cronos I can at least help you defeat that giant cyborg.”
“No offense, but I doubt one man from the future can actually make such a difference. We’re almost one hundred in the coalition, well—we were.”
“How many?” I say simply.
“More than half. My friends—” but he stops as a single tear travels down his cheek.
I put my hand on his shoulder.
“I’m very sorry for your loss, but it looks like this battle is nowhere near over and I think you can use my help.”
Another battle robot emerges out of nowhere and jumps toward us, unleashing laser fire. I mentally divert most of my armor’s power to the shield and expand it around me to encompass Phaser. My shields absorb the laser shots. I wish I had my drones with me on this mission. They would help provide diversion and early warnings when the enemy is engaging us. But our initial mission was a stealthy one. Not to mention that the last time we faced Ahmed, he managed to hack my drones and turn them against me—which is why we decided to forgo them for this particular mission.
I grab Phaser and shove him behind me as I charge both my repulsor weapons to the maximum and incinerate the battle robot.
You’re using too much power, Cole. You could have dispatched this robot with less energy.
I know, but I need him to believe I can help them deal with Oblivion’s pet super cyborg.
I understand that, but will you?
Only if we need to.
Then for the record, that’s not very nice to lie to this man.
Weren’t you the one that just said we should stick to our objective and try to return to our time?
I did. But you don’t have to give that man false hope.
I want to argue with her, but my instincts tell me a similar story. I should help this Earth with their current scourge problem.
“Looks like you’ve saved my life again,” says Phaser, struggling to get back to his feet.
I help him stabilize by offering my arm.
“Are you alright?”
“Whatever you’ve given me has made me a little dizzy, but I can barely feel any pain in my leg anymore. Are you a healer?”
The countdown on my holo-HUD blinks and turns red as it counts down from thirty minutes. We can’t afford to waste any more time.
“Of a sort. I wish I could take the time to explain to you how it works, but right now I need to talk with your brother.”
Cole! shouts TAINHA sharply, but too late.
Phaser takes a couple of steps back, a deep frown covering his face.
“How do you know he’s my brother?”
“I— didn’t you just tell me that? A few moments ago?” I attempt, hoping the confusion from the drug cocktail I gave him earlier will help me sell yet another white lie.
He shakes his head from side to side.
“I have not; in fact, not many inside the coalition know that we’re siblings. I would never tell anyone this information willingly. Who the hell are you?”
“Look, I’ve told you before, I’m a time traveler. I have acquired that information in the future.”
“Something sounds fishy here.”
I’m not sure continuing to lie to this man is the right course of action. We need to do something to get his trust back, Cole, or we’re doomed to live on this Earth.
“Please, Phaser, let me help. Oblivion will kill your brother unless you get me to him.”
That was a risky thing to say; I hope you know what you’re doing.
You and me both.
But then I feel the temperature rise rapidly behind me. When I turn, a wall of flames is hurtling toward us. That cyborg monstrosity apparently can breathe fire like a dragon. Before I have time to react, Phaser puts his hand on my shoulder, and we fall downward passing through concrete like it wasn’t there. It’s the weirdest of sensations, but it ends quickly as we land a few floors below.
“Looks like you’ve saved ou—” I correct myself quickly, “my life as well.”
Fortunately, Phaser doesn’t seem attentive to my slip of the tongue. His face darkens as he looks at me with a serious demeanor.
“You’re welcome. Can you actually destroy Oblivion? Or you just want to get your hands on my brother?”
Perhaps we should trust this man, Cole, and I’m not sure deceiving him will get us there.
I’m reticent to be open with a stranger, but perhaps TAINHA is right, trying to build trust with one lie on top of another will most likely fail.
“I want to get back to our time; we were on an important mission of our own, trying to stop a terrorist from ending civilian lives. Something I’m sure you can relate to.”
Phaser nods. “Continue.”
“I won’t lie to you; my main objective is to get back to our time, and frankly our Earth, as this is not part of my world. We don’t have superheroes where I come from.”
“All evidence to the contrary; you seem to fit the bill quite well, risking your own life trying to stop innocents from getting hurt.”
I hadn’t thought of that, and perhaps on some level, we’re more alike than I first realized.
“I guess. I’m just doing my job.”
“So are we. Now, I feel you’re telling me the truth. My brother went to get some backup and should return shortly. I know where he will be when he does. But, I need you to help me get rid of that monstrosity outside; it’s already claimed too many lives of my comrades in arms. I can’t let it take another life. Perhaps with your advanced weaponry and my phasing ability, we could rid the city of it.”
Taking on a cyborg that size doesn’t feel like a two-man job, but, somehow, I feel I don’t have much of a choice.
“And then you’ll get me to your brother?”
Phaser nods. “Now about him dying,” he continues. “Was that a lie to get me to help you or the truth?”
“The truth, I’m afraid. It’s in both our interests to get to your brother, and we don’t have much time left to do so.”
“What do you mean? How long do we have?”
I quickly glance at my holographic countdown.
“Twenty-six minutes and change.”
“Then we’d better get to it.”
TAINHA, do you have any idea on how to bring that monstrosity down? I projected my thoughts toward her.
As a matter of fact, I’ve been gathering a ton of sensor data since we first arrived. When it fired flames at us a moment ago, I managed to get internal sensor data, and I’ve been compiling it for us.
Why do we care about how it looks inside?
Because that’s where you and Phaser have to go; inside it. I believe you must retrieve its CPU, both disabling the cyborg and providing me with the necessary processing power to try and calculate a way home once we find Cronos. I’m afraid my own computational power might be lacking if we are to identify a way to get home once Cronos demonstrates his time-manipulating mutation.
So basically, I just need to use Phaser to get inside that massive cyborg.
Yes, and then I’ll guide you through the location to its CPU.
Let me guess, inside its brain?
Weirdly enough, no. The main processing unit seems to be located somewhere around the scrotum of the monstrosity.
You’re yanking my chain, aren’t you?
I’m afraid not.
This day just keeps getting better and better.
If you don’t want it to get worse, you better get a move on. Your new ally’s phasing stunt got Oblivion’s attention. About two-dozen battle robots have been sent down to the building and are currently looking for you. I think Oblivion knows that you can now easily disable the cyborg because of the phasing ability of your cohort.
“Phaser, we have to get going and find a way inside that thing; can you phase us both in?”
Phaser raises an eyebrow.
“Inside? Why would we want to go inside?”
>
“So we can disable it by removing its CPU, which, incidentally, may be what I need to get back to my time.”
“Well, as long as it stops Oblivion’s nefarious plan for my city, I’m willing to give it a shot.”
“Alright then, let’s get out of here. We’ve got enemy incoming, and we don’t have time to deal with the tin cans right now.”
“Lead the way—” Phaser pauses. “I realize I don’t even know your name.”
“I’m Cole, Cole Seeker.”
“Then, by all means, lead the way, Cole Seeker.”
Using TAINHA’s 3D holo-map overlay, which provides me advance warning and positioning of the incoming robots, I ask Phaser to get us through numerous walls to avoid crossing them. With less than twenty-three minutes left before Cronos’ supposed demise, we can’t afford to be distracted by Oblivion’s cannon fodder minions. Soon, we’re back on the roof of the building, but the cyborg has moved ten blocks away.
“I’m not sure I can fly the both of us that far,” I say. “I could probably do it on my own, but I doubt my repulsors can get the both of us there. And even if I could, I would deplete way more energy than I’d like.”
“Then it’s time to get some help,” says Phaser before pressing something on his watch. A beam of light projects a neat insignia in the sky in the form of precise fireworks.
Before I have time to ask how this will help us, the flying man from before arrives and lands between us.
“So, you are fighting on our side after all?” he says with a satisfied smirk.
“Yeah, it sure looks that way.”
He extends his hand in friendship. “I’m Skeiron, at your service.”
“We need your help, Skeiron. Can you fly us and drop us atop the cyborg?”
“It’s your funeral; just make sure you don’t get me killed in the process.”
“Hopefully, no one else gets killed today,” I answer.
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