Chapter 3

As I stood in the dimly lit room, surrounded by my two fellow companions, Francis and Zahra, a sense of excitement and trepidation filled the air. We were about to embark on our first mission, a journey that would take us back in time to the year 2021, in the bustling city of San Diego, California.

We each possessed a quantum chain replica. These versions were less bulky than Sigma's prototype and were a bit more stylish. Yet Ivon was the only one with a hand bracelet version—but a bit more bling, bling. With these gadgets, we now possessed the ability to traverse through time and alter its course. Our mission was no ordinary one; we were tasked with saving a missing child, Kayleen Evanston, during a horrific terrorist attack that would shake the city to its core.

However, there was an additional twist to our mission. The General wanted us to test the boundaries of time travel, to see if warning the Evanston family about the imminent danger they faced would change the course of history. It was a risk, but one we were willing to take.

Upon activation, the medallions in the center of our necklaces started to glow. A giant luminescent portal, like a circular cut in reality, faded into view before us. As we all stepped through it, the world around us morphed and twisted, and in an instant, we were transported to the night before the dreadful massacre. The air was heavy with excitement as we made our way to the Evanston residence, a floating four-story residential business fusion of a structure—a true marvel of a mansion! This place was called Evanston Manor. Evanston Incorporated's bases of operations were on the first floor. The residential areas on the floors above were reserved for family, friends, and company execs. Being hired as security, Francis and I were stationed in the room directly below Connor and Michelle. Zahra's room was on the far side, directly below Kayleen's room.

The Evanston family welcomed us with open arms, their trust in our mission shining through their eyes. We explained the dangers that awaited them, urging them to take precautions, to stay away from crowded places. They listened intently, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and gratitude. However, the family's patriarch, Conner, didn't believe us fully, thinking his company was untouchable. He then demonstrated the pride and joy of his so-called well-founded reasoning as he activated a forcefield around the building via watch. A blue dome covered an area of a quarter mile around E.I. Conner left it running for a few minutes before turning it off. For the time being, no one else questioned the safety of E.I. and their families living within its walls. Yet my fellow TTA agents knew better to believe such a magnificent defense system was infallible. Something was going to happen to those defenses the next day and we were gonna find out what that something was—no matter the cost!

But just as we began to believe that we had changed the course of events, an eerie silence fell upon the room. Our companion, Ivon, who had been by our side since the beginning, disappeared without a trace. Panic washed over us, our hearts pounding in our chests. We frantically searched the house, the city, but Ivon was nowhere to be found.

With heavy hearts, we realized that altering the timeline had consequences. The very fabric of time seemed to rebel against our interference. Our mission had taken an unexpected turn, becoming a mystery within a mystery. Yet my skepticism lied in Ivon's strange disappearance.

As the sun set on the San Diego's more rural areas, there was a sense of anticipation lingering in the air. The Evanstons, a couple deeply in love, were eagerly preparing to celebrate two important milestones—their first year of marriage and their seventh year E.I.'s existence as a company. The grand celebration was to be held in the majestic Evanston Manor's bottom floor. The place was abuzz with excitement as guests adorned in their finest attire began to arrive, their laughter and merry chatter filling the hallways.

Amidst the sea of well-wishers, I sought out Zahra sitting at a table with Kayleen. Her dark eyes sparkled with a combination of excitement and trepidation as Othniel extended his hand, inviting her to dance. Zahra was reluctant at first because she felt Kayleen needed to be supervised. The seven-year-old girl took offense, believing she was old enough to take care of herself. She insisted that I dance with Zahra, shipping us both as a couple. This notion stunned me. I stuttered in nervousness, trying to refute Kayleen's assumption until Zahra put her soft left hand on my lips and hushed me. She pulled me close and whispered in my ear that Kayleen was quite the observant little girl and knew I liked the female on my team. Zahra's sweet voice calmed me as she positioned herself in a dancing position, swaying to the slow melodic tunes that filled the ballroom. Both of us began to dance together.

Just as our feet glided across the dance floor, Zahra's gaze flickered, her attention caught by a flash of movement in the dimly lit hallway behind us. A strange figure seemed to materialize for a mere moment before disappearing into thin air. Instinctively, Zahra broke away from my embrace as the figure's presence piqued her curiosity.

Alone in the hauntingly quiet corridor, Zahra followed the phantom presence, her heart pounding. The air grew thick with tension, and she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. As she turned a corner, she stumbled upon a sight that chilled her to the core. In each generator room, there were hidden explosives, ticking ominously towards destruction.

Time seemed to stand still as panic engulfed her. Zahra's mind raced as she desperately tried nearing the bombs, her hands trembling with fear. But her efforts were in vain as she told the team over coms that the shadowy figure had Raylorian grade robots with them. These bots prevented her from getting any closer. She could only watch in horror as each bomb went off in each generator room. The deafening explosions reverberated through the elegant halls, shattering the serenity of the night.

Chaos ensued as terrorists stormed the manor, ruthlessly disabling the forcefield that protected Evanston Manor and unleashing havoc upon the once joyful celebration. As each generator went off line, so did the antigravity systems. The building rocked and leaned towards the ground, sliding everything to the side, then finally plummeting into the dirt underneath it. Guests scattered, seeking shelter and safety amidst the madness, as everything not secured to the floor slid to the side of the building closest to the ground. The experience felt like we in a ship starting to sink.

Over coms, Zahra's voice quivered with a mix of panic and determination. She claimed that the saboteur looked like Ivon. Her voice laced with disappointment for failing to disarm the bombs. At first I didn't believe her yet my current skepticism of our mentor had me thinking otherwise. Ivon was nowhere in sight yet someone looking like him, according to Zahra, shows up as a party crasher—suspicious!

Though Zahra wanted to pursue them, our first priority was to protecting the Evanston-Pyun family and getting them out the building safely. Zahra took Laina Pyun, Michelle's sister, and Kayleen with her. My focus was on protecting Conner and Michelle while Francis helped with the evacuating other family members. The task seemed easy until the assassins started pursuing us. Francis came in with the rear assist, making our escape a success. In the rubble of Evanston Manor, body doubles were left to make it look like Connor and Michelle were dead. The death toll kept rising as more futuristic looking robots owned by the GUB bombarded the area with artillery, soon reducing the pride and joy of the Evanston-Pyun family to ruins.

Francis ranted and raved about this rescue gig not being part of our mission but I explained that we couldn't just let the Evanstons die at the hands of GUB. When Zahra rejoined the group, she mentions leading Laina and Kayleen out through the valley behind Evanston Manor through the vineyards. This was the place we all agreed to rendezvous. Though there was something else she wasn't telling me. I reached out to touch her shoulder and she gave way to tears, hugging me tightly. At first I assumed the worst—Both Kayleen and her aunt were killed but she assured me that the two were fine but then I realized time travel had taken a harder toll on her. Zahra began to explain to us all that it took her many tries to get this desired outcome. She was crying tears of joy yet the ordeal of many redos and seeing the two die many times at the hands of the GUB after them was too much. Zahra was at wits end. She wanted to go home.

I never expected this mission to take such a mysterious turn. It was our duty to guide Connor and Michelle to safety. Little did I know, the journey would unravel secrets that sent shivers down my spine. We were traversing through one of the Evanston's many vineyards, fighting GUB robots. Suddenly, they all retreated as if they were being called off. The dense foliage provided cover from prying human eyes but to an AI, no such thing was possible. I led the way based on Connor's directions. Connor and Michelle followed closely behind Zahra and I with Francis in tow, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination.

As we neared the heart of the vineyard, Connor froze in his tracks. His face contorted in disbelief and shock. It was as if he had stumbled upon a long-lost secret, hidden in plain sight. His voice trembled as he uttered words that shook us to the core.

"Someone knew how to shut down all the defenses protecting E.I. And planted those bombs. My security staff caught one guy earlier but I see now that it was far too late!" Connor whispered, his voice barely audible. "Who could've planned all this and why?"

We were stumped, our minds racing to comprehend the implications of Connor's revelation. Before we could gather our thoughts, fate intervened in the form of a woman named Val. She appeared out of nowhere, blending seamlessly into the shadows. Val brought with her a tale of urgency and purpose, claiming that she had been sent to meet with our team by the General. She spoke of a safe house, a sanctuary where the Evanstons could find solace amidst the chaos. Her words seemed genuine, convincing us that she was on our side. As we contemplated Val's proposition, she disappeared into thin air through what seemed like a portal similar in appearance to ours. The Evanstons, caught between fear and hope, took a leap of faith and followed her. And just like that, they were gone, leaving us three standing there in bewilderment.

Hours passed as we tried to make sense of what had transpired. Doubt and suspicion crept into our minds, clouding our judgment. Who was Val? Was she truly an ally, or was she working for forces beyond our comprehension?

We went on our way to a nearby hotel, where we were meant to rendezvous with Ivon. All of us were waiting for Ivon to show up. I stayed outside the room, posted by the elevator. His tardiness irritated me much. In the distance, I spotted her—Val, standing at the end of the hallway near our room. 

My mind raced with confusion and disbelief as a saw a ghastly figure of Val in the corner of my eye. When I turned towards her, she began to speak. The first thing she told me was that the image I saw of her was a projection—she wasn't really there and couldn't be because of safety reasons. Was this conversation with Val really happening or was my imagination playing tricks on me? The words she spoke, the way her voice resonated in my mind, it all felt so real, yet so unreal at the same time. I couldn't shake off the thought that Val had mentioned something about the future—the evolution of Raylorian technology. Scientists could enhance the human genome. And she claimed to be one of those people who were enhanced. She was someone with the ability to communicate with others through telepathy and could interface with computers. The things Val shortly listed on her superhuman abilities were mind-boggling, to say the least.

But amidst the whirlwind of thoughts, Val had shared something chilling. It was a warning about Ivon. I had my suspicions about him from the beginning. Val urged me not to believe a single word he says, but she didn't elaborate on why or what specifically. The speculation of this unanswered question only fueled my curiosity further, and I yearned to know what Val knew about him.

As I tried to process the gravity of the situation, Val's ethereal image suddenly vanished from the hallway. It was as though she had never been there at all. And just as quickly as she disappeared, Ivon arrived, coming up around the corner from the stairwell. Instead of being angry at Ivon and his absence, I played it off, acting like I was happy to see him.

In the back of my mind, I still couldn't help but wonder: who was Val, really? Why did she warn me about Ivon? What could he possibly be hiding?

The entire journey back to the space station was filled with an eerie silence. The weight of Val's words hung heavy in the air, and I found myself entranced by the enigma surrounding Ivon. I observed his every move, each word he uttered, searching for any hint of deceit.

But the more I observed, the more questions arose. Who could I trust? Was Val the one I should rely on, or was she just a third party with a hidden agenda?