“....that is who I am. You must keep it a secret, it is better this way. Even though I know what their and your future is, I don’t want to control their choices. The choices are theirs to make, I can only see the results of those choices. You and I have a special purpose in all of this, as they inevitably make those choices and move to a certain future, we are the ones who have to look for a solution.”

“A way to end this suffering of ours, we have always failed but this time…I need you to focus on a different solution. Look into other universes, measure the chronoton frequencies of all the Marys in those universes. There has to be a solution. Our story is a sad one and there is no happy ending, let’s make one with our own hands then!”

His cold, robotic voice was as emotionless as ever, but he had dropped several bombs on her. He had revealed to Mary who he truly was and what the fate of all the universes was. She shuddered with fear as he told her about it, “But it’s better to die trying than standing still and waiting for death.” she thought. “I need to go now; it is almost time for them to meet. Of course, it’s up to them what they want to feel when they see each other, but trust me their reactions are always the same!” As the Overseer prepped to leave, she started to look into the other universes with the data he gave her.

David and Bill wore their tactical outfits as they got ready to infiltrate the research facility. “Why can’t we just teleport in and out?” David questions. “It’s because they can track the residual frequencies of our chronotons and identify us in a second!” Bill opened the schematics of the facility and marked several areas of entry and decided on the best exit route, there wasn’t going to be a plan B.

If they were detected before they stole the chronoton scanner, it would be locked into a deep underground bunker. Stealing the chronoton scanner, that was what the Overseer had asked them to do. They dropped their plasma guns and took the sonic guns instead. “It wasn’t easy to procure all this equipment on such short notice, my contact was overwhelmed!” David says. “Let’s not make his efforts go to waste then!” replied Bill as he wore his mask.

Both of them repel on the wall and climb to the top of the facility. On the roof, they hack the skylight control and open it with ease. They repel down and enter the facility. “Scanning for guards with lethal weapons…looks like it should be easy, just gotta knock out 2 guards patrolling the room where the device is kept.” Bill says as he operates his tactical visor.

“Affirmative, you take point then. I’ll follow.” David replies. They both move slowly through the claustrophobic corridors, carefully disabling motion sensors, avoiding IR cameras and guards.

Finally, they reach the room. “Alright, the hacking module should take care of the biometric scanner,” says Bill. The door scanner beeps and they both enter the room. They are quickly spotted by a guard, but before he could do anything David stuns him with the sonic gun and knocks him out, while Bill starts scanning the room to find the second guard. The second guard seems to be in the toilet taking a piss.

“Let’s catch him with his pants down, literally!” Bill grins as he takes care of him and takes his keycard. “I got this keycard…did you get the other one?” Bill asks David.

David nods and they both look at a glass room where the scanner is located. They both move to the door and Bill says, “Alright need to swipe the cards at the same time. You Ready? 3...2...1” the cards are swiped and the door unlocks. They both enter the room, Bill secures the chronoton scanner. The scanner is designed like a calculator with lots of buttons and a holographic screen.

David starts checking the lab’s computer for information on the device. “We only had to take the device and get out...what are you doing David?” Bill asks anxiously. “I don’t trust the Overseer; he told us to steal the device but never told us what this device does. I have to look for details, think of this as a personal objective!”

Digging through the documents David finds out that this device is capable of predicting the future of any individual scanned with it. In case of death, the scanner shows a black screen. The probability of the outcome shown by the scanner isn’t 100 percent, meaning that the outcome can be changed. The probability hinges on the decisions an individual makes to either avert a certain future or make it happen.

Bill shouts at David, “Hurry the fuck up man!” he decides to transfer the file containing the information about the scanner to his enhancer, the new one which was given to him by Bill. “Alright let’s get out of here, but Bill this device is a very powerful tool, and if the Overseer already knows our future. Then why does he need this?” David questions with uncertainty.

“We can figure this out later; let’s just get out before shit goes south!” Bill quickly moves outside the glass room while David walks casually over to him. Before he could step outside the room, a laser grid activates out of nowhere and detects him. He freezes as the alarms start to blare loudly, “What the fuck are you waiting for you nosy asshole move it!” Bill shouts.

They start running towards the exit route they had planned, but when they reach it the exit door is sealed off, “The west window we gotta jump out, the ground floor is swarming with guards, let’s fucking run for it!” Bill says.

Running towards the window they are soon pursued by guards, they keep pushing towards the window. The guards are ordered to stop them at any cost, “They have the prototype, stop them at all costs! Shoot to kill if you have to!” a guard shouts. The guards open fire on them and they start to evade their plasma rays.

“Don’t you die you asshole! Keep pushing forward, when I signal you shoot them with your sonic gun!” Bill screams in distress. Before they could jump out Bill screams, “Nooooow!”

Time slows down, in the warm red of the plasma beams; taking swift steps towards the window, Bill shoots the window and David shoots the guards. The window shatters into a million pieces due to the strong sonic frequency and the guards hold their heads and scream in agony. They jump out certain that they’ll hit the ground flat, but as they jump and look down, a truck full of sand breaks their fall and they are saved from certain death.

Laying down on the sand, both of them take deep breaths. David says, “Time sure is on our side! Fuck that was intense!” The truck stops after traveling for a while. They both get up and see a man in all black standing in front of the truck. It’s the Overseer they jump out from the sandpit.

As their feet hit the ground the truck driver also comes out but he is not alone. A girl comes out of the truck as well. David looks at her long hair and feels as if he knows her from somewhere. They all move towards the Overseer and he waits for them to come closer.

When they are close enough the Overseer speaks in a firm voice, “A job well done all of you, it could have gone smoother if the dynamic duo was faster. Amazing work on calculating the exact time they would jump Anna, and good driving Issac!”

David hears her name, turns his face to his left, and looks at her. Those radiant eyes and that alluring face, she was as beautiful here as she was in P: 210. He was awestruck once again, and he was pretty sure he would feel the same a billion times over. The Overseer turns to Bill and David, “I think you have something for me.” David hands him the scanner and the Overseer introduces them to Anna and Issac.

They greet each other, but David has his eyes set on Anna. “Alright…now that the greetings are out of the way, let’s build some trust amongst each other. From now on Issac and Bill are going to be a team, and Anna how would you like if David becomes your partner?”

Hearing this David’s heart starts to race. His feet become weak and he starts breathing heavily. “Anna, this is David. Both of you should head to Anna’s apartment...don’t worry he is a real gentleman. Aren’t you David? I will contact you in a few days. David, you lay low, and Anna you continue your normal routine at MSAT!”

David stammers, “Y-Yes...I-I am!” and Anna replies confidently, “Alright! We will wait for your orders!”

The Overseer looks at Bill and Issac, “The Harbinger and the detective will surely make an interesting team! I have a safe house just outside Hawkesbay, here are the coordinates. I’ll meet both of you in a few days too!” saying this the Overseer teleports; leaving them to each other.

Before David and Anna teleport to her apartment, Anna waves Issac goodbye and wishes him the best, “I hope when we meet again, the situation is in our favor, Issac!” Issac nods and wishes the same for her.

Back at MSAT tower, Jane receives thousands of calls on her office line and on her personal phone too. She answers a call and hearing the news she gets up from her seat and rushes to Reed’s office.

She barges in without knocking and Reed looks at her with furious eyes, she looks at his toxic stare but gathers enough courage to speak, “Sir, we...the chronoton scanner was stolen from the facility!” he hears this and clenches his fist, his body shakes in anger and his eyes widen. He screams on top of his lungs and throws his chair on his desk.

He looks at Jane, breathing frantically, she feels his heart could burst at any moment. “Call him...I need him to take care of this! I have a meeting with the mayor tomorrow, whoever is behind this will pay with their lives…I swear!” Jane nods and runs out of the office.

The Overseer listens to Reed’s agony via a hidden microphone inside Reed’s office and starts laughing like a maniac, “No matter how many times I hear this, it’s always hilarious and comforting. Not so invincible now, are you Titan of Hawkesbay?!”