I try to roll over, to no avail. Each movement I make only makes the pain that much more unbearable. I can hear something in the distance, it is getting closer and louder. I attempt to raise my head, not a good idea, as I do not even have the strength to blink. I hear voices, or at least I think they are voices. The next thing I remember is darkness.
A undetermined amount of time later....
My first reaction is to laugh uncontrollably. I finally compose myself, notice she is not laughing and say, "Your actually serious." "Yes." she says. "You were on a mission when things got out of control. You went missing for a week before turning up here late last night." I just stare in amazement at her. "So how do you explain that." I say as I motion to my clothes. "The MY NAME IS, sticker I mean." "Why was I wearing one of those."
"Because you were..." Dr. Tran walks in and interrupts her. "What is going on here, who are you? he asks. "I am Mr. Dekker's, uh, wife. I am here to claim him and bring him, home." At this point I decide it best not to say anything. "Well I am sorry Mrs. Dekker, but your husband, (he says that as though he does not believe her), will not be going anywhere for a few days. He has two broken legs, a collapsed lung, two broken arms and head trauma."
"Look Doc, I know what I am talking about."
She leads me out of the hospital to a waiting car. Our escape was effortless, for the most part, after all it was three a.m. and almost no one was on staff. Once in the car I ask the obvious question.
"Everything looks good, but we won't know for sure until all the tests come back."
"Colonel Jackson, why don't you take Mr. Dekker here to his room, let him rest. He has had a rough couple of days."
"Actually, I am sorry I didn't catch your name."
Colonel Jackson leads me to my quarters. In time, what seemed like forever, but in reality was mere minutes, we arrive. "Here you go sir, just use the thumb pad to open the door."
Back in the lab
"Do you think he will be OK doctor?"
"What do you mean by 'everything', Elle?"
Well this isn't so bad, I think to myself. From the clock on the wall I see it is almost dinner time. I realize I haven't eaten all day. I look around for a phone, but all I see is what looks like an intercom on the wall. "How Star Trekkish of them." I say out loud to no one in particular. I push the call button and wait. "Yes Mr. Dekker, what can I do for you?"
"OK, then I will have a Cheeseburger, well done, with French Fires and Onion Rings, and the best bottle of beer you've got. No make it a six pack."
"Will that be all sir?"
"For now, yes."
"Um no, thank you." I take the food over to the living area, where I can relax and enjoy my dinner. After dinner I decide it is time to go speak with Doctor Z, and get some of the hundreds of questions I have, answered. I realize of course that I am still wearing the same clothes I had on in the hospital. Before I leave I decide to shower and change. If I don't get some answers, at least I will be clean.
"Very well, have a seat, this might take a while."
(Flashback sequence begins.)
Dr. Z begins to explain, how I was not born in this time, and that I am, yet am not, human. I was born in the year 2257. I was the brainchild of a man they called 'the professor.' He was trying to figure out how to merge organic material with metallic, but not have the organic simply cover the metal, as it would a cyborg. He wanted the two to interact as one. The body would need both to survive. After years of research, he finally figured it out , genetically altered nanites. He was able to reprogram the nanites to believe they were organic. He was then able to alter the organic material to bond with the nanites. Hence creating what he called biometal.
"Now what was i saying, oh yes. As is evident by your presence here, you survived." He went on. "Your progress was amazing. Your body reacted like any other normal child, except that you could not be injured, and when you were hurt you healed almost instantly." He went on to explain how I am stronger and faster than normal humans. How I have the ability to control the nanites with my thoughts. If I need more power in my arms, I can manipulate the nanites to make my arms stronger, If I need better sight at night, I make them adjust my eyes. He even went on to explain how recently I had begun to develop telekinetic abilities.
"Right, well, that is a longer story."
One morning the professor went to his lab to find it trashed. All his papers stolen, and computers wiped clean. There was something written on the wall. WE HAVE THE BOY, HE WILL NOT BE RETURNED UNLESS YOU COME TO THIS ADDRESS. BRING YOUR RESEARCH. The prof. ran across the lab to your room, only to find the glass smashed in and you missing. No one really knows what happened, since the Prof. would never say, but it is assumed that he gave the kidnappers what they wanted. Because within the hour, you were returned to him unharmed. Even with this new information the Prof knew the gov. scientists would never figure out how to make another you. He decided he needed to get as far away from earth as possible, should they discover this and come looking for him.
"Now remember." Dr.Z was saying. "we cannot verify any of this, but everything I am telling you is directly from these journals." He hands me a set of notebooks.
The Prof knew he there was no place he could hide. The EPG would find him. They find everyone. There was of course one option. He knew it was risky and may kill him and you, but it was the only option. he could not risk the EPG taking you again, because chances were they would not return you. He had a friend who worked at Eurolab. The science hub for all of the European community, and this friend owed him a favor. His friend was working on something man has been trying to create for decades, time travel.
"No, but it must have been something big if he was willing to break a government protocol, and risk his job and possibly his life, to get you out."
On the Evening of June 9, 2260 After the lab had shut down for night, The prof, you and his friend, re-entered the lab. "Are you sure you want to do this my friend?"
"As you wish." (End flashback sequence)
Dr. Z goes on to explain that he was recruited as the prof's assistant. That at the time of the prof's death, everything was left to me, under his guardianship. Since at the time I was too young.
"By the way, you never said how or when he died."
"When I am able to remember more, and once I read these." I hold up the journals. "I would like to re-open the investigation. I need to know what happened to him."
Several hours later, after reading through all five of the Prof's journals, and one more step closer to remembering everything, he emerges from his room.
"Dr., Elle, we have work to do."
Elle goes on to explain how on the night of December 29, 2009, we were contacted by the Department of Defense. They wanted Elle, myself and Dr. Z to come to the Pentagon, for a meeting with the Secretary of Defense.
Upon arriving in DC we were hurried into a secure area, closed off to the public and heavily guarded. We were seated in what looked like a makeshift conference room, and told the Sec. of Defense would be in shortly. Several minutes later Secretary Rothman enters the room, followed by Secret Service, whom he orders to wait out in the hallway.
"Sir, we cannot leave you alone with these people, they are trained assassins."
"It is fine Joe. Trust me on this one, just wait outside."
Reluctantly the secret service left the room.
"I wish it could have been under better circumstances."
He then says what I had been fearing. "Someone stole the plans, and is threatening to sell them."
"Because it was not a hacker, it was an inside job. Someone working on the project, who knew all our security protocols and passwords, stole the plans. Originals and backups". Says Sec. Rothman.
"There is one person. He disappeared shortly after the plans were stolen and has not been heard from since. His name is, John Volker, assistant to the head engineer on the project."
"It is not me you need to be asking that question to." says Sec. Rothman.
He motions to the secret service. "Bring Dr. Johansen in." "This man will be able to answer all your questions, Mr. Dekker." He motions to to Dr. Johansen, head researcher on the spectral viewing project.
"Dr., my name is Dekker, these are my associates. Mr Rothamn said that on December 31, everything we see here will no longer exist. What does that have to do with your device?"
"I assume you were told that the device is used for viewing through time, yes?"
"Yes." I say.
"You were not told the entire story."
"Well, why don't you enlighten me then."
"It is true, the device can be used to VIEW past and future events. That is not the problem. The problem occurs when the machine is not calibrated correctly. If even one setting is off by the tiniest of degrees, the results can be....well....bad."
I ask "How bad?"
Dr. Johansen suddenly gets that look that you do not want to see from a scientist.
"If calibrated incorrectly, the operator can in theory alter the space time continuum."
"You must be joking?" I say.
"He is not joking Dekker." Says Dr. Z. "I have myself studied space time, and it is possible to alter it."
"If I may interject" says Sec. Rothman. "Dr., Mr. Dekker, we have very little time. Two days to be exact."
"How do you know for sure that whoever stole the plans, will be able to build a second deivce in so short a time?." ask Elle.
"Because we have seen it." Says Dr. Johansen.
"So the device actually works?" I ask.
"Yes Mr. Dekker, it has for some time."
"And you have seen, through the device, the altering of the space time continuum?"
"That is correct. Everything you see here will not exist in two days, unless the second device can be found, destroyed and the plans recovered."
"May I see the device? Is it here?" Dekker asks.
"Mr. Secretary?" asks Dr. Johansen.
"You may show Mr. Dekker, but only Mr. Dekker. I am sorry but this device is extremely classified, I hope you understand." This directed at Dr. Z and Elle.
Elle is about to protest when Dekker interjects. "That will be fine, sir."
"Very well then, Dr. Johansen take Mr. Dekker to the device." Mr. Rothman then stands up to leave. "This is where I leave you." He says.
"Wait here, I will be back shortly." This directed at Elle and Dr. Z.
Dekker follows Dr. Johansen into the elevator.
"The lab is ten floors below us." says Dr. Johansen.
After what seems like an eternity they stop at the lab. The doors open, Dekker steps out and cannot believe the size of the rom he has just entered. "This place must be as big as a football field" he says. "Two to be exact". Says Dr. Johansen.
"The spectral viewer is over here Mr. Dekker."
"Please Doc, it is just Dekker."
"Very well then."
The viewer is basically a large LCD screen. Like the type someone would have in their home. What is different about it, is the rather complex looking control panel, directly in front of it.
"Very impressive. I can honestly say I have never seen anything like this before."
"No one has. Outside of myself, and Mr. Volker, of course."
"So how does this thing work?"
"Is that really something you need to know? Because it involves extremely complex theories of optics and speed. I am sure Dr. Z would understand..." Dekker interjects. "But not someone like me, right?"
"Well, quite frankly, yes."
"Trust me doc, I understand much more than you think."
"As you wish."
Dr. Johansen, goes on to explain the theory behind spectral viewing.
"Basically, we take this lens (pointing to the lens in front of the control panel), and this gyroscope, (which is wrapped around the lens), spin the gyroscope at one hundred times the speed of light. We hypothesized that, that is the speed needed to jump through time, if time travel were possible Little does Dr. Johansen know that it is. But instead of jumping through time, we simply opened a window, as it were."
"So once the window is opened, what happens next?"
"We project the image through the lens and it gets processed as a viewable image on the screen. Now, here is the hard part. To view either forwards or backwards in time, you need to have the lens calibrated to the exact degree and have the speed of the gyroscope spinning at the exact right speed. Here I will show you." Dr. Johansen turns on the viewer. The gyroscope begins to spin. While the gyroscope builds up speed Dr. Johansen starts shifting dials and pressing buttons. Dekker can see the lens begin to shift.
"What exactly are you doing Doc?"
"I am calibrating the lens. Please, I need to concentrate."
Suddenly there is bright flash of light. Dekker is startled and almost falls backward.
"It is OK Dekker, that is what happens when the window is opened. Look here." Dr. Johansen points to the screen. An image of Dekker and Dr. Johansen appears. "That is what is happening now. To view what just happened, we alter the lens calibration slightly, as so." An image of Dekker being startled is now showing on the screen, along with everything that happened mere minutes ago.
"How far back in time can you see?" asks Dekker.
"We do not know for sure, since we have only viewed five days in either direction."
"So that is how you saw the rip in the space time continuum?"
"No actually, what we saw was this." Dr. Johansen alters the viewer once more.
A new image appears on the screen. "That is not this lab." says Dr. Johansen.
"It looks like a warehouse or storage facility." says Dekker.
"That was our assumption as well. Here is the part we are looking for."
A man enters the image, with what looks like a smaller version of the viewer. He looks in the direction of Dekker, his face is almost impossible to make out as it is obscured by the machine, turns on the viewer, adjusts some settings and screams. For those who have suffered the wrath of man. I give you your revenge! There is a brilliant white light and the image goes fuzzy.
"That is all there is." says Dr. Johansen "We are unable to view any further into the time line. It is our theory, that the reason is because there is no time line left."
"So you are saying, the person we just saw will destroy time as we know it?"
"Yes, I am. That is why you must find the plans and locate that second device."
Dekker paces for a moment, then asks "Is spectral viewing one hundred percent accurate? Meaning, are we one hundred percent sure that the time line will be destroyed, and not simply altered?"
"Honestly, it has not been wrong yet. We have even tried changing what we saw, by altering the sequence of events, and as you can see we are all still here. That is why we believe that by having you find the device, and stopping this man, we can prevent the destruction of the time line."
"Can I get a copy of what we just saw, and the events leading up to it?"
"Of course, we make copies of every event we view. I will have them sent to the conference room."
"Thank you. I will go brief Dr.Z and Elle." Dekker leaves and hurries back to the conference room.
Dekker enters the conference room with a horrified look on his face.
"What is it Dekker, what did Dr. Johansen show you?" Asks Elle.
"The end of everything."
"What do you mean the end of everything?" asks Dr. Z.
"Dammit, didn't you hear me!! Everything, this chair, that light, us.....EVERY GOD DAMN THING!!. Is that clear enough for you."
There is several minutes of silence. Elle speaks.
"Ok, so, what is the situation? How do we stop this from happening."
"To be honest I have no idea." Says Dekker.
In the mean time one of Dr. Johansen's assistants brings the recording of the events Dekker saw, plus others that Dr. Johansen and his staff have seen, into the conference room. Dr. Z is the first to view it.
"Dekker, Elle come see this." They gather around the computer screen.
As they are viewing the recording, Dekker notices something. "Pause it right there."
"The man Volker is giving the device to, does he look familiar to either of you?"
"It can't be?" says Elle.
"But it is. Our old friend Sammy Gallo, Second lieutenant in the Capelli crime family."
"The Capelli's would never get involved in something this big. Unless, they are only the middlemen." Says Elle.
"Unless their new Mantra is revenge against mankind, then I doubt it."
They continue watching the recording. Hoping to figure out where the device is now, and how it got into the hands of the man who Dekker saw in the final minutes of the recording. After about 15 minutes they finally see something.
"Right there, stop it." Says Elle. "Sammy just said something about arranging an auction."
"Keep going, we need to see where this auction is taking place." Says Dekker.
After several more minutes they finally get the information they need. The auction will take place at the Capelli's estate in Rumson, New Jersey, the night of December 30th, 2009.
"Elle, do whatever it is you do, just get me in to that auction. Doc, you and I will head back to the lab. We have a lot of preparing to do."
The mission begins.
By the time Dekker gets back to the lab, Elle is already there.
"Back so soon. What did you find out?"
"This is a very limited auction. Only the top ten richest men were invited. Five will be attending. You will be six."
"And who will I be attending as?" Asks Dekker.
"Dekker Fromberg, CEO of Fromberg Industries."
"What is Fromberg industries?"
"Only the biggest supplier of industrial screws in this or any other universe." Says Elle.
"So I am going to be Dekker Fromberg, CEO of a screw company. Not exactly the type of person who would need this sort of technology. What is the catch?"
"Fromberg industries is also the worlds largest supporter of rogue governments and terrorist groups. That is why they would need this technology." Says Dr. Z from across the room.
"Exactly." says Elle.
"Ok, so how exactly do I pull this off? I am pretty sure the real Dekker Fromberg is going to be attending."
"Not anymore he isn't." Says Elle.
"What did you do, Elle?"
"Nothing they can trace back to us. Don't worry about it."
"And what if someone recognizes me?" Says Dekker.
"They won't. No one has ever actually seen Dekker Fromberg. This is going to be his first public appearance since taking over the company 10 years ago. He is supposedly very eccentric, sometimes a little odd."
"Oh this should be fun." Says Dekker.
We flash forward to December 30th 2009.
Dekker, in his black stretch Hummer, arrives at the gate of the Capelli Estate.
"Name and credentials please." says the burly looking guard at the gate entrance.
"Dekker Fromberg, CEO of Fromberg Industries." says the driver.
"Open the window, I cannot let him in until I verify his identification."
"No one sees Mr. Fromberg." says the driver.
"It is fine Oswald, we can make an exception this one time."
The back window is slowly rolled down and the guard peaks his head inside the vehicle.
"Are you satisfied my friend?" Says Dekker.
"OK, you can go, sorry about that. Security."
"Perfectly understandable."
They drive up to the front door. Dekker exists and is led inside by one of Sammy Gallo's assistants.
Dekker is led to what looks like a study. This is where the auction will be held. He is handed an envelope which contains details of the items being sold. The device is not the only item the Capelli's will be selling tonight.
Dekker thinks to himself. Amazing, I go through all this to get a fake identity and I end up with my own name. From what Elle told him Fromberg is a rather eccentric individual. Dekker decides to play the part, subtly of course. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a Hello my name is sticker. Writes DEKKER in big black capital letters, and slaps it on his jacket.
Immediately everyone turns too look at him. Someone whispers "That must be Dekker Fromberg. What an embarressment. Can you believe he runs one of the largest companies in the world."
Dekker just smiles and says "What. It is my name." Then walks over to the bar and fixes himself a drink. Scotch on the rocks.
Suddenly everyone is quiet as Sammy enters the room. But he is not alone, Vito Capelli, head of the Capelli crime family, is with him. "Welcome to my home." Says Capelli.
"Please make yourselves at home, the auction will begin shortly." He then leaves the room.
About 15 minutes later Sammy enters the room with another man. he is introduced to us as the auctioneer. "Gentleman, please have a seat." says the autioneer. "Our first item."
As expected the device was not the first item on the block. In fact, it was not even close. There was an interesting mix of illegal items. Plans for a nuclear reactor, stolen by a Russian scientist and bought by the Cappelli's. Large cache's of weapon's. Technologies that have not even been tested yet, like plasma rifles and sonic cannons. Dekker bought some of the more advanced items. He had to make it look like he would actually be interested after all.
Several hours, and many, many drinks later, it is finally time to bring out the item everyone is here to see. The spectral viewer.
"The bidding for our next item will start at fifty million US dollars." says the auctioneer. "It is an amazing piece of technology. Capable of viewing time."
"How do we know it really works." asks one man from the other side of the room.
"Well I suppose we can turn the device on. Yes?" Asks the auctioneer.
This is when a new face enters the room. John Volker the man who stole the original plans and it would seem built the second device. He walks over and takes the podium.
"Before I show you what this device can do, I have an announcement. One of you is not who you claim to be." Dekker does not panic. Instead he shouts out.
"Just turn the damn thing on already."
This only makes Volker even more agitated. "Why don't you tell everyone here who you really are Mr. Fromberg, or should I just call you Agent Dekker."
"Oh, come now, you can't be serious?!"
"You are Agent Dekker! Do not deny it, I knew you would be here, I saw you." He points to the viewer.
Dekker finally realizes that his presence here altered the time line. He also recognizes Volker's voice. It is the same as the man on the recording.
"So you know who I am. That means you also know why I am here."
"It does not matter why you are here. You will not live long enough to do anything about it." says Volker.
"Sammy, handle this please."
"Grab him, take him downstairs." This from Sammy.
"Damn you Volker, don't you know what will happen if you activate the device?" says Dekker.
"Those events have now changed. Your presence here has seen to that." Says Volker.
With Sammy's men surrounding him, Dekker takes up a defensive posture. Keeping an eye on Volker, should he make a move for the device.
One of Capelli's men smiles then takes a swing at Dekker from the left side. Dekker ducks and rolls out of the way. Standing up he sees Volker move toward the device. This is my chance Dekker thinks to himself. With all the power his legs can muster, and a little help from the nanites, Dekker launches himself at Volker, knocking him into the device. All three of them, Volker, Dekker and the device hit the floor with a loud crash. Pieces of the viewer are everywhere. The gyroscope is embedded in the far wall. Volker is buried under piles of wiring and twisted metal.
"Oh crap that hurt." Dekker says to no one in particular.
Meanwhile Sammy's men are just staring at the two men and the now destroyed spectral viewer.
"What are you idiots staring at. Get him, and help me out of here." says Volker.
"Make sure he is alive. Mr. Volker is going to want him alive." Says one of Sammy's thugs.
Dekker tried to get up, but is grabbed by two of Sammy's men. The larger one, bashes him in the face with what felt like a truck, but in reality was a bare fist. The nanites immediately begin healing Dekker, though he is still in pain. "You have to do better than that my friend." says Dekker.
"Oh I plan too." This from Volker. Who, even though badly injured, is still able to walk.
He holds out his hand. One of Sammy's men hand Volker a shock stick.
Oh crap, Dekker thinks to himself. Why do they always have shock sticks?
Before the two men holding Dekker even realize it they hit the floor, writhing in pain. In less than a second he was able to break their grips and disable both men with chops to the throat.
"So, Dekker you still have some life in you yet." Says Volker.
"Your next Volker." Dekker moves toward him, but is suddenly stopped by a paralyzing jolt of electricity. He collapses to the ground, unable to move. Several moments later he awakens. He is surrounded by, something he cannot describe. It looks like four walls of electricity. He tries to stand, but cannot. He braces himself by reaching for one of the walls, out of instinct. Not good he thinks to himself as he is jolted once again. He collapses to the floor.
"Where am I?" Dekker manages to blurt out before he passes out.
When he awakens again he sees Volker. But not with him in the room, he is on the outside of the electricity wall.
"Do you like my latest invention. The electricity prison."
"Really, is that best name you can come up with." Says Dekker.
"You are in no position to make fun my friend."
A bolt of electricity hits Dekker right in the chest. He collapses in pain. But can still speak.
"Why did you do it Volker? Why did you steal the spectral viewer? And don't give me that crap about saving humanity or some other idealistic shit."
"I do not have to justify my self to you." Says Volker as he unleashes another bolt of electricity into Dekker.
"Ok see now you are just pissing me off." says Dekker.
"hahahahahaha!!" laughs Volker, as he unleashes bolt after bolt of electricity.
It is at this point that Dekker regrets the taunting. I need to get out of this thing he says to himself. As he scans the room for a way out, a thought pops into his head, his telekinetic abilities. If he could only concentrate long enough to redirect the electricity back at Volker, he might just have a chance.
With bolt after bolt striking him all over his body Dekker must find a way to focus. He wills the nanites to ignore the pain. Suddenly one of the bolts stops before hitting him, then another then another. Soon Dekker has created a forcefield around himself. Nothing can get through. He stands up, rejuvenated.
"No!!!" Volker screams. "Why won't you just die already!"
He increases the power to the prison, hoping that will finally stop Dekker.
By this time Dekker's body is badly damaged. His legs broken, ribs crushed, he is bleeding from places he did not even know he had.
This has to end now, we cannot support this body forever. "Who said that?" asks Dekker.
We did. "We who? I am the only one here." We, the nanites Dekker. We are in your brain, we are controlling you now. "No, it does not work that way. I am supposed to control you." Says Dekker.
You are not willing to do what is necessary to end this, so we will do it for you.
"No! No one controls me. I will end this, but I need your help."
If you are going to act you must act quickly, or we will not be able to keep you alive.
Dekker focuses all his energy on repelling the bolts of electricity. Soon he is able to make the forcefield bigger, expanding it and strengthening, it.
"No, this cannot be happening." Says Volker. "You are going to kill us both, you maniac."
"Then so be it." Says Dekker
With one final push of his mind he expands the forcefield so it is as big as the box. Pushing outward, the electricity is now surrounding the forcefield. With one final intense push he unleashes all his power and breaks free of the prison. But it already too late the electrical energy has engulfed the room. power cables begin overloading, and exploding. The last thing Dekker sees before he collapses is a bright flash of light and Volker falling.
Dekker wakes several minutes later. He sees Volker on a pile of rubble. He is a smoking burned corpse.
"Well, at least he died painfully." Dekker says.
It is at this point that Dekker realizes he cannot move. Suddenly, one by one, his body functions stop. He realizes what is happening, and there is nothing he can do to stop it. The nanites are shutting down.
Dekker is dying. At least that is what he believes. In reality the nanites have simply shutdown and have ordered his body to do the same.
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