"Please identify yourself first."
The traveler spoke calmly, trying to conceal the pain from his wounds. "I am Agent Connor, Code 0910. I'm here to execute Phase Two of the Time Protocol."
"Very well, Agent Connor. Your mission is confirmed. You are currently assigned to a high-priority task. All of our executives are listening. Summarize your mission from the beginning."
Connor took a deep breath and began to speak, choosing his words carefully. "In the future, I am one of the few agents selected for special operations. I ended up here by accident while pursuing my target. My actual objective was to go back in time and interrogate a man named Andrew Brown, who was going to abduct the person I've just delivered to you. Of course, Andrew Brown is not his real name. I believe the target changed his identity once he traveled to the past. The person he was going to abduct is Alex Brown. However, before I could locate Andrew Brown in that timeline, I encountered Alex Brown—his future self. During the events and confrontations that followed, I managed to manipulate Mr. Alex's ability. While I couldn't return to my original timeline, I was able to arrive here."
A mysterious male voice interrupted, robotic in tone. "Our time capsules are designed to prevent any return, Mr. Connor. Those who are sent seal the data they collect inside black boxes, then enter destruction mode to complete their missions. As you already know, these black boxes do not open until the designated time. This is the foundation of our company's rules. However, your case is an exception. The data you've brought might produce unpredictable results in our system."
Another voice cut in impatiently. "Do you have a suggestion?"
The robotic voice responded quickly and firmly. "Yes. I suggest we execute Mr. Connor and end this conversation here."
Amid the rising argument, Connor took advantage of a brief silence and spoke calmly. "These debates are nothing but a waste of time. As I said, I am an agent from the future. If it weren't for the information I'm about to provide, I wouldn't be here right now. As for your questions—the black box is me. And the time to open it... is now."
The tension in the room eased slightly as a firm female voice spoke."Very well. What is the importance of this Alex Brown you've brought?"
Connor's eyes wandered around briefly before he answered in a resolute tone."He is the Key of Time. With the blood stock we extract from Alex Brown, we will finalize the disposable Time Capsules currently under development. These capsules will allow us to follow the directives of our Founder, travel to the past, and deliver critical knowledge to the right people to establish the foundations of our company."
Sensing the unease in the room, he paused for a moment, then continued."But there is a major problem. Andrew Brown will manage to take Alex Brown from us."
An elderly man interrupted, sounding impatient."If we know the child will be taken, we can take precautions to prevent it. That would resolve the situation and reshape our future."
Connor shook his head as he replied."No matter what precautions you take to stop the abduction, remember—we've never once managed to change the past. The past and the future are tightly bound. If you just give me a chance—"
The old man interrupted harshly."Spare us your opinions! You've already done what was required of you, Mr. Connor. Is there any other significant detail we need to know?"
Connor took a deep breath, the weariness now evident in his voice."In the time I came from, after we exhausted Alex's blood plasma, we searched for an alternative. One of the black boxes we found pointed to a potential solution in Sector B, Division 125. But there was a problem—the black box was completely empty. Because of that, we used our last expendable capsules to try and locate Alex Brown again."
He paused. The secret of Sector B was more important to him than anything else."The black box I mentioned was accidentally discovered in the ruins of our base while researching the beginning of time."
As whispers rose again, Connor continued."Yes, you heard correctly. When we traveled to the beginning of time, we didn't establish our hidden base—it was already there, but in ruins. No one knows how that's possible. Maybe the black boxes we open in the future will give us answers."
Connor was determined to stay on track and avoid a flood of questions."Since our Time Capsules are single-use, we restored Sector B using only the supplies we brought with us and laid the foundations of Division 125. That means the black box I'm talking about had been sealed there for millions of years. Which shows just how important it was to find it."
After a few moments of whispering barely audible to Connor, a soft female voice finally spoke the words he'd been waiting for."Thank you for the information, Mr. Connor. Our executives will evaluate it. For now, please proceed to the sleep capsule prepared especially for you and await your time…"
Alex took a deep breath and buried his face in his hands. His mind still felt like it was trying to piece together a shattered dream.
The traveler… He had seen him in the dream. He was sure of it. But he couldn't understand why or what it meant. Everything felt hidden behind a curtain of fog. The pounding in his head made it impossible to think clearly.
He began to look around carefully. The place he was in resembled nothing he knew. The room looked like a laboratory, bursting with advanced technology. Tables, devices, glowing energy shields... Everything looked like it was straight out of a sci-fi movie. The blue energy points used instead of walls pulsed steadily, giving the room an eerie sense of unease.
The strange feelings he had experienced in the darkness earlier returned to his mind. These emotions didn't feel like his own. The tightness in his chest, the chaotic thoughts echoing in his head… Alex flinched. He started to wonder if the traveler had used his weapon to control the time he would travel to. Could that be possible?
He walked over to a table and sat down. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and tried to escape this place that resembled nothing he knew. In his mind, he searched for a familiar path—but found none. Just as he was about to give up, he sensed a presence watching him from behind the energy shield.
His eyes snapped open, and he looked up. He saw a man standing before him. The man wore a lab coat—one far more advanced in design than anything from Alex's time. Yet, despite that, the man looked strangely familiar. Alex was sure he had seen him before. He couldn't place him, but something deep inside told him this person was important.
The man paused for a moment as if he were about to speak. Alex waited, expecting something—but the man turned and began to walk away without a word. The gesture only deepened Alex's curiosity. He wanted to shout, "Wait!", but the words got stuck in his throat. All he could do was watch the mysterious man disappear, his eyes filled with wonder.