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Prologue: Desperation
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I sat patiently in the chamber. My partners sat as well, either performing some pre-mission ritual out of habit, or sitting still and going over the details in their mind of our purpose. Myself? I would just relax.
Inhale...
Exhale...
I would repeat that process over and over. That was my ritual.
It never occurred to me how vastly insane the human race had become until this day. This mission will determine my fate. Or is it the next mission? Or was it the last mission? Ahh, to hell with it. Time Chambers are nothing but trouble, I say. Too bad my job pretty much requires me utilizing them. But this is all I know. Well it's not all I know.
I do know that nothing can change the future, no matter how hard we try...
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Part I: Council's Decision
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My title here at the Time Chamber Annex is that of Gate Keeper. The responsibility of opening the door to humanity's future rests solely on my shoulders. To use this Gate, one must have the assistance of the Council. Without the Council's proper settings applied to my Gate, then it is uncertain what would happen to a living being that passed through. I have heard stories from my teacher, but never witnessed anything first hand.
I never travel through time. The entire concept is lost on me, and I do not desire to see my future or anyone else's. Seeing the end of the road makes the journey down it pointless in my opinion. But I do open the way for the special units that feel compelled to enter our future. They always return with a look of shock on their faces, not being able to describe what is on the other side. After seeing their reports and making their inquiries, the Council wipes the minds of these units and the people simply go back to their old job.
The building I work in is full of people who have been there and back. Not a single soul remembers it. I do, though, and I shake my head when someone asks me when their turn is. I want to say, "You just came back yesterday." But I tell them, "Soon, I believe. The Council sees potential in you!"
They smile and leave. Some return for multiple trips. It all freaks me out. I have been curious before, and almost petitioned to be allowed to go. But for some reason, I could never bring myself to do it. Until one day...
"Gate Keeper Lyons," cried the woman coming down the hall. "Lyons! The Council wishes to see you immediately!" The woman was short and rather plump for her height. But what concerned me more than her physical fitness were the words she had yelled from down the hall. The Council. Why would I be summoned? Was I not doing my duties correctly? I set into motion the security sequence for the Gate as I spoke to her.
"OK! Inform them that the security procedure will take me a few moments, but I will go as quickly as possible!" I yelled back to her, the sounds of the machines around me almost loud enough to drown my voice out. The grinding of gears was amazingly loud in the confined area. As the gears spun I left the chamber in time to beat the titanium bars before they kept me inside. Walking away, I heard the always-familiar sound of the secure laser grid heating up and activating. To this day I have never seen a material that passed through those lasers without melting or catching fire immediately.
Within the Council's Chamber I was told to sit by the resident time "expert." He held himself in such high esteem, as did his fellow Council members. I felt he had too much power.
"So, Gate Keeper Lyons," he began in his deep monotonous voice. "I see that you have been performing your duties to a phenomenal degree. We are very proud, and we hope you are as well." The Council nodded in agreement and a few even clapped their hands in applause. I was, to say the least, dumbfounded.
"Indeed. I do try to perform the tasks I am given to the best of my abilities." I tried to sound cordial, but I am not sure if it worked.
Setting my papers aside, the Council Chairman began to speak to me again, this time in a much more serious tone. "Lyons, your work here as the Gate Keeper has been outstanding. But, I believe we no longer need you here. It has come to our attention, from the last deployed unit, that another Gate exists somewhere near this space in the future. With your expertise, I feel that you should travel forward and examine this Gate. You will not have your memory wiped upon your return, as we believe this trip of yours will be the first of many. Now, without further delay, you must meet up with Captain Alus in the briefing room before the transfer forward is made. Go."
I was speechless, angry, and very afraid all at the same time. I was confused. It had been decreed that no Gate ever be made again. My Gate was the only Gate. Who else would have the audacity to recreate it? Especially so close to ours, even if it were hundreds of years from now. The only thing that I was certain of was my dreaded fear of the future. I never dared to dream about seeing it. Now, against my will, I would be living it.
As I entered the briefing room, I noticed that four men were seated. All of their gear was ready. A fifth seat awaited me, a box of gear next to it. A large man stood before the unit, giving details and such about the mission. The man grew silent once I entered. He approached me directly and offered me his hand.
"Gate Keeper Lyons," he said calmly, "I am Captain Alus. I will be leading you and the rest of our unit through the Gate."
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