The Time Dweller

By- Krishna Gupta

This story is set in a mystical bureau of Shadow Knights, who possess the power to access the 4th dimension of time. Their job is to make sure that history plays out the way it is supposed to, so that mankind’s future is safe and sound. The story will be narrated from the perspective of the protagonist Michael Scott, Director-In-Charge of the bureau of Shadow Knights. Scott, a well-to-do man, wants to retire soon and live happily ever after.

Jonah was on his daily task obeying the command of Director-in-Charge Michael Scott. Observing the graph of irregularities, which were as stable as a mountain. Scott was telling Jonah about the Cult of Druids, their arch enemies, who had gained the 5 crystals of griffin. Thus, giving them the power to observe time. Thankfully the remaining 6 crystals were safe with them. Jonah, being the intern, who seeks to know more about their creed asked, “Why do we consider the cult so devil minded?” M. Scott replied with great pique, “those bastards thrive for power; their leaders want to control the timeline for their own benefit. Blinded by riches, they want the great civilisations of Rome to fall. Suddenly, a blackout occurred, followed by the ringing of alarms. Scott cried “Prepare for battle!” Then came an unholy red light, raised from which the Cult’s grandmaster Reginald.

Scott’s face turned white, with none of his men responding, he was stuck at the moment. Jonah, the brave guy took the charge but Reginald swiftly stabbed him in the neck as he crumpled. Scott was overwhelmed by feelings; he was experiencing anger, agony, and desire for vengeance at the very same moment. Jonah was like a brother to him. He quickly gathered his wits and took the crystals of griffin to access the gateway to the 4th dimension.

Set on his quest to alter the timeline to prevent this very moment. Could he question the laws set by the creed he would die for? Could he fight against the ideals he pledged; those ideals which he must live by?

Scott was still in great shock. His mind strayed and he lost himself in the sacred dimension, floating between the realities scavenging for knowledge, so he could know when and where to strike to stop Reginald. All that Scott wanted was to save the creed from Reginald. This could only be achieved by changing the reality. His mind muddled between saving the ideals he had been following for ages or saving his coworkers, his friends, his family and the world. Scott couldn’t stop thinking of the moments he had at the bureau with his coworkers, how he used to enjoy playing with his little daughter, how he recruited Jonah in his teenage in between an ongoing war. And now all would be dead if Scott didn’t stop this menace; he had to do this for them if not for the creed. He will do this for those whom he loves.

A beam of spectral particles swept by him giving him a change of thought. To solve the problem he needs to wipe away the cause of the problem: Reginald. One of the best generals known to the world, Reginald needs to be stopped! Scott thought. He had to think of a way where he can just stop Reginald to be a part of the Cult of Druids, pondering over his descent. Reginald was German by descent, his family escaped disguising themselves as Russian and sent to Gulag as immigrants where he, along with his family, would work hard daily to sustain themselves. Scott needed to change this very fact. To do this, he needed to gather intel by operating on ground zero. He chose soviet Moscow, during the reign of Lenin, as his destination.

After years and years of hardworking and rising in the ranks of the workers union, Scott joined The Communist party of the Soviet Union as Mikhail Volkov. With the help of the crystals of griffin, he knew that it would be Stalin, who would establish Gulags where Reginald would face the dark side of life. Scott knew he has to stop Stalin to be the next General Secretary. He had to work his brain out to prevent changing the reality entirely and making the dimensions fall apart. He had to execute this by working in the shadows for the light. Mikhail soon gained reputation among the party and he was successfully able to thrash out west forces out of Siberia with his diplomacy and Trotsky’s military capability. Mikhail now became a well-known name among the workers and the peasants.

He became vocal about how big a role Trotsky played in the revolution against the old aristocracy of Tsars and in fighting the western “invaders” out of their motherland. Trotsky was being now looked at as the next Lenin; the underdog military leader was rising ranks rapidly.

THE LENIN’S TESTAMENT

Scott soon found the golden egg of his quest: Lenin’s testament, a letter called out by Lenin to dismiss Stalin from his post and send him back to The Supreme Soviet (soviet parliament). The letter’s originality was doubtful, but if made vocal, it could totally change the destiny and popularity of Trotsky and Stalin. With the severe pressure and grim going on in the government, Lenin was already suffering from heart diseases- he died of a heart attack with the power of Lenin’s testament, Trotsky was the one elected as the new head. With no Gulag being created, Reginald never joined the Cult of Druids.

Mikhail sent himself into exile in Siberia so he could disappear safely from the timeline going back to his good old life.

Scott now returned to set everything right, the very moment Reginald attacked the Knights. When he arrived, he saw his colleagues, doing their assigned tasks, as if unaware of anything that had happened. A smile flickered on his face when he realised it was true: they were indeed unaware. Jonah turned back from his work and asked casually, “What’s the matter, sir?” Scott couldn’t express his feelings; he had never felt happier in his life. Jonah being the intern, who seeks to know more about their creed- asked, “Why do we consider the cult so devil minded?” Scott took a deep breath and responded:

NO! GOD NO!

PLEASE NO!

NO!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Soon, he realised the extent of changes in the world due to his interference with the past. The Knights now wielded all the crystals of Griffin, and the Cult of Druids had disbanded due to the lack of leadership. The differences were most noticeable in the Soviet Union, but one could say that they were mostly positive. Scott did feel guilty about breaking the laws of the creed. But deep inside, he knew that what he did was necessary, not merely for the creed but for the world.