p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Attempting to keep a low-profile, I tried my best to appear as though I knew exactly where I was going, keeping my gaze straight ahead and only occasionally glancing at the labels on the doors./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFinally, I came to a shiny, wooden door, marked by a maroon plate with the words 'Infinite Switchboard 2589' carved into it. I glanced over my shoulders one last time, then quickly opened the door and stepped inside, shutting it behind me as quietly as possible. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanSets of screens were blackened, fast asleep while they waited for someone to come and light them up. Panels of plugs and cables that matched the holes sat underneath the screens to my right and left, clearly the key to starting this whole thing up. Trouble was, I had absolutely no clue how to do that. I could see blue and red lights shooting up clear tubes through a window in front of me, but those wouldn't do any good if nothing was plugged in. I'd have to at least give this a shot. Maybe it didn't matter what was plugged in where, as long as I got the right ones hooked up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe chair I slid into rolled away slightly, and once I pulled myself back, I was no more reassured about making progress. Nothing here made sense. It all looked like a bunch of gibberish—completely useless without the right knowledge. I began to just plug things in randomly, but clearly, I got it wrong. Instead of any of the screens coming to life, a jolt of electricity was sent right into my fingers, causing me to flinch and jump back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Jesus!" I cried, shaking the hand in an attempt to get the pain to go away. "Wow, I am so sorry to everyone I've ever done that to."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRight as I was recovering from the shock, a hand laid itself onto my shoulder, causing me to shoot up and clamp one hand tightly around the assailant's throat, using the other to bring up a little charge—one powerful enough to stun someone. The person's eyes immediately went wide, and they stared at me with panic, like they hadn't expected me to fight back. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh!" he cried. "Please don't hurt me." Despite his pleas, I refused to relent my grip. He was donned in a blue suit, meaning he worked for these people, and I couldn't just believe he would let things go without a threat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Who the hell are you?" I demanded, my voice falling into a low growl./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm Herb," he introduced, his voice still trembling. "I'm an analyst."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm Mina," I shot back. "I have electricity."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, I can see. It's very bright." Realizing this guy couldn't be much of a threat, given he wasn't trying to wrench himself from my grasp, I decided to let him go. He gasped loudly, attempting to get his breath back, clawing at his chest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Breathe," I instructed. It took him a couple more minutes, but he finally pulled himself together, then broke out into a big smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Hargreeves," he gushed. I raised an eyebrow, momentarily forgetting my brother and ex-girlfriend both had associations here./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You know me?" I eyed him warily, ready to strike again if necessary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Everybody knows you. You're Number Five's sister. You're Number Four! You're a legend." I shook my head, unwilling to believe it. I really hadn't done anything that important to warrant some sort of legendary status. "Miss Hargreeves, you can't be here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThat didn't mean I couldn't use the title to my advantage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMaybe this was a bit conniving for me, but I was going to do what I had to in order to get back to my family. I flashed Herb an innocent smile, hoping to guilt him into helping me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Herb, is that any way to talk to a legend?" I fluttered my eyelashes a bit, trying to play this up the best I could. Thankfully, it seemed to be working as he pursed his lips together and shook his head. "You know how to work this thing?" Herb nodded confidently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm certified to operate the ISB, yes." Perfect./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Good. I need you to help me figure something out. There's a doomsday that's supposed to happen in Dallas on November 25, 1963. Some event, somewhere within ten days before that point, there's an event that triggers the nuclear war that causes it. Do you know where that is?" Once again, his strong nod instilled me with hope./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Sure, yes! That's November 22, 1963." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI resisted the urge to let out a long sigh. Of emcourse /emit was that day. Diego would rub it in my face if he found out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Great. I need you to show me that day." Immediately, Herb's confidence and excitement turned to panic./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Unauthorized use of the Infinite Switch Board is a clear violation of company protocol 67D—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Don't be such a tight-ass." I paused for a moment, mulling the words I'd just spoken back over in my head. "Wow, I emreally /emsounded like Diego there." I sat there in my own thoughts for a few moments, then snapped right back out of it, urgent to get back on track./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You don't understand," he snapped. "There's been a coup d'etat." My eyes widened at the information Herb had revealed. I didn't think it was possible for anyone in the Commission to think differently. For a whole uprising to happen within…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What?" I hissed. "How? Why?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The Handler has taken over the Commission. The whole place has gone to heck in a handbasket, and people are disappearing." I snickered at his reluctance to swear. Disappearances, however, were not as funny. "They would kill us both if they caught us in here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, you better get started before they come get us," I urged. Herb stopped to consider things for a moment, still teetering on the fence, before he finally gave in and fell on my side./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"One quick look, then you gotta go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI tried my best to contain my jittering excitement as Herb made his way over to the plugs. He scoffed and undid the progress I had made, correcting it so that the screens lit up with actual footage of historical events, rather than green and red error messages. As Herb made his way back over to me and started to roll the footage to the right time, my heartbeat grew louder and faster, pounding right against my ear drums. What did I think we would find? Some sort of monster? The plain-old assassination? Did it have something to do with us… again?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Dallas. November 22, 1963."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI watched the same, old footage burned into history's mind. Jackie and her husband stepped off the plane, waving and smiling to the crowd awaiting them, before it cut to the motorcade, riding contently through the streets of the city of Dallas, completely unaware of what was incoming. The crowds on the sidewalks cheered and waved their flags high in the air, praising the president. Finally, the shot cut to that dreaded street, where Kennedy would take his last few breaths. I watched, unable to speak, as the caravan rolled peacefully down the street. My eyes were glued dutifully to the screen, when suddenly, there was a loud bang, and I noticed something strange in the background. Following the loud sound, the corner of the building had crumbled, leaving rubble and clouds of dust in its wake. And because of that, the motorcade fled in panic, and the president survived the gunshot/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThat wasn't supposed to happen…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What the hell is that?" I asked, pointing right at the large, tan building in the background. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The FBI building," Herb informed me, staring at me quizzically. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah, but why the hell did it just blow up?" I pressed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's not supposed to happen?" It was pretty clear Herb wasn't sure what was actually supposed to happen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, that's not sup—and now, he's driving away. They didn't kill him. Holy shit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's emno bueno/em." Pieces from earlier started to click for me, and one very crucial details suddenly stuck out. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It wasn't a gunshot, it was an explosion we heard on the Frankel footage."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI watched, wide-eyed and horrified, as a nuclear war began to unfold in front of my eyes. Kenndy's accusations fired at Russia set them off, caused them to launch their arsenal in our direction, we fought back, and the next thing I knew, the entire world was shooting nukes at each other, causing the footage to cut off suddenly and go black./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDoomsday was still on, and I had the answers to stopping it right here in front of me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's what Hazel was trying to tell us," I whispered, still trying to find my voice following that shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hazel?" Rather than humoring Herb, I decided to move on, not wanting to waste any more time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I mean, this is what causes doomsday. Do you have another angle on the FBI building?" With a proud smile on his face, Herb reached forward and turned a dial, simultaneously rewinding and zooming in the footage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Watch this." With a couple more turns of another dial and some flips of a switch, the images came to a halt before moving in the right direction./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEverything around me slowed down as I watched the building's edge crumble, and through the dust and panic, a blue glow shot through. Dragged along with it was none other than Vanya, her skin completely pallid and eyes glowing a bright blue, her hands and fingertips hot white. Extending out her arms, she summoned a blue aura around her, and her regular old clothes turned to the pristine, white suit we'd seen her in once before. But never, in my experience, had I seen her fly!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanReeling and mentally shut down, I collapsed into the chair behind me, unwilling to believe it at first. We'd done everything we could with Vanya this time around, but in the end, she still set off the end of the world. Where had we gone wrong?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhere had I gone wrong?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFor a moment, my mind played back the words Five had spoken in 2019, when we'd just barely managed to solve the problem in time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"Vanya is the bomb."/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Vanya," I muttered, trying to get my head around everything. "Vanya emis /emthe bomb. She will always be the bomb."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanNow that I knew, maybe there was a chance I could fix this. I knew where she was now, but no way could I do this on my own. I just had to hope my family hadn't left me behind…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I have to get back to Dallas," I asserted, sitting up straighter. "Now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI expected Herb to stutter and protest, tell me that it was against company protocol. I'd already heard quite a bit about interfering with what the Commission believed was meant to happen, but at this point, I didn't give a shit. Let them catch me and try to kill me, but I was going to get the information back to my family, one way or another. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We need emla resistance./em" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI blinked at Herb, incredulous. He was part of this emcoup d'etat? /emFrom the way he talked about it, he made it sound like he condemned it. Not to mention, he didn't really seem like the type to go and break the rules, especially after all his talk about how he couldn't use the ISB./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Follow me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBringing myself out my confusion, I got up from the chair and snuck out with Herb, keeping an eye out for anyone that might try to stop us or follow wherever the hell we were going. A few women and men, dressed in suits identical to Herb's, waved at or greeted him, and a couple cast me a curious look, but the two of us kept moving before anyone could ask any sort of questions. He guided me up the stairs and down toward the end of the hall, then took one last glance around, and hastily ushered me inside. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA small group of Commission employees were gathered around a table, staring at something and discussing it as quietly as possible. Upon hearing the door open, their conversation immediately died out, and they all cast their eyes in our direction. I suddenly felt scrutinized, like they were studying every detail of me—the unknown factor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know we don't look like much, but we're resourceful." Herb was so optimistic, I couldn't help but believe in this team, at least enough to get me home./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Don't mess with case management," a tall woman in front of me piped up, bouncing a little on her toes. Despite the threatening nature of her words, she sounded elated to be speaking them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Stand down, Dot," Herb warned, keeping her from getting too fired up. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs I looked over the group I'd been presented with, my eyes caught onto a black, shiny object set in the middle of the table, one I knew pretty well. Sure, I hadn't actually held an official one in my hands, but I felt like I had at least enough experience./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThat briefcase was my ticket back home. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHerb must have caught me staring, because he made his way over to the briefcase and started to turn the dials on top, setting the date. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Since you've never used one before, I'll come back with you, just to make sure nothing goes wrong," he offered. "But, once you're there, I'll be out of your hair." I nodded, acknowledging him. "Is there anywhere in particular you're thinking of?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI ran through my options for a moment. Of course, there was always the alleyway, but if my siblings hadn't gone home, they might've dispersed. Klaus' mansion would probably be a bust, and I emreally/em didn't want to have to deal with his cult. Even though I knew where Vanya was, there was no way I could take her on alone if she was starting to get charged up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI only had one option left, and it wasn't a sure thing—not to mention I didn't know where it was—but it was my best bet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You know a lot about my family, right?" I ran a hand through my hair, trying to think through this plan./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Of course. The Commission was required to keep tabs on all of Number Five's family, especially when you all time traveled." That worked for me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That means you know where my sister Allison lives, right?" Herb nodded. "Perfect. Take me there."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You got it." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe adjusted a few more dials on the top, then picked up the briefcase, offered a final wave to his cohorts, and grabbed onto my arm, making sure I'd get dragged along with him. Though it went against my nature, I kept my eyes wide open, watching as the world around me bent apart, taking on an unnatural curve, before there was a blue flash of light, and I was greeted with the sight of the inside of Allison's home. She screamed, frightened, and dropped the rug she and the man I presumed to be her husband were holding. Klaus was lounging on the couch, a couple strange stains on his shirt, and Diego stood off in the foyer, holding the door open. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanOnce they calmed down, their eyes all turned to me, and their eyes widened. Klaus immediately shot up from his seated position and rushed over, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Mina!" he cried. "What happened to you?" I pushed Klaus away slightly and gestured toward Herb. We really didn't have much time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Long story. We all gotta go." I pushed past Klaus and rushed over to Diego, bringing him away from the door to make sure I wouldn't have to shout./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Mina, emjesus/em!" Allison shouted, flailing her arms at me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Wow," Herb chuckled, scanning his eyes over the scene in front of him. "Number Two, Three, Four, emand /emSix. We almost have an Umbrella straight flush here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ray, this is my sister, Mina," Allison introduced, exasperated. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"I turned my attention to the kind-eyed man across from her and stepped forward, reaching out to shake Ray's hand. He simply stared at me for a moment, still trying to get everything through his head, before he finally accepted the handshake./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hi, nice to meet you," I greeted. "Sorry to crash in here like this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hey, who's this guy?" Klaus asked, pointing an accusatory finger right at Herb./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Herb. He worked with Five at the Commission."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The Commission?" I looked over my siblings, slightly surprised. I guess Five hadn't told them about all of this, at least not as in-depth./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We monitor and maintain the space-time continuum."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Okay." Diego didn't sound like he really believed me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, really. I was just there. Not to mention, Five told me about it after he came back from the future." I directed my attention to Allison, attempting to move things along. "Okay, I got a look at the timeline. I know what causes doomsday. It's Vanya." Allison's confused, slightly miffed expression fell into one of fear and sadness. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Wait, what?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"How?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Gonna blow up the federal building at Dealy Plaza," I sighed, "just as the president's passing through in less than one hour. We've gotta find her and stop her now." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Wait, Vanya kills the president?" I rolled my eyes, growing impatient./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, no, no. See, the explosion causes the motorcade to drive off. Kennedy lives. Everyone thinks Russia's behind it, including the president. He strikes back, they strike back. Before you know it, it's raining nukes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI hadn't let myself have the time to consider the consequences of just dropping that information with the current crowd, until I turned to see Ray with his eyes wide, slowly lowering toward the ground. Allison, Diego, Klaus and I were used to this sort of thing, but for Ray, nuclear war wasn't something to take lightly. Not that it was to be brushed off in any other time, but the scare of impending war was far more intense in the 1960s, meaning a genuine fear was likely being realized for him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ray?" Allison made her way over to her husband and took his hand. "Ray, baby? Are you okay?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, I'm not okay," he snapped. "First, of all, this son of a bitch beams into our living room with another one of your sister, and he's talking about stopping your other sister from blowing up some buildings, and I got a dead man wrapped up in my best rug, babe."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanOnly now did I notice the blood staining the rolled-up rug Allison and Ray had been holding when Herb and I showed up. From the top end of it, I noticed a distinct tuft of white hair falling out of the top. On the bright side, that was a Swede down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Okay, okay, okay. Can… can we… Raymond. Ray. Ray." Allison pulled her husband into the kitchen, allowing them to have a private talk amongst the two of them. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We can have that shampooed," Herb offered. "We also do body removal services."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Lovely," I deadpanned. While Allison caught up with Ray, I turned back to my brothers, eager to hear about the siblings that weren't here./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Have you seen Luther and Five?" Diego and Klaus exchanged a wary glance, causing my stomach to turn. "What? What happened?" Nothing eased when Klaus set a hand on my shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Just remember, 99% of the time, you're Five's favorite."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMy shoulders drooped as the realization hit me. I hadn't been style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBefore I had too much time to mope, Allison came back to us, and without speaking a word to each other, we headed out the door and hopped into the car Diego and I had been driving. Of course, we all knew where the FBI building was, so there wasn't any need for confusion or navigation. I looked up at the windows, horrified as I noticed a slight glow already emanating from nearly the top floor. Unwilling to waste any more time, I rushed into the building, using the little charge I had built up to knock out the guards in front, leaving us a clear path to the elevator. My leg wouldn't stop bouncing as Klaus hit the right button and the elevator began to move./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I hope we find Vanya in time," I heard Allison whisper. Any words of reassurance I had left got caught in my throat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWe'd gotten about halfway up, when all of a sudden, the lights began to flash, and the elevator jarred, nearly throwing me off my feet. I could've doubted this had anything to do with Vanya growing stronger, until the doors finally opened, and we were immediately hit with blinding lights and a loud, ear-piercing note, threatening to shatter my skull and melt my eyes. I clamped my hand down over my ears, reducing the buzzing in my brain slightly, but I couldn't stay like that forever. I had to get to Vanya./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDespite the heavy force pushing against us, the four of us managed to push our way out of the elevator, only to collapse onto the floor. The agents that tried before us were littered across the floor and stuck to the ceiling, blood running from their empty eye sockets and the holes in their ears. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe strength of the energy trying to expel us from the building grew stronger by the second. Someone had to do emsomething/em, and if none of my other siblings were going to step up, I'd have to be the one./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Who are we trying to save Vanya from?" Klaus gasped out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The FBI!" Diego, Allison, and I groaned at the same time, barely able to hear ourselves or each other./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"But if they're all sucking ceiling right now, why hasn't she stopped?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I don't know!" I shouted. "But if one of us can get to her, we might be able to stop this! Vanya's in the room at the end of the hall."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"How do you propose we get to her?" Diego challenged. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I haven't figured that out yet," I admitted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You can count me out." My other two siblings and I turned to Klaus, severely annoyed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Klaus!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What?" he whined. "You guys should save her. You're great at the hero shit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh, Klaus!" Allison reached over to hit her brother, only stopped by me pushing back on her. We couldn't turn on each other now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Listen, listen. Vanya would understand 'cause she has realistic expectations of what I am. And what I am, is sexy trash!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You're a big pussy, that's what you are," Diego barked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Guys, now is emnot /emthe time," Allison snapped, saving me from yelling at the two of them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why? Because I don't want to die? Who does? And martyrs aren't around to enjoy the victory party 'cause they're dead!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI couldn't keep listening this. Klaus' fear of death was perfectly justified, but I couldn't just sit here and do nothing. Nuclear war was at stake here, and if I could get to Vanya—even if it cost me my life—I could end this and save everyone else./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanTo me, the benefit to the rest of humanity greatly outweighed my own life./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Tell Five I'm sorry." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBefore any of my other siblings could protest, I pushed myself up and grabbed onto the desk we'd been hiding behind, using it to keep myself steady. Every muscle in my body begged me to stop and release my grip, but I refused to give in. With great resistance, I managed to get my hands onto the wall, and used that to crawl along. I'd made pretty substantial progress, but the ringing noises were too loud, and though I tried my best, my fingers involuntarily slipped away, and I collapsed onto the ground, the images around me screaming and flashing with a fiery flair before cutting to black./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFinally, I came to a shiny, wooden door, marked by a maroon plate with the words 'Infinite Switchboard 2589' carved into it. I glanced over my shoulders one last time, then quickly opened the door and stepped inside, shutting it behind me as quietly as possible. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanSets of screens were blackened, fast asleep while they waited for someone to come and light them up. Panels of plugs and cables that matched the holes sat underneath the screens to my right and left, clearly the key to starting this whole thing up. Trouble was, I had absolutely no clue how to do that. I could see blue and red lights shooting up clear tubes through a window in front of me, but those wouldn't do any good if nothing was plugged in. I'd have to at least give this a shot. Maybe it didn't matter what was plugged in where, as long as I got the right ones hooked up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe chair I slid into rolled away slightly, and once I pulled myself back, I was no more reassured about making progress. Nothing here made sense. It all looked like a bunch of gibberish—completely useless without the right knowledge. I began to just plug things in randomly, but clearly, I got it wrong. Instead of any of the screens coming to life, a jolt of electricity was sent right into my fingers, causing me to flinch and jump back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Jesus!" I cried, shaking the hand in an attempt to get the pain to go away. "Wow, I am so sorry to everyone I've ever done that to."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRight as I was recovering from the shock, a hand laid itself onto my shoulder, causing me to shoot up and clamp one hand tightly around the assailant's throat, using the other to bring up a little charge—one powerful enough to stun someone. The person's eyes immediately went wide, and they stared at me with panic, like they hadn't expected me to fight back. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh!" he cried. "Please don't hurt me." Despite his pleas, I refused to relent my grip. He was donned in a blue suit, meaning he worked for these people, and I couldn't just believe he would let things go without a threat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Who the hell are you?" I demanded, my voice falling into a low growl./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm Herb," he introduced, his voice still trembling. "I'm an analyst."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm Mina," I shot back. "I have electricity."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, I can see. It's very bright." Realizing this guy couldn't be much of a threat, given he wasn't trying to wrench himself from my grasp, I decided to let him go. He gasped loudly, attempting to get his breath back, clawing at his chest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Breathe," I instructed. It took him a couple more minutes, but he finally pulled himself together, then broke out into a big smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Hargreeves," he gushed. I raised an eyebrow, momentarily forgetting my brother and ex-girlfriend both had associations here./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You know me?" I eyed him warily, ready to strike again if necessary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Everybody knows you. You're Number Five's sister. You're Number Four! You're a legend." I shook my head, unwilling to believe it. I really hadn't done anything that important to warrant some sort of legendary status. "Miss Hargreeves, you can't be here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThat didn't mean I couldn't use the title to my advantage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMaybe this was a bit conniving for me, but I was going to do what I had to in order to get back to my family. I flashed Herb an innocent smile, hoping to guilt him into helping me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Herb, is that any way to talk to a legend?" I fluttered my eyelashes a bit, trying to play this up the best I could. Thankfully, it seemed to be working as he pursed his lips together and shook his head. "You know how to work this thing?" Herb nodded confidently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm certified to operate the ISB, yes." Perfect./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Good. I need you to help me figure something out. There's a doomsday that's supposed to happen in Dallas on November 25, 1963. Some event, somewhere within ten days before that point, there's an event that triggers the nuclear war that causes it. Do you know where that is?" Once again, his strong nod instilled me with hope./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Sure, yes! That's November 22, 1963." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI resisted the urge to let out a long sigh. Of emcourse /emit was that day. Diego would rub it in my face if he found out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Great. I need you to show me that day." Immediately, Herb's confidence and excitement turned to panic./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Unauthorized use of the Infinite Switch Board is a clear violation of company protocol 67D—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Don't be such a tight-ass." I paused for a moment, mulling the words I'd just spoken back over in my head. "Wow, I emreally /emsounded like Diego there." I sat there in my own thoughts for a few moments, then snapped right back out of it, urgent to get back on track./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You don't understand," he snapped. "There's been a coup d'etat." My eyes widened at the information Herb had revealed. I didn't think it was possible for anyone in the Commission to think differently. For a whole uprising to happen within…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What?" I hissed. "How? Why?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The Handler has taken over the Commission. The whole place has gone to heck in a handbasket, and people are disappearing." I snickered at his reluctance to swear. Disappearances, however, were not as funny. "They would kill us both if they caught us in here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, you better get started before they come get us," I urged. Herb stopped to consider things for a moment, still teetering on the fence, before he finally gave in and fell on my side./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"One quick look, then you gotta go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI tried my best to contain my jittering excitement as Herb made his way over to the plugs. He scoffed and undid the progress I had made, correcting it so that the screens lit up with actual footage of historical events, rather than green and red error messages. As Herb made his way back over to me and started to roll the footage to the right time, my heartbeat grew louder and faster, pounding right against my ear drums. What did I think we would find? Some sort of monster? The plain-old assassination? Did it have something to do with us… again?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Dallas. November 22, 1963."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI watched the same, old footage burned into history's mind. Jackie and her husband stepped off the plane, waving and smiling to the crowd awaiting them, before it cut to the motorcade, riding contently through the streets of the city of Dallas, completely unaware of what was incoming. The crowds on the sidewalks cheered and waved their flags high in the air, praising the president. Finally, the shot cut to that dreaded street, where Kennedy would take his last few breaths. I watched, unable to speak, as the caravan rolled peacefully down the street. My eyes were glued dutifully to the screen, when suddenly, there was a loud bang, and I noticed something strange in the background. Following the loud sound, the corner of the building had crumbled, leaving rubble and clouds of dust in its wake. And because of that, the motorcade fled in panic, and the president survived the gunshot/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThat wasn't supposed to happen…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What the hell is that?" I asked, pointing right at the large, tan building in the background. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The FBI building," Herb informed me, staring at me quizzically. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah, but why the hell did it just blow up?" I pressed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's not supposed to happen?" It was pretty clear Herb wasn't sure what was actually supposed to happen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, that's not sup—and now, he's driving away. They didn't kill him. Holy shit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's emno bueno/em." Pieces from earlier started to click for me, and one very crucial details suddenly stuck out. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It wasn't a gunshot, it was an explosion we heard on the Frankel footage."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI watched, wide-eyed and horrified, as a nuclear war began to unfold in front of my eyes. Kenndy's accusations fired at Russia set them off, caused them to launch their arsenal in our direction, we fought back, and the next thing I knew, the entire world was shooting nukes at each other, causing the footage to cut off suddenly and go black./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDoomsday was still on, and I had the answers to stopping it right here in front of me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's what Hazel was trying to tell us," I whispered, still trying to find my voice following that shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hazel?" Rather than humoring Herb, I decided to move on, not wanting to waste any more time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I mean, this is what causes doomsday. Do you have another angle on the FBI building?" With a proud smile on his face, Herb reached forward and turned a dial, simultaneously rewinding and zooming in the footage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Watch this." With a couple more turns of another dial and some flips of a switch, the images came to a halt before moving in the right direction./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEverything around me slowed down as I watched the building's edge crumble, and through the dust and panic, a blue glow shot through. Dragged along with it was none other than Vanya, her skin completely pallid and eyes glowing a bright blue, her hands and fingertips hot white. Extending out her arms, she summoned a blue aura around her, and her regular old clothes turned to the pristine, white suit we'd seen her in once before. But never, in my experience, had I seen her fly!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanReeling and mentally shut down, I collapsed into the chair behind me, unwilling to believe it at first. We'd done everything we could with Vanya this time around, but in the end, she still set off the end of the world. Where had we gone wrong?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhere had I gone wrong?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFor a moment, my mind played back the words Five had spoken in 2019, when we'd just barely managed to solve the problem in time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem"Vanya is the bomb."/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Vanya," I muttered, trying to get my head around everything. "Vanya emis /emthe bomb. She will always be the bomb."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanNow that I knew, maybe there was a chance I could fix this. I knew where she was now, but no way could I do this on my own. I just had to hope my family hadn't left me behind…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I have to get back to Dallas," I asserted, sitting up straighter. "Now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI expected Herb to stutter and protest, tell me that it was against company protocol. I'd already heard quite a bit about interfering with what the Commission believed was meant to happen, but at this point, I didn't give a shit. Let them catch me and try to kill me, but I was going to get the information back to my family, one way or another. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We need emla resistance./em" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI blinked at Herb, incredulous. He was part of this emcoup d'etat? /emFrom the way he talked about it, he made it sound like he condemned it. Not to mention, he didn't really seem like the type to go and break the rules, especially after all his talk about how he couldn't use the ISB./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Follow me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBringing myself out my confusion, I got up from the chair and snuck out with Herb, keeping an eye out for anyone that might try to stop us or follow wherever the hell we were going. A few women and men, dressed in suits identical to Herb's, waved at or greeted him, and a couple cast me a curious look, but the two of us kept moving before anyone could ask any sort of questions. He guided me up the stairs and down toward the end of the hall, then took one last glance around, and hastily ushered me inside. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA small group of Commission employees were gathered around a table, staring at something and discussing it as quietly as possible. Upon hearing the door open, their conversation immediately died out, and they all cast their eyes in our direction. I suddenly felt scrutinized, like they were studying every detail of me—the unknown factor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know we don't look like much, but we're resourceful." Herb was so optimistic, I couldn't help but believe in this team, at least enough to get me home./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Don't mess with case management," a tall woman in front of me piped up, bouncing a little on her toes. Despite the threatening nature of her words, she sounded elated to be speaking them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Stand down, Dot," Herb warned, keeping her from getting too fired up. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs I looked over the group I'd been presented with, my eyes caught onto a black, shiny object set in the middle of the table, one I knew pretty well. Sure, I hadn't actually held an official one in my hands, but I felt like I had at least enough experience./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThat briefcase was my ticket back home. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHerb must have caught me staring, because he made his way over to the briefcase and started to turn the dials on top, setting the date. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Since you've never used one before, I'll come back with you, just to make sure nothing goes wrong," he offered. "But, once you're there, I'll be out of your hair." I nodded, acknowledging him. "Is there anywhere in particular you're thinking of?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI ran through my options for a moment. Of course, there was always the alleyway, but if my siblings hadn't gone home, they might've dispersed. Klaus' mansion would probably be a bust, and I emreally/em didn't want to have to deal with his cult. Even though I knew where Vanya was, there was no way I could take her on alone if she was starting to get charged up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI only had one option left, and it wasn't a sure thing—not to mention I didn't know where it was—but it was my best bet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You know a lot about my family, right?" I ran a hand through my hair, trying to think through this plan./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Of course. The Commission was required to keep tabs on all of Number Five's family, especially when you all time traveled." That worked for me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That means you know where my sister Allison lives, right?" Herb nodded. "Perfect. Take me there."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You got it." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe adjusted a few more dials on the top, then picked up the briefcase, offered a final wave to his cohorts, and grabbed onto my arm, making sure I'd get dragged along with him. Though it went against my nature, I kept my eyes wide open, watching as the world around me bent apart, taking on an unnatural curve, before there was a blue flash of light, and I was greeted with the sight of the inside of Allison's home. She screamed, frightened, and dropped the rug she and the man I presumed to be her husband were holding. Klaus was lounging on the couch, a couple strange stains on his shirt, and Diego stood off in the foyer, holding the door open. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanOnce they calmed down, their eyes all turned to me, and their eyes widened. Klaus immediately shot up from his seated position and rushed over, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Mina!" he cried. "What happened to you?" I pushed Klaus away slightly and gestured toward Herb. We really didn't have much time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Long story. We all gotta go." I pushed past Klaus and rushed over to Diego, bringing him away from the door to make sure I wouldn't have to shout./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Mina, emjesus/em!" Allison shouted, flailing her arms at me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Wow," Herb chuckled, scanning his eyes over the scene in front of him. "Number Two, Three, Four, emand /emSix. We almost have an Umbrella straight flush here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ray, this is my sister, Mina," Allison introduced, exasperated. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"I turned my attention to the kind-eyed man across from her and stepped forward, reaching out to shake Ray's hand. He simply stared at me for a moment, still trying to get everything through his head, before he finally accepted the handshake./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hi, nice to meet you," I greeted. "Sorry to crash in here like this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hey, who's this guy?" Klaus asked, pointing an accusatory finger right at Herb./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Herb. He worked with Five at the Commission."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The Commission?" I looked over my siblings, slightly surprised. I guess Five hadn't told them about all of this, at least not as in-depth./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We monitor and maintain the space-time continuum."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Okay." Diego didn't sound like he really believed me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, really. I was just there. Not to mention, Five told me about it after he came back from the future." I directed my attention to Allison, attempting to move things along. "Okay, I got a look at the timeline. I know what causes doomsday. It's Vanya." Allison's confused, slightly miffed expression fell into one of fear and sadness. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Wait, what?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"How?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Gonna blow up the federal building at Dealy Plaza," I sighed, "just as the president's passing through in less than one hour. We've gotta find her and stop her now." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Wait, Vanya kills the president?" I rolled my eyes, growing impatient./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, no, no. See, the explosion causes the motorcade to drive off. Kennedy lives. Everyone thinks Russia's behind it, including the president. He strikes back, they strike back. Before you know it, it's raining nukes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI hadn't let myself have the time to consider the consequences of just dropping that information with the current crowd, until I turned to see Ray with his eyes wide, slowly lowering toward the ground. Allison, Diego, Klaus and I were used to this sort of thing, but for Ray, nuclear war wasn't something to take lightly. Not that it was to be brushed off in any other time, but the scare of impending war was far more intense in the 1960s, meaning a genuine fear was likely being realized for him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ray?" Allison made her way over to her husband and took his hand. "Ray, baby? Are you okay?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, I'm not okay," he snapped. "First, of all, this son of a bitch beams into our living room with another one of your sister, and he's talking about stopping your other sister from blowing up some buildings, and I got a dead man wrapped up in my best rug, babe."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanOnly now did I notice the blood staining the rolled-up rug Allison and Ray had been holding when Herb and I showed up. From the top end of it, I noticed a distinct tuft of white hair falling out of the top. On the bright side, that was a Swede down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Okay, okay, okay. Can… can we… Raymond. Ray. Ray." Allison pulled her husband into the kitchen, allowing them to have a private talk amongst the two of them. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We can have that shampooed," Herb offered. "We also do body removal services."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Lovely," I deadpanned. While Allison caught up with Ray, I turned back to my brothers, eager to hear about the siblings that weren't here./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Have you seen Luther and Five?" Diego and Klaus exchanged a wary glance, causing my stomach to turn. "What? What happened?" Nothing eased when Klaus set a hand on my shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Just remember, 99% of the time, you're Five's favorite."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMy shoulders drooped as the realization hit me. I hadn't been style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBefore I had too much time to mope, Allison came back to us, and without speaking a word to each other, we headed out the door and hopped into the car Diego and I had been driving. Of course, we all knew where the FBI building was, so there wasn't any need for confusion or navigation. I looked up at the windows, horrified as I noticed a slight glow already emanating from nearly the top floor. Unwilling to waste any more time, I rushed into the building, using the little charge I had built up to knock out the guards in front, leaving us a clear path to the elevator. My leg wouldn't stop bouncing as Klaus hit the right button and the elevator began to move./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I hope we find Vanya in time," I heard Allison whisper. Any words of reassurance I had left got caught in my throat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWe'd gotten about halfway up, when all of a sudden, the lights began to flash, and the elevator jarred, nearly throwing me off my feet. I could've doubted this had anything to do with Vanya growing stronger, until the doors finally opened, and we were immediately hit with blinding lights and a loud, ear-piercing note, threatening to shatter my skull and melt my eyes. I clamped my hand down over my ears, reducing the buzzing in my brain slightly, but I couldn't stay like that forever. I had to get to Vanya./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDespite the heavy force pushing against us, the four of us managed to push our way out of the elevator, only to collapse onto the floor. The agents that tried before us were littered across the floor and stuck to the ceiling, blood running from their empty eye sockets and the holes in their ears. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe strength of the energy trying to expel us from the building grew stronger by the second. Someone had to do emsomething/em, and if none of my other siblings were going to step up, I'd have to be the one./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Who are we trying to save Vanya from?" Klaus gasped out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The FBI!" Diego, Allison, and I groaned at the same time, barely able to hear ourselves or each other./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"But if they're all sucking ceiling right now, why hasn't she stopped?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I don't know!" I shouted. "But if one of us can get to her, we might be able to stop this! Vanya's in the room at the end of the hall."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"How do you propose we get to her?" Diego challenged. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I haven't figured that out yet," I admitted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You can count me out." My other two siblings and I turned to Klaus, severely annoyed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Klaus!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What?" he whined. "You guys should save her. You're great at the hero shit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh, Klaus!" Allison reached over to hit her brother, only stopped by me pushing back on her. We couldn't turn on each other now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Listen, listen. Vanya would understand 'cause she has realistic expectations of what I am. And what I am, is sexy trash!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You're a big pussy, that's what you are," Diego barked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Guys, now is emnot /emthe time," Allison snapped, saving me from yelling at the two of them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why? Because I don't want to die? Who does? And martyrs aren't around to enjoy the victory party 'cause they're dead!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI couldn't keep listening this. Klaus' fear of death was perfectly justified, but I couldn't just sit here and do nothing. Nuclear war was at stake here, and if I could get to Vanya—even if it cost me my life—I could end this and save everyone else./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanTo me, the benefit to the rest of humanity greatly outweighed my own life./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Tell Five I'm sorry." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBefore any of my other siblings could protest, I pushed myself up and grabbed onto the desk we'd been hiding behind, using it to keep myself steady. Every muscle in my body begged me to stop and release my grip, but I refused to give in. With great resistance, I managed to get my hands onto the wall, and used that to crawl along. I'd made pretty substantial progress, but the ringing noises were too loud, and though I tried my best, my fingers involuntarily slipped away, and I collapsed onto the ground, the images around me screaming and flashing with a fiery flair before cutting to black./span/p
