The Greater Good
Zukone
Chapter 2: A VERY Different Future

Jimmy walked out of thin air onto the streets of Retroville. The boy rubbed his arm a little confused at his surroundings. There were the same, if not a little more dusty, buildings and one or two plops of new construction as to be expected in any town that isn't dying. One could hardly expect everything to remain the same if the town had any hope of surviving. But it wasn't the minor changes that bothered him, it was the static retro feel of Retroville that hung in the air. The lack of change was astounding.

He gaped at the vehicle that whizzed past him. It wouldn't have been hard to mass produce his ecologically friendly hovering technology. Getting lift off from the ground was one of the easiest feats he had achieved. Yet here he was surrounded in his home town with normal wheeled vehicles . Sure they had that "futuristic" feel, if one could call it that, but it wasn't exactly advanced technology. If he was going to get recognition, shouldn't he have done something recognizable by now- even if it was small? He trotted towards his house and hoped that his worst fears were not realized.

Running up the block, he could see that his trusty shed still stood. He paused to catch his breath and study the door. The DNA analyzer was there. The boy pulled a hair from his head and dashed toward the entrance. He waved the strand in front of the scanning tool.

"Level 1 security passed. Iris check." Vox said.

"That's new." Jimmy tried to find someplace to look into when he heard a mechanical hum. Above his head an oval device attached to a moving rod eased its way out of the side of the shack. Jimmy smacked his head as if it made perfect sense. "Now why didn't I think of that?"

Jimmy hoisted himself onto the trash can and looked into the retinal scanner.

"Level 2 security passed. Finger print." Vox said. A pad glided its way through a small door and Jimmy put his finger on it.

"Level 3 security passed. Access Code."

The fingerprint scanner digitalized keys. Jimmy looked at the pad dumbfounded. Right then he heard someone approaching the house. He darted into nearby bushes.

The last time he visited the future, he didn't care who he ran into. This time, he felt the need to take into consideration what affect he might have on the future. Just one glance over the principles of chaos theory would provide him with enough mental fuel to think up at least half a dozen butterfly effect scenarios. Remaining unseen and keeping things unaffected was more critical now than ever.

With the advancements on lab security, he was sure everything was in proper order. He would only have to verify the condition of his lab then he would make a B line straight into one of his newer and/or yet to be invented time devices. He'd go home and erase his memory of going into the future thereby securing the perfect future he was almost certain existed.

He watched through the bushes to find that it was in fact two people, and not just one, that he had heard. He repeated to himself that he was just here to assure the future. Even so, he would lose any opportunity to leave if he wasn't alert. One of the people had brown short semi spiky hair and he wasn't sure what the guy was wearing or how exactly he looked. It seemed kind of trendy. The other he couldn't see too well. She was a female though. They seemed young by the way they walked.

"My parents aren't home." They guy said wrapping his arms around the woman.

"So we have the house to ourselves Jim?"

"We'll have to be good." He explained.

"Give it up. I know you have not intention of being good when they're not around."

"Neither do you." he said.

She didn't argue but playfully pursed her lips.

His older self sighed. "Even if they were here." He said before going in for the kiss.

Little Jimmy smiled. It seemed that not only was he still pursuing science, apparently he was also good looking and popular with the other gender. This was a matter that as hormones hit, became more important to him. He observed that the two were so engrossed in what he would have considered gross behavior just a year ago that they wouldn't have noticed if he walked right past them. The boy leaned in closer and then grabbed his collar. The scene alone would have made anyone blush. It was when they parted for air that he interpreted his observation. The act was not just a passing passionate exercise but it was in fact very affectionate between the two. In all this fervor there were also soft kisses mixed in along with non-verbal communications that only two could have developed over time. This lady must be his future girlfriend he concluded.

He was a little overwhelmed by the possibility of meeting the woman. At this age, he might be thinking about marriage. The boy turned his head away. Knowing could put preconceived notions in his head and quite easily change the future. With his head turned he thought about his future life. The guy seemed happy. He was in love and the miracle was that that someone was also in love with him. What kind of person was she?

The temptation to find out everything he could about the kind of girl he ended up with was starting to overtake him. He was, after all, at that age where hormones started to take over, and it was always a battle between the mind, the heart, and that regrettable secretion from the endocrine gland. Right now even he knew that with the heart and hormones on the same side, his mind would be loosing this battle. Naturally, he felt relieved when he heard what the lady said next.

"Let's take it inside."

"Okay," his future self replied without making any effort to what the woman had asked. They continued to kiss. All Jimmy had to do was hold out a little longer and not take a look so he didn't spoil anything. Finally the couple did stop kissing.

The young man shook his head and ruffled her hair. "Cindy."

"What!" the boy said jumping out of the bush to look for himself. The future Cindy and future him whipped their heads to look at him dead on.

"No," he said walking backwards. All that sentimental garbage dumped right out of his head. "It can't be." Mortified at the realization that it was true the kid took a step backwards and fell backwards over the bush.

"That kid looks like you."

Older Jimmy's eyes immediately narrowed.

-o-

Jimmy shot up from where he lay frazzled. He had this dizzy nauseous feeling that was just beginning to fade along with the dream he had. With his eyes closed, he massaged his temples chanting, "Cogito ergo sum. Cogito ergo sum." After having calmed himself sufficiently he said much more calmly and less mantra like, "I think therefore I am." The picture began to unveil itself for him and the puzzle pieces came together. The chrono-arch must have done it to him. Because it was damaged, he began to see hallucinations. He put a hand over his eyes and continued to state his logic in this offset calm manner. "What I saw was just a figment of my imagination. Uh. better yet, a daymare or something. There is no logical reason for," he paused, "er. uh. That to ever happen. So, I am going to open my eyes and the empirical truth will be evident."

The young boy took a deep breath, removed his hands, and then opened his eyes. It was his room. He knew he was sitting on something soft. So this made sense. He sighed relief and his face landed in a content smile. Then he swiveled his head around to see himself cross armed at the doorway. Well his future self anyway and he didn't look very happy. Shattered. Any semblance of calm was obliterated.

"Who are you, what are you doing here, and when are you leaving?" the character said.

Jimmy hopped off the bed and walked over cautiously. "Isn't it obvious?"

His older self just rolled his hand motioning for him to move forward with the explanation.

"I'm you when you were younger. I'm here because I wanted to see the future and I'm not sure when I'm leaving."

"Hmm," His larger version said furrowing his brow, "So what's going to make you leave sooner?"

"Huh. Could you answer a few questions?"

"For your own curiosity?"

"To ensure a good future"

His older self smirked, "OK. I understand the game now."

"Game. No. You misunderstand. I just want to find out a couple of things."

"Shoot." The guy said plopping on the bed and looking up at the stars. "This room's ugly isn't it?"

"I don't know I kind of like the space them. Don't you?"

Big Jim shrugged. "Needs updating. Ask your questions."

"How'd I get here?"

"Now do I really need to explain to you about the birds and the bees?"

"Uh yes. I should be more specific. In this room."

"You just kind of showed up."

"Uh, well. What about that whole Cindy thing."

"What are you talking about?" he said looking puzzled.

"Right exactly my point. I think that I was so worried about the future that I imagined..."Jimmy shook his head. "Never mind."

"What?"

"It has no scientific basis whatsoever."

Big Jim sat up and shrugged his shoulders, "I'm you, right? So why would you have to keep anything from me." He smirked.

"It's just that I could have sworn that you two- What's your girlfriend's name?" Jimmy thought smartly.

"Her name's not Vortex if that's what you're worried about."

Jimmy sighed the biggest sigh of relief yet. "Good. Because I don't know what I'd do if I found out I'd gone stupid. I mean of course it's a no-brainer. Cindy isn't very pretty, she has a horrible personality, her insights are always completely unfounded, she's always chasing Nick Deen, which shows how unintelligent she is, and she's completely shrew-like, if you know what I mean. Not to mention that we're mortal enemies destined to fight till the death."

"That is silly." He chuckled, "Why on earth would you think we ended up together?"

"I guess I really was imagining things. I don't know why I was worried. Maybe it was because I had already visited an alternate future where we were married."

Jim arched a brow.

"It was horrible. I wasn't the same. The life was zapped out of me. It completely ruined my chances of getting the Nobel Science prizes in bulk. She ruined me. Now that I know you're not engaged in a romantic affair with her..." An alarm went off in Jimmy's head. "Say, you wouldn't happen to be attracted to Ms. Vortex now would you be?"

"Absolutely not." He scoffed, "That's a crazy idea. You're paranoid. She's not even my type."

The boy's excitement died down and he replied, "Oh". The boy genius turned to the side and knitted his eyebrows. "Hmm."

"How about you? What's you're type?"

Jimmy's face went red. "Uhm. There's this one girl at school. Her name is Betty Quinlan."

"I don't remember her."

Little Jimmy whipped out a picture.

"Oh, I do remember her - very cute."

"I guess we don't end up together."

"I didn't remember because she changed her name. I won't say anything else." he said smiling.

"You probably think it's stupid."

Big Jim shook his head. "No, I don't think it's stupid. Always go for the one you want. You should try asking her out. Who knows? She might say yes. Big Jim smiled knowingly.

"You know the future why don't you tell me. That way I don't have to waste our time"

"Uh. Uh. Uh. If I tell you, it might change things."

"I forgot about that."

"Don't waste time. Let's get you back so you can tell her how you feel." Jimmy smiled. "The chrono-arch is in the lab."

"You know future me, to be honest, I wasn't so sure about the future when I first saw you at the door. You were a little intimidating. I thought you weren't content because you had a scowl on your face."

"I don't live with any regrets and my life is pretty blissful. I just wanted to know what was going on. But now that I've got the picture, it's easier to ease up. Shall we?"

Walking out of the house towards the lab, his older self had just regailed him with his achievements up to this point. He had just finished his schooling, passing with honors, of course. He was already a Dr. Phd at such a young age.

Jimmy had now started explaining his prototype ideas. He hoped for a clue on which idea to start first.

"Interesting," was the only reply that came out of the man's mouth, and he had said it several times.

"All you have to say is 'interesting.'

"Jimmy, I just don't want to influence you in anyway.

"Of course, time and relativity."

"Okay." The man said shrugging his shoulder. "We'll go for that."

"Why do I feel like such an amateur around you?"

"Because I'm older, wiser, and a lot better looking. But even if the possibility of us screwing it up by talking to each other is slim, think Marshall's law."

"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

Just then a blond briskly walked towards them. His older self dropped his lids and shook his head. "Exactly."

Peering in the direction where the man's visage had just been directed, Jimmy recognized her instantly. The boy braced himself: the woman was just too elated and the only thing that gave her joy was berating him. It was coming, he could tell. He hoped the guy was prepared to defend himself.

Instead, the man just dropped his shoulders in resignation and let out a deep exhale. The lady practically jumped him as she threw her arms around his older self and planted one right on him. What was more amazing to the little boy was that his older self didn't do anything about it. In fact he participated. Cindy turned towards little Jimmy.

"I see he's awake. Why does he look so scared?" she asked confused from within Jim's embrace, "I thought you were going to handle it."

"I was about to." He said.

"I'll go inside," Cindy pointed, "and order some food. When I come out I hope everything's all, not weird. Although, this whole situation is strange," she said before she left to the Neutron house.

The kid tore away from him. "You said that you had no interest in Cindy! You said that she wasn't your girlfriend!"

"Let me make this simple, so you, the boy genius can understand. If I told you such a thing, then I lied."

"Why would you? How could you?"

Big Jim rolled his eyes.

"Why Cindy of all people?"

"What are you blind? Did you not see? She's gorgeous."

"But she's she's."

"Oh get over yourself." Jim said grabbing his head. "I bet you were checking her out."

"I was not," the boy said indignant. "Bah. Anyway, how long have you two been seeing each other?"

"Chillax. What's with the 20-20?"

"Slang? You're using slang. Oh no. It's worse than I thought."

The taller one just shrugged his shoulders.

"Please tell me you still love science."

The future Jimmy turned to his side squinted at him while a short scoff escaped his mouth. "Nohp" he said. "I hate it actually. I hate it a lot."

Chapter 2 End