CHAPTER FIVE:
Starting over...
As the effects of the portal diminished and Michael regained his senses, he immediately sensed that something was wrong. The room he was in was dark, he immediately switched on his helmet lights. He was surprised to see that he was in the installation's transport room. The room was dark when it should have been lit up. Out of habit and instinct, he switched his helmet view to night amplification mode and drew his MA5, checking the room cautiously. His motion sensors at first didn't pick up anything, then suddenly a target appeared and it was coming closer.
Michael was caught a little off-guard as the lights in the room suddenly came on and the door opened. He saw Virgil's hovering orb enter the room and Michael started to exhale a sigh of relief, lowering his weapon. As he raised his hand to greet the AI, he noticed that Virgil's orb was pulsating a dark red.
"Virgil… I'm so gl—" was all that he managed to say before he was hit and thrown across the room by an intense energy beam from Virgil's orb. He heard his AI friend yell.
"INTRUDER!"
Michael was lucky, all the improvements that Virgil had made to his battle armor and shields held up and prevented him from suffering serious damage as he took the blow. His body ached and he had the wind knocked out of him, but he was uninjured as he bounced off the floor and spun and dodged out of the way as another energy beam just missed him. There were a couple of yellow caution warning lights on his helmet display, but his systems hadn't been compromised.
Michael found himself on one knee still trying to recover from his shock and also trying to figure out what was going. He dodged again barely avoiding another blast from Virgil causing his shields to flare.
"WHAT THE HELL VIRGIL?" Michael screamed at the AI.
"Intruder! How did you access this installation? Identify yourself or you will be terminated!" the floating AI said in a menacing tone while still glowing blood red.
It finally occurred to Michael what was going on and he could have kicked himself for not anticipating it, he'd been too caught up in what had happened to Faith, Adriana and himself to think clearly. Whatever had happened to him to end up in Sunnydale of the past happened here as well. He was in the Forerunner installation five years before he had stumbled across it and meet Virgil. Whatever had happened or was happening, Michael still needed Virgil's help—he needed to defuse the situation.
"Okay… Hang on… I come in peace. I'm no threat. See I'm going to put down my weapon." Michael kept his left hand raised while he lowered his MA5 with his other hand and placed it on the floor in front of him. He then raised both hands in front of him to try and show that he wasn't a threat.
"Intruder! How did you get here?"
"You are 414 Eternal Vigilance… Forerunner AI construct to oversee the 5414 Erde-Tyrene Research Installation." Michael said in a calm non-threatening voice still holding his hands up in front of him and not making any sudden movements.
It took a long moment, but he saw Virgil's orb start to change from the blood red pulsating color to a slightly lighter red color.
So far so good, Michael thought letting out a huge sigh.
He decided to take a chance and push further, "If you scan me you will be able to identify who I am… If you give me the chance I will explain how I got here."
"Prepare to submit for scan!" the AI ordered.
Michael had no choice. If he was ever going to get some answers to what had happened, he needed to trust Virgil enough not to incinerate him.
Michael stood up straight, keeping his hands up to show he was no threat, "Go ahead and scan." he said holding his breath.
He was suddenly bathed in a glowing light as the AI scanned him. The scan was over in a few seconds and Michael watched and waited as the AI processed the scan information. He didn't know how Virgil would take it and he was feeling tense, but he keep himself frozen to the ground, avoiding any sudden movements. It felt like it was taking forever and Michael was getting a little worried about his situation, when Virgil's color changed from red back to the friendly color he was used to.
"I have scanned you… You have been identified as… a Reclaimer! Though I am puzzled as I am picking up forerunner technology in your combat skin?" the AI said in a cheerful but somewhat confused voice.
Michael let out another deep sigh of relief. At least something was going his way for the moment.
oOoOo
It took Michael some time, but he was able to explain everything to the AI. He had to make a conscious effort to refer to him by his original designation and not to call him Virgil to not confuse the situation any more than it already was. As he relayed his story and the events that had brought him here, he was worried that it would be difficult to convince Virgil that he was telling was the truth.
Michael's worries were put to rest, once 414 Eternal Vigilance accessed the AI's logs in his battle armor. After that point he was accepted to be whom he'd said he was and that his story was true.
Michael had taken off his helmet and was catching his breath. His emotions were still raw and he was focusing hard to keep them in control. He looked at the floating AI that would one day be a part of his family, "Do you have any idea what happened? Is there any way we change it back or send me back?"
The AI took a moment and then responded, "From a preliminary scan of the data I have downloaded from your combat skin, I would theorize that you are the one affected and not the people and events in this dimension or the other one… the time lines 'appear' to be intact. My initial explanation is that I believe that you have actually travelled back in time. For some event or occurrence to change history in at least two separate dimensions is beyond any scientific theory or power ever postulated by the Forerunners that I am aware of."
Michael tried to wrap his head around the idea that he had traveled back in time. He shook his head at the thought as he felt a headache start.
The AI continued, "The energy fields that my AI counterpart in your combat skin recorded of the event are unlike anything I have ever seen… I would theorize that this so-called 'Staff of Uman' may be the catalyst for this event. If you could obtain the staff and bring it back here for further analysis then I may be able to study and understand the process and effects…"
"…And send me back to my time period?" Michael said hopefully looking at the AI.
"I would have to caution against such a premature assumption. Until I have had a chance to study the staff, I cannot and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to make such a supposition. Time travel was only theorized by the Forerunners. But if theory is correct, just you being here may have caused a contamination of the time lines with unintended results…" the AI responded.
The AI continued, "…I will need to analyze all data further and construct some models to look at probabilities and estimate causality effects on events. This could take some time. I would suggest that you rest and I can provide food and water for you while you wait. We have living quarters on the upper levels of this installation that would provide you a more comfortable resting area."
"I'm familiar with the layout of this installation… I think I'll wait in one of the labs if you don't mind." Michael replied trying to keep his frustration and disappointment in check.
"Of course you would be familiar with this installation… How silly of me… Yes, you can wait in any of the labs…" replied 414 Eternal Vigilance.
oOoOo
Michael made himself comfortable in one of the installation's lab. He was finding himself irritated and frustrated. It wasn't with Virgil, it was with the whole situation and being back here wasn't helping his mood and state of mind. That was one of the reasons he chose to go to the lab rather than the living quarters—there were too many memories there. He didn't need the added distraction of those memories—they were too raw and he was still shaky. If he went up there right now, it would be pushing his emotional stability and sanity to the limit.
Virgil came by after a bit and provided Michael with some refreshments. Michael found he wasn't that hungry and he tried to rest, but his mind was racing. All that played through his mind were the images of Faith and Adriana and wondering if he would ever see them again. He saw the younger version of Faith as she brandished her sword against him—the fire and darkness in her eyes.
Michael tried to rationalize everything, but it was hard especially when it concerned Faith. Her and Adriana had become his whole life and now that was in jeopardy or even lost forever. One thought kept repeating in his head.
What do I do if there is no way for me to reverse the effects of what's happened to me?
Michael finally closed his eyes, but it was an unsettled and uncomfortable rest. Virgil woke him several hours later.
oOoOo
Michael was still trying to get his brain awake as Virgil talked rapidly. Michael finally held his hand, "Can you give me a moment and start again… This time go slowly."
The AI paused as he reoriented itself as he had no experience dealing with this type of life form before, though he had access to information about this Reclaimer's species and had reviewed this information as he also worked on analyzing the data and problem.
Humans… So strange and different from Forerunners.
Virgil started again—more slowly this time, "Yes of course… I have finished analyzing all data and have constructed different scenario models to look at potential temporal outcomes as a result of causality effects… More specifically your future self-interacting with current universe time lines…"
"And?" Michael replied trying to keep his frustration and impatience in check.
"Well according to information downloaded from your suit's AI… There was no record that there was a temporal incursion in the time line that you were a residence of." the AI reported.
"I know that! If there had been an incident like this occurring before then I would have expected that your future self would have warned me about this event." Michael answered as he felt his head start to pound.
"Not necessarily so… We could be dealing with a paradox situation."
Michael sighed, "Okay… What paradox then?"
"You may have travelled back to this time period before and that you covered up the incursion."
His headache was starting to throb…
"How could I have travelled back in time 'before'? Neither Buffy nor Faith mentioned ever confronting me before our first meeting… I mean the meeting that I recall of the first time we actually met… Damn it! All this temporal referencing is giving me a headache!"
"Maybe they forgot about the encounter with you? It was very brief." the AI responded questioningly.
Michael paused to recall his memories of the events described to him of the time period when Faith first came to Sunnydale up to the destruction of the first Sunnydale high school during the Mayor's ascension.
"No… I had many discussions over the years with everyone… Buffy, Faith, Giles and Xander never mentioned anything in all our years together about encountering anything like me before I actually arrived in Sunnydale."
Michael paused as he took a moment to massage his temples to keep his headache in check.
"Hang on for a moment and let's back this up… Let's assume that I have not travelled previously back in the past and we're not dealing with a paradox situation."
"That is a dangerous assumption, but for the moment we can consider that your temporal incursion into this time line was inadvertent… There is a slightly higher possibility that this is the case." responded the AI.
"Okay… How do I return back to my time line?"
The AI took a moment and then responded, "As I earlier theorized, you will need to obtain this 'Staff of Uman' as it appears to be the focal point or the initiator of your temporal incursion… Returning to your own time line may be problematic… If this was an inadvertent temporal event then you have already contaminated the time line by just interacting in this and the other universe and have changed events… The time line that you came from may no longer exist as you knew it…"
Michael rubbed his hand over his face trying to control his anguish as he contemplated the possibility that everything and everyone that he knew was changed or gone.
Virgil continued, "…There are just too many variables to accurately forecast a scenario model that will achieve any time line that approximates your original temporal state. The energy readings that your combat skin's AI recorded at the time of the 'temporal event' are not consistent with any energy signature that I am aware of… though there were some anomalies that I cannot account for. This is what is causing the uncertainty."
"So what do you recommend that I do?" Michael asked trying not to sound desperate as he felt his world teetering on the edge.
"Option number one is that you have no further interaction with this or the other universe at this time."
"And how do you expect me to not further interact?" Michael asked shaking his head.
"I can reactivate this installation and we locate another alternate dimension for you to relocate to for the reminder of your life."
"That's not much of an option for me... I don't get to see my family ever again… I refuse to accept that!"
"Option number two is for you to leave a message and go into stasis until you come into sync with the time line and you can warn yourself about the incident that creates the temporal incursion and you can resume your live from that point on."
"According to what you have said already, I have contaminated this time line and what I expect to occur may not happen now or will have a different result… So there are no guarantees that by going into stasis that I will revive to be able to warn myself or continue my life… Even if I do warn myself about what happens and I change it… What happens to me still? Wouldn't having two of me create another paradox and it still wouldn't be 'my' family."
Michael could feel his head pounding from having to consider all the temporal possibilities and paradoxes…
"Option three is that you retrieve the 'Staff of Uman' and bring it back here for further study. It may be possible to deduce what powers this staff has and possibly send you back to your own time period."
"I like that option." Michael said as he started massaging his temples again.
"I thought you would select that option Reclaimer, but I must warn you that this will require more interaction in the other universe and possible time line contamination… Even if you are successful in retrieving the staff and I am able to figure out a way to open a portal to send you back. The 'observer effect' will come into play and though you may arrive back at the exact same point in time and space that you left. You may arrive in time line that has had a different outcome and unfolding of events."
"But if I have knowledge of what occurred, can I not minimize my impact and steer events to the same outcome and conclusion as what occurred in my time line?"
"Again there is insufficient data to predetermine if your 'fore-knowledge' of events can allow you to shape events in this time line. The 'observer effect' dictates that any interaction will change the outcome of the system or event from the desired or perceived outcome."
"I'll have to take my chances with that as it seems that is the only option open to me." Michael said with a sigh as he continued to massage his temples.
Michael stopped for a moment and looked at Virgil. He had or would know him for years. He knew that the AI was telling him the truth and had laid out all the options available to him.
"So let's make sure I understand what you are saying… That 'if' I go back to Sunnydale and 'if' I locate the Staff of Uman and 'if' you are able to study and unlock what makes it tick that it 'might' be possible to send me back to my time line, but because I'm here and have interacted that events could be different as a result."
"Yes, but remember that this is all speculation and theory at this point. I would hate to get your hopes up on only a theory."
As Michael said the words, he hoped that he wouldn't regret them, "I've got nowhere else to go and nothing else to lose…"
"How long for you to get this station back in operation? I need to get back there… I got to find that staff!" Michael asked the AI trying again to control his impatience.
"Normally it would take 165 hours local time to bring this station out of stasis and commence power up and testing procedures, but due to the urgency of the situation I can bypass some of the steps and commence a minimum reactivation—"
"How long?" Michael said interrupting the AI as some of his impatience finally showed through.
The AI took the interruption in stride, "I can perform a limited reactivation within 100 hours local time."
"Well then… We better get started."