by The Eurostar, Kristogar Velo, I'm Not Mister Mxyptlk and Tobias Christopher
It was four past midnight in Thunder City, and Eurostar was back at the circus. Inside the van that had been temporarily assigned to M'xy and Danny Hearn, Eurostar had called a meeting. Sitting around the old wooden round table that he had rescued from the cabin where they first met, in Chicago, were Nowhereman, Marv Velo, Danny, M'xy, Naecken and Tobias Christopher.
Eurostar stood up and said, "Guys, friends, this is the perfect night for our mission."
"The rescuing of your son, Euro?" said M'xy.
"Yes, and more. Anyone of you know anything about the Citadel, the TriVext tower?" Eurostar asked, and his eyes went to Velo.
"Obviously," Velo started, deliberately, "we're not planning on just walking in through the front door right? The TriVext Citadel is far, far more advanced than any other government building that is currently in operation. We could all be killed ten times each without coming close to where you want to be."
"So, what? We can't get in is what you're saying?" Tobias asked.
"Think outside the boundaries for a moment," Velo replied. "The entrances to the labs are nearly impossible to get through, for obvious security reasons. Nobody can get in unless they're supposed to get in. However..."
"The exit wasn't designed that way!" Nowhereman finished, smiling.
Marv Velo was once again impressed by the veteran know-how of the mad one. "Precisely. It's impossible to get in, but unbelievably easy to get out. The exit was designed for emergency use only, in the highly unlikely scenario of a successful siege. All it takes is an electromagnetic blast to unlock the exit door. Then, it will be easy to open from the inside."
"I can do that," Eurostar offered. "You are saying that you want me to phase in and open the door, yes?"
"Yes," said Velo. "I can supply the EM blast, a silent one at that. However, Eurostar, I need you to promise me that no matter what you see once you're inside, you will not act until we're with you. No... matter... what..."
Eurostar wasn't sure that he liked the sound of Velo's tone, but he promised. "You really know what you're talking about? You are absolutely sure about this?"
"Yes, I'm sure," Velo stated. I oughtta be, he thought. I designed the damn thing.
Eurostar said, "Well, if it's all set, I say we--"
"Excuse me," interrupted Danny, "I think there's one more thing we have to discuss."
M'xy said, "Oh, the stuff you told Mick you remembered?"
Everyone said, simultaneously, "What?!"
"No..." Danny said nervously, "...I was gonna say that we should consider leaving the circus. But thank you."
Nowhereman frowned. "Wait, what stuff you remembered?"
Velo said, "Oh, right, you're from the future. Did you remember anything about us?"
Tobias remembered what Mick told him earlier. "Uh... look, I don't think we should..."
Eurostar said, "Tobias, let Danny talk. If there's something about us he knows, I think we deserve to know it."
"I'm eager to know," said Naecken.
Nowhereman said, "Yeah, tell us, man!"
Danny was silent for a moment. Finally, he said, "We're gonna die, okay? History books say a year from now the seven of us are gonna die fighting an alien invasion." The room was quiet. "Happy now?"
Eurostar was the first to speak. "That is... I mean... I don't know how to feel. I completely trusted your memories before when you told us before that a revolution was started in 2002 by seven men, but now I don't want to..."
M'xy interrupted, "Wait, wait, wait... seven men? Nu-uh, he said six men. Danny said, and I quote, 'everyone in my time knows about the Revolution of 2002. It was started by six men, known as the Ghost, the Gentleman, the Speedster, the Angel, the Animalman and the Mad, who was their leader.'"
"No, Eurostar is right," said Tobias, "I'm pretty sure he said seven."
"I think not!" insisted Nowhereman. "I mean, I wasn't there at that time, but I remember clearly that Eurostar told me about it, and he mentioned six men!"
Eurostar said, "This is pretty weird."
Velo suggested, "I think it's pretty obvious what's going on here."
Tobias said, "Would you care to explain it to us, then?"
"Sure," said Velo. "Why do Nowhereman and M'xy remember things slightly different than the rest? Well, as far as I know, M'xy comes from a different dimension, and Nowhereman's mind is... outside this realm. What does this mean? It means that they are not affected by changes in the flow of time."
Eurostar thought for a moment and said, "So, in other words, when you joined the team, we became seven and not six, making the history books of the future say 'seven men' instead of 'six men'..."
Nowhereman laughed and shouted, "We're changing the future!"
The group was silent for a few moments as they considered the implications of what Nowhereman had shouted. M'xy, at the urging of Tobias, turned back into Mick Harrison so he could participate in the decision. Finally, Eurostar broke the silence, asking the whole group, "Are you sure you want to risk this? I'll understand if any of you want to back out."
"I know what it's like to not have a father," Tobias said. "I wouldn't wish it upon anybody. We're going to bring your son back, and to hell with anyone who tries to stop us."
"And the rest of you?"
Everyone agreed to help with the mission. Even Li'l Jo meowed an okay. "Let's get your son," Tobias said as he heads for the door.
"I'm worried about him," Eurostar said, nodding in Tobias' direction. "He's even more impulsive than usual."
"He'll be fine," Mick said. "He just needs to work out a few issues."
"He will," Danny said. "And soon."
"What are you talking about?" Eurostar asked.
"His father is alive," Danny said. "And their reunion is going to result in Tobias learning a very valuable lesson."
"How soon?" Mick asked.
"Not until after he meets his brother," Danny replied.
"Should we tell him?" Mick asked.
"No," Eurostar said. "Everything has to work out on its own. But we're still going to stick together. That's what... friends are for."