by The Eurostar and T5
Edulcore Cicciotto:
Nowhereman's idea was not really the best way to enter undetected, but at least we are in now. And the fight out there should make a great distraction. Now, we have to find Danny, free him and leave in the least time possible. I don't want to level this building, too. It will be too easy for the press to associate these kinds of metahuman actions with the circus.
Tobias and I are looking for our friend at full speed. It's only a matter of minutes when he comes back. "Euro, I have found him!"
It's the same room where I awoke when they brought me here. Danny is tied to a chair, handcuffs at the hands and at the feet. When we both stop to move at superspeed, he can see us.
"Go away, guys! It's full of guards here!" he shouts.
Tobias looks at me, puzzled. "What?"
"Maybe he's drugged?" I note. "Danny, we are here to free you!"
"Go away! It's dangerous!"
"No, Danny. There are no guards. They are all running down to the entrance. M'xy and the others are creating a great diversion."
I begin to work on the handcuffs, when from the dark comes a voice. "I am really happy to see you are still alive, Edulcore Cicciotto. But I wouldn't free that kid, unless the fate of our present AND future are not your concern."
I turn, and out of the darkness steps...
...Eurostar! A well-trained, strong, but older Eurostar, one wearing armor with a variation in design of the current suit. A helmet was seen tucked under his arm. It reeked of glossy high-tech and seemed almost to be a part of him. Everyone in the room was stunned.
"Aww... it's great to see you guys again. These were hard times, but we had each other anyway."
The original Eurostar recovered from the initial shock and said, "You can't be me! I'm fast, but not that fast. I could never break the time barrier... so who the hell are you?"
"Actually, I am you... but as you said, I, you, we can't run fast enough to break the time barrier. But we had some help. The armor I now use is a gift from hir."
"And who is Hir?" asked Eurostar.
"No, no. That's not a name. It refers to my benefactor who is neither male nor female. So the designation is a mix of both... hir... him and her."
Tobias shook his head. "This is nuts. Let's take him now before the guards turn up!"
The future Eurostar smiled. "No need to worry. There will be no guards, unless you choose to take action against me. Let me explain. Daniel could, not by choice or evil plans, but by accident, disrupt certain events in the web of the current timeline. Let's say he has a fight with our local -- what were their names, again? -- Scorpions. He may by accident make a traveling businessman late for a meeting. In that meeting, that man was destined to meet a woman who he later on will marry. They have a kid who grows up to become... uh... someone important to the world. Because of Daniel, that man misses the meeting by causing a delay in the traffic. That kid never gets to be born, and... well, take it from me... it wouldn't be nice." He wrinkled his nose.
Tobias began, "That's the biggest load of--"
He was interrupted as Naecken walked into the room, saying, "There are guards coming!" He looked at both Eurostars and said, "Do I know you?"
The future Eurostar revealed a small circular disk in his hand. "My benefactor told me to give you this." He handed it to the current Eurostar. "In the time of fire, the green will emerge from the red, bringing life where none existed before. Hir told me to tell you that. You will understand later what it means. Put this disk on Naecken's forehead at the crucial moment I told you about."
In the corridor, the guards came closer. Naecken tore down a wall to close the passage.
The future Eurostar asked, "So, how about this matter with Daniel? What is your response?"