New York – 2000
The city of New York was experiencing a year of unusual calm. As November drew to a close, George Bush had just taken the presidential seat following the state elections. One of the most expensive sports cars of the era was slowly cruising through the streets of Manhattan. As the car passed by the Twin Towers—which would tragically collapse a year later—the man behind the wheel slicked back his gray hair and put on his sunglasses. Glancing at himself in the rearview mirror, he seemed pleased with his hair and smiled contentedly.
He reached for the radio and pressed a button. From the speakers came one of that year's hit songs, Maria Maria. The rhythm made him smile for a brief moment. He had always loved popular music and never quite understood why older people struggled to keep up with the times. He, after all, had adapted flawlessly to change for centuries—that was one of his greatest advantages.
Upon reaching Sixth Avenue, he checked the paper in his hand. The address was correct. This place was a secret meeting point where Alex and his father had searched for alternative ways to save their planets. He parked the car carefully and, after a moment's hesitation, headed toward the door. This was the first time he had come here like this. Something about it felt different—and he liked it.
When the door opened, he was greeted by Alex's furious face. Kai wasn't surprised—he had anticipated this reaction.
"I told you to come urgently! Did you really use a car instead of doing your little portal trick?"
Kai, as always, hid his guilt behind a smile."Today is special, you know that."
"This isn't a reunion, Kai! It's the day my father disappeared!" Alex turned and stormed toward the basement. The basement was a complex lab filled with equipment—a place where they had worked on infinite possibilities, seeking salvation in a sense.
"Calm down. Everything's under control. Come on, let's go over it one last time," Kai said, maintaining his composure. Though Alex's anger was still visible, Kai's ever-calm demeanor eased the tension slightly.
Kai followed Alex into the lab. It looked like chaos—a clutter of scribbled boards, tangled wires, and scientific equipment. Kai pulled off a cover, revealing a chalkboard filled with notes. The writing held both remnants of the past and hints of the future:
1995 – The year my father brought my younger self from the future.November 28, 2000 – The day my father vanished with a mysterious letter.2017 – The year Kai asked me to hack into the Washington database to learn about the end of the world.January 22, 2022 – The day I met Kai, while investigating a man whose body had exploded, alongside Jessy.
As Kai reviewed the notes on the board, he spoke again."Andrew went to take little Alex to school. I still don't get why he insisted on doing it alone."
Alex nodded reluctantly."I asked him why he would write a letter like that and leave us in the future, but he said he had no idea."
Kai looked closely at the entry marked "November 28, 2000". He paused, then smiled faintly as he turned to Alex."Alex, I think your dad tricked us."
Alex wanted to deny it, but he couldn't ignore the truth in Kai's words. He clenched his jaw."We need to get home. Now."
Kai immediately activated a hidden door in the basement that linked directly to Alex's house. When they passed through, a letter on the entrance table confirmed Kai's suspicion—it was the last message Andrew had left before disappearing.
"He hasn't been gone long," Kai said, examining the letter."Come on, use your sight. Let's follow the traces."
Alex silently closed his eyes and began to see the echoes of the past. Inside the house, two men appeared—one was leading young Alex out by the hand, while the other followed. Alex recognized the stranger's build. Without saying a word to Kai, he walked straight outside and got in his car.
The silence in the car was broken only by the engine's rumble. After a while, as he followed the trail, Alex finally spoke, gathering his thoughts."There was a stranger with my father... and I think I know who he is."
Kai was about to reply when Alex suddenly slammed the brakes. They had stopped in front of a park. A man in a black hood stood motionless by the edge. Alex's eyes widened—it was Connor. How had he gotten here? Kai recognized him too. He was the traveler who had escaped him years ago at the boarding house.
Alex's fury exploded. Without blinking, he drove the car straight at Connor. The front bumper struck its target; Connor was thrown backward to the ground. But his armored suit's protection caused the car to flip. Injured, Alex crawled out of the wreck while Kai removed his sunglasses and threw them aside, silently chasing after Connor.
This time, he wouldn't let him get away.
Kai chased him down Fifteenth Avenue. Though Connor's suit granted him incredible speed, Kai's natural powers were superhuman. Eventually, Kai tackled him to the ground.
Connor retaliated, using his mechanical arm to push Kai away. The hydraulic force nearly broke Kai's guard, but he only stepped back once, staying alert. Connor then launched a mechanical claw from his chest. It flew toward Kai—but Kai dodged with lightning reflexes.
As soon as he landed, Kai lunged and pounded on Connor. His blows began cracking the titanium alloy of the suit. Connor aimed his arm at Kai's chest and blasted him back, getting to his feet. But Kai wouldn't let the upper hand slip for long. He stepped forward, slamming Connor in the shoulder and staggering him again.
Connor's suit tried to compensate, but each of Kai's hits weakened it further. The metallic screeches echoed the intensity of the fight. Kai stayed relentless, interrupting every move Connor attempted. The fight escalated—Connor was being pushed to his limits.
Connor managed to stand and summoned a sword-like weapon from his armor—but he froze when he saw the radiant white eyes and the overwhelming presence before him. Kai was ascending, and the rising metallic hum warned something was about to happen. Connor knew he had no time. He lunged at his opponent.
Just before his sword hit, a metal canister flew in front of him, knocking him away. He tried again, but nearby objects began flying at him and clinging to his body. His armor was being crushed under thousands of tons of pressure.
As Kai tried to trap him in a sphere of metal, he shouted:"Where is Andrew!"
Connor realized talking wouldn't help. He used his suit's neural link to activate a bomb on his right leg. It would hurt him too—but it was his only escape. Kai stepped closer for answers, unaware of the trap. The explosion came suddenly. Kai was thrown back, and Connor knew this might be his last chance. Mid-air, he activated the suit's stabilizers and shot straight toward Kai, unaware he was about to charge into the strongest man on the planet—until a truck hit him hard.
Alex tried to follow the chase, but it was clear he couldn't catch up. His heart was pounding, and his breath was ragged. The fleeing figures grew smaller. As he turned a corner, a massive freight truck caught his eye. It was waiting to load factory goods—maybe his way out. He ran to it, jumped into the driver's seat, and grabbed the wheel, ignoring the shouting around him.
The truck roared to life and rolled into the street. Soon, Alex saw smoke rising in the distance. Fear and adrenaline surged within him. He turned into an alley, heading straight into the smoke. Through the blinding haze, Connor's silhouette emerged. He was pointing a weapon at Kai and moving in.
Alex made his decision. Without hesitation, he turned the truck toward Connor.
When the truck hit, its massive weight smashed through a wall. Dust and debris filled the air. Alex, trembling, rubbed his eyes and saw Kai lying unconscious. He didn't yet know that his action had saved Kai's life.
He slowly approached the collapsed wall, breath uneven, every step uncertain. Suddenly, a strong grip around his neck froze him. Connor... was still alive. With all his strength, he slammed Alex to the ground and pinned him. His hands were like iron. As Alex struggled to breathe, Connor realized something was wrong.
It wasn't the place that was changing...
It was time itself.