Time Embraces the Bold

CHAPTER ONE

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

"If you could change one thing in history... what would it be Sergeant?" Sergeant Thomas of the Marines looked at the scientist talked to him and laughed. "And only one thing."

"Well Mister Cafferity, I don't think there's one thing in almost three hundred years of this countries existance that I could change. What would be the point?"

"I didn't say one thing in American history Sergeant. I said one thing in all of history... Maybe physical proof of the life and death of Jesus? Saving Arch-Duke Ferdinan? Stopping the world wars?"

"Again, I doubt there would be any single thing that I could do to affect history. Plus, isn't there a concept that says that if you change one thing, a billion other things goes right out the window?"

"Of course Sergeant Thomas. But it's a nice thought experiment while we get ready for the phase of testing we're about to run." Giovani Cafferrity looked the Marine up and down before nodding. "The room is safe to enter. Please make sure all weapons are on safe, and that you're well away from the trigger please." Clicking a button, he opened the door for the Marine. As Sergeant Thomas stepped inside, Giovani hit the button again, sliding the door closed. "You understand why we asked you to be armed?"

"Just in case something in this machine goes whackey, and I suddenly find myself in a very different situation." Examining the M4 Carbine Richard Thomas, a Marine Corps Scout Sniper made sure that everything was as expected. "But this test is just to see if something goes wrong when you have an armed human in the machine right?"

"That's correct," Giovani said with a smile. "We're going to turn the machine on, creating the power cycle that should create a time vortex. I don't understand all of it sadly, but there's quite a bit that could go right, and a few things that could go wrong. Are you ready?" Richard took a deep breath, holding it for several seconds before exhaling and nodding. "Alright, power is on, and away. We. Go." Giovani started raising a lever, causing a loud whining to occur. Outside of the room that Sergeant Thomas was standing in, there was a flux of static electricity, making the scientists hair stand on end. Even though it was just a few inches long, he quickly looked like a famous picture of Albert Einstein.

Richard watched as the static rose, along with the whine of the machine, making him feel like he was inside a large MRI machine, without the magnets ripping off his weapons. Then, after a few minutes, and several blinks later, the whine went away, as did the scientist Giovani. In his place stood a 5 foot 8 inch tall man of Mexican decent, his black hair maybe two inches long and swept to the right instead of laying flat across his head. His olive skin was muted, as if he hadn't seen the sun in several months.

"Oy! Who in the hell are you?" the man cried, his british accent a far cry from what Richard expected. "You're one of them freedom fighters aint ya? How in the hell did you get in here?" Richard was taken back, looking first down at his own uniform before back up at the man.

"My name is Sergeant Richard Thomas, serial number 11368756A, Second Marine Battalion. And who might you be Sir?" The man looked taken aback before hitting another button that Richard wasn't aware of before stepping into the time room. "Sir? Your name? I mean I can always give you one, but that wouldn't be the best idea now would it?"

"My name can wait while Security comes to collect you. What did you do with Admiral Nechov? He was the man participating in these trials today!" Richard's eyes widened slightly, they were experimenting on an Admiral? "Where did you put him?"

"Son, I've never heard of Admiral Nechov," Richard said, his apalachian side fully taking over. He had been born and bred in the mountains of Tennessee, and even after years in the Corps, it still wasn't all gone. "So why don't you answer my question, and while you're at it, let me know where exactly I am?"

"You're in Her Majesties Royal Department of Time and Space. San Diego, California, UK."

"UK?" Richard asked. "As in The United Kingdom? Listen, this is a fun joke and all, but get Giovani back in here. I ain't got time for games now." Looking at the door, he knew he wouldn't be able to just kick it down, or open it. When he'd been brought in, he'd helped design the room in case something like this happened. He also had helped train the security staff, weapons training and basic take down manuevers.

"Of course Her Majesties United Kingdom? Where in the bloody hell did you think you were?"

"Well last I knew, the UK was a small island in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, bordered by France, Spain, Germany, Ireland and Scotland. And this part of North America is known as the United States..."

"Ah yess, the failed rebellion," the Scientist said with a sneer. "I knew you were one of them freedom fighters. Rightfully so, you'll be arrested and hanged for you treason. Now be a good boy, and lay the rifle down. You can't use it to get out anyhow." Richard checked the weapon once again, and this time noticed that the magazine had vanished. He'd have to speak to Giovani about that. What good was a weapon if the ammunition didn't come with it?" As Richard slung the rifle behind his back, raising his fists to fight back against the security that had appeared in front of the door; the whine started again before the door could open. As Richard entered a boxers stance, everything changed again.

"Oh thank god," Giovani's voice said through the speakers installed in the room. "That man was an idiot. Welcome back Sergeant... It is you right?"

"Yes Giovanni," Richard said putting his hands down. "Yeah it's me. boy do I have something to talk to you about."