Past self reflection, a better future, and the nutcase

All hell breaks loose. That is an uncommon expression, rooted in the distant past. Travis never realized what the expression truly meant, until that moment. On the one hand, things are already upside down. And he is only beginning to come to grips with learning about his fate. In fact, from where he stands at the moment, his future is wildly unpredictable. Even though he knows exactly what the future holds. Or at least he thought he did.

Oh for the times of mere hours ago, when things were only complicated. The thing about complicated is that it’s doable. It might be difficult, but it’s doable. However, that doesn’t apply to impossible. The thing about impossible is that it is impossible. Travis blinks as these thoughts process in his mind. It takes only a few seconds. Meanwhile, he stares at the open front door, and the person standing in the door opening. For a moment he thinks it’s him from the garage. However, something is different.

He is even older than he is in the garage. And at that moment, the garage door opens, and he steps right on through. Now he’s here, frozen in the middle of his living room. And he’s also there, frozen at the front door. So how on earth can he also be there at the garage door? Travis sways on his feet. The room seems to shift on its axis, and he can hear himself warning himself, “Watch out! He’s going to pass out”, although it sounds like the voice is far away. His voice, like it’s coming through a tunnel, from the far away darkness.

Past Self Reflection

“I am not an anomaly.” The words drift through his mind. He thinks about the word anomaly. It’s an anomaly to hear it, much less think about it. How strange it feels to be dreaming so vividly. “I said there was an anomaly. Not that I am an anomaly.” His voice sounds pissed. Strange to hear himself speaking. Stranger still, to be dreaming it. The realization strikes him like a bolt of lightning. Consciousness floods his awareness, and he opens his eyes.

He stares at himself, and then stares at himself beside himself. It is absolutely as strange as he feared. One would think there would be lots of knowing looks in a situation like this, but Travis feels confused as hell. In fact, he doesn’t know a damn thing in this bizarre moment of self reflection. On his left side is an older version of himself. And on his right side is an older version of himself. He can’t help it, so he pinches his own arm to see if he’s actually awake. He feels the pinch and still isn’t sure.

For a few strange minutes, everyone just stares. Travis, is uncertain what any of this means. He feels confused and unreal. Furthermore, he knows he isn’t dreaming. Apparently the cancellation paradox is debunked. If he was uncertain about it before, it’s all clear now. He looks from one version of himself to another and asks the only question that matters at the moment. The only one he can muster.

“What the hell ?”

A Better Future

He knew it would be a shock to arrive in this time period. In fact, the company advised against it, but Travis knew what he was doing. At least, now he knew what he was doing. The first time was an experiment. Not the way he liked to do things. However, since it was a one way deal, it felt like an imperative. Best to get moving, before anything changed.

Even with the safeguards against timeline manipulation, this has risk. Of course, all of this is new technology. There are many bugs that need squashing. However, it is reliable technology. Not life altering technology. Just educational, and maybe a bit life changing. Which is why everyone felt surprised when the alarms triggered. The alarms are rare. And meant as safeguards against irreparable changes. Changes that lead to harm or worse, annihilation.

In fact, the alarms are so rare, that the last one is too far back to remember off hand. Additionally, there are only a few options, when the alarms sound. None of them are very appealing. So Travis chose the lessor of two evils. He will try to save himself. From himself. The challenge of the self reflection will be the timing. There is almost no precedent for this type of thing. He will be flying by the seat of his pants. A one way journey for the second time.

And the Nutcase Self Reflection

Travis doesn’t doubt that he feels overloaded. In fact, he feels overloaded, and he’s in the middle of all this mess. He did the impossible. In his lifetime he never would have thought it possible to time travel. But here he is. As he stares down at his unconscious, younger self, he feels his older self watching him. It would be confusing except he has a mission to accomplish, and he doesn’t have time for this distraction. It’s a one way trip.

There can only be one reason he came here, after coming here before. The time commission would not risk a breach of the timeline, or an interaction with the time stream. He came here to stop himself. He looks at his younger self sitting on the floor looking up at them. Then his eyes meet his eyes from a future he knows nothing about. Something in his mind clicks, and all at once, his path forward is clear.

Travis takes one final look at his younger self. Indeed, he will miss his old garage. He locks eyes with his older self and marvels at the random paradoxes of time travel. Then he balls his first, and socks himself in the eye. The effect is immediate. Older Travis tumbles over backward, and lands face first on the floor. Middle Travis from the garage, bolts from the room, and exits the house through the front door. Young Travis shouts a bad word. And apparently time flies, when you’re having fun.

Previous Chapters

Chapter One: All the Time For the First Time

Chapter Two: Strange Reflection – Me, myself and I

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self reflection

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