Mother 4

[Forte]

Porky stopped and looked at his broken leg. He glared at it, as if it were its fault it had broken. Then he looked at his opposition, the four of them clearly beginning to feel fatigue.

Porky: There's no way that any of you attacked me just then. I see everything and plan for all possible outcomes. There's no way to attack me while I'm conscious of it... Now what is it that I overlooked?
Allegro: You talk too much while fighting, that's your problem!

Allegro swung at Porky's body with his scythe. Porky swiftly dodged the attack. Allegro followed through with increasingly aggressive swings. He began to throw fire in Porky's direction with each sweep of the scythe, most of which Porky dodged with ease.

Porky: Clearly talking doesn't expose me to your ill planned attacks. You really need to learn accuracy, not power.

Porky's cocky attitude wore on Allegro more and more, increasing his aggression.

Adagio: Allegro, calm down. He's right, you don't plan your moves very well. Slow down and work on that, and don't let him get to you.
Allegro: Easy for you to say, you're always cal-

Allegro was slammed by one of Porky's legs. Heron saw Allegro being hit as an opportunity to attack. He made a dash for Porky, not caring what he hit as long as he hit something. He swung at Porky as fast as he could, but Porky dodged his attacks as well.

Len: I have a plan. Adagio, if I can teleport with other people, I should be able to bring other people into the future... or whatever I do with my swords. Grab my hand.
Adagio: Worth a shot.

Len used PK Teleport with the swords again. The world slowed down to a predictable pace again, all except Adagio.

Adagio: I'm not sure if I should let go of your hand or not, I don't want to slip out of this, as it gives me quite the advantage... but I can't really use PK Thunder with my weapon without letting go...
Len: Just let go and see what happens. If you slip out, then I'll pick up the slack.

Adagio let go of Len's hand. Nothing changed.

Adagio: So exactly when does this thing wear off?
Len: I don't really know. It wore off last time after landing a hit... but I didn't time myself, not that it would do much good to time myself anyway. There's no way of knowing exactly how long we're spending here.
Adagio: Very true. Is it taxing you in any way?
Len: Not that I can feel, is it supposed to?
Adagio: Well, these weapons were designed around the principle that Allegro discovered about PSI, that if you devote yourself to one elemental PSI, you'll go beyond the Omega level. Of course, as you're probably familiar with, an Omega level PSI takes quite a toll on your energy at every use, so going beyond it, as can be expected, is more of a toll. My job was to design the weapons in a manner that kept them active after expending that energy just once, but clearly yours is doing something different.
Len: Not to mention that my Teleport isn't Omega level.
Adagio: ... It's not?
Len: From what I can draw, it's a Gamma.
Adagio: Then... what is Omega level?
Len: I think it's what Maria has.
Adagio: But the one she has... it seems so situational... Yours is a growth upon the other ones, a faster and easier way of getting to a place you've been before... her's relies on remembering the face of a person, not to mention that the person probably has to be alive to teleport to... it strikes me as more the Gamma... if it's even that high... or the same thing.
Len: I don't know... but this is clearly beyond the Omega level. The swords you created for me are apparently augmenting PK Teleport to match your PK Thunder and Allegro's PK Fire without a special weapon.
Adagio: Try to pull Allegro and Heron into this.
Len: I can do my best.

Len walked over to Heron, who was moving so impossibly slow Len felt like he could yank his bat right out of his hands. He reached out and grabbed Heron's arm. Heron instantly sped up to normal speed. He looked around at his new, faster world.

Heron: Len? Where did you disappear to?
Len: I wasn't visible before now?
Adagio: We're apparently constantly a set time in the future... exactly how far ahead of everything else we are would have to be researched.
Heron: We're in the future right now? Isn't that bad for us?
Len: Not the way I'm doing it... I guess. I don't really know what's up with it, but this is the power Adagio's new weapons gave me. We're kind of just playing around right now...

Adagio had already pulled Allegro into their space.

Allegro: You two are in here playing around while we were out there getting our asses kicked? You're such a good teammate!
Adagio: Calm down, we haven't been here for very long. Really, how long did you notice we were missing?
Heron: Only a few seconds before you pulled me in.
Allegro: Same, I guess. It's kind of hard to pay attention to things like that when you have some kind of robot spider person attempting to kill you. Now, exactly what's going on?
Len: We're about a minute in the future, constantly. As you can see, time around us passes, so we're just kind of moving faster than everything else... but for some reason, I'm starting to feel like I need sleep.
Adagio: Keeping us all here like this is taking a toll on you. We need to take care of him now before it wears you out.
Allegro: You don't have to ask twice. I can't wait to kill him again, this time for real.

Allegro rushed over to Porky and cut at Porky's main body. Porky began to dodge slowly. His dodge was enough to avoid a critical blow, but it struck two of his legs on the left side, severing them instantly. Allegro began to back away from his position and fell back into the standard flow of time.

Len: Porky was able to dodge him? That shouldn't be possible.
Adagio: Did you feel weaker when he dodged?
Len: Not when he dodged, but when Allegro attacked.
Adagio: I see. Supporting the energy from an attack like his took such a toll on your own PSI that it slowed us down. I don't think it'll be healthy for me to do anything here, since PK Thunder might seriously hurt you, even with that belt buckle you have. I'll take an advantageous position on him, then let Heron slam him and drop all of us so that you can do your thing.
Len: Right. Heron, give him that smash to the face you've always wanted to.
Heron: I can't think of a better way to relieve stress.

Heron ran towards Porky and slammed him dead on in the head with his bat. He too fell back into normal time. Adagio had already moved over behind Porky. He had his hands on the side of Porky's head and began positioning his rings around both of them in a well thought out manner, and gave Len a nod. Len tried to move over to Porky to get in a hit, but couldn't really move. He deactivated the swords completely, withdrawing their blades. Everything around him returned to normal.

Porky simultaneously lost two of his legs and took a hit to the face. He began to stumble around. Adagio began to slowly appear behind him in the same position he had been when Len dropped them all.

Porky: What...? What did you do?! How did all of that happ-

He was cut off by Adagio blasting him full force with PK Thunder coupled with the extra attack from his eight rings. Adagio backed away after his attack was finished.

Adagio: Now then, Heron, you said you were learning PK Thunder. You have a long way to go.
Heron: Obviously... Thanks for making me feel good.

Porky's remaining five legs began to smoke and spark in various places. They began to fall limp one by one at his side. Porky fell to his knees once again.

Porky: I... I can't move. I guess this is what fatigue and pain feel like... it's been so long since I last knew those things... My systems... the legs... they won't work. They're useless to me right now. I can only function like a normal human... I guess it's time that I leave you again.
Heron: What?!
Porky: I can still leave. I can go to another time... get repaired... plan to work against you even better... Maybe just go so far in the future you all die.
Allegro: You can't do that, idiot. Remember what you've done to all of us? Our lives are just as infinite as yours. You can't get to another time without having us to deal with.
Porky: Is that so? Yes... you're right. I'm not even thinking straight right now, I completely forgot. But it's still worth a try to escape!

Porky began to slip into the future. Len ran over to him and activated his swords once more, grabbing onto one of Porky's arms. In the same move he put his Teleport power into his swords and pulled Porky back into their time. His PSI energy ran out, and the swords returned to their normal bright orange once again.

Porky: So you have one more power? I guess I really can't escape, then.
Len: No. You can't. Your only choice is to stay here and atone for your sins.
Porky: Atone for my sins? They're only just beginning.
Len: What do you mean?

Porky walked away from Len, dragging his now useless mechanical legs behind him. As he spoke, his voice began to echo as if they were in a large, empty room.

Porky: You don't even know my "sins". As a result of my own cowardice, I attempted to destroy the world alongside the most hateful force in the universe, and I failed. Then, I ran. I ran away from the world that I knew would never forgive me. No one ever told me that running through time would damage my body the way it did, so I abused it until I couldn't any longer. At that time, I began to think about what I could do next... and it hit me. The world I left, and the times that I had visited up to my final stop... there was always a huge catastrophe sitting right on the verge of reality. That's when it hit me that I could make that catastrophe happen and seriously change the future. Two more times I used my time traveling - once to go back and abduct a Dr. Bean Jam Andonuts... the final time, to go into the future... I don't know... probably 700 years... When I got there... It's like the Bee told us... all was devastation.  The entire world was wrecked... and it was my fault. The future that I left to get Andonuts was perfect. The future I returned to was absolute destruction... I had taken the one essential thing from the past that kept the world in balance... and that was the greatest scientist who ever lived. Then, in my new world of emptiness, I found that humanity had still somehow survived. Not many of them... but still enough to truly be happy. I couldn't stand what I saw. I used Andonuts. I told him to design ways to bring people from anywhere in the past, and he did. I don't know why he did... it's not like I could really do anything to him... maybe he just didn't see a reason to argue, since everything was destroyed. With the people from the past around me, I learned what happened. Andonuts' absence left the world without a way to keep energy in high supply, and a simple 60 years after I left, war broke out... and it apparently turned into the longest war that mankind had ever saw. I heard of its beginnings from one group of people and then heard of its climax from another group that was separated from the last by 600 years... I had single-handedly caused the end of human civilization and reduced it to nothingness on a tiny island with some kind of weird men-women who had been there for what they claimed to be "thousands" of years. And then... they beat me again. A group of no ones... they beat me again... and that lead to this. It lead to the world being fixed by the Dark Dragon... the negative effects of my actions were undone... just like he asked.

Allegro: So then you're not just the reason we're having trouble now... You're the reason that our parents were shipped off to war like they were nothing.
Adagio: You're the cause of the near destruction of humanity and you still won't give up?
Porky: You two are so blind. I'm not just the reason behind this insignificant things. It's thanks to me that you even exist. If I hadn't changed the past like I had, you might not even be who you are now. Why not think of it like that, as a bigger picture?
Len: What are you getting at? Why are you telling us all of this?
Porky: Because you act like my only sins are what I've done within the last 400 years. My influence has spanned well over 1000. And here I am faced with the same decision that I had to make last time... should I do it?
Heron: Do what?
Porky: I've had a power in me ever since Giygas died. A power that he gave to me... perhaps inadvertently... but the fact stands that I have it. The problem is that I believe that it'll destroy my body like it did his... and failure is no option if I no longer have a body. Then again... I can always just get a new one made for me.

Porky's voice began to echo even more. The air in the room grew thick, and the light began to dim without any explanation.

Porky: Behold. Behold the power of ultimate hate. The power that only a creature devoid of all emotion can wield.

The light in the room began to fade even more. The walls began to disappear, as did the floor and the ceiling. Everything the room seemed to simply melt into nothing. Porky himself faded and disappeared, and his voice began to come from everywhere.

Porky: Welcome to my dimension. Welcome to a world of my own creation. Welcome to your own destruction, and the eventual destruction of everyone and everything else. Everything ends now. Your fight, up to this point, has been valiant, but pointless. There is no running from here. You're stuck in a universe of my own creation. Everything here is subject to my rules and the probability of your survival has dropped to nothing, I can assure you of that. It is, however, up to you how you die. Enjoy that simple privilege.

[Forte]

The four stood there in the darkness. They couldn't see anything, not Porky, not each other, nothing. It was easy to tell they weren't in the same place they had been, but it wasn't a truly foreign place. There was still air to breath and ground to stand on, at least, it felt like there was ground to stand on.

Allegro: Well? What's going on? Are we already dead or what?
Porky: I... kind of... don't know what to do from here.
Allegro: Say what?!
Porky: I'm not sure what this power has granted me. It let me create this dimension... but I don't really know how to use the powers I have now. I guess I should have planned for this after all.
Heron: So you did this with no idea what it would do to you or us, and you have no idea how to use it? That's pathetic.
Porky: I'll figure it out. Just wait a while. Maybe I can give us some light... right now I can't see either. On the bright side, you get to live that much longer! Enjoy!
Len: Whatever you say.




Maria and Falin appeared on top of a table. There wasn't any food on it at the time, so at least so far one thing had gone right. They stepped down. A man walked into the room, clearly alerted by the noise.

Maria: Ah! Robert! I'm so glad I remembered what you look like... or maybe I should be glad you haven't changed very much.

Robert looked at Maria. He took careful note of the fact that she was wearing a Commander outfit.

Robert: ... Looks like the military finally figured out that he's my son.
Maria: Huh?
Robert: You captured her, right? That probably didn't do you much good, he said she isn't his girlfriend... unless something changed. Either way, I'm sure you're here to arrest me, too?
Maria: Nooo, Robert! It's me! Maria!
Robert: ... Maria? Then it's true, you haven't changed, just like Len.
Maria: Yeah... guess that kind of happens when you get modified like I was.
Falin: Maria, we can cover this later, let's take care of business first.
Maria: Right! Robert, you're a pretty influential man. We need to get people out of Sector 1 as fast as possible, whatever way is the fastest.
Robert: I don't know what I can do about that... there's a lot of people here right now. But I agree that we should get out of here, I've had a bad feeling about this place for a while now. What's going on?
Maria: Crazy fat kid trying to destroy the world. Len and Heron and Allegro and Adagio are holding him off. So what can we do?
Robert: I'll go out and get a few people together... but if Heron and Len are fighting this guy, what's the rush? Do they expect to fail?
Maria: ... I don't think so... I think it's more of a just in case... Thanks a lot, Robert! Now you have me worried...
Robert: Oh! I'm sorry! Don't mind me.
Falin: They're all determined and strong. Ever since I met him, I've felt like I'm connected to Heron... nothing's wrong with him right now.
Maria: That's good. You two share something very special. Don't let that go to waste. Well... we've done all we can do right now. Let's get back to them. They may need our help.

Maria grabbed Falin's hand. She closed her eyes and readied for the teleport. A few seconds passed, nothing happened. Falin opened her eyes and looked around.

Falin: Maria... something wrong?
Maria: I can't remember his face.
Falin: Who?
Maria: Len... I can't remember his face!
Falin: How is that possible? We were just talking to him not too long ago.
Maria: I don't know... I can't remember any of them right now.
Falin: I remember what they look like... why can't you?
Maria: I don't understand. I remember everything about them but their face.
Robert: Your teleport power is based on remembering faces, right?
Maria: Yeah... got an idea?
Robert: If a person ceases to exist, or goes to a place that you can't teleport to, then you won't be able to recall their face in order to teleport to them.
Maria: I guess... I don't really know much about my powers.
Falin: Ceases to exist? Like how?
Robert: Being taken to another dimension... One that doesn't permit entering or, for that matter, exiting.
Falin: Do you know something about Porky we don't?
Robert: Len gave me a diary years ago that chronicled the adventure of a young boy who first had to deal with Porky. When he finally met Porky, though not really expecting to fight against him, he had to fight not only Porky, but an alien entity who had lost its body and even its mind to become the ultimate creature of destruction, an embodiment of pure hatred. I don't know exactly why he hated things that much, but that alien, Giygas, became so impossibly powerful, his hatred could no longer be contained in our world. His search for power ended by having so much of it, he had to create a completely different space, a world all to himself, made by and for him. I don't know if it's possible, or even how it would be possible, but Porky may have the ability to create a dimension all to himself.
Falin: If that is the case... what can we do?
Robert: Wait. It's all we can do now.



Porky: You know, it's funny how much I can see. I can see everything from where I am... it's impossible to describe.
Allegro: Tell me where you are, you won't have to describe it for me. I don't know why you can see in this pitch blackness, but I'm getting tired of it...

Allegro lit up his scythe. The small spark of light that it produced showed them nothing but pure blackness all around them.

Adagio: Allegro, put that out.
Allegro: Huh? Why?
Adagio: Don't you find it interesting that there's air to breathe here? We don't know how much of it there is, so there's no reason you should go around burning it up.
Heron: But if we keep the light, we can see where Porky is and get us out of here.
Len: He isn't here physically. He IS here. There's no reason for us to see.
Heron: Then can we destroy this place?
Len: It's what we have to do...
Porky: But the last time someone destroyed "this place", it didn't result all too well for their bodies... even if they were robots. But if you really want to see so badly, then I'll let you see. I've begun to get acquainted with this form. I'll give you all just what you wanted to see.

The pitch black landscape started to change rapidly. A light began to shine from seemingly nowhere, and the ground under them began to spring to life. Grass started to grow, with the occasional flower patch here and there. Trees shot up instantly, and the sky itself changed to a bright shade of blue that was to this point only a vague memory to everyone watching it transform. Within a matter of seconds, Porky's world was a perfect scene.

Heron: ... What is this? How is it possible to create this?
Adagio: It isn't... not in... our world...

Heron bent over and felt the grass. It felt just like the grass in the terrariums. It was the real thing.

Porky: See? I'm in absolute control here. There's nothing you can do to me anymore. What I just did is impossible. I created an entire world from nothing. Accept your defeat, you're at the mercy of a god now.
Len: I refuse to believe you. You can't harm us or anyone else now. You're not even physically here.
Porky: Confidence will destroy you all. Just you wait.




Maria and Falin had now made their way to the lobby of the Sector 1 tower.

Falin: We're not going to have to take the long way up, are we?
Maria: It's really the only possible way to get back up there.
Falin: What about that elevator that Len used to get to the basement, where Porky had set up his "office"?

Maria stopped for a second.

Maria: Porky? I... I can still remember Porky's face.
Falin: You can?! That's great!
Maria: No... it's not great. I can teleport to him... but if he's still here and the others aren't...
Falin: It's worth a try though.
Maria: You're right.

Maria grabbed Falin's hand and the two teleported to the room where Porky was. To their surprise, it was the same room they had left him in, Len's old office. Nothing had changed at all, really. The biggest surprise, however, was that Allegro, Len, Heron, and Adagio were all still in that room. Each of them was unconscious on the floor. At the other end of the room, Porky was in a broken heap on the floor, his remaining legs bent and broken around him like a crushed spider. A look of horror came over his face when Maria and Falin entered the room.

Porky: ... I forgot to place it on myself. A block on myself... How could I be so ignorant.
Falin: What have you done to them?
Porky: They're in a world I created for them, falling for a lie I told them. Enough of it was true, I guess, to get them...
Falin: Let them out, now. You're beat, and you know it.
Porky: Yeah. I am beat. There's no one left to help me now, especially that you two are here. Had I been able to hold out for long enough, backup would have arrived. I could have been repaired and destroyed them while they were lost in that world I put them in. But now, it's too late.
Maria: And you're not lying and putting us into a fantasy world?
Porky: I can only do it one set at a time. If I were to pull you two into it, not only would you know about it, they would get the hint, too. I admit defeat now.
Maria: Then let them out.
Porky: They're stuck there. They're in a permanent dream world, and the only way they can exit is for me to die... and when and if that happens... they'll be violently thrown out of it. It'll be such a shock to their minds that they won't be able to comprehend reality. Even though I've lost, I still win. Yet again, I've destroyed my enemies... and now I still get to live.

[Forte]

Falin walked over to Heron and bent down over him. She placed her hand on his cheek. He didn't respond.

Falin: Heron? Can you hear me?
Porky: ... What are you trying to do? Are you... trying to talk to him? That's hilarious! He can't hear you. None of them can. They're completely under my influence.
Falin: Shut up! I don't believe anything you say anymore. You're not a threat to us. Everything you've told us is a lie. You weren't unbeatable, look at you! A pitiful crumpled mess. So you expect me to believe that you have such control over their minds that it would destroy them to leave your world? You're crazy.
Maria: But... what if this one time... it's the truth?
Falin: You feel the same way I do. It's worthless if we came this far just to lose those who are important to us. We've protected the world... now we need to protect our world. Heron... Len... even Adagio and Allegro... they would want us to try to get them back, even if it's a huge risk.
Porky: You two are insane. If I could move right now... If only I could travel through time again...




Heron began to look around their vibrant and green world. Something felt wrong to him.

Heron: Len... something is wrong.
Len: Eh? Like what?
Heron: Well... I feel like Falin is here. I can almost hear her voice.
Allegro: I don't hear anything. I don't even hear Porky anymore.
Heron: He's been quiet for a while now too...
Adagio: Do you think something is up... outside of here?
Heron: Not in the way you think. Here... isn't real.
Len: What?
Heron: Len, do you feel tired right now?
Len: Well... no.
Heron: You were completely worn out. You could barely move, and now you're feeling fine.
Len: I guess you're right... What does that mean, though?
Adagio: It's an inconsistency. We're not where we think we are.



Porky: I keep telling you it's not going to work, but you keep trying to bring them back. Why do you want to kill them so badly?
Falin: Last time it was just going to make them vegetables, now it's going to kill them?
Porky: Same difference.
Falin: No. It isn't. You're telling a lie somewhere, and I'm going to find it out.
Maria: I don't know... if I should try or not...

Maria walked over to Len and sat down beside him. She grabbed his hand.

Maria: Len... the world you're in is a lie. Please, somehow... Hear me. Hear Falin... Something.



Len: You're right. Something is wrong with this place. We're not in a universe created by Porky at all, are we?
Allegro: Maybe not entirely not in a universe created by him... But we're still in something he did to us.
Heron: His mind control... that ability to put suggestions in our head. This is what that is. We're being fooled.
Len: Then... this is in our heads?
Adagio: That sounds likely.
Heron: Then all we need to do is... wake up.

Heron's eyes shot open. Reality came crashing back to him. His arms and legs and midsection ached.

Heron: Ow. I was starting to like being somewhere without pain.

One after the other, Len, Adagio, and Allegro woke up too.

Allegro: I don't get to wake up with a pretty girl over me. That's a pain.
Adagio: Probably should have been nicer over these years, I guess.

Len sat up. He looked at Porky and shook his head.

Len: Now that was a ton of fun. The game's over now, though, and you lose. Well played, though.

Len tried to get up. It didn't work out so well for him. He sat there with an annoyed look on his face. Heron got up and walked over to Porky.

Heron: What do you want done to him? I'm pretty sure that I can handle it.

Adagio and Allegro joined Heron in front of Porky.

Allegro: Whatever it is, I want the honor of doing it.
Len: Whatever you say. Pick him up and drag him to the intercom. Porky, your job is now to resign as king of the world and give it back to anyone in this room you want to.
Allegro: ... What? Now I have to do grunt work? Whatever. Let's go.

Allegro grabbed Porky's arm and dragged him over to the far wall and pushed the worldwide announcement button.

Allegro: Speak up.
Porky: ... People... of the world... This... was your king speaking. I now... officially... resign as... king... Control of the world... is now back in the hands of... First Unit Commander... Len. That... is all.
Allegro: Now that was nice. What next, Len? Can I kill him, now?
Len: Not right now. First... we're going to turn the tables. Porky is now our pawn. Let me ask you, Porky, is there a way to undo the effects of time travel?
Porky: You mean the inability to age? You have a choice - stay young forever, or age rapidly, either way, time forgot you exist. You can't die of old age. So, seriously. What do you want me for?
Len: We're going to undo this mess that you made me make.
Porky: Whatever. Let me just say, though, you did a terrible job of making my dream. Way too serious. Not enough fun in the entire world.
Len: Well we're undoing it now, and you're going to be the main cause of that. Isn't that the most appealing idea ever?

[Forte]

You know, a good while back, I was meaning to include a second side to the entire story, but for some reason, I let the entire thing run away a bit too fast, and never could get around to writing the other part. So what better place to start this segment than right before the end? Sounds great to me. Let's go back...

Len was falling. He didn't know from where, or exactly why he was falling, but he was. He couldn't scream, though he opened his mouth, no sound came out. To his surprise, he hit the ground under him lightly, and as soon as he got over the fear he built up over what he now knew was nothing, he opened his eyes. It was the same as when they were closed - completely pitch black.

Len: ... Maria? Are you here? I can't really see you, so you'll have to speak up.

There was no response.

Len: Maria! I know you have to be here. This isn't funny, do you have me blindfolded or something?
Maria: Len?

Her voice was weak and she sounded short of breath, as if she had done something incredibly tiring.

Len: Is something the matter? You don't sound like you're doing very well...
Maria: I... I can't really breathe... Or feel... anything...
Len: What?! That's no good! Hold on, I'll try to find help for you.

Len got to his feet faster than he thought was possible. His eyes were beginning to adjust to their environment, and he began to pick up on a dim purple light that seemed to be coming from the floor. He instantly began to remember this place. It was the cave that he had gone to in his dream. It was real after all.

Voice: You're here. *cough* That's pretty entertaining. How did you actually find yourself here?
Len: You again? Look, I don't know what you really are, but you're going to have to help me. My friend is hurt.
Voice: What do I care about your friend? I've never spoken to them, they're of no benefit to me.
Len: Wh...What?! You exist in this cave, right?
Voice: That's correct.
Len: Then you can help me, right?
Voice: If I wanted to. And I will more than gladly help you, if in return, you help me.
Len: You have my word. Please, just give me some kind of ability to help my friend. She might be dying.
Voice: Haha! Dying. You don't know what a blessing it is... *cough* Ok. Look around you. You'll eventually find a robot that resembles a giant spider. There is a panel in the front of it that has about five spaces. Tell me when you've found it and I'll give you more instructions.

Len searched around the dark cavern for it, finally finding the robot. It felt like hours had already passed.

Len: Ok, I've found it, now what?
Voice: That was fast. You're a man on a mission. *wheeze* Are you inside of it?
Len: I can't figure out how to get inside.
Voice: There's a switch on the side, it'll open up the dome.

Len fumbled around the sides of the massive thing, tripping over it's legs a few times. Finally he found the switch. The robot sprang to life, one giant light on the front of it turning on, giving the room much more light than it had. Len looked around the cave. Maria was laying on the ground a few feet away, near one of the room's many crevices. In the distance, past quite a few islands of rock, there was a large spherical object. Len remembered the form of it from his dream.

Voice: Cozy around here, isn't it?
Len: Yeah... whatever you say.
Voice: There used to be a lot more light here, back when the Dragon's head rested below our feet. Not anymore, though, it's been forever. Are you in that thing yet, or did you give up on your friend?
Len: Yeah, I'm in it. Now what do I do with this panel?
Voice: Ok. There are five dials in front of you right now. They should all be set on zero. Under that, there are four more dials, each one of those set to zero as well, and then beside those, another eight, once again set to zero, except for the last two, which say AM or PM at any time. You see all of these, right?
Len: They're there. What do I do with them?
Voice: First, you know the date, right? Put it into the set of four dials, Day then month.
Len: Alright... done.
Voice: Do you know the current time?
Len: ... Didn't bring my watch with me. Do I need the current time?
Voice: *cough* Of course you need the current time! *wheeze* Hold on... let me see what I can figure out. For our current time zone, it's around 4:22:10 PM. 
Len: I'm in a different time zone now? It was nighttime when I left.
Voice: Stop asking questions and put in that time.
Len: Ok, ok. It's in.
Voice: Great. Now the last thing you need to do is set the year. The top panel will take you back or forward however many years you want to go, depending on the number you put in.
Len: So wait, this is a time machine?
Voice: Among other things.
Len: So all I have to do is go back before Maria and I came here, right?
Voice: No. That won't *cough* work at all. Temporal Paradox is one of Time Travel's weaknesses.
Len: Say what?
Voice: It's hard to *wheeze* explain. My voice is starting to get tired. Follow these instructions exactly, ok?
Len: As long as it helps.
Voice: First, set the dial to 400, and flip the switch beside the entire panel down. When you press the "Go" button, you'll be taken back in time, 400 years to this exact location, except you should end up above ground. Your job is to then *wheeze* find a man in a white coat with glasses and strange hair, his name is Bean Jam Andonuts. Tell him I've sent you on official business, and to round up the team that worked on the boy. When he does that, use the "Bring" button to open a portal to the time you came *cough* from - that would be here - just tell them to go through it, they'll be brought to this location. Don't bring Andonuts though, or this won't work at all. Then after you're done with that, feel free to go anywhere else in time. That portal will follow you, so you won't have to worry about it. Find friends. Five will be enough, just bring them back here through the portal. Then come back and destroy the Spider Mech. Just whatever you do, come back having made an even number of trips.
Len: What's your name, so that I won't screw this up?
Voice: It's King Porky*wheeze*
Len: King Pokey. Right.

Len pressed the Go button.

Voice: ... It's Porky. Why does everyone *cough* screw that up?!

[Forte]

The world around the robot Len was piloting began to melt away, the dark and dreary environment around him being replaced by beams of light. For some reason, Len didn't feel any movement at all, even though everything seemed to be rushing past him. In a brief moment, the world began to reconstruct itself, but to Len's dismay, it appeared to be the same cave. When the landscape put itself back together completely, Len was certain he was in the same place he just left. The light in the cave was considerably brighter now, the strange lights coming from the walls were more intense than they had been. He opened the glass cover on the robot and climbed out.

Len: Anyone here?

There was, of course, no response.

Len: Above ground. Yeah right. Now how am I going to get out of here...

Len chose a direction and started walking. The cave's natural lighting made it easy to navigate, and it appeared there had been some construction going on here, and a lot of digging. After walking for a while, Len found a ladder that lead up into the ceiling. He had no idea if it actually lead out, but decided to climb it anyway. The ladder never seemed to end. He looked back down at the ever shrinking speck of purple light he left behind. Had he really been climbing that long? He decided to push forward. The ladder finally ended opened up to a small room with a single door to the right of the ladder. Len crawled out of the ladder's opening and went through the door. The room outside of the ladder room was humid and had an interesting smell. There was a pool in the middle of the room that had a few strange animals in it, and some men wearing white coats standing around it taking notes. The floor here was covered in grass.

Len: Hey! You two!

The men looked up.

Len: I need some help.

One walked over to Len.

Scientist: What's the problem? You lost?
Len: I just came from that cave down there. I'm looking for a Dr. Andonuts. This is on express business from King Pokey.
Scientist: You don't look like the kind that our king would send. You're not even dressed right. Are you kidding around?
Len: I'm serious, and this is an important matter. Please tell me where Dr. Andonuts is.
Scientist: You sound like you're in a rush, so I guess I can tell you. Andonuts is most likely in the next room over. Just go over there and tell him whatever you need to.
Len: Thanks.

Len walked over to the large metal door the man pointed to. It opened automatically, revealing another room just like the one he was in now. A man with odd hair was sitting on the ground against the wall almost right beside the door.

Len: Are you Dr. Andonuts?
Dr. Andonuts: ... Yes. Yes I am.
Len: Good. I've been sent by King Pokey to find you.
Dr. Andonuts: That's strange. He would normally pass orders to people a bit higher up than someone who hasn't even earned their uniform yet.
Len: Look, I'm from the future. Pokey sent me from there to get you to help me.
Dr. Andonuts: ... The future? So then... he's there too... I see... You seem like a nice and virtuous kid. I don't think you're here for evil purposes... but heed my warning: don't get mixed up with Porky.
Len: It's too late for that. All I want you to do is tell the people who worked on "the boy" that they need to get to that cave under this place fast.
Dr. Andonuts: I see. I'll comply with this because I know I can change it. I was contemplating doing this... but meeting you has cemented it in my mind. Thank you, boy.
Len: ... I probably shouldn't have told you that I'm from the future. You're probably going to change something now.
Dr. Andonuts: I hope so.

Dr. Andonuts got up and left the room in a hurry. Len walked back to the ladder room and began his long climb down. To his amazement when he got back to the Spider Mech, an large team of workers and scientists had gathered around the robot.

Len: You guys worked on that project?
Scientist: Yeah. So what do we do from here?
Len: Give me a second.

Len got into the robot. He pushed the button that Pokey told him about earlier. A space beside the robot began to distort, and a large circle opened up. It appeared to be perfectly flat, and when looked through, it showed the darker, future version of the cave.

Len: Everyone in. I don't know how many are here, but I hope it's enough. Let's go.

[Forte]

Len watched as the people walked through the portal one by one. He tried his best to keep count, but stopped around 130. Was there really any reason that this many people had worked on one project? He began to think harder on the matter. More people, better chances of success. Seemed like a reasonable idea. When the last person had entered the portal, Len looked at the console. There was no reason to go to another time right now, the most important thing to him was that Maria was safe. He set the dial 400 years forward and set the date a week into the future from where he came. He pushed "Go" again and shot off to the future again. He found himself in a completely different environment than the future he had come from, the cave was full of newly put up artificial lights, and strange machinery was everywhere. Porky's voice spoke to him again.

Porky: Ah. You stayed gone for quite a while. What were you up to?
Len: I just skipped forward a week. I wanted to make sure I came back in time for Maria to be fixed up.
Porky: Ah. Smart move, I guess. You'll be pleased to know that the operation was a complete success. She's in perfect condition now, and, as far as I'm concerned, better off than she was before.
Len: Before we go on, I think I should tell you of a mistake I made. I told Andonuts I'm from the future. He said something about changing it.
Porky: Perfect. Then it worked out as planned. What you made him do is no different from what he did anyway. He simply removed the exit from this capsule, thinking that would keep me away from the world. That's why I'm stuck here.
Len: So then... am I the cause of the future as it is now?
Porky: No idea. *cough* With time travel, it's hard to tell. Don't worry, everything is the same here.
Len: So then... what was wrong with Maria?
Porky: The machine you activated was technically a time machine, and time travel always has terrible effects on the human body unless you're properly shielded from them. Normally, it causes you to age rapidly, or, if done right, you never age from that point forward except in *cough* mental development. Either way, it causes time to forget that you even exist, and as a result, you never die of old age, no matter how old time travel made you. On the other hand, it can break down your body entirely, as it did in your friend's case. For her, it simulated years and years of going without movement, causing every muscle in her body to waste away to nothing. *wheeze* This, of course, explains why she couldn't move. As for her vital organs, one by one, they began to shut down. The only thing left with full functionality was her brain. Her heart wasn't pumping as fast as it should have, her lungs weren't giving oxygen efficiently enough, everything had went awry. We fixed all of that.
Len: But it didn't take us to a different time, just a different place.
Porky: Technically, going through time is a different place. In fact... it's odd that you weren't injured in much the same way she was. Had that happened, of course, you would have both died here. What did you do different?
Len: ... I don't know. I just used my PSI on it to activate it...
Porky: PSI? You're more than a telepath?
Len: Yes... I know Healing. It's what I used. There's another thing... but I don't really understand it yet... or... maybe I do.
Porky: Healing then. It's what kept you safe. It repaired the *cough* damages to you as they occurred. Do you not feel... slightly strange?

Len finally began to think about himself for the first time since he arrived in this situation. The reality that he was alive and somewhat in pain hit him.

Len: Without worrying about Maria's safety... There is a problem. My arms. I can't really feel them at all. It's like they aren't there. I can move them... and move my hands and fingers... but something does feel wrong with them.
Porky: Then we'll have to fix you up, too.
Len: I still have to get the others you told me to get.
Porky: There's no need to go traveling through time, going to all sorts of places and meeting all sorts of people without a working set of arms. The men you brought back with you from the past *cough* have already set up a way out of this cave to above ground. That's where you'll find not only them, but your friend as well. Go see her and ask them to repair your arms.
Len: ... Repair? Can't I just use Healing?
Porky: It protected you once. Healing isn't a perfect PSI. I've known people who can use it. It's not able to do a lot of things. The damage your arms have suffered can't be fixed by Healing, that's why it's there. Don't worry. You won't feel any pain from the procedure. Just go.

Len shut down the robot and hopped out, following the trail of lights to the exit the group from the past had made. He arrived above ground to a comfortable meadow. Past the trees that were dotting the mostly open landscape, there were a lot of large stones and what seemed to be metal rods of varying size laying around. In the distance, there was what appeared to be the remains of a tower, though everything past a few floors up was completely destroyed. To his left, Len noticed a small camp of tents set up. He walked over to the largest one. Inside, there were strange machines and creepy looking tables, along with many of the men he had seen while in the past. One came up to him.

Man: Oh, it's you. How's it going? Looking for your friend?
Len: Kind of. Where is she?
Man: She's in the next tent over, resting. It takes time to get over things like that. You look puzzled. Something you need explained?
Len: Well... for one... where did all of this stuff come from?
Man: Did you think there were 210 men just to work on one person? Many of us carried other important things, like parts for machines, tools, these tents, and fabric to make things out of. You didn't notice all of our luggage?
Len: Well... no, I didn't pay much attention. My mind was elsewhere. Sir, I've been instructed to have my arms repaired.
Man: Your arms? What's wrong with them?
Len: They've kind of lost feeling. I don't know why or anything, but they have. I can still mostly use them... but it's beginning to get harder.
Man: We'll have you fixed up soon. Take a seat over here.

The man showed Len to his seat. He walked off and began talking to another man. Len couldn't really make out what they were saying, but their facial expressions changed often. The other man walked over to Len with a large syringe. He put it in Len's left arm and injected its contents. Almost instantly, Len began to feel dizzy and tired. He fell unconscious.

Len woke up, not really sure of what just happened. His eyes started to regain focus, and he reached up to rub them. When his hands hit his face, he was shocked by how cold they were. His vision slowly crept back to normal and he took a look at his hands. Where he once had warm, natural hands, he instead had strange, metal hands that were almost skeletal in appearance. He looked at his arm. The metal additions continued up to slightly past his elbow on both arms. He was able to move them perfectly, but he couldn't feel anything with them. The points where the metal connected to what was left of his real arms were somewhat sore, but bearable. To be made of metal, they were extremely quiet, and didn't clank or squeak like most of the metal things he was used to dealing with. The man he had spoken with before he was knocked out came over to him.

Man: Oh. You're awake already. It's only been one day, it normally takes two or three. I guess we didn't use as powerful a anesthesia as we thought. Oh well. Everything working to your liking?
Len: I... don't really understand what this is... when you said repair, I figured you would just fix the damages... not replace them entirely.
Man: Oh. Well our Chimera labs tend to solve problems the easy way, by eliminating the problem entirely. Good thing we brought the means of production for this stuff, or you would have been out of luck. Now that we have everything set up for real, we can repair, create, whatever, as much as we want.
Len: That's ok, I guess. Well, I have some traveling to do... I have a feeling though, that this will look odd, do you have anything to cover these up? Something that looks like... I dunno... skin?
Man: Eventually we will. Normally we just preserve the skin from the original subject... but this time we figured that since it isn't your entire body, we'd go about it a new way. Don't worry, we'll get something made for you. For now, why don't you come with me to get yourself fitted into your uniform.
Len: Uniform?

The man helped Len up. Len's legs started to feel weak, but he kept his balance and followed the man outside to another one of their tents. Inside of this one, like the one he came from, there were more strange machines. The man led Len to one of the machines and put him inside of it, closing the door. The machine began to hum and a light began to pass over Len's body. The light turned off and the door to the machine opened again. Len stepped out. The man walked over to a larger machine and pulled from it a pair of dark orange pants, a white shirt with a stiff collar but no sleeves, and a dark gray button up shirt with long sleeves and no collar. He bent over and picked up a pair of dull black boots, on top of which a pair of long white socks and white gloves were sitting. He brought them over to Len.

Man: Here you go. You'll find that all of this fits you absolutely perfectly. Get dressed, and tell us how you like it.
Len: Well... alright. I won't ask what all of this is about.

Len took off what he was wearing and began to put on the new clothes. He assumed that the collared shirt went on first, so he slipped into it. Getting the collar around his head was a bit hard, but eventually it worked. After getting it on, he noticed that it had a button right under the collar. He laughed at himself for doing it the hard way. He got into the dark gray overshirt much easier, and buttoned it all the way down. He picked up the pants and got into them easily, surprised at how comfortable they were to be made out of what looked like such stiff material.

Man: Oh! I forgot to give you this belt, too. Don't worry. It's no different from the rest of your outfit, it's designed to fit you perfectly.
Len: ... Thanks, I guess. Not that I really needed a belt...

Len put the belt through the loops on his pants and put the boots on. The leg portion of the boots were big enough to cover the legs of his pants near the bottom. He started to pull the pants out of them, but the man stopped him.

Man: No, no! They're fine as they are. Leave them like that, it's the proper dress code.

Len looked down at the man's shoes. They were the same kind of boots, in the same fashion as his, the only difference lying in the color of their pants and uniform in general. He reached down and tightened the strap around the top of the boots so that they didn't slip up and down on his legs. Finally, he put his strange new hands into the gloves. They fit surprisingly well considering that his hand seemed to only be a skeleton compared to a normal hand.

Len: That's all done... I'm going to go complete my task. I'll be back later if you people need me.

Len turned around to walk out of the tent. To his shock, Maria was standing right behind him. She looked no different than she had the last time he saw her. Len could feel his face turn red.

Len: ... You haven't been here... the entire time I was changing, have you?
Maria: ... Yes, I have.
Len: ...
Maria: Don't worry. I wasn't paying any attention to you. I'm surprised though, that you're wearing the same thing as I am.

Len noticed that there was something different about her voice. It sounded almost sad, as if she was uninterested in what was going on around her. Her eyes seemed to be lifeless, as well, though they were still the same beautiful eyes Len remembered.

Len: Maria... are you alright?
Maria: Is that... my name? They had asked me for a name... but I couldn't remember it. I feel like I should remember you, too.
Len: ... No. Maria isn't your name.

He turned to the man.

Len: What's wrong with her?
Man: What do you mean? She's one-hundred-percent fine.
Len: She doesn't know her name. She doesn't know me.
Man: Oh... that. Well, see, when you do what we did to her, it's common to lose memory. It comes back as time progresses, but generally, in the first few years, she'll believe whatever anyone tells her about herself. If done right... you can suppress all of her real memories and replace them with what you want her to believe.
Len: That's a pretty sick way to talk. She's not something that you reprogram. She's a person.
Man: Sometimes... it's better to let a person believe the way you want them to believe. It's been theorized it helps them remember better later when something triggers their real memories. Why not give her a new name, and a new personality. King Porky seems to trust you a lot, so you're in charge of all of us, her included. It'll be easier to make her your subordinate if you tell her what you want her to know right now. It'll come back to her, trust me.

Len had to fight the urge to hit this man. He turned around to Maria.

Maria: Do you... know what my name is?
Len: ... It's Rallentando. I was told once that it means gradual change. That's how you are right now.
Maria: Rallentando... It has a very pretty tone to it.
Len: Yeah... It does.
Maria: Then... who am I?
Len: What do you mean?
Maria: If I have a name, I must be a person. Who am I?
Len: ... You're... The most important thing in the world to me. Please remember that and know it as the only true thing I've ever told you.

[Forte]

Len walked around Maria and walked out of the tent without saying another word. Maria stood still for a moment and began to chase him.

Maria: Please wait!

Len was startled at the emotion that was in her voice. He stopped and let her catch up with him.

Maria: I want to go with you. Wherever you're going, I want to go. I feel obligated to accompany you everywhere.
Len: Are... you saying you're subordinate to me?
Maria: Well... yes, I suppose. The man inside said you're in charge of us all.
Len: No. You aren't subordinate to me. You're on equal footing with me.
Maria: That's impossible. You told me my name. I was told it was you who helped me, whatever that means. You must be the number one here, and there's no number equal to one except one.
Len: ... Fine. You're number two. Does that make you feel better?
Maria: That puts me too close to you... I'm obviously not that useful to you...
Len: You sure are pessimistic. How does three sound, then?
Maria: That might still be too high...
Len: No. Enough of that. You're third. I won't put you any lower and you refuse to be higher.
Maria: Who's number two, then?
Len: I'm going to go find him.
Maria: I can come with you, right?
Len: Sure, if you want.

Len began to walk towards the entrance to the cave. Maria was quick to follow.

Maria: You never told me your name.
Len: It's L... Lento.
Maria: And what does that mean, since you know the meaning of my name, you must know the meaning of your own.
Len: It means slow.
Maria: Slow? Why would your name mean that?
Len: Because... time has forgotten me... and soon, time will forget you, too. Let's go.

The newly named Lento and Rallentando made their way to Porky's robot. Lento helped Rallentando into it and jumped into the seat beside her, in front of all of the controls.

Lento: King Pokey. Tell me how to change location with this thing.
Porky: Oh, you're setting off? Well, first, set this location as your home, so that you can always return to it. Do that by flipping up the red switch close to the date dial. See it?
Lento: Yeah.

Lento flipped the switch as Porky told him. A panel opened up to his left with a map on it. It displayed their current location with a small red circle. There was no land where the circle encompassed, to his surprise.

Porky: The red circle is now your favorite. It'll bring you here always now, unless you change it by touching somewhere else and flipping the switch down again. To go to a new location, touch it, but don't move the switch. Then when you've set a time and everything, just press Go again.
Lento: Right then.

Lento randomly pushed a spot on the map. Words came across the small screen - "Destination: Foggyland - Winters". He then looked at the year dial. 400 years ago was where he just was, there wasn't much there. When should he try... He turned the knob until it read 994. He pushed the go button and disappeared. The machine reappeared on top of a building in a large and somewhat busy city. A gentle rain was falling outside of the robot. Lento opened the glass dome and stepped out. He helped Rallentando down and looked out over the city. The air was somewhat cool, but not extremely cold to the point of being unbearable. The two walked over to the fire escape on the side of the building and climbed down to the streets below. Lento walked into one of the buildings. There were many people inside enjoying what looked to delicious meals. Lento had never seen some of the foods the people were eating here. There was a television in the corner with a very clear picture on it, much unlike the ones he was used to, displaying things that weren't people, but instead, a still image. It was currently broadcasting the weather, time, and date. Lento noticed that the current year was 2007. That wasn't far from one of the diary entrances he read. A man with long blond hair and thick glasses bumped into him. He was well dressed, but somewhat distraught looking.

Man: Oh. I'm sorry, sir. I couldn't see you there.

He spoke with an odd accent that Lento had never heard.

Lento: It's ok... mind if I ask why you didn't see me?
Man: I'm basically blind. Came from being too into my work.
Lento: Your work?
Man: Yeah, you see, I've been involved in some... well, it's classified. There could be war on the horizon, I shouldn't be spilling too many secrets.
Lento: I see.
Man: I can tell you I'm at the forefront of this business, so you can understand why I get so into it.
Lento: I see... What if I were to tell you I could give you your sight back? It'll be as good as new.
Man: ... Sir, I'm a man of science. I know what can be done, and granting sight at my stage of loss, that's impossible.

Lento removed his glove and held up his hand.

Lento: This is impossible, too, right?

The man's eyes widened. He got very close to Lento's hand, examining it as best as he could. He reached into his pocket and pulled out another lens and placed it over one of the lenses of his glasses.

Man: That's... that's amazing. It's so perfect. It... makes so much sense! How could we have not arrived at this kind of breakthrough already... Aaaah! Where? Where are you from?
Lento: I'm not sure where I'm from. But if you come with me, we will fix your eyes, I promise you.
Man: Well... I would... but I'm needed here. There's no way they could continue witho...

Two men walked in and one put his hand on the blond man's shoulder.

Man(2): Well old boy, been a while. How's it been going since you were cut from the military's research department?
Man(1): Oh. I've been well. Kind of hard to find a job when the military doesn't want you anymore though. People suspect you of being a traitor.
Man(2): Well, you needn't worry. You'll get back into work.
Lento: Right you are. He's found a job with myself and my associate. He's even received a title.
Man(2): Ah. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Who do you work with?
Lento: Myself. And my associate. We help people.
Man(2): I see... no need to get nippy about it, now.
Lento: Indeed. Now if you'll excuse me, we'll be leaving.

Lento put his glove back on, and grabbed the blond man's arm. He lead him outside and up the ladder back to the machine. The three of them got into the machine, which was now pretty cramped.

Man: You jerked me so fast, I lost my glasses. Now I'm worthless for sure.
Lento: My apologies. I didn't feel like explaining myself to those men in there. Who were they, anyway?
Man: They used to be my subordinates. The two of them, along with a few others, sold some of my plans to a country in Chommo and said I was the one who sold them. I was fired and branded a traitor. The general public doesn't know me as that, so I can get around, but finding a job, like I said, is hard when your resume shows being fired as a traitor.
Lento: I knew something felt off about them.
Man: Oh, right, I have yet to even properly introduce myself. My name is-
Lento: Your name is Hauptstimme. The lead voice.
Man: No...
Lento: It is now. Accept it.
Man: But why?
Lento: Because your old name is your old life. This is your new life. It's infinite and forever youthful... at least, it will be. You are also the number two.

He leaned over and whispered to Hauptstimme

Lento: The number doesn't mean anything. It's just to make her happy.
Hauptstimme: I see... I can't really see her right now... but I assume the two of you are an item?
Lento: I want to believe that. But right now... I can't. Her name is Rallentando. She may or may not speak to you, I have no idea.
Hauptstimme: Alright then. So where are we going?
Lento: The future.

[Forte]

The craft arrived back in the same dark cave. Lento opened the hatch and paused.

Lento: I forgot to turn on the portal... You may be in pretty grave danger. Let me ask about that. Pokey are you there?
Porky: Yes, where else am I going to go?
Lento: How do you make someone eternally youthful?
Porky: You remember how I said to make sure you come back on an even trip? All it takes is an even number of trips.
Lento: Thanks.

Lento got out and helped Rallentando out. He sat back in beside Hauptstimme.

Lento: I assume you can't see the controls?
Hauptstimme: You assume correctly. By the way... how did you ask someone about whatever you wanted to know, yet I didn't hear you ask it?
Lento: Telepathy. I'm certain you know of PSI. But right now I need to fix a mistake I made. Hold on.

Lento set the machine to travel three minutes into the future. He placed Hauptstimme's hand over the go button.

Lento: Hold your hand in that position and don't move it. When I get out of this thing, and you hear the dome over you shut, push your hand forward. Then just wait. It won't take long for you.
Hauptstimme: Ok.

Lento pressed the button to close the dome and jumped out before it shut. Hauptstimme pressed the button and the machine disappeared. Exactly three minutes later, it appeared in the spot where it had last been. Lento walked over to it and opened the dome from the outside. He jumped in and helped Hauptstimme get out.

Lento: Rallentando, please take Hauptstimme to get his eyes fixed. I'll be off to find more people, there's still four I have to get.
Rallentando: Ok. Mr. Hauptstimme, please come with me.

Lento sighed. He jumped back into the spider mech and randomly touched another place on the map. The words that appeared across the screen now read "Eagleland - Valentine". He was shocked, as he had actually heard of a place called Valentine before. He started doing some calculations about the year, and turned it until he was pretty sure it would land him in 2133 and pressed the Go button. The machine appeared in the middle of an empty street. All around him, there were destroyed buildings and vehicles that had been flipped over or crushed. Almost everything he saw was in ruins. He got out. The air was hot and moist, and in the distance, there was a sound of waves crashing against a shore, which reminded him a bit of home. He began to pick up on a loud rumbling noise that grew louder by the minute. He looked around him, but nothing was coming that way. The noise grew even louder. Overhead, a group of five jets flew by at speeds he had never seen anything travel at. He began to walk down the street, unable to turn his head without seeing another pile of wreckage.

Lento: Is anyone here? Hello?

There was no answer. His voice echoed through the empty streets until it faded into nothingness. It was at that moment that he realized just how nothing that nothingness was - there were no birds chirping, none of the strange but lively sounds of bugs, no dogs barking, nothing. Just the empty and haunting sound of the wind blowing through the broken windows and empty buildings. The atmosphere here began to creep him out. He walked back to the spider mech to feel a bit safer and remembered what Hauptstimme had said inside the restaurant. "There might be war on the horizon." Those words echoed through Lento's head. A piece of paper blew by at his feet and caught on his leg. He picked it up. It had been badly damaged and appeared to have been wet at one point, but the writing on it was still mostly legible. It appeared to be a newspaper, the year on it was 2130. Lento did his math again. There was no way the current year was 2130, he had to be in 2133. The newspaper must be three years old. He started to think how much of a miracle it is that a scrap of three year old newspaper survived. It must have been safe in one of these buildings for quite a while before it blew out and into his hands. He read over the few lines he could read. Hauptstimme was apparently right, there was indeed a war on the horizon, though, not in his lifetime, it appeared. He folded it up and put it in his pocket. Perhaps Hauptstimme would like to have something from what was once his future.

Lento: This is your last chance... if anyone is here. Speak up!

There was once again no response. He got back into the machine and turned the dial to get to 2074. He didn't change from Valentine. The spider mech chose a new spot to land in than it had in the future, and put him on top of another building. Lento got out and looked over the side of the building he was on. He instantly fell backwards and squirmed away from the side. He was on top of a very, very tall structure, and looking down made him feel sick to his stomach.

Lento: You just had to put me here, didn't you? How am I supposed to get down, this thing doesn't have a fire escape ladder on the side of it...

He looked around on the roof. A few steps away there was a metal plate on the ground. He slid it to the side and revealed a ladder, which he climbed down without even caring where it led. The room he found himself in was somewhat depressing. It was a small room with one door and nothing but unpainted brick walls. He walked out of the door into a much better looking room, though it didn't feel any more welcome. He closed the door and looked around. There was a sign beside the door that said "emergency exit". There was no one around, so he didn't worry about looking strange entering through the emergency exit. The room was mostly empty, and seemed to serve only as a top floor with an emergency exit. There was an elevator to the right. He got in. If it hadn't been for shopping at Toso's department store, he would have never known how to use these things. He pressed the button labeled 5 and went down to the fifth floor. He stepped out into the lobby where a somewhat attractive young girl with extremely long pink hair was standing, looking out the window. He walked over to her.

Lento: Hi, miss, I was wondering, exactly where am I?

The girl turned her head very slowly and looked at him with menacing eyes. The cold, hateful look in her deep blue eyes made Lento feel as if his blood was being drained from his head.

GirlGuy: I. Am. NOT. A girl.

Lento was shocked. His voice was obviously that of a male, yet his figure, his face, and his hair were all almost the perfect textbook example of a girl.

Lento: I... I'm sorry.
Guy: You better be. I'll let it slide this time, everyone gets one.
Lento: Ok. I'm really sorry, again. I guess it happens often?
Guy: Too often.
Lento: Maybe... you should cut your hair... or som-
Guy: CUT MY HAIR?! My hair is quite important to me. I would never cut it, I only get it trimmed to keep it in shape. I'm proud of it since it's yet another thing my sister hated me for.
Lento: I see. I guess I'll just shut up about the entire thing now. Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Lento.
Allegro: My name is Allegro. It's a pleasure to meet you, I guess. What's with the weird outfit?
Lento: It's a business suit. It's actually quite comfortable.
Allegro: I've never seen orange pants before. So why are you here?
Lento: Where is here?
Allegro: ... This is the Valentine city hospital. Most people need a reason to come here.
Lento: I kind of just showed up. Why are you here?
Allegro: My brother's heart was acting up again. Brought him here to make sure it doesn't turn into anything bad. He's the only family I have.
Lento: What about your sister?
Allegro: Sisters. I'm from a family of 9, not including my parents. There's my seven sisters, myself, and my brother. My parents were drafted to fight in this God forsaken war ten years ago. My sisters aren't with us anymore, they got sent off just like my parents, two years ago.
Lento: I see... say, if i were to tell you I can fix your brother's heart, would you come with me?
Allegro: ... No one can fix my brother's heart. It's some rare condition. I have it too, it just takes more of a toll on him.

A thin, pale, and overall sickly looking boy came up to Allegro. His skin was almost as white as the walls, and his silver hair was a sharp contrast to Allegro's bright pink.

Allegro: Adagio, meet Lento.
Adagio: Pleased to meet you. They tell me I'm fine, again, Allegro. Nothing they can do for me.
Allegro: Eh. Whatever. As long as it keeps you alive.
Adagio: I guess that's all I can hope for.
Lento: Look, I know you don't believe me, but I guarantee that I can fix your heart. Both of you. You'll be good as new.
Adagio: ... You have a strange sense of humor. I know a lot of things, and one of the things I know is that our condition isn't something that can be cured by modern medicine.
Lento: My medicine isn't modern. Here, I'll prove it to you.

Lento reached into his pocket and pulled out the newspaper from the future. He handed it to Adagio. A shocked look came over his face, but Lento couldn't really tell if he got any paler.

Adagio: "Intelligence suggests that there will be a large scale invasion or perhaps bombing run focused on coastal cities, especially large ones like Valentine. The president has urged anyone living in these areas to evacuate immediately and move further inland." This newspaper is dated 2130.
Allegro: That's no reason to believe him. Anyone can print up a piece of paper and beat it up and write some relevant information on it.
Adagio: Look at these pictures, Allegro. They're satellite imagery of this area, on a scale so close to ground level that there's no way a normal person could get this kind of stuff. The weathering damage on this paper... it's too real. Everything looks too legitimate for this to be a fake.
Allegro: So then, you're really from 2130?
Lento: No. I'm from farther in the future than that. I don't even know what year it is that I'm from. We kind of stopped caring. I assume that this war is over, where I'm from, though.
Allegro: ... I don't believe any of this. How did you get here?
Lento: Time machine.
Allegro: Where is it?
Lento: On the roof.
Allegro: Take us there. Let us see it.
Lento: If you want.

The group went upstairs and got to the emergency exit room.

Lento: You two can climb ladders, right?
Adagio: Our hearts don't work right, our arms work fine.

The group went up the ladder and ended up back on the roof. Allegro looked at the spider mech with an odd look on his face.

Allegro: This thing looks like... a spider. Ew.
Lento: Yeah. I don't know what's up with that.
Adagio: Has a kind of organic look to it. Is this thing a real animal?
Lento: Nah, it's 100% robot. I guess. Come on, get in. We'll get going.

[Forte]

The machine appeared back in the cavern, which was becoming less like a cavern and more like an underground storage area. There were large crates everywhere and bright lights strung across the wall, replacing the few dim lights that had been put up earlier.

Lento: Oh... that's right. Now we're all on uneven trips. Hold on.

Lento set them for three days into the future. Nothing much in the cave seemed to change, aside from a few crates disappearing and a few more moving in.

Lento: That'll do. Congrats, you two will never change.
Adagio: What does that mean?
Lento: You'll never age another day and you won't die of old age. It's some kind of negative side effect of time travel.
Adagio: Negative? How is living forever a negative?
Allegro: Well I guess you could get bored...
Lento: I'm just told that's the price you pay. Either you age rapidly or you stay young, it's a pick your poison deal. Let's go.

Lento lead his two new allies out of the cave. Outside there were the foundations for more permanent buildings popping up left and right, and in rare instances, the framework for some of the buildings had already been erected.

Lento: They sure do work fast...
Allegro: This doesn't look like some kind of high tech future. It's all woods that's just now being developed. Where are we for real?
Lento: You're in the future, trust me. Come on, I'll take you to the medical station.

The group walked into the medical tent. Rallentando was sitting beside Hauptstimme, who appeared to be having bandages removed by the man from earlier.

Lento: What's going on?
Man: Hauptstimme's procedure is finished. We're removing the bandages now.
Lento: Wow... that was pretty fast.
Allegro: What happened to him?
Man: He was pretty much blind, so we gave him new eyes.
Allegro: New... eyes?
Adagio: You performed an eye transplant? Here?
Man: No no no. Those might break one day. We made him a new pair.
Lento: ... You have my interest now. A new pair? I can understand my arms... but eyes are a way more complicated matter... at least I think so.
Man: Eh, not really.

The man finished taking the bandages off.

Man: Open your eyes slowly, now. Taking in too much might short out the cameras.

Hauptstimme opened his eyes just enough to make out blurry shapes. He opened them progressively until everything came into focus. He sat quietly for a while.

Lento: Well? How's it going?
Hauptstimme: ... I can see. I can see everything. Everything is so clear and vibrant... Honestly I didn't expect you to be able to do this... but you did it.

He stood up and turned around. The irises of his eyes were bright red. The sight of something so out of place was a slight shock to everyone in the room.

Hauptstimme: What's with the odd looks? Something up?

Hauptstimme walked over to the mirror on the wall and looked at his eyes. He stood there for a second staring at himself.

Hauptstimme: I guess that is kind of a shock to people who aren't used to it.
Lento: Why are they red?
Man: See, the human eye has an iris in it that expands and contracts depending on the amount of light in the area so that you don't end up blinding yourself just by walking into an area with brighter light than the place you were last at. As you can imagine, artificially constructing a muscle like that is no small task, and you most certainly can't make it solid. We tried giving it natural colors, but they start to run and fade in sunlight, so we opted to leave the muscle clear.
Lento: I still don't get what that has to do with why they're red.
Man: Inside the artificial eye, behind that muscle is a camera that constantly feeds the information it gets to the brain, so in order to diagnose problems that might arise with the camera, we keep a round light around the lens. This light is by default red, so as long as it's red, it's in working order. If it goes out, they've lost power, and if it turns yellow, there's another error that will have to be looked into surgically.
Hauptstimme: There's no need to worry, Lento. I don't think it's that bad. But to keep people from thinking I'm a freak, I'll just put on a pair of sunshades.
Lento: Are you sure you're fine with it?
Hauptstimme: I've been given sight. I think it's a fair trade to look different...
Lento: I guess you're right. Rallentando, would you please take Hauptstimme to be fitted for a uniform?
Rallentando: Ok. I'll get right on it.

She led Hauptstimme out of the tent. Allegro and Adagio both looked amazed.

Lento: Oh, right. Firstly, Allegro, you're number four. Adagio, you've got five.
Adagio: Five?
Lento: Yep. When we fix you up, you'll be the fifth successful operation.
Adagio: I don't like the number five. How high are the numbers going to go?
Lento: We'll finish on seven.
Adagio: I want seven.
Lento: ... Ok then... whatever you say. Number seven then. Allegro, do you want five or six?
Allegro: I'm fine with four. The only numbers I would want more are already taken.
Lento: Eh. They don't mean anything. And now I guess it's time to give you two new names...
Allegro: New names?
Lento: Yeah. Ever since I gave Rallentando a new name, it's been tradition to give out new names to show that we're living a new life now.
Allegro: Hold the phone. You're not giving me or my brother new names. If there's some reason you absolutely have to, take us back to where you found us and leave us alone.
Lento: You... would rather go back to that time and die than to stay here, just because of a name?
Allegro: Damn right. Our parents gave us these names, and while you clearly don't care, we do. What's it mean to die anymore? We would be dead now if it weren't for you. Either our heart problem or that war, I guess we don't get to know if we stay here. It's your choice. You came back to get us for a reason, so I'll assume you need us a bit more than you need to give us a new name.
Lento: I'm sorry then. No one else objected like this. It's fine if you want to keep your names... but why do you speak for your brother?
Adagio: He speaks for me because that's how it's been our entire lives. I'm thin and sickly, no one bothers to listen to someone like me. I don't have to talk when Allegro's around. However, my input is the same. I like my name, it's who I am.
Lento: I guess so.
Adagio: Why did you get rid of your name, Lento?
Lento: ... Because I wanted to forget what I've done. I guess, deep down, I'll never forget. But no one new will ever know about it.
Adagio: I'm confused by what you mean. Whatever though. What do we do now?
Lento: Right... Hey, doc... these two need their heart to be fixed. I'm guessing it's the same problem.

The man walked over.

Man: Their hearts? You know, if you keep getting these broken people...
Lento: You'll keep fixing them. That's the way it works.
Man: And now you show you can be assertive. You two, come with me.

Allegro and Adagio followed the man towards the surgical prep area.

[Forte]

Lento walked out of the tent and into the warm sunlight. It had been so little time since he had gotten here, but it felt like forever. He rubbed his eyes. Apparently time travel had another side effect - extreme tiredness. In relation to his travels, he hadn't slept for centuries. He looked at the tents scattered about and had no idea which one was the rest tent. It was too long of a walk anyway, now that he thought about it. He went over to a relatively smooth tree and lay down under it, falling asleep almost instantly.

Hauptstimme walked out of the changing tent in his new uniform. Though it had the same design as Lento's, there were cords coming out from under the collar and at the base of his sleeves. They were just as orange as his pants.

Hauptstimme: Thank you again, Rallentando, for bringing me here.
Rallentando: ... I am just following my orders.
Hauptstimme: I know how that is. You still deserve thanks for it sometimes.
Rallentando: I appreciate your input... Could you please explain to me why your uniform has the cords on it?
Hauptstimme: It's for my PSI power. As long as the cords are in place, my clothes won't feel much pressure from it.
Rallentando: PSI? What is PSI?
Hauptstimme: You've never heard of PSI? I figured that would stay with us well into the future.
Rallentando: I feel... like I have. Can you explain it?
Hauptstimme: Well, it's hard to explain. It's an ability of the mind that requires above average intelligence and in most cases, a very clear and collected mind. It's not uncommon for a PSI user to be able to use telepathy as well, but it's not something that's found in every case. There are two types of PSI, offensive PSIs and Defensive PSIs; the offensive ones normally rely on harnessing the classical elements, and the defensive type can create force fields and heal wounds.
Rallentando: Oh... what is your PSI?
Hauptstimme: Well, the common method for using an offensive PSI is to harness the element of your choice and use it in conjunction with the air around it to give it propulsion. Thing is, I never could figure out how to harness an element, but I can move the air around me, so my PSI is one of Air.
Rallentando: But if air blows around us every day, is yours not a weak power?
Hauptstimme: Air isn't always weak... but admittedly I never used it in combat. If I had used it around anyone in my time, I wouldn't have been making weapons anymore, I would have been the weapon.

The two walked past the tree where Lento had fallen asleep. Hauptstimme stopped and looked down at him.

Hauptstimme: Wow... he must really be beat. Has he been doing a lot of hard work?
Rallentando: The entire time you were in the medical tent without the use of your eyes, he was gone. That was three days total.
Hauptstimme: In that case... he went three whole days without sleeping. I don't blame him for falling out under a tree... It is a nice day outside today. He picked a good one to come back on.
Rallentando: He's being very disrespectful to himself, sleeping outside. We have the facilities here for people to rest.
Hauptstimme: Eh... He doesn't act like he's that important. You seem to care a lot about him, though. Have you two known each other for a long time?
Rallentando: I cannot remember if we have. He knew my name, so I guess so.

Hauptstimme walked over to the tree and sat down beside Lento.

Hauptstimme: He's a good person. It's easy to tell just by being around him. Do you know what he's gathering us for?
Rallentando: I do not. I can assume that it is his orders.
Hauptstimme: There's someone in charge of him?
Rallentando: I think so. I do not really know, however.
Hauptstimme: Oh. I see. I'll ask him when he wakes up, I guess he won't mind answering.

Rallentando walked over to Lento and started to gently shake him.

Rallentando: Lento, would you please get up? It's not right for someone of your rank to be sleeping on the ground.

Lento opened his eyes and yawned.

Lento: Sleeping on the ground? Oh... right. Seemed like an ok place to take a nap to me.
Hauptstimme: That's what I told her, but she wouldn't listen.
Lento: Yeah... I guess she's pretty stubborn about me.
Rallentando: If you needed to sleep you should have gone to the rest area.
Lento: That would be a lot easier if I knew where it was at. But I'm fine with resting here, really.
Rallentando: I will not allow you to disgrace yourself sleeping on the ground. Please come with me.
Lento: No, really, it's fine...

Rallentando grabbed his arm and dragged him to his feet.

Rallentando: Forgive me for my disorderly conduct. You may penalize me later. However, for now, please follow me.
Lento: ... If you insist.

Rallentando led him to the rest area. It was a quite large tent that had a decent bit of construction going on around it, apparently in effort to make it a permanent building. There were a number of people already in it occupying most of the beds. Lento walked over to one of the beds and sat down on it.

Lento: And you think this is better than the grass? Oh well, whatever makes you happy.
Hauptstimme: Lento, do you mind if I ask you something before you go back to sleep?
Lento: Sure, go ahead.
Hauptstimme: Well... two somethings, actually. First, why are you gathering people?
Lento: I was told to do it by our... king. He told me to get five other people. I have three so far.
Hauptstimme: But what for?
Lento: I have no idea, honestly.
Hauptstimme: Alright. One last thing... do you know anything about PSI?

A look of surprise came over Lento's tired face.

Lento: PSI? Yes, I know about it.
Hauptstimme: So people can still use it?
Lento: I can. No one else can, that I know of.
Hauptstimme: One person in the entire world, huh? That's a little unbelievable. Did you know that in my time, PSI users were actually common?
Lento: ... Believe it or not... yeah I did. You wouldn't happen to be one of them would you?
Hauptstimme: I am indeed.
Lento: That's nice. Really...

Lento fell over and went to sleep again.

Hauptstimme: Oh well. I guess I'm pretty boring. But at least I learned what I wanted to know.

[Forte]

Lento woke up with a strange feeling. He sat up on the side of the bed and rubbed his eyes. He noticed a neatly folded pile of clothes on the floor next to his bed and picked them up. They had a faint but wonderful scent that he remembered, though he didn't know from where. He thought about it for a while and remembered that it was the same scent as the flowers that Maria used to make perfumes from, though he couldn't remember the name of them. He stood up and walked over to the door labeled "Showers". As soon as he walked through the door, he was hit by a shocking realization. He changed into his fresh uniform and ran out of the tent towards the cavern. Once inside, he made his way to Porky's capsule.

Lento: Porky Minch.
Porky: Hm? I don't remember telling you my *cough* full name.
Lento: It is as I thought, then. You are Porky Minch, who allied himself with an unspeakable evil and attempted to destroy the world.
Porky: Oh... heh *wheeze* I thought people forgot about that. What do you want to know about it?
Lento: I don't want to know anything about it. I know everything I want to know. And now I know what Andonuts meant by not wanting to get mixed up with you. I don't know what you're planning to do with us, but I won't let you use me any longer. I'm going back home and I'm taking these people you asked me to get with me.
Porky: Oh? The last person who told me he wouldn't let me use him was too late, and you are too, now. I know your type. I've been brought down from ultimate power by your type - twice.

Porky burst into a fit of coughing. He slowly stopped and caught his breath.

Porky: You're the kind of person who values his friends, and on top of that, you need friends. If you don't have any around you, you make new ones easily... and then... you do everything in your power to make sure they don't come to harm. You live forever now, just like me, and in turn you made your new friends live forever, too. But understand right now... none of them will live forever if you leave me. I'll make sure of it. Especially that girl, I'll make her first, and I'll make your hand the one that ends her life.
Lento: You can't do that... You don't have control over me!
Porky: Don't I? My eyes are everywhere! *cough* I have control over every aspect of your life. Did you forget that I can communicate with you through telepathy? Every aspect, you foolish child. Now make a choice: continue to serve me or be left with nothing over your infinite life!
Lento: I see...

Lento punched the small window on the front of the capsule as hard as he could. It didn't so much as crack.

Porky: Don't make me laugh. This device is one hundred percent indestructible. It was dubbed the Absolutely Safe Capsule, nothing can destroy it, nothing can enter.
Lento: Get out here, coward! I'll show you how much of me you control!
Porky: Shut up. You're so annoying and noisy. You'll never touch me. Just accept it and calm down. You don't even know what I'm using you for, so why are you so against it?
Lento: You tried to destroy the world! What good could possibly come from this?
Porky: I've never done anything that wouldn't work out for the better in the end. Now tell me one more time, do you accept your fate?

Lento stood in silence for a moment.

Lento: You must promise me that you'll never harm Maria... or Rallentando.
Porky: Oh, you said both of her names. You're a clever one. Trust me, as long as you follow my orders, no harm will come to her.
Lento: Fine.

He turned around and began to walk out of the cavern.

Porky: What about the other two people you need to get?
Lento: I'll take care of that later. I would like to rest here for a while.
Porky: Take your time. You have plenty.

Lento walked out of the cavern to be greeted by Hauptstimme.

Hauptstimme: Hey. Have something to do down there?
Lento: Sort of.
Hauptstimme: I saw you running there earlier, so I figured it was something urgent. I would have followed you... but I thought it might be something important.
Lento: It's no big deal... say... what time is it?
Hauptstimme: It's 5:43 AM. You slept for a whole day, you must have really been worn out.
Lento: Yeah, I kind of was. Five in the morning though... that's pretty early. You always get up so early?
Hauptstimme: Not really... but I've kind of had to adapt to the time differences from here and Winters. By my estimate, we're about seven hours different, so it's kind of hard to adapt.
Lento: You're pretty good at that stuff, huh?
Hauptstimme: Keeping time? It's a hobby of mine. So then... can you tell me more about PSI here?
Lento: Yeah... sure.

[Forte]

Lento and Hauptstimme walked to a clearing in the forest and sat down on the moist grass.

Lento: Well... what do you want to know?
Hauptstimme: You told me you can use PSI, and that you were the only one here who could... before me, that is. So I would really like to know what PSI you can use.
Lento: Healing. That's... the only kind, right?
Hauptstimme: Of course not! There are many different PSI powers. Maybe I was wrong. Perhaps I should be the one explaining things.
Lento: I'll gladly learn.
Hauptstimme: Ok. First things first, there are two kinds of PSI users. The first is the support PSI user, most have the ability to heal almost any wound, boost the stamina and physical abilities of their allies, and in some cases, create barriers that are able to repel and sometimes reflect any projectile.
Lento: Oh... that sounds very interesting. Kind of makes my lowly healing powers seem pathetic, though.
Hauptstimme: The second type is the offensive PSI user. Typically, they have the ability to control Fire, Electricity, or Ice, though there is rumor that some could cause earthquakes... and then there is the tale that some people could use an amazing power that is nothing but pure force, driven by passion and willpower... but there's no hard evidence for this.
Lento: So are you support or offensive?
Hauptstimme: It's kind of hard to say for me, my power is control over the air itself. As I'm sure you know, air can destroy, but it can also help, so maybe I fall into the category of both. I believe I am the only person who has ever controlled air by itself through PSI.
Lento: By itself? You can't use the other elements?
Hauptstimme: In general, offensive PSI users can use all three elements. Normally there is no person who can use only one. But then there's me. I have no element to use, so all I can produce is changes in the air... I have never been able to learn why I can't control an element.
Lento: Oh, that's too bad. Maybe we'll be able to figure it out sometime soon.
Hauptstimme: I would really like to know, hopefully we can.

Not too far in the distance, a very loud argument sounded like it had started.

Hauptstimme: That's coming from the same direction as the uniform fitting area... I guess Allegro and Adagio were successfully operated on.
Lento: It amazes me how fast they work... We should probably go see what the problem is, there's no need to be that loud.

Lento and Hauptstimme hurried to the uniform tent. As they drew closer, they were quickly able to hear exactly what the problem was.

Allegro: You are not about to cut my hair! No one cuts my hair!
Man: But... it's long and in the way! Look how it falls into your eye like that, that's no good!
Allegro: That's the way I WANT it! I'll take care of my own hair! You've given me a uniform, that's good enough. Now get the hell away from me before I burn you to ash!

Allegro stormed out of the tent with the man close behind him. Lento and Hauptstimme arrived just in time to meet him.

Man: Ah! Lento! Please tell your subordinate that he should cut his hair!
Lento: I think it's ok.
Man: But it will interfere in battle! We can't have that!
Lento: Are we... preparing to fight someone?
Man: Not yet... but what if we do?!
Lento: We'll deal with it at that time. The two of you were being loud enough to hear from quite a distance away, there's people trying to sleep this early in the morning.

The man mumbled and walked back into the tent. A very noticeable heat was coming from Allegro, but it was slowly dying down.

Lento: So then, what did you mean by burn him to ash?
Allegro: PK Fire. My weapon of choice.
Lento: Oh? You're an elemental PSI user?
Allegro: No. I just said, PK Fire. No other elements.
Hauptstimme: You mean you can only use PK Fire?
Allegro: That's it.
Hauptstimme: That's amazing! I didn't know single element PSI users existed!
Allegro: Adagio's one too. His is PK Thunder. I didn't think it was all too uncommon, why be a jack of all trades and a master of none? It's amazing what a person can do when they work towards perfection in only one PSI ability.
Hauptstimme: Then... do you know a lot about PSI?
Allegro: In my lifetime, I've had the opportunity to educate myself in all aspects of PSI, as well as formulate my own theories. I may not be very old, but both my brother and I outdid everyone knowledgeable about PSI in our entire city. Lento, you've seen Valentine first hand. You can imagine how many people that means we're better than. You chose a good pair.
Hauptstimme: Can you tell me anything about using air?
Allegro: Air? You mean... control air through PSI?
Hauptstimme: Yes. It's my only ability.
Allegro: You don't really have PSI. That is to say... you do, but it's not a natural gift nor is it something that you learned. Since nothing gave you the ability, there's nothing you can say keeps it around, so instead of being able to control an element or defend yourself or others in any way, you can only push air around.
Hauptstimme: Then... I shouldn't have this ability?
Allegro: That's pretty much it. Sorry I can't really explain it better, but honestly it's something I don't understand fully. You're not the only one to ever be able to do this though, so don't feel left out.

Allegro shrugged and began to walk away from Hauptstimme and Lento.

Allegro: I need to find Adagio, they were done with him a bit faster than me, so I would really like to know if he's doing well. I'll see you around.

[Forte]

Over the next few days, Lento did his best to avoid going back in time to find any more people. Those days turned to weeks, during which no harm befell him or any of his new comrades. Their camp, in this short time, began to see more and more life. The foundations for permanent buildings became almost completed and new frames shot up daily. All of these things, as far as Lento could tell, happened literally overnight. These few weeks he spent not traveling through time were instead spent teaching Rallentando more about the world she seemed to have forgotten. Today, he had taken a break to enjoy the fresh air and scenery of the surrounding area. To Lento's surprise, Adagio had found his way to this small clearing and sat down beside him.

Lento: Hey, how's it going?
Adagio: I'm doing well, thanks. I see that you've taken a liking to this place, too.
Lento: Too? You've been here before?
Adagio: Yeah. After these doctors fixed me up, I explored the area for a few miles around the camp. Most I've ever walked without taking a significant rest... feels amazing.
Lento: Oh. You're pretty familiar with everything here by now then, I guess?
Adagio: It's a reasonable assumption. By the way, not that I really care or anything, but weren't you supposed to get two more people?
Lento: I don't really feel like it. Going back to your time really made me think about the people there. In only a few years from when you're from, everyone in your home city will probably be dead. I can't with a clear conscious go back and not try to save every last person.
Adagio: That mentality... makes it pretty obvious that you don't know what war is like. There really is no such thing as war in this time, is there?
Lento: Not that I ever heard of. I'm from a small town, never really went very far. Maybe somewhere in the world... but not near me.
Adagio: Hm. Well, a healthy mindset to have on it is to realize you're one person. You will never be able to save everyone every time. It's the truth of the world.

Lento stayed quiet. Deep down he knew it was true. No matter what kind of machine he had, there was no saving everyone. He was barely staying afloat keeping one person away from danger, what would he do to save everyone?

Adagio: Look, if it's really important that we get two more people, I'll go myself. I watched you operate that machine, I won't have any trouble with it.
Lento: I... am somewhat afraid of what will happen if we get two more.
Adagio: Afraid? Of what?
Lento: ... It's nothing. Go ahead. Remember to keep the amount of trips even.
Adagio: Alright. I'll be back before anyone realizes I've left.

Adagio got up and walked towards the cave. When he got back to the camp, he ran into Allegro.

Adagio: Allegro, come with me. We've been sent on a mission.
Allegro: And what is that?
Adagio: We're going to get the last two people. Lento hasn't been up to it.
Allegro: Sounds fun.

The two walked into the cave to where Lento had left the machine when he brought them back, but there was no time machine.

Allegro: Are you sure this is where he left it?

The machine appeared in front of them as if it had been there all along. Hauptstimme jumped out of it and stood beside them. The machine disappeared again and reappeared a few seconds later. A tall bald man got out this time. He was missing an arm.

Allegro: Hauptstimme, did Lento send you to get him?
Hauptstimme: No, actually. I'm quite fond of history, so I decided I would take an interactive tour! Then this chap caught my eye. Couldn't find a job when he's from because of his loss of an arm, but he's a fighter, I'll tell you that. I can only imagine how physically able he would be with both arms still intact!
Allegro: Exactly when IS he from? They don't make men like bears anymore.
Hauptstimme: He's from the late 1800s, some railroad town in Eagleland named Reindeer.
Adagio: That's only about thirty miles from Valentine. You didn't play around with the area too much, did you?
Hauptstimme: Not really. Made sense to stay in Eagleland, and I would have hated to mess it up for Lento's next use.
Allegro: Well, whatever. Get this guy straightened out. We've got work to do. Lento asked us to go get the remaining two, I guess that job's been shortened to one.

Allegro and Adagio got into the machine and started to set the dials. Adagio looked at the time selection dial. For a moment he thought about setting it to take them to 2060, grab their parents and sisters, and get them out of there. He knew how Lento felt now. Then he thought about how that would most likely mean they would meet themselves and possibly destroy the universe, and while the reward was great, the risk was even greater.

Adagio: Allegro... what happens if we go back and accidentally get someone who's related to us?
Allegro: ... That's a good question. Let's try to avoid that. Best way I can think of doing it is by staying the hell away from the entire north-eastern part of Eagleland. Go to Fourside or somewhere, I never got to see enough of that place. Just as a random number off the top of my head, 2034. That'll pretty much assure that we won't grab our great grandparents or something.
Adagio: Right... Ok then, let's go.

[Forte]

The machine appeared in what appeared to be a slightly expansive park. It had a well crafted brick wall built around it, and a small opening facing a relatively busy street. The skyline was dominated by extremely tall buildings in all directions, and in the middle of the park was a large, jagged piece of metal. Something seemed to draw Allegro to it.

Allegro: Hm. What's this supposed to be?

As he came closer to it, he began to notice that there were things stuck to it, such as hairpins, paper clips, and other small assorted metal objects.

Allegro: Must be some really trashy art.

When Adagio began to near it, his hair started to stand up. He stopped.

Adagio: Oh, it's a natural magnet. How odd for this park to have this in it.

He took a pin out of his pocket and dropped it where he stood. Slowly, it began to creep towards the magnet.

Adagio: A pretty strong one. It's probably best I don't get closer to it, or we'll have some real fireworks. Well, we're here now. What should we do?
Allegro: No one will miss us if we slack off for a while, since we can just pop back up at the same time as we left... so we might as well have a look around.
Adagio: But... what about that rapid aging thing?
Allegro: What about it?
Adagio: How quickly does it take effect?
Allegro: ... I never asked.
Adagio: Maybe we should play it safe and come back some other time?
Allegro: Eh... It isn't worth chancing, you're right. Let's just get this over with. What are we supposed to be looking for?
Adagio: Just someone to bring back with us, I guess.
Allegro: Right. Shouldn't be too hard.

The pair walked out of the park and into the bustling streets of Fourside. For the first time in weeks, Allegro felt as if he really was at home in Valentine again. The acknowledgment that there was a conflict on the verge of ending the world didn't even seem to be on the minds of the passers-by as they went about their daily lives. It brought out a strange feeling in the brothers.

Adagio: In a few years, this will be us.
Allegro: Except we actually have relatives hastening the end of everything.
Adagio: It must not have been.
Allegro: It was the end of enough.

Adagio stopped walking for a moment. Allegro took note of this and stopped with him.

Allegro: What's up?
Adagio: Someone's watching us. I'm not sure where from, but I know for sure someone has their eyes on us. Can't you feel it?
Allegro: I'm not so in tune with the electrical pulses coming from people, you know.
Adagio: It's a certain kind... He's close by... very strong PSI powers.
Allegro: Great! This guy doesn't know it, but he's the kind we need!

Someone tugged on Allegro's sleeve. He looked in the direction of the tug down at a small boy in a wheelchair. He had slightly unkempt dark orange hair and was wearing very old looking clothes.

Allegro: Yeah?
Boy: Hi mister. My name is Livius.
Allegro: O...k?
Livius: I've been following you two since you appeared in the park.
Allegro: You were there? Shouldn't you be in school or something?
Livius: Why should I go there? All the kids make fun of me, and the teachers won't let me fight back. No reason to go, it really sucks.
Allegro: Oh. I've seen this movie before... Adagio, is this kid really who's been following us?
Adagio: Yeah. I know he doesn't seem like it, but he has some really powerful PSI.
Allegro: Livius, what kind of PSI do you have?
Livius: My only PSI is PK Freeze. I just can't connect with any other element.
Allegro: Hm... There's a lot I can teach you. I'll tell you what, come with us, and I'll tell you everything you need to know to perfect that power.
Adagio: Allegro! You sound like some kind of freak! He's just a kid, we can't take him with us... He has family here... and...
Livius: No, I don't. I was found on the steps of the local orphanage. I make myself so scarce there, they would never notice I'm gone. You see, I followed you two because I know you have to be important. I want you to take me to where you're from! Please, you just have to!

Adagio gave Allegro a weird look.

Allegro: C'mon Adagio. It makes our job really easy if he wants to come with us. We don't even have to offer him anything in return.
Adagio: Are you serious about the fact that no one will miss you?
Livius: Of course! I know I won't miss anyone here!
Allegro: Whatever. I'm content on taking this kid with us no matter what. Let's just do it and get it over with, what are they going to do? Send the police through TIME to catch us?

Allegro bent over and picked Livius up out of his wheelchair and put him up onto his shoulders.

Allegro: Uh... it doesn't hurt if I hold your legs, does it?
Livius: Nope. They might as well not even be there.
Allegro: You won't be saying that for much longer.

The group walked back towards the park. To any average onlooker, the trio appeared to be a strange looking yet normal family enjoying a day out. Even though he had only just met them, Livius felt like Allegro and Adagio were his best friends. They arrived back in the park where their time machine was still waiting for them. Adagio opened the dome and the group got in.

Livius: I was kind of enjoying that. It's the tallest I've ever been.

[Forte]

Adagio stared at the controls for a moment. He began to press the button to return them, but stopped.

Adagio: Are you sure about this? Should we really take this kid?
Allegro: Are you still bothered about that?! No one's even after us! It's not like he was lying to us and had parents or something... Right, Livius?
Livius: Of course! Everything I said is true!
Allegro: There. It's all set. Let's just go, Adagio.
Adagio: I'm still not so sure...
Allegro: He's just like us! Think about it, Adagio... he can only use one PSI... if we give him some help... he'll be just as good as we are. Lento will probably really appreciate a team of dedicated PSI users like us, especially if there's one of us in each element!
Adagio: Something just doesn't feel right about taking this kid from here. What if he has a future?
Allegro: What the hell kind of question is that?! His future consists of dying here with the rest of humanity! ... You know what...

Allegro slammed his hand on the return button. In a matter of seconds, they were back in the dark, dreary cave of the future. Thanks to Adagio's careful planning, they arrived just after they had left. The reappearance of the machine so quickly caught Hauptstimme and his guest by surprise. Allegro and Adagio got out and sent let the machine automatically take Livius another minute into the future.

Hauptstimme: You two work really fast, eh?
Adagio: We kind of cheated.
Hauptstimme: Oh, I see. So then, who did you get?

The machine reappeared and Allegro once again put Livius onto his shoulders and carried him out.

Allegro: Welcome to immortality! Next stop... nothing, you're immortal.

Hauptstimme's tall partner looked confused for a moment.

Hauptstimme: Something the matter, Abner?
Abner: The woman there with the kinda deep voice... what she said... is it true?
Allegro: ...
Hauptstimme: The immortality part? Well, I wouldn't necessarily say "immortal" since that implies that we can't die... maybe... "timeless"? No, that's more reserved for artwork...
Allegro: Not.
Hauptstimme: Well, time ignores us. I think maybe you get the point.
Allegro: A.
Hauptstimme: ... Allegro?
Allegro: WOMAN!

Allegro's rage caused a few small fires around him. Adagio stomped one closest to him out. A look of fright and awe came over Abner's stern face.

Abner: What kind of sorcery is this?
Hauptstimme: The fire? I'm guessing he's letting his PSI get out of control... Allegro, calm your temper. You're carrying some pretty important luggage, there. I doubt you want to hurt him.
Allegro: Oh... yeah. I guess I was kind of annoyed with Adagio. Sorry. Big man, consider that your given.
Abner: You're... a man... PSI... magical fires... This is a strange place you've brought me, Hauptstimme.
Hauptstimme: You don't know about PSI? Wow, I never thought I would meet a person who had no idea what it was!

A somewhat dreamy look came over Hauptstimme's face.

Hauptstimme: It was a good idea for me to pick someone indeed! I just cannot contain my excitement!
Allegro: Man, I've never seen you this perked up. It's definitely better than floating around like some kind of creep and barely saying a word. I almost figured you and Rallentando were of the same breed or something...

Hauptstimme's face turned red.

Hauptstimme: Oh... I... I'm just a fan of old things like this... er... him... *he cleared his throat* I suppose I am being somewhat childish. Abner! We should leave this cave. It's not the best place to stand around in. We can discuss all of the workings of the world you're in now in much more detail somewhere else.
Adagio: I'm all for that. I guess we should tell Lento we have his other two.

The group began to leave the cave. Unnoticed by the others, Adagio stopped. He turned around and walked a bit deeper into the cave, picking up on what felt like a human with a small amount of PSI. He didn't have to walk long before his path was obstructed by a strange round object. It was overgrown with mosses and had a few slime fungi in places, but otherwise, it seemed to be in perfect condition. On the front, there was a small window, though it was too thickly coated in dust and dirt to see through. In one spot, it appeared someone's fist had made contact with the layer of dust on top and pushed away the thicker parts of it. He never once said a word while investigating the object, though he could feel the presence of a human inside of it. He began to take note of several rivets and screws in hard to get to places. One day he would have to come back by here with some tools and see if he could get into it. He placed his hand on one of the screws to see if it was still in good enough condition to work with. To his surprise, it was as smooth as if it had been made yesterday. The entire object began to vibrate. A very quiet noise came from it.

Adagio: ... Weird.

Another stifled noise came from the object. Adagio backed up a bit. He had been overcome with an inexplicable fear of this object, but his curiosity was still piqued.

Adagio: I feel... the urge to speak to you, as if you are alive. I know there's no way a human can truly be inside of this object, no person can survive confined in something like this. But I do feel like you contain something. Something interesting. One day.

Adagio turned and walked towards the cave's exit.