Chapter 10: The Temporal Chase

Time: October 13, 1962
Location: Havana, Cuba

A warm breeze swept through the streets of Havana, carrying the scent of tobacco and salt from the nearby harbor. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the worn facades of buildings. In the bustling alleyway, a man stood alone, gripping a briefcase tightly as if guarding a treasure.

Theo’s mind buzzed with the impossible implications. They had traced the man through the projection, but the message he’d carried—a warning from the future addressed to Theo—loomed over them like a dark omen. The only way to solve this was to move closer to the anomaly itself.

Helena flicked a switch on the control panel, activating the remote interface. A flicker of light shimmered at Theo’s side—a sleek, rectangular device: the Portable Temporal Scanner (PTS). The device could project a short-range temporal field, allowing them to remotely investigate small events like the one unfolding in Havana without destabilizing the timeline further.

"Ready when you are," Helena murmured, watching the readout closely. "We’ll get a brief window—no more than sixty seconds inside the moment."

Theo adjusted the scanner’s frequency. "Let’s hope it’s enough."

Core Interface: 2048. Projection Active: 1962.

A thin wave of energy pulsed outward from the scanner, blurring the edges of reality. The alley appeared around them like a mirage—flickering and translucent—but enough for them to see and hear clearly. They were inside the projected moment, watching history unfold before their eyes.

The man with the briefcase stood a few feet away, unaware of their ghostly presence. His expression was tense, his eyes flicking toward the street as if waiting for someone. The briefcase in his hand glinted under the fading sunlight.

Theo narrowed his eyes. Who are you waiting for?

Helena’s voice crackled through the scanner. "Twenty seconds left. Focus on the briefcase."

Theo approached the shimmering projection of the man, close enough to feel the heat of the sun on his skin—an eerie sensation, knowing that it was only a memory etched in time. He leaned in, scanning the briefcase with the PTS. The data streamed into his vision. Strange symbols etched into the leather. A faint magnetic pulse.

And then... the man moved.

He turned sharply, his eyes locking onto Theo’s through the field of projection—as if he could see him.

Theo froze. That’s impossible.

The man’s lips parted, forming a single word: "Run."

A sudden shockwave blasted through the alley. The projection shattered, throwing Theo out of the temporal field. He stumbled back, gasping as the scanner fizzled and sparked, the connection severed.

Time: 2048
Location: Berlin, Global Innovation Center

Theo landed on the cold floor of the control room, the remnants of the shattered projection swirling around him like vapor. He gasped for breath, his heart pounding in his chest.

Helena rushed to his side. "What happened?"

Theo shook his head, trying to make sense of it. "He saw me."

Helena froze. "That’s not possible. The projection only replays existing events—it’s not interactive."

Theo’s mind raced. "I know what I saw, Helena. He looked right at me—and he told me to run."

Helena’s eyes darkened. "That... doesn’t make any sense."

Kalen leaned casually against the console, watching them both with quiet amusement. "Maybe your friend in the alley knows more than you think."

Theo shot him a sharp look. "If you have any useful insights, now’s the time, Kalen."

Kalen smirked. "Here’s a thought: What if the timeline isn’t broken? What if it’s being rewritten in real time—right in front of you?"

Theo frowned. "That’s impossible. We’d see the changes in the diagnostics."

"Not if someone is deliberately hiding the shifts," Kalen replied, his tone light but dangerous. "Someone smart enough to play both sides of the game."

Theo clenched his fists. "You think the man in Havana knew we were watching because someone tipped him off?"

Kalen gave a slow nod. "Or maybe—" he paused, savoring the moment—"he’s the one tipping you off."

Helena’s jaw tightened. "Enough riddles, Kalen. Either say what you know, or get out of the way."

Kalen raised his hands in mock surrender. "All I’m saying is... the rules aren’t as clear-cut as you think. Time loops, paradoxes—they mess with your head. The sooner you accept that, the easier this’ll be."

Theo rubbed his temples, frustration building. What if the man in Havana was connected to them in ways they didn’t yet understand? Every answer only seemed to lead to more questions.

System Alert: Minor Temporal Shift Detected.

The console beeped, pulling Helena’s attention back to the data stream. "We have movement. Something just shifted... but it’s subtle."

Theo leaned over her shoulder. "Where?"

Helena expanded the data set, highlighting a new timeline fragment. "Berlin. Present day."

Theo’s stomach dropped. "Here?"

Helena nodded grimly. "Whatever just changed, it happened now."

Kalen grinned. "Told you. The timeline’s in motion—whether you like it or not."

Theo turned toward the main console, his mind whirring. If someone was manipulating events in real-time, it meant they were close.

Too close.

"We need to check the core," Theo said, already moving toward the secure chamber where the ChronoNet’s energy field pulsed beneath the floor.

Core Room:

The soft glow of the core bathed the room in violet light. Theo entered cautiously, Helena following close behind. The chamber felt too quiet—like the calm before a storm.

"Diagnostics show everything stable," Helena murmured, scanning the control panel. "No sign of interference."

Theo’s instincts screamed otherwise. He approached the core slowly, the hum of energy vibrating beneath his feet. Something was off.

And then he saw it—a small object, barely noticeable, tucked beneath the core’s protective casing.

"A transmitter," Theo whispered, crouching to get a better look.

Helena’s eyes widened. "Someone planted it."

Theo carefully extracted the device. It was sleek, compact—and humming with residual energy from the ChronoNet.

"This is how they’re tracking us," Theo muttered. "They’ve been piggybacking off our system the whole time."

Helena’s expression darkened. "We need to shut it down. Now."

Kalen’s voice echoed from behind them. "Or... you could leave it. See where it leads."

Theo shot him a look. "We can’t risk more interference."

Kalen shrugged. "Your call. Just remember: Whoever planted that thing... they’re already ahead of you."

Theo exhaled slowly. Every step forward seemed to pull them deeper into the web of manipulation.

"We’re shutting it down," Theo decided. "No more games."

Helena nodded, already working to disable the transmitter. Theo watched as the glow of the core dimmed slightly, signaling the end of the unauthorized signal.