Chapter 15: The Man from Havana

Time: March 15, 44 BCE
Location: Rome – Capitol Grounds

Theo’s mind raced as the hooded figure—the man from Havana—vanished into the crowd like a phantom. His heart hammered in his chest. They were so close, but every time, the Architect slipped through their fingers.

Helena tightened her grip on the temporal scanner, frustration flickering in her expression. "That’s twice now. He’s always one step ahead of us."

Kalen leaned casually against a marble column, scanning the chaotic movement of senators and guards around them. "You didn’t really think it would be that easy, did you?"

Theo ignored the smugness in Kalen’s voice, focusing instead on the task at hand. They needed to find out why the Architect was here—at the exact moment of Caesar’s assassination. If they couldn’t unravel the Architect’s motives soon, the consequences could ripple through every timeline.

"We still have time before Caesar arrives," Theo said. His voice was low but urgent. "We need to figure out what the Architect left behind. If we miss anything—"

"Then we might never get another chance," Helena finished grimly.

Theo scanned the bustling forum. Senators whispering in clusters. Merchants bartering at stalls. Roman guards patrolling with stern expressions. Somewhere in this crowd, a clue was waiting—something the Architect had altered, hidden in plain sight.

00:15:49 until Assassination.

The sun cast long shadows across the ancient stones as Theo led Helena and Kalen deeper into the forum. Their senses were heightened, every movement of the crowd feeling charged with unseen importance.

Helena scanned the surroundings with her device, her fingers moving quickly over the interface. "There’s still temporal residue in the area," she whispered. "It’s faint, but it’s recent. Whatever the Architect did, it’s close."

Theo nodded, his gaze sweeping the crowd. "Then we keep moving. If we’re going to catch them, we can’t afford to hesitate."

Kalen’s voice was light, but there was a sharpness beneath it. "Careful, Theo. Ambition’s a dangerous thing—especially in a place like this."

Theo shot him a warning glance. "Save the philosophy, Kalen."

The grin playing on Kalen’s lips didn’t fade. "Just saying—you might not like what you find."

00:09:27 until Assassination.

As they rounded the corner near the Senate steps, Helena’s scanner pinged softly. She stopped abruptly, her expression shifting from frustration to confusion. "Theo... you need to see this."

Theo joined her at the base of a statue—a towering marble figure of Julius Caesar himself. The scanner displayed faint energy fluctuations radiating from the ground beneath the statue.

"It’s a temporal anchor," Helena whispered. "The Architect planted it here—like a marker, tying something to this moment in time."

Kalen crouched beside the statue, running a hand over the smooth stone. "Smart move. Plant an anchor in one of history’s biggest moments, and no one notices a thing."

Theo narrowed his eyes. "What’s it anchoring?"

Helena tapped the display, her brow furrowing. "Hard to say. It’s like... something’s hidden just beneath the surface. A fragment from another timeline, tied directly to this moment."

Theo knelt down, brushing his hand along the stone base. "Can we extract it?"

Helena gave a small nod. "We’ll need to synchronize with the core back in Berlin. If we’re quick, we might be able to pull whatever’s hidden here back into the present."

Kalen glanced around the bustling forum. "And if you’re not quick? You’ll get stuck in a loop you can’t escape."

Theo shot him a hard look. "Then we’d better be quick."

00:04:53 until Assassination.

Helena tapped the scanner, sending a pulse through the temporal anchor. The statue shimmered faintly, the air around it warping for just a moment. Then, with a soft hum, a fragment of light emerged from the base—a small, flickering image suspended in mid-air.

Theo’s breath hitched. The fragment showed a brief scene: Caesar, lying on the Senate floor, blood pooling beneath him. But something was wrong.

In the fragment, the man from Havana stood over Caesar’s body, his briefcase open. Inside the case glimmered a strange object—a sleek device, glowing faintly with an eerie blue light.

Helena’s face went pale. "What is that?"

Kalen’s grin widened. "Looks like our friend’s got some fancy tech. That’s definitely not Roman."

Theo clenched his fists. The man from Havana wasn’t just observing Caesar’s assassination—he was altering it.

00:02:18 until Assassination.

Theo exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm. "We need to find him. If he activates that device, it could trigger a cascade of changes we can’t undo."

Helena’s fingers danced over the scanner. "There’s too much interference here—I can’t get a direct lock on him."

Kalen straightened, his grin fading slightly. "Guess it’s time for some old-fashioned legwork, then."

Theo didn’t waste another second. "We split up. Helena, stay close to the Senate entrance—if anything shifts, I want you to pull us out immediately. Kalen, you’re with me."

Kalen gave a mock salute. "Lead the way, fearless leader."

00:00:45 until Assassination.

Theo and Kalen wove through the crowded streets, their eyes scanning every face, every shadow. The tension in the air was palpable—history teetering on the edge of change.

And then, Theo saw him. The man from Havana stood near the Senate’s entrance, his briefcase tucked under one arm, watching the crowd with a calm, knowing gaze.

Theo’s heart pounded. "There."

Kalen gave a low whistle. "Well, well. Looks like the game’s still on."

Theo moved toward the man, his steps quick but careful. He had to stop him—before the device inside the briefcase could be activated.

But just as Theo reached him, the man turned. Their eyes met. And for a fleeting moment, Theo saw something in the man’s gaze—not malice, but understanding.

"Time’s up," the man said softly, his voice calm. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he opened the briefcase.