Chapter 16: The Unveiling Moment

Time: March 15, 44 BCE
Location: Rome – Senate Entrance

The briefcase snapped open, revealing the strange glowing device inside. Time seemed to stutter for a moment, the world around Theo warping—then shifting back into place, as if reality itself had hesitated.

Theo’s pulse pounded in his ears as he stared at the sleek object. It wasn’t ancient, nor did it belong to this timeline—it was a device forged far beyond their present understanding, a shimmering blue core humming softly at its center.

The man from Havana stood calm and still, as if he were waiting for Theo to act. "It’s not what you think, Theo," he said quietly.

Kalen came to a halt beside Theo, breathing lightly from the chase. "Let me guess: It’s not a bomb, it’s a gift, right?" His grin was sharp, but there was tension beneath it.

The man gave a faint smile. "You always assume the worst."

Theo’s gaze remained locked on the device. "What does it do?" he demanded, ignoring the man’s cryptic words.

The man’s expression softened, as though he pitied Theo. "It resets everything—gives the timeline a clean slate. But only once. No second chances."

00:00:19 until Caesar’s Assassination.

Theo’s breath hitched. A device capable of rewriting the entire timeline—wiping away all the fractures, loops, and entanglements? It was a terrifying idea. There would be no knowing what kind of reality they would create if they activated it.

Helena’s voice buzzed in Theo’s ear, sharp and tense. "Theo, the readings are off the charts. Whatever that device is, it’s affecting the core even from here. If it activates, there’s no telling what it’ll rewrite."

Theo clenched his fists. "If it’s activated, everything changes. What happens to us?"

The man from Havana’s eyes gleamed with a strange mix of regret and hope. "You’ll cease to exist—as you are now. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing, is it?"

Theo’s heart pounded, his mind racing. The Architect hadn’t come to alter this moment—he had come to erase it entirely.

Kalen gave a low whistle. "Bold move. Wipe the board clean, and hope whatever’s left is better than this mess."

Theo’s jaw tightened. Could he trust the man’s intentions—or was this just another layer of manipulation?

00:00:07 until Assassination.

The crowd around the Senate doors swelled, their voices rising as Caesar approached. History was about to unfold—but now, Theo stood at a crossroads.

"You can stop it," the man from Havana said softly, almost pleading. "Take the device. Use it. Rewrite the fractures and let everything begin again."

Theo’s hands hovered over the edge of the briefcase. One choice. One moment. And everything would change.

"Or," the man added, "you can let things play out. Keep fighting this losing battle, knowing it never ends."

Helena’s voice buzzed again in his ear. "Theo, whatever you’re thinking—don’t do it. This isn’t our decision to make."

Kalen gave a slow chuckle. "Oh, but that’s the beauty of it, isn’t it? It’s always been his decision."

00:00:03 until Assassination.

Theo’s mind raced. The future he dreamed of—the one he fought for—might lie within this device. But the risks were beyond anything he could calculate. No guarantee. No do-overs.

The man from Havana watched him with calm, unwavering eyes. "The past doesn’t define you, Theo. You define it. Choose."

The seconds stretched. Theo could hear Caesar’s footsteps—one step closer to the dagger’s edge.

This is it.

00:00:01 – Decision Point.

Theo’s hand moved, lightning-fast. He slammed the briefcase shut.

The man from Havana blinked, momentarily stunned, but his expression remained calm—almost as though he had expected this outcome.

"I won’t erase the world," Theo said, his voice steady. "We fight with what we have. No resets. No shortcuts."

The hum of the device faded as the briefcase sealed. Caesar’s final moment arrived—just as it always had. The senators surrounded him, their daggers flashing in the sunlight. The timeline remained intact.

Kalen let out a low whistle. "Well, that was dramatic."

Helena’s voice buzzed in Theo’s ear, relieved but cautious. "You made the right call, Theo. The timeline’s stabilizing. No more fractures—at least for now."

Theo exhaled slowly, his heart pounding as he watched history play out. The Architect had failed—but the cost of victory still loomed over them.

00:01:24 after Caesar’s Assassination.

The man from Havana gave a small, knowing smile. "You made your choice. Now you’ll have to live with it."

Theo clenched his fists. "What happens now?"

The man’s eyes sparkled with something between amusement and resignation. "Now? Now you see how the story unfolds."

He stepped back into the shadows of the forum, disappearing into the crowd as effortlessly as he had appeared.

Kalen crossed his arms. "So... what now, fearless leader? We saved the timeline, but that guy’s still out there. And I don’t think he’s done messing with us."

Theo nodded grimly. "We head back to the core. This isn’t over—not by a long shot."

Time: 2048
Location: Berlin, Global Innovation Center

The portal shimmered, depositing them back into the dim, familiar glow of the core room. Theo stood still for a moment, his thoughts swirling. They had preserved history, but the Architect was still in the shadows—waiting for his next move.

Helena sat heavily at the console, her fingers moving across the controls. "Timeline’s holding steady. No new fractures detected." She glanced at Theo, her expression weary. "For now, at least."

Kalen leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You know he’ll be back. Guys like him never stay gone for long."

Theo gave a small, grim smile. "Then we’ll be ready."

But even as the words left his mouth, a gnawing doubt remained in his mind. Had they truly outmaneuvered the Architect? Or had they just become part of a larger plan they didn’t understand?