Braun tilted his head back in a roar. "Heck, boy! We're all changing the future. Even you with your grand 'ol plans of making the world a better place. If you give the Gift to someone, what do you think happens to the future?"
The cylinders had been tumbling in Kerr's head. Suddenly, slammed into place. He had been cataloguing the major events of 1993. An old history lesson had been triggered.
New Jersey.
Ryder.
Ramzi.
1993.
Ramzi was a terrorist. The bombing of the first world trade center. It was their fault.
His heart began to race again. In response, the suit released even more drugs into his system. His smooth confidence returned.
He kept talking while he considered his options.
"And what are you getting out of this?" Kerr looked Ramzi, who was slowly backing the van out.
Johansson laughed, "A better question: 'What don't we get?'"
"Heck yeah!" Murphy pounded fists with his friend. "Money, girls, and power, baby!"
Major Blanc coughed into her fist, concealing a grin.
"Who do you think saved the Union?" asked Braun, locking eyes with Kerr. "The Escalation of Baker's Point? The Baker War? You don't remember, do you?"
Kerr blinked. He took pride in his memory, but it was a blank. He remember a small military build-up at Baker's Point…
Colonel Braun shook his head, "That could have gone very badly for us…"
Private Murphy interrupted, "The first time around, it did go badly."
Johansson nodded, his face grim. "We were all there. But we got out." He shared a look and a smile with Braun. "Thanks to the Colonel."
Kerr remembered Baker's Point. It was frightening. Both sides came close to conflict.
"There was no war," Kerr stated, guessing what Braun was about to say.
Braun shrugged, "As I said. We took care of it. Their Prime Minister had an 'accident' that nobody needed to know about." He made quotes in the air. "The other guys backed down. As you remember it, there was no war. The second time around."
Kerr's skin felt hot. "That kind of thing is prohibited by the UN Charter."
Major Blanc broke in, "In the years before the Charter, the military had its own ways of dealing with time. You want to know how bad it was for me the first time around? I don't remember the first time, because I was dead. I died in the beginning of the conflict."
Kerr remained silent.
Braun eyed Kerr. "Let's change the subject, Professor. What can you tell me about the COVID-104?"
The sudden change of subject took Kerr off-guard. He recited the textbook answer. "It is a common virus discovered in the 21st century. It causes flu-like symptoms before causing a cascade of organ failure. A simple cure discovered in the 22nd century saved us, but not before tens of millions died."
"So, how are you feeling, Professor? Any muscle pain? Sinus pressure?"
Kerr realized with horror what he was saying.