Log Personnel Identification:
Hello? Is this thing on? Okay. Um, this is Dr. Drake Voss, leading Archeological Researcher at the Institute of Temporal Studies. My mission is to research life before World War 3 and pre-photonic civilizations. I'm a 25-year-old human male currently stationed at the Las Pacifica branch of ITS. My team and I are working to uncover the temporal threads that led to the events causing World War 3, hoping to prevent it while keeping the current timeline intact. An incredibly difficult task, but possible. After all, the Rajalians from Rajal 5 are no longer in the history books of WW2, so this can be done.
Log Date: February 14, 2434
First day on the job, and our project is starting off on the right foot. Our Temporal Displacers are functioning as intended, allowing the bearer of the device to travel to any time and place of their choosing. It has been an amazing tool. As a Doctor of Archeology, I have had the privilege to use the device to witness life-changing events.
In 2145, I was aboard the Excelsior, the first deep-space ship to discover Photon Energy, leading to the development of the first FTL (Faster Than Light) engine.
I witnessed First Contact in New Sacramento on Thanar 3 in 2167, where humans first encountered the bipedal sapient species we called the Niman.
For laughs, I even traveled back to July 4th, 1776, to see the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Unfortunately, due to the Temporal Directive, I was unable to speak or interact with the great historical figures of the time. Now, our mission is to go back to 2384 to prevent the terrorist attack on the Photonic Reactor from destroying the Niman embassy, which sparked the first inter-planetary war, later known on Earth as World War 3; resulting in an 85% drop in the human population within a year. Thus declaring Humans as an "Endangered Species".
I must identify a viable temporal thread that would prevent the Photonic Reactor disaster while maintaining peace between our two races. By still writing this, I realize I have yet to succeed in the future. Temporal physics can be incredibly confusing.
Log Date: February 19, 2434
I've visited a few Temporal Archeological sites since the start of this project, and thank good scientists for the nano-mites in my blood, injected into me at birth. How did humans in the 20th century survive without dying from pathogens, viruses, bacteria, diseases, carbon dioxide poisoning, or even self-mutilation? I could have sworn I saw a man eat a hardboiled egg he dropped on the ground! Gross! I hope I don't have to visit that time often.
Log Date: February 21, 2434
Great… My baby boy puked up his pureed carrots on my nice white lab coat this morning before I left for the lab, but I can't get mad at the little guy. He's so cute with a slobbery orange drool sliding down his bib. Fortunately, my amazing wife was there to help with the biohazard cleanup. After a quick cleanup and a goodbye hug and kiss from my family, I headed to work.
I believe I have discovered a temporal thread that could lead to a positive outcome for my current project. Apparently, a great ancestor of Thomas Kelvin, the insidious Xenophobe who purposefully overloaded the Photonic Reactor, and sparked the events that caused WW3.
This ancestor lived nearly 400 years ago, and by eliminating him—or hopefully just changing that ancestors current goals—I could alter the course of history.
I must travel to 2013 to investigate and conduct further research on this supposed ancestor and the era in which he lived to determine the potential impact on our current temporal lineage.
Log Date: February 22, 2434
I continue to investigate the potential temporal thread; pinpointing the exact time and day is very difficult. Further research is required. On another note, I was assaulted today—rather, an attempt was made on my person—by a fool who clearly didn't know I am highly proficient in Force Photonic Tegnyks.
First introduced to humans by the Niman shortly after peaceful relations were established. It was determined that certain humans, with sufficient mental control, could utilize these Tegnyks. The cerebral implant in my brain enhances my ability to manipulate Photon microns and the kinetic and potential energy of molecules in the air. By manipulating air molecules, I can perform various destructive, protective, and restorative Tegnyks.
For example, if I quickly accelerate the movement of oxygen molecules around me, I can ignite the air, creating a blazing flame—this is known as Pyros. By decelerating water vapor in the air, I can freeze it into shards of ice—this Tegnyk is called Cryos. I can also generate static electricity in my hands, simulating thunderclouds, resulting in a powerful electric shock, known as Electros. In total, I know about 25 Tegnyks, each serving different purposes and effects.
Now, back to the fool who attempted to rob me—logical, given I'm a guy in a lab coat, and visibly unarmed. He tried to catch me by surprise, but a defensive kinetic barrier I maintain at all times when traversing the streets stopped him. With a flick of my wrist, I accelerated the oxygen molecules around him fast enough to ignite, effectively blasting him with a fireball. The poor guy never saw it coming… well, maybe he did—a sudden burst of red-hot flames—but that's beside the point. I finally used my Tegnyks to defend myself for once!
Log Date: February 23, 2434
I was late for work today; the photonic resenquencer at the institute is under repair, so I had to manually pilot a vehicle, which took 15 bloody minutes. Honestly, how did humankind exist before instantaneous teleportation?!
Our mission has determined a time and date for my next temporal archeology research project. I'm headed to Las Vegas, the legendary city of sin. I need to scan and profile the genetic structure of the civilians living at that time to see if they match Kelvin, after temporal genetic resequencing, of course. I'll be donning early 21st-century clothing and posing as a tourist in this once-great city.
Log Date: February 24, 2434
Bloody hell, tourists are stupid! I couldn't believe how many didn't know anything about anything! Really?! Skip annihilation from diseases—how did my ancestors not die out from stupidity?!
Okay, rant over. Back to work.
I couldn't find the correct temporal genetic match I needed; however, I did receive a strange transmission while there. It appeared to be temporal in nature, quite fascinating, since the discovery of temporal time travel only happened recently!
This means there was a temporal anomaly in that era, linking their time to another timeline altogether! I must investigate! Is this alternate temporal disruption a thread of the current timeline? Is it a mirrored effect of myself? Or is this point in time a nexus where multiple timelines intersect? This could lend credence to the multiverse theory! I must return! Forget the 21st-century clothing; I need to bring my photonic scanning equipment to explore this temporal link!
Log Date: February 25, 2013, 0900
There seems to be a temporal anomaly in the vicinity of Las Vegas, but I can't get a clear lock on it. I must locate it before some unfortunate soul from this disease-ridden time stumbles upon it. I can hardly breathe the air here! It doesn't surprise me that the atmosphere is toxic; they haven't installed atmospheric filters in the troposphere yet.
Log Date: February 25th, 2013, 1345
I've located the temporal anomaly in this timeline. It's completely invisible, but it's ripe with photonic energy. Unless I had my photonic scanner activated, there's no way I could tell something was happening here. It makes sense why the locals don't notice it. I'm placing a temporal beacon to secure my location in this time and timeline for a quick emergency evacuation. I have no idea where or when this newly discovered timeline will take me.
Log Date: ? Day 1
Well, I didn't end up on a lava planet. Instead, I seem to be in the past—an alternate timeline, perhaps. It's hard to tell; my instruments hardly work here. Maybe there's simply nothing to scan. There's no photon energy, no highly radioactive nuclear energy, and hardly any electrical energy to detect. The air is thick with the stench of burning coal and other fossil fuels, but I can't make out any major cities. I'm in the middle of a deciduous forest. My GPS (Galactic Positioning System) isn't working either; it makes sense—no satellites scattered throughout this galaxy. So far, the only thing that works is my personal internal computer and this log program. I'm not ready to leave just yet, so I'm going to stay a while and conduct some more research.
Log Date: ? Day 2
This world is fascinating, as if on the dawn of the electrical age but thriving in the steam engine era—an industrial society of the Victorian age! They have primitive yet advanced technological feats. I observed cybernetic androids powered by steam, known as automatons. They have achieved aerial flight through steam-powered thrust from propellers and "flying machines"—some big enough to resemble the sailing ships and galleons of old! This world feels as if atomic, electric, and internal combustion engines never existed, leaving it trapped in the steam era. Don't get me wrong; steam has its merits as an energy source, but compared to a single photon micron, it's like a candle next to the sun! I am not ready to leave yet. I must learn all I can about this realm! Who knows if the temporal anomaly will still exist when I return?
Log Date: ? Day 3
I'm in a bad spot. Not good. I was observing a small village reminiscent of the old cowboy towns from the 1800s. However, the technology here is quite different—substantially different. I was cloaked, so no one could see or hear me when a shootout erupted between two rival groups—raiders, pirates, or thugs. I didn't care what they were; all that mattered was that a stray bullet hit my cloaking device, shattering it beyond repair and making me visible in the middle of a bustling town.
That was quite a shock to the locals. In the middle of the street of a Victorian town stood I—a man in all black and cybernetics from 500 years in the future, suddenly appearing out of nowhere.
I was just as shocked as they were. The shooters turned their attention to me. I tried to activate my protective barrier, the Tegnyk Mentos, by maximizing the potential energy around me to create a shield. When I attempted the mental Tegnyk, nothing happened. A bullet grazed my leg. I had to run; something wasn't right. They pursued me, and I attempted to halt them with my Wind Tegnyk, Aeros, directing the molecules to create a powerful gust of wind. However, no wind was generated. Then another bullet struck my side, causing a sudden dull pain.
I finally stumbled into an empty barn. I tried a basic Cryos freeze, but nothing happened. I then ran a diagnostic on my cerebral Tegnyk implant through my internal computer. It made sense: there's no photon energy here. Without photon energy, there's no energy source for the Tegnyks. I can't use them in this world. I examined my sudden pain; fortunately, no blood from the bullet—it was stopped by my emergency evacuation device on my belt holster. Unfortunately, it's utterly destroyed with no chance of simple repair.
I hate to say it, but unless they have a viable source of photon energy to mine and harness, as well as the correct parts to repair my temporal evac device, I think I'm stuck here.
Oh great… now my internal computer is also low on energy. I'll have to conserve power for more important functions.
This might be my last log… for a while. Ah crap… I just realized I forgot to say goodbye to my wife and son today. I know they think I'll be home for dinner, walking in and out of the portal within a second.
But for me, when will I see them next?