The two MMDI time travel agents who also are intimate partners sit at their round dining table in matching chairs and face each other in the sequestration living quarters. Since they are off duty in casual mode, they are wearing only the agency regulated black tight-fitting shorts. Both men have facial expressions which betray their clear-cut irritation and annoyance. Vincent Wauneka frowns as his right hand pushes away a triangular food tray with multiple sections containing nondescript semi-solid goop. “I never thought I would miss the crew cafeteria. The tray probably has more taste than this slop we are supposed to put in our mouths,” he says. Ted Avila nods in agreement and he also pushes his food tray aside.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” says the image of Eduardo on the large screen near the round table where the two agents are seated. He adds, “When you go on your missions to Earth, it is expected that you will enjoy taking advantage of actual food and beverages available to you there. The food replication unit in this sequestration living quarters is very limited and only intended to provide necessary short-term nourishment.”
Vincent Wauneka replies, “Nourishment? Really? Is that what you call this?” Ted Avila quickly says, “So, wait a second, Eduardo. Are you hinting that Vincent and I will get assigned to missions on Earth instead of continuing to hold here in sequestration for several more days?”
“Yes, but not a hint,” Eduardo explains. “There was never any intent on my part to hold you both here for an extended period. Ten days have elapsed since General Yang sent you here.”
Vincent Wauneka answers back, “Feels more like ten months, Eduardo.”
“The estimation is that most other agents will presume the two of you are on missions. They would never begin to image that you were sequestered down here,” Eduardo says.
“What we’re saying, Eduardo, is we are not accustomed to being in such a confined and small space,” Ted Avila admits. “We haven’t done any work at all for ten days now. This feels like punishment to us.”
Eduardo explains, “I am going to be completely transparent with you two. The ten days away from regular duty was never meant as punishment. And now there is an urgent issue on Earth—classified top-secret—that requires you two to be sent on a mission immediately. I was gathering all the necessary details. Are the two of you ready for a pre-mission briefing right now?”
“We want to get moving on this, yes,” Vincent Wauneka says enthusiastically.” Ted Avila adds, “Certainly, Eduardo. Right away.”
“Let me direct your attention to this screen where I have essential data points for you. This begins your pre-mission briefing,” says Eduardo
On the screen Avila and Wauneka can see data points that accompany the briefing that Eduardo is discussing with but his image is not shown to them:
“The destination year for this top-secret mission is 2012. The location on Earth is Amargosa, Nevada in what was formerly known as the United States of America. Amargosa is located just under one hundred miles from Las Vegas near the edge of Death Valley. This mission is for you two to provide recon regarding the Ezuoia. They have set up the only known presence for them on planet Earth. I am the only one who knows of this. Now I am briefing you two. General Yang does not know. Doctor Oswald also does not know. They are capable of being simultaneously present and living inside and around their home worlds while they also are present on Earth at that Amargosa, Nevada location. The Ezuoia also exist simultaneously in the past, the present, and the future with instant access whenever they want it to see complete, detailed knowledge of events and actions.”
“You’re saying the Ezuoia used their presence in the past to establish a facility on Earth in the year 2012?” Ted Avila asks with a worried look on his face.
“Yes, precisely. I have determined from my vantage point with my supercomputing capabilities that their establishing that Amargosa facility created an unusual branching off of timelines from 2012 forward in time. Where the normal stucture and flow of spacetime is one major timeline with minor tributaries, now there are multiple timelines branching out in 2012 and forward. Think of spacetime as now having undiscovered strands as seen on the screen in front of you. Each strand is its own timeline and none of the timelines intersect but merely intermingle. This multiplicity of the strands of spacetime represent a very dangerous threat to what has been up until now the unchallenged authority of MMDI in repairing timelines in the past by sending agents on time-travel missions. My assessment is the Ezuoia do not intend to allow humanity to be in sole control of time travel. And so the Ezuoia set up Amargosa to complete with Clavius Base.”