The Victors Write History
Beyond Time
Chapter 1
Renko moved as quickly as he could, the fate of the planet, his family and his nation rested in his hands. He had damned the planet to Demichev's iron fisted rule by coming to this god forsaken island. He lost his friend and brother, James Devlin. Kathryn, the British MIR-12 operative died to allow him to continue his mission to stop Demichev and fix time.
All of these deaths, he blamed on Demichev. But he also knew it was his fault. He was the one that saved Demichev from dying in the fire. He himself had given Demichev all the power he needed to take over the world.
He stopped on the bridge, as another massive blue wall surged towards him, he had become used to this event. Because of the massive amounts of E99, an element that had the power to control time, combined with the unstable “Singularity”, these time fluctuations were common.
The blue wave hit him, as he felt the breath pulled out of him. His eyes closed reflexively. He opened them, to see Russian soldiers attempting to level their rifles to fire at him. The once decrepit, destroyed walls had changed. They were lit up with an orange light. Time had slowed down, without him using a deadlock to do it. He pulled his hand up to look at it, the time fluctuation hadn't affected him. He could move normally. This wasn't right.
Renko raised his Valkrie, the Russian's version of the AK after they had advanced forward with using E99 technology.
The shot sped out normally. As the Russians slowly fell, time sped back up to normal. Their bodies thumped to the floor as they caught back up to him. He squatted down as he grabbed one of the Russian's rifle. Another Valkrie. The Singularity was causing time to bleed together. This soldier shouldn't have this rifle. He could sense something. Another time fluctuation. He ejected the full magazine of the Valkrie, sliding it into his dump pouch. The blue wall of energy slammed into him, taking his breath away once more, as he blinked to protect his eyes from the flash of light. As the lit halls changed from clean and bright as the day, alive, back to decrepit and crumbling, as dead as Katorga-12 was.
He looked to the dormant Time Manipulation Device on his left wrist.
'What is it doing to me?'
The thought ran through his head as he picked up his running pace in an attempt to reach the final augmenter of the TMD and end this war, once and for all.
A knock sounded at the door, as Princess Celestia sat at her table by the window in her castle, her gaze locked on the brilliantly purple, shield shield that protected Canterlot. They had recently been threatened in the eve of a marriage between her guard captain, Shining Armor, and her niece, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, also known as “Cadance” by most ponies.
“Please, come in!” Celestia called to the knocking on the door, as her focus shifted to the door. Princess Luna walked in. Closing the door behind her with her magic.
“Celestia, can we talk?” Luna asked her elder sister.
“Certainly! I always have time for my little sister.” Celestia said motioning towards the stool opposite to her.
Luna quickly slid into the seat, making an observation in an attempt to break into conversation.
“You haven't touched your tea, Tia, are you okay?”
“Hmm? Oh! Yes, I am. I was just thinking of the threats we received. How odd that they would be made towards Young Cadance. She's not done anything to anger anyone. Well, besides killing that witch. But she was hated by everyone that knew her. She was a hermit and had no known family or friends.”
Luna sat silently, a small, but fearful thought came to her mind.
“You don't... you don't think it was him, do you?”
“Who? Sombra? Of course not. He wasn't one for theatrics, he was impatient and would as soon rush the castle than threaten us. But this is not what you originally came in here for, was it? Also, would you like some tea?”
Luna hesitated, wanting to choose her words carefully.
“No thank you. And you're right, that's not what I came in here for. You see... I've been having bad dreams-”
“Dreams?” Celestia asked. “Luna, isn't that your field?”
“Well it is, but these aren't normal dreams. I've been getting them quite a bit.”
“Well, I'll help however, I can. Go ahead and tell me about them.”
Collecting her thoughts, Luna spoke.
“Well, in these dreams, I have control over an element that not even StarSwirl himself could tame. Time.”
“Time?” Celestia asked incredulously.
“Yes. Time. I could lift and hold things without touching them, like I normally do, but it wasn't just that. I could stop momentum within a sphere, I could make things that were old... new. But it wasn't this that scared me.”
“So, what was it, Luna?”
“I wasn't a pony. I was... some weird creature, it was like a mix between a minotaur and an ape. And I wasn't using magic. I had a device attached to my... what do minotaurs call their forelegs?”
“Arms, I believe it was.”
“I had a device attached to my forearm. And it could do all these wonderful things! But... I wasn't using it to help others... I was using it to kill. Creatures that looked like mutations of what I was at the time, and other creatures, masked creatures, that looked just like me. They were slaughtered by the creatures, and I just wanted to help them fight them off, but they'd attack me! There was one bit where they were being besieged by a massive creature, they barely managed to barricade a door and hold it off. And I wanted to help them! But every time I told them back off from the door so I could destroy it... they wouldn't listen to me!”
“So, what happened next?” Celestia asked, taking her first sip of tea.
“Well... I was forced to kill them. Every other exit was blocked and they would not respond to me! I had no choice! And then when I killed them, a disturbing creature burst through it. I used that ability I refereed to earlier, stopped its momentum and...well, I killed it. And every creature following it.”
“And how long have you been having these dreams?”
“For about a week. But that's not what I'm worried about most. This isn't all I did. I... traveled time.”
“Travelled time?”
“Yes, several times. I saved what I assume to be men of the species I was at the time. They spoke alien, yet at the same time, I could understand them. I said nothing, just nodded, even thought at that time, it felt like I wasn't in control of my body.”
“Well, Luna, I certainly don't know what to tell you. Perhaps you just accidentally allowed yourself to seep into the subconsciousness of a pony writing a story?”
“Maybe, but I do feel a lot better now that I have talked to you about it. I think I’ll take leave now, I shall see you at the wedding tomorrow. Have a nice night, sister.”
“And you as well, Luna.” With that last bit exchanged, Luna allowed herself to slip out of stool and leave the room. As Celestia was left to herself to think.
Renko wiped the blood from his face with his right hand, the slick substance ruining his already battered glove.
'Fucking zeks'
He thought to himself. The creatures that had the ability to phase in and out of time. One of them had managed to get a surprise swipe on him as he was attempting to re energize the Time Manipulation Device with one of the extra fuel cells he had for it. He managed to replace the dead cells and knock it back into time with a wave of E99 energy and finish it off with a few shots to the head.
As Renko neared the end of the hall, he reached a door. Not bothering with the doorknob, he kicked it open. The frame collapsing and giving way as it fell into the other room. The very same room that Renko was attempting to gain entrance to. He could sense it again. Time was bleeding.
The room was a lab. Some place where you could work on a weapon like device. Off to his right there was a table that contained a device.
Time shifted. Renko could now see two ghost like figures. Dr. Barisov and Demichev. The kindly old man, Dr. Barisov was to Renko's left. The younger man, Demichev, was to his right. They were discussing the device on the table right in front of him.
“Ha! We did it, Dr. Demichev! We created it! It works! The TMD!” Barisov exclaimed in excitement.
“Yes, yes, we did! The tests were amazing!” Demichev replied.
Renko picked up the gun like device. A big, clunky beast in comparison to the TMD he had on his left arm.
'Now! I hope this device can be used to help the world!” Barisov said.
Renko couldn't help but snort at that.
“Barisov, it has destroyed the world, but... soon. Soon it will save the world and your dream will come true.” Renko muttered to himself. But he couldn't help but add something to it. “I'm sorry I have to do this old friend. But your death is necessary to set the world right.”
He knew what would happen to Barisov if he set the timeline back to the original one. Barisov would be killed when Katorga-12 is shut down by the Kremlin. He outlived his usefulness, the USSR has no place for people without anything to contribute. Even though he was a Russian scientist, he did not believe in the actions that the USSR used to control.
Renko allowed the prototype TMD to thump to the table. It gave nothing to him. But he saw what he needed. A door at the end of the room. The final augmentor of the TMD. After this, he could set time right. Save billions of people. He began at a quick pace to the room the augmentor was in.
As he neared the augmentor, it opened automatically. Presenting him with a device that contained an arm brace, three manipulators. A handle stuck up at the front that he could grab onto. He quickly did so, and pushed forward. Locking his left arm into place, the TMD opening, the energy cells separating.
The manipulators removed the fuel cells of the TMD, then proceeded to remove the capacitor, a round device that prevented the TMD from overloading.
This all required accurate soldering and desoldering. It quickly replaced the missing components with new pieces. The once previous orange TMD now glowed a light blue.
After the device released his arm, another arm came out of the back of the machine, holding a folded piece of paper. Renko grabbed the folded piece of paper out of the arm's grip. Unfolding it, he made a discovery.
Renko, I apologize for making you trek all the way to this place to gain this great power. But I had to make Demichev would never get it. He's afraid of the Singularity. So my old lab was the best place to put it. This augmentation gives the TMD ultimate power. It no longer relies on synthesized artificial E99 to operate. These blue energy cells are pure E99. The have unlimited power and grant the TMD much more powerful modules. Now, quickly Renko! Make your way back to the Singularity and find me! We must fix the time line as soon as possible!
-Barisov
Renko dropped the note, it fluttering to the floor as he took off running. He knew time was of the essence. Demichev may be scared of the Singularity, but he knew that it was where the TMD was, and his army would soon descend upon Renko and Barisov.
“Doctor Barisov!” Renko yelled, as he tossed the final zek to the ground, dead. The room around him a decaying grey, covered in blood from the Spetsnaz and mutants Renko had killed. The TMD proving to be an even greater asset, the upgraded impulse having even more power than it did before.
He should be near, just a few more rooms. Renko neared a blast door, it opened without Human interference as he neared. He could see Barisov staring at the Singularity. A shining pillar of pure energy shooting into the sky. A device standing in front of it. He kenw what it was for. It was to weaponize E99 bombs. His had already been weaponized.
He turned around, having heard the blast door open.
“Ah! Captain Renko! You survived! I am so glad!” Renko didn't resist as Barisov drew in him for a hug. A few strong pats on the back and they seperated.
“Now, Renko, you must hurry! Use the Singularity and open a rift back to 1953. Fix the time line.”
Renko droped his pack on the floor as he pulled the E99 bomb out of it. Holding it in his hands. He stepped up to the Singularity as he activated the TMD. But hesitated as he looked back to Barisov.
“Doc,” Renko began. “It was an honor serving with you. And I don't know if you know this, but if I fix the timelin-”
He was cut off by Barisov.
“Yes, I know Renko. Katorga 12 will be shut down and I will be killed to destroy any secrets. But if my life means that the psychopath Demichev will never come to power and slaughter millions of people. Then I am willing to do it... for the world and for my daughter. Now go Renko!”
Renko didn't hesitate this time, as he pushed E99 energy into the Singularity using the TMD, he could feel a rift forming. However, he missed something Barisov muttered to himself.
“I will take solace in the fact that I will be ignorant of your existence and this adventure.” The sad voice floated out, drowned by the sound of the Singularity.
In a flash of light, Renko was in a much more clean Singularity. The walls were metallic grey. He could hear muffled shouting behind him, but paid no attention to it as he lifted the E99 bomb he had been holding the entire time. He planted it on the device that was used to weaponize these E99 bombs and heard it's beep. He knew what it meant. Death and destruction was about to occur.
He activated the TMD and began pumping energy into the Singularity again, as he felt his body shift through time.
A blinding flash of light occurred, as he opened his eyes he was greeted with... an intact Singularity.
“So, you have failed again, have you?” Renko knew that voice. He turned around, only to see something that he feared.
Demichev was holding Doctor Barisov at gun point, on his knees.
“You fucker.” Renko growled at Demichev.
“Now, now, Captain, no need for that. Give me the TMD and I will kill both you and Barisov quickly.”
“Renko! Don't! We can still fix this! We're just missing something!” Barisov yelled, in an attempt to stop something he imagined as happening from happening.
“You old fool,” Demichev said. “The victors write the history.” He said as he attempted to level his revolver at Renko. However something triggered inside of Renko, as Demichev slowed down to a crawl. Renko ripped a Centurion, a revolver loaded with E99 rounds, from its holster and fired a shot into Demichev's chest before he even managed to move the revolver a foot.
As Demichev lay on the ground, Barisov sprung to his feet, a look of realization his face.
“Victors... write the history? Renko! That's it! The Singularity is not the anomaly in time! You are! In order to fix the timeline, you need to go back in time and kill yourself to stop yourself from saving Demichev!”
However, at this time, Demichev was getting to his feet from the shot. His hand held tight over the bullet wound.
“Ha! You're asking a man to kill himself over something you've been wrong... how many times now!”
A look of confusion flashed across Barisov and Renko's faces.
“What? Don't you remember Renko? The day that you saved me, you already tried to stop yourself. It didn't work. You were crushed by rubble. You died in a fucking fire!” Demichev said.
A look of realization crossed Renko's face. He hadn't thought about it since he had been in a fire at the time, but... he was there. Yelling at himself, called himself by name.
'Renko! Don't let Demichev live!' He had heard, as he saw a man get crushed by rubble... that was him.
“Renko! Don't listen to him! We can still fix this! Use the TMD to go back in time and kill yourself to prevent Demichev from surviving!
“You've been wrong on this so many times, I'm beginning to think you're not a valid authority on this. Renko! Prove your loyalty to me by killing Barisov. In return I will grant you limitless power.” Demichev offered.
“Renko! Look around you! Is this a world you want to live in? What about your daughter? The son your wife was pregnant with? You will have them suffer for mere power! This man's a mass murderer! A Dictator!” Barisov refuted, in an attempt to counter Demichev.
“No visionary is without his critics. Renko, you were once but a drone in the hive. Join me, and I can give you so much more!”
“Renko! Make your choice! But think of all the suffering! You choose Demichev, and Kathryn died for nothing! Your friend Devlin died for nothing! Who do you choose?” Barisov demanded.
Without hesitation, Renko leveled his Centurion to Demichev's head, one shot went off, and all went quiet.
“Captain! You just killed the most powerful man in the world! But it's not over! You need to go back and stop yourself from saving Demichev!”
Renko looked down to his left hand, pausing and then gripping it together.
He turned back to the Singularity. The TMD activated.
“The world thanks you, Captain.” Barisov said. Renko meerley looked back and gave a short salute and smile. As Barisov returned it, Renko looked back to the Singularity. He began the process again. He allowed energy to escape it, as he felt time shifting. A dright flash occurred as he closed his eyes.
He opened his eyes. He was where he needed to be. The docks, where he first crashed. He was on the hill leading up to the main processing area.
“Hey! Spartan Team! Friendly!” There he was. Past Renko walking towards him. Less than twenty five meters, he could make this.
He raised the Centurion. Firing one shot. It hit past Renko in the chest before he could react. Future Renko could feel a sudden pain in his chest. Grabbing the chest area, he could feel the warm blood. He looked down. A hole was in his clothing on his chest. Right where he had hit past Renko.
He stumbled to past Renko, collapsing near the other one, as he dragged himself to himself.
“Ren-Renko?” Past Renko choked out. “What the fuck?”
“Long story.” Future Renko grunted in pain. “Basically you save evil dictator from dying, time shit happens, USSR controls the world and this was the only way to fix all this shit.”
“What?” Past Renko groaned out. “By murdering myself?”
“Yeah.Just lay back and die. There's no use to protesting it now."
Past Renko decided to heed future Renko's advice and did just that.
“Spartan Team, this is Devlin 1-4. If anyone's out there, pick up!”
Future Renko dragged himself closer to past Renko, unceremoniously pulling the radio off past Renko's chest.
“Devlin, this is Renko speaking.” He said, in pain.
“Oh, thank god! Where are you Renko?”
“Uh, I shot myself.” Renko repsonded, the pain fading away, his body going into shock.
“What? Where are you?”
“Listen, Devlin, I haven't got a lot of time to speak. But this is necessary for the world to survive. Can you do me a favor?”
“Yes, keep talking to me Renko.”
“If a massive blue wall barrels towards you and you're suddenly transported to a much cleaner looking island, don't fucking save anyone that's about to die. Do this for me.”
“Yeah, sure. Listen Renko, your body is going into shock, keep talking to me, where are you?”
Renko didn't respond as he let the radio fall from his grip, the blood soaking into the dirt underneath him.
He couldn't hear past Renko breathing anymore. He allowed darkness to overtake him. However, as future Renko's body began fading from existence, the TMD started glowing a brilliant blue. It got more and more powerful until it finally encircled his still fading body. And in a flash of light, he was gone.
The radio lay discarded a few feet from the body of Renko, as Devlin's voice cried from it.
“Renko! Come in! Renko! I repeat! Come in! Renko!”
Author's Note
This is my favorite game. "Singularity". I hope I explained well enough for those who aren't familiar with the game. As always, I welcome criticism.
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Same if you disliked the story. Please leave a comment explaining why.
