CHAPTER THREE

"Well, because you went to all the trouble of coming to see my operation, please step this way."

George walked over to a hidden door and all, including the automaton, entered the manufacturing floor of Tidnab industries.

"As you can see Professor, I have come a long way from the days of being a simple Balance Agent. I understand and appreciate your agency has labeled me as the Time Bandit, but I think that the title of Time Controller is more accurate. You see, I do not simply take things. I combine, or control, what is best out of all time periods. That is why you had set your program to bring you back to 1908, but only made it as far back as 2018," George said with a smile.

"This is fun, I am so glad you are here, as it is great to have someone who can truly appreciate my genius." George said with a chuckle.

"Now where was I, oh yes, time control. You see Professor, when that time tube collapsed around me, not only did it send me back in time, but its properties also became absorbed in my brain."

"That is not possible!" Larry stated.

"Did this boy pass the TimeLine Agents history class Professor?"

"It was and is possible, because of the electrical impulses involved in decision making. At the time when the tube was beginning to break down, I had the G.I. panel open trying to stabilize it."

"Were you crazy? Everyone knows…"

George held up his hand to stop the Professor.

"Professor, you would have done the same thing, it was a last-ditch effort. Anyway, because the panel was open, the electro-monistic controls of the tube were attracted to the electrical impulses in my brain. When the tube exploded, I had absorbed enough of the tubes main controls that it transferred me and it to a safe location. Of course, I had a lot of confusion at first. I did not know where I was or what was happening to me. As time went on, the control unit of the tube helped me to understand what was going on."

George paused a moment, then continued,

"At first, I mastered getting from time-period to time-period without causing any issue with the timeline. That is why your agency was not alerted to my activity for a while. As I visited these time-periods I noticed what worked well for the people of that time and what did not. Then I began to think if these people had this, but with that technology, they would be better off. So, I began to borrow things," George started to explain.

"Don't you mean steal?" Larry asked.

"No, boy blunder, borrow. I knew one of you time cops would eventually come investigate what was wrong or missing, so I would always leave a replica of what was borrowed. This little game has gone on for well over a century now." George said proudly.

"Is there a point to this monologue?" the Professor asked.

George laughed,

"Patience, my dear Professor, you will like this part. As I collected these different pieces, I began to figure out how I could improve on all the manner of life of everyone. I learned what would be the best power source if it combined with technology. I calculated it dozens of times and each time I came up with the same answer... steam power," George said proudly.

The Professor shook his head,

"So, because of some accident, that gave you a few extra abilities, you decide to play god."

"Now Professor, you, who works for the TimeLine Agency, should not be so judgmental. Look at some of the actions your Agency has done over these past decades and tell me, who is playing god?" George retorted.

"Hey now, every single action that the TimeLine Agency has taken falls well within the Earth Timeline Standards for Humans," Larry stated proudly.

"You young fool! Do they feed you young recruits' dope? Those who govern the E.T.L.S.H. just wanted to retain the power they have over the nations, and have had the TimeLine Agency bend those 'parameters', as you call them, to suit their purposes. No, you poor misguided puppets, let me show you something."

George took them over to a small room that he had set up to demonstrate his point. He ran several demonstrations showing the superiority of using steam, coupled with other technologies. When the demonstrations were done, George asked,

"Well?"

"Well, what? That really proves nothing, and even if it did, what gives you the right to take away people's freedom of choice?" The Professor asked.

George's face began to turn red.

"You don't understand, these people don't need a choice. This has been their life and all of them are happy. These workers are happy, and you can ask anyone in the city what they think about life, and you will see they are all happy. So, I suggest you get with the program as well, just remember how hard it was for you to get in here. and seeing as you are not going to be able to get back to your time."

"What do you mean can't get back?" Larry interrupted.

"He means he has just created another blend in the time stream," the Professor stated.

"You know Professor, if you straightened out your attitude, your smarts could really benefit you here,"

George said.

"There is nothing wrong with my attitude and everything is wrong with being here," the Professor fired

back.

George now got up in the Professor's face.

"Look Mr. TimeLine agent, this is not a fight you can win, and there will be no one to join your cause, so I would say you are out of options."

George led them back to the trophy room.

"Gentlemen, I will give you two days to decide on your loyalty. You can pledge it to me and my plan, or go it alone, but I warn you this is bigger than both of us, no one can change it even if they wanted to. Now you need to leave, you must be off the docks before dark," George warned.

"I thought you said everything was perfect, why should I be afraid to be on the docks after dark?" The Professor asked.

George did not answer and motioned for the automaton to escort them out. The automaton not only ushered them out the door, but he also made sure they went off the docks. And he did it in a big hurry.

The men straightened their coats from where the automaton had grabbed them and started down the street when they saw three covered trucks turn down the road that led to the docks. Seeing an access ladder that went to the roof of a nearby building they climbed up to see what was going on. They watched as the trucks were unloaded.

They were full of old people from the city.

"A night shift perhaps?" Larry suggested.

All these were taken in the back doors of the factory as the day workers were leaving through the front. The day workers left via the trolleys and buses. The ones coming to work did not seem happy. After the day workers were gone the automaton security force tripled. Larry and the Professor climbed back down and walked back to the hotel in silence. When they got in the room, Larry plopped down on the bed.

"Worried...aren't you?" The Professor asked.

"Well yes, that lunatic seems to be holding all the cards. Professor I am getting married in three months, or I was, now I am never going to see Lora again. We had everything all planned out, where we were going to live, what we were going to do, we even talked about starting a family, now none of that is going to happen," Larry said distressed.

"All's not lost, we still can figure something out," the Professor said reassuringly.

"I don't see how, face it Professor…"

"No! Now you listen and you listen well! I am going to get us out of this and when I do, if you ever hope to be my partner again, I better not hear one more negative thing out of you, is that clear?" The Professor said forcefully.

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now we do have several clues on how he is making time blend and if we have those, we have a chance. Next, we need evidence that Mr. Tidnab is not as community minded as everyone thinks he is."

The Professor went back over the scans of all the automatons he had taken.

"Wait a minute! Larry, come take a look at this."

"What do you think it means?" Larry asked.

"I am not sure, but if my hunch is right, we need to get up extra early tomorrow and climb back up on the roof of that white brick building. I believe what we will witness will help to make our case."

The Professor had just put most of the equipment he had left in the room away and sat in one of the wicker chairs when three automatons came busting into the room.

"We require the rest of your equipment Professor"

Oh sure, but I must say that I am shocked, no wait a minute that is not accurate, it is you that is shocked."

The Professor then fired a small M8 Carton Beam, which he had just pocketed, that literally un-nerved them.

"Give me a hand here Larry. First, hand me my tool kit, then get that door back on its hinges. We need to reprogram these guys to help us out if we need them later."

"Professor when did you learn to do that?" Larry asked.

"What, reprogram them? Learned that when I was back in the academy. I was the only agent that never got a parking ticket," he said with a grin.

Two hours later the three automatons were happily walking in the opposite direction from where they were supposed to go.

Early the next morning the Professor and Larry were up on the roof of the building looking towards the Tidnab factory building.

"Any time now," the Professor said.

Sure enough, two hours before the day workers were due to arrive the back doors of the factory opened and out walked eighty shiny new automatons. These all walked into town and began to fill various service roles to enhance the lives of the people.

"I don't get it Professor."

"To maintain this blended timeline, George has to keep close control on the human population balance. He takes the old, sick, and dying people and turns them into automatons. In his sick mind, he does not kill them, he repurposes them.

"How could anyone think that way?" Larry asked, shocked.

"My guess is that what George told us was true, the time tube controls did merge with his brain, that is one reason he has lived so long. However, time tubes were not designed to last forever. The one that attached to his brain is breaking down and taking George's brain with it. He may have realized that to a certain extent, and that is why he settled on staying in this blended time. Regardless, this just seals that there will be no reasoning with him now," the Professor concluded.

"So, what now?"

"That T135 unit in the cigar factory has to be the key. I am sure that George has told Mr. Newman to not let us anywhere near it, or to hold us if we try to come in. Right now, we need to figure out a way to get a closer look at it," the Professor told him.

They climbed down the stairs and headed towards the hotel. On the way, they passed a young lady who was sitting at one of the outside café tables, and she was crying.

"Are you okay Miss?" The Professor asked.

Rather embarrassed she sat up quickly and, as cheerfully as she could.

"Yes, I am fine, as happy as can be, um, just got something in my eye," she said clearing away the tears.

"May we sit?" The Professor asked.

"Oh, yes please do, I am sorry."

"My Name is Professor Kingsley, and this is my aide Larry Turnbuckle, we are from Canada."

"Oh, I see, then you are from out of town. My name is Candy Smith, it is a pleasure to meet you both, she said with a polite smile.

"What brings you to the Cigar city?"

"We are on a business trip," the Professor replied.

"Oh well I am glad you stopped to check on me, however I am quite alright now, she said in a happier tone.

Candy now stood and started to leave.

"Well Miss. Smith, would you care to join us for some breakfast?" the Professor asked.

"That is kind of you sir, but I don't get paid until tomorrow, and now with my Dad gone I…" she

began to break down again.

"Don't even think about it young lady, we invited you, it is our treat. We are deeply sorry to hear about your father, had he been ill?" the Professor asked.

Candy waited until after the automaton waiter had taken their order.

"We town folks are not supposed to talk of such things," Candy said quietly and with her head bowed.

"Ms. Smith, I will not pry, but I have been told that everyone here is happy, and you clearly are not. I would like to help if you would allow me too," the Professor said softly.

"My father is missing, he is at the age that a lot of folks have gone missing, but it is best I do not talk about it,"

"You cannot talk about a missing person?" Larry asked concerned.

"Well, he is not really considered a missing person… it is complicated to explain." Candy replied.

The conversation was interrupted more frequently now by the automaton waiter.

"I appreciate your attentive service, but is it this establishments practice to disrupt a private conversation every couple of minutes?' The Professor asked in a perturbed tone.

"No sir, sorry sir," was the automaton's reply.

However, the Professor noticed that the waiter went directly over to another unit to discuss what it had been told.

"I do believe my dissatisfaction has gotten some attention," the Professor stated.

Sure enough, not five minutes later, another automaton came to the table.

"Excuse me sir, are you not happy with our service?"

"Who are you and what is your title?" The Professor asked.

"I am Fred, I am the designated manger."

"Ah good, then you should be able to spell out to me the appropriate protocol in handling a guest."

The automaton Fred quickly spouted out the 6-kilobyte document on guest relations.

After listening carefully, the Professor stood up to look Fred in the eyes.

"All of that gobbledygook could be summed up by the phrase, 'Whatever it takes to satisfy

the customer! If you want to satisfy this customer, you will kindly instruct your wait staff to not keep eavesdropping in on our conversation."

Fred continued to make eye contact with the Professor until it had been able to formulate a reply.

"We are programed for attentive service, I cannot change our programing, we apologize for any inconvenience."

As Fred turn to walk away, the Professor said,

"Tell Mr. Tidnab that he needs to refine your programming."