Doomsday Creators (The Umbrella Academy) Book Three

9. Grandfather Paradox

When it was time for Allison and Viktor to meet with Marcus, Lucy left them to it and returned to the hotel. As she didn't want to get involved with something she disagreed with, and after what had happened with Jayme, she didn't want to see another Sparrow ever again.
Later than evening Allison and Viktor returned, looking grim, as Marcus had failed to turn up, meaning they had failed to get the briefcase.
Diego also looked annoyed, after being forced to spend the whole day with his son.
So, they all joined Lucy at the table she was sat at in the lobby, and began drinking heavily.

"It's not right. It's just not right" muttered Diego.
"What are you mumbling about?" Questioned Allison.
"Lila dumping Stan on me after all these years. It's just not right" answered Diego.
"Hey, if you did the deed, don't blame her for the consequence" scolded Viktor.
"That's not the point" replied Diego.
"Then what is?" Asked Viktor.
"He's cramping my style. I need to be able to react to danger in a moments notice. How can I do that when I'm playing wet nurse to a 12 year old?"
"You're his dad!"
"Alleged dad".

"Viktor's got a point Diego. Besides, you don't want to be like our dad, and screw this kid up, like Reginald did to us. The kid didn't ask to be born, you know. You need to be a better dad to Stan, since we all know what it's like to grow up with an awful father figure. Besides, the kid is 12 years old, he doesn't need you babysitting him. You don't need him attached to your hip or getting in the way. I'm pretty sure he can look after himself. Remember what we were doing at 12? We were fighting criminals" reminded Lucy.

"Yes, but Stan isn't trained like us, he isn't a killer, and he can't defend himself. Which is why I am having to go out of my way to look after him" admitted Diego, as he glanced over at Stan, who was practicing his karate skills by the pool tables.
"Yeah, well at least you have a kid" sighed Allison, before heading back over to the bar and ordering another drink.
"I had a feeling talking about kids in front of her was a bad idea. So in future Diego, when moaning about having a kid, don't do it around Allison, who has just lost her own" scolded Lucy, before following Allison.

When Lucy reached the bar, the lobby doors burst open, and Five came running in with Klaus right behind him.
"Five, what's wrong? I thought you and Klaus were going on a road trip. What are you doing back so soon?" Questioned Lucy.
"I'll explain in a second. Everybody gather around" instructed Five.
Diego and Viktor made their way over to the others, and they all crowded around Five.
"Where's Luther?" Asked Five.
"I don't know. I haven't seen him since this morning" answered Lucy.
"I haven't see him either" revealed Diego.
"Nor me" added Allison.
"That's worrying" frowned Lucy.

"It is. But right now we've got bigger problems to deal with" announced Five, as he placed a large folder down onto the bar.
"Like what?" Sighed Allison.
"Like this" informed Five, as he began flicking through the folder, showing off all the newspaper clippings inside, all of which were of women.
"Who are all these women?" Asked Five.
"They are our mothers" revealed Five.
"That ones mine" announced Klaus, as a pointed to a picture of an Amish lady.

"And that's our mother" mumbled Lucy, as Five turned the page.
"How do you know?" Questioned Five.
"I saw her in a memory, the day I uncovered that we were siblings. She was the one holding us before Reginald Hargreeves bought us from her" explained Lucy.
"Why are they all in this file?" Quizzed Viktor.
"Because they are dead. They all died at the exact same moment, on October 1st, 1989" answered Five.
"That's our birthday" gasped Viktor.
"Not anymore it's not. They all died before we were born".

"That's dumb. If we were never born, then how do we exist?" Questioned Diego.
"My point exactly" replied Five.
"What are you saying?" Asked Viktor.
"I'm saying that when we jumped here, we created a time paradox. And not just any paradox. The grandfather paradox" revealed Five.
"What the hell is a grandfather paradox?" Quizzed Klaus.
"I think I know" mumbled Lucy.

All of her siblings turned to look at her in suprise, and she blushed.
"Well, at least I think I do" she said quickly.
"Go on" encouraged Klaus.
"Well, it's the idea that if you hate your grandfather and go back in time to murder him, you will no longer exist when you return to the present, because your mother doesn't exist either. But if you don't exist, then no one goes back in time to murder your grandfather, so he lives, and has your mother, who in turn, has you. Creating an eternal loop, otherwise known as a paradox" explained Lucy.
Five smiled proudly, "That's correct".

"And how do you know about this grandfather paradox?" Questioned Allison.
"Well, while the rest of you were off doing missions and having your own lives, I watched a lot of films, and read a lot of books. It was the only thing I could do, since dad wouldn't let me leave the house" admitted Lucy.
"I'm pleased that at least one of my siblings has a brain, and can understand that problem facing us" praised Five.
"I still don't understand it" informed Diego.
"There's a shocker" sighed Allison.

"Well, since someone killed our mothers, we shouldn't exist, but we do, and the universe can't handle it, which is a problem" explained Viktor.
"A big problem" agreed Five.
"O.K, so what exactly does this paradox mean for us?" Demanded Allison.
"I don't know exactly, but things have started to disappear" revealed Five.
"Like what?" Questioned Allison.
"So far, a couple of lobsters-" started Five.
"And a shit tonne of cows" added Klaus.
"But I have a feeling this is just the beginning" finished Five.

"A feeling? Aren't you supposed to be retired?" Reminded Allison.
"Believe me, I want nothing more" admitted Five.
"You know, you can't keep dragging us into shit, just because you've got an itch only an apocalypse can scratch, and expect us to deal with the fallout! You're not the boss of us!" Snapped Allison.
"Leave him alone! He didn't ask for any of this. And may I remind you that we would all be dead without him!" Shouted Lucy.
"All he does is cause us problems. I had a perfect life before he came back lives" reminded Allison.
"The apocalypse in our timeline was not his fault, it was ours, for treating Viktor like shit. Five has done nothing but try to help us, and I wish you would stop blaming him for things that were out of his control!".

"Look guys, I'm just the messenger. And I'm telling you that something terrible is about to happen" informed Five.
"Alright then, let's go attack the Sparrows, get the briefcase back, and go home" suggested Allison.
"This is our home now Allison, just accept it" replied Five.
"He's right. Our world is gone. It was destroyed when the moon blew up. And there is nothing we can do to change that. We are just going to have to learn to live in this new world. It's the only option left to us now" insisted Lucy.

Their argument was interupted by the sound of Stan smashing a pool stick against the wall.
"That's it, I'm telling your mother" shouted Diego.
"Wait, Lila is here?" Questioned Five.
"Yeah, she's in the shower. I told her she could stay with us for a while" answered Stan.
Five then began heading away from the group.
"Where the hell are you going?" Demanded Diego.
"To speak to someone with only half of her head up her ass" responded Five.

"Can I come?" Asked Lucy, telepathically.
"No, I need someone to stay here with this lot, to make sure they don't do something stupid" admitted Five.
"Alright, I'll stay with the others until you get back. Don't do anything stupid while I'm here, and don't get into a fight with Lila" replied Lucy.
"No promises".