Space-Time of Death: an Al Squires of the Protectorate Novel

Ch. 15.3: Diaries of a Mad Black-Magick Woman

The four of us met up with Lady Lane and Jorge a (subjective) minute later, in what Lady Lane called Sister Time's 'living quarters.' Truth is, her description of it, however sparse, was somewhat accurate: It seemed that Sister Time's decorative tastes were spartan, to say the least.

The moment we entered the room, I noticed Lady Lane and Jorge over by what must have been the writing desk Lady Lane mentioned in her description. They were whispering to one another while looking at something on the desk. Not just looking, but also scanning is with instruments similar to the ones that I saw their fellow Ouroboros agents. I couldn't see what they were looking at because their bodies were blocking my view of the object.

I used my cyber-senses to pick up their conversation, but I could only pick up a few phrases before they noticed we were there. They then stopped scanning and put their scanners away. There was one phrase that told me why they were scanning whatever they found, but I'll let Narrative Me reveal that for you. You'll know it when you see/hear it.

When we were all present, they stood up to face us. Jorge moved over to the bookshelf and started scanning the books there. Lady Lane turned to pick up whatever was on the desk and kept it behind her back when she turned to face us. "I found these in a desk drawer," she said as she took out what was behind her back in full view: three books with equal dimensions. "There's more than these three over on the bookshelf, as well as plenty of blank books in another drawer. However," she continued while fanning the one she was holding in her gloved hands, "I figured that I just needed three would be adequate." Upon giving the books a better look, I noticed something thing that got my attention, other than the lack of title on them: each one a primary color.

"I'm certain that these are what the Elder Elise Shakleton wanted us to find," Lady Lane announced. "Not just her own diaries, but those of her earlier selves. Sister Time included, judging by the handwriting."

"That's actually pretty clever," I said, thoughtfully. "All of them keeping diaries, I mean. That way, each self can have their own diary, even when they're in each other's bodies to avoid confusion. And since they can't be in the same place at once, it'd also be a great place to leave notes and advice for the other selves."

"That's what I had thought as well," Lady Lane commented.

"It also makes a nifty little plot device that allows everyone to gain insight into our current adversary," I added.

Lady Lane stared at me for a beat, perplexed. "I assume that by 'everyone,' you meant the people in this room?" she asked me, sounding unsure how to react.

"Sure, let's go with that," I replied, not sure that I sounded convincing.

Lady Lane quickly composed herself. "I'm surprised that I didn't notice them at first," she went on, gesturing to the diaries on the shelf. "They were with the history books, so that's what Jorge and I assumed they were; only without book covers" She pointed to the ones in her gloved hands. "That was when I discovered these in one of the desk drawers, of course," she added. "From what I can gather, those are finished diaries each version has filled out." She gestured again to the bookshelf. "Whereas those are finished diaries which she keeps on the shelf. For posterity or as a manifesto of sorts, I can't begin to imagine."

"Wait," Norah said, looking equal parts confused and concerned. "When they taught about time-travel at the Academy, they told us about paradoxes. Wouldn't having access to your future self's diary cause a paradox?" she asked. "More specifically, a... What did they call it? A 'shoe-lace' Paradox?"

"Close," I said to my protégée, "A 'Bootstrap' Paradox. But ten points for paying attention in class and on the field." I looked over to Lady Lane. "She does have a point. Any object or information from the future could cause a time loop if in the hands of someone from the past, especially the owner's past self. I assume that's what you were scanning for. To see you thought they were Bootstraps or other paradoxes. I couldn't help but to overhear you use the phrase."