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The bell rang announcing dinner was ready. We all walked into the room and took our places at the table, stnading behind the chair waiting for dad as the vinyl played. Dad's heavy footsteps filled the air and he appeared in the kitchen. He walked over to his chair and sat down.
"Sit." He announced.
We all moved to sit down and dug into the food. Five and I sat next to each other, holding one another's hand under the table and using our free one to eat with. Diego carved at his chair next to me with his knife. We all ate in silence, none of us were allowed to talk unless given permission. I felt Five's hold on my hand tighten and I looked over to see him glaring at dad, obviously wanting to say something. I knew what it was, he wanted to time travel but dad told him no earlier so he's going to bring it up again. Dad just stared at Five and Five grabbed his knife, holding it tightly in his hand. This isn't going to be good. He stabbed the knife in the table, making everyone look up from their food and over to him.
"Number Five?" Dad asked.
"I have a question." Five said, letting go of the knife.
"Knowledge is an admiral goal, but you know the rules. No talking during mealtimes. You are interrupting Herr Carlson." Dad said, gesturing towards the vinyl.
"I want to time travel." Five said, ignoring dad's reply.
"No." Dad said.
Five let go of my hand and I knew exactly where this was going to go. Five would be grounded for sure. No missions, no contact with any of us, and no leaving the cellar in the basement.
"But I'm ready. I've been practicing my spatial jumps, just like you said." Getting up out of his chair.
He jumped over next to dad to prove his point.
"See?" Five asked, glaring down at dad.
"A spatial jump is trivial when compared with the unknowns of time travel. One is like sliding across ice, the other is akin descending blindly into the depths of freezing water and reappearing as an acorn." Dad said, cutting his steak.
"Well, I don't get it." Five said.
"Hence the reason you're not ready." Dad said.
Five looked to me as if asking for my permission for something. I looked to him confused for a second before realization hit me. He was going to time travel whether dad liked it or not. I shook my head no.
"I'm not afraid." Five said, still looking at me.
I mouthed a no and he turned to dad.
"Fear isn't the issue. The effects it might have on your body, even on your mind, are far to unpredictable." Dad said, setting his knife and fork down.
