Scene 4

Infirmary, Great Hall of X Marks the Scot

“The destruction of X Marks the Scot, what destroys our organization?” Jamie demanded.

“The government,” Ryan answered, “or rather, government agents. When we left, the Great Hall was being overrun by F.A.C.E. agents.”

“FACE?” I asked.

“Yes, Federal Aesthetic Compliance Enforcement,” he answered.

A chill ran through me. This sounded all too familiar.

“Tell me,” I said to the young man. “What department do these agents work for?”

“They’re the enforcement arm of the Department of Aesthetic Affairs.”

“I’ve never heard of that,” Jamie said.

“I have,” I said. “Ryan, who is the head of this department?”

“Secretary Rulital, she always has been,” he answered.

“Jamie,” I said, “We need to listen to this man. What he is describing is all too similar to what I found on the alternate earth. And now that we know Ivana is still free and active, we need to know what she’s up to.”

I looked back at Ryan. “What do we need to do to stop the destruction of X Marks?”

Ryan looked down to the floor. “I don’t know,” he said sadly.

“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Jamie demanded. “Why were you sent back to warn us if you couldn’t even tell us how to proceed?”

“Because I wasn’t the one who was supposed to be sent back, you were!” Ryan replied.

“Me?” Jamie asked in disbelief.

“Yes, you, or more precisely, your future self; it was felt that a Moderator was the best choice. David and Todd researched the chain of events and briefed you and one backup so that the chain could be broken in the past.”

“Why didn’t my future self come back?” Jamie asked.

Ryan again looked sadly at the floor. “You were critically wounded by FACE agents just before you could enter the transfer chamber.”

Jamie looked a bit shaken at that revelation. “What about the backup?”

I looked over at the body on the bed. “I was the backup, right?” I asked.

Ryan again cast his eyes downward. “Yes,” he replied.