"The easy part about time travel is that you are given the upper hand at knowing what is going to happen. The hard part is knowing if you should try to prevent the inevitable, or simply give in to the old paradox theories that have plagued human kind for all of eternity"...Dalton Star, lecture on quantum mechanics of time travel at Cambridge University June 2015.

            In the early morning hour of the New Year, Dalton Star watched in horror, as a perfect stranger that he would come to call a friend died for the second time in his life from a drunk driver whose self-destructive life received an un-expected awakening.

            Dalton awoke the next morning restless from his failed attempt at saving Jane from her fate for the second time. His part in this melodrama should have been simple, all he had to do was find her, identify himself with the proper identification and hope that she believed him. Ever since the revised Philadelphia experiments became public knowledge, it become commonplace for time travelers enlisted within the liberator program to warn un-expectant people of a pending doom, or some catastrophic cataclysm that could affect every thing as the world knew it.

            Dalton Star had been one of the first inductees into the program straight out of graduate school for quantum physics and applied sciences' at Harvard University.

            After a quick sonic shower, Dalton grabbed a dry bagel and headed out for the compound. The normally long forty-five minute drive into Washington seemed to short today. His fail attempts in his latest assignment meant that he would have to report to Major (No room for mistakes) Andersen. With the unmistakable outline of the ominous glass tower approaching, Dalton let out a breath attempting to calm his nerves preparing for Major Andersons lecture. Slowing his car to a halt in front of the building, Dalton began programming the cars computer with the proper codes that would allow it to drive away, enter a secured parking state and power down until it received a remote signal from Dalton to return to the rendezvous point. Entering the code, Dalton hesitated on the last digit, knowing that if he entered a two in place of an eight, the AI automobile after a thirty-second delay would promptly return home and Dalton could simply call the office and blame his tardiness on a computer malfunction.

  Stepping out of his car watching the automatic doors close, and the light sensitive glass began its slow darkening tint. Dalton entered the numeral eight into his handheld personal computer and began his dismal walk.

             Entering his office a robotic assistant notified Dalton that there was an urgent vid link on his office computer marked highest priority.

            "Computer report," Dalton said entering the office heading straight for the coffee machine.  "Good morning Dalton, all systems check verified. Vid mail secure, ready for your review." Avoiding the inevitable Dalton managed to take as much time as he could preparing himself for the latest rounds of ridicule. Resting behind his desk finding temporary solace looking at an old graduation class photo of his college friends, Dalton snapped back to reality to an irritating urgency tone emanating from the computer. "Computer commence communication." "Right away Dalton, Have a nice day." Immediately the holographic screen filled with the image of Major Andersen. "So Star what do you have to say this time that I haven't heard already."

            "Well good morning to you too sir, how are the wife and kids today?"

             "Not even remotely funny Dalton; want to explain to me what happened yesterday and why this simple show and go is still an open file."

            Dalton slowly leaned back in his high back leather chair taking a long swig of morning java knowing all to well the act in its self was a blatant act of defiance at the Majors position. "Well sir to be honest, some people are a little harder to convince than others." Major Andersen's holo image seemed to turn ten different shades of angry. "Star I don't have room for all your sarcastic remarks. Just get the job done, and convince me why I should not kick you out of the program right here and now. Either way I cleared today's departure schedule for you. You're up in one hour, Andersen out."

             Instantly the computer screen filled with three-dimensional images of tropical islands, and sounds of waves crashing on a beach filled the office. "Dalton the lab is requesting today's vitals, any anomalies to report?" the monotone female computer voice ask. "Elevated caffeine." Dalton replied raising his over sized coffee cup into the air. "Please specify source." Dalton paused looking at the computer smiling. "Undetermined." He replied taking another sip wanting to avoid the standard, its bad for you lecture by the prerecorded local physician. "Please standby for scanning." Dalton stood up moving in front of his computer monitor, within seconds a brilliant bright light coursed up and down his body sending information to another computer and the lab technicians simultaneously. "Scan complete, have a nice day Dalton."

            Within seconds, Dalton traversed the time barrier of twenty years past to once again find himself standing behind an old shopping center in a middle class neighborhood.  Case number 1462 other wise known as Jane Summers resided in a small modest home, a quarter mile from the shopping center. In his last two attempts at contact, Dalton learned that Jane was the mother of two energetic boys and wife to an average hardworking man with no direct effect on the future. Jane's file simply listed her death as not necessary with special interest on the children who are at present time enrolled in the timekeepers program.

 Dalton had memorized the file. After that fateful day the drunk driver never touched another drink and became a prominent figure in alcohol rehabilitation to later became elected to political office by a land slide where he remains at present with his constituents pushing for his nomination for new world leader in the next election. What bothered Dalton was the simple fact that everything seemed to be going on the right path and Jane's premature death, although heart wrenching and unnecessary started a chain of good events in contrast to his usually clients. Why were Major Andersen and the compound pushing this case so diligently?

  The accident report taken on the scene reported an unforeseen circumstance causing the accident. Although the alcohol level was well above legal limits, all the experts agreed, that the alcohol was not a major contributor to the violent reaction the drunk driver's car preformed just milliseconds before smashing head-on into Jane's car on a rain slick road.

            Dalton's first contact resulted in him stopping her in line at a ticket booth trying to tell her the truth with a frantic Jane calling the local authorities feeling she was dealing with the ravings of a mad man. Back in 1995, the program was just beginning to become commonplace and many good agents were locked away in insane asylums, or arrested on various charges.

 His Second attempt taking place hours before his first, found Dalton following Jane around that night shopping. When Jane stopped into a restaurant for a quick bite to eat, Dalton seized the opportunity and managed to loosen one of her battery cables faulting her car from starting, in hope that he could delay her departure until the fateful window of opportunity closed.

 With her car unresponsive, Jane stepped out raising the hood of the car to look for the trouble just as a patrolling police officer drove by and eagerly stopped to offer assistance. Within ten minutes, the police officer found the simple problem to Dalton's irritation.

Some part of the puzzle was missing. Before returning for the third time, Dalton had instructed the transport team to send him back fifteen minutes earlier then the two previous attempts. Although both approach attempts were different in time and nature. Both ended up with Dalton standing on the side of the road watching the two cars collide.

            Dalton decided to forgo trying to convince Jane of her pending demise; he decided to try to prevent the accident from ever happening in the first place.

            Arriving at the crash site fifteen minutes before both cars and his past self, Dalton took up a position on a hillside with a good vantage point looking in both directions. On cue his past self entered the frame and took up a hiding position just off the right shoulder under cover of some low-lying shrubs. Jane's car was approaching at a normal pace and Dalton began to hear loud music playing over a distant car stereo of the rapidly approaching drunk driver. Dalton pulled out his standard issue service pistol loading it with hydro impact rounds, setting two of them to low impact so the investigative team would discover no obvious evidence.

            Seeing the halogen high beam of the approaching drunk driver round the last turn, the car suddenly began loosing its grip on the rain slick road violently beginning its traverse into the oncoming path of Jane's car. Dalton, filled with adrenaline released two shots, one bouncing off the windshield only causing the drunk driver to slightly swerve unaware in his clouded state of mind. The second shot finding the weak spot in the windshield, shattering it into a million little pieces.

 The drunk driver violently jerked his car to the right side of the road not slowing down. Jane seeing the other car in distress quickly stopped her car to avoid an accident. Dalton stood up from his position only to watch the drunk driver over correct his slide several times and when he somewhat regained control of the vehicle, he continue driving recklessly off the side of the road plowing down small trees and hedges.

 Not prepared for the unexpected his past self found himself in an immediate path of danger. With no where to run, Daltons past self stood up only long enough to be hit violently by the car, smashing his past self into the soggy ground below with the seemingly unaware drunk driver continuing recklessly off and than back on the pavement dragging Daltons lifeless body underneath the chassis. The drunk driver finally brought the car to a stop nearly one hundred yards from the impact site. A horrified Jane exited her car letting out a horrific scream looking at Daltons blood stained mutilated corpse now lying on the roadway.

            Dalton Star stood tall standing in the moonlit shadows of the hill resisting the urge to venture down to the roadside and look closer. His only refuge was the fact that with time travel and him being here in this time now meant that he was indeed alive along with Jane. The minute Dalton pressed the recall button hidden inside his normal looking wristwatch this reality would become nothing more then an incoherent fragment of memory that the Doctors always assured him dissipated with time. Although he could argue that some fragments haunted you endlessly.

            Opening his eyes looking up at an array of bright lights, Dalton found himself back at the compound within the recovery room resting on a gurney in a secured room with two ominous armed soldier standing guard at the doorway.

 "Welcome back Dalton, did you have a nice trip?" The ever-watchful computer voice said out of thin air. "As good as can be expected considering. Why was I comatose?" "Upon arrival your adrenalin levels were at peak, and you were at risk for heart failure so you were shut down for a cool off period. At my last scan preformed thirty seconds ago, all your levels have returned to normal. You are free to leave the lab and report directly to Major Andersen and his guests. Have a good day Dalton." The computer concluded as a heavy stainless door slowly hissed open with the guards stepping aside.

            "Why thank you, you impersonal piece of silicon crap." Dalton said retrieving his personal effects discarded on a nearby table while he exiting the restricted lab to the snicker of one of the motionless guards.

            "Well Star I have seen your events recorder video and to be honest, I don't agree with the way you handled things, but you did get the job done with the expected outcome." Major Andersen concluded handing Dalton a small glass of brandy.

     "So what kind of world events have changed with Jane Summers remaining with us today?" Dalton asked taking a seat opposite a smiling Major Andersen. "Absolutely nothing at all." For the first time in his fifteen-year career as a time liberator Dalton Star choked on his victory brandy and looked at the Major puzzled. "You mean there is no new medical cure, or super kill all weapon that just miraculously appeared overnight."

"Not this time Dalton. Jane is just a devoted wife and mother whose time was not then."

"I'm not sure I completely understand sir. If she did not die, how did the drunk driver change his ways, and why would Jane's boys enter into the program?"

 "Remember all those times you kept reminding me that you retained your altered realities." Major Andersen said refilling Daltons brandy glass. "I sure do, and believe me I have a big one running around my head right now." An almost inaudible tone began to emanate from the Major's desk.

"Damn machines, computer recall." "Sorry to bother you Major, but your guest's have arrived and are eagerly waiting to meet Dalton Star." "Very well computer. Access granted." The Major along with Dalton, stood as an electromagnetic lock popped and two doors silently and slowly opened inward.

            Jane Summers stood just inside the foyer of the intimidating office of Major Andersen. Two young men dressed in service black suits stood on either side of her.

     "Major is this him?" Jane asked nervously looking at Dalton. "Yes it is; may I formally introduce you." Jane along with her two sons steadily walked over to Dalton Star wanting to meet the man who changed there lives forever. "It was you wasn't it. The crazy man I tried to get arrested and the one who died that horrible night on the road." Her statements took Dalton aback.

 "It would appear that your memories are just those, memories, of a different past. Because of Jane's memory her boys pursued the service as you can clearly see, and the drunk driver now running for world leader retained his memory of a horrible accident blaming his drinking as the cause of his illusion of a fallen body when there was no body to be found." A young secretary entered the office carrying a serving tray full of tall Champagne glasses passing one out to everyone. "I would like to purpose a toast." Major Andersen said as every one gathered near raising there glasses tall. "To new and undiscovered countries." Together Dalton, Major Andersen, Jane and her sons sat together relieving the memories laughing and smiling. In one brief moment, Major Andersen leaned over to Dalton and whispered. "This is not the only recall case we have, it would seem that most of your clients are coming forward with fantastic tales and you somehow are the cause. Don't get two relaxed Star, our work has just begun."