Testing the Limits of Time

Chapter 10: The Fog of War

"The Revisionists?" The friends gasped. 
Skylar took a deep breath and whispered to her friends, "We need to find out what's going on. This seems like a shady business to me."
Kody looked at her seriously, then nodded in agreement, "Let's be careful. We don't know what we're dealing with here."
They moved closer, staying low and hidden behind a cluster of debris. They could overhear snippets of the conversation as they approached the soldier and the two men beside him.
"You must understand," the soldier said urgently, "if we can prevent the war from escalating, we can save countless lives.
One of the men, tall and imposing with a stern face, responded sharply, "We have a mission, and we cannot allow anyone to interfere with it."
The other man, shorter but equally intimidating, initially crouched, now stood up and looked around. His body language suggested that he got a cue that they were being watched. He glanced at his surroundings with his hands on his waist. Skylar and her friends stayed put behind the debris, making sure they didn't make a sound to raise further suspicion.
The man got closer to the soldier and spoke out loud as if he wanted someone apart from the soldier and his friend to know what he was talking about. "Your idealism is admirable, but the course of history cannot be so easily altered. There are larger forces at play."
Skylar exchanged a confused glance with her friends. These men were clearly determined to achieve their goals, whatever they might be. She decided it was time to make their presence known.
Stepping out from behind the debris, Skylar called out, "Excuse me, we couldn't help but overhear. Are you the Revisionists?
The two men turned sharply, surprise flashing across their faces. The soldier was shocked to see Skylar and her friends.
The taller man narrowed his eyes. "Who are you? And what are you talking about?"
Skylar took a deep breath. "We're time travelers, like you. We've been following your actions across different time periods. We know you're trying to change history."
The shorter man sneered. "Stop with this nonsense. Go home; times are about to be really turbulent."
Tyler stepped forward, clearing his throat. "We know enough. We're here to make sure history stays on its intended course."
The taller man crossed his arms, shifting the focus of the argument to the integrity of Skylar and her friends. "No one can be exactly sure of the consequences of any action. The world is built on a foundation of lies and manipulation. Who knows what you so-called spies are up to? You can't be trusted either."
Kody shook his head. "You're playing with forces you don't fully understand. Changing history could have catastrophic effects."
The soldier, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up. "I don't want to see more lives lost. If there's a way to end this war sooner, isn't it worth trying?"
Skylar looked at the soldier with empathy. "We understand your desire for peace, but there are no guarantees. Altering history could create more harm than good."                                                               
The taller man, clearly frustrated, said, "Enough of this. We've wasted too much time already. We have lots to do. Go do your homework."
He turned to leave, but Skylar stepped in front of him. "We're not letting you go until we understand what you're planning."
The shorter man reached into his coat, pulling out a small device. "You leave us no choice."
***
Before Skylar and her friends could react, a blinding light enveloped them. Disoriented and confused. When the light faded, they found themselves back in the present at the threshold of House#1914.
Jamie rubbed her eyes. "What just happened?" Skylar looked around, trying to get her bearings. "They must have some kind of teleportation device. We need to find them again. I am pretty sure my suspicions are accurate."
Tyler came up with a strategy. "Let's go back, but this time, we will split up and cover more ground."
"But it's already so late," Kody pointed out.
"It's okay. If we let this be, it can lead to something that we can't even predict right now. We'll be back in an hour." Skylar touched the doorknob once again, and poof! They were back in a war-trodden era.
As they fanned out, Skylar couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time. Walking on, Skylar felt a deep sense of unease. The Revisionists were more dangerous than she had realized, and their mission just got a whole lot more complicated.
With the disillusioned soldier's words still ringing in their ears, Skylar and her friends knew they had to stay vigilant. The Revisionists were determined to rewrite history, and their next move could be catastrophic. They needed to ensure that key historical events unfolded as they should, no matter the cost.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally spotted the soldier, now alone and looking conflicted around the cluster of debris they were hiding behind earlier. They approached him cautiously.
"Hey," Skylar said softly. "Are you okay?"
The soldier looked up, his eyes dull with uncertainty, "I don't know what to do. I just want the fighting to end."
Skylar sat down beside him. "I understand. But changing history isn't the answer. Tell me, who are you?"
The soldier gave a long pause, just like he did when they approached him for the first time. He seemed to be holding back a significant piece of information. ​The friends waited for him to take his time to make himself comfortable enough to open up.
"We call ourselves The Revisionists; my name is Thomas," he finally sighed. "We believe that by changing certain key events, we can prevent the horrors of this war and the ones that will follow. But it's a dangerous game. Not everyone agrees with our methods."
Skylar felt a chill run down her spine. "You're talking about time travel, aren't you?"
The soldier's eyes widened in surprise. "Uh..time travel? How do you know about that?"
"We've had our own encounters with time travel," Skylar admitted. "But we're not here to stop the war. We're here to make sure history unfolds as it should."
The soldier looked at them with a mix of hope and desperation. "Then you understand. If we can stop this war now, we can save millions of lives."
"But at what cost?" Skylar asked. "Changing the past can have unintended consequences. We can't just rewrite history because we think we know better."
The soldier shook his head. "You're wrong. This war is a mistake. It shouldn't have happened. And we have the power to change it."
Skylar sighed as the weight of their mission pressed down on her. "We can't interfere like that. History has to play out the way it was meant to, no matter how painful it is."
The soldier's expression hardened. "Then you're no better than the ones who want to keep this war going. You're just as complicit in the suffering."
Skylar felt a pang of guilt but held firm. "We're not here to cause more harm. We're here to preserve the timeline, to make sure the future doesn't become even worse."
The soldier grunted, then got up to leave. "I better go now. I don't want to get in further trouble. And I have a mission to complete."
"Hey, Thomas, come back! What mission? Tell us about it!" Tyler shouted, trying to hold the soldier back as he tried to escape. But the soldier managed to vanish like before in an instant, leaving them clueless and confused once again. But as he hopped away, he dropped a piece of rolled paper on the ground.
Skylar picked it up to examine it. "Hmm, I wonder what's this?"
She unfolded it to find out that it was a telegram. But not just any telegram. It had the information to prevent key alliances from forming.
Suddenly, the soldier remembered what he had done and came back immediately to snatch the telegram from Skylar's hands, almost tearing it. ​
"Hey! Come back! Stop!" They all yelled as he fled the scene as fast as he could.
They decided to wander further and try to find clues to uncover this mysterious mission.
"We can't let that happen," Skylar said firmly. "We need to stop them before they can execute their plan."
Skylar took a deep breath and whispered back, "Let's use our knowledge of history to subtly discredit their misinformation. We'll spread the truth in a way that won't expose us."
One evening, as they sat around a small fire, Skylar spoke softly, "It's strange, isn't it? We're trying to preserve history by ensuring the war continues. It feels wrong, but we know it's necessary."
Jamie sighed, "Yeah, it feels like we're fighting a moral battle as much as a physical one. But we have to trust that we're doing the right thing."
Skylar and her friends regrouped in a quiet corner of the trench. They were still recovering from their encounter with the Revisionists, but they knew their mission was far from over. The Revisionists were spreading misinformation to alter history, and they had to stop them.
Skylar turned to her friends. "We need to find a way to discredit the misinformation without revealing who we really are."
Tyler nodded. "We have to be careful. If people find out we're from the future, it could make things even worse."
Jamie agreed. "Let's start by listening to what the soldiers are saying. We can figure out what lies are being spread and counter them."
The group moved stealthily through the trenches, careful to avoid detection. They began spreading information that countered The Revisionists' lies, talking to soldiers and officers whenever they could. They reminded them of the importance of their mission and the reasons they were fighting. They shared stories of bravery and sacrifice, knowing that these tales would inspire the troops and strengthen their resolve.
Kody added, "We also need to protect that telegram. If it gets intercepted, it could change the course of the war."
They split up and moved through the trench, eavesdropping on conversations. It didn't take long to hear the Revisionists' lies.
"I heard that our allies are planning to abandon us," one soldier said to another. "We'll be left to fight on our own."
Skylar approached the soldiers with a friendly smile. "Hey, I couldn't help but overhear. Where did you hear that?"
The soldier looked wary. "Just some rumors going around. Why?"
Skylar shook her head. "I wouldn't put much stock in rumors. Our allies are committed to this fight. We have to stick together."
Tyler joined in, backing her up. "Yeah, I heard an officer talking about how crucial our alliances are. We're stronger together."
The soldier seemed to relax a little. "I guess you're right. It's easy to get paranoid out here."
Jamie found another group discussing a supposed secret weapon that the enemy had. "They say the enemy has a weapon that can wipe us all out in one blow," one soldier whispered fearfully.
Jamie stepped in, pretending to be nonchalant. "I heard that too, but it turns out it was just a misunderstanding. The weapon they're talking about is actually something we've seen before. Nothing to worry about."
Kody helped by confirming her story. "Yeah, I've been talking to some of the engineers. They say it's just propaganda to scare us. We're prepared for anything they throw at us."
Slowly but surely, they managed to sow doubt about the misinformation among the soldiers. But their main task was still ahead: protecting the crucial telegram.
Skylar gathered her friends. "We need to find the telegram and make sure it gets to where it needs to go."
Tyler nodded. "I think I heard the officers talking about a messenger who's supposed to deliver it. And I think that messenger is none other than that sneaky Thomas."
They eventually found Thomas preparing to leave the trench. He had a determined look on his face, clutching a leather pouch close to his chest.
Skylar approached him, taking him aback. "Hey, Thomas, where are you headed?" She smiled.
Thomas looked up, surprised. "I've got an important message to deliver. It's crucial for our alliances. Please excuse me."
Jamie smiled. "Mind if we join you? The trenches aren't safe, and we could use the extra company."
Thomas hesitated but then nodded. "Alright, but we need to move quickly."
As they walked, Skylar and her friends stayed alert, watching for any signs of danger. They knew the Revisionists would stop at nothing to intercept the telegram.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps behind them. Skylar turned to see two men following them, their faces partially hidden by their hats.
"Keep moving," Skylar whispered to Thomas. "We'll handle this."
Tyler and Kody fell back, confronting the men. "Can we help you with something?" Tyler asked, his voice calm but firm.
The men exchanged a glance. "Just making sure everyone is safe," one of them said. His tone was too smooth to be sincere.
Kody stepped closer, blocking their path. "We don't need any help. Move along."
The men hesitated, then turned and walked away, clearly frustrated. Tyler and Kody rejoined the group, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings.
As they neared the command post, they encountered more trouble. A group of soldiers loyal to the Revisionists tried to stop them, claiming they needed to inspect the telegram.
Jamie stepped forward. "This message is a top priority. We don't have time for inspections."
One of the soldiers sneered. "We have our orders."
Skylar quickly assessed the situation. "If you delay us and something happens to our alliances, it'll be on your heads. Can you take that risk?"
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, then reluctantly stepped aside. "Fine, but make it quick."
They reached the command post just in time. The officer in charge took the telegram. His expression turned grim as he read its contents.
"Thank you," he said, looking up at Thomas. "This was crucial. You've done a great service."
Thomas nodded in relief, "Just doing my duty, sir."
Skylar and her friends left the command post with a sense of accomplishment. They had managed to protect the telegram and subtly discredit the misinformation without revealing their true identities.
Kody turned to her friends, smiling. "We did it again, guys."
Tyler grinned. "And we did it without blowing our cover."
"But we need to stay vigilant," Jamie added, "The Revisionists won't stop trying."
Skylar nodded. "We'll be ready for them. We're in this together."