Testing the Limits of Time

Chapter 21: The Siege of History

The team found themselves in a dark, smoke-filled alley in Warsaw. Outside, the city was in utter chaos. The Nazis had just invaded Poland, and the sound of explosions echoed in the distance. The date was September 1939, and the world was on the brink of war.
The damp alley felt like a gloomy cave, and the cobblestones were slippery from the rain. In the distance, the air raid sirens screamed like angry birds, bouncing off the buildings. The city, once full of life, was now quiet and filled with fright. It was like a calm before a big, havoc-causing tempest, and Skylar could feel the danger approaching closer.
"This is where it all happens," Skylar said, her voice strong and serious. "Warsaw, right before the Nazis attack. We know this city will be taken over, but our job is to make sure everything happens the way it's meant to."
Wide-eyed, slack-jawed and nervous, Jamie took in the sights around her. "It's hard to believe we're really here... before everything changes."
Tyler fixed his old-fashioned army coat and looked around the streets for any sign of activity. "Let's go fast without wasting further time. The Revisionists are here, and they want to change what happens in the invasion."

Skylar nodded. " I suggest we go in different directions and find out what we can. Be careful not to make people notice you. Act like you belong, get information, and meet back here by nightfall."
The team split into two pairs. Kody and Tyler went to the military area, and Skylar and Jamie went to the civilian area, knowing that every step they took came with a price and could change the course of the future.
***
Kody and Tyler moved quickly through the busy streets, dodging people who seemed to be living their normal lives, even though war was coming. But one could feel the tension in the air. Soldiers walked around, and people hurried by with worried faces. Buildings were covered with boards, and gunshots could be heard in the distance that served as a reminder of the impending invasion.
Their target was a military command center in the government district. Tyler managed to make convincing fake papers that made them look like military aides. As they got closer to the building, a Polish officer greeted them and ushered them inside, seemingly too preoccupied to question their credentials.
Inside, the atmosphere was an absolute mess. Maps of the city were spread across the tables, and officers were barking orders as they tried to organize the ciy's defense. It was a sad state, but there was also a strong feeling of determination. Kody and Tyler looked at each other before slipping into the group of officers, trying not to draw attention to themselves.
As they went further into the room, they heard parts of conversations. People were talking about defense, moving troops, and plans to evacuate the city were being discussed with serious and urgency. But against the talk of war, one voice stood out.
At the far end of the room, a tall, chief officer was speaking to a group of other important people. His voice was calm, actually too calm for the situation. But it wasn't his voice that caught their attention—it was the content of his words. 
"This location is indefensible," the officer said, pointing to a section of the city on the map. "We need to move our forces here," he continued, indicating a position that seemed tactically sound but out of line with the defensive strategies of the time.
This didn't sit right with Tyler. "That guy's too smart for 1939," he nudged Kody, muttering under his breath.
Kody squinted his eyes. "You think he's one of them?"
"Definitely a Revisionist," Tyler nodded in affirmation. "He's suggesting strategies that won't exist for decades."
They watched as the officer continued to push his advanced strategies, which were met with go-aheads from the Polish commanders. If the officer's plan was implemented, it could dramatically change the course of the invasion. The Nazis would be held off for longer, perhaps even forced to withdraw. It could alter the timeline and they couldn't predict what the consequences would be.
"We need to figure out who he is," Kody whispered. "But we can't blow our cover."
Tyler let his mind work fast as he looked around the room. "Let's wait until he leaves. We'll follow him and see where it leads," he said.
***
The streets of Warsaw were a mixture of normalcy and craziness. Shops remained open, but people were evidently worried. Children played in the streets but they didn't know about the bad things that were about to happen.
Meanwhile, Skylar and Jamie walked through the civilian quarters, trying to look like they belonged to Warsaw.
Skylar listened to the people around her, looking for any signs of trouble or clues about what the Revisionists were planning. Jamie was scared because of how big their mission was, so she stayed close to Skylar.
"Do you think we'll find them here?" Jamie asked uncertainly.
Skylar shook her head. "I'm not sure. But we need to be ready for anything. The Revisionists have already started making changes. We have to stop them before they ambush us for good."
They passed a group of civilians gathered near a small café. They couldn't really hear the hushed conversation but were still able to make out the gist of it. One woman in particular was audible enough. She spoke about the Germans' impending arrival.
"They say the invasion will be quick," she said. "But we won't go down without a fight."
Jamie nodded, looking serious. "I heard that some people are starting a resistance group. They're getting ready to fight back."
A resistance group? That wasn't in the history books yet. Skylar and Jamie looked at each other. If the Revisionists were helping the resistance, they might be trying to change the invasion from the beginning.
They continued their walk, blending in with the civilians until they reached a small square where another group of men and women had gathered. They appeared to be ordinary citizens, but there was something about their demeanor...something that set them apart.
"Resistance fighters?" Jamie wondered out loud.
"Let's listen," Skylar said, pulling Jamie along with her.
The group was also speaking in low voices to make sure they are not eavesdropped, discussing ways to resist the coming invasion. "Sabotage...hiding weapons....protecting our families,"—these were some of the key phrases they could make out of the conversation. All of them sounded very determined to fight, however, there was an undercurrent of fear in their voices as well.
One man, who seemed to be the leader, stood tall among them and could be seen from afar. His voice was commanding, but his eyes were marked by a perpetual sadness. "We fight because we must," he said. "But we cannot stop what is coming. All we can do is survive."
Skylar felt a pang of guilt as she listened. She knew what was coming: the fall of Warsaw, the brutal occupation, the suffering that would follow. It was history, written in stone. But now, with the Revisionists in play, even that was indeterminate.
They couldn't intervene directly. They had to let history take its course, no matter how painful it was to witness.
"We should go," Skylar whispered to Jamie. "We've seen enough here."
As night fell, the team regrouped in the alley where they had first arrived. Each pair had gathered valuable intelligence, but the puzzle had still not met its completion.
"Tyler and I found a Revisionist in the military command center," Kody reported. "He's influencing their defense strategies. If we don't stop him, the invasion could play out very differently."
Skylar nodded, absorbing the information. "Jamie and I found a group of resistance fighters. It seems like the Revisionists might be encouraging them to take action sooner than they originally did."
Tyler looked thoughtful. "If they're working on both sides—the military and the civilians—it means they're trying to alter the entire dynamic of the invasion."
"They could change the outcome of World War II," Jamie said, dreadfully so. "If Warsaw holds out longer or if the resistance grows stronger... it could change everything."
The team had known from the beginning that their work was dangerous.
"We can't let that happen," Skylar said firmly. "We need to stop them before they can do any more damage."
Kody nodded. "What's the plan?"
Skylar thought for a moment, then spoke. "We'll split up again. Kody, you and Tyler track the Revisionist in the command center. Find out who he is and stop him. Jamie and I will monitor the resistance fighters and make sure they don't get any more encouragement from the Revisionists."
The team agreed, keeping in mind the risks and also knowing what was at stake.
As they prepared to head back into the streets of Warsaw, Skylar felt a sense of restlessness settle over her. The Revisionists were playing a dangerous game, but Skylar and her team were ready to stop them even if it meant staying away from the comfort of home.
***
The streets of Warsaw buzzed with an undercurrent of fear and urgency. Tyler had concealed the team's advanced tech within items that blended seamlessly into the time period—an old wristwatch, a leather-bound notebook, and a pen. All these tools held advanced scanning abilities, giving them an edge against the Revisionists. As they moved through the alleyways and squares, these devices hummed softly, picking up unusual energy signatures that shouldn't have existed in 1939.
Tyler glanced at his wristwatch, which displayed faint glowing lines beneath the glass. "The energy spikes are strongest up ahead," he said quietly, pointing to a nondescript apartment building tucked away on a quiet street. It looked like any other building in the city—dilapidated, darkened windows, and chipped paint—but something was off.
Skylar, who had been walking a few steps ahead, stopped in her tracks. She observed the building carefully, her instincts screaming that this was no ordinary apartment. "This has to be it—their base," she whispered. The team gathered close, watching as people entered and exited the building. Some looked like typical civilians—dressed in period clothes, carrying bags of groceries or walking quickly as if running errands. But others stood out. They were too clean, too composed, and there was something almost rehearsed about the way they moved.
"They don't belong here," Jamie murmured. "Look at them. Their movements... they're too deliberate."
Kody narrowed his eyes. "The Revisionists. They've already infiltrated."
The team watched in silence as one man stepped out of the building. He was tall, with slicked-back hair and an aura of confidence that didn't fit the crumbling city around him. He was dressed impeccably in a smart suit that seemed too well-tailored for wartime Warsaw. More than that, there was something about him, an intimidation or vibe of authority that seemed to extend beyond the present moment.
"That's their leader," Skylar said in a low voice. "The Architect!"
The Architect, as the team dubbed him, was clearly the one in charge. Every person who entered or exited the building seemed to defer to him, giving him a nod of respect or a brief exchange of words of affirmation. Even from their distant position, it was obvious that he was coordinating something far bigger than just a local operation.
"We need to know what he's planning," Skylar continued. "We can't afford to sit back and let him get away with his schemes, and I am sure he has a lot in store already."
Skylar gathered the team around her. "Kody, you'll go in as a new recruit. We've seen enough of their people to know how they operate. You'll pose as someone who's heard about their mission and wants to join. The rest of us will stay out here to provide backup."
Kody nodded. "Got it. What's the goal?"
"You need to find out what their endgame is," Skylar replied. "They've infiltrated both the military and the civilian sectors, but we don't know how deep it goes. If we can get inside their organization, we can sabotage whatever they're planning."
Kody pulled his coat tighter around his shoulders. "I'm ready," he said. "Just keep an eye on me. I'll try to do the best I can."
Skylar and the others watched Kody walk towards the building. As he moved, his footsteps made a soft sound on the stone pavements. When he reached the front door, a guard looked at him, subjecting him to scrutiny. Kody made sure hisbody language came off as very confident, and it actually worked. After a short pause, the guard stepped aside to let him in.
Inside, the building was significantly different from its crumbling exterior. The room was dark, with a few figures gathered around a table in the middle. They were talking quietly and their faces were partially obscured by shadows. At the head of the table stood the Architect, talking in hushed tones to a few individuals who were listening to him with utmost attentiveness.
Kody kept his composure as he approached the group, doing his best to look like a man eager to join their cause. One of the men at the table noticed him and gestured for him to step forward.
"You're new," the man said, narrowing his eyes on Kody. "Your name?"
"Kody," he replied without a stutter. "I've heard about your mission. I want to help."
The man eyed him for a moment before leading him to the table. "The Architect will want to speak with you."
As Kody took his place at the edge of the group, he turned the focus of his ears carefully to the conversation around him. They were conferring strategies, movements, and deployments—in short, all those things that sounded far too advanced for 1939. This didn't seem mere tactics of survival but an orchestration of something much less obvious and ulterior.
The Architect soon turned his attention to Kody. "So, you wish to join us?"He sounded like he measured every word with precision before uttering it. "We are sculpting a new future, one stroke at a time. Do you grasp the impact of our art?"
"I do," Kody nodded. "But I want to understand more. What's your plan?"
The Architect smiled slightly, as if he was pleased by the question. He pointed to a small device on the table. It was something that immediately caught Kody's eye. It was sleek, metallic, and entirely out of place in this time period. A piece of advanced technology one could say.
"This," the Architect said, "will allow us to communicate with Nazi high command. We're giving them strategies far beyond what they could dream of. A swift victory for the Nazis will ultimately save more lives. Fewer battles, less suffering."
Kody's heart pounded. The Revisionists' goal wasn't just to survive the war. Their actual motive was to ensure a Nazi victory, believing it would lead to some perverse version of a better future. The moral problem of their mission was getting deeper. Could the Revisionists really believe that by winning the war quickly, they would prevent greater suffering in the long run?
Kody swallowed to keep his emotions in check. "How will this work?"
The Architect seemed delighted with Kody's interest. "We'll provide them with the strategies they need. Where to strike, how to deploy their forces, even the weaknesses of the Allied defenses—we'll have them covered. With our guidance, the Nazis will take Warsaw and then sweep across Europe with little resistance."
"Oh my god, this is giving me a migraine," Kody thought to himself as his head started to spin. He had to stop this. If the Nazis gained this kind of knowledge, they would end up doing the very thing Kody and his friends had sacrificed so much to prevent: the alteration of history.
***
Meanwhile, Skylar monitored the situation from outside the building, using Tyler's advanced tech to scan the area. The streets were disconcertingly quiet, and something felt off. Her wristwatch buzzed. Drawn by the attention, she looked at it to find a warning light flashed on the display.
"Skylar," Tyler said, "I'm picking up increased military activity."
Skylar's eyes widened. "It's too early... the invasion isn't supposed to happen yet."
She looked up, and in the distance, she spotted some movement: military vehicles, soldiers, and the unmistakable silhouette of tanks. It sank her heart. The Revisionists had already altered the timeline. The invasion had begun earlier than history recorded.
"We need to get Kody out of there," Jamie said urgently.
Skylar nodded. "Agreed. The Nazis are moving in, and if the Revisionists give them the information they have, it's all over."
Inside, Kody noticed the change in the atmosphere. The conversation around the table grew more intense. The Revisionists were preparing for the next phase of their plan, and Kody knew he didn't have much time.
He glanced at the device on the table, just waiting to transmit its devastating message to Nazi high command. He had to stop them from using it, but he couldn't act rashly. Not yet.
As the Architect continued to speak, Kody knew he needed a plan...and fast.
***
If he acted now, he could stop the Revisionists before they provided the Nazis with the strategic edge that would change the course of World War II.
But if he acted too soon, he might lose the opportunity to gather critical intelligence that could help them stop the Revisionists for good. The future of the world was in his hands.
Glancing at his wrist, he pretended to adjust his sleeve while tapping the concealed button on his watch. Outside, Skylar's watch buzzed with his signal, alerting her that things were escalating inside. She exchanged looks with Jamie and Tyler.
"Do we pull him out now?" Tyler asked worriedly.
Skylar was consumed by hesitation. The team had worked hard to infiltrate the Revisionists and find out the full scope of their plan. If they acted prematurely, they might only delay their enemies, not stop them entirely. But if they waited too long, the Nazis would have the information they needed, and history would be transformed forever.
"We don't have time," Jamie emphasized on the urgency of the situation. "They're about to hand over everything to the Nazis."
Skylar took a deep breath. "We act now. We can't let them make that communication."
But before they could move, the sound of gunfire filled the air, being heard from across the streets. The entire building shook as explosions went off nearby. The team watched in horror as a group of Polish resistance fighters, believing the building to be a Nazi hideout, launched an attack. Gunfire rattled the windows, and screams erupted from inside.
***
Inside the apartment, the Revisionists sprang into action, ducking for cover as bullets flew through the windows. Kody seized the moment of confusion, moving quickly to the communication device. He had no time to think. All that he was only to act.
Skylar's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Kody, what's happening?"
"The resistance is attacking. I'm going for the device!" Kody replied. As he dodged a barrage of gunfire, diving toward the table where the device sat, adrenaline surged through his veins.
At the same moment, Skylar, Jamie, and Tyler rushed toward the building, using the cover of the resistance attack to make their move. Tyler had already begun disabling the Revisionists' surveillance systems from a distance, allowing them to get closer undetected.
On the other hand, Kody reached for the device and quickly scanned its interface. "Hmm, so this thing isn't just a transmitter...okay yes," he muttered, "...supposed to be used to connect to modern sources, got it!" The Revisionists had been building this for a long time, probably preparing for this exact moment.
"Skylar," Kody whispered with urgency, "this is more advanced than we thought. If I destroy it now, we might lose a chance to learn how deep their infiltration goes."
"Do it!" Skylar shouted over the comms. "We can't let them send that message."
Kody hesitated, but only for a second. He slammed his fist down on the device, shattering the controls. Sparks flew, and the machine whined as it powered down. But just as he thought he had succeeded, a figure appeared behind him.
The Architect.
The Architect grew apopletic, fuming with anger. "You fools! You don't understand what you've done," he grumbled. "We're not the villains here! We're saving the future, you runts!"
Kody spun around to face him, but before he could act, the Architect slammed a button on his wristwatch, emitting a pulse of light throughout the room. Kody stumbled backward, momentarily blinded. But once he regained his senses, the Architect was gone.
"Kody, we're coming in," Skylar shouted. "Did you get it?"
"I stopped the device, but the Architect escaped," Kody replied. "He took data with him. We've delayed their plan, but we haven't stopped it."
As he spoke, the rest of the team burst into the room, dodging debris and resistance fighters. Skylar quickly assessed the damage. The communication device lay in pieces, but the knowledge the Architect had taken was irreplaceable.
"We've bought ourselves time," she said grimly, "but it's not enough. They'll regroup."
Jamie looked out the shattered window. "We need to get out of here before the Nazis or the resistance figure out who we are."
Tyler looked around, scanning for an exit. "There's too much tech here. If they find it, it could expose us. We need to clear the area."
The team worked quickly, dismantling and disabling as much of the Revisionist equipment as they could before retreating. The resistance fighters continued their assault, unaware of the temporal struggle happening around them.
As the last of the explosions rattled the building, Skylar signaled the team to follow her. They slipped out the back and used the consequential chaos of the battle as their cover.
Nazi forces were advancing on the city, and the Polish resistance was fighting tooth and nail to defend their home. The team moved quickly and made their way through the darkened streets.
At last, they reached a safe house. It was a small, decrepit building hidden among the rubble of Warsaw. Once inside, they locked the door behind them, catching their breath.
"We've delayed them," Kody said, sitting heavily on a broken chair. "But they'll be back. And next time, they'll be ready."
Skylar paced the room. "The Architect got away. Whatever data he took with him, it's going to be vital to their plan. We can't let them make another move without us being a step ahead."
Jamie was strained with the weight of their recent choices. She asked, "Do you think we'll ever stop them for good? Every time we try, they seem to slip away."
Skylar stopped pacing and looked at her team. "We will. We have to. But it's going to get harder from here."
Tyler was hunched over his wristwatch, typing furiously. "I'm scanning the networks. The Revisionists will try to send that data to the Nazi high command. We need to intercept it."
But before he could continue, a message blinked on his screen. It was a secure communication from someone they hadn't heard from in a long time.
Skylar read the message aloud:
"Coordinates and a date: Warsaw, 1939."
"They want us to stay," Kody said, rubbing his temples. "But why?"
"Because the Revisionists' work isn't done here," Skylar said, drawing her brows closer. "And neither is ours."
As the team prepared for their next move, the final scene cut to the outskirts of the city. The Architect stood in the shade of a ruined building, waiting.
A Nazi officer with an unreadable expression and clad in a pristine uniform approached him. The two men exchanged no words, only a brief nod of understanding. The Architect handed over a small device: the stolen data.
"Our work begins now," the Architect hissed coldly. "You know what to do."
The Nazi officer smirked, pocketing the device as he disappeared into the nothingness, leaving the Architect alone.
The stage was set. And the war for history was on either the verge of its end...or the beginning.