The Chronological Changer

By Vince P Hennessy

Dr. Kronos Nephus and Sir Thomas continue their journey after their encounter with Birch Willow. Still determined to meet the other unique individuals Kronos had documented, as well as find a more permanent cure and get the experimental technology and science lurking among society, the two men head to Granite Falls, Minnesota to investigate the

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Apr 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638371281

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Speeding Through Life

(Granite Falls, Minnesota. April 15, 2022)

A

little after sunrise and a timezone jump, Sir Thomas and Kronos had reached their destination, having just driven for thirteen hours straight, with only a few breaks. They decided to stay at a decent motel in the town, and they paid for three-days-worth of visiting. They were not entirely sure how long their visit would be, but it was better to prepare for the long run. Both of them, however, were hoping to meet the rumored speedster as soon as possible.

Having parked the car, the two men went to the motel office to retrieve their parking pass and room keys. It was the early hours of the morning, and they were currently the only people up and about. They made sure to seem as normal as possible, although Kronos was still wearing his lab coat as always. Thankfully, it had not been stained during the battle at the gym. Sir Thomas had changed into a slightly different suit.

Kronos began to talk with a younger woman, who was running the main reception desk inside of the office, which was a glass room with closed blinds. She had light brown hair that waterfalled down the sides of her face and failed to cover her broad forehead. A five-head, as Kronos would have insultingly called it. Her blue-grey eyes bulged out of their sockets, and she had a smile on her face that was both energetic and unintelligent.

Excuse me, Kronos peered at the small nametag on her uniform, Ms. Addison, is it true that there's a speedster in this town? I recently saw it on the news and was quite intrigued. I don’t know whether it's true or not, as the news isn’t as reliable as it used to be, but that would be absolutely fascinating if it were true.

The woman flashed a wide smile, and she spoke after a slight delay. I’m not quite sure. A little laugh escaped her mouth, although Kronos did not understand why she would find his inquiry to be funny The people around here believe it, but I don’t. As nice of a thought as it is to believe in speedsters, people teleporting, or actually hovering hoverboards, they don’t exist. Upon hearing the teleporting people part, Sir Thomas glanced over at Kronos and hid his laughter. The girl had too much energy for Kronos to tolerate, and she started ranting on about the idea of a speedster while he grew impatient. My theory is that there was just a group of druggies at that apartment building, and when the fire happened, their goods spread throughout the air. I probably breathed some of that air in myself since that smoke spread all over town. Addison started fanning herself, laughing. Kronos went to mutter that she clearly had, but he kept the thought to himself. Then again, I just work at a motel, so what would I know? I’m here for most of the day, so I don’t really get to see what goes on around town. What do y’all think about it?

"Well, I’m not entirely sure either. I’ve always been a logical and reality-based person. It’ll probably become another one of those shows you see on T.V. Hunting Speedsters, Kronos waved his hand through the air, or something like that. I hope that maybe during our stay here, we might see them if they do exist."

Maybe, Addison replied, shrugging her shoulders and giggling. She looked at Kronos closely for a moment. Wait, have you been here before? She rolled her eyes back like she was trying to recall something. Not here as in this motel, but as in the town. You look familiar. I think I saw you here a few weeks ago or so.

Incorrect. It must’ve been some other extraordinarily handsome and brilliant man wandering around Granite Falls. My doppelganger or something, as this is actually my first time here. I came all the way from England, believe it or not.

From England? Addison asked with a wide mouth, surprised and intrigued. What brings you all the way over here to Minnesota? I hope you didn’t come all the way here to find a rumored speedster.

"I’m not that intrigued. We’re just here for an international business meeting later on. This is just one of our many stops. Kronos quickly changed the topic, not wanting to arouse suspicion. Parking pass and keys, please? Addison handed him the items after checking to see which room they were staying in. Thank you. If there really is a speedster, why Granite Falls of all places? I have to say that the town isn’t what the internet maps showed it to be."

"Yeah! Unfortunately, the maps online haven’t been updated in several years due to political wars over privacy and internet information. I guess that's just the way it goes. Thanks to some big-tech company in town, the whole place has been booming with life! All of the small houses in town have been outnumbered by now to apartments, townhouses, condos, and a few skyscrapers. So with all this change, there has been an increase in the rate of crime, and the police are yet to increase their staff. We’re a growing city! So, I guess here is the best place to be a vigilante, right now."

Kronos raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? I didn’t know any of that, but I probably should have researched the town before coming here for our meeting. A big-tech company, huh? They’re most likely my competition in the realm of business. Which company is it?

Addison slightly laughed bashfully. Hah! This is embarrassing, but I’m actually not sure, she said as she scratched the back of her head. I’ve never seen the building myself, and I’m not too sure where it's located. I believe it's near the center of town. I don’t get around much, but let me go see if there's a flyer or something in the convention room. With that said, Addison left through a door behind her. She was back within less than a minute. Nope, nothing there. Sorry about that. It's hard to miss, though, so you should see their building once you’re out and about the town.

I see. Thank you, Kronos replied, covering his frustration. Damn it! This company may be related to the speedster, for all we know. Stupid girl. Your intelligence is less than that of a urinal sponge that's not even worth soaking up my piss. She doesn’t even know anything about her own town. Unless she's keeping secrets on purpose, but I don’t think that's the case. Certainly a possibility, though. I’ll have to keep an eye on her, just in case. Kronos smiled at her, and it took all of his emotional and physical strength to do so. The rare sight impressed Sir Thomas, but the smile probably would have scared anyone else. I’ll keep my eyes out for both this company and the speedster. See you around, Ms. Addison.

Okey-dokey. Buh-bye, Addison said excitedly, waving at them as they left.

The two men walked out of the office and to the parking lot without saying a word. They grabbed their suitcases, which were filled with some clothes and food before entering the elevator.

Kronos spoke quietly to Sir Thomas. Well, I think the only one here on drugs is her. She didn’t seem to be completely normal there. Teleporting man? Why would she even say that!

"Yes, that was rather odd. I can’t say for sure, though. She struck me as a nerd, but you know that I don’t like to stereotype. There's no need to get your lab coat all wrinkled up in paranoid thoughts. She probably just said it because she reads comics or something, but there are few teleporters within the series that are currently known, which does make it more suspicious. Perhaps your immortal friend in Cape Cod has spread the word, but I really don’t know. And Hunting Speedsters as a television show. Really, Kronos?"

I apologize that my humor, just like the rest of me, reigns superior to everyone else's. I thought it was a funny joke that made sense, given the context of the conversation. Not to mention, it's a grand idea. I mean, I would watch it. Sir Thomas turned his head and looked at Kronos doubtfully, knowing that was not true. Kronos rolled his eyes. "I wouldn’t watch it, but it's still a good idea. People would watch it. I could make a lot of money with that show, Kronos said with a greedy laugh. Not that I need more since I’m the richest human alive, but money is money."

"More money so that you can fund your scientific experiments, which would be unfathomable to the normal person? Now that could be a show: The Misadventures of Dr. Nephus. Today's episode features an untimely villain known as The Ruthless Root. Will the evil and charming Dr. Nephus be able to defeat him, or will he be crushed into a pulp by Charleston Crusher?" Sir Thomas laughed at his joke, Kronos also finding it funny despite the insults thrown at him.

Indeed. And where would Dr. Nephus be without his trusty sidekick and old-time friend, Sir Thomas, equipped with the information Kronos needs in order to complete his mission. Kronos chuckled a bit as the thought of having his own show caressed his large ego. "My life would make a good T.V. series. Hell, maybe even a movie or a book. I would read it, though most people probably wouldn’t be able to handle a book filled with so much knowledge and science."

"Sure, you’d read it, Sir Thomas replied sarcastically. Right after you finish the other thousand of books in the library that you’ve never read. Whatever would we call such a long and well-written masterpiece?"

Hmm. Kronos thought for a moment. Well, I teleport. I’m rich. I pick up sweet babes, and- Sir Thomas turned his head and looked at Kronos in utter disbelief, shaking his head with a laugh. Alright, so I don’t pick up babes, but I do travel around hunting suspected scientists in hiding. One of them is The Immortalizer. I call the superhuman whose gym I just destroyed The Ruthless Root. Now we’re hunting down a speedster nicknamed The Chronological Changer. Then there's the whole list of rumored individuals. Kronos thought for a moment. Well, we’re all scientists or self-made geniuses. You have your heart problem. I’m recovering from an illness caused by experimental teleportation and atomic deconstruction. Birch Willow is probably sick with multiple digestive system problems. The speedster probably has leg problems. In a way, we’re all sick scientists. I got it! We’ll call the book- The elevator door abruptly opened as the machine came to a sudden stop. Crap, Kronos commented as he stepped out with his luggage. Now I forgot what I was just going to say, and it was a brilliant title besides. That pisses me off!

Sir Thomas followed after Kronos, who was scanning the many doors on the deck for their room number. I’m sure it’ll come back to you. Stuff like that happens to me all the time, now that I’m getting older. Speaking of forgetting things, apparently, you’ve been around here before. Sir Thomas looked at Kronos with a hand on his hip, wanting an explanation. That certainly makes this whole mission a lot riskier, and it would’ve been beneficial for us if you had shared that information.

Pfft, Kronos sounded in aggravation as he put his hand up in a sign of to stop. I know that already, Thomas. There's no need to lecture me about it. If I had known that, I would’ve told you, but I don’t remember being here. What part of memory loss don’t you get?

What part of watching the video logs you used to document your research don’t you get? I thought you knew-

For some reason, a bunch of the video logs had been deleted by me. I’m not sure whether that was intentional or not. Either way, it was probably me, given my distinct appearance and personality. Perhaps, it wasn’t. Who knows?

She knows, Sir Thomas muttered as he shook his head in disapproval. "Bollocks, this is quickly going all to pot. I can’t believe that. What if someone recognizes you, Kronos? She almost did, and who knows if she's lying or not. You two might’ve had a major argument, and now she's plotting revenge. Not just her, but anyone in this town, including the speedster. Knowing you, you probably pissed someone off."

Quiet, Thomas! I’ve found our room.

Ah, yes. That makes everything all hunky-dory.

Correct. Kronos looked at the number on his key, and it matched the number on the door in front of them. Their room, the most expensive one available, was on the corner of the motel. There was a front room and a back room. The balcony for that floor was to the left of their lodging. They entered the room after unlocking the door, waddling in with all of their luggage, the packed R.N.T. Suit included. Despite the fact that it would have been safer in the car, which was impossible to damage or break into through any conventional means, Kronos felt it would be safest with him.

The first area was a living room, dining room, and bedroom, all combined into one. There was a bed in the far left corner. Across from that were two short dressers and a television. Just to the left of the front door were large windows, and there was a table in the middle of the room. A ceiling fan was over it, and there was a small vase of flowers on the table. From that area, across from the main door and past the first room, was a hallway that had a bathroom on one side, and a small kitchen across from it on the other side. Then, once this hallway was passed through, there was another room on the other side of it. Sir Thomas would get the larger back room, as Kronos believed in filial piety, despite his constant desire to have the best in anything and everything. This larger back room had a bed in one corner, some dressers, a mirror, and one television as well. Kronos threw his stuff into the back corner of this room as there was no space for his belongings in the first small room. He sat down on one of the small nightstands as Sir Thomas took a seat across from him on the bed.

Blimey. I don’t know why we picked a room all the way up on the third floor, Sir Thomas complained, holding his back and pretending to be out of breath.

We took the elevator.

"I know, but just the idea of walking up three flights