The Case of the Almost Apocalypse

"Each of these threats has the potential to destroy civilization and render the Earth largely uninhabitable by human beings," -the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

“The probability of apocalypse soon cannot be realistically estimated, but it is surely too high for any sane person to contemplate with equanimity.”  -Noam Chomsky

Amelia Watson’s Private Detective Agency

Los Angles, California

November 5, 2019 (16 hours behind Tokyo time)

The Warden of Time snapped her fingers and the watch appeared in her hand.  She displayed it clearly to make her point.

Kronii continued, “Amelia Watson, we need to have a talk.”

Amelia stepped forward to confront Kronii.  Gura shyly receded to the back of the room.

Kronii pointed at the watch and explained, “What you have been holding in your hands is far more dangerous than all the nuclear stockpiles of the world.  A single wrong move could change all of Earth’s history or even wipe out humanity itself.”

Kronii stated, “I am part of a small group that has been trying to assist humanity in surviving, but humanity keeps making this more challenging than it needs to be.”

Amelia had been so close to saving Gura’s mother that she had almost felt the dead woman’s still living hand.  Watson’s inner sense of compassion and justice was wounded.

The Detective lashed out more spitefully than she meant to by stating, “So if you’re gods, why didn’t you just take care of this?”

The Warden of Time looked at the Detective with a look that combined hurt, pity and frustration of facing an accusation again.  The tired look said it all.

Kronii explained, “We are not gods, nor are we just free to do as we please.  I was born human just like you, as were two of my sisters.”

Amelia inquired, “So, you’re something ancient.  Are you from Atlantis like Gura?”

Kronii answered, “I’m a Canadian from your era.  Two of my sisters are modern Australians.”

Amelia squinted and asked, “So how old are you?”

Kronii informed, “I’m several billion years old, as are my sisters.”

Amelia inquired in disbelief, “So how does that work?”  The whole thing struck the detective as some kind of elaborate lie.

Kronii answered, “We made our deal and took the positions created.  Part of that was moving back in time and having our memories altered.”

Amelia countered, “That doesn’t really answer my question.”

Kronii pondered how to put it and stated, “You can think of it in anime terms.  Three girls were offered a chance to save humanity.” 

Kronii continued, “In taking the offer, we became something like magic girls on tv.  The truth is that it was a much worse deal than any anime would make it out to be.”

Amelia asked, “So, you are all human?”

Kronii answered in some level of frustration, “No.”

“What does that mean?”

“Amelia, this isn’t what I’m here to talk about.  I need you to be more careful with the watch.  The watch’s alarms and safeties are there for a reason.”

The detective pressed on, “So why would you take a bad deal?”

Kronii looked at Amelia liked a teacher being pushed to the edge by an obnoxious student.  She answered, “Because if you lose something important enough to you, you’ll agree to anything to get a second chance to get it back.  Now back to the watch, you need to be more careful.”

The detective inquired, “What did you lose?”

Kronii paused and stated, “That’s none of your business.”  The look she gave the detective was a mixture of ferocity and hurt.

The detective asked a different question, “So why are you blocking me from saving Gura’s mother?”

Kronii answered, “The fall of Atlantis was a barely averted Apocalypse.  Humanity barely survived that day. Any minor change could destroy that hard fought outcome”.

Kronii continued, “Even if it doesn’t, that minor alteration might kill Gura.  There is no timeline that exists that Amelia Watson and Gawr Gura aren’t best friends.  Are you really willing to create a time paradox that kills your fated best friend?”

Amelia looked at the Warden of Time in disbelief.  She asked, “How would you really know that?”

Kronii answered, “I’ve lived the past.  Further, thanks to the watch you have visited other timelines and other dimensions where you have met other versions of yourself, Amelia.  Don’t pretend what I’m talking about is outside of your experience.”

Amelia offered, “What if Gura decides she’s willing to risk it to save her mother?”

Kronii answered with authority, “I knew Gura’s mother personally, as did many members of Council.  She would never be ok with her daughter putting herself at risk for her.”

“What’s Council?”

“Amelia, we aren’t going to talk about that.”

“Why are you acting like humanity is so easy to kill off?  It doesn’t seem likely.”

Kronii looked at the detective and was just mad enough to answer, “Because humanity hasn’t survived yet.  My sisters and I are still searching for the sacred timeline, the one in a million probably that humanity survives September 13^th, 2022.”

Amelia’s face went pale.  Gura tensed up in shock.

Kronii was frustrated and pissed off enough to enjoy it somewhat.  The joy was short lived, she sensed a familiar presence.

A dimensional bubble appeared in the wall.  A motherly voice rang out in maternal rage, “You had no right to scare her like that.”

A green-haired lady walked through the dimensional gate and into the office.  She stared daggers into the Warden of Time…