Bingo Runner: A Chase Through Time Part 4

It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority. By definition there are already enough people to do that.

Dan awoke into darkness. After years of practice his body now woke him effortlessly without an alarm, but he still had trouble rousing himself out of bed without light. After he had finished with his preparations for the day, looking sharp as an arrowhead, he wandered into the kitchen. Ironically enough, it was as if he had never left, he thought to himself. His wonderful espresso machine (his one true love he told himself) had already brewed up a fresh double Americano, and it was still just as dark as when he had retired the evening before. He grabbed his to-go cup on his way out the door, starting his car remotely to break the frost.

He supposed he was only half-awake as he drove, for he had arrived at the center already; he didn't remember most of the drive. Everything becomes habitual if you do it long enough, he told himself. By the time he had walked across the lot he was more awake then ever, the cold seeping into his bones as the sun began to crest the hilltops. Normally he would have spent at least twenty minutes checking in and going through a routine examination of his duties, but he knew better today. Today was MD, which is what they called Mission Day. Striding fast through the halls, Dan went to pull open the briefing room doors. The General stood there awaiting his arrival; evidently he wasn't the only person "excited" for MD. Perhaps excited wasn't the right word, but men who have become hardened in the manner Dan was hardened no longer knew how to coin their emotions.

"Good morning Dan. I trust you are well rested after your leave?" The General said, out of common courtesy more than anything. They had an amicable relationship but this morning was not really the time for extensive pleasantries.

"I am very well, thank you General. Glad to be back." Dan said with a quick nod, taking his seat.

"There's no need to be seated Dan, we'll do this briefing en route to your new mission piece. It's unlike anything you've seen before; in fact it's unlike anything the world has seen before." The General said, gesturing to a back door Dan had never been through.

"Absolutely, General. If there's one thing I've become used to since I joined the center, it's being ready for anything." Dan rose to follow him out the door, a mirthless smile crossing his face.

"Dan, this mission is most easily explained as a means of expanding the political influence of the center; as you know we have many allies in the government. However, it's not so simple, and in addition to being highly classified, any actions you take after we begin the mission could have irreparable consequences. That's why we've chosen you. Dan, you're trustworthy, expedient, and most of all, you're a survivor. I would say that you are going to be away for some time, but that would a pun in the most poor of interests.

"We've developed a machine, the likes of which have before been left to the realms of the imagination. I know you are well versed in physics, and are familiar with the time-space continuum? We've put together what's known as the bingo jump device, named so because of its sporadic nature to only operate as we desire on the 15th attempt. Time is a wild creature Dan, and she does not co-operate with us as of yet as much as we may like. As a result, your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be full of never before known risks." The General stared gravely at Dan at this point, scrutinizing his emotionless face for some type of reaction.

"General, I have never before turned down an assignment and have no intention of changing that history." Dan said, meeting the General's solid gaze with his own.

"Therefore, I must tell you about another history you are about to change." The General smiled a similar mirthless grin and showed him into a room containing a brilliant silver machine. "Are you ready to BINGO Dan?"
 

Stay tuned next week for Part 5 of Bingo Runner: A Chase Through Time.

Read previous episodes of Bingo Runner: A Chase Through Time:
Bingo Runner: Part 1
Bingo Runner: Part 2
Bingo Runner: Part 3