[ WP ] The date is July 13 , 1836 . You 're the clerk at the front desk of the U.S. Patent Office on opening day . Things are going just fine until a number of strangely-dressed people get into an argument about their placement in line . Coincidentally , they 're all trying to patent methods of time travel .

Ulysses had never seen a man from the future before. He'd expected drama on opening day, but this left him rather speechless. 
 
 He gulped. `` Sir, I need to fetch the director for this application. A minute, please.'' 
 
 Taking two steps backwards, he forced his eyes closed to shut out the visage that terrified him so. He told himself he would have time to figure out things later, assuming he survived this, and turned to find his boss. 
 
 The floor creaked a bit as he knocked on the door of the director's office. Levi was as good natured a bureaucrat as you would ever meet, and Ulysses desperately needed instruction for this situation. His thoughts turned briefly to stiff drink. 
 
 `` Enter.'' 
 
 `` Sir, we have a situation. This applicant he... he states he is from the future, and he is telling the truth. He has already filled out the papers for his invention of... traversing time.'' 
 
 Levi sat slackjawed and stroked his beard. Ulysses nodded. It was half a minute until he got his response. 
 
 `` We must ensure everything is in order and then accept the application as with any other. This is a historical moment and by God, I do n't know what else to do. Follow.'' 
 
 Levi stood and walked towards the front lobby. He reflected on how he had always wanted to be an ambassador, but not like this. Opening his mouth to greet his important visitor, his eyes widened and he instead merely screamed. 
 
 At the front counter was the man as described, normal enough beyond his alien uniform. At issue, however, were the two new arrivals behind him. The first was very much not a man, although whatever it was did not seem entirely unlike a cross between a levitating octopus and a steam engine. The last he could only recognize as some sort of half-metal person. 
 
 The octopus-engine's assortment of eyes twinkled at Levi, and Levi understood his intentions, although none were spoken out loud. Essentially, it was to be known as **GLYXMAR, ** and while it was very polite and patient with Levi during the duration of the telepathic exchange, and appropriately understanding of how unsettling such telepathy might be when first experienced as a grown man of the 19th century, **GLYXMAR** imparted that it was of the utmost importance that it be recognized as the inventor of traversing time. When Levi finally responded to the thought-inquiry in an intelligible way, it was, of course, with fear and revulsion. **GLYXMAR** took it upon himself to begin rewriting Levi's neural patterns so that he would be able to process his application. 
 
 `` STOP!'' shouted the metal man, in perfect English. `` This is an uncomfortable situation for us all, but you are *not* to take command of this man, **GLYXMAR**. We are to let these people decide what to do. It is, after all, their patent law.'' 
 
 **GLYXMAR** relented, although this resulted in Levi gasping for air, falling to his hands and knees, tears streaming from his face. 
 
 The only human customer of the three looked at the metal man and nodded, and gave **GLYXMAR** a dirty look. They had a brief consulation over the course of about a half second, the man on some sort of holographic display, **GLYXMAR** with a pattern of eye-twinkles and the metal man via wireless means. 
 
 Ulysses was crouched in the corner. Levi was heaving on the ground. The future man spoke to them, knowing full well the damage was done. 
 
 `` We are sorry for all this. We will come back tomorrow.'' 
 
 They left, the door bell jingling.
