[ WP ] Scientists have found a way to send individuals back in time , but something terrifying happens if the person crosses paths with their past self .

They teach everyone in school not to cross paths with themselves. It causes some sort of paradox and ends time or something like that. Osiel finishes zipping his suit up, checking to make sure that all his weaponry is attached. The truth is much more terrible. It creates something their unit calls an Aberration or, nicknamed by the older members, a Horror. 
 
 Osiel looks up to the rest of his team heading out. He ’ s down one member, Kristoff ’ s past self exists in the timeline that they ’ re headed to as well as the area. The rest of his group is fine, Naz, Edy, and Rhys finishing their own preparations. It would take time for the Aberration ’ s presence to shift the timeline and assuming everything goes well, it shouldn ’ t do it in the first place. 
 
 Osiel shuts his locker, scowling. People could be such idiots. Even with all the warnings, they don ’ t take heed and avoid their past selves. No, they all attempt to change something that ‘ went wrong ’ back before. Instead, they create a mess. 
 
 “ Let ’ s go! ” He calls to the rest of the team and receiving varying replies in the affirmative range. The transport room is cold, as always. An intern catches up beside him, feet moving twice as quick to keep up with Osiel ’ s long strides. “ Report identity and information. ” 
 
 “ Phillip Schwegel. Age sixty-seven. Transported back fifty-two years. ” Naz whistles, the sound coming from close behind him. 
 
 “ Well now, this is going to be an ugly fucker. ” 
 
 “ Made contact at a mall in the town of Edmonton. ” The intern continues as if Naz hasn ’ t said a word. “ Illogicality clocked at just after fifteen hundred hours past time, about ten minutes ago our time. ” The intern stumbles and Osiel watches his hair color change, the scowl deepening on his face. 
 
 “ Nevermind the rest of the details. We are ready to go. ” Osiel easily jumps up and into the apparatus for transport. The sounds of three other landing indicate the usable portion of his team joining in. Strapping himself in, he hears repeats of the normal pre-transport procedure. Rhys prays to a God that Osiel is sure doesn ’ t exist, Edy dictates a new version of her will, and Naz chuckles at Edy. The only thing missing is Kristoff ’ s calm telling off of Naz and the usual reminder that she should remake her own will periodically. 
 
 “ Prepared for transport. ” One of the doctors calls out. Another counts down from five for them. Osiel keeps his eyes open at zero. The world seems to flash by in an instant. Decades pass in less than the blink of an eye and leave the four of them standing outside of what had formerly been a mall and in their full suits. 
 
 “ Orochi, heading in! ” Naz calls through the comm, voice distorted with a slight echo. The dark blue, almost black, suit of dragon-like armor darts past him, skimming the ground on a pair of wings. 
 
 “ Follow. Vulpes, hold back and give us ranged support. ” Osiel turns his head to look at his teammate. Rhys hums, the head on the green, fox-like armor nodding up and down as he jumps high, landing on one of the remaining spires and drawing one of his weapons, what appears to be a large bow. 
 
 Osiel turns and heads after Naz, hearing Edy hurrying behind him. Naz is far ahead, already heading into what ’ s left of the building. Osiel grimaces and quickens his pace. One day, he ’ s convinced that Naz will fail to return and they ’ ll carry Orochi back to base without her, the armor ready to take the next owner. As he and Edy enter the partially destroyed building, the broken glass distorts his reflection of silver armor and a hawk-head. 
 
 “ Horus, I have confirmation of the Aberration. ” Edy ’ s voice is quiet, with a background of a stronger tone over the comm, despite the fearsome appearance of her golden lion armor. 
 
 “ Confirm location, Nemea. ” 
 
 “ Orochi has initiated battle. Directly ahead, two hundred yards. ” Rhys darts by overhead, headed towards where the sounds of a fight echo. Osiel silently curses Naz once more before darting ahead himself. Damn woman couldn ’ t wait. A flash of light from Rhys ’ s bow highlights the Aberration in its full horrific nature. 
 
 It ’ s huge. Big enough that Naz is only half the size of its foot, with enough teeth to scare any shark silly, and enough pulsing flesh to make the stomach churn. It screams with distorted, pained voices even as it lashes out with one of its many arms at Naz. Phillip Schwegel had made quite the mess of things. 
 
 “ Nemea, put defense on Orochi and myself. ” Osiel draws the claymore at his side, dodging in to attack. A golden aura appears around himself and Naz, the woman hacking away with twin blades at the Aberration. Another flash of light, hitting the monstrosity in the face and it screams again. There are still people attempting to flee the scene, some of the arms grasping at them and squeezing until they pop. 
 
 Osiel removes a few of the arms before it can try it again with another group of people. Edy ’ s golden light appears around another set before her wire slices off more limbs. The empty spots smoke as the creature reels back and sends a hard hit into Osiel, sending him flying across the floor. He recovers, Naz already leaping up the creature, dragging one weapon low and through as she moves. 
 
 “ Orochi! ” She jumps to the side just in time as a multitude of limbs slam into her location, all the ‘ fingers ’ sharp and pointed. Naz removes more of the limbs with a snarling growl heard over all the comms. Osiel rejoins her, dodging and blocking hits as they hack more of the Aberration apart, flashes of light indicating Rhys ’ s attacks. 
 
 “ Horus, check! ” Edy shouts and Osiel blocks a surprise blow from behind. Naz gives another noise of anger, dodging in and cutting more of the creature off. “ Orochi, check! ” Naz dodges to the side, the Aberration stabbing itself and it lunges after her, a large mouth full of teeth bared. She bounces, dodges, and floats out of the way of the jaws closing. Osiel takes advantage of the situation, leaping up to land on the creature. 
 
 “ Orochi, distract! ” He calls to Naz and receives no confirmation. He doesn ’ t expect one with her hands full. He charges the claymore, the blade setting off a slight glow before he cuts right through the head of the creature. It falls to the ground, dissipating instantly. Naz laughs, bounding forward to slice the creature the rest of the way. 
 
 “ Orochi! ” Edy shouts. There ’ s another flash of light, letting Osiel see that another mouth has simply formed on the creature. It lunges forward and there ’ s a crash, Naz hitting the ground further away and with a bite wound through her armor. She ’ s bleeding all over the floor. Osiel dodges a group of limbs attempting to skewer him, cutting half of them off before charging forward. 
 
 “ Nemea! Offense! ” The glow around him weakens and there ’ s a roar from behind him, the flames lashing out and burning the Aberration. The golden glow fades away, Edy ’ s attentions focused on attack now. Osiel removes more pieces of the Aberration as Naz leaps back into the fray despite her injuries. He ’ s almost assured that Orochi is fixing her as she fights. 
 
 Osiel sticks his blade through another section and the creature shudders, starting to dissipate even as it lunges at him, one horrific eye focused on him. Naz slams into him, knocking him away and screams as it latches onto her, handling her like a ragdoll before carelessly tossing her to the side. She drops like a sack of potatoes. 
 
 Edy screams and the flames grow stronger as more flashes hit the creature from Rhys. Osiel regains his feet and runs in with a hard slash. The screaming comes to an abrupt end as the creature dissipates away, leaving the destroyed mall. Osiel turns his attention towards Naz, finding Edy already there. 
 
 “ Nemea? ” There ’ s a long silence before Edy looks towards him. Her eyes are sorrowful. Osiel hears Rhys land close behind him, the man murmuring a prayer in some strange language as he quickly steps forward, leaning down beside Naz ’ s crumpled form. The woman is clutching at the deep wounds in her body, writhing in pain as the wounds become infected, the creature ’ s bite seeming to have been venomous. 
 
 “ Shit. ” Naz ’ s voice gurgles through the blood running from her throat. The Orochi is starting to vanish away, drawing back into the small capsule form as it senses the death of its user. 
 
 “ Naz… ” Osiel ’ s voice is a murmur and Naz ’ s eyes focus hazily on him, blood running from her mouth. 
 
 “ Don ’ t—look at me—like that. ” She smiles with blood-stained teeth. “ You ’ re the—better leader—You need to… ” She fades away mid-sentence, eyes becoming blank before her body completely vanishes away, as if she never existed. Osiel stays quiet, sensors alerting him to the area rebuilding itself with the removal of the Aberration. He picks up Orochi. 
 
 “ We need to go. ” He leads the way back out to the deployment point, keying in a few options to his armor. Edy and Rhys are beside him, both completely silent. He shuts his eyes this time when they transfer back to the future. He didn ’ t want to see it this time. 
 
 “ Returning Nemea, Horus, Vulpes. ” A voice calls out and Osiel opens his eyes. He ’ s looking down at his hand holding Orochi. “ Orochi in shell form. ” They ’ re back in the transfer room and Osiel leaves the apparatus last. 
 
 “ We ’ ll take Orochi from here, Osiel. ” One of the doctors takes the small object from him. “ Orochi will decide upon a new recipient. ” The woman pats him on the shoulder before turning away. Osiel looks after her and Orochi until they vanish through a door before he turns to head towards the lockers. 
 
 Another lost.
