1:4:3 Republic (Part 1)

Treacle. The gravity in The Occam’s Razor’s hangar bay was much heavier than The Destiny’s making every step uncomfortably difficult yet only Lore seemed to be struggling; the clones and Char didn’t seem to be having any issues. Lore made sure they stayed with their clones but studied the other Lore’s clones as they followed them to their unknown destination. The Lore guiding them wore similar clothing to them but rather than the Aegean, their armour was highlighted in a minty green; their clones followed with their helmet markings sharing the same mint tone.
“I like your markings. I’m guessing you’re Aloe?” Lore had been studying the leaf-like markings on her helmet while they walked.
“Have we met?” She sounded surprised that Lore knew her name.
“We visited a safehouse. One of the doors had your name over it. Took a chance.” Lore shrugged.
She nodded. “Right… Forgot about that.”
“Professionalism.” Their Lore sounded stern. “There’ll be time to get to know each other later.”
The hangar bay reminded them of their memories of The First city of Quatarr. Light grey walls with bronze, nearly golden, highlights. The hangar’s lighting was even reminiscent of their time there; it painted everything with a subtle orange tint. They stood in front of The Vengeance. Char stopped and examined the hull.
“Not a scratch on her.” She smiled.
“How? She was right in the middle of everything.” Lore looked at the lack of damage, confused.
“She’s Quatarrian. The outer hull, as long as it’s not too badly compromised, is self healing.” Char nodded at the ship. “There was a time I’d have done anything to be this close to her, to pilot her but now…”
“Now?” Lore prompted.
“Now, I couldn’t imagine leaving you alone on The Destiny.” Char’s face reddened. “But I would prefer to be with you somewhere a little more peaceful. Preferably not on a ship.”
Lore was staggered by her honesty. “Maybe later.” Was all that Lore could manage but it was enough. Lore nodded to Ace; a brief nod back saw the clones break from the group and stand guard outside The Vengeance.
They continued walking until they eventually made it to the other side of the hangar. The Lore waved their hand over a sensor, opening the door and revealing a large atrium. Waterfalls of diamonds flanked them, one on each wall save the one with the door they entered through; the shimmering water somehow slowed before hitting the pools at their bases, delicately breaking the surface, creating the tiniest ripples as they did. The lighting in the atrium didn’t carry the same harshness as most artificial lights did, making the room more inviting than its imposing grandeur suggested it to be. At the centre of the room, encircled by a moat fed by the room’s three waterfalls, a garden of fauna and flora alien to Lore but not to Char. Her eyes lit up as the plants grew larger in their reflection.
She couldn’t contain herself and she evidently didn’t mind her shoes getting wet as she planted her nose firmly in the closest flower she could. She inhaled deeply before letting out a sigh of contentment. “Nostalgia for a planet never visited.” She shrugged. “Smells nice though.”
“Wait here please.” The Lore and their Char exited through one of the side doors, their clones stood guard outside.
“I’ve got a feeling there’s going to be more of us behind that door.” Lore whispered.
Char nodded. “I reckon you’re right.” She leant forward and pretended to smell another flower. “What’s the plan then?”
“I say we try and get as much info as we can. Give them a piece of our mind and find out what the hel and why the hel this is going on.” Lore paused. “Or we could play it safe and just listen.”
“How about both. We listen to start then hit them hard once they’ve said their piece. That way we’ve got all the info we can possibly have before we lay into them.” Char seemed proud of her midpoint.
“I like it.” Lore nodded. “Get what they give us then demand more.”
“Exactly.” She smiled back.
Char leant in and placed a kiss on Lore’s cheek. She blushed almost instantly. Together, they waited, admiring their surroundings. Lore dipped their hand in the fountain, the water was cool but not unbearably so, cleaner than any other source of water they had seen and it seemed to carry a light perfumed scent with it.

The door opened slightly, another clone’s helmet poked through.
“They’re ready for you.” Aloe announced, opening the door fully.
Wordlessly, Lore and Char entered the new area hand in hand. It was somehow even grander than the atrium. Upon seeing it, Lore’s grip tightened as their vision in their right eye filled with a golden light.
“We stand here today to determine the fate of the Inquisitor formally known as Loren, now Lore. This court is now in order.” A Protectorate justice officer stepped forward.
The golden light dissipated, the voice faded back into the past where it belonged. The room had a singular light, aimed at its centre. Once Lore and Char occupied it, others illuminated revealing twenty four podiums floating in the void; twenty four Lores, twenty four Chars and ninety six clones stood split between them. The clones that had been guarding the door entered the room and slipped past them. They took their positions and then the last podium lit up. Right before them, the twenty fifth group.
“Welcome to the council.” The newly revealed Lore stepped forward. “I am The First. You… Likely have questions.” They looked tired. “Would you care to sit down?” They waved their hand, a pair of chairs appeared behind Lore and Char. They looked at the chairs, poked them and then sat down. They were remarkably comfortable. “Let’s begin then.” They smiled. “A long time ago, I was shown the end of the universe. I saw what happened when humanity stood alone and I wanted to change it.”
“The Omega Outcome.” Lore nodded.
“You’ve seen it?” The First’s eyes narrowed. They leant over to their Char and whispered in her ear. “That’s a conversation for later.” They returned their focus to Lore. “Regardless, The Omega Outcome changed everything. From that day, Crait changed the mission of The Temporal Sciences Guild. No longer were we researchers and defenders of the timeline, they wanted us to be focussed entirely on spreading humanity across the stars; ready for the day The Omega Outcome came.”
Lore raised their hand before speaking. “Why were researchers trained to be elite combatants from birth?”
“Crait didn’t just change their present but their whole life. They issued an edict to the past, creating The Inquisitoriam. They changed their own timeline to fit the new mission too.” The Lore that had guided them spoke down from their box.
“Thank you Potts.” The First created a holographic timeline between them and Lore. “Crait went back and sent colony ships across known space to ensure that humanity would always have a prominent place amongst the stars but before they could do that, they needed the Quatarrian Empire to fall.”
“The Three Year Month.” Lore nodded.
“Exactly.” The First’s Char added something to a notebook. “They sent me to destroy Quatarr and even my ‘failure’ wasn’t enough to stop them. And that’s why we’re all here.”
“Because of Quatarr?” Char wasn’t sure who to look at.
“Because of the Quatarrian people. In the Omega Outcome, only four species survived. Those species were supposed to work together but Crait decided to enslave two of them and completely eliminate the Quatarrians because they wouldn’t yield. The only way we win is if we return Quatarr to the stars and we unite the universe against the coming threat.”
“Why us though? Why exclusively us? I’m sure there are thousands of people across the galaxy better qualified than us so why us?” Lore’s question echoed around the room. Not one of the Lores had considered an answer.
“Because we… We know the mission and it’s easier to go back in time and create remnants of us than to take an army back with us.” The First’s Char spoke.
“Right…” Lore and Char were not convinced. “And what about not telling us anything?”
“You know… You were supposed to know exactly what you needed to know to get the mission done and might I say you’ve made a right pig’s ear of your missions thus far. Rioting and war on Illia, the balance of power across the entire Rexian system has been skewed and apparently The Protectorate has a new Inquisitor… If it weren’t so disastrous, I’d commend you on your ability to effect change but you’ve put millions of lives at risk needlessly.”
“But First… Illia was a resounding success until…” Emm spoke up.
“Emm, you and I need to have a talk I think. Lore and Char, you are free to enjoy any and all of The Razors amenities at your own leisure. We’ll talk more later.” The First stood; all of the others joined them.
“And what about Johned?” Lore thought their final question may have been a step too far.
The First turned to face them with a fake grin. “That’s not for you to worry about.” No further discussion was allowed as Lore and Char were, again, in the dark and alone in the council room. The door they entered through opened and a figure came through.
“That wasn’t quite how we thought it would go. Sorry.” He apologised.
“Brian?” Char ran over to him. “I thought you died.”
“Lore’s left pocket.” He pointed at them.
“He used the Breacher’s temporal shielding to give the effect of him dying and used the shield’s conductivity to overcharge it.” Lore threw the melted Breacher at him.
“Like I said, keep it.” He threw it back. “Never know when you might need one. Care for a tour.”
“Love one.” Char smiled.