First Contact

The Door. They were just about to open it when it opened itself. Behind the door and inside their house stood a young woman. She was somewhere between Lore and Char height wise. Her hair was also somewhere between the two, a slightly darker orange than Lore’s and slightly shorter than Char’s. She put her hands together and released a high pitch screech of excitement.
“You’re finally here!” She all but jumped with joy. “By the gods, I thought I’d gone to the wrong date. Again…”
“I’m sorry? Who are you and what are you doing in our house?” Char looked her up and down. On her wrist, a worn Breacher.
“Ah yes! Sorry for the Breach in privacy!” She smiled at the pun, flashing her wrist to her audience. “But it’s ok. You’re here now.” She gestured for them to come in. In stunned silence, they obliged. They walked towards the front room, the whole time the stranger was taking mental notes while scanning them. Lore’s head twitched to the side as she did. Lore could have sworn they heard her apologise and back away to continue her observations. “Introductions. I’m Tay. I’m a final year student at The Alliance University, Quatarr Campus and I need your help. I’m an anthropology slash xenoanthropology student and I want to write my final paper on you guys.”
“So you’re obviously from the future.” Lore was trying to work out the enigma that stood before them.
“Oh yeah, big time. I enrolled in twenty six sixty two so I’m from…” There was a somewhat worrying pause as she counted to three on her fingers. “Twenty six sixty five” She nodded. “Sorry, maths isn’t my strong suit.”
“And how exactly did you get here?”
“How did you even know about here? We didn’t give the Council or the Alliance this address.” Char chimed in.
She looked to them, smiling, wondering who to answer first. “This would sound crazy if I told anyone else but, I know it was you two who brought Quatarr back. I don’t know all of the details because my parents would never finish the story but you guys saved a planet and then took none of the credit. I want to learn more about our joint history’s biggest heroes”
“Nice to know we stay humble.” Lore smirked.
“And how do you…” Char began.
“As an anthropology student, I had access to the Halls of Military History and Achievement on Quatarr. Lore gave them their medal as a part of a temporary exhibit and forgot to collect it afterwards. I scanned it with my Breacher and nipped back here a few times. Lots of near misses and I apologise for smashing your favourite cup in three years time.” She pointed to a bronze circle on the mantlepiece.
“Good to know… How did you get a Breacher anyway? That looks like a Guild Breacher too.” Lore grappled at Tay’s wrist. The band was obviously not hers, as Breachers, bar one were cut to fit their user. Lore looked to their metal wrist, which had been modelled on their original and then to Tay’s. There were only a few millimetres difference but they were the same length and fit both wrists loosely.
“Fit’s you better than it ever did me.” Lore smiled, unhanding the girl.
“Sorry? So you’re saying she’s actually got your Breacher?” Char scanned Tay once more.
“You gave it to me. Said the best time to catch you would be around your honeymoon or anniversaries so congrats!”
“Oh yeah.” Lore clicked their fingers, at least they tried. The metal scraping on metal caused their head to jerk. They composed themselves and removed a small, gravity defying sand timer. “Do we count this?”
“No! This is a mission.” Char forced the timer back into Lore’s pocket.
“This isn’t your anniversary is it? You’ve only just got married and that’s your honeymoon timer. At least I got it right this time.”
“Lore’s idea. ‘Hey, why don’t we go on a month long meander across time and space, it’ll be fun. Only downside is we’re on call so if they need us we have to pause our holiday’.” She deepened her voice to mock Lore.
“You agreed.”
“Well I wouldn’t have if I knew it meant we wouldn’t actually be going on our honeymoon!” Their back and forth only escalated as Tay sat back and smiled. She thought about removing the wafer biscuits from her bag but knew the rustling would stop the show.
“Hold on…” Lore’s thoughts were taken from the fight. “You said you’re from the future? So what on Earth are you wearing?” Lore pointed to her choice of attire. Canvas high tops with slim fitting denim jeans paired with a red flannel shirt and grey undershirt.
“I’m studying in the future. On my last stop, this was the height of fashion.” She rolled her sleeves up further. “I kind of like it though.”
“Fair enough but if you’re admitting to multiple temporal incursions then we’ve got to report you.” Lore who had been smiling along suddenly dropped into a more serious tone. “Even if I will give you permission, I can’t let it slide now.”
Tay reached into her bag and produced a piece of paper, folded into quarters. Lore took it from her and opened it out.
“’Tay is to visit you before your honeymoon first to receive an untraceable Breacher ID because I’ve forgotten how to do it and Char’s out. Love, your future self.’ I’ve even signed it. Why didn’t you?” Lore sighed as they held out their hand for Tay’s Breacher.
“I used the timer to calculate my first jump. Landed in your honeymoon. Talk about awkward but it was cool. Got some good research.”
“You sure that’s real?” Char had been focussed on reading the letter over.
“I’ve only ever seen that signature once and it was on the letter your Lore left me. I trust it’s real. And if not, you can trace all of your untraceable ID’s can’t you?” Lore smiled at Tay.
“Good point. Just keeps you off our bosses radar.” Char began inputting the code. Tay huffed.
“Great, now they can follow my every move. Like I never left home.” She whispered under her breath, sighing in annoyance.
“It was a pleasure meeting you Tay but I’m afraid duty calls. We could do this another time if you wanted?” Lore looked to their flashing Breacher.
“I’m sure I can arrange that.” Tay smiled as she dissolved into the Breacher’s white light.
“Bloody nice girl.” Lore smiled. This didn’t last long. “We’re off back to Rexel…” Char groaned with the energy of a pubescent child. Mob Help.