The Traveller reappeared in the Tashman Technologies Teleportation center.
He looked at the clock on the wall -- he had been gone 15 minutes.

"Overmind!"

Overmind turned from a computer bank, and said, "Traveller!" He ran over to
his friend and asked, "What happened?"

"I confronted the Unseen Hand ... we've got 15 minutes ... damn."

"Uh, what's going on?"

The Traveller tensed his jaw, desperately trying to think of a solution.
"There's got to be a way. There's no way...."

Overmind anxiously watched his friend, knowing something terrible was about
to happen and there was nothing he could do to stop it. "I hope you have a
plan," he said finally.

The Traveller looked at Overmind and said, "Maybe," and walked out of the
Teleportation center.

Overmind followed the Traveller, who was heading to his office. He sat
down, pulled out his notebook, turned to a blank page, clicked his pen and
started drawing. Overmind observed this for a few minutes before finally
saying, "Um, we've got five minutes until the timeline changes again, and I
feel like throwing up. You mind telling me what you have in mind?"

The Traveller stared at what he had drawn for a moment before looking up and
responding, "Let's go to the Teleporter. We're going back to the dawn of
time. It's our only chance."

"We?"

"No time for arguments. I'll need your help on this one."

"Uh ... okay."

The Traveller got up and rushed back to the teleportation center, with
Overmind right behind him. The Traveller ran towards the teleportation tube
he had just used. Overmind pulled up the settings on the teleporter, and
then stepped in the tube with the Traveller. Overmind instructed Thor to
hit the enter key.

"Uh, what are you guys doing?"

"We're going on vacation. Just hit the enter key, will you?" answered the
Traveller.

"Okay, but how will I know that you got there safely?" asked Thor.

"Don't worry -- you'll have other things to worry about in a few moments.
Now, hit the key."

"Okay."

Thor hit the enter key, and the co-owners of Tashman Technologies teleported
into the past. An instant later, Thor asked, "What other things do I have
to worry about?"

***

The Traveller and Overmind arrived in the misty era known as the dawn of
time.

"Okay. You mind telling me what's going on now?"

"When I travelled back in time, I created another new timeline -- one where
the earth is destroyed before man ever exists."

"Great."

"I know, it sounds bad -- and I know what you're thinking, but you're just
gonna have to trust me. I have a plan."

Overmind sighed heavily, and stared at the Traveller, openly frustrated with
the present situation.

The Traveller pulled out his notebook, and began: "Remember in Buddhism,
where whether you're an animal, a human, a tortured soul, or a god ... in
the end, none of it matters, because all beings are stuck in the same cycle?
Whether your life lasts a few seconds or thousands of years?"

Overmind nodded, still frustrated.

"Okay, this Unseen Hand told me he set the universe in motion, but he cannot
interfere. The bottom line is though, he could interfere if he wanted to --
it's just he's imposed these rules on himself."

"So?" Overmind finally said, "We came all this way to convert the Unseen
Hand to Buddhism? Are you crazy? Damn, I was always afraid of you pulling
a STUPID stunt like this, and now you've finally done it."

"That's not why we're here! I'm not that stupid! Will you just let me
finish?"

"Alright. But this better be good, cause right now I'm not pulling out my
wallet."

"Okay. The problem is the rules say, 'We can't restore the timeline. The
Unseen Hand can't restore the timeline. Every time we travel back in time,
we create a new timeline.' Yada, yada, yada. However, we know that rules
can be broken if necessary.

"Many times society has said something was impossible, and then someone has
stood up and proven everybody wrong. This recurs throughout history --
Galileo's discovery that the Earth was round, the Wright brothers daring to
fly, Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.

"Well, now's our chance to break the rules. We were able to send that
package back in time...."

"No, we didn't. That timeline was lost."

"No, it wasn't. We still remember it -- that's a clue. The fact that we
remember tells me it exists."

"So what? We can't just bring it back."

"Yes, we can. We just have to break the rules."

"And how are we going to do that, genius?"

"Indeed," a voice rose from the mists. "How?"

"Ah, the Unseen Hand," said the Traveller. He and Overmind turned around to
see the mythical hand, clenching and unclenching. "I bet you think you're
powerful, don't you?"

"I am a god. Power is mortal vanity, and of no concern to me."

"But you being stuck here, observing what you set in motion -- that is your
concern, isn't it?"

"What is your point, Traveller? And quickly, before I lose patience and
send you to your deaths."

"That's just it, isn't it? By killing us, you'd be interfering with
humanity."

"Hardly. I'd...."

"And yet, you've already interfered, haven't you?"

"I told you, I do not interfere...."

"But you told me what would happen to the Earth!"

"I ... so what?"

"That act was interference. Intentional or not -- you broke the rules."

The Hand continued clenching and unclenching, until balling into a fist.
"Very good, Traveller. So you are right. You amuse me -- please continue."

"If you can break the rules, then so can we. We are going to restore the
timeline just as we remember it, and you can't stop us. No force in this
universe can stop us."

"Uh," Overmind whispered, "what the hell are you talking about?"

"All we have to do is believe," answered the Traveller, "And the universe
will reform according to our dictates. Isn't that right, Unseen Hand? So
here goes: I wish that the timeline be restored to what it was before that
package was sent back in time -- and I wish that the package never leaves
the Tashman Teleportation Center."

"Very good, Traveller. You have proven yourself worthy of the gods. As you
have spoken it, so it has been done. Such is the power that exists during
the dawn of time. All that remains is that your friend speaks the world, to
reinforce your words."

"Uh," began Overmind, "I wish that the timeline be restored accurately to
the way it was before the package was sent back in time -- and I wish that
the package never goes back in time."

"Excellent. As you have spoken, so shall it be."

"And, one more thing," added the Traveller, "if anyone else ever attempts to
come here to change the timeline, you will prevent it from happening."

"Once again, you have proven your understanding of the matter. You're
wisdom exceeds all of the gods. It shall be as you have requested,
Traveller."

"Thank you, Unseen Hand. You know, I think it's time for you to leave
godhood, and become something else, so that you have a chance to break the
finite cycle and attain enlightenment."

"I shall consider it, Traveller. I ... am not sure. You're courage exceeds
all of the gods -- you and your friend. Now, return from whence you came."

The Unseen Hand waved, and the two friends disappeared.

***

The Traveller called Overmind that night, and discussed what had happened.
Overmind marveled at the Traveller's gamble.

"It wasn't a gamble, really -- just using the facts and drawing
conclusions."

"But ... to think you could reshape reality -- isn't that a little much? I
still can't get over it."

"Ten years ago people would've said teleporting packages was a little much
-- but you guys still do it, every minute of every day. I just had to think
outside the normal convention, and reach out for the true solution."

"Well, once again, you've proven yourself."

"Thanks, although I was a little worried when we first got back to the dawn
of time -- you were pretty upset at me."

"Well ... it's just that the way you do things some times can be
frustrating."

"Right. I know what you mean."

"But ... as long as the end result is good."

"Right. I hear you."

"Right."

"So -- what's next?"

"I don't know, but I can't wait to see the Founders tomorrow."

"Ha ha ha!"

"Ha ha ha!"

And the two laughed hysterically for several minutes at the absurdity of
life and timeline.