This choice: Ok, so how does time travel work if we can't do anything? • Go Back...Chapter #6OK, why time travel if you can't do anything? by: DougTF   You mull over those rules and something she said about the second sticks with you. "So you can time travel, which is trippy as hell, but once back there, you can't do anything, so like, you just watch? Seems kinda boring but might be cool to see dinosaurs, unless they could like eat us. That would suck"
Genie chuckles softly "I would not let that happen master, but no, there are thing you can do, just nothing that would be noticed or change what had already happened. For example, you can not go back in time to stop Lincoln's assassination, since we know it happened. If you made that wish, we already know something went wrong and you were unable to do so. But, unexplained things could occur as long as their resolution is still unknown to this day. And of course things that were in no way recorded are easily done, since they are in essence unknown."
You are mulling this over, then snap "So I could wish to go back in time, hijack an airplane saying I was DB Cooper, and then wish back to the present, leaving that a mystery, and getting all the money? Cool, that's aw...wait, what?" Genie shakes her head "You could except for one thing master: two masters ago, he already did that, he was DB Cooper and did exactly as you say. So you can't change what he already did"
Your eyes bug out because you were basically joking, but then you stand up, shocked "You knew DB Cooper, and like, he did that, went back in time and hijacked an airplane, jumped out and instead of being able to hide, he just wished back to his present time?" She looks up at you and nods "Yes, you understand now master"
Shaking your head, you sit back down, and sigh "Not sure I'd say I understand, but I mean, makes sense why that is such a mystery. So, not like time travel could be super useful" She giggles at that, and notices your soccer jerseys in the closet. "Master,you like football, do you not?" You blink and turn, and then nod "Yeah, I mean Americans call it soccer so caught me off guard, but yeah, I like it, why?"
She stands up, "With your permission, I can show what good time travel is... simply wish me to demonstrate and I will be right back" Intrigued, you stand up as well and rub your chin "Ok, Genie, I wish you to demonstrate a benefit of time travel related to socce...excuse me football" She smiles and nods, gestures and then vanishes. Thinking she is gone, maybe for good, you wonder if this was just some dream or hallucination, when POP, and she's back, but holding a trophy. Something about it looks familiar, but it certainly looks expensive. "What is that Genie, where did you get it?"
She smiles and hands it to you, which catches you off guard since it weighs like 15 pounds, which means "Holy crap, is this gold, like actual gold?" She giggles and explains "Yes, the famed Jules Rimet trophy, given to the winner of the World Cup. Per regulations, once a country won the cup three times, they were given permanent ownership of the trophy and a new one was designed. Brazil was first, but the trophy was stolen in 1983. It went missing, presumed stolen, but all I had to do was go the last date it was seen, and use my magic to take it. They never caught the people who stole it, and all they know is that it went missing. Well, see? That is how you can travel back in time and actually do something!"
Your eyes widen: she just went back in time and stole a stupidly expensive, and oh by the way, original World Cup trophy! "Genie, you can't just steal this, people are going to miss it, start a search, I could get in some much trouble!" She tsks and explains "OH, yes, of course, and they did miss it, searched for it for years, and finally just assumed whoever stole it melted it down for the gold. As for trouble, well, since you are a fan of football, would it not be an amazing story for the trophy to be found after all these years? You could be the one to have found it, and garner much acclaim and rewards, or if you don't want the attention, simply wish it be someplace and be subsequently be found."
Pacing, you listen and mind is racing "OK, as cool as it is, like the ultimate World Cup souvenir, no, I can't do that.... how about, I wish it to be transported to a swamp in the Amazon, maybe where a boat or a plane crashed several years ago, so it gets found and they think it was aboard whatever it was?" She nods "Oh, that is very elegant, of course master" she gestures and the trophy vanishes from your hands and you let out a sigh of relief. But that makes you realize "OH! Oh, you went back to 1983 and actually time traveled for real! I see what you mean. So like, lost treasure, I could find it, or witness something cool....heck, I could go to any World Cup game in history...that actually would rock" Genie nods, "It would involve either pretending to be someone else or assuming a made up identity that would go unnoticed. Modern games with IDs and such would be problematic, but even as late as the early 2000s would be easy enough. Did you want to do that master?"   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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