Skeleton

The agents from 2 different nations join to solve the mystery of the disappearance of a highly technological device that could be used to either heavenify the world or destroy it; the latter sending only a small portion of people to the perfect haven.  The device: a time machine (ADV - All Dimensional Vehicle).  While the mystery of what happened to the prototype was, well, a mystery, even long before the birth of the agents, who not only happen to be the same age, but fraternal twins seperated at birth by national law- where their parents parents were on assignment searching for the same, detrimental device that their unknowing offspring are now searching for (actually, Lara's the only one that knows it).

Story opens with character Octavius waking up after being in a coma that was induced purposefully by the Bahrainian government who felt he knew too much.  At first he thinks it's a dream.  He wakes up to a time after society as a whole has collapsed- taking with it all governments.  A nurse revisiting the abandoned hospital sees Octavius stirring, and fills in the details about what happened.  Society falls because of a lack of difference...a unigovernment.

Upon exiting the hospital, Octavius tries to recall his past, and a hobo inadvertantly clings to Octavius' presence and begins following him everywhere, annoying Octavius greatly.  After becoming thoroughly fed up with the hobo, Octavius punches the hobo in the face which mashes a button in a ring on Octavius' finger- they are sent to the days soon after the Earth was created.

There, they are in another time and place- and have no lcue what has happened- figure they're going insane- another dream?  (His ring contained the miniaturized time machine and was placed on his hand while he was in the coma by an undisclosed person).  The contact between teh two transported both of them- Octavius and teh annoying hobo (Floyd).

In the garden of Eden- they dont know exactly where they are- they just realize that they are in a lush forest- which hadn't been seen on Earth in over a decade (as of the time Octavius woke up).  They explore a bit and realize the perfectness of where they are- but still make no connection.  As they explore, they see a woman- but not Eve- this woman is dressed in modern clothes.  Thinking nothing of it, they walk up to her.  She is startled, and makes haste to lose them.  Small pursuit until woman comes to dead stop and drops to the ground.  Octavius and Floyd follow suit sensing danger.  They see nothing, but there is a mighty wind- and a booming voice chuckles- "You think you can hide from ME?"  It is God- small conversation ensues where God tells them of His anger with humanity- how He made humans in His own likeness, and yet they still forsake Him, etc- He relates to all time- slipping a bit of foreshadowing in there.  God says that He's leaving, "but not really" (seeing as how He is always everywhere).  With that experience, Octavius and the woman talk a bit- her name is Lara.  Floyd keeps butting in and inadvertently repeating things that have already been said- he gets the cold shoulder a lot.  Lara gives her story- about what she's up to- her mission from the World Union.  Octavius breaks teh news to her of the falling of Society- Floyd continually giving annoying interjections- the last straw.  Floyd excuses himself to go "relieve" himself (he goes and relieves himself on the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil).  Lara and Octavius discuss how they can get rid of Floyd.  They agree they can't send him elsewhere or leave him in Eden (Octavius still hasn't a clue where they are) because of the detrimental effects it could have on history- a whole civilization of vociferous people (shiver).  They must bear teh burden for a while.  A snake flies by and Lara becomes alert- she was already on a mission- to stop Eve from eating the fruit.

Background:
upon the birth of the children (2147), tehre was another hobo (Loklin) who occupied the abandoned police car in Bahrain- the car which contained the prototype ADV.  Loklin ends up in the Middle Ages, hides teh car, and becomes a blacksmith and something of an outcast of the feudal society.

While "relieving" himself, Floyd treks off, and convinces Adam to travel ahead of Eve.  Floyd hides in the tree and plays part of tempter of Adam and tricks him into eating the fruit.  Octavius and Lara watch Adam eat teh fruit first- and Lara explains that something's wrong.  They didn't see Floyd, and he returns, asking annoying questions such as "why did y'all leave me?, etc.  Octavius and Lara ignore Floyd as they are speechless.  All 3 walk solemnly back to Lara's time machine- where they debate their next jump.  Lara in her time machine (one-seater) and Octavius and Floyd by ring.  Lara knows how to calibrate the ring.  Octavius dervives MUCH pleasure from using "punch method."

They decided to go back home (2169).  The setting is an urban metropolis...but it is bustling instead of run down.  It turns out at this point that there hasn't been a societal collapse in this alter-present-day....yet.  Characters think it odd, but do nothing about it- consider leaving it as is- until they are almost run over by a speeding shower.  They immediately wonder what the problem is, not thinking about where they had just been because everything seemed normal.  They see in a shop window some TVs- like a "Mrs. Cleo" commercial, there is one for the Oracle of the Shower. "Come now and get your free readin'!" They go to visit OotS.  In the waiting room, Floyd picks up magazine and turns straight to an ad for a time machine- when they hear the rumble of an engine outside and a horn honk- the OotS.  The trio wonders who/what is outside- Octavius makes a fuss about how she, being psychic, should have known they were coming.  OotS retorts that she only just began taking a shower after a road race 8 seconds ago- when she learned of their presence and she drove right over from a few miles away.  Still skeptical, they ask why she almost ran over them- again, she says she was racing blindfolded for pink slips- being blindfolded was the only way she could convince the person to race for the pink slips.  Right then, Elizabeth shows up, wanting her car back, complaining that it was her car, not the person who was driving it.  This friend of Elizabeth's dared her to prove the skepticism of the OotS by racing her blindfolded- the friend pushed Elizabeth out of the car because she didn't want to get involved- "just leave it be."  The friend raced and lost the car- the OotS made it close in hitting the trio to psyche out her opponent- OotS says she does many things that seem like she has no power, but all because she knows what will be best for the future.  Elizabeth, "Then why did you race my firend in MY car when you knew it wasn't his?"  OotS scowls- "Because you need to be HERE!" Trio relates their problem.  Elizabeth, "Oh no, that's not for me, I can't help.  I don't care, I'm fine as I am, leave me out!"  and she runs out of the door.  OotS shrugs (only her silhouette is visible) and recommences telling teh trio what she knows- she recalls a time even she thinks was odd and out of place- Bahrain in 2147.  (octavius doesn't know his age.)  They go.

2147- world is mostly urbanized, though not completely yet- a few forests remain, littered by highways and light poles.  Western civilization has been impressed world-wide.  Uniform government, but there is a rebellion arising from Bahrain (sustaining Society).  The head of Clinton in formaldehyde- his life is preserved- is lead rebel.  Bahrain is first to secede from global union.  Events lead them to Bahrain countryside, on one of the forest highways.  They take a taxi down the highway- they pass the prototype squad car- find it oddly swerving and covered in signs and dents.  Floyd follows it with his eyes- sees it disappear, but withholds the information from the others.  Octavius has been plagued by his lost identity ever since he woke up- knew his name because he had a band on his arm when he came to after his coma.

Background:
Octavius was, in fact, an agent for Bahrain before his coma, and was working on the very case of the missing prototype.  He nearly stumbled upon critical findings, but an external force (politically) abducted him and attempted to interrogate him to find out the whereabouts of the prototype- the other organization being the World Union since Octavius is employed by Bahrain.  Bahrainian officials assume Octavius is dead and don't bother looking for him.  Floyd is employed in his stead (which gives Floyd the knowledge of what is going on).  Lara unknowingly participates in Octavius' interrogation- after Octavius stubbornly refuses to acquiesce his information, teh WU incapacitates him, removes a majority of the memory portion of his brain, and lay him up in a hospital.

They happen to be traveling in the same direction as the car they were born in, only a few miles behind.  Their birthing car passes them, and teh taxi driver yells profanities at the erraticness of teh passing car.  Lara was never told about where she was born by her parents, but she recognized her parents in the passing car and tells taxi driver to follow them, their fare-meter ticking away.  Policeman hangs out window of car and shoots taxi driver (Policeman was in birthing car, holding parents hostage).  As taxi comes to stop, parent car drives out of sight- trio is stranded- don't know what to do.  Questions grow in Lara about her own identity- becomes a little depressed- not as much fun to be around.  Octavius unilaterally decides that they should just do another time jump- tells Floyd to put Lara in a full nelson because she doesn't want to cooperate.  A Floyd struggles with Lara and finally has her in position, Octavius rears back to punch Lara, but punches Floyd in the face, activating teh ring.

My, but isn't this familiar- they end up in Medieval Times.  Okay, so a LOT of "time travel" stories have something to do with Medieval Times... what will make this one different?  Aha!  Most stories are in Medieval England- but what about Medieval Germany or France?  So, the trio shows up in Medieval Germany- home of teh Teutons- a highly warlike people (fact).  They are greeted with threatening weaponry and an unknown tongue- and with quick wits mask their "English" with grunts and made-up words.  With a little bit of pity, the trio is escorted out of the territory.  As they wander around, they happen into a lone blacksmith shop.  The inhabitant initially begins speaking French- but it's broken and not done well- it's obvious he's not a Frenchman- and he has an arab complexion.  This is while the trio's out of sight- and when the blacksmith sees them, he notices their modern-day clothing and begins jabbering helplessly and joyfully.  His broken French begins to turn into an English with a foreign accent.  This is Loklin.

Background:
Loklin had been employed by the WOrld Union as spy in Bahrain- but had been down on his luck for a long time and became broke and homeless.  He was scrounging around for money when he happened across the abandoned police car.  He seized the opportunity to return to civilization, but while he drove, he discovered he had lost the ability to drive...so, he began fumbling with buttons and whatnot in hopes that this was the prototype ADV- expecting not to find anything, Lady Luck found him just as he was about to hit a light pole.  This is when he appeared in Medieval France...