The stark white corridors of the Time Institute Headquarters were brimming with life. The communications room and and research library also bustled with purpose. Finally things were happening. The Keepers were sending a group of their best and brightest into the past. The recent disappearances had cast a shadow over the institute. The past few weeks had left everybody itching to do something. And now, finally, the researchers had figured out where to start.
Paige Ceres walked purposefully through the corridors, strapping her twin handguns to her side. Usually they would sit around her thighs but now, given the time she was traveling to, they were hidden beneath the folds of her jacket. Paige was always immensely thankful for the Keepers synthetic clothing. While she was forced to wear a dress in order to fit in with the time period, the material it was made from had been altered to allow for ease of movement. Her dress, a simple one of dulled browns and dirty whites, would have her fitting in perfectly with the lower class of 1800s London.
Up ahead the doors into the mission room were opened, giving the young woman a clear view of the Time Keepers she would be traveling with into the past. In front of them, the only one dressed in modern clothes, stood Mr Haran, the Director of the Institute. That he was here indicated the seriousness of the case. Paige entered the room, again double checking that everything was where it should be. Her jacket covered her guns, the sleeves hid the watch that was their time travel device and she was dressed appropriately for the time period they were about to jump into. The room itself was empty of any furniture or decoration. It was circular, white and seemed to echo whenever someone spoke.
"I thank each and everyone of you for embarking on this mission." Mr Haran began, his voice ringing throughout the room,
"Find our people, stop these fools from destroying all we work for and, above all else, remember our code: Do not disturb time." He nodded, his eyes making contact with every agent in the room, before leaving. The door closed behind him.
For the group of Keepers in the room it was now time to begin. Paige stepped into the middle of the group, raising her wrist to reveal the small watch that was wrapped around it. The time read 09:29am. Paige pressed a button and the screen flicked to the current date.
"London, England. 1827." She told the Keepers gathered in the room, adjusting her device as she spoke.
"The dockside, behind the fish markets. Let's say midday." She waited for the other keepers to input the data. Then, when everyone was ready, she smiled and began the countdown,
"Three... two... one.. " On one her screen flashed and Paige's world flashed a blinding white.
Time traveling, as far as she had gathered, felt slightly different for everyone. Sure, there was always that rush of air as it tried to fill in the space you had left, but she had heard of some people feeling squeezed, while others felt ripped in two. For Paige it felt like she was spinning. The sensation lasted less than a second each time she traveled and she had grown to accept it, if not like it. It took no time at all to reach the 1800s, the time would still be reading 09:29 back home. The further back you traveled the longer it generally took.
Paige glanced around at her companions, checking that everyone had made it through intact. They were all standing behind a debilitated warehouse, the smell of fish, shit and smoke thick in the air. The sounds of the fish market on the other side of the warehouse could be heard as well as the squawk of seagulls. It was an overcast day, grey clouds threatened with rain and Paige doubted that they would see the sun anytime soon.
"We have our instructions." Paige reminded the group,
"The reports pinpoint an old textile warehouse just beyond these docks. We split up and make our way there individually or in pairs to avoid detection." She glanced at her watch again, it now showed the current time in London of 12:00.
"We'll move in at 12:45" She smiled at them all before giving a final nod. She turned and began to leave. If someone wanted to pair up with her to reach the warehouse then they would catch her up, if not she was perfectly happy to get there alone.
The man stood by the window, watching the street below the warehouse through the dirty glass. There were always people everywhere in London, one of the reasons he had chosen this place and time for the base of his scheme. It was relatively easy for a man of money to make things work for him here.
Behind him, set within an arm's distance was his crossbow. A casual observer might mistake this weapon for some old artifact from the medieval period but on closer inspection one might realise that the material it was made from wasn't wood, or anything that could have come out of that time. Vance Savage had designed and made it himself in the 23rd century. It shot a laser arrow with deadly accuracy, especially when in Vance's hands. Now, turning from the window, he picked up the weapon and slung it over his back.
He left his private study, striding along the corridor. Below him was the whole of the textile factory, the old machines creating a maze of metal. He entered into what had once been some sort of office. Now it was alive with futuristic technology. Screens blinked figures and videos gave the team unlimited access to the streets around the warehouse. Vance went straight towards a lone computer, it's screen showing a single spike in the graph that ran along its face.
"They're here." His mouth formed into a satisfied smirk, his light brown eyes seemed to sparkle with dark energy.
He lifted his hand to his ear and spoke, knowing his message would be transmitted to all the rogues who had gathered here.
"Time to come in, we've got some guests to entertain." Wherever they might be in London, and whatever they might be doing they would know that the real fun was about to begin.