Thread by @TheRealDoctorT

Ok, I don’t have much time.

I have to write this down before I forget it. Already my memories are growing hazy, just like he said they would.

This is going to sound unbelievable, but I don’t know how else to describe it.

Breathe. Focus.

My name is Sayed.

Start there. 1/

My name is Sayed, and I’m a nephrologist.

That means I’m a doctor. Right? Uh... I think.

Today started like any other day.

He said his name. He said he was a patient. I was consulted to see him for kidney failure.

His lab values were terrible. I remember that much. 2/

When I went in to examine him, I found a middle-aged man with a peculiar intensity to his gaze. He wore a hospital gown, but underneath it he was wearing some sort of jumpsuit.

Silver with black markings.

I told him who I was, and he smiled and said I was right on time. 3/

I remember thinking that was a strange thing to say, “right on time.”

On time for what?

I asked him what brought him to the hospital.

He starts telling me about how he’d been feeling sick for days, but midway through he stops, and looks up at me.

“You want the truth doc?” 4/

I quirk a brow. “Yes, the truth would be nice.”

He nods. “I’m not a patient. The lab values you saw were faked, designed to get you here.”

My furrowed brow furrows deeper. “You’re not a-? How did y-“

He interrupts me. “Doc, you’re going to have a lot of questions.” 5/

“I’m only going to say this once, you won’t believe me, and you’ll forget afterwards so it kinda doesn’t matter... but I’m from the future.”

“The-“

“Yes, the future. I’m here to intercept a rogue temporal traveler. Someone is going to arrive here, in six minutes.” 6/

My stethoscope suddenly feels very heavy around my neck, and I feel light-headed. I can’t help but grin as I shake my head. Then I laugh.

He watches me intently, frowning. “Laughter is good... I think. Better than screams.”

My laughter fades. “Uhm...”

He beckons. 7/

I step closer to him, and he suddenly takes my stethoscope and holds the bell to his chest. “Listen.”

I put the earpieces in my ears, and hear something I’ve never heard before. A rhythm unlike any other. Numerous extra sounds.

Shocked, I back away like I’ve been stung. 8/

He grins. “Sounds funny doesn’t it? It’s because my heart has two extra chambers. It’s a class V upgrade. Cost a fortune, but I can run for days without getting out of breath. And you see my eyes?”

My mouth runs dry as I see his irises change colors.

“Another upgrade.” 9/

Now I feel woozy. The floor shifts beneath me.

Time travel? Cybernetic enhancements?

I’m just a nephrologist.

He seems to read my mind. “I know you’re feeling a little out of it, but I need your help doc. Three minutes. Someone is coming. I need you to help me.” 10/

I clear my throat, then take a deep breath. “What can I do?”

He grins. “Now we’re talking. Okay. Somewhere in this hospital another time traveler is about to show up. I think it’ll be this floor. I just don’t know where. But they’re going to run when they see me.” 11/

I nod, feeling more and more detached from myself.

He keeps speaking. “When they run, I’ll need your help to catch them. I don’t anticipate violence, but they may try and say something to you. To turn you against me somehow. Ignore them. Whatever they say, it’s poison.” 12/

A watch on the man’s wrist goes off. It’s a loud sound. Piercing.

I jump.

He adjusts the watch, then takes off his hospital gown. The jumpsuit he’s wearing underneath says “Temporal Law Enforcement” across the chest.

“Factum fieri infectum non potest,” is written below. 13/

In one smooth motion, he takes out what looks like a sleek metallic gun covered in digital readouts, from his waistband.

Taking a deep breath, he smiles wryly.

“Showtime.”

((To be continued...))