The Time Stone, Third Edition (Extended Version)

Time: 2013, A.D., Chronix Bay; Museum of Ancient History

The Museum of Ancient History is well lit in the middle of the day in Chronix Bay. A teacher lectures as she leads a class of eager fifth graders down the gallery. The sounds of people enjoying their favorite exhibits are echoing in the midst of the sunlight. Two men walk arm in arm, whispering to one another, one with dark hair and the other bald and with a mustache, they are dressed business casual, and smirk as they pass a case with the green emerald five pointed object with five orbs in the center. The case has a wired alarm system and siren light above it.

A middle-aged and ragged, beaten up and tired Dr. Harold Kowalski stands at the desk of the Museum then smiles as he walks away and out the door with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

“It’s going to be deserted after six. Security takes lunch at seven. There should be nobody around. I will break in and steal it then,” says the dark-haired man.

“Sounds good,” says the bald man as they passed by the case.

A young boy runs up to the case and puts his hands on it as he eyeballs the precious jewel within. He has black curls and a look of innocence as he gazes at the time stone.

“Howard… Howard Kowalski, come here this instant”, a woman yells from a distance and the twelve-year-old boy groans, then turns back to the casing and says “Someday”, before he runs off to his mother.

The object glows brightly as it is viewed straight and organized in the glass case by all who pass by it, believing it is the sun glistening off of it and the casing, but it vibrantly glows proudly from within. The Time Stone!