Who Links Here

"Who am I? That's a good question. As I've already told you, I am Doctor Jude Slaykin, but people who know me call me 'Doc'. That name means nothing to you, Seven Judeca?"

"Other than the fact that you just introduced yourself to me, I have no idea who you are or what you want."

"He's not a real doctor you know; the Council just gave him the title and sent him on his way." Nikki climbed up onto the roof and stood in front of him.

"Ah yes, this must be the girl from the Council. Nikki Welch-Montclair isn't it? That bit has always been blocked from history, but not anymore."

"This isn't going to turn into the conversation I just walked out of where everyone is talking about me and not to me; so both of you just shut up. I'm going to ask questions and someone is going to answer them."

"So long as you answer mine as well."

"Fine, but we're going inside. I want everyone there when we do this."

Nikki and I climbed down the stairs to the ground and Doc just appeared next to us. From the tension in the way Nikki walked I could tell she was uncomfortable with having Doc around. These two knew something that I didn't and I was getting sick of everyone knowing things that I didn't.

I introduced Doctor Slaykin to Parker and The Priest when we got into the living room. He referred to Parker as 'the Daysian boy' and to The Priest as 'Jon'. He kept typing things into the computer or whatever it was on his right arm.

"It's been a while Jon, you seem to be doing well. I never thought you would be the one tangled up in this little mess though."

"No one has called me Jon for quite some time; it sounds strange at this point."

"And no one will for a while longer my friend."

"Do not call me friend; I do not know you."

"No man truly knows another until he has faced him in battle and rest assured our battle is some time off Priest."

"Okay, now that we have that out of the way, how about everyone starts answering my questions rather than talking amongst yourselves?"

"I've already told you my part in this story, but feel free to ask and I'll try to answer what I know."

"We'll start where I started on the roof; just who are you Slaykin? Who are you really?"

"I've shown you the picture Seven, which should be proof enough for you. I am your grandfather. Your mother's name is really Andrea Slaykin and she is my daughter. My family is a member of the Council, but I was removed and replaced with my brother. I was nearly erased from existence, but your grandmother intervened on my behalf. I'm still not entirely sure what happened, but I was more or less exiled from the Council and my family. Anyone who knew me suddenly forgot me and any mention of me was quickly forgotten or erased."

"You were removed because you wouldn't stop trying to change the past. The good doctor here is an expert at magic involving time and its manipulation. He kept trying to change time and right wrongs in the past. But that goes against any and all rules of the Council involving time travel. If things didn't happen the way they did then the present wouldn't be the way it is. Things had to happen or else everything would be different; you couldn't see that so the Council had you removed."

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