Back in Time Part 2
Anthony and his friends head back in time to fix a problem with the space-time continuum.
Mystery - Next--->
Synopsis
After receiving a distress call near the entrance to the Gearatron sector, the Zapbots discover an Earth cargo ship immobilized by a tractor beam originating from a nearby planet. Investigation reveals a hidden Gongos science base attempting to seize the human vessel. The Zapbots descend to the planet’s surface, easily breaching the poorly defended facility and disabling a crude holographic defense meant to deter intruders.
Inside the base, the Zapbots capture a Gongos scientist and uncover a severely abused human captive being kept as a pet. The victim is rescued and transported to Fortress Misslemax for medical treatment. Analysis of the Gongos’ equipment reveals unfamiliar energy signatures, suggesting experimentation beyond simple piracy.
The rescued human is identified as John M., one of several humans abducted during the Gongos’ earlier access to Earth. Initially withdrawn and traumatized, John slowly begins to trust Anthony, who helps him adjust to life aboard Misslemax through careful interaction and holoroom simulations. During this time, Anthony’s partner Mike Quartz struggles with feelings of jealousy and insecurity but ultimately reconciles and reaffirms their bond.
Meanwhile, tension builds among the Zapbots as Carry-On sinks deeper into depression, feeling insignificant and purposeless despite his capabilities. His brother Pick-Up attempts to intervene, eventually forcing him to seek medical attention for a damaged crankshaft—symbolic of his larger emotional neglect.
Anthony begins experiencing disturbing dreams that coincide with Scan and Boaty’s discovery that the Gongos’ experiments created a localized time distortion above the planet’s north pole. Further analysis reveals the Gongos attempted to alter history by eliminating Anthony’s ancestral line, threatening the very existence of the Zapbots. To prevent a total collapse of the timeline, Anthony must travel back to the year 1782.
Back in Time
Anthony, accompanied by Jeremy, David, Mike Quartz, and Timetravel, passes through the temporal rupture. During transit, Anthony encounters a vision of his deceased friend Matt E., who explains that Anthony still maintains a connection to the Matrix of Leadership. Matt reveals that Anthony must save his ancestor Salvatore Anselmo to restore the timeline.
The team arrives in Sicily, where they rescue the young Salvatore from imprisonment and learn the town is controlled by a violent mafia family. Salvatore and his friends belong to a street gang formed purely for survival. Anthony witnesses Salvatore’s abusive home life and resolves to remove the boys from danger entirely.
After their hideout is attacked by the mafia, Anthony and his team use cloaking technology to frighten their attackers into retreat. The group then undertakes a perilous journey across Europe, eventually reaching France. There, Anthony places the boys in the safety of an orphanage. Once the time rupture closes, Anthony bids farewell to Salvatore and returns to the present.
Present Time
Back on Fortress Misslemax, Carry-On’s crisis comes to a head when he is forced to take command during a surprise Gongos attack. His decisive action saves the ship, earning praise from Botimus Prime and restoring his sense of purpose.
As Anthony and his team exit timewarp, Anthony again encounters Matt E., who reveals that these events mirror an earlier timeline in which Matt survived until this mission. Anthony realizes that Mike Quartz has filled the emotional void Matt left behind, though Matt warns that defying destiny may still endanger the universe.
Upon returning home, Anthony recounts the adventure to John M.. That night, tragedy strikes when Mike accidentally chokes to death. Overcome with grief, Anthony uses Timetravel to go back moments before the accident and prevents it, knowingly risking universal consequences.
In the epilogue, Anthony confides in Boaty, Click, and Timetravel about altering time once again. A secret contingency plan is established in case the universe begins to destabilize—marking the quiet but ominous conclusion of the saga.
Featured characters
| Zapbots | Humans | Gongos | Planets |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
“The Universe be damned then!” I replied.
- Anthony to the vision of Matt.
Notes
Versions
- First Version: 1992?
- Second Version: 2020
- Third Version: 2021
Production notes
SPOILER WARNING
- In the original version of this story, this is where Matt E. died, however when I was rereading it to revamp this story I didn't want to lose the impact of the scene. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I came up with the idea that divergence of the Reality story had an impact on the 'revised saga' and put in these dream-like conversations with Matt E. that will play out over the next few stories. In the conversations with Matt E., he is literally referencing the original and revised saga metaphorically. In the original saga, when Timetravel came out of the time rift, the Gongos hit him and Matt was killed. In this saga, when Timetravel comes out, Anthony knows what is going to happen and has him diverge from being hit thus saving Mike and everyone else. However much like those Final Destination movies, death attempts to take Mike again and Anthony determined to not let fate win, uses Timetravel to go back and alter events saving Mike.
Continuity notes
Real-life references
- Sicily - Italy
- France
Continuity and plotting errors
Other trivia
- Actually did some research on what was going on around the world during this time for this story and found out about the revolutions.
