A scientist's time-travel invention becomes a corporate weapon, forcing him to rewrite history before its consequences destroy the future.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Impossible Demonstration
Nick completes his time-travel technology and uses a publicity scheme to attract GenCorp. The demonstration also unexpectedly reunites him with a former high school flame.
Key Events
Time Travel Completed — Nick completes a time-travel system using a Commodore 64 and his airplane. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: Nick's workshop
GenCorp Commercial Inspiration — A GenCorp television commercial inspires Nick to seek corporate attention for his invention. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: Nick's home
The Publicity Ruse — Nick uses a ruse to bring a GenCorp executive and a local reporter to his demonstration. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: Nick's demonstration site
Unexpected Reunion — Nick discovers that the reporter attending the demonstration is his former high school flame. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: Demonstration site
First Future Flight — Nick takes the GenCorp executive on a time-travel trip to 2041. Characters: Nick Miller, Matthew PaulLocation: 2041
Corporate Opportunity
A trip to 2041 convinces Matthew to arrange a meeting with J.K. Robertson. J.K. responds to the invention with a licensing offer, creating the possibility of corporate success.
Key Events
CEO Meeting Arranged — Matthew arranges Nick's meeting with GenCorp CEO J.K. Robertson. Characters: Nick Miller, Matthew PaulLocation: GenCorp offices
Licensing Offer — Impressed by time travel, J.K. offers Nick a licensing agreement. Characters: Nick Miller, J.K. RobertsonLocation: J.K. Robertson's office
Supermarket Encounter — Nick encounters the reporter at a supermarket during the following week. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: Supermarket
The Ruined Future
Nick's personal trip to the 1950s is followed by a disturbing return to 2041. He discovers that GenCorp's use of his technology has produced a dystopian future.
Key Events
Journey To The Fifties — Nick and the reporter travel together to the 1950s for a date. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: 1950s
Dystopian Future Revealed — A later trip to 2041 reveals that GenCorp has created a dystopian future. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: 2041
Warning The CEO — Nick attempts to warn J.K. that GenCorp's use of time travel ruins the future. Characters: Nick Miller, J.K. RobertsonLocation: J.K. Robertson's office
Flight From GenCorp
J.K. dismisses Nick's warning and treats him as a threat connected to treason. Nick and the reporter escape while J.K. and Matthew pursue them through the air.
Key Events
Threat And Treason — J.K. dismisses the warning, labels Nick a threat, and treats his actions as treason. Characters: Nick Miller, J.K. RobertsonLocation: GenCorp offices
Escape From GenCorp — Nick and the reporter escape GenCorp and begin trying to reverse the damage. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: GenCorp facility
Corporate Pursuit Begins — J.K. and Matthew pursue Nick after learning that he is trying to change the future. Characters: Nick Miller, Matthew Paul, J.K. RobertsonLocation: Airspace
Plane Shot Down — J.K. and Matthew shoot at Nick's plane, killing the reporter during the attack. Characters: Nick Miller, Matthew Paul, J.K. RobertsonLocation: Airspace
Nick Abandons The Plane — Nick jumps from the damaged plane before it crashes. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: Airspace
The Timeline Reset
The conflict reaches 1777, where Nick and Robertson die and the time machine is destroyed. The altered timeline leaves Nick aware of the danger, allowing him to prevent the original demonstration.
Key Events
Nick Abandons The Plane — Nick jumps from the damaged plane before it crashes. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: Airspace
Revolutionary War Arrival — The conflict culminates in 1777, where Nick and J.K. confront one another. Characters: Nick Miller, J.K. RobertsonLocation: 1777 during the American Revolution
Final Fight In 1777 — Nick and Robertson fight; both the present Nick and Robertson die. Characters: Nick Miller, J.K. RobertsonLocation: 1777 battlefield
Time Machine Destroyed — The time machine is destroyed before the original demonstration, erasing most later events. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: 1777 battlefield
The Timeline Rewritten — The current Nick sabotages the demonstration and deletes the data that makes time travel possible. Characters: Nick Miller, J.K. Robertson, Matthew PaulLocation: Nick's demonstration site
Corporate Fallout — J.K. fires Matthew after discovering that the advertising pitch misled him. Characters: Nick Miller, Matthew Paul, J.K. RobertsonLocation: GenCorp offices
Supermarket Reconnection — Nick speaks to the reporter in the supermarket as he did in the previous timeline. Characters: Nick MillerLocation: Supermarket
Story Breakdown
Inventing Time Travel — Nick completes the technology and seeks a way to demonstrate its value.
Machine Completed — Nick finishes a time machine built around a Commodore 64 and a small airplane.
Publicity Scheme — He uses a ruse inspired by a GenCorp commercial to attract corporate attention.
Corporate Courtship — GenCorp becomes interested in Nick's invention and offers a path toward commercialization.
Future Demonstration — Nick takes a GenCorp executive to 2041 to prove that the technology works.
Licensing Offer — J.K. Robertson offers Nick a licensing agreement after seeing the invention's potential.
Personal Reconnection — Nick reconnects with the reporter from his past and shares a trip to the 1950s.
Supermarket Meeting — Nick encounters the reporter at a supermarket during the following week.
1950s Date — The pair travel to the 1950s for a personal date.
Dystopian Revelation — A return to 2041 reveals the destructive consequences of GenCorp's use of time travel.
Ruined Future — Nick discovers that GenCorp's actions have created a dystopian future.
Dismissed Warning — J.K. rejects Nick's attempt to explain how the future was damaged.
Corporate Pursuit — Nick becomes a target after challenging GenCorp's future plans.
Treason Accusation — J.K. considers Nick's actions treasonous because of GenCorp's government association.
Aerial Attack — J.K. and Matthew attempt to shoot down Nick's plane.
Rewriting History — The final confrontation destroys the time machine and prevents the original timeline from unfolding.
Battle In 1777 — Nick and Robertson fight during the American Revolution, and both present versions die.
Data Erased — The current Nick sabotages the demonstration and deletes the data enabling time travel.
Inventor Nick Miller dreams of traveling through time, of stopping war and curing humanity's problems. He invents the Transport, a time machine, to better the world. When he sells his invention to a defense contractor, the time machine is used by its evil CEO as a sinister weapon. Nick soon discovers that the future has been changed into a desolate wasteland controlled by gangs. Robertson has sold use of the Transport to anyone who wants to take advantage of knowing the normal course of history. The only way Nick can stop the destruction of the future is to erase his past. If somehow he can prevent his past-self from creating the Transport, the threat will be averted. In this pulse-pounding race through time that takes you from the future of 2041 to the Revolutionary War, Nick must risk everything to try and save the future!
