Master of Time

Holding a conversation with Steve Jobs is quite pleasant and interesting, especially on topics that both of us can truly enjoy. Him more than me in most cases since my technical knowledge on software and hardware are way too outrageous for this day and age.

It cannot be helped as it is 1976 after all.

A lot of what I know only exists in theories at the moment, but despite that, I speak of them as if I have seen them all for myself. Holding them as viable products as well.

Well. Not hypothetical if, but in actual fact as I am from the future. A far future. A future that I do want to change for the better, starting from the dawn of the 21st century.

"Graphical User Interface. GUI. That is interesting, Mr. Collins."

Steve Jobs comments, liking the idea instantly. Not only it will be friendly to new users, a screen is an absolute must for displaying a graphical user interface.

And having a screen means that he could market it as another product. Always thinking ahead.

Steve Jobs asks me for more ideas, and I gladly give them to him. Obviously, I am very selective in what I can reveal, and I select only things that he would think about them himself in his spare time.

He also has some interesting ideas and notions to share with me.

And from the way he speaks of his ideas, he really wants to bring them into reality. But sadly, it is just not possible with the current technology and infrastructure.

Steve Jobs could show his ideas in about a couple of decades or so, assuming that he has the funding, of course. There is really no reason to think that he wouldn't have the funding he needs, as he is Steve Jobs.

I did give Steve Jobs some unnecessary pointers about how to market his products as well, considering that the marketing side of things is solely up to him. Not sure about that, but it is probably, given that Steve Wozniak does not have the expertise in marketing.

And as for their third business partner, Ronald Wayne, the man is not around.

No idea where the man is at the moment, and frankly, I do not really care about him.

While Ronald is labelled as a co-founder of Apple in popular media, I do not consider him as such. This is because the man has time and time again failing to see the bigger picture unlike Steve Jobs, thus he eventually winds up living in a trailer park, selling stamps and collecting rare coins for living.

Sometimes fate is what you make of it, and you have no one else to blame but yourself.

In any case, I had called those pointers unnecessary because Steve Jobs would come to the same kind of conclusion eventually. He is a smart guy, after all.

More than capable of seeing the bigger picture than most people.

He also knows what actually work for the masses too, and he will not compromise when it affects the final product. That is his professional ethic.

While there is no need for me to teach Steve Jobs anything, telling him things that he would figure out himself does build up his impression of me. Good impression.

Also, it is making conversation.

And time flies when the conversation is enjoyable. Well, at least to me and Steve Jobs. We are all that matters in the conversation anyway.

Steve Wozniak listens in on a bit before his attention wanders elsewhere. He just isn't as interested in these technical details, thus that is why he delegates them to Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne. More to Jobs than Wayne.

Giving all the jobs to Jobs. That sort of thing.

Eventually, Steve Wozniak takes his leave, as he wants to catch up with his girlfriend, Alice Robertson and giving her the big news. Not the big question, but they would marry later this year when he finally releases his product.

He actually already has the Apple I built. A prototype. It is in his briefcase, just to showcase to the bank in order to get the investment money.

In any case, his marriage to Alice lasts about four or so years. At least from what I can recall.

Obviously, Steve Wozniak and Alice Robertson do not really love each other. They are with each other simply because it is a requirement to be a couple in 1970s. Pressure from society at work.

Love whenever that happens. Same line with peer pressure.

Oh. Did I mention that Alice Robertson is also a Freemason? More on the Freemason another time, as they are connected with another secret society that dated way back to the time of the Pharaohs.

And no, it is not Assassin Order. Or something similar to the said order.

That would have been awesome, wouldn't it, considering genetic memory is actually a thing.

The Ace of Diamond has demonstrated this.

And while genetic memory is not fully explored by Hydra, knowing it is possible is enough for me. I did dabble a bit in it, but having genetic memory is actually a bad thing since it interferes with the original memory of the host.

Furthermore, now that I know God exists, it is safe to say that the Egyptian Gods exist too. That would make a buttload of sense for what I had found buried in the desert from way back.

I did mention that, right? Around the time I gaze at the Azulian sky. The magical eternal night sky of a world beyond this reality.

Speaking of which, I wonder how Eliana Shadowsong is doing. Elune Whisperwind too. I have not seen them in a while. Actually, I have not seen anyone I know for a while now due to being trapped here.

I miss my daughter, Antigone.

Antigone has grown on me quite a bit, and I have never been away for this long. I mean, it should not be more than a few seconds for her, but still, I would know. I think she would too if she is anything like Adria.

"I need to get going too, Mr. Collins. It is nice chatting to you. You have given me a lot to think about."

Steve Jobs states when it is well into the evening.

It is almost 5pm. About the time that the bank across the road is closing. People are already leaving it in mass from what I can tell.

Chrono Reserves does continue its business well into the night if there is a need to, but usually, there is no need to. It is also dangerous as most of the robberies happen during 6pm to 6am unlike in those movies, where the robbers do not bother to cover up their faces or wear gloves.

Of course not.

The audiences would not be able to see their favorite actors and actresses otherwise.

"Likewise, Steve. Guess you will be leaving your job at Atari now, right? Apple requires your dedication and time. It is a good business venture, and if I have money, I wouldn't mind buying some shares when it finally goes public. Should be within a few years."

I tell Steve Jobs as he is packing up his things on the table. I did have a look through some of his notes when he shows them to me, but all of them are like nonsenses to me.

Everyone has their own way of writing down technical information, and Steve Jobs is not an exception.

"You seem to be very knowledgeable about computers, Mr. Collins. Any chance that you would like to join me and my friends on this business venture?"

Steve Jobs offers. He is acting on his own without consulting the others.

That can be considered as a character flaw, but not really. An actual flaw would be him withholding a lot of stuff from his business partners simply because he thinks he knows better.

The stuff in question includes money.

I recall that Steve Jobs practically cheated Steve Wozniak on some cash bonuses on a project that both of them had worked on together for Atari.

While it is not important to know the full detail, the very fact that Steve Job did something like that to his business partner is enough for me to dislike being associating with him on a business level.

But still, I would have to eventually, but our positions then would be vastly different.

"As much as I love to, Steve, my hands are full right now. Perhaps another time. I promise."

I response, thinking about the meeting that I would have with him and Bill Gates. That meeting would happen, as soon as I get out of here. But I do wonder if Steve would remember this or not.

This is another timeline, right? An alternate timeline.

That is the conclusion I have reached after what I have seen and experienced so far, but there are still too many contradictions, such as my unique presence for example.

I mean the real me, not as George Collins.

"I will hold you to that promise, Mr. Collins."

Steve Jobs tells me and bids me farewell but not before exchanging some contact numbers. I mention that I might not be able to answer him all the time due to being very busy myself.

I do have a company to start and operate soon after all.

Once Steve is gone, I look over my shoulder and accept the folder that is being handed to me. A symbol of Chrono Reserves is in front of the folder.

"Thank you, Ms. Fleming. I hope you did have to wait long."

I give my thanks to the woman. She has been sitting behind me for a while but did not want to interrupt the conversation, especially when she recognizes who Steve Jobs is.

Steve Jobs is currently a nobody as Apple is not a multibillion-dollar technology giant, but despite that, in the eyes of Hydra, he is always a very important target.

One of many important targets, as I have designated.

"Not at all, Mr. Collins. I am rather surprised at who you are having a conversation with. Nevertheless, it is nothing to truly worry about. All the information pertaining to Ms. Sarah Langston and Mr.

William Wilson, Mr. Collins."

The woman responses.

I nod as a response before flipping through the pages quickly. It would take me a while to read through all of their information normally, and I could do that alone without needing her here.

"Have Mr. Wilson and Ms. Langston work overtime tonight. That is all, and please remember to discard everything you know about this. It is not necessary for you to remember."

I tell the woman and allow her to leave.

A trip to the memory bank would be the best for her, but there really no need to go that far. She could just keep it to herself as she has trained to keep a secret even under torture.

Well, not to keep a secret under torture but to fabricate a convincing lie.

It is pretty hard to get really get anything truthful from a Hydra agent using normal means.

And by normal means, I mean the methods that the Government employs. They do get pretty creative, but Hydra is pretty creative in their counter methods too. It just makes the hellish training even more hellish.

Wonder if that is a good thing. Well. Not really my problem.

While reading through the documents provided and committing everything to memory, I keep an eye on the four guys sitting by the window of the restaurant, staking out the bank across the road, without a doubt.

That is obvious from their clothes to their body posture.

They are only staking out the bank today, however. Unless I have anything to do about it.

And I will have something to do about it.

It is better for me if they decide to rob Henry Oxford today than tomorrow or another day. Doing that after today would be too late for what I have in mind, and I have no qualm about using these guys for what the robbery.

Of course, I am in no hurry to get them to do that since it is not 5pm yet. Having way too many hostages and not enough manpower is not a good combination, not to mention having Hydra agents to contend with.

Shield Security personnel too. Each of them a trained to disarm with extremely violence.

Therefore, I think I will have to help these four guys out, at least so that their robbery and subsequent getaway to be successful. For anything that happen after, it is on them.

All of that is for later.

As for William and Sarah, they attended to the same high school as well as the same elementary school near their houses. They lived near each other when they were kids, all the way up to when they finally graduated from high school and enter college.

The same college too. Taking the same classes as well. They also applied to the same job.

I keep saying the same, but it is not exactly the same. William did everything first while Sarah followed out of her unrequited love for him.

Good thing Sarah does have the brain to accomplish the feats that William did. She is actually smarter and more dedicate than him, helping him out when no one is actually watching.

But unfortunately for Sarah, someone is always watching. She will get chastised for that eventually, as she is enabling William. Their works must belong to them and no one else.

This is not high school and doing something like that will not get detention.

I am not sure how Henry Oxford disciplines his employees, but it will not an easy slap on the wrist.

As for why William and Sarah are not together already, William is just oblivious to the fact. Like stupidly oblivious. He considers her friend and nothing more. One of many friends that he has, so the prospect of having an intimate relationship with Sarah has never crossed his mind.

He even stated that himself, so that is why Sarah is so hesitant. She hopes that William would change his mind eventually, as long as she continues to do thing for him.

And I do think William will realize it too, but George Collins screws that up with his dick. I suppose that it is time for me to do the same. Oh boy.

William and Sarah are not destined to be together, but I think I should be able to give them their happy ending. Just not a happy ending together.

I collapse the folder and put the folder on the seat next to me and away from view. With a thought, it disappears without a trace. I have sent it to the end of time. I usually dump my garbage there because it is easy.

Once I did that, I get up from the seat and approach the four men. I take a seat at their table, causing them all to look at me.

"Hello guys. Allow me to join on the fun."

I tell them as I activate my Commandment ability. It is the easiest and quickest way to join their team, allowing me to rob the bank with them. I have never robbed a bank before.

Never have to, so this is like a new experience for me.

Good. I like new things.