Master of Time

Under the effect of my Commandment ability, I learn their names pretty quickly.

The men go by Bob, Jack, James, and finally George. Yes. George. That name is fairly common here in this time period.

As George is already taken, I decide to go by Max to prevent confusion, not that I would not go by Max from the very start. No need for me to go by George unless my hands are forced.

I am more identifiable by Max, as that is the name that I had chosen for myself the first time that I had stepped into the past. The year 1950.

That year feels so far away. Not 26 years ago from today, but more like 400 to 500 years ago. At least to me due to my power over time, and most of those years merely involve me fucking around all over the place and having a lot of fun.

A lot of fun to me anyway. Not so much for other people, especially those people who I have tortured the hell out of for one reason or another. Most out of their own arrogance and disrespectfulness.

Fun asides, I did learn quite a bit of things in those years.

Learning and experiencing new thing is an ongoing progress for me, and it does not matter how much time have passed, there will always be something new to learn and experience.

It is logical to assume so, as the universe is infinite. The multiverse is infinite. Therefore, knowledge is also infinite.

The only exception to this rule is being in a state of Omni-sentience but being in such a state is not as glamourous as it sounds. Not really.

Terra had mentioned this, and it is the reason that she exists in a physical form. It is probably the same reason that I also exist in a physical form as well. The rest of the Aspect too from the look of it.

To become all powerful and all knowing, one has to discard their individuality.

That is the requirement. A sacrifice, to be more exact. A sacrifice that none of the Aspects is willing to give. Primordial too, at least, it does appear to be that way.

I can understand, as retaining individuality is something that most people have taken for granted. Even me in some cases. It does make me really think about how everything has come to this.

Of course, I will get to the bottom of everything eventually. I just have to take one step at a time, even though I do not have plenty of time despite being the Aspect of Time.

That is ironic, isn't it?

Also, what did the Primordial Sin of Lust calls me? Aeon? Is that my original name? Or perhaps, a name that he knows me.

Whichever the case, I go by Max now. The past is the past.

It is the same as my birthname. I have discarded it from the moment that I left my old life behind. Yet, in spite of that, I cannot help but getting myself involved with the past. For example, getting involved with my mother and her livelihood.

It is by my own volition, as I did choose a suburban home where my mother is living when I could live anywhere else. I guess that deep down, I cannot truly cast my past away as it defines who I am now.

And besides, if I am to change the world for the better and help humanity prosper for eons to come, I should start with people that I actually care about.

Sometimes, the individuals do matter more than the majority. At least when I get to know them on a personal level.

It might be strange and somewhat unreasonable for me to spend this much time and efforts on Sarah Langston, especially when I would not see her again after a couple of years.

But I cannot help it as I do feel guilty for what will happen to her under my hands. Well. What already had happened to her under George Collins. The past is relative.

To be honest, I rather not to know too much about the life that people have lived. The dreams as well as hopes that they have. Because knowing about them is to care for them. Sometime, caring way too much.

It is the human condition, and I am affected with the condition despite being an Aspect. It is probably not possible for sentient life to be completely uncaring.

Even unthinking plants care about the survival of their own species. It is evidence in the fact that they are trying their best to spread across the face of the planet, propagating their species in the process.

Having said all of that, in order not to feel anything for these men and their reason for robbing Chrono Reserves, I only ask about their plans and how they are going about it.

No need to learn anything about their life or similar.

Their plan is pretty simple. It involves getting inside after hours, waving their guns around to demand things from whoever, grabbing as much cash as they can, and then somehow getting out of the place without firing a single shot in the process.

Did I say pretty simple? I mean to say pretty stupid. Only in movies, this plan would work out like they have imagined it. Real life is a bit more complicated.

But then again, if these four guys are not stupid, they would not attempt this robbery in the first place.

Instead of doing something like this, they would have tried to hold a proper job and getting an income, building themselves a comfy home and loving family somewhere in the suburb. It is pretty much a goal that most people are aiming towards during this time period.

There is no need to risk their life to rob a bank when they are all capable men, at least physically. There are plenty of job available if one actually goes and looks for them.

That is why I never really like the joblessness nature of people here in the United States.

There is no reason for people here to be jobless other than the fact they are fucking lazy and prefer to waste their time feeling sorry for themselves and the lives that they have lived.

Drowning in sorry and feeling sorry for themselves will not achieve anything. It is just better to use the time and energy to find work and make something of themselves. Anything of themselves, really, given that anything is better than nothing.

It is logical to think so. Of course, I am aware of people having different circumstances. Circumstances that push them to do something like this, and despite that, I am not about to find out.

No point really.

"I like the plan so far but hear me out. Someone should be outside the bank, acting as a getaway driver for the rest, preferably one who can drive well and know the road layouts. Inside, someone should be responsible for watching the hostages while the others grab as much as they possibly can within some predefined time. Should not be more than a few minutes."

I tell the guys, reshaping their plan to something viable. If not, they will definitely fail as Hydra wouldn't stand by and let them do whatever they want. Shield Security too.

Hydra and Shield do have standing order not to do anything that will harm the employees of the bank as well as the customers, but they will certainly do something if the robbery is not well thought out.

And if they take too long, within 15 minutes, the cops will be swarming the place. It is better for them to be in and out within 7 or 8 minutes. Once the cops show up, getting away is going to be a nightmare.

Eh. I am thinking way too much about this, but a crappy plan irks me. Really irks me.

Of course, I use my ability to make sure these guys acknowledge my methods and plans. While I didn't think of everything as that would take too much time, my idea is still a lot better than what they have planned.

Probably because they have never done such a thing before. Robbing a bank before. Did they even try to rob anything before? Likely not as several of them are quite nervous.

Nothing derails a good plan than those who cannot follow a simple order.

To be honest, these guys should have robbed something smaller first like a convenience store just for the experience before trying the big league. They should already have several successful heists under their belt before attempting Chrono Reserves.

But then again, the story goes that many people have successful robbed Chrono Reserves in the past, mostly because Chrono Reserves did not put any resistance. Facts are facts, but the guys should have checked how many people have managed to get away with the money long enough to spend it?

Not many. Likely zero. It is probably zero.

No one can rob my establishments and get away with it unless there is a really damn good reason for them to. Aside from me robbing myself of course. Not technical true as it is more like me robbing from Henry Oxford, who is one of my underlings.

It is fine to rob from my underlings. It is not like I am going to keep the money after the robbery. There is no need to.

"Another thing, I think we should take a hostage or two with us in the getaway, so the cop will have a reason to back away. Also, having more than one hostage allows us to kill one as a show of force, but I rather not kill anyone I the getaway as the copy will have a reason to use deadly forces then."

I tell the group. I also inform them that I will take the lead on the hostage situation. No one protest at words, as they cannot really protest while under the influence of my ability.

It does take a while to make them all understand what they need to do in order to successful get away with money. At least for a while, but they do not need to know that.

Hydra and Shield do have plenty of other methods of tracking everyone down regardless of how well the plan is. Methods that is both morally and ethically questionable to most people, but hey, whatever work, I guess.

Once everything is in order, I head out of the restaurant with the four men and to the rather colorful van that they parked at the back of the restaurant and out of the view of the bank.

There, they show me the wares.

As in guns and equipment that they have brought for the job. It is not really a good idea to drive around town with an noticeable van loaded with weapons, but I rather not spend any time teaching them the finer points of being a professional criminal.

They will learn how to do that when they are in prison. Wouldn't call them professional criminal then though. More like hardened criminal.

Seriously, I could point out so many problems with just a glance of their van alone. But I am not going to do that for the same reason I am not going to teach them anything.

It is also a good thing that this is the 1976, so seeing a bunch of suspicious guys with an unmarked van parked nearby a prominent bank does not trigger any kind of alarm in anyone. The public does become wiser with time.

Actually nope. Most people are still pretty dumb even by the 31st century. Not intellectually dumb as they have much better education in the future. More to do with lack of common sense.

"Where did you get these, Bob? You did not buy these with your real names, did you?"

I question and check the handguns and assault rifles. I only handle them after putting on some gloves since I do not want my fingerprints to plaster all over the weapons. The guys did not bother with glove until I order them to.

Not because I want them to be a properly equipped for the robbery, it is because I would stand out if I am the only one wearing glove and having mask on.

As for the weapons themselves, I dislike using guns to get anything done, but that did not mean I have no training in them whatsoever. I do have plenty of training under Hydra simply because it is good to have such skills.

I supplement my knowledge and tactic with Selene via neural uplink and memory upload. It is the best way to learn anything new quickly. The only side effect is massive headache afterwards. Quite painful too, but not more than getting blown to smithereens let alone being burned spiritually.

"Yeah. How else would I get them?"

Bob answers with a skeptical question himself.

I roll my eyes and decide not to press the matter. There is really no point in doing that. It also wouldn't affect me in any way.

"Right. Just do not shoot unless you have to, and do not leave your weapon behind. Trust me on that, and by the way, did you not bring any cutting equipment for the vault?"

I question and check the inside of the van. There is no cutting equipment anywhere, but even if there is one, it would be as useful as this van. It would take way too much time to cut into the steel vault as it should be locked afterhours.

"Why do we need one when we could just tell them to open the vault for us?"

Jack questions and checks his weapon. He packs a few more weapon on him and then put on his mask.

I blink before shrugging. These guys obviously do not know the inner working of Chrono Reserves. For one, the vault is state of the art, and it would lock itself afterhours, not really opening until the morning of the next day.

That is a security measure, and even in dire circumstances, there is no way to open the vault without actually drilling out the vault door. Something that will takes hours. Hours that they do not have.

I probably am thinking way too much about this when there is no point too. First thing first, I need to have a better getaway car. A colorful van is not a good getaway car for obvious reason.

A good getaway car is a vehicle that performed and handled as expected, non-descriptive to stop other from pointing out so easily, preferably stolen just so it can be abandoned a short distance away.

That mean I would need at least two getaway cars.

And as it is still the 1970s, there aren't police helicopter all over the place, tracking a speeding car, so the getaway should have impressive horsepower, not a slow piece of shit like this hippy van.

If I didn't know any better, Bob is a hippy. Why would a hippy need to resort to robbing the bank? Oh right, I do not want to know.

I also decide not to explain to these guys anything else and straight up give them orders. If I leave this up to them, they probably get themselves caught and worst yet, shot to death.

Jack seems to be pretty triggered happy, and the moment someone shoot first, all hell will break loose.

I rather not get myself riddled with bullets even though it is probably impossible for me to die. Before I carry out the robbery, an all familiar spatial rift manifest nearby.

For a couple of seconds, I have thought that my eyes are playing trick on me, but it is not. As it is magic, none of the men can actually see it.

Its appearance confirms that this is not a memory, but an alternate reality. If it is just a memory, there is no way Eliana or Elune can reverse summon me.

How long has it been since they last saw me from their perspective? Should be almost a year, if I take the time that I have become George as well as the time that I had to repeat due to reset.

It is really hard to keep track of these things without Selene, and since I am being summoned, it should be quite important. Whatever in another reality should not affect this alternate reality, should it?

One way to find out.

I tell the men to prepare for the robbery before freezing time and then head to the portal. I am pretty armed and quite deadly. Never test out modern weapons in a fantasy setting before either simply due to the Nazi steamrolled the world with magic.

But that is the 1940s. This is the 1970s. Gun have advanced quite a bit since then, so it should different.

Also, the Nazis actually used Magictech rather than straight up magic. Magictech is better than either magic or technology, as they do compliments each other.

Time to see if which is better, technology or magic in their pure state. I am leaning towards technology, because a bullet to the head sounds a lot more certain than casting a spell.

Also, those sexy elves are still using crossbows as their primary range weapon for fucking sake.