Free Time War: Invasion by Nick S. Thomas

influence and power to have made this much of an effect on the world, so he won't be easy to reach."
    "No, but he also has no idea we are here," added Corwin, "He doesn't know we made it through or that we are coming for him. We must use that."
    "But we need to find a way to blend in," replied Beyett.
    "Bossan said the Allies are launching an offensive here tonight. We should be able to fit in with them just fine."
    "Dressed like this and carrying enemy weapons?"
    "I didn't say it was a perfect plan, Nylund, but I'm working on it."
    The rest of them began to relax and sat down wherever they could, not as they they'd be staying put for some time. Corwin pulled out a ration bar from his webbing and noted there were only three more left; two days' supply in total. He tore open the packaging and bit off half of the ration in one, chewing down on it with a wince. They never tasted good, but it was sustenance at least.
    "Any chance of getting our gear working?" asked Vi.
    Beyett shook his head. "Everything's fried. But hang onto it, we may have use for it all yet."
    "What, throw it at the enemy?"
    Corwin smiled at Porter. They rested for half an hour and contemplated their situation. Beyett stepped over and sat down beside Corwin so they could talk more privately.
    "You know that our chances of even surviving a few days in this war are slim?"
    Corwin nodded.
    "We've been through plenty and come out on top."
    "I don't think you appreciate the seriousness of our situation. In fact, I am still struggling to understand it myself. You know this is the kind of theoretical situation I discussed as a student, but never believed could truly happen."
    "Yeah, well, life's a bitch sometimes."
    Beyett nodded.
    "We're never going back, are we?"
    Beyett shook his head. "If Villiers made a machine once, then maybe he could do it again, but who knows? Even if we could go back, it would already be a world we would not recognise. Everything has changed too much already."
    Corwin said nothing.
    "That doesn't bother you?"
    Corwin shook his head and smiled as he looked around at the team.
    "We've been at this so long this is all the family any of us really have. What does it matter what country or time we are in? This is home to us," he said, pointing at them.
    Beyett seemed impressed.
    "But tell me this. Seeing as we are now in a time long before any of us were born, can we somehow change events so that we ourselves were simply different, or never born at all?"
    Beyett shook his head. "There have been many theories, but I have never been sure what to believe. Honestly, I never gave it a whole lot of thought. Of all the scenarios we could have found ourselves in, this is about the most unlikely I could have imagined."
    "But what do you believe would happen?"
    Beyett took a deep breath before answering. "I believe we have already been made as we are. If we could travel to some time in between now and our time, yes I'm sure we would find a very different us. But I think we are separated from that timeline now. We exist in this one as if we were born in it. Or at least I hope that to be the case."
    "And the alternative?"
    "That Villiers could ensure none of us ever existed? Let's not consider that possibility, hey?"
    "Nylund got up, strode up to Corwin and stopped before him, expecting some kind of acknowledgement, but Corwin didn't give it.
    "Shouldn't we be doing something? We can't waste a whole day."
    Corwin looked up at him but sighed. He didn't want to have to explain it but knew he had to.
    "There’s plenty of hard work ahead for us, but we must be aware of the dangers that surround us. We must bide our time."
    "While Villiers gets away?"
    "He will not be within a hundred klicks of here," added Beyett.
    "And that is a reason stop, lay down, and do nothing?"
    "Nobody is doing nothing," snapped Corwin, "A whole army is right around the corner, and would be all too happy to blow holes in us. Let's not give them that opportunity."
    "Army of normals. We