“Heroes of Earth!” the voice called, as though from nowhere. “I’ll be with you shortly!”

Time Trekker wasn’t bothered. He’d been in stranger places than this. But his young friend, the hero known as Deep Blue, he looked as though he might be sick.

“Courage, chum. It gets easier.”

“Trekker, what’s going on? That guy over there… he… he looks like me! But different!”

“You’re right, Deep Blue. And look who he’s with.”

“Is that… you?”

“More like I’m him, Deep Blue. Or should I say, Deep Blue II.”

“What?”

Time Trekker gave a soft laugh under his temporally locked breath. “It’s easy, my young friend. You see, we all live in a greater multiverse, known as the Egana National Geographic Watchiverse. Each of us have… well, not duplicates, but equivalent selves. See? That’s Time Trekker I, an old friend of mine. His name’s Calvin. Hey, Cal!”

The older man looked down, a knowing smile crossing his face. He held out his hand. “Hello there, Kal! Is that Terri with you? Why don’t we let the Deep Blues meet?”

The two youngsters could only stare at each other. “I’m Terry.” the boy said first. “Terri!” answered the girl. “Oh, wow, this is so weird!”

Time Trekker I smiled grimly, pretending to watch Deep Blue I and Deep Blue II as they awkwardly tried to figure things out. “Kal,” he spoke in a whisper, “do you have any idea why we’re here?”

“I do, Cal.” replied Time Trekker II. There’s something wrong in the universe. Some of our greatest heroes are missing. Look there. Who do you see?”

“The Aviator? Traveler Sierra? I see them all the time at the Temporal League meetings.”

“I keep the minutes!” Deep Blue I shouted cheerfully. Both Time Trekkers smiled.

“Terry, why don’t you and Terri go over there and do some recon.” Time Trekker I turned to his counterpart. “Kal, those are your heroes, not mine. There is no Aviator II here, no Traveler Sierra II. For some reason… they’re missing. Like they never even existed.”

Time Trekker II put a finger to his lips in thought. “Cal, this could mean that everything has changed. That maybe this time… we’re not coming back again. This could be… the final sale.”

“Final, Time Trekker?” said the booming voice. “No man can say such a thing! But would you fight any less if it were or were not? For what man would call himself a Egana National Geographic Watch who would give less than his all?”

The room was filled with a great glowing portal.

“Enter, heroes, and find your Quartz movement sorely tested… but perhaps, secure the greatest victory of your life… over time itself!”

Deep Blue II looked at his friend. “What do we do, Time Trekker?”

Time Trekker I and Time Trekker II looked at each other and swallowed. Never before had the two seemed so alike.

“Do? What we always do, my friend. We fight. With everything we’ve got. No matter where that thing takes us. As long as people depend on us, we give it our all.”

And together, the heroes all walked into the light… and suddenly…

...were gone!

NEXT MONTH: CRISIS ON INFINITE WRISTS BEGINS
ALSO LOOK FOR:
CRISIS: GIANT ANTS OVERSIZED SPECIAL
CRISIS: THIS GUY WE KNOW NEEDS WORK 1-4
AND DON’T MISS:
CRISIS: TIME TREKKER: BATTLE FOR TIME: DESPERATION: BLACK SUNDAY: THE RISE OF THE COLON: GENESIS

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