It was Myles’ most dangerous battle so far. He was without his suit. Without allies and the stakes had never been higher. The low lighting added to the danger of the situation as dozens of eyes watched events unfold.

“You are not going anywhere until you replace my beer you washed out little shit,” Said the rather large man standing in Myles’ way

The burly bald man was currently apoplectic with rage. In the very recent past Myles would have done his best to avoid the conflict, keep his head down and not make a scene.

“For the last time, I did not spill your pint,” said Myles. “You have pulled this scam many times in front of everyone here, Nick. You drink your pint then kick off on whoever you think will buckle because you are built like someone put too many burgers in an elephant.”

A meaty fist was driven into Myles’ jaw, knocking him on his arse. A few kicks followed but it was nothing worse than what he experienced every day since the turn started. He endured the blows until Nick was pulled off him and escorted outside of the Lamb & Flag. Myles had known in the abstract that he would not be much good in a fight without the suit, but the practical reality was a painful wake-up call. His fitness had come along in leaps and bounds but the beating he just took was a stark reminder of how much he relied on the brute force of the suit to keep him out of trouble. He grabbed the two waiting pints on the bar and sat back down at a small booth table opposite Zara.

“Big brand cerveza for the lady,” said Myles as he placed the pint glass in front of Zara “and a big pint of overly sensitive mediocre Irish stout for me.”

Several bags of crisps also hit the table. Salt & Vinegar, beef, ready salted and somehow a pack of scampi fries had got in there too. Myles didn’t remember buying scampi fries, but no one ever did.

“I don’t understand the choice you made at the bar?” Asked Zara sipping her travesty of a beer that Myles quietly judged her for.

“I heard black was slimming,” said Myles, taking a sip of his beer.

“Not the beer, idiot, the fight,” said Zara. “

“I grew up under the watchful gaze of a predatory forest “ began Myles “It ate my friend in primary school, and killed and maimed classmates in high school. Now, I had no idea this was what was going on at the time… I just learned to hate being noticed. You would think the revelation there really was a monster trying to eat me… maybe not me specifically, but I was definitely on the menu… would make me want to double down on staying hidden. But no, it just made me feel tired of slinking away when I didn’t need to.”

“The Trigger also brings trouble to you so not much point in running.” Said Zara.

“There is that yes.”

“`And the fight at the bar ended with you getting your arse beat like a bongo in a hippie commune.”

“Why are we friends again?” asked Myles rhetorically

“We aren't friends, we are more like work colleagues where you are the problematic intern who keeps photocopying their arse and I’m the HR department.”

“Well, I know what flag I’ll be using when I shoot a pig into space,” said Myles

“Your fighting skills are pretty poor.” said Zara choosing to ignore Myles “Did Barrington not teach you anything?”

“He said I needed experience more than skills and proceeded to kick my arse up and down the park every morning.” Said Myles “I had looked for some stuff to enrol in but then Sweetbright signed me up for overtime and here we are.”

“I bet he spent most of your training ogling his reflection at every opportunity.” Said Zara with barely disguised contempt. “Since we are stuck here for who knows how long I am taking over your training.”

“I know I should be glad for getting some actual combat training but the look on your face is suggesting I need to equip the brown workout gear.” Said Myles.

Zara took a drink, but Myles could tell she was taking a sip to disguise a dangerous smirk. Before he could call her on this another pint slammed down on the table and a strange man sat down. His hair was red, not red like Rusty’s hair was red, but red from a bottle. The jeans were red, something Myles had been assured many times was fashion faux par and to top off the strange look the man was wearing an eye patch.

"Well, it appears to have been you two, doesn't it? I've always pondered over the identity of the saviours of this little cosmic hernia. It does make sense, I suppose." Said the strange man, who raised his pint of amber beer in salute to the pair.

Zara and Myles stared blankly at the interloper.

“Oh it’s that look, I do detest getting that look.” said the stranger. “I gather this marks our inaugural encounter, doesn't it?"

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“What are you going on about?” said Zara curtly.

“Obviously! Just who are you?… And is that the seasonal special beer? what’s it like? Asked Myles.

"In reverse order, we find an abundance of stone fruit accompanied by a biscuity backbone. Indeed, it is. Allow me to make an introduction; I go by the name Johnny Samhain." Said Johnny Samhain.

In a blur of motion, the screaming bat face of Zara’s sonic gun was pointed at Johnny Samhain’s face.

“Stay back Endeavour, this guy is dangerous, he is wanted in connection with the murder of Tommy Rocket.” Said Zara

“I don’t know who that is, or who he is, and why does he seem to know us?” said Myles.

Johnny Samhain raised his hands in a show of non-aggression but remained seated and relaxed.

"I must express my apologies; it seems I've lost track of when every detail about me became common knowledge. Perhaps we could engage in a little conversation and unravel this all quietly and peacefully?" Said Johnny Samhain “I mean I know you both, or at least I will know you.”

“Mr. Samhain.” Myles Began “While I appreciate your willingness to talk things out peacefully but maybe we could expedite the matter if you stopped talking utter bollocks.”

A Trigger plonked down on the table, it was black with white pinstripes running diagonally down the device. He ducked in time before Zara got off a shot, shattering most of the glass at the bar behind them. Myles barely followed what happened next, but Zara, the best fighter he had met since he had become part of this world was handily disarmed and knocked back into her chair. But it was what happened next that was the real surprise. Johnny Samhain extended his hand towards the bar and the shattered glass reassembled. tImes scattered over the floor leapt up to retake their place on the bar and people walked in reverse to where they had been before the shot had been fired.

“I hope you are happy, reversing time won't again be within my grasp for quite a stretch. Might we consider a fresh attempt at this in a more peaceful manner?” Said Johnny Samhain.

“Sure, but you should probably talk fast as I have zero means to restrain this woman,” said Myles

“This,” said Johnny Samhain pointing at the pin-stripe Trigger “the Zenith Trigger, on the surface, has a pronounced inclination towards velocity—at least, that's the impression I allowed folks to entertain in the early days. The true potency, however, lies in the realms of the temporal and the spatial. Anywhere and any-when. If this strikes you as terribly overpowering, you'd be spot on. It's a bit much for any lone soul to navigate.”

“The Zenith is Tommy Rocket’s Trigger.” Said Zara in a clipped tone as she glared at the strange man.

“That it is. But it is also My Trigger, Bonn Kersmann’s Trigger, The Empty Counts Trigger but he is a massive prick. One or two guys, whom we shall definitely not discuss and some who were too short-lived to mention… Truth be told it is the Trigger of Victor Jones. you see when little Vic bonded to the ancient weapons system you see before you he could not handle it. Not many could. So to stop his mind from burning out it was compartmentalised into several separate personas. When one has worn a bit too thin we tap out the next guy picks up the slack.”

“Bullshit, there are records of you and Tommy Rocket fighting each other,” said Zara.

"I am a chrononaut, traversing the tapestry of time and space, engaged in the good fight. Each facet of me contributes to the cause. However, don't let that deceive you into thinking I harmonise effortlessly with my other iterations. I can be quite the arsehole.” Said johnny Samhain “

“I can see that.” Said Zara

“Don’t listen to her, she doesn’t like anyone” Said Myles who had been quietly drinking his beer and eyeing up the autumn special as his next beverage.

“I like lots of people, it is you I don’t like.” Said Zara

“I’m finding this banter between you hilarious considering I was present at your wedding.” Said Johnny Samhain

“Now I’m definitely going to arrest you,” Said Zara reaching for her cuffs.

“Relax Ms. Akhurst, I’m messing with you… or am I?” teased the alleged time traveller.

“I’d like a big cake with lots of royal icing” Said Myles throwing petrol on the fire “Johnny, were there plenty of fancy jams?”

“The fanciest!” Said Johnny Samhain “All the best jam fruits were represented.”

“Endeavour, you do remember I’m going to be training you right?” Said Zara with an evil grin.

“You need to prove what you are saying, Mr. Samhain.” Said Myles in a desperate act of self-preservation.

“This is a colossal abuse of my power to do this, but since it is you two… My memory gets a bit fuzzy between personas so bear with me…” Said Johnny Samhain. He took out a pen and a small notebook and scribbled something down. He turned a page and slid the book over ot Myles with a pen “Draw something” Myles drew a cartoon cat face and handed the book back. Johnny Samhain returned both pen and notebook to his jacket pocket. “We need to wait for a bit.”

The three waited. They waited a little longer, and just before Zara was about to kick off again the Lamb & flag shook. It shook again and then shook for a third time. Three men all the exact same height walked into the pub. The first was wearing a well-tailored white suit, with jet-black hair walked over and joined the group.

“Count” greeted Johnny Samhain

“Stuff it up your bum space pirate” Said the Empty Count

The Empty count looked exactly like Johnny Samhain. What followed was a few minutes of awkward silence as the other two men ordered drinks from the bar. After a mercifully short wait, the men approached the table drinks in hand, they pulled up two extra seats and placed a third drink of fizzy brown liquid in front of the Empty Count who gave the bubbly drink a death glare.

“Bonn Kersmann. pleased to meet you again Myles and Zara,” Said Bonn Kersmann by way of introduction. He had spiked blue hair and a snowflake painted on his forehead. He had a bow tie on and his coat looked like it had been made from a straitjacket.

Tommy Rockets, and oddly enough, I believe this might be our inaugural meeting, so I'm not entirely sure what's unfolding or why." Said Tommy Rockets who was drinking some bright red concoction with a sparkler in it.

“Myles and Zara were both a little shocked, it was not definitive proof just yet, but the men were indeed all identical. Same height and the same features under their eccentric accessories.

“What the fuck is this Tommy?” Said The Empty Count holding up his drink

“I got what you asked for” Protested Tommy Rockets

“No, I told you to get me some… you know what, never mind.” The Empty Count Grumped. “Oh and Myles, I’m assuming this is a bad drawing of Charlie you scrawled in my diary.” The Empty Count was holding up The notebook with Myles’ drawing.

Johnny Samhain was holding up his notebook with the same drawing. Exactly the same drawing.

“Convinced yet?” Asked Johnny Samhain.

Myles was suffering from weirdness fatigue due to the last few months but decided that time travel and questions about free will could be left for another occasion.

“Damn You are all the same person… How has no one figured this out? I need to file a report when I get out of this damn turn.” Said Zara

“Oh… balls.” Said Johnny Samhain “Guys, I just unravelled the mystery of how our secret got out”

“Johnny you tit” Said Tommy Rockets

“And why Tommy and I never get on” added Johnny Samhain.

The rest of the evening went smoothly, with the man formerly known as Victor Jones managing to remain mostly civil with himself. Zara had her gun returned and no more glassware was shattered. The Empty Count made his drink a Cuba Libre at the first opportunity. It was the most fun evening Myles had in months. More drinks were had, and drinks turned to shots. All too soon it was time at the bar and everyone drank up ready to go. Outside of the Lamb & Flag, the source of the pub shaking was revealed. Three big red London buses were parked willy-nilly in the street. Rockets, Kersmann and the Count climbed into their bus, the same bus Myles realised and took off. Not fast, lifted off the ground and zoomed off into the starry purple sky.

“I don’t suppose you could use your time mojo to help get us out could you?” Myles asked

Johnny Samhain thought about it, it looked like he gave the matter deep consideration before he answered.

“No.” Was his answer, crushing Myles’ hope “But I’ll drop you a tasty hint. You Myles have had the means of escape all along.” With that, he patted Myles on the back and walked off presumably to his bus where ever it had been parked. “Watch out for the scary monsters” he shouted back.

That answer frustrated Myles, Exactly what dimensional or time travel equipment did he have just lying around? It was not like crazy science fiction tools just grew on trees… on trees… Myles felt like an idiot when he realised what he had been missing.

“Zara, I think I know how to get out” Said Myles with great enthusiasm.

Zara swayed slightly and then threw up on Myles’ shoes.