“Here’s your next assignment.” Director Garcia of the Paradox Patrol Office handed Agent Jones a folder.

“Sir, they’re planning to eliminate an early 20th-century dictator.”

Garcia nodded—“More difficult than finding a patient zero. We haven’t determined who leaked the machine’s specs.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Sir, the ripple effects going so far back would be catastrophic.”

“I’m aware of that, Jones. You have a list. Take them out, immediately.”

Jones scanned names highlighted on a genealogy chart—“Grandparents, sir?”

“That’s correct. We’ve cross-checked for temporal repercussions, and our new protocol states: not too far back, but just enough to stop any ideological notions.”