Learning to Love Time Loops Without Going Insane

“Alright, it’s through. Kill the feed,” Gus yelled. Andrew followed Libby’s lead, as the robot had earlier instructed, sealing back up the micro tear they had made in their reality.

“Done. Is everything looking okay?” Andrew asked as he finished typing.

“Yes, the tear has sealed itself as intended. Excalibur is a very interesting blade. I think I will have a long conversation with him once we finish this crisis,” Libby replied.

“Bart says Harold was able to use the syringe, but then the building collapsed. He doesn’t think this loop will be lasting much longer,” Greta informed them.

“No, I don’t. Dammit, I was hoping to get some more information, but I’m cut off until the next loop. Just as I materialized in the building, it started to collapse. I tried to grab Trashcat, but it was too late. Twonger may have survived the collapse, but I doubt anyone else did,” Bart answered, having just popped back into view.

“Well, then, everyone. We’ve done all we can in this loop. It's time to wait and hope things go better next time. I want you all to know, no matter what happens, you’ve done an amazing job given how limited our resources were,” Andrew said.

“Just wait until I tell Andy how much of a softy you’ve turned into. Good news: the loop is restarting. The dogs just vanished along with the rest of the root network animals. Weird question, how come we don’t perfectly sync up with Earth time?” Gus asked.

“I think we do. Remember, the loop doesn’t reset for us. Our consciousness for stays with us. So, whatever is resetting everything out there and storing memories between loops likely needs these few hours to restore everything fully. I imagine it works like a computer backup at some level,” Andy explained. He wasn’t sure how accurate his comparison really was since whatever intelligence behind the loops and their console was still a giant mystery.

“I do not know how accurate that would be, but I am unable to provide a better explanation. One of the Under Library wings will have the answers, assuming we are willing to pay whatever price it asks of us,” Libby added.

“Price? There wasn’t any price in the other wing,” Andrew said.

“There used to be, and we should hope that is the way it remains in the others,” Libby replied.

“No library talk, that place gives me the creeps whenever I hear about it. I’m going to go get some dinner and hope everything works soon anyone coming?” Gus looked around at the few left.

“Yes, good idea,” Andrew said, following the bird from the control room. He needed something to distract him until they learned Cal’s fate.