Correcting One's Own Mistakes: A Plot Untwist Challenge Vignette

By Laura Davies aka. Bratling <Brightfeather1.geo@yahoo.com>

Rated: G

Submitted: May 2003

Summary: An Untwist of the John Doe arc.

We were given a challenge on Zoom's boards to take any episode and negate it by undoing the reason for the A-Plot.

All Standard Disclaimers Apply

***

Tempus stood in his cell, bored out of his skull. Andrus, the peacekeeper, would be coming for him soon and he would soon be out of this trite version of an asylum. The asylums of the eighteenth century were more to his taste. He listened to the nut job in the cell beside him ask questions and responded, trying to stifle a yawn.

He smiled as the window appeared in front of him and Andrus stepped out.

"Tempus, you will be taken back home, where you will stand trial for the offenses you have perpetuated in this century and others across time. We will leave this replicant in your place so that the people of this time will not miss you." He pressed a few buttons on the device he carried and a man appeared and sat down on the bed.

Andrus carefully handcuffed both Tempus's hands and feet before pressing another button. Five men popped out of the window and grabbed Tempus.

"Hey, that's not fair!" he complained. "You're supposed to take me into the window by yourself without handcuffs so I can escape and screw up Lois's and Clark's lives and prevent Utopia! You can't do this to me; I'm the bad guy! It's just not right! It's my job to make Lois and Clark miserable!"

"Tough, Tempus," Andrus replied. "We're time cops, remember? We decided to save Lois and Clark the task of dealing with you this time and make sure you couldn't escape to wreak more havoc on this century." Andrus smirked slightly. "It's one of the perks of being able to move through time — one can correct one's own mistakes. Come on, boys, let's put Tempus in a Utopian prison where he belongs."

Tempus groaned. "Great! Now I get sweetness and light preached at me for the rest of my life. I think I'll vomit."

With that, they all climbed into the time window and popped out. The replicant stared, unblinking, off into space, waiting for the good doctor to come by and give him his latest session.

THE END