Communism Without Coffee
Copyright© 2026 by A duck named TEF
Chapter 5
The ride in the lift was quiet. Lilith remained pressed close to Denver, the guards kept their eyes fixed on him, and Denver tapped his foot while they all descended to the lower catacombs of the capitol building. The lack of elevator music made the ride all the more unnerving.
Denver thought about how the poeple of this world had been raised in blandness and conformity to the ideals of those in power. He wondered too how long it had been like this and why no one had staged a revolution. What power was holding back the true independent spirit of humanity? What principality had been so powerful that it could break the soul of freedom and individuality? Denver would get his answer soon enough.
The lift finally stopped and the doors opened, Giovanni de Sorona stood front and center in his freshly pressed white uniform. He reserved this uniform for special guests. “Greetings traveler. I do hope your upstairs reception was pleasant.” The tone of a man high on his own power was not lost to Denver as he was greeted.
Lilith, flanked still by the guards, led Denver out and presented him to Giovanni like she was presenting a foreign dignitary. “Travelver, may I present to you Giovanni de Sorona, the true head of the world.”
Giovanni nodded at the introduction, Denver smirked and held out a hand, “Pleased to meet you sir, I’m Denver, Grand Traveler, though I get the feeling you already knew that much.”
“Denver, you are correct, we know of your unique skill, and we would like to extend a position for you within the echelons. Please, let’s talk.”
The small group made their way to a room full of monitors and bright vapor-tight lighting. A few people in rather sterile looking attire gave the group a sharp, unwelcoming glance. It was apparent they were not happy with an intrusion of any kind, all but one man that is.
Donovan approached the group with a weary grin, “Is this the man of the hour?” He asked, despite his haggard appearance there was an excitement in his voice that Denver found unnerving.
Giovanni nodded, “Yes, Donovan, may I introduce Denver the grand traveler. Denver, this is Donovan, our project head and authority of the science department.”
The scientist excitedly took up one of the traveler’s hands and gave it a rigorous shake, “It is truly a pleasure to meet you.”
“Wish I could say the same.” Denver said as he took back his hand and rubbed it. This Donovan fellow had a rather tight grip.
“Georgia, are you able to see what I’m seeing?” He didn’t receive an answer. “Georgia?” Still nothing. He spied Lilith from the corner of his vision, grinning knowingly, as if she knew what he was trying to do, and why it wasn’t working.
“She’s not strong enough to reach these depths.” Lilith whispered into Denver’s ear, sending a shiver down his spine.
“Criminy woman!” He shrieked in surprise at her sudden nearness.
Giovanni and Donovan looked at the two, one in amusement, the other perturbed by the disruption. Lilith giggled at the outburst and returned to stand beside Giovanni, “My what a lively young man you are.” she purred.
“Lilith, is that any way to treat our potential new echelon member?” Giovanni chided.
She pouted and turned to leave, “I have work to attend to anyway. You gentlemen have fun, and Denver, I do hope to see more of you.”
“Tell me, Denver, do you ever question just why you’ve constantly been travelling back in time to ‘fix’ things? Shouldn’t history have stabilized enough in your original stream that you shouldn’t need to continually ‘fix’ anything?” Giovanni asked after Lilith had left the men.
He considered the question. He never actually thought about it. All his life the organisation he worked for had raised him, taught him how to use his unique ability, and employed him. It never happened to cross his mind why he did all he did.
Giovanni saw that Denver was starting to question things, “You blindly followed an organisation who sent you back in time to correct, or ensure, specific actions that dictated the flow of time. You actually never once questioned it?” His voice was incredulous.
“Not really...” Denver said sheepishly.
“Did you ever question if there was some force that caused a ruckus to upset time, maybe another organisation trying to fix time to what they believed should have happened?”
Denver looked around in slight embarrassment, he really never did question the organisation he worked for. The thought of an opposing force, either directed by man or some other entity, had not been addressed by anyone in his past. Now it was making a little sense that there would have been. Why else would he have to go back and fix things? Seldom had he been asked to go forward from his fixed time.
“What are you getting at?” He finally asked.
Giovanni grinned, “Ah, that is the question, isn’t it?”
Donovan looked between the two, as if waiting for an invitation to join the conversation.
“You never met your mother, am I correct?” Giovanni asked, turning his back to Denver to look at a screen.
Denver’s eye twitched and he gnashed his teeth quietly. No, he never had a chance to actually meet his mother. Even when he traveled, he had never happened across her. All he had of her was the photo and a letter with one sentence.
Giovanni took Denver’s silence as a cue to continue, “Out of all her children, the only one with her ability happens to be the only one she doesn’t have a relationship with. How depressing.” He turned back to face Denver.
“What does she have to do with this?” Denver asked.
“Everything. She’s been against your organisation from the start.”
“Bullshit! She founded the organisation!”
Giovanni wagged a finger before Denver, “Ah-ah, keep your temper in check. We don’t want an accumulation of temporal radiation because of your emotional state. The equipment here is rather sensitive to such things.”