CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT: GRANDFATHER PARADOX

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Five realised that the bar was a bad idea to talk with his family while strangers was around them. So he deiced to lead them all upstairs so they can have the conversation.

When they were all around the pool tables Five started telling them about the grandfather paradox.

"Paradox Protocols. The Complete Commission Guide to Temportal Anomalies Chapter 68 'The Grandfather Paradox' It's New Jersey, 1953, and Elmer Tatelman hates his grandfather. Elmer blames everything on his grandfather. His mother's pain, his father's dead, and his own sad life. This could have been just another sad tale about soup, except for one thing. Elmer is about to invent...time travel. You see, Elmer has decided the key to his future happiness is to go back in time and kill his grandfather. Elmer completed his mission, but he's made one crucial mistake. He went too far back in time. You see murdering his grandfather in 1905 meant that Elmer's mother didn't exist to meet his father in 1925. Which made certain that Elmer himself was never born. Elmer killed his grandfather so his mother was never born. But if his mother was never born, Elmer no longer exists. But if Elmer no longer exists, how could he possibly kill his grandfather? And around and around we go. Elmer has created a paradox, the grandfather paradox. The most pernicious problem in The Commission Handbook of Paradox Protocols. This story is not true. But if it were, Elmer would have placed, time, space, and every living thing in grave peril. Don't be an Elmer! We've been lucky so far. With your help, constant vigilance, and a little strategic violence, the Commission will make certain nothing like this ever happens. Or God help us all' Well, that is what we learned in The Commission" Five explained while they were all standing by the pool ball table on the second floor in the hotel.

Stan let out a grunt as he was doing some ninja move while swinging a pool ball stick.

The siblings has found out where each of them came from and which of those woman who had died was their mom. Luther was born in Stockholm in Sweden to a woman name Monica. Diego was born in northern Mexico to a woman name Elena. Allison was born in Capetown in South Africa to a woman name Victoria. Klaus was born in Pennsylvania to an Amish woman who name was Rachel. Five was born in Dublin Ireland to a woman name Efa who was a butcher and Viktor was born in Moscow Russia to a woman name Tatiana. 

"I'm so confused" Diego said "Shocking" Allison muttered causing Diego to glanced at her "Well, someone killed our mothers, so we shouldn't exist" Viktor said while Klaus was laying on the floor, repeatedly hitting himself in the face with the book.

"But clearly, we do exist and the universe can't handle it, which is a problem" Viktor said "Big problems" Five let out a sigh as he was holding a mug of coffee before taking a sip.

"YAH" Stanley shouted as he jumped and kicked his leg out in front of him.

"STANLEY!" Diego shouted as he pointed his knife at him and Stan looked at him "Now is not the time to be doing karate, okay?" Diego said "Mom said I need to practice" Stan said "Yeah, well, she's not wrong. You're very bad" Diego said with a nod as he was flipping his knife with his hand "Well, I saved your pathetic ass!" Stan shouted at him.

"Okay, hold on. Five, so we caused a paradox?" Allison said and Five turned a bit to look at her as he was holding his mug "What does that mean?" she asked "With my knowledge of paradoxes, there is a lot that could happen. It's never really happen before, but I can see signs of it affecting" Five said "What affecting?" Viktor asked "It's hard to say. It's all been theoretical until now, but things have started to disappear" Five said "What things?" Viktor asked and Five put his mug down on the pool ball table "Right now? Uh, lobsters" he said "And a shit ton of cows!" Klaus said as he sat up.

"But I have a feeling this is just the beginning" Five said "A feeling? Aren't you retired?" Allison asked and Five looked at her "I want nothing more" he said.

"You know" Allison said as she walked over to Five before she stopped in front of him when he turned to her "You can't drag us through hell because you have an itch only an apocalypse can scratch and then expect us to deal with the fallout. You're not the boss" she said "Fine, I'm the messenger, and I'm telling you something terrible is coming. I think you are forgetting that I can't control if or when the world ends" he said calmly.

"Then let's go attack the Sparrows, get the briefcase, and go home" Allison said "This is our home, Allison. Accept it" Five said. 

"You are only saying this because Y/n is here. Then maybe I should just kill her, then you have to go back 63' and take her with you" Allison said "Touch her and I swear it will be worst on yourself. Beside she will take you out in less than a minute" Five mumbled "I'm not afraid of her" Allison said "You should be" Five said and the two stared at each other in silent.

But then there was a clattering noise breaking the silence and they all looked over at Stan who knocked over something with his pool ball stick.

"That's it! I'm telling your mom" Diego said "Ooh" Stan said, not sounding scared.

"Wait, where's Lila?" Five asked as he looked between Stan and Diego "Shower. I told her she could stay with us" Stan said "Wait. When did Lila get back?" Viktor asked and Five grabbed his mug before he turned around and walked towards the stairs "Five, where are you going?" Diego asked "Well, since Y/n is not here at the moment, I will go talk to another one who only has half her head up her ass" Five answered "Don't leave, Five. Don't leave" Klaus said "No, Klaus. I'm leaving" Five said as he walked away.

"I mean, he has a good track record with this stuff. I feel like we should listen to him" Viktor said as he pointed towards the stairs "Sure" Klaus said as he pointed at Viktor.

"Hey, quick question" Klaus said before he stood up "Cobra Kai! Yeah!" Stan said as he practiced his karate.

"Do none of you heartless bastards care about our murdered moms?" Klaus asked as he walked over to Viktor before he dropped the book onto the pool ball table.

"Klaus, the only one that we knew plugged into a wall" Diego said "Oh, yeah? Well, this is my real mother" Klaus said before he picked up the book again and he turned it so Diego could see the picture of Klaus' mother "And she's called Rachel. And I have her eyes. See?" he said as he turned to Viktor.

"'Cause it's obviously Dad, all right? He knew where we were born. He hated us in '63. Boom. Murders" Diego said "You think Dad is capable of killing innocent people?" Klaus asked causing Allison to let out a scoff while Diego let out a laugh "Absolutely" Viktor said "Oh, it's Murder City, buddy" Diego said "Yeah, I guess so" Klaus said.

Then Luther came walking up the stairs and over to them out of breath from running.

"Little late for a meeting, pal" Diego said to him "I was being held captive. By the Sparrows" Luther said as he extended his arms out to his sides, holding a Sparrow tote bag and a drink in each hand while he was wearing a Sparrow outfit set.

 "What?" Allison asked "Wait. Did none of you notice?" Luther asked.

"We're happy you're home safe and sound" Viktor said "Yeah. Oh my God" Klaus said "Stop lying" Allison said as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh yeah. Okay. Nice" Luther said as he walked over to the pool table.

"Did they hurt you?" Allison asked "Who? The Sparrow?" Luther said and shook his head "God, no. Not at all. Excellent hosts. Really quite charming, actually" Luther said as he put down the bag on the table and Allison looked in the bag while Klaus touched Luther's Sparrow jacket.

"Oh, and you should see their gym. Outstanding! I really think we got these guys all wrong" Luther said as he slurped on his drink and Allison pulled out a Sparrow Academy record with Marcus, Ben and Alphonso on the front cover "Says the guy they kidnapped" she said.

Diego then let out a whistled causing Luther to look at him "What did they want?" he asked "Oh. Marcus. He's missing. They want him back. Unharmed" Luther said "We don't have him" Viktor said "Well, damn. I was hoping we'd solve that one quickly and then move on to problem number two. Disappearing people" Luther said and they all looked at him.

But then let out a grunt as Stan by accident hit a vase with his pool stick causing the vase to break "Ooh!" he said and everyone turned to him "Uh, it was...it was the wind" he said "Who's the kid?" Luther asked.

---

You walked out of your bedroom but jump a bit when you saw Five.

"You should lock your door" he said "Why?" you asked "Rapist and murders can open a door" he sad "Well, you know that nobody dare lay a hand on me" you said and Five nodded.

"What are you even doing here?" you asked "I need your help" he said "Can't you figure it out by yourself?" you asked "No, 'cause this is so much worse" he said "What?" you asked "When my siblings and I jump here, we created the grandfather paradox" your eyes widened "You gotta be joking" you said "I really wish I was, but it's true. Our mothers died before we were born" he took a step closer to you "Therefore I need your help, please" your eyes locked.

That looks you sent each other, it contains 26 years together. You kept each other sane for 26 years. Have being through so much together, lost so much. You has been his closest friend and confidant. You have only had each other in the apocalypse. Until you returns to the present, you were each other's only family. You have being married for 18 years. 

"The knowledge we have of the paradoxes, there is a lot that could happen. It's never really happen before, but I can see signs of it affecting" Five said "What affecting?" you asked "It's hard to say. It's all been theoretical until now, but things have started to disappear. Like lobsters yesterday and cows" he said "So it takes living creators now?" you asked and he nodded. 

"So what is your plan?" you asked and he smiled "You are going to help?" he asked "I didn't say that. Since you kidnapped Marcus" you said "We didn't kidnapped Marcus, but since animals are disappearing now, it can also take people, so maybe Marcus was the first to go" he said "Maybe, but if I find out that you have being lying to me, I will give you a fate worse than death" you hissed and he nodded "Fine" 

"Come let's find Lila" he said "Why do you need my sister's help, am I not enough?" you asked "Well, she's only other person than us that knows about this and have Commission experience. We need her as much as I hate to admit it" he said "I think she is going to try and kill you" you said "Worth the try, beside I have you to help me with that" he smiled before the two of you left.

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You and Five decided to split up to look for your sister and Five walked into one of the many showers before finding Lila in the bathtub with her leg up as she was shaving it.

"The hell are you doing in here?" Five asked "Shaving my nest, you little perv" Lila said as she drop her leg down into the water 

"Don't flatter yourself, Lila" Five said as he put his hands in the pockets "I like my woman a little less likely to kill me in my sleep" he said as he tilted his head a little bit. 

"Well, we both know that is a lie" you said as you suddenly were next to Five "You have to stop sneaking up on me like that" he said "Or what? You are going to kill me?" you put your hands on cross.

"You do know that this is the woman's bathroom, by the way. So you are the creep here" you said "You guys are either disgusting cute or just disgusting" Lila said and you looked at Lila "Hey sis" you said to each other before Lila looked at Five.

"Well, you have already taking my sister's virginity so..." Lila said and you rolled your eyes "Jesus Lila, I'm not the only one that slept and fell in love with someone they were actually meant to kill" you said and Five snapped his head at you "Wait, you were supposed to kill me?" he asked "When you landed in Dallas, my mom appeared not long after you and asked me, more than once, but I refuse because I didn't felt like the urge to kill you at that time" you said "I'm flattered" he said sarcastically.

"Beside Lila is just jealous over our relationship" he said "Gross. I rather throw up blood" Lila said "That's will be a pretty sight" you said "Shut up" Lila said as she slowly pulled up a knife before throwing it towards him, but he reach to blink away.

Five appeared behind her on the other end of the bathroom and Lila turned to him before she blinked away causing his eyes to widened.

She then appeared behind him and she grabbed his shoulder before she threw him into a small mirror behind her causing him to let out a grunt while his fedora fell of his head and onto the floor.

Five stumbled backwards and she swung a kick at him, hitting him in the stomach causing him to let out a groan and she punched him in the face.

She then kicked him in the face causing him to fell to the floor.

Lila was panting as Five put his hands on the floor underneath his head.

"Are you going to help me?" Five asked and you shook your head "Not planning on" you smiled "Fucking hate you" Five hissed "Feeling is the same" you smiled fakely.

Five turned his head before he spotted a small towel that was laying on the bathtub's edge and he grabbed the towel before he got up and turned around to look at her, ready to fight again while you had your back rested against the wall, enjoying the show.

Lila let out a grunt as she threw a punch at him but he dodged the punch before he with his elbow push her arm down but she punched him on the waist with her other arm and he punched her in the face.

He then wrapped the towel around her throat before he went behind her back and he grits his teeth as he put his knee on her back before he started choking her causing her to gasp for air.

But then she blinked away before she appeared over by the door to grabbed the knife that was stuck in the door.

She turned around before she blinked away and as Five ran towards the door, she appeared in front of him causing him to stop in his track.

She pushed the knife towards his stomach but he reach to jump back before the blade could hit him.

She spun around before she swung a kick at his chest causing him to stumble back.

She then swung the knife towards his face but he reach to ducked down before he got up and punched her right in the face causing her head to fall back a bit.

Five then spotted a small tray with towels that was laying on another bathtub edge.

He grabbe the tray with both hands before he put it between himself and Lila, using it as a shield as she swung the knife towards him.

She lifted the knife up over her head before she moved it towards his face but he put the tray between which cause the knife to hit the tray making half of the blade to go through the tray causing the metal make a creaks sound.

Both Lila and Five was grunting and gritting their teeth as they both was pressing the knife and the tray towards each other.

While those two were fighting you walked over to the sink before washing your face.

Five cried out as he push the tray closer towards Lila before he managed to push the tray away so the knife and the tray landed on the floor.

Five threw a punch at Lila but she moved her head to side, dodging his fist.

He threw another fist at her but she blocked it with her hand before she with her other hand push his arm away.

She threw a punch at him but he grabbed her arm before he threw a punch at her but she blocked it.

She swung her arm towards him but he ducked down before he got up and kicked her in the waist.

He then threw a punch at her but she blocked the punch with her arm before giving him a knee in the stomach.

Five then started using the skills you and him taught each other, so when Lila swung another punch at him he ducked down before he got up and blocked her arm with his arms.

He then spun around, going behind her before he gave her an elbow in the back making her stumbled forward.

He then grabbed a bottle with some shampoo and he took some steps back before he splash it in her face causing her to let out a groan as she put her hands on her face when it hit her in the face.

He then spun around before throwing a circle kick at her face causing her to stumbled backwards.

Both Five and Lila threw another fist towards each other.

"Okay, that's enough" you said and before the two fist could hit each other you grabbed both of their fist causing them to look at you.

"Playtime is over, kids" you said before you flipped Lila over causing her to cry out in pain as she landed on her back while Five let out a small chuckled.

"What the fuck are you laughing?" you asked before you also flipped him over causing him to cry out in pain as his back hit the floor.

"Are you two kids both done playing?" you asked as you put your hands by your hips.

"Yeah, we're done" Five said as both him and Lila grunt while they got to their feet.

Five kept his eyes on Lila "Enough" she said as she wipe some of the shampoo off her face and Five let out some heavy breaths and he started panting, knowing the fight was over.

Lila then bent down before she grabbed a towel from the floor and wrapped the towel around her naked body.

"I'd forgotten how much I hate you, you puny little turd" she said as she finished wrapping the towel around her body "The feeling's mutual, Lila" Five said as he sat down on the edge of the bathtub, putting his hands on each side of his waist on the edge of the bathtub "As much as I'd love to stand here shivving each other, we have bigger concerns than you" he said as he slid some of his hair away from his face.

"Yeah? Like what?" Lila asked as she rubbed her right eye, to get some of the shampoo out.

"What do you know about the grandfather paradox?" Five asked as he walked over to her before stopping in front of her.

"Well, I read the same training manuals as you and Y/n did. Why?" she asked "Because it's happening" he said "You being stupid" she said "He is born stupid" you said "Not helping" Five hissed at you before he looked back at Lila.

"Hand over your briefcase. I need to go to Herb and find out how he let things get so cocked up" he said and she leaned her back against the wall "Over there with my knickers. Toss them to me, will you?" she said as she pointed over by the bathtub.

Five walked over to the bathtub and he bent down, grabbing her knickers before throwing them to her.

He then saw that she had two of The Commission briefcases "Lila, why is it you have two briefcases?" he asked as he lifted up both briefcases before he put them on the bathtub's edge.

"Mmm. One's yours. Nicked it from the Sparrows" she said as she pointed on one of the briefcases before looking back at him "Go on. Give it a go" she said and the sound of a briefcase latch clicks was heard as Five got ready to open one briefcase and he put down the other briefcase on the floor before he put both hands on the briefcase that was standing on the bathtub's edge.

"First, we try yours" she said and Five opened it before looking down inside of it while it was making a sputters sound before it power down causing Five's eyes to widened while Lila let out a small nod.

He then closed the briefcase before he put it down and grabbed the other one, ready to opened it and the sound of briefcase latch clicks was heard while Lila sat down on the other edge of the bathtub.

"And then we try mine" she said as she was looking down on the floor while Five opened the briefcase but only for the briefcase to make the same sputter sound before it also powered down "Yeah" Lila said as Five's eyes widened.

"Well, that is not good" you said "This can't be happening" he said as he looked inside the briefcase "The odds of one of them failing, it's in the millions. But two of them..." "Astronomical. Yeah" you and Lila said, cutting him off before she looked at him "So, what does that mean exactly?" she asked as she rubbed her right eye with her right hand before she put her right hand on the bathtub's edge "End of the world?" she pointed her left finger on him "Oh, it's much worse than that" he closed the briefcase before he put it down on the floor again.

"It means we have to work together" he said as he put his hands in his pockets.

"Shit" she said.

"You can count me out. I don't want to be part of this" you said "You're coming with us, Y/n. Don't leave without us having a plan" Five said "I don't have time for this" you said "How do you not have time to save the world, you did the first two times" Five said "It's only because you drag me into it. Beside I'm not a superhero" you said "You are the most skills and smartest person I know, plus you have super abilities. Plus expertise in the Commission if I remember correctly. You are hero" he said.

"I'm not, Five. I'm a raise killer" you said "A killer who married me who is also a killer, and we actually live a happy life together" his eyes lock on yours "Beside you once told me that you would rather save the world a million times with me, than live a normal life without me" he said "I was wrong" you said.

"Please" your eyes locked.

Maybe it is a good idea to help Five, 'cause what if the next wave take another one of the Sparrows or worse, your daughter.

"Fine. But I'm not going with you to The Commission" you said "Fine" he nodded.

"Just please promise me that you two wouldn't get all lovely while I hear it" Lila said which cause you and Five to look at her "Come on, we all know that even so you hate each other and want to kill each other, you also just want to get all lovely with each other. I mean you can't get enough of each other, you are all up around one another, and I don't want to see that, it makes me want to vomit" she said "Like you and Diego weren't quiet when I heard you in Elliott's apartment" you glanced at your sister.

"Beside Five and I are divorced. We hate each other" you said "Yeah, right" Lila said sarcastically.

"Let's just get to work ladies" Five said as he picked up the two briefcases.  

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