Dr. Daryl Stevens built a time machine, based on his theory of ‘time continuity,’ postulating a paradox barrier—restricting time travel to the future, within one’s lifetime, possibly only returning to the precise point of departure.


    Daryl’s colleague, Dr. Eleanor Stein, argued that the universe prevents temporal tampering in her article titled: ‘What About the Duplicates?’


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Daryl, 33 years old, jumped—40 years to the future ...


    Daryl, 73 years old, sat outside on his porch sipping lemonade and watching his smart mower when his hands started de-aging, and his thoughts regressed—“Not duplicates, Stein. Replacements!”


    Daryl never encountered himself.