The Arc of Nick Meridian
Chapter 1: The First Steps
Nick Meridian stared out the window of the sleek Arc Initiative shuttle, heart pounding. He wasn’t entirely sure how he had ended up here, ready to step into the flow of time itself. He’d always been fascinated by history, devouring books and documentaries, but nothing had prepared him for this: a job that would allow him to walk through history and see it firsthand.
Dr. Elena Voss stood beside him, clipboard in hand. “Your first mission is simple,” she said, her voice clipped and efficient. “Observe the signing of the Magna Carta. Record the human interactions around the event, but don’t interfere.”
Nick nodded, eager and a little starstruck. He’d read so much about this pivotal moment in history. How could he not be excited?
When he arrived in the field outside Runnymede, it was as if the pages of a history book had sprung to life. The tension was palpable as barons pressed King John into signing the document that would limit his power. In the chaos, Nick struck up a conversation with a scribe—a nervous, bespectacled man.
“It’s a good start,” the scribe murmured as he recorded notes on the proceedings. “Small acts of justice ripple through time, don’t you think?”
Nick smiled, feeling an odd sense of connection. “I think you’re right.”
When he returned to the Arc Initiative’s headquarters, he couldn’t stop talking about the experience. “This is it,” he told Elena. “This is how we understand ourselves. The seeds of justice, the moments that change everything.”
Elena gave him a measured look. “Just remember, Nick: change is rarely as simple as planting a seed.”
Chapter 2: The Preservation Society
Nick’s enthusiasm carried him through his next missions: standing on the fringes of the Declaration of Independence’s signing, walking the streets of Paris during the French Revolution, and even witnessing the beginning of the environmental movement in the 1970s. Each time, he returned brimming with optimism.
But things changed when he was sent to 1950s America, tasked with observing the tensions surrounding civil rights. He found himself at a meeting of the Preservation Society, a group of scholars and civic leaders who feared that desegregation, while necessary, would destabilize communities if implemented too quickly.
Margaret Albright, the group’s spokesperson, invited Nick to speak after hearing him muse about the arc of justice.
“You seem passionate,” she said. “But have you considered the cost of rapid change? Society isn’t ready for this yet.”
Nick was stunned. “You’re saying the status quo is preferable to equality?”
“I’m saying society has to be eased into equality,” Margaret replied. “Push too hard, and people will push back harder.”
Their debate continued late into the night. Nick pointed out that fear of change had stalled progress throughout history, while Margaret argued that stability was the foundation of progress.
“History is full of good intentions gone wrong,” she said. “We have to be careful.”
Nick returned to Elena frustrated. “How can people be so short-sighted? Don’t they see the harm in waiting?”
Elena raised an eyebrow. “They see it, Nick. They’re just scared of what they might lose.”
Chapter 3: The Industrialist
Nick’s next mission took him to the Industrial Revolution. He arrived at the sprawling factory complex of Ezra Calder, a self-proclaimed visionary who was pioneering mass production techniques. Nick admired Calder’s ambition but was troubled by the unsafe working conditions he witnessed.
Over dinner one evening, Nick broached the subject. “You could improve safety standards without sacrificing efficiency,” he suggested. “It’s not just humane—it’s good business.”
Calder laughed, raising his glass. “And how do you propose I pay for that, Nick? Progress isn’t free. Do you want innovation or perfection? You can’t have both.”
Nick’s frustration boiled over. “At what cost, Ezra? What’s the point of progress if it tramples over people in the process?”
But Calder was unmoved. “You call it trampling. I call it a necessary price. Do you want to be remembered for holding progress back?”
The encounter left Nick questioning the very concept of progress. Was it always worth pursuing, no matter the cost?
Chapter 4: The Council of Continuity
Things came to a head after Nick’s mission to colonial India. Troubled by the famine he observed, he had shared advanced agricultural techniques with local farmers. The results were promising, but British officials cracked down on the farmers, accusing them of subversion.
When Nick returned, the Council of Continuity summoned him. Arlo Grieves, the lead adjudicator, reviewed Nick’s actions with cold detachment.
“You violated the principle of non-interference,” Grieves said. “Do you have any idea what kind of ripple effects this could cause?”
Nick argued passionately. “I saw people starving. How could I just stand by?”
Grieves leaned forward. “And what if your interference causes a greater famine in the future? What if the empire cracks down harder because of what you did? Can you take responsibility for that?”
The hearing left Nick shaken. For the first time, he doubted not only his mission but his ability to navigate its complexities.
Chapter 5: The Future Thinkers
By the time Nick was sent to the 22nd century, he was deeply disillusioned. His task was to observe a utopian experiment led by the Future Thinkers, a group of idealists who had tried to create a perfect society. The experiment had collapsed under its own weight.
Asha Patel, one of the Thinkers, explained their failure. “We thought we could design perfection,” she said bitterly. “But we didn’t listen to the people we were trying to help. We built a cage and called it paradise.”
Nick saw echoes of his own struggles in Asha’s words. He returned to the present feeling defeated. “What’s the point, Elena?” he asked. “Everywhere I go, people resist change or ruin it with their selfishness.”
Elena took him to her office, pointing to her collection of artifacts. “These represent moments when people fought for change, even when it was messy and incomplete. Progress isn’t about perfection, Nick. It’s about persistence.”
Chapter 6: The Turning Point
Nick’s despair was interrupted by Emma Morales, a young activist who had accessed his reports through the Arc Initiative. Emma spoke passionately about how Nick’s observations had inspired her work.
“You gave us hope,” she said. “You don’t have to fix everything, Nick. Just light the way.”
Her words reignited something in Nick. He realized that his role wasn’t to solve humanity’s problems but to document, inspire, and provide the tools for others to carry the fight forward.
Epilogue
Nick returned to his missions, but with a new perspective. He no longer sought to be a savior but a bridge between the past, present, and future. As he stood on the fringes of the Selma marches and the Paris Climate Agreement, he felt a quiet sense of purpose. Progress was slow, messy, and painful—but it was always worth pursuing.
Chapter 1: The First Steps
Nick Meridian stared out the window of the sleek Arc Initiative shuttle, heart pounding. He wasn’t entirely sure how he had ended up here, ready to step into the flow of time itself. He’d always been fascinated by history, devouring books and documentaries, but nothing had prepared him for this: a job that would allow him to walk through history and see it firsthand.
Dr. Elena Voss stood beside him, clipboard in hand. “Your first mission is simple,” she said, her voice clipped and efficient. “Observe the signing of the Magna Carta. Record the human interactions around the event, but don’t interfere.”
Nick nodded, eager and a little starstruck. He’d read so much about this pivotal moment in history. How could he not be excited?
When he arrived in the field outside Runnymede, it was as if the pages of a history book had sprung to life. The tension was palpable as barons pressed King John into signing the document that would limit his power. In the chaos, Nick struck up a conversation with a scribe—a nervous, bespectacled man.
“It’s a good start,” the scribe murmured as he recorded notes on the proceedings. “Small acts of justice ripple through time, don’t you think?”
Nick smiled, feeling an odd sense of connection. “I think you’re right.”
When he returned to the Arc Initiative’s headquarters, he couldn’t stop talking about the experience. “This is it,” he told Elena. “This is how we understand ourselves. The seeds of justice, the moments that change everything.”
Elena gave him a measured look. “Just remember, Nick: change is rarely as simple as planting a seed.”
Chapter 2: The Preservation Society
Nick’s enthusiasm carried him through his next missions: standing on the fringes of the Declaration of Independence’s signing, walking the streets of Paris during the French Revolution, and even witnessing the beginning of the environmental movement in the 1970s. Each time, he returned brimming with optimism.
But things changed when he was sent to 1950s America, tasked with observing the tensions surrounding civil rights. He found himself at a meeting of the Preservation Society, a group of scholars and civic leaders who feared that desegregation, while necessary, would destabilize communities if implemented too quickly.
Margaret Albright, the group’s spokesperson, invited Nick to speak after hearing him muse about the arc of justice.
“You seem passionate,” she said. “But have you considered the cost of rapid change? Society isn’t ready for this yet.”
Nick was stunned. “You’re saying the status quo is preferable to equality?”
“I’m saying society has to be eased into equality,” Margaret replied. “Push too hard, and people will push back harder.”
Their debate continued late into the night. Nick pointed out that fear of change had stalled progress throughout history, while Margaret argued that stability was the foundation of progress.
“History is full of good intentions gone wrong,” she said. “We have to be careful.”
Nick returned to Elena frustrated. “How can people be so short-sighted? Don’t they see the harm in waiting?”
Elena raised an eyebrow. “They see it, Nick. They’re just scared of what they might lose.”
Chapter 3: The Industrialist
Nick’s next mission took him to the Industrial Revolution. He arrived at the sprawling factory complex of Ezra Calder, a self-proclaimed visionary who was pioneering mass production techniques. Nick admired Calder’s ambition but was troubled by the unsafe working conditions he witnessed.
Over dinner one evening, Nick broached the subject. “You could improve safety standards without sacrificing efficiency,” he suggested. “It’s not just humane—it’s good business.”
Calder laughed, raising his glass. “And how do you propose I pay for that, Nick? Progress isn’t free. Do you want innovation or perfection? You can’t have both.”
Nick’s frustration boiled over. “At what cost, Ezra? What’s the point of progress if it tramples over people in the process?”
But Calder was unmoved. “You call it trampling. I call it a necessary price. Do you want to be remembered for holding progress back?”
The encounter left Nick questioning the very concept of progress. Was it always worth pursuing, no matter the cost?
Chapter 4: The Council of Continuity
Things came to a head after Nick’s mission to colonial India. Troubled by the famine he observed, he had shared advanced agricultural techniques with local farmers. The results were promising, but British officials cracked down on the farmers, accusing them of subversion.
When Nick returned, the Council of Continuity summoned him. Arlo Grieves, the lead adjudicator, reviewed Nick’s actions with cold detachment.
“You violated the principle of non-interference,” Grieves said. “Do you have any idea what kind of ripple effects this could cause?”
Nick argued passionately. “I saw people starving. How could I just stand by?”
Grieves leaned forward. “And what if your interference causes a greater famine in the future? What if the empire cracks down harder because of what you did? Can you take responsibility for that?”
The hearing left Nick shaken. For the first time, he doubted not only his mission but his ability to navigate its complexities.
Chapter 5: The Future Thinkers
By the time Nick was sent to the 22nd century, he was deeply disillusioned. His task was to observe a utopian experiment led by the Future Thinkers, a group of idealists who had tried to create a perfect society. The experiment had collapsed under its own weight.
Asha Patel, one of the Thinkers, explained their failure. “We thought we could design perfection,” she said bitterly. “But we didn’t listen to the people we were trying to help. We built a cage and called it paradise.”
Nick saw echoes of his own struggles in Asha’s words. He returned to the present feeling defeated. “What’s the point, Elena?” he asked. “Everywhere I go, people resist change or ruin it with their selfishness.”
Elena took him to her office, pointing to her collection of artifacts. “These represent moments when people fought for change, even when it was messy and incomplete. Progress isn’t about perfection, Nick. It’s about persistence.”
Chapter 6: The Turning Point
Nick’s despair was interrupted by Emma Morales, a young activist who had accessed his reports through the Arc Initiative. Emma spoke passionately about how Nick’s observations had inspired her work.
“You gave us hope,” she said. “You don’t have to fix everything, Nick. Just light the way.”
Her words reignited something in Nick. He realized that his role wasn’t to solve humanity’s problems but to document, inspire, and provide the tools for others to carry the fight forward.
Epilogue
Nick returned to his missions, but with a new perspective. He no longer sought to be a savior but a bridge between the past, present, and future. As he stood on the fringes of the Selma marches and the Paris Climate Agreement, he felt a quiet sense of purpose. Progress was slow, messy, and painful—but it was always worth pursuing.
Listen to the AI podcast below to hear a discussion of the impacts of time travel on the future & on time travelers themselves.