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past,” the Time Queen said. “But not too far. Only a blink of an eye in the time-stream.”
    Tobin watched the images in shock. “That’s me,” he said. “That’s the night I met Orion, almost a year ago. The night all of this started.”
    The Time Queen nodded. “You were supposed to meet Orion that night, but Rigel went into the past and changed that.”
    Tobin watched the images in light and smoke. Enraged by the sight of Orion in the supermarket, Rigel charged across the parking lot and rammed his massive shoulder into the glass. The walls around the entrance shattered, and Tobin and Orion turned to see the massive, hulking, furious giant standing in front of them.
    The Time Queen continued. “Before you could hear Orion’s warning that night and learn about his connection to your father, Rigel attacked Orion, left him to die, and took you with him from the supermarket.”
    Tobin watched as Rigel grabbed Orion by the neck and rammed him into the ground. Before Orion could recover, Rigel clutched the terrified Tobin, fired a portal pistol into the air, and escaped with Tobin from the supermarket, through a swirling portal and back to Capricious.  
    The Time Queen took a deep breath. “A separate timeline was created in which Orion did not meet you ten months ago and train you in your powers. Instead, Rigel took you from the supermarket that night and forced you into the armor of the Daybreaker. By placing you in that armor and helmet, he opened up your mind and body to the infinite possibilities of your power.”
    In the smoke and light, Tobin saw the Daybreaker, wearing his armor and sitting in the metal throne in the pyramid in Zanatopia.
    “When you were ready, Rigel brought this second version of you back to the present and bestowed upon you the legendary title of the Daybreaker. Then, after teaching you more in the ways of your powers—well, the results of this can be seen on your home world now.”
    The smoky image of the Daybreaker changed, morphing into the black-and-purple Dark Nebula surrounding Boston . Tobin watched the dome, dismayed and sick to his stomach.
    “So it is me,” the boy said. “The Daybreaker is me. It’s not some illusion, or fake trick. It’s actually me.”
    “Yes. A different you from a different timeline, but you nonetheless. Only one event in the Daybreaker’s life has been different from yours. One small difference has created all of this. Instead of being taken from Earth and trained by Orion, he was taken from Earth and trained by Rigel.”
    Tobin stared at the Dark Nebula. “So Rigel found me instead of Orion, and this is what happened. This is what I turned into. I’m capable of doing all this.”
    “Yes. And so much more.”
    Tobin didn’t want to know the answer to his next question, but he knew he had to ask. “He—the Daybreaker—he has chosen to do all of this? Of his own free will? Rigel isn’t making him do this, or hypnotizing him or something?”
    The Time Queen shook her head. “No. This is his choice. Because of what Rigel has told him about the universe, he has chosen to work with Rigel and the others. He is leading them in their conquest of Earth. This is how he—how you —has chosen to use his powers.”
    Tobin was quiet, watching the smoke and light, with his hands clasped in front of him.
    “Is this not the answer you were looking for?” the Time Queen asked.
    “It’s what I was looking for. I was just hoping you’d be telling me something different.”
    “I can only tell you what I know. And what I know is truth.”
    Tobin nodded. “Thank you. I’m gonna go home now. I’ll be needing that diagram.”
    Tobin reached forward and plucked the drawing of the Chrono-Key from the air. With his thoughts and the truth overwhelming him, he stood and walked back toward the rows of clocks, towards the exit of the shop. The Time Queen stayed seated.
    “Oh, Tobin,” she said with a wide smile. “Would you like to know more? Would you like