Norman

What is destiny?

Is it a predetermined path between point A and B?

or is it just a culmination of all our individual decisions.

I am not a man with grand purpose.

I'm simply a man who made a decision.

A decision to do something different.

No worldwide problems to solve.

I did it because I thought I could.

Day 127.

Morale is high.

This house is quite charming and comfortable.

Everything so far has gone according to plan.

Staying busy helps keep my mind

off of how isolated it can be here.

I'm really satisfied with the progress that I've been making

and hope it continues.

I feel like I'm on the verge of solving the problem

that's keeping me here.

The tools of this time are just so primitive.

I'm forced to ignore

almost a century of technological advancements.

I do, however, enjoy the challenge this presents me.

Day 463.

This work is taking much longer than I had anticipated.

Every breakthrough has been coupled

with at least two more setbacks

and what originally felt like progress

is really nothing more than a dead end.

I feel as if I'm getting nowhere.

My life has become a rhythm.

An endless loop of the same thing, day in and day out.

Sometimes I wonder what's happening

outside of these four walls,

but I can't let myself think that way.

I must keep going.

I have to make this work.

Getting back home is all I have.

There is nothing else.

Today is the day it all ends.

Despite all of my best efforts, everything has been in vain.

My will is broken.

I don't know if it's the limitations of technology

that are available to me in this time or my own.

Either way, I know I'll never be going home.

The simple truth is that I leave this world alone.

No family.

I shut out the only friend I had.

No one will ever know of the things I have accomplished

or even of my failures and mistakes.

This is the only decision I have left.

I can only hope this will cause no further damage.

I thought time travel would be exciting, liberating,

but in the end it was just escaping

one prison to enter another.

I've done everything I can do.

I don't know what else I could do,

I've tried.

I've tried.

But I'm not doing this anymore.

Suit power at full capacity

facility diagnostics complete.

A.N.I. system online.

Hello A.N.I.

Good afternoon.

Your day is finally here.

You ready?

All systems go.

Good.

Alright, start it up.

Portal polarity initiated.

Beginning count down sequence.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Sir, are you okay?

Exclusion zone notice. Level 3 evacuation.

Immediate and imminent danger.

Evacuate immediately.

This is to promote your safety.

Hey, are you okay?

Sir, you're bleeding everywhere.

Do you want me to call for some help?

No, I'm fine.

Get out of here.

You know what, I'm getting help.

No need to yell at me.

I said leave.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

Told you I'd be fine.

I'm fine

Just sit still.

Got most of the blood cleaned up,

but you're definitely going to want to see a doctor

about some stitches.

You fell and hit your head pretty hard.

Look, what are you still doing here?

I appreciate the help but you need to just go.

Fine.

You know, this really isn't my problem.

But fine, if you want me to go, I'll leave you alone.

Yes, fine just go.

You know, everyone living around here

thinks some lonely hermit's living here.

Is that so?

Yeah and now I can see why.

And that's why you're alone.

I am so angry.

Everything was set.

I had accepted my way out of this hell

and she took it from me.

I can't control anything.

What do I have left?

This encounter with her triggered another episode.

Visions, memories I don't know.

I wish I could understand

and yet all I can think about is her.

A.N.I.!

Wait a minute, did you shut me off?

Have I been off for two and a half years?

Look at you.

You're a mess, you're all banged up.

- I know, I know. - I told you

turning me off was a bad idea.

I'm very sorry about all that and you were right.

Of course I was right.

I'm not an emotional or irrational creature like you.

Look A.N.I., I need you for something.

Um no, put me back down.

Let me charge first.

You'll be fine.

This won't take more than a minute, I'm sure.

After that, I'll let you bask in the sun.

How about that?

Wonderful.

This is what I need you to analyze for me.

What am I looking at

and what's making that noise?

Okay, you have to get me closer to the source.

Set me down on the sink.

Okay, I hear water dripping.

You know you might want to get those pipes fixed.

You have one nasty water hammer.

I'm not exactly sure I know what I'm looking for here.

All I'm picking up is a natural frequency.

Sounds familiar, right?

A standing wave pattern.

Hm. This solves your power issue,

but you're going to have a hard time

using early 21st century technology.

I hope you don't plan on using sink parts.

Leave that part to me.

I'd recommend shutting off the faucet

before your house shakes apart.

Duly noted.

It's been a while, hasn't it?

You've not left this house once

since I was turned off, have you?

I do believe I'm ready to leave this place.

I can imagine you are.

At least you have me again.

I know you missed me.

It looks like you missed a lot of showers too.

Are you taking care of yourself?

A.N.I. don't start.

I think we finally have a chance this time.

Our work does seem cut out for us

but I believe you're right.

Okay, where do we start?

Wait right here.

Please tell me you're using that for parts.

Nope, he's doing what I think he's doing.

Nothing like a good song

to get your creative juices flowing, right A.N.I?

While I do you understand

the merits of music for humans,

I can't understand how you call this music.

Come on, this is good stuff.

I'm so glad we traveled to the past

so we could listen to music that's even further in the past.

The time travel never stops.

You know, if we could get this thing working,

I could arrange that.

If I get you back to the future,

I get to pick the music from now on.

Deal.

After being alone in this house for so long,

not making any progress on the machine,

I finally felt useful again.

I forgot how much I missed having someone to talk to.

With A.N.I.'s help we made a great break-through.

I began to work feverishly and I found myself

losing track of time.

The days and weeks blurred together

as our design took shape.

For the first time in a very long time,

I began to believe.

It felt good.

It's a good start.

It feels good having something to do around here.

Nobody has perfected tea like you have.