The "Low-Stakes" meter didn't just break; it began to age. I watched as a glass of water on my desk evaporated into dust and then refilled itself in a localized loop.
["Danny, I have a 'High-Frequency' temporal emergency,"] Sheila reported, her voice warping into a deep baritone before snapping back to normal. ["Clockwork has sent a priority-omega request. The 'Anchor' energy has caused a 'Leaking' effect across the timelines. Artifacts of immense temporal power are being pulled toward the Middleton rift. If we don't 'Standardize' them in a containment field, the 'Now' will become a 'Whenever'."]
"The Chronos Collection," I muttered, standing up. "Protocol, gear up! This isn't a field trip; it's a Historical Retrieval. We need to secure the artifacts before the 'Timeline-Parasites' find them."
We stepped through Clockwork's golden portal, the team currently a mix of high-tech and high-magic. Cyd and Shelby were our leads, their 'Leap-Frog' energy acting as our compass.
Stop 1: The Highlands (Gargoyles Universe)
The air was thick with mist and the smell of ancient stone. Perched on a castle spire was a shimmering, golden circle.
"The Phoenix Gate," I said.
"I've got it!" Kim yelled, her grapple-launcher firing. But as she touched the gate, a massive, winged silhouette landed in front of her. Goliath looked at us with glowing white eyes.
"You seek the Gate, humans? It is a burden too heavy for the young."
"We're the Possible Protocol, Goliath," I said, stepping forward. "We're here to 'Insure' the past. Clockwork sent us."
After a tense 'Logic-Sync,' Goliath handed over the Gate. "Protect it well, Danny Possible. The night is long."
Stop 2: The Desert of Agrabah (Aladdin Universe)
The sand wasn't just hot; it was sparkling. The Hourglass of Time was currently being used by a very confused parrot to keep his crackers dry.
"Give it here, bird!" Ben (as Diamondhead) roared, creating a crystalline cage around the artifact.
"AUK! NO! IT'S MY SAND-BOX!" Iago shrieked, but Danny Fenton phased in and swapped the Hourglass for a high-tech 'Possible' heat-lamp.
"Mystery... traded," Fenton grinned.
Stop 3: 19th Century London (Harry Potter Universe)
In a dusty corner of a wizarding shop, a small, golden necklace hung from a hook.
"A Time-Turner," Jazz Fenton whispered, her eyes bright.
"Actually," Barry (from BFW) said, "it's a primitive version of my Tempus-Simia! Look at the gears!"
We secured the Turner just as a group of 'Ministry' wizards arrived. Jenny used a localized 'Memory-Mist' to make them think we were just a group of eccentric tourists looking for hats.
Stop 4: The 7th Dimension (Gravity Falls/Jimmy Neutron)
The final stop was a localized rift where Naldo's Homemade Hair Gel, The Time-Tape, and the Time Booth were all fused into a glowing, sticky mountain of temporal-goop.
"It's a Chrono-Clutter!" Jimmy Neutron shouted. "The hair gel has created a 'Frictionless' time-state! We need to 'Degrease' the timeline!"
Nigel Uno and the KND used a 'Soda-Seltzer' cannon to neutralize the gel, while Mabel and Dipper used the Time-Tape to 'Wrap' the Time Booth back into its stable form.
As we returned to Middleton, we weren't alone. Goliath (who wanted to see the 'Future-Castle' of the Protocol) and Numbuh Five (who had joined the KND team for the 'Soda' mission) were officially on the roster.
I looked at the 'Low-Stakes' meter. 15%. The artifacts were secure in Sub-Level 23, locked in a 'Stasis-Field' maintained by Clockwork and Paradox.
"Mission... archived," I said, leaning back as the 'Now' finally stabilized.
But the romance sub-plots were currently 'Eternal' as well.
Jenny walked up to me, her eyes a soft, pulsing violet. She was holding the Phoenix Gate (now in its 'Safe' state). "Danny? When we were in the ancient times... I saw a statue of a robot goddess. She looked like me. Does that mean our 'Logic-Sync' has always existed?"
"In every timeline, Jenny," I whispered, taking her metal hand. "You're the constant. I'm just the variable that found you."
Jenny's cooling fans whirred in a happy, rhythmic pulse.
Meanwhile, Cyd was showing Ben the 'Time-Tape.' "You know, Watch-Boy... if we ever run out of burritos, we can just 'Tape' ourselves back to lunch."
"I like the way you think, Cyd," Ben grinned.
I looked at the team: the Middleton crew, the Amity ghosts, the geniuses, the time-travelers, the Gargoyle leader, and the KND. We were a collection of eras, a bridge across history.
["Danny,"] Sheila's voice rang in my ear. ["I've updated the dossier. New Entry: 'The Chronos Collection.' Also, Clockwork just sent a 'Thank You' note. It's written in a language that won't be invented for 500 years, but I'm pretty sure it says 'Good Job.'"]
"Low-stakes, Sheila. Low-stakes."