Character Sketches

Here is a sketch of the main characters for the first part of the story. The first image puts them on a grid so you can see the relative sizes for the various characters:

If you have not noticed from looking at the image, the time travelers are taller than the other people. There are many sources which describe this effect and give numbers. Here is one which is more interactive and visual: https://ourworldindata.org/human-height/.

The color image below should give some more details of the characters:

Patreon and Banner Image

I have constructed a Patreon account to donate to some webcomics I read. I have constructed a creator page, where I will post the full chapter ebooks. I am not currently looking for donations, however.

For this, I have developed a banner image showing Sergei, Jennifer, and Joshua together.

The image is intended to contain complex symbolism.

For those who can't tell, the character on Joshua's shirt is the new Captain America, and he is holding a foam sword.

Introduction 14

Prologue
Dream/Vision (3 December 1963, Moscow)

At this point Jennifer felt like she had little choice but to pretend to be who she was supposed to be. The feeling of fear subsided some in her body, but not in her mind. All I have to do is pretend to not be afraid. I have done things despite being afraid before. Hopefully whatever skills she seemed to have would hide her feeling out of place, and the fact that she was supposed to be this individual would prevent them from noticing that she was not.

To Sergey at least, she was not an enemy; she was an ally, probably a loved one as well. Unless this is all a lie. But she knew things she was not supposed to. She would just have to pay attention and remain alert.

She hoped that she would not be asked to do anything which would involve hurting people.

Jennifer breathed in and out deeply again. “Gotova.” (I am ready.)

Both of them walked back into the hallway, put on their boots, hats, and coats, and grabbed their belongings. They turned off the lights, and walked out of the front door.



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This ends the prologue, although not the dream sequence. After this I will start the story and finish this dream sequence when it comes up in the story. Chapter 1 will start when I am finished with the editing, hopefully in a month. I will have some images to put up before as well.

The prologue is posted in printable and ebook formats at https://www.patreon.com/quantumwarrior.

Introduction 13

Prologue
Dream/Vision (3 December 1963, Moscow)

Sergey took out his jacket from the closet. Meanwhile, Jennifer walked past him into the bathroom and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She put her hand on the mirror, trying to fully take in who she was supposed to be.

Sergey noticed her and walked in behind her. He looked at her positioning. Jennifer had noticed him come in, although was still processing her situation as he paused to consider what he saw.

“Oy! Ty ne privykla predstavlyat' v forme svoyo gosudarstvo.” (Oh! You are not used to presenting yourself in uniform as a representative of the state.)

Jennifer turned around to face him.

“When you were young, you were taught that all of this is evil. Even if you know what you were taught is wrong, it still impacts you.” He picked up a comb. “Mozhno?” (May I?) She nodded to him. He started combing her hair. He backed off when he was done.

Sergey spoke again. “Forma tebe idyot.” (You look good in uniform.) Jennifer became uncomfortable because of the comment, something which Sergey noticed and attempted to fix. “Your uniform makes you look like a warrior, not a sexual object. We don't do that here. You know this.”

But Jennifer had trouble relaxing, for this brought up another concern. “You know how I think?”

“Sonya, I know you. I care about you. You saved my life. I don't know what I would do without you. I would never hurt you.”

She didn't know if she should believe him.

Introduction 12

Prologue
Dream/Vision (3 December 1963, Moscow)

 

Sergey walked over to the wardrobe and took out the two uniforms. He passed the female one to Jennifer. She took the uniform in hand and looked it over.

Do I really have to wear this? But she knew if she didn't he would know she was not who she was supposed to be. So she took off her dress. Seriously, though, skirts and uniforms. How do people think this is a good idea. She slowly got changed, though. I am not going to blend in in this. … Although I guess nobody should actually confuse it for something sexual. It is actually designed to be modest, not revealing. I am just too accustomed to female bodies being considered sexual objects.

How did I agree to join the KGB? How does that make sense? Although I am probably working against the US, not the dissidents. I do want to fight against capital; I know how much of a threat this ends up being. I am influenced by fictional depictions of heroism and have warrior instincts. Many people do this type of thing believing they are helping. But I know better. … What could have changed to make this possible? And what is this about my brother? … And I doubt I could do this. Assuming, of course, that I can't overcome my limitations, most of which I am sure I can. Some aspects may actually make me more aware and helpful. Maybe the physical limitations don't matter. Or were healed.

Jennifer had put on her skirt and shirt and was holding her tie when Sergey came over.

“Tebe pomoch'?” (Do you want help with that?)

“Da.” (Yes.) She handed him the tie but she still half expected him to hurt her. When he didn't, she was relieved. Right. This is a dress uniform. I probably haven't worn a tie very often. He doesn't actually expect me to understand how to deal with male fashion accessories. He took his hands away when done and handed her jacket to her.

Jennifer put on and buttoned up her jacket then picked up the rest of the outfit and followed him into the hallway.

In the kitchen he said I belong here. What, does he mean that … ? No. Probably more like I actually have a sense that these are my people, that life makes sense. … Is that even possible for me?

Introduction 11

Prologue
Dream/Vision (3 December 1963, Moscow)

By the time Jennifer had finished, Sergey was already by the kitchen sink. “Sonechka, ty budesh' pomogat' mne myt' posudu? Ty zhe ne dumayesh', chto ya dolzhen delat' vcyo sam, pravda?” (Sonya, are you going to help me clean up? You don't expect me to do all the work, do you?)

Hearing Sergey's voice again shifted Jennifer's attention out of her train of thought. Right, I guess that makes sense. Him cooking would have to do with how we could split household chores. Which, while I am familiar with this concept, is not common, especially further in the past. Jennifer picked up her dishes and took them to the sink.

While they were washing the dishes, Sergey began to speak again. “Chto s toboy? Ty prosnulas' rano i medlila eto vcyo utro.” (What is wrong? You woke up early and have been slow this entire morning.)

So much for him not noticing anything being off.

“Ty boish'sya suda segodnya?” (Are you scared about the trial today?)

Of course he would attribute the oddities in behavior to anxiety rather than, well, not being who I am supposed to be.

“Ty dumayesh' chto ty ne smozhesh' vystoyat' protiv svoyego brata?” (Do you not think you can stand up to your brother?)

She decided she would try to play along and attempt to pretend to be sick. Maybe he won't make me be this person. “U menya chto-to s zhivotom.” (My stomach feels off.) Jennifer held her hand around her abdomen and raised it up some as she spoke. Wait, what is this about my brother? Does this woman – Sofiya Ivanovna – have a brother as well? And what did he do?

“That is fear. It is understandable. But Nikolay is not who he was. And you can't save these people. These people from your past may remind you of who you used to be. But Sonya, Jennifer, you are not who you were. You have a society in which you belong. And you are not alone.”

I am not going to get out of doing this easily. … Nikolay? Does he mean Nicholas, my brother? Well, I guess that confirms this is supposed to be me. Although a lot has happened in between.

When they finished cleaning up, they turned off the kitchen light and went back to the main room.

Introduction 10

Prologue
Dream/Vision (3 December 1963, Moscow)

“Son', idi syuda i sadis'.” (Sonya, you should come in and eat.) 

Sergey's voice brought Jennifer out of her thoughts, but did not startle her. I guess I have run out of time to look at the ids. I have what I can get from them anyway. I need to get information from this man. She put down what she was looking at and made her way to the kitchen.

The kitchen was small, but did include a table on which to eat. She sat down next to the dishes which were clearly lain out for her. Eggs and porridge. He knows what I eat. I am not sure what I expected, or what is normal, though. She tried the food in front of her. It was not identical to what she was used to, but it was still good. 

They ate together in silence. While this prevented her from revealing who she was, it made it difficult for her to determine with whom she was sitting. This did, however, give Jennifer time to think about her situation. She wondered if she should tell this man she was not who he thought she was. Every time she thought of opening her mouth to talk about it, however, she found she didn't know what to say. 

It is strange. Everything about this world seems to fit me. Or rather, everything about me seems to fit this world. I am clearly not who I was.