RATS

<p><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>I'll clearly never let you anywhere near that event RATS says. Changing her meta-narrative though... That could be subtle enough to work. I see maybe...four in a quadrillion options where it functions.</em></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>It's been seven decades since my mother's death. But when I saw a poster on the train advertising clinical trials for a new time travel technology I jumped at the chance to visit her again. Now I'm back in 2003 an old man tethered by microchips reliving every detail of my childhood. When I finally see her she's manic smiling in a hospital bed and flirting with the doctors. It's then I realize - how could I </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>not </em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>try to save her?</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Unfortunately the scientists running the study thought of this. Drilled into my head with the microchips is RATS an AI here to maintain timeline integrity - and to bully me out of enjoying my all-expenses paid trip to the past. Now I'm forced to ride the rollercoaster of my own memories as RATS builds an algorithm for emotional resonance.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Still changing the future would only take a nudge a single moment outside of protocol. So saving my mom should be easy right? Of course that's also assuming I survive reliving the worst years of my life...</span></p><p></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><em>Warning</em>: </strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>This book deals with suicide.If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. These services are free and confidential. </span></p>