Famer's story writing debate Round #2 Draferman VS TUF

They walked along in silence for a long while amidst a city of garbage. Eventually, Ed broke the silence."I just don't understand. How could this happen? We only went back in time a few days."Steve sighed."The only answer is whatever event that resulted in this present had to have happened far in the past but...""But what?""The theory of time travel I have been working off of forbids anyone from traveling further in the past then when the time travel device is first created. That was day we were just at, the day I completed the device and turned it on for the first time. No one should be able to go back before then.""So what, the theory is wrong?""Unlikely, The Time Travel Tourist hypothesis says...""The what?!""The Time Travel Tourist hypothesis. It says that if unbounded time travel could ever exist, then we would be inundated with time traveling tourists. We aren't, so unbounded time travel can't exist."Ed thought about this."Well, maybe our time is just boring."Despite himself, Steve chuckled. They resumed their walk, following the signs leading to Avery Piccot.After about fifteen minutes they rounded past a rather large pile of junk before coming face-to-face with a damaged metallic egg. They both stared in disbelief."Steve, is that..."Steve stepped forward and examined the machine."It's the machine. It's still damaged. We couldn't have been going in circles. This is impossible."A voice spoke up from behind them."You'd be surprised to learn what is considered possible, these days."Ed and Steve turned around. In front of them was unsavory fellow dressed in torn, raggedy clothing. As he sneered at them, they could see his single tooth. In a more normal reality, this would be the type of person they'd spend time avoiding on the subway. If it weren't for the AK-47 he was brandishing at him. As the two men processed this development, three more men appeared: one on each side, and one behind, each also pointing semi-automatic weapons at the duo. Ed put his hands up. Steve narrowed his eyes at Ed before addressing the man who spoke."Listen, you don't know who I am, but I can help-""We know very well who you are. We've been waiting for you. And you'll be helping Mr. Piccot, don't you worry. Now come along."The man motioned with the muzzle of his gun that they should follow. The other three men provided further impetus. Ed put his hands down as they fell in line behind the first armed man."This is the way we first went, it doesn't lead anywhere except back to the machine.""It leads where it needs to lead, if you know how to follow it. Straight ain't 'xactly straight anymore, Time Man."Despite the danger, this piqued Steve's interest. He walked faster till he was abreast with the man."What do you mean by that? Have there been effects on the fabric of space and time as a result of all of this?"The man glanced over at Steve."I haven't the slightest clue what you just said. Do I look like I know anything about them fancy words you just said? This is what I know."He pressed the barrel of the gun into Steve's cheek."I also know that this world is sh!t, but Mr. Piccot has a plan to fix that."The man lowered the gun. The rest of the walk was in silence.Steve tried to note any differences in the path they were taken, but he could not discern any. Yet, instead of arriving back at the machine, they came to a small building. The two armed men on either side of the party stepped ahead and pulled aside the large canvas that was hiding the entrance. Ed and Steve entered with the lead armed man.The inside of the building was dimly lit. It was, essentially, an office. In contrast to the general theme of the junkyard, the desk was rather nice. The man sitting behind it, however, was not. On the desk was a nameplate that said: "Avery Piccot." He turned in his chair as they approached and mentioned for Ed and Steve to sit. They looked around, confused at the lack of chairs, and then realized that the piles of debris lying around were meant as guest chairs. They said, sinking into the garbage a bit, while the arm man stood behind him."So we meet again, for the very first time."Avery chuckled at his own joke. He was a fat man, with a triple chin. He would have been considered well dressed, if his suit looked like it had ever seen the inside of a dry cleaner's. It was clear that he had managed to salvage the fanciest stuff in this yard, and put in a great deal of effort constructing an air of refinement and higher class.Steve and Ed glanced at each other, trying to see if the other knew what Avery was talking about. Finally, Steve looked toward their host."I don't know what you're talking about - Mr. Piccot, I take it? That machine out there, is mine, and I can fix it and help fix this reality -"Avery held up a hand."Yes, yes. I know all about it. It is why I brought you here. I brought you here, because I sent you there!"He chuckled again in self amusement."My little joke. A test to see if you are new here, or not. I've noticed that you can be rather cunning."Before Steve could speak, Avery continued."You don't know what I'm talking about. Of course. I suppose it doesn't matter anyway, so I’ll explain."He spread his hands out."This 'reality' as you call it. Is different from your own. Much worse. You suspect that something in the past has changed to make it the way it was and you want a chance to go back and fix it. I know this because you have told me this before, at least a dozen times."And, my response to you is always the same: We are not interested in making things the way they were. My employer wishes to exploit the current... 'instabilities' he calls them. Given your knowledge of the time machine, you are the perfect person to do this."Avery sat back in his chair, smiling in self-satisfaction."I don't know who your employer is, but I'm not going to make things worse! I'm not sure how you expect to get me to cooperate but..."*BLAM*The world went silent. Or, rather, it went silent except for the ringing in Steve's left ear. The man behind him had fired a single shot from his gun. Steve was startled to the point of falling off of his garbage seat. He raised a hand to his cheek and pulled it away. It was covered in blood. He wasn't in pain, so he was either in shock or he wasn't shot. If he wasn't shot, then who? Steve looked around and noticed that Ed was not on his seat either. Steve rushed over and rolled Ed onto his back. His face was missing."This is how we get you to cooperate. You see... ah... I need the cards for this part..."Steve sat on the ground, stunned, as Avery rummaged through the desk, pulling out a small stack of cards. Avery cleared his throat."The Multiverse Solution for Time Travel suggests that, instead of travelling back and forth in one's own timeline he instead travels to a point in time in a different universe that, up until that point, is identical in history to the original universe. After that point, it diverges. In this solution, whatever is possible can actually come to be in one of these multiverse incarnations. Your friend has died many, many, times. This demonstrates both our resolve and the lack of care we have for your lives. There are an infinite Eds and an infinite number of you. At some point, one of your incarnations will be both willing and able to perform the mission we have for you."After flipping through the last card, Avery placed them back in the desk."We will not go into the details of your mission at the moment. You are clearly not in the proper state of mind."Avery snapped his fingers. The armed man slung his gun over his shoulder and stepped over to hook his arms under Steve's. He lifted Steve off of the ground and dragged him into an adjacent room. Steve did not resist.This new room was constructed out of concrete and had a steel door. The first thing Steve noticed was a figure in the corner.It was Ed.