Big guy and rusty the boy robot: Time and time again.

Big guy is the property of Darkhorse comics and Tristar.

In terms of continuity this takes place 10 years after deus ex machina part 2.

"A robot created a miracle that was Poindexter. Someone that could evolve beyond any machine." Diana says.

"Deus ex machina." Dr. Slate says.

Suddenly the picture changes and Poindexter appears.

"If you are seeing this then I am probably dead. Therefore this is a little revenge idea I came up with. I knew that my saboteur would be found out and he would give you this." Poindexter says.

He waves goodbye on the screen.

"EVERYBODY GET OUT!" Dr. Slate screams.

A few seconds later the whole lab goes up a huge fireball and outside the whole tower topples onto the ground.

The playback ends and the screen goes dead. Dwayne sighs and sheds a tear. He is in an office lying on a couch similar to a counselor’s couch. A woman is sitting next to him writing on a data pad.

“Erika.” Dwayne says sadly.

The doctor looks up.

“You never got over that did you?” The doctor asks.

Dwayne doesn’t answer and just turns away from the doctor.

“What happened after that?” The doctor asks.

Dwayne still doesn’t answer but remembers.

Dwayne is lying in the infirmary just staring at the wall. Images of what he did flash through his head. A hand touches him and he looks up to see an unfamiliar doctor.

“It’s time to go.” The woman says.

Dwayne looks at her and frowns.

“Where?” Dwayne asks.

“To where you belong.” The woman responds.

“I don’t belong anywhere after what I did.” Dwayne says.

“There is redemption for what you did. I will take you to it.” The woman says.

Dwayne hesitates at first but then grabs her hand and stands up.

“Are you an angel?” Dwayne asks.

The woman smiles and guides Dwayne towards the main elevator. When they reach the ground floor he exits and walks out.

“Lt. Hunter?” The front security guard asks.

“It’s okay. He just needs some fresh air.” The woman says.

Dwayne exits the tower and looks outside and takes a deep breath. He spins around and smiles.

“I haven’t felt so alive!” Dwayne says.

The woman frowns and pulls him away at a brisk pace.

“Where are you taking me?” Dwayne asks.

Suddenly a huge explosion rocks the tower and Dwayne looks up in horror as it topples over. His smile turns to a terrified look.

“Erika!” Dwayne screams.

He gets down to his knees and starts screaming and crying. He looks around to find the woman but cannot see her.

“Where are you? I was meant to die wasn’t I?!” Dwayne yells.

Soon after the police and fire fighters arrive. Dwayne is arrested but is later found to have only been the sole survivor of the explosion and not the one who caused it.

“Why didn’t you leave me?” Dwayne says back in the present.

The doctor looks up at hearing that.

“What do you mean? Who left you?” The doctor asks.

Dwayne finally turns over and faces the doctor.

“Why didn’t I die with them? I should have died with them.” Dwayne says.

His voice breaks as he says, “With Erika.”

“What happened when the tower was destroyed? How did you survive it?” The doctor asks.

Dwayne remembers the same questions being asked over and over again by investigators. He never answers the question, until now.

“An angel saved me. She took me from the infirmary and got me away before the explosion.” Dwayne responds.

The doctor ponders this new bit of information. Dwayne clenches his fist.

“God damn you. Why did you take me?” Dwayne asks angry.

“After that you had a breakdown didn’t you?” The doctor asks.

Dwayne remembers. Everything was going normal after his grieving period had ended. He was simply driving down the road when something inside of him snapped.

Dwayne slams on the breaks and spins the car around so it blocks both lanes of traffic. He just sits there staring. He never moves a muscle even after the police show up. They finally break the window and pull him out. After that he is put in lockup until he is found to need mental help.

For the next 10 years he spends his every waking hour and day in a padded cell simply staring and never saying anything. He never even said Erika’s name again.

“I just went nuts. Is that what you want to hear?” Dwayne asks.

The doctor writes some more stuff down. Dwayne stands up.

“What the hell are you writing on that?” Dwayne asks.

“I have been called to evaluate if you are ready to be let out into society yet.” The doctor responds.

“So you want to see if I am still nuts. Is that it?” Dwayne asks.

“We don’t like to use the word nuts but they do want to make sure you won’t be a danger to yourself or to society.” The doctor responds.

“I was never a danger. I flipped out true but you would also if you got the treatment I did.” Dwayne says.

“What kind of treatment did you receive?” The doctor asks.

Dwayne sighs.

“I ended up in a hospital that seems to be still in the 50’s. They diagnosed me we extreme depression and gave me shock treatments daily.” Dwayne responds.

He shivers at the memories.

The doctor looks at the clock.

“I’m afraid I have to end this session. I’m recommending that you be allowed back into society but under close guard at first.” The doctor says.

6 months later at a special military base lay a temporal division. Inside many scientists are watching over monitors.

“Time window is opening in 5..4..3..2..1..mark.” A woman says.

The scientists wait for something. When nothing happens they sigh in relief.

“No time penetration.” The main scientist says.

“I don’t know why we are doing this. Maybe the invasion 5 years ago was just a fluke.” A woman says.

The man frowns.

“We can’t take that chance.” The man says.

Dwayne enters the room.

“Hello Lt. Hunter. How can we help you?” The man asks.

“I have been sent by the military to check up and make sure that the systems are running at optimum efficiency.” Dwayne responds.

The man walks Dwayne out of the room.

“I’m sorry but I have not received anything on that yet.” The man says.

“The communications are slowing down and they said it would arrive shortly after I did.” Dwayne says.

The man accepts it hesitantly.

“I trust you. But only cause you are a respected officer.” The man says.

Dwayne enters the main time chamber. He goes up to the main console and shuts the door. He then runs some diagnostic systems. Meanwhile in the communications room a message is received.

“Sir we are receiving a message.” The officer says to the man.

“That must be the orders that Dwayne mentioned.” The man says.

He looks at the message and jumps up to get the phone.

“This is Commander Skinner. Get Lt. Hunter out of that time room immediately!” The man yells.

On screen the message says that Lt. Hunter has broken free from his guard and his counselor suspects he may try to change what happened. A bunch of officers converge on the room but can’t get in.

“Dwayne. Don’t do this. You may do more damage by doing what you are planning than good.” Skinner yells.

But Dwayne ignores him and enters in the time coordinates. He then steps into the main ring. He opens up a panel and takes out a device to put on his wrist.

“I’m coming Erika.” Dwayne says.

After a few seconds he disappears just as the door is broken down. The officers and a scientist rush to the main console. Skinner looks at it and verifies that he’s headed to the point where quarks was destroyed.

“Can you bring him back?” Skinner asks.

The scientist shakes her head.

“Good luck and god speed.” Skinner says saluting thin air.

Meanwhile in the time stream images flash through Dwayne’s head. Images of the quarks destruction and what happened to him during those 10 years. He finally falls out of the stream and finds himself in the middle of chaos.

“EVERYBODY GET OUT!” Slate screams.

“Damn it. I’m too late.” Dwayne yells.

He rushes forward to Slate and grabs her. He pushes a button on the wrist device and they both disappear just as the bomb goes off. Almost instantaneously they reappear in the time chamber. Even quicker officers surround them both. Skinner frowns when he sees Slate.

“Dwayne what have you done?” Skinner asks.

“I couldn’t stop it. I went back too close to the explosion. I had to save someone.” Dwayne responds.

“And by doing so you may of caused tremendous damage to the time stream.” Skinner says.

He shakes his head.

“Take him away and throw him in the brig.” Skinner says.

The officers drag Dwayne away.

“Erika!” Dwayne yells.

But Slate is standing there stunned.

“Where am I?” Slate asks.

“What should we do about her?” The scientist asks.

“When is the next time window?” Skinner asks in response.

The scientist takes out a data pad.

“10 hours.” The scientist responds.

“Let her go but make sure she doesn’t leave this building. She will have to be sent back to die so whatever she sees of the future won’t matter.” Skinner responds.

“Die? Was I supposed to die?” Slate asks.

The scientist gently takes Slate and takes her to a room.

“Please tell me something. Anything.” Slate says.

“I’m sorry but it’s not my place to do that.” The scientist responds.

Slate enters the room and sits on the bed. Her mind reels from what she heard and what she can remember.

"If you are seeing this then I am probably dead. Therefore this is a little revenge idea I came up with. I knew that my saboteur would be found out and he would give you this." Poindexter says.

He waves goodbye on the screen.

"EVERYBODY GET OUT!" Dr. Slate screams.

Slate shakes her head.

“What happened? Why am I still alive? Where is everybody else?” Slate ponders.

She remembers seeing someone familiar.

“Dwayne!” Slate yells.

Slate lies down and just stares at the wall for a few minutes before finally falling asleep. Meanwhile in the brig Dwayne is not having much luck falling asleep. He keeps running the same thing through his head. He keeps seeing brief view of chaos he saw before grabbing Slate and returning to the future.

“What have I done?” Dwayne asks.

The next morning an officer wakes Dwayne up, who only 2 hours ago finally feel asleep.

“Skinner has decided to let you talk to Dr. Slate but only for a short while. Don’t tell her anything about what has happened since her ‘death’. It may make her go into shock. She must stay alive until she can be put back into time at the exact place you took her.” The officer says.

Dwayne gets up when he sees Slate walk up to the force field. The officer brings down the field just briefly enough for Slate to walk in and then puts it back up. Dwayne rushes to her and hugs her. But Slate doesn’t return the hug.

“Erika!” Dwayne says happily.

“What did you do Dwayne?” Slate asks.

Dwayne stands back shocked.

“What do you mean? I saved your life.” Dwayne responds.

Slate sits down.

“Did you?” Slate asks.

Dwayne just sits stunned.

“Of course I did. You would of died if I had not taken you from the past.” Dwayne asks.

Slate slaps him hard and without warning.

“For what? To live alone without any of my loved ones?” Slate asks.

Dwayne puts a hand on the red mark from the slap.

“I care about you. I wanted us to be together. I missed you.” Dwayne responds.

“If you really cared about me then you wouldn’t force me to live in a world alone.” Slate says.

The officer returns and takes Slate back out. The rest of the 10 hours goes by quickly and it’s time to put Slate back where she belongs. Skinner arrives at the brig.

“It’s time to reverse what you did.” Skinner says.

“Can at least watch? From outside the chamber.” Dwayne asks.

Skinner shakes his head.

“That is not a good idea.” Skinner responds.

“Then put double guard, no triple guard on me. Anything please. I never got a chance to say goodbye.” Dwayne begs.

Skinner sighs.

“Okay but if you try anything. If you even breathe wrong then I am authorizing them to use sedatives on you. Enough to knock you out all day and night.” Skinner says.

Dwayne smiles. 5 guards arrive and lower the field to bring Dwayne out. They approach the time chamber and Dwayne’s heart leaps out of his chest when he sees that Slate is already standing in the ring ready to go.

“Goodbye my love. Rest in peace.” Dwayne mouths through the glass.

Slate looks at him sadly. Suddenly something inside of Dwayne snaps. He shoves the guards aside with a superhuman strength and rushes into the room.

“Erika!” Dwayne yells.

The time shift has already started but Dwayne bumps the console and the coordinates get set a few minutes earlier. Then he shoves Slate out of the stream.

He disappears into time with a flash of light. When he jumps back out he finds the others starting the playback from the chip. Dwayne quickly shakes the cobwebs from his head.

“There’s a bomb in that chip. You have to get out now!” Dwayne screams.

Everybody turns around and gasps when they see another Dwanye.

“What the?” Thorton asks.

Dwayne notices that the playback is almost over.

“I’m from the future. He’s come to save us all. Get out now!” Slate yells.

But everybody is still shocked. The last part of the playback is on and the Poindexter part is about to play. Dwayne suddenly rushes forward and grabs Thorton’s gun.

“GET OUT NOW!” Dwayne screams.

Everybody rushes to the express elevator and reach the ground floor. Dozens of people race for the entrance just as the bomb goes off. Diana is knocked to the ground just as a large pillar lands and crushes her beneath it.

“Diana!” Slate yells.

“Erika keep going!” Dwayne yells.

But Slate rushes over and grabs the pillar and throws it off of Diana in a rush of adrenaline. She looks at Diana’s crushed legs and lifts her up. They all run out of the tower and make it out just as it collapses. Everybody looks in horror as the tower hits the ground and kicks up a huge cloud of dust. When it all settles everybody sighs.

“Is everybody okay?” Dwayne asks.

Diana cries out in pain. Slate touches the legs and her lower torso.

“There’s a lot of internal damage. I have to get her to a hospital now!” Slate yells.

They all rush her to the nearest vehicle. Slate looks around.

“Where’s the other Dwayne. Oh my god did he make it out?” Slate asks looking around wildly.

A dusty figure stumbles out of the dust cloud. Slate rushes to him.

“Oh thank god you are okay.” Slate yells smiling.

Dwayne just stands there stunned. Slate embraces him and kisses him on the cheek.

“It’s finally over.” Slate says smiling.

Dwayne looks down at Slate and finally smiles himself. They both look at the setting sun and feel at peace.

Epilogue.

A strange figure is watching the whole thing.

“It’s not over. It’s only beginning.” The figure says.

The figures left eye glows red.