Emit: I'm sorry, but I can't come up with a new task for you. Summer: It's okay, you don't have to give me a secret mission just because you gave Liberty and Travis secret missions. Emit: But Liberty was so happy that I included you.

Emit: I think we have to do with a time thief. Items disappear from the past, causing them to have a flickering existence in the present. All the items that I've identified are also items in Sims Forever's Buy catalogue. Let's have the simulation run for a bit.

Emit: I decided to have the simulation work similarly to Sims Forever, because the ripples in the space-time continuum started after The Sims Archives was released. Liberty: I don't see how The Sims Archives and some ripples in the space-time continuum would be connected.

Liberty: I'm done, let's plug it in. Emit: I really hope this will work.

Emit: You three complement each other well. For how long have you been together? Liberty: A little over two years, but we've known each other since high school.

Liberty: I'm so glad that you include all three of us in this. I wasn't sure if Summer wanted to join us, but she's been a real help. She's so social, knows everyone in the neighbourhood. Travis and I would never have been able to make George give us any information about the Shards of Time.

Liberty: So you knew that Travis studies Computer Science? Why didn't you ask him for help with this then? Emit: I actually gave him another task, and just as with your task, I can only tell one single person about it right now. All three of you will get to know about it when it's safe to tell you.

Liberty: Hi, sorry, but I kinda started without you, and it resulted in a B.S.O.D. Emit: Yeah, I forgot to tell you that you have to overclock it. Liberty: Maybe you should've asked Travis for help with this part. You know he studies the Distinguished Programme in Computer Science at Foxbury?

Liberty: I should be able to write a small script and test run it before Emit comes over and we get into writing a full program.

Travis: Shouldn't you chill a bit with your studies? Liberty: I don't have time for that. Term's almost over. Travis: But you have time for Emit's little quests? Liberty: Without 'em I'd never take breaks from studying. By the way, I need to pick apart our computer. It's backing up right now.

Emit: I want you to build a time machine. Liberty: What? Emit: Not the type through which your physical body can travel, more like a simulator. We'll need your computer, specifically, and you can never use it again after this. Don't worry, I have a hard drive for a backup and I'll compensate you.

Emit: Hi! Liberty: Hi, how come you wanted to meet me out here instead of inside? Emit: I needed to make sure that only one single person hears what I'm about to say, to avoid paradoxes. Here's the thing: I've gotten ahold of some Shards of Time and I want you to do something a little risky.

Liberty: There's something strange about this bar too. It feels like it doesn't belong here, but I've seen Summer making so many drinks here. Is this some kind of Mandela Effect? Could the ripples in time cause this? I should text Emit about it.

16:08 Summer: George! You don't happen to know a thing or two about Shards of Time? George: I- Uh... Wha-...? Why?

Liberty: And what about you, what are you doing? Summer: Emit texted me about the crystals I saw in The Sims Archives yesterday, they're called Shards of Time. He told me to go out at exactly 16:08 and ask a familiar person in a lab coat about it.

Liberty: So if I feel like this shouldn't be here but also that it has always been here, that would mean- Summer: What are you doing? Liberty: I'm investigating this strange bookcase. Do you remember for how long we've had it? Summer: We bought it when we moved in.

Liberty: Time to investigate.

Liberty: Why do I feel like that bookcase isn't supposed to be there? It's always been there. Haven't it?

Liberty: Hm?

Summer: This time they're hiding a glowing crystal. Very suspicious... I'll text Emit about it.

Summer: There's that NPC again!

Summer: It feels a bit unfair that you two have to study while I get to play games. Liberty: How does this differ from usual? Summer: Now it feels even more unfair. Liberty: Relax, I'm joking. You're studying too. You're studying that game.

Emit: Yeah, you're right, I technically didn't say that you need to play it, I just assumed that you'd want to. But I think it's better that Summer takes on this task. Liberty: I knew I was doing something right! And I really do need to study.

Summer: How did you know that we were just about to text you about this? Emit: Well, y'know, wibbly wobbly, timey whimey. Anyway, how about you continue to play the game and report back to me whenever you see something strange? Summer: Sure.

Summer: There was an NPC who buried a glowing box, and I've never seen that before. I checked the wiki and forums, but couldn't find anything. Do you think it's a new feature? Liberty: Maybe. Or a bug. How about we ask Emit about it? *Knock knock* Summer: I'll answer the door.

Summer: Hey, The Sims Archives is just supposed to be The Sims Forever but a re-release, right? Liberty: I think so, why? Summer: I saw something peculiar when I played.

Summer: Not on the wiki, not in any forums, not even in the bug forum... Is there anywhere else I could find info on this?

Summer: What? Did that NPC just bury a glowing box? Who is that NPC anyway? I've never seen them before. And why would they-... Maybe I'll just check the Wiki.

Liberty: Well, I need to study and Emit's a time traveller. If it specifically needs to be me who plays the game, he could just tell me or come back later, or earlier.

Travis: I thought Emit wanted 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 help specifically. Liberty: You mean because I told Summer to play that game he mentioned?

Emit (texting): Since the last time we met I've figured out that the ripples I mentioned are caused by items disappearing from the past. Nothing important enough to cause any paradoxes, but I need your help to figure out what's going on. Btw, you should check out the life sim game The Sims Archives.

Summer: Do you really believe that he's a real time traveller? Liberty: I don't know, but I want to try to help him either way.

Emit: Take care. Liberty and Travis: Bye! Summer: Bye, Mr Relevart! Emit: It's Doctor, but you three can all call me Emit. Liberty, I'll text you later.

Emit: Speaking of paradoxes, I have to leave now to not cause one by running into myself 4 years ago, I mean... never mind. I wanted to check that I got the correct Liberty, which I did, and I need your help to figure out what's causing some ripples in the space-time continuum. But now, I leave.

Emit: Hello, Liberty, Travis, Summer. Liberty: It really 𝘪𝘴 you. Hi! Travis: Hi! Liberty: And you're our age, this must be before you- Emit: Please don't spoil it for me. I do know some things about my future, but only enough to not cause any paradoxes, and I'd like to keep it that way.

Liberty: Oh, here he is. I should write him a-... Emit (texting): Hello, Liberty, nice to meet you! That's correct, I'm Doctor Emit Relevart, and I am indeed a time traveller. Liberty: He... answered the question I hadn't even sent yet? Emit (texting): Can we meet in Magnolia Blossom Park?

Summer: I have to ask Emily about this. If there's anyone who knows anything about this, it has to be her.

Liberty: Hm... Emit Relevart... Distinct blue hair... Would he really be on social media though?

Liberty: And what about you, do you want to help us? Summer: Of course! Why wouldn't I? Travis: You don't have to. You always get bored when we get too geeky. Summer: You can let me do the non-geeky stuff for whatever we're getting ourselves into. Liberty: So, throuple activity it is.

Liberty: I'm actually quite intrigued about this. Relevart's been mentioned in several of my courses. Travis: Same here. Liberty: Would it be weird to try to find him? Travis: Probably. Liberty: Will you join me? Travis: For sure.

Summer: Who's Emit Relevart? Travis: A scientist who disappeared without a trace around the time when the first prototypes of sentient bots were worked on, so almost 50 years ago. Summer: Then he must be quite old. Liberty: Not necessarily, if he really is a time traveller.

News anchor: Their identity, origin, and purpose remain unconfirmed. However, several sims have noted the distinct blue hair of this new arrival that they believe to be Doctor Emit Relevart. Travis: Do you think they mean 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 Doctor Emit Relevart? Liberty: Who else would it be?

Chapter 44: Let's Take the Liberty to Make Some Changes News anchor: We're receiving reports on a potential time traveller in town. Travis: What if they're a real time traveller! Liberty: That'd be so cool!

W.H.s: I have a message for you.

W.H. III: Goldie.