Billie - Bootstrap Paradox, Time Portals

“I know,” said Billie. “And I know what you plan to do with it. But I can’t give it to you. It’s not time. It doesn’t belong here, and neither do I.”

“What are you talking about?”

Billie sighed. “I mean I don’t belong here. I’ve come back, to try and fix everything, but it doesn’t work. I’ve tried and tried, but it always ends this way. No matter what I do.”

“Come back from where?”

“From the future—your future, anyway. About three years from now, give or take. Things aren’t good where I’m from, so I’ve come back to try and fix it. Except it doesn’t look like I can.”

***

“All this time,” said Daud, “I’ve been looking for the Twin-bladed Knife, and even if I’d found it, I couldn’t have wielded it.” Billie watched him in silence. “I know,” he said. “You can’t tell me anything. You’re from my future.” He paused, narrowing his eyes. “You came to help me, only you’ve killed me, haven’t you? Because if you hadn’t come back with the Knife, I would never have touched it.” Daud laughed again, louder this time.

“I’m sorry,” said Billie. “It’s my fault and I can’t fix it. When I came back the first time, it crystalized this moment, making it part of history. Now, no matter what I do, no matter how many times I try, I can’t change it. I can’t.”

***

She looked up and nodded. “I have a lot of work to do,” she said, then she turned around and moved to the center of the room.

A blue light appeared, small at first, then growing larger, until a swirling elliptical vortex formed in the room. Daud could only stare as Billie looked over her shoulder at him, then turned and stepped into the vortex.

And then she was gone, and the room was dark, and Daud was alone.

***

Dishonored: The Return of Daud, Chapter 28