The world was ending and Tempus Fugitive wanted to leave before it was too late.

Even before his botched execution in the electric chair back in 1937 gave him the power to traverse time and space, Ernie Pratt had a skill for running away from bad situations, and the Gray invasion was a bad situation.

Giant monsters were destroying the Earth's major cities. Immense alien robots/bases squatted over the world's seats of government, and the Gray shocktroopers were everywhere. The Grays had always been mocked for their slight stature. Man to man they were never a match for superheroes. Their shocktrooper armor eliminated that advantage.

Tempus Fugitive looked to the night sky. Bursts of light could be seen among the stars. Everyone said this was Star Sentinel trying to breach the planet-wide force field designed to keep him out... just him. Why did the Grays fear him so much? Sure he was powerful, but the world was crazy with godlike beings these days. What was so special about Star Sentinel?

The ground shook and Tempus Fugitive found cover in a doorway. One of the giant monsters ran by, a screeching, serpentine horror. Bricks fell from nearby buildings, windows burst, and Tempus Fugitive screamed in terror. He had no illusions about being a brave man.

“Damn it to hell,” he cried out. He had tried to time jump as the monster approached, but failed once again. What was wrong with his powers? Were the Grays up to something? “Damned bug eyed sons of bitches.”

“It's not the Grays, Ernie,” a disembodied voice said. “I'm the one blocking your power.”

“Huh? Who? What the hey?”

A spot of light appeared before him and grew and pulsed until it took the form of a man. The glowing man's craggy, aged face belied his great power.

“Justice?” Tempus Fugitive asked. “What the hell, buddy?”

“Ernie, you have an amazing gift, and your world has need of your power.”

“Are you kidding me? This ain't my world. I don't even belong here.”

“Yes, you are of another time. We have that much in common, but you are here now. This is as much your home as any time or any place.”

“That ain't sayin' much. I'm not welcome here. Hell, I'm not even welcome in my own time. I don't owe the world nothin'.”

“You're a hard man, Ernie. Is that what you're trying to say?”

“It's the truth.”

“Nonsense.”

“Hey, I've been through the school of hard knocks. Don't even think you know who I am. Don't even think it. Now, whatever you're doing to me, knock it off. Just let me leave.”

“I intend to release you, Ernie, but first I would like to show you something.”

“Fine, whatever. Let's get this over with.”

Justice placed a hand on Tempus Fugitive's shoulder and they disappeared. They reappeared not far away in a dank basement that served as an emergency shelter. A woman in a nurse's uniform smiled when she saw Justice.

“Welcome back, sir.”

“Now, Marie, we've talked about the 'sir' thing. Call me Elmore, please. Now, how are our patients?”

“Stable at least. Given the conditions they're doing pretty good.”

While Nurse Marie updated Justice on the condition of specific patients, Tempus Fugitive took a look around. Survivors were packed shoulder to shoulder. Some of them wept. Most of them had a far away stare. An older woman held a small girl and stroked her golden hair.

“What's her name?” Tempus Fugitive asked.

“I don't know,” the woman said. “We just met a couple of days ago, and she won't speak. We're both separated from our families, and all we have is each other.”

“So they made the kid your responsibility?”

The woman looked confused and a little insulted. “Nobody made me do anything.”

“But she's not even your kid.”

“She's not... What does... My what a horrible little man you are.” The woman turned away. The conversation was over.

“You have quite a way with people, Ernie.” Justice's hand was once again on Tempus Fugitive's shoulder.

“Well, it's like you said. I'm a hard man.”

“No you're not. Simple perhaps, but not hard. You feel empathy for these people.”

“Can you read my mind?”

“No. I don't need to. I can tell.”

“What do you expect me to do? I'm just a guy.”

Justice smiled. “Just a guy who is the master of time and space.”

“I'm the master of nothin'. Poppin' around through the time stream is hard. It's not like I can pick a moment and go there. There's like these pathways I have to stay on. They're all tangled up and its easy to get lost.”

“I have faith in you.”

“You do, do you? Well, who's simple now?”

Justice laughed.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Just get help, someone or something that can neutralize those monsters. Our fight against the Grays will never make headway until we deal with them.”

“If I promise to do that, you'll let me go?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I promise.”

“Wonderful, I release you.”

“Ha,” Tempus Fugitive said. “So long, sucker.” With that, he disappeared.

“I'm sorry, sir,” Nurse Marie said. “I'm afraid he played you.”

Justice was nonplussed. “I have faith in him, and, seriously, the name is Elmore.”