The Continuum Paradox: 09. The Mystery of Hastings

 

The Man Behind the Curtain

For someone who controls so much of my life, Hastings is practically a ghost.

I’ve spent months working under him, yet I know almost nothing about who he really is. He’s always composed, calculating, and just detached enough to make you wonder if he feels anything at all. But every now and then, there’s a flicker of something deeper – a glint of regret, a moment of hesitation, a crack in the armor.

It’s those moments that intrigue me. Who is Hastings, really? What’s his stake in all of this?

I started digging.

A Ghost in the Records

Hastings’ personnel file is locked tighter than anything else in Continuum’s database. Not even Mira could crack it. That alone is suspicious – everyone else’s records are accessible, even mine. Why is his history off-limits?

What I did find were whispers, breadcrumbs scattered across old mission logs and internal reports. Hastings wasn’t always the man in charge. He started as a field operative, one of Continuum’s first recruits.

One report described an early mission where Hastings was sent to a timeline on the brink of collapse. The details are vague, but something went wrong. The log mentions “irreversible consequences” and “psychological strain.” After that, Hastings stopped going on missions.

Did he lose someone? Did he fail? Or did he see something that changed him forever?

The Personal Side

The most surprising discovery came from an offhand comment by one of the older technicians. She said Hastings used to have a partner – someone he cared about deeply. She didn’t know much, just that they were close and that the relationship ended abruptly.

It’s hard to imagine Hastings as someone capable of love, let alone heartbreak. But maybe that’s why he’s so cold now. Maybe he built this wall around himself to keep the pain out.

Mira suggested I dig further, but I’m hesitant. There’s something unsettling about the idea of Hastings as a human being with vulnerabilities. It’s easier to see him as the villain.

A Dangerous Connection

And then there’s the strangest piece of all: a name that keeps popping up in old Continuum files – Daniel H.

At first, I thought it was just a coincidence. But the more I read, the more it felt deliberate. Daniel H. appears in mission debriefs, technical schematics, and even personal logs from Continuum’s earliest days. And then, suddenly, he vanishes.

Who was Daniel H.? A colleague? A rival? A family member?

When I asked Mira, she went pale. “Don’t mention that name to Hastings,” she said. “Just... don’t.”

Now I can’t stop thinking about it. What’s Hastings hiding? And what happens if I find out?

My Confrontation with Hastings

I finally confronted him after my 15th mission. I wasn’t planning to – the words just spilled out.

“Who’s Daniel H.?”

Hastings froze. For the first time, I saw real fear in his eyes. He didn’t shout or threaten me. Instead, he said, “Stay out of this, Aria. For your own sake.”

That’s when I realized: whatever he’s hiding, it’s not just personal. It’s dangerous.

Mira thinks I should keep pushing, but I’m not so sure. Hastings has always been calculating, but now I wonder if his control is the only thing keeping Continuum – and me – from falling apart.

-Aria Kairos
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