The episode starts back at Chrovos' prison. They are still laughing at Donut and Washington's expense.

CHROVOS: Boys, you cracked my case. (Another crack appears on the forcefield) Cracked it more I should say.

DONUT: No!

CHROVOS: (chuckling) But alas, your hubris has-

WASHINGTON: You know, you use a lot of fancy words for a Jailbird. (To Donut) We need to go.

DONUT: What?

WASHINGTON: (Indicates to Time Door) That's the past, right?

DONUT: Well yeah, but-

Washington moves towards the door.

DONUT: W-w-wait!

WASHINGTON: Come on!

DONUT: (To himself) Leaders, I swear to gosh.

Washington has disappeared through the door, Donut is running after him.

DONUT: We should talk about this!

Inside the vortex, Wash is flailing about and screaming while Donut flies after him.

WASHINGTON: (screaming) I REGRET THIS SO MUCH!

DONUT: Wash, it's okay! Focus on a memory.

WASHINGTON: DONUT? WHAT'S HAPPENING?

DONUT: This is every memory you've ever had at all at once. Focus on one where we are both there ok? And, uh, tell me which one you think of because I don't know how to follow yo-

Cut to yet again, the moment Wash shoots Donut. Donut collapses to the floor.

WASHINGTON: Oh no, I am so sorry!

DONUT: (strained) Remember further back, further!

They both go back to moments before Wash shoots Donut, but after he shot Lopez. Wash manages to stop himself this time.

DONUT: Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

WASHINGTON: I-I'm not going to!

SIMMONS: You shot Lopez! What the hell man?

DONUT: Oh no. Uh, it's okay Simmons, Wash uh, had to shoot Lopez. Right Wash? Lopez was uh-

BOTH: Uhhhhhhh Um

WASHINGTON: -A robot!

SIMMONS: Of course he is a fucking robot, why did you shoot him?

WASHINGTON: Uh, an evil robot!

SIMMONS: Yeah I know, he's the worst, but that still doesn't-

WASHINGTON: You know what, just shut up Simmons.

SIMMONS: But-

DONUT: Ok Wash, welcome to the Everwhen. (Eagle screeching) I guess when we travel together, we end up at the same place! Neat.

SIMMONS: So, uh, Lopez?

Wash and Donut continue to ignore Simmons.

WASHINGTON: Man, my joints feel amazing, is this what health was?

DONUT: I know right?

SIMMONS: Donut?

DONUT: (still ignoring him) Wash we need to track Genkins, can you think of somewhere important in our past that Genkins might go to cause the most damage?

WASHINGTON: I think so.

SIMMONS: Lopez, hello? Anybody?

DONUT: Think to that place in time hard enough and we'll both go there.

WASHINGTON: Got it.

DONUT: We gotta be careful not to cause too many paradoxes. Aside from convincing the guys to believe us, every event in our lives has to happen just the same as it did before.

Washington raises his pistol again and shoots Donut.

SIMMONS: Donut no!

WASHINGTON: I admire your commitment to time travel Donut.

DONUT: (strained) Thanks.

Scene cuts to Crash Site Bravo when the Reds and Blues are planning for the final battle against Charon Industries.

"Felix will have to activate the purge personally, which means Locus will be with him." Church states.

"And since they know our target's the comm temple, it's safe to assume-" Past Wash starts, but he's cut off when Present Wash takes control.

Present Donut takes control of his past body.

"Wash?" Sarge questions.

"Hey." Wash greets.

"Hello." Caboose greets back.

"Seemed like you were about to say some more things after 'it's safe to assume?'" Sarge claims.

"No, I get it." Grif says.

"Are you sure?" Ash questions.

"Shut it." Grif says to Ash and he turns back to Sarge. "It's safe to assume, cuz we can handle anything."

"I never assume anything. Keeps me sharp." Tucker states.

"You're as sharp as a boiled egg." Sarge says to Tucker.

"And twice as deadly."

"Last time I assumed something, it blew my arm off." Ash says.

"That's because you're insane." Simmons says.

"It makes me unique." 

Wash looks at Donut. "So... hey Donut, Uh, do you have something to say to everyone?"

"Yes, I'd like to debrief you all." Donut says and everyone stares at him. "Wait, not like remove your briefs. I mean, I need to tell you all-"

Ash groans.

Sarge turns to Wash. "Really?"

Donut sighs. "Nah, Wash, you go ahead, in my experience nobody listens to me-"

"Yeah Wash, go ahead." Sarge interrupts. 

"O-Okay." Wash stutters a little. "everyone, I'm gonna need you to trust me more than you've ever trusted me, by a lot. Here goes. You are currently trapped in your past, I know that right now we are planning our counterattack and in just a moment, we are about to be joined by Kimball. Hey Kimball."

Kimball, who just walked in, stands behind Wash, confused.

"Um, hi." Kimball greets.

"Whoa..." Simmons is amazed.

"It's like magic!" Ash whispers. 

Wash looks back to the others. "Donut tells me you've all got some pretty major déjà vu, right?"

Everyone speaks in agreement at once.

"All I remember is cheese." Caboose says at one point.

"My shoulder hurts." Ash says at one point.

"That's because this has happened before, I've seen us end this fight today guys, we win it." Wash starts. "And then the next one, and the one after that, you win like always, and at the risk of sounding gushy I'm proud to be counted upon you. But I'm about to tell you there's something on the horizon swelling up like a tidal wave and is gonna sweep us away unless we work together. Forget this war, Forget Chorus, Forget what you see around you. You're dreamin' and I'm gonna wake you up. Now, do you trust me?"

"You had me at 'do you trust me?'" Caboose says.

"I feel confused but also motivated?" Tucker says in confusion. 

"If we're gonna win, then let's just kick their asses anyway." Ash says.

"As soon as I know what I'm in, I'm in." Grif states.

"Alright, sure thing Wash." Simmons says.

Donut sighs. "Sure thing Wash." He says Dejectedly. 

Epsilon begins talking. As he speaks, it becomes apparent Genkins is currently possessing him, though neither Wash nor Donut seem to pick up on this.

"Guys, it sounds like Wash needs our help." Genkins says

"Thanks Epsilon." Wash says. "I-"

But Genkins cuts him off. "No, I mean you really need our help Washington, and I know a fractured personality when I see one, catch my drift?"

"Ah." Sarge says.

"Yeah, Wash you're scaring me." Carolina says.

"What?" Wash is confused.

"I get the feeling you've been burning this civil war at both ends." Genkins states. "Are you okay?"

"Yes!"

"All we're saying is this could be a leaky implant or legit flashback." Carolina explains. "We're veterans, you know. Ash even sometimes gets flashbacks."

"They make my head hurt." Ash says.

"Yeah, I do and of course YOU wouldn't believe me Carolina." Wash says.

"Whoa!" Tucker says in shock.

"Wash, are you sure you're okay?" Ash asks.

"I mean, no, so I-" Wash tries to fix his mess.

"Come on man." Genkins says.

"What?" Carolina questions Wash. "Wash." She says, heartbroken. "What do you mean by that?"

"Look no, it-it's just that-" Wash tries to correct himself. 

"I think you better go Wash." Genkins says. "Just cool off for a minute."

"Yeah, Fine. Gladly." Wash walks off.

Genkins gives a slight laugh, but disguises it as clearing his throat. 

Donut looks at Wash, who's walking away. "Less paradoxes, LESS."  Donut follows after Wash.

"Should I..." Kimball starts. "I'm gonna come back."

Washington continues walking away outside the base, Donut runs up next to him and they both stop.

DONUT: uh... ok. Wash, I-um... I have some notes-

WASHINGTON: Donut, when I want crudely made innuendos, I'll ask for them.

DONUT: But Wash, I haven't said any of those. Not since my buddies laid into me one by one by one (groan) I've never stopped.

WASHINGTON: (angrily) When you get injured and your best friend lies to you, makes you into a secret inviolate, I'll hear you out, I promise. But until you're misled about your own brain damage, I think-

DONUT: But you weren't.

WASHINGTON: ..what?

DONUT: You weren't brain damaged, you know that right? She saved you, she went back and saved you.

WASHINGTON: (angrily) Well.. Yeah.. Still.. It's not like it changes anything.

DONUT: Wash, it literally changed everything.

WASHINGTON: Friends talk to each other, they trust each other, I thought we were closer than that.

DONUT: Think that all you like, but in your own time, quick fix problem solved.

WASHINGTON: Look, you don't know-

DONUT: I do know Wash, Carolina was well aware that saving you could break time and she did it anyway. She talked us all into it, I was there. It was the closest to tears I've ever heard her.

WASHINGTON: It was?

DONUT: Well second closest, after just now.

WASHINGTON: (momentary silence) ..Fuck.... Look, I've got a lot to unpack ok?

DONUT: Buddy, you need to focus, can you do that for me?

WASHINGTON: What?

DONUT: This situation calls for a clear-headed Wash. Do you have that capacity is what I'm asking you.

WASHINGTON: Yeah-Yeah.

DONUT: (somewhat sadly) Oh good, because I can't do this on my own.

WASHINGTON: ...Sorry.

DONUT: Now, let's take a breath, count to three and unpossess these bodies before we cause too many paradoxes and annihilate all of history. Ready to jump?

WASHINGTON: Yeah.. ok.

They both turn around and walk up the ramp back into the base.

WASHINGTON: Hey, uh, thanks man. Y'know you're a little scary when your mad.

DONUT: Oh no, I'm sorry!

WASHINGTON: Ruined it!

As they enter the base, they both unpossess their bodies. They then wind up, yet again, at the time of Donut's shooting.

SIMMONS: Donut?

DONUT: (strained) How. Does. It. Hurt. More. Every. Time.

WASHINGTON: Oh god, did I bring us here?

DONUT: (strained) No, it was me, I'm an idiot.

They both jump back to before Donut was shot, Wash manages to stop himself this time.

WASHINGTON: Ok, Phew.

SIMMONS: Lopez?

Donut and Wash walk away.

WASHINGTON: Sorry about that.

DONUT: Eh, what's a Donut without a hole in it?

WASHINGTON: Did Epsilon seem-

SIMMONS: HEY, What the Hell?!

WASHINGTON: Simmons! (To Donut) Did Epsilon seem.. Genkins-y to you?

DONUT: He did!

As the two talk, Simmons is still screaming in the background about Lopez's "death."

WASHINGTON: I get the feeling it's not going to be as simple as convincing them.

DONUT: Now that you mention it, I didn't convince you of anything.

WASHINGTON: What do you mean?

DONUT: Remember? I made you aware of knowing something you couldn't know.

WASHINGTON: Right! So, you're saying-

DONUT: Wash, We need to make the guys aware of something they can't possibly know, and I think Wash, I know just what it is. (silence)

WASHINGTON: Uh, you were hoping to think of something before you were done talking weren't you?

DONUT: Yeah...

BOTH: Fuck!/Fudge!

SIMMONS: (walking up to them) Ok, Wash? Back when we met, I wondered if I would die at your hand and I feel like, y'know, we've come a long way since then, (angrily) but you literally just shot Lopez.

DONUT: Sorry we keep doing this to you Simmons.

SIMMONS: To me? He shot Lopez!

WASHINGTON: ...When did we meet Simmons?

SIMMONS: Huh?

WASHINGTON: When did you first meet me?

SIMMONS: Uh, a year ago maybe?

WASHINGTON: Be pretty weird if we met before that wouldn't it? Give you some pretty weird Déjà vu?

DONUT: (gasp) That's right! Wash I could kiss you!

SIMMONS: Lopez is dead.

DONUT: All the Reds and Blues have got Déjà vu, that means they know something is wrong! Like you did!

WASHINGTON: And if I show myself to the Reds and Blues before we ever met, why Donut, I think they just might recognise me. With any luck, it'll give them the same shock I had on Chorus.

DONUT: Yes! Then we'll be just one step away from having our team back!

WASHINGTON: What do you mean?

DONUT: I mean, well, we have to get Carolina too, obviously. (Wash remains silent) Wash, you said yourself, "we're gonna need all hands on deck for this one."

WASHINGTON: (Sigh) I hate that you're right.

DONUT: Well get over it buddy, we're going to Blood Gulch! Circa: Forever ago.

Wash and Donut leave their past bodies. After a brief pause, Past Wash pulls out his pistol and aims it at past Donut.

PAST DONUT: W-w-wait!

Donut possess a past version of himself in Blood Gulch.

DONUT: Alright, let's un-fudge some timelines Agent.. Washington?

Donut looks around and realises Washington isn't there with him.

DONUT: He.. hasn't been to Blood Gulch yet, of course! I brought him back to a time where we are nowhere near each other. Aw geez Donut! Where did you send him?

Scene transitions to a beach area. Washington is staring out into the distance of the Sea.

WASHINGTON: Huh. Now I've got Déjà vu. But where-

Washington's radio goes off. A familiar voice can be heard on the other end.

RADIO: Recovery One, this is Command, requesting a Sit-rep.

Washington turns around and discovers where he is. The scene camera slowly pans out, revealing the location to be the . The Radio voice, now revealed to be that of Recovery Command, keeps talking.

RECOVERY COMMAND: Recovery One, do you copy? Agent Washington? Please respond.

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10-16-2022

2086 words