“Tempus” is episode one of the fourth and final season of Sanctuary.
In the season three finale, “Into the Black”, it was revealed that Druitt hadn’t killed Adam Worth in “Pax Romana”. Instead, Worth had offered to take Druitt back in time before Magnus and the others used the source blood, but Worth decided to go to a different date, 1898 – Adam’s whole reason for time travel was to save his daughter. One of Worth’s experiments had, by the looks of it, destroyed Praxis and all of its inhabitants; another caused the events of “Carentan”. There are Abnormals launching an attack on the surface, apparently at Worth’s instigation, and Worth himself has travelled back to Victorian London, followed by Magnus. If Worth alters history, the present will be affected – possibly destroyed as it currently is.
The episode opens where the last one left off, with Magnus in London – where she looks a bit conspicuous, thanks to her 21st century clothing. She follows Worth, shooting at him, and he fires back. Neither hits the other but Worth knocks bricks onto Magnus’ head and escapes.
Magnus is taken into custody by Scotland Yard – she was armed, had used the strange weapons and looked strange herself. However, they do know of Magnus. Dr. Watson comes to spring her from her cell, as he has a connection to Scotland Yard. Watson, of course, does not know that this is a Magnus from the future, and he’s annoyed that she didn’t contact him. Magnus just wants to go home.
Watson is no slouch intellectually and he doesn’t recognise the stuff that Magnus has from the future. Her manner of speaking is also different. Magnus wants him to leave without poking around more, but Watson quickly realises that’s she’s from the future. He also realises why Magnus wants him to leave, so that she can’t disrupt the timeline. Watson says that she has no choice but to accept his help, but Magnus says he can’t ask questions. Both Magnus and Worth can disrupt the future, which makes it harder for Magnus to pursue him, as she doesn’t want to do so by accident.
Awkwardly, 1898’s Helen Magnus is also around. Worth is also sneaking around behind his 1898 counterpart’s back as well. That Adam Worth also wants Magnus’ help, but she remembers the Adam of the future, and reacts badly to the one of the past.
Minor changes are already being made to the timeline, but will these spiral into larger things? The entire episode takes place in the past.