Walter explains that the reactor will provide a surge of energy to start up the device, which will generate a singularity -- a small wormhole -- and once it's open, they'll be able to deploy the cylinders and those will stabilize each end -- one here, the other in 2167. The magnet is used as the launch platform, holding the cylinder at the precise axis it needs to be on to enter the wormhole and the scrolls were to help them set the cylinders precisely. Look, quit pretending that there's some sort of logic to this -- it's OK, it really is. You think that the people who have stuck with the show this long need actual logic behind the plan to open a wormhole to a hundred and fifty years from now so you can bring a hybrid human-Observer to a Norwegian scientist so he doesn't destroy emotions for the sake of intelligence thus dooming humanity to a joyless albeit sartorially dapper future?

And just as everyone watching is thinking, "Since they have two generators, they'll need a synchroscope to make sure they're in perfect phase, duh," Peter points out that since they have two generators, they'll need a synchroscope as well to make sure they're in perfect phase. Walter says he knows that and so he would have thought of that, so he's likely got one in the amber by the fish tank.

Dontember explains Michael will traverse the wormhole to 2167, meet the Norwegian scientist and voila! -- change the course of human evolution. Astrid asks how he'll know who the scientist is and Dontember and Walter look awkward. Dontember then evasively says there'll be someone there to guide him. No one really looks askance at the two of them being cagey about the details, because it's not like they're doing anything complicated like time traveling or anything, and then Olivia's phone/comms thing rings. It's Broyles, who tells her he's on his way to Boston. Unbeknownst to him, he's being monitored and tracked, but he soon notices the gloves on his dashboard -- and then the Loyalist vehicle behind him in traffic. So he tells Olivia they're following him and he's going to lead them around as long as he can, but it's only a matter of time before they realize he's messing with them. "If I'm caught, they'll read me. I can protect my thoughts, but there's only so long that'll last," he says.