Off in the distance one could hear a couple of D-Cell
batteries rattling against a plastic casing. Then, just a click, and
a couple more rattles gave rise out of the darkness to a conical beam
of light. Not a bright light mind you, but just bright enough to be
seen off in the distance some seventy or so meters away. The beam
shone upon a rather cold, dank room with more than a few secrets to
reveal. The person holding the flashlight cleared their throat, it
cleared low as to imply that a man was holding the plastic torch and
in an unsympathetic tone. The man took a few steps in the darkness
which reverberated with an echo throughout the room as to imply
emptiness as the clicks of his shoes approached from the cement
floor. The travelers had no sense of anything exterior to the
plastic casing as the being walked in the opposite direction of the
casing, opened a door which didn't even seem to exist until he
approached it, and disappeared behind a door of light.
As though nothing had happened at the point the travelers
machine appeared from another time did their emotional conversation
continue.
Once Ken heard this, he immediately replied, "What is it
Chad? What is it you want to tell us?" A pause in the conversation
fell over the inside of the casing, and Chad once again began to
speak. "I think that you should know that I made a minor adjustment
to the machine."
"What???" Ken said
"What type of adjustment exactly did you make?" Chase said
curtly
"Well I sensed that you were going to try and get rid of me
by changing history back to the way it was." Said Chad
Just then Chad and Chase regained their sight as the flashing
wore off and they looked at their destination. Once again it was
Chase and Ken's basement although things looked rather dusty, and
cobwebs hung from the beams above. Just then a light shone from the
other side of the room as a vertical door seemed to open from thin
air. As the holographic door extended up to seven feet, a figure
much like Chad filled the doorway. He was older, rather
distinguished with salt/pepper hair. As he approached the machine,
the three stood still as Ken regained his sight. The figure walked
closer and with a rather foreboding look said, "Ah, I see I've found
you. I thought you were supposed to come arrive back at the present
time, but the computer's termporal locator stated otherwise. Allow
me to introduce myself. My name is Dr. Chidester. I'm a temporal
scientist, and I've been tracking your invention for quite some time
now Chase."
Chase looked at him stunned and said, "How exactly do you
know who I am, and what are you doing here, and since you think
you're so smart, when is here?"
Dr. Chidester grabbed a calculator gadget from the inside of
his khaki trenchcoat, and began to push a few buttons, "Hold on a
second, the computer takes a bit to respond, you know its just a
computer you know." He paused as the calculator device began to beep
with a compliant answer. "Let's see it shows March 5, 1977. I think
I might need to tell you something before you go any further." Just
then Dr. Chidester walked through the machine as if he weren't there,
and past through it much like a ghost haunts and passes through a
medieval castle wall with unfinished business.
"Wha? How did you do that?" Ken asked in amazement
"Well you see," Dr. Chidester replied back without much
enthusiasm, "I only exist here, because there is a need for me to be
here. I am just a soft light hologramic projection that actually
exists in your future. January 29th, 2023 to be exact. I had to
come here, because strange powers are at work, and you Chase
involuntarily brought rise to them."
"Chase what is it you did" Chad said
Dr. Chidester interrupted, "Well as you see, you Chad are not
supposed to exist here in this time. In fact this reality here in
March 5, 1977 is a slightly altered one than you have come to know as
your past. It's really hard to tell what exactly is different, but I
need to ask you some very crucial questions to ascertain if we are in
any immediate danger."
"Wha? Sure I guess" Chase said, "What is it that you want
to know?"
"Well first of all, does this look like the basement you
might've known when your parents originally moved in here some years
ago? Do you notice any changes that could have been different from
your basement at this time?"
Chase paused for a minute to think, "Well you know, I don't
ever remember my basement ever this unkempt and dirty. Other than
that, not really that much, only the things that my parents had down
here at that time are not here."
"Ah, I see" Dr. Chidester said, "Well that would probably
mean you are in the reality that you haven't come to know as the one
where your parents never lived here. You see what my computer says
is," he paused as the computer made a few beeping noises, "Ah here,
what my computer says is that this is reality where your parents
originally were in the process of purchasing the house, found out
about your friend Chad's disappearance, and his wife estranged
behavior which led to her suicide in April of 1965."
"Martha? Commit suicide? Oh no, its all my fault" as Chad's
eyes began to weep.
"Well not exactly Chad." Dr. Chidester said, "Your wife was
having an affair with someone you both knew, a Major Stimke? Does
that name sound familiar to you Chad?"
Chad immediately stopped weeping, and began to get a hostile
tone to his voice.
"YES! I KNOW A MAJOR STIMKE!!!"
Dr. Chidester said, "Now calm down Chad, my computer shows
that she was unfaithful to you for quite some time before you met our
friends here."
Ken spoke up rather curtly, "Now how is it exactly you know
so much about Chase and Chad, and not really much about me. Don't
you have something in your precious computer there that will reveal
the secrets to ruin my life??"
"Well I do, but I really shouldn't be telling you three this
information, it could potentially have further adverse affects on the
fabric of time, and as you see right now, it is rather damaged by
just Chad being here. Back to the situation at hand though."
Ken was satisfied and accepted the doctor's answer as he
continued. "First of all we need to undo what Chad did."
"What exactly did you do Chad? What have you touched on this
machine?" Chase said rather frantically.
"Well its like this guys, ACK!!" a sharp pain controlled
Chad's leg as the transformation process begun. Upon completion, Dr.
Chidester looked rather confused and said, "Hmmm, I don't remember
this scenario, you see you three, I have been advising you three on
all of the thousands of scenarios in the different times that you
have appeared for several years now, I'm guessing not soon after you
left what you, Chase and Ken, know as the present time. I don't
recall this transformation business ever coming about. What exactly
have you experienced so far?"
Chase, Ken, and Chad told their tale of how they came to be
here as Dr. Chidester listened intently. Dr. Chidester shook is head
in understanding from time to time, but other than that remained
rather unemotional and unsurprised. "Well first of all," the doctor
spoke upon conclusion of their tale, "I need to make one alteration
first. Dr. Chidester began to feverishly push buttons on his hand-
held computer, and said, Ah, I've got it!" Just then Dr. Chidester
pointed the computer at Chad, and a green beam of circular light
shone out upon Chad, and Chad faded to nothing.
"Wha? What did you do with Chad??" Ken said surprised
"Don't worry about Chad Ken, he is back exactly where you
found him in 1945 completely unaffected by your visit. In fact, you
might say that your visit never took place. Look back at your
machine."
Chase and Ken shocked in amazement said, "It's back to the
original wrought iron/glass casing. What will happen to us? What
will become of us? Is there a way you can undo how we came to be
here?"
"Unfortunately, as you see, I'm here, and I would erase my
own existence if I removed you back to your present time. Also, you
in many, in fact infinite parallel universes are existing and need
some guidance through your time travels. I need to see if the fabric
of time will correct itself, now hold on to the machine, this could
possibly be unpleasant if you've never experienced it."
Just then a rumbling sound much like the sound of a freight
train approaching began to shake the basement as if a tornado were
approaching from an unknown direction. Dr. Chidester yelled as the
sound became louder, "Now hold on to something solid" Chase didn't
have to be asked twice as he reached over and curled his arms around
Ken who held onto a wooden support beam. Chase looked up at Ken
lovingly.
The sound became louder and louder as a series of bright
flashes blinded the two as Dr. Chidester put on a pair of protective
goggles shielding him from the bright flashings. Just as quickly as
the sound approached, it concluded. Dr. Chidester removed his
goggles rather non-chalantly and looked over at the two weary
travelers as they struggled to regain their sight. As they were
beginning to focus, Dr. Chidester said, "Ah, now that's probably
better. Something that you Chase should be able to remember."
Chase shook his head in doubt as the doctor looked distraught. "I'm
sorry doctor, this is my basement, but its not my basement." Ken
replied, "What in the heck does that mean."
The doctor paused briefly before replying with, "Well, that's
not entirely unbelievable Ken, it seems that Chase's perception of
this reality is beginning to change, as should yours very soon.
Please allow me to at least stabilize that for you."
Ken replied sharply, "Oh no, you're not shining that thing in
our faces-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s………" as the chill of the most muscular
transformation began. Chase interrupted Ken's rather incomplete
comment. Hold on here a second doc, lady grand's got to do her
thing. Now, now, now, Chase, please don't down-play this rather
unstable and potential serious affect that your friend Ken is
suffering. I need to go about getting you two elsewhere. Once the
transformation has worn off of Ken, we will need to continue on a
more convergent course with one of your other existences so that you
will not be perhaps as disoriented with your current surroundings.
You see my efforts exist to converge all of your existences in all of
the other times you have existed in back to what you perceived as the
time soon after you originally left. Some of the other times yet to
come for you two, and in some case with Chad, three travelers have
existed have led to your death, so it is my responsibility to
reconverge all of those various travels back into the original time
of what you perceive to be your existence. Dr. Chidester continued
to describe some of their other less than successful travels which
ended in adverse effects and instructed them of the intent of what he
was trying to avoid. After about the eighth or ninth story, the
fever his Ken, and Chase and Ken took the timing to return to the
machine, and energize a time in which Dr. Chidester instructed them
to go.
(Time Shift, Fade Out>) •