One More Time
Jessie laughed. How could he possibly be her father? But the look on Donna's face made her stop. It all made sense, now - Cassandra was so much like Chris. And he seemed to have an instant relationship with the younger version of Donna. She was numb.
Then came a feeling of jealousy. How could he? Especially after their relationship was changing. True, they were divorced; but it was obvious that they were heading towards some kind of reconciliation. At that moment Jessie hated Chris more than anyone in her life.
"Okay," said Donna in a business-like tone. "let's bring him back."
Technicians jumped into action, and the pressure change soon had Jessie's ears popping. Static electricity made her hair stand up as she watched the bright blue and green lights flash in an empty porthole; the same porthole that Chris disappeared into only minutes before.
"Why so quick?" Jessie yelled over the racket. "That wasn't very long!" She was looking for some loop-hole, some evidence that Chris couldn't have had time to father Cassandra.
"Minutes for us, but three months for Chris." Donna yelled back.
Then the sound died down, and the lights flickered out. A small explosion sent a shower of sparks onto the barren cement floor. It was pitch black, and Jessie heard panicked footsteps running in every direction. Incomprehensible Instructions filled the void.
A faint warm glow lit up the cavernous room, but nobody seemed particularly relieved. Jessie could hear her own heart beat before she spoke:
"What happened? Where's Chris?"
"I don't know," replied Donna, "this shouldn't have happened...I can't understand it."
"Oh, my god!" Jessie felt sick to her stomach.
"Don't worry - we'll get him back." Donna promised.
Jessie wanted to get angry at this old woman. She wanted to scream at her for so callously playing with people's lives. But she couldn't. She just felt an overwhelming sense of fear and panic.
"Oh, Chris..."
A lot had happened over the past year. Jessie moved to California to help the team search for Chris. After Cassandra went after him and disappeared herself, there was an increasing sense of hopelessness throughout the company. Although there was clearly progress on some days, there were even bigger set-backs on others.
Jessie felt empty inside, she missed Chris more than she thought possible. You just don't realize the importance of people until they're gone, she thought. If only I had told him how much he's needed in my life.
But despite her fear of the worst, Jessie had a secure feeling in the back of her mind. He's not gone for good. She could feel it. It was almost as if he was watching over her somehow. And he was not alone. Cassandra was out there somewhere, searching for her father.
"Today's our big chance - are you sure you want to try this?" Donna looked tired, the strain was getting to her.
"I don't think I have a choice." The emotion in Jessie's voice surprised her.
"You're doing the right thing. You must trust me one more time." Said Donna. "Don't forget to check the New York Times classifieds, once every one hundred years, no matter how far you go forward. April 1st, in the personals. It's the only way we can communicate with you..."
"So I'll be reading 100 year old messages to help me find Chris and Cassandra."
Donna seemed saddened by the mention of her daughter's name. "They may even be 1,000 years old, but you must check these newspapers carefully. I'm sure they will be archived indefinitely."
"What if they go out of business years from now?" Jessie liked to think ahead.
"Then try the other major New York papers." Donna seemed impatient, "You have to get going , now. The window closes soon."
Jessie stood in the middle of a circular platform. She looked down at the rather conservative clothes she had chosen for the occasion: a white blouse and a mid-length blue skirt, and matching jacket. Despite her fear, she laughed to herself. "I hope I'm not over-dressed for this!"
Before Jessie had time to fully prepare herself, she felt an uncomfortable dizzy sensation. She looked around, moving in extreme slow motion. A faint voice called her name as Jessie's world faded to gray.
The voice was stronger now. But it wasn't Donna, it was Cassandra.
They were both standing in a dirty old alley. Jessie looked around - nothing seemed much different. She was still quite disoriented, and found it hard to speak. But Jessie soon found her voice:
"Cassandra! It's really you! Where are we? Have you found Chris?"
"We're in New York, and the year is 2029. Chris isn't here...but he's okay, and we know where he is."
"Where? Tell me!"
"It's not so much where, as when..." Cassandra paused, as if to choose her words carefully, "He is far into the future, and temporarily caught in what we call a coincidence loop."
"What on earth is that?"
Cassandra paused again. "Have you ever bumped into someone, then moved to your right at the precise moment that they moved to their left?
"Sure...I guess."
"Then imagine if everything you did from that point on was mirrored by the other person out of sheer coincidence. You would both be effectively paralyzed, and wouldn't be able to free yourselves..."
"But what if I just said 'please stay still, and I'll go around you'?"
"At the precise moment they said exactly the same thing?"
"Oh...I guess that would be weird. But the chances of that happening would be astronomical." Jessie was getting impatient with this. "Sooner or later one of us would do something differently."
"You would think so, but 20th century humans can't fully comprehend the laws of chance. When we start shifting through time we are actually piggy-backing on these fantastic odds. I don't really understand it, either...but Chris is definitely caught in this loop."
Jessie was searching for another question, when Cassandra tried to console her:
"But at least we know where he is."
"Who is this 'we' you keep referring to?"
"Oh, yes...I haven't told you. I've met a man who calls himself a traveler. Actually, I'm not sure if you would even call him a man. He's from so far in the future, that he might be considered, well...a different species."
"Then surely he can help Chris!"
"He's trying to. That's why I'm going back to show my mother how to send you here, so that we can help you..."
This was getting too confusing for Jessie. "What? You left before I did!"
"That's true, but now I must go back even earlier with the technology provided by the traveler. Otherwise, neither one of us would be here. You see, traveling backwards in time is far easier than traveling forwards."
Jessie was left with a stunned expression.
"I know - it's far too confusing to take in all at once."
"Wait a minute." Jessie thought she was beginning to understand, "Why don't we just go back, and tell Chris not to go anywhere in the first place!"
Cassandra frowned. "Well...for a start, I wouldn't even be here to tell you any of this...Chris becomes my father back in 1967, remember?"
Jessie did remember. And it was a topic she didn't care to discuss. She wanted to argue some more, but was too tired and confused.
"So what now?"
"Now I give you one of these," Cassandra handed Jessie what appeared to be a silver credit card. "and I go back in time."
"And where do I go?"
"You go forward!"
And without any further explanation, Cassandra was gone.
"It was good to see you too, Cassandra." Jessie managed sarcasm through her mounting fear. She tried not to panic. She tried not to consider the fact that she was alone in a dark alley, somewhere in the 2029 version of New York city. Instead, she concentrated on the mysterious metal rectangle in her hand. It felt comforting and safe, but she had no idea what to do with it.
Suddenly it glowed. Without thinking, Jessie found herself talking to the card. "Please get me out of here!"
A voice answered from the card. "As you wish."
She jumped. "Oh, my God...What's going on? Who are you?"
The reply was soothing. "I am a traveler, much like yourself."
"The one Cassandra mentioned?"
"That is correct. But you must go now. The indigenous population is becoming aggressive."
Jessie turned around to see the most horrible-looking man she could imagine. Although he was dressed in rags and extremely dirty, the worst of it was his face - it was covered in green and purple growths. His teeth protruded at impractical angles through tattered lips. But it was his eyes that scared Jessie the most. They stared ferociously at her, but without even a hint of living emotion. These eyes were dead.
She tried to scream, but the sound was lost as she felt herself dissolve into thin air. New York City was gone, and Jessie floated in a world of gray nothingness.
Jessie was dreaming - or was she? A fantastic city of glass, steel and materials beyond speculation, spread out before her eyes. She assumed that it was a city because of the geometric shapes, but upon closer inspection, Jessie noticed more organic patterns. Patterns that moved in relation to one another. Could these be alive? No, they have a definite man-made quality about them.
The colours were wonderful, and they changed periodically. Not all of these huge structures even touched the ground, some just hung there in mid-air. Jessie marveled at this, while the journalist in her instinctively reached for her tape recorder to take notes. That's when she looked down to see that she herself was floating. The only thing that supported her was a clear, form-fitting chair of some kind. She could see right through it to the ground, hundreds of feet below.
"Oh, my God!" She gasped. Nothing seemed to be holding her up.
"You have twice referred to this 'God' of yours," A soothing voice came from behind. "Is he or she more important than the one known as 'Chris'?"
Jessie wasn't startled. She was getting used to people coming and going without warning.
"That's a loaded question!"
"I'm sorry, I do not understand that statement."
"It's a joke...and how do you know about Chris?" She slowly turned around.
"That is why you are here, is it not?"
Jessie could see him now, this traveler, floating on a separate transparent chair. His face was ageless and calm; his clothes consisted of nothing more than loose, flowing robes. She looked down at his feet, and was surprised to see that he wore no shoes of any kind.
"Cassandra said that you can help Chris."
"That is true. However, you must work with me to free him. He is unaware of his predicament. Unless he understands that he is trapped, he can not escape."
"Poor Chris. I'll do whatever I can to help."
"I know."
Without any further explanation, they started moving in a graceful arch towards the ground. The experience reminded Jessie of her dreams; the ones in which she could fly at will, darting in and out of the landscape below. She was really starting to enjoy the ride now, and took in every fascinating detail of this city's architecture.
"Hey, how do you do this? I could get used to this feeling."
"This is a common mode of travel for this millennium."
"What millennium?" Jessie wasn't sure she wanted him to answer.
"The fourth."
"The fourth? As in the year four thousand?" Jessie was shocked.
"Forty-six hundred and seventy-eight on your calendar." The traveler replied calmly, as if he'd just been asked the time of day. He looked over at Jessie. "You are attired in an unusual manner for this era, do not panic if others approach you. The beings here are far more open-minded than you may be used to."
"Do they speak English, too?"
"They speak many languages and dialects, just as I do. Although English is considered one of the more archaic."
The two chairs came to a rest in line with rows of other empty ones. The fantastic city loomed just over the edge of a tubular barricade. As Jessie stood up, she heard a gentle hissing sound. That must be some kind of air lock, she thought.
Several individuals approached them. They were dressed in a similar fashion to the traveler.
"I feel like I've gone to a Halloween party, and I'm the only one wearing a costume!" She whispered, suddenly conscious of her dress and jacket.
"It would be in your best interest if you did not make references to your era." Said the traveler, "Time traveling is understood here, but not considered acceptable behavior."
"Oh, great!"
An intelligent looking young woman boldly walked up to Jessie.
"Avant de morph-la!"
"I beg your pardon?" said Jessie.
"From before the change," the woman switched to flawless English, "I see that you are dressed as they did before the change!"
Before Jessie could ask about the 'change', the traveler spoke up.
"My friend studies the distant past. It is her passion."
"So do I. That is how I recognized the costume." The woman examined Jessie carefully, taking time to examine the fabric of her jacket. She looked at the navy blue skirt and laughed.
"Of course, the females often wore wraps that left their legs free, while the males had theirs covered."
"Yes, they certainly did a lot of strange things..." Jessie agreed.
"We have obligations, and must leave now." The traveler seemed anxious to end the conversation. He led Jessie away, but not before she waved good-bye to the inquisitive woman. She didn't seem to understand the gesture.
After a five minute walk through only vaguely familiar vegetation, the traveler broke the silence.
"We now must free the one you know as Chris. He is in a self-imposed trance, but does not know it. I believe the word you use to describe this is 'dreaming'. Since you are very familiar, you should be able to communicate to him in this state. Once he is aware, I can bring him out of the time loop." The traveler guided Jessie by her shoulders to a clearing near the path.
"Why here?" asked Jessie.
"This is the vortex. Now concentrate - you will feel his presence."
Oddly enough, Jessie could feel Chris. She was excited. "Chris? Is that you? I've really missed you." She glanced over at the traveler. He nodded.
"Chris, listen - you are not dreaming. This is real, and we're here to help you."
"Instruct him to walk way from the light."
"Away from the light?" Jessie looked over at the traveler. His face was expressionless. "Chris, you must walk away from the light."
"But I like the light. It's feels so good." It was Chris' voice!
"Please trust me Chris. Walk away from the light...I want to see you again."
There was a quick flash, and suddenly Chris stood before her. He seemed confused, but managed a big smile.
"Jessie!"
They both rushed forward and hugged each other.
"Chris...I'm so glad you're safe!" Jessie had tears in her eyes.
"What's happened to me?" asked Chris. "I was in the past, then in the future, and now I feel like 'Sleeping Beauty' waking up after years and years..."
"And that would make me 'Prince Charming'?" They both laughed; neither wanted to dwell on the seriousness of their situation.
"What about you?" Said Chris. "Do you have to always check up on me?"
"Somebody has to keep an eye on you - it may as well be me!"
"Ah, you worry too much. Just because we're stuck in an unknown city in the year 4671, with no money and no place to stay..."
"That would be 4678, not 4671!" Jessie corrected.
"I missed the 70's? Hope nothing important went on."
"Listen funny guy, I just hope your buddy the traveler can get us..." Jessie looked around and realized they were alone. "Now where'd he go?"
Chris laughed. "Don't worry about him. He always seems to show up when you need him most. He's a nice guy, but far too serious!"
The light-hearted conversation had run it's course. There was an awkward silence until Chris grabbed Jessie's hand.
"C'mon - I'll show you where I've been staying in town."
"Is that why you're wearing these silly clothes, you're living here now?"
"Sure. It's quite a blast! Although, I was on my way back to 1997 when something apparently went wrong...but now you're here, so I may as well give you the big tour."
"I left in 1998, you idiot. Do you know how worried we all are?"
Chris looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry about that, but I wasn't exactly at the controls, you know. After that confusing stop in the late '60's, I met the traveler, and he took me all over the place...I guess I just lost track of time."
"That's what you always said when you came home at two in the morning." Despite the circumstances, Jessie was getting irritated.
Chris looked guilty as he spoke. "Listen, Jess - Something happened back in 1967 with Donna. I know she manipulated the situation, but maybe I should have thought things through..."
"...Like using a condom?"
Chris looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"You don't know, do you?" Jessie let her anger show. "Tell me, genius, what year was Cassandra born?"
Chris stopped dead in his tracks. "I...I had no idea. I'm her father? I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize to me. I'm your ex-wife, remember? ...I don't care."
They walked in awkward silence towards the huge city. Odd looking vehicles passed by, usually containing no more than two or three people. Jessie marveled over the lack of concern for gravity. But there are no birds, she realized. And no insects, for that matter.
Chris saw her looking up at a purple sphere that hovered over top for a moment before speeding off in the opposite direction.
"Your outfit must be causing quite a stir. Most people have never seen clothes like yours."
"Thanks for pointing that out."
"Sorry..."
They continued on in silence until a huge pyramid shape hovered above them. The sides were completely smooth, but didn't reflect back any of the sun's brilliant rays. It seemed as if light was being absorbed by the walls.
"This is home." Chris stood on a circular platform and waved for Jessie to join him. "Come on, you'll love this!"
Jessie stepped up beside Chris. A cooling sensation immediately enveloped them, and she felt her feet go out from underneath her. They were traveling up an invisible column at a dizzying speed. An opening appeared moments before they would have slammed into the bottom of the floating building.
And then they were inside.
"You live here?" Jessie was still reeling from the imaginary elevator ride.
"Sure. They told me that I could stay here last week. Isn't it great!"
They traveled along a moving carpet to the end of the hall.
"I live on the first floor," Another door appeared out of nowhere, and Jessie stepped into Chris's new apartment. "Make your self at home."
"How do you pay for this?"
"They don't seem to have money here. But before I tried to go back today, someone came by and asked me to declare myself for 'work detail'. If we decide to stay, I guess I'll find out what that is."
Jessie sat down, studying the unusual room in amazement. The couch beneath her was constructed more of air than any solid material. The furnishings seemed rather sparse at first, but things weren't always as they seemed in this world. Walls could be moved with a mere voice command, and objects popped out of the floor when needed.
She was still feeling annoyed with Chris, but there was too much going on for her to show it. Mankind had progressed over two thousand years, and Jessie was right there to study the results.
She noticed a translucent screen that hung at eye level before her.
"Chris. What's this?" She pointed.
"Oh that." Chris seemed relieved that they were talking again. "That's sort of like the internet. They call it 'The Interface'. It's literally hooked up to every piece of information ever archived. Pictures, movies, plays, books...everything that anybody has ever decided to save. It's really quite amazing. Voice activated, too."
Jessie had so many questions, that she hardly knew where to begin. But the casual statement '...from before the change' fascinated her. She spoke clearly in the direction of the screen.
"What was 'The Change'?"
The screen jumped to life with a multitude of numbers and images. The words 'Language Adjust: English' flashed briefly. A pleasing pattern of colours appeared and a voice responded:
"The Change refers to a transition period following the series of calamities during the 29th and 30th centuries. It is commonly accepted as the start of the New Beginning."
"What is the New Beginning?"
"The New Beginning marked the end of nationalism. Without the former political boundaries, global conflict was outdated." Pictures of national flags appeared on the screen, a few of which Jessie didn't even recognize.
"So, there are no more countries now?"
"That is correct."
"What about religious differences?"
"Many religions exist today, and each one is protected by the 'Individual Beliefs and Values Act' of 3851, which states that various religions do not contain so much difference as they do commonalty. It is these commonalties that unite all people preferring the faith in a greater power over the agnostic beliefs of the majority."
"This is fascinating." Jessie spoke to Chris, but turned around to find him fast asleep. She turned back to the screen and spoke quietly.
"What about crime? Is there much crime today?"
"Crime is an archaic term for the violation of socially imposed standards. Violent crime has become rare since the form of currency known as money was outlawed in 3860 by the World Government. Power and ego induced crimes are treated with hormone balancing during adolescence, and rarely persist into adulthood."
Jessie was suspicious of this utopia. "It sounds like 'Big Brother' to me." she mused.
"Big brother refers to a corrupt and intrusive government in an ancient novel written by George Orwell...
"Yes, I know." Jessie interrupted the voice.
"It also refers to the benign ruler of the ninth term of the World Government from 3881 until 3910." The voice continued.
"Hmm..." said Jessie. "What happened to him?"
"He was terminated."
That made Jessie laugh. "Okay, enough about politics, tell me about marriage."
"Marriage was a necessary contract between adults before the 'Social Responsibility Act' of 3890. Today the pooling of reproductive resources is carefully monitored by the local Human Evolution Directors. Anyone wishing to procreate is guaranteed a suitable partner."
Jessie had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Donna would fit in nicely here, she thought.
"What about love?" The question sounded silly.
"Love is a natural response enabling one individual to care for another, most notably a parent's protective bond with a son or daughter."
"Yes, but what about romantic love?"
"Romantic love was a concept designed to control a partner's interests in other individuals. The idea is now considered socially unacceptable, but still tolerated within some religious groups."
Jessie had enough. She didn't like this new society already, and was too upset to ask any more questions. Instead she lay back and closed her eyes. Everything was so foreign to her. Despite her natural curiosity, Jessie suddenly felt homesick. She had found Chris, and he was safe - why couldn't they just go home now.
Then she remembered the newspaper.
"Show me the classified section of the 'New York Times' for every April 1st since 1998."
The screen started scrolling down furiously, and Jessie realized that she would have to narrow her search.
"Show me every 'Personals' message addressed to Jessie.
The screen scrolled again, but slower than before.
"Okay...sub-search for those with the words Chris and Donna." Now there were only 8 messages on the screen. One of them jumped out at Jessie and she gasped. It read:
Jessie,
Chris must return before July 12th, 1999. Sister in fatal auto accident on that date.
Donna
"Chris, wake up!" She shouted.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Look at this - you've got to go home. Your sister has died!"
Chris looked confused. "Jessie...everybody we've ever known has been dead for over two thousand years."
"Yes, I know that - but there's a message in the New York Times for us. Donna must have left it knowing that you'd come back to change the outcome." Jessie was still excited.
Chris read the message carefully. "That's horrible...but - can I change it?"
"Why not? Just go visit her, and make sure she stays home that day!" Jessie took the silver card out of her pocket and handed it to Chris.
"I think we'd better wait for the traveler to appear. That card only seems to get me in trouble. The last time I tried to use it, I ended up staring at this bright light for God knows how long!"
Jessie was impatient. "No, you must go now, before it's too late."
The traveler appeared before them. "Your concern for expedience reveals a basic lack of understanding." He seemed to be gently lecturing the rather startled Jessie. "Whether he waits ten years, or leaves immediately, he will still effect the same outcome."
"You mean Chris can change the past?" asked Jessie.
The traveler responded slowly and patiently. "He already has. Once the decision was made, the resulting change took place; in this case, two thousand six hundred and seventy eight years ago."
"What? I don't get it." Chris was getting anxious now.
"I think I do." Said Jessie. She looked over at the screen and read the message again.
Jessie,
My sister is fine. Stop worrying. I miss you, come home.
- Chris
"You will soon return to your own time." said the traveler. "Unfortunately you do not have the capacity to enjoy the privilege of traveling through time. Perhaps you should consider existing in the linear framework for awhile."
"That's fine with me." replied Chris.
"I've had enough as well." Jessie was torn, however. She knew her life could never be this exciting again. There was just so much to learn. And yet, she knew the traveler was right: they just weren't ready for this.
"You will go first." The silver card disappeared from Chris's sweating palm, and re-appeared in the traveler's hand. He waved it around briefly.
"This is not required. I gave it to you only as a focal point, so that you might concentrate on something. Time travel is not dependent on so-called technology."
"Wait a minute," said Chris. "What about the labs and the tests that got us into this mess to begin with?"
"They have no relevance."
"You mean..." Jessie stopped to think in mid sentence. "...did you have anything to do with our first trip in Nevada? Have you orchestrated all of this from the beginning?"
The thought of Donna's wonderful technology being nothing more than smoke and mirrors amused Jessie greatly.
"You did, didn't you?" she persisted. "This is all your experiment."
Jessie thought she saw the beginnings of a smile on the traveler's face. Then she realized that Chris was gone. Just like that.
"I will send you soon, but you are more perceptive than the other two. Perhaps you would care to travel awhile longer?"
"I don't know about that." said Jessie. "but I really would like a few answers..."
"The answers are all around," replied the traveler, "but first you must know the right questions."
"Are we on 'Jeopardy' now?" Jessie tired of his cryptic statements.
"That reference escapes me...perhaps it was another joke."
"Never mind," said Jessie. "Please go on."
The traveler studied her face briefly, then continued. "You are the answer, everything you see about you is the answer. You have accepted this from the day you were born. If you want to be able to comprehend the nature of the universe, your mind first must be able to formulate the questions."
Jessie felt frustrated, but he was beginning to make some sense. "Okay - maybe I'm not yet ready to understand it all, but I'd sure like give it a try!"
"As you wish..." The traveler raised his hand.
"Wait!" Jessie interrupted. He stopped and looked quizzically at her. "I...I just like it when people say 'good-bye', or 'have a nice life' before they disappear into the mist."
"Have a nice life." He raised his hand, and was gone.
Jessie was vaguely aware of white; pure and intense, not at all like the dull gray she associated with time travel. Next, she felt the familiar burden of gravity, and realized that she was standing in a small room. The bright white was coming from the walls and ceiling. It took her awhile to adjust her eyes, and when she did, a small table appeared in front of her. Jessie walked closer to the table and was surprised to see a tape-recorder lying on top. It was an old fashioned clunker identical to the one she owned while going to school. Jessie smiled at the memory. I must be back in the 20th century, she thought.
Upon closer inspection, Jessie noticed that the ‘Play’ button was actually labeled ‘Play Me’; no - now it read “Please Play Me”. There was a dream-like quality to all of this. Jessie couldn’t resist.
Click!
“You have questions.” The voice on the tape was familiar and comforting, but she couldn’t quite place it.
Jessie laughed. “Apparently, I only have the answers!” she said to herself.
“Ah...then you must want the questions.”
Jessie jumped, then laughed again. “Cute,” she said. “The pauses are timed on this tape.” She hit the eject button, and took the tape out. After turning it over, she stuck the tape back in, and pressed play. Jessie failed to notice that the label had changed to ‘Play Me Again’.
“Now let’s hear what you have to say, smart ass!”
After a thoughtful pause, the tape answered her. “You seem to have trouble focusing your thoughts. Maybe this format is not making you comfortable enough.”
Jessie thought about looking around for hidden cameras and microphones, but something told her that this was more than an elaborate hoax. After all the fantastic technology she had experienced lately, this situation wasn't so far fetched. The same comfortable voice spoke again. But this time it was within her own mind.
“The tape-recorder is merely a device that you can relate to.”
Someone was reading her thoughts! She didn’t like it at all.
“Who are you?” Jessie made sure she spoke out loud.
"You know who I am." The voice continued, but from the machine this time. "I am just appearing in a form that you can understand."
Jessie knew what this was leading up to. She smiled. "You're going to tell me that you're God, aren't you?"
"If that is how you need to understand me - yes."
"I don't believe in God."
"That is why I chose this 'tape recorder', you put faith in the messages that you send to yourself."
It was true, Jessie always relied on recording devices to remember names, numbers and even revelations that struck her from time to time. Somebody knew her quite well.
"This is a great honour," Jessie's voice was on the sarcastic side. "it's so nice of you to take the time..."
"Time cannot be taken. It cannot be created or destroyed. It just is. It always has been, and always will be." The voice seemed overly patient, as if talking to a small child.
"Fine. Then I guess I have some answers about time, but I don't have the corresponding questions." The reporter in Jessie was taking over. "The first answer is this: 'because one event in time happens before another one does'."
"That is not an answer. It is a question disguised as one...and it is not the correct question."
"How do you know that it isn't the right question?"
The tape was silent.
Jessie was annoyed. "What, no reply? Have I stumped you?" she suddenly felt sorry for losing her temper, and thought about apologizing.
"There is not need to apologize. Unfortunately you are not ready to even begin to understand. Perhaps we can communicate again in a few hundred years..."
Jessie felt the now familiar fade to gray, and attempted to yell after the disappearing image of the tape recorder. No sound escaped her lungs, but her last thoughts were clear enough:
"Doesn't anyone say 'good-bye' anymore?"
"Jessie!" It was Chris.
She stared at him for a few seconds, then looked quickly around. The room was familiar, it was her old office at D & E Research in Los Angeles. When it became clear that they were both back in their original decade, she smiled.
"We're back home..." Jessie announced. Chris nodded.
"...And it's 1998..." She continued, but Chris was frowning.
"Close," He corrected, "it's more like 1999. July, actually."
"Whatever...I don't really care as long as we stay put from now on. I've had enough of this damned time travel." She wanted to complain about the missing months, but didn't have the energy.
"Me, too." Agreed Chris. "C'mon, let's go find Donna, and tell her you're okay. You know, I just got back to town yesterday, myself. I was visiting my sister in Toronto..."
"Oh, how is she?" Jessie suddenly remembered the message.
"Fine, just fine. She sure was surprised to see me, since I'd been gone for so long. But I made sure that we didn't go anywhere near a car on July 12th."
Jessie followed Chris down the hallway. Although they had much to talk about, this didn't seem the place. As they approached the security clearance area, Jessie raised her palm to the electronic pad. There was a click and a buzz, and the big doors opened.
"Well, the computer still remembers me."
Donna didn't see the two enter at first. She was busy watching various scopes and monitors.
"The infra-red reads positive at 20.7, but flattens out again." A technician scribbled the numbers down as she spoke.
Chris and Jessie just stood there, marveling at the energy this lady still had in her eighties. Her team of scientists hovered around a small flat silver object. It was the card that the traveler provided.
"He made us give ours back." Jessie broke the silence.
Donna looked up. "Jessie! You're back! I'm so pleased. Everybody's safe, and we have all the answers right here. Cassandra kept her card!"
"What are you going to do with it?" Jessie asked, smiling over at Chris.
"Simple. I'm going to 'reverse engineer' it, just as I did with that digital watch. The technological advancements here must be incredible. We've made significant progress over the first six months - this is going to make our company more successful than ever." Donna cast her attention back to the card.
Soon Cassandra walked into the room. She smiled at both Chris and Jessie, and took up a post in the lab. It didn't seem like she wanted to chat, so Jessie directed herself to Donna.
"You know, Donna." She spoke slowly. "I don't think I'm cut out for this line of work any more. If you need two weeks notice, I'll stay for awhile, but please consider this my resignation."
Neither Donna or Cassandra looked up.
"That's fine," said Donna. "You've been a great help, but you're not needed any more."
Jessie was angry now, and Chris could sense it. "C'mon, let's go out and celebrate being home again." He gently grabbed her by the arm. Jessie pushed him off, and started to walk away by herself. She could see that Chris was torn, but didn't care.
"You coming, Chris?"
"Yes...I've pretty well had it..." he spoke quietly.
Jessie realized that the two women in the lab were his daughter and her mother, so she softened a little.
"Listen, I'm going to get on the first plane back to Toronto. You do what you feel is right..." She kissed him on the cheek.
Jessie reached the door, and turned.
"You have been playing with people's lives for years now. I'll bet you think that any advancement in technology justifies whatever means you deem necessary. But I've got a news flash for you - you are just part of one big experiment yourself!"
The comment fell on deaf ears, but Jessie didn't care. Halfway down the empty hall, she heard Chris approach her. He walked along side her without saying anything.
Jessie turned to him. "Aren't you going to say good-bye to your daughter?"
"She's not my daughter." He said with some conviction. "We are the same age, and have absolutely no history together. I've asked, but Cassandra doesn't need or even want me in her life. Her mother simply borrowed my DNA, that's all."
"DNA, huh? I'll bet you don't even know what that stands for."
"Do too."
"Do not."
"Do too."
Jesse stopped for a few seconds. She started to say something, but paused again. Finally she spoke. "Chris...you know I think the world of you."
Chris had a puzzled smile on his face. "Sure. I guess." Then he put his arm around her shoulder. "And I think the world of you."
Chris and Jessie sat together at their cozy little table. An easy calm surrounded the pair; shielding them from the chaotic and electric atmosphere of New Year's Eve. Chris took Jessie's hand and smiled.
"A few more minutes, and it's 2000."
"It's kind of funny, when you think about it..." Jessie took a sip of her champagne. "After what we've been through, this just isn't that exciting."
Chris laughed. A very drunk party guest blew one of those irritating, high-pitched noise makers in his ear. He tried to say something, but gave up. Instead he just looked into Jessie's eyes and smiled.
Several more people joined them, and there were three conversations running simultaneously. Jessie listened to the nearest and loudest, but she wasn't really interested in the latest pyramid scheme. She glanced over at Chris and saw that he was facing sideways, politely listening to a total stranger. He smiled without turning his head. She knew the smile was for her.
The especially opinionated man had Chris cornered. "I'm tellin' ya, man, this year 2000 computer problem is a disaster. Ya better just sit at home for a few days. Nuthin' is gonna work; no elevators, no streetlights, no banking..."
Chris grimaced slightly as this drunk accidentally spat in his direction. "You know what, pal? It won't be that bad, just a few delays with government issued cheques, that's about all."
"How do you know? Are you psychic? Can you can see into the future?" the drunk laughed at his own joke.
"Something like that." Chris looked over at Jessie. Their eyes locked as the final countdown overshadowed everything else in the room. Jessie's heart was pounding, and she didn't know why. This was exciting, after all.
"Five...Four..." Everybody was shouting. Chris started moving closer to Jessie. "Three...Two..." He had to avoid a stumbling party guest, but kept his eyes glued to hers. "...Happy New Year!"
It was the year 2000. Chris and Jessie kissed. The years melted away, and she wondered why they had broken up in the first place.
"Happy New Year, Chris."
"Same to you, Jessie." They sat back down at the table. Chris looked around the room in mock surprise. "Hey - nothing's changed. I guess the world goes on, just as it did before!"
Jessie laughed. "Well, maybe our little world will change..."
"You mean us?"
"Don't you feel it? Please say you do!" She was starting to feel foolish.
"Of course I do..." he held her hand.
Neither one could think of anything appropriate to say next. They had been through so much together, and now they just stared into one another's eyes.
Chris smiled.
"What?" Jessie asked.
"We could easily find out what happens to the two of us, you know." Chris was grinning.
"You don't mean..."
"Hey - we've done it a few times already; it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask for one more journey."
Jessie was uncomfortable.
"But you know what, Jess?" Chris spoke in a more serious tone. "I think I'd rather not know. We could be happy together for the rest of our lives, or I could get hit by a bus tomorrow. Life is made up of enjoyable moments, as well as heart-wrenching disasters; but whatever happens, I just want it to be a surprise."
"Wouldn't you like to be able to see your mistakes before they happen?"
"And then correct them, I suppose."
"You could live a picture perfect life..." Jessie was thinking out loud.
"Sure, and spend the rest of eternity going back and forth, trying to get it right. No way - I hate it when some idiot tells me how a story ends..." He gently squeezed her hand. "...and I really want to enjoy this particular one."
"Me too." Smiled Jessie. "Me too." |