Darkness…

The light slowly faded back into existence as the "Hop" ended its cycle. Clearer… Jim could see structures through the blurriness of the Arrival Sync, the self-correction the device utilizes to stop moving through the Time Plane and to "Pop" in accordance to the programming. The Device creates a small, refrigerator sized bubble in Space and Time. Imagine time and space like and small area between two floors, but without any obstructions. This is called the Time Plane. The bubble can move on this plane using the venting from the LN2 (Liquid Nitrogen) and Newton’s Third Law of Motion; that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The bubble has zero resistance in this Plane and moves as if it is on a super-conductive surface.

The bubble is created by accelerating a photon to near the speed of light. The Device is actually a mini particle accelerator. The energy that is not used is sent to the power station and quickly restores the levels of the batteries. The scientists at the Lab first built a one quarter scale model of the Accelerator at CERN in Switzerland called the Large Hadron Collider. The goal here was not to collide, but to accelerate. They ran hundreds of experiments on the effects of photon acceleration and discovered, quite by accident, that once the photon approached the speed of light, a bubble in space-time was created but it was only about a six foot diameter. They then realized that they needed to work on miniaturizing the accelerator. Today we have the Device, as it has come to be known in the Lab.

The world returned, whole and revealing. Jim recognized this location instantly. Rome. BC. He assumed that someone in the lab programmed this trip for him, as these were all his favorite locations, so far. About a month before the initial Departure, the team sat around their conference table, eating breakfast and coming up with favorite places and times. Jim’s were: Rome – first century BC, 1920’s New York or Chicago, 1608 Jamestown VA, 1875 Dodge City, Fifth century Greece and Ancient Egypt around 1270.

'Wow!’ he thought. 'I'm in Rome…!' Still reeling from the fact that he was actually travelling through time, Jim looked around to get his bearings. Jim was very excited and very nervous. He cannot be “Part of History” in any way. Technically, he already was. The goal was to arrive, take some notes and leave. The goal was not to interfere in any way and most importantly, not to get caught in a time you didn’t belong with a Device that had not yet been invented.

He stood about 100 yards before the Coliseum, one of the marvels of the Roman Age that still stands today. He has been here several times before, usually with his wife. The tourists were everywhere when he was here before, blocking views and taking photos. Actually, it reminded him a lot of now. The Romans that were here now were doing many of the same things. Standing around, pointing and talking about life and news and gossip. It looked like Roman Senators and common plebeians shared the same seats and ate the same food. They acted as if they were all equals. Well, maybe for the tournaments and gladiatorial matches they were.

Jim looked at the PDA and it read: ROME, ITALY CIRCA 45 BC.

'OK, so if this was right, Julius Cesar was just appointed as Perpetual Dictator last year, so this is Rome's Peak!' Jim was very excited to be here. This is one of the two times he wouldn't mind moving to, the other is the 1920's New York or Chicago.

Vast was the only way to describe what he saw. The expanse of Rome, even in just the city itself, was just vast. Buildings and landscape blended perfectly. ‘We could take some clues from this back home’  he thought.

As he looked around, and focused on the immediate area, he noticed people were staring at him. There were several groups of people who were looking at him, pointing and whispering. He looked down and realized that he was wearing his Jamestown garb. Cloth shirt and pants that resulted in the appearance of wearing rags. Not to mention that White seemed to be the color of choice here, for the most part.

"Crap", he said under his breath.

He looked about and saw a building not too far away, opposite the massive Coliseum. He ran over to the building, hoping they specialized in “Ancient-modern” apparel. Not that he had any currency which was Denarius at this point in time.

As he approached, it became clear that this was not a shop, but a fairly massive Temple. This temple was on top of a hill and he realized what this was. Capitolium Vetus, Temple of the Capitoline Triad: Jupiter, Juno Regina and Minerva. Outside the Temple were several Roman soldiers as well as upper echelon of Roman society. One could tell the status of a Roman by their dress and shoes. These wore the tunics of Patricians and were made of white linen or wool. Jim stopped in his tracks, looking around for…Something. Some idea…

"Damnit Jim think!!" Jim said to himself in a hushed tone. He spotted a dotting of sheets off to the left, down the hill from the temple. He hurried down the pathway that ran down the gully formed by the hill and the rise of the road he just left behind. Trying not to be seen by anyone, Jim ducked behind a building and caught his breath. The sheets were about two hundred feet opposite him and up a small hill that must be someone's back yard as it had tables and chairs and a clothesline. No one was out there at the moment so he hurried off to snag a sheet, in the name of Science.

He made it over the little stone wall separating properties and ran up to the clothesline. Carefully he pulled a sheet off and kneeled down behind another sheet that was still hanging. In college he had been to a few toga parties. He thinks he remembered how to tie and wrap one.

After putting on the toga he took a smaller sheet and wrapped it around the Device. He went back out to the main street and went into the Capitolium Vetus.

The Temple was enormous. Long columns extended up to the 5 story tall roof. Inside there were three smaller buildings, each one dedicated to the worship of Jupiter, Juno Regina or Minerva. People walked about, still eyeing him a little but not nearly as much as before. Large statues inside the main Temple gave respect to all three Roman Gods. The differences from what he is seeing and what he has seen on his many grips to Rome is that these statues look like they were just commissioned and the roof and structure were still standing. In his time this is the San Pietro in Vincoli, a basilica or church whose known for Michelangelo's statue of Moses, part of the tomb of Pope Julius II.

'I can't believe I am here' Jim thought to himself.  Terry, his late wife, would be so proud of him. He wished she was here with him now. To share this with her would be the highlight of many highlights they had together. They had worked on projects together at Princeton but never anything like this. He misses her.

As he was standing in the middle of the Temple, in front of all three Cellas, or small temples, the device started beeping. Jim's heart sank.

"Oh no…" Jim looked around and the majority of the population of this Temple was starting to look at him. 'The Device needs to vent', Jim thought, looking around for a place to hide or duck behind.  He saw that he could possibly go behind one of the Cellas, but who knows if there are people back there. He decided to walk swiftly over behind the Cella to Minerva.

Rounding the rear corner, between the Cellas to Minerva and Juno Regina, he saw several people back there. "Shit!"

The device started beeping erratically and in varied tones. 'This is not right… It should vent itself if the VENT Button was not pushed. The Device was perspiring and soaking the wrap he had made earlier. 'Oh hell!" He kneeled down and uncovered the Device. He looked at the PDA Readout.

It read: MALFUNCTION - ERROR IN COOLING SYSTEM (VENT ALL LN2 AND RECHARGE BEFORE USE) VENT ALL? YES/NO (AUTO-VENT IN: ERROR)

"Holy Crap!" Jim's heart raced and sweat started to bead on his forehead. Jim looked up and noticed that he was starting to collect a growing number of curious onlookers. He smiled and looked back down at the PDA.

Jim pressed the VENT ALL Button and the Device started spewing white, frosty smoke on the ground, turning it into a not-so-small icy patch on the ground. All of the LN2 escaping, making another "Hop" impossible.

"I really don’t want this to be where my journey ends…", Jim grabbed the Device, wrapped it back up, and tried to casually walk out. He wasn't sure where he was going, but Rome was one of his favorite places to visit and now he can observe history, trying to find a bright side to this. Jim wondered how this will affect everything. Like the Butterfly Effect, Jim’s every choice, theoretically, would change the future forever. Maybe not even in a noticeable way at all, but the Theory suggests that something WILL change.

Several Soldiers marched in formation to block the main exit of the Temple. Jim stopped and looked behind him, more Soldiers were securing the rear perimeter. They all had spears and long three quarter body shields. They wore hardened leather armor on the chest and head and a thigh-length, red kilt-like waist wear. Sandals with skinny leather straps that went up to the knee donned their feet.

Jim sighed…

One Soldier, a higher ranking one than the others, stepped forward. He spoke in Latin, of course. Luckily Jim did well in Latin in college.

"Sir. Set the metal armor on the ground" The guard demanded.

Jim looked around for an escape but it was hopeless.

Jim set the Device on the ground, only partially covered with the small sheet now. The Guard motioned for one of his subordinates to come over and get it.

"Yes Captain!" The young man said and went over to the Device and went back into formation.

"Captain", Jim said. "Please that is very dear to me. Be careful with it."

"You won't need it where you're going" Just then another guard came over and grabbed Jim by the arm. He led him out of the building and they walked, in rank and file, down the road towards the heart of Rome.

Jim thought about how spending the rest of his life, as short as it may be, in a Rome Prison was not exactly what he had in mind when he thought about moving to ancient Rome. He pictured more; living outside the city, on a farm, growing Olives. Starting over…

"Do exactly as they tell you and I will find you later". The voice was familiar, but more importantly it was in English!

Jim looked and saw Jason Miller. A fellow scientist he worked with when he was at NASA. Oh My God! What the hell was he doing here?

"What?" Jim asked, totally speechless for anything else.

"I have a plan. We will get out of here together." Jason went back in rank and they continued on through the city, past the Forum and several temples to various deities.

"What? How…?"

Jim was holding back the chaotic thoughts that began to run through his head, he did not want to be stuck here like this. If he was going to stay anywhere in time, that would be of his choosing and even then, well after the Device had been thoroughly tested and all aspects of the nature of time travel have been sufficiently studied. Only then would he make a decision if he would, or even could, move to a different time. It had to be his choice, so he needed to come up with a plan, and quick. Since his wife's death, he had often thought about moving to a different time, maybe Rome or the 1920's. He favored both equally.

"I need to get in that barn!" Jim thought to himself, trying not to be frantic. "I guess I can make a run for it…"  He wiped the sweat off of his brow, the heat was starting to get to him. He looked around and saw several Indian's riding on horseback with hatchets, screaming and yelling, townsfolk running around trying to put out fires and keep away from the savages. Off in the distance he saw smoke coming from a few of the many tobacco farms that surrounded the village. "This is just a light raid, not an all out attack", he thought as he watched the Indians try to herd the residents toward the middle of town.

Just as Jim was about to run, a female Indian ran up the road to the barn and waved off the warriors, pointing back the way she came. Amazingly they all rode off towards the main part of the town. She was quite fetching; long dark hair, slender and an air of authority poised in perfect stature. Clearly she has some influence in her tribe. "If this is 1607 Jamestown, then these are the Powhatan Indian's.

The Indian Maiden sees Jim and motions for him to come over quickly then pointing to the school. She seemed anxious but not afraid. Genuine. This maiden wanted Jim to get to the school, maybe to help out the fire…? Jim had know way of knowing, but he did need to get into the School/Church.

"Okay..." Jim ran off to the school, glancing at her several times to ensure her intentions. She just smiled at Jim and kept checking over her shoulder.

Arriving at the school, Jim opened the door. Flames spat out in a fury then calmed down, the smoke was ferocious and everywhere. Through the smoky haze he could see the Device on the shelf where he left it. "I can make this", he thought as he ran in. The sounds that the schools structure made as he ran for his life through the classroom/chapel would make any person think the worst. The groaning and popping from the wood as it burned seared his ears and imagination. "I'm a damn scientist!" he yelled as he finished his sprint and made it into the anteroom.

Jim made it to the Device and grabbed it just as the roof collapsed in the classroom of the school, blocking his way out of this little room. The smoke got thicker and with the fall of the roof, the heat was overwhelming. Jim grabbed another piece of cloth from the shelf and put it over his nose and mouth and began to turn right and left, panicking and looking around, trying to figure out a way away from here.

"Think Jim!" he said to himself. "There is always a solution", Jim said over and over in a hushed voice, panic has fully set in. Just then the device started beeping. The same sound it made in Dodge City. The Device needed to vent, as it was required to do to maintain balance in the system. "Of course!" Jim thought. "This just might work!"

He pulled the Device out of the wrap he made earlier and held it upside down. There were a couple access panels on the bottom, but he wouldn't need those. He took the PDA in one hand and set it to open the vents. The vents that proved to be useful in the old west, maybe they will worked a second time.

"C'mon…" Jim closed his eyes and hit the button.

Jim opened the vents and the discharge forcefully blew a cold, white, frosty smoke upwards to the flames licking through the wood roof. At first the flames seemed to get hotter but then as the wood cooled and frosted over, the oxygen that was need to fuel the fire simply couldn't get through the ice. "Yes!" Jim lowered the device and checked the readout on the PDA, it read: NEXT PROGRAMMED TIME?  YES/NO.  This was normal. The device was required to vent prior to the next "hop" and also if the device was beginning to overheat.

"Should I go?" Jim wondered. "What if I miss something here?" He tried to imagine where he would go next as the PDA was not programmed to display the sequence of "hops" one would take in their journey. Since everything was supposed to be pre-programmed and prepared for, it never came up. Jim will correct this error when he returns home. "If there is a home…" Jim remembered the violence at the lab right before he was forced to leave to protect the Device. That was yesterday. Jim has not slept since yesterday, the journey has begun to take it's toll on him. The actual travelling through time was nothing, sure it was a little scary and the silence and darkness were very surreal, but the actual "Hoping" took very little out of him. But, the death and violence that preceded this trip was awful, and, as the full weight of what happened started to sink in, Jim realized he was exhausted.

The PDA started beeping a reminder and Jim hit the button to go to the next time. He was consumed by the thought of missing something historic. The reason the device was made portable was to make possible the notion that one could view history and correct errors. This trip, his first, was not planned to be taken this way. This was an escape and now he is stuck to take 5 more "Hops" before returning home, or his home time. The priority was to see this through and return to help the wounded and get help for everyone. His reservations were put aside and he focused on the mission.

The world started to fade away as the blackness overcame him…

Outside, Pocahontas stood there, wondering what happened to that stranger and trying to figure out what's happening in the school that would make such an awful  noise. "Did I just help the Devil?" she though to herself as, slowly, the school/church collapsed to the ground, sending embers flying everywhere.

Darkness…

Loud Deafening Darkness. Silence...

Darkness.

Loud, deafening darkness.

The world that was is no longer now that Jim used the Device. The time in which he was being shot at in the underground research laboratory is gone now. All there is now is enormous darkness. He could see nothing but feel every pore of his body as if he were submerged in water.

As the loudness started to dissipate, hazy light started to seep into the void he was in. It now seemed more like he was in a very dense fog. He could start to see shapes in the fog. He wondered if it was supposed to be like this and hoped that the Device did not take any damage.

There was more light now, he noticed more detail in the shapes. He saw what looked like a building and maybe a stagecoach…?

‘Maybe this does work.’ He thought.

He smelled something. It smelled like wood and dust, kind of musty. It reminded him of the cabin in Big Bear. He started thinking that if wife would be so proud of him of this Device actually brought him to 1875, outside Dodge City. That would be amazing!

The fog had lifted and he saw what appeared to be a ghost town. It was definitely a town from the old west, but did he travel in time? Even if he did not travel in time, this Device certainly would do Temporal Displacement as this was definitely not the laboratory he was in just a few minutes ago, or over a hundred years ago…

He stood up and realized that the sun had been beating down on him and he was starting to get very warm. He was starting to sweat. Suddenly he thought of the Device. He looked around again and still, there was no one to be seen. He knelt down and inspected the Device. It appeared to be ok. No scratches and it was still cool with condensation from the liquid nitrogen cooling apparatus that encased the Device.

Once he was convinced that the Device was okay, he stood up again and started looking around. This sure seemed liked Dodge City, circa 1875. But where were the people. He stared walking up the street that was made of dirt. The street was made of dirt, this was true. But it was more like dust. There were deep ruts in the dirt from wagon wheels.

As he walked up the street, toward what seemed like the center of town, he noticed that there were people. They were hiding behind the doors and windows of the shops and businesses. He saw a sign, Front Street. On that corner was The Great Western Hotel. He saw several people, all dressed in the appropriate period clothing and accessories.

Past the Hotel were Railroad Tracks running perpendicular to Front Street.  At the tracks were several people waiting, with guns showing. One of them was a brutish man, about 30.He had a good start on the Handlebar moustache. He was wearing a Sheriff’s badge.

“Slow down there stranger!” The Sheriff demanded. “Why don’t you come over hear and stay a spell?”

“Uh…Yeah…Sure…” Jim said, as he walked carefully up to the Sheriff.

“Where are you from…?” The Sheriff asked, making it obvious that he expected to hear a name.

“Oh... Jim. I am from Los Angeles.”

“Where is that?”

“Um…” Jim realized that they probably don’t know of LA here, yet. “San Francisco!” Jim quickly added.

“Oh! I have been to San Francisco! Names Bat, Bat Masterson.” The Sheriff said. “I keep the law in these parts.”

Jim realized the name at once, of course. Bat Masterson rode with Wyatt Earp. ‘This Time Travel thing is wonderful!’

“Jim!” Bat said, trying to get Jim’s attention as he appeared to have drifted off.

“What’s in the bag, Jim?” Bat tone indicated that he was only interested in the bag.

‘The Device!’ Jim‘s Heart sank with terror.

“Just supplies for my trip. Ya know, toiletries and such.” Jim managed to remain calm, but knew that it was apparent he was stalling for time.

“Ya see Jim,” Bat began, “You sure do come at peculiar time. Moments after the loud thunder. Jim, why is that?” Bat stopped. His eye’s widened with fear, as far as Jim could tell.

Jim realized that the Device was entering a cool-down cycle. Spent gas from the power source cooling system escapes from the containment pod, allowing more, fresh, cold air to be injected into it. The Device released a large cloud of ultra-cold gas into the hot, dry desert air. Instantly that air turned into a small cloud maker spewing icy grey mist into the air.

Bat Drew his gun and quickly pointed it straight at Jim’s forehead. “What the blazes is that thing mister?”

“Oh crap!” Jim’s heart sank a little more now.