Disclaimer: I do not own Back to the Future.
Author's
Notes: This story is written for this month's BackToTheFanfic
challenge. This story be will a little longer than my usual monthly
challenges - as foxywriter had imposed a larger word limit on this
challenge.
1:30 PM PST
Doc checked out his telepathic device, to put the finishing touches on it. After having spent the last few weeks finetuning the device - as well as having performed several tests with his sheepdog, Einstein - he figured he was now about ready to test out the device with his three young friends. He had been friends with the McFly twins, Calvin and Marty, since they were almost seven years old. Technically, though, he had first seen Marty during that fateful week in 1955. He was surprised to discover that Marty ended up with a twin brother. After all, he did remember looking at that photograph of Marty with his other brother and sister - but there was no twin in that photograph.
Doc hadn't been close with Marty's girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, for quite as long. As a matter of fact, he was quite reluctant about letting Jennifer in on his secret about the time machine that he had unveiled to Marty and Calvin over three months ago - until Marty's secret regarding his trip to 1955 has threatened his relationship with Jennifer. As he recently had discovered that Marty and Jennifer were destined to be married in the future, he then saw no harm in letting her in on the secret.
Doc sighed, as he remembered that Marty and Jennifer usually ate out for dinner on Saturdays. He decided to give the McFly home a ring - to see if Calvin, at least, was home. Calvin currently was not dating anyone - even though he was, one day, fated to marry and have a son who was the same age and very closely resembled Marty's future son. It was best not to tell Calvin who he was fated to marry, though - as that could be too risky on the space-time continuum.
After the phone had rung about three times, a familiar voice answered, 'Hello, this is the McFly residence! Who am I speaking with?'
'Listen, Calvin, is that you?' asked Doc, as his heart was racing with anticipation.
'Hello, Doc,' replied Calvin. 'Yeah, it's me! Marty and Jennifer had gotten back here about fifteen minutes. So what's up, Doc? What's going on?'
'Well,' explained Doc, 'I was wanting to ask if the three of you would be able to meet in my lab, to test out my new telepathic device. After finetuning that thing for several weeks, I believe I finally have the thing working properly. I have already done a few tests with Einstein - but, because he's a dog, he really can only think visually.'
'Well, I would have no problems with coming over,' replied Calvin. 'It appears that Marty and Jennifer are busy making out with each other, though. I am not sure if I would be able to pull those two lovebirds apart. You know how they can get?'
'Well, I guess there is no real big hurry,' Doc said, quietly. 'Although, I must say that I'm a little anxious to try out my new experiment. At least, tell them that they should make it a point to come over later on this afternoon.'
'Calvin, is that Doc on the phone?' Marty could be heard asking, in the background.
'Hold on just a second, Doc,' Calvin told Doc. Then, in the background, he could be heard saying, 'Yes, Marty, it's Doc. He is calling to let us know that his new science experiment is ready, and he wants us to come over as soon as we can.'
'Tell Doc that we're ready to go now,' replied Marty, with great enthusiasm.
'Well, Doc,' Calvin said, into the phone, 'I guess Marty and Jennifer are both ready to leave now. I guess we'll be over at your place in about fifteen minutes.'
'Oh, good,' Doc said, with relief. 'I'll be waiting for you then. See you a little later!'
'See you, Doc,' replied Calvin, as he hung up the phone.
Doc's heart was skipping wildly, as he waited patiently for his three young friends to arrive. He hoped that the machine would work properly. He had to admit that he felt a pang of jealousy for Marty, as he had longed to have a romantic interest in his life. He decided that it was best to not lose all hope, though.
oooooooooo
Marty was feeling a little nervous, as he was driving over to Doc's lab with Calvin and Jennifer. He knew that, besides the time machine, Doc rarely ever was able to invent something that actually worked. He knew that Doc had been rather excited about his telepathic device - and he had a feeling that, just like with the beloved time machine, Doc would not be able to release this invention to the public.
'Are you feeling all right, Marty?' Calvin asked, with concern. 'I am a little concerned about you. I mean, you seemed to have been a bit tense the past few days.'
'I'm just a bit concerned for Doc,' Marty said, shrugging. 'I remember he had started working on the telepathic device shortly after you returned from that other universe - which I guess is similar to original timeline I grew up in. As a matter of fact, I gather that everything up until my counterpart was shot dead by those Libyans was exactly the same as what happened in the original timeline.'
'So are you feeling a little concerned for your counterpart?' Calvin asked, concerned.
'A little bit, I guess,' admitted Marty. 'I mean, this could have happened to me! As a matter of fact, it did happen to me! It happened to an alternate version of me! Now that we brought him back to life, I wonder if his life as ever be the same. After all, it is a well known fact that he came back from the dead. Everyone will be referring to him as a modern day Lazerus. This just can't be an easy life for him to live.'
'Well, just try not to worry about it so much,' suggested Calvin. 'The last time we saw him, he seemed to be doing just fine. Anyway, it is not as if your life is really all that much easier. I mean, with all this dealing with having two sets of memories.'
'Yeah, I suppose you are right,' Marty said, sighing. 'Well, we are almost there, now. I suppose it must have been from seeing Sabrina again, that it convinced him to start working on that device. Well, I wonder how it will work. I am a little bit nervous.'
'I think it will be interesting, Marty,' Jennifer said, enthusiastically. 'Just think, Marty, you and I will be able to keep in touch - and you won't ever have to worry if anything happens to me, or vice versa. Just think, it'll be so awesome!'
'Jennifer is right,' Calvin said, nodding. 'Although, I'm not so sure how well telepathic communication would work - if one of us was travelling through time. Still, I think it would come in very handy for us.'
'I have to admit that I'm worried that the telepathic device may malfunction,' Marty said, shrugging. 'Even with that mind reader device that he was working on back in 1955, he had only managed to get it working successfully a couple months ago.'
'Remember, though,' Calvin pointed out, 'you did mention that when he used that mind reader device on you in 1955 - he never realized that it was working, albeit erratically. I think Doc does sometimes give up a little too easily.'
Marty sighed a little bit, as he pulled into the Burger King, up to Doc's lab. The trio then stepped out of the car, as they walked up to knock on the door.
'Oh, good,' Doc said, enthusiastically, as he opened up the door. 'You have made it. Well, why don't you all come in - and we'll test out the telepathic device right away.'
Marty, Calvin, and Jennifer had all followed Doc into the back of the lab. Marty had to admit that he was feeling a little jittery. He tried his hardest to keep calm, though, for Doc's sake. He told himself that he could trust Doc, and that there really was nothing to worry about. Anyway, he had already taken a few trips in Doc's time machine.
'Okay, I'm going to set these caps onto your heads,' Doc explained. 'Try your best to clear your mind of all thoughts, then I will tell you what to do next.
Marty took in a deep breath, as he tried his hardest to not think of anything. He just stared ahead, as Doc went to flip on a switch.
'Okay, Marty,' Doc instructed, 'think of a statement, and Jennifer should then repeat it aloud. Do you understand, everyone?'
'Check, Doc,' replied all three teens, as Marty felt a little panicky.
'Now, Marty,' Doc instructed. 'Then, Jennifer, repeat his statement right away.'
Envision world peace and harmony, Marty thought, deadpanned.
'Envision world peace and harmony,' Jennifer repeated, smiling.
'I guess this thing really is working!' Marty exclaimed, stunned.
'It works!' Doc exclaimed, skipping around, excitedly. 'This thing actually works!'