PROFESSOR HANSSEN'S TIME MACHINE
(Another Alternative Universe story because that's what I like to write. Freechamp, Dyfty, and some familiar characters along the way. Rated K plus just in case.)
Connie was fuming and trying to hide the fact, which was making her even more short-tempered. Since beginning at Holby Emergency Department as Clinical Lead she'd not got on at all well with the small, abrasive Sister Rita Freeman. Now, not only Rita but the enigmatic and sarcastic Doctor Dylan Keogh and the well-meaning but often inept Nurse Ben Chiltern, had found their way to the fun fair she'd wanted to walk round herself. Old fashioned fun fairs were Connie's Achilles heel. People would have imagined that such forms of entertainment were beneath this beautiful, cultured woman but she loved the artwork on the carousels, the mock-frightening effects of the ghost trains and the general atmosphere.
She glared round, wanting to snap out a venomous comment, but was faced with Ben's wide grin.
"I love places like this, they take me back to my childhood."
"Don't you think there's something just a little spooky about this one?" asked Rita.
Connie had, as it happened, but:
"Oh for goodness sake, how paranoid."
"She's got a point" replied Ben, despite knowing that he might have to pay for his opinion once they were all back on duty, "I mean, look how quickly it's been constructed. It wasn't here a day ago, and I know because I always come through this shortcut to get to the newsagent." He looked a little embarrassed as he continued "My favourite sci-fi and fantasy magazine was out yesterday so I nipped through to get it. No funfair here yesterday."
"Have you never heard of working through the night, Drama Queen?"
Ben looked at his hero, Dylan Keogh, sadly. He loved the doctor, if truth be known, but even if Dylan was gay, why should he have time for a stupid nurse? And it was clear that Dylan thought he, Ben, was a wuss for even mentioning his misgivings.
"It'd cost an arm, a leg and a lung for the electricity" countered Rita.
"You can always go back, Rita and Ben, if you don't like it" Connie snapped.
They were passing the Ghost Train now, which Connie studied avidly. There were no garish screaming spectres or bloody headless corpses. The drawings were all of the kind of ghosts found in the best horror films. The Woman in Black. The Haunting. No gore as such, just really unnerving plots.
She felt chilled, but the trouble with Constance Beauchamp was that she never gave in.
She strode on, with the others in tow.
Then she saw it, as did the others. The sign on the attraction in front of them seemed to draw them all towards it and frighten them at the same time.
"Professor Hanssen's Time Machine. See the future! See the past! Will you survive the journey?"
Ben would normally have embraced the idea of a ride where you could see the future, however corny, wholeheartedly.
Today he just felt total unease.
"Oh come on Dylan, let's leave these babies at the door!" Connie grinned unpleasantly. She and Dylan went through the entrance.
Rita and Ben looked at each other. They weren't going to let their bosses – and if both were being honest, their crushes – sneer at them.
They followed and hoped for the best.