Disclaimer: We both own the Back to the Future DVDs, but neither of us own the rights to Back to the Future.

August 10, 1987
4:45 PM PDT
Trilogy Universe (bttf4444)

While it sure was a warm and sunny day, Cliff Tannen simply didn't feel as if he was in the sunniest of moods. Then again, the 24-year-old bully rarely ever did. For him, the only time that he was ever really in a good mood - was when he had someone to bully around. Nothing made him feel happier, than making someone else feel miserable.

"Nutcase," Cliff muttered, as he walked up the Browns' house. He really hated having to go anywhere near the house of that crackpot inventor - but his father just offered to pay him twenty bucks, in order to do this. "Well, Dad, I hope you appreciate this."

Granted, not many Hill Valley citizens thought Dr. Brown - or Crackpot Brown, as he preferred to call the guy - was really insane. Still, Cliff really hated Brown, with a passion... as he figured that the mansion burn-down in '62 was really caused by the idiot himself. Who knew what else Doc Brown might do to Hill Valley - and, much more important, to him?

Still, his father left his matchbooks at the Browns' house - and, as his father was very busy, he asked Cliff to do the job. With sudden disgust, he thought of Miff - and how his little brother was starting to turn into a goody two-shoes.

As Cliff stepped into the garage, he began to take a look around. Might as well just make the most of this trip, Cliff thought, with an evil smile. If only he could just find something to prove to everyone, for once and for all, that Dr. Brown was a lunatic.

The young man then walked through the garage, as he tried to look for both the matchbooks, as well as something that would help him prove Brown was insane. Within a few seconds, he managed to grab his father's matchbooks, off a work table. Cliff inspected them, and saw that they really were the matchbooks of 'Biff's Auto Detailing'. He stuck them in his pocket, to make sure that he wouldn't forget him.

Cliff suddenly growled in disgust, as he thought of his father, Biff - who was starting to be more and more of a wimp each day. It actually was all the fault of those McFly buttheads. George McFly had knocked Biff out-cold on a cold November day in 1955 - and Dave McFly had done the same to him, back in 1971. However, while Cliff had just left McFly alone and moved on with his life - and bullying - Biff had become George's semi-slave, working for him like he was a servant.

If only they recognized me, Cliff thought. I deserve power. Fortune and absolute power over Hill Valley, California. Let's not be unpretentious - that's for wimps - and let's just say the US. He grinned evilly.

Cliff then walked up to a door, which appeared to be locked without even a door to open - but there was a plate next to it, and as Cliff pressed it, it glowed red. However, no locked door could stop Cliff Tannen, could it? The bully smashed his fist hard against the lock-thingy, and he saw the plate fell onto the ground, revealing lots of wires. He then pushed against the door, which now gave away, and entered the Brown laboratory. The home of a madman, he thought. Interesting.

A DeLorean? Cliff thought, stunned. He quite remembered his father mentioning seeing one of those things, a couple years ago - and that they could even fly. Within time, Biff dismissed it as simply a case of being drunk. However, as Cliff took a closer look inside, he saw that the machine actually contained all sorts of strange gadgets.

I wonder what these are for, mused Cliff, as an evil smile spread across his face. He then noticed three display panels, which just read the following: Destination Time, Present Time, and Last Time Departed. Is this weird device a... a time machine?

Cliff tried to shake it off as nonsense, but the thought kept echoing itself in his head. Time travel is impossible, he thought. Then again - Dad did once say that he saw a flying DeLorean... in 1955. He eyed the car, curiously, then whistled a bit. If this really was a time machine, all he had to do was find out how to operate it. That most likely wouldn't be easy, but it wouldn't be that hard to do either. Within minutes, he could be on his way to check out the future. He then leaned back with a sigh, as he started to think what this all could mean.

oooooooooo

As Jennifer Parker reached the Browns' house, she thought of what a beautiful day it was. She felt like going swimming, but she had to grab her swimsuit. Fortunately, Doc was accustomed to Jennifer - along with her boyfriend, Marty McFly - simply dropping by. She realized that, at the moment, Marty was busy practicing with The Pinheads.

Jennifer then opened the doorway to the garage, as she realized that it was unlocked. Inside, however, no one was to be seen. "Doctor Brown?" she asked. "Clara? Are you anywhere?" She looked around. "Doc? Jules? Verne? Where are you?" She wondered if young Haven was left home alone. She really was only nine months old - not quite yet, even, as she would be just that on the twelfth - which was still two days away.

The young girl then gasped, as she realized that the laboratory alarm seemed busted. Great Scott, she thought, finding herself imitating Doc, which would've been funny hadn't this situation been not funny at all. Robbers! If they've taken the time machine... Hurriedly, Jennifer pushed the door open to go inside and check things out.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Cliff Tannen?" Jennifer asked, with anger in his voice. "I think you'd better get out of here, before I call the police. Y'know, I sure pity people like you. You're actually really nothing but a big insecure loser. People like you make me sick - and, yet, I sure can't help but feel sorry for those of your type."

"Oh, is that so, missy?" Cliff asked, laughing derisively. Just then, he reached out to Jennifer, and grabbed her. "Yeah, I've seen you around! You're actually dating that butthead, Marty McFly - aren't you? Well, that being the case, it's sure a good thing you came. You can come with me. So, how would you like to join me on a little trip?"

Jennifer screamed, as she realized that she really shouldn't have come here and say those things to Cliff. She just should've gone to get Doc, or call the police right way. After all, Cliff sure was a Tannen - and Tannens weren't to be trusted. She simply did hate Cliff. "Let me go!" she exclaimed, furiously.

Cliff just laughed. "I wouldn't even let you go if you'd give me thousand dollars" he said. "Just look at you. You're a bit younger than I am, but I don't care. You're still hot." He kissed her on the mouth, making sure that Jennifer didn't struggle. He then simply laughed. "Now why don't you just make like a tree, and get in the right seat of that DeLorean, and tell me what it is for." He smiled evilly. "It's a time machine isn't it?" As Jennifer kept silent, he grabbed her by the neck, and held his right arm tight in front of her throat. "ISN'T IT?"

"It is, it is" Jennifer managed to bring out, really scared. "Oh... Doc is going to kill me when he finds this out..."

"He'll never find out about this," Cliff said, kissing her again - this time on the cheek. "Because you know? I'll take you along with me to an unknown time, where he'll never be able to find us anymore." He then put her down on the right seat, and closed the door. He then entered the DeLorean through the other side, and shut the door, keeping his eyes tight on Jennifer. "Now you tell me how to operate this thing, and I'll make sure that you don't get any chance to escape." He grinned again.

"Why should I tell you, Cliff?" demanded Jennifer. "If I don't tell you, you won't let me escape. If I do tell you, you still won't let me escape. So, if I simply do tell you... Well, what's it it for me? You're not providing me with any good incentive to tell you."

"How about this?" Cliff asked, suddenly producing a knife out of his pocket, and holding it to Jennifer's throat. "I'm not really the violent type by killing with a knife, and I'm not really the type to see anyone die - yet." He grinned. "Also, you're pretty hot. But let me tell you, I really wouldn't be above making a cut in your arm - or something like that." He grinned. "And if you do tell me, you'll be all right. All you have to do is be my girlfriend. So, Jenny, I don't think you have much choice." He stared at the knife. "Of course, I could just leave you here, locked up, and go to Marty's house... would you want him to be drastically wounded, just because you didn't want to go along with me and tell me?"

Jennifer gasped. "You wouldn't." Tears filled her eyes, and the palms of her hands grew sweaty. This was turning out to be the worst day of her life.

"Oh, wouldn't I?" Cliff asked evilly. "Of course I would. This knife will assist me, and you can trust me that before the day is over, your precious Marty won't be able to stand up right in the wedding picture." He grinned again. "Of course, there's the fact that most likely, there won't ever be a wedding for you... not with Marty, at least."

"Fine, Cliff, I guess I'll tell you," Jennifer replied, with a sigh of resignation. Damn! I should've known that Cliff would provide me with only a negative incentive. "Okay, you turn on these time circuits - and then you set the destination time." With sudden realization, she added, "Oh, and you also have to put some trash in the Mr. Fusion."

"Mr. Fusion?" asked Cliff, quietly. "Oh, that's what that thing was - on the back of the car." Grabbing some rope, he began to wrap it around Jennifer. "Oh, I can't very well allow you to escape, while I tend top the Mr. Fusion - can I, you sexy babe of mine?"

"No, I guess you can't," Jennifer replied, as tears rolled down her cheeks. Please, Marty, help me, begged Jennifer - as if she could send her boyfriend a message, telepathically. Please, God, Jennifer prayed. Don't let Cliff find out about the station wagon. Please also help Doc and Marty to, somehow, rescue me. Amen.

"Well, I'm done" Cliff then said, as he returned to the front seat. In her praying, she hadn't even noticed Cliff leaving, grabbing trash, filling the Mr. Fusion, and now returning. He then closed the door again. "Now, you said I should turn this switch, right?" Jennifer nodded, and Cliff pulled the switch - and the time circuits lit up.

"Let's see" the Tannen muttered, thoughtfully. "I guess I'll take this baby away from here first, before I try to travel through time. Or do you just press a button, and then the car travels through time?"

"No" Jennifer said, still crying a bit. "You have to accelerate up to 88 miles per hour - in order for the flux capacitor to be activated." She tried to point to the flux capacitor in the back, wasn't able to because she was tied up, but managed to get the idea to Cliff. "That's what makes time travel possible" she explained.

"Brilliant" Cliff said, with a smile. He then noticed another switch. "What's that for?" he demanded.

"That's the flying circuit control switch" Jennifer told him.

"Flying?" Cliff asked, stunned. He then pulled the switch, and the DeLorean lifted up. "Amazing!" He then hit the gas, and the DeLorean immediately flew forwards. Because he wasn't used to flying a car, the time machine went uncontrolled, and hit the garage door. Cliff shrieked for a moment, then noticed the DeLorean managed to go through easily. "All right!" he exclaimed, as his smile returned to his face, and he started to climb up into the sky. "This is great!"

As Jennifer glanced at the time display panels, she noticed that the "destination time" was set to Aug 10 2017 5:15 PM. She wondered if, this time, she'd even have a future self. It did give her a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, Marty's older self would just be able to come rescue her - and, possibly, her own older self. In fact, even the kids might be able to help.

Before she knew it, the DeLorean reached 88 miles per hour - breaking the time barrier.

oooooooooo

Doc felt elated, just as he reached Lyons Estates. In just two days, Jules Clint Brown would be turning nine. Of course, with the time travel trips that his elder son went on - Jules was actually a little older. Granted, the little boy hadn't travelled that much through time - but he'd taken a few time trips, along with Marty. Doc recalled how Jules and Marty had gone back to 1946, last year - and they'd met up with the twenty-six-year-old version of Doc, who, at that time, hadn't yet invented the time machine.

As he then moved his car into the driveway, his mouth fell open, wide. There was simply a hole in the garage door - large enough to let a car through! "Great Scott!" the inventor called out, slamming on the brakes. The instant after the car froze to a halt, the inventor opened the door, and ran up to the garage door. The hole, unfortunately, was very high - but Doc managed to reach out for it, and grab it. Holding himself onto the bottom of the hole tight, the scientist jumped inside.

His aching legs from the bad landing fell into nothingness as he saw what had happened - the DeLorean was gone. "Great Scott" he whispered again. They had been robbed! He then ran down the garage, and saw the alarm system was also broken. Whoever had done this, had not cared to not leave any evidence behind.

"Daddy! Daddy!" called out Verne, as he and Jules ran up. "What happened? What a horrible way to ruin our special day!" Looking around, he added, "Oh, the DeLorean's missing! I guess this means that someone really found out about the time machine!"

"Try not to panic, boys," urged Clara, as she walked up. "After all, I'm sure that quite there's something we..." Her eyes went very wide, as she asked, "What did you find, Emmett? I notice you staring at this piece of paper, quite intensively. What does..."

"It's Cliff," Doc replied, as he felt a little shaky. "Those Tannens never really were the sharpest knives in the drawer. The note just says 'it's not Cliff Tannen'. I quite should have known. Fortunately, I managed to finish inventing a tracking device. This rather would be useful, right now. We'll be able to track down Cliff Tannen, and then we..."

At that moment, the phone rang. Doc frowned, as he looked up. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, to himself. "Who'd be calling us?" He headed over to the phone, arriving just a second earlier than Jules and Verne. "Hello?"

"Hey, Doc" Marty's familiar voice said, through the phone line. "I just arrived home from band practising a few minutes ago, and Jennifer isn't there. It is really 5:30 PM already... and I thought she'd be here at 5:15. I just called her mom, and she told me that Jennifer went off to get a swimming suit at your place, about an hour ago - and then she was planning to be here at 5, to wait for me in order for us to be able to swim. So, is she at yours?"

"No" Doc said, feeling somewhat annoyed. It was not like Marty could know - but they had bigger problems right now than Jennifer being delayed a bit. "Jennifer's not here" he said, trying to think where the girl could've gone, however his mind kept going back to the subject at hand - Cliff. "If she was here, she should've arrived about three quarter ago anyway, and at that time, I wasn't home, because I was-"

It almost hit him like lightning. Jennifer going to his house... Cliff at his house, stealing the time machine... Cliff having a minor crush on Jennifer, not nearly as big as his father's on Lorraine but still big... "Great Scott!" he exclaimed, suddenly realizing what had to have happened. "Marty, I need you to come over here right away! Something's happened, and I think that is why Jennifer has gone, as well!"

"But Doc" Marty protested. "Can't you just tell me where-"

"No, I can't" Doc said, a bit stubborn. "Really, Marty. It honestly is quite urgent for you to come over. If you don't... well, it's just that I can't solve this matter alone. I really do need you, to come along with me."

"I guess I'll come, then" Marty said, sighing. "If you really can't tell me over the phone - well, then I'll head over to your place. I just wish you told me, though." He paused for a moment. "I'll be there in about ten to fifteen minutes, is that okay?"

"Yes, that would be quite fine" Doc said. "Do take some food along with you, though. This might take quite some time."

"All right" Marty said. Doc heard the nervous gulp in his friend's voice, that was always there when the teen was suspecting time travel. However, he really needed his friend's help right now. Neither Clara, Jules and Verne had as much experience in actively joining in time travelling as Marty had - so the teen could be the best of a help. He sighed, as he shook his head. Why had Cliff gotten them into this?

Just relax, Doc then told himself. Everything will be fine. For now, the wisest thing shall be checking the readout on the time tracker, and getting clothes for that era. We really need to leave as soon as possible, as we don't want the ripple effect of whatever Cliff is altering in history to catch up to us, before we even have a chance to leave. Doc gulped, as he realized that would be bad: becoming an alternate-world Doctor Brown and Marty would possibly eliminate any chance of reverting things back to normal. He tried to ignore those thoughts of disaster, as he went off to grab the time tracker.

oooooooooo

Marty felt so anxious, as he skateboarded to the Browns' house. It really was a good thing that his scientist friend lived just three blocks from him. Doc had mentioned that it was "quite urgent" for Marty to come over.

Tears filled his eyes, as he was actually worried about his girlfriend. From the tone of Doc's voice, it sounded quite serious.

Marty swallowed, as he reached Doc's place. He should be strong, now. There was no use for crying. Maybe this was all just some set-up, however he really doubted that. After all, Jules' birthday was the one coming next, not his. He then parked his skateboard in the driveway, and happened to look up.

The teen stepped back, stunned. There was a large hole in the garage door! He really wondered how that could've happened. "Doc!" he called out, running up to the door. "Doc! Doc!"

From inside, Doc then opened the door. "Hi, Marty" he said, sadly. As the door opened further, Marty entered - and saw the DeLorean was gone. "Whoa, this is heavy" the teen muttered. "Where did the time machine go?"

"To another time, as far as I'm concerned" Doc said. "You see, while the family was out to Pizza Hut, Cliff Tannen apparently sneaked into the garage, and found out about the time machine. Then, Jennifer arrived, and Cliff managed to somehow force her to tell him how to time travel. I really don't think Cliff could've figured it out himself. Anyway, Cliff managed to get the DeLorean up in the sky, flew it through the garage door, and, as it now seems, travelled through time."

"Really?" Marty said, astounded. "I never knew Cliff really was even capable of figuring out this time machine was important - let alone travelling through time. If Jenn gave him instructions, though..." He sobbed a bit again. "I just wonder why she did that."

"To be honest, I'm wondering both of those things too" Doc said. "But maybe we'll be able to confront Cliff with that soon. I'll just put some batteries in the time tracker, and wait for it to load. I really didn't think that we'd need the tracker any time soon, and therefore hadn't filled it with batteries yet."

"The time what?" Marty asked, confused.

"Right, you don't know" Doc said. "It's one of my latest inventions - a machine to track down a time machine. Right when the time machine hits 87.9 miles per hour, the sender system on the time machine sends out a signal to the tracker that will be stored in this computer for 72 hours, if left unattended. It also beeps the first five minutes, if left unattended. You can simply put the alarm out by switching this knob: then, the displays will also come to life. If the alarm is not on, just switch the knob. Anyway, I attached a sender onto both the station wagon and the DeLorean - therefore, there are two displays on it." He showed it to Marty, who could clearly see two of the displays the time circuits also showed when they were turned off: All eights, but still with all the labels above them. To the left were two more labels saying 'DeLorean' and 'station wagon' respectively.

"Yeah, right" Marty said. "You go load the thing." He turned back, as he felt rather bad about all this - above all, about Jennifer's kidnapping. The knot in his stomach sure grew tighter, as he worried about what would happen? What if Cliff got his hands on the almanac? It was really a thought that he dreaded, as he remembered the nightmare called Hell Valley.

Marty then thought of something else. If Cliff did end up changing the past, just what would happen to him? Since was in his normal time, for the most part - it was real likely that he'd change, along with the rest. He'd remember only the new timeline.

Poor Jenn, Marty thought, as tears just began to spill down his cheeks. After all, what if Jennifer ended up in an unfamiliar world - and even he was different? In addition, what if her parents were extremely different? The thought was quite scary.

"Cliff went to 2017," Doc added, as he looked up from his time tracker.

Marty frowned. "2017? Really?"

Doc showed him the time tracker, which clearly said 'AUG 10 2017 05:15 PM'. "He's gone thirty years ahead from today" the inventor reported. "I suppose he'll either be out for the almanac, or just travelled to the future for curiosity." He turned to the station wagon. "Anyway, we'll know what to expect. After all, we've been to the future before - and I don't suppose many things have changed, over the past year."

"No" Marty agreed. "So, are we going now, then?"

Doc smiled, and shook his head. "Marty, you're not thinking fourth-dimensionally!" he quipped. "You first have to dress in clothes appropriate for the time period we're travelling to. Also, we've got to get some food - just in case this trip might end up being longer than expected."

"You're the Doc, Doc" Marty said, nodding. He gulped, as he realized they might end up hopping through time for a long time. "Sorry about the clothes. I guess I was too distracted with Jennifer and all..."

"...so you couldn't think clearly" Doc finished. "It's okay, Marty." He patted the teenager's back. "Now, let's go off to change into some better clothes that actually will fit into 2017!"

Marty then went to the chest. He decided that he might as well wear the same outfit that Doc had him wear, the first time that they went to the future. Even the acid cap was there, which he was quite fond of. Then, realizing that it'd probably be a warm day, he opted against putting on the jacket. Still, he'd put on the shoes and the cap.

"I'm ready, Doc," Marty replied, as he looked up. Glancing down at his Huey Lewis and the News tee-shirt, he added, "I understand that, by 2017, this band will simply be considered ancient. Still, we know that our future son and Harmony both really love that band. It's not as if teens from the future couldn't like bands from the 1980s."

"Absolutely true" Doc said, having put his normal shirt on, that he had also worn on their first trip to 2015 - along with some proper 2010s pants. "It will make you even more look like your son." He then looked down Marty's outfit, and smirked. "I see you even didn't forget to put your pants pockets inside-out."

"That's right" Marty said, proudly. "Have you got some food?"

Doc then held up a bag, filled with bread and some snacks. "I already prepared for this, even before you arrived. This amount of food should be able to keep us alive and well for three days - maybe even four. Of course, we might be able to pick up some more food, in 2017 - and all the other time periods we are about to visit."

"I just hope it'll only be 2017," Marty said, disgusted. "I really want to teach Cliff a lesson he never will forget. He's such a nasty person, kidnapping Jennifer and stealing your time machine... I never noticed that much before, but he really does take after his Dad, Biff." As a thought occurred to him, he added: "Do you think Biff will still be alive by 2017, Doc? After all, he is eighty already, by then... he just turned fifty last March."

"Well, he definitely would be nearing old age," replied Doc. "We'll definitely have to be careful of him. At any rate, I really do think we have everything we need. Let's hop in the station wagon, and... Well, let's just arrive five minutes later. That would be 5:20 PM, thirty years from today. Of course, we'll just head over to Hell Valley Park, first."

"That sounds rather good, Doc," Marty replied, as he placed the bag of food into the car. "Well, I hope that this trip will be a quick one. I'm worried about Jenn, and it'll be so..." Clenching his hands, he growled, "If Cliff does anything to hurt her, I'll..."

"Once we get back to this time," explained Doc, "I'll just see to it that Cliff's memories of the time machine are erased. Usually, I don't advocate simply messing around with people's memories - but, in this case, I'll definitely make an exception. Let's hop in."

"How are we simply gonna do that, Doc?" Marty asked, as he stepped into the station wagon. "Are you going to call up Sabrina, and ask her to come assist us? Are you..."

"No, no, not at all" Doc told his friend. "I've got some memory device in here, that might be able to do the job. I built it a month ago, with some electronics from the year 2037. I think it would be able to erase Cliff's memories just fine." He sighed. "Of course, we'll have to get him, first." He then stepped into the station wagon, as well.

Marty breathed nervously, as Doc lifted up the station wagon. He then pressed a few buttons on a remote - and the garage door opened quickly. He then flew out of the garage, and up into the sky. Marty cheered - as the station wagon rapidly accelerated, while flying into town.

After just a few minutes, at around 5:48 PM - the time machine entered the air above Hill Valley Park. Doc then turned to Marty. "Ready, Marty?"

"Ready!" the teen announced.

"Let's go then!" Doc exclaimed. He then tapped in the Destination Time: August 10th, 2017, at 5:20 PM. As he had secured that date into the circuits, Doc then flew down, while still continuing to accelerate. Marty kept an eye on the readouts. "Sixty-five" he reported. "Whoa, that's pretty fast! Seventy, Seventy-five, Eighty, Eighty-five, Eighty-six, eighty-seven, eighty-eight!"

The flux capacitor lit up, as electricity shattered around the time machine. Marty braced himself, as time travel occurred. Within a few seconds, the station wagon semi-exploded in a brilliant flash of white light, and left behind twin trails of fire in the sky above Hill Valley Park, as it transported itself forwards into the year 2017.