ISLAND OF FANG ROCK, SEVERAL DAYS LATER...

"Back at the lighthouse again," Vince said as he and Sally walked up to the lighthouse. Anne Travers had called them that morning, instructing the couple to come to the lighthouse. Vince and Sally had wasted no time in making their way to Fang Rock. Once they reached the door to the lighthouse, Sally had spotted the sign that said CLOSED UNTIL NEXT WEEK. "I wonder how that happened?" she asked.

"Oh, just all expenses paid vacation to the Bahamas for the owners of Haunted Tours Of Britain," Anne replied as she appeared in the lighthouse doorway.

She may be officially retired, but clearly she still has friends in the right places, Sally thought.

"Well, here we are," Vince said. "What's next?"

"Follow me to the crew room. Everything is ready," Anne replied.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

When Vince and Sally reached the crew room, both were astonished at what they saw. What appeared to a web like substance was hooked up to a crystal machine. Parts of the web were wrapped around what appeared to be a log book of some kind. The web seemed to pulse with an eerie light. "What... What is that?" Vince asked as Anne came into the room.

"That, Vince, is your ticket back into the past," Anne replied. "Nearly fifty years ago, in this very room, I used it to send two men into the past, during the 1969 investigation here."

"You did?" Sally asked.

"Yes, it was a risk that had to be taken. We needed vital information," Anne said. "However, I've had decades of time to study this, and learn from it, so it should be safer this time."

"But what is it?" Vince asked.

"Well, this, came from the Rutan," Anne said as she pointed to the crystal machine. "Rather, they nicked it from the Sontarans, long story." Anne then pointed to the web like substance. "And this came from the Great Intelligence."

"Didn't you tell us that this "Great Intelligence" once tried to attack Earth?" Vince asked.

"Yes, until the Doctor stopped it," Anne replied. "However, the web, by itself, is not dangerous in the right hands. It's a tool, and can be put to good use, such as now." She pointed to the log book. "That's the lighthouse log book from 1902, at the time of the Rutan's attack. I needed it to have a focal point."

"A focal point?" Sally asked.

"Something that existed in 1902 and exists now, to link the two time periods. Luckily, Haunted Tours Of Britain had the original log book."

"I guess it was part of the tour package, to get the feel of things as they were in 1902," Sally said.

"Yes, I had assumed the same thing."

"And the log book is what you'll be using then," Vince said.

"That, and one other thing," Anne said.

"What other thing?" Vince asked.

"You, of course," Anne replied. "You were also here in 1902."

"Yeah, I was," Vince said with a smile. "So this contraption you've assembled will send us into the past?"

"Yes, combined, the web and Rutan device will send you both back to 1902, but in astral form only," Anne said.

"What does that mean?" Vince asked.

"It means that only your minds will be sent into the past. Your bodies will remain here," Anne explained. "In the past, you two will be able to interact with each other, but no one in 1902 will be able to see or hear you."

"I see, kind of like what happened to Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol," Vince said. "When he went travelling in time with those three ghosts, no one in any of the times they visited could see or hear them."

"Yes, that's it, Vince," Anne replied. "Scrooge could only observe, not interact. Well, it will be the same for you and Sally. You'll be able to get the information you need, without any risk of altering the time line." She gestured to a nearby couch. "Have a seat, both of you."

Once Vince and Sally were seated on the couch, Anne connected some wires to the web, and then, connected the other ends of the wires to two headbands, that she then placed on Vince and Sally. "This won't hurt, will it." Vince said.

"No, it won't," Anne said. "When I switch on, it will be like going to sleep for you two."

"How do we get back," Sally asked.

I was going to ask that question myself, Vince thought.

"Just will yourselves back when the time comes," Anne said as she moved to the crystal machine. "Are you two ready?"

"I guess we're as ready as we'll ever be," Vince said as he glanced at Sally. Both of them embraced hands.

"Right, good luck, you two," Anne said and switched on the device. As she watched, both Vince and Sally's eyes closed as they slumped back onto the couch. While their bodies remained here in the present, Anne knew that their minds were now more than a century in the past. I hope you find what you're looking for, Vince, Anne thought.