Chapter Four

Hi Mr. Delaware:

At an apartment complex in Virginia, outside the city of Washington DC. Is the residence of Special Agent Delaware, inside the apartment is a man sitting in a recliner. He is about to have a whole new adventure in life aboard the Tardis. Agent Delaware sitting in his chair, is still surprised seeing four kids in his living room. Rani approaches him and see's the receiver to his telephone laying on the floor next to him. Picking up the receiver, she places it in the cradle of the telephone on the end table, next to the recliner.

Agent Delaware still looking at the kids, leans his head and body to the left, glancing inside the Tardis from his recliner. Looking in, he sees the inside is different. Glancing back at the kids now, he asked, "I see the Doctor redecorated, so where is he?" Luke and Clyde turned and look in the Tardis and then looked back at Agent Delaware again. Sky giggling at his question said, "Dads not here right now Mr. Delaware, besides this is mom's Tardis." Still stunned, Agent Delaware just nodded his head and said, "Ah, Moms Tardis. Ah ha"

Rani looked at Sky for a moment and yelled, "Sky!" Sky looking at Rani said, "Well, he asked and I told him the truth. Mom said if you don't tell the truth, then bigger problems erupt. Look how many times dad got into trouble for fibbing."

Agent Delaware looking at the Tardis still said, "Your mothers' ay, it's still bloody bigger on the inside like your dads." Clyde smiling at his remark cleared his throat and said, "Agent Delaware, were here to help with the Moon shot." Delaware looking at Clyde with a confused face yelled, "You're a little late son, there dead! The whole world has gone nuts!"

Clyde peeked around the Tardis and could see NATO troops, engaging Warsaw pack forces in West Germany on the television. Clyde walked around the Tardis and approached the Television. Pulling it way from the wall with its stand, Clyde unplugs it and moves it to the front of the Tardis. Looking back at Agent Delaware he asked, "Sir, do you have an extension cord?" Agent Delaware got up from his recliner and walked away from the kids.

When he entered the hallway leading to the bedrooms, he stops half way and turns to open a closet door. Inside the closet on the top shelf, he grabs an electrical extension cord, bringing it back to Clyde. Clyde taking the cord from him, plugs it together with the television, and then he plugs the extension cord into the wall socket behind the Tardis. When the television came back on, the image of Walter Cronkite sitting at a desk discussing the news is seen. Behind him was a poster of Europe with lines showing arrows with circles around cities and a big red X drawn over Berlin.

Agent Delaware glancing at the broadcaster for only a moment, looks up at the kids and said, "I don't know what you're going to do kids, the whole world has gone loopy today. I came home an hour ago to get drunk and kiss my ass good bye." Clyde still looking at the television asked, "Mr. Delaware has the Forestall and her escort ships been destroyed?" Agent Delaware just turned his head and looked at him, then he said, "That was yesterday son."

Rani looking at the news turns her head and asked, "Mr. Delaware did the Russian and Americans each lose a Submarine in the North Sea?" Agent Delaware reaching for the can of spilt beer, picked it up off the floor and finished it. Swallowing it he exhaled and said, "That was hours before the Carrier group was lost, the navy fist thought it was an accident a nuclear accident."

Agent Delaware slowly turned his head towards Rani and yelled, "Ok, kids! Now who are you?" Rani Introduced herself, "I'm Rani Chandra, standing next to the television is Clyde Langer and standing in front of the Tardis is Sky and Luke Smith the Doctors kids." Agent Delaware tilted his head upwards projecting his chin. Then he looked at Luke and Sky and said, "I see your dad's too busy to help. Guess World War Three means nothing to him." Luke and Sky looked at each other for only a moment. The two were upset as well over current events.

Luke now faced Agent Delaware and said, "My father doesn't know what's going on at the moment, because he's not here with us, but he is here, sort of." Clyde interrupted and said, "Mr. Delaware this was a field trip for us. In our era the Moon Landing was a success, we all learned about it in school. When we went back in time to witness and record our reports for the archive, you approached us."

Agent Delaware looked at Clyde and said, "Nice try son, but I don't remember meeting you four. I was with the Doctor battling some creepy looking things that made you forget." Sky showing her temper yelled, "Oh yes you were Mr. Delaware, you also told us that you're trying to dodge yourself. And time travel was giving you a headache."

When Sky finished, Walter Cronkite took off his glasses on television, announcing in front of the camera, "Ladies and Gentleman. I have just been informed that NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium has been destroyed. Strategic Air Command and NATO ground forces have immediately retaliated, with a counter attack on advancing Soviet forces. The use of multiple nuclear devices in the low kilo-ton range was used, destroying the advancing Soviet Forces." Walter Cronkite now shaken, looked to his left and was given another sheet of paper from someone off camera.

With a shaky hand, Walter Cronkite glanced at the paper for only a moment. He said into the camera, "The President and his staff are evacuating the White House and are in route to Air-Force One. We're signing off now, please listen to your local emergency broadcast stations, and my God be with us all."

A second later there was a single tone coming from the speakers of the television set. On the screen was a triangle with to letters C. D. Clyde looked at his watch and yelled, "Hey guy's, that's it, we have to go! If it's a Sub-launch, then Washington only has a couple minutes!" Sky and Luke enter the Tardis first. Clyde follows right behind.

Rani still standing next to Agent Delaware holds out her hand, "Please sir we need your help?" Agent Delaware looking at the young girl, took her hand and together they entered the Tardis. The doors to the refrigerator closed behind them and the grinding sound started. The Tardis disappeared.

A second later a recorded voice on the television announced. "This is the Emergency Broadcast System, this is not a test." Before any further information was given the power went out. A millisecond later there was a burst of bright light blinding to the naked eye, it was an air burst. The light, over fifty million degrees Centigrade sets fire to everything. A blast wave was followed seconds later, leveling Washington DC.

The first explosion was now followed by an implosion. All the material blown away, was flying backwards on fire, towards the center of the blast. Then a multiple number of nuclear bombs went off, one hitting the center of Washington DC. again.

There were multiple targets surrounding the once great city. Areas included a direct hits to Dulles, Langley, Quantico, and Baltimore.

On board the Tardis in high orbit, Rani was at the helm again, while the others watched each major city on earth was destroyed. Looking back at Rani, Agent Delaware asked, "Now what do we do?" Rani still flying the Tardis said, "Now we brief you, and drop you off on the day of the launch. The only people you can call is the President of the United States, he'll send another team of Secret Service Agents to help. Oh and you're going to need to get in touch with Unit Headquarters England, a Brigadier Leftbridge Stewart and the Doctor. You're going to need a Limited Power of Attorney signed by the Doctor."

Agent Delaware looked at Rani and said, "The Doctor, he scares me when he's behind those controls love." Rani laughed. Clyde who was smiling now said, "Yeah, Rani is a better pilot then the Doctor." Rani enjoying the compliment, turned and said, "Agent Delaware when you talk to the Doctor, it won't be the same one you met. The Doctor you will be speaking with is a different and younger version. So don't be surprised when you hear a different voice."

Agent Delaware said, "Younger, the one I met looked younger than me. Look how old are you people?" No one answered him. Agent Delaware just looked at the kids while scratching the back of his head watching Rani flying the Tardis. Placing his hands in his pockets and watching the Time Rotor move up and down for a moment, Agent Delaware then looked up at everyone and said, "So your silent answer tells me I'm the only Earthling on board."

Sky became very angry and yelled, "Hey! Were from Earth too, just not this era! That's our home down there Mr. Delaware!" Agent Delaware looking at the young girl said, "I'm sorry love, didn't mean to touch a nerve. It's just seeing my, I mean our world die and kids operating something I don't understand, is well, well it's just plain weird."

When everyone was quiet in the Tardis, Rani said, "Mr. Delaware, as I said before we need your help, were just like the Doctor, except were students. We went back in time to only record history, not to be a part of it. The Tardis is helping us, guiding us. So far everything that you told us in the past has happened. Now we can't do anything unless we have permission from a Time Lord, and that Time Lord is in England at Unit Headquarters." Agent Delaware looked at everyone and said, "Why doesn't the Doctor fly out here in his Tardis and help?"

Luke smirking at the question and answered, "Because Dad got in trouble with the high council. His Tardis is disabled at the moment and he's banished to Earth for a while." Agent Delaware looking at Luke asked, "Oh, what where the charges?" Sky smiling said, "Dad stole the Tardis you were in, the other charge was meddling in the affairs of other worlds, like were about to do." Clyde looking at Sky said, "Yeah but sparky, Time has flipped out. World War Three didn't take place in 1969."

Agent Delaware started to place his fingers on his temples and then he started to rub them in little circles. He said, "Oh this is giving me a head ache." Then Agent Delaware lowered his hands and clapped them together asking, "So kids, what else do I need to know? Sky stepped away from her station and walked over to the pile of newspapers staked on the floor. Looking at all of them, she takes one out showing the story of the explosion on the moon and keeps it. Picking up the other newspapers she walks over to agent Delaware and hands them to him.

She said. "Here. You're going to find this interesting, especially about the NASA purchasing officer. When he was branded a Spy, is when all this starts." Clyde looking at Agent Delaware said, "That guy is not supposed to die Agent Delaware, or be branded as a spy. When he died in your period, it caused a domino effect, everything fell, including the world." Agent Delaware was skimming. Then he opened the last newspaper and a looked. The word murderers was circled around a company.

Agent Delaware looking at the company name asked, "I don't understand kids, what's a mom and pop wire company have to do with World War Three?" Clyde looking at the newspaper said, "I don't know sir, if you read further you'll see that they deposited the three hundred thousand into his account, not the Soviets. Somehow I think cooperate sabotage took place or a tragic accident. I'm leaning towards the accident myself."

Agent Delaware looked at Clyde as he closed the newspaper and yelled at him, "Really Sherlock! Why don't you let me do the investigating and you save the Astronauts!" Clyde looked down at the floor of the Tardis. Then he backed away from Agent Delaware and went over to a station on the Tardis console. Agent Delaware seeing what he had done, came up behind him placing a hand on his shoulders. Clyde turned around and looked at him.

Agent Delaware said, "I'm sorry I snapped at you Clyde. You and the rest of your friends did good work gathering all this information. It's just I'm a little angry right now after seeing our world die. I really want to cripple the guy who pushed the button first." Clyde seeing sincerity in Agent Delaware took his hand and shook it. He then said, "I understand sir." Luke looked up at the monitor and said, "Were going to have to."

Then he paused for a moment looking up at the screen where they were about to land. Looking puzzled Luke turned to his friends and said, "Hey there's only one cola vending machine and a candy machine at the Pavilion, where we use to be. Did anyone notice this when we arrived?" The kids all looked at the screen in silence. Sky said pointing to the candy machine, "Well there is our Tardis before we left."

Agent Delaware looking at the Monitor as well said very loudly, "Kids, I don't even want to know why, there are two Tardis's parked next each other, just let me out."

Before they landed Clyde asked if Agent Delaware had paper and pen. Agent Delaware reached into coat pocket and pulled out a small note book with a pen and said, "Yeah, right hear." Clyde looking at the agent said, "Sir you need to write this down and give it to me before you send us off to meet you in your past."

Delaware holding the pen in his hand was pointing to thoughts created in his mind and repeating what Clyde just said to him. Then he started to write down word for word what Clyde wanted him to say when they meet again. When he finished, Agent Delaware looked at all the kids and said, "Kids, remembering which is past and which is future is now really starting to annoy me." Rani smiling at the agent said, "Don't worry sir, you'll get it right. Were here now aren't we."

Agent Delaware just rolled his eyes upwards and put the paper in his coat pocket, along with his small note book and pen. As he was adjusting the items in his pocket, the agent shook his head and said, "I wonder if a Cuckoo in a bloody Cuckoo Clock feels the way I do?"

The Tardis starts to materialize right next to the Coca Cola and candy machine. Agent Delaware looking at the screen was smiling, he was seeing people on the screen at the pavilion heading to the beach. The world he knew still existed. Turning to the kids he said, "Fantastic, the world's not dead yet." Rani looking at the screen said, "Oh don't forget sir, on the day of the Moon landing, we will be at Coco Beach. You'll find us heading towards the parking lot. Just look for a camper with Georgia License plates." Agent Delaware said, "Got it, Coco Beach, camper, Georgia plates."

Agent Delaware nodded to the kids, he then turned and started to walk towards the door of the Tardis. Looking at the doors now, he stops in mid stride. He turns around and starts walking back towards the console. Standing in front of Rani now, Agent Delaware put his hands up to the left and right of her, signaling the other three to come closer.

Once everyone was together, Agent Delaware put his arms around everyone in a huddle and said, "Kids, I want you to understand something. You're all going to the Moon and it can be dangerous. Now I don't know how much experience you have had in low gravity, but you can get hurt up there. Promise me one thing." The kids all looked at one another and then Luke asked, "What's that Mr. Delaware?" Agent Delaware looking at the kid's one at a time said, "Promise me no fooling around up there, you fix the Eagle and come home, understood."

Together the four nodded and said one after another, "Yes sir." Agent Delaware smiled and started to rub the tops of Clyde and Luke's head. Rani and Sky stepped forward and gave him a hug goodbye. When everyone let go, Agent Delaware walked towards the door and said, "I mean it kids, I'll be watching." Sky got a little fresh now and said, "They can't put us in jail for having fun on the moon, and you know it!"

Agent Delaware smiling as he walked out the Tardis said, "No they can't love. But I can sure tell your mom and dad on you. There's still is a Doctor on this planet right now and in the future were you came from." Then the doors opened and Agent Delaware exited the Tardis and said, "Bye kids, remember what I said."

Outside the Tardis, Agent Delaware approached a phone booth positioned right next to the candy machine. When he opened the door, he steps inside closing the door behind him. Agent Delaware begins to reach into his front pants pocket, taking out some coins. He then reaches into his coat pocket and takes out a little black book with phone numbers. Opening the book to a specific page, Agent Delaware sees two words, Head Honcho, with a phone number written below. Agent Delaware seeing the direct line to the President, begins to put money into the pay phone and starts dialing. When he finished dialing the number, he held the phone to his ear and turned around to look out the window of the phone booth. As he looked, Rani, Clyde, Sky and Luke passed him one at a time. Then he heard something about a One Dollar Bill. Then the kids moved some further distance away and all eyes were on Clyde.

The phone was answered and a voice said, "This is the President." As Agent Delaware answered back, he continued to watch the kids, while discussing the problem with the Eagle, a War and the Doctors students with the president. The president said, "Canton have you been drinking." Then as Agent Delaware looked at his watch and at the same time observing the kids stepping into the Candy machine. He Smiled and said, "No Sir, not a drop."

Then Agent Delaware said, "Sir what I just told you is true, in a few minutes a Tardis will be landing in the Oval Office to pick you up. Seems the Doctor was caught trying to increase the gain on the orbiters antenna, were going to need you to spring him, to many chiefs here involved. Oh and please bring your best men with you sir and Peterson too. Oh this is crazy."

Then Agent Delaware said into the phone, "Oh not you sir. Oh Mr. President do you by chance know the number of Unit Headquarters England? I need to get in touch with a Brigadier Leftbridge Stewart?" When he finished asking his question, the candy machine started to disappear. The grinding noise was so load that President Nixon leaned forward at his desk and yelled into his phone, "Canton is that a Tardis I hear!" Agent Delaware smiling at the event said, "Yes sir. The kids are on their way to help sir." Then Agent Delaware laughed and said, "Stood right next to them in the phone booth, and they didn't notice me." President Nixon said into his phone, "What was that Canton?" Agent Delaware laughing into the phone said, "Oh nothing sir, just a slight misjudgment in perception."

Then the other Tardis started to grind on the other side of the Coke cola machine and then it to disappear. Agent Delaware holding the phone said to President Nixon, "Yes sir, that's another Tardis sir. Yes sir another Tardis, Yes sir. It's a long story sir. When this is all over, I'll tell you how it ends, I hope. Oh boy."

Then Agent Delaware said, "Goodbye sir, I'll see you in a few minutes and thanks for the number." Hanging up the phone, Agent Delaware exits the phone booth and heads to the parking lot entrance, hoping to hail a Taxi.