While Doug was studying the research facts and dictated them to Jerry, Tony was looking at the drawings. Meanwhile Ann was talking with Ray who shook his head constantly.

"I will never allow it, Ann. It is much too dangerous. We couldn't bring the two back until yet. How should it work for three people?"

"Ray, I didn't say that I will go in this moment. But you heard my alter ego. We could not use the probe."

The older scientist took his place at the control desk.

"Yesterday you weren't sure, that the probe was the reason for the alien-invasion."

"I'm not sure today also. But we can't take this risk."

Speaking up the older Ann said:

"She is right, you know Ray. Never, ever use the probe. I am sure that the alterations you or we made with the probe were the reason the alien's detected earth. Whether it was in 9 AD or in the 40th isn't important. Tony said, before he was going to change the past, that he would go as far as to the Varus Battle. And then Ray should bring him back straight in our time. But it hasn't worked. And Ray vanished also."

Doug has interrupted his work and asked:

"You said Tony and Ray were called Traitors. Why not me? When I was going through the tunnel, too?"

Ann MacGregor-Phillips shrugged her shoulders.

"They interrogated Kirk and me and always ask for your whereabouts. It seems they didn't know that you were using the tunnel. We always told them the same. That you're gone after a quarrel and never came back. Maybe they believed us after they kept us under surveillance for years.

The doorbell rang and the older Anne hurried from the living room. Some moments passed in nervous anticipation before the door was opened again and Ann came back accompanied by two men. As Doug and Tony recognized the older one, they took a deep breath and exclaimed nearly at once:

"Jerry?"

"Dr. Phillips, Dr. Newman! Good to see you again."

In Tic Toc main center all eyes were on the young scientist, who was sitting slowly down, astonishment clearly written in his face.

Ann gave him a smile.

"It seems the team will stay close in the future."

Kirk and Ray shared a smirk. They both knew that Jerry had a little crush on Ann. Even if she hasn't a clue.

45 years forward Ann MacGregor-Phillips told Newman and Phillips, that Jerry had worked for the newly built Space-Department but came back to the tunnel team shortly before Tony disappeared. Doug, who was skimming through the evidence from Tony's and Doug's future work, listened absentmindedly but something was bothering him even though he couldn't put a finger on it. While Tony, Ann, Jerry and the younger man who was introduced as Brian Mewers, a leader among the resistance, talked about the possibilities, Doug was doing calculations. Then he found some pages, which were looking like a diary of some kind. When he was sure no one paid attention he putted them in the inner pocket of his suit.

Tony came over to him.

"We will go to the library, from there exist a secret way out of the city. The resistance has constructed a subway road network unbeknownst to the invaders. You and Jerry could look at the old part of the library; there must be some evidence of our work, so they believe. Meanwhile I will go with Ann, Mewers and some of his men to the underground. We will check if the road to Arizona is clear. We or better, the other Tony was taking the underground route to reach Tic Toc. Do you agree with this plan?"

"It's okay with me, but why would Ann go with you. Isn't it dangerous for her?"

"She insisted on it."

They changed their apparel and Mewers gave Tony and Doug faked citizen-cards.

Before they were all leaving the house Doug said for the friends in Tic Toc main center:

"Try not to loose contact with us; I have a bad vibe about this all."

"In that you're not alone, Doug," came Ann's voice.

"I'm still of the opinion we should transfer you now."

"Maybe you are right. But...I want to know more and we should at least attempt to change this time line, okay."

"If you say so, Doug. Take care, both of you."

"We will, don't worry too much."

Two hours, four times they came under scrutiny and three times splitting up the group to evade another inspection later, they arrived at the basement of the public library. Doug considered how they should go through the library without raising alarm. As Ann MacGregor-Phillips laid her Hand at his arm, he looked up. Their eyes met and for the first time he realized that although she was much older than he knew her, her eyes were still the same. Sparkling, youthful and alight with feeling and he knew it was for him.

"Doug, would you searching with Jerry for anything that could help us to make certain in which time the alien invasion has really begun. We others will go to the next base of the resistance and beg for help. We need transportation to Arizona via underground roads. Maybe we could start right now. Here is my car key and the key for my...our house. Don't worry if we don't coming back until tomorrow."

Doug took Ann's Hand in his.

"You should be the one, who is staying with Jerry."

"Protective as always, Doug. But no, I have to be part of this. I'm the only one, who could reopen the tunnel, if we are able to go there."

"I understand. But please, take care."

"I will. If we are successful we will be together as we were before!" Ann MacGregor-Phillips strokes his Hand.

Dr. Phillips wished them good luck and turned around.

Jerry came to his side.

"What we are searching for is here, in the basement. Doug, Tony, Ann and Ray took all their work with them when the tunnel was shut down. What we will find here are maybe the official logs from General Kirk and lots of clippings from many different Newspapers. By all Ann... Dr. MacGregor-Phillips has told you, she excluded the fact that you were celebrated men. First Time travelers ever. Later the government was trying to suppress this fact. So all the pictures which were taken, all the TV reports and all the interviews with the magazines and newspapers disappeared to the basement together with all reminders of Tic Toc and its personnel. Could be a long search we are going for."

Phillips eyed the man warily, maybe it was only the fact, that he resembled the Jerry Briggs he knew not so much any more that his distrust was woken. He would have a close eye on him.

"Then better let's get started."

In Tic Toc Main Center Ann MacGregor was busy doing calculations while Ray and Tony tried to define Time Paradoxes. Although she listened only absentmindedly something bothered her. Kirk who was talking on the telephone since more than an hour came over to her desk.

"What is it, Ann? You're looking distraught?"

"I don't know for sure. It's something Ray said a moment ago. But what you have found out?"

"I have spoken to the government and to the people in charge of NASA, but they were close lipped as always. My last call was going to Senator Clark. He is coming here any way. So he will try to gain information and arrive sooner as planned."

Ray and Jerry had overheard the conversation.

"Maybe we could present him with the return of Doug and Tony," Swain confidently declared, over confidently in Ann's view.

"Ray, we can't be sure that it will happen. I would like nothing more than that Doug and Tony standing here with us to welcome the Senator, you know this. But something you said to Jerry some moments ago gave me second thoughts. Remember that Doug and Tony were for five days in the vortex? We always believed it to be impossible, because we thought they would die. But there they are, healthy and whole. I'm thankful for that but what if they weren't in the vortex? What if we couldn't receive their readings? What if they landed somewhere in time and only can't remember it? And there is another thing. Since them both went into the tunnel we almost never had the same time of day as them. And now? We are completely synchronous. There must be a reason for it and I'm afraid it has something to do with the fact that our tunnel exists in the future and our future selves have used it."

"But Ann, they always remembered their experiences." Ray took his seat beside her.

"If you say so, Ray. But fact is, this time nothing is as always."

Before someone could say anything further the view screen was flickering and for some seconds they couldn't see anything. When the picture was back the view changed constantly between the library basement and a dimly lit road. And eventually the view screen was shutting down itself. All endeavors to get it online again were futile.

Dr. MacGregor threw her pencil frustrated at her desk.

"Jerry, how much energy we have?"

"It's at 98 percent."

"Ray?"

"The screen had to be online, but..."

"But obviously it isn't. Let's..." Ann interrupted herself as the screen came to life again.

But all that shows were the kaleidoscopic colors of the vortex.

"Readings!" Ray almost shouted.

Ann who sat down at her control desk shook her head.

"They aren't in the vortex."

"That's impossible," Kirk barged in.

"Maybe, but we can't read them as usually."

"Okay, let's make sure that all systems are working properly."