Setup: The school cafeteria. It's lunchtime, and the 3 guys and Karli are getting lunch, when Karli speaks up.
Karli: Hey guys, if you don't mind, I'm going to sit with some of the other juniors and Jeanette today.
Virgil: Actually, Derek asked me to sit with him today too.
Charlie: No problem. Zeke and I are going elsewhere too.
[The 4 go and sit at their tables.]
[A week passes, and the 4 start to lose contact. They start to drift away from each other, getting lost in popularity. One afternoon, Virgil gets a phone call.]
Karli: Hey Virgil? Can you meet me at the football field?
[At the football field.]
Virgil: Hey, I haven't seen you for a while.
Karli: Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I like popularity and all, but it stinks that the four of us aren't seeing each other anymore.
Virgil: (gets a distant look on his face for a moment) Yeah that is a downside.
Karli: What's wrong?
Virgil: Huh?
Karli: You got this look on your face like you were remembering something unpleasant.
Virgil: Oh. It's nothing. Just something from before.
Karli: When you say before, are you talking about a pre-black-hole occurrence which was when most of your action packed lives went on but no one will ever know about it because it technically never happened?
Virgil: What?
Karli: Did it happen before the black hole?
Virgil: Uh, yes.
Karli: I thought so. Did you guys get found out that time?
Virgil: Not publicly. I was the only one that was popular, and the other guys started hating me. I probably deserved it anyway.
Karli: Hmmm. Any way, so what are going to do about the whole popularity thing? We need to stay together.
Virgil: I guess we'll think of something. We always do.
Karli: You mean, Charlie always does.
Virgil: True.
Karli: See you later Verge. {Gets up and leaves]
[Later that night, Karli receives a phone call.]
Karli: Hello?
Charlie: Karli? It's me. I figured it out.
Karli: Figured out what?
Charlie: What happened the day you got electrocuted. The machine made it that only your mental state went back in time. And when your mental state was transported back, it took over your past body.
Karli: Well, that makes sense. So it was like my future self was possessing my past body?
Charlie: Exactly. Listen, let's not tell anyone about this. We don't want anyone getting any weird ideas. And I think you know whom I mean by anyone.
Karli: No problem. Listen, I need to do some checkup on the machine tomorrow. Can you get all the necessary data transferred to my laptop?
Charlie: No problem.
[The next day, down in room 77, Karli is on the computer doing her check up on the machine and the rift closer. The computer is only giving her bad results.]
Karli: What? This doesn't make any sense! It's like there's something missing. (Glances down at the table and notices an envelope with her name on it.) What's this? (Opens it and reads the letter) "Had to delete the file, and thought you might need this. Charlie." (Followed by the data Karli was missing. She enters it into the computer.) Okay...processing data... (Scans results) Enter... (Computer begins beeping. Karli stares at the screen with wide eyes. ) Oh no. (Runs over to her bag, and fumbles for her cell phone.)
[Up in the hallway, Virgil meets up with the other guys.]
Virgil: Hey guys, wait! (They stop and turn around) Hey, guys. Listen, I just wanted to tell you – (cell phone rings) Hold on a minute. (Picks up) Hello?
Karli: (frantic, loud enough for Charlie and Zeke to hear) Are you with Charlie and Zeke?
Virgil: Yeah. What-
Karli: All of you get down here now! Bring Jeanette! You know the place! (Hangs up)
[There is a moment of silence.]
Charlie: You don't think that...
[Momentary Pause in conversation.]
Virgil: Oh no.
[The guy take off at top speed for room 77, grabbing Jeanette along the way. The guys rush into the room.]
Virgil: (Running in, followed by the others) Karli! What's going on?
[Karli is sitting at the computer, a look of shock frozen on her face. The other guys walk over, and look at the screen.]
Charlie: Oh no.
[On the screen is a grid. Tiny holes are forming on the grid, and begin to blend together. It creates one huge hole, which spreads and destroys the entire grid.]
Virgil: Oh, crud.
Zeke: Please don't tell me that's what I think it is.
Charlie: It's…It's…
Karli: It's not a black hole.
[Everybody stares at her.]
Jeanette: Then what is it?
Karli: Something a lot worse.
