It's About Time

by Stretch Snodgrass

Four years have gone by since astronauts Mackenzie and Canfield brought their stone-age friends to the present. Although it was touch and go for awhile, everything seems to have sorted itself through. That is until a crisis threatens to expose Shad and her family - and put Mac and Hec in front of a firing squad. Dr. Smith, Dr. Bellows and Tim O"Hara appear. Reviews appreciated.

10. My Favorite Reporter

Chapter Ten My Favorite Reporter

"It's nice to be free, and out in the fresh, smoggy Los Angeles air" observed Hector a short while later, once the General had informally ended the informal hearing. "Only I wish those Mps would have given us a ride home. It'll take forever for that cab to come this time of night. That Lt. Zachary Smith is sure a grouch! I don't think he lives too far from Mr. Tyler's apartment building. He could've given us a lift home."

"Never mind him, or about waiting for a cab ride" scoffed Mac. "Let's be grateful that the truth prevailed about us being loyal air force officers. And that no one's ever going to believe that you, Breer, come from anything aside from a very old American family."

"And I'm not going to tell them how old" said Breer. "And believe me, no matter what happens, I'm not going to mope for the past again. It came to me how difficult things used to be, and how much of an . . . an imposition it'll be to everybody but father if we went back. Breer's . . . I mean I'm as twentieth century as . . . ."

"Television?" suggested Hector.

"Television" said Breer. "Even if Breer . . . even if I still have trouble with pronouns once in awhile."

"It's not easy to catch up on a million years of history" said Mac. "Nor is it easy to leave behind an entire way of life without any regrets. We wouldn't have taken you to the future if we hadn't ruined your place in your tribe."

"I've given it thought" said Breer. "And . . . I'm happy you did."

"I'm happy too" said Hector. "Especially about your sister Mlor.

"Yes, we know Hector" said Mac. "Wait, who's that coming up? It's that reporter for the Los Angeles Sun. Not a word, Breer."

A Chrysler convertible drove up the deserted street, stopping in front of the base, where the three were waiting for their taxi.

"Hey fellas" said the reporter. "My editor had a tipoff that the NASA brass was meeting here tonight"

"Any information on the doings on the base are classified information" said Major Mackenzie officially. "You may check with the press officer on the base in the morning."

"Come on, I even have a press pass. You know me?"

"It's Tim O'Hara" observed Mac.

"Yes" said O'Hara. "And, don't tell me. You're the two astronauts. Let's see. Major Mackenzie and Captain Canfield. And your friend?"

"Just a young friend" said Mac.

"I remember you, O'Hara" interrupted Hector. "You used to come around with your Uncle Martin O'Hara as your photographer."

"I did" said Tim O'Hara, with some regrets. "Only he returned home a few years ago, and I've been solo again ever since. But, come on guys. I'm not asking for classified information. Just if there's been a meeting of top brass. How about it, Captain Canfield?"

"Anything that goes on here is classified unless cleared for public release through the proper channels" said Hector, echoing Mac's statement.

"Wasn't it about seven years ago, Tim" said Mac plainly, "that you found yourself in a little trouble leaking classified information. When you covered the launch from the Vandenburg Air Force Base? And somehow found out about the UFO we spotted on our radar?"

Tim O'Hara remembered it well. How he was suspected of spying and/or high treason. Well, he didn't want to go through that again. And, come to think about it, he didn't want to get any astronauts into trouble either. But who could have tipped Mr. Burns off about "important news"? And why, if the goings on were classified."(1)

"I guess I can take it up with the official channels" said O'Hara reluctantly. "You fellas need a ride home? Funny how you get to go thousands of miles into space, but need to wait for a cab."

Hector was about to accept, but Mac interrupted.

"Thanks Tim" he said. "But under the circumstances, we'd better not."

O'Hara nodded, and drove off.

"How do you think he found out about the meeting?" said Breer.

"There might be a serious leak" observed Mac. "We'll alert base security first thing in the morning."

"I'll bet it was that Smith" said Hector angrily. "He wanted the newspapers to be in on his triumph. Well, it backfired on the guy."

"I wouldn't doubt it" observed Mac. "I'd hate to have been in a million B.C. with him. Or even, say, lost somewhere in space."

"Yeah" said Hector. "Can you imagine? Lost in Space with Dr. Smith?"

Notes

(1) Tim O'Hara and his "Uncle" Martin were characters on My Favorite Martian. Tim O'Hara is suspected of spying and/or treason in the pilot episode, My Favorite Martin.