"The English language was carefully, carefully cobbled together by three blind dudes and a German dictionary."

Dave Kellett, Sheldon

June 18, 1996

A forest in the USA

8:18 pm

World 9714

The next day Jules seemed to fair better. His limp has not as noticeable and he didn't seem to be in that much pain. Doug was very much relieved to see his friend feeling better. Jules was right about one thing; Doug was tired the next day. Doug chalked it up as something he had to do for the success of the mission. It was at this time Jules, Katie, and Doug went over the plans for tomorrow.

"I don't see the point of all fourteen of us going up there to get this box. I am going to take four other people up there with me to get the box, "Jules explained and looked at Katie, "Katie you are going to keep the other eight here. If something would happen you still either another shot at the box or can get yourselves out of here."

"Are you sure you have to go up there?" Katie asked.

"Yes," Jules simply answered.

"Then, I am going to be one of the four that is going up there with you," Doug said leaving no room for argument.

"I hoped you say that," Jules said with a smile on his face," Andrew, Thomas, and James will be going with us. I don't see us being up there too long. We should be back late tomorrow if everything goes well."

"And if it doesn't," Katie asked the dreaded question.

"Keep your headset on. Verne, Doug, or I will let you know if something is going or went wrong," Jules answered.

"What time are we leaving?" Doug asked.

"Five am. I want to get a jump on this so we have the element of surprise," Jules explained.

"I'm going to brief Andrew, Thomas, and James on the plan," Doug said.

Jules nodded as Doug left the tent.

"How's the knee?' Katie as her boyfriend.

"Better than yesterday. Is it just me or is Doug acting differently?' Jules answered as he looked at his knee. It didn't look as swollen today.

"This is how he acts on every time travel mission we have gone on together. Very cool, calm, collect…," Katie said until Jules finished for her, "And has some great leadership. I wonder why he doesn't act that way at home."

"I always wondered that myself," Katie commented.

"Now that I know he has the abilities I just have to get them to come out," Jules said and thought for a moment.

"I know if there is anyone that can it's you," Katie replied.

The two time travelers sat in quiet for a moment. Katie broke the silence with an observation she had made, "It's funny."

"What is" Jules asked.

"First you two don't get along and now you two almost seem inseparable. The only time that happens is when you two go home for the night," Katie explained.

"I think after talking that night at IFT we learned a lot about each other. More than we ever knew before," Jules said.

"I'm happy you two are so close. I know that you two could make a great team," Katie replied.

"Give us time and I think we will prove you right," Jules said with a smile on his face.

June 19, 1996

A forest in the USA

4:58 am

World 9714

So the group of five made their way up the mountain to get the box they need. Jules's knee seemed be getting stronger. With the bandage and the Tylenol, Jules felt he could do anything. All Doug could do was smile; they now had a good chance of doing well in this contest. No one realize how "real" this mission would get until the group heard gun shots fired at them. Jules and the team hide behind some rocks for cover.

"They're shooting guns at us?" Doug questioned.

"Attempting a factual situation. Andrew. Thomas. Approach with Doug over to the group of rocks on the left. James and I will cover you," Jules said. Doug smiled for a brief moment. He sounded like the old Jules. The three nodded and got their guns out of their packs. They waited for Jules to give them the sign, "Go"

Jules and James draw their fire to them. Once the other time travelers got to the other rocks the gun fire stopped.

"What do you think they're going to do?" James whispered to Jules. Jules shrugged his shoulders and replied, "No clue."

Then, all five time travelers could see a group of six coming out after them. Jules looked at Doug. Doug met Jules looked. Both knew what the other was thinking. Doug nodded to Jules, the plan was set. The five time travelers came out from their hiding space and took on the six enemies. They had been fighting with the enemy for about ten minutes when Jules heard Doug scream. Jules turned to where the scream had come from. The only thing he saw was a person standing by the edge of the cliff and the person was not Doug. Jules's heart almost stopped. Doug couldn't be dead. Jules sadness became angry as he ran over to the person and pushed them to the ground. After wrestling around for a few minutes, the enemy ran off with his other five friends. Jules sat there for a few minutes when he heard a scream, "JULES!"

Jules looked over the side of the cliff, "Thank god."

The other time travelers ran over as Jules reach down for Doug's hand, "Grab my hand Doug."

Doug grabbed onto Jules hand. Jules pulled him up and both landed on the ground.

"Thanks Jules," Doug said.

Jules punched him in the shoulder, "Don't you ever do that again."

"Trust me I don't plan on too," Doug answered and the pair smiled at each other. The two time travelers got up on their feet as the other three arrived.

"Let's retrieve the parcel," Jules said. The other four time travelers looked at each other. Then they looked back at Jules. Jules didn't understand what was wrong, "What?"

"You're…" James was starting to say when Doug and Tom elbowed him. Jules didn't understand. Doug knew he had to get their focus back on the mission, "Let's get going."

The five time travelers were on their way. The next part of the hike was about another hour. When the group got close, they hide behind some trees to come up with a plan.

"I say we just go in there and get the box. We can take them six on again," James said.

"True," Doug commented, "There are no cliffs around here."

"Someone's main purpose of an action has to be retrieving the parcel," Jules said. James gave Doug a look. Doug knew what was brothering James. Jules's language had changed.

Jules peaked around their cover, "I see the location of the parcel."

"Since you know where it is Jules. Why don't you get it and we'll cover you?" Doug replied.

Jules took a deep breath, "Sounds acceptable. Abide by all time traveling protocols."

The four time travelers understood. The group snuck around to the appropriate positions to take the six enemies out. On Jules's signal the group attacked the others. It did not take long for the time travelers to overpower their enemies. Once Jules's thought it was safe he went and got the box. As he was making his way from the location, Doug saw a person aim a gun at Jules. Doug pressed a button on his watch, ran over to Jules, and pushed him on the ground. Once one of the other time travelers wrestled him to the ground, Doug got off of Jules.

"Move it," Doug ordered, "I'll cover you."

Jules and the other three time travelers made their way out of there while Doug cover them. After running for about fifteen minutes, Jules and the other three time travelers waited for Doug. When Doug finally arrived Jules noticed that he was limping on his right ankle.

"Doug?" Jules asked.

"I'm fine," Doug answered, "let's just get back to camp."

Jules nodded as them made their way back to camp.

*** 8:35 pm ***

The group made it back to camp. Jules watched Doug closely on the way back. Doug wasn't fine, something happened up there to his right ankle. When they got back in Jules told Katie to go look at Doug's ankle. When Katie came back, Jules knew it wasn't good news.

"His right ankle is sprain," Katie told Jules.

"Damn," Jules replied.

"What do you think we should do Jules," Katie asked the time traveler manager.

Jules looked at the landscape. There was no good way to get a vehicle in to get Doug home.

"I will ask Verne," Jules answered.

"No," Doug came out of the tent limping, "Jules I can make it."

Jules looked at Doug, "I cannot speculate…"

"Jules if you call a vehicle in to get me out we'll get points knocked off. I can do this," Doug said, "Trust me."

Jules sighed. He knew Doug was right, but he was more considered on Doug's health.

"Any open cuts, numbness," Jules asked Doug. Jules was now thankful his father made him take a first aid class.

"No," Doug answered, "Just hurts and it about twice the size it usually is."

"Jules?" Katie asked wondering what he was thinking.

Jules thought about it for a minute, "Acceptable, but if you feel any different you let me know immediately. Understand?"

Doug nodded, "Yes, sir."

"How many time have I ask you not to address me that way?" Jules asked. That's when Katie notice. When had Jules started to talk like a dictionary again?

"Sorry, it slipped," Doug answered.

Jules nodded, "Okay, go rest and I'll be there in a second."

Doug nodded and went back into the tent.

"How are we going to get him down to the landing site?" Katie asked. She knew if he was turning into the old Jules a plan would be easy.

Jules smiled, "I have a plan."

June 21, 1996

A forest in the USA

4:58 pm

World 9714

For the next two days each member helped Doug along the way back to the landing site. Doug had insisted to Jules that his ankle still felt the same. Jules kept hoping he made the right decision and didn't put Doug's life in danger. The most relief he felt since the trip started was the sight of the train. Jules was on one side of Doug, at this point, and Andrew on the other.

"Practically there Doug," Jules said.

"Verne is going to be mad you didn't send me back," Doug told Jules.

"Do not distress about him," Jules answered Doug.

"What about your dad, Jules?" Andrew asked.

"I can handle the situation," Jules said, "Focus on the train."

In about ten minutes they arrived at the train. Jules and Andrew carefully sat Doug on the floor of the train. Jules went to the controls and talked to Verne over the headset," Verne, you there?"

"I never left. Everything okay?" Verne answered.

"I need to request a medical team at the landing pad when we arrive…Katie think Doug has a sprain right ankle," Jules told his brother

"Consider it done. You are clear to enter," Verne replied.

"Acknowledge," Jules said. Then he put the train into the air and made their way back home.

June 21, 1996

Landing Area

(IFT) Hill Valley, CA

5:12 pm

Once Jules landed the train, everyone got out, and Doug was taken by the medical staff Jules could finally breathe easy. They had completed their first mission. Jules sank to the floor of the train, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes. He never knew it could be that hard. In a few minutes, Verne joined him on the floor of the train.

Jules looked at his brother. Both looked completely worn out.

"In twenty-four hours we'll know how we did," Verne told his brother.

Jules nodded.

"You guys looked good from my end of things," Verne said trying to convince his brother that everything was alright.

"I should have Doug transfer home," Jules said.

"His vitals said he was fine, don't worry about it," Verne said. Something did concern Verne. Why was Jules talking like a human dictionary again?

Jules looked at his brother again. Jules knew something was wrong, "What?"

"You're talking like a human dictionary again. When did that start?" Verne said.

Jules thought about it for a moment. Then he remembered, it was when they were getting the box. That's why they were all acting strange.

"Right before we got the parcel…I mean box," Jules replied.

"Looks like the old Jules is coming back," Verne said with a smile.

"Wish he would not…I was conclusively becoming one of them," Jules looked at his brother, "one of the male people…I mean guys."

"We are who we are Jules," Verne added. Jules seemed to look a little better.

"Just tell them what is going on. Nothing is wrong, you are finally being you again," Verne said Jules nodded, "So, the individual shield worked, that was always a questionable gadget."

"Individual shield?" Jules asked.

"Yeah, Doug activated his once," Verne explained, "Protects one person. Just another part of the tracker."

"You astound me Verne," Jules commented

Verne smiled, "Nice to know I can do it to someone."

Jules wondered what that statement meant, "What is that supposed to convey Verne?

Verne shook his head and looked down to the floor of the train. How could he explain to Jules want had gone on the morning he came home? Jules knew that wasn't a good sign.

"Nothing," Verne answered his eyes never leaving the floor of the train.

"Something is troubling you," Jules asked. He wanted to know what was wrong.

"Just know where my place is in this family," Verne said.

Jules looked at his brother. What was that supposed to mean?

"Maybe I should take that offer," Verne spoke.

"What offer? Microsoft?" Jules answered quickly. Did his brother get his dream job?

Verne shook his head, "Apple."

Jules was shocked, "Apple made you an offer."

Verne nodded his head, "Double what I'm making here to start…a lot of other benefits too."

"You will have to depart from Hill Valley. You have contemplated that?" Jules asked and wondered if he had thought about the repercussions.

"Yep," Verne simply answered.

"Verne you cannot desert now. Father needs your assistance at IFT and at home," Jules pleaded with his brother to reconsider.

"I'm tired of beating my head against a wall with him. I have no life here. I work how many hours here? I need a life outside of work Jules I can't marry Christine someday if I'm never at home," Verne explained to his brother in one breath. Jules understood how Verne felt, but there had to be another way. Jules sighed, "Let me attempt talking to father"

Verne shook his head and got up off the floor. His mind was made up, "He has the son he wanted at IFT." Verne left the train. This was terrible. What happen to Verne while he was gone?