Sam entered Joe's house. There's no academic or sports clubs today. It's been a few weeks since they all could hang out. He brought over books he's read; riveting sci-fi novels. If The Book stranded them in the past again Sam would have something to do. Hopefully that won't happen. He's really tired of being chased by bloodthirsty tricksters.

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Agonizing screams startle Sam. Mouth-watering scents of buttered popcorn transport him towards the TV room. His friends are sitting on a sofa, eyes glued to bloodshed. "Saw again?"

Fred nodded while grabbing a handful of popcorn. Sam sits between them and Joe said, "You can pick the next movie."

"Let me guess," Fred grinned. "Alien?" It's a movie Fred and Sam liked, they can't count how many times they've watched it.

"Sure, but I wanted to discuss-"

"If it's about homework or studying-"

"It isn't. I don't always-"

Joe and Fred crossed their arms looking unamused.

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"I've found something better than horror movies." Sam flipped his backpack upside-down. Books fell onto the table.

"Steampunk?" Fred blinked. "What is that?"

"Oh I see! Like H.P Lovecraft and Jules Verne right?"

Sam's eyes shine as hearty depictions empty from his lips. "Yeah! Adventure, horror, witty villains, heart-racing mysteries, a brave cast, and terrifying otherworldly beasts!"

"That does sound cool…" They flipped through some pages. "It'd be awesome if technology like that existed."

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"I'd want to be a captain! Slaying frightening monsters and exploring hidden places among the clouds." Fred climbed onto the table and posed heroically. The others laughed and he merely glared, remaining in character. He imagined a copper clad uniform, an elegant cape swaying in the wind, while wielding a longsword. "The treasure! Diamonds, gold, silver –ours for the plundering! We'd be a legendary crew for the ages!"

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Joe pulled him down from the table. The magician stifled his laughter. "Keep dreaming, Captain Fred."

Foreboding green mist pours out from a rattling shelf. "Why does The Book always send us to life-threatening time periods?!" Sam asked.

"I thought you knew how to use that thing, Joe!"

"I do! I'm an experienced time traveler! But sometimes it still-"

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A glimmering vortex pulls the three friends in for another adventure. The Book drops them brusquely into a major historic event. War, famine, blizzards, pirate-infested beaches. Why couldn't it ever be a resort or somewhere benign? Sam guessed they'd be deposited in freezing space. Fred supposed that they'd be thrown into prehistoric times.

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Sea shanties. Every sailor's voice hums like a war drum in an empty meadow. Are they being held prisoner on a pirate ship? Sam shook and opened one eye.

"Wake up lads!" Gloomy colors shroud a roomy interior. Small glass-stained windows bleed crimson sunset into darkness. Sam sits up. He's the first to respond. Looking around, he sees that Joe is missing from their group. "Who are you?"

.

"I'm Walter. A sailor of the Copper Crown." He's an elderly gentleman wearing a dark blue coat. Strong jaw, dark blue eyes, and a white walrus mustache. Goggles rest upon fluffy ivory hair. In his gloved hands is a lantern. Its heart is alight by a small lively flame. "I run a guild and was testing this aircraft's durability from her last flight. I found you two outside –almost ambushed by mangy rabid wolves!"

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Fred shook Walter's hand. "I'm Fred and this is Sam. Thanks for saving us! Have you seen our friend, Joe?"

"I'm afraid not lad."

"Do you know where we are? What year it is?" Sam asked.

"Yes. You're in America. It's 1930."

"Have you seen a book? Blue cover? Fancy silver symbols?"

"No. I've never seen a book like that." Walter chuckled. "Not many spend time looking for lost books. C'mon, breakfast is almost ready."

.

Purple cigarette smoke, greasy food, and alcohol cloak the cramped galley in a stagnant vapor. Fred heartily ate the provisions. "Hey, at least it's edible this time!"

Sam nodded. "But where're we going to find Joe or The Book?"

"If you hearts long for treasure, why not join the guild and help me on an important task?"

.

After swapping modern clothes for era-fitting outfits to blend in, Fred and Sam toured with Walter. The Copper Crown is sleek and crafted by copper and bronze metal. Fred's fascinated by the gunnery while Sam inquired about details. "This is impressive!"

Walter grinned proudly. "I built most of the guild's ships myself!"

Sam narrowed his eyes to get a better look at complex networks of machinery. "What's it powered by? There are sails but isn't it motorized?"

"Why," Walter twirled his moustache. "Steam of course. The Copper Crown is agile but her armor is insubstantial. She's equipped well though."

.

"Steam?!" Fred asked bewilderedly.

Sam gasped, realizing something. He grabbed Fred's shoulders and a smile grew on his face. "The Book didn't teleport us to the past or future!"

"Huh? Then when?"

"An alternate dimension! We're in the past. But history was changed by various events!"

"So…everyone's a sky pirate? Cool!"

Sam nodded. He too can't ignore being excited about this! The Book had never done that before.

.

"I thought you two were different. Certainly odd!"

"Us? Compared to him?"

Sam stifled a laugh.

Walter continued because he's enthralled by this new information. "Rarely people from other dimensions fall into our world. Let's go to the top deck."

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Cold lashing winds sprint across the top deck. "Look at the horizon." Walter provided them a telescope. Beyond is a murky grey dawn. Thunder and lightning crack clamorously from an ebony gap in the clouds. Monsters of every type descend from the portal. It's like someone put nightmares, mythological antagonists, and sinister adaptations into a blender and the output is this bone-chilling army. "We are one of many guilds that are at war against these awful monsters," Walter explained. "They have astonishing intellect and capture men for sacrifice. Many use strength or dark magic."

"Maybe they captured Joe!"

.

"I must ask you lads to help me fight our paranormal adversaries."

"Fight?! As in deadly warfare? Against those freaks?!" Sam sees them tearing apart ships. Coils of darkening smoke twist around a falling ship. Explosions scorch and melt metal. "The Copper Crown is practically a needle defying a colossal billow! It can't withstand-"

Fred put an arm around Sam's shoulder. "We're the time warp trio! Or duo now. We've been on tons of dangerous adventures before –and survived! How else are we going to find Joe?"

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He's right. They'd never leave a friend to face danger alone. Sam knows Fred's athletic proficiency is incredible. And he's a tremendous fighter too. They've escaped death countless of times.

"My strength. Your wits. A little luck. You and me." Fred's confidence is contagious.

"You and me, Fred."

"Alright! Let's slay some ugly demon monsters!"

Walter chuckled. "Excellent! We'll sail at dawn!"

.

Breaking into a temple and destroying their power source is reckless. Walter and Fred assured that no other tactic would work. The old sailor pointed at tiny bug-sized specks hovering around the portal. They flicker under faint sunlight. Inside is where the monsters hold rituals and summon their most experienced cavalry.

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Sam is stationed as Copper Crown's pilot. Walter supports by managing a small crew. Orders are given to prepare cannons and to dismount. Fred is armed –he probably equipped everything stored in the gunroom. Standing by the bow he skillfully twirled two pistols. A sheathed scimitar adorns his side.

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"You're an amazing pilot Sam."

"Really?" He's distracted by how the light shines on Fred's gold hair. Blue sparkling eyes convey crafty mischief and coolness. Many are captivated by Fred's fearless sanguinity. "Yeah, you know everything. The brains of our group. I'm more of an act-first-think-later guy."

Sam shrugged. "It's not too difficult. Just a sequence of buttons and switches."

He laughed. "Of course you'd say that. But I wouldn't trust anybody else to pilot a ship."

.

"Enemies ahead! Prepare for battle!" A scout called. Bizarre dreadful creatures fly by quick as arrows. They weave and aim to slice the ship. Fred fires precise shots. Bullets puncture their gangly bodies. Sam steers the Copper Crown, evading the monster's frantic attacks. Fred never lost his balance as the ship hurried into an elegant swooping ballet.

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Hooks latch onto the temple's stone surface. Walter said he'd repair and defend the ship. The two teens depart from the Copper Crown and run across a chunk of floating earth.

Darkness conceals the entrance. It extends into a stone hallway. Fred leads. His hand rests on the sword hilt as his eyes warily survey for danger. Sam fears they'd have to fight blind.

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Eventually purple ominous light impales an eternity of shadows. Sinister chanting echoes in the stone hollow. A tall pillar shaped like a cylinder stands under a clear orb. Colorful rainbow smoke writhes violently in the glass. Joe shook fearfully as he stared at the crowd.

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The monsters' eyes are darker than a cave. Tentacles spill from their faces, concealing carnivorous jaws. Scales tougher than bulletproof armor glint under surreal lights. One steps forward and talks to the gathering. His voice is gurgling and metallic. "Our eternal ruler the Feared One shall finally be summoned! This human has unexpectedly powerful magic."

.

He points to the glass. "When we sacrifice his blood The Colors shall absorb his life energy. It will travel into space and transport the Ethereal One here to win the war!"

Joe panicked and struggled to break the iron bars he's trapped in. His arduous escape training failed when the monsters disarmed and destroyed his supplies.

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Fred tosses a spare pistol to Sam. The monster leader drew a knife and strolled up towards Joe. Gripping the handle Fred unsheathed his sword, jumped up and swung the blade down. CLANG! It struck earth, spraying blood. The monster's head rolled, bouncing into the feet of the other creatures. Alarmed, they acted fast. The army waved their weapons violently. Sam fired and slayed one monster. Fred hacked away the bars with his sword and Joe ran out. Sam's accurate aim felled any that tried to surround his friends.

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Monsters flopped over dead with quick and elegant sword strokes. Fred and Joe ran towards the entrance. They stumbled in alarm as they're ambushed. One charges at Fred with a spear. Sam shoots its arm and sends it flying. The deafening sound when the weapon clattered to the ground stunned everyone. Magic strands pop from Joe's fingers and create a veiling mist. "Let's get out of here before the mist clears!"

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Yet one breaks through, looming above curling clouds. It emerges behind Sam, sword slashing at its adversary. A bullet shot hurls Sam sideways and the creature lunges at him. Metal sinks into his flesh and he screams. Fred is ablaze by shock and vengeance. He sprints and stabs the monster clean through its neck. He tugs the sword free and picks up Sam. Joe leads the way as they escape outside.

.

Walter helped them onto the Copper Crown and the ship hurriedly left the temple. The structure collapsed under cannon blasts. When the ship was a safe distance away from enemy territory, Walter and a doctor checked the injured. Scars are dressed in bandages.

Fred paced back and forth. The three teens were in the medical bay. Joe sat by a window and asked what they were both thinking. "Will Sam be okay?"

.

The doctor thoughtfully analyzed his patient. "He should be. But he can't move too much or the wounds will open again. The stitching was a complicated process." The doctor sighed and shook his head. "I'm surprised that sword didn't cause further damage. There was a lot of blood. In an hour I'll check on Sam again." The doctor left and Walter gazed sadly at him. He offered to get them food and followed the man out of the medical bay.

.

Neither says a word. Their faces are weighed down by concern and anguish. Nobody mentioned the whereabouts of The Book. Getting back home seemed less of a priority now. It's lost somewhere in this dimension.

.

Joe stared at Fred from where he sat. He wondered what he could say but knew nothing could really dispel the miserable atmosphere. Fred sadly stared at Sam's wounds. A vibrant scar is visible on the side of his head where the bullet grazed him. The stitching looked painful. His fists curled as he fought tears. Joe tilted his head curiously. It looked like Fred was thinking about something reflectively. But he can't see his face.

.

Sam sat up abruptly. He immediately searched for his glasses. Putting them on he finds the lenses cracked. His eyes are frantic. "What's going on?! Are we still fighting the-"

Arms wrap around his scrawny frame. He recognizes a familiar blue hat. Tears fall on Sam's hand. The two are shocked to hear Fred sobbing. His body heaves despondently.

.

"Fred? What happened? Are we in danger?!"

He grabbed Sam's chin and pulled him into a kiss. It lasted for a minute. Nobody uttered a word. Fred is brave, but neither expected this. They're stunned! Fred blushed and looked away. "I…should've told you how I felt. So uh," he shook his head and met Sam's gaze again. "Thank you for saving me." He held Sam's hand and said, "I really like you Sam."

.

"I'm dead right? Is Fred okay?" Sam blinked. He seriously though he was in the afterlife or that the monsters had cast a spell on Fred.

Joe hesitated before replying, "I…think so? We are alive."

Fred huffed and crossed his arms. "Hey, I-"

Sam leaned forward and kissed Fred who though shocked, felt his heart leap up at least ten feet.

Joe laughed, happy to just be with his friends again. If he had lost them, he didn't feel like he could return home. He'd be too devastated if Fred and Sam were gone. Future, past, or present, Joe wouldn't want to be anytime without them.

.

Over a hearty meal, Walter offered to help them look for The Book. Each glanced at the other and smiled optimistically. After that outrageous adventure they were prepared to face future challenges. "I'll ask my guild if they've seen or heard of The Book. But can you stay on the Copper Crown and help me on further missions? The war isn't over yet."

Fred grinned. "Of course! Sounds fun! It'll be a worthy journey when I can fight some evil monsters."

"Don't forget about treasure. And besides," Sam added. "We're the Time Warp Trio."

"We can survive anywhere The Book teleports us to." Joe said.