Chapter 7
Tuesday, November 15th
4: 10 P. M.
"Thanks for the lift, ma'am," Biff said politely, putting on his 'customers come first' face. As the good Samaritan drove off, his natural scowl fell back into place. He looked around at the Hill Valley from his past, getting slight chills up his spine. This was different than his last trip to the Old West. He still remembered these days from when he was a teen. "Heck, the me of 1955 should be heading into Lou's Diner any second," he realized, amazed. He checked the inner pocket of his coat for his gun. It was still there, loaded and ready. If all went well, his teenage self would be getting a very pleasant surprise today.
Inside Lou's Diner, Marty caught sight of Biff. He got Mysteria's attention and pointed behind her. "He's here," he whispered, sending the message mentally to Doc at the same time.
Mysteria looked behind herself and snorted. "Terrific taste in clothes," she muttered. "I swear, only you could wear a combination like that and make it work - Doc."
Doc'55, puzzled, also looked out the door. "Great Scott, he looks like Biff," he said in surprise.
George and Lorraine looked too, wondering what all the fuss was. "Wow, he does!" George exclaimed. "Maybe it's Bart Tannen. The guy's been in jail for a long while, he's gotta get out sometime."
Marty shook his head. "For some reason, I don't think that's Bart."
"He's got to be some relation to Biff," George insisted. "I can see the family resemblance. And speak of the devil. . . ."
Marty sighed as Biff'55's black '46 Ford roadster pulled into the Town Square. "As if 2 Tannens in the last time period weren't enough."
Doc'55 suddenly recognized the evil time-traveler. "Great Scott, is that man Biff himself?"
"Unfortunately," Mysteria grumbled. "We suspect he's going to give his younger self some 'advice'. We're here to stop it. We need some way to keep Biff'86 from getting to Biff'55."
"Well, with me in here, Biff'55 will have plenty to distract him. I'm one of his favorite targets."
Biff'55 entered the diner, trailed by his gang buddies. He snorted at Doc'55. "Hey, Brown! What're you doin' here with us normal people?"
Doc'55 just ignored him. Mysteria felt her temper flare a little. It always upset her how people considered her fiancee crazy with no information. Knowing she couldn't mess with the past, she held her tongue though.
Biff'55 suddenly noticed Marty next to him. He marched up to the teen and picked him up by his shirt collar. "You still owe me 300 bucks for my car. And it's coming out of your ass, Klein." He raised his fist to slug Marty.
"Leave him alone, Biff," George spoke up, glaring at his nemesis.
Biff'55 glared right back, albeit more nervously. "Stay out of this, McFly," he threatened. Marty was pleased to hear Biff'55 didn't seem too confident around George.
"No. Calvin's my friend, Biff. Leave him alone."
Biff'55 snarled, but let Marty go. Marty fell on the floor, rubbing his neck where his collar had choked him slightly. "I'm gonna get my money, Klein."
"How is it my fault you can't drive?"
Biff'55's eyes narrowed. "You want to take this outside?"
Marty was sorely tempted to, but refrained. He knew he could juggle Biff'55 if he wanted to. But what if he seriously hurt Biff'55, or even killed him? That would cause a paradox, and you didn't want those.
Doc'55 rescued him from answering. "Biff, please do everyone a favor and go away."
Biff'55's attention turned back onto the scientist. "Make me. My old man beat you up, he told me so. And if my old man can do something, I can do it better."
Doc'55 stood up, revealing he had an inch or two on Biff'55. "True, but when Bart Tannen did it, I hadn't yet reached puberty."
Biff'55 glanced up and down the taller man, looking a bit less at ease. Then he smirked like a true Tannen and slugged Doc'55 in the stomach. Winded, Doc'55 fell to his knees.
"Uncle Emmett!" Marty hopped off his butt and checked on him. "Geez, are you okay?"
"I've been better," Doc'55 admitted, getting his breath back. "He simply knocked the wind out of me. I'll be all right."
Biff'55 laughed, his gang joining in. "All right?! Hell, Brown, you've never been all right! We should lock ya up and get it over with. You're nothing but an old crackpot loser who likes to blow up things. All right. . ." He dissolved into laughter.
Doc'55 pretended he was ignoring them, but Marty could sense those comments hurt. "You're none of that," he whispered to Doc'55. "You're a genius who's gonna invent the greatest invention ever."
"In 30 years," Doc'55 reminded him, also in a whisper. "I still have to build the damn thing. In the meantime, I'd like some reassurance that I'm not a failure. Half of my inventions don't work, and the other half don't work the way I'd like them to. Am I doomed to 30 years of miserable failure before completing the time machine."
Somehow, Marty knew exactly what to say. "Hey, half the things Jules Verne predicted couldn't come true in the time he lived in. You're the same way. It's not you that's a failure. It's the rest of the planet for not providing you with the right technology."
Doc'55 smiled at him. "I wish I didn't have to wait 30 years for you," he whispered, hugging him tight.
"You might see me sooner," Marty said, knowing Doc and himself actually met in 1982. "You'll make it, Doc."
Skinhead noticed Mysteria, still sipping her water, as the laughter died down. He swaggered over. "Hello, sweetie," he cooed. "That's a nice dress you have on." He knelt down. "But I think you'd look better-"
CLUNK!
Mysteria hit Skinhead over the head with her glass. The gang member swayed for a moment, blinking. "I know karate too. So if one of you comes near me, I'll knock your head off your neck."
Biff'55 scowled. This just wasn't his day. He looked at Marty, looked at George, then sighed. "C'mon. I don't want to be around such a bunch of losers." Taking a moment to spit at Doc'55, they went back outside into the rain.
"I should get home too," George said, checking his watch. "Mom's expecting company tonight, and she'll want me to be tidy." He paid for their two bowls of soup and headed to the door with Lorraine. "It was nice seeing you again, Calvin. Maybe we'll see each other in the future."
"I have a feeling you will," Marty grinned. "Good luck, you two."
"Thanks." They shook hands, and the teen couple left, hand in hand. "Man, I never thought I'd say this about my parents, but they look cute together."
Mysteria suddenly frowned. "We lost Biff'86. Damn it, where did he get to?" She stood up and scanned the Town Square, searching for lifeglows. She finally located one the right size behind a few parked cars. "Oh, there he is. He's hiding for some reason. I wonder why?"
"Possibly he was startled by seeing himself circa 1955," Doc'55 offered quietly, getting back to his feet. "Do you require my assistance?"
"Maybe, but I don't want to put you in any unnecessary danger." Mysteria closed her eyes and listened closely for Biff'86's voice. "He's mumbling something about getting rid of the biggest obstacle to his life."
Doc'55 listened intently, but didn't hear anything except his fellow customers and rain. He looked at Mystie, confused. "How did you learn that? Is some form of future technology aiding you?"
"You could say that," Mystie nodded. "Hmm, biggest obstacle to Biff's life. . . ."
It came to Marty in a flash. "George!" he screamed, causing Goldie to drop a bunch of dishes. "Shit! He's here to kill my dad!" He bolted from the diner, chasing after George and Lorraine, who were heading towards George's car.
"Of course!" Doc'55 said as he and Mysteria ran after the frantic teen. "Biff'55 hates George, but doesn't dare engage him in a fist fight. And if Biff'86 succeeds, Marty will never be born, the events of today will never happen, we'll have a paradox, and the universe could concievably unravel!" Taking a breath, he qualified, "Although that's the worst-case scenario. The destruction could be very limited, localized to our galaxy."
"That's a relief," Mysteria said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
In front of them, George and Lorraine turned as Marty ran up to them. "Marty? What's wrong?" George asked, taking a half-step towards the worried McFly.
A moment later, there was the unmistakable sound of a gunshot. The bullet whizzed past George's head. If he hadn't taken that half-step, he would have been instantly killed. Lorraine shrieked. "George! Oh my God, you were nearly killed!"
"You guys are in danger! You gotta get out of here!" Marty pulled George and Lorraine away from the car, just in time to help them avoid another bullet. "C'mon, move!"
"Marty, stop trying to dislocate my arm! I don't remember you being that strong!" George looked around, throughly terrified. "Who the hell's trying to kill me?! And why? I'm only a teenager!"
"Oh, George, I'm scared," Lorraine whimpered, clinging to her boyfriend.
"That makes 2 of us, Lorry."
"We saw some lunatic with a gun hide behind those cars," Marty explained. "He's taking pot shots at whoever's nearest. C'mon, let's get out of here!"
Behind the parked cars, Biff swore as his gun jammed. It didn't help matters that Calvin Klein, that butt-head, was trying to lead his target to safety. "Funny, I don't remember Klein being here today. But I saw my younger self - now that's freaky - arguing with him. I must be getting old."
Doc'55 and Mysteria, having briefly hung back, went up to assist Marty. "Oh, hell, what does it matter if he sees me?" Mysteria said, using her superior senses to keep track of Biff. "Hopefully he'll think twice about shooting again if he does."
Doc'55 looked at them. "How did you get here?"
"In George's car," Lorraine said, pointing it out to him. She looked at the scientist nervously. Despite the fact he was 'Calvin's uncle', she still got uneasy around him.
"Okay. We'll distract the shooter while you two make a break for the car. Drive away as fast as you can, George. I promise I'll pay for any tickets you may recieve."
"Uh - thanks," George said, nodding. He and Lorraine ran for the car. Mysteria tried to get someone's attention. "Call the police! There's a nutcase with a gun in the Town Square!"
Biff's gun finally unjammed. Ignoring the woman calling for the police, he aimed for George. "You're not escaping, McFly."
Suddenly, Biff'55 appeared on the scene, having been attracted by all the action. "Hey, butt-head! Where the hell are you going? Need a shower because you were talking to Crackpot Brown?" His gang guffawed.
"Go to hell, Biff!" George yelled back, getting into the driver's seat.
Biff'55 was about to say something else when it happened. Biff, engrossed in the scene before him, accidentally fired his gun. The bullet clipped Biff'55's arm. "OW! What the hell?"
Biff nearly dropped his gun in shock. "Jesus Christ, I just shot myself!"
Marty wasn't sure whether to grin or panic worse. I was nice to see Biff'55 get hurt, especially by his own hand. But what if he had seriously injured himself? The thought of Biff dying wasn't so appealing if it meant the end of the universe. Beside him, he could sense Mystie was stuck in a similar dilemma.
Doc'55, however, had chosen to smile. "It's okay, you two. It's just a scratch. Nothing he can die from." Thus reassured, the two Time Trippers grinned broadly.
George and Lorraine took off. Biff, recovering, slammed his hand into a car as he watched his target vanish. He had been so hoping to return to a future that was McFlyless. "Should I follow them? I've still got 3 bullets left. I really should have brought a better gun."
Then his gaze switched to the group in front of him. Doc'55 was there, offering a ride to Calvin Klein and that Mysteria bi-
"MYSTERIA?"
Biff blinked. Even though he knew she was a souled vampire, he didn't remember her from the 50s. And something about Calvin was starting to bug him.
"Never mind about that," he told himself aloud, aiming his gun again. "If I have to endure McFlys, they can be unhappy McFlys." He fired.
Happily, his aim was off as always. The bullet merely grazed Doc'55. "Ouch!" he snapped suddenly. He looked down at his arm to find it bleeding. "That's odd. How in the name of Sir Issac H. Newton-"
"Uh-oh. I think Biff decided that if he couldn't have a McFly, he'd take you as the consolation prize," Mysteria said worriedly.
Marty went back into panic mode. "I say we run for it, Doc."
"Frankly, that sounds like a good idea to me. What say we retrieve my car and get out of here." They took off, narrowly avoiding a second bullet.
Biff cursed. How much rotten luck could one guy have? Knowing he had only one shot left, he gave up his cover and aimed as carefully as possible.
Marty saw Biff stand up. Abruptly scenes of Doc getting shot in both the 1985s he remembered replayed in his head. Desperate, he tackled Doc'55 just as Biff fired.
The bullet missed Doc'55, but just clipped Marty. At the car, Doc let out a yelp of surprise and pain. "Doc? What's the matter?" asked Jennifer, worried. "Is it Marty?"
"Yes, he's been hurt," Doc said, touching his arm. "Marty? Are you all right? I felt pain come from you."
"I'm okay, Doc. Biff was trying to kill George!"
"I know, I was listening in." A horrific thought popped into his head. "Great Scott, Marty, have you been shot?!"
"Relax, Doc! Just grazed, nothing serious. Biff was going to kill you, because we kept him from killing George. I had to stop him. Heck, you got clipped by a bullet yourself."
"Great Scott," Doc breathed, amazed. He relayed all the information to an anxious Jennifer. She breathed a sigh of relief upon learning they weren't seriously hurt. "He still has his letter, right?"
"We made him keep it, Doc. Everything's cool about that." Marty glanced over at Biff, back behind the parked cars. "I think he's out of bullets. We're gonna split while we can. Doc'55 offered us a ride, and we're gonna have him drop us off a mile or so from the sign. We'll see you in a few, Doc."
"Roger, Marty. We'll be waiting." Doc readied the DeLorean for time travel. "Oh, by the way, I checked up on our escapades in 1885. Thankfully, we didn't affect history any, except to make Buford a bit more religious."
"A Tannen, religious," Marty mentally snorted. "See ya, Doc."
Doc'55 looked at Marty curiously. "Are you going to let me up anytime soon?"
Blushing, Marty got off Doc'55. "Sorry. I was thinking."
Doc'55 smiled, then noticed the cut. "Marty, you're bleeding!"
"Yeah, that bullet meant for you clipped me instead. I'll be fine." Marty smiled as he looked at Doc'55's cut. "Look, they match. Same arm and everything."
Doc'55 looked at his cut and nodded. "Yeah, I guess they do." He glanced over at the frustrated Biff. "But I believe it would be prudent to get out of here before he decides to come over here and use his gun as a club."
"He'd never get past us, I promise you," Mysteria said, casting Biff a nasty look. "But I agree with you about going. He can't do anymore mischief in this time."
"Good. Now," he said, dropping his voice, "where's the time machine?"
"Behind the Lyons Estates billboard," Marty whispered back. "You know how to get there."
"I certainly do. Let's go." They ran around the corner to retrieve Doc'55's car.
Mysteria, unfortunately, had been wrong about Biff. As soon as he saw them go for Doc'55's car, he got an idea. Instead of trying to kill them individually, why not just crush them or run them off the road all at once? And he knew just the car to use, too.
His old '46 Ford.
He emerged from behind the parked cars, tucking his gun away as he did so. Looking around, he saw that Biff'55 and his gang were gawking at Biff'55's cut. Biff'55 was hoping it would leave a scar, so he'd look dangerous. Biff stared at the scene a moment, trying to comprehend it, then dashed over to the unattended Ford. The door was unlocked, the keys were in the ignition. Smiling, Biff slid into the front seat. "I have to say, I missed ya, baby," he thought, tenderly patting the steering wheel. He was just about to start her up when-
"HEY! Get the hell out of my car!"
"Go to hell, butt-head!" Biff yelled back automatically. He carefully started the car. "Still got the magic touch," he commented to himself.
"Who are you calling a butt-head, butt-head?" Biff'55 demanded, stalking over. "And how'd you start my car? Nobody can start that car but me."
Biff barely repressed a snigger. "Look, I need it. I'll give it back."
"Yeah right, butt-head. I paid 300 bucks to fix this car, and it ain't gettin' wrecked again!"
"I don't remember being this obnoxious." "I'm going after that Calvin Klein creep and his pals! Just let me go!"
"No way. Where this car goes, I go. So get out."
"Go bug the Mc-McFly," Biff began to snap. But, as he said the name, something in his head clicked. In his mind, he saw simultaneously Calvin Klein on his broken scooter - and Marty McFly on his skateboard. For the first time, he realized the faces matched. "Holy shit, Klein's McFly!"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Clavin Klein is really George McFy's-" Biff started, spinning around to face Biff'55. He immediately forgot what he was saying the minute his eyes met those of his younger self. For a moment, it felt like his brain was about to short-circuit. He'd seen himself at this age in pictures and such, but this was different. This was him - alive and kicking and too young to be right. He watched, frozen, as recognition dawned in Biff'55's eyes. For a moment, everything went out of focus, and Biff knew he was about to faint.
Just in time, he ripped his eyes from his younger self's face. Biff'55 wasn't so lucky - he collapsed, unconscious from shock. Biff breathed heavily for a second, trying to calm himself down. "Shit, I never want to repeat that!"
Finally, he got his thoughts back to his mission. He knew he probably had no chance of catching Doc'55's car now. He also knew that, if Calvin Klein was really Marty McFly, his enemies had a time machine too. "They've probably been following me," he groaned inwardly. "Damn, that means the final trip in the past is out. Plan B time."
He looked at his younger gang, who were staying a respectable distance from the car. This was one of the few times Biff'55 had been defeated, and they weren't taking any chances. "Tell him it's near the woods," he yelled to them. They nodded obediently. Biff carefully maneuvered around his unconscious self and drove off.
Tuesday, November 15th
5: 02 P. M.
"You can stop here," Mysteria said as they neared the Lyons Estates billboard. "Your older self's there, and I doubt you want to see him."
"Absolutely not," Doc'55 agreed. He looked at his two passengers. "Well - see you in the future."
"Or the past," Marty grinned, leaning over to hug Doc'55. "And remember, read that letter!"
"I will, I will," Doc'55 promised, rolling his eyes. He squeezed Marty tightly, then released him and turned to Mysteria. "I sincerely hope we're good friends in the future," he said, extending his hand.
"If we weren't, I wouldn't be here. I'll see you." She shook his hand, then naughtily pulled him close and kissed him on the cheek. Doc'55 blushed, suddenly thinking the idea of 'love at first sight' might have some merit. "And I don't even know her name!" he thought giddily.
Before he could ask, though, the two time travelers had gotten out of the car and were heading towards the billboard. They waved one last goodbye, which he returned before turning his car around and driving away.
A few minutes later, he stopped. He just couldn't go back to his house after an adventure like that. Not without seeing the DeLorean one last time. His friends couldn't deny him that. He parked the car on the side of the road and stealthily crept back, intending to get a quick peek and then slip away.
As Doc'55 snuck up on them, the Time Trippers were having a happy reunion. Doc kissed Mystie hard. "Oh, Mystie, I love you. Are you safe? What did you think of my younger self?"
"I'm fine. You've got an adorable blush." Mysteria playfully licked his neck. "Now I know how Marty felt that fateful night at Lone Pine Mall. When you got clipped by that bullet, my heart stopped beating."
Jennifer had retrieved the First-Aid kit from the car and was bandaging Marty's wound. "Marty, that was so brave of you," she whispered.
"I did it for the future, Jennifer," Marty told her, kissing her. "For ours and theirs."
Doc patted Marty's shoulder. "I'm just glad we're all safe and sound. Do you think you need some-" He held his wrist out.
"Nah, this ain't serious. I'll live."
Doc'55 had finally come close enough to properly hear them. He paused for a minute to listen to their conversation.
"Where do you think Biff's gonna go next, Doc?" asked a voice Doc'55 instantly recognized as Marty's.
"'When', you mean," corrected another voice - his own. Doc'55 got a chill down his spine as he heard his older self speak. "I don't know. Damn it, we could have stopped all this by figuring out where he hid his plutonium."
"He could have always gotten more," Mystie replied. "And - what the - What's that smell?"
Doc'55 looked down at himself. Smell? Had he stepped in manure?
Behind the billboard, Doc raised his nose, sniffing. He frowned. "Someone's followed us," he said. "I don't recognize the smell."
Mysteria took a sniff too. "It smells familiar, but I can't place it yet."
The teens looked nervously at each other. "Do you think it's one of Biff's gang?" Jennifer asked.
"Could be. Well, there's only one thing to do. Scare them off." He vamped out and went to confront the menace. On the other side, Doc'55 decided to grab his glimpse and high-tail it out of there.
They met at the corner.
Doc'55 almost had a heart attack. It was him all right, 31 years older and wiser. But - but his face! His eyes were literally glowing, and he had fangs! Completely stunned, he put a hand to his chest, as if afraid his heart would explode from the shock.
Doc gasped. The scent he'd picked up was his own! "No wonder I didn't recognize it. I could only smell myself after I became a vampire. Great Scott, what must I look like to - me. That man's me."
For a moment, it felt to Doc as if he was teetering on the edge of a great void. Then he snapped his eyes away from Doc'55's face and spun around, gulping in air.
Mysteria was waiting for him with open arms. "Oh, Emmett, I was just about to warn you. Are you all right?"
"That - that was - that was so strange," Doc whispered. "Like looking in a mirror and seeing the wrong reflection. Meeting yourself like that - And God knows what my younger self is thinking."
"He must have followed us," Marty said obviously. "Why the heck would he do that? He's the one who was always warning me about knowing too much about the future."
"It was probably the lure of the time machine," Doc said, still reeling. "I obsessed about it for months after you left. I suppose I simply wanted to see it one last time." He reverted to his normal appearance and looked back at Doc'55. To his surprise, his younger counterpart hadn't fainted yet. "I suppose he's too paralyzed with fear to faint." "What will be the effect on the future. . . ?"
Mysteria laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'll handle it, Emmett," she told him. "Go relax in the DeLorean and let yourself recover." Doc nodded and left. Mystie rounded the corner and approached the frozen Doc'55 with a smile.
Doc'55 finally found his voice. "What on earth happened to my older self!?! That wasn't a human being looking at me! Great Scott, what-"
"Shh, calm down Emmett," Mystie said, gently laying her hands on his shoulders. "Don't worry about it."
"Don't worry about it?! I become some form of genetic freak in the future, and you tell me not to worry about it?!"
"I'm telling you not to worry because there's no reason for you to," Mystie soothed. "Emmett, look into my eyes. You'll see you'll have nothing to worry about."
Doc'55 met her gaze, still terrified. "You're far too calm about this, miss."
Mystie smiled. "Relax. Just relax, all right? That's all you need to do, relax."
"How - how can I relax?" Doc'55 demanded, starting to feel strange. His heartbeat seemed abnormally loud. "What are you trying to do to me?"
"Calm you. No, don't look away from me. Keep your eyes focused on mine. Relax. You're far too tense. Let your breathing deepen, slow. Relax, Emmett."
The strange feeling increased. It was becoming hard to think, suddenly. Frightened, he tried to resist.
Mysteria began massaging his shoulders. "No, Emmett. Don't fight. Relax. It'll do you good. Please, don't fight me."
Doc'55 felt the urge to fight fade. He let his facial muscles slacken. His mind was so foggy, it was too much effort to think. He stood quietly and awaited command.
Mysteria recognized the vacant look of a vampirically hypnotized person. It gave her a slight chill to see it on a young version of her fiancee. She pressed on. "Okay, Emmett, listen closely. You must forget what you just saw. You must forget."
"I - I must forget," Doc'55 repeated slowly.
"That's right, you must forget. You never saw your older self's face. You never saw it. Any memory of seeing it is gone from your mind. You never saw your older self's face. Do you understand?"
Doc'55 nodded. "Good. I'm going to blur your memories of today just a little. Just of my face and of Biff Tannen. You can't clearly recall my face anymore. You remember meeting me, but the memory of what I look like is blurry. Also, you will forget that it was Biff Tannen who caused all this. You will recall our adventure together, but you will not recall that it was Biff who did those things. This is simply to insure the future. Do you understand, Emmett?"
Doc'55 gave her another nod. Mysteria looked around and thought up a cover story to explain what she had just done. "All right, Emmett, here's what's going to happen. I'm going to put you to sleep. You will awaken 5 minutes later with a slight headache. You will remember that you tripped over the string of flags and hit your head before you could see anything. You will also believe the accident played tricks on your memory, as my face will be blurry, and the identity of the evil time traveler will be gone. Shortly after you wake up, you will have a compulsion to go home and read the letter Marty gave you. Follow it, and do not try to resist it. Now tell me what happened to you."
"I tripped over the flags and hit my head," Doc'55 said tonelessly.
"Perfect. Now sleep, Emmett. It's been a hard day for you. Rest."
Doc'55's eyes closed. Mysteria caught him as he fell forward and laid him gently on the ground. "Sweet dreams," she whispered, giving Doc'55 a quick kiss. Doc'55 smiled.
She rejoined her companions. "Well, that's taken care of," she sighed. "He won't remember seeing you, Emmett."
"I heard," Doc nodded approvingly. "That was very smart of you to alter my memories like that. Now I don't have unnecessary knowledge that could jeopardize our future."
"And that's the last thing I want jeopardized."
Doc's watch alarm went off at that moment. Doc glanced down at the date and gasped. "Great Scott, he's gone into the future!"
"The future?! When?" Jennifer demanded.
"Saturday, October 24th, 2015, 1:30 P. M.," Doc informed them.
Marty whistled. "That's pretty far into the future. Why would Biff go there? He's gonna be dead or really old by then."
"I think he realized we could follow him when he saw me," Mysteria said in frustration.
"Still, the future?"
"Biff wants to trick us," Doc said confidently. "He thinks we'll go happily back to the present and he'll be able to catch us off guard with some plan in 29 years. Well, it's not going to happen!" Doc punched in their destination time, motioning for everyone to get in.
Mysteria glanced at the time. "Uh, Emmett, you set this for 6: 00 A. M.," she pointed out. "That's hours before Biff arrives."
"I don't know the weather on October 24th," Doc said logically. "If it's bright sunshine, I don't want to take the chance of falling asleep at the wheel. And, no matter what time period we're in, it's still Marty's birthday." He smiled at the teen. "Sorry your present has to come under such frantic circumstances."
"Hell, I don't care, Doc. It's still a great present. C'mon, let's go back to the future."
Doc chuckled. "What an oxymoron. 'Back To The Future' could be the name of a great time-travel movie."
"You wish, Doc," Marty said, climbing into the car. They buckled themselves in, and Doc activated the hover conversion. Just before they left, Mysteria noticed Doc'55 had awoke and was waving at them. She briefly lowered her window, waved back, then prepared for temporal displacement.