Running Out Of Time
Chapter 24
Time To Search

Re-entry time: November 12, 1995
10:05 PM

The DeLorean re-appeared over Hill Valley, which was now rid of the smoke stacks. Doc located the school, and set the DeLorean on the roof. As the frost started to collect on the time machine, Dan flew open his door, stepped out, and looked around. Thunder crashed, and lightning flashed, but it didn't bother him for he was used to it. Doc opened his door, and went directly to the trunk for the bag...

Dan: There's a shitload of places he can be right now. How do we find him?

Doc: I'm glad you asked.

Doc pulled the futuristic bag out of the trunk, and placed it on the hood of the car. He opened it up, and pulled out what looked like a electronic board with ISA slot pins on it.

Dan: What the hell is that?

Doc: While I was in 2017 getting the hover components for the train, I put this together. It's a flux dispersment ionization detection control board. I was going to pick up one of those Palm Pilot devices, and attach it to one of them, but I didn't have enough time to get it.

Dan: Even though you have a time machine?

Doc: Dan, lets not engage in a senseless verbal war, and just get to the point. I figured in case of an emergency like this, all I'd need to do is use this to find the perpetrator who were to steal my time machine, or if someone else came in from another time.

Dan: Well, what good is it going to do if you have nothing to hook it up to?!

Doc: We can use one of your ghost detection devices.

Dan: The PKE meter?

Doc: Yes. Can I see it?

Dan turned back to the DeLorean. He looked around on the passenger side, then got back out with the PKE meter. He handed it to Doc. He opened the back panel of the meter, and started attaching the control board...

Dan: Are you sure this is going to work?

Doc: Yes, I'm positive, because I built another one out of late 19th century components.

Dan: How does it work?

Doc: When anyone or anything is exposed to the temporal time displacement field, some of that ionization "rubs" off on the person or object. I have found a way to detect that ionization field, and because the time machines are continuously exposed to the time displacement field, they'll have the most power. That means we can find Biff, the time train, the book, and anyone that was separated from the group.

Doc finished installing the board, and put the back panel back in its place. He handed the meter to Dan, and he switched it on. A loud metallic screech rang from the meter. Dan shut it off again, and shook his head, trying to get the ringing out of his ears...

Dan: I think you forgot to do something!

Doc: Oops, I forgot to calibrate the detection radius! It's detecting you, me and the DeLorean!

Dan: Don't tell me what the problem is, just fix it!

***

Meanwhile, on the other side of town...

18 year old Biff Tannen walked home from the tunnel, tired, pissed off, and reeking of horse manure. The rain only made him more frustrated, making the smell worse, and irritated him as the water dripped down his face. He was now walking past the Texaco station.

So far tonight, he was humiliated by George McFly, he damaged his car again, he got covered in shit again, and that Kline took his only chance at getting rich. And now, he felt even lower, for now he had to walk back into town in the pouring rain covered with shit.

Biff: I'm going to kill that Kline son-of-a-bitch, if it's the last thing I do. Everyone that's ever messed with me tonight is going to get it, I swear to god!

Voice: And you just might, too.

Biff turned around to find a shadowy figure standing by one of the gas pumps of the station. It was hard to make the outline, but he saw the figure was holding an umbrella.

Biff: Who the hell are you?!

Figure: Lets just say I felt your pain.

Biff: Oh, yeah, sure. What are you, some kind of physic?

Figure: Yeah, and with that being the case, I'm going to tell you your future. For the next thirty years, you're going to be the weasel to George McFly. You're going to do nothing but listen to him, and always obey, like a whipped puppy.

Biff: Hey, butthead, this is not funny!

Figure: Do you hear me laughing?

Biff stood quiet for a moment, until the figure spoke again...

Figure: If you still want that book Kline took from you, it's in a bucket at the Lyon Estates housing development on the outskirts of town. You still have a chance at your future.

Biff: Right. I'll go and get it right now!

Biff was about to turn around and leave, when the man in the shadows stopped him...

Figure: Oh, and one more thing! If you ever happen to have a run-in with this guy that's known as a Ghostbuster, and he asks about the book, like the old man that gave you the book said about the scientist and the kid... Kill him. ::pause:: Remember: Ghostbuster.

Biff: Right.

Biff turned around, and started to head to seek the book. When Young Biff Tannen was a good distance away, 85' Biff walked out of the shadows, and watched himself off. He gave an evil chuckle as he slithered back into the shadows.