A/N Hello! This is going to end up being later then I wanted it up but I fell asleep in the middle of writing it sooo….it didn't get down until around 8:30. Don't get me wrong! It's not boring! At least I don't think so, I really got into it and it ended up being longer then I planned. I'm excited to hear what you guys think so be sure to drop me a line on this one! Thanks to Tahra, Proops and and AbbyTownsend for reviewing! I love to hear what you liked! All right! Here we go!

A few moments later, Josie was looking around the room when she stopped and called over her shoulder to the group, "Umm…guys? I hate to burst any bubbles, but Vaughn is still frozen."

They looked over to her in amazement, with everything that had been going on, they'd completely forgotten about him.

"Cryonically Preserved," Lucas corrected.

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes.

Z pushed his glasses up and asked Lucas, "You know what's going on?"

"Yeah, when you touched him, his body temperature was lowered so far that he fell into a cryonic state."

"Cryogenics, fascinating," Professor Z said softly. After a moment, he focused and turned to the rest of the Science Club. He began counting off on his fingers. "All right, we know what caused the problem, we have identified it," Z paused. "So how do we solve it?"

Josie answered, "Well, when you were frozen, we knew you felt bad about something by the way you were acting. Lucas found the note and we realized that you were hiding it from us. Or trying to," She added.

"As soon as we found out what was wrong, you came around." Lucas finished.

"Yes, but what about when he froze himself in the first place?" Corrine asked. "It was right after he froze Vaughn; he had to be feeling bad about that too! It isn't just his mom that triggers it." She turned to Josie. "You were mad a Professor Z and he was sad about his mother and Vaughn."

"Okay," Marshall said slowly, "so Z felt bad about hiding something from us. Then he froze Vaughn and felt worse."

"But," Lucas broke in, "we know his mom is all right, and that Vaughn isn't…exactly… hurt…Why isn't Vaughn better?"

Josie turned to find a momentarily forgotten Z who had returned to his desk. "There's something else." She said with certainty.

Zachary looked at her with a sad smile, "I have to say, I'm impressed with the speed of your deduction. You all are very enthusiastic problem solvers."

Josie didn't move, but asked softly, "Z, why are you doing this? First you wouldn't tell us about your mom and now this? What is so bad that you won't tell us?"

Marshall spoke up, "We're behind you one hundred percent!"

Z let out a half-hearted grin. "I didn't want to concern you."

Josie burst out "Concern us? This could be the only way to save Vaughn! What aren't you telling us?"

Still Z balked, "It's not important."

"But saving Vaughn is! Vaughn's important to me!" Josie stopped and scrambled to correct herself. "I—I mean important to us…his friends…You know what I mean." She turned to Lucas, "Right?"

Lucas bowed his head, "Yeah, I know what you meant." He turned and walked out of the room without another word.

"Lucas!" Josie called after him before the door cut her off.

After a pause, Marshall said, "I'll go talk to him." He started out the door.

"I'll go with," Corrine added, following him out, closing the door as she went.

Josie turned back to Professor Z, determination evident on her face.

Z sighed, Josie didn't have to voice the question written all over her face. "I told you, it's not important."

"And I told you it has to be! Don't you trust us? Trust me?" Josie asked softly.

Zachary ran a hand through his hair. "Of course I trust you. I just don't want to give you a reason not to trust me."

"What?" Josie asked disbelieving.

Z took a deep breath; it had to come out now. "I haven't been entirely honest with you guys. As soon as I was involved in this," he gestured helplessly around the room, referring to the wormhole, "I should've told you."

"Told us what?" Josie asked hesitantly, not sure if she wanted the answer.

Z paused, unsure of how to start. "Well…you know the picture of me at Pearadyne?"

"Yes," Josie replied slowly, "you said you worked there for a summer, for the scholarship. You just answered phones."

"At first." Z continued, not looking at Josie. " When I worked there I heard snatches of conversations in the hallway, joined in discussions during lunch break, contributed some of my ideas and before I knew it, Mr. Pearson promoted me. I was one of the top researchers at Pearadyne."

Z grinned mirthlessly, "I wasn't well liked among the senior employees, but Victor insisted. My colleges included Sarah Pearson and Kelly Trent."

"You worked with my mom?" Two voices asked incredulously.

Z started and looked up to find Vaughn staring uncertain at him. He glanced at Josie whose face showed disbelief, anger and hurt.

"Yes, I worked with both your mothers, and Victor. It was the job of my dreams. Ground-breaking discoveries, recognition…a monthly paycheck. It was great…until…" Z trailed off.

"The explosion," Josie filled in.

Z nodded silently, then continued. "Victor and Sarah had their hearts set on that test. It started out all right, then three rings spinning in perfect time with one another, their motion calculated to the second, the ball literally glowing with power.

I stood by and watched through a window on the same floor, keeping one eye on the monitors."

Z frowned in remembrance. "Suddenly, there was a flash and one of the monitors showed a flux in the power. I think that's what caused the explosion. That one flux. The power rushed to correct it and threw the entire test off balance. It should've been aborted there, but for some reason they continued it."

Z went on, but he was lost in the memory, not noticing the two students in front of him. "I remember looking through the window as the rings spun faster then they were made to and, for a moment, I thought I saw a young, dark haired girl out on the platform with the lab technician."

"Corrine," Josie said softly. "She was the flux."

Z nodded slowly, "For a long while I was busy trying to correct the monitors and find out what needed to be done. Suddenly, there was another flash, another flux in the power."

"Me."

"Yes, I only caught a fleeting glimpse of red hair before some one tried to make me leave," Z's eyebrows furrowed, "I wouldn't go. I couldn't leave that marvelous, scientific palace I had started my life on. I worked harder, trying to solve what couldn't be solved.

Just when I was ready to give up, there was another flux. I looked through the window, trying to catch sight of the thing that had ruined my exciting start in the scientific field." Z grinned at the irony.

"That was you, wasn't it." Josie asked.

"Yes, it was my counterpart from this time, come to save you and Corrine."

"That's why you could open the door!" Josie cried in sudden realization, "You remembered the code!"

"I remembered, but I was lucky to, it had been fifteen years after all." Z continued with his recollection. "I saw a man in a suit, but he didn't turn around, he just rushed to the door and opened it."

Z shrugged. "That's when I was pulled away by Dr. Trent. She had gone around to make sure everyone got out. I was one of the last. I was outside with the rest of the employees when Pearadyne blew.

It was a horribly sad day. Victor was a complete wreck with out Sarah and I left in search of another job, Pearadyne still heavy on my mind. It wasn't until Victor called and offered me a job here, that I felt better.

Then, on my first day, we all get into this and everything became clear. I can't tell you how often I've stayed up late into the night, wondering about the what-ifs and the if-onlys."

Z sighed and silent for a moment before continuing suddenly. "After a couple months here, I realized Pearadyne was going to play a large part in the mystery. I debated whether to tell you kids or not, but when you found the picture Josie, I was forced to make a quick decision. One I've regretted."

The three stood in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

"I still can't believe you knew my mom and dad." Vaughn said suddenly, "and you never told us."

"And you knew about the Qui ball being Victor's power source." Josie added, "And how the explosion happened."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Z walked around the desk and extended his hand toward Josie. "Forgive me?" he asked hesitantly.

She thought for a moment then grinned. "Of course." Josie grabbed his hand in a firm shake, then pulled him into a short hug.

Z paused for a moment afterward and his eyes widened. "My hand! You didn't freeze! I didn't even think—! You're all right?"

Josie laughed, "Yeah, I'm fine. Didn't you realize? You picked up Corrine, I thought you knew!"

Z laughed with her, "I do now!"

Vaughn broke in, "Shouldn't we tell Lucas, Marshall and Corrine?"

Z frowned at the thought of relaying the entire story again, and Josie jumped in. "We'll tell them. Come on Vaughn." She dragged him through the door with a last look at Professor Z.

Professor Noel Zachary looked around the room and laughed at the lines of water running down the walls and his desk. He walked over to the thermostat on the wall and clicked it up to seventy. Then he went to his desk, sat down and smiled.

A/N: Ha! Phew, long chapter. For me anyway, I've been tired all day for some odd reason.

I really hope you liked this one. If anyone would choose a time to review, this would be it. I'd like to know what you thought of my Pearadyne accident especially. So this is a note to all you lurkers out there: I love you, but review this one at least. If you don't review any more, it won't matter, but at least review this one.

This story is winding down, I think only one more chapter and an epilogue. I'll review when I can, but don't wait up, it might be a few days. Thanks again for Reading,Enjoying and Reviewing!