A/N - based on some really good feedback I received, I rewrote Chapter 3 (by adding and deleting mostly) and reposted it today.
I wanted to clarify Myka's feelings. I portrayed her as 'nervous' and 'unsure' and that was incorrect. So I tried to clarify that by
adding a few lines, deleting others.
If Chapter 3 wasn't an issue - great. If it was, go back if you have time and see if the new version does not work better.
As always - I am amazed at how insightful you are about these characters and so do appreciate your input esp when something does not fit.
Great job.
Step by Step
Myka did a double take to try and figure out how she became so preoccupied that she didn't stop with Helena, but continued walking right to the bedroom door she remembered. Would Helena think that was some kind of a message? Myka wondered. One look at the smile of Helena's face was a resounding yes. Helena stood there with that expression while Myka walked slowly back to where she was.
"That's some ….uhm…elaborate lock," Myka said trying to distract them both.
"Indeed," Helena said as she pressed a sequence of numbers inside an opening and then pressed her hand down on a glass plated rectangle. Upon accepting the evidence, the loud click could be heard and the heavy door to the room opened.
"Please come in," Helena said.
Myka walked into the cathedral ceiling room. She looked at the floor to ceiling bookshelves that were filled with leather-bound books and objects. She felt as if she had stepped back in time as the room had the appearance of something out of the late 19th century. Then Myka saw it. There in the middle of the room was a large round platform and on it lay what appeared to be two chairs facing each other on either side. The chairs appeared like old fashion fire side chairs, except that they reclined back at about a hundred and twenty degree angle. Behind each of the chairs was a pole with several wires attached. And at the head of each chair there appeared to be a cap attached to the other end of those wires.
It all looked very archaic for something that was supposed to have a modern medical purpose.
"It looks like a prop from a movie," Myka said, still turning her head to take in the rest of the room. Books, journals, maps, globes, all filled the shelves. Behind the platform was a large machine that looked like an oversized slot machine, complete with handle you pull to make a series of reels rotate. Myka looked more closely at it. There were no slots for pictures, but rather one row of reels that contained what appeared to be ….dates.
Everything about it said it was old.
"This is what you needed all that energy for?" she said running her hand across the massive box.
"Yes," Helena said.
"And it attaches to those two chairs?" Myka asked, her eyes following the wires.
"Yes," Helena said watching Myka trying to put this together.
"And the chairs …spin?" Myka surmised when she put her foot on the platform and it moved.
"Yes," Helena confirmed.
"And it's …not for your back is it?" Myka asked.
"God, you are bright," Helena said pleased that Myka could piece this together.
"The slots up there – you can change the date?" Myka asked slowly.
"Yes," Helena said.
"Helena, is this HG Wells' ….machine? The one he wrote about in The Time Machine?" Myka asked searching Helena's face for the answer.
That pronoun still stung Helena. "Yes," she said and watched Myka drink in the wonder of it.
"He actually tried to make a time machine? And then …you had it ….and tried to use it? But Helena, there's no such thing as time travel," Myka said.
"True, there is not physical transport device that can carry you back or forward in time, but rather this ingenuous machine that employs the principles of Gestalt psychology and the collective unconscious. It allows a user to target and inhabit a known person at a specific time in the past," Helena said with the same amount of pride one has over their children.
"It's not real though, right? I mean, it's an artifact that inspired his writing," Myka said.
There were several words in that sentence Helena didn't like now. "Let's not use the word artifact, darling, ok?" Helena asked.
"Oh I just meant …it looks really, really old," Myka said touching the chair.
That didn't sit well either with her host.
"So could you send me back to the elevator so I could pick up the bag with the cheesecakes instead of the bag with the Twizzlers?" Myka smiled thinking about how HG Wells himself had looked at this chair.
"Well, no actually," Helena confided in her.
"Oh I know, Helena, I didn't really think it worked. I'm just amazed that HG Wells might have been looking at this when he wrote that story," Myka said dreamily.
"What do you like about…. him?" Helena asked and the word stuck in her throat.
"HG Wells? Oh wow – I mean everything. Well, his writing and his imagination. The way he wrote. I mean I know he wrote about the destruction of mankind, but in between those lines were real prose about heroes and people doing extraordinary things. I just think science fiction is another term for writing about that which hasn't happened yet. And he was an expert," Myka said and Helena loved the expression on her face.
Helena stood there thinking how her ideas, thoughts, and inventions touched Myka long before she knew her. Charles may have penned the destruction tale, but Helena's voice was loud and clear in the stories as well.
"My father would read me his stories before I went to bed. He's such a part of some of my fondest memories," Myka reminisced. "And to think I am standing here now with his descendant? Wow, it just blows me away," Myka all but giggled.
Helena took in the sheer joy that Myka exuded. It was a pleasure to watch.
"But Helena?" Myka finally asked.
"Yes?" Helena responded.
"Why would you try to activate this antiquated device with the entire power grid from Brooklyn?" her guest questioned.
"The machine is real, Myka," Helena said slowly.
"What do you mean… real?" Myka asked back.
"It works, or at least it would if it had all of its parts," Helena said and got annoyed again that the crystal had been removed.
"All its parts? And then it would work? And why were you testing it out? Taking it for a spin last week?" Myka asked confused.
"Myka, when I finally realized how badly I had behaved with you, and that I might lose you, I tried to go back – to my own consciousness with the insight that my actions could cost me greatly. I wrote that letter in case …. I didn't make it back," Helena said. "Do you remember what I wrote?"
Myka was struck by how serious Helena was, but this was a lot for a rational woman to take in. Then Myka recalled Helena's letter – word for word of course and said them out loud.
"Dear Myka,
If you are reading this letter, then I have failed in my mission to undo the past. I have set a course to retrieve my harsh words, and replace them with what I was really feeling when we met. In spite of my gift for language, I cannot yet explain how my entire being has been captured by your presence. With my deepest sorrows, I apologize for how I mistreated you. You would not understand me if I explained why and there truly is no excuse for such behavior.
If you are reading this Myka, it means I will not get the chance to tell you in person that I have known a great many people in my time, but none can hold a candle to the goodness that emanates from your heart and soul. We have known each other for the shortest amount of time, and yet, I will carry your presence with me forever. That my heart could be so touched, is a testament to all that you are Myka Bering.
With affection always,
Helena"
Myka could remember every word, but could not finish them without tearing up.
"You really thought you could go back in time and undo the past?" Myka asked.
"No, unfortunately I have learned the hard way that the ink in which our lives are inscribed is indelible. I had hoped to infuse this thick skull with the knowledge that I should act on what I was already feeling in my heart," Helena said.
"But you failed?" Myka asked.
"Yes," Helena said.
"Because the machine does not work?" Myka concluded.
"No, because the government saw to trick me and remove a piece before I took it back," Helena blurted out.
"So there's a government conspiracy involved?" Myka asked wondering what the official diagnosis was for this condition her boss suffered from.
"No, it's a bit more complicated than that," Helena said realizing she was confusing Myka more at every turn. "The point is Myka, I wished to undo what I had done, and thought I needed this machine to help me accomplish that. It requires a great deal of power and the only source I could find available was in fact the electrical grid in the borough of Brooklyn," Helena smiled guiltily.
"Oh…this…is…so much…clearer now," Myka said slowly.
"Myka?" Helena said sliding up alongside her and taking her hand. "I know this is a lot for you to take in. I would not lie to you though, Myka. I almost lost you once and I never want that to happen again," Helena said and pulled Myka into her.
Myka hugged her back with both arms around her, her palms pressed on Helena's back. This was still a little cloudy for Myka, but she did feel certain Helena was attempting to make things work – even if it was in an over the top, using extreme measure - kind of way.
"Well, I guess I'm glad it didn't work. We don't need to go back, Helena. We just need to keep moving forward," Myka said leaning into Helena's embrace.
"I would like that very much," Helena whispered. "Very much indeed."
It was almost midnight when Pete arrived with the car to drive Myka home. Helena offered for her to spend the night – in the guest room – but Myka politely declined.
"I had a wonderful time tonight, Helena," Myka said in the hallway. "Thank you for dinner."
"Thank you for dessert," Helena smiled back. She would be thinking of Myka all night.
"Oh I will definitely bring those cheesecakes next time!" Myka said.
"I would like that very much," Helena said. "Tomorrow night?"
"Only if my boss does not make me stay late," Myka said and leaned in to kiss Helena good night.
She opened the door and went to the car that was waiting for her in the street. She turned and said good night again to Helena. Helena watched the car until it turned the corner, then slowly closed the door and her eyes to enjoy the good feeling that emanated throughout her body.
"Good meeting, Ms. Bering?" Pete said and knew the answer from the smile that glowed across his passenger's face.
"Indeed it was," Myka responded and didn't notice Pete's soft laugh at how much she sounded like his boss.
Jack Gore put his neighbors petite cakes on the counter. He would be sure to return them to her ...when she got home.
Still with me? :-)