Disclaimer: I have no ownership rights to the Back to the Future trilogy.

Author's Note: Next chapter will be the last.

14: Chapter Fourteen

Emmett nearly fell over as Marty suddenly reached out to him and hugged him as tight as he could. "Great Scott, Emmett… don't you ever scare me again like that! I thought that you had perished for a certainty… Great Scott…"

"Calm down, Marty" Emmett muttered back. "I'm alive, I'm okay, you're okay, everything's okay, right?"

"Yes, I suppose so…" Marty muttered. He released his friend and blushed. "Sorry, I must've been over-reacting a slight tad. A rather sizeable tad, actually. Anyway… it's good to see that you are living."

"Yeah, I'm glad too" Emmett responded. "Do you know how hard it was to wait all those years before you would finally return? Heck, waiting twenty years 'till 1975 was hard enough! If I couldn't talk to your folks, I'm not sure what I would have done."

"My direct ancestors" Marty muttered. "Emmett, have you noticed any difference in them? No… you can't have noticed anything, you're native to this temporal sequence, stupid. Anyway, I'm sure that they have been affected. I have a suspicion that at the rhythmic ceremonial, my paternal ancestor once removed managed to remove Biff from consciousness."

"You mean, he knocked Biff out?" Emmett managed to translate. "Yeah, he did. That was in fact the start of him standing up to himself. I'm sure he never would've become an author if that hadn't happened…"

Marty blinked. "My paternal ancestor once removed is an author?" he asked, astonished.

"Yeah" Emmett replied. "Wasn't that the case before you went back, then? It must have been, you just told me about him publishing a book minutes ago, before you went off!"

"Emmett, you're not thinking fourth-dimensionally!" Marty exclaimed. "The previous version which you talked to was the native me who grew up in this world and knew his father to be an author! Also, didn't I tell you about my family in 1955? Not too much, of course, it would've been too risky, but surely I did tell you something."

"You did" Emmett agreed. "I just can't remember it with clarity. It's been thirty years, you know."

"Yes, I know" Marty muttered. "Now it's me who's not thinking fourth-dimensionally. Temporal travel can make one be very confused, can't it?"

"It sure can" Emmett replied, smirking. "So, what are you going to do now? You planning on travelling through time again?"

"Oh, you gamble" Marty said, smirking. "If you think this little excursion made me change my mind about that, you're definitely wrong. I might be a little concerned about everything that has occurred, but I will not abandon the temporal field warping and displacement vehicle just yet. As you probably recall, I was intending on travelling to the times that have yet to come from the world's current perspective."

"Yeah, you just told me" Emmett said. "Twenty-five years, wasn't it?"

"That might be what I've said, but it is not what I shall do" Marty answered. "I've thought of going ahead thirty years instead. Given that I just travelled thirty years backwards and have gotten a view of Hill Valley in that era, it would be nice to get a view of Hill Valley exactly that far into the future as well."

"So, you're going to 2015?" Emmett asked.

"Yes, I am" Marty replied. "Let's see… I departed 1955 on November twelfth, that is exactly thirty years minus seventeen days ago. To make the distances match, I should also travel thirty years minus seventeen days into the times that have yet to come from the world's current perspective. That would be October 9th, 2015. That's a… a Friday."

"How did you figure that out so fast?" Emmett said, stunned. "I can barely figure out the day of a date which is just weeks away in such a short time period."

"Simple trick using the average transition regarding days per year on the same day" Marty said, shrugging. "I could teach it to you, if you wanted me to."

"No thanks" Emmett muttered. "So, you're travelling to early October 2015 then? That's far away."

"So was 1955" Marty pointed out.

"Yes, and as I think of what all happened in that period, I can't help but feel nervous about what you're about to do" Emmett said. "For all you know, the world might be in a nuclear war around that time."

"I'm fully prepared" Marty said. "Granted, I shall have to look over the time vehicle first, to ensure that it's all right, but afterwards, I'm going to go to the future in all readiness. I've got everything I could possibly need packed. I even got a radiation suit somewhere – a real one, unlike the one I used in '55. I'm prepared for everything, except if the earth itself blew up."

"What if the place you go to is already inhabited?" Emmett replied. "You might appear inside something."

"Smart remark, Emmett" Marty answered. "Yes, materializing inside a solid object is indeed something I would not prefer. That is part of why I installed the sonic boom effect into the truck. It should warn the eventual locals of my presence and give them time to remove themselves from the arrival zone. If there is something intending to move into the area, they will be blown back. Also, I am intending to depart and arrive from the abandoned drive-in outside of town. I researched Hill Valley's history and it appears that this area has not changed over time, nor are there plans to change it any time soon. Trust me, Emmett: I'm prepared."

"Well, you're the Doc, Marty" Emmett muttered. "I'd just be careful. You don't know what might happen."

"Oh, come on, Emmett…"

"I'm serious!" the horse owner exclaimed. "What if you arrived in a tolitarian nation? What if you got trapped in the future? What if…"

"If you keep making up 'what if's' you'll never be able to enjoy the experience of travelling through the space-time continuum" Marty interrupted. "If I arrived in a tolitarian version of my homeland, I would simply depart again. If I got trapped in the future because of the time machine malfunctioning, I would collect tools to rebuild it. From scratch if I had to. I've done it before, I can do it again, and with future technology, it would be a lot easier."

"But what if you end up being stranded in the past?" Emmett demanded to know. "You couldn't use the tools of that era."

"I'm not planning to travel to the past" Marty pointed out.

"Avoiding the point, Marty" Emmett replied. "What if you accidentally ended up in the past? If the time machine backfired on you, and accidentally sent you to, say, 1915 instead of 2015?"

"Don't you trust my capabilities as a time machine-builder?" Marty said, frowning. "The machine works fine." He paused briefly before adding: "But, since you seem insistent on the scenario, I am sure I could find a way to rebuild the temporal field warping and displacement machine. I'd probably attempt to contact you in the future and give you instructions to go back and save me… no, that would create a paradox. Great Scott, this is a tough scenario you're posing here, Emmett!"

"I suppose it would be" Emmett replied, smirking triumphantly. "So, have you got a solution to the problem?"

"I think so, yes" Marty replied, thoughtfully. "I could… send you a letter."

"A letter?" Emmett replied, astonished. "That sounds a bit silly to me. Letters can be late, but if I was in 1985 and you in 1915…"

"I'd specifically say that it has to be delivered at the exact location you live and what the time has to be as well" Marty said, confidently. "It'll be difficult convincing the postal office, sure, but eventually, monetary compensation would be enough to ensure that the letter arrives at the exact point of time and place I intended for it to arrive at. It isn't a perfect plan, but it's better than having no plan at all."

"Well, you're the Doc, Marty" Emmett muttered.

"Not yet."

"Whatever."

The teen looked up at his friend. "Well, shouldn't we leave now?" he asked. "I have to prepare the truck for temporal transiting to 2015."

"You want to prepare it now?" Emmett said, surprised. "You don't want to leave right away, do you?"

"I certainly intend to depart as soon as the necessary precautions have been made" Marty said, not understanding what Emmett was getting at. "Why should I refrain from doing so?"

"Well, you just got back" Emmett explained. "I thought it would be nice to visit your parents first. They've been waiting for your arrival just like I have."

"Hmm… good point" Marty said, sighing. "I just wasn't counting on such a delay. I originally intended to leave right away. I'm curious to see how the world will look like on the day known as October 9th, 2015."

"As am I" Emmett said, sympathizing.

Marty frowned at that. Emmett had shown interest in time travelling earlier. Also, he had come up with the idea of travelling back to 1955 – that was the reason Marty had ended up there in the first place. Was Emmett in fact eager to come along?

"You can come along if you want" Marty said, deciding to test his theory.

Emmett's eyes widened for a brief moment, and he looked very excited all of a sudden. "Really? I can?"

"Yeah" Marty smiled. "I'll go over to my parents' house to say hello, and after that I'll drive over and pick you up. I should be back in two hours at most."

"In two hours?" Emmett said, horrified. "No offence, Marty, but my nerves have been on the breaking point for the entire day already. I believe I deserve a break first."

"Well, I'm not going to wait" Marty protested. "Even though you are my best friend, that doesn't instantly make me concede everything you want. I have been preparing for this for a long time now, and I can't help but be anxious to depart as soon as I can." He paused, contemplating it. "Hmm, a compromise… how about I go now, and after I come back, you can join me in my second journey."

"Won't that take very long?" Emmett said, doubtful. "I know how long you can be somewhere if it interests you, and the future surely does."

"It won't take long at all" Marty assured him. "You're not thinking fourth-dimensionally! The time I spend in the times that have yet to come from the world's current perspective have no effect on the time I go back."

"Oh, all right" Emmett replied, a bit confused. "I'm looking forward to find out my future, you know. It's really fascinating stuff."

"I'm afraid that you won't be able to experience that personally" Marty replied. As Emmett frowned, he explained: "The departure to 2015 shall remove you from the timeline here and take you to arrive at that exact point in the space-time continuum. During all those times, you were not in existence. I'm afraid that I'll have to recount the experiences of my original journey if you want to know anything. Of course, you can't know too much. No man should know too much about the portion of his life path which he has not yet travelled."

"Of course" Emmett replied, having heard that sentence before during Marty's stay in 1955. He then got up, and Marty followed his example. They walked to the truck. "Well, take care of yourself in the future" the sixty-five-year-old said, smirking. "Wouldn't want you to get into any danger."

"I shall make a large amount of attempts to avoid such a situation" Marty promised. "Goodbye, Emmett. I suppose that I shall see you again when I come back – or even in 2015."

"In 2015?" Emmett had to laugh a little. "Marty, that might be too much wishful thinking. I'm a sixty-five-year-old already. I doubt I'd still be alive at the time."

"Who knows?" Marty said, with a smile. "Technology might've been invented to increase human life spans. The times that have yet to come from the world's current perspective are unknown to you and me. I shan't know anything for certain until having discovered it myself."

"I suppose so" Emmett replied. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye" Marty replied. He then started the engine of the truck, and drove the time machine back to his house.

oooooooo

While Marty was driving home, that home was bursting with activity. The interior of the house was decorated and sandwiches had been placed on the table. George McFly smiled as he looked at it. Yes, they were about ready. The problem was that the boy they were waiting for just wouldn't come.

"It's already way past two" Lorraine commented, looking at the clock which hung above the couch. "Are you sure Emmett said he would return the moment he left?"

"He said Marty had told him something like that, yes" George replied. "That makes the most sense to me, too. Why would he arrive later?" He sighed. "Lorraine, you don't have to worry. I'm sure everything is fine."

"If he arrived thirty-five minutes ago and still isn't here, I highly doubt that" Lorraine replied. "George, it's a quarter past two and he still isn't here. Maybe you should call Emmett and ask him what happened."

"Can't call him" George reminded her. "He's probably still at the mall after all." He let loose another sigh. "Lorraine, it isn't that bad. Maybe Marty hung around talking to Emmett for a while. They got quite something to discuss after all." He smiled mischievously. "Plus, are you really sure you want to face him?"

Lorraine blushed fiercely. "I have to admit that I have certain… fears of this event due to what happened between us in 1955" she replied, almost too soft to hear. "But I think I'm ready for it and capable of looking him in the eye, yes."

"You'd better be" George responded, as he looked through the window. "There he is coming up right now."

Sure enough, their son's familiar black truck entered the driveway. Lorraine, who joined George at the window, watched along with him as Marty exited, locked the car and walked up to the door.

Within a few seconds, George was over at the entrance and opened it, facing his somewhat surprised son. "Good night, Marty" he greeted. "Welcome back."

"Great Scott!" Marty exclaimed, as he walked into the living room of his house. "I wasn't expecting this sort of entrance to my regular living facilities!" He spotted Lorraine. "And you two are changed yourselves – mother, you're so thin!"

"Thank you, Marty" Lorraine replied, smiling at her son.

"And father, you look better too" Marty added. "It is apparent that the changes I have made in 1955 must have had decisive effects on determining the current state of yourselves and the living circumstances our family is in."

"Yeah, I remember that when I was thinking about you and your time machine later, I thought that my and Lorraine's future self didn't look too great" George mused. "And Emmett has told us vague bits about it – not that much, but a little bit. What were we like?"

"To say it quite blunt, a wimp and an alcoholic" Marty replied. "I don't suppose you are not acknowledged regarding who is what."

"Uh… no" Lorraine said, quite startled. George felt the same, but less so – he had figured that he would remain a wimp. "I never drunk all that much… but I suppose having such a sad life might have changed that." She sighed. "Well, it's all better now. And on that note, Marty… I'd like to apologize for my actions in 1955."

"You mean the date you sort of forced me to take you on?" Marty replied. "That's all right, mother. I knew that you didn't know who I was, and you were careful around me because I had mentioned that I was inexperienced in the practice."

"Still!" Lorraine insisted, blushing. "I… even kissed you after you told me who you really were! That's… that's disgusting!"

"You did give me a reason for it" Marty replied. He took her hand. "It's all right, mother. You don't have to worry about it too much. I'm alive and well, and I'm not having any sort of traumatic experience caused by it."

"I suppose so" Lorraine replied, though still eyeing her son hesitantly.

"Would you like a Pepsi, Marty?" George asked, trying to change the subject. "I suppose you must've missed Pepsi Frees back in 1955."

"No, thank you" Marty replied. "As a matter of fact, I'd like nothing at all. My intent is to take off for 2015 as soon as I can."

"…2015?" Lorraine exclaimed, horrified. "Marty, you just got back!"

"So? How does this affect my intended journey in any way?"

George and Lorraine tried to come up with something that would convince Marty, but both knew that it would be a waste of effort. "We'll never convince you" George finally said. "All right, go ahead and take off, but be back as soon as possible."

"I'm afraid that is not really an option in the original reality" Marty replied, explaining what he had told Emmett earlier on. "As you can see, it will be only after I depart from 2015 that you'll remember having me around."

"That just makes us all the more wary to let you leave" George admitted. "You yourself admitted that we had changed… don't you have any urge to stay here for a while?"

"I'm afraid not" Marty replied. "You admitted that convincing me was a lost cause, which it is. I will try to do my best to return soon, though. I still have school to attend on next Monday."

"Of course, that's right" Lorraine remembered. She sighed. "Now, before you go off, can you at least spend some time with us? Tell us your point of view on what happened in 1955 – it's been thirty years for us, after all – and explain more clearly how the time travel works?"

"I suppose that wouldn't hurt" Marty replied. "All right, it all started for me in early March of 1978 in Emmett's garage…"

oooooooo

Over the next hour, Marty told everything about his construction of the time machine and the events in 1955. Although his parents did get confused at some of the words he used, it was nothing they weren't used to, and they managed to sit through the tale fine. By the time Marty was finished, though, George was yawning and Lorraine was already dozing off. Both of them excused themselves, saying that they had planned to get up early the next morning – at which Marty corrected them, reminding them that it would in fact be the morning of the current day – to play tennis. Both of his parents headed to bed, and Marty remained awake, preparing the time machine for transiting.

As he had collected everything he needed and filled up the fusion chamber, Marty shut the door of his house, went into the truck and checked the time. It was 3:20 A.M. The teenager smiled briefly at how late it had gotten, then put in a new destination time to replace the old '1985' date which still lingered: October 9th, 2015, 5:30 A.M.

The time truck backed up throughout Lyon Estates, stopping at the start of the road. Marty then checked the flux capacitor and the engine, and when both were fine, he hit the gas as hard as he could. The machine raced up, accelerating rapidly through the quiet streets of his home town. As the speedometer passed 80, Marty felt a brief thrill. He would finally experience what he was waiting for since that March day in 1978: he would go to the future. A new world would open up for him.

Then, the meter hit 88 and white light covered the time truck. Within seconds, a loud sonic boom shattered and Marty McFly had departed 1985.