Doctor Emmett Brown woke with a start. His head had been leaning on the passenger side window of the DeLorean, which was now modified with all of the gadgets needed to give the Flux Capacitor direction. He rubbed his eyes and looked out the window, but could only see the darkness of the night. "How much farther until we are in Vegas?"

Elliot was intensely driving, "Not too many more miles. Perhaps twenty or so."

"Good. Good."

Elliot motioned his hand over the time machine console and asked, "So, how does all of this work?"

"Well," Emmett leaned up and pointed to the console as he explained, "This reads where we are in time, this one where we want to go, and this one where we have been."

"So, what's your plan to fix all of this?"

Emmett scratched his chin, "The Sheriff is the key to all of this. He was suspicious there was something going on. When he knocked on my door the night I executed Plan Exodus, he mentioned that he had seen something at the clock tower. This was also when Marty had gone back to 1985. I have to go back and stop the Sheriff from ever seeing the car back in time."

Elliot responded, "Sounds solid. But I have to bring something up to you which you may have not considered."

"And pray tell what would that be?"

"If you succeed, you will stop yourself from executing Plan Exodus, and ever going back in time to begin with. This means there will be two of you trapped in the past." Elliot smiled devilishly, "Sort of a problem isn't it?"

Emmett said, "No, not really. Marty came back to me in 1955 from 1985. He accidently altered the time line, causing himself and his family to have never existed. Slowly, his family faded, erasing the future event, and almost erasing himself."

"So, you are saying, when you correct the future, and do not execute Plan Exodus, you will erase the future after that point which has been altered."

"That's correct," Emmett nodded with arms crossed.

"Then, that makes you, the version of Emmett Brown sitting by me now, the one which will erase." Elliot paused for a moment, waiting for a reply and got none. He asked, "How does that make you feel?"

"It's not like it is my death or anything. The other version of me, the correct version I may add, will be there, still alive and moving to the future."

Elliot said, "So, I am sitting by a time ghost."

"Don't forget, this version of you will be erased also. But you will never know the difference."

"You told me this was the exact same automobile Marty came back from the future in. How will the other you know to come to me and get this car?" asked Elliot.

"Ah, good question, and this is where things begin to get a bit strange. When Marty disrupted the time line, erasing himself and his family, he also destroyed the fact he ever went back in time to begin with. Correct?"

Elliot agreed, "Yes, that is true."

Emmett smiled from ear to ear, "The DeLorean never began to fade away, even when the time stream was altered. This means the inherit nature of the Flux Capacitor makes it a gateway which must remain in order for any changes in time to happen to begin with."

"So, you will fade away to nothing, but the car will remain?"

"Yes, precisely. And I will turn it over to myself in the past."

"Do you think it's a good idea to meet yourself in the past?" asked Elliot.

"I don't know. I will have to think that one over a bit."

A distant glow on the horizon changed the conversation, "There it is, Vegas," said Elliot with a hungry eye.

Emmett was somewhat mystified by the many lights as they drove through Vegas One. He even joyfully pointed at another DeLorean on the strip and commented, "Looks like someone else has style here." As they approached the exit of town, where the main power feeds were coming in, Emmett began to punch numbers into the time console. "So, I need to go back to 1955 on the day I left… no, make it the day before… and add a couple of hours for good measure so I have time to drive there and maybe grab some breakfast."

Elliot pulled the car over on the side of the road and opened his door, "Okay, let's get it set up."

Emmett also stepped out of the car and removed a heavy lead shield from the rear. He placed a meter long copper rod with a ball on it where the shield was. Now the car had an absurd looking, thick antennae poking up from behind the cab. Already it began to have a haunting blue glow on the tip of the copper rod. "So," said Emmett, "with the shield removed, the Flux Capacitor draws electricity. And as you can see, it is already drawn to the massive amount of power coming into the city."

Elliot had a gratuitous smile and shook Emmett's hand, "I guess this is where we part ways. You should tell the other Emmett Brown to look me up sometime while we are still young."

"Yeah. I will try to do that. Don't want to wait until we both get old and grey." Emmett climbed into the driver's seat, but before closing the door said, "Be seeing you again, sooner than now."

He spun the car around and revved the engine. The main lines coming into Vegas One were not far ahead. Elliot waved at him with the same gracious smile, and Emmett waved back. Punching down on the accelerator, Emmett focused on the road as the car boiled tired. The tip of the copper rod was now glowing brightly, and there was a faint glow going down to the Flux Capacitor. The same glow had begun to dance and trickle over the power lines as the DeLorean flew closer.

Emmett looked down at the console and saw 1955 on the destination board, "Show me the way home baby."

Ribbons of power were now streaming in the air, joining the car to the power lines. They were becoming thicker as the car came closer and closer. Emmett could smell the faint ozone in the cab of the DeLorean. The ribbons of power were now converging, becoming one thick stream of oozing, pulsating power.

In an instance, there was spark in the console of the time machine, and the destination numbers went blank. Emmett gasped, "Oh no." He threw the switch which dismantled the time machine readings, but the power ribbons were still becoming thicker. The Flux Capacitor was exposed, without the shield it would trigger itself. Emmett stood on the brakes and the car screeched to a stop. He jammed it into reverse and pulled away backwards. Emmett knew the eighty eight miles per hour was needed, but he had no idea what would happen if the Flux triggered while exposed at a slower speed. He was frantic to get away from the power lines.

The Delorean spun around and squealed its tires, heading back to Elliot, who was watching with a confused and tilted head, "That doesn't look right."

The power ribbon stretched until it snapped with a loud spark. The DeLorean pulled up next to Elliot and Emmett stepped out. Elliot asked, "What happened?"

"Well, apparently with the shield removed from the Flux Capacitor, I did not compensate extra insulation on the time machine frequency controller."

"Is it fixable?" asked Elliot.

Emmett placed his fists on his hips as he inspected the outside of the smoking car, "Yes, yes. It will only take a few hours to remove the frequency unit, patch it up, and insulate it properly." He dusted an area atop the open door, "I just need someplace to fix it."

Elliot said, "I know just the place."

The DeLorean pulled in front of the Dune's hotel and casino. A valet came to the door of the auto and Emmett Brown stepped out, clutching the frequency controller. The valet smirked questioningly at the car with the many gadgets wrapped around it. Emmett told the valet, "Sensitive weather monitoring equipment. Wave of the future."

The valet gave a simple nod, took the keys, and sat in the car. As Emmett and Elliot walked through the casino to the elevator, Emmett said, "Don't look at any of it, Elliot. Stay strong."

Once inside their room, Emmett began to work on the controller. He was intensely involved with unscrewing the back plate when Elliot said, "Is there anything you need?"

Emmett said, "Oh no. I am fine. Looks mostly like charred wiring. When I place it back in the DeLorean, I will set it back beneath the shielding screen and it should hold up just fine."

Elliot said, "Okay. I am a bit hungry."

Emmett said, "Yeah, I could go for a bit also. Call up some room service."

"I think it would be better if I went down to the restaurant and ordered there."

Emmett stopped his work and pointed the screwdriver at Elliot, "Elliot, no gambling. I mean it."

Elliot laughed nervously, "What? Why, I wasn't even thinking of it. Besides, you have my ring, and I wouldn't dare…"

Emmett said sternly, "I mean it Elliot. None. Nada."

Elliot asked, "What sort of food would you like?"

Emmett said, "Some kind of sandwich. Tuna maybe, on rye if they have it."

"Sure," and Elliot stepped out the door.

The lights and colors of the casino entranced Elliot when he stepped off the elevator. He saw the restaurant across the floor and began to head that way when he heard, "Hey, try your hand. Black jack. You look lucky sir."

Elliot looked into the eyes of the dealer who was speaking to him; Elliot questioningly pointed to himself. The dealer said, "Yes sir. You. You look very lucky tonight."

Elliot looked around as if he were being watched by Emmett; he saw he was not, and said as he sat on the chair in front of the table, "Well, I suppose a couple of hands wouldn't hurt anything."

The first deal was passed around and Elliot said, "Hit me."

Elliot laughed and said, "Twenty one. I have twenty one. Black Jack!"

The dealer said, "Ah, see. I was right, you are lucky."

Elliot pulled out his wallet and said, "Deal me back in."

On the outskirts of town of a large black car stopped by another of the same make and model. One man stepped from the back seat of each. From the glow of Vegas One's limits, a balding man in a black suit said, "The lost sheep has been verified. He is somewhere in Vegas One."

The other man, also in a black suit, said, "Yes Mister Kroft. We have confirmed he is in the city some place. We will need to set out a search. We haven't picked up any temporal echoes."

Kroft , who appeared as young as the day he had met the Sheriff in 1955, said, "I want him before he makes any jumps. There is too much to correct when passing from one stream to the next. Also, I want him alive, and I want the original Flux Capacitor."

The other man nodded, "I understand sir."

Kroft smiled, "Finally, Doctor Emmett Brown. We shall meet."

Emmett Brown snored on the hotel bed with one hand on the controller. He smiled in his sleep and said, "See, Marty, I told you. Time… just a matter of time."

His stomach rumbled violently and he was rumbled awake. He rubbed his tummy and groaned, looked around the room. "Where is Elliot with my sandwich?" He looked over in the other bed and saw it was empty; then he called out as he slowly sat up, "Elliot? Elliot?" There was no answer.

Emmett tossed the frequency controller around in hands a bit and said, "Now we're back in business."

There was another rumble from his stomach and he saw a mini fridge in the room, "Maybe Elliot put my food in there." He opened it and looked inside, "Nope."

He slammed the fridge shut and grimaced, looking around the room. He checked the restroom, no one there. He then looked up at the clock hanging on the wall. Doctor Emmett Brown realized he had been sleeping for seven hours, and that all signs pointed to the fact that Elliot had never returned to the room.

Emmett grabbed the controller and dashed out of the room and into the elevator. He stepped out of the elevator and looked all about the bustling casino. He checked the tables, the slots, no sign of Elliot. He then looked over at the bar, and he saw the atrocious shirt with flowered print. Emmett walked to the bar and sat by Elliot, who was border line drunk.

"Elliot, may I ask what you are doing?" Emmett shook his head and waved the bar tender away when offered a drink.

Elliot looked over at Emmett, who he saw two of, and blubbered, "Oh, Emmett. You were right. You were so right. I have never had a lucky streak."

Emmett took Elliot by the shoulders, "Calm down."

"No, I am a sick, sick, sick man. I can't stop the gambling. I just have to do it. I'm sick I tell you."

Emmett laughed, "No, Elliot. You just fell off the wagon a bit, and it looks like now you are falling off another."

Elliot blubbered harder, "No, Emmett. You don't understand. I lost it all. Everything I have. I lost it all."

Emmett laughed again, "Elliot, it doesn't matter. Soon I will be going back to 1955 and none of this will have ever happened."

Elliot sniffled and said, "Emmett. You don't understand…"

Emmett said, "No, you don't understand what I am saying, Elliot. You're dunk and missing the point. I will be resetting the time stream. This will never have happened."

Elliot said, "Emmett, no. You won't. I lost the car too."

There was an abrupt silence, and it seemed as though Emmett was staring through Elliot. Emmett blinked twice, slow and hard, and then barked, "You idiot! You lost the car? You gambled the car away?"

Elliot was now in tears, "Yes..sss..sss," he said as he shook with tears.

"I told you not to gamble." Emmett swatted Elliot on the head and shook a finger in his face, "You have a disease, Elliot. You are a very sick man."

"I know," Elliot cried.

"How could you do this Elliot?"

"I… don't know," Elliot sobbed.

Emmett pondered for a moment, and then said, "Well, we have to get it back."

Elliot said, "They'll never give it back."

Emmett said, "Who said anything about them giving it back? I know how to hot wire a car."

Emmett and Elliot hid behind a column outside a fence behind the casino. Elliot said, "I see it. It's in the impound yard. You know, hotwiring the car is the easy part. Getting in there and living, that's the hard part."

Emmett looked around in the darkness, "We have to hurry; sun rise is coming soon."

Emmett pulled out chain cutters and carved a gash in the chain link fence, the two crept in. As soon as they were inside, lights came on all around them, spotting them out. A loud, amplified voice said, "Stop where you are."

Emmett said, "Run for it."

The two made a run for the DeLorean, and were almost at it, when they heard the click of shot guns from the darkness. They both stopped with their hands up. Muscle bound men holding guns came from the shadows. Emmett smiled, "Funny story… gentlemen…"

Before Emmett could finish his funny story, another bright light came from directly above them along with a roaring jet sound. The muscle bound men looked up, confused. Emmett made note of the baffled expressions on the thuggish employees and looked up himself. There was a large black shape hovering over them. Green zaps of energy came from the shape and rendered the muscle bound men unconscious, and the thing landed. Surprisingly, it was a car.

The rear door opened, and Kroft stepped out. "Doctor Brown."

Both Emmett and Elliot said, "Yes?"

Kroft cleared his throat, "Doctor Emmett Brown?"

Emmett stepped forward, "I am Doctor Emmett Brown."

"I have been searching for you for months. My name is Kroft. I want to speak with you about your incredible invention."

Emmett said, "I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about."

Kroft laughed, "There is much you do not understand Doctor Brown. I alone hold the power to have you executed as a fugitive of the law or, if you cooperate, pardoned."

Elliot whispered in Emmett's ear, "Don't trust this ass hole."

Emmett pointed at the large black flying car, "It looks like you already know all about my invention. I would guess you are behind the horrible change in the time stream."

Kroft laughed, "Horrible? It's true, I have made some adjustments to time. But I have unified the world, Doctor Brown."

Emmett said, "At what price? Five world wars?"

Kroft nodded, "It has not been perfect. But, you are partly to blame for that. Your design plans were not complete. Try as we might, we could not achieve one simple thing. We cannot go back in time past the point where we created our Flux Capacitor. But, with your help, Doctor Brown, we can fix this. We can go back farther. Make better corrections. The first two World Wars made it impossible to avoid the latter three. You can help us go back farther, and change it better."

Emmett smiled and said, "Or make it worse."

Kroft understood, "I anticipated you may not be compliant. This is alright. I don't really need you, Doctor Brown. I only need that," and he pointed at the DeLorean.

Emmett said, "You're delusional, and the worst kind."

Kroft replied, "I see nothing delusional here, Doctor Brown. I see only history in the making."