Jo walked with Zane through the halls toward Zane's…this Zane's, lab. They were silent as they walked through the halls, though as people walked past, there was no hiding the stares on astonishment. Jo could feel more than just GD stares. She could feel his stare on her as they walked side by side. Jo kept her eyes on the hallways and stopped at the door. She placed her thumb on the scanner and waited for the door to open.
Future Zane stepped inside first as Jo's orders. His lab looked the way he remembered it. Even the conversation that had taken place before he'd appeared.
Zane stood up from behind the second device. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when he saw the guest with Jo. "Damn. It must be one of those days."
Jo walked toward Zane. "He's here to help with the project."
Zane looked to the older version of himself. "Really?"
Zane nodded. "The conversion settings aren't strong enough for the amount of positronic lightning that's conducted. It'll overload the converter."
Zane's brows shot up. He stepped back from the converter. "Be my guest."
Zane set his backpack on the ground and walked to the converter. He started reentering the conversation equation, alternating the input strength.
"While he's fixing this, maybe you can explain why an entire two levels have completely lost power?" Jo suggested.
"I don't you, the positronic overloads the main grid." Zane answered.
"Zane, there are experiments in those labs that need constant attention. Backup power isn't going to cut it." Jo explained.
Zane looked over his shoulder. It killed him to watch the argument. But it hurt him more knowing what would happen if he hadn't come back to change things.
"Other projects don't have a deadline of tomorrow, or have danger of exploding if not done correctly." Zane replied.
Jo's eyes narrowed. "Then how about I talk to Fargo and have him push your deadline back?"
Zane took a step closer toward Jo.
"You know, there's a way to erect a field around the lab to contain the energy until we can shut off the conductor." Zane suggested.
Jo turned to Zane. "If you can do that before something else goes wrong, that would be great." Jo glanced back at Zane in front of her. "At least one of you is concerned about something other than your own project."
"Oh you know what, go be hardass enforcer in someone else's lab, Lupo." Zane said.
"Good idea. I'm sure there's more room without an oversized ego crowding me." Jo snapped.
"Just a cold hardass bitch yelling every five seconds." Zane replied.
Zane winced as they snapped remarks back and forth. That was definitely an argument he regretted.
Jo pretended his words didn't kill her. She opened her mouth to snap back at him, but her phone rang…again. Jo took a deep breath and answered her phone.
"Lupo?" she asked.
"We're losing power in level three." Said one of the main grid workers.
Jo glared at Zane. "I'm on my way." She placed her phone back into her pocket. "Level 3 in losing power too."
"We'll get the field up." Zane said from the machine.
"Now." Jo said. She turned and stormed out of the lab.
Zane growled loudly. "God what is wrong with her?"
Zane shook his head. "I've been asking myself the same question for five years."
Zane turned to him. He walked to the other side of the converter. "So, what's your plan for the field?"
Zane looked up. He knelt down to the ground next to backpack. He opened his bag and pulled out two silver circular devices. He rose with a struggle and tossed them to Zane. "These have the basic design of the converters. With the energy the conductor emits, these things can hold it so the grid doesn't catch it."
"Sweet." Zane said.
"Place them on the opposite walls so the entire room is covered." Zane instructed.
Zane nodded. He stuck one to the wall and activated the device. Zane glanced to his older counterpart. "Can I ask you something?"
Zane shrugged. "I guess."
"Does Lupo ever tell you about the ring?" Zane asked.
Zane froze. He stared at the device in front of him. "No. She doesn't."
"Why am I not surprised? She still a hardass?" Zane asked.
"I uh…I don't know." Zane answered.
Zane turned. "What do you mean?"
"Jo's not in Eureka in my time." Zane explained.
Zane placed the second device on the opposite wall. "She left Eureka? What? Did she get a better paying job?"
"I don't know, I wasn't I town when she left." Zane answered.
Zane frowned. "No way. What'd you leave for?"
Zane motioned to the device in front of him. "This thing. First time I fired it up there was an accident. And I couldn't stand to finish it."
"What kind of accident." Zane asked.
Zane looked up. He set his tool down and pulled up his pant leg. "This kind of accident."
"Wow." Zane said. "That happened during the test tomorrow?"
Zane nodded. "Yep. Then followed a few years of therapy with this limb."
"Well, I'm glad you came by to help out." Zane said. He walked around the converter and checked his counterparts work. "Huh…you've amplified the input allowed by fifty percent."
"I told you it couldn't take much." Zane replied.
"No kidding. I didn't realize the input was so low."Zane said. He turned to his counterpart. "Now I'm really glad you're here."
"Well, that should do it." Zane said.
Zane nodded. "Great, now maybe Lupo can get off my ass about the power fluctuations in GD."
"She's just doing her job." Zane said.
Zane turned. "Are you sure you're me?"
"Absolutely. I've also seen what happens to GD after Jo leaves." Zane explained.
"Oh come on. You're telling me you miss the hardass enforcer?" Zane asked.
Zane shook his head. "Trust ne, the hardass is better than someone who doesn't give a damn about security."
"Okay I'll give you that one." Zane replied. "Hey, when was the last time you went to Café Diem?"
Zane thought for a moment. "Probably five years."
Zane motioned his head toward the door. "Let's eat."
"Go ahead. I want to double check everything." Zane said.
"You sure?" Zane asked.
Zane nodded. "Yeah." He watched his past self leave the lab. Zane turned to the conductor and shut it down.
Zane looked around his lab and sighed. His hands were shaking by his side. Everything was set for tomorrow, there was no question about that. After tomorrow, Eureka would have a new source of power without losing any of their people. Jo wouldn't die out of sheer nobility. She wouldn't die thinking that Zane hated her guts.
Then why was he having a hard time accepting this?