Chapter Three

"I've been to your time once or twice. Not really my sort of place. Did meet Lord Byron, though. Now, that's a tale worth telling. Do you know Lord Byron?"

"I do not believe Lord Byron is the most pressing topic of conversation at the moment."

"And what is?"

"How can you possibly eat your dinner with your hands?"

"Easy. Put a chip between your fingers and pop it in your mouth."

"I will stick with these flimsy utensils, and I would much rather you did as well."

"Carol, you've really got to start loosening up a bit. You survived a shipwreck. Got rescued from your life raft. And, best yet, got whisked away to another planet. That's many a gal's dream, you know."

"I doubt many women in your time or mine dream of getting shipwrecked."

"So, you're beginning to accept the whole time travel thing?"

"I find it best to play along with one's dreams."

"That's the spirit. Now, finish your fish and we'll do some sightseeing."

"And about getting home?"

"We'll get you back. Eventually."

. . .

The running and yelling began not long after they arrived at the Aquarium. Caroline should have expected something was up when Captain Jack followed that mysterious young catwoman into the back room. The cat claimed that there was a special exhibit yet to be revealed. Well, the exhibit was special—that was for certain.

The giant fish the catwoman showed them was magnificent. It had eyes like a horse's and a tail as wide as Caroline was tall. In spite of herself, Caroline had been impressed.

"I have not been to the ocean—nor have I read many books, but this fish is by far the most extraordinary I have ever seen."

"I've seen bigger. Not that your fish isn't very nice, Mistress Calini. It's just, you know, sort of small compared to the ones on Torgaphiny."

The catwoman had smiled. (Thinking back on it now, though, Caroline did believe that there was a hint of a snarl in the expression.)

"Have you ever been to Torgaphiny?" Jack had asked Mistress Calini.

"No. It is a dead planet."

"Not in all times. I could take you back to when it was a thriving pre-historic jungle or when the Halora's made their crystal city."

Caroline had tried not to huff at his boasting. Obviously, with that faulty device of his, he was not about to take this young catwoman anywhere.

"Thank you for your offer, but I am quite content with New Earth. My creatures need me. I am the only one on staff adept at seeing they get fed the diet to which their kind have been so long accustomed."

"And what is that?"

"Energy from the vortex."

Jack stiffened. The catwoman's smile grew more menacing.

"Carol, I think it's time we get going."

"To my home?"

"Anywhere. Run!"

The catwoman hissed and tried to shove Jack in the fish's pool as he reached for Caroline's hand. He reeled nearly falling backward into the water. The fish splashed happily—forseeing an ample meal. Caroline, however, had the presence of mind to extend her fan to Jack. He grasped the end of it, and she managed to tug him just hard enough to pull him back from the edge and down on top of her.

"Thanks," he said with a smile.

She felt herself flushing at his proximity. She had not been quite so close to her before, and she must admit that at this closeness, he might be even more handsome than a certain other gentleman she had had her eye on some time ago.

"I think we should get going?"

"So soon?" She asked as he pushed himself off of her. He extended his hand and pulled her off the ground once again.

That is when the running and screaming began. The catwoman was not content to lose so fitting a meal for her beasty so easily.