A Family Matter
- The last person who had mistaken me with my father was my best friend of the entire space-time continuum… And you look so much like him…
The old man's grey eyes started to overflow with sadness.
- Okay, Dr. Brown, I know you're not Emmett Lathrop Brown…
- Doctor? I am not a Doctor anymore… Not since I get jailed in this nuthouse…
- I'm sorry to hear that.
The old Gene looked really tired and… Sick, as well…
- What did they do to you?
- First, they had stolen my communicator, avoiding any contact with my rat, then, they had filled my blood with unknown drugs, so I could be an obedient vegetable, and as it didn't work, they put me alone in this room where I am just like an international criminal…
- Really?
Old Gene waved his head to confirm and looked at the ceiling:
- Yes, I know you're watching me, you awfully stupid spies!
"Okay, so, is he gone mad, or is he actually filmed…"
- Hey! I heard that!
- But… I haven't said a thing…
- What's this?! Let me look!
Gene succeded in taking Marty's left ear, and opened bug eyes:
- One of my communicators… Only two of them are supposed to last…
He released Marty and stood silent for a moment:
- Marty…? Rat, is that you?
- No, I'm just Master McFly's grandson… I'm Marty Junior…
- And how did you get this communicator?
Marty broke the telepathic transmission:
- Master McFly gave me it.
- Oh, I see… That makes sense… And he told you to come here to give me some news!
- Hum… Yes… He wanted to tell you…
Marty looked at old Gene: he could sense his feeling of loneliness like it was his own feeling.
- … He's missing you really much, Mr. Brown…
Old Gene suddenly held Marty in his arms and answered with a shivering voice:
- Thank you, Marty Junior…
Marty couldn't help himself to tighten old Gene in return at this moment:
- I swear things will be fixed up…
- You speak just like your grandfather was used to… I really thought for a second you were him.
- Mr. Brown… The young man who stole your inventions, how does he look like?
Old Gene raised an eyebrow:
- You trust me?
- Of course, grandpa trusts you.
- Are you warned about time travels?
- Yeah… A little bit…
- So I can tell you it's been a complete mystery for me… Oh…
Old Gene's knee betrayed him, but Marty supported him, so he could return to the bed:
- Who was he?
- He pretended to be Dwayne Jehnsen, a blond guy with light green eyes… I've never seen him before, and he popped from nowhere, presenting my lifetime creations to the scientific community!
- I guess that hurts…
- You can't know… Then, I attempted trials, but my laboratory has been set on fire…
Marty heard that part from his older self, but he wanted to know one thing:
- How did this happen?
- If only I knew it… Ten years ago, I left my lab for two hours, so I could visit my genomic surgery team in Stockholm, but as I went back… My reason for living and all my creations were burned down… And curiously, this young man presented the inventions of mine he had stolen with the instruction manuals I wrote for each of them...
Marty waved his head:
- And from this part, you have understood who it was actually…
- Yes! It was my brother, Clive Theodore Brown, no doubt about it! But I couldn't prove it…
- Why?
- This young man didn't look like Clive… And he was young and alive…
- Alive? What do you mean?
Old Gene whispered. Marty took his hand: his heartbeat was erratic.
- One day, a really long time ago, father and mother found him dead…
- How old was he?
- He would have been fifteen.
- That's hard…
- I didn't appreciate him much… I really thought I would never see him again…
He gasped. His heartbeat was accelerating, still unhealthily irregular:
- But I knew this so-called Jehnsen was nobody but my brother… I realized he had stolen my future invention I had in project…
- The DNA Converter?
- Rat told you about it… So, you know I told about time travels to justify… Aaah…
- Calm down, Mr. Brown, your heart seems completely…
Old Gene put his other hand on Marty's, and looked at him in the eyes, smiling:
- Tell my rat I've been missing him too… In unimaginable proportions…
- That you've been missing him…? Hey, Mr. Brown?!
Old Gene wasn't moving, but his heart was still beating… Very slowly…
- GENE! Gene, do you hear me?! HELP! SOMEONE, HELP!
- What's going on, here?
The nurse took old Gene's heartbeat and called for help, but afer ten minutes of constant efforts, the chief medical officer shook his head:
- Are you from his family?
- I'm Master Marty McFly's grandson… How is he doing?
- We know Master McFly and Mr. Brown's families are very close… I'm sorry…
- No… He's not…
- Rat! I'm so relieved to see you…
Gene tightened Marty:
- When you've disrupted communications, I thought something wrong happened to you, but I didn't know what to do…
Marty squeezed Gene in return. Gene looked at him:
- Rat… It's the first time you hold me like this… Something terrible occurred, am I right?
Marty could just wave his head, feeling he was going to cry again.
- Let it go, my friend… Just let it go…
Gene gently held Marty, leaving him put his head on his shoulder. Marty cried.
- I don't want to know what happened, if you don't want me to know it…
- Better left unknown for you…
- Okay… So, what did "I" tell you after you've disconnected your communicator?
Marty carried on:
- He's sure that Clive was under all this… And pretended to be dead when he was fifteen.
- I guess he knows we're on his back.
- So, what's the plan?
- Jumping to the next destination, so we could see what Clive have stolen from this century.
- Sounds right…
Gene entered the four-dimensional coordinates he could see on his space-time recorder…
The Time Device appeared next to the old farm again, and Gene looked at his compass:
- My Time Device Localizer shows our current position corresponds with the Time Device's position. That means Clive isn't there…
- You entered a different time coordinate?
- Of course not. My time circuits are probably a little miscalibrated…
- Because of the interaction with your former implant?
Gene waved his head to confirm:
- No other possible explanation… I didn't have the time to repair it. Just think about it: I'm a time traveler since seven years, and I haven't been able to spare a few minutes in recalibrating…
The Time Device Localizer seemed to go mad one more time:
- Clive's arrived. My TDL can't localize two Time Devices at the same four-dimensional coordinates.
- I see him! Look!
Clive was a few steps away to the farm.
- Turn on your communicator, rat…
Marty obeyed, a little afraid Gene could read in his mind what happened to his older self in 2045.
How do that stuff works, now…
Hey, bat, I hear what Clive thinks!
Gene smiled:
And he can't. I've blocked our transmissions.
What do you think he's doing?
Suddenly, Clive's black hair turned white and became as golden as the Sun…
He has stolen my DNA Converter! My old self was right!
Clive appeared from the inside of the farm under his transient DNA:
That stuff is incredible… And this… What is it? I've picked it, but there was no instruction manual.
My TDL! He has stolen my TDL!
You haven't written a manual for it?
Of course not. The TDL is for my personal use, and as time travels are Brown family's secret…
Marty scratched his head:
You will reveal this so-called Brown's family secret.
I know!
Oh, I see… It can tell me where my Time Spice is…
Time DEVICE, you awfully stupid spy!
"Awfully stupid spy"… Those three words rang in Marty's head like an echo from the past…
Clive turned to their direction:
Oh, bro and his ratty pal are there, too… I'd better think of a way to get rid of them…
He jumped in a bush, and seconds later, the green flash announced his disappearance.
So, that's almost when and why he decided to organize his own death…
He turned on Marty:
Rat, what's going on? It's something I've just told… Why is this painful?
Gene had red Marty's mind.
Gene… I shouldn't tell you that… But you died under my watch.
WHAT?!
Please, I'm disturbed…
I can sense it… Marty, just picture it in your mind… Please…
Painfully, Marty remembered every detail he could about old Gene's death.
When the moment came, he cried again, and Gene felt sick:
I'm going to die in a nuthouse, convinced I'm observed, and filled with drugs, definitely taken apart from you since ten years…
I wanted to let you ignore it, as we were fixing things up…
I share everything with you… You couldn't keep it for you.
I know… But you saw yourself dying a first time, I wished I could…
Gene lit up the time circuits:
You couldn't, Marty. Now, let's fix things up!
He was looking at him. Marty waved his head:
Yes, let's do it…
He put his hand on Gene's:
… Bat.
Gene smiled and entered the next four-dimensional coordinates:
I like you, rat.
I like you too.
Marty felt much better as he could touch Gene, proving himself he was real and alive thanks to his body temperature and heartbeat, and this proximity he had never share with anyone else…
While he was thinking about it, Gene's thoughts rang in his head:
Rat, can you please release my hand? I need it in order to make this baby jump.
Oh… Excuse-me, bat.
Are you fine…?
Was just thinking about how much I enjoy your mere existence…
The Time Device appeared next to the Brown's house.
I was right: he's here to convince his fifteen years old self to pretend to be dead…
Why his fifteen year-old self?
I don't know… He wasn't dating with Sally at this moment…
But you almost were…
I couldn't remember it, rat…
Marty knew it. Clive appeared from a tree and stood up:
Now, I just have to wait for myself… I know what I'm supposed to do now…
Marty took a look on the time circuits: Clive was supposed to do something special on this particular day and place…?
Bat! It's the precise day when he seduced Sally before you could do it…
Gene looked at Marty:
Are you sure of it?
Absolutely! I don't know what he got on mind, but it has something to do with Sally and him.
Chloroform… Just enough for me, I think…
If we just listen, we can know what he got on mind.
You're right.
But Clive just thought about the running time the next ten minutes…
There! I'm coming!
Gene and Marty followed Clive's look, and saw younger Clive arriving. As the false blond Clive hid, a young woman came from the park.
It's Sally! She's coming to see you!
To see me? Why?
Marty was remembering that day:
Because I told her you had something really important to tell. You should get out in a few minutes.
And minutes later, a really young Gene appeared from the main Brown House's entrance, obviously pushed by a younger Marty:
- Come on, Gene! She won't wait for you forever!
- Gene…? What's going on?
The younger Gene was clearly shivering inside, and Marty could guess he was about to faint:
- S… Sa… Sally…
- Yes, Gene?
The younger Clive was approaching younger Gene and Sally, but the blond Clive popped from the darkness of a dead end and put a piece of cotton under his nose:
Nighty-night, young me…
Gene and Marty could see Clive leading his younger self to the second Time Device, carrying him inside and jumping again in time.
We have to follow him!
He couldn't set himself in danger, no…?
That's what we will discover…
Gene lit up the time circuits and entered the next coordinates…
STUPID INCOMPATIBLE TECHNOLOGIES INTERACTIONS!
It didn't work again?
We're too late! Clive has arrived since twenty minutes!
Hey, bat, look over there…
- It's Clive…?
- What happened to him?
Doc and Edna were running to the young Clive as he was lying down on the streets…
- What's going on, daddy?
Young Gene, holding Sally's hand, was observing the scene:
- Oh no… Gene… I got a rather difficult thing to tell you…
- Is it what we're feared those four months, darling?
- It is, Edna… Gene… Your brother is dead…
Gene knew his brother wasn't dead, so how could Clive…
If dad says so, nobody could doubt of it.
Clive is here! But… I can't see him…
- I will dispose of his body in the most respectful way I could… Edna, go home with Gene…
- Right, darling… Gene, are you coming?
- Right now, mother…
Young Gene could just leave a kiss on Sally's cheek, and Edna took his hand to lead him home.
- I'm sincerely sad for you, Dr. Brown…
- Thank you, Sally… Just do one thing for me…
- Everything you wish.
- Take care of my last son… Make him as happy as you can before it's too late…
- I'm already making everything I can for it. I want people to be happy with me.
Doc smiled in a curious way:
- Oh, I know it…
That's odd… That expression doesn't look like Doc…
- I'm going back home… Carry on, Dr. Brown…
- Thanks, you're a sweet heart.
Sally walked away, and Doc smiled even more strangely.
Gene had heard Marty's remark, so he raised an eyebrow:
Why is father smiling?
Now, I'm disposing of you…
Doc took young Clive's body and carried him to a lamppost:
Gene! It's not your father! It's Clive!
Clive? What did he do to my father?
They get the answer when Clive opened the Time Device's door: Doc was sleeping inside. Clive put his younger self on the passenger's seat and pointed Doc's head with a weapon of Gene's inventory:
- Now, Emmett Lathrop Brown, you saw your son Clive dead on the street. You told your entire family he's dead. You decided to get him incinerate. Here is the funerary urn where his ashes are… It's Lodger's funerals that did it. You won't remember me. Just what I told you saw and did. Right?
- Right…
It took minutes for Gene to go with what he had just seen.
Am I supposed to tell my father Clive's not dead?
I don't think so. We should let him realize his plan, but stop before he could get you in a nuthouse.
I'm tired of arsonists…
I know you saw your mother burning down the speakeasy in 1931, and there's no doubt Clive has burned down your laboratory after stealing all he wished…
Gene shook his head:
Just let it be… That's odd… I'm supposed to be with Sally, now…
My older self told you you had many grandsons…
I know how and why, now…
Marty could sense he wasn't enjoying the fact he owed his relation with Sally to his brother.
What's going next?
Gene lit up the time circuits:
I think he almost has everything he wants. Now, I guess he's going to burn down my lab.
He entered the four-dimensional coordinates showed by the space-time recorder.
Hey! I remember it! It's Clive's last destination!
The precise date he will pop from nowhere and pretend to be the inventor of my creations, I guess… And I know those space coordinates: it leads directly to my lab…
- I will keep an eye on the lab, honey, be sure nothing will get out of it under my watch!
- I trust you, Sally… I know it may sound a bit paranoiac, but I really think some of my creations have been stolen from here… And I could swear all my manuals had faded away…
- Some of them are missing, you're right… But I promise you I'll do my best to stop it.
- You've always done your best for me…
Seventy years old Gene kissed Sally and walked away.
Gene was observing his older self, a bit confused:
Wow, I'm so old…
You look radiant, Gene.
Thanks, rat… I guess Sally took a great care of me.
What are we going to do?
I entered earlier time coordinates. We just have to wait for Clive's intervention.
Sally came inside the laboratory, closing the inside shutters. Ten minutes later, a young red-haired man silently walked from a dead end and started to spread a liquid on the walls…
Oh no!
Gene jumped out of the Time Device:
- SALLY! GET BACK, YOU!
Marty approached, and he could see Gene fighting against himself.
Sally came from the inside:
- What's going on… Oh! Barry Lathrop Brown! And… Oh, I don't understand…
- Come on, Mrs. Brown, it will be a bit dangerous, there…
Marty leaded Sally to the Time Device, but as she looked back, she gasped:
- This boy's hair color changes!
Great job, bat…
Sally stood up, observing the young man becoming himself:
- Clive Theodore Brown…?
You're discovered…
- You were supposed to be dead… How could it be…
Oh, don't even think about it!
Clive hit the ground.
Gene put a weapon of his in his pocket. Marty knew at this point that Clive tried to take this weapon to mesmerize Sally and Marty himself, but Gene took it before Clive could move his hand.
You were too fast for him, bat, he had no chance.
He's always been slow…
- What's going on here? Could you explain?
- I'm afraid not.
Gene pointed at Sally:
- You saw Clive, coming from the past in the Time Device he has stolen from Gene. He tried to burn down the laboratory, but you've been able to stop him. Just keep this weapon with you and set it to "mesmerize", if Clive dare to move. I suppose you know how to use this?
- I know it…
- Very well. Clive had staged his death, he will tell you how if you ask him when he's mesmerized. And he will lead you to the place where he hides all the inventions he stole from Gene.
Sally waved her head:
- I understand…
- One last thing: you won't remember me and this other young man.
Gene was showing Marty.
- I haven't seen you two…
- Right…
Gene and Marty jumped inside the Time Device.
So, what's next?
Verifying my orders have been followed. The "mesmerize mode" plays some tricks sometimes.
Okay, so we're going in the future?
Correct. And, Marty…
Yes, Gene?
Gene was smiling at him:
I wanted to tell you… I enjoy your mere existence, too.
I guess your existence will be much better.
In fact, yes. You know, I've wondered where Sally was, in 2045…
She was dead, I guess. Dead because Clive burned down the lab, ignoring she was inside…
Gene waved his head, setting the times circuits…
- Gene Terence Brown? Are you mocking me?
- No, I'm sure he's here!
- Reconsider your informations, Sir. Doctor Gene Terence Brown is the founder of the G.S.D… Right over there: you see this tower?
- Yes…
- It's the Genomic Surgery Department. The man you're talking about is more probably here.
Marty scratched his neck:
- Okay, thanks…
- You're welcome.
Marty went back to the Time Device and jumped inside…
So?
So, you're the G.S.D. founder again, and you're not in the nuthouse.
Gene smiled:
Things are fixed up…
We can go back in 1986, now…
Not now…
Gene, we did everything and took any possible precaution to make sure your brother won't mess with our timeline again… What else do you want to do?
Gene lit up the time circuits:
I'd like to see one thing…
Gene… No…
If you prefer, I will leave you in 1986 and go there alone.
Are you completely batty?
Gene shook his head and entered the coordinates…
I recognize it: we're in 2016!
Correct. Last time we were here, something horrible happened. I want to get another picture from this year before coming back home and living my life with Sally…
I understand… I'd like it too.
It was late, but a young woman was sitting on a public bench. Marty looked at her:
I don't know who this is, but she reminds me of someone…
- Marlene McFly…?
Gene and Marty turned to the young man who catched the woman's attention by calling her name:
Hey, he looks like you!
The young woman seemed ultimately pleased to see the young man:
- Elijah Brown… So, it was your note…?
- Yes, Marlene…
- Why did you ask me anonymously to come here so late?
The reason was readable on Elijah's face, but Marlene looked as lost in his eyes as he was in hers.
- I wanted to ask you something… And I fear what people could think of it…
- Whatever it is, as it comes from you, it can't be wrong…
- I'm not sure of it…
- Elijah, we know each other from the cradle, and I want it to be to the grave.
- Oh, if you knew how much I want it too…
Marlene raised an eyebrow, looking tenderly at Elijah:
- What do you mean?
- Marlene, I… I…
He apparently couldn't get it out of his chest.
- Elijah, are you sick?
- Oh yes, terribly sick! Sick of you!
Marlene stood silent for a second.
- Oh, no, that's not what I meant, excuse-me, please, excuse-me…
- I know you're a bit clumsy with words, even if your note showed me you could overcome this difficulty if you have something really important to say…
- That's right, Marlene… But if spoken, words are a mess…
- So, don't speak, if you can show it…
Elijah Brown didn't move for seconds, then he waved his head:
- Okay, so let's show it…
Seriously? Elijah Brown?
What? I like that name!
He put a knee on the ground, taking Marlene's hand.
He was looking for a little box in his pocket. Seeing it, Marlene shook her head:
- Elijah…
He opened the box: a ring of gold was inside.
- Are you asking me to…?
Elijah waved his head:
- Marlene McFly… Will you… Marry me…?
- Yes! Oh, yes, Elijah Brown!
She kissed him with a perceptible passion.
- Marlene, does that mean…
- If you knew how long I've been waiting for this moment…
Gene and Marty looked at each other:
I can't believe it… Our two families are going to be unified…
It's happening in front of us, Gene… Just taste the moment…
Gene smiled:
Yes… I couldn't ask for a better picture from 2016…
Me neither, bat… Me neither…