Curiosity Killed the Cat (part 2)
- Located in Dublin… Why…?
- My question is: "How could we go there?"
- Carmine will take us there…
- But you said she needs five hours…
- Yes, I know…
Gene sat down on the grass.
- So, we'll just wait five hours?
- Of course, unless you've got some other transport device in your pocket!
- Sorry…
- Don't be sorry, Doctor Brown…
Erland patted Gene's shoulder to comfort him:
- I know you've lost your best friend, you want to know how does this happened… And to make it easier to stand, your son is somewhen in the space-time continuum.
- You've understood this?
- I've been cogitating, yes…
Gene sighed:
- Professor… I mean Mr. Vrömblad…
- It's the second time you call me "Professor"…
- Don't question me about the future. We're in the past.
- Fine, I won't ask anything about my future.
Gene raised an eyebrow:
- Your future?
- It's simple to guess you know something relevant about my future…
- You're right.
- Sorry if I ask disturbing questions…
They stood silent for hours… Then, Gene felt Carmine's head under his neck, and he smiled:
- Carmine, my beauty! Are you alright?
Carmine waved her head, purring.
- Can you please let Erland and I come aboard? We need a jump…
Carmine lay down on the grass, opening her flanks.
Gene scratched her ear:
- Good girl…
They sat down on the soft seats, and Carmine's flanks shut down.
- When are we going, now?
- Somewhen later. I've got a bad feeling… Carmine, can you please jump when I'm thinking?
Carmine stood up and ran…
- Why is she running?
- It's a way to catalyse her energy before jumping. I asked her a very long jump.
- How long, exactly…?
Carmine jumped, fading in a green flash again…
Carmine landed in the grass again.
- Here we are…
- 1985?
- The night my father's supposed to introduce his Time Machine to Master McFly. Carmine, can you please be discreet and come with me?
Carmine became a little black cat. Gene stood up and started to walk then.
- Hey, wait for me!
Erland followed Gene: in spite of the fact he was much younger than him, Erland had to try hard to stay close to him.
- Can we just slow down?
Gene shook his head:
- No time.
They walked with Carmine beside Gene to the Lone Pine Mall.
- Okay, Marty should be there, now…
- Meôw…
Gene looked at Carmine: she was shaking her head.
- What do you mean?
- Gene, my son! You've came!
- Yes, father! I couldn't miss that!
- Father…? He never wanted to let me approach the Time Machine…
Erland shrugged his shoulders:
- What does it matters?
- Master McFly's supposed to be there, not me…
- That means he's not here, that's all…
- I've got a really bad feeling…
Gene caressed Carmine as she was rubbing her flank on his legs:
- My beauty… You meant Marty wasn't here?
Carmine waved her head.
- Where is Marty?
Carmine stood still for a moment, then she waved her tail.
Gene patted her head, anguished:
- I don't understand why she can't pin him down…
- I think he's too far away from us.
- Probably… Carmine, can Erland and I come aboard?
Carmine became herself and opened her flanks.
Thanks to the dark night and the color of her fur, she was pretty invisible…
- Can you please jump to our previous location?
- Why are we going back in 1981?
Carmine shut down her flanks.
- I want to see my rat…
Carmine started to run and jumped in a round emerald bolt of lightning…
- Quick, Mr. Vrömblad! I'm supposed to meet Master McFly in a few hours.
- But you said he was in Dublin in this year!
- I was talking about the young me. I want to know what happened, as Master McFly isn't here.
Erland wanted to catch his breath again, but Gene was too fast.
- You think it's important?
Gene waved his head to confirm:
- Knowing what I'm supposed to become without my rat is the most relevant thing in the space-time continuum for me… And, as a matter of facts, Master McFly's and father's destinies are linked too.
- You mean Dr. Emmett Lathrop Brown?
- Yes, and my son's supposed to marry Master McFly's daughter!
Erland shook his head in disbelief:
- They told you that?
- Erm… Not actually…
- You mean you saw it in the future?
- Yes! Yes! I saw it in the future! But if I never meet Master McFly, it will never happen!
They arrived in Hill Valley, next to the school group.
- Okay… As you're supposed to be in Stockholm in 1981, no one will recognize you…
He turned his watch dial, and his hair turned from red and grey to light brown, his eyes started to be tainted in green, and his face totally changed of form…
- How did you do that?
Gene couldn't tell him about the DNA Converter.
- Let's just say it's an other invention of mine.
- Amazing!
- The risks of meeting my father in this space-time coordinates are too high, and he will invent the Flux Capacitor before only in four years… If I look like someone else, it doesn't matter at all…
Erland scratched his neck:
- The Flux Capacitor?
- His greatest creation: the only thing that makes time travels possible.
- You mean you don't own the copyright on this?
- I've never claimed to be the Time Machine inventor: you've seen it's my father's creation.
They approached the school walls, and Gene looked at his watch:
- We're supposed to meet in more or less ten minutes… Just peek…
They observed a young black-haired child as he was wandering alone.
- Marty should be under his control, now…
- Who's this child?
Gene sighed:
- Clive Theodore Brown… My grandbrother…
- Never heard about him…
- Of course! He's supposed to be dead when he was fifteen.
- Supposed to be dead?
Gene was looking for Marty -or his young self. He just answered:
- It's a long story… Where am I…?
- What kind of question is this?
- I thought you've understood the time traveling matters!
- It's difficult, sometimes… Hey! Who's this kid?
Gene turned his head:
- Me. When I was eight.
- Wait a minute, that's impossible… If you were eight in 1981, you shouldn't be forty-nine in 2014…
Gene shook his head: those irrelevant questions made him angry.
- Hello, baby!
The young Gene raised his hand, and the young Clive shivered:
- Hi, Clive…
- Okay, you're not a baby… Let's just say I didn't say anything…
- As you wish. Have a nice day…
- Erm, yes… You too…
Erland looked at Gene:
- I don't understand: why did your brother suddenly seemed so afraid of you?
- Because I was wearing my protective capsule. He hated being drugged this way.
- You've been drugged your own brother?
- A million times. He was the school's bully, I had to protect myself from him.
Gene whispered:
- So, I've never met my rat…
- You may have met him later, no?
- No. I was right: Master McFly isn't there at all, and if I haven't been able to communicate with him later than now, that means he has never get his communicator, which implies we've never met…
Gene took a look at his TDL:
- So, we just have to jump to Dublin…
He turned back:
- Let's go to an open field, Carmine…
- Wait! There's one thing I don't understand!
Gene sighed:
- What now?
Erland took his breath:
- Carmine has been able to localize Master McFly in Dublin in 1981 -today-, but… I've been cogitating, and I can't figure out why she hasn't been able to do the same in 1985…
Gene turned white:
- You're right… It's abnormal…
Erland whispered:
- I don't want to alarm you… But "Dublin" and "1981" together don't sound fine to me…
- What are you talking about?
Erland shrugged his shoulders:
- I just know something terrible happened in Dublin this year… Or will happen…
- Something terrible…
Gene looked at his TDL and gasped:
- February the thirteenth!
Gene started to run, and Erland sighed: very well, they're moving again…
- What's wrong?
- We've got about one evening to pin down Marty!
Erland followed Gene in downtown Hill Valley:
- Why one evening?
They arrived to a sandlot, and Gene became himself again:
- Carmine, can Erland and I come aboard, please?
Carmine turned from a cat to herself and opened her flanks.
- Thanks, my beauty… Can you please jump to Dublin?
- Will you explain a little?!
But Carmine was already jumping…
- Could you just wait for me…?
- Okay, I'm telling you why we've got no time for your comfort…
Gene was obviously upset:
- Does the Stardust fire remind you something?
- The Stardust fire…? But it was…
Gene waved his head:
- In 1981, early in the morning of February the fourteenth!
- And we're the thirteenth… Gosh!
- You understand, now? I'm practically sure that Marty will count in of the forty-eight dead this dramatic event will cause!
Erland raised an eyebrow:
- Forty-eight?
- Yes, why?
- You're mistaken: the exact number of dead people in this fire was forty-nine…
Gene gasped, realizing that Erland knew the Story as it has been rewritten…
He ran again:
- Carmine, can you please lead us to the Butterly Business Park?
- Can she pin it down in spite of the fact this park doesn't exist in 1981?
Gene was erratically breathing: he was starting to be tired.
- I would be glad to explain you how she's working, but we've got a really short deadline!
They ran to Artane, and Carmine stopped next to the Stardust night club.
- The Butterly Business Park will lie here. In 1981, this location is this club's.
- Oh, I see… And you think Master McFly will be in this club tonight?
- I know him: he's only thirteen now, but that won't prevent him from entering a night club.
- It's not opened by now…
Gene shrugged his shoulders:
- Of course. I wanted to be early to find him before he goes in.
He sat down and caressed Carmine.
- So, we are just waiting for the club to be opened?
- Correct.
Gene was feeling much better: he will save his rat tonight…
After a few hours, he looked at the TDL:
- The club is opened, and there's no trace of Marty or Elijah…
- Meôw!
- You've smelled something, my beauty?
Suddenly, Gene saw a green flash arising throught a little window.
He peeked in:
- The Time Device! It's inside!
- Meôw! Maaaôw!
- Do you smell Marty?
Carmine waved her head.
The TDL showed a sequel of codified proteins.
- What are those proteins?
Gene caressed Carmine's head:
- My son's DNA. Carmine is telling me he's inside, too…
Gene patted his temple:
- I knew leaving them those communicators will be useful…
- Wow! It's a true craziness, here!
My rat!
- I didn't hope landing there, but those people seem to think we're a part of the show!
Gene sighed, anguished:
Elijah… You're here…
- Father?
- What is it, Elijah?
- Erm… Nothing, Marlene, I thought I heard my father…
Marlene was here, too…
- I don't see him… And what would he do here?
Elijah! I'm outside the night club!
- Father?!
- You hear him again?
Elijah confirmed:
- Yes! He tells me he's outside! That means something terrible will happen in the future, and he's back here to alarm us about it!
Yes, my son: do you know where you are? Just think, I'll hear you!
No, father, the Time Device makes unpredictable jumps in space and time, we're lost…
Gene waved his head:
This TD is dysfunctional, that's why I hid it!
So, what is or will be wrong, here?
You're in Dublin, Ireland, the 14th of February 1981!
Wait, father… That date reminds me something…
Elijah gasped:
Gosh! Don't tell me we're in the Stardust night club?!
Yes, you are! You're all in great danger! Get out!
- He tells me we're in the Stardust in Dublin, the day a terrible fire killed forty-eight persons!
Then, multiple shouts resounded in Gene's head: the fire was already burning…
Gene broke the window and jumped inside, followed by Carmine and, more hesitating, Erland:
- Do you know what you're doing?
- Absolutely not!
Gene looked around: the fire was taking all the place…
The Time Device!
His invention was burning down to a simple amount of dissolved steel and circuits.
It will be destroyed… Better like that…
- Father!
- Elijah!
Gene ran to his son and hugged him.
Surprised by this reaction, Elijah stood still:
- You're not angry against me?
- Punishment later: I'm so relieved to see you… Where are Marty and Marlene?
- This way… I think they're hurt…
Elijah leaded his father to them.
Gene kneeled down and took Marty's hand: he was burned in several part of his body.
- Marty… Do you hear me?
- Who… Who are you… How do you know me…
- It's not relevant, we have to go out… Marty!
He wasn't moving. Elijah shouted:
- MARLENE!
- What is it, son…?
Gene turned his head: Marlene was fading in his son's arm…
No… That means Marty is… Dead…
Dead? So, he will never marry Jennifer, and Marlene will never born!
Gene waved his head and took his son's arm…
- OUCH!
- Sorry, I think it's broken or burned…
Elijah whispered, massaging his shoulder.
- Carmine, can you please let Elijah, Erland and I come aboard?
- Carmine? Where is she?
Carmine became herself again.
Her flanks opened up, and Elijah choked.
- Come in, quick!
Erland and Elijah took their seats.
- Wait for me, my beauty…
Carmine purred.
Gene took a look at the Time Device:
- I'd better pick this up with me…
He succeded in taking the rests of the burned down TD and came aboard:
- Carmine, my beauty, can you please jump to the coordinates I'm thinking about?
Carmine flanks shut down and she sat down, preparing to jump, then vanished in a round bolt of lightning…
Carmine landed miles away from the night club.
- Pwef… That was close…
- You're not out of danger, Elijah!
- Father… You're crying…?
- Of course! Marty's dead in my arms, I thought you'd understand how I feel!
Elijah raised his eyebrows:
- W… What are you talking about?
- Do fake innocence with me! I know you love Marlene!
Elijah gasped:
- How do you know it?
Gene caressed the board computer:
- That's not relevant. Do you remember when Marlene and you have met the young Marty?
- The Time Device was landing anywhen and anywhere… It difficult to remem…
- Make an effort to recall that!
- I… I don't feel fine…
Gene patted his son's shoulder to comfort him…
- Ouch!
- Sorry… I'd better take you to the hospital…
He turned to the screen:
- Carmine, my beauty, can you please jump to the coordinates I'm thinking about?
Carmine ran and jumped to the stars…
- How did this happen?
- An accidental fire… It's fortunate I've been around
- Your son isn't severly burned, but his left collarbone is dislocated… It's the most important…
- Can you do something for him?
- Yes, of course…
The Medical Doctor took Elijah's arm and manipulated it until his shoulder crackles…
- Aw!
- It's fine, now. I recommend you to get the cream on this prescription. It will help healing his skin.
- Well, thanks, Doctor…
They left the hospital and found Carmine turned into a cat, licking her paw on a wall.
Gene scratched her ear:
- Thank you for this jump, my beauty… Do you feel fine?
Carmine waved her head and rubbed it against his hand, purring.
- Very well. What about an other jump?
She mewed and jumped down the wall and followed Gene:
- We'll get the cream for you, Elijah… Try to remember when you've met Marty.
- I'm thinking about it very hard, father…
- Think harder.
They reached a sandlot, and Carmine became a giant panther again. She lay down, and Gene scratched her chest. Purring, Carmine rolled on her back, paws folded up on her stomach.
- My beauty… Oh, yes, that's a nice girl…
- Doctor Brown… I think we've got a real problem…
- What now… ELIJAH!
He was kneeling down, slowly fading…
- My son… Please, remember when…
- I… I can't think… I…
- It's a life or death matter for you, Marty… And Marlene…
- Marlene… I can't live without her… I give up…
He disappeared. Gene stood silent for minutes:
- My son… Why…
He took an old photography in his pocket: the official picture of his wedding…
- Oh… Now, I understand…
-What's happening to this picture?
Gene was disappearing with Marty, Jennifer and the background. The only thing remaining in the new picture was Sally, but other people had replaced them beside her:
- The story is rewritten… I'll never marry Sally…
- Why?
- I see one possible explanation…
He caressed Carmine, speaking more to himself than to Erland:
- Marty gave me the strength I needed to unveil my feelings to Sally… Without him, I just let Sally marrying someone else… And the facts seem to indicate I will assist my father, instead of secretly working on my own inventions alone in an abandoned store…
- How could we reverse those changes?
Gene sighed:
- I don't know… Unless…
He picked the remains of the Time Device out of his pocket:
- Maybe… Carmine…?
- Meôw?
He showed Carmine the burned circuits:
- Can you analyze this, my beauty?
Carmine opened her mouth and ate the circuits…
- Do you really think she can recognize this?
- Carmine is programmed to be retrocompatible with my previous inventions.
She "masticated" like she was tasting it.
- Carmine can scan any circuit: her mouth is filled with captors and scanners.
She rejected the circuits:
- Meôw…
- She has determined that those circuits are broken, it's bad for her.
Erland shrugged his shoulders:
- Is that relevant for our mission?
Gene scratched Carmine's ear:
- If you had better looked, Mr. Vrömblad, you would have noticed she hasn't rejected the total quantity of circuits and steel I gave her.
Gene put the remaining circuits back in his pocket.
- Which means?
- My beauty, can you please let Erland and I come aboard?
Carmine got back on her paws and opened her flanks:
- Meôw…
Gene took a seat:
- That means she has been able to scan and integrate some of them that was functional and not dangerous for her own circuits…
Gene smiled:
- She has integrated the space-time recorder!
He was navigating in a virtual panel on the board screen:
Carmine, you're not only a pure beauty, you're a genius!
- What is the space-time recorder?
- An other invention of mine I added to the Time Device to record every four-dimensionel coordinates entered in… No time! Carmine, my beauty, can you jump to… These coordinates?
Carmine ran through the sandlot and jumped in the air…
- When are we, now?
- In 1981, the day Marlene and my son accidentally landed…
- What's the plan?
- Prevent Marty from meeting them by any possible way.
- That will fix things up?
Gene shrugged his shoulders:
- I hope so… Carmine, my beauty, can you please localize Marty and transfer his position to the TDL?
The TDL showed different coordinates:
- He's here… I knew it… Carmine, can you please be discreet and run to Marty?
Carmine started to run and reached Hill Valley in ten minutes.
Gene looked around, transferring his thoughts to Carmine who did the same:
- Carmine seems to do what you're doing…
- As I told you, I'm able to communicate with her thanks tho this thing on my temple. I could do this all the time, but I prefer talking… Marty!
The young Marty was walking with his parents, his schoolbag on the back.
Gene smiled:
- The day he's supposed to enter the school…
- So, we're in…
- September, 1979… Please, come closer to Marty, my beauty…
- Oh, a black cat! It's a living lucky charm!
Marty's father scratched Carmine's ear:
- You're so cute…
Marty's mother tapped her husband's shoulder:
- We'd better leave Marty enter the school, George…
- You're right, Lorraine…
He looked at Carmine:
- This black cat is a sign: everything will be fine for our son…
- Of course, George… I don't need any lucky charm to know it…
They left, and Marty turned to Carmine:
- I thought they will never move… It's true you're beautiful…
Suddenly, Carmine turned her head:
- Meôw!
Gene looked at the screen:
- Elijah and Marlene! Think, Gene, think… I got it!
Carmine started to run to the school's building…
Young Marty shouted:
- Hey, come back! Pets are not allowed in!
He ran after Carmine, and Gene recognized the woman who showed up:
- Miss Grasey!
- Mr. Marty McFly… For your first day, you break a rule…
Young Marty shook his head:
- Trust me, Miss, this cat is not mine, I've just met it outside, and I wanted to prevent him from entering the school's walls…
- Let's go out of here, Carmine, don't put him in trouble…
- Apparently, this cat didn't need you to leave… Okay, I trust you… But be careful, Mr. McFly…
Carmine jumped on a distant wall.
- This Time Device is completely crazy…
- You're right: it's the second time we try to jump to 1986, and we're in 1979, now…
- We'd better try to come back home... We can't stay stuck here…
As they left, Carmine ran again and jumped in the air…
A black cat showed up inside Gene's laboratory and became a giant panther:
- There's nobody in…
Gene left Carmine and looked around:
- Ah, bat, you brought Mr. Vrömblad with you?
Gene squeezed Marty:
- My rat! I thought I would never see you again…
- I just left ten minutes to get some feedbags… Okay, I've picked our families with me, but…
Marlene, Marty Junior, Jennifer and Elijah were waiting outside…
Gene cried, hugging his wife in his arms:
- It's the most wonderful day of my life…
- How did you know it?
- Know what, my love…?
- I wanted to make you this surprise… I'm expecting a new baby…