End of the Future
Chapter 8: Going Places.
Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I'm doing wrong (to correct it).
Pohatchee Drive-In Teather
March the 15th, 1986
"Three, two, one. Here it comes!"
In a flash, a black Toyota truck materialized in the middle of the old auto cinema park, still running at 88 MPH for a moment more. Its brakes engaged automatically, until it stopped. A cloud of cold vapor surrounded the truck. Marty and Jennifer approached it carefully, fire extinguishers on hand, just in case.
"Ah-hahaha!" Doc danced happily while the group waited for the vehicle to warm up again. "Success! 1.21 Gigawatts! One minute into the future! And no plutonium!" He tapped the remote control on his hands, flipped a few switches off, and the rumbling of the motor stopped. He pushed the antenna in, and switched the RC off.
George McFly smiled like a kid in a candy shop. "Amazing!" He limped heavily, leaning on a steel cane. "What did you use for fuel then?"
"Well, for this test, distilled water, I need to do some tests with other substances, but if the residues are low enough, we could use sea water, soda, even garbage!"
"Hey, Doc! I think we can open it now!" Marty shouted. The truck was still enveloped in thick clouds, a product of the intense cold caused by time travel interacting with the water in the air. However, the cloud was smaller in size to the first one, as the day was very hot and dry.
"Wait for us, son!" George hobbled towards the truck, as fast as he could.
"Would you do the honors, George?" Doc smiled, holding a thick gardening glove for the writer to take.
George put the glove on, and carefully, opened the door. On the driver's seat, a cage containing a Guinea Pig. The animal wrinkled its nose, and stood up on its hind legs, smelling the air. Jennifer took it out. "Who's a brave time-traveler?" She cooed. "You are, Herbert!"
"Herbert?" Marty asked, "He looks more like a Robbie."
"Herbert," Doc said firmly, "In honor of Herbert George Wells, author of The Time Machine."
"Herbert," Jennifer nodded. "The one at home is Georgina, she was George until we realized she was a she."
Marty scratched his head. "So... that's why you only brought one."
"We have no idea of how, and even if, time travel could affect a pregnancy." Doc explained.
Marty blushed crimson, raising a finger as his mouth worked on some words that never were actually formed, while Jennifer enjoyed his embarrassment. "Yup, that's how I knew. Busted!"
"Ah, hum... erm," Desperate to change the subject, Marty looked around, "So, what do we do with the plutonium we stored..."
"Nothing, we keep it hidden in the mine, moving it is dangerous anyway. I used a few charges to set up funds for our work. The rest may stay there until it degrades into something less dangerous. At the moment, we need not to worry about it being found, the mine has no more ore to extract, the land around it is useless, and I will convert the area into a small natural preserve for endangered desert species." Doc said, while focused on taking a few blood samples off of Herbert.
"You... You own the land?" Marty stammered.
"Of course! When I went back to 1960, I convinced the previous owners to will it to me. I paid them good cash for the privilege. They were very happy to do so. I asked them to make sure It would be transferred to me this year, two weeks ago, in fact. I signed the last documents yesterday."
"Why didn't you simply buy it directly? Back then, I mean." Marty scratched his head.
Doc and George exchanged a look, and said in synch, "Taxes!"
"All of our heavy investments have to be carefully managed. I could go to any year since I've been an adult, buy property or make investments on my own name, but I'd have to pay the taxes for it. It's not like I managed to get most of our initial investment capital in 1984. I'm not sure my 1955 self could manage the investments AND still invent the time machine at the same time. Plus the risk of a paradox that could stop us from finding out about Third Impact. No, too much risk. "
"I've been meaning to ask you about that, Doctor Brown." Jennifer passed him a tray to put the blood samples. "I mean, the money. You told Marty you used up the family's fortune to make the Flux Capacitor, where did you get so much money?"
Doc put Herbert back in its cage, "I went back to 1938, and bought several comic books. I then put them in the bottom of a chest in my house, one belonging to my late aunt Charlotte, full of personal effects I never touched but kept for sentimental reasons. Conveniently, I found them this year, and auctioned them. Turns out any issues of Action Comics issue number 1 are really valuable. Even more if they are in good condition. As you can imagine, mine are practically perfect grade." (1)
"I still have some Detective Comics issue 27 stored." He added with a smirk. "Those will be auctioned later this year. The Fantastic Four and Spider-Man issues I got in the 1960s will appear in George's attic later on."
Jennifer looked confused. "Comics? Why are those valuable? Aren't those like a dollar each?"
George answered, "Those are the first published appearances of Superman and Batman. They are very rare nowadays. First, because back then, comics were disposable entertainment. So, most people just threw them out as garbage, or resold them to places like barber shops. Or even used them for bird cages or to wrap fish. With WWII, there was paper rationing, and newspapers and comics were recycled aggressively. Only a few of those comics survived to our days, and some collectors are willing to pay a lot for those. The other two are from before the big collecting boom, They are valuable too, just not so much."
"Well said!" Doc approved, "Now, just between us, I also took the chance to get a few books autographed, but those are just personal stuff, I wouldn't sell those." He winked. "Back to the point, the modifications Doctors Stantz and Spengler did to their proton packs to convert them into fusion generators work as expected. Now, let's give it time to return to normal; meanwhile, it's time to test the DeLorean, if everything goes as expected, we could take the vehicles to present day Japan, and time travel to Ground Zero of the event, without any need to transport that plutonium out of the country."
George cleared his throat. "My publisher has been pestering me lately about some cartoon studio wanting to buy the rights to adapt one of my short stories as a movie. And as it happens, it is based right in Japan. We can make it a family trip. It would be the perfect cover. I go to discuss the adaptation with the studio execs, and bring the family for a nice trip. Decorating the cars with anime characters would be the perfect way to get them there. It would also explain all the stuff we put on them."
"I'll have to ask my parents. I don't think they will let me go. Not alone. Specially to a foreign country with my boyfriend."
"Chaperone?" Marty asked, raising an eyebrow.
"My aunt Marsha, most probably." She sighed.
"That is going to cause some problems," Doc mused. "Miss Parker, we might have to work around her to travel in time."
New York City
Thurgood Marshall U. S. Courthouse
March the 24th, 1986
"It is the decision of this court that you four, individually or in group, shall refrain from participating in any and all activities related, in any way or form, to capturing or storing supposed paranormal entities. Is that clear?"
"Very clear, your Honor." The lawyer said. "My clients ask if they can, instead, repurpose their equipment to different activities."
"Only in the privacy of their homes or workplaces, asumming their employers or partners have no objection. They must give written permission beforehand."
Peter Venkman opened his mouth, ready to comment sarcastically, but Egon Spengler squeezed Peter's thigh under the table, hissing a sharp "Shut up!"
"Well, boys, I guess that's the best deal we're gonna get. The suits have been managed, you're not in jail, and you are now free to go."
"Mr. Curry, thank you. We really appreciate your help." Ray Stantz was the first one to shake the lawyer's hand. His friends and companions did the same.
"All part of the service. Though normally I work with lower profile cases, it was good to flex the old grey cells. Your friend, Dr. Brown, was very emphatic I had to do my best. Now, if you want to renegociate the terms of the contract with him, I can suggest a good firm at the other side of the building. I can't do it myself, as I represent Dr. Brown's interests."
Egon looked around, not seeing any disagreement on his friends faces, he said "No, no. It won't be necessary. We are content with the current arrangement."
"Great, I hope you'll consider moving to the West Coast, the weather is nicer, and you'll be closer to Brown Industries, I myself will retire to Hill Valley once I settle my last cases and my sons take over the firm. The weather is mild and the place is still deciding if it's a big town or a small city, the best of both worlds."
Peter Venkman snorted noisily, "Hill Valley? What kind of ridiculous name is that? It's either a Hill or a Valley!" He chuckled.
"Ah, I confess I asked that to Dr. Brown, though a bit more diplomatically. You know what he said?" He paused, "The town was founded in a valley, by a man named Jonah Hill." Mockingly, he lowered his eyeglasses to look at Peter. "So, the place should be called ' Hill's Valley', but you know how things go."
Peter Venkman shrugged, "Ah, well. I had to ask. Aaanyway, I'll stay, I have a tv show in the works and I'm sure it will be a hit. Psychic phenomena, alien sightings, Elvis watch, Bigfoot tracks, the fun stuff. So, I guess we will be staying, right, guys?" He paused for a moment. No one answered, "Guys?"
"I am considering the benefits of an environmental change." Egon said, he took his glasses off, and proceeded to clean them with a small cloth. "As long as I have access to a clean and well stocked lab, I can manage. Testing behavioral stress in couples can be disruptive."
Winston Zeddemore couldn't decide if he wanted to chuckle or gasp. "I'll need a couple of days to think things thru. See everybody later?" He gathered his things and put everything into a backpack.
Ray slapped Winston back. "Sure, Winston. I'll see you at HQ."
Egon put his glasses back on, adjusting them by pushing the bridge up his nose. "You go, I have to check some stuff with Louis. He has been busy with our accounts, trying to keep them in the black. I want to see just how much we have to our names."
"Say hi to him, Egon." Ray said, "I'll go check on HQ, close it tight."
Japan
Kanagawa Prefecture
Hakone
March the 31th, 1986
"What are we doing here, Doc? I thought we would have to go to Tokyo." Marty asked, scratching his head. He and Doc were at the highest floor of the hotel. Doc looked through binoculars, while Marty took notes of Doc's findings.
"Tokyo-3, Marty." The scientist answered, still looking at the outskirts of the city. "According to the history books we got from the high school, the original Tokyo was practically destroyed. This is the place the new capital of Japan was to be established . While it was built, a provisional capital was established at the Nagano Prefecture, renaming the city of Matsumoto as Tokyo-2. Turns out that plan was abandoned when the Angels began to attack Tokyo-3, leaving the former Matsumoto as the permanent capital of Japan. So, here we are. Hakone, future site of Tokyo-3."
"Ah, yes. Got it. Doc, when are we checking on the future?"
"Well… we need to study the place, determine where is most probable to reach 88 mph without crashing onto something, and all that. I'm glad we can communicate passably, but Jennifer is our best reader. We will need her with us. Let's give it a week while we check on the city maps. I think we could even make our own luck in that aspect."
"What do you mean?"
"Let's check with your father and Jennifer first. Turns out your mother really likes this city. That could be the perfect excuse."
"What?"
"Well… while George and his translator work the details for the cartoon movie, we are officially on holiday. Your mother insisted on doing some tourism, and said she liked the city. So, being filthy rich, your father is considering buying a house here as his anniversary gift to her."
"Really?"
"Really." Doc looked at Marty, "Really! He is actually considering it. He said, and I quote, 'If Arthur C. Clarke can move to Sri Lanka, I can get a place in Japan. I think it's a really good idea. Though your parents would have to learn the language."
Marty shrugged, "She is learning it. She can say some simple phrases from the tourist's guide, though she has to check it constantly. Dad is a bit ahead, but needs a lot of practice."
"Ah, well… we all do. I was surprised at how off we sound." Doc waved a hand.
"Yeah… we sound like children!"
"As in anything, practice is the key." Doc pontificated. "C'mon, let's check with our guide if we can buy land, we need a good place out of the city, preferably out of the way. Not too remote, and cheap."
Toronto, Canada
Abril the 2nd, 1986
"Egon, What are we doing here?" Winston said, while looking at a very strange machine. It looked like parts of a giant motorcycle.
"Brown Enterprises received an interesting bit of info. We are here to evaluate the possible applications of an experimental system." Egon walked around the damaged lab equipment. There were several marks of shotgun fire, and a particularly nasty stain on the floor, amons a mottled collection of smaller stains. It was worse than the floor of the Ghostbusters HQ when they had first enter that building.
"The original sponsor withdrew his support after the inventor of this got involved in several deaths, including his own, and is trying to recoup his investment; the scandal could make his stock drop drastically." Egon's mouth twisted in disgust, as he realized he had stepped on something sticky, he dragged his shoe on the floor to remove the offending piece of candy. Once he was sure he was free, he continued, "Dr. Brown has interest in all kinds of novel theories and inventions. So, he needs somebody to check out if they are solid and promising."
"So, kinda poaching?"
"No, of course not. The plan is to encourage young inventors, not to rob them." Egon lowered his spectacles to look at a file. "Remember our own case. The proton packs we used to capture ghosts had potential we didn't see. Now they are the basis for portable fusion generators. In a few years, once we miniaturize them, they will revolutionize the world! And Ray and myself retain the rights to our original invention, plus a very nice share of the derived patents. Everybody is happy with the arrangement."
"Yeah, I got that. I'm not exactly a science-guy, but I have a very generous check each month, and a great medical and dental plan." Winston looked at a discarded mug. "But I feel like a grave robber here."
"Ironic, considering our previous job involved the dead too, though those were much more active. I must say." Egon wrote several notes in his clipboard. "I'll have the Currys check if this guy had any living relatives, and start the buying of the lab, everything except the building. I think this has potential."
As they left, they closed the building. A faded sign proclaimed it was sponsored by Bartok Industries.
Ruins of Tokyo-3
Outskirts of the City
March the 3rd, 2017
Two vehicles appeared on a deserted track of pavement. It had been built as a private racing strip for an eccentric writer. Actually, though it had been used as such, that was not its true purpose.
Its true purpose was to ensure a safe place for two time-traveling vehicles to arrive.
The first one to arrive was a silver DeLorean, covered by a lot of anime characters, lovingly painted in perfect detail, including a chibi version of its owner. The second was a black Toyota truck, with a similar paint job.
"Man, this place looks like a war zone!" Marty said, passing the binoculars to Doc. Next to them, Jennifer took some pictures.
Doc pointed at an enormous hole in the ground. "It might very well be. Look! I can see signs of multiple detonations around that hole."
"It looks like it's gonna fall down at any time." Jennifer used the telephoto lens to look at the place.
"I agree wholeheartedly. We must stay away from that area."
"Um, Doc..?"
"Something the matter, Marty?"
"Yeah, check the streets."
"Hmm… there's a lot of debris, but we can manage. Both vehicles have reinforced tires."
"No, it's not that. There's something weird about the streets, but I can't put my finger on it."
The three travelers scrutinized the city, it was Jennifer who realized what bothered Marty. "The streets are mostly empty! Just a few cars here and there, but a city this size should have many cars and trucks. I can't see any public transport buses either. Except for those train tracks, but not even a single train."
Doc's mouth was dry, "it's like the city was already empty when the Event hit." He took a sip from a water bottle. "Maybe… maybe they were at war when the Event hit. The people gone or in bunkers."
He adjusted his binoculars. "I can't see clothes anywhere. Though maybe the wind or the rain took them away."
"What's that?" Marty mumbled. "There's something moving there!" He pointed at a building at the other side of a small park.
"I don't see… anything…" said Doc after a minute.
"I swear I saw something move!"
"Let's go down, we might find it, hopefully we can find some kind of recording of the Event."
They left the Delorean parked at the garage. The truck was a better choice to navigate the damaged streets of Tokyo-3.
Marty did a double take at the unexpected sight in front of him. A scrawny teenager ran directly in front of his truck.
"Marty, stop!" Jennifer grabbed Marty's arm, while her boyfriend hit the brakes hard. Fortunately, they were traveling slowly, due to the damage on the streets. In the back seat, Doc was already scrambling to get out the truck.
The boy stopped in front of the truck, twin streams of tears flowing freely down his sunken cheeks. He fell to his knees, babbling incomprehensible words.
Immediately, Doc was next to the boy, awkwardly patting his back. "(Easy, easy. We here to help.)"
The boy grabbed Doc's arms, as if trying to convince himself the older man was real.
Marty and Jennifer stood next to the pair. Marty had brought a water bottle with him, and offered it to the boy. "(Here. Drink. Feel better.)" His Japanese was still very basic.
The boy took the water gingerly, a broken smile upon his face. With trembling hands, he took the bottle, and drank greedily.
"What is he saying, Doctor Brown? Can you understand him?"
Doc had enveloped the boy in an awkward hug, and rocked him softly. "I'm not sure. Not completely, it's something like, 'You came back. You're real.' Maybe he knows our future versions, if we are living in Japan as we discussed, or even visiting."
"And the ' You're real' part?" Marty asked.
"Maybe… maybe he has been alone for too long and has been seeing people? Hallucinating?"
"That would be my guess, Miss Parker. Now, help me get him in the truck."
Inside Instrumentality
Shinji had met the strangers. Rei Ayanami watched them interact with him.
She hurried up the making of her new body.
Author Notes
(1) I got this bit from the BTTF wiki, it's the game explanation of how did Doc get the money he carries in his portfolios in the second movie.