Through Time She Came

Ch.34 Through Time He Came

Jay tumbled forward into a brick wall.
Professor Olivier quick to help him up. "The first time is a little disorienting. You'll get used to it."

Jay leaned against the wall. Catching his breath and waiting for the world to stop spinning.

"Here,"

"What's this?"

"Money."

"I can see that, for what exactly?"

"Clothes."

"You told me to wear this."

"Yes, and I realize that white dress shirts and slacks have been a staple in men's clothing throughout the century, but the cut and style of the 2000's is a little too ostentatious for the 1920s. You'll stand out too much."

"Got it."

They stepped out of the alley into the bustling city.

Jay swore. "I feel like I just walked into one of those movies Anet's always making me watch with her."

Olivier picked up a paper from a nearby stand. "June 8, 1928." He smiled triumphant.

"She here?"

"She is indeed!" he checked his watch. "Perfect, we have an hour before opening. Let's go, time to clean up!" Olivier started down the street.

"Wait, what do you mean?"

"We're going to L'Angela."

"L'Angela? You mean that old nightclub?"

"That's the one!"

"How do you know she'll be there tonight?"

"She's there every night, from what I've been told." he looked over his shoulder at Jay, "She's the star of the club. The Archangel."

Jay paused in his steps. "You're kidding."

"Surprised?"

"How long has she been here?!"

"I really can't say. Her watch was damaged before we could get a read on her location in time. My guess is a few months to a year at this point." He paused as a shadow crossed his features. We're lucky to have gotten here this early, who knows what troubles she'd gotten into from now 'til 1933."

"1933? But that's 5 years from now."

"We're coming from 2010, Jay, she's had a whole lifetime. We've now jumped into the middle of that lifetime to rescue her. That timeline will no longer exist once we get her out of here."

"God, this is heavy. I don't think I'll ever make sense of time travel."

~•~

Club de L'Angela...
"So, how does Dan open the portal for us to get back if he can't pinpoint a time to open it to?"

Jay and Olivier were seated far from the stage.

"He doesn't open a portal we just walk through like we did getting here. Think of that portal back in 2010 like a gangplank. We just jumped into an ocean of time. These watches are the only connection to that portal. Connected like an anchor to a ship. When it's time to return we're pulled back. Does that make sense?"

"None of this should make sense, Doc. But I get it." He thought more about it. "You said the computer records the time of entry. So couldn't Dan use that as a pinpoint?"

"Technically, yes, but going back to a point in time you already were could be fatal. Time is always accumulating therefore always moving. Like a river. To go back in time is to go against the current of time. The portal opens to a very wide window of time, you could land anywhere. Pinpointing is like trying to squeeze that window smaller. I rushed us through because it easily could shift elsewhen or snap wide again in an instant!"

Jay nodded. "You said the computer was unable to track Anet. How do we bring her back? Can she be brought back without an Anchor?"

"It's quite possible if you were to hold onto her. But I brought her a new Anchor." He looked at his watch. The time set to their time. "We have about a couple hours or so before Dan pulls us back."

"A couple hours?"

"The machine is a little finicky. After all, it is only a prototype." He clicked his teeth. Drummed his fingers on the table. His mind running at lightning speed. "Jacob."

"Yes?"

"Dan's going to pull me back first, I'm going to have him leave you here for now. Once you find Anet, keep her with you."

"What are you going to do?"

"I have a theory to test that I wasn't able to since Anet's Anchor broke. He stood. "I have to go; I can't be in a public place when I get pulled back. Stay here and wait for Anet. Don't draw attention to yourself and do your best to blend in. We need to be careful not to obstruct the flow of time."

"Got it."

"I'll see you both soon." he shook the younger man's hand. Hurried out of the night club.

Jay sat alone, watched the couples dance as the band played. Still trying to grasp that he was in 1928. It was hard to believe. Yet here he was. Sitting in a night club that no longer existed in 2010.

A girl carrying a case strapped over her shoulders stood before him, "Cigar? Cigarettes?"

"Uh, no thanks." she was about to walk away. "Wait, could you tell me when Anet Peters will be singing tonight?"

"Oh, honey, she's not here tonight. But don't worry, she'll be back tomorrow night."

"Can you tell me where I could find her?"

She gave him a derisive look. Obviously, he wasn't the first to ask for Anet. She really must be popular here. "Look, fella, I'm just a cigarette girl, I don't mingle with Valentino's angels much. If she's not here, then she's probably out with her boyfriend Vic Selini. And if you know what's good for you, you'd keep your cheaters off her outside these walls, unless you're done looking at the world." With that, she walked away.

Jay looked away un-bemused.

He took in the scenes of the club. Let out a decided breath. Stood. He would find somebody who had answers.

He took a stroll.

God, I need a drink. He knew the speakeasy was somewhere behind closed doors away from public view. He followed a hoity-toity looking couple. They lead him straight to where he wanted.

He got into the next room easily enough. Surprised to find the size of the room just as large as the show room. Roulette tables and other gambling attractions filled the room along with several bars spread about. He made his way to one of the bars. Ordered a gin. Strolled about the room. Placed a few bets —so as not to look suspicious.

He was unaware that, despite his efforts, he'd been noticed.

Finally, he made his way out.

"Well, grampo." he said to himself, "L'Angela is every bit the spectacle you described."

Jay made it two steps out into the hot June evening when...

"Hey, you! Hold it right there!"

"Can I help you—," he turned —Swore.

"Who the hell are you?" the other man asked. Features exhibited confusion.

"Not who you think, that's for sure."

"You couldn't be... But you know who you look like." His eyes narrowed at Jay, the familiar-looking stranger. "Who are you?"

"...I'm family."

"The hell you are. We'll find out soon enough."

The two with him took that as their signal to grab hold of the lookalike.

Jay didn't resist. This was as good a chance as any he was going to get while here. It'd lead him right to Anet.