It's About Time

Ch 4

Back at Doc's place, Marty was all dressed up for the trip. He had refilled the De Lorean and that's when George came up to them.

George asked, "Marty? Annie? Where have you two been? And Marty, what's with the getup?"

Annie lied, "Uh he's helping in a play..."

George raised a brow, "Never mind, you two don't have to explain. I'm sure whatever it is that you two are up to is that you know what you are doing... Right?"

Marty stated, "I hope so."

George placed a hand on their shoulders, "Hey, sometimes you have to go out on a limb for the ones you love, right? I wish my dad had understood that. You won't stay away too long."

Marty promised, "You will barely know that I was gone." George smiled as he headed off. Marty turned to Annie. He asked, "Are you sure that you don't want to come with me? You could make jokes along the way."

Annie pouted, "I would like to but if we are both gone for a long period of time, it would raise suspicion. Plus I want to stay and help stop the sale of Doc's place while I'm here."

Marty admitted, "I knew you'd say that... I'm going to miss you though."

Annie rubbed his cheek gently, "Hey, I'll miss you too." Marty leaned in for a kiss, which Annie had returned. They broke out of their kiss as Einstein got in the car with Marty. Annie pleaded, "Please don't almost erase yourself out of existence again, okay...?"

Marty semi joked, "No promises."

With that, he got into the De Lorean, turned on the time circuits and put in the date of June 13th, 1931. He took the highway out of town, making sure it was dead of night. He got the car up to 88 MPH and then the De Lorean took him into time.

...

When Marty arrived, the police were chasing after some mobsters in a truck. The mobsters got away as the policeman started to shoot at the De Lorean. Some smoke came out of the back of the car, driving the policeman off the road. Marty pulled up to a sign that read, Car of the Future. He found it ironic. He hid the De Lorean back there, letting Einstein and him walk the two miles to Hill Valley.

...

Marty and Einstein had finally made it to Hill Valley when it was in the afternoon. Einstein had run off. Marty looked around and everything looked very 1931'ish. Marty was trying to cross the street but he was almost run over. Marty quickly finished crossing the street. When Marty got to the burned down speakeasy, he saw a young lady taking notes.

She saw Marty and stopped him, "Young man! Excuse me, young man!"

Marty perked up, "Who, me?"

She said, "You're the only man in the street, and I'm looking for a man-in-the-street reaction. Naturally you know about the explosion that destroyed this illegal gin establishment?"

Marty shrugged, "I've read about it, yeah."

She commented, "What's your opinion of Carl Sagan, the stranger who single-handedly did what the law has been unable to do for ten long years - namely rid Hill Valley of the Scourge of Liquor?"

Mary stated, "Uh...you can mark me down as a supporter."

The lady brought out her notes and wrote down, "The young man said, flashing a boyish-yet-virile grin. Hill Valley needs more upstanding youths like yourself! Do you have a message for the vicious gangsters who still roam these streets, no doubt plotting to corrupt our citizens with another den of booze, sin, and debauchery...?"

Marty replied, "Ask 'em where I can get the address..."

The lady perked up, "Ah, I see! Because you want to blast it to smithereens, just like Carl Sagan did. With public spirited citizens like you around, the lawless element will be on the run in no time! Mr....may I get your name?"

Marty responded, "Yeah, it's Michael Corleone."

The lady wrote this down, "Thank you for sharing your candid opinions, Mr. Corleone." She put away her notes and held out her hand, "Edna Strickland, Hill Valley Herald."

Marty shook her hand as he responded, "I know. I met you back, um, I'm familiar with your work."

Edna smiled, "You read my column? How sweet. I know it's just an etiquette column but I believe it will lead to bigger and better..." That's when Einstein jumped on her, "Whoa!"

Marty told Einstein, "Einstein, no! Down boy!"

Edna hissed, "Is this wretched creature yours? He assaulted me once before!"

Marty looked at Einstein and asked, "What is with you...?"

Edna said, "Aggressive dogs must be kept on a leash at all times! It's the law - look it up!"

With that, Edna left them. Einstein had walked off again.

Marty muttered, "Doc, got to find Doc..."

That's when Marty started to look around the town. He had gone into the soup kitchen. He saw another man at a table, eating soup. He sat at the counter and started to rub his neck. What Marty didn't know was the other man was doing the same thing behind him.

"McFly!"

Marty turned, "Biff...?"

"Kid!"

Marty did a double take. "Grandpa?!"

Kid huffed, "That's Mister Tannen to you, Artie. What're you doing out here?"

Artie started to explain, "Well, I was getting kind of hungry, so I figured I'd come down here for some free soup..."

Kid mocked, "Just thought I'd come down for some soup... Think, McFly! The D.A. is throwing around subpoenas like Babe Ruth..."

Artie pointed out, "I don't think Ruth is a pitcher any more..."

Kid growled, "Shut it! If one of those subpoenas landed in the hands of my number-cruncher, I'd be in a whole lot of trouble. I could even get sent up the river. You wouldn't want that, would you?" Kid leaned in and added, "Would you?"

Artie replied, "No, of course not, Kid."

Kid smirked, "Alright, that's better." That's when he saw Marty staring. He asked, "What are you looking at, punk?"

A mobster behind him advised, "Keep your eyes on the soup, kid."

Kid turned back to Artie, "Well?"

Artie asked, "Well what?"

Kid stated, "Well what are you still doing here?"

Artie apologized, "Sorry, Kid. I'll just run back to the safe house."

Kid replied, "You do that. And McFly?" Artie turned back to him. He added, "That hat is too flashy. You better let me hold on to it." That's when he snatched the hat right off his head. He said, "Now scram!"

Artie nodded, "You got it boss..."

Kid commented, "And don't come out until I give you the all clear!" With that, Artie was gone. Kid grumbled, "I swear, if even one of you mooks could add two plus two without your fingers, I'd dump that wimp into the lake."

The mobster in the back said, "Hey!"

Kid told them, "Anyways, I'm off to make myself irresistible. Don't let anyone burn down the shop while I'm gone."

With that, Kid left with his other enforcer. Marty headed out to - to see if he could find Doc anywhere.

...

Wishmaker1028: We're all set with this chapter. With any luck, we should wrap up this story up shortly. Then right after, about 2-3 days after, Get Tannen will be published. For now, please read and review! And always think outside the box!