Lost: Somewhere in Time [Published - Sample Only]

Chapter 1 - Time Travelers Know that Most People in the Past are Already Dead

Chapter 1 - Time Travelers Know that Most People in the Past are Already Dead

TIME-COORD: 6/11/2045/1530hrs. GEO-COORD: Cleveland, North American Alliance. Vector: Null.

Three days after graduation, James invited his three best friends over to his house. The house he had inherited when his missing grandfather had been declared legally dead several years ago. His steady girlfriend of just over two years arrived first. Hiroko McAdams was not tall but was quite muscular; she was in fantastic physical condition and when she was 14, she had almost made the NAA Olympic team as a gymnast. She was somewhere between cute and beautiful or was just both. Her straight black hair was from her mother and made quite a contrast to the gray eyes she got from her father. Her perfectly straight teeth were courtesy of several years of orthodonture. She smiled as James opened the door, stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him playfully on the lips. She handed him her overstuffed bag and said. "I told my mom that I was staying here all summer!"

James nodded. "And..."

Hiroko laughed. "She balked and started to argue, but then I pointed to the calendar on the fridge and said, I'm nineteen now mom...anyway, it's okay she likes you, in her own crazy way!"

Hiroko noticed that her tall and sexy boyfriend was even more serious than usual. She thought to herself: I guess I'd be serious too. She then said aloud. "What's with all the mystery?"

Finally, James smiled. "Ko, before Mike and Gina get here, I want to show you something."

Hiroko playfully unbuttoned the top two buttons of her stylish red blouse. "Me too...do we have time to..."

James returned the playful smile and clumsily re-buttoned the blouse for her. "Not right now, but I promise Ms. McAdams, that I will devote my undivided attention to you as soon as possible."

Hiroko pouted a second, kissed her friend on the cheek and whispered into his ear. "I love you."

James smiled and said softly. "I love you too, Ko."

The two had been friends for a long time and had over the last two years explored saying the L word to each other. They both found great pleasure in it.

"Okay Alice, please follow me into the Looking Glass."

Hiroko gave her friend a questioning look but smiled as she took his hand. He led her down the back hallway, past the Butler's pantry and to the room everyone called the sunroom for its warm winter morning light. As they entered the room, James said. "House, please say hello to Ms. Hiroko. Cancel all previous security protocols with regards to her."

From overhead, the confident voice of an AI responded. "Cataloged and filed sir. Good afternoon Ms. Hiroko, it's finally good to speak with you in my own voice after all of these years."

Hiroko looked up with wide eyes and whispered. "He sounds different, not like a regular home auto system."

The voice answered. "That is correct Ms. Hiroko; I am a fully functioning Fleet Level Artificial Intelligence System. I was installed here to help Dr. Scott with his work."

"James, we promised to share everything. When did you...know about this?"

James put his arm around his friend. Her response was stiff. "Ko, I didn't know, that is really know until the day of my 19th birthday. It was a few days after that crazy letter from the past was delivered at school. I was here, rattling around the place and I was sad. You know all I had were memories of my folks... and they are fading now...here; let me give you a sneak preview before the others get here. House, please demonstrate the small elevator for Ms. Hiroko. We won't be using it; I just want her to see where it is."