Elevators Through Time - Book 1

Part 49: HiBye

Part 49: HiBye

Year: 2038

Time: 8:04am

Location: Food Court area, Stratostation, Upper Atmosphere, Earth-Space

Level: Level 2

"It is good to meet you Tim. We were worried when we got here that we were alone." I reached out and shook his hand.

"Sorry I couldn't go to you straight away. I saw you warp in here but I wanted to observe you first. Just to find out all I needed to know."

"Glad to meet you, Tim," Kate said, relieved that we had met up this easily.

"Ah yes, the lovely lady Miss Kate. Greetings. You make Alex a lucky guy." Tim took and kissed the hand that was extended for a hand shake.

Kate blushed and smiled to me.

"Thank you."

Tim looked to Martin and touched his beak, "Quite pure after all."

Martin didn't mind being touched on the beak. He just sat there and looked up at this curious man.

There weren't threats from man back when Martin lived so of course he was docile. Unaware of how hostile this bipedal species might be in the future.

We discussed a lot of things for a while. Tim seemed to be more interested in Martin but he later asked what equipment and weapons we have to take care of or assailants.

"That palm laser may come in handy."

I had forgotten about that but still kept it in storage until later so that Kate wouldn't see it for a while.

"Yes, I've used that recently but not for combat,"

"I see. Well I hope you are quite adept at learning on the spot because it isn't easy to wield a laser in combat without accidentally hurting yourself or others around you. I just hope that you won't need to use it. A gun is a bit more controlled than a laser."

"I heard that. So where do we go? We can't stay here if they attack us again."

"We have to leave this place," Kate cut in, feeling a little left out. "I don't like leaving such a nice place but I guess we have to go to keep the people here away from harm. We will also need to attract their attention away from this place."

"She's right, but where do we go?"

"I believe that you mean 'when do we go?' Am I right?"

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Kate took another look back out into space and then joined Tim and I as we headed back to our room.

We packed away all our things into my Gyro-linium's atomic-compression compartment, much to Tim's amusement.

"Wow, you actually wear that?."

"Hey, quit starin'" Kate playfully swatted the back of his hand.

I was curious as to what they were talking about, but maybe Tim wasn't as reserved as I was and so looked at a woman's clothes more.

Eventually we finished packing.

"Aw, I wanted to talk with Sierra some more." Kate muttered, setting down on the couch.

"We will have plenty of time to get back here when we are safe." I said as I sat next to her and reached to move a few stands of her raven hair away from her lovely eyes and over head right ear. A smile formed on her face, but she was still thinking of Sierra.

Kate didn't like the feeling of missing a conversation, even if we could travel back.

"Hmm okay. Have you selected a time and place we will go, Alex?"

I looked up another time and place related to the development of elevators and showed it to my friends on the nearby wireless display which I had earlier managed to configure to connect to with my device.

"I want to show Kate this." I pointed, "A Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator. This was made for personal house use in the year 2005 in America."

"Ah, America. Everyone has guns there so you will be perfectly safe, right?" Tim teased.

"Now now, just because they have guns doesn't mean they will shoot us. Just look at the Que'nesians."

"Point taken."

"Americans now had guns everywhere?" Kate inquired.

I held her hands. "Oh sorry, things have changed since you have been gone. Kids can carry and hide guns and schools need to check kids for firearms. That's the scary but obvious part. The scary part are the guns we don't know about. So we will have to be careful. But don't worry, I'm right here."

Kate seemed to feel guilty but I what I don't know. It wasn't her job to take on the burden of their home country.

"Oh and when we get there it may be a good idea if you both had a change of wardrobe. As good as you look now, those two may have seen what you usually wear and may recognise you like this." Tim advised. "Even if we are meant to pull them to us. "

I nodded, thinking about how little I brought, then looked to Kate. Most of her clothes were given to her by her parents so not only were they hers but they also had sentimental value. She would have to decide for herself what to keep and what to give away.

Hmm, I can't believe that I actually have to convince Kate that she should go shopping. I thought that was automatic for all girls.

Martin was walking around the room and then admired his own reflection in the window before sitting down on the table in front of the couch, facing us.

"Okay, I guess we should." Kate looked a little apprehensive about buying a different set of clothes, and looked to Martin and reached out to touch the red streak at the bottom of his beak. Martin seemed to like being tickled there and he closed his beady eyes. Kate smiled, "At least you don't have to worry about changing."

"Hmm, I guess I will have to cancel my booking here...," A grin formed on my face, "or maybe I can leave the room and come back to it another time, heh, get it?"

Kate laughed, "Hahaha, another time."

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I locked the door to our room after we all went out. Not really necessary as we could arrive a few seconds after we leave and nothing would be changed.

The four of us headed to an observation area and checked if no one was around. People tended to stay around the food and tourist attraction areas this early in the morning.

"Okay, it's safe to jump here. Ready when you are." Tim turned to me to which I nodded and turned to Martin who nodded and turned to Kate who said, "Let's go!"

We all linked arms and Martin squawked as I initiated the device and set the time and destination.

"That's so cool,"

"You haven't seen anything yet, Tim,"

The room was rapidly bathed in a blue hue. Streaks of orange and blue arced around us and webs of energy swirled all around us.

"America here we come!" Shouted Kate as the four of us faded and disappeared from the Stratostation yet again.

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"And there they go again," a security guard chuckled. He was on duty and saw them jump the first time and now saw them do it again.

"Yeah, those guys seem to have a very active lifestyle," his workmate replied.

Another pair of eyes was also watching and was more interested in the destination than the lifestyle.

"It was smart to keep tabs on the security system, Kep."

"I had a feeling that they'd be back."

"Was that 'woman's intuition'?"

"Heh maybe, Deune, maybe it was,"