Beyond The Stars (UNDER REVISION)

Time Travel!

"Aunt Dri. Are you almost done?" I look over to see Anthony rolling around in the wheeled desk chair. 

I sigh. "Just give me a minute. Something is wrong with this equation and I can't figure out what just yet." I tap the dry erase marker against my chin. 

"You didn't calculate the rate of beta decay properly. The one should be a two." He says after looking at the clear glass board. 

I look back at the equation. "My God, he's right," Bruce says from behind me. 

Anthony sits up abruptly. "Did you get it?"

"Boom. Pizza!" Bruce drops the boxes on the table. 

"Good. I'm starving." 

"We got tacos after I picked you up from school!" I say, erasing the one and turning it into a two. I set the marker down and walk over to the two. Grabbing a slice of pizza, I sit down. "Hey, how'd you know that anyway?" I point to the board. 

"I listen. I read." 

I narrow my eyes at him, confused. Deciding to ignore it, I shake my head. "When you get done eating, I'll drive you home, okay? Make sure you grab all of your stuff." 

"Uh, why don't you hang back for a bit? We could use a third set of eyes, Dri," Bruce says. 

"Bruce, it's a school night." 

"Stay the night here. Take tomorrow off. Your old room is still exactly how you left it." 

I sigh. "He really shouldn't be here for the trial run tomorrow. What if something happens?" 

"Exactly, Aunt Dri! What if something amazing happens?" 

I turn to the teenager. "What if something dangerous happens. Look, if our machinery explodes or, I don't know, an inter-dimensional demon pops out of the folds in time and kills us all? I can't protect you like that." I look to see both Bruce and Anthony's pleading eyes. "Ugh, fine. But shower as soon as your done eating. You still stink from gym class." 

"She's got a point," Bruce says. 

Anthony smiles at me and jumps out of his seat. "Where is it?" 

"Ah, make two rights and a left through that door. Look for the large door with my name on it. You'll find some clothes in there." Anthony nods and runs off. I sigh and take a sip of my water. 

"You know how he knew the equations, don't you?" I ignore Bruce and take another bite of my pizza. "Come on. I know that look." 

"I've caught him reading my papers, my old textbooks... He's trying to find a way to bring his parents back." Bruce nods. "I can't begin to imagine what that was like for him. He was 7 and he saw his mom just... Gone in an instant." I look at the bubbles floating in Anthony's drink. "She was pregnant, you know... His mom. I can't tell him though. He's already lost so much." 

"I understand," Bruce nods. 

I sip on my coffee, looking at the equipment in front of me. "Okay, here we go. Time travel test number one. Scott, fire up the uhh, the van thing." 

"Breakers are set. Emergency generators are on standby." 

"Good, because if we blow the grid, I don't want to loose Tiny here in the 1950s." 

"Excuse me?" Scott looks up. 

Nat smiles. "He's kidding. You can't say things like that."  

Bruce stammers. "It was just a bad joke." 

In a lower voice, Nat becomes serious. "You were kidding, right?"

"I have no idea. We're talking about time travel here. Either it's all a joke or none of it is." He looks back up at Scott. "We're good. Get your helmet on. Scott, I'm going to send you back a week, let you walk around for an hour, and bring you back in 10 minutes." 

Anthony leans in my ear. "Is that how that works?" 

"Haven't you watched any of the Doctor Who DVD's in the living room?" 

"Who watches DVD's anymore?" He scoffs. 

There's a whoosh and he's gone. "On the count of thee. Three, two, one." Bruce flips the switch. 

I narrow my eyes at the helmet. "Uhh... Guys? This-This doesn't feel right." 

"What is this?" 

"What's going on?" 

"Who is that?" Everyone speaks at once. "Is that Scott?" 

"Yes, it's Scott!" There's another whoosh and he's pulled back in. 

"What's going on, Bruce?" Steve asks. 

"Oh, my back!" Old Scott says.

"What is this?" Steve asks again. 

"Hold on a sec," Bruce quietly says. "Can I get a little space here?" Bruce says louder." 

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Can you bring him back?" Steve asks, moving away. 

"I'm working on it!" 

There's another whoosh and i see a baby in Scott's suit. "That's a baby," Steve says. 

"It's Scott." 

"As a baby!" 

"He'll grow!' 

"Bring Scott back!" 

"When I say kill the power, kill the power." 

Nat begins walking off. "Oh my god." 

"And... Kill it!" Nat throws the switch. 

I look at normal aged Scott. "Somebody peed my pants. But I don't know if it was baby-me or old-me... or just... me-me." 

Anthony laughs, so hit him in the back of the head. "TIME TRAVEL!" We all stare at Bruce. Steve looks away, shaking his head. "What?" I raise my brows at him. "I see this as an absolute win." 

I roll my head back and sigh. "I'm getting more coffee," i say before walking over to the small nook. 

"Aright, great. See you in a few." I hang up the phone. "You get lunch?" I ask Bruce as he walks in with a brown box. Bruce nods and sets the tacos down. "Where's Scott. Thought you went out together?" 

"he wanted to eat outside," Bruce points to the man's silhouette in the window. 

I simply nod. Anthony runs up and grabs a handful. "Uh-uh. No. One taco. Save some for everyone else." Anthony sighs and puts all but one back in the box. I see a tall, thing man walk inside the complex. "Alright, go with Adam. He'll take you home." 

"Why can't I go with you and Mr. Banner to New Asgard?" 

"Because I said so. I allowed you to see Scott become a twisted version of Benjamin Button, but it's time to go." 

"Who's Benjamin Button?" 

"Jesus, kid. Watch some dvds when you get home." Adam walks up to me. "Hey, Adam," I smile at my brother, going to pull him into a hug. 

He turns his shoulder to me. "Ready to go, Anthony?" 

My shoulders drop. "Yeah, let's go. Bye, Aunt Dri! Love you!" 

"Bye." I wave as the two boys leave. 

Tony walks up to me. "That was cold." 

I sigh. "Yeah... He's not happy with me. He ignores my calls and doesn't text me back. But when I ask him to watch over Anthony, he does."

Tony pats my shoulder. "It'll get better."  

"Just wait till Morgan's a teen. You'll have your hands full." Tony laughs. I turn to Bruce. "Ready to go?" Bruce nods and we both walk out. "Hey, Rhodes," I give my friend a high five as we pass each other.