The Box

This Changes Everything.

Chapter III  

After going through all the spare parts for the box. We returned to San Francisco California, though time between dimensions is something that is very tricky to pin point.

3 months had past. The Rookie McGriff brought us to his home in the Castro, luckily it was 0100 in the morning and the year was now 1990 January 1, and the Castro was in full party swing. I stood staring at naked men wearing a few things that totally blew my mind both the Sargent & the Rookie had to drag me away and cover my mouth while tears rang down my face. As I fought for breathe as I once again I had a fit of laughter that turned many people's heads. I totally lost all modesty as I my laughter grew in pitch and intensity. 

Finally at McGriff's house they threw me in. I laid there panting and finally getting some control over myself. 

They shook they're heads at me, the Sgt. looked at McGriff and said 'How can somebody that has murder so many things can't keep himself from acting like a stupid child all because he sees people naked?" 

After a few more snorts I wipe my tear drenched face.  

"If I'd known about this sooner, I would have brought a larger recording stone.. So I could tease my friends back home" Asp says. 

Both Cops look at the gnome and shake their heads. 

Rookie McGriff says, "Okay we're back now what?" 

"Yeah so what was it that we need to look for? Plus we been missing for so long, that if we show up now, they're be an unbearable investigation that'll take years.. Just for us to end up jobless." Sgt. Quak complains. 

Nodding, Asp looks at both of them. "1st let's get showers and some food, then head to that alley." He says and continues, "Whatever is left ill find and hopefully I can track the box's energy to where it is now."  

The Sergeant nods as he heads towards the bathroom. 

Asp takes in the house's living space, and looks at McGriff, "Ah I don't mean to intrude but your not fully human, are you?" He asks. 

The Rookie smiles at the gnome, "I was thinking the same thing after meeting you, seeing how you composed yourself." He replied. 

Asp looked over the pictures on the hearth and what was hanging on the walls.. And blinked.  

"Not many people know about why I get pulled into different times, or dimensions. My boss Dandi says since I tinkered with the machine." Pointing at the box, "That gave me the idea for that, I carry a positive charge. That singles me out." Asp explains. 

"You though, are way to adaptive and have slightly pointy ears, even for a half elf. No I think your family came to this time not too long ago though 6 generations. Though you still show the pride of an even older race.." Asp says as he gets excited. 

McGriff looks at Asp, and sighs then says. "Please do not tell Sgt. Quak." 

Blinking Asp grins, and says, "You've fooled me till I gotten here. Sure enough as I know you and your clans are the only remaining Elders from my time line and through out the dimensions I've been to." 

McGriff nods and gets a large cup of water and starts watering his many plants that now seem to appear through out the house.  

Watching a living breathing Half Elder, inside his space Asp is dumb founded, that this young man might be even older than he, not only that the device that he been building and kept it going might have been built by one of McGiff's family members.  

As I finally got to this conclusion. "The others won't help us, we've sworn not to make the same mistakes we did in the Future." McGiff said sadly.  

"Besides, they'd have to come to us. Being a half breed, I'm not allowed a rank for fear of driving us back to old mistakes." 

The shower stopped we both looked at each other. "I'll order food you get a kettle on for tea, ill make the Sgt. Some coffee." McGriff says quickly as he reaches for the phone. 

From the bathroom Sgt. Quak shouts. "Okay I'm ready to deal with all this, just need some food and Real Coffee!" 

Grinning I place the kettle on and get the gas stove top working.  

I hear McGriff speaking fluently in one of the Chinese language's. Something that I do know a little of, I can read the language well, though speaking is a lot tougher.  

Sergeant Quak comes to the living room & totally does not see the jungle of plants, or all the pride of Elder race stuff that I was able to make out.  

"Asp! Have you ever had a shower before?" 

Blinking at him. I say "Yeah, indoor plumbing was the 1st thing I installed back home. Plus hot tubs, why does the Rookie have some thing better than a normal shower in his bathroom?" 

Grinning from ear to ear the human that was only wearing a towel said, "Do I look happier? Do I normally smile?" 

Spying the Sergeant, I go check out the bathroom. The room is filled with steam and yet the mirrors are not foggy? The plants here look sad but are recovering. I look at the walk in shower it has rows of shower heads going from the top down on 6 sides...  

I start removing my gear, armor. Both cops gasp at seeing the many upon many scars that cover my body.  

"Yeah, yeah if you two were there to see my 3 deaths. These scars wouldn't be all that shocking. Hell being brought back sucked worse, okay how do I get in the shower and work it?" I say astounded by the modern past inventions. 

It was 0330 hours local time, not many people about. I was forced to wear normal armor for fear of massive erosion of magic to my gear.  

We took McGriff's second vehicle which was a sports car, I so need to learn how to drive. 

At the Alley, I told McGriff not to stop & just drive by.  

From where I was sitting, I saw several security cameras. And undercover people dressed as bums.. 

We drove off, the Rookie parked 8 blocks away. 

I look around, at the trash in the street and at the store fronts, to see the electronic store.  

Grinning I say, "Good idea!" 

I look down the street to where I was pulled in from. Pointing down the block we move towards the spot, I pull out a black plastic looking device and turn it on as we stop.  

I watch the read out as it picked up my signature. Then traced where I went till I came back here.  

I fine tuned the read outs and found the boxes path. It was now across the Bay.