CHAPTER FIVE

"We made it here alive," the Professor shouted happily as the other two slowly opened their eyes and found they were in the TimeLine Agency lobby.

"Why does everything feel so tight?" Larry asked.

He then realized that Candy still had her arms wrapped around him as if she were holding on for dear life.

"Um, Candy, you can let go, we are safe now," Larry said, slightly embarrassed, as other agents were beginning to look.

"What, um, oh… sorry. What happened?" Candy asked all confused.

"Come," the Professor instructed.

He took them over towards the computer room. Candy was still awe struck by all the things she saw. Larry had to somewhat hold on to her as they made their way down a flight of stairs, as she was still unsteady from the transfer.

"Where are we? How did we get here? What happened back at the factory? Is my Dad alright?" Candy asked in quick succession.

"All in good time young lady, one step at a time," the Professor replied.

"Wow!" Candy said as they went inside the computer room.

The Professor went over to one of the unoccupied screens and encouraged Candy to come closer. He quickly flipped through a couple of screens,

"The simple fact that we are here in one piece, and we did not bring anything else back with us is a very good sign." The Professor stated.

"But where is here?"

The Professor ignored that question for the moment.

"Okay, wow, all is looking good. It will take a few more hours to confirm, but it looks like all the timelines are going to sort themselves out."

The Professor went over to check another screen.

"Yes, things are looking quite good…well wait a moment."

The Professor got a puzzled look on his face.

"Candy, did you have an older sister?" He asked.

"No, well yes, but she died at birth, why?" Candy asked.

The Professor flipped through several more screens and mumbled to himself quite a bit before he answered.

"Well, I have seen this happen before."

He paused again to check a few more screens.

"You see, because you are here with us now, history has it that you were the first born that died at birth." the Professor told her.

Candy began to cry, but before anyone got too concerned, she said,

"It's okay, they are happy tears. The way things worked out my sister and I both had time with my Dad."

"Professor? What about George?" Larry asked.

"Agent Turnbuckle, it is impossible to say. After the time lines finally settle, we can check again, but chances are we will not know for sure," the Professor replied.

"Professor, how did you know what to do back there?" Larry asked.

The Professor chuckled to himself.

"Agent Turnbuckle, there is an old expression that says, 'Desperate times call for desperate measures.' There was something about the configuration of that T135 that looked familiar. While you were gone to warn Ms. Smith to leave it dawned on me. It was on my test to be an agent."

"Are you telling me you remembered something on a test that reminded you of that unit?" Larry asked.

"No, I am telling you that when faced with a problem you have no idea the answer to, you simply do, and hope for the best," he said with a wink to Candy.

"There are two things I do know for sure," He added.

"They are?" Candy asked.

"One, I will have a mountain of paperwork to fill out because of bringing you with us…"

"Oh, I am sorry, I do not want to cause any trouble."

"Do not worry young lady, this will not be the first or the last time I have had to explain my actions," the Professor said with a wink.

"Professor, you mentioned two things?" Larry asked.

"Ah yes, it is that it appears we have a new ward of the Agency. Okay Miss. Candy Smith, I think this is a good time to get you enrolled in the TimeLine Agency training course," the Professor exclaimed.

He then took Candy by one of her arms, and Larry took her by the other, as they headed out the door.

THE END