England, an unknown date a long time ago'�

He ran through the thick forest, panting, gasping for air. It was hard to breathe. So hard, that he thought he should just give up.
He ran but a few metres more before collapsing. Wether from exhaustion or lack of hope for his situation, even he could not figure out.
As he fell, a small, silver coin tumbled out from the pocket of his grey-green tunic.
He stared at it for a moment, and glanced behind him.
He could hear them, coming close. On horseback.
And he was on foot.
'This isn't my day!' he exclaimed, jumping to his feet and running again, fearful of his pursuers and what they would do to him if they caught him.
Which means that they can't catch me, he thought, that is'� if I last.
The dark forest seemed to close in around him more, tighter, choking him. The ground was sloping up gradually.
'Halt! In the name of the King!' one of the horsemen exclaimed.
They're getting closer'�
He tripped again, sending himself sprawling backwards and tumbling back down towards the horsemen, down towards the beating hoofs of the horses.
He screamed out for help, and braced himself.
Only luck would save him from his own death, which he could clearly see coming.
And no one would help him.
The horsemen watched him go under their panicking steeds, but none of them blinked, not even as his last scream filled the air.

























America, 2007

'He didn't report back to the rest of the team. They decided they were pushing the dead line and left without him,' the Colonel said as he walked down the hall towards the cafeteria.
The man with him, Jack Simmons, nodded, 'understandable. They feared they'd miss the last bus home.'
The colonel sighed, 'one problem.'
'Which is?' Simmons asked, confused.
'The guy's wife,' the colonel replied, 'she wants to know where he is, how he is, blah blah blah'�and if he's dead, the body has to be shipped back here, now. For the funeral.'
Simmons sighed, 'do you really think Marvik is dead?' he asked.
The colonel shrugged, 'ask Jonathan Leslie. He does all this'�' he waved his arms around, flustered, 'history stuff. He can probably tell you if Marvik was killed.'
Simmons frowned, 'sir'� if Marvik is there, the future would be changed.'
The colonel nodded, 'exactly. And, and Simmons-'
'Yes, sir?'
'You are wrong.'
'About what?' Simmons asked.
'There's one more bus. It'll last ya there and back,' the colonel said.
Simmons' eyes widened, 'sir, you want me on the team?'
'We need a linguist. No matter how annoying,' the colonel said, 'I'm gathering the rest of your team together, but if you've any preferences to bring someone else, I'm all ears.'
Simmons thought for a moment, 'my girlfriend?' he asked.
'Jack, come on'� You know what I think of relationships in teams-'
'I know, sir, I know'� But she's a doctor-'
The colonel shook his head, 'The team medic is Damien K. Cole-'
Simmons couldn't believe it, 'Sir! Cole was thrown out of the medical practice for-'
'Alleged stealing of money, and for killing patients. It was never proven,' the colonel said, 'now, have you any other ideas?'
Simmons sighed, thinking. His face lit up, 'Fabien de Gren?' he asked, 'he did really well in linguistics as well'� He also did a lot of chemistry and mechanics and stuff.'
'Fabien,' the colonel said, 'is a rogue pirate.'
'And a damn good one, sir. For a reason.'
The colonel sighed, 'I don't know,' he said uncertainly.
'Sir'�'
'Fine. As long as you take ol' Jester,' the colonel said.
'Trevor Jesser?' Simmons asked, 'he's old-'
'Only as old as me,' the colonel pointed out, 'you take the Jester, or your pal Fab-erific Fabien ain't coming, got it?'
Simmons sighed and nodded, 'yes, sir'� Who else do you want on my team?'
'It's not your team, per se'�' the colonel said, 'technically, this is still the air force's mission, and therefore, the team-'
'Leaders' will be soldiers,' Simmons concluded, 'sir, I don't think this is a good idea.'
'You never think anything we do is a good idea, Jack. And that's the whole problem,' the colonel said, stopping outside the cafeteria's blue doors.
'Sir, I'm glad you know that, but-'
'Good,' the colonel said, pushing the cafeteria door open, 'that's why Sergeant Lewis Montgomery and Lieutenant Anthony Kees are in charge.'
'Kees?' Simmons asked, 'are you serious?'
'Unfortunately.'
'Sir, I'm so sorry about everything'�' Simmons said, 'about the vase, the room, the carpet, your rank, your-'
The colonel sighed, 'and everything else you broke,' he muttered.
'Yes sir, but please'� Not Kees'� Not him,' Simmons said, shaking his head, 'we'll never get back alive.'
The colonel sighed, 'what ever. I'm sorry, too. But you're stuck with him. Now, on your way out you'll receive a pack containing everything you need to know before this trip. You will leave in three days, at exactly 0330.'
'That's early,' Simmons commented, surprised.
'Jack,' the colonel said, shaking his head, 'you don't expect us to explain to an entire city of Americans why a giant scorpion flew over the city last night, do you?'
Simmons shrugged, 'tell them a UFO flew by.'
The colonel turned and glared at him, 'Simmons. Grow up. This is big. And it's the last chance we have at finding out what happened to Marvik.'
'And the team before him,' Simmons said, 'unless Marvik's team found them.'
The colonel glanced away, 'the'� original team has been confirmed dead.'
'All of them?' Simmons asked in disbelief. Peta was on the team'�
The colonel shrugged, 'the bodies that could be found'�'
'And Peta?'
The colonel studied his face, 'I didn't want to send you in case Peta really is dead. The realization of that can impair your judgement.'
'So Peta might still be alive?' Simmons asked, relief flooding his face.
The colonel said nothing and turned to leave, but paused, 'Simmons, you still know the way out, don't you?'
Simmons nodded, 'going, sir. Thankyou.'
The colonel nodded and closed the door behind him.
Simmons smiled, elated, 'Peta,' he shook his head, 'hold on for just a few days'�'


000


'Hey! Careful with that stuff! It's fragile!' Simmons yelled out, running over to one of the bergens and cuddling it, like it was a child.
The three men around him glanced at each other puzzled, not sure what was going on.
Finally, one of them spoke, 'did we break it?'
Simmons glanced up at the tall, dark haired, camouflage clothed man looking down at him, waiting for an answer, 'uh'�' he said, opening the top of the bergen, 'nope'�everything looks'�looks fine,' he said, standing up, 'just fine'�'
The man nodded and held out a hand, 'Samuel Johnson. I'm the team's forensic officer.'
'Forensics?' Simmons asked, 'why do we need forensics?'
'In case we find dead bodies,' Johnson replied.
'Oh'�right,' Simmons said, shaking his hand, 'I'm Simmons. Jack Simmons'� Linguist.'
Johnson turned, pointing out the other two men behind him, 'this one here's Jonathon Leslie-'
'Historian, right?' Simmons asked.
Leslie, an equally tall, dark haired individual, nodded, but said nothing.
'Great,' Simmons muttered, 'our historian is as talkative as a Vulcan.'
Leslie looked at him, daring him to say more, until Johnson tapped his shoulder, 'hey,' he said to Leslie in a friendly voice, 'be nice.'
Leslie rolled his eyes and walked away.
Johnson sighed, 'Jack, right?'
'Yeh'�'
'Be careful what you say,' Johnson warned, 'Leslie's a mute.'
Simmons stared at him, 'a what?'
Johnson smiled, 'don't worry about it. Timothy Daniels, the other historian, is partially deaf. He's a great singer though.'
'Daniels?' Simmons asked, looking around, 'who-'
'There,' Johnson said, pointing over to a short, thin man leaning against the wall. He was wearing the same clothes as everyone else, camouflage, but he wore it with style. And it seemed to match his short, brown hair.
'Oh'�' Simmons said, 'so'� who-' he said, turning back to the last man Johnson had been talking to, but he immediately fell silent as the man introduced himself.
'Michael Crain.'
That's it.
No more, no less.
Just, Michael Crain.
Johnson put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him away.
When they where out of earshot, Johnson spoke, 'Michael's ex-military, just like ol' Trev. The problem is, he was thrown out, not retired.'
'Then what is he doing here?' Simmons asked.
Johnson sighed, 'he's a counter-action to de Gren.'
'Fabien?' Simmons asked, shaking his head, 'you don't have to worry about him-'
'But everyone is worried. In fact, no one wants you, Fabien, or the girl on the team,' Johnson said, near threatening, 'so watch your step. Everyone else had been in the army for at least a month or something. But you, you're fresh outta Uni, and no one's gonna respect you. So watch your step.'
Simmons nodded, and then frowned, 'hang on'� what girl?'
Johnson was about to answer when there was a squeal of delight, 'that is so great! I'm not the last one here!'
Simmons turned, and his eyes bulged.
The girl seemed to be about sixteen, and looked as if she'd walked straight out of a magazine devoted to thin waisted girls.
Johnson nodded, 'that one.'
'Hey, I'm Jade Parish, how are you?' she said, walking over to Leslie, who looked at her, said nothing and walked away.
Simmons shook his head, 'she looks just like Peta'�' he whispered.
'Peta?' Johnson asked, 'who's Peta?'
'My'�' Simmons turned, 'a friend of mine's daughter. Part of the original team.'
'Hey!' Parish said, walking over to Simmons, tripping over her high heeled shoes and sprawling on the floor in front of him.
'You should wear what everyone else is wearing,' Simmons said, giving her a hand up.
She quickly dusted herself down, but her faint dusty brown hair looked as if permanently covered in glitter which would never come out, 'thanks.'
Simmons shrugged, 'nothing. I mean, it's nothing.'
'You nervous?' she asked suddenly, smiling at him with perfect teeth.
Simmons nodded, 'yeah. I am. I mean, we're about to travel into England, in the fifteenth century.'
Parish nodded, 'yeah'� that's a scary thought.'
Simmons frowned, 'uh, Jess-'
'Jade,' Parish corrected, 'Jade Parish.'
'Right. Jade,' Simmons said, lowering his voice, 'shouldn't you be at, like the shopping mall, or school or something?'
Parish straightened her shoulders, and jutted her jaw out, 'I'll have you know that my IQ beats all of yours, put together.'
Simmons shook his head, 'sorry to rain on your Barbie parade, Jade, but two people in this room haven't been IQ tested by the American military or air force or whatever yet.'
'Really?' Parish asked as she dropped her pink hand bag on the ground and straightened out her red miniskirt, 'who?'
'Fabien and me,' Simmons answered.
'Fabien'� de Gren?' Parish looked around, 'is he here?'
'Not yet. He likes to make an entrance,' Simmons explained.
'Right'� Cool. So anyway, what is your IQ?' Parish asked.
Simmons rolled his eyes, 'somewhere in the hundred thirties'�'
Parish looked at him with big brown eyes, '145.'
'Huh?'
'My IQ,' Parish replied with a straight face, then laughed, 'ha! That was actually ten years ago'� so'� I'm not sure what it is now'�'
Simmons shook his head and walked away towards the steel door on the other side of the room.
Parish dropped her hot pink backpack on top of her hand bag, 'gee, I guess he doesn't like me either,' she muttered, shaking her head and counting how many people where in the room.
Mentally, she took note of who was who, based on their descriptions in her file.
Jack Simmons. On other side of room.
Damien K. Cole. Glancing at his watch.
Trevor Jesser. Limping through the door.
Samuel Johnson. Avoiding Simmons'�(interesting, she thought, considering they'd been talking to each other when I'd first entered the room.)
Timothy Daniels. Leaning against the wall.
Jonathan Leslie. Avoiding contact with everyone, except Johnson.
Michael Crain. Watching Simmons suspiciously'� (Hmm'� a fight, I sense is coming'�)
Jade Parish'� Me!
That means three people aren't here.
Fabien de hunky Gren.
Sergeant Lewis Montgomery.
And Lieutenant Anthony Kees.
She shook her head, 'I wonder wether Fab will even show up,' she said to herself.

'You the one who didn't want me on the team?'
Simmons turned around, 'huh?' he asked, looking at the man in front of him without recognizing him whatsoever.
'You didn't want me on the team,' the man said. His hair was red and long-ish, his face pockmarked.
He was no taller than Simmons.
'I'�who are you?' Simmons asked.
'Cole.'
'Damien Cole?' Simmons asked, 'oh'�'
Cole nodded, 'I thought I'd get that reaction from you. And just so you know, no one wants me here, as much as they don't want you.'
'Meaning?' Simmons asked, noting another person enter the room. Kees'�
'Meaning, you stay outta my way. I stay outta yours. But if any of the others get any ideas to play tricks on us or somethin', we tell the other. Comprendé?' Cole asked, watching him through the one eye he had which wasn't lazy and actually focused.
Simmons nodded, 'okay'�' he said uncertainly.
Cole shook his head, 'well'�Time to travel to the past, don't you think?'
Simmons nodded, 'yeah'� When Fabien arrives,'
'Oh no'�Don't tell me you're the one who invited him!' Cole exclaimed.
Simmons shook his head, 'why does everyone have a problem with Fabien?'
'Why don't you have a problem with Fabien?' Cole countered.
'Because we are friends,' Simmons said bluntly, 'maybe you don't know what friends are, but they're those who look out for you and stuff'�'
'Sure'� and who the hell could befriend de Gren?' Cole said as he turned and walked away.
Simmons leant against the wall, surveying those in front of him.
Everyone was talking.
Everyone except Crain, Leslie, Parish, and himself.
Suddenly, the light went out.
'Finally!' Simmons exclaimed while everyone else looked around, wide-eyed, confused.
The door opened again, and a figure walked purposefully in. He belonged there.
He looked in, saw everyone staring at him.
He smiled, 'and that, mon ami, is why I am a very good pirate,' he said in a thick French accent.
Simmons ran over to him and clapped him on the back, 'Fabien! You came!'
Fabien rolled his eyes and kissed both Simmon's cheeks, as was the French custom to, 'are you telling me, that you thought I would not come?' he asked.
Simmons smiled, 'no'�well'� Great gig with the lights, man'� Fully sick.'
De Gren rolled his eyes again, 'Jack, in English. We are, after all, going to England, are we not?'
''Course, man'�' Simmons answered.
De Gren nodded, and turned to everyone else, 'are you people dumbfounded by my presence or something like that?' he asked loudly.
Everyone blinked and went back to what they where doing before, ignoring the newcomer.
De Gren nodded, 'yes'�'
'Still got the old charm, eh?' Simmons asked.
'Oui,' answered de Gren as brushed back his long sandy blond hair back out of his face. The conversation suddenly went into French.
'Do you know a'� Michael Crain?' Simmons asked.
De Gren glanced at him annoyed as he walked over to the water dispenser, 'Crain? The Black Knight,' he answered, looking around, 'is he here?'
Simmons nodded, 'yes'�'
De Gren sighed and shook his head, 'well'� damn it.'
'Why?' Simmons asked.
'Why? You ask why?' de Gren asked.
Simmons nodded, 'it's a fair enough question for someone who doesn't know an answer,' he pointed out.
De Gren sighed, swinging the cup of water around while saying, 'oh, please, sir! Why is the sky blue? Why does the bird fly? Why does man die? Why-'
Simmons grabbed the cup of water out of his hand, 'Fabien. Why are you avoiding the question?'
De Gren looked at the cup of water thoughtfully, glanced at Simmons' face, and, fast as lightening- snatched the plastic cup out of his hands.
Simmons didn't react, awaiting an answer.
'I'm not avoiding it,' de Gren answered, sipping delicately at the cool, tap water. He pulled a face and threw it in the bin, pulling a bottle out of his bergen pocket, 'I rather Evian'� it has a better taste,' he explained.
'Fabien.'
De Gren grinned, 'listen, you keep the Knight away from me, and I pay you.'
'Fabien, what is the problem?'
De Gren sighed, 'Knight'� Crain'� was once given a lot of money to kill me-'
'He obviously failed,' Simmons observed.
'Mm-hmm'�' de Gren murmured, looking up at Crain.
They locked eyes, glaring.
The anger and hate which past between them was clear.
Simmons stepped into his vision, 'mm-hmm what?'
'He nearly did get me,' de Gren glanced around, making sure no one was listening, and whispered, 'truth is, I'm terrified of him. He nearly killed me. That's why he's here. So I don't do anything stupid.'
'Were you planning on doing something stupid?' Simmons asked.
'Idiot, why do you think I left the red bag outside the door?' he asked.
Simmons blanched, 'you what?' he said, spinning around towards the door, knowing very well what the red bag is.
'Relax, Jack'�' de Gren said calmly, 'I'm too old to do something stupid.'
'I so doubt that,' Simmons said, just Lieutenant Kees walked in, barking out orders left, right and centre. Finally, he turned to Simmons and de Gren.
'You two, are gonna remain silent, you hear that?' he grumbled, 'not a sound, from either of you.'
Simmons frowned, 'uh, sir?' he asked, 'as the linguist, I need to do a lot of talking.'
Kees turned around, 'you say somethin' small fry?'
Simmons took a walk step back, only to have de Gren elbow him in the ribs.
He immediately straightened up, 'Yes, sir. I am,' he said with renewed confidence, 'and what I'm saying is, that because I haven't ever been in the army or military or whatever else, I am not under strict command from you personally. You can not punish me, as-'
Kees glared at him, then at de Gren, 'you told him to think like you do, de Gren. That's not good.'
De Gren shrugged, 'at least he can think for himself'� Unlike you,' he answered.
Kees was about to say more when he calmed down, saying, 'those who think for themselves don't live long.'
'I am very sure of that sir!' Simmons yelled out after him as the lieutenant turned and walked towards a small, temporary stage.
Kees didn't react to the taunt.
De Gren shook his head, 'Jack'� you can look after your self after all'�'
'Yeah,' Simmons agreed, 'I mean, Kees can't throw me out. The colonel wanted me on the team, as did the President of the US of A'� That's gonna keep me here.'
'But maybe not me,' de Gren said solemnly, 'Kees only hates you because you don't hate me'�'
'I know, I know'� Just, relax, will you?' Simmons asked.

'Team Charlie,' Kees announced, 'will be the third team, to use the Scorpion to travel back in time to the past. We are to find any survivors of modern day America, and bring them home.'
'To this dump?' Parish muttered to herself, scoffing, 'yeah, right'�'
Kees continued his speech while Simmons muttered, 'blah-de-blah-blah-blah'�'
'Tada,' added de Gren as the huge wall behind them began to rise up, revealing what looked like a giant scorpion.
Its thorax was made of black metal, and inside it could hold up to ten people. The driver, though, had a spot right in front of the giant scorpion's tail.
There where also three more places for someone to sit on the front of the mobile.
'I think 'Tada'� is an understatement,' Simmons whispered in awe.
De Gren shrugged, 'nothing special.'
Kees stepped off his podium and walked through the small crowd. He opened a door in the thorax of the Scorpion, 'everyone should know where they are sitting.'
De Gren nodded, 'Ouias'� far away from you'�' he glanced at Simmons, 'are you coming?'
Simmons nodded, staring in awe at the vehicle, 'there's no way this thing could ever get me to the front door let alone England!' he exclaimed.
'Ah, but England in the fifteenth century,' de Gren pointed out, tilting his head slightly, 'that is a very different matter'�'

Inside the Scorpion everything was dark and tight, uncomfortable. People were squashed, sandwiched.
Simmons and de Gren where in the front, followed by Cole and Jesser, Johnson and Daniels, Leslie and Parish, and finally Montgomery and Crain.
Which meant Kees was driving.
There was a sudden whirring noise, and a flash-bang! like a camera going off, snapping a picture.
Simmons closed his eyes.
De Gren grimaced slightly, but otherwise remained calm.
Crain had a magazine in his hand, which he was calmly reading with the help of a small but powerful torch.
The whole Scorpion shook, back and forth, smoke billowing into the small passenger space, choking all.
Again, Crain kept reading.
As if he's used to this'� Simmons noted, glancing behind himself at all the scowling, grimacing'� and the one crying face belonging to Parish. What is she even doing here?
Suddenly, everything went from excruciatingly loud and rickety, to dead silent.
No one moved a muscle.
Except Crain turning a page in his magazine.
Silence.
Utter, deadly, cold silence.
Simmons turned to de Gren, who glanced at him, puzzled.
'Wha-?' Simmons began to ask, just as de Gren tensed, squeezing his eyes tightly shut.
It felt like the ground had fallen away from beneath their feet.
Parish screamed while everyone else shut their eyes and bit their tongues.
Simmons tried to keep his mind, but suddenly, he couldn't. He felt like he was floating away, no longer in control of anything, his own body, his own mind, nothing'�
He couldn't even see anything, or hear de Gren yelling at him in French, something along the lines of 'are you all right?'


He blinked his eyes open, but couldn't see anything, 'uh'� hylli?' he mumbled.
'Hylli?' asked a voice, 'Jack, are you okay?'
'Uh-uh'�' he replied weakly, blinking. Nope'�still can't see anything'�
'Jack'�'
'Hi'�' he finally managed to say.
Suddenly, his vision came back to him, and he could see everything clearly.
He lay in a clearing in a dense forest, near the Scorpion, which seemed to be in one piece. De Gren was looking down at him, waiting.
'Are we there yet?' Simmons asked.
De Gren held out a hand, 'oui'�'
Simmons grabbed his hand and was pulled to his feet, 'oh'�that's good then'� So, what happened?' he asked.
'You blacked out,' Johnson answered, walking past him, a big, blue bergen on his back.
'Hey!' Simmons cried out, 'that's my bergen!'
Johnson nodded, dumping the heavy bergen on the ground, 'good. Then get busy and move it.'
Simmons glanced up at de Gren, 'what happened exactly?'
'Well'�' de Gren said, thinking, 'we landed'� nothing else,' he smiled, 'don't worry about it, apart from, erm'�'
'What?' Simmons asked, hauling his bergen onto his shoulder.
'We are on the second search team,' de Gren explained, 'Kees, Montgomery and Jesser are going to go look around first, while everyone else stays here.'
'But I have to go-' Simmons said, turning, searching for Kees and the others, but they had already gone.
'Sorry, Jack'�' de Gren said with a sad, short shrug.
'I have to find her, though'�' Simmons muttered sadly, gazing into the thick, misty forest.
'Find who?' de Gren asked suddenly, confused, 'what are you talking about?'
Simmons sighed, speaking in French, 'Fabien, don't tell anyone this'� Peta's on that original team. Her body wasn't found'�yet'�'
De Gren's eyes widened, 'what?'
'Shh'�' Simmons hissed, 'everyone thinks Peta is my 'friend's'� daughter'�'
'So no one knows she's your daugh-'
'Shh!' Simmons hissed again urgently, 'don't!'
Fabien nodded, 'okay, okay'�sorry'�'
'Just don't go telling everyone'�' Simmons said, 'otherwise'�' he shook his head, 'I don't even want to think about what would happen'�'
'Don't worry, Jack. You can trust me,' de Gren said calmly, but paused when he saw the doubtful look on Simmons' face, 'can't you?'
Simmons didn't move at first, but then he nodded a short, curt nod, 'yeah'�I can'�' he said, spotting Parish trying to dig something out from under the pile of bergens which Johnson had stacked up, and walked over to her, ignoring de Gren.
'I don't believe you, you know!' de Gren called out after him, but Simmons wasn't listening.
Cairn did though, 'shut up.'
De Gren glanced at the massive giant who sat on a fallen log, the magazine still in his hand, and he just kept reading it.
'Sorry,' de Gren replied bluntly, 'but in the mean time, what do we do?'
'Set up camp.'
De Gren glanced behind him at the tarpaulin stretched tight between a few trees.
'Done,' he replied.
Cairn didn't react.
De Gren rolled his eyes and began to walk over to the bergens, aiming on finding his, muttering to himself, 'they had to send the Black Knight, didn't they?'
Cairn was on his feet faster than a viper, a gun drawn, pointing at de Gren's chest, 'care to say that again?'
De Gren blinked, 'I thought all these uniforms are bullet-proof,' he said.
'They are.'
De Gren smirked, 'then you can't shoot me.'
'I didn't say yours is.'
De Gren swallowed, 'I see'�' he said, nodding, 'I see'�'

'You really should've worn the same as everyone else,' Simmons said.
Parish sighed, 'sorry. The air force doesn't make clothes my size. So I brought my own.'
'Oh,' Simmons said, 'well, that makes sense'�' he shook his head, and heard a sudden commotion.
Looking up, he saw Cairn holding a gun, pointing it at de Gren's face, and saying something in his usual deep and scary voice.
Quickly, he walked over to them, 'what's going on here?' he asked.
'Apparently, all the uniforms are bullet-proof, except mine'� So Monsieur Cairn here decided to shoot me in the face,' de Gren whispered to Simmons in French.
'Oh, well'� Come on'� uh,' Simmons said, trying to remember Cairn's first name, 'Michael'� We can't have a death, already.'
The gun moved towards his own face, and he gulped.
Would the gun go off?
Cairn cocked the gun, slowly, painfully.
Simmons flinched.
'Don't!' a young voice cried out, and everyone turned.
'Who the hell are you?' Parish called out, looking at the front of the Scorpion, at the small, red face looking back at them.
'Jamie'�' the boy replied, 'don't shoot'�'
Simmons frowned, 'Jamie'� What year is it?'
The young boy stepped out from behind the Scorpion, dressed in jeans, a white t-shirt and a black jacket. He was about fifteen, '2007, of course'�' he glanced around, 'I think'�'
Parish glanced at Cairn and Simmons, puzzled, before speaking to the boy, 'are you a stowaway?'
Jamie didn't answer. Instead, he looked around, 'where are we?'
'When are we, is the question, Jamie'�' Simmons said, walking over to him, and away from Cairn and his gun.
De Gren quickly followed.
'Wait, so that guy wasn't kidding when he said'�time travel?' Jamie asked.
Simmons stared at him, 'what's your name?' he asked.
'Jamie'�' Jamie answered.
'Yeah, yeah'� I know, but what's your full name?' Simmons asked.
'Oh. Jesser. Jamie Jesser.'
Simmons glanced back at everyone else. They all looked as puzzled as him.
He turned back to the boy, 'Jamie'� Are you related to Trevor Jesser?'
'Yeah'�' Jamie replied, 'he's my grandpa.'
Parish shook her head, 'great... Now who's gonna look after the kid till his pop comes back?' she asked angrily.
Everyone looked at her.
Finally, Cole spoke, 'you should. You're the girl.'
De Gren turned to Cole, 'I guess feminists hate you,' he said calmly, 'for such a comment.'
'Yeah'� You're right about that,' Parish replied. De Gren turned back to her, about to say something when she quickly added, 'but that's about the only thing you've ever been right about.'
De Gren sighed, shaking his head, 'no respect,' he muttered in French.
Simmons shook his head, 'what ever. I'll take first shift.'
Everyone turned, surprised.
'You know, I don't need a baby sitter,' Jamie said, pulling a leaf from his tangled, brown hair.
Simmons grabbed his arm and pulled him out of earshot of the others, 'you are in England in, like, 1640-something. You need a baby sitter.'
'No, I don't,' 'Just wait until my grand-'
'Your grandad, is gonna be really upset with you,' Simmons assured the boy, 'so right now, what are we meant to do with you?'
Jamie shrugged, 'give me a bottle of milk, burp me and change my diaper?' he suggested.
'Hey!' Johnson yelled out, 'Jesser's gonna be mad, you know?'
Jamie turned to him, 'I know that!' he yelled back.
Simmons sighed and glanced at Parish, who nodded, 'here'�you go figure something out'� After all, you are smarter than any of those bozo's here.'
Simmons nodded and walked over to the others, who were speaking in hushed voices.
'So,' Parish said, sitting down next to the boy, 'how old are you?'
'Sixteen,' Jamie replied, 'it's my birthday tomorrow.'
'Not any more,' Parish replied, 'so'� Got a girl friend?'
Jamie shook his head, 'nope'� they hate me. All the girls at school do.'
'Well, maybe you shouldn't look at the girls at school. Try a library or a science fair,' Parish said knowingly, ''cos those girls at school just aren't worth it. They keep you boys wrapped around their little finger'�' she shook her head, 'horrid place, that 21st century,' she murmured.
Jamie blinked, 'so what is going on exactly?' he asked, looking at the Scorpion.
Parish tucked her knees under her chin, 'That's the Scorpion. It was uncovered in England twenty years ago, and then shipped to America three years ago. No one knew what it was'�'
'1987?' Jamie asked, 'England?' he frowned, 'England didn't have any'� Scorpion-type insects'� How could they-?'
'Some say aliens. Others say someone did a lot of time travel. Just like us,' Parish said, smiling.
'You mean you've been on it before?' Jamie asked. Parish looked at him, puzzled, not understanding. She was about to say so when Jamie continued, 'you were screaming a lot. I mean, I know it was painful trip, but the screaming'� was it really necessary?'
Parish looked at him, and glanced at the others, speaking hurriedly, trying to think of something to do with Jamie while the three scouts weren't around.
Finally, she sighed, looking back at the forest behind her.
'Well?'
It wasn't Jamie who'd asked that question.
She turned back, only to see de Gren standing in front of her.
'Well what?' she asked innocently.
'You know what. The boy is right,' de Gren said.
Jamie raised an eyebrow, 'what is going on?' he asked.
'That's just my question,' Parish said, standing up.
De Gren shook his head, 'Jade'� Of course. Now I know who you are. That's why they choose you to come along.'
'Actually,' Parish corrected, 'I'� insisted to come along.'
'I'm sure you did,' de Gren answered, 'insisted with the flick of an eyebrow.'
Parish said nothing, glaring at him.
He nodded, 'I thought so'�' he said, and turned, leaving, calling out over his shoulder, 'by the way'� I was planning the same thing as you. I know why you screamed on the way here. I know what was happening the entire time.'
Jamie frowned, 'what was that all about?' he asked.
Parish breathed in deeply, calming herself down, 'I don't belong here. Well, not here'� I mean with them. The others'�' she glanced at Jamie, 'you didn't hear that conversation. Okay?'
'You're gonna stay here, aren't you?' he said, 'when we leave, you're staying. You don't belong with them, and you don't like their world'�' his eyes widened, 'you gave them the Scorpion.'
'I said shh!' Parish insisted, glancing worriedly at the others. They didn't react.
'Are you an alien?' Jamie finally asked.
'Jamie. Do you like secrets?' Parish asked, 'because this'll be our little secret. No one else can know-'
'Can know what?' Simmons asked, walking over.
The rest of the group had dissipated, carrying out various works around the camp.
'Uh'�' Parish smiled weakly, 'how much did you hear?'
Simmons folded his arms, 'I'm willing to forget the alien part, but otherwise, all of it'�'
'And the others?' Parish asked, glancing behind Simmons.
He shook his head, 'this is the strangest group ever. One mute, one partially deaf, and one with exceptional hearing.'
'You'�' Parish sighed, 'that's why you blacked out.'
'The noise was too much, yes'�' Simmons admitted, 'Now, why did you scr-'
A sudden horrific yell split the air, and a creature burst out of the forest, bleeding and in pain.
Crain lifted his rifle, ready to shoot, when Johnson stopped him, 'hold it,' he said, 'it's Jesser.'
Jamie stared, wide-eyed, 'Grandpa'�'
De Gren turned, saw the three frightened faces and shook his head, 'it happened. History said it would'�' he grabbed his bergen and a smaller bag with weapons in it and started heading into the forest, just as rain began falling, causing the fog to become colder than before.
'Wait,' Simmons said, watching him as he left. And stopped.
De Gren looked at the three, thinking, 'you coming with me?' he asked.
Jamie nodded, 'try stopping me.'
Parish rolled her eyes, 'I was about to leave anyhow.'
Simmons shook his head, 'I got way too many questions not to, pal.'
Smiling, de Gren nodded, 'good. Then come on.'

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