Most of the Characters contained in this story are not mine but are borrowed from the 1970s and 1990's Series The Tomorrow People. They are the property of the creators and copyright holders. The extract from 'The visitor.' and the song lyric by Sting are both used without permission.

Any other characters, planets and cultures are the sole creation and property of Jacqueline Newman. No one may post this story to any web page without my permission.

Possible Spoiler:

The events in this story require the reader to have a basic understanding of the plot line of 'The Visitor' novelisation by Price and Gregory. They are set between the 1990's and 1970's.

This story is also set after the events of my story 'The Joining'. I recommended that you read this first in order to understand the TP's relationships to one another. My world is very different from other fan fic.

Personal comment:

I would like to thank Shawn Lazerus and Ariana Brill for betareading this fan fic. Kristy Fahrenwald for her suggestions to resolve the 'space ship' paradox and general input to the story line, Shaun Hately for his ideas and all other members of tpdis for inspiring me to rekindle my childhood memories. Oh I'm such a sentimentalist :)

Comments are very welcome. If you enjoy the story please let me know.

Jackie Newman 
jack@effdee.demon.co.uk

Part 1: Unidentified Flying Objects

Corrour Sta Scotland 10th July 1992

Andrew lay back on the hillside and watched the birds circling overhead. Slowly his mind relaxed as he recalled his early childhood climbing the Scottish mountains with his father.

(What do you see in the clouds?) Asked a voice from nowhere.

He sat up with a start to find a pretty young woman looking down at him.

"What!"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." She had a broad American accent and from her style of dress was obviously not native to the area. She noticed his gaze as he summed her up. "My name's Jenny Weston and yours is..."

"Andrew. I'm Andrew," He stood and offered her his hand, "and I'm pleased to meet you Jenny weston. Where did you come from I thought I was all alone out here?"

"My family is on holiday, we have rented a crofters cottage for the summer." She pointed at a small building just within site on the other side of the valley. "We've been here for two months now and I'm going crazy with boredom. Do you know where I can get a bit of excitement around here?"

"If it's excitement your looking for I'm sorry but we are a bit backward around here. We have to make our own entertainment." He sat back down again and the girl joined him.

"Yes I noticed as I approached. You were looking at the clouds."

"No actually I was watching the birds. There is a rare Siskin's nest around here somewhere and I keep trying to spot it."

Jenny looked disappointed. "But I was sure that I heard you remark on the shape of the clouds as I approached."

Andrew knew he had said nothing out loud and wondered whether he had been broadcasting his thoughts strongly enough for a sensitive Sap to pick them up. He decided to change the subject and soon they were deep in conversation about her life and family.

(Andrew are you coming back for dinner it's nearly seven o'clock?) Pathed Liz from the house.

(I will be there shortly but I can't jaunt right now. I'll have to walk home.)

"Who said that?" Remarked Jenny her eyes staring at him intently. "Did you here it?"

Andrew could hardly contain himself. Had he found a new Tomorrow Person? Should he tell the others? His quick deliberations came to a halt as she stood up to take her leave of him.

"Will I see you again?" He asked trying not to sound too keen. "How long are you staying?"

Jenny shrugged. "That depends on whether Dad has another sighting. So I can't be sure. I don't have to be back at college until September. We could be packing tomorrow, next week or next month for all I know."

"Another sighting! What do you mean is he a hunter of some kind?"

She giggled. "In a way yes. But actually no. You see he's a UFO spotter. He heads this big consortium in the states and when he heard of the Courror Sta sightings he just had to come over and see for himself. The guy in the local bar said that the villagers often see a metallic blue craft hovering over the mountainside, but since we've been here it's been all too quiet. Now he's convinced that he was tricked into coming here."

Andrew's jaw dropped as she described the Kalinar which the Tomorrow people had hidden at the bottom of the loch. Jenny confused by his reaction took it as disbelief. She turned and started to walk away. "I can tell that you think I'm some kind of a nutter. Everyone reacts like that when I tell them. It's not fair why can't my Dad be a banker or an actor or something more normal?"

"It's okay" Andrew tried to reassure her. "I have seen the UFO myself." At least this was not a lie as he had travelled inside it with John and the others on many occasions. "You just took me by surprise that's all. I never thought that someone could make a living at spotting such things. Look, if you let me walk you home I can tell you more about my sighting and then you can try to persuade your Dad to stay on here for a bit longer."

"That sounds like a great idea." She said, setting off down the moss covered hillside. "And you can tell me all about the rare birds of Scotland."

They met regularly after that. They walked and talked their way around the best scenic routes and always kept an eye out for the elusive UFO. One rainy afternoon they found themselves looking out of the window of the cottage as Jenny's father, who sat in the chair beside them, typed furiously into his lap top.

Closing the lid purposely he looked across at the two young people. "Well that's my last report. Tomorrow we pack and get back to reality."

Jenny turned towards him. "Oh Dad! Do we have to leave so soon, the new college term doesn't start for another month. Just when I was beginning to enjoy myself. "

Mrs. Weston looked up from her magazine. "Sorry Jenny, but the bills aren't getting paid while we loaf around here. There have been no sightings all summer so we might as well call it a day and go on to our next assignment in Mexico. What do you say young Andrew, has the village of Corrour Sta seen the last of it's extraterrestrial visitors?"

Andrew longed to tell them all about the Kalinar just to keep Jenny here for longer. The brief telepathic links they had shared were not his imagination of that he was sure. Just a couple more weeks and maybe she would 'break out'. John would be so impressed that he found a new Tomorrow Person all by himself. But he also knew how dangerous it would be to tell these strangers anything. After all, they could be agents working for the secret intelligence agency trying to discover the Tomorrow People's new location. He resolved to force Mr Weston into staying. And he had a very good idea what he would have to do...

11th July 1992 Evening.

Andrew jaunted into the thicket of conifer trees. He could just see the cottage through the undergrowth. The door opened and the Weston family emerged suit cases in hand.

Jenny paused to look around, one last time, at the gently rolling hills. Then picked up her case and started to trudge up the path towards the Land Rover parked nearby. Andrew closed his eyes and concentrated hard. Slowly it formed, an image of the Kalinar, high up in the sky and descending towards them fast.

My Weston shouted and they all looked up. Then in a flurry of activity they pulled cameras from their luggage and rapidly fired off shots. It was not difficult to hover the image over their heads for a few minutes while they excitedly examined it. But something was wrong. His mind was pulled away to somewhere else. He realised too late the telepathic terror emanating from Jenny as the thoughts of those nearby rushed into her mind.

(It's all right. We are here to help you.) Came John's comforting thoughts from across the valley. (Think of a fist. Try to concentrate and imagine your mind as a closed fist which is slowly opening.)

Andrew ran from the thicket and up to where she lay writhing on the ground beside the vehicle. Her family were trying to comfort her as best they could.

"Let me through. I can help her."

He placed his hand against her forehead and sent comforting thoughts into her mind. (Jenny, it's Andrew. You are on the verge of a great adventure. Don't be afraid, link your mind with mine and think of a fist slowly opening.)

He was aware of someone jaunting in beside him but didn't look up from her panic stricken face.

"Andrew. What are you doing here?" Asked John as he bent down to join his strength to the link. (It's going to be all right. You're among friends now.)

Slowly Jenny came round and sat up. They helped her back inside the cottage and were followed in silence by the rest of the Weston family.

12th August 1992 Morning.

Jenny's parents had been very open to the idea about what their daughter had become. John and Elizabeth explained what the Tomorrow People could do and why secrecy was so important. They accepted this with little argument and agreed that she could stay on in Scotland while they returned to the states.

Andrew watched as they prepared to leave once more.

"I'll see you very soon." Said Jenny kissing them goodbye. "When I've learned to jaunt I'll pop back home and make arrangements to defer my last year at college."

"Take care of yourself." Said her mother squeezing her hand gently. "You seem to be amongst good people. Don't give them any grief will you."

Jenny shrugged. "I get the feeling that we Tomorrow People can take care of ourselves."

She stood silently beside Andrew as the Land Rover sped up the hill and out of view.

(How would you like to meet TIM?) He pathed, trying to take her mind off things.

(Oh that would be great!)

Three hours later she had been given a rather long-winded run down of the equipment stored in the lab. Andrew noticed how John had avoided her questions about the origins of the UFO, she had seen earlier, as well as Angie's personal history.

"We don't want her to be shocked by too much too soon." He said later that evening. "You can be in charge of her training and once she's able to Jaunt confidently we can take the explanations one step further."

15th August 1992

A few days later Jenny and Andrew found themselves alone in the house. Jenny was enjoying the new experience of sitting at the link table in the lab.

This new lab was the third of it's kind, hidden below the main house in the old cellars. John had built it while overseeing the renovations to the house some years earlier. It was accessible from a secret passage in the study above, and provided a bolt hole in case of emergencies.

"Have the Tomorrow People always lived hear?" Jenny asked, sipping her coffee and looking around her.

"No. We lived... in London before."

"You don't sound too sure about that?"

"It was a long time ago before Angie and Stephen set up Jameson Industries." He wondered whether it would be best to come clean. "Actually we have not always lived hear on Earth. For a while we were evacuated to the Galactic Federation Trig."

"The what!"

Jenny's eyes widened as he recounted the brief history of the TP's why they were evacuated and how they achieved permission to return.

"So you're telling me that Angie, Gabkhan, Kohlarn and Susan are all shape changers who do not look human at all. And that they have a private UFO!"

"Kalinar." He corrected.

"And this Kalinar is hidden at the bottom of the loch?"

"Yes, I can show you if you like." He jumped up and offered her his hand. They walked over to a doorway which opened silently as they approached revealing a long tunnel.

"Lights please TIM."

A string of lights fitted into the ceiling of the tunnel brightened to reveal a moving walk-way stretching off into the distance.

She paused before stepping onto the moving tread. "My dad has spent his entire life looking for UFOs and now you tell me that you have your own! How on Earth will I explain this to him?"

Half a mile later the tunnel opened out into a large cavern cut into the bed rock of the mountain. She looked in awe as the sleek metallic finish of the cone shaped craft came into view. They climbed the entrance ramp and found themselves inside a dimly lit room.

There was a central column which gently glowed bathing the room in gentle light. The walls were formed of a grey metallic material and were covered with strange symbols. At the far end of the room was a strange chair shaped like a see-saw.

"Wow! Where did it come from?" Asked Jenny studying the markings on the wall to her right.

"Manyarner, that's Angies home world. Those," he pointed at the odd markings, "are Manyarnern hieroglyphs. They are so used to telepathic communication that they hardly ever use a written language just a character set with symbolic meaning. Andranovich could tell you what they actually mean. The rest of us gave up trying to understand them ages ago."

She walked up to the central column. "And this?"

"That's the biotronic unit." He touched the nearest panel and a view screen appeared at the front of the room. This displayed an image of the underground cavern. "The Kalinar is usually computer controlled but it can be flown manually from here." He walked over and touched the wall below the screen and a console appeared from nowhere. It was covered with similar patterns and shapes as those displayed on the walls.

"Can you fly it?"

Andrew stood at the controls "Of course." In fact he had never been allowed to fly the ship under manual control but had seen John and Stephen do it on many occasions and was sure that he could do it as well. He ran his hands over the patterns and shapes which illuminated as the power systems came on line.

(TIM) He pathed.

(Yes Andrew. What can I do for you?)

(We want to go for a quick flight. Can you block local radar and open the upper doors please.)

(It would not be advisable for you to take the Kalinar up today. Stephen and Gabkhan have been upgrading some of the systems and have not yet finished the work.)

(I can't see anything wrong. All the displays are reading optimal levels. There is no sign of any work being done.) Added Jenny excitedly.

(Come on TIM. Don't be so cautious. We only want to lift to the upper atmosphere then come straight back again. I'm sure they would have told you if things were not right down here.)

(Yes. I believe that John would have informed me if the craft were inoperable, just in case an emergency arose while they were away.)

(Well then, it must be okay. Scan the systems yourself if you like then we'll be sure.)

It took the biotronic computer a few fractions of a second to scan the Kalinar's drive and life support systems. (It does seem that everything is in working order. I will begin radar jamming in a few minutes please prepare for lift off under my control.)

They smiled at each other as the craft gently rose from the ground and passed into an upper chamber. Water from the loch rushed in around them then suddenly they were making their ascent towards the surface. The Kalinar broke free and glided effortlessly upwards into the evening sky.

(Thanks TIM. I'll take over now.) Pathed Andrew confidently.

(As you wish.)

Through the forward view screen, they could clearly see the house diminishing rapidly in size below them. "Where would you like to go today?" He said with a chuckle.

"This is great can we go any faster?"

Andrew flicked his fingers over the controls and the ship sped up into the sky.

After a while Jenny turned from the viewer and looked around her. "How far can you travel in one of these? Would it take us all the way to the Galactic Trig?"

"Oh yes easily. Angie can not jaunt like the rest of us and hates to use a matter transporter so she usually takes the ship when she's off world."

"But to travel such vast distances must take for ever, at least at this speed."

"No not at all we've got Hyperlight drive."

"Hyper what?"

"Let me show you." Andrew moved across to an instrument panel at the rear of the compartment. Jenny followed him to look at the strange symbols displayed on a small screen. "This sort of dematerialises us and we move through Hyperspace then we can go many times the speed of light. You enter the co-ordinates here." He pointed at one of the symbols which changed at his touch. "Then this is the execute icon."

"Can we try it now?"

"I'm not sure" He hesitated while he summed up the situation. How could he let her down now that she was on the verge of seeing the wonders of the universe. "I did promise TIM that we would only take a quick flight."

"You're not scared of TIM are you? What can he do about it now that we're out here." She reached across him and touched the symbol.

"Don't do that we've not entered the co-ordinates."

But it was too late. In a blinding flash the Hyperlight drive kicked into action. For a fleeting moment the void of hyperspace was visible through the view screen then all hell broke out. The ship's internal integrity field began to fluctuate, systems all over the ship overloaded as the psionic energy dematerialised their atoms and phased them out of space-time.

"What's happening?" Shouted Jenny above the wailing of the alarm.

"Without co-ordinates the ship has dematerialised us but does not know where to send us so it is scattering our material into hyperspace."

"You mean we're being broken down bit by bit until there's nothing left."

"That's exactly what I mean."

They were thrown across the room as the ship lurched out of control. The walls slowly became opaque and the air thinned rapidly.

"Do something!" Screamed Jenny hysterically. "We're going to die."

(TIM, can you hear us TIM. Jaunt us back immediately please.)

"It's no good we're not in their universe anymore they cannot help us." He said resignedly.

Jenny ignored him and rushed back to the flight controls. "There must be some way to...." Without realising she had re-engaged the atmospheric thrusters. The shearing forces wrenched at the craft and pulled it back into reality. "I did it!" The view screen clearly displayed the Earth below them growing rapidly as they plummeted towards the surface.

"What's that?" She said pointing at a large object nearing their position."

"It looks like another ship." They looked at each other then back at the screen. "It's on a collision course.."

The other ship came right at them and they sunk back away from the screen. But instead of the impact they expected this vessel passed through them and disappeared.

Andrew let out a sigh of relief. "I thought we had had it then..."

Without warning the flight console exploded in front of them. Andrew was thrown back across the compartment and knocked unconscious instantly. The blast loosened the panel which struck Jenny's upper torso breaking her neck immediately. Silently the craft plunged back into the atmosphere and began to burn up as it descended towards the British Isles.

Meanwhile; back in London 1973

Stephen was the first to see it: a long, luminous streak, high in the evening sky. On the ground it was already dark, but the rays of the sun crept round the curve of the Earth's surface, giving a pink glow to the object hurtling on the edge of space.

Stephen's mind went into overdrive, calculating from the height of the sun's rays the altitude of the object and then working out its speed.

'A hundred thousand kilometres an hour, and decelerating 28g,' he told himself, but not burning up. If it's a space-ship, it certainly isn't a Sap one.'

The others had seen it too. Carol's thoughts came in from the top of a bus three miles away. Then came Kenny, then John, all in an excited rush:

'Did you see it Stephen?'

'It was a space-ship definitely...'

The Lab 16th august 1992

"TIM, are you quite sure that it is a Criton ship?" Asked John as the view screen displayed the image of the space-ship flashing across the evening sky.

"Yes John. It matches the exact configuration in the Galactic Federation data banks. I have already dispatched a message requesting further details regarding ship flight plans in this sector."

Elizabeth turned to Stephen. "Well whoever is inside that thing has certainly got the Saps attention. This place will be crawling with military by morning. We had better make sure we get our stories straight in case they come round here asking questions."

"Yes and we better help them too or they'll be captured." Added Stephen.

"John I am receiving a message from the Criton Central Command."

"Put it on the viewer please TIM." They all turned to see the familiar face of Arlon appear on the screen. Despite his fancy uniform and increased years he was unmistakable as the little alien boy they had rescued from the military twenty years ago.

"Squadron leader Arlon hear. Thank you for your request for information. I have to inform you that we have no vessels in your sector of space at present. This ship wherever it comes from is not one of ours."

The viewer faded again. "Hm..." Said John. "So if it's not one of theirs who's is it?"

Back in 1973 The bottom of the Scotish Loch...

Andrew awoke to find himself nearly covered in cold water. Shivering he scanned around him for signs of Jenny. He had a splitting headache and instinctively knew that his special powers had been temporarily robbed from him. Slowly the water level rose towards his chin.

"Jenny! Jenny! Where are you?" Pulling himself up he waded through the murky water towards what was left of the flight console. He gasped as he spotted her body. Mangled and lifeless beneath the wreckage. He pulled her up and hugged her to him.

"This can't be happening. I can't lose the only person I've loved since..." But the memories of his father's death were too painful to bare. He slumped back down and rocked her in his arms as the water lapped at his sides.

The lab 16th August 1992 Two hours later...

TIM manoeuvred the ship into the chamber then removed the water. As it settled down on the floor of the underground cavern John felt intense deja vous. He kept his feelings to himself as they opened the hatch and went inside.

"I suggest we all put up a telepathic shield." He warned.

"Why on Earth should we need that?" Responded a puzzled Elizabeth.

His suspicions were confirmed as they all felt the intense wave of emotion emanating from the small alien child standing just inside the door of the ship.

"Arlon!" Exclaimed Stephen. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Back in 1973 Inside the Crashed Kalinar...

Andrew felt as if he couldn't move. How could he leave her to the cold inhospitable depths of the loch. But his instinct to survive kept pulling him towards the exit of the Kalinar. The water was almost above his head now. He had to partially float across the compartment and gulp down the last remaining lung fulls of air.

'I may as well die here with her. What's there to go on for.' He thought as the water began to enter his lungs. But the voice in his head kept telling him that he must survive that he was a Tomorrow Person and they must go on. Eventually the conflict was ended as he lost consciousness.

Part Two: Not Quite a Rift in time!

1973 Loch Derrig

Slowly, they descended towards the centre, their eyes straining for any signs of movement. Surely, thought John, the place must be a flurry of activity; everyone down there must know by now that they were about to receive the army's first captive from another planet. Yet they could see no indication that the place was inhabited at all.

As they reached the bottom of the slope, a barbed wire fence rose before them. No sooner had they seen it, than there was a loud rustle at the side. they froze, hands on belts, ready to jaunt.

The stun gun blast took them completely by surprise and they collapsed on the ground.

"What did you do that for?" Demanded Liz bending down to examine them more closely.

"Because in this time line it did happen when I tried to make telepathic contact with Arlon. But now we know that it is Andrew and he will not have the same effect on us, them," he pointed at the unconscious Tomorrow People laying at their feet," as Arlon did. We cannot afford to disrupt our own past or heaven knows what change of events we may put into motion."

"Johns right." Said Angie. "He's our guide in this time line to what actually happened. I warned you about the grave dangers of time rifts before I brought you here. We have to be very careful."

"And any moment now the helicopter will arrive and we will be found unconscious beside the barrier by the security patrol. I suggest that we jaunt to a safe distance."

The Lab Back in 1992

Arlon had responded much better to Angie's telepathic transmissions than he had to the Tomorrow People's attempts the first time they had met. She was a far stronger telepath than any of the Tomorrow People and could withstand the intensity of his emotions without being overwhelmed by them. She explained, in simple terms, where he was and that they would need to contact a Time Guardian in order to get him home. She also assured the frightened little boy that he did and would definitely make it home.

Secretly she wondered whether this would in fact come to pass. It was obvious that with the others in the past the time rift was significant and a rescue mission was needed.

It was agreed that she had enough temporal control to take Liz, John and herself back to rescue Andrew and Jenny. Although she would need additional help to bring two extra people, as well as the Kalinar, back from the past to the present.

Stephen was left behind with Mike, Hsui Tai and the children to contact Peter, and with his help, bring Arlon back to the 1970's. It soon became apparent that they would also be faced with the problem of how to bring an object as big as the life-ship back through time. That this dilemma had to be solved somehow was obvious. But their first priority was to rescue Andrew and Jenny from Colonel M.

1973 The Military Base 20 hours later...

While Kenny covered the three of them, the others turned their attention to the fourth occupant of the room. He had remained motionless at the table, watching everything with silent interest.

As they looked at him their jaws dropped.

'Cor,' said Ginge. 'It's human.'

Andrew immediately recognised John and Stephen and, realising the enormity of the situation he was in, took control. "Actually," he said, "I'm Homo Superior. I'm a Tomorrow Person like you. And I've lost my special powers so I can't jaunt out of here. Did you bring a matter transporter with you?"

"A what!" Exclaimed John.

"Oh never mind." Replied Andrew quickly. "We'll just have to do it the old fashioned way."

He motioned towards the door and they all filed out.

'Turn and face the wall, and don't try to come after us - at least not until we're well away,' warned John. 'You may feel stupid being locked up in here, but you'll feel even more stupid if we paralyse you.'

'You'll never get away...' Colonel M blustered as the three men obeyed John's command.

They locked the door behind them and raced out into the concrete yard in front of the main building.

"Would you mind telling me what's going on?" Said a very confused Carol. "How can you be a Tomorrow Person when you arrived in a space-ship?"

"I'm sorry but I don't think we have time for lengthy discussions right now. I'll tell you as soon as we get back to the safety of the lab."

John motioned for Ginge and Lefty to step away from the stranger. "Hold it right there." He demanded pointing the stun gun at Andrew. "Just how do you know about the lab?"

Andrew sighed. John has not changed much over the years, he thought. He was and always will be very protective towards the Tomorrow People.

"I know about it because I'm one of you. How I came to be here I cannot tell you but I do know everything about you. You cannot kill, you have a computer called TIM. John, your father is a policeman."

But this conversation had gone on for far too long and the military guards had recovered from the effects of the stun blast. They ran from the building and fired a volley of shots in the direction of the group of young people.

Ginge and Lefty took the brunt of the fire and immediately fell to the ground.

"Jaunt!" Shouted Andrew, as he was also hit and fatally wounded. "Save yourselves. The Tomorrow people must go on to the future."

In a sparkle of light the others disappeared leaving an eerie silence in the yard.

Watching from around the corner of the building John saw himself and his friends dematerialise. "We're too late." He whispered. "We better get out of here before the time line is disrupted any further."

They too jaunted away to safety.

Part Three: The looking Glass Self.

1973 The Scottish highlands Few Minutes Later...

They sat on a hill two miles from the base and merged minds. Angie stretched out their combined consciousness towards the activity in the yard. It soon became apparent that all three were dead and that the military intended to dissect their bodies in order to discover where they came from.

It was Liz who broke the link and articulated her thoughts. "We cannot let things happen this way. Ginge, Lefty and Andrew are an important part of our future. If we return now it might be completely different when we get there. Do you recall the problems caused by Cotus the gladiator boy who remembered how to build a steam engine? And how the Roman soldiers from the future faded out of existence before our very eyes when his memory was wiped. For all we know we might disappear ourselves soon."

"Don't worry." Said Angie reassuringly. "As long as you're with me I can prevent that from happening. But you do have a point. When we go back things might be considerably different. The Tomorrow People might no longer exist on Earth. After all Ginge and Chris saved all of your lives more than once in the future. We just have to get in there and put things right."

"And just how do you propose we do that." Snapped John, then he gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry I'm finding all this very difficult to understand."

"You're not the only one." Added Liz.

Angie put her arms around their shoulders. "Don't forget I'm the One. I may not like the title but the privileges of having that much psionic energy are considerable."

"Just what do you mean?" Asked John.

It took them an hour to formulate a plan. Angie assured them that as long as she got to their friends bodies before they were actually dissected she could reanimate them. But the difficult thing was to put the rest of the time line back the way it should be. There seemed only one solution. They would have to seek help...

1973 The Lab an Hour Later...

Three figures started to appear on the Jaunting pad. John rushed across the room to grab a stun gun but was suddenly held rigid by Angie's psionic suggestion.

His mind flew into a turmoil as he came face to face with a perfect likeness of himself. Older perhaps, but definitely him.

Stephen, Carol and Kenny were having similar thoughts as they also recognised the figure as their friend.

(Promise you won't panic and jaunt away.) Pathed Liz. (We are like you and have come to help you.) She saw the tension drain out of the younger people's faces as Angie relaxed her psionic grip and lowered each of them back into their seats.

"Who are you? Are you me?" Asked John at last.

"Yes I'm you and it is highly irregular for us to meet like this but it is essential for us to rescue Ginge, Lefty and Andrew from Colonel M before he damages their bodies. Will you help us?"

They nodded and the older Tomorrow People came further into the Lab.

John sat opposite himself at the link table. "This is like looking into a mirror." He said.

"TIM, can you please scan each of us and confirm that we are who we say we are."

TIM hesitated. "It's okay TIM," said John. "Do as he says."

A strange noise rose in pitch and a spotlight slowly descended from the ceiling to move across each of their faces in turn.

Then TIM spoke again. "I can confirm that John is John and the black lady is also a Tomorrow Person. The third creature is registered as a life form from the Planet Manyarner."

"Okay, you've satisfied us. How can we help you?"

At Elizabeth's suggestion the whole group merged minds to transfer information about the time rift to the younger TP's. After a short while a plan to break back into the base was agreed upon.

"And we promise to let you wipe our memories of what we have learned here today when all this is over." Agreed Carol.

1992 Corrour sta 6 hours later...

Stephen woke from his fitful sleep. He missed Angie's warm body to cuddle up to and never slept well when they were separated like this. As he came to his senses he recalled his dreams and sprang out of bed.

(Mike, Hsui, Peter. It's time.) He pathed as he made his way down to the lab.

He was met by a very sleepy Peter standing next to an excited Arlon.

"Did she use dream telepathy to send a message?" Asked Peter.

Stephen nodded and gulped down the steaming mug of coffee that TIM materialised for him.

"Thanks. I needed that." He said looking up to see Mike and Hsui coming down the stairs.

He spoke to the whole group. "In the dream she showed me the switching of the Kalinar for the life-ship later today. Then our younger selves will pick up the thread of the original events and contact Saav and negotiate with Colonel M for Arlon's release."

"But Arlon is here with us." Commented a confused Mike, as he crossed the lab to sit beside Stephen.

"Yes but Peter will take Arlon back in the life-ship. Angie will alter the Colonel's memory to think that he was the alien they captured all along. Ginge and Lefty will have their minds altered similarly. So no one will know the difference. Andrew and..."

"What is it?" Asked Hsui sensing his disquiet.

"Jenny is dead." He said it in such a flat tone that the others could hardly believe it.

"How, was she killed by the military?"

"No she was killed in the Kalinar crash. It's horrible." He opened up his mind and the others shared the surge of grief as they felt the realisation of the loss of one of their kind.

After a while Peter spoke. "I know this is difficult for you but it has happened and we have to face it. Now we must make preparations to take Arlon and the life-ship back to where they belong and restore the time line."

"Yes, you're right." Said Stephen. "We have to look after those who are left now."

Part Four: Putting the Record Straight.

1973 The Lab Ten Minutes Later...

Peter appeared in the lab with Arlon at his side.

Angie gave a nod of recognition for another temporal being and ushered the others forward. "Where is the life-ship?"

"In a parking orbit above the north pole. As soon as we get into the base we can bring it down and send the Kalinar back to the future in it's place."

"Good." Said John and John Simultaneously. "Let's get on with it then."

The Military Research Establishment Loch Derrig

They appeared in the mortuary of the military base. It was midnight and the place was completely deserted.

(So far so good.) Pathed Stephen as he searched for the draw which contained the bodies of his Hells Angel's friends.

It was Kenny who found them first. (Over here.) He pathed beckoning to them in the darkness.

Angie approached and placed her hand on Lefty's head. Closing her eyes she reached into his cellular tissues. A green light enveloped his body and the bullet wounds began to heal. Once the damage was repaired she moved into the brain tissues. A pulse of purple psionic energy fired along the neuronal pathways.

She found herself in a dark place. 'Lefty, she called are you here?'

The feelings of the young man flooded into her mind. 'Where are we? How did I get here?'

'That does not matter, just look towards that light up there.'

He was suddenly aware of a light which appeared to be at the end of a long tunnel. 'Go towards the light.' She urged and he flew away from her.

Similar experiences were shared by Ginge and Andrew and they were soon sitting up on the medical benches stretching their tired limbs.

Seeing the familiar faces of John and Liz, Andrew began to cry. "Jenny is dead and It's all my fault. I want to go home. Please take me home."

Liz hugged him and sent soothing messages into his mind.(It is going to be all right. You have to be strong for just a little while longer.)

1973 The Lab 30 Minutes Later.

They arrived back in the lab shortly after. It had been a simple task to bring the life-ship down to the base by remote control and lift the Kalinar up into it's place.

"Now all we have to do is return to our own time in the Kalinar." Said John to his younger self. "Thank you for you're help."

"You knew we would be pleased to give our help. I am very sorry that one of us had to die in the terrible accident. Will this change things in you're world too much?"

Peter looked around the group. "According to my knowledge of the future time line, Jenny never was a true Tomorrow Person. I suspect that this event was meant to happen all along. It is sad I know, but it was meant to be."

They could all feel Andrew's discomfort at the inevitability of the days events. After a short silence Liz suggested that they begin with the memory erasure process. The younger Tomorrow People sat at the link table and drifted into a gentle trance. Standing behind them Angie, John and Liz entered their memory and erased the appropriate cells.

"Let's get out of here before they wake up." Urged Peter stepping onto the jaunting pad.

"But what about TIM?"

"You're right Liz. We will have to erase all memory that we were here, including TIM."

"I am fully aware of the necessity to remove all knowledge of your visit to us." Replied their biotronic friend. "As soon as you have left the lab I will purge my memory banks."

"Very well then. We can rely on you TIM." Replied John. "See you in twenty years time!"

They jaunted away to the Kalinar.

1973 In The Kalinar. A Few Minutes Later...

"Well that's it." Said Peter placing the time dilator matrix onto the remains of the hastily patched up flight console. "All we have to do is press this button and we will be back in our own time."

John stepped over and looked at the small metallic box. "It's lucky that we could get some of these systems working again. Although the biotronic unit is completely shot. I don't think the Kalinar will be able to use Hyperlight drive for quite some time."

"Stephen and Gabkhan will have a lot of work to do to fix up this mess." Commented Andrew. "I'm terribly sorry to cause so much trouble."

John put on his parenting expression. "Well all's well that ends well." He said and pressed the matrix control button.

They waited...

"Nothing's happened. What's gone wrong?" Elizabeth was quite worried.

Angie stared intently at the box. "That's funny it's set for the past not the future. I think we should jaunt out of here straight away."

They dematerialised just in time as the Kalinar was de-structured and pushed back into the Earth's distant past.

Stepping off the Jaunting pad once again they were greeted by TIM. "I did not expect to see any of you so soon. Has something gone wrong.?"

"You bet it has." Snapped Angie angrily. "I may not be a hundred year old *Time Guardian* but I can remember how to programme a reverse temporal sweep matrix. You set the polarity in the wrong direction."

Peter looked very embarrassed by his obvious blunder. "I'm sorry but I'm not used to working in this way. We usually use time discs which are programmed to take you and bring you back. I forgot that you all arrived here by other means."

Their argument was disturbed by the groans of the younger TP's as they began to wake from their trance.

"We can't stay here and let them see us." Urged Elizabeth. "Is there any way for you to get us back home without the matrix?"

Peter considered the situation for a moment then pulled a time disc from his robe. "Wait right here everybody. I'll be straight back." He blinked out of sight.

"Perhaps you should all wait upstairs. Then the Tomorrow People will not see you as they wake." Suggested TIM.

"Good Idea TIM." They all climbed the metallic staircase to the rooms above.

Peter appeared in front of them. "Here take one of these." He said opening his hand to reveal five time discs.

They did as he suggested and disappeared from sight.

The Lab 1992

"Welcome back."

"Thanks TIM," replied John, "but it hardly feels as if we've been away."

Elizabeth looked around the lab. "Are the others all right? Has the time line restored itself okay?" She enquired.

"Yes Elizabeth. Everything here is exactly as you left it." Replied the biotronic computer.

"Not everything." Said Stephen entering from the direction of the underground tunnel.

"What do you mean Stephen?" Asked Elizabeth. "I can't see any changes."

He walked over to face his joining partner. (What did you do to me?)

(Nothing that you would not have wanted.)

Peter spoke up for the first time. "Angie did you alter the time line?"

She nodded.

"What exactly did you do?"

Stephen answered for her. "She left a psionic suggestion in my mind when she was erasing my memory."

John drew close. "What sort of psionic suggestion? It doesn't seem to have changed much. You're still as ugly as ever."

"Ha. Ha. Very funny. She put the suggestion into my mind that I would find her attractive when we met for the first time on the Trig."

Elizabeth smiled. "Oh is that all. For a moment there I thought it was going to be something serious." She sat down at the table.

"It is serious. How would you like it if your decisions were made for you. It's not fair." He also sat and sulked in silence.

"Are you unhappy with me as you're joining partner?" She asked.

"No of course not. You know that. But it's a bit tough having to realise that my choice was interfered with."

"Angie. Why exactly did you do this to Stephen? I know there must have been a good reason."

"Well John, I've seen many possible futures for this planet some with and some without The Tomorrow People's presence. You are a genetically inferior species. Incapable of defending yourselves against a much more aggressive competitor. There are so few of you now and the development of others has been seriously set back by the Federation's seeding process that I felt it was important for you to have a little help towards you're continued survival."

John looked very serious as he weighed his response. "Yes I agree that our continued existence is a fragile balance. Jenny's death has reminded us all of how close we come to extinction every time we go on a dangerous mission. But that is our nature. The vulnerability actually gives us strength." He looked around the lab." All that we have achieved has been through hard work and a commitment to making this world a better place. We are grateful for you're help and respect your powers but I'd like to think that we could have made it through on our own."

(Do you want me to go back and change things? I can erase the suggestion from Stephen's mind before we meet.)

Elizabeth spoke up for the first time. "I agree with John in part. It would be good to do things for ourselves, but we have accepted assistance from the Federation, other worlds and Peter on many occasions. I don't see what difference you marrying Stephen has made. We have a good family here so why spoil things."

"Elizabeth is right." Commented Andrew, who had kept quiet all this time. "I have no family left but I think of each one of you as my extended family. The community wouldn't be the same without Angie here. And anyway Stephen, if I'd met someone as lovely as her on the Trig I'd have fallen for her psionic suggestion or no psionic suggestion."

They all laughed. (Well Angie it seems that my choice of mate has been approved of around here. You can stay.) Pathed Stephen on their private channel.

(And maybe if I'd stayed on Manyarner and joined with one of my own kind I wouldn't have to keep using this infernal teleporter.) She replied removing the bracelet from her wrist. "I'm starving. Who's turn is it to cook dinner tonight?"

"Yours." They replied in unison.

"You're existence is more fragile than you think if you have to eat my cooking."

They laughed as they climbed up the stairs to the house above.