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Halloween Surprise (pt. 18/30)

magadan
View of Magadan

“Mmph,” Lila muttered

“That was profound.” Ian’s voice trickled through her consciousness.

“What happened?” She groaned. “I’m so stiff. I feel like I slept… in a chair.” She snorted. “I guess I did.”

“Yeah, you were out like a light after you sat down.” Lila thought Ian sounded remarkably chipper for someone who had been awake for over twenty-four hours.

“Did you sleep?” Lila yawned so wide that her jaw cracked. “Ow.” She subsided into the chair and stretched each limb painfully.

“I did for about four and half hours. Long enough to keep me going.”

Lila looked around blearily. “Where are the flight attendants?”

“They got off before the plane took off. A little strange if you ask me, but since you didn’t,” Ian shrugged. “At least there are snacks in the fridge.”

“Snacks?” Lila perked up immediately. “What’s there?”

“Have a look.” Ian waved his hand toward the small built-in refrigerator.

Lila undid her seat belt and rubbed her sore stomach where the strap had dug into her skin. Moving carefully over to the fridge, she bent down and tugged the door open to peer inside.

“Yum, cashews.” She tossed the narrow bag onto the table and pulled out a series of packets. “Candy, candy, ooh, chocolate, and… What’s this?” She eyed the small semi-transparent package. “A giant dill pickle.” She waggled her eyebrows at Ian. “In case I get bored.” She shoved the last named item back into the fridge and walked unsteadily to the small table holding the assortment.

Tearing open the package of cashews, she began to eat with relish. “Where we at?” she asked through a mouthful of food.

“Ugh,” Ian shielded his eyes. “Could you try not to talk while eating? One of your – few – bad habits.”

“Okay,” Lila covered her mouth with her hand. “Any idea where we are?”

“The captain announced that we’re about an hour away from Moscow.”

Lila’s eyes became like circles. “Wow, I slept a really long time.”

Ian checked his watch. “Almost twelve hours. The plane sat around for a while waiting to take off. Guess there was a line.”

“I’m going back to sleep,” Lila announced.

“But what about your food.” Ian gestured to the large pile that had accumulated on the table.

“This all goes in my bag.” Lila suited actions to her words and stuffed the small packets in various pockets of her carry on. “I hate to be hungry.” She gave a sideways look at the fridge and then got up to grab the dill pickle. “It says it doesn’t need to be refrigerated,” she said triumphantly.

“Well, in that case.” Ian laughed.

“Let no food go to waste.” Lila grinned and set the dill pickle on the table between them. “Don’t try to get fresh with me,” she said to him with a half-smile.

Ian attempted not to laugh. “I won’t.”

“Okay, sleeping now.” Lila pulled the attached hood on her sweatshirt over her face. “Wake me when we get there.”

“We’re here.” Ian’s voice penetrated Lila’s slumbering brain.

“Wha..?” She pulled the hood from her face setting her static filled hair on end.

Ian hooted with laughter. “You look like a tribble.”

“You mean an adorable, cuddly little thing?” She batted her eyelashes at him.

“Very funny.” Ian snickered.

 

After they landed, they moved through a quick customs check where no one actually looked at either their documents or luggage.

“Nice, this.” Lila said under her breath.

“Don’t say anything.” Ian breathed.

They both smiled innocently at the official who wished them a good visit, and then walked briskly through the terminal to the departure gate listed on the display.

Stopping at their gate area, Lila looked at tickets. “Flight lasts about 8 hours.” She looked around the waiting area disappointedly. “No food.”

“Good thing you’ve got all that stuff in your bag.” Ian motioned to her heavy looking bag.

“Yeah, but I kind of wanted something hot to drink. Hold this.” Lila shoved her bag at Ian. “Bathroom.” She pointed in the general direction of the terminal concourse and strolled away. Fifteen minutes later Lila strolled back victoriously holding a large cup of what Ian guessed was coffee by the way she was blissfully sniffing the steam rising. “Got one for you too.” She shoved a second much smaller cup at him. “Caffeine makes you jittery,” she explained.

“Gee, thanks,” Ian said sarcastically.

The flight to Magadan began descending, and Lila’s face pushed against the airline window, which was unfortunate for the person actually sitting next to the window who craned his head backward. “Look!” Lila said enthusiastically. “There it is!” The Russian man sitting beside her attempted to see also and bumped his head against hers with a thud.

Lila rubbed her sore temple and waxed poetic. “Magadan, home of Magadan beach—”

Ian interrupted her, “In mid-October? Bit cold.”

Lila continued, “Mammoth tusks, and even a mummified mammoth.”

“I highly doubt we’ll have time to pick up a mammoth tusk. Plus, where would we put it?” Ian added sensibly.

They exited the plane after landing and Lila shivered at the sight of snow on the ground. “Brr. So not excited to be in a cold place.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” said Ian cheerily. “Gives it a holiday feel.”

They quickly made their way to the gate for their flight to Keperveyem. The light began blinking over the display next to the gate and Lila read:

 Due to a snowstorm in Keperveyem, this flight has a delayed departure.

 “Awesome,” Lila said with satisfaction. “I can get my mammoth tusks.”

Halloween Surprise (pt. 17/30)

boat
Everything is not as it seems

A blond woman approached them and smiled. “Ian and Lila? I am Yulia and will accompany you to your flight. Follow me, please.” She spoke to them in what sounded to Lila like a Slavic accent.

Ian’s eyes widened a bit and he leaned down to Lila’s ear. “This sure beats flying on the government’s dime.”

“I know. Private definitely seems to be the way to go.”

Yulia led them to the elevator at the top of the parking structure. Once they reached street level, a shuttle was waiting to take them over to the international terminal. The woman then walked with them to Aeroflot’s check in station where she spoke briefly to a red haired woman behind the counter whose nametag read Olga.

Olga picked up the phone and after a few words, one of which sounded to Lila like the name Ivanov, a blond man appeared through a door behind the desk. The red haired woman immediately walked out through the same door.

The blond man approached the counter and held out his hand imperiously. “Your passports, please.” Ian and Lila dug out their passports and handed them over to the man.

Ivanov quickly examined the documents before turning to an empty page in each passport and stamping a visa, which he then signed and annotated.

After passing back their passports, Ivanov quickly departed out the same door through which he had entered.

Lila peered at the visa stamp in her passport. “That was probably the fastest and cheapest visa I’ll ever get.”

Their guide quietly cleared her throat, reminding them that she was waiting. She gestured toward the door behind the counter. “This way.”

Lila felt alarmed at the thought of what they might find, but mustered her courage and followed Ian and Yulia through the door where she saw a cubicle space filled with people seated at desks. Their guide led them to a second door through which she motioned them to walk. A long hallway dimly lit by flickering lights stretched in front of them.

“You will follow the hallway to the end where you will find your gate. Please have a pleasant flight,” the blond woman said and closed the door with a sharp click.

Out of curiosity, Lila tried the doorknob, which refused to turn in her hand. It was locked.

Eyebrows lifted, she began walking down the hallway accompanied by Ian.

“No changing our minds now,” Lila said nervously.

“It will be fine,” Ian said in a reassuring voice.

Within a few moments they had reached a black door with a bar across it. Lila hesitantly lifted the bar and waited for an alarm to sound. Relieved when all was quiet, she peeked her head through the doorway and saw that it led down a walkway to a plane door.

“Hmm… Didn’t know they had these back entrances.”

“How do you think they get the president and other important people in and out?” Ian commented.

“Never really thought about it.” Lila shrugged.

They made their way to the plane door where were met by an attractive pair of flight attendants. “I am Markov,” said the tall, handsome man who reminded Lila of a famous blond model.

A dark haired woman stood farther back in the cabin. She smiled and gestured them toward a set of cushy looking chairs that sat on either side of a table that was bolted to the floor. “Would you like a drink? Maybe something to eat?”

“Sweet.” Lila murmured to Ian.

He smiled at the flight attendant. “I’ll have a screwdriver, orange juice and vodka. The orange juice makes it healthy,” he joked.

The woman smiled politely. “And for you?” she addressed Lila.

“Um, just water.”

“I will bring it to you. Please fasten your seat belts and prepare for takeoff.”

Lila seated herself in the chair facing the cabin door and Ian sat across from her. They connected their lap belts and leaned back in the comfortable seats. An array of magazines were neatly organized on the tabletop in front of them.

“I could easily get used to this,” Lila said with feeling.

“Yeah. It’s not bad,” Ian agreed.

The flight attendant brought them their drinks and Lila took a long sip. She picked up a magazine to flip through and then leaned her head back against the headrest. Everything went dark.

Halloween Surprise (pt. 16/30)

hollywoodAtSunset3
Leaving L.A./Hollywood sign at sunset

They left the park and drove back to their condo where they parked their car. Lila stuffed her favorite black non-wrinkling travel clothes into a carryon, and Ian threw into his backpack some sub zero cold weather parkas that folded down into small packets, along with warm socks and thermal underwear.

“You’re packing like we’re headed to the Arctic,” Lila commented.

“We are,” Ian pointed out, “we’ll be north of the Arctic Circle in Bilibino.” He checked a phone app to look up the local temperature. “Today the high temperature is, dum, dum, dum, five degrees, with a low of minus 4 degrees.”

“Holy…” Lila’s mouth dropped open. “We’re going to need a whole lot more winter gear than that!” She pointed at the backpacks.

“Well, this is all we have time for, and if they want us to be prepared, they’re gonna have to provide it or we’ll buy it once we get there. I’m sure they stock clothing suitable for the weather there in the area.”

“I am never moving from Los Angeles,” Lila said determinedly. She looked at her phone app and quoted the day’s temperatures. “84 degrees for the high, and a low of 58. I love this place,” she said with conviction.

“I know, I’ve heard you say that often enough,” Ian laughed. “Let’s go. We’re heading out now.”

As they were walking over to the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, Ian received a text on his cell phone. “Top floor. Go now.”

They picked up their pace, quickly entering the hospital and taking the elevator to the top floor.

“I’m glad we’re flying out of here, instead of flying in,” Ian said grimly.

Lila nodded in agreement.

A man wearing a yellow vest met them at the top and addressed them in turn. “Ian? Lila?”

“That’s us,” Lila yelled over the pounding noise from the waiting helicopter.

“ID?” the vest wearing man continued.

Ian and Lila dug out their passports to show him.

He motioned for them to get on the helicopter.

As they ducked and raced to enter the passenger seats, Lila called out, “It’s really loud!”

“What?”

“I said it’s really loud!” Lila shouted again.

Ian shook his head. “Can’t hear you,” he mouthed.

They seated themselves and strapped in, gazing out in awe at the city lights beneath them.

Lila grinned. “This is so awesome. I love flying at night!”

Ian looked a bit grim. “Bad memories from my last night flight,” he mumbled.

Lila could barely hear him. “Baghdad?”

“Medevac over the Euphrates. Cool view of the river, but less than desirable circumstances.”

They traveled in silence to the airport where they flew high over the runways before making a pinnacle landing in a steep descent onto the LAX west helipad. Before they exited the helicopter, the pilot turned to give them a set of tickets. Lila clutched them in her hands as they raced underneath the whirling blades of the helicopter.

They slowed to a walk and Lila eagerly tore into the ticket envelopes.

Ian laughed. “You’re like the announcer on the Miss World contest opening the winning envelope.”

“Well, the winner is… nonstop to Moscow, flight to Magadan,” Lila’s eyes lit up. “Hey, that’s where Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman went in Long Way Round.”

“And then?” Ian asked patiently.

“Then a flight to Keperveyem Airport.” Lila’s eyes sparkled.

Halloween Surprise (pt. 15/30)

confab
Confab

“You were talking with him. He is still able to converse in his current form.”

“But… he’s dead.” Lila said incredulously.

“Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t able to converse with others. It is true he vibrates on a higher level than most – but not all – people. People such as yourselves will be able to see him, as you are more sensitive than others.”

The voice directed the following comment toward both Ian and Lila. “That was one of your tests, when you were able to interact with him at the Trianon. It shows that you are two of those people who have that ability.”

“Great,” Lila muttered, “just what I needed to have, the gift to see – what do you call him?”

“He is an entity, as are we. There is no reason that energy has to disappear, it simply changes form, as your Einstein so sagely wrote. Matter may convert to energy, but the energy is not lost, it has simply changed form. This is what has happened with Sergey.”

“And us, someday,” Lila mused. “In a way it’s nice to know that I may be spooking some people in the future.” She grinned unrepentantly. “I know a few people I’d like to haunt.”

“They will not be able to hear you, but perhaps will sense a tiny bit of disruption around them, unless they are as you are – sensitive to interaction with others.”

“I guess that’s a good thing,” Lila said hesitantly.

“It is most definitely for us. Now let us plan for how you will prevent this potential nuclear holocaust”

Ian interrupted the voice – was it one person or all of them speaking? – to ask cynically, “What is your stake in all of this? Why do you care?”

“We have a vested interest in what goes on here on this planet as we are currently home based here. The ecology is already dire in places like the ocean surrounding Japan, but the possible nuclear meltdown in this location in the Chuvan Mountains is very near our headquarters. There is almost no traffic or disturbances in this area as it is only accessible through an ice road in the winter. It is ideal for our,” the voice paused, “studies.”

“What kind of studies are you doing?” Lila asked suspiciously, thinking about how aliens used humans as a food supply on the 1980s TV show V.

“We gain energy through processing the output of human emotions. It is a simple and harmless technique we use.”

Lila snorted. “Like what, sucking their brain waves from their skulls?”

“Nothing so drastic. We are also conducting further research in the laboratory where you were at this evening. It was useful to see how you interacted so easily with the interface. You are truly gifted.”

“Okay, down to basics.” Ian interrupted.  “We need to figure out how, if a crisis is looming on the horizon, we are going to get from here to there.”

“There will be a helicopter waiting for you at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital helipad.”

Lila nodded. “That’s near where we live.”

“Where to from there?” Ian asked skeptically. “It’s a long way from here to Vladivostok, or at least the nearest airport to Bilibino.”

“You are correct. There is a rough road leading from Keperveyem Airport to Bilibino. You will take it one leg of the journey at a time and we will provide tickets along the way.”

“What about food?” Lila demanded. “I’m not going hungry.”

“You will be supplied as needed. Return to the upper level now.” One of the entities waved its hand and Ian and Lila were drawn against their will back to the tree where they found themselves once again standing.

“Hell of a ride.” Ian beamed.

Lila nodded grimly. “But what will tomorrow bring? And what will we find in Bilibino?”

Halloween Surprise (pt. 14/30)

real
Is it real?

Lila turned to Ian. “What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?”

“A hole?” he replied impudently.

The short people – or were they normal height? It was hard for Lila to tell — moved around them forming a loose circle.

“We asked Sergey to send you here. We know you are very good at dealing with problems such as these.”

Ian said to Lila out of the corner of his mouth, “Problems like going down the hole in an Alice in Wonderland? Yep, pretty accurate.”

Lila snorted a bit in laughter. “Pay attention. This could be important,” she reprimanded him. “These aliens obviously have a height problem.”

“Who says they’re aliens?” Ian whispered back to her.

“We can hear what you are saying.”

“Oh, great.” Lila rolled her eyes at him. “Now we’re in trouble.” She said accusingly, “This is your fault.”

“How is it my fault,” Ian argued.

“Humans!” The sound seemed to come from all over as it had in the research lab.

“Nice acoustics you’ve got here.” Ian added, “Must make for cool movie watching.”

“You are so irreverent.” Lila pointed out. “Have a little respect.”

“Like you?” Ian guffawed.

Suddenly there was a loud cracking noise that came from the floor and a large viewing screen rose from it.

“Sweet.” Ian mouthed.

They were watching people moving around a pool in the ground with rods in it in a large building that appeared to be a nuclear reactor. Lila could make out the words Билибинская АЭСon a wall plaque. “Bilibino,” she read aloud to Ian. “It’s Russian.”

His face twisted in concentration. Ian leaned slightly forward watching the action on the screen. One of the men pulled an alarm lever set on the wall and a light began flashing. Ian tilted his head as he considered what was going on in the picture. “Hell, it’s a nuclear meltdown.” He looked expectantly at the small people across from them. “Is this now? What’s the timeframe?”

“You have fifteen days before this becomes reality. I’m sure you know that this is the most northerly nuclear power plant in operation.”

“Actually I didn’t know that,” Ian motioned toward the screen. “How are we supposed to stop it?”

“No one will take our warning seriously,” the voice continued, “Particularly not in Russia. Sergey should not have been involved, but he knows us. He worked on another task last year for us. Things have, however, changed for him. He is dead.”

Lila gulped. Chills ran down her arms. In a slightly quavering voice, she asked, “Then whom were we talking to?”

Normal
0

Lila turned to Ian. “What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?”

“A hole?” he replied impudently.

The short people – or were they normal height? It was hard for Lila to tell — moved around them forming a loose circle.

“We asked Sergey to send you here. We know you are very good at dealing with problems such as these.”

Ian said to Lila out of the corner of his mouth, “Problems like going down the hole in an Alice in Wonderland? Yep, pretty accurate.”

Lila snorted a bit in laughter. “Pay attention. This could be important,” she reprimanded him. “These aliens obviously have a height problem.”

“Who says they’re aliens?” Ian whispered back to her.

“We can hear what you are saying.”

“Oh, great.” Lila rolled her eyes at him. “Now we’re in trouble.” She said accusingly, “This is your fault.”

“How is it my fault,” Ian argued.

“Humans!” The sound seemed to come from all over as it had in the research lab.

“Nice acoustics you’ve got here.” Ian added, “Must make for cool movie watching.”

“You are so irreverent.” Lila pointed out. “Have a little respect.”

“Like you?” Ian guffawed.

Suddenly there was a loud cracking noise that came from the floor and a large viewing screen rose from it.

“Sweet.” Ian mouthed.

They were watching people moving around a pool in the ground with rods in it in a large building that appeared to be a nuclear reactor. Lila could make out the words Билибинская АЭСon a wall plaque. “Bilibino,” she read aloud to Ian. “It’s Russian.”

His face twisted in concentration. Ian leaned slightly forward watching the action on the screen. One of the men pulled an alarm lever set on the wall and a light began flashing. Ian tilted his head as he considered what was going on in the picture. “Hell, it’s a nuclear meltdown.” He looked expectantly at the small people across from them. “Is this now? What’s the timeframe?”

“You have fifteen days before this becomes reality. I’m sure you know that this is the most northerly nuclear power plant in operation.”

“Actually I didn’t know that,” Ian motioned toward the screen. “How are we supposed to stop it?”

“No one will take our warning seriously,” the voice continued, “Particularly not in Russia. Sergey should not have been involved, but he knows us. He worked on another task last year for us. Things have, however, changed for him. He is dead.”

Lila gulped. Chills ran down her arms. In a slightly quavering voice, she asked, “Then whom were we talking to?”

Halloween Surprise (pt. 13/30)

forest
The forest

Lila grabbed the hand and twisted it into a wristlock. There was some loud cursing in Russian and then Lila released the wrist and backed away.

“Nice move.” Sergey complimented Lila.

“Thank you,” Lila said modestly.

“She makes it do what it do.” Ian agreed with a twinkle in his eye.

Lila gave Ian a murderous look.

“Why the whole big mysterious thing to get us here?” Lila asked Sergey curiously.

“There is something I want to show you –“

“More etchings?” Lila interrupted him to ask cheekily.

“Hardly. This is another, what would you call it, void?” Sergey began walking with them to a much quieter and more secluded area. A cold chill in the air made Lila shiver, and she could feel goose bumps rising on her arms, which she rubbed briskly to warm them up. “Wish I’d brought a coat,” she mentioned in an aside to Ian.

“Wimp,” he said with a smile.

“Haha,” she said sarcastically. “Well, maybe a little,” she reluctantly agreed.

Sergey continued speaking. “This is a place of natural energy. The research lab requires huge amounts of energy, but this place…” his voiced drifted off. “We are not sure what to think. I would like to get your opinion,” he added respectfully.

After about fifteen minutes of hiking, they reached a spot hidden away from the crowds. There was definitely a mystical energy in the area. She could feel the vibrations coming from the earth under her feet. The vibes particularly seemed to emanate from a tree directly in front of them. “Is that it?” She pointed to the tree from which she felt the energy.

“Yes, it is most – unusual. Please walk over and touch its surface.” Sergy gestured toward the tree. Lila walked over with Ian at her side. Together they placed their hands on either side of the tree, the edges of their fingers nearly touching.

From the moment their hands came in contact with the rough bark, Lila could feel herself being drawn down into a tunnel. She could see several beings in front of her who appeared to be transparent. “Holy…” she whispered.

“I hear you,” Ian said softly, agreeing with her assessment.

As they neared the creatures, they could hear a buzzing in their ears that sounded like a hive of bees was hovering around them. She craned her neck looking for anything that might emit the sound, but all she could see were skinny, pale looking, short people whose mouths didn’t seem to be moving.

Suddenly the buzzing cleared up into speech. “Welcome.”

Lila’s eyes widened and she sucked in a quick breath. Was that them?

“Um, thanks?” she said uncertainly.

Halloween Surprise, (pt. 12/30)

hayride3
Ian turned to Lila. “What the…” His eyes met hers as they heard a beep followed by “leave a message.”

“While you are in the research laboratory your mobile phones will not work. We have received a forwarded message from your external phone numbers.”

“Hell of an answering service,” Ian commented.

A garbled voice followed the message.

“Ian, Lila, you have 30 minutes until Haunted Hayride begins. Midnight.”

“Oh, crap.” Lila looked at her watch. “It’s the thirteenth. I totally forgot.” She grabbed her backpack and hauled Ian to his feet by grabbing his shirtsleeve.

“Easy,” he warned, “this is a new shirt.”

“I know. I bought it for you.” Lila smirked. “Looks mighty nice on you too.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him.

“No time for that,” Ian said in a grumpy voice, which he then spoiled by smiling.

“There’s always time for that,” Lila imitated Ian’s tone. He just shook his head.

They hurriedly left the room and raced down the hallway at top speed.

“Slow down,” Ian said, nearly panting.

“You should work out more,” Lila said critically.

“When do I have time?” Ian griped. “I’m always investigating crazy stuff like this.”

“Gotta make time for what’s important,” Lila quipped.

It was Ian’s turn to roll his eyes. “What-ever,” he said drawing out the word.

The elevator reached the parking garage and ran to the car. Pulling out, they headed for the 105 East and merged onto the 110 North where traffic slowed almost to a crawl through downtown. Lila stared out the window as she saw the Staples Center pass by and then the Die Hard building. “Check it out,” she nudged Ian. “I always love seeing that building.”

Ian grinned. “Yep, I have some pretty fond memories.” They had stayed there overnight after one of their latest overseas adventures, with the room paid for by their friend as a gift.

“Joe was a sweetheart to get us the room for a night.”

“We earned it.” Lila said grimly. ”Thailand was hell.”

“Yeah, it was.” Ian smiled reminiscently.

“Stop it.” Lila said. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“No, you don’t.” He flashed her that smile again. “Maybe later you can tell me what you think I was thinking.” He gave her a lecherous look.

Lila rolled her eyes and released a sigh of mock disgust.

They had driven about fifteen minutes up the 101 North and were nearing their exit.

“There’s Hollywood.” Lila pointed to the right.

“I see it,” Ian replied in a semi-annoyed voice.

“Barely in time.” Lila kept glancing at her watch and clutching the door pull as though she could make them go faster. They drove through the Griffith Park entrance, parked, and waded through the crowds.

After buying two tickets for the midnight ride, they seated themselves and waited to approach the Purgatory section. Once there they slid off the beaten path and made their way to an isolated corner.

It was dark and the gasps from other patrons were making Lila nervous. At least that’s what she told herself.

A hand grasped her shoulder from behind.

Halloween Surprise (pt. 11/30)

shakespeare
“I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.”
~ Shakespeare Bridge

“Gimme a moment.” Ian leaned his head against the wall and rested for a few minutes while Lila kept track on her watch.

“Ready?” she asked impatiently.

“Not quite. A minute more.”

Lila set the timer on her watch to go off in one minute and watched it intently. “Time’s up,” she said as the tinny alarm sounded.

She got to her feet and put her hand down to help Ian stand. He put his other hand against the wall to steady himself as he rose shakily.

Lila strode over to the posts and turned her head to watch him come toward her, keeping her hands hovering over the posts until he drew near. He stood directly behind her and placed his hands on top of hers. “Let’s go,” he whispered in her ear. She lowered her hands onto the posts and took a quick intake of breath as the lights once again swirled around her.

She could see what appeared to be a control room occupied by men in military uniforms. The man nearest her had a nametag that she could just make out as Петров or Petrov, and she could see a sign on the wall with the word Око written on it.

Lila started to pull her hands away from the posts, but pressure from Ian’s hands kept her palms in contact with the surface.  A few seconds later the pressure eased, and they both sank to the floor in tandem.

This time travel didn’t seem to have nearly the same negative effect on Lila. Ian still looked a bit peaked from the experience.

“What did you see?” Lila asked breathlessly.

Ian raised his hand indicating for her to pause. “Just a second,” he gasped out before scooting back to place his back against the wall. Lila joined him there and once again handed him the piece of paper and pen. He waved it away. “Cuban Missile Crisis. I could see Kennedy in his office with McNamara poring over what looked like ballistic missile photos.”

Lila perked up. “That means we traveled forward about twenty years.”

“What did you see?” Ian asked curiously.

“I think I was looking at Stanislav Petrov. He worked at the Soviet’s Oko command center and some people say he prevented a nuclear war back in 1983.”

Ian’s eyes brightened. “I remember reading about him. He monitored an early warning system that reported the U.S. had launched a missile at the Soviet Union. He assessed that it was a false alarm, and by waiting to report it may have prevented an all out retaliation by the Soviets. Amazing guy.” Ian shook his head. “Couldn’t have been easy to make that decision.”

Lila looked puzzled. “Okay, so what’s the point of this? Why are we seeing these things?”

Ian screwed up his face in an I-don’t-know expression. “Maybe we’re supposed to be averting a similar fate? Seems like a pretty strong message.” He gestured toward the posts. “Who’s controlling these things? The visions–if that’s what they are–seem pre-recorded, except that we’re seeing different things.”

The blank white wall in front of them began to seethe with colors that eventually coalesced into a pearlescent appearance. A voice spoke in what sounded like 3D audio so that the sound came first from behind them and then switched to above them, before finally reverberating from all four walls.

Halloween Surprise, pt. 10/30

researchFacility
Research facility by day

Lila stood back from Ian, put her foot up against his backside and shoved. He barely swayed. “Okay, time to get real.” She tackled him from behind and pushed him toward the floor.

It was as though she was caught up in a time warp. As soon as her skin made contact with Ian’s, everything once again swirled around her. Through the mist of colors she could see one of the research men watching her and Ian.  He moved toward them, reaching out to touch her arm, but his hand seemed to pass through the air directly in front of her.

Wondering if he could hear her, Lila called out to him. “Hey.” Not the most compelling statement she’d made, but whatever. His eyes widened and he turned to some of his fellow workers, who seemed oblivious to what was happening right in front of them.

Trying to take clues from her surroundings, Lila looked at the consoles that surrounded them through the orbiting colors. She saw 1960’s style computers with large brackets holding them to the wall. It appeared to be a cleanroom, with people dressed in white outfits, head garments and protective goggles.

Nudging Ian, she tried to get a reaction. Nothing. Either he was in shock or it got easier each time one – what should she call this? Viewed? Visited?  Was she here or there, or both?

She extended her hand to the man standing in front of her in the suit. He reached his out at the same time and there was almost a breeze as they passed through each other. She could see his greenish blue eyes dilate and his lips firm as he looked more determined to reach her. Slowly he began to fade out and Lila returned to the white research room.

Exhausted, Lila once again fell to the floor, Ian collapsing beside her. She tried to cushion his head as they fell, but barely had strength to raise her hands. Lying beside him, she tried to reach her backpack and tug it closer toward her. She managed to pull out one of the water bottles she had packed, fumbled with the lid, and poured half the bottle over Ian’s head. He finally stirred, shaking the water out of his eyes.

Ian gasped, “What the…” He looked disoriented and slightly green as he pushed his hands underneath himself and crab walked back to the wall, which he then leaned against. “You weren’t kidding about that motion sickness.” He swallowed hard.

“Gets easier the more you do – it – whatever it is that we just did.” Lila scuttled back against the wall to join him, leaning against his shoulder for warmth, as she felt suddenly cold. “Pretty nifty, eh?”

Ian snorted. “That’s one of the things I love most about you. Your ability to bounce back quickly.”

She looked triumphant. “I told you!”

He closed his eyes and rested his head on the hard, cold surface. “What – no, where was that?”

Lila looked straight ahead, thinking about his question. “More importantly, when was it?”

Ian appeared bewildered and shook his head slowly. “What do you remember?”

Lila dug in her ever-present bag for paper and pens. Handing him one set, she began to write on the other. “Record everything you saw, even if you don’t think it’s important.”

Ian began to scrawl a series of words, while Lila concentrated and wrote full sentences. When she finished, she passed her paper to Ian and took his. Reading silently for a moment, she turned to him, her eyes wide with astonishment. “You saw something completely different!” She said excitedly, “This totally fits the world line description – people see the same event differently based on their specific positions in spacetime.”

“Oppenheimer,” Ian read slowly, “Physics, atomic bomb guy, right?”

“And you saw,” Lila read from his paper, “’An island, a few palm trees, a bunch of guys standing around waiting for something to happen.’ Bikini Atoll ring a bell?”

Ian swore. “So we’re seeing the development of the atomic bomb?”

“I think so. And the visions seem to progress in time each time we look.” She turned to him eagerly. “Ready for another go?”

Halloween Surprise, pt. 9/30

swirlingLights
Swirling lights

Lila walked into an all-white room that reminded her of the factory floor in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In the center of the room were two square posts that came up to her waist with enough room for someone to stand between. She walked slowly toward the gap with Ian on her right.

Reaching out with her left hand, Lila touched the post closest to that side and then placed her other hand on the opposite post. Immediately she felt disoriented and dizzy from the light pink, blue, and yellow colors swirling around her. Through the haze of light, she could see men in lab coats moving about in what appeared to be another research lab.

Lila heard Ian calling her name and felt her hands pulled from the posts. She staggered back, feeling exhausted and motion sick. Resting her head between her knees, she sat on the floor and leaned against the wall opposite the door. “Yikes,” she managed, “I don’t feel so well.”

“You don’t look it either.”

Her head came up in such a hurry that she nearly rolled onto the floor.

“Nice to know your reflexes are still solid.” Ian commented jokingly, but clearly relieved that she was once again back with him. “What did you see?”

“How do you know I saw anything?” Lila asked in a muffled tone, her head still press to her knees.

“Because your mouth hung open and your eyes were tracking.”

“My mouth wasn’t hanging open,” Lila said indignantly, and then self-consciously ran the back of her hand over her lips. “Ugh. I was drooling. Sorry.” She offered him a half a smile.

“Just glad to see you back in the regular world, you know, conscious and all.” Ian joked.

Lila tilted her head back against the wall. “I saw a bunch of men in lab coats, but there were all these colors swirling around,” she paused, “as though they were either orbiting around me or I was orbiting around them.” She shook her head slightly. “It felt like I was on one of those rides that spin around sideways while you’re going upside down. She paled. “I may be sick.”

“You’re fine,” Ian said encouragingly. “What were they doing?”

“I’m not sure,” she said, “but I think they saw me. One of them pointed in my direction, and he started to get excited. I think he was yelling something.” She pointed to the posts. “Why don’t you go try it?”

“Uh, uh. Always investigate thoroughly before touching anything.”

Lila raised her eyebrows. “Since when was that your rule?”

“Since I saw you turn green and plop to the floor.” Ian grinned.

“We’ve got all night,” Lila said and checked her watch. “Eleven P.M. Plenty of time for more ghosties or whatever those apparitions were.” She tugged her backpack off and rummaged through it to produce a couple of cereal bars. She pulled off the wrappers and offered one to Ian.  “Munchies?”

Ian started laughing. “I can’t believe you can eat. You almost lost your cookies.”

“I rebound fast. Something you should remember.” She pointed her finger at Ian. “How about you go over and try it now.”

He slowly stood up and walked over to the posts. Gingerly he placed one hand on each side, and Lila saw an electric arc travel over his head. Alarmed, she dropped her cereal bar and ran to where he stood frozen between the two posts. She tugged at his hands, but to no avail. He was unresponsive.