 
Time Leap 3

Double Fantasy

Steve Howrie

Time Leap 3: Double Fantasy (Fiction).

Copyright © Steve Howrie 2020

The right of Steve Howrie to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed or electronic reviews.

***
Prologue

One cool evening in November, Joe Cooper and Niki Ling walked slowly across the Thames river at Chelsea Bridge, stopping in the middle. Niki removed what looked like a mobile phone from her pocket, and handed it to Joe. He studied it momentarily, then fished another phone out of his own pocket and gave it to his Chinese wife. She smiled, kissed him on the lips, and after a few moments he watched as she threw it with all her strength into the river. The handset hit the water, then quickly disappeared below the murky depths. After exchanging knowing looks, they walked hand-in-hand towards the South Bank of the Thames.

Standing unseen on the opposite bank of the river, a man in a dark raincoat emerged from the shadows, pulled up his collar, and headed off towards the city.

***

One

London, March 2020

It was one of those days where I missed time travel. There'd been a lot of those days recently. Ever since nodding my approval to the chucking of my mobile phone into the River Thames, I'd had regrets. In case you've forgotten, I'm talking about the phone with the time travel app. Yes, yes, I know: completely insane to give up the ability to time travel when you've got it. But it was either surrender the phone to Niki, or surrender our marriage.

So here we were, at home, doing what we always did. I was still writing time travel stories - but now I had to make them up. It was just not the same. Meanwhile, Nik continued to pursue her artwork - and seemed pretty content with it. I could understand that... she'd done well: several exhibitions of her work, and commissions from here, there and everywhere (she was going down particularly well in Asia, and had even done a couple of TV interviews). Is she missing time travel? Probably not - and why would she? Travelling through time brought us danger - including a couple of near-death experiences. According to Niki, conventional travel is 'safe'; to me, it's just dead boring. But I suppose it's better than staying at home all day.

Elsewhere on planet Earth, things had not been good - and were getting worse. For one thing, the environment was going down the tubes. We used to visit some of Nik's relatives in Shanghai every summer, but now we couldn't. The heat and humidity last July and August over there had become unbearable, and we just stayed indoors with the air-con on all day and night. And the winters were just as miserable, with the high pollution, and then that terrible flu virus, COVID-19. So, plenty of reasons why we wouldn't be going to China. Not forgetting, of course, the rising sea levels.

"Oh, what? I can't believe it!" Nik exclaimed from her computer screen, one morning after breakfast.

"What's up?"

"My exhibition in Bangkok... it's been cancelled!"

"Really? Why?"

"Flooding! The venue is completely under water, and they can't find an alternative place or time."

"That's a shame," I said, not really meaning it. Yes, I know it's wrong, but I hadn't completely shed the resentment I still fostered about Nik throwing my mobile into the Thames. "Well, Bangkok's not the only place hit by floods... look at this..."

I showed her the World news I'd been reading that day. There were floods and storms all around the planet - Asia, the USA, Mexico and Europe - including Britain. Several UK airports had cancelled all flights due to the bad weather. And the flood barrier had been raised yet again on the River Thames.

"Ha-ha, look at this Nik!" I showed her a video of a restaurant in Venice which stayed open despite the business being flooded. Waiters served customers in wellington boots, whilst hungry people paddled in their chairs waiting for food. "That's just insane!"

"This is all our fault," Nik observed after seeing the video.

"What... you and me? What did we do?"

"No! You know what I mean Joe - mankind, humanity..."

"Oh, you mean because of the way we've polluted the air, the land, seas and rivers... this is just Mother Nature getting her own back."

"You can't give Nature negative human emotions like that! It's cause and effect, simple as that. And survival of the planet."

I told Nik what I knew about the Gaia Hypothesis... the idea that life on Earth forms a synergistic, self-regulating mechanism that keeps everything in good order for life on the planet. She seemed surprised at my knowledge.

"Exactly! How d'you know that?"

"Joe Cooper is not as stupid as he looks! And he does have online subscriptions to New Scientist and BBC Science Focus, remember? Anyway, there's a simple way we could reverse the plundering and polluting of our beautiful planet."

She looked up from her computer and gave me one of her quizzical but sceptical stares. "Okay then, go on... astound me."

"We just need to travel back in time and prevent the Industrial Revolution."

Nik sighed, pulled one of her funny faces (she has several), and went back to her screen. I'd been dropping more and more hints about time travel recently, but they continued to fall on unsympathetic ears.

I thought that was the end of our conversation - but I was wrong.

Less than a week later, I was watching football on the TV, when there was a knock at the door. We don't have many visitors; but when they do drop in, they usually ring the bell. This was definitely a knock.

"Oh my god! I can't believe it! Come in, come in! Nik - we've got visitors!" I shouted towards the kitchen. But before Nik could get there, the visitors collapsed into my arms.

***
Two

We sat in our lounge smiling at the two Lemurians who did their best to smile back. They clearly weren't well - but here they were! When they said they'd visit us in our own time-zone one day, I'd always thought it was just one of those things people say out of politeness. In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined we'd be sitting in our lounge in Finchley looking at two people who lived twelve thousand years ago - from a continent that long since had disappeared below the waves.

"It's just so amazing to see you both!" Nik exclaimed. "But what can we do for you? You really don't look well."

"Here," Crimson replied, sitting close to Niki and connecting their minds by thought transference, as she'd done several times in the past in their own world.

Whilst they were mentally locked together, I asked Skid how they'd found us. She could only understand basic English (which she'd learned from Crimson); but utilizing a combination of hand gestures, pictures and sounds, we managed to communicate. It seemed that they'd stayed behind in Lemuria for several months after we'd left the continent, and then returned to their own time in ancient Egypt, using the time travel mobile Nik had left them. After another six months, Crimson decided it was time to visit us in the twenty-first century, and they flew to ancient Britain in their crystal-powered craft. After resting from the journey, they used the phone to leap forward to our time period, and found themselves somewhere south of London. They flew to our home in Finchley from there. How they found the exact location of our house was remarkable! I asked Skid where their craft was parked, and she pointed to some fields behind our gardens.

Crimson disconnected from Niki, who relayed the information the Mu had just told her. It was similar to what I'd gleaned from Skid, plus the reason they had both become ill.

"It's the environment," Nik explained. "Crimson said they've been poisoned by the air and the food. They can't understand how people can live in this air, and eat our food."

"Well, what did they have?" I asked. Crimson drew a large M in the air with her fingers. "No wonder they don't feel well! They're practically Vegans, and they've been probably been eating meat! I can see how they wouldn't recognise those burgers as meat though..."

Nik shrugged her shoulders. "Well, at least they're here now, and we can feed them some healthy Vegan food. Do we still have that air purifier Joe - the one you bought for your aunt when she was here?"

My aunt May had visited from Scotland, and found she was affected by our beautiful London air, so I'd purchased a powerful air purifier from a local shop for her.

"Sure, I'll go and get it."

After cleaning up the air in the house, and giving our visitors some wholesome food and green tea, they looked much better. We put them up in one of our bedrooms and told them to rest there as long as they needed.

"Well, that was quite a surprise!" I observed, once we were on our own. "I still can't get over them making the journey though. Why d'you think they've come?"

"Because we invited them! Mu don't just say things out of politeness - an invitation isn't just a throwaway remark at the end of a conversation, like it is with some people I know."

I nodded sagely, ignoring her little dig, and had to admit it was more respectful that way.

*

Crimson and Skid slept for a long time, and we didn't see them until the next morning at breakfast. They looked much, much better - refreshed and full of life now.

"Your home is very comfortable... thank you for looking after us so well."

"You're very welcome Crimson... stay as long as you like," I said.

She turned to Skid and they clearly communicated something, but without words.

"Thank you, Joe; we will stay for ten years," Crimson replied with a straight face.

"Oh, erm, right..." I looked at Niki for her reaction.

"Great!" she smiled, genuinely.

"Okay, good - let's get some breakfast then," I said, trying to hide my true feelings. "I'll make some drinks." I went to the kitchen to make tea, and heard the girls laughing in the lounge. I'd been had. Never try to hide anything from a Mu.

Over breakfast, we talked about the environment. Crimson could not understand how it had become so poisonous, and how things like fruit were so tasteless. I gave her my viewpoint on the situation.

"I suppose it was a gradual change, starting with the Industrial Revolution in Britain. In recent years, with a crazy growth in population, things have just gone from bad to worse. Climate change, as they call it, has accelerated. Now our oceans and rivers are polluted with chemicals and plastic; the air is polluted with poisonous fumes from our factories, planes and cars; and we've destroyed much of the forests which give us valuable oxygen. As a result, the Earth is overheating - causing rising sea levels and melting the ice-caps. I honestly don't know what can be done to reverse the trend now... we've probably reached the point of no return."

"I see," replied Crimson, after considering this. "So, this 'Industrial Revolution', as you call it, was the beginning of the problem?"

"Well, I would say so - yes. People began to move from the countryside to the cities to work in factories. Food production dropped dramatically, and instead of growing our own, we began to import stuff from other countries. Factories used coal to power them, which generated terrible pollution in the cities - and that caused a lot of illness and death. Right Nik?" She nodded.

"So, if you could go back in time..." Crimson started.

"Oh no! We've decided not to time travel anymore," Nik exclaimed. "It's too dangerous; and we've thrown the phone away now."

Crimson looked at me, quizzically. "What do you think of Niki's choice Joe?"

It was no use trying to hide my feelings from Crimson - I'm sure she could read me like a Harry Potter novel.

"Well, I want what's best for Nik, of course. I wouldn't want to travel on my own \- and we don't have a time travelling phone now anyway."

"You do now," Crystal replied, pulling Nik's phone from a bag she was carrying. "Why not use this?"

"No-no - I couldn't do that... not unless Nik wants to go too."

"So, you don't want to do anything against her wishes?"

"No, of course not."

"Well, how about what other people want? You don't seem to mind changing history and taking away their free choice."

"But what we have now is not the people's choice! Joe Public doesn't want this environmental mess - ask anyone."

"Who is this 'Joe Public'?" she asked Niki. "Is he related to Joe?"

"It's just an expression meaning 'most people'," Nik smiled.

"The governments are to blame," I continued. "They make the decisions about these things... about pretty much everything, really."

"And who made the choice about the government?" Crimson asked. "Joe Public?"

I sighed. "Well yeah, I suppose we did; the people voted for them, and the majority won through." I wanted so much to time travel again, and hadn't even thought about what other people wanted. I just thought that plastic in the oceans, deforestation, air pollution and global warming were so intrinsically bad, that no matter what people's personal preferences were, we must put a stop to it - at any cost.

We were all quiet for a minute, then Crimson spoke again. "Joe, it seems to me that your people have little or no contact with the Creator."

"The Creator? You mean God? Well, I know Niki has a direct line..."

"Joe!" Nik hissed, "Be serious!"

"Okay, so some people do claim to have a direct line. They wear long robes and funny hats and say things like, "God be with you, my son," then everyone's conned into thinking they're God's appointed agent."

"That was before we ended Christianity, Joe," Niki reminded me. Yes, at that moment, I'd actually forgotten we changed history by bringing Yeshua ben Josef to our present.

"And you - what do you believe Joe?"

"I believe we're a product of nature, governed by chance - like the rest of the universe. There was a big bang billions of years ago, and now here we are."

Crimson turned towards Niki. "What is this big bang Joe talks about?" Nik quickly explained the scientific theory about the origin of our universe.

"Oh, I see. And when you pass on? What happens then?" she asked me.

"Gone forever, into the ether, or whatever it is. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes... that sort of thing."

"So, no place for the Soul, or even the spirit, Joe? This has no meaning in your heart?"

"Soul music is cool... and I like the odd whisky."

Crimson looked at Nik for an explanation of my craziness. She just shook her head.

"It's no use Crimson, he's beyond help," Nik observed.

"My people are directly connected to the Creator - everyone has this connection. We and the Creator are one... there is no separation," Crimson continued. "If only a few people had such contact, there would be the danger that such a power could be misused. Some might claim to have the connection, and mislead those who admitted they did not."

"Welcome to our world," I said.

"Joe - we should introduce Crimson to Yeshua!"

"Good idea," I nodded. But where was the man just then?

***

Three

The next day, I received a phone call from Gareth - right out of the blue.

"Joe! How are things?"

"Oh, great... well, as good as it gets without time travel."

"Know what you mean, Joe; I'm still missing it badly too. It must be over a year since we last did it."

"Good thing you phoned though, mate... some good news! Crimson and Skid arrived here yesterday."

"Whaaat! No kidding! That's amaaazing! Where are they staying?"

"With us."

"Oh yeah, I keep forgetting you've got that ginormous mansion!"

"You must come down to meet them."

"Well this has got to be some sort of synchronicity, Joe; I do have some free time, and I was phoning to ask if it would be okay to visit you guys this weekend."

"Perfect! By the way, Gareth... do you happen to know where Yeshua is just now?"

*

Over the next couple of days, I was in a strange mood. Irritable and confused, you could say. Everything we'd previously done in the world of time travel was based on what we thought was for the best. It was a joint decision by Niki and me, and we never, ever thought of asking anyone else's opinion. And how could we anyway? No-one's going to take any question seriously if it's along the lines of: 'Oh, by the way, d'you think it's a good idea to time travel to 1940's Germany and try to stop World War II?' But after Crimson talked to me about changing history, I was unsettled - mentally unsettled. If and when we do time travel again, how can we ever know if our decisions to change the past - and thereby affect the future - are for the best?

"What's up?" Nik asked me when she saw me brooding in the bedroom, looking out of the window.

"Oh, nothing. Just reminiscing."

"Do you remember what Ben said to you when we visited that future community in Scotland?"

"Ah, yes... how could I forget! He said my main fault was impatience. It gave you a good laugh at the time."

"He was right though, wasn't he?" I had to admit he was. "We've got our whole life ahead of us Joe - and it's not a race. I know you don't believe in Crimson's ideas about the Soul, but I do. There's more to humans than just flesh, blood and emotions. What if you're wrong about the scientific approach to life? What if this life is much, much more than just occupying a physical body on a planet for seventy or eighty years? Maybe you just need to slow down and look inside yourself - instead of outside all the time. Don't you ever talk to your Soul?"

It was difficult to reply to Nik. I was brought up on hard, scientific facts (my dad was an engineer, and he was definitely a big influence in my life). If you can't smell it, touch it, or measure it, it doesn't exist - as he used to say. So how could the Soul exist? Anyway, this was all academic because time travel was off the agenda now. Wasn't it?

*

It was good to see Gareth again. He looked good, and we enjoyed reminiscing about our time travel adventures together. He couldn't help telling me his ideas about time periods he'd love to visit, knowing full well that I was in time travel retirement. Anyway, maybe he thought if he talked about it enough, I'd finally capitulate. He remembered me telling him about throwing the phone in the river; but he also knew that Nik had her own phone, which she'd given to Crimson.

"Nothing to stop you doing a bit of TT on your own Gareth," I pointed out. "I'm sure Crimson wouldn't mind you taking the phone."

"Nah Joe - couldn't do that. It'd be like going to a rugby match on your own... you've got to go with a mate and enjoy the craic." I could see his point.

"Look, why don't we go for a pint at the Bells - we can get a bite to eat there as well, if you haven't eaten."

Gareth was up for that, and it meant we could talk more freely about you-know-what away from the house.

We arrived at the Five Bells, ordered a couple of pints with burgers and chips, then found a table in a quiet corner of the bar. We reminisced about our time travel adventures for a while; then Gareth turned to me, looking me straight in the eye, very seriously.

"Joe, have you been reading the news recently... about the environment? It sounds like we're close to the point of no return. This global warming thing is just getting totally out of hand. You know what I mean? The polar ice is melting quicker than ever, sea levels still rising, pollution's not getting any better, CO2 levels are the highest for 800,000 years, and we've wiped out 60% of the wild animal population since 1970!"

"Yeah, I know mate - tell me about it; it's scary, very scary."

"Well, can't we change it? I mean go back in time and stop whatever started this whole global warming mess?"

"You mean, like, stop The Industrial Revolution happening?"

"Exactly like that! You've hit the nail right on the head there, Joe! Let's do that!"

"Sorry Gareth... I've already talked about this with Crimson. It's a no-goer."

"Why?"

"Well, for one thing, all this is the result of what people wanted in the past. It was their free choice, so it would be wrong to go back and change things just because we don't like the consequences of that choice."

My friend nodded sagely. "I'm sure Yeshua would agree with that. By the way, he'll be back in London next weekend."

*

The next few days passed quickly. Gareth had arranged to return to London the following weekend from Nottingham so he could meet up with Yeshua again.

According to our Welsh friend, Yeshua and his buddies had been busy. Having just completed their second World tour, he had amassed millions of follows worldwide under the banner of his 'Free Choice Society'. It was still strange for Niki and I to have retained knowledge of his previous incarnation as Jesus Christ whilst everyone else on planet Earth were blissfully unaware of Christianity and all it stood for. This was all because we'd uplifted JC and his disciples from the first century to the twenty-first, resulting in no trial, crucifixion or resurrection, and preventing the Christian gospels ever being written. Yes, the name Yeshua Ben Josef was known to scholars; but there was nothing intrinsically Christian about the World in which we now found ourselves.

As soon as Yeshua was back on the radar, I got in touch and invited him and the troops over to our place so they could meet Crimson and Skid. They arrived the next day.

"Joseph, Niki! So nice see you again!" We hugged the master and his men, and then introduced our visitors. He stood motionless for about ten seconds, mesmerized by the Mu, then suddenly came back to life. "Ah, sisters - wonderful to meet you... and you have travelled far - from Lemuria, I believe?"

"Yeshua! How could you possibly know that \- we've told you nothing about them!"

"Ah, Joe - you see only with the eyes, but I see with the Soul. And their physical, how you say, 'appearance', is not of this World."

He sat between Crimson and Skid and just smiled at them, looking into their eyes - first one, then the other. No words were exchanged.

"Is he connecting with them?" I whispered to Niki.

"Possibly."

Gareth, Niki and I chatted with the disciples whilst Yeshua was having 'his moment' with the Lemurians. The Master had travelled to twenty-seven different countries around the World, and there had been several attempts on his life. Fortunately, however, the security measures organised by Smirnoff and King Arthur's knights had been robust enough to protect the man from any injury. I had promised Arthur that we would return his knights to the old Roman fort at Outlane, West Yorkshire, within two weeks, and they had already been away for more than eighteen months! Of course, with time travel it was still possible to uphold my promise. Smirnoff retained the time travelling phone I gave him, and assured me he would return the knights to the King on time.

I looked to see how Yeshua was getting on with the Mu, and he was smiling at us.

"Joseph, Niki... come, let us talk." We sat with them, wondering what they had been discussing. "You know, this has been amazing discovery: Crimson and I have met before." I was wide-eyed. How was this possible? "You see, sometimes baba tells me things about our past lives. And as soon as I cast these eyes of mine on Crimson, I knew she was sister from another life."

I just couldn't get my head around this; I had no belief in reincarnation, and yet this was Yeshua speaking - and I had never known him to be wrong about anything.

"So, you see, it was such good thing you did to bring us unto this World of yours, Joe, Niki. I cannot thank you enough. Time travel is such a wonderful tool; without it, I would not be talking with sister now."

"How about you Crimson... do you remember Yeshua - from a previous life?" I asked.

"Like you, Joe, I remember what I need to remember," she replied. I was waiting for her to expand on that, but she turned to Nik instead, asking if they could walk together in the gardens outside. Meanwhile, I sat with Yeshua and we talked about his recent tour. Our conversation soon turned to the critical environmental problems around the World, and I asked his opinion about my idea of travelling back in time to prevent the Industrial Revolution occurring, and thereby (hopefully) fixing the environment in the present time. His reply was not at all what I expected.

***

Four

The next morning, I awoke with the memory of my conversation with Yeshua. As I should have expected, Yeshua began by reiterating Crimson's point about people's Free Choice, and the folly of changing the World without first taking that important aspect into account. Well, after all, he was the founder of the Free Choice Society, so no surprises there. He added that the only virtuous way to do this would be to ask everybody on the planet if they would agree to this happening - a sort of worldwide Brexit. However, seeing as the big question would start along the lines of: 'Do you agree to people travelling back in time and making changes to our history,' nobody in their right mind would take this seriously. I thought that was that, and I was about to say goodnight, when he said:

"If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain."

"Come again?"

"If the mountain..."

"Sorry," I interrupted. "I don't mean I didn't hear you... I mean, I don't understand what you said! I know the phrase, but what's the context?"

"You wish people agree to idea of change our history, so their lives more comfortable in future, correct?"

"Yes, that would be the perfect scenario."

"But they cannot agree to this idea because, in their eyes, time travel is impossible! And even if they believed it possible, most people would vote against it... because it could mean losing wonderful technology they have today - computers, tablets, smart phones... you get the idea? Which, by the ways, would mean time travel could not happen!"

"I see what you mean."

"The alternative, therefore, is not to change environment today; instead, take people back to time when environment was not polluted; time when they could breathe pure, beautiful air - and there was none of this 'global warming' scientists talk about."

The Master sat back in his chair and smiled. My mind was doing somersaults. It took me a few minutes to take this all in.

"That's fantastic!"

"This is not for everyone, my brother. It must only be for the people who really, desperately, want this change."

I thought seriously about this. "But there could be millions of people - a billion perhaps; how could we time jump so many? And even if we could, what if they don't like it there?"

"Questions, questions! Why don't you give me some answers, my son? I have solved problem for you - surely you can work out details?"

Yeshua was right: it was the perfect solution. The World would remain as it was for those who preferred it that way, but there could be a virgin World waiting for the ones who wanted it. And if they didn't like it, we could just bring them back to the twenty-first century. Well, I think we could.

Niki was now awake and saw me sitting up in bed, staring out of the window.

"Joe?"

"Morning babe. I've got something to tell you..." I smiled.

*

For the next few days, I could think of nothing else but the plan to find a better life for those people who'd had enough of this polluted garbage-can we call Earth. The ideas started flowing after I spoke with Nik. She really, really liked the whole concept, and provided the answer to one of my questions straightaway. Absolutely no chance of the emigrants changing their minds and returning to what is our present time, once the move to paradise was complete. But, to be fair, some representatives of the group that wished to move, could go there for a preliminary survey of Earth at that time period, and report back to the others - with photos, videos and other data. We really had no idea how many people would go for this, but it just seemed like something we must do.

Due to the fact that the idea of time travel was a bit of a problem to explain to potential new world pioneers, we thought of alternative ways to package it. One would be to sell it as a previously unknown region of present-day Earth that had been untouched and unspoilt by humans for thousands of years. Another idea would be to spin the story that a suitable, life-sustaining planet in another solar system had been discovered, and by using a black hole to travel there at light speed, people could escape Earth and set up a human colony on the planet - similar to Europeans going to North America, Australia or New Zealand after those lands were discovered by Westerners.

But whatever way it was packaged, we would somehow need to find the people who were interested in starting a new life in this 'new world'. I couldn't help imagining a news reader passing on the information on the nine o'clock news! But that could just shoot us in the foot. The location of this unspoilt paradise on Earth, or the newly-discovered planet, would then be under great scrutiny. Instead, Nik suggested we start with those on Yeshua's mailing list, and people who supported the group 'Extinction Rebellion' - they certainly wanted change. But before we undertook that, we needed to agree on the actual location of our garden of Eden. To Niki, this was a simple thing.

"Lemuria," she said matter-of-factly over breakfast.

"Well, that's the obvious place... it's big enough, and ticks all the right boxes."

"Except one. Can you imagine the effect on the locals? They're such a peaceful, gentle race, and you just need a group of gung-ho morons going over there - and imagine the outcome? Look at what happened to the native Americans in the US, and the aborigines in Australia."

I nodded: Nik was right. We would have to be very, very careful about who we allowed over there. The relocation would need to be regarded as a great privilege, and anyone breaking the rules or the code of conduct, would be whisked back to the twenty-first century before they could say 'time travel'. Or maybe sent somewhere worse?

We needed to talk to more people before we took this any further. And if it was to be Lemuria, the first people to consult should be Crimson and Skid.

*

We found the couple enjoying the sun in Niki's Chinese garden. We'd given them sunglasses to protect their eyes from the glare of our nearest star (which was far stronger than in their native Lemuria), and also face-masks to protect them from the pollution.

Nik started to talk to Crimson, but the Mu stopped her quickly.

"I know what you wish to talk to us about, sister: I have already spoken to Yeshua about this. But before we talk, I need to know what lies within your hearts. Words alone will not fully convey your meaning." Niki understood what Crimson meant straightaway: a mind link. But this time, it was something a little different: a joint connection between the four of us - something similar to group chat, I guess.

So, there we were, bathed in the morning sunshine, linked together with Crimson and Skid. This process made words pretty much redundant - and explained why the Mu hardly every used spoken language with each other. We connected via pictures, sounds and feelings - mostly feelings. Through this shared link, Crimson was able to transmit various simulations of what would happen if we went through with our idea of transporting modern-day humans to Lemuria. Because the continent existed between twenty-five thousand and nine hundred thousand years ago, introducing people of our time to the land of the Mu had different outcomes at different times in history. Then there were the effects caused by the immigrants' influence. The parameters of: arrival year, number of immigrants, and nationalities of the newcomers had different effects on Mu life and culture. Some of these scenarios were really quite frightening - including the complete annihilation of Crimson's ancestors, meaning she would not be sitting with us just then. In other simulations, modern twenty-first century human technology was introduced by the incomers, resulting in them creating within Lemuria the very thing they said they wished to escape from: a polluted, wasteful world on the brink of self-annihilation.

But there were other situations where the introduction of modern humans actually had a beneficial effect on the Lemurians as a race.

In their history, Lemurians who survived the sinking of their homeland could not stand up to the barbaric treatment at the hands of the Atlanteans, and were eventually wiped out. However, if we introduced the right type of immigrants to Lemuria at the right time, the survival of the Lemurian lineage could continue right up to the present day... all because the Atlanteans would never attack the Mu with the immigrants to protect them. This was an incredible revelation and I could feel the warmth emanating from Crimson and Skid when this reality was shown to the four of us. This was clearly the way to go.

"It seems that the type of people we need are those with empathy for the Lemurians, and strength to defend them against the Atlanteans. Or am I just stating the obvious," I said after we'd disconnected.

"That is a good observation, Joe. It is never wrong to state what may seem obvious to some people. There are always others who are not aware of the connections you make."

I smiled to myself, having got this brownie point from Crimson.

"Don't be so smug Joe!" scolded Niki.

"What is 'smug'?" Crimson asked.

"Oh, just observe him for a few days, and you'll get the picture," smiled Nik.

We were joined by Yeshua and Gareth, who had seen us talking outside. Niki filled them in on our conversation.

"I think Joseph is right," confirmed Yeshua. "But the strength they need is not just physical: they must have inner strength too... mostly this. I have no experience of Atlantis or its people; but I have studied Earth history and seen when right won battle over might. Many examples. And, you know, this strength does not need weapons: I refer, of course, to the power of the Soul."

***

Five

The next morning, a familiar and very welcome face greeted Nik as she stepped out into the garden to feed the birds. Smirnoff was sitting very casually on a garden chair with his feet up, smoking one of his Russian cigarettes. And Gareth was next to him.

"Most people use the front door," she said in a fake stern voice, after getting over the initial shock of seeing them there.

"Well, you know, I am not most people, Nikita," he smiled back.

"Sorry for dropping in like this Nik!" Gareth apologised. "I was coming out of Finchley station, and Smirnoff picked me up in his car."

"And I heard you got visitors..." the Russian continued.

"How do you know that...?"

"It's my business, I know everything. So, not even a hug for your old friend?" Our hitman friend gave Niki a bear hug - almost taking her breath away. "So where is everybody?"

"We're just discussing your next project - come inside."

Nik introduced the Russian to the Mu ladies. They already knew Gareth (from our trip to Ancient Egypt and Lemuria). They would never forget his Star Trek outfit! Then Yeshua and his men greeted Smirnoff and Gareth warmly; they were like part of a family. The big man had been on tour with the Free Choice guru recently, but the team hadn't seen the Welshman since Yeshua's show at Wembley stadium. Niki had mentally swept that event under the carpet; it was the gun attack on Yeshua, and the murder of people sitting very close to us in Wembley Stadium, that finally put her off time travel for good.

"So, what's the gig this time?" Smirnoff smiled.

Crimson suddenly turned to me and said in a low, urgent voice, "Beware Joe, beware! Men come... you must be careful. Do not trust them..."

"What? What men?"

The doorbell rang, and we all froze.

"I'll go with you," Smirnoff said.

"No, not him. The men will find out what he does, and arrest him. Niki should go with you."

The doorbell rang again and I went to answer it, anxiously. Crimson grabbed Nik's arm urgently.

"Niki - if anyone tries to harm you, or make you do anything against your will, say these words: 'Welcome to my Soul'. You do not need to speak the words aloud, but you must say them from your heart, with meaning."

The bell rang a third time.

"Nik!" I hissed urgently from the doorway.

I opened the door to see two men standing there. One was in uniform.

"Good morning \- we're looking for Mr Joseph Cooper."

"I'm Joe Cooper."

"Ah, good. I am Detective Andrews from the Metropolitan Police, and this is PC Norton. We need to talk to you about some recent Lottery winnings down at the station - do you have time now sir?"

Unseen by the policemen, the others were sitting quietly in the lounge, listening. I looked at Nik, who looked back at Crimson.

"My mother is here," Nik explained, "I just need to check that she's okay on her own."

"Oh, no need for you to come with us, Madam, we just need to talk with Mr Cooper."

Niki glowered at the detective; there was no way she was going to leave me on my own with this man. "No, I want to come - he's my husband."

"And I want her with me," I added.

"Very well... shall we?"

We left the house with the two policemen, who drove us to the local station in Finchley. At the time, we had no idea what they knew about us.

*

We were taken to the West Hampstead Police Station in Fortune Green Road. The two men escorted us inside, where we had to fill in forms and provide finger prints at a reception desk. The detective said this was normal procedure. It was not the first time Nik and I had been inside a police station. On one previous occasion we'd warned the police about a terrorist attack in London - the 2005 bombings. Another time, Nik was arrested when we time leapt to 10 Downing Street in London in 1930's Britain, leaving evidence of the Nazi rising and the subsequent World War II. This third visit felt totally different.

"Mr Cooper, I know that representatives of the National Lottery have called on you in the past regarding your winnings, so apologies for bringing you in here today. Your winnings have been particularly large - and unusually frequent - which triggered further checks from my department..."

"Which is?" I asked.

"The Fraud Squad."

Nik and I looked at each other, without speaking. I felt my heart beating faster. Or was that Nik's?

The detective turned to the PC. "Chris, could you bring me the files on Mr Cooper please?" The constable left the room, and the detective locked the door. "You buggers! I know what you've done isn't kosher! Always the jackpot, but not too often to raise suspicion. And spread it out a bit. Sometimes the UK Lottery, then the EuroMillions for a while. And quite a few very profitable visits to the Casino too, eh, Mr Cooper?" I wanted to show some reaction, but I couldn't. "But what I don't know is how you did it? Who's working for you on the inside? No-one is that lucky. No-one knows what numbers are going to come up next, right?

"That's why we had you followed. Yeah, I got permission for that from my boss, given the amount of money that was involved. But that was not easy, not easy at all Mr Cooper. You're a very elusive man, you know that? I know you've been to China and Israel...

"Of course we've been to China! I'm Chinese!" Nik blurted out.

"Oh yes, apologies madam. Actually, it was the trips to Egypt that were more interesting. On the second trip, with a Mr Hughes I believe, the three of you just seemed to disappear without a trace - lost in an ancient tomb, perhaps? But a couple of weeks later, you reappear on a flight back home from Hawaii! It was like you vanished off the face of the Earth, then somehow travelled half-way round it - totally unseen and undetected. That doesn't happen in this day and age - not with the technology we have now. Where did you go during those two weeks, Mr Cooper?"

"Sightseeing," I said.

"Well, I was beginning to think this was going to be one of those unsolvable cases - we get loads of these every year; ones where you never, ever get to the bottom of it. But then one evening, one of my men followed you to Chelsea Bridge."

He stopped to look closely at us, to see some reaction. I desperately wanted to look at Nik, but I couldn't.

"Oh yes, he saw what happened very clearly that night. And when he told me about you throwing something in the water, well... we just had to find out what it was, didn't we?" My heart skipped a beat. Surely, he couldn't have found the phone. "And here it is..."

The detective reached for something in his desk drawer, but stopped suddenly when there was a knock on the door. Annoyed, Andrews unlocked the door.

"Here are the files, sir.

"Thank you. That will be all constable."

"But sir, don't you..."

The detective locked the door again and removed a plastic bag from the desk drawer. It contained my old mobile phone. Niki's eye's widened. I tried to show no emotion, but I felt myself shaking. The detective opened the bag, and switched on the phone.

"You know, you'd think that once you'd wiped a phone clean, it would be impossible to retrieve any of the data. Well, much of that is true. Fortunately, though, the police do have a lot of very clever tools that can reinstate just about any data. And Apple have the iCloud, of course."

"That's private information - you can't access that!" Nik yelled. "It's against the law!"

"Against the law? I am the law, madam! And you'd be amazed what we're authorised to do in the Fraud Squad. The great thing is, I was able to retrieve all Mr Cooper's apps - including one called 'Date Me'. Ring any bells?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You know, I always wanted to believe in time travel, but I could never see how it would work. It just seemed to be science fiction, the fantasy of deluded minds. Your phone, and this app, changed things - completely. When I was a kid, I really wanted to know what London was like during the Roman Occupation; and now I've seen it for myself!" He pulled out a Roman dagger from his desk drawer. "And do you know what Stonehenge was built for? It was an educational institution. Yes, a form of university, following Pagan beliefs."

"Why are you doing this?" I said.

"Why? Oh, I thought that would be obvious: I want what you have. Or, I should say 'had', seeing as I have this now." He held up the phone. "I want to be rich, a multi-multi-millionaire like you; I want to travel to any time-zone in the World, past or present - hang around with famous people, influence history - and change the future. Who wouldn't want to do such a thing?"

"Now look, let's talk this over - I'm sure we can come to some arrangement..." I said, desperate to find some way out of this situation. The detective's derisory laughter told me to forget it.

"Just give us the fucking phone - now!" Nik snarled. I'd never seen her like this before. "You're going to be in so much trouble..."

"Oh, I think you're exaggerating your own powers, Mrs Cooper. Or should I say, Miss Ling, seeing as you're going to be a widow very soon..."

We looking on in horror as the man opened 'Date Me' on my phone.

"From reading your files, I recall that you attended Highgate Wood school in Crouch End, Mr Cooper..."

"You can't do this! Give me that..." I jumped out of my seat to stop the man, but he had already entered a date and disappeared."

"Oh my god Joe, what's he going to do?"

"This is bad Nik, very bad... If he kills my teenage self, I'm dead too. We've got to get hold of another phone - that's the only way to stop him."

We knew Smirnoff had a time phone, so Nik tried to phone the Russian. Meanwhile, I unlocked the door and we literally ran out of the Police Station to find a taxi; we needed to get to the school as soon as possible.

Whilst I hailed a cab, Nik checked how long it would take Andrews to drive to my old school from the Police Station. The map said it would be one hour twenty minutes at the that time of day. Andrews might well do it in a lot less time in a police car... we had to hurry. It would take too long to go home, and then get to the school, so Nik continued to try calling Smirnoff, but as usual he didn't answer his phone.

"Pick up! Pick up will you!"

I phoned Gareth instead.

"Look mate, no time to explain, but you and Smirnoff must go to my old school - Highgate Wood in Montenotte Road. Yes, and make sure he brings his time travel phone with him... right. It really is a matter of life and death... okay - see you there, we're in a taxi now."

The traffic was terrible \- roadworks everywhere - it was going to take an age to get to the school.

*

Meanwhile, by first jumping back twenty-five years in time, Andrews had managed to avoid most of the horrendous traffic we were stuck in. He was soon at Highgate Wood Academy, and it didn't take him long to find the classroom he wanted.

"Er, apologies for the interruption Miss... I really need to have a quick word with Mr Joseph Cooper..."

"We're right in the middle of a lesson just now!" replied the exasperated History teacher.

"Yes, I can see that - but it's rather urgent. I am Detective Andrews from West Hampstead Police Station, and I need to talk to Mr Cooper about a family matter..." He held up his Police ID badge.

"Oh, I see. Sorry Joseph, this man needs to talk to you outside for a few minutes... please go with him.

"Thank you, madam..."

*

We arrived at the school not long after Andrews. But as we ran towards the entrance, I suddenly felt myself fading away... as if falling into a deep sleep. Nik turned back to look at me in horror.

"Sorry Nik, it's too... too late. I love you..."

As my words faded, so did I, and within seconds, I was gone. Niki looked around in disbelief. Our worst nightmare had just happened.

***

Six

Gareth and Smirnoff arrived to find Niki sobbing in the grounds of the Academy.

"Where's Joe?" Smirnoff asked.

"He's gone... the bastard killed him!"

"Joe's dead?" Gareth gasped. "But how?"

"Niki sighed deeply as the Russian pulled her to her feet."

"This detective - the one called Andrews - has Joe's old phone, the one I threw in the river. Somehow, he found it and got it working, including time travel. I don't know where he is now - could be anywhere. He time jumped to when Joe was a student here - then killed him!" Nik broke down in tears again. Gareth took her to their car, and they sat inside deciding what to do next.

Gareth was shaking his head. "What I can't understand is... why a policeman, a detective, would want to kill Joe? Okay, he found he could time travel with the phone - we all want to do that. But to actually kill someone..."

"You wouldn't believe what people kill for, my friend," Smirnoff explained. "I know people who have commissioned a hit just because they don't like the colour of their neighbour's house. People are the strangest animals in the Universe... and cops are no better."

"We can undo this Niki, I know we can," Gareth said, trying to be positive. "But we have to think it out clearly. We don't want to make things worse..."

"What could be worse than Joe dying!"

Smirnoff started up the car and they drove home in silence. They had to talk to the others about this. Neither Smirnoff nor Gareth could offer a quick fix solution - they needed to hear the wisdom of Crimson and Yeshua.

*

At the house, Niki crumpled into Yeshua's arms.

"What is it, my child?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry - I didn't say the words Crimson gave me! I wanted to ... but they just didn't come out!" Nik sobbed.

"Where is Joe?" he asked.

"He's gone!"

"Gone where?"

"She means, the man who came to get Joe has ended the life of his mortal body," replied Crimson.

"Come, sit down... take your time. Tell us exactly what happened, all the details," said Yeshua. Nik nodded and they sat on the sofa, surrounded by everyone.

"I've made some peppermint tea - always good to calm the nerves," Gareth announced as he brought a pot from the kitchen.

After Niki had explained everything that happened that morning, Crimson spoke.

"The first thing we must do is retrieve the phone. Without that, Joe and Niki will always be in danger."

"I'm so stupid! I should never have thrown the phone in the river!" Nik cried.

"Well, if we could undo this one action, that is one way to solve this problem," Yeshua observed calmly.

"What do you mean?" asked Gareth.

"From what I understand of time travel, Niki could travel back to moment before throwing phone in River, and then tell herself not to do it."

"Brilliant man!" the Welshman exclaimed. "And so simple!"

"But perhaps too simple," Smirnoff observed. "It would certainly bring Joe back to us, but he would still be under investigation by that detective. He could easily be arrested for suspected lottery fraud, and his phone would be confiscated... then we're back to square one." The others nodded solemnly.

"Each of us should look within ourselves for the solution," suggested Yeshua. "Think not just of the answer, but also possible problems with the solution."

Smirnoff really wanted to go to the police station and cut Andrews into little pieces - slowly. But the detective had a time travel phone now, and could jump to any time period - forward or back - in an instant. It would not be difficult for him to kill others - and he knew where Niki lived. So, the Russian agreed to follow Yeshua's idea, and they all sat down to brainstorm ideas for bringing Joe back.

*

After Joe was murdered, my world fell apart. This was all my own fault! If I hadn't thrown the phone in the river, Joe would still be here with us. But Yeshua helped me to forget the past ('What's done is done, child... you must move on and put this right). I followed his advice, and concentrated on getting my husband back. My idea was to go with Smirnoff to Joe's old school, then time leap back to the moment that Andrews arrived to kill him. If we could destroy the bastard before he gets to Joe, everything will return to normal. But how could we know exactly which day Andrews arrived at the school? Joe was a student at Highgate Wood School for seven years and I had no idea what date Andrews jumped to. It could take forever going through every possible day of those years.

Gareth's suggestion was to research everything we could about Andrews on the Internet... where he was born, who his parents were...

"What is this Inter-Net?" Crimson interrupted. After he explained everything about the World Wide Web and how the Internet worked, Crimson translated for Skid, who nodded in understanding. "Please continue Gareth," Crimson said, whilst Skid became immersed in searching for any details about the detective on the Net.

"Information is power, right? If we know Andrews' date and place of birth, we can kill his mother before the bastard is born. Then he won't see the light of day."

"And apart from ending the life of an innocent woman, what other problems could make this difficult?" Yeshua asked.

"Nothing else, really..." Gareth replied meekly.

Then Smirnoff gave his solution. In this, he would jump back to a few minutes before the policemen arrived at the house.

"As soon as we open the door, I take them both out - child's play."

"Child's play? You are going to involve children in this?" asked Crimson, looking confused, and a little concerned.

Niki laughed. "No-no... he means it will be very easy for him to kill Andrews at that moment."

"Oh, I see. And what are the problems with this idea, if any?"

"Killing policemen is a very serious crime," replied the big man. They will hunt down the killer using all the resources at their disposal. I would have to hide for a very long time, and perhaps live in another time zone," replied Smirnoff.

Finally, Yeshua reiterated his idea. The two of us would go to Chelsea Bridge, and from there travel back to the moment before I threw the phone in the river. The other Niki would certainly listen to Yeshua and me, and this time not throw away the mobile. The drawback was the detective and his investigation would not go away, and could make him even more curious if he saw two versions of Niki.

Crimson closed her eyes, considering the matter, as if in some form of meditation. We respectively waited quietly for her. After five minutes, she calmly opened her eyes.

"I notice that all these solutions involve killing the detective - all except yours Yeshua."

"Yes, indeed sister," nodded the Master. "But whilst mine does not include the taking of life, I believe we should look deeper at this situation. It seems to me that Joe and Niki have attracted 'bad karma', as people call it. Maybe, some greed has tipped the balance in Joe and Niki's lives."

Crimson looked at me. "Sister, I know that your heart is good, and you would not knowingly deprive another of what they need. But by manipulating time, you have brought imbalance to the energy of your lives. You are extremely wealthy, I believe, whilst others starve on this planet - is that not the case? Niki blushed a little, lowered her head, and nodded."

"Yes, it's true. And although Joe did most of the gambling, I encouraged him to do it... I wanted to win more and more. Now I have lost something far more valuable than money, and I feel ashamed." Tears tickled down Niki's cheeks.

Suddenly Skid looked up from the computer with a beaming smile. "I have it!" Crimson looked at the screen with her, whilst they spoke in the Mu language.

"Yes, she has found the date and time that Joe died: 27 March, 1995."

"Exactly twenty-five years ago today!" exclaimed Gareth, as we gathered around the screen to see the news article as Gareth read it aloud.

"Police are looking for the man who shot schoolboy Joseph Cooper, 15, at Highgate Wood School yesterday, and then disappeared. There appears to be no motive for this callous murder."

Whilst the others read more of the article, Crimson led me outside into the garden.

"So, sister, which option do you choose from those we have considered? It must be you who decides."

I sighed deeply and wiped the tears from my eyes.

"I would like to follow Yeshua's suggestion - the one where we go back to Chelsea bridge when I threw away Joe's phone. It was my idea to end time travelling, and I know that this hurt Joe a lot. It was his life, and I have never seen him so happy - even when we were in danger. It gave him a real purpose for living. It was my fault this happened, and I want to put things right - put them back to how they were before."

"But what of the policeman - he will still 'investigate' Joe... if that is the correct word."

"Yes, that's true. But I have a strong feeling that this was nothing to do with him - it was to do with us. And I know how to put things right now."

"Very well, then you should follow your heart and do what Yeshua suggests... good choice!" The Mu hugged me warmly, and I felt tears well in my eyes. "But do not go alone," she added. "Take Smirnoff with you." I nodded and returned to join the others.

***

Seven

The next morning, I awoke to see Niki looking at me.

"Morning," she smiled.

"Morning..." I replied sleepily, and then met her smile. "I had the weirdest dream last night," I said.

"About time travel?" she asked.

"What else is there?" I replied.

"There's love..." She leant over and kissed me, passionately, lovingly. But there was an unusual edge to her smile. "Joe... what's the last thing you remember?"

I lay back, trying to recall the last couple of days, and then reviewed the past few months. I remembered Nik not being happy with the whole time travel thing, and not wanting to do it. And I could picture an evening we went for a walk along the river and crossed at Chelsea Bridge. But after that, it got a bit foggy. Foggy in my mind, I mean. Then I recalled my dream. We were on the bridge, but someone else was there - a woman. She beckoned Nik over to the North bank, whilst we were on the bridge. The other woman looked a lot like Nik - almost like her sister, but dressed differently. And I seemed to remember Smirnoff being there too, somewhere in the background. But we never spoke. After a while, Niki returned to me in the middle of the bridge and the other two just seemed to 'disappear'. It was strange.

"Joe, that was not a dream - it was real! The other woman was me - I time jumped back there with Smirnoff."

"You?"

Nik then told me the whole story about her throwing my phone in the Thames, then later a detective arriving at our door and taking us to the Police Station. After that (and this was the hardest part to believe), the detective used my phone to time leap fifteen years back to my old school - where he killed me. It was unbelievable!

"Now I think I know how you felt when I told you about your mum not being dead! It's difficult to take in."

"So, you still want to time travel?"

"You bet!" I smiled and kissed my wife. "But only if you do too. To be honest, there's been times we thought about not doing it, you know that. It's been pretty hairy at times, and I can understand you not wanting to time travel..."

"I do want to time travel!" Nik exclaimed. "I never want you to not time travel again -ever! And I always want to be with you."

I was so happy to hear Niki talk so passionately about travelling through time together again, though I still could not get my head around me being murdered! I suppose, it will be one of those things I'll never really understand.

"There's one other thing I want to talk about..." she said.

"Go on..."

Niki really surprised me that morning. She told me she wanted to give away a huge part of our accumulated wealth - most of it, in fact - to people in need. The poor, the starving, the displaced... people living on the brink of survival. And to animal charities too. So that's what we did.

*

After staying the night (to make sure I was okay after being 'resurrected'), Yeshua, Smirnoff and Gareth headed back to their respective pursuits. It had been great to see them again and catch up with their projects and work. Gareth told me he was looking forward to more time travel adventures, and made a few suggestions of interesting times in history. Smirnoff offered to bring Detective Andrews life to an early end for what he'd done to me. When Niki pointed out that my murder never happened in our new universe, he said: "Well, it's the thought that counts, and that man is a scum-bag... he deserves what's coming to him."

Crimson and Skid stayed another week or so, during which we took them on a few trips around the UK - including the Orkney Islands in the North of Scotland. We thought they'd like the quieter life up there - and they did. But the weather - the cold wind blowing across the treeless landscape in particular - was just too much for them to take. Nik time-jumped with Crimson and Skid to their own time-zone whilst still in London, and then Crimson returned the phone she had borrowed from Niki; she thought it would be more useful to us than them, seeing as their small taste of life in the twenty-first century had almost put them off time travelling for good! But they looked forward to seeing us again the next time we visited Lemuria - which we said we'd certainly do. As regards our project to relocate tens of thousands of people to Mu, we put that on hold; but it was not totally forgotten.

The next morning after the Mu had departed, Niki was reading the news over breakfast and her eyes widened when she noticed an article about Detective Andrews.

"Joe, look at this!"

In the report it said the detective had been dismissed from the force for 'fraud and improper behaviour'. He had used his position in the Fraud Squad to accept bribes in return for destroying evidence of tax evasion and lottery fraud, and had been given a six-month prison sentence for his crimes.

"Well I'll be... I guess what goes around, comes around," I said. But it was still very difficult to accept I'd met a cop who'd travelled back in time, with my own phone, and murdered me.

*

Nearly a week passed, and Niki was so into time travel... it was difficult to curb her enthusiasm for it. Well, I suppose almost losing me because of ditching my phone in the river made a big difference.

"Y'know, I was just thinking Joe... what if everybody had a time travelling phone? What would life be like then?" I knew this was a stupid idea, but I thought I should explore it with Nik anyway.

"Okay" I replied, "I suppose if everyone had one, I guess no-one would want to kill you or me to get ours. That's must be something positive."

"Also, anyone could change the past... and we'd have no idea they'd done it."

"And... anyone could jump forwards in time, find out the results of national lotteries, football matches \- you name it - then go back and win them... which would make them rather pointless." I was getting into this idea now.

"Not necessarily," she replied, tapping me on the nose. Don't know why she does that (certainly not a Chinese thing). "It could be the first person to find the winning numbers that wins." A sort of time travel treasure hunt.

This was getting a little crazy. People could commit crimes and get away with them - just by time jumping. Governments could see the results of elections, then do whatever it would take to win them. And football teams could jump back in time to put right the mistakes they made in a match... and win. But would they? If everyone could time travel, it would be a level playing field - if you see what I mean: what one does, the other could also do. The time travelling police would be after the time travelling criminals; political parties would all know the results of elections; and every sports team could change tactics before and during the big games.

Then Niki pointed out that although the 'what if' question was very interesting, it was totally hypothetical because we could never make enough copies of our phone to supply the whole world. Yes, we could ask Miranda and Crystal in the AD 50,000 to replicate some for us; but to manufacture seven billion phones was totally unrealistic. There would always be people without the ability to time travel, and that would not be equitable.

"So... where d'you want to time travel to next?" she asked me.

"Well, I don't know... I've sort of gone off it, after... you know..."

"Joe! You can't say that! You love time travel! You've always said so... and you've been a miserable sod ever since we stopped it."

Niki was right... I loved travelling through time more than anything. But at that moment, I just couldn't for the life of me think of anywhere I wanted to go, or anything I wanted to do using our special mobile phone. Then my wonderful Chinese wife leapt to her feet.

"I know! Let's go back and save John Lennon!"

Now that was an idea I just could not refuse!

***

Eight

Detective Andrews cursed the time he heard the names Joe Cooper and Niki Ling. It was their fault he had developed this thirst for wealth that now pulsed through his body. It just wasn't right that people like them could be multi-billionaires just by playing a game... the lottery in their case. Not to mention all the casino wins. He was sure there was something going on below the surface - nobody was that lucky - and when he got out of this hell-hole of a prison, he was going to find out exactly what it was.

Being a police detective, he was put in protective custody. There were a couple of other former police officers in the same jail, and he was allowed to mix with them, but not with the general prison populace. One called Mike was sympathetic to Andrews situation.

"Just keep your head down, and show remorse and regret at your actions - that's my advice. If you want to go back to the force, that's your best chance."

"So, what are you inside for?" asked Andrews.

"I was tracking a hitman... a contract killer who'd killed a whole family... wiped them out - a couple and two young kids. We caught him one night in Soho, and I just lost it completely when I came face to face with him. I beat him up so badly, I nearly killed him. He went to hospital with a fractured skull and broken ribs, and no-one knew if he'd be coming out again. People said they understood how I felt. But you can't do that as a police officer..."

Andrews listened intently to the other man, nodding in understanding.

"Contract killing, that's something else," Mike continued. "Killing in cold blood for money. You get some ex-army types doing it... they're paid killers, after all."

Andrews offered Mike a cigarette. The ex-fraud squad detective had given up smoking, but had started again in prison.

"Thanks mate," Mike nodded accepting the smoke and a light. "I'll tell you something else. There was another guy we were tracking, a big Russian who was using some business as a front for what we thought were contract hits. We could never prove it, but you get a feel for this sort of thing after a while, and get to know their MO. Anyway, I heard the strangest thing from a Police colleague one time. He was working up in Scotland, tracking this Russian, and he swore on his mother's grave that he saw the guy come out of an off-licence with a couple of bottles of whisky, get into a car - some sort of four-by-four - and then totally disappear!

"You mean the man and the car just vanished... into thin air?"

"Right! The vehicle was there one second, gone the next - like in a puff of smoke!

"Did he come back?" Andrews asked.

"No, not at the time. But my mate swore he saw him in London a few weeks later."

Andrews pulled on his cigarette deep in thought. If a man can just vanish and reappear somewhere else later, he could commit crimes at will. Was there a connection between this Russian and Cooper, he wondered?

***

Nine

It took me about five milliseconds to agree to Nik's plan to save my idol, John Lennon... the ex-Beatle whose music I could never get out of my head. Niki knew that, of course. The 40th anniversary of his death was coming up very soon, and wouldn't it be such an amazing thing to bring the man back to life? The musician was murdered in his prime on December 8th, 1980, and his resurrection would please a whole load of people - me included. (Having said that, if we did manage to save him, no-one except Niki and I would know that he had been murdered in the first place!).

I checked Wikipedia for the exact details of Lennon's death.

During the afternoon of Monday, December 8th, 1980, Mark David Chapman met John Lennon and Yoko Ono outside the Dakota Building, New York City, where they lived. Lennon signed Chapman's copy of John and Yoko's recently released album, Double Fantasy, before leaving for a recording session in the city. At around 10:50 pm, the couple returned home after the session. From the street next to the Dakota building, Chapman fired five bullets from a revolver, four of which hit Lennon in the back and shoulder, puncturing his left lung and subclavian artery. Chapman remained at the scene, and was promptly arrested whilst nonchalantly reading the Salinger novel, The Catcher in the Rye. Meanwhile, John Lennon was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

I relayed the details of Lennon's demise to Nik (she'd never really been interested about this in the past), and she said "Great!" with a big smile, kissing me lovingly. "Can't wait to go!" This was a big change from the Niki who wanted to end our time travelling adventures as soon as she could - from what I remembered. Anyway, she said she would research December 1980 and prepare the clothes of the time, as well as locating some old US money, whilst I planned the details of when, where and how we'd make the time jump.

From what I'd read, it seemed mostly straightforward: book two flights to New York City, jump back to December 8th, 1980, head for the Lennon's brownstone apartment building near Central Park, and wait for them to arrive. Then all we had to do was stop Chapman before he pulls the trigger - or get Lennon out of the line of fire. The police would do the rest. Dead easy!

*

A week later, we boarded our flight to New York City, and I couldn't help reflecting on the last time I planned to fly to the American East Coast city. On that occasion, I was able to prevent the Nine-Eleven terrorists attacks, and that was the beginning of our time travel adventures.

Nik and I sat in the departure lounge, treating ourselves to a daytime glass of wine before we boarded the plane.

"Well, here's to us... and to John Lennon of course," I toasted.

"Wait! What about Yoko!"

"What about her?"

"She's going to be very happy about this," Nik grinned.

"Well, yes - of course. It'll be a fantasy come true I guess..."

"A double fantasy," Nik smiled.

"Ha-ha!

Despite changing history many times - and thereby the future - I still found it difficult to really appreciate what we were doing. We joked that saving Lennon would be a dream come true for Yoko Ono; but in actuality, she might not have any recollection whatsoever about John being shot - because she would be living in a universe where the murder never took place. It was still difficult for us to come to terms with the fact that only the people who actually time travel will retain memories of both past events and the rearranged new ones; but having seen the phenomenon from both sides, I now knew this to be true.

"So, here's to many more music albums from John Lennon," Nik said, 'clinking' our plastic cups again.

"And maybe some more Beatles records too," I added.

We boarded our flight and were soon en route to New York City. After our five-hour flight, we arrived at JFK International Airport, and took a cab to Manhattan where we checked into the hotel Nik had booked online. (The Edison, very close to Broadway and the theatre district). After a short rest, we wandered around to get a feel of the city. Neither of us had visited New York before.

After a relaxing day looking around Manhattan, we decided to have an early night so we could rise early the next morning ready for our time leap back to December 1980. I was so excited about this trip!

*

The next day, after breakfast, we changed into the clothes Nik had prepared for us. It was a hot and humid July in New York City when we arrived, so we needed to be prepared for a chilly December day once we'd time jumped to 1980. The clothes Nik had prepared for us were very warm, and hopefully we'd blend in with the early 80's fashions.

We carried our coats in the very hot and humid weather (getting quite a few stares on the way) as we walked over to the Dakota apartments, Central Park, where the Lennons used to live. At the corner of the building, I took out my phone - ready to jump us back to December 8th, 1980.

"Ready Nik?" I checked. She nodded. "I'll be ready to push John out of the way if you can keep an eye out for that son-of-a-bitch Chapman.

"Okay," she replied, "no problem."

"But be careful... remember this is a killer with a gun!"

"Right... got it."

The murder was due to take place at approximately 22:50 in the Archway entrance to the Dakota building, so I set the time to 22:30 on December 8th. That would give us plenty of time to get into position. I looked at Nik one more time, and she smiled back.

"Now!" I whispered as I pushed the button.

We were jumping to not only a different season, but also forty years back in the past. Yes, the location was the same - but not the feeling. We waited fifteen minutes before I recognised Mark Chapman arrive at the building. There were a lot of people around; the Lennons were very famous, of course, and John had recently made a musical come-back with the new album. Quite a few people were waiting to see the couple.

Suddenly, they arrived and my heart skipped a beat. It was amazing to see my idol in the flesh approaching the Archway. My nerves were tingling, and I was totally on edge... I could feel the adrenaline pumping in my veins. I saw Chapman reaching for something in his bag. I looked at my phone.

"Now Nik!" I hissed as I put all my weight into pushing John Lennon away from the door. At the same instant, Nik tried to push Yoko in the opposite direction. But Yoko lunged towards John when she saw Chapman's gun, and she was hit by two or three bullets. This was not what we intended!

"Shit!"

"Joe - jump back, quick!" Nik commanded, grabbing my arm.

I did what she said, and we were suddenly back in 2020.

"We should have rehearsed that!" I said.

"Okay, it doesn't matter," Nik replied breathlessly, "that was our rehearsal! Now we know what Yoko's going to do, we just deal with Chapman, okay?" Nik suggested.

She was right. It was too risky trying the push the couple out of the way - we should attack Mark Chapman, even though it did seem a little dangerous. But he wouldn't be expecting us, and we now knew where he was hiding his gun. We could get to him and wrestle him to the ground before he could use the weapon. John and Yoko would be safe that way.

We made the jump back to the same moment in time. Everything appeared to be identical to last time, except... except... Chapman seemed to recognise us! How was that possible? I saw him go for his gun and Niki and I both lunged at him.

"Oh my god!" Yoko shrieked as she heard two gunshots, followed by two more. Police officers were quickly on the scene and immobilised Chapman, who'd already dropped his gun and did not resist. John and Yoko went to help.

"That wasn't meant to happen!" groaned the murderer as he was dragged away by the police.

"Call an ambulance... now! Someone shouted. A police officer was on his communication device, urgently but calmly calling for assistance.

I remember being lifted into an ambulance with Nik, and noticed John and Yoko getting in with us. I could hear the sirens wailing. I could feel my heart racing, but I was beginning to feel cold. I managed to move my eyes to where Niki was lying.

"Nik?" I managed to say.

"Don't talk," Yoko instructed, "try to relax."

"My phone... I need my phone..."

"What d'you mean? What phone?" John asked.

That was the last thing I remember.

Our bodies arrived at a hospital in the ambulance, accompanied by John and Yoko Lennon. We were then rushed to emergency.

"They tried to save us," Yoko cried. John was visibly shaken.

"I know," he replied. "But at what cost? I hope to god they're going to make it..."

"I think they've already gone," Yoko stated sadly, as our bodies were moved quickly into an operating theatre.

The singer looked closely into Yoko's eyes, and he knew she was right.

***

Ten

"I'm sorry for your loss," a police officer said to John Lennon. "Were they relatives of yours?"

"No... never seen them before in my life. I think they were fans."

"Well, the fans were very brave," the officer stated. "From what I've heard, they saved your lives."

Lennon nodded, looking down at the floor.

"There's something I need your help with, if you don't mind," the policeman continued. "The couple were British citizens... Joseph Cooper and Niki Ling. Well, that's what it says on their passports. But here's the strange thing... look at their dates of birth..." He showed the documents to John and Yoko. "I hope this makes sense to you, Mr Lennon, because it scares the hell outta me!"

The passports correctly gave my birth year as 1990, and Niki's as 1995. John looked at the details with raised eyebrows.

"It's okay, officer... I know the girl," Yoko said confidently.

"You do?" said John, looking quizzically at his wife.

"Yes. You remember my uncle Yamamoto?"

John looked puzzled, trying to think of an uncle called Yamamoto.

"The one we visited last year in Osaka?"

"Oh, that uncle Yamamoto," replied John, having no idea what she was talking about.

"Well, the girl was his niece. You can give me the passports," Yoko said turning to the cop.

"Thank you, ma'am," said a very relieved police officer. "And if you don't mind, there's other personal items from the couple... the lady's jewellery, a wallet, and some kind of electronic device. We've no idea what it is, truth be told..."

"It's okay, you can leave them with us," replied Yoko.

"Yeah, don't worry... we'll make sure Uncle Yamamoto gets them," assured John.

The police officer shook the musician's hand.

"Thank you again, sir. I'm so sorry for your loss, and appreciate you taking care of this. I love the new album, by the way!" the policeman smiled as he left quickly and quietly.

*

The next morning, after reading the news headlines about the attempt on his life, and the unfortunate death of the two people who tried to stop the assassin, John looked thoughtfully at the things given to them by the police officer. He picked up the phone and studied it carefully.

"Hey, look at this Yoko!" He pointed to the back of the device. Despite the Apple logo being quite different from the rainbow-striped one used in 1980, the outline was the same.

"Oh, I've seen that somewhere..."

"Yeah, it's a bit like the logo on that computer thingy we have... the Apple II."

"You mean that word processor... the one Sean plays games on?"

"Right. What is this thing?"

They studied the phone together. The screen-lock was on, so all they saw was just a black surface. Then Yoko's fingers pressed the home button.

Lennon gasped as the phone came to life. "This is seeeriously cool!"

A message flashed on the screen: 'What can I help you with today?'

"Oh shit!" John exclaimed.

'I don't know how to respond to that,' a British, female voice said from the device.

John covered the phone and whispered to Yoko. "We've got to take this to Jack! I don't know anyone else who'll understand this thing."

*

Jack Douglas worked at the Hit Factory, on West 48th Street, and he was the man who produced Double Fantasy, John and Yoko's new music album. But Jack had no idea about the device, and was reluctant to even touch it after he'd seen it.

"Way out of my league, John. Take it to Steve Wozniak or Steve Jobs, that's my advice. It looks like some sort of Apple proto-type they've been working on. Probably top-secret. Don't let it get into the wrong hands - could cause you big trouble!"

From the recording studio, the couple walked into Greenwich Village and found a quiet coffee bar. They sat at the back of the shop, not wanting to be noticed, and just stared at each other - perplexed. It wasn't just the phone that was strange, it was the passports. The ex-Beatle carefully laid out the things on a table, making sure no-one was watching.

"So, what we have here is this 'device', whatever it is; a wallet containing dollars, pounds and business cards; and two passports of people who haven't been born yet!"

"Let me see that thing John." Yoko took the phone, pressed the home button and looked at the icons. By touching the screen, she learned that the whole device worked on touch. They were both gob-smacked. From that discovery, they began opening the applications, one by one. Finding my phone contact list, they soon realised the device was, amongst other things, a mobile phone. John tried calling a couple of numbers from the address book; but of course, that was impossible in 1980. Commercial cellular networks wouldn't be in operation for another six years, and without a mobile network or Wi-Fi, the phone's uses were drastically reduced - telephone calls included.

*

Smirnoff had been trying to contact Niki and Joe for several days. Nik's mobile was switched off, and Joe's gave the message 'Sorry, we are unable to contact this device at this time... please try again later.' He naturally assumed they must be time travelling to some other time-zone - another trip to Lemuria, perhaps? But after two weeks had past, he thought something must be wrong and drove to Finchley, entering by the gardens at the rear of their house. He looked around the outside of the building, but there was no sign of life. Of course, breaking into a locked property was one of Smirnoff's many 'skills', and he soon found his way into the lounge. He was genuinely concerned about their welfare now - deducing that they had gone time travelling and got into trouble. He wasn't wrong!

Finding Nik's laptop, he was able to check for recent activity - websites visited, emails sent and received. Being convinced that the couple must be in danger, he had no qualms about checking her personal files. It didn't take him long to find the research she'd been doing into 1980's New York: weather, fashions, places to stay, plus flight bookings for Joe and Nikita on December 7th, with reservations at the Edison Hotel for two nights. Next, he opened Joe's laptop and found lots of references to John Lennon.

"So that's it!" he said under his breath. "They're going to meet John Lennon!" But he couldn't understand why they'd chosen December 1980. In Smirnoff's universe, Lennon was still very much alive... they didn't need time travel to go and see him.

*

Meanwhile in New York City, John and Yoko were carefully studying the deceased couple's passports. It wasn't just the details of their documents that was puzzling - it was the whole design. For one thing, these were burgundy coloured, not the familiar dark blue of the time. Also, they included the words 'European Union' at the top of the front cover. And they were full of colour printed pages.

"Look John," Yoko said, drawing his attention to Joe's passport. "According to this, Joseph Cooper was born on 19th September, 1990... ten years from now. How old do you think he was when he died?"

"I dunno... it was difficult to say last night. It was dark, and then with all the blood... Maybe around thirty?"

"So that would mean he's from the year 2020!"

"Now wait a minute! You're saying he's from the future?"

"Maybe they both were... look at their passports - and the device. This isn't technology from 1980."

"Yeah, but time travel Yoko... come on! It only exists in books... it's not real!"

"No, not now; but in the future..."

The ex-Beatle looked out through the coffee shop windows, shaking his head.

"D'you have a better explanation?" asked Yoko.

He had to admit he hadn't.

"Okay, well let's say that's true. How did they get here? I mean, I didn't see any time machine hanging around Central Park."

They were both quiet for a few minutes, then John picked up Joe's wallet again. This time, he studied it more carefully. Inside, he found two credit cards, British pounds and American dollars, and a few business cards, including one from the Edison Hotel.

"The Edison," he said looking at the card. "That's on West 47th Street, isn't it?"

*

Smirnoff booked a flight to New York City as soon as he could, and it wasn't long before he was on a plane to Kennedy international airport. During the flight, the Russian had time to do more research into John Lennon and the events of December 1980. A new cable network had premiered on US television; a Russian Soyuz spacecraft had returned to Earth; the Soviet Union had performed two underground nuclear tests in the USSR; and the UK performed a similar test in the Nevada desert. Had Joe and Nikita learned of a link between these tests and a future nuclear war? In which case, were they intending to warn Lennon - a man adamantly opposed to all war - what was going to happen? The Russian seemed to be just clutching at straws... until he found an article in the New York Times archives, dated December 9th, 1980. The article reported a thwarted attempt on Lennon's life by a deranged 'fan' called Mark David Chapman. It went on to say that two British nationals, Joseph Cooper and Niki Ling, were fatally injured whilst trying to dis-arm the gunman - heroically putting themselves between the Lennons and Chapman.

"So that's it..." he muttered under his breath.

*

From Kennedy International airport, Smirnoff took a taxi downtown. Now he knew what had happened to the couple, he needed to put things right as soon as possible.

"The Edison... West 47th Street," he said to the cab driver.

"Know it, sir. Get you there in no time at all."

"I think you need a time machine for that," the Russian joked.

"Ah, what I'd give for one of those!"

Arriving at the hotel, Smirnoff headed for reception to check Joe & Niki's room number. The receptionist tried calling their phone, but there was no answer - prompting Smirnoff to stress he needed to see them urgently. Hotel policy was read out to the big man by the woman, but he cut through all that by saying it was a matter of life and death - which it was. The clerk then led Smirnoff up to their room on the fourth floor, knocking on the door twice. There was no answer, so she used her key-card to enter. Inside, the room contained both their suitcases, with clothes hung up in the wardrobe, and their toiletries in the bathroom. It was very clear that the couple had intended to return to the hotel later.

The Russian thanked the girl for her trouble, asking if she could direct him to where the Lennons used to live - the Dakota Building. Taking the lift back to reception with the clerk, he stopped in mid-tracks halfway across the reception area on his way out of the hotel.

"What the...?"

Unbeknown to the contract killer, John and Yoko Lennon entered the same reception area of the same hotel, crossing the same space as Smirnoff - but exactly forty years earlier. For some reason, Smirnoff felt a sort of wobble in the space-time continuum as he crossed the foyer.

*

At the reception desk, Yoko told a young clerk about the attack on their lives the previous night, and how Niki and Joe had died protecting the Beatle and his wife. She continued the story about Niki being a family relative, and asked the clerk if they could check the unfortunate couple's room for the rest of their belongings. Seeing as he was talking with John and Yoko Lennon, the star-struck clerk had no problem obliging, and checked the card Yoko gave him, which included a written record of their floor and room number.

"Excuse me, sir... the card doesn't look like one of ours," the clerk pointed out.

"This is the Edison, isn't it?" Lennon asked.

"Well, yes... of course..."

"And what does it say on the card?"

"The Edison Hotel. Sorry, sir, it could be a new design. Did you say Niki Ling and Joseph Cooper? The clerk asked."

"Yes, that's right," Yoko answered.

"That's strange... we have no record of them staying at this hotel..."

"Well, check again kiddo... the card doesn't lie! This is the Edison Hotel, New York City, isn't it?"

"Yes sir, sorry sir... I'll take you up to the room now," he said picking up a key from behind the desk. "Right this way."

The clerk led them up to the fourth floor, and along to the room we would occupy in about forty years' time. He knocked quickly on the door, then turned the key in the lock and entered.

"Arghhh!" a young woman screamed. She was standing half-undressed next to a bed, which contained a considerably older man.

"Oh, sorry ma'am! I'm looking for Ms Ling and Mr Cooper..."

"Wrong room sonny!" Boomed the man. "Now, get outta here before I call the manager!"

***

Eleven

Following directions to the Dakota building, where the Lennons resided in 1980, Smirnoff walked briskly through Central Park, and was soon standing opposite the brownstone edifice. It was now 6:30 pm.

The Russian planned the job in three parts: first, he would time leap to the evening of Lennon's attempted murder and wait for Chapman, Nikita and Joe to arrive. He had carefully studied the transcripts of events online, as well as a testimony from John Lennon, and knew what Chapman looked like. From what he had read, the maniac was an 'avid fan of Lennon and his music', but felt compelled to end his life because of comments made by the former Beatle regarding the popularity of the Beatles versus Christianity. But before he made any changes to the space-time continuum, Smirnoff needed to observe first-hand exactly what happened to his time travelling friends that evening.

Finding a quiet alleyway with a view of the Brownstone, the Russian pulls out his time travelling mobile, and sets the date and time to December 8th, 1980, 4:30 pm. He soon realises it's bloody freezing in New York City at that time of year (he was dressed in a T-shirt and jeans), and quickly jumps back to the present, picking up a thick coat in a nearby clothing store, and then returns to December 8th, 1980. He instantly recognises Chapman waiting for the Lennons close to the Dakota building, stamping his feet to keep warm, and clutching his copy of Double Fantasy. Smirnoff watches carefully as John and Yoko leave the Dakota building around 5:00 pm, signing copies of their new record for waiting fans - including Mark Chapman - before speeding off in a car.

Jumping forward to 10:40 pm that evening, the Russian sees Nikita and Joe outside the building for the first time. He wants to talk to them, but knows he must just observe events for now. After about eight minutes, John and Yoko appear, hand-in-hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots Chapman. The time is now 10:49 pm. Then things suddenly go crazy. As the Lennons are about to enter the Dakota building, Joe and Nikita rush at Chapman. There are two gunshots, followed by two more. Chapman freezes when he realises what has happened.

"It wasn't meant to be like this!" the killer moans as Nikita and Joe lie motionless, blood oozing from their bodies. John, Yoko and others rush to their aid as a policeman immobilizes Chapman.

Smirnoff nods to himself, and leaves the scene.

*

The Lennons strolled through Central Park, reflecting on what had been a strange couple of days. Two people, with British passports, had put their lives on the line to protect them from a crazy fanatic called Mark Chapman, and got killed for their troubles. Their belongings, handed to them by a police officer at the hospital, were a complete mystery: passports which looked like they were from the future, and an electronic device which was totally beyond the means of present-day technology.

"John, there's something strange about this..."

"You're dead right there! Why would that guy want to kill us - he was a fan! I signed his album yesterday afternoon."

"You have some crazy fans, John... you know that!"

"Those people \- the ones who died - they seemed to know about Chapman. I think they knew he was going to kill us..." Yoko stopped walking and faced the musician. "What if people in the future really had discovered how to travel through time?" Yoko surmised, stopping John in his tracks. "It would explain the dates on their passports."

"Well, if that was true, why don't we see more time-tourists, or whatever they're going to call themselves?"

"Maybe they can only use this power for good causes... or maybe they're the only ones who can do this. Or maybe other people can do time travel, but we're not aware of it?"

"I should write a song called Maybe!" Lennon jested. They continued walking, as he played the idea of time travel over in his mind. He stopped again and faced Yoko. "Okay, just say that's true... how do they do it? If we know that, maybe we could time travel too? I'd love to go back in time and play with Buddy Holly!"

Then Yoko suddenly got the answer: "It's the device!"

"What d'yer mean?"

"The phone device... the one with all the coloured pictures. That's how they time travel!"

"Okay, then how do we use it?"

They sat down at a park bench, studying the phone again. Suddenly the Date Me app caught Yoko's eye, and she opened it.

"Look at this John... you can change the date on the phone just by using this button." She showed John the app. "Let's try it!"

"Now wait a minute, Yoko... you don't know what you're playing with! It could..."

But before he could complete his sentence, she'd disappeared.

*

Returning to his hiding place, and jumping back to 4:30 pm on December 8th, 1980, the Russian hitman prepared to set the date on the Date Me app to exactly one hundred years earlier. Stealthily emerging from the shadows and crossing the road, he approached Chapman from behind.

"We're going on a trip," Smirnoff breathes into the man's ear, whilst pushing a hand gun into his back. With his other hand wrapped around Chapman's neck, he presses Go! on his phone app and the two men disappear. They reappear next to a building site in 1880, where the foundations for the Dakota building are just being laid. Smirnoff raises his gun to Chapman's head and shoots the man four times from point blank range using a silencer. He then pushes the body into the foundations of the buildings, just as concrete is being poured.

"Hey you!" a man shouted. "What're yer doin'?"

The Russian quickly jumps forward to December 8th, 1980. Believing Nikita and Joe will appear at the Dakota building later that evening, he finds a cosy bar close to the Brownstone. After eating his fill of American food, and sharing his time travel stories with an amused waitress whilst downing several glasses of bourbon, it was soon time to meet up with Joe and Nikita to tell them the good news: Mark Chapman is history.

Smirnoff looks on, as if watching the re-run of an old movie, as the Lennons arrive hand-in-hand at the building. It gets to 10:48 pm - but there's no sign of Nikita or Joe; and no Mark Chapman. Okay, so Chapman is not going to appear because he was abducted and killed by a hitman called Smirnoff earlier that day. But where were Joe and Nikita? The Russian keeps his eyes peeled as John and Yoko stop at the entrance to the apartment block to sign copies of their new album, and then enter the building. Still no sign of his British friends. He waits another thirty minutes; then, with a puzzled look and a shake of the head, walks back to his hotel.

What did this all mean?

*

The next morning, Smirnoff woke early thinking about Joe's time travelling phone. Where was it now? In the first timeline, where both Joe and Nikita were shot dead, their belongings - including the phone - must have been given to someone. Who had them now?

He decided to return to the Brownstone apartment building in the hope that he could find Joe or Nikita. As he was looking around the area, he spotted Lennon walking purposefully from the direction of Central Park towards his home.

"Mr Lennon..."

"As George Harrison once said, 'Don't bother me' ... sorry, no time now," he almost ran up the steps at the entrance to the Dakota building.

"Do you have the phone?" Smirnoff called after him. John stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"What?"

"I think you know what I mean... the mobile phone that belonged to Joe Cooper."

Lennon jumped down the steps to face the Russian.

"You know the Brits? The guys who saved our lives?"

Smirnoff nodded. "But I can't find them now."

Lennon leaned against the building. "I thought you knew. They were killed... by a crazy guy called Chapman. They were trying to stop him firing at Yoko and me, and got shot. We couldn't save them... I'm sorry."

"I know you might think I'm crazy, but I'm sure they're still alive."

"Who are you?" Lennon asked quizzically.

"My named is Smirnoff, and I'm from the future."

"The future! If you'd told me that a couple of days ago, I would have said you were completely bonkers. But after being given that 'device', or whatever you call it, then seeing Yoko do a wobbly... I don't know what to believe!"

Lennon then told Smirnoff they were given the phone, and other belongings, by a police officer at the hospital. Then whilst Yoko was fiddling with the phone, she suddenly disappeared. Now he'd no idea where to find her. Smirnoff asked the ex-Beatle where she was when she used the phone.

"Central Park... we were just sitting on a bench, and she wanted to see if she could time travel using the thingy. Crazy right? But that's just how she is..."

"Then that's where we'll find her. The phone helps you travel through time only, not space."

The hitman and the musician walked briskly towards Central Park, looking out for Yoko Ono. If she had time travelled, the best thing they could do now was wait around the park for her. Or guess what time period she had travelled to.

"So, what's the future like?" Lennon asked the hitman as they sat on a park bench, next to the spot where Yoko disappeared. Smirnoff shrugged and pulled a face.

"It's mixed... some good, some bad. The Environment is 'going to the dogs', as you English say... full of pollution. But more people aware of the problems now. Lots of vegetarians, and lots of angry people. Oh, you have a new President... Donald Trump."

"Trump! You've gotta be kidding me! He's just a business man - not such a good one at that. He bought the old Commodore Hotel in Manhattan, refurbished it, and opened it as the Grand Hyatt. Actually, he did a pretty good job. But President? He'll be running the country like a fucking company! How's Macca - is he still around?"

"Sure - McCartney and Ringo still playing music... Paul's still touring..."

"Christ! He must be over seventy in your time period! How about George?"

"He died in 2001."

"Oh, sorry to hear that. What happened?"

"I remember he was attacked by a crazy guy with a knife - at his home. Forty stab-wounds. He survived, but died a couple of years later."

Lennon paused as he thought about the future, and his own mortality. "We should get back together... soon."

"A lot of people would like that."

Whilst they were talking, Yoko suddenly reappeared near to where they were seated. She was smiling.

"That was amazing John!"

She sat down between the men, excitedly telling them about her trip back to the year 1953 to visit her family, who had moved to New York City from Tokyo that year. It was the first time she'd lived abroad, and a very exciting time for her.

"We should try time travel together, John, it's fantastic!"

"Yeah, we were just talking about that."

"You can come with me... to 2020," Smirnoff grinned. "No charge!"

The Lennons looked at each other. Yoko nodded.

"Okay, why not?"

But where were Joe and Nikita?

***

Twelve

After returning to present day London, Smirnoff was sitting in our lounge with Niki and me, drinking Scotch and listening to 'Get Back Together', the Beatles' first reunion album, recorded during late 1982. The Russian had arrived at our house, unannounced as usual, with a big smile on his face.

"It's a good record Joe... I like the Beatles. But I don't think I've heard this CD before. How about you?"

It was a straightforward question, but one for the life of me, I couldn't answer. The record was in my collection, so I must have heard it before - but I'd no idea when. Our Russian friend then turned to Nik.

"So, Nikita, what's the last thing you remember?"

Niki looked squarely at Smirnoff, furrowed her brow, then shrugged her shoulders. "I really don't know..."

"Do you remember going to New York?"

"New York?" She thought for a moment. "Yes, yes! Now I remember! We went there hoping to see John Lennon!"

Nik's recollections triggered my own. "That's right! We stayed in a hotel, and went to Lennon's apartment block... what was it called? It was an old, large brown building..."

"The Dakota apartments, perhaps?" the Russian smiled.

"Right!"

Nik and I looked at each other, our memories gradually returning.

"It was Joe's birthday, and you know how he's a big fan of John Lennon..." Nik recalled. "I suggested we go to New York, and maybe catch a glimpse of him..."

Just then the doorbell rang.

"Hold that thought," Smirnoff smiled, quickly getting up to go to the front door. We could hear familiar voices; and then we were totally gob-smacked as Smirnoff led John and Yoko Lennon into our living room. But we weren't as amazed as the Lennons: the last time they saw us our bloodied bodies had been peppered with bullets, and we had been pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital!

*

After providing a rudimentary time travel tutorial to our guests, we sat back and just looked at them. It was out of this world to think that my idol was sitting right in front of us in our own house in London. And not only that, Lennon had got back with the other Beatles and produced new records. Unbelievable!

I felt like I was on the receiving end of time travel. I had no recollection whatsoever of any attempts to murder of the music man, yet I could not recall anything about his life since December 1980. Whilst I desperately wanted to retrieve these missing memories, John and Yoko wanted to know how it was possible for Nik and me to die in their own time zone, but now be very much alive in the twenty-first century. (They did ask for some sort of proof that the current year was 2020; showing them the current news around the World on our state-of-the art TV interactive media Centre, as well as pictures of modern-day cities around the globe, convinced them. Actually, the internet itself was sufficient to blow their minds).

Our World now had two John Lennons, and two Yoko Onos. One pair was aging, and the other forty years their juniors... with all four staying in London at that moment. If the younger pair were thinking of stopping in the twenty-first century for any length of time, they needed a cover story - and different names. After some discussion with Smirnoff and the Lennons, we came up with the idea of professional lookalikes - people who dress-up and imitate famous people - with real names Cliff Packman and Nico Seiko. (The young Lennons came up with those). We said they could stay with us for as long as they wanted. They thanked us for the offer, but explained it couldn't be long because they had things to do in New York, following the release of their new Double Fantasy album. I did say that with time travel they could actually stay for as long as they wanted in our time zone, and still miss no time at all back home in 1980. But this was just too much like science fiction for them to assimilate, so we didn't push it. They were still having trouble seeing us in the flesh again - living breathing people they had seen shot to death by Mark Chapman in New York City - so we thought we wouldn't bamboozle them with any more time travel 'magic' just then.

Although the Lennons couldn't stay long in London, they just had to take a look around the 2020 version of the City, and catch up with their old friends. That, of course, was going to be slightly strange, given that our versions of John and Yoko had not aged in forty years. But despite that, they couldn't return to New York without meeting their alter-egos and UK friends. Double Fantasy could soon become a reality!

John and Yoko \- the original boxed-set - were actually living in London once again. They had retained an apartment in New York, but spent a lot more time in England after the Beatles reunion in early 1982. The idea of Cliff and Nico connecting with John and Yoko wasn't going to be easy, and we didn't really know why they wanted to meet themselves - other that curiosity. Of course, they couldn't just turn up at the Lennons London mansion and say, 'Hi, it's us... I mean you! We've time travelled from 1980!' So being professional lookalikes was a very good cover story. It would explain both the similarity to John and Yoko, and also the age difference. But there were still lots of Lennon and Ono lookalikes around the UK: why would the older couple be interested in one more version?

It was Niki who then made the suggestion of a John and Yoko lookalike contest, where the Lennon originals would be invited as judges. The idea of the contest wasn't just to stand around as doppelgängers; the artistes would have to perform as well - and Cliff and Nico were bound to win that! Through her literary and artistic connections, Nik found a company very interested in sponsoring the contest. There would be various prizes for the best lookalike couple, including the opportunity to perform live on stage at a well-known London venue with the remaining Beatles, plus dinner with the band.

The more Cliff and Nico thought about it, the more they loved the idea. Ringo would be flown in from Los Angeles, and George Harrison's son Dhani would be invited to play lead guitar - completing a Beatles foursome. Audio and video recordings of both the contest and the Beatles performance would be made by the production company, from which they obviously hoped to make a handsome return on their investment. But Cliff wasn't happy about one aspect.

"It's great to bring in Dhani - I think he was only two or three when we met him; but why not bring George back? You did it for me, you can fix it for George - right?"

Nik and I looked at each other: it was a good point - we really should try to bring back the band's guitar virtuoso (and author of Something, Here Comes the Sun and While My Guitar Gently Weeps). But there was a problem: George had officially died in 1999 of a medical condition, not murder or an accident. We really couldn't see how time travel would help in that case. But Nik did point out that his medical problems all began with the knife attack at his home by paranoid schizophrenic Michael Abram on December 30th, 1999. If the injuries George sustained where directly attributable to his death, and if we could prevent the attack, then maybe we could bring George back to life?

"I'll take out that bastard son-of-a-bitch!" stated Smirnoff.

"You mean take him for dinner and drinks?" Cliff smirked.

"Oh, we should have told you... our friend Smirnoff doesn't only save the lives of iconic musicians... he kills people professionally," I clarified.

"Mmm... good man to have around! We could have done with you when the Beatles were on tour!" Cliff smiled. "Seriously... we were nearly crushed to death by fans loads of times; and you should have heard all them death threats after the 'Beatles are bigger than Christ' rubbish!"

"Well, no job is too big for me, John... I mean Cliff. Here's my card." Smirnoff handed Cliff a copy of his business card.

"A hitman with a business card!" Cliff exclaimed, accepting the card. "It says 'Home extensions a speciality'!"

"It's a living," Smirnoff shrugged.

"So, what do we all think? Bring old Georgie boy back for the gig?" I asked everyone. They all agreed we should at least try.

***

Thirteen

The attack on George and Olivia Harrison occurred on 30 December, 1999, after a 34-year old man called Michael Abram broke into their home. For some unknown reason, Abram stabbed George forty times with a kitchen knife, puncturing a lung and causing head injuries. The assailant was eventually incapacitated after Olivia hit him repeatedly with a hefty lamp and a poker from the fireplace.

Niki and I believed the resurrection of George Harrison would be much easier to achieve than preventing the murder of John Lennon. For one thing, the attacker was armed with only a knife, not a gun, so the mission was far less dangerous. This would only succeed, however, if George's subsequent death was a direct result of the many stab wounds inflicted on the ex-Beatle by the maniac attacker at the Harrison's home, and not by any medical condition he had. By time travelling, we were playing the part of New Age Scientists only: we could not play God.

Our plan had been simple: John Lennon would time leap back to December 1999 with Smirnoff, where he would talk to George and somehow get the Russian a job at the Harrison residence. The big man would make sure he was there on the day of the attack and deal with Abram (permanently) before he could attack George.

But simple didn't necessarily mean easy.

*

"Thanks for thinking of me, John; but there's no way that's going to happen."

"George, don't be a moron. We live in dangerous times. I had one in New York, remember? That big guy Bobby Manuel. He watched my back in the city."

"Yeah, but this isn't New York, John... it's Henley-on-Thames! I can understand people going for you... all the things you said in America: first the Jesus thing, and then all that anti-war stuff. But who's going to be interested in the quiet one, the Indian mystic musician who played with the Wilburys? You know what I'm saying?" John nodded sagely. "And if someone does stab me in the back," George continued, "it's because my time is up and I can finally go home, and leave all this bullshit behind; no-one can change their own karma."

"Okay, okay... I know where you're going with this George, but will you at least have someone in the house... just for a week or so?"

"You know something, don't you John?"

"Well, maybe..."

Harrison looked at his friend closely for the first time that morning.

"God, you look so young! What've you being doing? I need some of that!"

"Oh, you know... lots of sleep, good food... no alcohol..."

"You look ten years younger..."

"Only ten!"

"John... what's really happening?"

"Okay, the truth is I've been time travelling with a guy from the year 2020. He's got a phone which gets you anywhere you want - past or future. I'm actually from December 1980."

Harrison shook his head.

"You crazy man... come here." They hugged warmly, then George pulled back. "Okay, I tell you what: I'll take your bodyguard for a week, but not a day longer. I think you know something's going to happen - I don't know how - but I'll take your advice. What's the guy's name?"

"Smirnoff."

***

Fourteen

I'm not very special. Okay, I kill people for money - but that's not so uncommon these days. Some big companies, they do many things for money - things you would not believe, things that kill people. Thousands of people - sometimes millions. The same with governments.

My work is different. Just individuals, people other people want out of the way, for one reason or another. I'm good at my job. I worked in the Russian army for many years. It was hard work, in terrible conditions, but you get used to it. Actually, it makes you stronger. That's why people recommend the army for young people... it turns them into men.

I was very lucky to meet Joe and Nikita. At first, like everyone else, I did not believe what they told me - even when I saw it with my own eyes. Time travel? No, it is the idea of science fiction writers, or madmen. Even when they introduced me to Comrade Vladimir Lenin, I thought it was a trick - an actor employed to get me to work for them. So, I played along at first, still not really believing it. But now I know it's fact - unbelievable fact.

I love my work... I like doing good; I do not see that ending another's life is so wrong. We come into this life by chance - so why not leave it the same way? My mama believes life is preordained: she believes in God. I cannot tell my mama what I do - it would destroy her. Of course, I am so grateful to Nikita and Joe for bringing mama back to me. It was a miracle, the way I saw it at the time. So, I send the living to the land of the dead, and they return the dead to the land of the living. It's a sort of balance.

The Beatles. It was unbelievable what we did in New York. I think these people were very special - like messengers from another planet, bringing peace and love to humanity. Like Yeshua. We need more people like that.

Before time travelling with John Lennon to meet Harrison, I went home to get the equipment I needed for the project. I said to Joe: "No need to pay me anything for this job... what you have given me is more than enough - enough for a lifetime." To time travel is everything - I can get as much money as I need, whenever I need it.

Cliff, as we call him now, knew exactly where to find George... he knew his Friar Park home, of course. He asked me to wait in the grounds outside whilst he and Nico went to talk to their Beatle friend. I looked around for what seemed like twenty minutes. A nice house. I'd like to live in a place like that one day... maybe when I retire. Then Nico called me inside.

"Smirnoff, this is George." Cliff introduced me to the man who was a founder member of the Beatles. A musical genius, and a humble man who believes in Karma, Well, I was about to change his. "And this is Olivia, George's wife."

"I know who she is," I said, kissing her hand. I don't know why I did that... it's a Russian thing, and maybe in old England. She was certainly a beautiful woman - the type I'm attracted to.

"We can put Smirnoff in the spare room at the back, Georgie," Olivia said.

"No problem," the ex-Beatle nodded. "John says you're going to be my shadow for one week..." he smiled, turning to me.

"Everywhere you go, I go," I replied.

"How about the toilet?"

"I'll be waiting outside."

"The bedroom?"

"I'll be waiting outside."

"How do you sleep?" George asked.

"Hey, that's my song!" interjected Lennon. They both laughed.

Cliff and Nico said goodbye and left me with the Harrisons. I didn't need a week, of course; one hour was all it would take.

*

On 30 December, 1999, at 4:30 in the morning, Michael Abram broke into Friar Park, looking for George Harrison. For some unfathomable reason, he wanted to kill the ex-Beatle. In one version of reality, he attacked Harrison and inflicted multiple knife wounds on the man's body. But Smirnoff was about to change that.

*

Knowing exactly when and where the attack would happen was very helpful. Making his death look like an accident was a little bit more difficult, of course. But I had done this many, many times before - it's standard procedure for people in my business. Maybe you remember the job Joe asked me to do in Oxford one time, when a future US President had an unfortunate 'accident' in his student accommodation? More accidents happen in the home than anywhere else \- six thousand every year in the UK, in fact. So, you should always be prepared for them.

Looking around the estate before meeting Mr George, I had noticed there was a large pond in the grounds, decorated with some rocks and trees. You should always be careful with these sorts of ponds; they can be very deep, and people have drowned in them. You could easily slip and hit your head on one of the rocks, fall into the water and drown. A very unfortunate way to go. I had seen pictures, photographs of this Abram character. Not a nice individual. And the sort who was prone to accidents. That's how karma works in my business.

I knew what time Abram would arrive at the estate, and I was waiting for him. He climbed over the wall, and didn't see me hiding nearby. I was holding one of the rocks from the ornamental pool, with gloves on of course. Never try to make a man fall over and smash his head. Take a rock and break his head with that, then return the rock to the pond and place his body over it, with his head underwater. Hold his head down for several minutes so water can fill his lungs. I know exactly how much force is needed to kill a man - I have done it many times. Then I climbed over the wall, the way he had entered, and time-jumped back to 2020. Before Mr George was awake, my job was done and I was having breakfast at home.

*

Early the next day, George Harrison phoned John Lennon... the one belonging to that time period.

"John... I don't know what happened last night exactly, but your man's gone, and our gardener's just found a body in my pond!"

"A body... in the pond? And what d'you mean 'my man'?

"It's unbelievable... like a detective story! But I can't find Smirnoff."

"What are you talking about Georgie? Who's Smirnoff?"

"That Russian guy you brought around yesterday."

"Oh, I get it... you've been up all night behind that huge bar of yours. But I didn't think you drank vodka?"

"I don't! I'm not talking about vodka John - I'm talking about the Russian bodyguard!"

"Look, you're not making any sense... go back to bed George... I'll talk to you later."

*

Naturally, the next phone call George made was to the Police. They sent three constables and a police inspector round to Friar Park. It's not every day you get invited round to the home of a former Beatle.

After confirming that the victim was dead, calling in forensics and identifying the body, the inspector found himself sitting in the Harrison's lounge, nursing a cup of tea.

"Well, on initial inspection, it appears that the intruder climbed over the south wall, and was making his way over to the house via the ornamental pond, when he slipped and hit his head on one of the rocks. Cause of death was either a fatal blow to the head, or drowning. That's what it looks like."

"So, you don't expect foul play then?" asked Olivia.

"Not at this stage," replied the inspector, whilst George quickly scribbled down the words 'Fowl Play," thinking it would be a great title for a new album he was working on (one with a vegetarian theme). "But we'll wait and see what forensics come up with," the inspector continued. "By the way, can I ask if anyone else was staying in the house last night - apart from yourselves?"

"We hired a bodyguard yesterday... a Russian man," Olivia explained. "John thought it was a good idea to be protected, with all the recent burglaries in the area.

"John?"

"John Lennon."

"Oh, sorry, should have known!" the Inspector smiled. "I'd like to have a word with your 'bodyguard', if I may. He might just have heard something last night... if that's alright with you?"

"Sure... if you can find him! He disappeared this morning. The last time we saw him was about... what time was it luv?"

"Around eleven - when we went to bed."

"I see," the inspector replied, making notes. "And you've not heard from him since?"

"Not a word."

"Right then, I'll leave you two lovely people to get on. Here's my card..." the inspector handed George his police name card. "Please do contact me if you remember anything else, or hear from the Russian 'gentleman'."

"Will do."

The Harrison's walked with the inspector to his car.

"Any chance of another Beatles reunion one day?" the inspector asked affably, as he opened the car door.

"Never say never," George smiled.

The policeman started the engine and was just about to drive off, when he remembered something else.

"Oh, by the way... the man's name was Michael Abram... ring any bells?"

"Never heard of him," the ex-Beatle replied, shaking his head.

"Well, thanks again... I'll be in touch."

*

I'd become a little careless. I had accidently left fingerprints on the window-sills of the house when I was checking the security of the building. Usually, I always wear gloves on a job; but with the apparent safety of time travel, I got a little lazy. The forensic team picked up the prints, and checked them with their database. It wasn't a big problem because I could always go back in time and wipe off the prints. But I should be more careful.

*

Niki had been busy setting up the ten regional auditions for the John and Yoko lookalike competitions with her media contacts. The winners of each of these auditions would take part in the Grand Final at the O2 arena in London. She was working from home (as she usually did these days), and there was a knock on our front door.

"I'll get it," I said. I found Smirnoff and John Lennon (aka Cliff Packman) smiling on the door step.

"Well... did it work?" Smirnoff asked me.

"Did what work?" I asked.

"Is George Harrison still a living breathing human being, that's what Smirnoff means," explained Cliff.

"Why wouldn't he be?" I asked, very confused by this conversation. "You said you were going to see him... why would you do that if he wasn't alive."

Cliff and Smirnoff just looked at each other. "Now I see how it works!" observed Cliff with a grin.

"Sorry, I've no idea what you're talking about mate..."

"Joe - something must have happened to George in the future, and John and Smirnoff have been to change whatever it was," explained Nico, who had been catching up with the World on our Media Centre in the lounge.

"Smart girl," Cliff winked.

This made me realise - for at least the second time - how easy it is for someone else to change history via time travel, and those of us remaining in the present are totally oblivious to it. It wasn't a comfortable feeling.

"Coffee anyone?" Niki asked, popping her head out of the kitchen, and then seeing Cliff and Smirnoff. "Oh, where have you two been?"

"Don't even go there Nik! I'll tell you later," I said.

If Cliff needed any more proof that time travel was a reality, now he had it.

*

Two weeks later, at the North London area audition, Cliff and Nico competed with thirty other lookalike contestants for a place at the O2. It was strange auditioning for a music job after all those years, and took Cliff back to the early days of the Beatles when they would audition to get gigs in small concert halls. Their audition seemed to be successful.

"Well, you two were really, really good! Fab in fact, ha-ha! You've not quite got the appearance one hundred percent, obviously..."

Cliff and Nico looked closely at each other, "Obviously," they echoed in unison, then smiled back at Fiona, the host of the London audition.

"...the first two acts we saw just edged it in that area," Fiona continued. Cliff and Nico laughed.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"You mean the other acts looked more like John and Yoko than us?" Cliff asked.

"Well, yes... I think everybody would agree with that!" Fiona exclaimed.

"Would you agree with that Nico?" Cliff asked her.

"I think everybody would," she replied in feigned seriousness.

"Well, anyway, vocally, you were excellent - both of you. Apart from the tall guy we saw just before you two, your vocal impersonation of Lennon was really out there Cliff... very authentic."

"So why not go with him then?" Cliff asked.

"Oh, totally unsuitable in appearance. He looked more like Dylan than Lennon. Anyway, I'm very happy to say you'll be performing at the O2 Arena next month in the finals! Congratulations!

***

Fifteen

Detective Andrews, stripped of his position in the Fraud Squad following his conviction, was now a free man. His sentence had been reduced for good behaviour, and he had done his time in jail. Energised by the conversations he'd had with ex-cop Mike inside prison, he was determined to discover the truth about Joe Cooper's lottery winnings. It simply wasn't right that someone like Cooper could use illegal means to suddenly become obscenely rich, while he himself had been struggling to make ends meet all these years. There was no question in Andrews' mind that whatever Cooper was doing wasn't kosher; winning that much money that often wasn't statistically possible, he was certain of that. And then there was that Russian guy Mike told him about. Was there a connection to Cooper? Both were involved in some unexplained phenomenon, and Andrews was determined to find out exactly what that was all about. But first, he had to contact a couple of former buddies and call in a favour or two.

*

"So, you know this Russian guy?" Andrews asked. He was sitting in the corner of a quiet bar with his old mates one rainy afternoon.

The two men smirked. The shorter man, a Scot called Stewart, replied: "Yeah, we were tracking him at one time. Definitely something dodgy going on there, but we couldn't nail him. He's got a mother in Moscow, and runs a small building business out of North London."

"Profitable?"

"Hard to say. He puts the invoices in, but we think they're phoney. Employs a guy who could be his brother... same family name. I think it's just a front for his real business, but we can't prove it."

"What's his real business then?"

"We think he's a hitman - contract killer. But we've got no hard evidence. A couple of times he's been spotted in areas where murders have taken place, but then he just disappears - goes totally off the radar. For instance, Thursday, December 30th, 1999. Michael Abram is found dead in George Harrison's pond at his Friar Park mansion in Henley-on-Thames. The Russian's prints are found all over the estate. But the police can't touch him, because on Tuesday, December 28th, he's on a flight to Moscow to see his mother, and doesn't return to London until January 5th!

"At one time, he was used by that Free Choice Society nutter as a bodyguard. That was all legit, as far as we know. But why would you employ a Russian guy with a building business as a bodyguard?"

"And how about Cooper?" Andrews asked the other man, a hardball from Northern Ireland called Liam.

"That guy's quite something! Flies all over the World, makes a packet on the National Lottery, as well as big winnings on the tables. Goes to Egypt - then disappears off the map. Next, he's off to Israel... same again. It's like he's just been picked up by aliens. On one of his Cairo trips, he takes his Chinese missus and some Welsh guy... a friend from University, we think. They book into a hotel near the pyramids, and stay just one night; then no sign of them - vanished. Weeks later, we find the three musketeers on a flight back to London from Hawaii!"

Andrews scratched his head, and leaned back in his chair thoughtfully. It didn't make sense. People don't just disappear like that... not in this day and age, with all the surveillance they have at their disposal. There must be something else.

"Anything more recent?" Andrews asked.

Stew looked at Liam, who smiled.

"Cooper and Ling travelled to New York on December seventh this year. They booked into hotel - then guess what?"

"They disappeared again."

"Right. Next thing we know, they're back in London... but no evidence of any flight bookings. Now this is going to blow you mind!" he smiled. "Liam's a big John Lennon fan - always has been - loves the Beatles, and always researching news about them, right Liam?" His colleague nodded.

"So?"

"Just look at this..." Stew opened his iPad and showed some photographs of John and Yoko Lennon standing on the steps of the Dakota Building.

Andrews studied the photo carefully. "What am I looking for?"

"Look at the people in the background, next to the fans holding copies of Lennon's new record - Double Fantasy."

A look of recognition filled Andrews face, which widened into a broad smile. "Well, well... our disappearing duo. Double Fantasy - wasn't that released in the eighties?"

"Right... at the back-end of 1980."

"Cooper and Ling... in December 1980... Ling wasn't born then, and Cooper barely. Well, well, well... Can we do facial recognition on them?"

Liam smiled. "Already done. Ninety-nine percent exact match."

"Got you, you stealers! Well, the stealer's wheel is about to turn... and I'm going to turn it!"

***

Sixteen

The Finals of the John & Yoko lookalike competition were not far off. Cliff and Nico would join the winners of the other regional competitions around the UK (twelve acts in total) at the London O2 arena that coming Saturday evening. Cliff admitted he felt a bit apprehensive about the prospect. Not that he was nervous about performing... he was just concerned that they wouldn't win!

They had therefore taken their rehearsals for the competition very seriously. The final would comprise three parts: performance of a Lennon composition; dancing to a Lennon or Yoko Ono song; and an interview, conducted by 'the real' John and Yoko, where they would be questioned on their knowledge of the famous couple. The winner would be the one with the highest overall score.

"What if we lose?" Cliff asked me as they stood in our lounge. He seemed very serious about the event.

"How can you possibly lose!" I exclaimed.

"Well, it was pretty close at the audition!"

"Just be yourselves," Nik advised.

"Niki's right," Nico agreed. "If we do lose, it'll be a sham. But we'll still get to meet ourselves... and that's what we really wanted, right John?"

Cliff nodded \- Nico was right. If they did lose, it would still achieve their objective... to some degree at least.

"Whatever gets you through the night, I quipped, quoting one of his own song titles.

"Hey, we should do that one!" Cliff exclaimed.

"Great - just don't do 'How Do You Sleep'... Paul will be there too, remember?" I pointed out.

"Don't worry, I'm not that stupid, Mr Time Traveller," Cliff replied and returned to practising with Nico.

*

Was I really talking with John Lennon, my hero? It was unbelievable that my idol \- the ex-Beatle and his Japanese wife - were actually staying in our house, and strumming his amazing songs in our lounge on my guitar! But the weird thing was, he knew nothing at all about the wonderful songs he'd written between nineteen eighty-one and the present day! Could that be a problem? Just in case it was, I downloaded all the songs he'd written over the past thirty-nine years, and gave him copies. It was amazing to watch their faces as they listened to the collection of songs their alter egos had penned, performed and recorded. They were both extremely critical of lots of aspects of the productions, and even their own voices - particularly when it came to the more contemporary stuff. They even suggested going into a studio to re-record the songs! I pointed out that he might infringe his elder-brothers' copyright! It was difficult to get our heads around this, and that was certainly a conversation Cliff and Nico needed to have with John and Yoko Lennon - should they win the competition on Saturday.

*

That Saturday evening came around very quickly. There were a lot of people at the O2 - it was packed to capacity... and not just with older fans. The music of both John Lennon and the Beatles was still huge and always attracted a big crowd. Cliff and Nico finished first in the music section (where they performed 'Happy Xmas, War is Over'), third in the dancing, and second in the interviews. Cliff couldn't believe that the panel of judges \- which included the older Lennons - would mark them down in the last section! Overall, though, they were relieved to win the competition - particularly as the other eleven acts were red hot! Some looked incredibly like the Lennons; others got their voices to a tee. And one pair were brilliant dancers.

In their interview, Cliff and Aiko faced questions from their elder doppelgängers.

"What Lennon time period are you presenting yourselves as?" John asked them.

"December Nineteen Eighty," Nico smiled. "Early December."

Her reply unnerved John. "Come on, don't be so vague... give us the exact date and time," he quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd.

"Okay, December eighth... Double Fantasy time," Cliff replied, "around ten-thirty pm." He looked straight into the eyes of his elder brother, who was unnerved by the younger man's directness and confidence.

Whilst the winning couple were performing another song ('Whatever Gets You Through the Night',) the elder Yoko turned to her husband and whispered, "John, there's something about that couple... it's really like being with us when we were younger! It's a little scary..."

"I know what you mean," John nodded. "D'you think that's exactly what we looked like forty years ago?"

Using her phone, Yoko accessed photos from her home computer, and showed John pictures of themselves from December 1980. She had a lot of photos from that time period because of the release of Double Fantasy.

"Oh my god!" she exclaimed.

"What is it?"

"Look at this one..." Yoko drew John's attention to a picture of herself with John inside the apartment. She was wearing a blue denim skirt and long, knee-high boots - exactly the same as Nico was wearing whilst they were performing their second song.

"So? There must be thousands of photos of us from that time... they've just copied what you were wearing... they all have."

"But look closer..." She zoomed into a section of the skirt, which showed a small rip in the side. Then they looked over to the couple performing; there was the same, small tear in Nico's skirt."

"Okay, so they've just gone to the nth degree to copy us... so what?"

"But I sewed up that skirt at Christmas - after I saw this photo!"

"What does it matter? Are you trying to say these people really are us from another dimension? D'you think they're time travellers from ninety-eighty or something? Just drop it!"

Cliff and Nico finished their song, bowed to the audience and turned to shake hands with John and Yoko and the other judges. Yoko looked at Nico very suspiciously.

"You did great," John said, "congratulations! Sam will be in touch with you regarding the dinner... see you then!"

*

The dinner at a well-known - and expensive - restaurant in the West End of London came around quickly. The organiser, who knew Niki well, had invited us both - knowing I was a big John Lennon fan. Nik had also recommended Smirnoff as head of security, and he was given a team of six to protect us all. Well, looking after the Beatles was almost like looking after Royalty. This was a dream come true for me, of course. For Cliff and Nico, it was not much more than curiosity. What would the other Beatles be like forty years on? What had they been doing, and where were they in their lives now?

We had been given a private room in the restaurant, and Sam - Niki's contact at the Event Management company and the main organiser of the event - was already in the room waiting for us. She thanked us for helping out, and particularly for finding the winning act. Whilst Sam was chatting to Cliff and Nico, Paul arrived - closely followed by John and Yoko. It was the first time Paul had met the young Lennons, and he was visibly taken aback.

"Wow! You're amazing! I guess you two could just stand there and win the contest on looks alone! Great to meet you both!" They shook hands warmly.

"They don't just look good, Paul, they can sing and play as well!" John said.

"Well, we've been looking for some young blood to join the band," McCartney smirked. "Oh, this is my wife, Nancy," he introduced Nancy Shevell, his wife since 2011. Cliff wanted to ask what had happened to Linda, who was still alive in 1980, but guessed it was better if he didn't. Niki and I were introduced to Paul and John by Sam.

Soon after, George Harrison and Ringo Starr joined the party. They both looked really good. George was still living near London, so not far for him to come, but Ringo had flown in from California for the gig. They were very friendly and affable, with a great sense of humour which instantly kicked in as soon as they were with Paul and John. Well, they were the Beatles, after all. But when George met Cliff, his expression changed.

As we sat down for dinner, I noticed that George was watching Cliff very closely. He didn't smile at all through the first course, and either looked down at his food, or glanced at Cliff and Nico. After about twenty minutes, he suddenly stood up and spoke out directly, forcibly, pointing at Cliff.

"I know who you are! I don't know what your game is, but I remember you from the time you came to the house - impersonating John. Who are you?"

Everyone stopped talking and looked at George, and then Cliff.

"And where's your Russian friend then?"

"I don't know what you're talking about George..." Cliff started to say.

"It's Mr Harrison, not George. You don't know me - you're a fake! I'm going to call security. He threw down his napkin, stormed to the door and flung it open. "Security! We need help!"

Within seconds, a security guard came to the door. It was Smirnoff.

"You!" George gasped. "What did you do to that man? You killed him, didn't you?"

"What's going on?" Paul restrained George and got him back to his chair. "I think we all need to sit down, cool off, and talk this through."

"Paul's right," agreed John.

Once everyone was calmer, I knew I had to explain everything.

"Okay, my name is Joe Cooper, and this is my wife Niki Ling. What I am about to tell you will seem like Science Fiction; but I assure you that every word is true..."

Nik and I told them the whole story - about receiving the phone as a birthday present, then discovering we could use it for time travel. I told them about John being assassinated by Mark Chapman, and how Niki and I, with Smirnoff's help, had managed to change history by going back to December 1980. Cliff and Nico backed me up, and gave their side of the story, with Nico relating her time leap in Central Park. But despite the story, and Cliff and Nico's testimonies, I knew that nothing would convince George without an actual demonstration. So, I asked him what time period in history he would like to visit, adding that we can only travel in time, not space; it must be some period in London history - or a future London.

"Okay... then I'd like to see what London was like two thousand years ago," George stated. "Show me that."

John suggested taking another person - as a sort of witness, and Paul offered to come with us.

I explained how we must be in physical contact with my phone for this to work. They nodded, and Paul linked arms with me, and George with Paul. I opened Date Me, set the date to exactly 2,000 years earlier, and pressed Go!

The next thing we knew, we were in the countryside, or so it seemed, and it was pouring with rain. We ran to a tree to shelter from the weather, and looked around.

"It's dark!" George exclaimed. "I can't see anything!"

"There's some lights over there," Paul pointed out.

We headed off in the direction of the lights, where we found some stone and wooden buildings... and inside there were people talking."

Paul listened carefully, trying to identify the language.

"Sounds a bit like Welsh," he said.

"It's Common Brittonic," I observed, "a language of the Ancient Britons, during the Roman Occupation. It's based on an old Celtic language."

"What, are you, then... some sort of History professor?" George asked.

"No, no... I just did some research for our trip back to the time of King Arthur. I think we'd better get back now... someone's seen us!"

We moved carefully and quietly around the buildings, just as a group of Roman soldiers spotted us. Paul couldn't resist creeping up on one of the soldiers and then grabbed his sword! We ran as fast as we could back to the same tree and linked arms again. I quickly set the date and time to exactly 2000 years in the future.

There was a great intake of breath as we suddenly arrived back in the restaurant... with a Roman sword!

"I don't know about you, but I could do with a drink after that," Paul exclaimed.

There was a lot of chatter... everyone wanted to know what happened to us. George's mood had changed, and he apologised to us for the earlier outburst. He still didn't understand what had just happened, though, but he wanted to.

"So, are you saying that the man who came to my house that day in nineteen-ninety-nine was a younger version of John?" George asked. "I remember telling him at the time he looked so young; if he's from nineteen-eighty, he must have been twenty years younger than this one..." George pointed over to John Lennon, the 2020 version.

"Right. Cliff is in fact John too. We had to give him another name, of course. When he said he wanted to meet you guys, we thought this was one way of doing it."

"A lookalike contest, which only John & Yoko could win," observed George.

"Well, actually it was pretty close!" Cliff admitted.

"Then, there must have been a reason for Cliff bringing your bodyguard over to the house... did something happen to me in 1999?"

I sighed and nodded.

"It was that guy Abram, wasn't it?"

We told George the story of Michael Abrams attacking and stabbing George in the house, and about his death not that long after - without going into all the details.

"But you must know about my beliefs... if I died it was just my time, my Karma."

"Then saving you was also your Karma then," Niki observed.

"I suppose so," the ex-Travelling-Wilburys frontman smiled.

*

After dinner, we had drinks in the restaurant bar, with the main topic 'time travel'. Paul really wanted to see his mother again, and I said it would be our pleasure to fix it for him. Then we talked about the Beatles concert at the O2, with Cliff joining the band for a mixture of Beatles' songs. Cliff had to admit he didn't know any of the Beatles material since 1980, but would pick it up, if needed. The band were only too happy to help.

Cliff and Nico had really taken to being in the year 2020, and had no desire to return to 1980. They would, though, love to travel to other time zones one day, and asked if we could arrange that for them. Again, we said we would be very glad to do that.

The Beatles concert at the O2 with the young Lennons and the rest of the band was truly amazing (we've got all the photos!). After the show, Cliff and Nico were deluged with offers to play live all over the World, either with the other Beatles or on their own. John Lennon senior, now eighty years old, was happy to step back from live gigs and let his younger self take over.

***

Seventeen

It was difficult to get back to normal after our 'Beatles Adventure'. But there again, life for us was never normal - not when you have time travel. Just as we were sitting in our lounge at home, contemplating our next time trip, a trip came to us.

"Hope you don't mind us dropping in," beamed Miranda. Our two friends from 50,000 years in the future said they just happened to be passing.

"You never just drop in anywhere!" Nik replied.

"Please don't tell us that bringing John Lennon back to life was a mistake!" I said. "I couldn't stand that..."

"Nothing to do with those Beatle people," Crystal replied. "But everything to do with a certain policeman."

"And he is very certain!" added Miranda. The ladies had been researching and practising British humour recently. But I didn't want to encourage them.

"Very funny," I said.

"Really?" Miranda replied, hopefully.

"No, not really. I was being ironic."

We watched as the two ladies 'computed' our responses - sort of learning about twenty-first century language as a research scientist would do.

"Do you mean the detective who found our phone in the Thames, and almost killed Joe?" Nik asked.

"Yes, precisely that one," Miranda smiled, "and it was a good plan to jump back in time, and not throw the phone in the river."

"So... what's the problem?" I asked.

"It would have been a better plan to have followed your Russian friend's suggestion and killed the detective."

The two ladies sat down and talked to Nik whilst I made some coffee. They were always more comfortable talking to her, given that men really were second-class citizens in their own world - workers with very low IQ, and virtually no Emotional Intelligence. Miranda and Crystal's society was certainly matriarchal - and they liked it that way.

"As you know, there are a phantasmagorical number of ways your society can change and 'evolve'...

"Phantasmagorical?" Nik queried.

"Oh, I'm sorry - would you prefer us to speak in Chinese?" Miranda replied. "We know that English is not your first language."

"No, no... English is fine."

"Good. Well, the important thing now is that this 'policeman' does not destroy the future."

"How can you destroy the future?" Nik asked, with a puzzled look.

"Oh, there are many ways!" smiled Crystal. "But Miranda is referring to the destruction of humans."

"Right, "Miranda continued. "If you do nothing now, there will be no humans left on the planet in the near future. There will be a nuclear war, and everyone will lose. The Earth will be unliveable. And seeing as our lives depend largely upon what your generation does to the planet, we will also not exist. Although zero humans would be a very good thing for the Universe in many ways... for example, there would be no chance of humankind going into space and killing other lifeforms and destroying their habitats... an unliveable Earth is not the best option for anyone.

"You mean, a worldwide nuclear war could start in our lifetime?"

"Not 'could', it will! There is no doubt about it. We have consulted the All-Seeing-Eye many times."

"Here's the drinks!" I returned from the kitchen with a tray of freshly-brewed coffee. "Oh, what's the matter?"

The ladies flashed their eyes, indicating their acceptance of the refreshments, and smiled at me as they would any 'worker' in their own time. Much like you'd expect Royalty to be nice to the poor working class. But we understood how it worked in their society, and I didn't take it personally.

Nik sighed. "It's not good news, Joe. But how could one policeman wipe out every human on the planet?" Nik asked the ladies.

"Just give him one of your time travelling devices, and you'll see!" smiled Crystal. "What this policeman wants is power and wealth, and he believes he can get these things by time travel. We have run many simulations of what the future could be like if the policeman has your device. In one of these, he uses it to help the leader of a particular country destroy his enemies and impose his ideology on the rest of the World. It's not so difficult to achieve. An army with machine guns could wipe out a non-aggressive, peaceful but primitive race of people overnight. It would be what you call 'Genocide', I think... right Miranda?"

"Yes, it happened in Lemuria. But now imagine what a crazy leader would do if he had atomic weapons, and is prepared to use them aggressively. Then what?"

Nik and I were now feeling very concerned. We were sure that Andrews did not have a time travel phone just then... but what if he somehow managed to get hold of one? Nik and I had one each, Smirnoff had another, and the two ladies from the future possessed one, of course.

"So, in the simulation where the policeman gets hold of a phone, and uses it to help a crazy World leader... are you talking about the president of North Korea?" Nik asked.

"Oh, no-no-no!" replied Miranda. The president of North Korea is not that sort of person... he is just trying to protect his country - he has no desire to take over the planet. No, we are referring to a man who is far more dangerous; one who possesses great wealth, a hatred of certain races and particular types of people; and also, a strong desire for world domination. I believe you know him by the name: 'Adolf Hitler'."

*

It was staggering to think that my mobile phone could be used to destroy countries... and eventually the World. But clearly, in the wrong hands, using time travel to wipe humans off the map was conceivable. We only had to look at how Europeans had all but killed off the Aborigines in Australia, and the natives of north and south America. If they'd had today's weapons in those times, they could have quickly and easily destroyed every single native person in those countries.

Hitler wanted the Atomic Bomb; but fortunately for humankind, he was denied it. What if, though, the Nazi's had the ability to time travel in the 1930's and learned how to make the bomb before they lost the war? This was a terrifying thought.

The two ladies from our distant future faded into the ether, leaving us to ponder on our next step. It had been fantastic to bring John Lennon back to life; but what we had to do now was far more serious, and far more important: we were now talking about the future of mankind.

"Joe, I thought Andrews was in prison... wasn't he sent down for bribery and corruption?"

"Yes, that's what Smirnoff told us. But he only got six months... and that was nearly six months ago! We need to meet up with him as soon as possible and find out what he knows."

***

Eighteen

"Nikita, Joe! How are your new Beatle friends? I like their new record!" Our Russian friend was referring, of course, to the new Beatles album Back in Time, a really great record which featured two John Lennons and the newly resurrected George Harrison. Only Smirnoff and the younger Lennon would know this, of course, the pair having travelled back to 1999 and changed Harrison's history. For Niki and me - and the other Beatles - George had never been attacked in our reality, and therefore did not die later as a consequence of his injuries.

"We've got to kill Andrews," I stated, matter-of-factly.

"I knew it! I told Nikita - when we were at your house with Yeshua and the ladies from Lemuria... I said I had to deal with this... this animal!"

"Yeah, I remember... you said you wanted to jump back in time and cut detective Andrews into tiny little bits..." Nik remembered.

"You said that?" I asked, incredulously.

"Of course! After what he did to you, my friend, he deserved nothing less..."

It was difficult to talk about something which, within my recollections, never happened.

"We have to do this Joe, no question," Nik said firmly. "We're not just talking about revenge for what he did to you now; we're talking about stopping a crazy person wiping out every human on the planet!"

Nik was right, as usual. And if you've got a paid killer as a friend, why not use him?

"And this is for free, Nikita, Joe... no charge for taking out that scum-bag."

"Well, that's what friends are for," I observed, with a sideways grin.

*

But unbeknown to the three of us, whilst Smirnoff was heading off to find Andrews, the ex-cop's friends were already on the tail of our Russian friend.

***

Nineteen

"Niki, wake up!"

She awoke to see Gareth's face.

"The Gestapo have arrested Joe and Yeshua... we've got to get out of here, I need to keep you safe."

"Gestapo? What's that? What are you talking about Gareth?"

"You know, the police. We've really got to go now..."

"Does Smirnoff know?"

"Smirnoff?"

"The Russian... our friend."

"He was murdered by the Gestapo last month, don't you remember?"

She didn't remember... it was like she was still in a dream. Gradually, Nik recalled that Smirnoff was going to meet Andrews so he could kill him. That was her last memory. Before that, Crystal and Miranda had warned them about Andrews getting hold of our phone... we must not allow that to occur, they'd said.

She dressed quickly, ready to follow Gareth out of the house. But before they got to the door, Crystal and Miranda appeared in the lounge.

"Ah, the sleeper awakes!" Miranda observed.

"What's happened?"

"Exactly what we said could happen! Fortunately, the radiation effects have not impacted in this area yet, so you'll be safe for now."

"Radiation?" Nik asked, "from what?"

"Oh dear, I think you'd both better sit down."

"But we've got to go! They'll be here any minute!" Gareth was exasperated.

"No, they will arrive in exactly one hour, twenty minutes - so we've got time," Miranda replied. Then Crystal spoke.

"Smirnoff was killed by Andrews and his friends. They took his device, and the cop learned how to use it for time travel..."

"Then we can fix it... we can jump back and warn Smirnoff before it happens," Nik said.

"Joe's already tried that."

"What happened?"

"They caught him and took his phone." Nik was bewildered.

"You need to know what Andrews has done." Niki sat in total disbelief as Miranda and Crystal relayed their new version of our history.

Andrews had always been a bit of a Nazi - and a great admirer of Adolf Hitler. He despised the namby-pamby British state, with all its 'inclusiveness'. If he had his way, he'd make it Britain for real Brits, not the watered-down crap from the weak governments they'd had. Yes, he was extremely right-wing. Neo-Nazi? Certainly, and proud of it. Creating a pure, Arian race in Britain was the holy grail for Andrews, ever since reading 'Mein Kampf' at University. He knew everything there was to know about Herr Hitler, including that in December 1912, a twenty-three-year old Adolf travelled to England to see his half-brother Alois, who was staying in Toxteth, Liverpool. It was said that Adolf was trying to escape conscription into the Austrian Army, and stayed in the UK for five months. Andrews thought this would be a good time and place to meet Adolf, and used Smirnoff's phone to time travel to Liverpool in December 1912 to meet him. It wasn't so difficult to meet the future Fuhrer at that time because very few people would know about him then. So, with common core beliefs, Andrews was able to befriend Hitler and go drinking with him and Alois at their local bar. Later, Andrews suggested a trip to London, and they travelled there - just Andrews and Adolf. It was there that the ex-cop more-or-less said, 'All of this could be yours', as he showed Adolf around the capital. He demonstrated exactly how by time travelling the young Nazi to late 1930's London. Being only twenty-three, and without the trade-mark moustache, the young Adolf would not be recognisable to Londoners. Hitler could certainly see the clear potential for World domination with the use of time travel, and the two became inseparable. He promised Andrews would become the Nazi Leader of the UK, once Germany ruled Western Europe - which happened as soon as the Nazi's acquired nuclear weapons.

Gareth and Nik listened to the story with great concern. If Crystal and Miranda hadn't told them, they wouldn't have believed a word of it.

"So now, Europe, including your country, is totally controlled by Hitler," Miranda continued, "and Atomic bombs have been dropped on Washington, New York and San Francisco - so don't look to America for help! Andrews is the governor of the UK - and a very rich man now."

"Am I dreaming?" Nik said.

"To ask if you are dreaming proves that you are not dreaming," Crystal pointed out.

"How about China?" Gareth asked. "Can they help?"

"China has been invaded by Japan, who are now allies of Germany," Miranda replied.

"And the Japanese also have atomic bombs," added Crystal.

"So, what will happen next?" Gareth asked.

"If you do nothing, there will be a Nuclear war between the Nazi's and Russia, which other countries will be drawn into. The Russians have nuclear weapons, and will be forced to use them. No-one will win this war, and the Earth will be totally unliveable."

"So, you have a choice," said Miranda. "Come with us and live your life in our time zone; it's still very comfortable there, despite what's happened in your century, and we'll look after you."

"Thanks, but I can't leave Joe!" Niki exclaimed.

"Yes, we thought you'd say that!" Miranda smiled. "Do you still have your time device?"

"I... I don't know!"

"Sorry Niki, you don't... I mean it's not here," Gareth admitted. "Joe thought it wasn't safe to leave the phone in the house with the Nazi's around; but I don't know where he's put it..."

"Never mind... we've copied another one for you... do not lose it this time!"

"I won't," she promised.

"Good. It's too dangerous to terminate Andrews in your present time period - he will be expecting you. So this is the plan: you must time travel to a place called 'Liverpool' in December 1912. Time Leap here first, then travel to the City. If you try to travel first, you will be stopped by the Gestapo many times on the way, and probably get arrested - or shot. In 1912, there will be no problem. The half-brothers used to go to a local 'drinking establishment' in the evenings. It's called the Poste House. According to our historical records, Andrews will meet up with them on Christmas Eve - December 24th. Go there, and terminate both Hitler and Andrews.

"What about the half-brother?" Nik asked.

"Unimportant," replied Crystal. "He does not have any great influence on the future."

"Thanks so much, both of you," said Gareth. "But there's one problem..."

"Which is?"

"We don't have a gun... sorry."

Miranda sighed deeply. "Do we have to do everything for you?"

"I'll get it," Crystal said, and then disappeared. In no time at all, she was back with a bag, which seemed to be made of some organic material. She pulled out what looked like a banana. "It's a Vaporiser. I've set it to 'local', which means it will only vaporize a small target. Point it at the head, then press here." She indicated a point near one end. Gareth couldn't help smiling.

"We're going to vaporize Adolf Hitler with a banana!"

"Glad you think it's funny. It you want to terminate a person, why would you want to make a weapon look like a weapon?" She had a point. "Also, the weapon will vaporise anything in the line of sight. So be careful if there's anyone standing close to the target. And one more thing," Crystal put her hand in the bag again and took out another object. It looked like a small branch from a tree.

"What's that?" Gareth asked.

"It's a Paralyser - a device used to immobilize a person - similar to your electric stun-guns, but much more sophisticated. Makes men completely rigid... like a tree," Crystal smiled, and Miranda smirked. "Use this if you're in trouble, but don't want to terminate a person. The effect lasts about five minutes."

"And remember," Miranda added, "you're going there to terminate the cop \- that must happen. Hitler is a bonus - only go for him once Andrews is terminated. When it's done, jump back to your own time - immediately. If you see the Nazi Gestapo in 2020, it means you've failed. Go back and try again. Got it?"

"Got it," Niki and Gareth said in unison.

"Well, off you go now... we'll be watching you," Crystal smiled.

*

The only thing on Niki's mind now was getting Joe and Smirnoff back, and to do that they must first stop Andrews. As the ladies suggested, Gareth and Nik time-jumped from the house before travelling up to Liverpool during December, 1912. They didn't know exactly which day they'd find the two men in the Poste House pub, but Christmas Eve seemed like a good bet. They had no idea how difficult it would be to travel to the North-West by train in those days, but December 23rd seemed like a good idea... they could stay somewhere locally that evening, if need be. But what about money? Nik still had some coins from 1935 (when they travelled back in time in an attempt to prevent World War II). All the coins bore the head of King George V, and some were dated 1912. They took all the coins with them.

***

Twenty

From Miranda and Crystal's information, Gareth and Nik had a very good idea of when the Gestapo would arrive at the house; but still, they didn't want to hang about now that Andrews and the Nazi's had Smirnoff's and Joe's time travel phones - meaning they could change time events at will.

The couple quickly threw some clothes and a bit of food into a bag. Then, setting Nik's phone to 8:00 am on the twenty-third of December, nineteen-twelve, they time jumped from the house, finding themselves in a cold and wet field in the countryside. They looked at each other and shrugged. Now they needed to get to King's Cross station. According to the Welshman, the railway station was opened in 1850, so no problems on that score. But how to get there? Using the compass on his phone, Gareth pointed to what he thought was the right direction. "This way Nik... let's go!" and he began walking across the field.

"Gareth - it's a long way to King's Cross... we can't walk it! Isn't the underground running?" Nik asked.

"Well, that's a good question!" replied Gareth. The couple stopped in the field for a moment, whilst Gareth wracked his brains. "Got it! I remember now... when I first met you Niki, the three of us went for a drink at the Old White Lion - next to East Finchley station, and you and Joe pulled that stunt on me...you told me you were going to demonstrate time travel! What a laugh we had! And you really did!"

"Please get on with it, Gareth!"

"Oh Sorry! Then I remember Joe saying that East Finchley station was built in 1869..."

"Great! Let's go then!"

The couple marched off in the direction of the underground station... it wouldn't take them long to get to Kings Cross from there.

*

At first, they thought that buying underground tickets might be difficult - given that most of their money was dated after 1912. But when they realised how cheap the tickets were at that time, they found they comfortably had enough of the older money.

In 1912, there were just over one thousand two hundred Chinese immigrants living in the whole of the UK - mainly in London and Liverpool - so Niki was subject to quite a few stares from people on the underground train.

Arriving at Kings Cross, they headed for the adjacent main line railway station. Now Niki couldn't stop herself staring at all the ladies in long dresses and flower hats. The men were generally dressed in suits and overcoats, and wore either straw boaters or top hats. Some wore bowler hats. To Gareth, the steam train carriages were amazing... just like the old-fashioned ones he'd travelled on at tourist sites in North Wales when he was a kid. The whole place looked like a movie set, and they were in the movie! They couldn't stop smiling to themselves.

At the ticket office, Niki discovered they didn't have enough valid money to buy their tickets to Liverpool. Then Gareth spotted a pawn shop inside the station, and suggested they pawn something.

"Such as?" Niki asked.

"Well, I don't know... how about the money - the coins dated after 1912? They'll think it's a mistake at the Royal Mint, and might offer you enough money to buy the train tickets. These things can be very valuable." It was worth a try.

The man in the pawn shop studied the coins very carefully. "Well, I must say, I've never seen anything quite like this. On one side, you have George V - our current Monarch - but on the other side, the date is 1935! It's very, very unusual for the date to be wrong on coins like this. If a coin was minted with such an obvious error, it would not be released. May I ask how you came across these? Although the coins certainly appear to be genuine, I cannot accept any money that is counterfeit, you understand?"

Gareth replied that one of his aunts worked at the Royal Mint, and she had been given them by her boss.

"Well, if that is the case, then perhaps I can accept them. How much would you like for those you have?"

"Enough to buy two return tickets to Liverpool," Gareth replied.

"Very well, we have a deal!" the man shook hands with Gareth and handed him easily enough money for the train tickets. "Thank you, sir, madam. I hope you enjoy your trip to Liverpool, good day to you both." He smiled, and the couple departed quickly.

It was, Gareth had to admit, quite an adventure travelling on a train in England during the year nineteen-twelve, and he had to keep pinching himself. He noticed that the way he and Niki were dressed did cause some raised eyebrows - not so much for her (she was Chinese after all, and people expected her to dress differently) but for Gareth. Jeans, sneakers and a leather jacket were just not what men wore in those days.

They also had to be careful about their subjects of conversation whilst on their journey to the North West. Discussing the assassination of two people in Liverpool was just not a good topic. Consequently, they were mostly quiet, or talked about Christmas.

Arriving at Liverpool Lime Street Station, they left the train and headed for the Poste House public house. A porter at the station had told them it was in Cumberland Street, no more than a ten-minute walk from Lime Street, and it proved to be just that. Once they'd found the pub, there was no need to go inside; it had been a long enough day \- particularly for Niki, who woke to find Joe arrested and her world turned upside down. So, they just made a mental note of the pub's location, and searched the surrounding streets for a suitable bed and breakfast. They didn't need to look far; being close to the railway station meant there were plenty of places to stay the night.

The cash they had received for the coins was way more than the actual face value, and the man clearly thought he could sell them for a lot of money. This meant they easily had enough cash to pay for bed and breakfast, as well as any food they needed. Nineteen-twelve was, after all, more than a hundred years before their own time, and the cost of living was incredibly low in comparison.

The pair took separate rooms, but chatted about their plan for the next day before retiring for the night.

"I just want to let you know, Gareth, I'm happy to kill those bastards!" Nik stated. Gareth smiled, and nodded.

"Have you ever used a gun, Nik?" he asked.

"No... but I'm very handy with a banana!" They both laughed.

"Thanks Nik - but no need. Actually, I've never killed anyone before, but I have fired a gun. When I was at uni, I attended a military training college in Tredegar during my summer holidays. It wasn't something I particularly wanted to do, but mam and dad always wanted me to do it - said it would make a man out of me. Anyway, I did use a rifle and handguns - just shooting at targets and dummies, that sort of thing. So, I think I should do the shooting, if you don't mind."

*

Meanwhile, back in the twenty-first century, Andrews was confronting Joe and Yeshua. They had their hands tied, and were seated in a cell in a police station, taken over by Andrew's Nazis.

"Well, well, well... what do we have here?"

"Fuck off," Joe replied.

"Now-now my son... you should not use language like that, even to your enemies. Be polite, and show humility," said Yeshua.

"Okay, please fuck off. If you want to know, he's Jesus of Nazareth, and I'm John the Baptist."

"Jesus who? Never heard of him. Now I do know who John the Baptist was - but that's not you sonny. I know you're Joseph Cooper - the little sod who won all that money on the lottery, not to mention the millions you made on the tables over time. And now I know how you did it. He removed Smirnoff's mobile from his pocket and waved it in front of them. "Oh dear, I seem to have got some of your friend's blood on it..."

"You're going to pay for this..." Joe threatened.

"Oh no, it's you that's going to pay - big time. You're going to hang, like traitors, and then we're going to cut you into little pieces and feed you to my dogs - just so no-one else gets any ideas about crossing me or my party. You see, I'm rich now - just like you were. Except I'm a thousand times richer than you... and I have Power. I can snap my fingers, and any one of my men will snap your neck - just like that. And as for your sweet little Chinky wife... oh, I'm looking forward to finding her."

"Bide your time," Yeshua whispered to Joe.

"As for you, Mr Yeshua whatever... I know all about you, and your pathetic 'Free Choice movement'. What a waste of fucking space! Giving people Free Choice... what's that all about? And what's it done for you? Lecture tours with your little band of middle-eastern misfits; people loving you... 'Oh, how wonderful this is!' Let them come and see their leader now."

"My son, you know not what you do. Have you not heard of the Law of Karma? You think you are in control, but there is not one moment in your life that you are no more than a puppet... this will not end well for you..."

"Shut up! Shut the fuck up!"

"You could change things for yourself now. Just repent your sins, and let us go free."

"What! You're madder than him... go to hell." Andrew hit Yeshua with the leather gloves he was holding, full force, drawing blood.

*

The next morning, Niki slept in and missed breakfast. Gareth did not want to disturb her, and went outside for some air. After knocking on his door, she looked outside and saw him in the street below. She opened the sash window, and waved at him.

"Morning," she smiled.

"Oh, morning Niki! Did you sleep well?"

"Very well... have you had breakfast?"

"Yes - but I didn't want to disturb you. The landlady has saved you some."

Nik quickly dressed and met Gareth in the dining room. She wasn't very hungry, but did eat some of the home-cooked food.

"You know, we have a choice," she said, munching some toast.

"Yeshua says we always have a choice," he smiled.

"Where is Yeshua now?" she asked.

"All I know is, he was arrested with Joe by the Gestapo, and taken to the Police Station. One of the disciples told me."

"I really hope he's okay," she said sadly. Gareth nodded. They couldn't bear anything bad happening to Yeshua.

"So, what's this about a choice?" the Welshman asked.

"Oh, Andrews and Adolf probably won't be in the bar until this evening. Which means, either we can go sightseeing and get to the pub later; or we can sort of fast-forward time - like Joe and I did in Israel - and just get this over with."

"I like the sound of option two," Gareth replied. "To be honest, I'm a bit nervous about this, Niki, and I'd like to get it over with as soon as possible."

"Me too," she sighed.

The landlady had left some tea in the lounge for them, and the couple sat in the comfortable room discussing what to do next. Joe and Niki had fast-forwarded time when they were looking for Yeshua in Nazareth. They did this by short jumps of five or ten minutes.

"We must get his right," said Niki, seriously. Andrews knows me from the time he saw Joe and me on Chelsea Bridge."

"Then you should leave this to me, Niki.... don't go into the bar."

"I must! I need to move time forward whilst you get ready with 'the weapon'," she said, whispering the last word.

The Welshman nodded his head... she was right. "Then you'll need a disguise... let's go shopping!"

In 1912, there were not all the clothes shopping options people had in 2020, but there were a few department stores which had been founded in Victorian times. Their landlady pointed them in the direction of Lewis's department store in Ranelagh Street, saying it stocked a good range of women's clothing. It was just a short walk from the bed and breakfast, close to Liverpool Central Railway Station.

*

Niki looked at herself in the mirror of the changing room in the Ladies clothing department in Lewis's, and smiled. She loved the fashions of the day, but there was one problem: whatever she wore, she still looked Chinese - which meant there was a very good chance Andrews would recognise her. Then Gareth had an idea.

"Niki - I just saw a section back there... 'Women's Ball Gowns'. I think they have party masks!"

She went to take a look, and found a very suitable mask that would cover most of her face. No-one would know it was her - and it shouldn't look out of place on Christmas Eve.

*

Dressed for the evening, the time travellers entered the small, cosy Poste House pub in Cumberland Street. It was 6:00 pm, and the bar was not yet busy... with only a few men seated at the bar, and a couple sitting on another side of the room playing dominoes. They found a table at the rear of the pub which was secluded, but still had a view of the door. Gareth had also picked up some contemporary clothing at Lewis's store, and now fitted in well with the locals. You'd never know he wasn't of that period.

They ordered some food from the bar - both opting for fish and chips - and had that whilst they were waiting. By 7:30 pm, there was still no sign of Andrews or either Hitler, so Niki was about to jump forward in time - just as two men entered the pub.

"Oh my god!" breathed Nik. "Gareth, look..." He casually looked up to see Adolf Hitler and his half-brother Alois.

"Are you sure it's them?"

"Yes, I looked them up before we left London. Definitely the brothers... I've seen their pictures," she whispered without looking at the men. The couple were laughing, and smoking cigarettes. They ordered beers from the barman, and took seats at the bar. She could tell they were not speaking in English, and guessed it must be German. But where was Andrews?

Niki began to time leap them forward - fifteen minutes at a time. Eventually, they got to a point where the brothers had left. They skipped back at three-minute intervals until the brothers were in the bar again. They waited for the moment they would leave, and almost gasped as Andrews entered the bar. He made a bee-line for Adolf, smiling and shaking hands, and then greeted the half-brother. Gareth carefully took the weapon from his pocket, preparing to use it. He knew he had to get Andrews with the first shot from the Vaporiser - there was no room for error, given that the ex-cop had a time travel phone and could disappear at any time. But before he could get near the man, the three of them left the bar, laughing.

"Shit!" Gareth cursed under his breath.

"It's okay," assured Nik, "we can skip back. Then she stopped and looked at the Welshman. "Or maybe now is better?"

"What do you mean?"

"The bar's full now, so not a good time for the hit; but there's no-one outside... the street is empty. We can follow them outside and do it there."

"Great thinking!" Gareth whispered, then paused. "What about you using the Paralyser first - on all three of them - then I can terminate Andrews?"

"Brilliant!"

They jumped back to the moment Andrews arrived, waited for them to leave, then immediately followed them out of the door. But just as Gareth pushed the door open for Niki, Andrews doubled-back and held it open for her." Gareth froze.

"Thank you," she smiled, hiding her fear.

"You are welcome, dear lady," he said, looking her straight in the eyes. "And what beautiful eyes! Such a pity I cannot see your face... may I?"

***

Twenty-One

Niki awoke, as if from a dream. She could hear noises downstairs, and tip-toed to the lounge. She stopped suddenly at the sight of the back of a man. He turned to face her.

"Nik... have you seen my Double Fantasy album? It's completely disappeared."

"Joe!" She screamed and threw herself into his arms, kissing him all over. Kissing me.

"Whoa! Anyone would think you'd not seen me for a year!"

"It feels like that... and you're real!" she said, running her fingers through my hair.

"Yep, seem to be," I smiled. She pulled me over to the sofa, and we sat down, with her still clinging on to me.

"What do you last remember?" she asked.

I furrowed my brow, trying to recall the last thing before looking for Double Fantasy. "Well... I remember saving John Lennon... And then there was that lunch with the Beatles..."

"And after that?"

"And then the Beatles gig with two John Lennons, and two Yokos." I smiled, believing I'd remembered everything there was to remember.

"Nothing else?"

I scanned my incoming thoughts again: the mailbox was empty. "Nope... that seems to be about it," I said, rubbing my head, and feeling a little stupid.

"So, you don't remember Andrews... the bad cop?"

The name sounded very familiar. But from where? Then bingo. "Yes! Yes, I do... he was that detective who was trying to get us. But somehow, he ended up in jail...

"And then?"

"Erm... did he go abroad and live in Costa del Crime?" It was purely a guess; I had no idea what had happened to him. But then I remembered something. "No, wait... Smirnoff had to kill him - yes, that's it! Smirnoff went off to get that son-of-a-bitch!"

"Okay, that's good enough. How about Adolf Hitler?"

"Adolf who?"

"Hitler."

"Now you've got me... never heard of him. Should I have done?"

"And the second World War?"

"Well, we all hope it will never happen, naturally..."

What happened next was astounding. Niki told me a fantastic story about a World War which began in 1939. An Austrian called Adolf Hitler, who became known as 'The Fuhrer' (the absolute leader of Germany), developed nuclear weapons and nuked much of the western world, then ended up in a terrible conflict with Russia. This was all due to Andrews getting hold of Smirnoff's phone, and using it to change history. The ex-cop also became Hitler's buddy, and was appointed the absolute leader of Britain! The story was totally incredible, and if it was ever made into a movie, I don't think anyone would believe it. All I can say is Niki clearly thinks it happened in some Universe - and so does Gareth, who time travelled with her to Liverpool in the year 1912 to assassinate Andrews and this Hitler guy.

"Okay," I said at last, "assuming this story is true, tell me how you and Gareth terminated Andrews, and this Hitler geezer?"

"Actually, there were two Hitlers..."

"Oh no, here we go again... double fantasy!"

"Joe, will you just shut up and listen!"

"Okay, okay... I'm listening."

Then she gave me all the details. Gareth and my amazing wife jumped back to December 1912, and travelled up to Liverpool to kill Andrews and Hitler. Adolf was staying there with his Austrian half-brother, Alois Hitler, a fact which a lot of Brits never knew. Anyway, through their research, Gareth and Nik found a bar the young men frequented, and waited there for the Austrians to arrive. Eventually, they entered the bar - but there was no Andrews. He was the man they really needed to kill. Suddenly, the ex-policeman turned up; and as the three were leaving, Gareth killed Andrews and Adolf.

"Joe, it was very scary. Andrews turned towards me just after we left the bar. He looked right into my eyes, and was about to remove my party mask..."

"Party mask?"

"Yes, it was Christmas Eve, and I couldn't let him recognise me. Anyway, I didn't know what to do when he faced me. I had a paralysing device in my hand inside my bag - a sort of stun-gun, but I froze. Then I remembered the words Crimson told me to say in this sort of situation: 'Welcome to my Soul'. The effect was incredible! It stopped Andrews in his tracks, and then he started backing off, saying 'No, no, no!' He looked really afraid. Then Gareth killed him. Hitler was totally shocked by this, and began to run away; but I used the paralyser on him, and then Gareth killed him too. Gareth was so brilliant, Joe, we owe him a lot."

"Then what about the half-brother... what happened to him?"

"We let him get away. According to Crystal and Miranda, he'd play no part in the rise of Nazism... he was harmless and we could let him go. And if he told the police his brother and friend had just been murdered with a banana, I don't think they'd believe him!" Niki smirked.

"A banana?" I said, incredulously.

"Here, take a look..."

She removed what looked like a banana from her bag. I couldn't help smiling.

"Thanks, Nik... but I've had breakfast."

"Come outside and I'll show you."

I followed my crazy wife into the garden, and she gave me a demonstration... it was truly shocking! I told her we needed to keep that under lock and key.

"Joe, it was so scary... Like I said, Andrews was about to remove the mask I was wearing to protect my identity... he'd seen me on the bridge, remember?"

"And what about this 'paralyser'? What does that look like... an apple?"

"No-no! Like this..." she removed another object from her bag, which resembled a part of a tree.

"It was amazing Joe... it really did paralyse the guy... he couldn't move!"

"And then Gareth shot him with banana juice?"

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but that's what happened. He pointed the banana at Andrew's head, and it just turned to smoke!"

I was beginning to get the picture now.

I sat with my limited recollections, and thought this must be how people with Alzheimer's, or other types of memory loss, feel. But unlike people who could simply go online and re-discover what they'd forgotten, there was nothing at all on the Internet about a second world war.

Despite this strange, uncomfortable feeling, I believed beyond doubt that what Nik told me really did happen. I had witnessed similar things the other way around... such as when I managed to prevent the nine-eleven terrorist attacks in New York city in 2001, yet Niki could not believe that any such attack had ever taken place. Because in her version of reality, it didn't.

It was, I had to admit, an amazing story, and I was so proud of Niki and Gareth.

"Oh, I nearly forgot this..." Nik said, handing me my mobile phone, the one Andrews had stolen from me - though my memory was very foggy about that.

"Ah, thanks babe. Where's Gareth now," I asked.

"He had to go back to work in Nottingham, but he said he'd visit this weekend."

Just then, my phone rang.

"Joseph, it's me - Yeshua. How art thou?"

"If it's art you're interested in, you should really talk to Niki..."

"Oh, I do so love your humour, Joe. But I really want to talk to you about some 'matters'. I am with our Russian friend just now... may we visit?"

"Yes of course... when will you be here?"

"In less than a blink of the eye... we are outside door."

I smiled, and went to the front door. "Yeshua and Smirnoff are here," I called to Nik."

She said she'd put the kettle on, and I opened the door and found Yeshua beaming at me, with Simon and the Russian on either side. I hugged our three old friends and invited them in. As usual, Yeshua did not beat about the bush.

"I was in contact with Gareth recently - email - and he told me Niki and he had ended life of someone called 'the Adolf Hitler', and thereby prevented 'second world war'... Makes sense to you?"

"Ah, well, yes - and no..." I began.

"Ah, I understand in English, 'Yes' and 'No' are, how you say, opposite, so your answer cannot be both - must be Yes, or No. Is correct?" Our learned friend smiled.

I nodded in understanding. "Okay, I'll tell you the truth: yes, I do believe there was a second world war - in another version of reality, even though I have no recollection whatsoever about it. But I cannot say for sure that Niki and Gareth prevented it happening. As you know with time travel, we can change the past, which changes the future..."

Niki emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray of tea and coffee.

"Oh, are we still talking about this? Can't we move on? Okay, Gareth and I killed Adolf Hitler in 1912, which prevented the second world war. So now we have a new version of history, and good luck finding any information on the Internet about that war, or Adolf Hitler being leader of the Third Reich..."

"The Third what?" Smirnoff asked.

"There you see, nobody knows anything about it now - only Gareth and me have memories. We time travelled to 1912 and stopped it happening, so none of you will have any recollection about D-Day, the Battle of Britain, and the Americans joining the war after Pearl Harbour..."

"Pearl Harbour? Yes, I know this... I watched documentary story on Net," claimed Yeshua.

"You did?" Nik replied, looking very surprised.

"And I saw the movie," agreed Smirnoff.

Niki turned to me. "Joe... do you remember this?"

"Yes, I do. The movie was all about the Japanese bombing of an American navy base in the Pacific, and that resulted in a war between the two countries. Then the Brits joined in later."

"They did?" queried Nik.

"Sure. Didn't I ever tell you about my grandad fighting against the Japs in Burma - what we now call Myanmar?"

"Oh right... yes, I think I do remember. But that wasn't a world war. I mean, no-one else was really involved... it was more like a Vietnam," my wife stated.

"Vietnam? You mean there was a war there?" Smirnoff said.

"Oh, don't you start!" I exclaimed, knowing full well that our Russian friend was kidding. I think he was kidding.

*

Whilst Niki was chatting with Yeshua and Simon, Smirnoff looked rather serious, so I took him to one side and asked if everything was okay.

"Actually Joe, my friend, I feel I have let you all down. What Niki and Gareth did was my responsibility. I am indebted to them, of course; but still, it should have been me dealing with that bastard Andrews - and this 'Adolf Hitler'."

"Look, I understand how you feel - I wanted to dig an early grave for that crazy Andrews too. But according to Nik, he had you murdered and then locked up Yeshua and me. We were lucky we weren't killed. I'm just glad we're having this conversation now..."

The Russian nodded, and shook my hand. "You are a real friend Joe - and I will make it up to Niki, Gareth and everyone - I promise." And I knew he would. Then I saw Niki smiling.

"Joe, it says here that British pounds are used in international exchange today! Everything goes through Sterling..."

"Right... always has been," I said. "Nothing's changed." I could see Niki visibly confused by this 'new world', as she stared at her computer.

"Okay," she said with finality, "time to move on. So Yeshua... what brings you here today?"

***

Twenty-Two

"Well my friends, indeed it is very good to see you both again. And I have some news for you." Yeshua, took a sip of his Jasmine tea, and I wondered what this news could be. "I received visit from two charming ladies from future. Yes Joe, before you speak the words, it was Miranda and Crystal. They came and invite me to observe their world..."

I suddenly felt a little put out. I'd always regarded time travel as our baby, and I would have liked - actually, expected \- Yeshua to have checked with us first before time travelling. But then I realised I had no right to want this: we had allowed the ladies their own time travelling device with no questions asked, and the same for Smirnoff. We trusted them not to mis-use it, but what they did with it was totally their business. And Yeshua would only do good deeds with his use of time travel... we both knew that.

"Anyway, they were perfect hosts; and after showing me area where they lived, they took me to something called, 'All-Seeing Eye.' Perhaps you have seen this for yourselves?" I said we knew about it, but hadn't actually seen it for ourselves.

"You know, they are able to scan history, and see all the, how you say, 'threads', all the patterns that lead this way and that way. It's almost like higher power - the Soul of the Universe - looking down at all the permutations and combinations. Yet, not interfering in choices we make."

I loved listening to Yeshua speak. He really took us out of ourselves, and make me feel very humble at times. And he'd obviously learned some new words!

"Then I told ladies about my dear friends Niki and Joe, and how they bring my brethren and me to twenty-first century; and I asked ladies to show me life on All-Seeing Eye if I had stayed in my own time. Of course, this something you know already, my dear friends, because this was part of your history before. But do not feel you did wrong by taking me from my Ministry at that time: it was I who asked you do this, remember? And I who chosen stay in your world." The master took another sip of tea, then continued.

"My friends, one result of my consultation of All-Seeing Eye surprised me much - and I think surprise you too. Another Messenger, who is here on Earth, was intended to be great World leader for people of this generation. Sadly, because of my introduction to this century, young man has just 'disappeared off the radar', as you say."

"You mean he died?" Nik asked.

"No, no... I believe he still here, somewhere on Earth. But his Ministry has 'stalled', I think is the word you use. In fact, his work stopped the precise moment you brought me to life in your time zone."

"So, you think there's a connection between the two of you?" she asked.

"I have no doubt about this, my dear, and it is my intention to seek out this 'Messiah', and join him in bringing light and love to all humanity \- through Freedom of Choice, of course."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Niki asked.

"Most certainly! I know you and Joe have travelled to present-day Israel, and understand the 'lay of land', as you say. Not only this, you both Citizens of British, and so is the one I seek. My friends, would you pleasure me with your companies on this interesting trip?" he asked.

"Is the Pope a Catholic?" I replied. I couldn't imagine turning down an opportunity to go time travelling to Israel again. Niki smiled, but the others just looked at me very quizzically.

"Excuse ignorance Joe, who is this 'Pope', and what is 'Catholic'?"

Naturally, I had forgotten that we had completely wiped out Catholicism - in fact all Christianity - by transporting Yeshua and co from first century Palestine to the twenty-first century, causing him to avoid trial, crucifixion and death - as well as preventing the writing of the gospels.

"Oh, it's a long story," I said, "We'll tell you about it one day."

"Thank you, we'd love to go!" enthused Niki. "Can you tell us the messenger's name?"

"Oh yes, of course," smiled Yeshua, "His name is Thomas."

*

From what Yeshua told us, Thomas was born in Manchester, England, on November 29th, 1999. His parents were British citizens of the Jewish faith, and they relocated to Israel in March 2018 when their son was sixteen years old. According to Miranda and Crystal, that's when Thomas became aware of who he really was - and from that age he began to build up a following. But this had all come to nothing when the young messenger just seemed to disappear off the map in 2019... the year that Nik and I brought Yeshua from the first century AD to the twenty-first. We believed that these two events were connected.

Nik booked flights to Tel Aviv for us all - Yeshua, Simon, Smirnoff, Niki and me. Gareth had intended to come down to London that weekend, but had to cancel because of something that came up at work. I told him not to worry - we could catch up with each other another time. I didn't tell him about our Israel trip because I knew he would be dead jealous and want to join in. He'd done more than enough in Liverpool for 'the cause', and I thought it better to let him know about our search for Thomas another time.

In looking for the young man, we really had very little to go on, and it could be like trying to find a diamond in the Gobi Desert. Still, we had to try.

Nik booked three rooms in the same hotel we occupied the last time we stayed in the City: the Tel Aviv Hilton. Well, if you've got the money, use it. Yeshua shared a room with Simon, I shared with Nik (of course), and we gave Smirnoff a single room. After dinner, I suggested we have a drink in the hotel bar; it overlooked the sea, and it was a chance to chat about our 'mission'. Yeshua said he needed to discuss something with Simon in Hebrew in their room, but would join us later.

"Nice bar," the Russian observed, scanning the room and the view across the bay. "And it seems to be well-stocked."

"I heard that your Vodka is the best in the world again," I said, starting the conversation.

"My vodka? Oh, you mean Smirnoff! Absolutely," he smiled.

"Hey, you mean Smirnoff is the best, or Absolut?"

"Joe, you're funny, you know that? But you don't care about Vodka."

"Just an ice-breaker," I replied.

"You guys!" Nik exclaimed, "Don't you have anything else to talk about except alcohol and stupid jokes? I thought we were going to discuss tomorrow's plan."

"This is just the aperitif," I joked. Nik shook her head and went to find either a menu or a waiter. She returned with both. Smirnoff had a single-malt scotch, I went for gin and tonic, and Nik a glass of the house red.

"There is a connection between Yeshua and this 'Special One'," Smirnoff observed.

"I think you're right," Nik agreed. "But what is it?"

I sat there with my drink, reflecting on the purpose of 'our mission'. We had taken Yeshua away from his first century ministry in Jerusalem during 2019, and one solution to this problem of the missing messenger might be to return Yeshua back to his own time period. But that was unthinkable. Even if he wanted to do that, we couldn't let him go to a horrible death and martyrdom.

"So, guys, other than return Yeshua to his own past, what can we do?" I opened with.

"We were just discussing that!" Nik exclaimed. "Weren't you listening?"

"Sorry, I was miles away..." I said, apologetically. I still hadn't come to terms with all the history-changing of the last couple of days. Smirnoff turned to face me.

"We said, my friend, that we cannot really make any decision without Yeshua... it is his life we are talking about, after all." The Russian was right, and we really needed our main man in on this conversation. I was just about to go to find him when he arrived at the bar with Simon.

"Greetings!" Yeshua beamed.

"We have solution," Simon smiled.

"You do?" replied Nik. Yeshua nodded.

I got them drinks, plus a refill for Smirnoff, and we all sat down around a table, facing the sea.

"Well, my wonderful brothers and sister, this is what we shall do..."

***

Twenty-Three

The next day at breakfast, I sat with Nik on the balcony, scanning the beautiful Mediterranean waters. The previous evening, Yeshua explained his plan, which was to travel around the local synagogues, talking to the people there, asking if they had heard of any young man with special insights or understandings... a young British Jew who might be going by the name of Thomas. It seemed a reasonable thing to do: we had found Yeshua by going to the synagogue church in Jerusalem (two thousand years previously), so why not do a similar thing for Thomas? The difference being that when we visited Jerusalem, we had a book with many of his movements written down; looking for Thomas could be a lot harder, particularly in a city as big as Tel Aviv.

We couldn't have done this without Yeshua and Simon. They were, after all, practically locals, albeit ones from a very long time ago. But they were fluent in Hebrew and had a feel for local ways and traditions, some of which had not changed in two millennia. So, day one was spent walking the streets, going to the local synagogues and talking to people. To be more efficient, we split into two groups: Yeshua and Smirnoff in one, and Niki, Simon and me in the other. Niki's Hebrew was much better than mine (we'd had to learn some Hebrew for our trip to Israel in search of Yeshua), so I left her to translate what Simon had said. Although he had picked up some English during his time in the UK, it was not much better than my Hebrew.

At the end of a long day, we met up back at the hotel for dinner.

"I think we have a lead," Smirnoff smiled as we sat at a table with our food from the buffet. Yeshua and Simon had filled their plates with the delicious seafood. "We met a woman at the Goren Synagogue," Smirnoff continued, "in Modigliani Street... not far from Ze'ev Garden. She said there was a young man who goes there at the weekends to read the scriptures and talk to the Rabbis. He was always asking them very challenging questions, she said, and often they had no answer for him!"

"Sounds like our man!" I nodded.

"Such wonderful food for the Soul!" Yeshua smiled.

"Particularly that fish," I observed, pointing to the lemon sole on his plate.

"Touché, mon ami!" Yeshua replied in perfect French. Well, he had been on a couple of World tours.

"Yes, my friends... we will go to Synagogue Goren tomorrow. It is Saturday, so we hope that our young man will be there."

*

The next day, the five of us made our way to the Tel Aviv synagogue Yeshua and Smirnoff had mentioned. The Russian patrolled the area whilst the rest of us casually looked around like tourists.

Many people came and went, but none were the right age for our Thomas. I was thinking that maybe he wasn't going to turn up that day, but suddenly, a young man appeared. He looked quite different from the locals, his Britishness showing through, and was tall, dark haired and wearing a kippah (traditional skullcap). He was also carrying some books. Yeshua approached him just before he entered the synagogue, and spoke to him in Hebrew. He listened for a while, then scanned the rest of us.

"I know you," he said in English, looking directly into my eyes. "And that lady too. You have been to this city before. But the two Jews are not of this time, and do not belong here, I am sorry," he said to Yeshua and Simon, then walked towards the synagogue entrance. I was astounded. I wanted to believe this young man was special, but at the same time, I didn't want to be fooled by a young trickster... I'd met people like him before, or so I thought.

"Okay," I called after him, "If you know me, what's my middle name, my favourite football team, and what primary school did I attend?" These were the first things I thought of!

The young man stopped and turned to look at me again, his face breaking into a broad smile. "Why would I need to know that? Ridiculous questions!" He turned and walked up the synagogue steps towards the door.

I shook my head and turned to the others. "C'mon everyone, let's not waste our time here... he's clearly not the one."

The young man stopped at the door, turned towards me again and said: "What's it like to travel through time?"

*

From that moment, we all knew he was the one - it couldn't be clearer. The only obstacle to his progression as New World Leader, or whatever name we wanted to give to a special person like him, was Yeshua. I thought that perhaps the two could work together, but our close friend and ally had his own ideas. Back at the hotel, he gathered us together in his room for an announcement.

"Joseph, Niki and my good friend Smirnoff... I have something to tell you all..." Nik and I really hoped he wasn't going to say what we thought he'd say. "We are going back to our own time..." There, he said it.

"But you can't... you know what will happen if you do!" Niki pleaded.

"Wonderful, beautiful Niki, thank you for your concern... you will always be in my heart, my dear one." He hugged her as tears came to her eyes. "But we not intend to stay in Israel. With your help, we will begin a new ministry in England - or perhaps Scotland \- in the first century. This is our time; it is where we belong. It is where Father always wanted us to be."

I sighed deeply and looked at Nik. She dried her eyes and nodded. "If this is really what you want, then we'll help you in whatever way we can... but we'll miss you!" We did a group hug, tears rolling down Nik's cheeks as she hugged Yeshua and Simon.

"I'll make sure you're safe, Yeshua." Smirnoff promised. "The first century... it could be a very dangerous time, so many barbarians! I would enjoy the challenge... and it would be an honour to serve you once again," the big Russian smiled.

"Do not forget, my friends... welcome to visit, any time," he added with a smile. We naturally said we would. And of course, we'd also drive Yeshua and the team up to Scotland to start their new life, if that was the place they wished to reside.

*

We packed and made our way back to London, in the conventional way. We had not even used time travel this trip, and I was starting to miss it already. Still, we certainly would be paying Yeshua and the gang a few visits in the first century.

By the time we reached London, Yeshua had already spoken to the troops back home and they had been packing for this last trip out of the Capital. Scotland was the preferred destination, and they would be safe there - particularly if Smirnoff would be there in the early days.

Back home in Finchley, we unpacked, then threw together a few things for our trip up North. We thought it would be far easier to travel to Scotland first, and then time leap from there - rather than the other way around. Roman roads were supposed to be pretty good, but nothing like our motorways today.

Smirnoff hired a people carrier which could seat all the disciples, and Nik and I would take Yeshua in our four-by-four.

"Have you told Gareth about Yeshua leaving?" Nik asked me the evening before our journey. I'd completely forgotten about our Welsh friend!

"God, no! It totally slipped my mind!" I gave him a call there and then. Gareth was clearly disappointed to hear about Yeshua and the boys leaving for first century Scotland, but totally understood when I explained about Thomas. He asked if he could join us on the trip, and I said he was more than welcome. We arranged to pick him up in Nottingham on the way there.

*

It was really good to see Gareth again, and we told him all about our visit to Israel to meet Thomas. Gareth was clearly envious of our trip, but I told him we hoped he would come on our next time travel adventure.

Our Welsh friend travelled in the car with us, and whilst I was driving, he posed the question neither Niki nor I had thought to ask.

"So Yeshua... which part of Scotland do you plan to stay?"

It was such an obvious question, and Nik and I just looked at each other.

"Sorry, I should have asked you that question Yeshua... I just sort of assumed anywhere in Scotland would be okay!" I apologised.

"Actually Joe, Gareth... we would like to live on Isle of Bute. I believe it is on West Coast, with fairly pleasant climate, with history of over four thousand years. And is just short distance from mainland."

Yeshua had done his research. I had actually visited Bute during my time at Edinburgh university. One of my colleagues hailed from there, and he invited me over one weekend. It was nice, with two different ferry crossings to the island - one a very short one to the north, and a longer, vehicle ferry trip to the east side. It has a castle, a long esplanade and a beautiful bay, and was a very popular holiday destination in Victorian times. Well, that's what Robert told me. It would, however, be a totally different kettle of fish in the first century.

As we were travelling along the motorway, Gareth was very chatty. I enjoyed his company and I felt like I hadn't seen him for ages. It was good to catch up. He gave me all the details of his and Niki's visit to Liverpool in 1912, when they went to assassinate that bastard Andrews, and the one they called Adolf Hitler. Gareth was eager to recount the tale, but just couldn't get his head around the fact that I had no knowledge whatsoever of this Hitler guy. Then Yeshua said, "Joseph, my friend, one thing that always interest me... how do you come to have such a device for time travel in first places?"

"Ah, that's an interesting story!" I replied. "I can tell you how I got the phone, but I've no idea where its time travel function came from."

"So, it's just luck, as people say?" Yeshua asked.

I thought about that. No, how could it be luck? You can find a stash of money in the street, or you leave your car moments before it's hit by lightning... these are lucky events. But to be given a seemingly ordinary mobile phone which possesses the ability to take you time travelling... no, that cannot be luck.

"So, if not luck, then Niki aware of giving time travel phone to you... she knows it had this function?" Now that really stopped me in my tracks. Yeshua always had a way of saying things that made me consider things more deeply. Gareth and Yeshua both looked at Nik, who had been studying her mobile. Conscious of their stares, she looked up.

"What?"

"Yeshua's saying you must have known my phone could go time travelling before you gave it to me," I smiled.

"Joe! Don't be ridiculous! Why would I do that? You know I used to hate you time travelling..."

Well that was true. After a while, she did hate it - because of the dangerous situations we got into a few times. But this didn't answer the question. And seeing as Yeshua had brought this up, I decided to push it further. "Okay... well, there's something I've always wanted to ask about the phone, but never did, because we Brits don't ask about presents... it's not our way."

"Go on," Niki sighed.

"Where did you get it from? I mean, did you buy it from a High Street store, or online, or where?"

Nik continued to look at her own phone, which is what she usually did when she didn't want to answer a question.

"Nik?"

"What?"

"Please answer the question... it's important to me!"

She looked out of the window, wondering whether to tell me or not.

"Okay, if you really want to know, you asked me to give it to you."

"Joe, look at the road!" Gareth gasped. The distraction of talking to Nik had caused me to drift into another motorway lane.

"Sorry," I said, taking the next exit to a motorway service station. I just had to get to the bottom of this... and we could all do with a break and a drink. As we sat with our refreshments, Nik and I were quiet for a few minutes... like two chess players contemplating their next moves. Gareth was the avid spectator, whilst Yeshua just nursed his green tea and smiled.

"Joe, Nik... don't stop there! This is just getting really interesting!" Gareth urged, lapping up our conversation.

"Alright. So, what you're saying, Nik, is that a version of me from the past..."

"The future..."

"Okay, makes sense. A version of me from the future just appeared and gave you the phone, saying: 'Give this to Joe', or something like that?"

Niki sighed again. "Yes, more or less. But I couldn't tell you at the time... it would have freaked you out!"

She was right. And it sort of all made sense now. But how did she know it was a future me, rather than just me?

"He was old! He looked a bit like your father, but I could see it really was you... the eyes..."

It sounded like it was Mike, the version of me from forty years in the future. Clearly, he must have had more than one copy of the phone, otherwise he couldn't have returned to his own time. All the pieces of the jigsaw were beginning to fit into place now, and I had to thank Yeshua for the question. Time travelling technology from some future time had been incorporated into a contemporary mobile phone, and a future version of me had wished, for some reason, to share this with us.

"Now that's what I always wanted to know!" smiled Gareth.

"Me too!" I said.

Whilst that conversation answered a long-standing question, it begged many more. If the phone originated from a time when technology was so much more advanced, why was that particular moment chosen to share the technology? I did ask Nik, but she said Mike came and went in just a few seconds, and there was no time to ask questions. I believed Niki. But if the phone originated from our far future, why didn't we see loads of time tourists - people arriving from all sorts of future time zones. Or maybe our particular time in history is just not so interesting? There was still a lot more to learn about the phone, I thought.

We followed the motorway to Glasgow, then took the coast road to Wemyss Bay, from where the vehicle ferry crossed the Firth of Forth to the Island. It was a fine day, and nice to stand on the deck of the boat and enjoy the breeze, and the views across to the island. Arriving in Rothesay, the main town of Bute, we looked for a suitable place for the jump to the first century. Gareth suggested Rothesay Castle, a ruined edifice dating from the early thirteenth century. It seemed like a good location; close to the sea, and no doubt there would be some sort of community there in the first century.

We found a quiet street close to the castle and used two time travel phones to make the jump in the two vehicles, with all of us holding on tightly to some immovable part. Yeshua's preference was April 1st, in the year AD 50. It would be during the Roman occupation of Britain, though few Romans travelled north to Scotland in those days, and fewer still to the Isle of Bute.

The scene that met our eyes was very different from the one we had left. The castle was no more - as expected. In fact, all the buildings had disappeared. Nik and I just looked at each other and shrugged. The team did expect something like this, and were prepared for it. In the people carrier, Smirnoff had stored tents and sleeping bags for everyone, gas cooking stoves, gas lighting (with spare gas cannisters) and all sorts of army equipment that would come in handy. Well, he had been in the Russian military... this was easy for him to organise. They also had the means of getting fresh water from streams and rivers, and plenty of long-life food - most of it in tins.

I looked around the barren landscape, and could see no attraction of that place whatsoever. Maybe nice to spend an hour walking along the bay, but that's about it. Not a place I'd want to live - not in the first century anyway. But Yeshua and the boys seemed happy enough.

"Thank you, thank you everyone for all your help!" Yeshua smiled warmly. "Smirnoff and Gareth have offered to stay with us for short time to help us 'settle in'. We have accepted this kindness."

Niki turned to me, taking my hand, and whispered, "Joe... if you don't mind, I'd like to stay too... just for a short while."

I was rather shocked, and a little hurt. I couldn't understand why she wanted to do this when Gareth and Smirnoff were already staying to help.

"Well, okay..." I said meekly, "if it's not for too long."

"I promise!" she smiled and gave me a warm hug. "Not much more than a week, and then we'll be together again soon Joe."

*

After saying cheerio to everyone, I time jumped back to the twenty-first century, then drove the car back to Glasgow before heading towards London, leaving Nik, Smirnoff and Gareth on Bute. They would return in the people carrier after they'd helped Yeshua and the boys settle in - they reckoned it could take a week or two - definitely no more than that. I didn't like leaving Nik behind, but I really didn't want to stay in a desolate, first century Scotland any longer. I sighed to myself. Still, two weeks wouldn't be too bad... I could cope with that. Then things would get back to normal.

***

Twenty-Four

I was very tired when I arrived back home. It felt like a long drive, going up to Bute, and then straight back down to London, and I stopped off at a Travel Lodge on the motorway to sleep for the night. I wasn't worried about Niki - she had a whole team of people around her, and I couldn't deny her the chance to stay and help the guys.

A week passed, and I started to wonder how they were getting on. I still didn't feel worried... more a little put out that Nik hadn't contacted me. After all, she did have a time travel phone... all she had to do was time jump to the twenty-first century and give me a call. But I understood that she was busy, and people needed her... and time probably passed quicker for her than me.

After two weeks, and still no news from my wife, I was feeling more concerned. I called baba, her father, to see if he'd heard from her. I didn't want to worry him in case he hadn't, so I just said I was calling to see how he and ma were getting on.

"Yes, yes... we both fine Joe. Actually, Gloria is in Shanghai... visiting relatives. I didn't go because my health not so good just now... nothing serious. How are you and Ling Ling?"

"Oh, we're good... just went up to Scotland for a bit of a break... back home now."

Clearly, he had no idea Nik was away. I told him we would visit him again soon.

I decided not to dwell on it anymore, and got back into the writing of my Time Travel book. It was actually based on fact, though I'd have to market it as Science Fiction, of course. In the evenings, I went to the local pub a few times - met some mates and chatted a while, played pool and watched the football. That was okay. But coming home to an empty house afterwards wasn't good, and I started to feel quite lonely. I called mum to see how she was, but it was difficult to explain my situation... and I had to lie about Nik when mum asked how she was. I couldn't really say, "Oh, she's in first century Scotland just now, helping some friends start a new life."

I sent lots of voice messages to Nik's phone, on WeChat and WhatsApp, but no answer. Maybe I should be a bit more patient, I thought. She won't be able to receive calls or messages in the first century, of course, and maybe jumping to the twenty-first isn't as easy as I imagined. She'll be busy with the guys... probably cooking for them all and getting them organised.

After four weeks, I really was getting worried... very concerned. I sent messages to both Smirnoff's and Gareth's phones, they never answered either. What had happened? Maybe they had all been arrested by the Romans? If her phone had been taken by them, she'd be in big trouble. I began to fear the worst.

I decided to return to Bute. I hadn't been sleeping well, so I didn't drive; I took the mainline train to Glasgow, then a local one to the ferry terminal at Wemyss Bay. I waited twenty minutes for the next ferry, then boarded the boat. Half-an-hour later, I was in Rothesay. Going to the location of the group's time-jump (which was not far from the ferry terminal), I set my phone to AD 50, and pressed Go. The group were nowhere to be seen, and no sign of them having been there either. I cursed myself for not taking my car, and jumped back in time to hire one. With that, I could drive around the island, though it wasn't easy, given that at best of times there were just mud tracks for roads in the first century. The alternative was to drive short distances in 2020, then jump back in time. I tried that on a few occasions. I did see quite a few animals, but at first no people. Sometimes, I noticed movement in the trees, and was sure people were hiding from me. The car must have seemed quite scary, I would imagine.

Then I caught sight of a young woman in a field. I got out of the car and ran towards her. Understandably, she started to run away. But I soon caught up with her and grabbed her arm. I tried to talk to her in English, which was hopeless. Then I used the Latin I remembered from school, but that wasn't really any better. Finally, I used sign language... but she just shook her head, and I let her go.

I spent two full days scouring the whole island by car and on foot. Nothing - no sign of them at all. In the end, I could only assume they'd decided to go to another time period - but which one? I figured the best way was to jump forward in time, starting from AD 50. To do this, I returned to the area where the main settlement had been - around the modern-day ferry terminal - and began jumping forwards in yearly intervals. Each year, I drove around the island in the hire car looking for any signs of Niki and my friends. Nothing. Next, I time jumped back from AD 50, again in yearly intervals. Fifty time-leaps later, I had still found no sight or sound of them. I could only conclude that they had decided to try either another location - on the mainland perhaps - or another century. At least I hadn't found any indication that they had been attacked. I returned to London, tired, confused and worried.

Back home, all I could do was wait for Nik or Smirnoff to contact me. I never gave up hope, but I gradually lost any enthusiasm for anything, and spent most of my days just looking at junk TV, and then old You-tube videos on the internet. I watched the Beatles concert with the two John Lennons - the one after Cliff and Nico won the lookalike contest. That made me smile. Looking back, we had an amazing time with the Lennons - with the younger set staying in our house, and then the dinner with the five Beatles and two Yoko Ono's. Time travel had certainly brought us amazing experiences and adventures over the years; but now it just brought me misery. It was now over two months since the people I loved totally disappeared, and I began to think that dying and going to heaven must be much better than what I was then feeling.

As the weeks rolled by, the months followed. Everywhere around the house, I saw my wife: in photographs around the lounge; in her clothes within the bedroom; and in her computer in our office. Every now and then, I thought I heard her in the kitchen, or outside in the garden. But it was always my imagination. I'd heard of people just disappearing and never coming back to their families. I could not believe that Nik would ever do such a thing voluntarily, but I thought I should check her computer - just in case she'd left any sort of messages for me... cryptic or otherwise. I knew her password, and I quickly searched her emails and documents - but there was nothing to indicate she had made a conscious decision to just disappear.

Almost six months had passed since Niki and the team had disappeared, and I made the decision to look for the them in Scotland - just one more time. I had thought of contacting the Police and filing a missing persons' report; well, that would give them a good laugh, wouldn't it? 'And where and when did you last see your wife, Mr Cooper?' 'Oh, it was on the Isle of Bute in Scotland during the first century...'

I drove up to the West coast of Scotland again. Taking the ferry to Rothesay, I scoured the island every month of the year AD 50. It seemed pointless trying other time periods this time, but I did drive off the island, taking the short vehicle ferry to Colintraive, a picturesque village on the mainland. I then returned to AD 50 and drove for miles around the beautiful landscape. At times, there was no way to get through with the car, so I either time jumped back to twenty-first century roads, or just walked here there and everywhere in the vain hope of finding Niki.

After finding no sign whatsoever of the gang, it was depressing returning home, and I needed company... the sort you only get from family. I packed a bag, got in the car and drove out of Finchley. Then, just before reaching the motorway, I stopped the car, got out, and surveyed the scene ahead of me. I saw roads leading everywhere and the busyness of life; people purposefully going about their daily lives... driving to work, off shopping, taking a holiday. I leant again the car and shook my head; I'd no idea where mum and dad lived. Not only that, I could not remember the last time we went to see them, or when they came to visit us. I could see their faces in my mind's eye; but even those images were beginning to fade. What was happening to me? Was this what Alzheimer's felt like?

I returned home, poured myself a large whisky, and fell asleep on the sofa.

*****

Twenty-Five

The next morning, everything changed.

As I awoke, I was gradually aware that I was not in our house; but I'd no idea where I was; I could see nothing, hear nothing. Gradually, figures appeared in front of me.

"Welcome back, Joe," Niki smiled at me. Around her were many familiar faces: Gareth, Miranda and Crystal, Yeshua, Crimson and Skid, Nik's cousin Magic, Madeleine and Ben, and all the Beatles. Even King Arthur was there.

"You did well," Crimson smiled.

"Where am I?"

"You're home, Joe," Nik replied, lovingly.

"It doesn't look like home," I said, scanning the area. "It just looks... 'white'."

"This is a Transit Realm, Joseph," Arthur said calmly. "A place between Earth and home."

"Take your time," smiled Yeshua, warmly. "You need to remember who you are, my son, and it takes time."

"How can this be a place between Earth and home," I asked. "Earth is home... isn't it?"

"Earth was a temporary home, Joe, for all of us. But it's not our true home," Madeleine explained.

"Come and look over here," Miranda beckoned, indicating an area off to the right. It all felt like a dream. I lifted myself off the bed, or whatever it was, and followed her. In front of me, I saw the All-Seeing-Eye... the World Time Viewer they had in AD 50,000, and I found myself looking through some sort of 4D video portal, something like Google Earth, but far more advanced.

"It's Earth," I said.

"Yes, it is... but take a closer look..."

She waved her hand across the screen and a magnified area came into view through the clouds. I gasped... it was beautiful. A green land, with clear water streams, fruit trees in abundance and people laughing, children playing under a bright blue sky and warm sun. It reminded me of Lemuria, the land we visited with Crimson and Skid. It really looked very much like their homeland.

As she panned around the planet, some parts didn't look so different from the place I know as home; but as I looked closer and closer at the cities, I noticed something very different.

"I don't see any factories... and there's no cars on the roads. In fact, there's no roads, no motorways. This must be from the past... is it Mu?"

"No Joe, you're not looking at Lemuria," Crimson said. "This is not the past at all - it is the future. You're looking at Europe one hundred years from now. You wanted to take people back in time to Lemuria, to experience an unpolluted world. Now, because of what we have all achieved, Lemuria will come to the future... under the guidance of the one we called Thomas, and the Mu people will live once again on the planet, bringing their beautiful intuitive thinking and way of life to mankind.

"So... what did we do to make all this happen?" I asked.

"We gave them Choice, Joe," Gareth replied.

"We set them on a new road," King Arthur stated.

"We gave them Love," George Harrison beamed.

"We gave them our Essence," Crimson smiled.

"We gave them Imagination," John Lennon said warmly.

"And we gave them Thomas," Yeshua replied, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Your memories will come back Joe... I promise. It just takes Time," Nik smiled.

"Does time travel really exist?" I asked, expectantly.

They all laughed.

"Of course, Joe! Did you ever doubt it?" replied Gareth.

"Well, I always wanted to believe it was real..." I said.

"Yes, time travel is very real, Joe... that's how we all got here!" Ben smiled. "But we cannot give this knowledge, this understanding, to mankind - not until he has advanced to a higher level, where he will not misuse that power. We allowed the man Andrews to have the ability to travel through time to see how he would use it... and you witnessed the result." He scanned the faces of the others, who nodded. "Travelling at light speed, and other abilities, must be earned. How do you think it would look to other life forms if we gave such gifts to Man without him earning the right?"

Other life-forms? I thought to myself. And then gradually, I began to remember. Earth had just been our temporary home, where we lived in human form. It was not where I came from, not where I belonged, and not where I was going next. Home was another universe many light-years away, which I could only reach using time travel. Like the dawning of a new day, my true self, my true reality opened up as I shed the skin of my Earth life. I gazed at the other Souls around me - people that I thought I'd first met on Earth; but in reality, I had known them for eons of time. Some, like Niki and Gareth, were from the same universe as I, and the rest from other areas of the vast cosmos. The plan to help the Soul of Man's universe, and the many soul-parts we encountered on the planet, had been arranged by us in a distant universe, in the distant past. And now our job was done.

As I gazed at my friends, their Earth forms melted away and I observed, for the first time in a long while, the light and energy of their true selves. What I thought were tears welling in my eyes was the pure joy of being together once again with my Soul brothers and sisters. Now I looked forward to returning with them and planning our next mission within the vast Cosmos.

And in a flash of light, I was home.

THE END.

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