by John Huegel
She followed up to all three, *Now we’re going to go out on a scavenger hunt and not speak to anyone. I’m opening up your channels to everyone, but please remember to not send to anyone that you don’t know – it’s not polite and you could disturb their concentration!*
Immediately, the kids’ awareness expanded and they could sense hundreds of others in the thought plane. It was a bit confusing at first, but they quickly learned to hide the images of the people they did not know. Jenna immediately recognized her parents and sent to both: *Mom, Dad! I see you! We can finally send! Where are you?*
Liz replied, sending to Jade and her whole family: *It’s great to see you all are learning your abilities so quickly! Your Dad and I are very proud of you! We’re busy now, but have fun and we’ll see you later.* Then Liz and Tom went off the air.
Jade sent: *If you tell your enhancement to go private, you will disappear from the thought plane, just like your parents. So now, we’re going to learn how to send and receive in sequence. Jenna, you need to ask TC for directions to the Assembly Hall, and relay the turns to Andy as we walk. Andy, you will relay them to Laura who will be in the lead. I’ll follow you all. Ready?*
All three sent: *Ready!*
Laura stepped to the front, followed by Andy, Jenna and finally Jade. Jenna sent: *TC, I need directions to the Assembly Hall from here.*
%HERE THEY COME, JENNA.% And shortly, Jenna knew how to get there. As each turn came up, she shot a quick thought to Andy, who relayed it to Laura. Laura was several steps ahead of them past the third turn, when she suddenly sent to all of them, *Freeze, Timeline alert!*
The whole gang stopped in place and as they heard footsteps ahead of them, their Timeline ability flared yellow, then orange. A few seconds later they all flashed green and Laura sent, *OK to proceed.*
Jade sent, *Good job, Laura. Quick thinking to send to all of us. I sent that decoy to see how you’d react as a team when you couldn’t talk. Let’s keep moving!*
Andy and Jenna smiled at each other. This was exciting stuff!
The Assembly Hall turned out to be right below the main departures hall. There were scores of people in the assembly hall, coming and going, and as they glanced around, the faces of the people matched with their identities in the thought plane and the kids found out about visual identification. They could concentrate on a person and their name and other information would be available to them. With all of the enhancement inputs, they had to focus their attention to stay on their mission.
They entered a lift and it dropped them and opened on another hallway below them with a grand auditorium that seated perhaps two thousand people. At the moment it was mostly empty.
Jade sent, *Mission Accomplished! Great job today Watsons! You have only one more ability to use and then we get to run more simulations.*
Andy sent to them, *This is great. Can we hit recreation again?*
*Sure thing. You may want to check out Hula Hoops, Twister, Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots and learn how to dance The Twist.*
The kids were puzzled by these suggestions. Laura did some sending to TC and replied, *These were all popular in the early 1960’s. Does this have something to do with our first trip?*
Jade said, *Excellent research, Laura! Yes, it does. I can’t tell you any more than this, but if you want to fit in with other kids on your trip, you’ll have to know what they do to have fun. Now get going!*
The kids decided to invent a game on their way there, to test their new skills. Andy sent to TC for directions, and he headed off on his own. Laura followed 5 minutes later, and Jenna followed her just a few minutes after that, each one taking only mental images sent from the one ahead of them. It was tough to separate what they were seeing on their own from what their sibling was sending them, but it was a fun adventure, and they learned one more way to communicate using their abilities!
Chapter 26: Record and Playback
The next morning, all five Watsons met up with Jade for the last part of the kids’ training. They all made a pact to not speak to each other and to practice their new thought skills, which were proving to be quite fun. To make it more challenging, Laura fashioned blindfolds from the dinner napkins and the other four followed her on a long and winding path through Time Camp to Jade’s, using only Laura’s transmitted images from her eyes. There were a few bumps along the way, but they were learning to work quietly as a team and share thoughts without anyone else being aware.
Once a Jade’s office, they sat and Jade sent, *Great approach, Watsons! Today you learn how to record, review and brain dump. This is the most important skill as an observer. It’s the reason the enhancements were developed, and the reason why the five of you are here.*
Jenna sent, *We’re all very excited and ready to learn!*
Jade sent, *To record, simply send ‘ENHANCEMENT RECORDING ON’. Everyone try it now.*
All five complied. As Jenna sent her command, a bar at the top and bottom of her field of vision began blinking blue. She looked around the room and took the view of a fairly normal looking family and a small lady smiling. She spent perhaps a minute looking around Jade’s office.
Jade sent, *OK, now turn it off.* As Jenna turned it off, the blinking stopped, and a message came to her: %RECORDING SAVED, 1:12.05 DURATION. THINK ‘RECORDING ARCHIVE’ TO ACCESS.%
Jenna sent *Access Recording Archive.* Immediately the above entry appeared as the only item in the list. She mentally selected it and a menu appeared: %PLAY, ERASE, BRAIN DUMP, OR GO BACK?%
She thought, *Play.* Her experience was reproduced almost exactly. She found that she could slow it down, rewind it or speed it up. The playback took only seconds to experience, even though it was over a minute long.
Jade sent, *Now, everyone please brain dump this recording with no breaks.*
Jenna paused the playback and selected, *Brain Dump.*
TC asked, %ENTIRE OR PARTIAL?%
She selected *Entire*, and within about 5 seconds, the message %BRAIN DUMP COMPLETE% was sent.
After all six on the team had completed their brain dump, they all received a message, %BRAIN DUMP TRIANGULATED. VIEW COMPOSITE?%
Jenna sent, *Yes* and a full feed played back for her. She could switch perspectives to each of the six participants including her own, and she found she could pull out of the eyeball view and fly her perspective around the room. *So THAT’s how it works!* sent Jenna to everyone. They all smiled as they realized that they had made their first Watson Family Recording!
Jade sent, *You will generally all record as a team, so you’ll want to synchronize your recording starts and stops through communications. For the best fidelity, you’ll want to be as separated as you can be but still be in sight of one another and your subjects. Don’t get so far apart that any one of you could be put in danger, especially the kids. The conversations you send to each other and any TC or other enhancement traffic is saved on a separate channel and will not generally be integrated into the main recording, but be aware that they will be captured in the recording unless you specifically start the recording with instructions to suppress all enhancement traffic. And remember, at least three of you in sight of each other will make it a full recording, and that rates a bonus!*
The rest of the day, the family participated in several simulations and drills, designed to get them to communicate with each other about recording, to deal with Timeline and Biological alerts, and to download and utilize archive information to set up for an observation. And interestingly enough, they had to practice talking to each other as they thought back and forth, so they would not stand out in a crowd through their silence!
That night, they were all quite weary from the hours of physical and mental training they had completed as a team. They were closer than they had ever been as a family, and their skills as observers were improving hour by hour.
They chose a simple meal, and, as they were a bit homesick, they summoned an old-fashioned two dimensional “Television” style playback of a recorded b
roadcast and enjoyed it with popcorn and root beer floats.
Chapter 27: Preparations
The next day they awoke to a sent thought: %WATSON FAMILY, REPORT IN 60 MINUTES TO WARDROBE 12.% This sent the family into a virtual fire drill, with everyone rushing to be dressed and clean and fed before their deadline. Andy sent for directions, and they nervously exited their suite as he led the family to Wardrobe. As they entered area 12, they were met by Jade and a man she introduced as Max. He was tall, dark-haired and in his early forties and dressed in a thin grey suit, and he was all business. Jade told them that he was a trip master, and their stomachs knotted with tension.
Max started, “Watsons, I’ve watched your parents’ first mission and your training with pride. You work very well as a team and I think you’re ready for your first assignment.”
“It’s a very historic event that has been observed before, and we have people all over the site. But you won’t know them and they won’t know you, unless you stumble into a red placetime. We’ll be watching your reactions and how you work as a team. Are you all ready for your first trip?”
They looked each other, and though nervous, they were confident and excited. They thought to each other privately for a moment, and Laura spoke for the family, “We are proud to be chosen and we’re ready for our first assignment.”
Max smiled, and said, “Great! Right now I want you to all access and download Briefing Watson5-001.”
Laura sent, *TC, please access and download Briefing Watson5-001.*
%HOW EXCITING LAURA, YOUR FIRST TRIP! HERE IT COMES.% replied TC, and her head was filled with information, image, sounds and lots of context around a historic event that made her belly flutter with excitement. “The JFK assassination? Why that event?” asked Laura. Even before the Briefing, she understood the impact of President Kennedy’s death on 20th Century history.
“Several reasons,” said Max. “First, it’s close to your home time, so you won’t have a lot of cultural adaptation. Second, though we have several first hand recordings, we don’t have a full definition triangulated copy. And third, like I mentioned, this one has a bit of a safety net as there will be other travelers there in case something should happen.”
“As you learned in your briefing, you’ll be witnessing the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. It took place in Dealey Plaza in Dallas Texas at roughly 12:30 PM local time. There were over 30 cameras in that location, shooting film stills and moving pictures. You’ll particularly want to avoid being anywhere near the person or field of view of Abraham Zapruder, Orville Nix, Charles Bronson and Marie Muchmore, as they captured good footage of the actual shooting which was used extensively in the investigations that followed. The CIA from 1963 will have an abort team in the plaza, and Secret Service will be there as well, so don’t do anything to arouse suspicion. You’ll arrive a day early to acclimate and you will have good alibis in case you are questioned.”
“Here in Wardrobe 12, we’ll outfit you with clothing, identification documents, jewelry, toiletries and luggage appropriate to the era. Spend some time now reviewing the Dallas area layout in the briefing. You’ll be staying at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. You’ll enter Dallas via TimeStation 3 on Thursday November 21, and will return via the same TimeStation on Saturday November 23. Regular taxi will move you to and from the station, which is in an office building near the city center. If asked, you will tell outsiders you came in on Pan Am flight 1101from Pittsburgh on Thursday morning.”
“Tom, your cover is as a fabric salesman who travels extensively. I’m sending your business background via TC. Liz, you are not employed, but you work with sick children in your local hospital. Your accents will place you as northerners. Tell people you are from Erie, PA. You live on 404 West 6th street. Gentlemen, you will wear watches and hats and suits when you are out. Ladies, it will be dresses, head scarves, hats and sunglasses whenever possible, but don’t overdo it. Your clothes are upper middle class, and you are staying at a nice hotel. I don’t want to be able to recognize any of you in any historical images. Is that clear?”
The Watson family all nodded in acknowledgment. This was getting serious!
Max continued, “I know this seems fast, but we have found that a first assignment right out of training and simulation is always best, and you won’t have time to stew on it. So as soon as you are dressed and packed, head up to departures and be off. Any questions?”
Tom responded, “No Max, we are as ready as we’ll ever be.”
“Then let’s go. Adrian, show the ladies to the dressing rooms. Tom, Andy, come with me.”
Chapter 28: Dallas, 1963
The family moved from Wardrobe 12 with their suitcases in hand and purses for the ladies. They had sufficient cash to address their needs and knew that they could signal for more if the situation demanded it. They knew which business to avoid and which to choose from, and they were briefed on the news of the day, including fads, music, culture and politics. They also had a full library of historical information documenting the lead-up and follow-up of the event. The boys got a lesson in hair cream, and the ladies’ hair was done up in a puffy beehive style, popular for that age, except for Jenna, who got a bob hairdo. Andy got a real chuckle seeing his sisters and mom in bouffant dresses and tall hair.
As they entered the departures area, they began to feel very nervous. Approaching a desk, they were interrupted by Jake and Clay Johnson, in casual clothing.
“Hey Watsons! Off on your first trip?” asked Clay.
“Yes we are,” said Laura. “We’re a bit nervous, but we’re ready!”
Jake chimed in, “It’s an incredible experience, you’ll see. Good luck, and stay out of the red!”
“Thanks,” said Jenna, as they reached the desk. The Johnson boys continued across the great hall.
Tom cleared his throat and said, “Hello Rachel. Please set us up for Dallas Timestation 3, November 21st, 1963, 1100 local.”
Rachel responded, “Dallas TimeStation 3, it will have to be 1115. There’s a lot of time traffic that day, and we need the separation. Please use booth 81. Return in +1?”
Tom confirmed, “Booth 81, return in +1. Have a Good Day.”
Booth 81 was quite close to the departures desk, and within a minute they were inside, the blue indicators showing their target Placetime. Then the opposite door opened to an inner office with a secretary who looked up and said, “Hello Watsons, we’ve been expecting you.”
They exchanged pleasantries with Mary, the operator in Dallas 3. She reviewed their itinerary and summoned a cab for them. *Keep your communication up whenever you can. You can contact us here if an emergency arises*, sent Mary to the entire family. *The other operatives will be muted, and you should be on family privacy at all times. Good Luck!*
*Thank You,* replied Liz and the rest of the Watsons, as they headed to the outer office.
Leaving the office building, they were refreshed by a warm breeze and a bright Texas morning. A cabbie jumped to the curb and lifted the ladies’ suitcases into the open trunk.
“Kinda strange you coming out of that office with suitcases and all,” said the cabbie. Tom smiled and said, “I’m here on business, and my family came with me from the airport. The hotel said the room wouldn’t be ready until noon.”
“Makes sense to me I guess. Where to, Mac?”
“Sheraton Dallas, my usual,” said Tom.
*Piling it on a bit thick, aren’t we dear?* sent Liz, with a smile.
*I’m supposed to be a confident and successful businessman. Got to act the part!*
The boys sat in front, and the ladies enjoyed the spacious back seat. The cab ride was maybe ten minutes, during which time the Watsons were glued to the windows.
Laura sent, *Look at these old cars! It’s amazing how huge they are!*
Jenna followed up, *Yeah, but look at the ‘groooovy’ skirts those ladies have. This is the edge of the fashion era. Pretty soon everyone will be in miniskirts and pais
ley prints.*
Andy said, ‘I can’t believe how plain and simple things look. No neon, no graffiti, no huge billboards or video displays. And I can’t stand these itchy suits!*
Liz sent, *Get used to them, bub. The sixties weren’t invented for your comfort.*
The cabbie rattled on about the president’s upcoming visit, and Tom made small talk as the kids and Liz observed and thought to each other. Tom had to remind them to talk occasionally, to keep the cabbie from thinking that they were up to something.
So Laura asked her mom, “Do you think Jackie will be wearing wool or linen tomorrow?”
Liz said, “With this warm weather, I expect it will be a cooler fabric than wool. Tom, what do you think?”
Tom caught on and replied, “Well, linen is preferable to wool in warmer climates. Mrs. Kennedy has been known to wear Chanel suits, you may know.”
