Part 1
You gaze up at TIM's spheres in disbelief and are barely aware when he continues speaking.
"Paul, could you help Jay to the medicouch? I believe that he has survived a very traumatic experience."
The young man, Paul, does as TIM asks. John turns to stare at TIM.
"TIM? How is this possible? Jay doesn't look a day older!"
"There were many mysteries about Jay's dissapearence, John." TIM reminds him. "I always believed that were he dead you would have felt it."
"Guys." That was the young woman. "Some backstory, please?"
"I'm sorry, Elena." John apologises heavily. "This is just a bit of a shock."
You sit on the medicouch and listen as John tells his friends about today's events as if they happened a lifetime ago and, looking at him, you begin to realise that for him they did. From time to time he meets your eyes, questioning and anxious. From time to time in his story you flinch as you sip the energy boosting drink that TIM has materialised by your elbow. John's story winds down as he gets to the point where everything blew up.
"And that was the last we saw of Jay here. We searched, as soon as we could. We scoured hyperspace." Now he's talking to you directly. "We spent months linking and calling for you telepathically in case you'd reached safety somewhere. There was never any answer. We thought you'd been killed. What happened to you, Jay?"
"What happened to the others?" The words tumble out of you as you try to take in what John is saying. You left your friends in trouble, you find it hard to accept that any danger is long passed. "The other Tomorrow People? Are they safe? Where are they?"
There's a flash of pain in John's eyes and a guarded look in his eyes but he reassures you after no more than a slight hesitation.
"We all got safely home that day, Jay. You were the only one who was missing."
"None of the others are here at the moment." TIM adds and there is the same heavy feeling to his words.
Paul and Elena exchange looks. They know something about whatever is troubling their older friends and in unison they try to change the subject.
"And what about you, Jay?" Elena asks, her voice friendly.
"Yeah." Paul adds. "How did you end up here, kid?"
"Energy was crackling all around me." You tell them. "I tried to jaunt but some kind of energy pulse hit me and interfered. I was too tired and confused to jaunt properly. I got into hyperspace. By the time I could focus on getting back to the lab...I was here."
"Interesting." TIM notes, rolling the r in the word. "We have encountered the time displacing effects of hyperspace before."
John nods.
"Peter and his people." He agrees. He looks at you and for the first time a warm smile lights his face. "It's good to have you back, Jay."
*
The first night passes in a confused muddle. You've arrived late in the evening and after everything you've been through you're too tired to do more than fall asleep in one of the Lab's dormitories. When you wake, you lie still for several long moments before you hear TIM's voice.
"Good morning, Jay. And how are you feeling today?"
You think about it.
"Confused, TIM." You confide. "And a little scared."
"That is to be expected." The biotronic computer soothes. "Do not worry, Jay. The Tomorrow People will care for you." You take reassurance from the smooth, calm voice and sit up, looking around. The sleeping quarters are much as you remember them but here or there something reminds you of the jarring wrongness of it all. Here a poster of some completely unfamiliar celebrity in strange clothes, there a digital clock so small you can scarcely believe it, particularly when you notice the radio tuning dial along one side.
"What am I going to do, TIM?" You ask a little plaintively. The biotronic computer hesitates before replying.
"Of that I am uncertain." He admits. "John, Paul and Elena are in the main room, Jay. Why don't you join them?"
You pull on your clothes, freshly cleaned by TIM and take a deep breath. You enter the big room and are obscurely reassured by the familiar chicken emblem on the Cornflakes packet. So much else is strange to you but this one thing reminds you that things that existed long before you born will still be here in this brave new world.
The others greet you with welcoming smiles and enquiries about your health. Paul waves you to a place that has been laid beside him on the breakfast table.
"Pull up a seat." He invites. "And get stuck in."
You eat tentatively at first, aware of John's eyes on you although he never appears to be watching you when you look up. Then you begin to relax slightly. Elena is complaining about one of the women she works with, drawing the attention of the others away from you and you're grateful for that. You've just started the fried breakfast that TIM has rustled up for you when you become aware that the conversation has lulled.
John is watching you with a considering look in his grey eyes.
"Jay, things must seem very strange to you just at the moment. At some point we're really going to have to talk about what you want to do but for the moment I dont think you're ready for that."
You shake your head numbly. Your parents, home and friends all flash through your mind but you conciously push the thoughts aside.
"So what do you want to do today?" Paul interrupts. "You can come with me to college and have a look around if you like." He offers.
"I have to work." Elena tells you but she smiles warmly. "If you want to look around the town centre you can come with me though and pop in to see me if you get tired or bored."
"Or you could stay here with TIM and me." John adds thoughtfully. "The peace and quiet might do you good."
You think about it for a few moment, unsure what to do, before making up your mind.
Do you:
a) Go to college with Paul?
b) Go into the town with Elena?
c) Stay in the Lab with John and TIM?
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