It had been several days. The other had been coming and going. Kit spent her time talking with Doc about his adventures… Doc was happy to have someone to retell all his stories to. She’d become pretty adept at understanding him, since Doc’s stories had a way of drawing you in, such that you didn’t even notice the accent or mannerisms after a while.Eddy had been bringing her things to woe her over, like fresh fruit, flowers, & even candy. Rose had put him up to it, or at least she’d guided his efforts in towards such items. She use to love when John would bring her fruit & who didn’t like candy.

John had been back from his latest expedition for almost two days this time… he’d been spending sometime with Rose, catching up. He looked like he was about to head out again, he seemed to spend more time jumping than anyone else, like he was searching for something important… something he couldn’t let go of. He approached Kit, after getting his gear together. “Oh, before I forget… here. I got this, for you to keep your key on,” he said as he handed her a length of chain with a ring on either end… the kind your slide a key or a pocket watch onto. “It should be long enough to wrap around your waste, maybe through your belt loops, & attach the other end to one of the chain links. Even if you do manage to drop it somehow, you should notice.”

Kit put the key on first, then placed that end in her pocket. It was clear that she understood the importance of the Timepiece. Then she looped the chain around her waist, & attached the other end to the nearest link.

“John, I wanna go too… I think I’m ready to figure this out. How to control it.” Kit said.

“Of course, if you’re ready,” John replied.

“I’m ready,” she said, as she pulled the end of the chain with the key from her pocket.

“Let’s go back to the time you came from,” John said. “focus on the feeling you get when you hold the key, block everything else out. Don’t worry, I’ll follow you.” Kit nodded & closed her eyes.

“Who’s the fresh meat?” A new voice interrupted.

“Not now Frank,” John said. As Kit opened her eyes to see the stranger. He was wearing black sweat pants & a tank-top. His hands were wrapped like a boxer, but bloodied, & he had a towel hanging down over his neck.

“Kit,” Kit said.

“We were just leaving out,” added John, as if to cut any conversation short.

“Oh yeah, where to?” Frank asked, clearly ignoring John’s intent.

“Home… I think,” Kit said smiling just a bit.

“Now that’s unkind, isn’t it John?” Frank asked, clearly rhetorically.

“Huh,” Kit muttered, a bit confused.

“Not now,” John said. “It will only distract you, just focus on the key & forget everything else.” Kit closed her eyes again & nodded. John gave Frank a look of warning.

“When you get back, maybe we can spend some time together Honey,” Frank said, as he turned away. He was sure John was about to burst & hadn’t even noticed that Eddy had started sharpening his knives while glaring intently at him. But that was a conversation that would likely take place outside of Kit’s ear shot.

John, whispered softly to Kit, “Go home now.” That was clearly the feeling she got from the key, & this was not the time to explain that that was impossible… that came next.

To the Jumper its like suddenly being enveloped by a bright flash of light, everything else suddenly being washed away, as you’re untethered from reality. At that point your mind searches for something to grab onto, generally whatever is most prescient in your mind, & time fills in around it… drawing you into the reality of a new moment. To observers, it is as if a shadow disappeared from the corner of the eye. Even if one were looking straight at it, the mind simply re writes the moment into something ambiguous & fleeting. Traveler’s call this Time Masking, as seems to disguise short term memories. Fortunately, it has little effect on Travelers.

“We’re here,” John proclaimed. As she opened her eyes. “That experience is a little different than when you followed me, but it is essentially the same process. Only you must be careful to remain focused, or you could end up any where… like when you first Traveled. Without anything to hold onto the most real things become hopes & desires, finding such things can take to many places throughout time, seeking that which most closely matches your feelings. That is why you must focus your thoughts, even using facts to narrow your destination.” John paused to give her a chance to catch up with him, she was trying to take in her surroundings, as her mind tried to over come the disorientation. He knew how distracting this could be, but it was also possible that they did not have much time.

They were in a bed room, filled with the trapping of a young adult. If John had to guess, he would say it was the 80’s. Though he had been to future points where people surrounded themselves with the trappings of previous eras, so their was no way to be sure just from their immediate surroundings. He heard some one coming… he grabbed Kit, & pulled her into the nearby closet. It was four paneled, with Venusian slats, it folded open then closed again. they were stuffed in their with all manner of clothing & who knows what. John said, “we have to keep quiet for now. The door opened, & a young man walked in, he was dressed strangely, & seemed to be wearing make-up. He opened a drawer on his dresser, & took his wallet before leaving the room again.

“Was that my brother?” Kit asked. “Why are we hiding? I don’t understand”

“I know, I’ll explain.” John replied. “If he see us, it could summon the Paradox.” Kit figured as much, but didn’t understand why… wasn’t she home, where she was supposed to be. “This isn’t your home,” John continued. “Not the way you think anyway. This might be the time you came from, we just don’t know for sure. But if it is, you’re not from here anymore. It’s like you never existed, like you were erased. This is where your Paradox came is from. Even if its somewhere else, its always here as well, making sure every trace of you is erased… making sure you don’t return. If anyone sees you, if it touches any sense of familiarity in them, it will come for us. If you cause an incident, if you shock or distress someone, it will come. You must be very careful when you are here, but we should not stay, not this time. Takes us back, & remember Doc, 1973, the last thing you said to that man, Frank.”