Chapter 11

ONE week had passed since Julius Caesar was murdered. But for Calpurnia more time had passed for her. Twice she traveled into the future. The first time as an unwilling passenger but the second time to accompany Jules and Verne who were helping Marty after he was injured. And then those two weeks there while the DeLorean was being repaired. But now she was back and it was time for her to say goodbye to the two women who brought her home. Earlier in the morning, while Jennifer was resting, Clara and Calpurnia had the DeLorean pulled out of storage while it was still cloaked. And then, using the remote, Clara flew it to the outskirts of the city and landed it across the Tiber after which they returned home before anyone rose.

Jennifer was still sad-faced when she woke up. She was given some wine to drink in order for her to sleep but when she woke up, she had the same hangover when she was in Florence, Italy. But this time she was lucky. This time Tylenol was bought along for the trip. Giving her some, Jennifer to them before the servants came in to dress them. The pills were kicking in when they did arrive. This time Pricilla was with them.

“So.” she said, “I heard you’re leaving us to go back to herding sheep.”

“That’s right.” said Jennifer, “McFlius is all yours.”

“As it should be.” said Priscilla, “Just to let you know, you can’t mess with destiny. It was destiny that brought us together.”

“I’ll remember that.” said Jennifer.

After they were all dressed, Calpurnia came in and dismissed the servants.

“Are you all set to go?” she asked.

“We are.” said Clara, “Thanks for your hospitality.”

“And I would like to thank you for yours.” said Calpurnia, “And another look at the future. Tell your husband I sent my love.”

“I will.” said Clara.

Turning to Jennifer, Calpurnia said “Jennifer. I hope Marty gets better.”

“I hope so too.” said Jennifer tearfully.

“Jennifer.” said Calpurnia, “Don’t cry. Marty will be fine.”

“It’s not Marty.” said Jennifer, “It’s McFlius.”

There no words, no responses to this. Just a Jennifer in tears.

++++++

Jennifer got over her cry when they reached the DeLorean across the Tiber. After getting in, Clara set the time circuits for March 25, 44 B.C. and the destination Rome.

“Clara.” asked Jennifer, “What are you doing?”

“Well Marty was going to buy you a get well gift before all what happen happened.” explained Clara, “That order should be in by Wednesday.”

“I see.” said Jennifer as the car lifted off the ground and through the time barrier.

After setting the car down, Clara got out and said “Wait here, Jennifer. I’ll be right back.”

“Alright.” said Jennifer and Clara left.

A few minutes left and Clara hadn’t returned. Tired of waiting, Jennifer got out and went to the street. She caught a glance at Calpurnia’s house across the way. Somewhere in there McFlius was working.

“So you have returned haven’t you, shepherdess.”

Jennifer turned to see who it was. It was Priscilla.

“Priscilla.” she said.

“I hope you’re satisfied.” said Priscilla, “McFlius has joined Octavius Caesar and Mark Antony in the army against the conspirators.”

“He didn’t.” said Jennifer.

“But he did.” said Priscilla, “He said that he’s doing it to forget you. Fortunately, we got married before he could leave.”

“When will that be?” asked Jennifer.

“Well he has to be in training first.” said Priscilla, “I hope that you’re satisfied, shepherdess.”

After she left, Jennifer went back to the DeLorean and got in.

That battle against the conspirators. she said to herself, It took place in Philippi in the year 42 B.C.

Getting over to the driver’s side, she set the time circuits for October 26, 42 B.C. But before she could finish, Clara came back.

“Alright, Jennifer.” she said, “It’s time to go home.” Then, she noticed Jennifer in the driver’s seat and asked “Are your sure you’re going to be alright to drive?”

“I’m sure.” said Jennifer, “Anything to take my mind off of McFlius.”

“Alright.” said Clara going over to the passenger side to get in. Being handed the keys, Jennifer lifted the car off the ground and activated the time circuits. “Jennifer.” said Clara, “Wait you haven’t inputted the destination time of place yet.” But her pleas fell on deaf ears.

The car sped up to 88 mph and through the time barrier.

Within minutes they found themselves still over Rome. But the weather had changed.

“Still over Rome.” said Clara.

“Are you going to ask me when?” asked Jennifer.

“Well, when?”

“October 26, 42 B.C.” said Jennifer, “I think the battle at Philippi is over and I would like to see if McFlius had survived.”

“But.” protested Clara but already Jennifer steered the car toward Calpurnia’s house.

Within minutes, they were over the back yard and there was a group bunched together. Jennifer landed the car and got out and approached this group with Clara following. What she saw was a sad sight. Priscilla was sitting there surrounded by her fellow servants and being comforted by her mistress Calpurnia.

“What happened?” asked Jennifer.

All eyes looked up.

“Jennifer.” said Calpurnia.

Priscilla broke free and approached Jennifer. This time she was pregnant.

“McFlius is dead.” she said “See what you’ve done shepherdess.”

Upon hearing this, Jennifer burst into tears.

“No.” she said.

Clara got a hold of her as Calpurnia said “You’d better take her home.”

“I will.” said Clara as she escorted Jennifer back to the DeLorean.

After getting her into the passenger side of the car, Clara took the keys from her and got into the driver’s seat. After setting the time circuits for April 1, 1988 1:33 a.m. the place Hill Valley, California, she lifted the car off the ground and flew it into the time barrier.

After the light dissipated, they found themselves over the familiar surroundings of Hill Valley. But even this wasn’t going to be soothing for Jennifer having known about McFlius’s death. Clara steered the car towards Jennifer’s house.

After setting the car down in the driveway, Clara said “You’re home.” But Jennifer wasn’t ready to get out. She was still crying. “Jennifer.” said Clara, “You’ve got to let him go. This happened a long time ago and he might’ve been killed anyway.”

“That’s assuring.” said Jennifer trying to dry a tear from her eyes.

“And you still got Marty.” said Clara.

“But for how long?” asked Jennifer, “What if he never comes out of his coma, then what?”

“Jennifer.” said Clara, “You know what my husband said: The future hasn’t been written yet. You’re going just pray and hope.”

“I will.” said Jennifer. They both embraced each other. And then, Jennifer got out saying “Clara. Care to come in?”

“No.” said Clara, “I’ve got to go home now.”

“But I’m still wearing my shepherdess outfit.” said Jennifer.

Clara paused for a minute. And then, she said “You could bring it over to our place tomorrow. Good night, Jennifer.”

“Good night, Clara.” said Jennifer.

After both doors closed, the DeLorean sped away back to Doc’s house as Jennifer went back to hers via the side.

++++++

Good Friday came and went as did Holy Saturday. During this time Jennifer returned the shepherdess’s outfit to the Browns but she was still saddened by the news of McFlius’s death. She talked to the McFly’s and asked them about Marty but there was still no change. This was not helping Jennifer any. She had hope that her job at Burger King would help ease the pain but that didn’t help either.

Finally in the wee hours of Easter morning, she couldn’t take it anymore.

Jennifer got out of her nightgown and into her street clothes. And then, she got out through the window and headed for her car and drove off to Doc’s house. Upon arriving, she went to the side of the house and reached the outsides of the lab. Bending down to lift the mat she picked up the key and unlocked the door and went in. She was greeted by the barking noise of Einstein.

“Einstein.” she said, “It’s me! Jennifer. Hush! Be quiet.”

It was no use. Einstein’s barking was so loud that Jennifer was afraid that Doc and his family would be awaken by it. Spying the packets of manure and the keys to the DeLorean, she went over to pick them up and loaded Mr. Fusion. And then, she opened the car door and got in.

++++++

Doc and Clara were immediately alerted to Einstein’s barking.

“Emmett.” asked Clara, “What is it?”

Doc got out of bed immediately saying “Wait here, Clara. I’ll go investigate.”

Putting on his robe and slippers, he first started off to his boy’s bedroom to pick up one of their baseball bats. And then, he went to his lab where Einstein was. Opening the door ajar, he looked in. To his horror he saw the DeLorean lifting off the ground and through the ceiling which was now opened.

Doc rushed in saying “Stop thief.”

But it was too late. The car was now in the open air clear of the roof and flew off into a brilliant flash of light leaving behind a pair of fire trails.

Doc closed the roof and told Einstein “Einy, it wasn’t your fault. I know you did your best. And now it’s up to me.”

Turning on the VCR, he viewed what was just taped and saw who it was.

“Great Scott.” he said, “Jennifer!”

Immediately, he went over to a panel monitoring the destination times and places each of his time machines were set for. Coming across the indicator for the DeLorean, it read:

Destination Time:
OCT 10 42 B.C. 8:00 a.m.

Destination Location:
Philippi, Macedonia

“Emmett.”

Doc turned around to see Clara.

“Clara.” he said “I thought I told you to stay put.”

“But I heard a loud noise outside like a sonic boom.” said Clara.

“It was the DeLorean.” said Doc, “Jennifer for some reason has taken it back into time.”

“Jennifer?.” exclaimed Clara, “But to where and when?”

“According to this,” said Doc viewing the DeLorean indicator, “Philippi, Macedonia, October 10, 42 B.C. 8:00 a.m.”

Just then, Clara remembered something.

“McFlius.” she said.

“What?” asked Doc.

“McFlius.” said Clara, “Jennifer said McFlius took part in the battle of Philippi and didn’t survive.”

“You mean that same battle in which Octavius Caesar and Mark Antony took on Brutus and Cassius?”

“Yes.” said Clara.

“Great Scott!” said Doc, “She’s going back there to risk her life to save McFlius. I may have to go back there and stop her.”

“But how?”

Doc looked at the limousine saying “I’ll use the limousine. I just added the AD-BC indicator to the time circuits.”

“But you haven’t tested it yet.” said Clara.

“I know.” said Doc, “It’s risky right now but I have no choice. If Jennifer goes back there and prevents McFlius from being killed she’ll return to a different future perhaps a terrible one.”

“What about you, Emmett?” asked Clara, “You can’t go back to 42 B.C. with the AD-BC indicator yet untested. What if I never see you again?”

Doc paused. And then he said “Clara. Go wake up the boys. If I’m not back with Jennifer within five minutes after leaving 1988, I want you to load the fusion generator on the train and go as far back in time as you can. At least you three would be happy somewhere in the past. And remember, Clara. I will love always and always will think about you and the boys no matter where I wind up.”

“Emmett.” said Clara, “You’ll need someone to come along with you. If you succeed in stopping Jennifer, she’ll refuse to go back with you and if that happens, one of the time machines will have to be left behind.”

“Which means one of the time machines will have to be destroyed to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.” said Doc.

Then, Clara hit on an idea.

“Emmett.” she said, “There’s someone else who knows how to time travel.”

“Who?” asked Doc.

“Clara.” said Doc, “That’s out of the question. She doesn’t even know how to drive.”

“Yes she does.” said Clara, “Jennifer taught her the day after we arrived in 44 B.C. Or she tried until I stopped her.”

Doc looked at her before saying “Excellent. Clara, Jennifer just solved a problem of having to leave one of the time machines behind. All I have to do is to first go to Calpurnia’s house, explain to her what happened and have her come along with me.”

After that, he turned around and headed to the limousine and got in. Setting the time circuits for November 22, 42 B.C. 3:00 p.m. and the place Rome, he activated the hover circuits, pushed the button to open the roof and lifted the car off the ground through the roof and into the night all the while looking down at his wife Clara. Once he was clear of the roof, he looked skyward not wanting to look down at Hill Valley for he did not want to know whether or not what effect had Jennifer had done to history by her meddling with the past. Immediately, he put his foot down on the gas pedal and accelerated the car of to 88 mph and through the time barrier.

End of Chapter 11

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