HOURS passed. It was almost dawn outside when the bulk of the research was done. At one point, Calpurnia ran across a picture of woman bearing the resemblance of Lorrainia. It was Maggie McFly. Marty’s great, great grandmother. However her husband was not Seamus. It was someone else. It was another McFly which meant that there was no William McFly, which meant there was no Doug McFly, meaning no George McFly and if there was no George McFly there would be no Marty. They also learned from Plutarch that McFlius was made a Roman governor in the province Dalmatia by Octavius Caesar who was now Augustus and emperor of the Roman Empire. The McFlius family retained that fame down through the generations until the first McFly was born in America. And then the disaster that not only did in the country but the world as well.
“Oh the gods.” said Calpurnia, “All this because of what Jennifer did.”
“Precisely.” said Doc.
Just then, Jennifer woke up.
“Boy did I sleep.” she said, “What time is it?”
“It’s almost dawn, Jennifer.” said Doc, “Listen, we have to go back to 42 B.C. and make sure McFlius dies.”
“Dies?” exclaimed Jennifer, “But why?”
“This is why.” said Doc showing her the book of Plutarch’s Lives.
Jennifer read it. “So they were able to have more kids.” she said, “So what?”
“There wasn’t supposed to be any more children by those two.” said Calpurnia, “After McFlius died, Priscilla died of a broken heart during childbirth.”
“And you want it that way again, right?” said Jennifer.
“Precisely!” said Doc showing Jennifer some photos, “Look what happens centuries later.”
Jennifer studied the photos. She said the photo of Maggie McFly and the man with her and said “That’s not Seamus McFly.”
“Precisely!” said Doc, “That’s a cousin of his. His ancestor was another of McFlius’s sons that Priscilla bore him.”
“Which means Marty was never born.” said Jennifer.
“That’s not all.” said Doc, “This McFly and Maggie became parents of this McFly and named him Shane. He was the first McFly born in America. He used his fame as a descendant of a Roman governor to advance in politics.” Showing her a 1932 newspaper, he said “Look what finally happened.”
Jennifer did. It read:
McFLY ELECTED
Defeats FDR in a landslide.
“A McFly in the White House?” asked Jennifer, “I don’t believe it.”
“And wasn’t to be.” said Doc, “This McFly was the descendents of the later McFlius’s that was conceived by McFlius and Priscilla. And this was the same McFly that Maggie bore in this reality.”
“Alright.” said Jennifer, “This McFly got elected over FDR. What’s the big deal.”
“He was elected during the Great Depression.” said Doc, “He was nominated on the Republican ticket because the GOP fell of favor with Herbert Hoover because they too blamed him for plunging the country into that recession. And since this McFly was a descendent of one of the greatest Romans of all time, he had clout.”
“Alright.” said Jennifer, “So I help make the McFly name famous. What does this have to do with the shape Hill Valley is in?”
“This McFly was elected on family fame only.” said Doc, “However, he didn’t have the same ideas that FDR had to stop the Depression. In fact, he did absolutely nothing about it. As a result, the country got deeper into the Depression to the point that no president could bring it out of it. Because of that, the United States became a third world country and since the world depends on the US, there was a global economic collapse.”
Jennifer put her head in her hand asking “Why did I ever lay eyes on McFlius?”
“Because it was decided when I was returned to Rome that you would come along for the ride.” said Calpurnia, “Remember, you were suffering from bulimia and then Marty was wounded. You needed some cheering up.”
Jennifer sat back in her chair. “All this because of my eating disorder. Why did I let my confrontation with Count Tannenio get to me?”
“Everybody makes mistakes, Jennifer.” said Doc, “Everybody.”
Just then, Jennifer sat up as if something had just came to her mind.
“Pudge.”
Both Doc and Calpurnia looked at Jennifer.
“I beg your pardon.” said Doc.
“Pudge.” repeated Jennifer, “They called me ‘Pudge.’”
“Who did?” asked Doc.
“Some kids a long time ago in grade school.” said Jennifer, “Before I met Marty.” She started to smile. “It’s coming back, all of it.” she said, “When I was young, I was fat. Kids teased me and called me ‘Pudge’. So I started to pig out. I made myself so sick I wound up in the hospital. And now…”
“…and now the encounter with Tannenio had restarted it again.” said Doc, “When you lost your memory the day you crashed my wedding with Clara, that was lost as well.”
“Yes.” said Jennifer, “The doctors said it could take years before my memory was fully restored. And now the memory of that unfortunate past has been restored.”
“Don’t lose that part of your memory, Jennifer.” said Doc, “You’ll need it for your therapy session Wednesday.”
“I won’t Doctor Brown, I won’t.” said Jennifer, “Talk about perfect timing.”
“But first we have to go back to 42 B.C. and undo the damage you did when you saved McFlius’s life.” said Doc.
“Doctor Brown.” asked Jennifer, “Wouldn’t it be better if we just make them both sterile after their firstborn so they couldn’t have anymore children?”
“No it’s not.” said Doc, “History said that McFlius died in battle and Priscilla died in childbirth. We must make sure that it happens that way.”
Jennifer shrugged. “As Marty would say,” she said “‘You’re the doc, Doc.’”
“We’ll take some of this with us.” said Doc picking up the 1932 newspaper and Plutarch’s Lives book and giving them to Calpurnia and Jennifer, “And put the rest away.”
After all the reading materials were put back into their proper perspectives, Doc went picked up the cleaner and went with the women back to the time machines. As he was putting the cleaner back into the DeLorean, Jennifer and Calpurnia got a glimpse of Hill Valley in the dawn’s early light. The buildings and houses were old with peeled paintings and broken windows. The lawns were either bare or had brown grass. Indeed the city looked dead. And there were some buildings still standing instead of being torn down by progress.
“Oh my God.” said Jennifer, “What have I done?”
“I’ll bet you that there’s no one around.” said Calpurnia, “We read that towns like this became deserted.”
“All this because I saved McFlius’s life.” said Jennifer.
“Alright.” said Doc, “We’re all set to go. We’ll take the DeLorean.”
“Doctor Brown.” asked Jennifer, “What about the limousine? We can’t just leave it here.”
“Don’t worry, Jennifer.” assured Doc, “Assuming that we succeed in our mission, the 1988 that we’ll leave it behind in will once again become our 1988 transforming around it.”
“And if we don’t succeed?” asked Calpurnia.
“We must succeed.” said Doc.
The three got into the DeLorean and went back in time.
Monday, October 10, 42 B.C.
7:55 a.m.
Philippi, Macedonia.
The DeLorean appeared over the same spot it appeared the first time. Only this time it was five minutes earlier.
“Alright, Jennifer.” said Doc giving her the sleep inducer, “In five minutes, you’ll arrive here to save McFlius. The moment you do, you get out and intercept yourself and use the sleep inducer on you.” Doc looked her straight in the eye and said “You know which you I’m talking about right?”
“Yes I do, Doctor Brown.” said Jennifer.
“Meanwhile, me and Calpurnia will be waiting nearby.” said Doc, “Once you sleep induce you, we’ll come over to help you get you back into the DeLorean that you first came in and leave the unconscious you there for me and Calpurnia to pick up when we first arrive here. That way, if the ‘us’ that first arrives here finds you in that car, we don’t have to chase you down in our attempt to stop you.”
“Which means you don’t try to escape from those soldiers who were chasing you down”, said Calpurnia, “because you never had the chance to enter the field of battle in order to save McFlius.”
Doc gave Calpurnia a baffled look. But then, he recalled the muffled sounds of soldiers shouting when he was communicating with Calpurnia about Jennifer being rescued.
Meanwhile, Jennifer said “Which means the 1988 you two return me to will be our 1988 instead of the other 1988.”
“Precisely.” said Doc.
Just then, there were two flashed of light followed by a couple of sonic booms. Doc put on his infra-red visor and said “It’s the DeLorean.” Handing Jennifer another pair and a sleep inducer, he said “Get out and sneak over there. When your other self gets out sleep induce her, I mean you.”
Jennifer looked at them and said “No!”
“What?” exclaimed Doc.
“You heard me, Doctor Brown.” said Jennifer, “I won’t do it. McFlius doesn’t deserve to die.”
“Jennifer.” said Calpurnia, “You must.”
“Look who’s talking.” said Jennifer, “Calpurnia, I spared McFlius’s life by shooting an arrow into the heart of Brutus. Your husband’s murder.” Calpurnia was shocked over this and the fact that Jennifer had to say it. But Jennifer went on. “You should be happy that I avenged your husband’s murder.” she said.
“Oh it will be avenged alright”, said Calpurnia, “in the way history wrote it. Now get out there and stop yourself.”
“We’re too late, Calpurnia.” said Doc, “The other Jennifer got out and now she’s running towards the field of battle.”
He was about to turn on the ignition when Jennifer asked “What are you doing?”
“We’re going to intercept your other self.” said Doc.
“No!” said Jennifer grabbing the keys from Doc, “Let McFlius live! Non-existence for Marty is better than seeing him lie in a hospital bed comatose.”
Calpurnia looked on as she saw the struggle for the keys commenced. Then, she remembered that she still had the sleep inducer she used on Jennifer the first time she was here. She reached into her stole and pulled it out and used it on Jennifer again.
After seeing Jennifer slump down, Doc said “Thanks Calpurnia.”
“As you would say in your century,” said Calpurnia, “‘Don’t mention it.’”
Just then, another flash of light followed by sounds of a sonic boom was heard.
“Our other selves,” said Doc, “They’re here.”
“What do we do?” asked Calpurnia.
“The only thing we can do.” said Doc setting the time circuits, “Go into the field of battle and find Brutus and McFlius. Jennifer said Brutus could have killed him had she not intervene. If my assumption is correct, they must have engaged each other in hand-to-hand combat. All we have to do is find those two and use them as the hub of our search for Jennifer.”
Activating the time circuits, Doc lifted the car off the ground and accelerated up to 88 mph.
Monday, October 10, 42 B.C.
8:15 a.m.
Philippi, Macedonia.
The field of battle.
The DeLorean appeared over the battlefield. Using the binoculars, Calpurnia scanned the area for Brutus and McFlius.
“Do you see anything?” asked Doc.
“Negative.” said Calpurnia, “I can’t tell who’s who with all the armor on. Brutus and McFlius will be hard to…hold it! I see someone I recognize.”
“Where?” asked Doc.
“Over there.” said Calpurnia pointing to a spot and giving Doc the binoculars.
“First, I’ll steer the car towards to the person you’re pointing to.” said Doc, “I’ll try not to get too close to the action.” After getting closer, Doc used the binoculars and said “That’s Brutus alright. But where’s McFlius?”
Calpurnia looked around. Then, she spotted someone.
“I think I see him.” she said, “Give me the binoculars.” Doc did. Calpurnia peered through. “That’s him.”
“Good.” said Doc, “Now look for Jennifer.”
Calpurnia did. And then “I see her. And she’s got a crossbow. Oh the gods, I just remembered.” She looked up from the binoculars and looked at Doc saying “She’s at using crossbow. She slew a deer with it.”
“Great Scott!” said Doc, “That’s from learning to do it at a Seven-Eleven. She and Marty used to do that when they were a lot younger playing video games.”
“Video games.” said Calpurnia, “It’s one of those…”
“Never mind that now, Calpurnia.” said Doc, “We have to stop Jennifer.”
Seeing Jennifer load the crossbow and taking aim at Brutus, Doc dove the car down until it was between Jennifer and her target. Brutus was about to thrust his sword into McFlius’s heart when Jennifer let fly an arrow. The car, while still invisible, deflected the arrow into the air and landed harmlessly on the ground. Brutus thrust his sword downward.
“No!” cried Jennifer. Immediately, she burst into tears.
Calpurnia could not bear to look. Brutus was still alive but McFlius was dead. But it was what had to be done to restore history. Doc looked down however. Jennifer stood there crying. Just then, the soldiers converged on her.