Sitting alone in his small office with the sounds of Pachebel's Canon drifting across the air, Sellers caught up on his reading . The manual marked "TOP SECRET" looked worn after countless times being read. The pages were dog-eared with stains of yellow highlighter marking various formulas and mathematical equations. "Kearny and Fuchida, those poor idealistic bastards. They'll probably never get credit for this." Placing the manual down to change his CD, he heard a knock. "Yes, what is it?"
A female lab assistant opened the door, "Sir, the tapes are ready for viewing."
"Good. Mason, I want you and the rest of the research staff to view this."
"The staff is already together," replied Mason
Sellers and Mason left the office for the viewing room. Once there, Sellers sat by the video control board. "Are the tapes synchronized with each other?"
"Yes, sir. We also have a time clock placed in the display."
"Excellent, I want the main tape of him by the escalator on the large screen."
The technician continued his preparations ensuring the playback will loop, the lights dimmed down and all the monitors showed the same scene from the mall's food court in five different angles. The staff watches with complete amazement at the events recorded on the tape. Even after the tape was slowed down as far as it could possibly go, the time elapsed display read 00min:00sec:0012.
Seller stood up looking at the five member staff. "Are there any questions?"
They all look to one another until a small frail looking man stands up. "How do we know that he's responsible. I'm not saying that nothing happened at the mall to all those women, but are we sure he did it?"
Seller's had the tape rewound and went at it frame by frame. "There. Can you see it?" Pointing at Joel's image. "Look at his legs, for barely this one frame, his legs are transparent. He moved, Mr. Nestor. He moved and stripped all those women in a span of time so small that it can barely be measured in the physical sense we measure time. He did all that." The tape jumped back to normal time showing the people at the food court acting normal for a second before realizing what had just happened to them. "With time to spare."
Enjoying a new sense of freedom, Joel dials up his cellphone. "Hi, did I wake you? Look honey, how about we eat out tonight. What was that place you always wanted to go to?.... No, the fancy one.... Yeah that's it..... Well get dressed..... I want to sweep you off your feet tonight..... Don't worry. I planned this out. We have reservations.... I love you, and I'm sorry..... What do you mean for what?....Just on general principles okay?.....Good, see you there at eight. I have to stop by the hangar and give Dennis my report on that DC-3."
Sellers poured over the theories given to him by the others. One suggested that somehow during the last firing of the reactor, an escaped particle embedded itself to him just as it reached its half-life. The theory of particle acceleration, according to Kearny and Fuchida's research, clearly shows an anomaly where a particle possessing mass could possibly break the speed of light. The problem is the fact that the reaction could only sustain itself for only a fraction of a second like a flash of static electricity. It exists but there's no way to sustain or store it. The phone ring brought Sellers out his pensive trance. "Sellers."
"Sir, this is Branson. The people you sent are here with the equipment. What are your recommendations? "
"I need to know how he makes the transition. Is it a reflex or does it require concentration? Plus if there are any after effects when he transitions back? The best way to determine this is up to you. I suggest for you to either stage some sort of accident or threat to his life, but make certain it appears as a random event. I don't want him to get paranoid. Is that clear, Mr. Branson?"
"Crystal." Branson hung up the cellphone and pulled out his palm-pilot. The display showed a red dot heading in the direction of the airport. Putting it away, Branson looks over the surveillance equipment. "What's this for, Anna?"
Patting a medium size case, Anna Mason brushed Branson's hand off the case. "It's a high speed camera. It can take up to 10,000 frames per second digitally. It the same type used for special effects.
Branson ignored the brush off while smiling. "Good, from the sound of it. You're going to need it."
Mason made sure that everything checked out, "How are you going to goad him to make the transition?"
He tapped a 9mm pistol strapped under his jacket. "You'll see darling."
"You're not going to shoot him? That's not necessary."
"Look, you worry about your cameras working 'cause I don't want to do this again." Branson sneered as he pulled out the pistol's magazine. Carlton walks up beside him. "They're going out tonight."
Branson snapped the magazine back into the pistol. "Perfect."
Joel pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant still wearing his mechanic's coveralls. Janice sat outside on a nearby bench wearing a short shoulderless above knee black cocktail dress with a single strand pearl necklace that matched perfectly with her complexion.
"Honey, you got here early. " They kissed each other. "What's wrong?"
"They say we don't have a reservation." She said looking sad.
"Don't worry. I'll fix it." Joel pulled off his coverall's showing Janice the suit she always thought made Joel look regal, classic straight cut charcoal gray three piece. Joel walks into the restaurant and twinges his brow causing everything to stop. He walks into the hosting room. Looking over the reservation book now with his name written in with the appropriate markings of a good customer he guessed from the other listings. Joel walked out and restarts time with a slight thought.
"Let go inside." Taking Janice by her hand. The maitre'd shook his head in disbelief at the reservation book. Soon afterwards Joel and Janice spent the whole night eating, drinking and talking about their future together. The lights were low making Janice's smile that much brighter. "Hmm that meal was absolutely wonderful. I'm not going to be able eat anything for the next week."
"So I take it your in a good mood."
"Yes, but more so after I powder my nose. Why don't you order me an eclair." She took a final sip of port wine and headed for the bathroom
A few minutes later, the maitre'd walked up to Joel's table. "Sir, May I give you a hint on how to win your lady's heart?"
"Uh, sure."
"It would do you some good to save her from that young man over there who won't let her pass."
Joel followed the maitre'd's pointed finger over to the hosting room. A good 10 years his junior and all primped up like some young CEO. The young man blocked Janice from entering the dining hall. Joel put down his napkin and flew to the rescue.
Joel taps the Casanova lightly on the shoulder. "I believe the lady would like to pass."
Sneering more because of the booze in his breath the impudent man responded, "Why, what's it to you?"
"She's my date, that's why." Joel balled up his hands, getting them ready if needed.
The two men faced each other, sizing the other up. "Hey sorry man. I thought she was solo."
"No problem." Janice hooked onto Joel's arm.
Janice felt a bit warm. Joel had never shown that much controlled anger. "Honey, I'm so proud of you."
"For what?"
"For not beating him. When I first met you, you were so hot-blooded. Now look at you. You're like another person."
"And I have the Janice Cheng School of Etiquette to thank for."
Janice beamed a warm welcoming smile at Joel. The two returned for desert. The maitre'd, thankful for no violence, gave the desserts as a gift.
The Casanova sat at the bar holding up a drink and winked at Janice. Joel's cheeks flushed red. Janice took Joel's hand. "Please, don't spoil tonight."
"I would never do such a thing." At that moment a scream was heard across the room. Mr. Casanova had raised his glass to Janice only to poke himself in the eye with the swizzle stick. When he stood up, his dark gray slacks dropped to the ground revealing a pair of forest green velvet panties. The room erupts with laughter at the outrageous sight.
"Let's go outside." Joel and Janice walked out after paying the bill and Joel tipping rather well behind Janice's back. Feeling a chill from the night air, Janice snugs closer to Joel for warmth as the two of them walk to a nearby park. Once inside the park grounds, Joel breaks away from her taking to one knee. Joel takes Janice's right hand and places it against his heart. "Something happened. Something wonderful. I can't say yet what it is, but I know I'm ready to make it with you. I know you want to start up your private practice, but you don't have the money yet. Well, that's all about to change." Wide-eyed with the sudden surprise at the proposal, Janice leapt onto Joel making the couple fall on to the grass.
"All right, hand over your wallets!" Wearing a pull over ski mask, jeans and a black tee shirt Branson waves his gun at the couple. Not wanting to take any chances, Branson kept a small distance between himself and Joel. "Come on! Hand over your fucking wallets!"
Hearing Anna's voice through his earpiece. "He's not doing anything." Branson takes aim at Janice's face. "NOW BI....."
Branson never knew what hit him. It felt to him like slamming into a brick wall face first.
Janice prayed at the sight of the gun barrel staring down at her. Then all of a sudden her vision blurs and she feels an arm clamped around her waist. "What happened!"
Joel continued running with Janice slung over his shoulder. "I kicked that fucker's ass."
"How? I didn't see you do anything!" Joel lets Janice down and shoves her into her car. "Get out of here! Now!" Joel pulls out the mugger's pistol from his waist.
"You have his gun?! How?!"
Joel slammed his fist on the car hood. "GO NOW!!"
Janice started her car and peeled out of the parking lot. Joel ran back to the park, 9mm ready. "FUCK!" The mugger was nowhere to be found.
A van parked nearby the park pulled out of its parking space. "Holy shit! Look at his face." Branson's face was already swelling up from the pelting he had just received. "I want that son of bitch. Dammit! I never saw him move!"
Anna Mason was busy typing up a storm on her laptop. "It's no surprise you didn't see him move." Going over the data still being processed by the laptop. "Magnificent, absolutely magnificent. Get me back to the lab." Anna linked her laptop to the dataport jack in her cellphone and tapped the upload button on her monitor screen.