CALPURNIA finally looked out again and saw what Doc saw.

“Doctor Brown.” she asked, “What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know.” said Doc, “I felt so helpless in my life.”

Just then, Jennifer looked up. The soldiers were converging on her.

“Run Jennifer.” said Doc under his breath but he knew it would fall on deaf ears and he couldn’t stick his head out of the window to tell Jennifer thus.

“Doctor Brown.” asked Calpurnia, “What are we going to do?”

Looking at the Jennifer they had in the DeLorean, Doc said “The only thing we can do to give that Jennifer a chance to escape: Run down a few soldiers.”

Just then, the Jennifer on the ground started to run.

“She’s getting away.” said Calpurnia.

Doc said nothing as he steered the car towards her in pursuit. The chase lasted until Jennifer arrived at the spot where the other Calpurnia picked her up. Then the Jennifer on the ground stopped. She was reaching up for something as the soldiers approached Just then, one of the soldiers threw a spear causing Jennifer to duck. And then, there she was right on cue: The other Calpurnia had arrived to pick her up which she did after sticking her head out the window causing the men to fall back.

While that drama was going on, Doc picked up the photo of McFlius and Priscilla. The tops of their heads started to vanish.

“Calpurnia.” he said, “Look at this!”

Calpurnia did. “McFlius and Priscilla.” she said, “Their heads are starting to erase. No wait! Their heads are gone and it’s going down their bodies.” Doc grabbed the picture from her and looked at it as she was saying “It’s as if they’re being erased.”

Doc looked up from the picture and at Calpurnia saying “Erased from existence.”

Finally, both McFlius and Priscilla were completely gone. Calpurnia picked up Plutarch’s Lives and thumbed through the pages.

“Doctor Brown.” she said, “I can’t find McFlius anywhere in this book.”

Doc grabbed it from her and looked through it himself. Then, he said “That’s because there’s nothing to write about him. He didn’t live long enough to be famous or father anymore children.”

They both looked at the photo of Maggie McFly and her husband. But this time the husband was once again Seamus McFly which meant that William McFly, not Shane, was to be the first McFly born in America.

Finally, Doc looked at the 1932 newspaper and said “Yes, success. Mission accomplished. Look Calpurnia.”

She did. It was the same newspaper that told about McFly being elected president but now it read:

FDR ELECTED

“That means everything back in your time is back to normal.” said Calpurnia.

“It sure is.” said Doc, “It’s the ripple effect. The future is back.”

“But Brutus is still alive.” said Calpurnia very sadly.

“But not for long.” assured Doc.

He set the time circuits for October 22, 42 B.C. 5:15 p.m. keeping the place in Philippi. Then, he activated the time circuits and accelerated up to 88 miles per hour and through the time barrier.

When the light dissipated, both time travelers looked down. They were back over that same field of battle However, this time there was no battle. But their were a crowd of soldiers surrounding a body. Doc produced his binoculars and looked down.

Then, he gave them to Calpurnia saying “Look at the body.”

Calpurnia did. “Brutus!” she said. Then, she looked at the chief mourner and said “That’s Mark Antony.”

Doc looked down. And then, he lowered the car closer to the earth until they could both heard Antony.

“He was the noblest Roman of them all.” he said, “All the conspirators were jealous of Caesar except for him. He had a gentle heart and soul and let all the world say that this was just a man.”

After Antony’s funeral speech, Doc lifted the DeLorean skyward, and set the time circuits for 1988. He looked to his left and saw a tear streak down Calpurnia’s face.

“They said that he escaped all revenge by killing himself.” she said, “Strato held the sword and Brutus fell on it in typical Roman fashion.” Turning to Doc, she said “Doctor Brown, I understand that your society doesn’t condone suicide.”

“They don’t Calpurnia.” said Doc, “In fact, certain religions consider it an unpardonable sin.”

“They don’t have the chance to confess.” said Calpurnia, “And no chance to ask for absolution .” More tears came down her cheeks. “These tears are for Brutus.” she said, “He didn’t want to kill Julius, he was tricked into doing so. Nearly a half of a millennium ago, his forbears drove the Tarquins out of Rome putting an end to the monarchy and thus was born the Republic. The Brutii handed it’s loyalty to that Republic down through the generation until one day it was misguided.”

“Your husband’s murder.” said Doc.

“Correct.” said Calpurnia, “And I mourn Brutus as I would mourn a friend.”

“As it should be.” said Doc. Noticing Jennifer starting to stir, he said “Let’s go back to the future.”

He set the time circuits for 1988 and the place Hill Valley and sped through the time barrier.

When the light dissipated, Doc and Calpurnia looked down and saw that Hill Valley had reverted back to the way it was before Jennifer went back in time to save McFlius. Some of the streets lights were still shining despite the fact that it was getting lighter by the minute with the eventual rising of the sun. There were a few cars coming and going. The buildings looked new and clean with windows and some of the lights turned on inside. Some of the buildings from the reality that Jennifer created were gone. And the grass in front of the houses were now green again. Doc steered the car towards the library parking lot where he left the limousine. The limousine itself was cloaked so no one could see it and since it was a Sunday and it was Easter there would be no cars going into that lot where someone could drive into it. Doc put on his visor and saw that the limousine was still there.

“Everything’s back to the way it was.” he said.

“Thank the gods.” said Calpurnia, “And your God as well.”

“No deity was involved in this.” said Doc, “It was all that research and putting the DeLorean between Brutus and Jennifer that restored this reality.”

“Whatever.” said Calpurnia, “At least everything’s back to normal.”

After landing the DeLorean next to the limousine, the two got out.

“I’ll go into the library to return these.” said Doc as he had the newspaper and the book in his hand, “You take Jennifer home.”

“Alright.” said Calpurnia as she went to the driver’s side.

“As soon as all I borrowed is put away, I’ll take the limousine and drive back to my house and get Jennifer’s car as originally planned.”

“Alright, Doctor Brown.” said Calpurnia, “I’ll see you there.”

Calpurnia left. Doc went to the entrance of the library but the door was locked.

Doc wondered The door was unlocked in the other reality. How did I get in there in this one?

“Doctor Brown.”

Doc turned to see who it was. It was Herman the security guard.

“Herman.” he said, “What…”

“Is that woman still here?” asked Herman.

Doc looked puzzled. “What woman?” he asked.

“The one wearing that toga party outfit.” said Herman, “The lady who came onto me this evening.”

Calpurnia! said Doc to himself, I must’ve somehow used her to blackmail my way into the build in this reality.

“She’s taking someone home.” he said.

“Okay.” said Herman, “Oh, I’ll take those. I know where they go.”

“Alright.” said Doc handing him the material.

After Herman went in, Doc turned and went back to the limousine and got in. He reached for the keys and pulled out a snapshot. It was a picture of Calpurnia getting coy with Herman. Doc laughed and drove off.

++++++

Calpurnia arrived at the Parker house and pulled up into the driveway. The house and the neighborhood was in the same shape it was when she went with Clara and Jennifer back to her own time. Getting out, she went to the passenger side and got Jennifer out. And then, she carried her to the back door where she used another key that Doc gave her to let herself in. Upon entering, Calpurnia followed Doc’s instructions on where Jennifer’s bedroom was and took her there. Afterwards, she laid her on the bed when a knock on the window was heard. It was Doc.

Calpurnia opened the window and said “Doctor Brown.”

“Leave the house key hear and come out through window.” said Doc, “I’ll help you out.”

“I gather you got Jennifer’s own chariot here now.” said Calpurnia.

“I do.” said Doc, “But I had to float the DeLorean into the street so I could drive Jennifer’s car into the driveway.”

“I hope nobody saw you.” said Calpurnia.

“I don’t think so.”

After being helped out, Calpurnia went with Doc to the front of the house where the DeLorean was now parked and got in. Setting the time circuits for 42 B.C. and activating the cloaking device and time circuits, Doc lifted the car off the ground and drove into the time barrier.

++++++

However, there was one witness to what Doc did. It was Red Thomas the former mayor of Hill Valley.

He said “Crazy drunk aliens.”

++++++

Jennifer finally woke up and looked around. She was back in her own bedroom and in her own time. She saw that she was still wearing her street clothes and realized what happened: Doc and Calpurnia had prevented her from saving McFlius. She started to cry and was crying while she changed back into her nightgown and went back to bed.

Once again the two time travelers found themselves over the ancient city heading for Caesar’s house.

Doc looked at Calpurnia and said “We keep saying goodbye to each other.”

“I know.” said Calpurnia, “Well, for you, at least you keep saying goodbye. For me two years had passed since I last saw you when your wife and Jennifer took me back home.”

They were over the backyard of the house when the two time travelers saw something. The servants were out in the pool surrounding someone who fainted. It was Lorrainia.

“I wonder what happened?” asked Doc.

“Well this is my problem.” said Calpurnia, “And in my time. There’s a part of the yard that’s deserted. Just drop me off there and I’ll go into the pool area.”

“Very well.” said Doc as he lowered the DeLorean onto the deserted area Calpurnia was pointing too and let her out.

As she got out, Calpurnia said “Well, once again this is where we say good -bye.”

“I know.” said Doc.

“Tell Clara I said hello.” said Calpurnia, “And I hope Marty gets well.”

“I will.” said Doc, “And I hope Marty gets well too.”

After the car closed. The DeLorean lifted off the ground and reentered the time barrier on it’s way back to the future.

Calpurnia went to the main pool area and asked “What happened?”

“Lorrainia and some servants saw this strange thing resembling a chariot.” explained one of the servants, “But there was no horses attached to it. It just popped out of nowhere, lifted off the ground and then vanished.”

Calpurnia paused before saying “I see. Well I think you all need some rest. It seems like everybody has been working hard.”

“But mistress…”

“Don’t interrupt me, please. I think it would be a good idea if we close up the house and go on a holiday to an island in the Mediterranean. My husband established a villa on Capri that I’ve only been too once. We should all go there.” There was a cheer among the servants. “So let’s get ready and get packing.”

At once, the servants prepared for their journey to Capri.

It was Easter Sunday. The day our Savior rose from the dead three days after He suffered and died on the cross. However, there was no joy for Jennifer. Marty was still in the hospital and his ancestor McFlius is dead. The sight of children running about the lawns looking for Easter eggs only reminded Jennifer that if it wasn’t for McFlius’s death, there would not be such joy now but empty lawns with brown grass or dirt.

After the Parkers got home from church, there was a phone call. Prudence answered it.

After a few moments, she said “Jennifer it’s for you. It’s Mrs. McFly.”

Jennifer took the receiver from her mother and talked into it saying “Yes.” Moments passed in which during the time she repeated “Yes” and each time she started to smile. And then finally “Thank you Mrs. McFly. I’ll be right over.”

When she hung up the phone, Jerry asked “Well, Jennifer?”

“Marty’s awake.” she said, “And he’s asking about me.”

“Oh Jennifer.” said Prudence, “That’s great.”

Both parents embraced their daughter. This day had gone from sorrow to joy thanks to this miracle.

++++++

Jennifer arrived at the hospital with her parents. They were escorted to the hospital room where Marty lay. There, outside the doorway was Doc and Clara.

“Doctor Brown.” she said.

Doc turned to see her and said “Jennifer. Listen Jennifer, I’m sorry that me and Calpurnia had to stop you…”

“It’s alright.” said Jennifer, “I understand.”

“Well.” said Doc, “Shall we?”

“After you.” said Jennifer.

They both went in to say hello to Marty.

End of Chapter 15

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