Chapter II: Tempus Fugit

'For a mere ten silver points, you can recieve a little bit of challenge, and a small amount of shock. For 20, you can be moderately shocked, and moderatly challenged. And for 60, well, I hope you have a clean set of pants handy. So what shall it be?'� asked Bekkler
Crono and Marle shared a glance.
'How much do we have?' inquired Crono
'We have enough.'
'Alright then.' said Crono 'I don't have an extra set of pants, is that going to be a problem?'
'Ah! The bravest one yet! Step in front of the caged door please sir.' Crono obliged. 'The game is simple. Do as you see.' Bekkler looked at Crono, then at the door. 'Ready? On three, two and go!'
The door opened, and out stepped Crono.
Crono's jaw hit the floor. His dopplegangar remained stoic. Every aspect of him was represented. The raggedness of his appearence, the fold down the middle of each pant leg, even the scar upon his chin he obtained as a child.
'Crono' raised his right arm. Whereas Crono was too surprised to realize that their dance had commenced.
'Crono!' shouted Marle.
He shook off his stupor and lifted his right arm. One leapt in surprised, followed by the other. It began to laugh. Crono replied. It raised it's right hand. Crono mimiced. For quite a while their mirrored waltz proceded. Crono realized what it was like to be on the other side of the mirror. Left arm, right arm, surprise, laughter, every postion Crono had ever been in, and even a few others that he had not, he found himslf in. He began to grow weary. They continued untill one held aloft the right and, the other held up the left.
'Oh tis a shame young man, you loose this round. Care to go again?'
'We're out of silver points.'
'Well since you have been the bravest customers, and you two do make such a delicious couple, I shall give you a moderate challenge on the house, or tent.'
Marle stepped foreward. 'Thanks!'
Bekkler turned towards the caged door. 'Gentlemen, are you ready?'
No responce came.
'Very well, come out!'
Three soldiers emerged each were of equal hight, width, girth, rank, and were in the same rank, company, and squadron.

'I am Biggs.' declared the one on the left.
'I am Wedge.' stated the middle one.
'I am Piette.' Concluded the right one.
A drum beat sounded, and the soldiers shuffled like aces and jacks on a table of three card monte. Crono squinted in a vain attempt to discern one from the other.
'Find Wedge' Ordered Bekkler.
Crono shrugged. 'Marle?'
She put her hand up to her chin in thought. 'Um, you' She pointed to the one on the right.
'I am Wedge.'
'Oh beauty and brains, my what a gem.'
Marle laughed as her cheeks tinted scarlet. Crono found her laugh to be as pleasent as the gentle strum of a mandolin.
'For you.' He presented Marle with a stuffed toy. It was white save teh face. and about 10 inces high by 8 inches wide or so. She smiled and gave it a squeze. 'It's a payazo doll. Use it to spuce up your room.'
'Thank you! But I do have to ask, is there another me back there?'
'Well, you will just have to return and see.'
'I will thank you.'
They exited the tent, and as soon as they did, the attendant said, 'Excuse me Crono, but Lucca and Taban are done setting up.'
Marle thought it was a bit odd that the lady knew his name, but Crono was too surprised to noticed. 'Oh crap, I forgot all about that! Lucca's gonna kill me!' He agonized.
'What's this all about?' asked Marle
'I can't really tell you, but that is why I came here.'
'Okay it sounds like fun.'
'You have no idea'
Crono quickened his pace, and Marle followed suit. Along the way, they came across a young girl, squatting upon the pavement weeping. Crono knealt down before her.
'What's the matter?'
Somewhere through the miriyad of sniffles and snobs she said, 'My cat, is lost.'
'What does he look like?'
'Small, has fur and a tail.'
'What colour?'
'Brown.'
'Where did you see him last?'
'By that tent over there.'
Crono arose. 'I have a cat too' he said as means of explanation to Marle
'What's its name?'
'Mullett'
'That's just odd.'
Crono and Marle scoured the fair grounds in search of hte stray feline. They went behind tents, in tents, every place upon the square to find it. I am not sure how much time that consumed, but eventually Crono did present a little brown cat to the young girl.
'Oh thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou' She extended as great of a hung as her little arms could.
'That was so sweet of you Crono.' commended Marle with a giggle.
'Oh it was nothing.'
The two of them continued on in less of a haste than before.
'Hang on Crono, I wanna get some candy.' requested she
They halted and she turned onto a cart filled with every delectable morsel imaginable. Marle hovered over the menagerie of scents and colours unsure of what to choose.
Crono thought about how steamed Lucca would be at his increasing tardiness, although she should by now have come to expect as much from him. Nonetheless Lucca's 'Crono I can't count on you for anything?!' resonated between his ears. He sighed and realized Marle was expending more time than he anticipated.
'Um Marle' said Crono in an attempt to prompt her.
'Hang on, I'll be just a second.'
Crono found himself counting the seconds. All the while Lucca's voice grew louder. He closed his eyes. Crono wanted to say something else, but did not wish to appear pushy.
'I'll take these please.' said Marle to the lady attending the cart.
'Certainly young lady.
'Thanks for waiting Crono. You are such a gentleman.'
They continued on this time they did not rush.
They walked past the fountain, past Leene's bell to the very furthest end of the fair. They found they could go no further due to the crowd of people about. They weaved their way through the throng as best they could.
Crono felt like a kid getting ready for a book report or a recital. He'd been Lucca's favourite test subject since they were little. He tried not to think of the time he lost his hair, or the time he broke his ribs, or the time his tounge went numb. Of course hearing the 'Lucca's little toys never work right' being whispered about the crowd did very little to tame the butterflies declaring war upon his stomache.
As they worked through the labryinth of humanity, Crono could hear Taban's promo.
'Step right up people! Be the first person to try the Super-Dimensional Warp, The discovery of the century, as designed by my lovely daughter Lucca! THis here ladies and gentlemen, will be at the forefront of this new millenium of ours.' He sounded like a used car sales man.
The crowd responded with their sincerest apathy.

They finally did make it to the front.
'Crono was is that thing?'
'Thats why I;m here.'
'I don't get it.'
'I don't either'
Crono looked upon it like a student eyeing an exam he didn't study for.
Marle pointed out two objects. They were cylindrical and identical in every aspect. Each was about the size of a phone booth and stood about five yards apart. The base stood a good foot and a half off of hte ground, and glowed with a strange ambient light. Up from it arose three pillars, supporting a canopy of sorts which looked like the top of a mushroom.
Crono went up to Lucca who sat tinkering with the Telepod, Marle hung back.
'Lucca!' He called. She paid him no heed only kept working. 'Lucca!'
She let out a surprised gasp. 'Where have you been!? No one wants to try teh Telepod.'
Lucca was Crono's age. She had an eccentric look about her to say the least. Lucca wore a leather cap, which protruded a short metal reed up from the side. It sat atop a crop of walnut-lavender hair. A set of glasses with lenses as wide as plates and thick as widows spanned the bridge of her nose. They accentuated her turquoise-amber eyes, which were eager and glowing of energy. She had a band, (possiblie more of an ensemble) of freckels that spangled her upper cheeks. Beneath the odd exterior was a pretty face and warm familiar smile Crono had come to love as his sister over the span of his life.
'Sorry' was all he could manage to say.
'Yeah at least you're here'
'Can you blame me for being late?! What's going on this time, am I gonna lose my hair, or break my arm again?'
'Oh quit complaining'
'So what are the odds of those things happening?'
'I didn't calculate those, would you like me to?'
'Not particularly' sighed Crono
'Just step up on the left pod.'
Taban continued his sales pitch.
'I'll do it!' Volunteered Crono, announcing to all.
'What?!' Taban was taken a bit off gaurd, or so he appeared. 'Right this way young man.' He escorted Crono to the left pod. 'Don't worry we tried this with our pets. It should work with humans'
Crono held back his surprise 'Thanks for telling me'
'Just try to make it look like you know what you're doing.' advised Lucca
'Are you trying to tell me or yourself?'
'Very funny'
Beads of sweat poked out of skin.He took in deep legato breaths and fired up prayers to Heave at a machine gun rate. Crono tried not to think of the time h lost feeling in his entire left side from the last "experiment," or the time his nose turned black from the time before.
'Ready Lucca?' asked Taban
'Ready!'
'Ready Crono?'
He let free a sigh betraying only a hint of the fear he felt. Crono also realzed it didn't matter if he was ready or not, when he saw Taban and Lucca begining to start the transfer. He surprised himself when he affirmed and they began to work.
Taban mannned hte pod Crono was at. Lucca took to the other one where he was supposed to appear. He leaked beads of sweat, trying not to think of the previous experiments. Taban sat on dended knee working some pump. Lucca stood reading gauges and adjusting knobs and switches as she saw fit.
'Initiating Telepod' declared Taban 'Check. Energy levels rising.' Lucca affirmed as she fliped a set of switches and monitered the readings.
'How much untill optimal level?'
'Approaching optimal in seven, six, five, four, three, two, and, now! Optimal emergy established.'
'Roger that, Initiating transfer.'
'Transfer on!'
The pod on which Crono stood began to pulsate with a warm, yet eerie light. He felt The platform vibrate subtally at first, but more forceful with each passing moment. His boots began to grow warm as well, and soon every cell began to tingle.
The crowd looked on. Some were leaning foreward so as not to miss anything. Many watched as they were viewing a dog and pony show. Most of the crowd simply looked. No one, not Crono or Marle, Lucca or her father, or anyone watching could anticipate what would happen.
Crono began to spin about, not of his own volition. He wanted to shout but found he could not. He saw all the colours blend into one. He was sure that if he could feel his body, he'd feel his breakfast push it's way upward.
Crono did however hear the crowd release a collective gasp as one moment he was there, and the other he simply was not. Lucca and Taban were too occupied to steal a glance. A bright energy immerced Crono. It was as though he stepped out of time and space. What was once his body was now collections of floating, glowing spheres of blue light.
For a brief moment Crono could see everything at once. He saw the entire fair, and across the countryside, on to the shore and upon the ocean. His vision peered to the bottom of the ocean, and continued. He saw into the earth, farther than any mole or insect had delved. Crono then saw a blackness. A cold, harsh, unwelcoming, frightning blackness. It was a blackness as menacing as a chill wind on a barren field. He wanted to delve further.
THe lights that had become his body began to collect. An arm materialized upon the pod, followed by a shoulder, a torso, then legs and a head. Crono felt himself jerked suddenly and apruptly back into reality. He released a great gasp of shock as he felt his feet upon solid ground.
Crono was greeted by a chorus of cheers and surprised gasps. He stepped off the platform.

'How was it? Wanna go again?' asked Lucca.
'How long was I out?'
'About half a minuite.'
'You're kidding!'
Lucca shook her head.
About Marle people were clamouring about what all they witnessed.
'Ha! That was all smoke and mirrors.' jested a man. 'You expect me to believe that?'
Marle herself was in disbelief.
'I guess even her inventions have to work sometime' stated a lady.
Crono and Lucca heard Taban relishing in the triumph of their labor. 'IT WORKED! IT WORKED!' He regained his composure. 'What a demonstation of science ladies and gentlemen!' Taban continued giving himslef accolades.
Marle came up to Crono and Lucca. 'Wowo Crono! That was awesome!'
'I just stood there, tell that to Lucca'
'That looks like such a trip, you have to let me try that!'
'Whoa! Crono! How'd you pick up a cutie like her?'
Marle giggled as her cheeks tinted scarlet a bit. 'Thanks. Can I try out your invention?'
Crono introduced the two. 'Lucca this is Marle. Marle this is Lucca'
'Pleased to meet you, Lucca. You really are a genious'
'I like her already Crono.' They shared a laugh.
Taban ambled over, still full of himself. 'What'd you think Crono? Did we do it, or did we do it?'
'Yeah we did.'
'Mr. Taban, can I try out your telepod?' asked Marle.
'You sure?'
'Absolutley!' She exchanged a lok with Crono. 'I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere' Taban escorted Marle to the pod. Crono went into the crowd and Lucca went back to her station.
'You can always back out now' advised Taban.
'Why would I do that? Throw the switch!'
Taban turned to the crowd who hung on his every word. 'Ladies and Gentlemen, a vision of lovliness has volunteered! Let's give her a big hand when she reappears!'
He returned to his station, and him and Lucca began the transfer process. They continued about the same manner as they did with Crono. Marle had none of hte trepidation that Crono had when she stood upon the Telepod
'Optimal power level has been reached' Declared Lucca.
Marle looked down and noticed her pendant began to emit an odd, irradesent light. Marle gave it a quizical look
'What's happening, why is my pendant?'
Lucca read a gauge. She inhaled sharply, as her eyes went wide. 'WHAT!? THAT SHOULDN'T BE RIGHT! We're excedeing the power limit!'
'WHAT?!'
Marle's eyes grew wide with horror. She reached for the words to say but grasped none.

Slowly the telepod returned to 'normal' and the voices of the spectators buzzed about the area. Many were asking 'What happened?' A few voiced their opinions of suspicion, dissatisfaction, whatever.
Crono stood in shocked silence
'Alright show's over folks.' declared Taban. The multitude filied out leaving only Crono Lucca and Taban.
'Where'd she go Lucca?' asked Taban
'It couldn't've been the telepod. By the way she vanished, it HAD to be something else! It Had to! Something with that pendant, it must have messed with the energy field somehow.'
'Well what are we gonna do?'
'Hang on, let me think. I know I've seen that girl before.'
Crono looked back and forth between Lucca and her father. Taban paced back and forth, and Lucca stood in deep thought. He turned his gaze to the Telepod, and noticed Marle's pendant.
'Send me' he declared, stepping foreward.
'What?!' ahouted Lucca, although, she had come to expect this sort of behaviour from him.
'You're actually going in? What a fine young lad!' commended Taban.
Crono stepped upon the Telepod platform, and took a firm grasp upon Marle's pendant.
'I don't know where this will send you, but I guess we don't have any other choice. Hang on to that pendant Crono. Whatever happened, I bet that was cause of it'
Lucca and Taban manned their stations an initated again the transportation process. They performed everything they did on the previous runs; called the same signals, threw the same switches; both word and deed. Lucca prayed silently. Taban could see the sweat splash upon his rapidly moving hands. Crono prayed as well.
Why am I going in?
Taban affirmed himself, 'We've gotta do this! We've gotta do this!'
'Brace yourself Crono. I'll go in after you as soon as I know what happened' stated Lucca
They went through the same procedure. This time Crono knew what to expect as his body was torn apart. Again reality tore itself open, and Crono was swallowed and sent into the unknown.