Free Musings From A Demented Mind by Derek Ailes, James Coon Page B

Wayne rushed out of the conference room and into Malcom’s office.  “I have a name.”
    “Who is he?”
    “Dave Alexander.  He drives a green 2010 Ford E-Series Van.  He recently used his debit card at the Queen’s Diner outside of Chicago.”
    “Check all the traffic cams around the diner.  Maybe one of them picked up his van.  Have our team head toward Chicago.  Once we have a visual on the van, send the drone to follow it.  We need to know where they are heading,” Malcolm ordered.

                      Valparaiso, Indiana
     
    Agent Rick Venable watched two older women walk on the sidewalk at the Bicentennial Park in Valparaiso, Indiana.  A large family was having a party at the shelter in the middle of the park.  He was checking the radiation levels with his small Geiger meter while Agent Marilyn Austin stood next to him.  They were both dressed in blue t-shirts and sweats and also wearing sunglasses to blend in with the rest of the people at the park.  Even with her reddish hair tied back in a ponytail, she still looked like she was a federal agent.
    “Radiation levels are a little high, but nothing to cause alarm.”  He kneeled down pretending to tie his left shoe and inspected the grass that had a black outline from being burnt by something.  “I think this was made by the source of the energy surge.”
    “The black outline goes all the way over here,” Marilyn said as she followed the black outline toward the backside of the park.  “Whatever it was, it was massive.”
    Rick snapped a few pictures of the ground and emailed them to Malcolm.  A few seconds later his phone rang.  “Malcolm, yes we are at its location.  Time travel?  If what you say is true, we’re standing where they came through.  No, there are no traffic cameras around the park.  The park is away from the main road.  Yes, sir.”
    Marilyn walked over to him, trying to listen in on the conversation.  As he ended the call, he looked at her puzzled.  “Apparently, we are dealing with time travelers.”
    “What’s our next move?”
    “A diner in Chicago.”

               On I-80 Somewhere in Iowa
     
    After a several hours drive on I-80, Dave and his group were heading through Iowa toward Nebraska.  Melinda was telling Dave about growing up in the future, meeting her late husband, and working with her children at the compound.
    “Sounds like you’ve had a very interesting life,” Dave said.  “I think the most interesting thing I’ve ever done was to travel through Russia when I was younger.”
    Kendra listened closely to the music.  “Excuse me, Dave.  What is this music?  I really like this one you’re playing.”
    “This is the White Album by the Beatles, which is one of my all-time favorites.”
    “This is better than the music from our time,” Kendra said.
    “You don’t have rock ‘n’ roll in the future?”
    “Our music is more ambient.  The Beatles are probably in our archives though,” Melinda explained.
    From a safe distance behind the van, the drone followed them.
     
     

                   Edwards Air Force Base
                          Area 51, Nevada
     
     
    Kyle Clark watched the video feed of the van the drone was following.   He was the UAS, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator, assigned to the base.  Wayne stood behind him watching the video feed.  He was reminded of the time he and his girlfriend had been glued to the television watching the police chase OJ Simpson’s white Bronco. 
    “How long has he been on I-80?”
    “Sir, for several hours.”
    “He’s heading for Nevada,” he said as he realized where the van could possibly be heading.  “They’re heading for this base.”
    “Sir?”
    He stood there silently for several minutes thinking about all the reasons the time travelers could be heading their way.  He rushed out of the Systems Operations Room and into the conference room.