Bradigan waved his new Heliarc Labs badge before the pin pad to the Hermes test chamber; it reacted, and the doors slid open for him. He’d only gotten his badge a few days ago but was admittedly enjoying using it. As he stepped through the door, he was greeted by Dr. Zachariah.

“Welcome back, Doctor,” he said.

“Thank you.” He and Zachariah had spent all morning overseeing the move of the insertion pods into the Hermes chamber. Bradigan had stepped away to put on his new suit for the jump. “So, what do you think?”

Zachariah inspected the double-breasted, blue, herringbone suit. “Very well made,” he answered, before looking past Bradigan. “You and your sister must be excited to finally send a couple of your pieces through the tear.”

Ava Lancaster had followed Bradigan into the lab, scissors in hand, as she continued to examine her work. “Aye, indeed,” she said. “We certainly been puttin’ in the hours t’ get these ready.”

Zachariah laughed. “You two were always perfectionists.”

“Why thank ye’, sir.”

Before anything else could be said, the lab doors opened to reveal Emma, followed by Valeria wearing an absolutely stunning evening dress. It was a pastel green with straps tied about the neck and hanging down over an open back. An ornamental pleated flourish began on the lower back and draped down to the ruffled hemline which just brushed the floor.

She straightened one of her elbow length gloves asking, “How do I look?”

Zachariah answered first, “Simply Ravishing.”

“And don’t I know it,” Emma answered.

“Yes, Emma,” Valeria agreed. “Your work has always been exquisite.”

Ava noticed the blank stare on Bradigan’s face and elbowed him in the ribs.

“Yes. Very nice,” he blurted out.

Valeria gave him an odd look. “Thank you, Doctor.”

While the others discussed the intricacies of the dress, Ava stood on tiptoes to whisper into Bradigan’s ear, “If ya’ think she’s nice t’ look at, you should tell ‘er.”

Red faced, Bradigan shooed her away and tried regaining his composure when Valeria directed a question to him.

“Well, Doctor. Are you ready?”

“No, but let’s get this over with.”

After a round of sendoffs, Bradigan and Valeria entered the chamber and were secured in the pods. Within those reinforced shells they couldn’t hear anything but their own breathing as technicians and scientists busied themselves around them.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the silence, “I hope you’re comfortable in there, Miss Davis.”

Valeria punched a button near her hand and answered, “Very much so, Mister Cruz. I’m glad you decided to come out and watch the event.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t miss it,” he said. “I trust you’ll treat the timeline with the upmost care.”

“Of course.” She looked at Bradigan in his pod. “And the good Doctor will cover for us if anything goes wrong.”

“Yes, Quite.” With that, Cruz stepped away from the microphone and Missy picked it up.

“We’re nearly ready here, Miss Davis,” she said. “Just a few more minutes.”

“Thank you, Missy,” she said, punching the button again.

They sat in silence for those few minutes before Hermes began its startup sequence. The lights flashed up and down its frame and it again began to vibrate as it rapidly powered up. From down here, it seemed to Bradigan like much more went on with the scientists than you could tell from up in the control room.

Missy’s voice came over the radio inside the pods again, “Hermes registering operating efficiency of 96%, Doctor.”

Bradigan watched Zachariah moving between the stations again and the reality of it all began to dawn on him. He gripped the arm rests in the pod tightly, white knuckled, as he awaited the most unbelievable moment of his life.

*     *     *

A young man in a bellhop’s uniform approached another behind a counter. “I’ll take over here,” he said.

“Finally,” the other said. “I could use a break.”

The two traded places and the first took his place on a stool when he felt a chill go up his spine. “What was that? Felt like a spook suddenly flew right through me.” He looked around, now questioning whether this hotel was haunted, when the door into the coat closet opened behind him. “Hey,” he said in surprise. “What are you two doing in there?”

A young man and woman stepped out, one in a blue suit and the other a green dress, apologizing profusely.

“Our apologies, we were just looking for the restroom,” the woman said.

“How did you two even . . . that Jack, real funny guy playing a practical joke like this on me. You two, get out of here before I have you run in for disturbing my peace.”

“Sorry again, sir. We’ll be out of your hair immediately.”

The attendant waved them off with a grunt and returned, brooding, to his stool.

As they rounded the corner, Bradigan spoke, “Well that was a great start.”

“I’m so sorry,” Valeria answered. “We thought that was a broom closet when we saw it in the hotel plans.”

Bradigan groaned. “Did you really need to put us directly in the hotel?”

“Please, compose yourself, Doctor,” Valeria urged him. “It’s a busy night here.” True enough, there were a lot of guests present in the Sherman House Hotel that evening in 1939. People in formal wear were milling about the hallways and the soft sounds of jazz music drifted through the building. “Isn’t this incredible?” she asked.

Bradigan leaned in, responding in hushed tones, “Somehow, I feel like my mind can’t comprehend that we’re 80 years in the past.” He reached out and touched the lobby’s marbled walls. “It’s too real.”

“That’s because it is real,” she answered, putting her arm through his. “Come on.”

They walked through the crowds, listening to the conversations as they went. There was a lot of talk about gangs, Capone especially, but also fashion and music. Even simply recording everyday gossip, Bradigan thought, could lead to significant historical insights. They made their way arm-in-arm, nodding to passersby, to the entrance of the College Inn restaurant.

“Good evening Sir and Madam,” said the attendant. “Table for two?”

Valeria took the lead, “Yes. In the Panther Room if you’d please.”

“Ah, the Panther Room,” he responded. “Looking forward to seeing Harry James and his Orchestra tonight?”

“That’s right,” Valeria answered, turning to Bradigan. “I’ve been just begging him to bring me since I heard they were here. Isn’t that so, Dear?”

Bradigan tried to think quickly. “You certainly have. She just loves the music.”

“Of course, Sir,” he said. “That’ll be a dollar fifty.”

Bradigan paid the man and a young usher appeared to show them the way. The Panther Room certainly lived up to its name. Images of big cats were used throughout to decorate the walls, Leopard-patterned fabrics adorned the tables and a small Panther sculpture presided over the room. There was also a South Asian flare to the room with waiters in Indian inspired dress and plenty of bamboo used as decoration.     

“This is incredible,” Bradigan said as they were seated.

“Right?” Valeria answered. “I told you this would be a treat.”

They ordered dinner, lunch for them, and a waiter delivered their entrée, to Valeria’s excitement, speared on a large, flaming, sword-like skewer. They passed the time in fine dining and discussion about those around them, the “forepeople” as Mr. Cruz had called them. Bradigan was surprised at how knowledgeable Valeria was about the time period and, though he’d never admit it at the time, he was having an enjoyable time.

Just then, something caught Valeria’s attention and she urged Bradigan to watch as a new orchestra took the stage. “See that man there with the trumpet, directing the others on stage?” she asked. “That’s Harry James. He used to play with Benny Goodman but left to start his own Orchestra early this year.”

“And you’re a fan of his work?” Bradigan asked.

“Well enough but . . .” she looked at him and grinned. “Well, you’ll see.”

Harry James stepped up to the microphone and addressed the room, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It’s really a pleasure to be here, playing for you tonight.” He waited as the applause died down before speaking again. “First tune we’d like to play for you folks is ‘All or Nothing At All’ featuring vocalist, Frank Sinatra.”

With that, a young man still in his early 20’s, who Bradigan never would have recognized otherwise, stepped up to the microphone. Valeria cheered wildly and took a moment to shoot a knowing grin at Bradigan. This is what she was waiting for.

As Sinatra began to sing, Valeria stood up and reached out to Bradigan. “Dance with me, Doctor.”

Bradigan flushed. “I don’t really dance.”

Valeria pouted and grabbed his hand, heaving him to his feet with surprising strength. “Humor me, Doctor,” she said, placing her arm on his shoulder. “It’s a slow dance and this means a lot to me.”

She was so close now he couldn’t help but looking into her vibrant, green eyes, eyes that revealed her power and guile. He tried to look away but, as distracted as he was, he let himself be led onto the dance floor. She took his hand and helped it find her back as she firmly held his other hand in hers.

“Now just relax and sway with the music,” she said, starting before him.

He attempted to match her movements with great difficulty.

“You’re focusing too much on copying me,” she instructed. “Close your eyes and listen to the music.”

He took great relief in this, being given permission to not look at her, and focused on the music. Soon, his natural rhythm was able to make up the difference.

“See? You’re doing quite well now, Doctor,” she said.

“Thank you,” he said, opening his eyes again. When he did, he caught a glimpse of something else in her eyes, something hidden behind all her confidence.

“Something wrong?” she asked him suddenly.

“Nothing,” he said, losing the rhythm for a moment.

Valeria’s grip on his hand tightened slightly. “Thanks, by the way,” she said.

“For what?”

“For coming with me on this jump. I know it wasn’t easy for you.”

Bradigan thought for a moment. “Maybe when you openly insulted me before,” he said, “it had more of an effect on me than I thought.”

She grinned. “I was happy to do it.”

Bradigan rolled his eyes.

The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. Valeria talked at length about her love of jazz and tried, with great difficulty, to teach Bradigan to dance for ‘next time.’ He had to admit he was having a good time in her company. Her depth of knowledge from this time period was surprising to him, and the way she presented it interested him from his anthropological viewpoint. As another hour passed, Valeria looked at her watch.

“It’s almost time for the rendezvous,” she said. “We need to get back into that coat closet for when the Doc reopens the tear.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Come on.”

Together, they excused themselves from the room and made their way back toward the marble lobby. Valeria stopped and glanced around the corner to see who was minding the coat check.

“Well?” Bradigan asked.

“It’s not the same guy as before,” she answered.

“I guess that’s a good thing.”

“It’s just a kid. Let’s keep this simple.”

“What did you have in mind?”

A few minutes later, they came out from around the corner, Bradigan supporting Valeria as she limped toward the counter.

“Excuse me, young man,” Bradigan said.

The kid looked up and assessed what he saw. “She alright?” he asked.

“She had a bit of a fall. Do you mind if she uses your stool for a bit?”

The kid wordlessly hopped down and stood aside as Bradigan helped Valeria around the counter and onto the seat.

“Thank you, you’re a dear,” she said.

Bradigan looked her in the eyes. “Do you need a glass of water or something?”

“I think so, yes.”

He turned to the kid. “Could I ask for your help again?” he asked, handing the kid a dollar.

He eyed the bill and nodded. “You got it, sir.”

“Thank you very much.”

They watched him bounce down the hallway and around the corner.

“Well that was easy enough,” Bradigan said.

“I told you it would be.” Valeria looked again at her watch. “Come on, we’ve only got a few seconds till the tear opens.”

They quickly ducked into the closet and waited. After about twenty seconds, the temperature inside the tiny room dropped noticeably and Valeria’s watch vibrated on her wrist.

She held it up and spoke. “We’re ready, Doc.”

“Glad to hear it, Miss Davis. Sending in the pods now.”

“Where’s the tear?” Bradigan asked.

“It’s here, you can feel it, just can’t see it from this side until something disturbs the curtain.”

Sure enough, the pods began to appear from nowhere and Bradigan could only then make out the convexity of the curtain as they moved through it. They were headed home.

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