Tinker sat staring at the digital clock on the nightstand. He had watched each number turn and tried to count the seconds exactly before the next number changed. A slight murmur made him turn his head. Laying naked beneath the sheets Sandy rolled over pushing the sheets down. It was hot in the room, hotter than you’d expect for Greenland. They had made love falling asleep in each other’s arms. But he couldn’t sleep, James was dead and Max and Susan were lost. The despair demon had come calling and now it nagged at his brow. He had tried to keep a positive outlook amongst the others but the more he tried the more depressed he got.

Sandy rolled over her eyes opening as she stared at Tinker.

“What’s wrong?” she asked softly.

“ Nothin, I just couldn’t sleep that’s all,” he said looking away.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked.

“Shit! You couldn’t do anythin wrong if ya tried,” he said smiling slightly.

“Then what is it? Come on Tinker, tell me,” she said reaching out and touching his arm.

“Just worrin that’s all, just worrin,” he said looking away.

“Then why don’t you slide back down here and let me take some of those worries away?” she said tugging at his arm.

Tinker looked down at her. She was a beautiful woman, a beautiful woman who was trying her best to help. He wanted to tell her no, but reluctantly he slid back beneath the covers to feel her warm sensual body slide up against him.

General Wallington was faintly asleep as he sprawled on the leather couch in his office. All he wanted to do was rest for an hour or two before the morning rose. He hadn’t told the others about the beacon. He didn’t want to get their hopes up. It took a lot, but he was able to pull enough strings to send the Seventh Fleet. After the message was sent, there was nothing to do but wait. Everything had to come together at just the right moment for them to pull this off. Project Resurrect was proceeding ahead of schedule. Though he knew that it would probably cost two very close friendships. Now, all that was left was if the fleet could retrieve the Storms then all would be in place.

As it was, he was receiving reports from all over the globe. The devastation was vast, the bloodshed heavy. Many countries had fallen already. Russia was the first major superpower to crumble; the United States even now was teetering on the edge of oblivion. Britain was holding but even he would be surprised if the country didn’t collapse by morning. The attackers were bypassing many of the smaller countries, but even then the threat of annihilation was sending countries into chaos. Humanity was on the brink; our brief history was at the threshold of being erased. If his plan failed, it would mean the extinction of humanity.

A dull beeping noise reached his ears. He didn’t remember setting an alarm to wake him up and he knew that two hours couldn’t have possibly passed. He opened his eyes and glanced over to his desk. The emergency phone was beeping, its clear face flashing red. Within moments the receiver was in his hand.

“General Wallington,” he spoke into the receiver.

“Sir, we’ve just received word from the retrieval team,” a voice spoke.

Wallington could feel the pounding in his heart. Now was the moment of truth, the deciding factor, it was now or never.

“Sir...?” the voice spoke.

“Yes I’m here, come on man tell me!” Wallington snapped.

“The two objectives have been retrieved...”

“Excellent! Good job soldier, good job!” Wallington was overjoyed.

“Sir, there’s more. The Seventh Fleet...has been completely destroyed.”

Wallington stood there the words penetrating deeply. The receiver slowly slipped from his hand crashing down on the desk.

“Sir? Sir are you all right?” the voice said through the receiver.

Wallington sunk back in his chair. His knees were wobbly and his stomach churned.

“My God, 35000 people...gone...and its all my fault,” he thought to himself.

He then glanced at the reports that had been faxed to him. Millions were dead, billions actually, if it was the only way to stop it all then that is the way it would have to be. He grabbed the receiver off the desk and shakily held it up to his ear.

“Sir? Sir are you there?” the voice kept asking.

“I’m here soldier, thank you very much for informing me. Keep monitoring their progress, if there are any changes notify me immediately,” he said gently setting the receiver down, grabbing his hat he quickly headed for the door.

There came a gentle knock on the door. No reply came and he knocked harder.

“Please come in,” a soft voice answered.

Wallington removed his hat and entered the room. Everything was dark, and then suddenly a light came on. Martha sat up in bed her face looking very tired. He could tell that she had cried herself to sleep earlier in the evening.

“What can I do for you General?” she said wiping her eyes.

“I came to give you some information. Something that I feel will help cheer you up a little,” Wallington moved farther into the room. “May I sit?” he motioned to the edge of the bed.

Martha nodded and shifted a little giving him more room. She then looked up at his face, for the first time she could plainly see the stress that the man was holding. She had seen it before, during the last world war when James would come home on leave.

“We’ve just received communication from a team of ours in the Pacific. We’ve found both Max and Susan. Their in route to us as we speak,” he said a faint smile on his face. ”

“Oh! Oh...thank God!” Martha said flying into his arms. She was crying again but this time he knew she was relieved and happy.

“Martha, there is much I still have to do before they get here. I came because I felt you need the information personally. I would be grateful if you could inform the others?” he said looking into her wet eyes.

“Of course...of course general. I’ll do it right now!” she said nodding .“

Wallington rose and headed for the door. It was a small thing but he knew that he at least had made three people happy tonight.

“General?” Martha called to him as she rose from the bed.

“Yes Martha?” he said looking back at her.

“Thank you,” she said smiling.

Wallington closed the door behind him. She wouldn’t be too happy if she knew the truth, that the lives of two people cost the lives of 35000. Heading back down the hall he had to get the ball moving. Things would start to pick up momentum and he had to have everything ready.

Martha quickly threw her bathrobe on and her slippers. She was quickly out the door and heading for Tinkers room. She pressed the buzzer then began knocking, there came no answer. She then quickly headed for Sandy’s room. She knocked hard and fast.

“ Sandy! Sandy wake up!” she called through the door. She then tried the doorknob. Turning it she quickly opened it and walked in. Instantly her eyes cast upon the form of Tinker on top of Sandy. She quickly turned her back feeling ashamed for barging in. Tinker fell off of Sandy and she covered herself up with the covers as did Tinker.

“Martha what’s wrong?” Tinker asked catching his breath.

“I...I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude,” she said keeping her back to them.

“You can turn around Martha, we’re all covered up,” Sandy said drawing the sheets closer.

Martha turned around but didn’t come closer. Both Sandy’s and Tinkers eyes were locked on her. She felt ashamed still for being there. It reminded her of a time when Max had accidentally entered her bedroom and caught her and James in a similar position.

“The General just informed me, they found Max and Susan! They’re on their way here now!” she said smiling.

“ Fanfreakin-tastic!” Tinker said smiling.

“Thank God!” Sandy said looking at Tinker.

“I just thought you’d like to know,” Martha said smiling as she turned to leave.

“Hey! Why don’t we celebrate! We could all go down to the mess hall and have a big breakfast?” Sandy said excitedly.

“Sounds good ta me! What about you Martha?” Tinker asked.

“I don’t want to disturb you two...”

“Heck, don’t worry about that, Tinker was almost through anyway!” Sandy said giggling.

“OK, I’ll go, I’ll meet you two down there, half an hour?” she asked, then quickly left the room.

“All most finished! Shit, I was just gittin started!” Tinker looked at Sandy smiling.

“Not from where I was, I can tell,” she said giggling.

“Oh we’ll see about that!” Tinker said rolling on top of her tickling her sides.

Wallington pressed his hand against a light green pad that was molded into the side of the wall. A white bar of light rose from the top of the panel to the bottom scanning his palm. Then the door gave a hiss and opened. Wallington entered going through a series of doors until finally reaching his objective, a large room with many seats and an elevator that went to the lower levels. A large shatterproof glass window faced the end. Beyond that a massive circular white room two stories high greeted him. Staring through the window he watched the work that was going on below. Surgeons and electronics experts roved about working. They had been on this project 24hrs a day 7 days a week nonstop. Moving over to the elevator he pressed a button and he began to go down. When he reached the lower level he peered through the window again. One of the surgeons noticed him and quickly moved through a sterile hatchway. There he removed his clean suit. Moments later an airlock gave a hiss and he entered the room with Wallington.

“Major” Wallington said watching him come closer.

“Good morning general,” the man said smiling.

“How close are we Major?” the General asked.

“Very, we were successful at creating our own programming. We also managed, by using the files on the Sutton woman to recreate a ROM chip,” the Major said wiping his brow.

“That’s the Storm woman now,” the General said correcting him.

“Storm married...” the Major looked dumbfounded.

“That’s unimportant. What is important is that we have project resurrect completed by the time the Storms arrive,” Wallington said.

“Then I take it you’ve found them?” the Major asked as he lowered himself into one of the many chairs in the room.

“Of course, I wouldn’t be here at this hour unless I had. I’ve given your team unprecedented leeway on this project. I personally never liked the idea from the beginning. I still think using the Storm woman was a more viable option,” Wallington said tucking his arms behind his back.

“You know as well as I, that Sutton...I mean Storm has to control the machine. According to all the data we have on time travel even Storm couldn’t change the time line if she wanted to,” the Major said leaning back.

“And how are you so sure that you can control...that?” the General said pointing towards the operating room.

“We don’t, as it is I don’t like the idea of letting it loose either, but what choice do we have? At least IT can change the time line.”

“If its programming doesn’t change or falter,” Wallington said looking at the Major.

“General, we both know that this whole project was dicey from the start. We were forced into territory that is completely unknown to us. You also know that if the President and both the House and Congress hadn’t stopped us we would have had information on these things years ago!” the Major said slightly angered.

The General turned and walked to the large bay window. He peered into the operating room and watched his team work, feeling a twinge of fear.

“There are some things that humanity is not ready for yet. If we had the technology that sits in that room we wouldn’t be fighting a war right now...we would have destroyed ourselves years ago.”

“But General, how many billions have suffered and died? All this could have been prevented. Allowing the Storms to travel as they wish throughout time only helped to create the predicament we’re in right now. If we had taken that knowledge when we had the chance none of this would have happened,” the Major said tapping his finger on the arm of the chair.

“I disagree totally with you Major. The events that are unfolding would have happened even if Storm never had the time machine. His father set the ball in motion years ago. If anyone should be blamed for all this it is Sam Storm. His son is only trying to correct the wrongs that have been done, and to do that he needs the machine...and the people that are so close to him,” Wallington said sternly.

“Maybe we should program IT to go back and destroy Sam Storm?” the Major said.

“Then Major, you wouldn’t have had the technology to send IT back in the first place!” the General grinned.

“Well general, even though you don’t like our plan. I still think it’s the best way to go,” the Major said standing.

“Time will tell Major, time will tell,” Wallington said turning away and looking through the window.

The Major hesitated then walked sluggishly off toward the clean room to suit up again. Wallington watched as the pressure door opened and the Major walked back in going back to work. He stared for a moment, wondering deep down if the Major had been right.

Tinker wheeled himself into the mess hall, Sandy following closely. He grabbed a tray and began to look over the selections. Sandy looked around the cafeteria; sitting at the far end was Martha. She took a sip from her cup then, noticing them, waved.

“Martha’s already here,” Sandy said to Tinker.

“Well let’s git our stuff and git over there!” Tinker said throwing a small box of cereal and a couple of milks on the tray. Sandy grabbed a fruit salad and a mug to get coffee with. Sitting down Martha smiled at them. Tinker looked into her eyes. The sadness that was there a little while ago was now replaced with hope. The Generals finding of Max and Susan did that. He also felt a twinge of fear, for he knew that the days ahead would not be easy.

“Sorry, I decided to come down a little early,” Martha grinned.

“That’s OK. Did General Wallington tell you when Max and Susan would be arriving?” Sandy asked.

“No, he just said they were in route. I know it will probably take them a while,” Martha replied.

“Shouldn’t take em’ that long. Knowin the General, he’ll probably git his best pilot on it,” Tinker added pouring his cereal into his bowl.

“What happens then?” Martha asked.

“Well, then we proceed with the mission the Generals cooked up,” Sandy chimed in.

“There’s a lot our good General here isn’t tellin us,” Tinker said adding his milk to the cereal.

“What do you mean Tinker?” Martha said looking at Tinker.

“Well, its a little bit funny ta me that none of us have been let in on what this mission is all about. I’ve known the man fer some time and I can tell ya he’s hidin somethin!” Tinker replied shaking his spoon at them.

“Maybe we should just ask him?” Sandy added.

“ Fergit it, the General ain’t gonna tell ya nothin till he’s good in’ ready,” Tinker said then began to eat.

“Has anyone heard about what’s going on outside?” Sandy asked.

“Yesterday I went down ta communications. I read over the reports, it don’t look good,” Tinker answered between mouthfuls.

“Well what did you read?” Martha asked perking her interest.

“There are lots, and I mean lots, of countries that have folded. The U.S. was close when I read em’, probably by now they’ve gone over the edge too,” Tinker said then picked the bowl up and drank the milk from it.

“What...about Britain?” Martha hesitantly asked.

Tinker looked up at her. He knew that she was British by origin and that was where most of her family still resided.

“They were on the verge last night. Probably by now...well...” his words trailed.

He watched her eyes begin to well up, and then a solitary tear streaked down her face. She quickly wiped it away and stared at the cooks working behind the counters.

“Martha, we all have friends and family somewhere. We know what you feel,” Sandy softly breathed as she reached out and touched Martha’s arm.

“Oh, I know. The important thing is that we have each other!” Martha painfully said.

The loudspeaker crackled then hummed a low-pitched whine reaching their ears.

“Major Fraiser please report to debriefing room G-3,” a voice blared through.

I’ll catch ya all a little later,” he said grabbing his tray and wheeling away.

Martha and Sandy watched as Tinker wheeled off placing his tray at the counter. Sandy then turned and looked into Martha’s eyes.

“We never had time to talk just the two of us. It always seemed that I was flying off somewhere,” Sandy said grinning.

“Yes, we never had time to sit and chat have we? When did you and Tinker...well get together?”

“Just before Max’s wedding,” Sandy sadly said staring off remembering.

“The wedding bothered you didn’t it?” Martha softly asked.

“Well...yes...I suppose it did,” Sandy painfully said.

“You love Max don’t you?” Martha bluntly asked.

“Is it that obvious?” Sandy quickly replied.

“Both James and I noticed this some time ago. You never seemed to be around when Susan was with Max,” Martha said smiling slightly.

“Yeah, I guess your right. I mean I don’t dislike Susan or anything. It’s just that, well, she’s a machine. I’ve never been outdone by something like that. Does that make any sense?” Sandy sullenly replied twisting her cup around and around.

“ Your a beautiful woman Sandy. But you’re not the first woman who’s fallen for Maxwell. He’s rich and handsome; he seems to attract all sorts of women. You’ve probably seen that already,” Martha said taking a sip of her tea.

“What your trying to say is I never had a chance with him?” Sandy looked surprisingly at Martha. ¨

“No my dear, heavens no! What I’m saying is that it takes a special woman to reach him. Susan just happens to be that woman,” Martha quickly said.

“But she’s a machine! How can a man choose nuts and bolts over flesh and blood? I know Max was a little strange but I never figured he was that weird!” she said grinning.

“First of all you have to realize that Susan is not a hunk of nuts and bolts. She at one time was a living breathing woman just like you. What she is now is of no importance, she still has living tissue within her that gives her that humanity,” Martha said trying to explain.

“Look, I’ve seen her when that side wasn’t working. She ended up just being a machine. I mean she can’t even give him children.”

“But she can give him the most important thing...love,” Martha quickly replied.

“You know when I first saw him coming up the stairs of his jet I instantly fell for him. He’s so handsome and muscular,” Sandy said daydreaming.

“He does fill his clothes well,” Martha grinned.

“Clothes? Who’s talking about clothes?” Sandy grinned remembering the room they stayed in Norway.

Martha’s eyebrows raised and she wondered just how far Sandy had pushed Max. She was taking the role of the defensive mother, though she knew that Max wasn’t her child she always treated him like he was. She liked Sandy but she knew Max and she knew Susan, and she knew that they would always be inseparable.

“Martha?” Sandy asked drawing Martha’s attention back to the present.

“Oh sorry, you were saying something about Max?” Martha said.

“Do you think Max and Susan will stay together? I know how you feel about both of them, and I want to be honest with you,” Sandy asked.

“Maybe if things were different between them. But to be honest with you, I doubt it,” Martha answered knowing full well that it wasn’t what Sandy wanted to hear.

Sandy looked away. How could she explain her love for Max? Until Tinker there had been no one in her life since she met Max. Now that he was married? She felt emptiness deep inside her, an emptiness she knew only Max could fill.

Tinker had wheeled down to the G-3 debriefing room. Once he entered he noticed three men already sitting at the table. One was General Wallington, the other was Barclay whom he hadn’t seen since they landed at the base. The third man he didn’t recognize. He wore a long white lab coat that looked to be smudge with Teflon grease. The man had round glasses and they looked odd against his balding head. In fact, the man looked strangely out of place.

“Please join us Major,” Wallington motioned to Tinker.

Tinker wheeled himself up to the table. Moving a few chairs out of the way he moved closer to the table. His eyes then shot to Barclay who raised his eyebrows. He and Barclay had never become best of friends. It was more of toleration than anything else.

“Who are we waiting fer General?” Tinker asked.

At that moment the door opened. In walked Susan followed closely by Max. Tinker stared at them for a moment then realized just how tired Max looked.

“LT! Christ man when did you git in?” Tinker said swinging his chair around.

“Just arrived Tinker, just arrived,” Max said exhaustedly.

“Can everyone please be seated? This meeting is urgent and we should not delay any further,” Wallington said.

Max and Susan sat down next to Tinker who looked over at him every now and then. It was obvious to him that Max and Susan hadn’t been told about James.

“Now that we are together the mission can proceed. We are calling this mission Project Resurrect...and in many senses of the word...it is exactly what is happening!”