Chapter No.23.

During the night, which was for the most part quiet with just a slight breeze out of the south adding some humidity, Carl was awakened by a brilliant flash of light that lit up his bedroom as if it were high noon.

He sat up in bed as if he had been given a shock. He climbed out of bed and rushed to the door. When he opened it he found both Margaret and Janet in the hallway talking. They were wearing short pajamas, which are appropriate for the warm climate of Houston in the summer.

"What the hell is going on?" Margaret cried. "I thought that the alien device is not on the Moon in this timeline."

"I don't understand how this is happening," Janet added, her face twisted with concern,

"We never checked inside the peak," Carl reminded them. "It's possible that the device is still there and on a timed agenda."

"Does this mean that we're now in a different timeline?" Janet asked.

"Could be. However, the fact that you're living with me is a good sign. I would assume we're still working for NASA."

"What are we going to do now?" Margaret asked.

"I believe that we need to go back to the Moon and shut that alien device down."

"That's going to be a tough nut to crack," Janet said. "We don't even know if NASA is aware of the alien device in this timeline."

"Let's just try to get some sleep," Carl said. "We can pursue this in the morning."

Janet sighed. "I don't think I could go to sleep after this. I think I'll just go to the pool and swim around for a while."

"I'll join you," Margaret said.

Carl watched them remove their pajamas and trot off to the pool in their birthday suits. He enjoyed their departure before returning to his bedroom to get some shuteye.

When morning did arrive, Carl found his two partners in the kitchen enjoying a breakfast of eggs and toast along with the usual required coffee. He sat down after filling his cup with that coffee.

"So, what are we going to do?" Janet asked.

"I suppose we should go to NASA headquarters and find out what they know about the alien signal and whether they have our translation of it."

"I forgot about that," Janet said. "We may not have gone to the Chandra radio telescope in this timeline."

"Do you realize how crazy that sounds," Margaret said. "We don't even know if we work for NASA in this timeline."

"I would think that this timeline is very close to what we were in because of the fact that you are living with me."

"I hope you're right. I'm tired of this timeline nonsense."

Carl was tired too, but he was more concerned with what his situation was in this timeline.

Carl, Margaret and Janet entered the Houston NASA headquarters and found that their badges worked, a sign that they were still employed. George Latimore, the head of NASA, was happy to see them.

"We've been waiting for you," he said with a wide smile. "You're all over the media."

Carl smiled, but inside he was concerned. "I hope it's all good, sir."

"Are you kidding. You just saved the Moon from being destroyed. You're a hero."

"I had some very good help, sir."

"Yes, you are all worthy of praise for what you've done."

"I would like to have a private discussion with you, sir."

George's expression transformed briefly to that of concern before quickly returning to his usual professional mask. "Sure, I hope it's nothing serious."

"It could be."

George ushered him and his two assistants into his office and gestured for them to take seats.

Carl waited until George seemed calmed down before he unloaded his concerns. "We experienced another timeline change last night, which means that we really don't know what the situation is. I assume that in this timeline I was able to get the alien bomb off the Moon before it exploded. However, in the excitement, we failed to check to see if the alien time device was still inside the peak. If it is, then these timeline changes may be happening in the future unless we do something to deactivate or even destroy it."

"I'm not sure I understand what comprises a timeline change," George said. "Is this something that you have experienced?"

"This is now the fourth timeline change for us. I'm not sure why we're able to remember them because several people we've known that reappeared are unaware of the changes. It might be the fact that we've been around the device and have used it to reverse the first timeline change that we experienced in which all humans on Earth vanished."

"Are you telling me that the device can make people vanish?"

"Actually, they don't vanish, they were teleported to an earlier time, which we believe was the Jurassic period. I know that this sounds crazy, but it's all true . . . unfortunately.

George remained silent for a moment before replying. "I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt. You and your two assistants have updated the Chandra radio telescope and came up with a translation of an alien signal, and you have saved the Moon from destruction. I don't understand how timelines work, but if they are a threat, then it's time to stop them from happening."

"We're going to need engineering help to determine how best to stop the alien device from operating," Carl said. "How about the two engineers that went to the Moon with us."

"Yes, they are a good choice."

"Good. Let us know when the mission is ready to roll."

George nodded. Carl wasn't sure if he believed him, but he decided that there wasn't any other way to achieve his personal mission to destroy the alien timeline device.

Carl, Margaret and Janet returned to his house to wait on a call to go to the Moon. After dishing up some margaritas, they sat around the pool sipping them.

At first, they didn't say anything until Carl sighed. "I think that we're in the original timeline."

"What makes you think that?" Janet asked.

"I checked my phone and I had three recent text messages from my Ex. I also checked my personnel record. It's consistent with the original timeline where I went to the Chandra telescope with you two. There's no mention of any change except for the fact that I saved the Moon from an early death. Also, the portrait in the living room is of my father."

"If that's the case, then deactivating that alien device is paramount to us staying in this timeline," Janet said.

"Exactly!" Carl said, pointing at her.

"I think we should go for a swim," Margaret said, smiling.

"I agree," Janet said with an ornery smirk.

Carl smiled. "I'm too inebriated to swim."

They laughed,

He watched them undress and then jump into the water like two crazy teenagers. He wasn't sure why they were not concerned about modesty, but he didn't care. He needed them for what would be his most important mission ever.