History

“Always happens on the first use of the transceivers before a mission,” Ben looked at the operator and thought, “OK, we are ready now.  Since YOU are assigned as our control, I hope not to see you in less than 16 or so months.”

“You mean he can hear our thoughts as well?”  Ruth asked, after all it was her first long-term mission.  Even though she had been on a trip before as part of the training, some of the protocols are not followed because during training return is automatic.

“Yes. I can hear and speak to you. If you don’t pop back in 16 months, 15 days then I have to jumper back there and look for you.  A task I think would be rather boring.  Saving Benny, well…that’s just one of the perc’s of this job!” Came from the operator’s mind.

“He needs too.”  Said Benjamin, his voice noticeably strained. “If I were to be going alone on a mission, and I missed my pick-up time someone would need to jump and learn what happened to me.  If I were still alive, the easiest way to locate me would be to ask me.  Providing you are with in 100 kilometers of each other.  So, until we return, he will have his implant tuned to our frequency.  If we do not reappear in the chamber at the allotted time he will pop back to where we are and use a tracking device, and the implant, to locate one or both of us.  The tracking device has a much greater range.  There have been times where the operator jumped back and discovered that the operatives had died and were buried, or worse.  Someone has to close the case and that is the sad part of his or her job.  Download the implant; destroy evidence of the future, and get home; with their bodies if at all possible.”

Will broke in.  “Jump team 0114.  You have been approved for an extended mission.  You are to travel back in time to the first century and verify the threat of Christianity, and the subversive possibilities of both God and Jesus Christ.  We will see you in 16 months, 15 days your time; 93 and a half days local time.  Good luck and good research.  Remember the rules.  Prepare to jump.”

“Will, do me one favor while we are gone.  Stop in on Thursday evening at 8pm and visit with Bill and Betty.  It has been a while and I told them to expect a visitor on Thursday.”

“I will see if I have the time….”

They could hear power building under them, over them, around them, and inside them.  Then, they did not exist.  Ben and Ruth became pure energy; fully aware of their surroundings, oblivious to sensation: energy that was transferred to another point on the time continuum.

Ben felt the process begin, remembered that he would experience a brief tingle, and then he would be there.  He always hated that initial arrival feeling.  A feeling you get when you fall asleep on your arm, and when you wake up, it seems like its dead.  It passes in a few moments.

Benjamin and Ruth became pure energy.