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Chapter -38- There's No Place Like Home

Monday, September 18, 1893 - 2pm Generator Shed (aka 'The Garage') Niagara Falls, NY ...

Reno stepped off the carriage and took Kerii's hand. He held it as she came down the steps.

Reinhardt followed them from the carriage. "Such an antiquated notion - she is more than capable of disembarking without having someone hold her hand. You treat her as a child."

Reno narrowed his gaze to Reinhardt. "Man, I used to think the same way, but then I grew up."

St. Leonard rolled his eyes. "You cannot put a woman on a pedestal while proclaiming gender equality."

Reno glanced back at Reinhardt and added, "Of course she can do it by herself. She can do whatever the hell she wants to, by herself. But I like being her husband. I like giving a damn. Maybe that's why, after all these eons, or whatever, you're still alone. You condescend to women, instead of showing courtesy and respect to another human being, you dick."

Reinhardt scoffed.

Reno shook his head. "I've seen gay guys treat their spouse with the same respect. I'm pretty sure they're not taking gender equality into consideration; they do it out of love and respect."

"You bore me, Nevada."

"I thought old people were supposed to understand chivalry and respect. Now, give it a rest..."

Silence.

Reno ran her thumbs over Kerii's knuckles then went to the driver to pay for the fare.

Reinhardt turned to Kerii and smirked. "You honestly enjoy him opening jars and doors for you?"

"He gives a damn," she said, repeating what Reno said a moment prior.

"He gives too much of a damn. He's inadvertently condescends to your femininity, and you give in, because why? Because you enjoy such? You are fueling what is wrong with this time period."

Kerii tilted her head.

"You barely speak to me," Reinhardt told her. "In two months, you've barely opened your mouth. But I know how strong you are. You have steady hands, sharp eyes, and you can fight. I've seen you handle close and ranged weapons. Like your sister, you need no one to coddle you, because you are strong. Yet you allow yourself to be coddled. I dare say you enjoy it."

Kerii took a deep breath to relax herself. She reached her hands forward and placed her dainty palms upon Reinhardt's shoulders. She paused, reached up and cupped his face. "Nathan is correct - you are alone because you do not 'give a damn' as he says."

"Kerii..."

She placed a thumb on his mouth. "You tell me I do not speak enough to you. That is because I do not care much for you, Mr. St. Leonard."

"Let me guess, you find him 'sexy.' Is that it?" Reinhardt's words were slightly muffled against her thumb.

Kerii smirked. "You wish to know what is sexy? Giving a damn. Giving lots of 'damns.' Giving a damn in such over abundance that one's passion seeps through one's pores and spills onto everything it touches. Caring in such a way that I never have to question his motives or his heart. That ... is sexy."

Reinhardt said nothing. He simply stared at her.

She patted his face in a condescending way and smiled. "There is equality, then there is respect for your spouse. He shows me respect, because his mother obviously taught him how to treat a woman. We are a team, he and I. Partners. I would kill for that man, and he for me. I love him every bit as much as you love power, and you love power as a shark loves blood."

Reinhardt said nothing.

Kerii continued. "I pity you; I know you do not wish my pity. It is difficult not to care, because I have a trait called 'empathy.' You should wish to try such at least once in your life." Again, she patted his face.

Reinhardt backed away from her with a scowl.

"If you wish to contribute to our conversations, say something interesting," she told him.

Reinhardt scoffed. "Not far from here is a town called Town Line. They are not incorporated - a village at best. They seceded from the Union and are still unofficially seceded."

Reno blinked. "The Civil War is over. This is a New York town?"

"Unofficially, yes. I remember leaving England in 1946. There was a small blurb in the newspaper about their ceremony to rejoin the Union. I respected their staying power."

"You're telling me these people considered themselves a confederation for eighty years after the south lost?"

Reinhardt grimaced. "The south did not lose. They were bullied into submission. England and France supported the south. But in the end, the Union learned a valuable lesson - if you push your people too far, they will push back. That lesson means the south had a small-yet-often-overlooked victory."

Reno shrugged. "Whatever. I'm from California. I don't care about that crap."

"I visited Appomattox when the confederacy yielded. It was not what history claimed. The US constitution was designed to give state law power above federal law, yet states are bullied and burned if they try to leave."

"What the fuck is your point, Reinhardt?"

"Apply these lessons to the Esoteric Community. The south was right to leave. Lincoln only abolished slavery as an excuse to attack the south, damage their economy, and find an excuse to attack. They the north proceeded to burn their brethren to the ground."

Reno rubbed his chin. "Yeah but Lincoln only endorsed Sherman's March because he didn't want the Union to look fractured or in disagreement. He was forced to let Sherman's actions stand. In reality, Lincoln was pissed. It was political drama. Lincoln knew he had to accept responsibility for the actions of his General."

"Seems you know more about your history than you let on, Reno. Do you know why I'm bringing this up?"

"Because the community of specials are about to have a civil war in a few years. Nathan shows up to lead the charge and set things right."

Reinhardt nodded. "And if we aren't successful today, we will be caught up in a war where thousands upon thousands of specials die. Just remember that."

"Enough," Kerii said. "You couldn't be more different than my husband. You argue how he treats me, you argue his stance with the community of specials; you are an enigma."

"Why thank you, my dear."

Kerii smirked. "I mean that as an insult. I've never met someone with so many radical opinions who has such a narrow mind. I am tired of your voice."

"You are so far beneath me on the food chain that..."

Kerii raised the tone of her voice. "It is no secret that I am quite proficient with weapons, which require a steady hand. Would you like to learn your true place on the 'food chain,' Mr. St. Leonard?"

Reinhardt stormed away from the carriage and into the building fondly referred to as 'The Garage.'

She looked up. As the carriage pulled away, headed towards town, she saw Reno on the other side.

He offered her a grin.

She grinned back.

"That was damn sexy." Reno tilted his head somewhat. "Can you really handle weapons? Like rifles and such?"

She nodded. "With a proficiency and accuracy. When surrounded by those with legendary abilities, a girl learns how to protect herself in such a community."

Reno approached and took her hands into his. "Remember when I went off, gallivanting with Justus?"

"Yes, when you asked me to meet with Mr. Tesla in New York."

"You didn't happen to take a detour in Bethesda Maryland, or Washington DC, did you?"

She tilted her head. "Even if I wished to do so, trains are not quite that fast, my dear."

"I just ... I thought I saw you. Weird huh?"

She smiled. "Are you telling me that you are so deeply in love with me that you see my face on every woman with blonde hair?"

Reno laughed and pulled her into his arms. "Nice, nice."

She loved it in his arms. She loved the way he held her. She loved his heartbeat against her ear.

She loved knowing that she had done something right in her life to deserve her deepest, darkest wish to come true, if only for a few years, at the end of her life.

"Kerii?"

"Mm?"

"I was just asking if you're ready to go inside."

She grinned. "I did not mean to be absent minded."

"No, no, it's fine. You can be off in your own little world anytime you want. Are you ready?"

She looked up at him. "I love that you are so accepting of me." She kissed her husband.

Kerii reflected on her mood. She was still high from making love less than two hours ago. She looked forward to seeing how the world would change, and she looked forward to living out the last years of her life in a clean, comfortable world - Reno promised her the future.

She knew she would have to fight alongside of her husband, but from the way he'd described things to her the night before, it sounded as though the greatest future threats were defeated - Loki and Falcon.

Kerii took his hand and they went into the garage together.

She looked around for the shorter man, however Charles Steinmetz was not in attendance.

Nikola nodded to Kerii respectfully from nearby. Nikola approached her and shook hands with Reno first. "Could I have a moment of your wife's attention?"

Reno gave Kerii's hand a squeeze, then he walked towards the machine at the far end.

Kerii cut her gaze back to Nikola. "Mr. Tesla?"

"Are you ... sure that you wish to go through with this?"

She tilted her head. "How did you know...?"

"It does not matter that I know, it only matters that I can attempt to talk you out of this."

"Why?"

Nikola shook his head. "I'm not allowed to say. I made a promise to someone I respect deeply. She would be deeply upset if I did not honor such promises."

"She? Who?"

Tesla grimaced. "I've said too much. Never mind. I ... wish for you to be happy. I am ... poor with words at times. I am better with my machines."

"How do you mean, Mr. Tesla?" She tilted her head adding, "Nikola, please..."

"Man is nature's greatest predator. Man fears nothing. Man is driven and motivated to achieve success and greatness. Man forges ahead, rising to any challenge ... except public speaking, tiny insects that bite or sting, the gaudy impurities of metal collecting germs and holding them against your skin, and ... of course ... telling others how they truly feel."

Kerii grimaced. She whispered, "Nikola, I am married."

He shook his head. "I have no time in my life to consider anything but celibacy. Such things would be a distraction. I am speaking on another matter entirely."

"You are an enigmatic man."

"I am not flirting with you. I have genuine interest for our friendship; I have no desire for romantic notions. Now please, are you absolutely sure you wish to go to the future?"

She nodded. "If I deny myself trying to have a happy life, I will die alone and broken. To use a euphemism from a sport to which my sister has great fondness ... if the batter does not swing, and he is struck out ... he will always question what could have been, had he tried. If he is struck out from swinging, at least he had the courage to try."

"And if freewill cannot trump fate?"

"Since when do you suddenly believe in fate?"

"I believe mankind makes his destiny with his actions," said Nikola. "However, sometimes, fate will intervene, like when it rains on a day that a parade was planned in advance. Tell no one that I said such. I do not care for the notion of fate."

"Why are you so worried?"

"I ... simply ... question Mr. St. Leonard's math equations." He feigned a weak smile and turned from her. Tesla clapped his hands together and approached Reno and Reinhardt. "Are we ready?"

Reno nodded. "And you know the game plan, right? You have to destroy this machine when we're gone. No matter what."

"You have my word," said Tesla. "And you have my promise that I will keep our adventures between us."

Kerii approached the loading platform and took her husband's hand. She stood on his left.

Reinhardt stood on Reno's right.

Kerii took a deep breath, listening to the machine hum to life. An electrical current built between the two spheres at either end of the room. She felt her dress cling to her skin and her hair begin to levitate, from static.

Reno brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. She afforded her husband with a grin.

Nikola adjusted a knob on a control panel and pulled on a lever. The machine's second generator came to life. The noise made it so that she couldn't hear herself think.

Kerii watched Reno's head tilt, gesturing to Nikola. Her eyes shifted to Nikola, at the controls.

Movement by the entrance caught Kerii's eyes. The door opened, only slightly, and a blond girl peered in through the doorway.

At first, Kerii thought it was her sister, Keturah, but at second glance, the girl was _slightly_older, perhaps seventeen or so.

Reno tensed up, and the world dissolved around them. Lightning reached up from the platform and connected with an arc dancing between the two spheres above their heads.

Kerii felt ... light, as if floating.

She couldn't feel the grasp of a hand any longer. She didn't feel the static cling of her dress, or her hair in her face. She didn't feel the weight of her body upon her feet anymore.

And then?

She felt...

X

X

?? ?? ...

Kerii Mae Carrington grunted from displeasure. She stumbled to all fours. The hem of her dress clung up on her left knee, and her hair covered her face.

A hand came into her view.

She got to her feet with a grunt and pushed her hair back. Kerii looked at the extended hand. Her eyes lifted to the face of her half-sister's uncle, Raul Poliandro.

Raul smiled somewhat and lowered his hand. "And now ... you are lost. Out of your time. And now? Now you are my burden."

Kerii grimaced. She looked around the area. She was standing in the middle of nowhere. There were some trees. Patches of grass could be seen across the valley. "Where am I?"

"A few hours from where you stood in New York."

"Hours??"

"Hours, in that it would take you many hours to walk back to where you once stood. The world turns, you did not turn with it. Be glad you are entangled to this giant ball of rock, else you would have materialized in a vacuum."

"What are you talking about? Where is Nathan?"

Raul shook his head with a sigh. "He is in the future. You are not."

She balled her hands up and struck Raul's chest with the bottoms of her fists. Raul snatched her by the wrists. Kerii's heart dropped.

She felt crushing loss, instantly thrown into a state of mourning. She felt her legs go weak.

Kerii dropped, held up only by her wrists. "No," she sobbed softly. "No, we were going together. How could you do this to me?"

"I did no such thing," Raul said. "Everyone went to a different time, Kerii. Everyone. I do not understand why Reinhardt's calculations did not work. It could be a number of things. For one, he did not factor in the static electricity that would gather in your clothing and hair. He did not consider variables such as jewelry, or water weight, which would change the person's mass ever so slightly."

She jerked her wrists from his and fell to the ground, sobbing. "Dear God, what have I done to deserve this?! Why would you give me such happiness only to strip it away?!"

Raul grimaced, not knowing how to handle emotion in such a way. "Get a hold of yourself, Kerii Mae. Stand up."

"Either take me to him, or go away!"

Raul sighed. "This was always meant to happen."

"You would leave me here?!"

"Yes."

"Why would you do that?!"

"You tried to change the future by leaving the past."

"So!"

"The world has a way of ... course correcting. Sometimes, the laws of nature causes the world to over-compensate. And now? You ... have changed time."

"Take me to him!" She got to her feet. "Now! I demand it!"

"You were supposed to die in his arms in 1906, Kerii Mae. But now ... he will die in yours, if you do not take action."

She swallowed and wiped her face. "What?"

"Reno Nevada will die if I take you to the future."

"I do not understand." She looked around the valley again. It appeared to be spring time, as there were flowers in bloom that normally would have disappeared by now. "Where am I?"

"Not where ... when."

She swallowed. "You said he went forward into the future. I stayed in 1893, yes?"

"No. The current year is now 1892. You went backwards."

Kerii swallowed. "I traveled backwards?"

"By a single year, yes. We are on the east coast, in Pennsylvania."

"So ... I can try again and go forward with my husband next year?"

"No, Señora. You are now in a new loop that takes you back in time because of your actions - because you attempted to go forward when you were not meant to do that. Also, Reinhardt's math was correct; he was an idiot for not knowing how to properly consider the variables. The technology to accurately allow travel through time belonged to the First Age. Even they could not control it. They created a genetic trait, which allowed some to control it. I am one of those."

"Take me to him, I'm begging you. Take me to my husband."

"Time has now changed. This loop ... I do not yet understand how it could be allowed such a change, but know that without you here, in this time, he will die."

"How?! How is that possible?!"

"You created a loop where you come back. Now you must save his life."

Her voice lowered. She wiped her face again. "How?"

"There will come a time when he requires you to protect him from a distance. He will be with Justus Loupe in Washington DC, where you will watch him from afar. You cannot speak to him or cross paths with him, or you will further destabilize the variables of this ... this hiccup ... this paradox of time."

Kerii swallowed. She rubbed her thumb and forefinger together and looked down at her wedding band and the ring with the diamond in front of it. "So I cannot go back to California, else I will be recognized."

"Si, that is true."

"Nikola said a woman made him promise not to tell me what he knows, but ... he all but begged me not to go into the machine."

"If you do not go back, the loop involving your responsibility to save your husband will not take place. He will be injured from a gunshot wound, but will not die. However, now that you've changed the loop, if you do not rescue him, the gunshot will be quite fatal, because the flapping butterfly wings will cause the gunshot to be to his face instead of his lower torso."

"Flapping...?" Kerii tilted her head. "What do you mean? What butterfly?"

"It's a euphemism from the future. Never mind it does not matter. You have a duty to repair the thread you've pulled loose by stepping into that machine. That was NEVER supposed to occur. Reno cannot be allowed to die."

She sighed. "Why can't you save him and take me to him? I am sorry to sound so ... selfish, but..." she trailed off and looked down at the ground.

"You sounds like Mehdi."

"Who?"

"A Japanese fellow who ... never mind. Kerii, you pulled the thread - you fix it. There is nothing you can do until next summer. I will help you find a place to live in Washington DC. Put a bit of money aside. Try and help your sister with her drug habit. If Keturah sobers up sooner, rather than later, well, that is never a bad thing. It will not hurt the timeline."

"One more thing, Raul..."

"You saw yourself in Tesla's garage, yes."

She grimaced. "So I show up too late to stop myself from going through time?"

"Do not interact with yourself unless it is imperative to do so," said Raul. "Feel free to befriend Nikola Tesla. Perhaps this time you can help him to better dissuade you from going through time."

She looked down and sighed. "I had to try. I..." She swallowed down the emotion in her gut. "I have thirteen years left. I have thirteen years without my husband left to live, while he fights, alone, in a battle for the future."

"Dios mio." Raul shook his head. "Your husband will fight many, many battles in the future. There is much work ahead of him, which is why it is so imperative that he lives. That is why it is so important that you save his life in this loop that lies ahead of you."

"I ... am sick of being alone."

"Then perhaps you should move to New York instead of Washington DC."

"Why?"

"Befriend Nikola. Live in DC and try to help your sister. Do as you please, so long as you do not cross your own path. I advise you to make incremental changes to keep yourself from going through time."

She looked away and nodded. "Very well." She sighed, gazing out over the springtime valley. "What if I fail again, as I have in the last loop?"

"Then you continue through these loops, making small adjustments, until true happiness occurs, or until you make a fatal mistake. I advise against the latter, Kerii Mae."

"Which way do I walk?"

Raul chuckled. "Just this once, I will help you. Where would you like to go first? Washington DC or New York?"

"Take me to New York. I will introduce myself to Nikola, and help him prepare for the World's Fair in Chicago, next May. I ... would like to see the Statue of Liberty again. It reminds me of my husband."

Raul held his forearm out.

She placed her hand on his wrist.

Raul stepped through time and space. They appeared in Manhattan.

She looked around. The buildings towered above her. Raul was nowhere to be seen, however. Where she had been holding his forearm, she was now holding a single bar of gold ... a gift to make the most of her life going forward.

Kerii took a deep breath. First, she would need to find a place to live. She would need a new, warmer wardrobe, then she would need to buy furniture. Finally, she would need to settle in and have a good cry. She missed her husband already.

It wasn't that she couldn't live her life without him, it was the fact that she looked forward to enjoying his company and companionship. Now she was all alone. Again.

Her heart ached.

She told herself that all she had to do was save his life and make small changes. Maybe next time he would stay with her, or ... something. All she knew was ... right now ... it would be another year before she could see him again, even if it would be from far away.

Kerii eased the bar of gold into her sleeve and made her way towards a bank at the end of the block. She rubbed the tears from her eyes, took a deep breath, and held her chin high.

She would get through this ... she had to.

What choice did she have? Reno's life depended upon it.