Brisby Robinson studied the computer monitor, where the
results
of her latest geothermal analysis had just been posted. After
Timmothy
had summoned them all, the crew had gathered in the dayroom,
quickly
downing a good morning breakfast. Now as Timmy stared at the
computer
monitor, the whole ship began to tremble as if there were an
earthquake
- no, it would have to be called a planetquake.

BRISBY ROBINSON
It's impossible. But this planet's continental plates don't
match up.

JUSTIN ROBINSON
I was afraid of this.

BRUTUS WEST
Afraid of what?

JUSTIN ROBINSON
These tremors we're feeling? I think they're the result of
opening and
closing doorways.

MARTIN ROBINSON
Doorways? To where? <He stared out the viewscreen at the
lush, tropical
jungle in the distance>

JUSTIN ROBINSON
The future and beyond.

Brutus raised an eyebrow.

BRUTUS WEST
I think you were hit in the head when we landed yesterday.

JUSTIN ROBINSON
No, think about it. The portal that led us to the probe ship.
The
advanced technology they used to track us through lightspeed.
Your
friend Sullivan looking so old. What, if we crossed into a
timewarp
years after Earth sent a rescue mission for us?

BRUTUS WEST
You're not serious. Time travel is impossible.

TIMMOTHY ROBINSON
No it's not! It's just improbable. Like hyperdrive was
invented
100 years ago. Nothing's really impossible.

JUSTIN ROBINSON
Timmy's right. This world we are in now could be full of
doorways to
the future and beyond.

TIMMOTHY ROBINSON
So if we walked into that forest outside...<Pointed out the
windscreen>
We'd be walking into this same crater, only years from now.
Right?

BRISBY ROBINSON
Geological plates from different times wouldn't fit together.
That
would explain the continental mismatch. But doorways in time, I
don't
know...

JUSTIN ROBINSON
It's hard for me to believe, too. But if these portals are
opening and
closing, part of some cascading natural phenomenon, they could
be
tearing this planet apart.

A loud rumble outside the ship seem to confirm his
hypothesis.

TIMMOTHY ROBINSON
Okay. But what if the doorways aren't natural?

JUSTIN ROBINSON
Tim, this kind of phenomenon could only be produced
naturally.

TIMMOTHY ROBINSON
No, these portals are exactly what I predicted my time machine
would do.
What if someone on this world built a device like mine
and...

JUSTIN ROBINSON
Son, <Interrupts him> I appreciate your input, but right
now isn't the
time for a science fair project.

TIMMOTHY ROBINSON <Glares angrily>
You never listen to me. NEVER! <He ran out of the
room>

Justin watched him go. Perhaps he shouldn't have been so
dismissive, he thought. But he didn't have the time for Timmy's
ideas
right now. There was another loud rumble underground. Justin
shifted
nervously in his chair.

JUSTIN ROBINSON
There's no telling how long before this planet breaks up
entirely. <He
told the group, standing up> And that's why the Sergant and I
are going
to locate the radioactive material we detected last night. We
need it
for the core. And I'm afraid we don't have much time.

Justin went to the lower deck, changed into his exploration
suit, and headed for the Terminator bay. He knew he'd find Timmy
there.
Sure enough, Timmothy was sitting in a chair, tinkering with the
hacker
deck.

JUSTIN ROBINSON
I'm leaving now, Tim.

TIMMOTHY ROBINSON <Dosen't look up>
That's a suprise.

JUSTIN ROBINSON
Tim, I know it's hard for you to see, but you're the most
important
thing in the world to me. I hope one day you'll be able to see
that.

TIMMOTHY ROBINSON <Finally looks up>
What if one time you don't come home?

Justin could see that Timmy was even more worried than
usual.
He needed to assure him. But how? If there were a promise he
could
make...but he couldn't. He needed to give Tim something to hold
onto.
He reached into his suit and pulled his dog tags over his
head.

JUSTIN ROBINSON
Whenever your grandfather went away on a mission, he'd leave
these with
me. For safekeeping. And when he got back home, I'd always be
waiting
to give them back. <He lifted the chain and placed it around
his son's
neck> I'm coming back Tim, I promise.

Timmothy examined the dog tags. His father watched as his
expression softened a little. Then he turned to go. He joined
Jenny
and Brutus outside the Discovery 2, on the snowy planet
surface.

The rest of the crew emerged from the ship - all except
Timmy.
Brisby handed Justin a tracking device.

BRISBY ROBINSON
I have a fix on the radioactive material. It's through the
portal.

JUSTIN ROBINSON
Then we'll just have to hope the doorways remain stable.

BRISBY ROBINSON
These crater walls are disabling the com-links. Which means you
won't
be able to communicate with the ship. <The ground rumbled
again> Come
home to me, okay? <She kissed him>

JUSTIN ROBINSON
I love you honey. <As he turned to say goodbye to Martin,
Gurgi reached
up to touch his face>

GURGI
Goodbye master Justin, please come home safely.

JUSTIN ROBINSON
I guess that was a compliment.

He and Brutus headed toward the portal. Justin felt as
though
he were walking toward some kind of mirage. Right now, his boots
were
crunching on ice and snow. In another 10 feet, his feet would
sink in
mud and grass. Justin stopped at the forest's edge.

He held out his hand, testing the glimmering surface. Was it
real? His hand seemed to be swimming as it passed from one time
into
another - like an image in a funhouse mirror. He stepped into
the
portal, feeling his body distort as he spun into the future and
beyond.