When the darkness cleared, Andy realised he was wearing his own clothes once more. Even down to the Cotton shirt, jeans and trainers. Jerrix however, continued wearing his obligatory cloak.

“See you haven’t changed then.”

“I’m not the one in flux.”

Andy glanced at the small room with its television, radio and garish green wallpaper. Bright sunlight shone through the familiar glass.

“I’m home Jerrix. Actually home.”

The door opened and a tallish woman with long blonde hair walked in. Andy could not contain himself. He ran forward and embraced her.

“Hey, what’s the problem?”

“Just glad to see you.”

She looked at the visitor.

“New friend?”

Jerrix introduced himself.

“Nice to meet you. Oh, don’t forget. You have that pickup tonight at the station.”

She walked out leaving them alone once more.

“It happened tonight then,” Andy muttered.

Jerrix took his arm and brought him outside. Standing upon the road was his familiar taxi.

“We must examine it,” the cat advised.

Andy found the keys in his pocket and they walked towards it.

“What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know,” Jerrix replied.

He opened the driver’s door and allowed the cat to scan the interior.

“Well?”

“Open the boot for me,” Jerrix insisted.

Andy pulled a lever and the boot rose. When they reached it, Jerrix gazed in.

“Ha. What are you doing here?”

Andy saw him pulling out the bracelet. The cat handed it over.

Andy’s face fell.

“Another illusion.”

“Certainly looks like it I’m afraid. We left that behind. Realities are starting to merge.”

“Why are you still here then?”

“I am as real as you are. What else happened today?”

Andy thought back.

“Only the shopping. We need milk.”

“Then I had better come with you.”

After saying farewell to his wife, the two friends walked towards the local shop as the light beamed down.

“What does all this mean Jerrix? What is going on?”

“I still don’t know Andy. A little confusing. Even for me.”

As they reached the shop, two men walked out. Andy stopped cold. The gents did likewise.

“What is the matter?” Jerrix asked.

Andy stared at the familiar yellow tie and grey suit. He stared at the black suit and outrageous green tie. He saw they were clean-shaven.

“My bloody passengers.”

Jerrix stared as each gent said one word.

“Good.” “Evil.”

“What?” Andy asked in confusion.

“Guardians of morals,” Jerrix said. Then he shook Andy hard.

“What else took place man? Think.”

As the shaking continued, Andy saw a young man approaching slowly. He was well dressed but his eyes shifted strangely.

The shaking stopped.

“We may never get out of this my friend.”

Andy pointed as the youth drew closer.

“He robbed the shop after I left,” Andy muttered. “I walked away.”

Jerrix pushed him violently into the robber to be.

“Grab him then!”

“Come on mate. Lay off.”

“Hold your tongue boy,” Jerrix warned reaching into the lad’s pocket.

He pulled out a knife.

“Shopping are we?”

The youth blushed as the shopkeeper came out to investigate.

“Phone the police,” Andy ordered. “He was going to rob you.”

They handed the youth over and started heading back towards his home. The two gents stayed close.

“Is that it?” Andy asked. “One simple act?”

Before Jerrix could reply, the scene dissolved once more.

He found himself standing outside a small cave entrance. He saw the rope bridge leading to his ship. However, Andy was gone.

“You must come in Jerrix.”

The cat recognised the teacher’s voice and padded back in. He found the old gent sitting as usual holding the bracelet.

“You should keep this my friend.”

Jerrix took it.

“Where is the taxi driver?”

The mystic laughed out loud.

“You still don’t know what is really going on.”

Jerrix shook his furry head.

“Andy was a projection of myself.”

As the cat watched, the old teacher transformed into a young, tall, dark haired woman.

Jerrix gawped and gasped, “Dyan.”

The woman bowed. Her silver dress blowing slightly.

“You are smart my friend but sometimes a little slow,” she said in a melodic tone.

“Compared with your power I’m nothing but dust.”

“That is the law,” Dyan replied.

“Why choose me?” Jerrix asked quaking.

“Everyone has to be tested sometime. Even you.”

Jerrix knew what happened to those who failed. Instant destruction.

“Did I, eh, pass?”

“You nearly fouled up when you sent me to that battlefield.”

Then she smiled.

“You did the right thing in the end though.”

“I’m glad to hear it. You understand why I used the time projector?”

“Because of the quantum signature,” she said. “I know. You should have sent me straight home. As I asked.

“Which would have brought us here.”

“Exactly.”

He thought back to that painful encounter.

“Why did you attack me by the way?”

“To get your attention. Here we are, meeting again. As promised.”

“I suppose I can leave now?” Jerrix commented.

“You may go, and Jerrix?”

“Yes Dyan?”

“We shall not meet again.”

He turned and walked slowly out. He placed the bracelet in his pocket, and crossed the rope bridge to his ship. As he reached its location, he vanished.
---
Standing alone now, Jerrix gazed around the interior of his complicated craft. The galactic image showed two flashing dots as usual. He simply gazed as he wondered what to do. Sighing deeply, he padded over to the east statue and hauled the lever down.

The gentle movement was over in microseconds. He recognised his new location of course. This was Earth. A small, insignificant planet located on one of the outer arms. Tarra came from there. A dear friend he dearly missed since they had skipped into this craft, so long ago now.

He stepped outside and saw the caravans dotted around. Some of them even had small, white fences surrounding them. Jerrix scratched his chest in gentle amusement.

“Would you believe it? A caravan park.”

He saw a young girl with straight yellow hair running towards him. She was obviously wearing flip-flops and the denim top and trousers flowed in the gentle breeze.

“Jerrix!”

He smiled as they cuddled, breathing in her sweet scent.

“What are you doing here?” she asked after they parted.

“The ship brought me. Nothing happening I assume?”

She gave him one of those looks that said trouble.

“You better come with me.”

He followed her to a smart blue van and unlocked the door.

“Where is your mother?” he asked gently.

“Gone shopping. She will be back in about an hour.”

She removed a paper from the table and handed it over.

“Seems you are in trouble.”

He saw a grainy photo of himself and the headline, Have you seen this cat?

He read on.

He looked up at her, tossing the rag back onto the table.

“I have never been to that research station Tarra.”

“Oh I see. Someone else perhaps?”

“Either that, or its sometime in my future.”

“Been busy lately?

“Pretty busy Tarra. You know me.”

She smiled and said, “I certainly do.”

He glared at her and laughed.

“How long are you here for?” he asked.

“Until the end of the week. Then it’s back to the grindstone.”

“Lucky you.”

“That depends. Too many cookery lessons,” she said.

He was about to reply when the caravan began to shake violently. As it did so, books, and other items began to drop from the overhead shelves.

“We don’t have quakes here,” she cried as the shaking escalated.

Jerrix grabbed her hand and hauled her outside, as the van shifted.

Overhead, an unbelievable sight drifted over the park.

“There is your cause,” he said pointing.

She looked up and saw a huge saucer shaped craft heading south, its wake causing devastation. The two friends had problems standing as the ground continued to shake.

“It must be heading for Gloucester,” Tarra told him.

“Are you sure?”

“It’s the only large city near here.”

“Come with me then.”

He helped her to the ship as buildings toppled, as rail lines buckled. Within his ship though, all was quiet and still.

“I suppose we are going to shoot it down,” Tarra commented as the cat activated the controls.

“Certainly not. We are just going to pop aboard to speak to the pilot.”

“That is going to be dangerous,” she reminded him.

“Probably, but I have to do something about this.”

He hauled the lever over and the craft made its short transference.

“We have arrived. I did not recognise the craft, so I’m a wee bit in the dark.”

“One day you will go too far,” she warned him.

“One Tarra, we all do.”

He marched out and found themselves face to face with a rather bemused dwarf.

“Are you the pilot?” Tarra asked.

“I am the security officer mam. Your arrival triggered the alarm.”

Jerrix gazed at the dark blue uniform with its silver shoulder braids. He quickly noticed the officer was unarmed.

“We have to see your senior officer,” Jerrix demanded. “This craft of yours is killing people.”

“Then you better come with me sir.”

He took them to a lift, which reached the command deck. They followed him out as the captain turned to look. His uniform was a bright pale and his braids were gold.

“What are they doing on my bridge?” the captain demanded.

Tarra stepped forward.

“Do you know how much damage this ship is causing?”

The dwarfish captain looked quite surprised.

“That miss is quite impossible.”

“Check your scanner captain,” Jerrix suggested. “By the time this is over, most of the land will be flattened.”

The captain frowned and barked the order. A silver screen appeared and showed the mounting devastation. The captain looked deeply concerned. Turning quickly he ordered, “Activate the suppression system now.”

Within moments, the damage stopped and the craft moved on.

“Better late than never I suppose,” Jerrix muttered.

The captain turned to his unexpected guests.

“Thanks for telling me. This puts me in a rather awkward position.”

One of the two dwarfish pilots spoke up.

“6 craft approaching from port sir.”

The screen switched and showed a group of warplanes moving in fast.
As calm as a cucumber, the captain said, “Activate defences.”

“Now wait a minute,” Jerrix protested.

As they watched, air-to-air missiles were launched which exploded seconds later. The aircraft veered off and prepared to carry out a second run.

“We seem to have a war on our hands,” the captain said sadly.

“Take my advice,” Jerrix said. “Get this craft into orbit fast.”

“We are not vulnerable,” the captain informed him. “No need to run sir.”

“Why are you here anyway?” Tarra asked.

“We need to remove that research station mam. Distance to target?”

“Two miles sir,” a pilot replied.

“You can’t just destroy a building,” Jerrix told him. “What harm can it do?”

The aircraft approached at high speed, wing cannons spewing shells.
They were totally ineffective.

“That station is creating a space laser sir. Such weapons are banned by galactic treaty.”

“This planet knows nothing of treaties,” Jerrix replied.

“Ignorance is no defence sir.”

Tarra shouted, “Can’t you do something Jerrix?”

He shook his head.

“I think your friend knows that I am in the right,” the captain told her.

“Target in view sir,” a pilot called out.

Tarra and Jerrix saw the squat rectangle appearing on screen and the craft began to slow.

“Prepare to atomise,” the captain ordered.

As they watched, people began to flee from the site as the saucer hovered overhead.

“Prepare to fire.”