Diffused light shined upward on the polished metallic faces of the buildings, giving them an eerie hollow-eyed look. The four occupants in Max's car sat nervous and jumpy as they entered the security garage. The rumbling of the meshed gate as it rose into the concrete ceiling sounded unnervingly loud. Pulling into a slot next to the service elevator, Max stated, "We're here."

Only a few dim neon lights lit the dark garage as they approached the same elevator they used that morning. Shivering, Kat noticed the other three were in the same state as she and decided she wasn't such a coward after all. Small comfort when she thought about why they were here. Staggering fear and euphoria combined to curl her stomach inside out. The power she now held over the past and future beckoned like a siren.

The lab sat, quiet, poised and ready for human hands to bring it to life. The only lights on in the room were the blinking digitals flashing from PESTER, standing sentinel in the middle of the room. Flicking on the neons, Max immediately went to the massive central computer and turned on the switches. The machine came to life under his hands, purring, as more lights came on, illuminating the center of the room with multi-colored hues.

"Max, what makes you so sure he's going to fire you? I've been thinking about what you said and it seems to me that he'd want to keep you on the project if you've succeeded when others haven't." Chuck asked while inspecting the room.

"I've never even met the guy but he sends me messages daily asking if there's been any progress yet. It's obvious he doesn't care about anything but success. Why would I think I'd be any different from the last guy if he gets it? Maybe he'd keep me on to continue, I don't know. What I do know is that I'm pissed off at the high-handed way he does business. If he does have hidden motives for this project then I won't stay anyway so Kat might as well have her chance." He answered across the room as he worked.

"Sounds good to me, pal. I guess you know what you're doing." Chuck shrugged and walked over to look at the computer terminal running numbers over the screen.

Nervously, Kat approached the impassive leather chair she'd already come to view as her gateway to the past. Sitting down, Kat readied herself for the ritual ahead as Callie straightened the leads and straps. Chuck still stood, transfixed, inside the doorway. He openly gawked at the huge room and all its confusing activity, like a kid new to a Christmas department store display.

"My God, Max. This place looks like something out of a bad horror flick. You didn't tell me we were playing H.G. Wells here."

"Stop the wise-cracking, Chuck, and come help with something." Callie shot at him. He shrugged and walked over to the women busy around the medieval-looking chair Kat occupied.

"I'm ready Callie. Strap me down okay?" her voice trembled.

"What about a gown? I can't hook up these cardiac leads if you have your clothes on, dummy." She indicated the multitude of cords lying on the table next to the chair.

"Forget 'em this time. She'll be okay. Those are just to monitor patients when they use the drugs." Max shouted out.

By the time Callie and Chuck had her snugly strapped down, he had the computer ready for the bio-loop. Quickly, Callie leaned down and whispered, "I'm going to start now, Kat. Concentrate, just like we did before."

"Nice that you don't need this stuff anymore. Which reminds me, you owe me an explanation of how you did that. Of course, it may be why you couldn't hit your target last time too. After all, you didn't have the extra boost the drug gives. Will you be willing to try it again for me, Kat? We need to know if the drug makes a difference or not." His face was a study in concentration as his thoughts turned inward, already working on the problem and the possibilities.

"Sure, why not? So, give it to me and let's get on with it. Okay?" she snapped, nervous at the situation.

He looked grim and stressed when he prepared her arm for the shot. "Now remember what I told you earlier about getting back. When you do, I'll want a full written report. Ready?" he asked, pushing the plunger in.

Again, the effect of the drug was immediate. Her head swam and her eyesight became fuzzy. Callie's serene face swam around in front of her until only her eyes were clearly visible. The sound of wind whistling through high trees reached her ears and the sensation of floating among them overwhelmed her sense of place. Opening eyes she didn't realize were closed, Kat looked around and a chill ran up her spine.

Floating above the same stand of trees in the inky blackness, she searched for anything new. A shuddering breath of relief escaped as she realized it was the same place. The memory portal lights twinkled everywhere around her. They appeared much more distinct in shape and size than before.

Maybe I'm getting better at this.

She thought herself out of the trees and toward the portals, taking her there instantly. Looking back, she could see a strange glow surrounding the little island of shubbery. Briefly wondering what it meant, she stored it away to bring up with Max when she returned.

Pausing to study the portals, Kat was determined to find the right one. "How? How do I tell one memory from the other?" she wondered.

Each light was different from the others in subtle ways. She could see slight differences between them; color, intensity of color, size and shape all contributed to their unique look. She tried applying logic to what she did know. The one she'd entered before was blue, bright and big. It was a sad, recent memory, having a big impact. Kat decided to use this as a model criteria for the others. Assuming colors represented the emotional content of the memory, she began cataloging the different colors and tried to put an emotion to them.

Red has to mean anger, blue sadness, white happiness and pink.what could pink be?

Smiling, she decided pink must be something special; something soft and pleasurable. She headed for the nearest and brightest pink light to test out her theory. She chose a bright, large one quite a way away from the starting position.

Easing into it, she stepped into a hotel room; one she'd been in with Steve several months ago. It was the first time they'd been together and made love. The memory was bittersweet in her mind as she watched the drama unfold before her. In spite of the fact she didn't think they could see her, Kat tucked herself into a shadowy corner.

God, I am fixated on him, she realized. It irritated her to admit it. even to herself.

She saw her nude body, hot and sweaty, wrapped around Steve's equally sweaty one. He lay on his back with his arm around her shoulders. Her head rested on his heaving chest, a beatific smile on her glowing face. What she hadn't realized at the time was the look he had on his face. She could clearly see the deep and intense look of guilt marring it and her stomach hit her shoes at the sight.

When they met, the strong attraction they felt for each other quickly overwhelmed both of them. They'd known each other less than a month before coming here for the first time. He was attentive, eager, loving and warm and he'd captured her heart almost immediately.

Kat watched the play of feelings he experienced, shifting over his features in rapid succession. She hadn't realized at the time, or later, he'd battled with his guilt and beliefs during this interlude. Pain hit her, hard and heavy, as she watched him grapple with his feelings. Her mind, body and heart reached out for him, even here. The pain of his loss became unbearable as it crushed her from the inside out. Fleeing the memory, she found herself back outside, panting and sobbing with emotion. The impact of feelings in this place gave her an idea of how sharp and painful they were in reality. More determined than ever to reach back, to change her future, Kat searched the other portals, hoping to find a way back even further.

It dawned on her that the stand of trees where she'd come in were a representation of her present; a starting point. It seemed the further she got from that point the more distant the memories she found. Kat searched for colors of memories that might mean a turning point; something big, bright and very significant in her life. A great distance away, she spied a light much bigger than the rest. It gleamed a bright yellow, a new one not plentiful here.

Tentatively, Kat stepped through the portal. She came face-to-face with a young woman she recognized as herself as a teenager, sprawled on an unmade twin bed, alone and crying.