Chapter Sixteen: Time
Zone – 2010 (Prior to Re-Animation)
The impressive scent that Bella gave off stimulated
Sean’s nostrils every time he took a whiff of it in the Explorer; it was a
strong mixture of strawberries and chocolate. It was enough to make him hungry,
which he was certain she had to be from hearing the gurgling noises her stomach
made. She might have been a total stranger who made wild assumptions of being
his “long lost” sister upon first meeting her. He still could not figure out
what made him pick her up from the parking lot or even if she had anyone to
take care of her – regardless of which, it was chivalrous thing to do…at least
he hoped so.
(Character Note: It is implied that Bella's sweet scent of strawberries and chocolate is a product of her strong pheromone levels - a common physical trait from the humanoid species of her realm.)
Located just a few blocks ahead was a Baskin-Robbins store, a perfect place to
get something to eat. Although it was important to get back to Joanie and his
sisters, the situation he found himself with Bella called for other crucial
matters. It was also the ideal spot for calling someone to pick Bella up and
take her somewhere to find whatever family or friends she had in the Orlando
area. Until she got some help, he would not leave her side.
(Authorial Note: The incorporation of product placement is a favorable storytelling method for Livingston, who loves to add some realism by putting readers into a setting that they can relate with and envision the characters in.)
As soon as they reached the popular ice cream parlor,
Sean pulled the Explorer over to the curb and parked directly across from the
front entrance. Bella glanced at the B&R building in awe and wonder,
turning to Sean with a smile and asking, “What is this beautiful place?”
Sean snickered. “You’re kidding! You’ve never heard of Baskin-Robbins? The best ice cream
restaurant chain in the world?” Bella shook her head in response, putting Sean
in a state of total disbelief. Wherever this woman came from, it was certainly
nowhere near Orlando. “Well, you’re in for a real treat – literally speaking,
of course. My mother used to take me here all the time when I was little.”
“Your mother?”
Bella reiterated on his statement.
It was pretty noticeable how she made another attempt to
convince him of being his sister, which left him sighing with a tad bit of
aggravation. “Listen, it’s pretty overwhelming having three sisters in my life
– two of whom are close to your skin tone – so I hope you understand how
difficult it is to believe whether or not if you are my sister, especially with the…er…” He made a gesture towards
her glowing chest, which showed the color orange for some strange reason. Doing
his best to ignore it, he continued, “Look, I promise we’ll get to the bottom
of this, as soon as we get something to eat.”
(Pop Culture Note: Bella's "mood heart" takes some inspiration from E.T.'s glowing heart, fitting with the similar theme of an alien lost in another world.)
Getting out of the Explorer, Sean went to the other side
to help Bella out and lead her inside the parlor. The aroma of various ice
cream flavors welcomed them. Bella was instantly enchanted with the place,
going to the front counter and seeing all of the ice cream flavors in the tubs,
as they were scooped out by one of the employees. While her attention was
distracted, Sean went to work on contacting the police and sending someone to
pick Bella up.
However, just as he was about to dial the numbers 9-1-1…
“For Bella’s sake, I wouldn’t do that, Sean.”
The female voice sounded very unfamiliar to him and,
turning to the speaker, the face – although extremely beautiful – was just as
much so. Sitting at the table nearest him was a raven-haired, blue-eyed woman
with a stunning outfit that matched with her hair color. Her lips were glossed
with bright red lipstick, some of which had gotten on the spoon she used to eat
her Banana Nut Fudge ice cream. Something about her appearance overwhelmed Sean
– it was almost as if he could sense
the powerful confidence she carried in her. The weirdest thing of it all was
how much she reminded him of Joanie from her facial features.
For what felt like the umpteenth time that day, he asked
this woman, “Do I know you?”
The black-haired woman chuckled. “Knew you were going to
ask me that.”
“Then you can understand my confusion over your knowledge
of my name.” He glanced over to the distracted Bella and added, “So I’m to
assume you sent this woman after me in the parking lot of Walt Disney World?”
“In a way…yes.”
“Why? I was five seconds away from calling the cops on
her for breaking into my car – which I still have no idea how she did.”
“And you were another five from doing the same thing,
weren’t you?”
Sean stood in silence, looking at the phone in his hand,
ready to contact the local authorities. Something in him forced his finger to
press the “End” key on the digital screen, disconnecting his attempted call.
Focusing on the woman, who stared back at him with her sparkling blue eyes, he
inquired, “Who are you?”
She smiled and answered, “I’m Brandy…and I’m the one who
is going to bring order back into this chaotic time of yours.” Brandy gestured
to the chair across from her, offering him to sit down. He accepted the offer
and continued listening to her with much intent. “Now that we’ve gotten
introductions out of the way, let’s get to the main points, such as Bella over there.
I take it that you’ve noticed the glow from her heart.”
(Biographical Note: "Brandy" is based on/inspired by Brandy Wine. The character was conceived as another mystery that would be resolved later in the tale and evoke a shock reaction from readers once they were revealed her identity.)
“Amongst other things, yes.”
“The truth is that she’s from another dimension – one
that is somewhat different from this one. In fact, it’s a lot like one of those
‘Disney Worlds’ that Bunsen Honeydew’s invention takes you to.”
The overwhelmed Sean shook his head and grinned. “How is
it that you know so much about this?”
“Because I’m an inventor myself and built something just
like Bunsen’s machine – only mine enables anyone to travel further between
universes, not limited to just a single one.” Brandy looked down at her Banana
Nut Fudge as she added, “My invention is also the reason for the time shift you
and your family and friends experienced recently also.”
(Narrative Note: This is the first confirmation readers get of the existence of other universes, which has been a focal point for subsequent stories in the World of Disney series with discoveries of parallel worlds based on Marvel and Star Wars.)
Sean blinked twice on this. “So you’re the reason I’m seeing my mother how she was thirty-three
years ago. How?!”
“The frequency between our machines came in full contact
with one another, causing a temporal shift between dimensions. It’s why Bella
and her sister…”
“She has a
sister?!”
Brandy smiled. “Crazy, huh? She’s right outside, keeping
an eye on a portable version of my invention.”
Sean looked out the window and noticed a vehicle parked
in front of his Explorer at the curb. It was a large black van that seemed big
enough to hold seven people, depending on the space inside that could have been
reserved for seating. Of course, considering what Brandy had told him that very
moment, the space was reserved for something larger in nature. He could only imagine what was in there.
“I promise that I’ll help set things straight for you and
your family, Sean…and in turn, set things right for me and mine also.” The last
part she said with a hint of guilt in her voice, which interested Sean a
little. Of course, instead of focusing on her personal matters, he decided to
lend more of a focus on what it was that she kept in that van. Seeing how
captivated he was, Brandy got up from the table, leaving her unfinished
dessert, and offered to him, “C’mon…let’s go. We have a lot of work to do, like
finding your grandmother.”
(Character Note: Subtle hints are left for readers on the identity of Brandy up to the point of her big reveal, such as the one part of her line in this scene about setting things straight.)
After some hesitation, Sean removed himself from the
table and allowed Brandy to lead him out of the parlor. As he walked out, he
looked back to Bella, who continued her observation of the various ice cream
flavors that Baskin-Robbins had to
offer. She was clearly going to be okay, especially with confirmation of having
someone else with her in Orlando. He still found it unbelievable that she was
from another dimension, even from her odd biological “trait.”
Sean and Brandy approached the black van, sliding open
the door to the rear passenger section to reveal Brandy’s equivalent to Bunsen
Honeydew’s “Magic Gateway” invention. In design, it looked close to a
futuristic pipe organ. There were a lot of multi-colored knobs, buttons, and
lights built on it and even two LED displays that indicated what their labels
read, “Time Zone” and “Realm Zone.” The blue display (“Time Zone”) currently
showed the year 2010 upon it, while the “Realm Zone” was blank. Right below
these displays was a keyboard – not the type a regular pipe organ would have
but rather one from a computer. It was chrome in its design, adding onto the
futuristic look of the device.
(Authorial Note: It is revealed in this scene that Brandy's invention carried the "Time Zone" and "Realm Zone" labels that have been used throughout the story to identify locations for readers. Livingston designed it this way to follow with the Back to the Future influence of the story, basing it on time circuit readouts of the DeLorean.)
Whistling over the impressive machine, Sean uttered,
“Bunsen could only wish to have
something like this. What do you call it?”
Brandy looked a little sheepish as she responded. “Er…I
don’t really name my inventions.
Doesn’t seem too…appropriate.”
“Well, you’ve got to identify it somehow. How else can
you…?”
FLUMP!
Before Sean even knew it, he found himself clung into by
a beautiful blonde wearing a black, unzipped hoodie with a white tank top shown
underneath, blue jeans shorts, and black high-heeled boots. She had her arms
wrapped around him, giving a hug so tight that he nearly choked. Once she let
go, she gazed upon his face with her bright blue eyes, showing off an equally
bright smile.
“We’ve found you! Oh, it’s so good to see you, little
brother!”
Sean looked to Brandy and pointed to the ecstatic young
woman as he inquired, “Bella’s sister, I presume?”
“Sean, meet Michelle.”
(Biographical Note: "Michelle" is based on/inspired by Michelle Hanson, who is a favorite collaborator of Livingston's, having been worked into other projects that did not have as successful a launch as World of Disney. Michelle was cast in the story simultaneously with Jennifer Brown, envisioned to be siblings due to their close proximity in age - both women were in their late-thirties at the time.)
Michelle, looking a little confused, gawked back and
forth between Sean and Brandy. “Y-You mean…this isn’t him?”
“Sorry, sweetie.” Brandy told the young blonde. “We’re
still searching for him. Don’t worry – we’ll find him.”
As Michelle stared down at the ground in great sadness,
Sean could see her heart glowing light purple, much in the same way Bella’s did
after the same disappointing realization. Knowing this, he quickly told her,
“I-If it’ll help, you can just pretend I’m your brother.” He knew it sounded
like a bizarre suggestion, but made up for it by adding, “Since, apparently, I
seem like a definite ringer to him, you’re welcome to do so.”
Michelle’s lovely smile returned. “Thank you.”
Meanwhile, Brandy was already inside the van, prepping
the machine up. “Alright. I’ve got her all set.” Sean joined her inside and
crouched down with her beside the large device, just as she handed him a metal
headband. “Here, put this on. This is how the machine will be able to keep up
with you in the other world.”
(Disney Note: Brandy's operation of her invention within the confides of a van is much similar to Wayne Szalinski and his shrinking machine in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid.)
Sean cautiously put the headband on; the moment he did,
he instantly felt its chilled texture, which made him want to take it off
again. Watching on, Michelle briefly hopped up and down like a giddy little
girl and asked Brandy, “Oh! Can I go with him, Brandy? The last visit was
really fun!”
Brandy sighed and answered, “Sure, Michelle. Just try to
stay with him while you’re in. I need you two together at the same spot if I’m
to bring you back.” She handed another metal headband over to Michelle, who
removed her hood to place it over her head with much glee.
Things were moving so quickly to Sean that he just had to
ask some very curious questions. “I don’t get it. Are you sending us to one of
the ‘Disney Worlds’?!”
“Just to the one you were in the moment that the temporal
shift occurred.” Brandy confirmed, while entering some information into the
machine’s keyboard that brought up the year 1991 on the “Realm Zone” display.
“No, no! I need to go to the world for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Sean
informed her. “That’s where Joanie…I mean my mother said where my grandmother is.”
And just as easily as she entered the previous
information, Brandy entered some that replaced the year 1991 with 1937. “I hope
you’re certain about this.”
“If he’s not, at least we get to meet some cute little
miners.” Michelle uttered, which triggered some awkward glances from Brandy and
Sean. “What?”
Ignoring her comment, Brandy refocused her attention on
her machine. “Okay…prepare for re-animation!”
“Wait! Re-what?”
Before Sean could have gotten a full explanation on the
unusual term she used, Brandy pressed a button labeled “Execute” on the
keyboard and started a bizarre chain of events. The headbands that he and
Michelle wore glowed in a bright golden hue, tickling their scalps so much that
even Michelle could not stifle a chuckle. It felt so sensational to Sean that
he was on the verge of going into a hypnotic state. It was not long before he
noticed their bodies starting to vanish beneath twinkling sparks of green and
red energy, just as if they were Christmas trees. Within seconds, Sean and
Michelle had vanished and Brandy was all to herself in the van, monitoring her
machine.
(UP NEXT: Bearing the necessities of another life!)
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