Chapter 1: The Set-Up

“I urge you to take it easy.” Adam’s voice broke through the chaos. A lot had transpired in California.

“You must pace yourself. Remember the chaos at the crime scene?” He was correct. Despite Lara's eagerness to head back to Kansas, she needed to stay present and focus on the tasks at hand. Currently, she was finalizing her work on the film set. With the agent gone, it was surprisingly enjoyable. His presence had always cast a shadow of corruption, so it felt refreshing to immerse herself in creativity without distractions.

While medicine was undoubtedly a discipline, it rarely allowed for artistic expression. Each day was filled with challenges and pressure, but here she was, witnessing her literary vision come alive on screen.

Moreover, she couldn’t deny feeling relieved that the assassin had been sent back in time on a pointless mission. The past would keep her occupied for a while. It was a welcome reprieve for both her and the agent, giving them time to adjust to their new realities.

Time was indeed a complex concept, but even space and time had a rhythm. Pavan must be adapting to his new situation as well. She was sure the adversaries would regroup soon, but for now, a pause was justified.

“You’re right, my love. Let’s savor our date tonight.” They had arranged for a babysitter to look after the twins in their hotel room, and the boys were excited for popcorn and a movie.

“Are you going on a date, Mommy?” Isaiah was always so supportive of their family time.

“Which dress will you wear? The purple one?” Jacob loved to compliment her when she donned her pretty outfits.

“I adore you both!” Lara exclaimed, bending down to embrace them, which made them giggle and retreat.

“Mom!” they chorused, clearly more interested in gathering their toys to show the babysitter.

“Yes, the purple one,” Lara confirmed as she went to change and do her makeup. A knock echoed at the hotel room door.

A kind, middle-aged woman stood at the entrance. Adam and the twins were introducing themselves. Lara stepped out, and Adam couldn’t help but praise her.

“I only have eyes for you,” he sang, and it was clear he meant it. They were ready to leave, but Lara needed to brief the babysitter on the twins' needs. Having communicated with nannies back home had made this easy for her.

“Have fun! Call me whenever you need to. I’ll send photos and updates.” The babysitter’s reassurance was comforting. Once they closed the hotel room door behind them, they both took a deep breath.

“Where to?” Lara loved it when Adam took the lead on their dates. He had a knack for picking comedy shows.

“Ballroom dancing,” he replied, and Lara was pleasantly surprised. Thankfully, she had worn comfortable shoes.

“I know I told you to avoid the mystery, but I found a fundraiser that might be interesting. Coming from Kansas, I figured we could blend in.” They both laughed, acknowledging their military background and values.

“Perfect! Let’s dance and see what our fellow Americans are up to.” With laughter in the air, they were off.

As they drove, Adam explained that dinner and dancing would be part of the fundraiser, followed by tickets to a comedy show. He knew she would appreciate the chance to dance.

“What’s the fundraiser for?” she inquired. Adam shared that a friend’s wife had tickets to a special Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences meeting, exclusive to the executive branch.

“I guess her father is an industry executive,” Lara said, thrilled at the prospect. She felt a surge of excitement at the thought of unearthing a clue at this glamorous event. Every detail could help unravel the human-alien conspiracy.

The hotel was exquisite. They entered the banquet hall, where stunning chandeliers and elaborate centerpieces dazzled them. The food was divine, and to their surprise, no one questioned their lack of industry connections.

“Shall we dance?” her charming husband asked.

“Yes, indeed,” Lara replied, and they stepped onto the dance floor, moving as if they were in a ballroom competition. What an enchanting evening it was.

As Adam twirled Lara, they both felt a sudden shift, as if they had traveled back in time. When she faced him, she noticed the banquet hall had transformed.

“Lord Narada is at work again,” she remarked. Without missing a beat, they scanned the room, noticing the change in the guests' attire and demographics, now reminiscent of the 1940s.

“I remember Professor Oppenheimer taught Physics at UC Berkeley from 1929 to 1943. Do you think he could be here?” Lara pondered, recalling her limited knowledge about him.

“Oh my goodness, I can’t believe it.” Lara was intrigued by Adam’s reaction.

“Kunal? Here?” She was taken aback.

“Just act casual. He saw me, but didn’t react. Maybe Lord Narada wants us to gather intel on Kunal and his intentions. You mentioned he thought you were a mystic traveler. Was it fate that we meet him now?” Lara felt puzzled about Lord Narada’s motives. Adam looked different, and she was sure she did too.

“I never got the impression that Narada operated like that. It feels like he nudges me to gather information rather than manipulate events directly.” Adam nodded, appreciating the unexpected anonymity.

Returning to their table, they were not surprised to see Kunal and a companion seated there. They exchanged polite smiles as another speech commenced.

The speaker was distinguished, and the room hushed, hanging on his every word.

“We know our audience, don’t we?” he began, eliciting laughter from the crowd. Lara and Adam, however, felt out of the loop.

“To achieve our goals, we must adhere to our established patterns. We aim to boost gun sales and instill confidence.” He continued, discussing strategies to perpetuate successful films that glorified violence and promoted divisive ideologies.

Although he mentioned “gun” only once, it sent a chill down Lara’s spine. They exchanged worried glances, knowing they needed to maintain their composure amidst like-minded attendees.

After the speech concluded, and as people returned to the dance floor, Adam urgently asked Lara to dance again. This time, his desperation was palpable, and Lara felt uneasy.

“Yes, let’s,” she replied, summoning as much enthusiasm as she could muster.

They swayed gently, hardly moving, but thankfully, Lord Narada intervened and restored them to the present.

“It’s time to laugh, Lara,” Adam said, and she wholeheartedly agreed. It was time to head to that comedy show.

To Be Continued…