16. Sunshine

3.16 – Sunshine

*NOTE: The scene of Rick’s death is identical as it would have been in 1988, only at nighttime. Read the story to understand this better.*

Teaser:

Fi: The Bermuda Triangle...one of the most famous sites for paranormal activity.

They say that planes and boats go into the triangle, and don't come out. Is it true? If so, what happens to the planes and boats?

Some say that they end up in the Ship Graveyard, which is supposedly in the center of the triangle.

Others say that in the center of the triangle is a magnetic force. One that is so powerful, it drags anything that enters the triangle to the center. But what's at the center? Just the Ship Graveyard...or a force...that takes you other places?

The bus passes a "Welcome to Florida" sign, on a bright, sunny day. "OK," Irene says, on the bus. She presses "End" on her cell phone, and puts it in her pocket. She says, "We're all set. They're expecting us tomorrow morning!" "Great," Molly says. "How much further to Grandma Valerie's house?" Fi asks. "Not much further, baby," Molly says. "We haven't seen her in a long time," Jack says. "I know. It's a coincidence that we're recording in the same town as where she lives!" Molly says. "Almost there, guys!" Ned says. "Good," Carey says, "I hope she has food 'cause I'm starved!" Everyone laughs.

The bus pulls onto the side of a street, and everyone gets off. "Wow...she has a big house too," Carey says. "Yeah, when she and Will split up, they got good sums of retirement money," Molly says. They walk to the door and ring the doorbell. An older woman answers, and almost yells with excitement, "Molly!" "Hi Valerie!" Molly says, hugging her. "Fi, Jack! Irene, Ned! And Carey! You brought everyone!" Valerie says, very loud and cheerfully. "Not everyone," Irene says. "What? Oh, yes, how could I forget Clu! Hi, hi," Valerie says, hugging everyone, "Well, come in! Come in!" They all walk in.

That night, at dinner, Carey mistakingly brings up a dreaded subject. He began with this question, "So, Valerie, why did you and Will split up?" Irene kicks his leg under the table. "Hey!" Carey says. Irene just gives him a look. Valerie sighs, "Well, I don't know what happened. Until Rick left, we were so happy together. We would do everything as a family, me, him, and Rick. Then Rick moved away, went on tour for his RP band. William and I...we just couldn't stop fighting. It went on...and on...and on. Then, Rick died. Instead of fixing everything and bringing us closer together, Will and I mutually decided on divorcing as retirement came. We just...could no longer get along. The worst part was that we couldn't grieve together over the loss of Rick. Every time we tried, we'd just start fighting again. So when retirement came for both of us in a month, we would get divorced. We did, and Will moved to Arizona and I moved to Florida. We decided on these places based on our retirement funds. And then..." Then Molly cuts in, "You know what? Why don't we talk about something else?" Molly asks. "Good idea," Jack says, breathing heavily. Fi noticed this when Valerie started to talk about Rick's death. "So, Molly, what's this with recording?" Valerie asks. "Oh, I got a record deal!" Molly says, happliy. "Well, good for you!" Valerie says, and hugs her.

"Ready?" Molly says the next day in the recording stuido. "Yeah, you ready?" Irene asks from the control room. "Yeah," Molly nods. "OK," Irene says, "Take one for In the Darkness." She presses a button and gives a thumbs up into the recording room. She gets two thumb-ups back. Molly turns to Jack and smiles. He smiles back. "It's neat that Jack's recording with Molly," Ned says. "Yeah. That grandson of mine sure has some talent!" Valerie says, and they laugh. The music starts, and Molly starts singing, "Demons come from every side...Pulling me on a downward slide...Gettin' hot..." "Great Moll!" Irene says after Molly is done. "Ready Jack?" Irene asks. Jack nods, and Irene says, "In the Darkness, First Backup, take one!" The music starts, and Jack sings one of the vocals, "...In the darkness is the light...In the darkness is the light...In the darkness is the light..." "Ah, ah, ah! Ahh! Ah, ah! Ah, ah, ah!" The music ends, and Jack smiles. Molly, now in the control room, smiles back. "That was great Jack! Here's the playback. You can come in here now," Irene says. Jack takes the headphones off and walks into the control room. "Way to go Jack!" Ned says, patting him on the Jack. "Thanks Mr. B!" Jack says. "OK, here it is. It's gonna sound funny 'cause theres only Molly and Jack singing, no other vocals, and the instrumenal track, OK?" Irene says, pressing another button, and a very-funny playback starts. Then, Fi and Carey run. "Mom! Mom! Me and Carey found these really cool Bermuda Triangle tours! Can we go on one?" Fi bursts out saying. "Um, well, I..." Molly begins, but Carey interrupts, "Hey, that sounds like Jack!" "It IS Jack. Good, huh?" Irene says. "Way to go Jack!" Carey says, giving him their handshake. "Wow...really cool bro! So, can we go??" Fi turns back to Molly. "Um, sure, as long as Carey goes with you!" "Cool, thanks mom!" Fi says, running out. "Uh," Carey says, taking a flyer out of his pocket, "Here's...the tour we'll be on, OK? We'll be back in about three hours." "Great, thanks honey!" Irene says. "Bye!" Carey says, running out, "Hey Fi! Wait up!" "Bye," Ned says. "But I come out on the other side of Paradise! Oh yeah, Paradise..."

Fi and Carey stop their running as they come to a helicopter port, and a flashy sign reading "Bermuda Triangle Twisted Tours." "Ready?" Fi asks. "Yeah, here's the money," she says, reaching in her pocket and pulling it out. They pay a man at the gate, and climb on a helicopter. "Not too many customers," Carey says, seeing how he and Fi are the only people around. She sees the man who took their money close the gate, put on a helmet, and climb aboard. "You're the driver?" Carey asks. "Pilot, driver, the same more or less!" he smiles. He is a portly southern middle-aged man. He has slighly graying hair, has a moustache, and talks with a Mexican accent. "So...where are gonna go, exactly," Carey asks. "We're gonna go around the triangle in a spiral until we reach the center, then head out," the driver says. "The center?" Fi asks, her eyes lighting up. "Yes," he says. "Do you get much business?" Carey asks. "Nope...some tourists from time to time..." he says. "But you HAVE done this before...safely, right?" Carey asks. "Hey Carey! Lighten up! Come on, you don't really believe that the triange is haunted," Fi laughs. "Don't you?" Carey asks. "No way!" Fi smiles. "OK," Carey smiles nervously too. "And here we go!" the driver says and they take off.

"We are approaching the center and should be there in five minutes!" the driver yells over the blade. "Wow...I wonder if we'll see the Ship Graveyard or a black hole?" Fi wonder aloud. "I thought you said you didn't believe in it," Carey says. "Well, it's me Carey. I gotta believe in something!" Fi says. Carey laughs. They travel for a few minutes longer, then the driver announces, "We have reached the center." Fi and Carey peer out to see it, but they don't get to. The lean back in when they hear a sputtering noise. Then the helicopter starts to jerk with each sputter, and Fi and Carey look at each other in despair. The driver pretends to look at his gauges. "Uh oh," he mutters loud enough for Fi and Carey to hear, but doesn't turn around, because he is smiling. "Uh oh what?" Carey asks. "Looks like we're out of fuel," he lies. "What!?" Carey screams, as the aircraft stops, and they start plunging for the ocean. Fi and Carey cling to each other, screaming and yelling crazily, as the driver just sits there, calmly. "Can't you do something??" Carey screams. "Oh, help, police, murder," the driver says sarcastically, still calm. "Oh...OH...OH!!!" Fi screams, as they hit the water. Fi squeezes her eyes tight, and there's a bright flash.

She reopens them after a few tense moments, realizing she hadn't felt or heard them crash. She opens them, and sees she is in a strangely familiar room. It wasn't anything like her current room, and NONE of the decorations were the same. Instead of posters of UFO shapes, there were posters of some band called Haze. It was painted a familiar blue, though. After looking at it, Fi realizes and exclaims, "This is my old room!" Then, a strange boy shows up at her doorway. "Jack?!" Fi asks. "Yeah. What are you screaming about?" he complains. Only it doesn't look like him. He's wearing an light blue "Pure Skateboarding" T-shirt with a chain necklace, really baggy blue jeans, and DC skating shoes that were 'too big'. His hair was different too, gelled in the front so it was spikey and bleached in streaks. "So, what were you screaming about? Mom and I are trying to get some work done in my room," he says. "Jack...what happened to you? Wait...where am I??" Fi says. "Uh...you're home, Fi!" Jack says. "It is our old home, isn't is?" Fi mutters to herself. "What?" Jack asks. Fi looks out the window, and sees a giant snow storm. "Wait...what's today's date?" Fi asks. "January 27," Jack says. "The same date..." Fi mumbles. "What same date?" Jack asks. "Uh...nothing," Fi says. Jack stares at her for awhile, confused. "Aren't we supposed to be in Florida?" she asks. "Florida? Why?" Jack asks. "The tour..." Fi says. "Fi...the band broke up after Seth was born, remember?" Jack says. "Seth?" Fi asks. "You're little brother. Geez, Fi, sometimes I worry about you," Jack says, and he walks out. Fi looks at a strange desk, and sees a laptop. It's not hers, though. She walks over to examine it, and she sees that it is very sophticated. It is silver, very sleek, and by a manufactuer called "Warp Speed Inc." She see a little antenna sticking out, and mutters, "Wireless Internet." A small hole near the screen intrigues Fi. She says, "Start Internet?" The hole blinks a red light, and the Star.Dot.Star Universal Gateway appears on screen. "Voice recognition!" Fi whispers. She sees in the side a small hole, and small button next to it. She presses the button, and a small disc about the size of a quarter comes out of the hole. A message appears on screen, "Coin disk ejected. Closed with 10 gigabytes of information. 30 gigabytes of free space." "Woah...a disk the size of a coin!" Fi says. Suddenly, Fi hears a knock on the door. She turns around to see a boy, about 10 years old. Fi looks at him, amazed. He looks exactly like Jack did in the "real" world. "Fi," he says. "Who are you?" Fi asks. "Jack said you were acting weird. And did he mean it!" the boy says, and walks out. "Wow..." Fi says. She walks into the familiar hallway of her old home in the mountains. She walks down to Jack's room to see him and Molly painting it. "Hey baby," Molly says, spotting Fi, "Wanna help?" "Uh, no thanks," Fi says, and walks downstairs. Note that Fi hasn't changed in appearance from the 'real world'. She walks into the living room, and sees all of Jack's stuff. She notices a number of posters for a band called "The Knights." "Where am I?" she thinks. Then the phone rings. "I'll get it!" Fi yells. She answers it, and it is Carey. "Fi! Fi! This is Carey!" he says, panickly. Fi, not knowing if this is the Carey she crashed with or the Carey from 'this' world. "Um...Carey...do you know anything about...a helicopter ride?" Fi asks. "Good, it is you!" he says, relieved, "Fi, what happened? One minute, I'm heading to my death in an ocean, next minute, I'm getting in trouble for sleeping in class!" "Class?" Fi asks. "Yeah! I'm at college! It's...uh, Santa Cruz, where Clu's going, but he's not here!" Carey says. "But it's Saturday," Fi says. "I guess I signed up for a class on a Saturday, I dunno, but Fi, what happened?" Carey asks. "Um, the only thing I can think of now is that the Bermuda Triangle...is really some black hole or something that takes us to a parallel universe," Fi says. "A parallel universe?" Carey asks. "Yeah. It's the idea that for every decision you make, two worlds are created, one where you made one decision, and another where you made the other decision," Fi says. "So...what? If someone hadn't made some decision, this is where the 'real' world would be?" Carey asks. "Yeah, but this is a 'real' world, alright. It's just alternate; another one. Both worlds exist, it's just that yourself only knows about yourself in each world," Fi says, "Whatever that choice must have been must have either been huge or a long time ago." "I know! I don't know why I'm still in college!" Carey says. "Well," Fi says, "Finish your classes, and get home as soon as you can," Fi says. "OK. Bye," Carey says. "Bye," Fi says, and hangs up. "Who was that, baby?" a male voice asks from behind Fi. Fi freezes. She only knows one person with that voice. She turns around and sees Rick, walking in from the kitchen. "Daddy!" Fi says, running over to him, hugging him. Surprised, Rick hugs back, laughing, "Fi, what's wrong?" "Nothing, daddy. I just love you," Fi says. "Well, I love you too honey," he says, "So who was that on the phone?" Fi breaks from the hug and answers, "Carey." "Oh, what did he want? How's college?" Rick asks. "He's fine. So is college," Fi says. "Good, good," Rick says, "Is Jack and Molly upstairs?" "Yeah. So is...Seth," Fi says, struggling to say 'Seth'. "Great," he says, and runs up the stairs. Fi stairs at him in amazement. She takes a deep breath, and walks into the kitchen for a glass of water.

"..."Overview", "Rockerbaby"..."Belong" and "Love All Over"?" Fi says, looking through a CD rack. "Where's 'Another World'?" she says aloud. "Another what, baby?" Rick asks, walking in the living room with a cup of coffee. "You hate coffee," Fi says. "What?" Rick asks. "You...don't like coffee...I don't think," Fi says. "Fi...I love coffee! I always have!" Rick says. "Oh, OK," Fi says. "OK," Rick says, smiling, and sits down in a chair. Fi shrugs and continues to look through the rack. She asks Rick, "Daddy...what's the last album you did?" "Uh, "Love All Over", honey," Rick says, "Why?" "Was there ever an album called "Another World"?" Fi asks. "Nope," Rick says. "Daddy...could you tell me something?" Fi asks. "Sure, baby, what is it?" Rick says. "What happened after the album "Rockerbaby"?" Fi asks, "To the band, and you and mom...and our family." Rick laughs, "Wow, that's alot! Well, after we put out "Rockerbaby", celebrating you, in 1988, we put out, uh, "Belong", yeah that's it, and when we had Seth in 1991, we put out "Love All Over". We haven't done anything since, because we stopped touring to take care of Seth. We did write one more song, "Going Back". We never finished it, though. Actually, your mother and I have the studio booked tomorrow to record it! We just finished writing it. But you know that, you, Jack, and Seth all helped. Then, in the middle of writing it, we kind of lost interest, and we broke up. John became a successful movie director, you know that too. And, today, we're one big happy family! Why do you want to know this Fi?" "Uh, no reason. I just like the story I guess," Fi says. Rick laughs again, "OK."

"Fi! Ready for dinner?" Molly yells from the kitchen. "Be down in a sec!" Fi yells back. In her room, she is trying to choose an outfit to wear. She was still friends with Candy in this world, and they were going to the mall together after Fi ate. "None of these clothes are mine! I like them, though," Fi says. She picks a few things out and gets dressed. She walks downstairs into the kitchen, and stops. She sees her 'family', Molly, Rick, Jack and Seth, all preparing dinner, each doing something to help. She looks at them strangely, and they stop and look at her back. "What's wrong honey?" Molly asks. "Uh, nothing," Fi says. "You've been saying that alot," Jack says. "Well, there really is nothing wrong," Fi says. "Well, then you can help set the table. Here are the plates, baby," Rick says, and she grabs them. "I'm worried about her," Molly whispers to Rick. "I know. She was really cheerful today, until she took that nap," Rick whispers back. They bring the food over, and they all sit down to eat.

Near the end of dinner, the doorbell rings. Fi jumps up, "I'll get it!" She runs to the door, and sees Carey, the good old Carey we all know. "Carey! Come in!" Fi says. "Hey, Fi," he says, walking in. They walk into the dining room, and they all say Hi to Carey. "Aren't you supposed to be in college, Carey?" Seth asks. "Yeah, but...I'm taking a break," he says. "Oh, that's nice," Molly says. "Can I be excused? I have to talk to Carey," Fi says. "Uh, sure baby. Go ahead," Rick says. "Thanks," she says, and runs into the living room. "Well, nice seeing you Carey! Tell Ned and Irene Hi!" Molly says. They all say Bye, and he walks into the living room with Fi. "So, what's the story?" Carey asks. "I've done some research online. I think it's what I said before, we're in a parallel universe," Fi says. "Then...what decision could have been so big that it changed all of this?" Carey asks. "Well, maybe it's not that big, maybe it's just a long time ago. I mean, my father is still living," Fi says. "Yeah, well, hey...hey! I didn't even notice that!" Carey says. "Oh no," Fi says. "Oh no what?" Carey asks, worried. "Sometimes, if you cross worlds, the person's life your taking over begins to take over you, so eventually, you're no longer the Carey Bell that I know. You'll be the Carey Bell from this world, with no memory of our world," Fi says. "And that takes, how long?" Carey asks. "As soon as three days sometimes," Fi says. "Fi, we gotta get back!" Carey says. "I know, I know, I just have to figure out how," Fi says. "Well, what can we remember from our world?" Carey asks. They both think, then Fi realizes, "The pilot!" "What about him?" Carey asks. "Carey, he wasn't scared when we were going to crash. It was if he knew what was going to happen!" Fi says. "Yeah! So...we have to find him?" Carey asks. Fi answers punctually, "Exactly."

Fi does an online search for "Bermuda Triangle Twisted Tours." She gets one result, and goes to their webpage. She gets a phone number, and writes it down, then she picks up her phone. She dials the number, and a familiar voice answers, "Hello?" "Hello? Is this Bermuda Triangle Twisted Tours?" Fi asks. "Yes, is this Fiona Phillips?" he asks. Fi, surprised, spits out, "Y-y-es. How did you know?" "Didn't you figure out that I knew the whole time who you were?" he asks. "Well, no," Fi says. "Fiona...I know who you are. I know what you are!" he says. "What? What are you talking about?" Fi asks. "Fi...I knew that you were going to ride the helicopter. I knew that we were going to crash, if that's what you can call it," he says. "What am I?" Fi asks. "Oh, you'll figure that out in time. What I am, is what you get to find out. I...am dead. Well, I was, until I was granted to come back to life to show future leaders what kind of life they could have been living," he says. "Leaders again...what leader am I?" Fi asks. "The leader in The Fight. Don't worry, you'll find out. Anyway, they knew the Bermuda Triangle holds what you call a black hole. It bends time and space, so when you enter it, you are bounced into another world. So they made me a Bermuda Triangle tour guide. I was to crash, purposely, when two certain people were to come and take my tour. One, was your father. Your father from your own world, not this one. The other, was you," he says. "Daddy?" Fi asks. "Yes, he rode it, and saw the same thing you are seeing, only he saw the alternate 1987," he answers, "When you go back to your world, you will have memory of this, but your friend will not. Now you've probably been wondering how to get back, too. You will do this tomorrow, after you experience one more thing. You've seen what your life would have been if your father never started to persue the paranormal. Tomorrow, however, fate will still live out. Fi, you will see your father die. You will see him die an identical death, only in daylight, and in this world. It will be the same, otherwise, to his death in your world in 1988. There is nothing you can do about it. I’m sorry to say, but it was his fate, his destiny to die in that location in a car crash. The only difference in your world, was the time it happened. But you will experience it, then immediately be transported back to your world. Once there, you and your friend will be flying in my helicopter, away from the center of the Bermuda Triangle. Until then, goodbye." Fi hears him hang up, then she just sits there, speechless. "Wow," she says, after a few minutes, "If my father never started to investigate the paranormal..." She picks up the phone again, and calls Carey to tell him.

"Ready, Mike?" Molly asks. "Yeah, we're all set in here!" Irene says. She, Mike(the recording engineer), Ned, Carey, Fi, Jack, and Seth are in the recording room. "When will dad get here?" Seth asks. "He'll be here. He had to run an errand," Ned says. Fi remembers the pilot's words. "OK," Mike says, "Lead Vocal 1 for “Going Back”, take one." Music begins, and Molly starts to sing.

I close my eyes

And wait to see

What's around the corner

Waiting there for me

I don't know all I have looked for

And I don't know where I've been

Singing is all we've have

For each other since

I come singing over

Come back over to you

I see myself yawning a yawn

Wouldn't it have been

Goin' back

I closed my mouth

But I have said

What's around the corner

Is a bloated head

I don't know all I have looked for

And I don't know where I've been

Singing is all we've have

For each other since

I come singing over

Come back over to you

I see myself burning in tears

Wouldn't it have been

Goin' back

We now sense back

What we have done

What is really enough

To make one more sun<pun on 'son'>

We don't know all we have looked for

And we don't know where we've been

Singing is all I've have

For each other since

We come singing over

Come back over to us

We see ourselves singing a song

Wouldn't it have been

Goin' back

We don't know all we have looked for

And we don't know where we've been

Singing is all I've have

For each other since

We come singing over

Come back over to us

We see ourselves singing a song

Wouldn't it have been

Goin' back

Visions of all that we have seen

With all of our friends

Relatives, family members

And our next of kin

We don't know all we have looked for

And we don't know where we've been

Singing is all I've have

For each other since

We're goin' back

We're goin' back…

"Yeah yeah! My paradise! Is here with you! Is here with you, baby! Paradise! Paradise! Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, Paradise!" "And...we're clear!" Irene says. Molly smiles at Jack, taking his headphones off, and running into the control room. "Well, how was it?" Jack asks. "Well, considering it was the thirtieth take, it was great!" Ned jokes, and they all laugh.

Fi opens her eyes. She looks around, and sees she is in the helicopter. Carey is on her left, and a pilot is up front. She looks down to see a great mass of water. The pilot turns around, smiling at Fi, and ask both of them, "So, how did you like it?" Carey answers, talking about the trip, "It was great. I'm just glad nothing happened." The pilot laughs, and asks Fi, "And you?" Fi answers, talking about her world-traveling, "It was great. It taught me a lot...a lot, to appreciate what I have." "You got all of that from some water?" Carey asks. Fi sighs, "Yeah, I did." He looks at her funny, and she just smiles. They fly off into the distance, heading back to land, into a magnificent orange, bright sunset.

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