Back to the 80s

[race]

Chapter 1

"I really wonder what kind of present Brains totally got for us," commented Scott as he, Virgil, Gordon, Alan, Tin Tin and Fermat all raced each other to the lab. "I wonder if, whatever it is, it involves something from those Back To The Future or Bill and Ted movies."

"I've got a pretty weird feeling that it might," Virgil replied smiling. "He did say that he had something special for us as a way to congratulate us for having kicked the Hood's ass again. Just think, Scott! We so won't have to deal with him for a bit."

"The Hood might not totally even be alive in the future," pointed out Gordon. "Anyway, I just can't believe that we're even talking about the Hood attempting to kick our asses and always failing. I mean, Alan, Tin Tin and Fermat aren't full grown adults yet! I guess this is what time travel does to you, eh?"

"Oh yeah," Alan replied. "So, Tin Tin, are you still a little nervous with the idea of time travel? I mean, I can pretty much tell that you are from the way that you're fidgeting."

"Well, yeah, I am a little bit," Tin Tin said, quietly. "I mean, I'll admit that the idea of visiting other time periods sounds pretty interesting but you know how Brains is so always talking about time paradoxes and all that other c**p. So, yeah, I would say that I do get a little nervous thinking about time travel."

"Yeah, I definitely understand what you m-m-mean," Fermat said gently. "I've totally became a little more intrigued with the history of Hill Valley as like Marty McFly, the Tracys've got ancestors that date there a little over a century. One thing I can say about time travel is that it really does give you a whole new perspective about the town that you grew up in."

"Here we are," commented Scott as he lead the gng into the lab. "Brains told us to come here around this time so he's probably here as he did tell us to meet him around this time. I know Dad'll be home this evening after visiting Lady P in London and Ohana and Kyrano are totally busy."

"You've made it!" Brains gushed as he smiled at the whole gang. "How would you kids like to take a little trip back in time to the 1980s? Say, some time in 1983? I know how you guys've been wanting to visit the 80s for awhile. So I've found a little treat for you guys."

"Are you serious about this, Brains?" Virgil asked excitedly. "So what happens in 1983? What's so special about that year? Well, besides the fact that Return of the Jedi was the top movie of that year?"

"It was the year that I first met and became f-f-friends with your dad, Virgil," Brains explained. "I just movied there in the July of that year after graduating from High School. I was able to find some 80s clothes so that you'll fit in. I figured that you all might like to wonder what it was like seeing your father back then."

"Thanks, Dad," Fermat gushed as he threw his arms around his father. "I must say, this is t-t-totally awesome!"

"I believe you mean 'tubular', Son," Brains corrected with a smile. "Things weren't 'awesome' in the 80s. They were 'tubular'! It'll be pretty crucial for the two of you to do your best to blend in. I have a trunk filled with 80s clothing. Some of the clothes might be able to fit all of you."

"This'll be so totally awesome, Brains," Gordon gushed. "As much as I really enjoy being a teenager in this ear, I believe teens had a lot of fun back in the 80s too."

"Well, that old rock c**p sucks out loud," commented Tin Tin. "But we gotta admit that if it wasn't for some dinosaur rock dudes, we maybe wouldn't have all this great prog rock music of that era. Mr Tracy really liked those punk rock and heavy metal bands like Alice Cooper, Queen, Def Leppard and the Ramones. He also really liked Huey Lewis and the News too."

"Right," Alan said nodding. "Of course, you can't forget about the Clash and KISS. Dad said he didn't much care for Joan Jett though. Her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard."

"I didn't like Kelly Osbourne too much at first," replied Scott. "But I've come to really appreciate how she puts so much emotion into her music. I guess it's an acquired taste though."

"I've pretty much got a certain appreciation for pop and rock," commented Virgil. "As far as female singers go, I'd much rather listen to Gwen Stefani. Her music really rocks and it's really got an awesome beat. Know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I suppose so," replied Gordon. "In this day and age, when most people think about rock music, they think of the beat and the grinding guitar riffs. That's not what rock and roll originally was though. You should know that, V-Man. I mean, you've seen Back To The Future before."

"Gordon's right, Virgil," Brains chimed in. "Now let's go get you all dressed into some 80s clothes and then we'll send you back to this exact date 28 years ago. We wanna g-g-get you kids to get outta here before your father returns otherwise he'll start yelling at me."

"Okay, Brains," Alan replied as he decided he couldn't really argue with Tin Tin about music. "So where will we be landing? I think being my own age in the early 80s'd be a totally far out idea."

"That's right," replied Brains. "By 1983, the population of Hill Valley was really starting to grow. I first m-m-met Mr Tracy in Hill Valley Park in the area where the Hill County Fair's usually held."

"Oh, yeah," Scott said nodding, "I know where that is. I suppose we'll really have to see to it that we keep the DeLorean time machine on the other end of Hill Valley Park when we land in the 80s."

"That's right," replied Brains. "You think you c-c-can handle that, can't you?"

"Yes, Sir!" Scott, Virgil, Gordon, Alan, Tin Tin and Fermat all said in unison.

Within half an hour, the whole gang were inside the DeLorean in the garage near Thunderbird 1's hangar.

"Well, Gang, this is it," Virgil said as he smiled at the others and was wearing a light green T-shirt, a dark green gilet, a dark blue denim jacket, dark blue jeans and his yellow sneakers. "We're just about to head back to 1983. Are you prepared for take-off?"

"We sure are," Scott said as he winked at Virgil and was wearing his usual light blue shirt, dark blue denim jacket, dark blue jeans and light blue sneakers. "I guess we look just like young people from the 80s now."

"Well, I'm not sure about that," Alan said a bit doubtfully and was wearing a red T-shirt, a blue denim jacket, blue jeans and his white sneakers. "My hair's not long enough."

"I think you'll be fine, Alan," Gordon said smiling and was wearing a yellow shirt, a blue denim jacket, a red gilet, blue jeans and his orage sneakers. "I can hardly believe that we'll actually be in 1983 in just a few minutes. So, is everything ready, now?"

"Let's do one last check," Tin Tin said smiling and wearing a lilac off-the-shoulder top, a dark blue ra-ra skirt, lightgreen legwarmers and lilac pumps. "The time circuits are on, the flux capacitor is fluxing, and the engine is running. Okay, People, brace yourselves for temporal displacement."

Scott began to pilot the DeLorean into the sky until he reached 88 miles per hour and then the DeLorean broke the time barrier.

[race]

Chapter 2

"Well, Gang, this is it," Scott said excitedly. "We're actually in 1983 now! Isn't that awesome? Anyway, none of us were even born yet!"

"First off, Scott," Virgil said smiling. "It's 'tubular'. Second of all, we gotta find the 1983 version of our dad and Brains wants us to return as soon as that day's over and before Dad gets home. He says that if we stay any longer, we might do something to disrupt our own births thus creating a time paradox. In fact, we should probably not even go near Dad."

"What if he's around here too?" asked Fermat who was wearing a light blue sweater vest, a white shirt, a dark blue denim jacket, blue jeans and dark green sneakers. "It'd be rude to j-j-just ignore him and my dad, you know."

"Yeah, Fermat," said Tin Tin. "I never really hear my dad comment on him meeting Mr Tracy til the early 90s. Although, I gotta admit that I'm a little surprised that they never made the connection. It's just as well though. We really don't want them knowing about the time machine."

"Yeah, well, who are we gonna talk with then?" asked Gordon. "I gotta that I'd really like to speak with some bone fide 80s teenagers. I always wondered what it was like to be a teenager in the 80s."

"Well, we're not gonna tell anyone we're from around here," Alan said firmly. "You know how, in school, they've always told us that... What the hell?" Alan and Fermat both stared at the flux capacitor behind them as they noticed the bulbs were flickering.

"Oh c**p! The flux capacitor," Tin Tin cried out, with horror. As the bulbs flickered on last time and went dead, Tin Tin whimpered "Now how are we gonna get back home? We can't be stuck here!"

"But I thought you liked the 80s." Alan blurted out.

"I do," Tin Tin insisted. "However, if we stay here, well, where are we gonna stay? How are we ever gonna get to school or college? How will we be able to avoid our younger selves? You know how Brains is always warning us about that."

"Look, Tin Tin," Scott prodded as he placed his hand on Tin Tin's shoulder. "Brains has a time machine jet too. If we get stuck here, he'll maybe come back and get us. Or else, you know how Doc Brown had Western Union send a letter to Marty McFly in 1955 after he was stranded back in 1885 in Back to the Future part 2. Maybe we could do the same thing."

"I've got a better idea," Virgil replied after a momentary pause. "We could maybe contact Brains of this time period. He should be able to help us!"

"You're right, V-Man," gasped Gordon. "I'm not sure when it was that he first built the actual flux capacitor but he drew the diagram on this very day. At least, it won't hurt to come up to him and ask."

"I've got an idea, Scott," Tin Tin suggested. "Why don't me and Fermat go look for Brains while you guys make sure that the DeLorean's safely hidden and secure then you can meet us by the entrance of the festival. While the time machine is temporarily rendered useless, we don't want anyone especially not your dad in this year to know about the time machine."

"I still feel so bad about what I put you guys through last Spring Break," Scott said sighing. "Brains was convinced that you'd have no memory of what the Hood nearly did to Alan in the Bank of London. I always felt the Hood should've been eaten by the Mole."

"Well, it's in the past," Alan said softly. "We'll meet you and Fermat by the entrance in about an hour, Tin Tin. Brains's apartment shouldn't be too far away from here."

"Catch you later." Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan all called back as they attended to the DeLorean.

"Well, I suppose we could talk to Dad about this when we find him," said Scott. "I'd be interested in seeing what Dad looked like in 1983. I wonder if he was a rocker dude like me too."

"Dad said that he did look a little like how Ashton Kutcher does now, doesn't he?" Virgil asked smiling. "I'd have to say that I like any of Ashton Kutcher's movies almost as much as That 70s Show."

"Well, they do look a bit like each other," Gordon commented. "But Ashton's eyes are brown and Dad's are blue. I wonder what his hair looked like back in 1983."

"Yeah, thank God," Alan said shuddering. "It was probably a bit hard to do that hair like a rock star in 1983."

"Okay then," Virgil said nodding. "And we haven't got any info on when a bolt of lightning would strike. We'd maybe have ended up having to go to a nuclear test site and that could be very dangerous. I'd hate to have to go through that. Well, I really hope Dad'll be able to have a way of replacing those bulbs."

"I wonder what makes the flux capacitor work, anyway," commented Gordon. "After all, it's the principle device of what makes time travel possible. I sure hope it's only a matter of having to replace the bulbs. I wonder if like Doc Brown, Brains had to make the bulbs himself."

"Well, how hard can it be to make a bulb?" Alan mused. "Knowing how smart Brains is, he could maybe whip one up pretty quickly. Then again, he did mention that he often had luck with his inventions."

"Brains told us that when he first moved to Hill Valley, he lived about a block away from Maple Drive," Scott replied. "I think it was called Riverside Drive like in those Back to the Future movies."

As the boys were walking around the city of Hill Valley looking for anyone even their father from this year, Scott felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder. He turned around and he saw that it was Jeff from 1983 walking towards them while listening to heavy metal on a walkman and wearing a blue denim jacket, a black 'KISS' T-shirt underneath, blue jeans and red sneakers and took a huge swallow.

"Are you guys new in town?" asked Jeff as he saw the quartet. Scott wondered if his father still kept that outfit which made his own butt look big.

"Uh, well, yeah, sort of." Scott stammered nervously.

"My name's Jeff, Jeff Tracy, who are you dudes?" Jeff asked.

"My name's, uh, Tom Fletcher," Scott replied figuring that he shouldn't give out his real name. He didn't want to risk creating a paradox. "And these are me pals Danny Jones, the brown haired guy, Harry Judd, the redhead and Dougie Poynter, the blond."

"Well, Tom, Danny, Hary, Dougie," Jeff replied. "It's really great to see you guys here. Are you visiting someone?"

"Yeah, we were visiting a friend of ours who just moved here." Virgil replied defensively.

Virgil, Gordon and Alan all saw Scott's face going pale as Jeff suddenly grinned at them and Scott just winked back.

[race]

Chapter 3

Tin Tin was feeling rather nervous as she and Fermat were turning into what was still Riverside Drive. What if Brains didn't believe them and he thought they were just pulling some kind of prank? Fermat hoped Brains would be open-minded after seeing Jeff later that day. Tin Tin began to wish that she had thought to send Alan and Fermat to Brains's place as Brains would most likely believe him. Then she realized that all she and Fermat needed to do was mention the flux capacitor and mention how Brains came up with the idea for the flux capacitor.

Just as Tin Tin and Fermat reached Brains's garage, they noticed that there was construction work being done on both sides of the garage. Fermat's heart then went out to Brains. She turned to look on the other side of the driveway as she saw Fermat.

"Fermat?" Tin Tin asked stunned. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Uh, well," Fermat said blushing. "I was just ch-checking if anyone was in? Are you still dating Alan?"

"Sure I am, duh," Tin Tin replied happily. "So what are we doing here?"

"We need to speak to m-m-my dad about this time machine," Fermat replied. "Well, his real name's Hiram K. Hackenbacker. I think Mr Tracy was the first adut I know who called him 'Brains'."

"Holy c**p," gasped Tin Tin. "I never expected this to happen."

"Okay then," Fermat said quietly. "Let's g-g-go knock on Brains's door. I hope he's home. I mean, he's really only our hope of getting back home. The bulbs that were in the flux capacitor had all burnt out."

"Okay, we know that's what the hell just happened," Tin Tin said actin as if she was the smart one. "It's a good thing that we already landed in 1983 before they went out."

"Yeah, really," replied Fermat shuddering. "I mean, it's rather p-p-possible that simply nothing might have happened but we might've also ended up in limbo."

"Okay, then we'd never get home," Tin Tin added. Then, after taking a deep breath, Tin Tin continued "Well, let's not worry about what-ifs right now. We should be thanking our lucky stars that we're even in a time period where Brains can help us."

Tin Tin swallowed deeply as she and Fermat walked up to Brains's garage.

Scott figured that he, Virgil, Gordon and Alan should maybe stop by Lou's Cafe so that he could grab a little something to eat. He knew that it was Lou's Cafe until 1975 when that place became Lou's Aerobics. They were just about to turn into the Starlighter Cafe as Alan felt a hand clasping on his shoulder.

"Tin Tin? Fermat?" Alan asked as he looked up.

"I'm afraid not, Dougie," Jeff said chuckling derisively. "So tell me, how was it that you, Tom, Harry and Danny got to this place so fast? Are you really that much intent on being a bit quick."

"They kind look to me like newbies, Jeff," added the voice of a 1983 version of Detective Larry Thompson. "Like that guy with the thick blue glasses me and Rick saw. We don't mind newbies but that guy was something else. He was okay unlike a few geeks we knew in school."

"Believe it or not, Larry, I totally with you," replied Jeff. "It's not legal, however, as we've now got all these child labour laws and the federal law considers one to be a minor until he or she turns 18 like we did 3 years ago."

"Dougie's only 15 years old." Gordon blurted out which was true. "I'm 19 years old, Virg, I mean, Danny's 21 years old and Scott, I mean, Tom's 25 years old."

"Okay, we believe you." said the voice of a 1983 version of Detective Rick Henshaw from behind Larry. "We can tell you're not slackers like a cousin of Larry's. There's no question about it."

"You can already tell that by how they're dressed, Rick," chuckled Larry who was wearing a black shirt, a dark green combat jacket, dark green combat pants, brown combat boots and a gold creole earring in his left ear. "But now that he opened his damn mouth, he totally managed to remove all doubt if any."

"Well, I guess we gotta go now, Larry," Rick said who was wearing a yellow shirt, a white T-shirt underneath, a black leather jacket, blue jeans and black combat boots. "You take care of those pals of yours good, Jeff."

"Okay, Rick, see you and Larry soon," Jeff said as he saw Rick and Larry head home and turned to the boys. "Look, guys, those are my best buddies Larry Thompson and Rick Henshaw who I've known since Grade School."

"Is that true?" Virgil asked shocked. Virgil couldn't for the life of him, Scott, Gordon and Alan remember anything about Detectives Thompson and Henshaw until each of them had turned 6 years old.

"That's right, Danny," Jeff said. "I first met them back on our first day in First Grade and the rest is history."

What are Tin Tin and Fermat gonna do? Alan thought as he smiled at Jeff.

Tin Tin and Fermat both gasped as soon as Brains opened up the door. This version of Brains was dressed in a light blue shirt, a white T-shirt underneath, blue jeans and red sneakers.

"What brings you guys over here?" Brains asked excitedly. "Wait! I've n-n-never seen the two of you before. Are you kids new in town?"

"Well, yeah, sort of." Tin Tin stammered nervously.

"Actually, we're k-k-kinda new here," Fermat blurted out. "You know that flux capacitor that you came up with earlier today?"

"Holy c**p," gasped Brains. "Do either of you kids happen to kn-know a Jeff Tracy, a Larry Thompson or a Rick Henshaw?"

"We sure do," Tin Tin said smiling. "My name's, uh, Kelly Osbourne and this is my little bro Jack and sorry, we don't know a Jeff Tracy, a Larry Thompson or a Rick Henshaw."

"That's okay," Brains said with recognition. "I remember how Jeff t-t-told me all about them when I first saw him 2 weeks ago."

"I hope you guys all become b-b-best friends," added Fermat. "If you ever have a son who turns out like you, go easy on him."

"Oh my go," said Brains stunned. "You mean I actually get married and have kids in the future?"

"It's kind of a l-l-long story, Brains." Fermat said with a bit of uncertainty.

"Wait, don't tell me," Brains blurted out. "Having too much knowledge of f-f-future events can be very dangerous. I remember some guy called Dr Emmett Brown doing that from 1955."

"Right," Fermat said a bit nervously. "Well, the reason why we came over here is cause the bulbs that made up the flux capacitor had all b-b-burnt out."

"In our ti... DeLorean." Tin Tin added.

"You've got a DeLorean?" Jeff asked confused.

"We came here with four other guys and the oldest one was driving," Fermat explained. "We're from San Fransisco to v-v-visit our, uh, Uncle Ozzy and Aunt Sharon. We didn't even expect to run into you."

"Holy c**p," Brains gasped. "Well, it's really good that you kids c-c-came here or else there might be a greater risk of my future son Fermat being erased from existence. So where's the DeLorean anyway?"

"We left it in Hill Valley Park," explained Tin Tin. "I just realized that a friend of ours called Sc- I mean Tom Fletcher might've even brought one."

"Why don't the two of you come in," Brains invited. And we'll g-g-go get the DeLorean a little later?"

Tin Tin and Fermat glanced at each other as they stepped into Brains's lab.

[race]

Chapter 4

"Meet my girlfriend Sabrina Palmer," Brains called out as Tin Tin and Fermat followed him into the house. Then, patting his golden retriever, he added "And meet my d-d-dog Newton." Turning to the girl who was wearing a pink blouse, a blue denim jacket, blue jeans and pink sneakers, Brains said "Sabrina, this is Kelly and Jack Osbourne. They'll probably be staying with us for a little while."

"Pleased to meet you, Kelly, Jack," Sabrina said smiling. "Would you like some lemonade to drink?"

"Sure." replied Tin Tin as she took a close look at Sabrina. She had met Dr Sabrina Palmer a few times before and it was strange to think of her as a teenager who had been dating someone who moved from Chicago in 1983. She looked like Jennifer Parker from the Back to the Future movies.

"I've been dating Sabrina since 3 days ago," Brains said indulgently. "She's t-t-totally into all this rock music c**p."

Tin Tin and Fermat stared at the table that Sabrina was sitting at and there was a record of the old Michael Sembello song 'Maniac' from the movie Flashdance sitting in the middle of the table. Sabrina also drew a lot of pictures of famous heavy metal singers and groups and punk rock singers and groups.

"Here's your lemonade," Sabrina said as she returned with two tall glasses. "Hey, Brains, could we find that invention you were working on?" Turning to Tin Tin and Femat, she asked "Do you like chocolate? I think it tastes really good."

Tin Tin was so tempted to hug the redheaded would-be doctor as she was so like Transom at that age. Instead, she turned towards Newton and patted his head. Newton's response was to lick his hand. Tin Tin thought Newton was an adorable dog.

"How did you manage to let those guys meet you again anyway?" Larry asked Jeff as he and Rick saw him. "I thought we totally said that newbies are just jerks."

"Larry, what the hell are you talking about?" Jeff asked confused. "I was just there two minutes ago and my new friends Tom, Danny, Harry and Dougie were just talking."

"Have I heard those names before?" asked Rick as he motioned towards Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan.

"Holy c**p," Jeff gasped after he took a close look at Scott. "Tom looks a lot like me, doesn't he? He's got that same dark hair and blue eyes right down to those dimples. I must been seeing things!"

"Okay, Tom," Larry told Scott sharply. "I recently discovered that you and Jeff look a bit like each other."

Scott then stared hard at Jeff as his future father was starting back at him. Suddenly, he had a strange feeling that the Jeff from 1983 was a bit cooler than the Jeff of 2011. How could he be sure though? He then had an idea.

"Crack that whip, give the past the slip," Jeff began to sing. "Step on a crack, break your momma's back."

"When a problem comes along, you must whip it, before the cream sits out too long, you must whip it," added Scott having heard it on KBBL radio several times before. "When something's going wrong, you must whip it."

"Now whip it into shape, shape it up, get straight," Scott and Jeff finished together. "Go forward, move ahead, try to detect it, it's not too late to whip it, whip it good."

"So I guess me and Larry were wrong there," Rick said as he stared at Scott. "When I was a kid, I often used the name Scott Tracy a lot. To be honest, I always liked having the same name as Tom from those old Tom and Jerry cartoons."

"I guess I'll have to think of a first name for me," Jeff sighed. "I'll have to think of a name that you guys'd recognize. So where did those other two kids with you guys go anyway?"

"They went to track down Brains," explained Virgil. "As the bulbs that were inside the, well, you know, had burnt out. Hopefully, that Hiram K. 'Brains' Hackenbacker dude can replace them."

"It's true," gasped Gordon. "That's the kinda thing that happened to our DeLorean. We had our buddies, uh, Kelly and Jack Osbourne track down Brains."

"That's a relief," Alan sighed. "Why don't you use the name Tucker if any creepy bad guy dudes find you? I used to imagine that I had a brother named Tucker. Kelly and Jack should recognize us then. Maybe they could convince Brains to help us but Brains'd really would have no choice. He'd have to preserve the space-time continuum or some c**p like that."

"I can't believe that we ended up coming here," commented Scott sighing. "This is heavy!"

After about half an hour, Larry and Rick returned with an African-American young man wearing a dark green zipper jacket, a white T-shirt underneath, dark blue jogging pants and white sneakers.

"Okay, Guys," called out Larry as he let the African-American into their booth. "Meet my neighbor Goldie Wilson Jr."

Jeff, Rick and Larry all smiled at Goldie and the boys and as Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan were staring at him.

"Whatchoo lookin' at?" snapped Goldie. "You don't think a black man can be dissed by a white man? Well, you're wrong, Dudes. Black is beautiful and I am beautiful. My dad's worked and sweated and persevered putting himself through law school to become the best that he can be. And he wants me to do the same thing and that made me the best attorney in this community and the best legal representation in the 60s and the current mayor of Hill Valley, okay?"

"We can dig that, Bro," Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan all replied in unison. "Black is totally tubular."

"Like, thanks," mumbled Goldie. "You dudes ain't making this easy. I saw Jeff, Larry and Rick teepeeing our old science teacher's house as soon as I rushed by. However, I saw you four dudes chillin' out with those three dudes. Just go on the record about who you are but you have to level with me and get down with some facts."

"Okay, here's what you can do," suggested Scott slowly. "Go out and publicize this thing. Just mention that four dudes from out of town called Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Harry Judd and Dougie Poynter are staying at the Tracy home to Rick and Larry. When a certain person we know hears about it, he'll get us out. I hope. Also, you can describe our clothes."

"I can be with that," Goldie said gently. "Believe me, Bro, I can sympathize. I've wanted to run off to Canada a few times where racism ain't such an issue. However, I've made a decision that running away's really not the solution. I've decided to stay here and fight for my right to be treated as equal to the white folks."

Holy c**p, a lot sure has changed within the last 28 years. Scott thought to himself.

[race]

Chapter 5

Later that afternoon, Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan all followed Jeff to the house that he shared with his parents, brother and sister.

"What if the Brains of 1983 can't fix the bulbs?" Gordon asked worriedly. "We could be stuck here for a long time."

"Man, this totally sucks." groaned Alan.

Just then, the door opened and Jeff's father Benjamin Tracy, who had red hair and green eyes like Gordon currently did, had let them in.

"Jeff, who the hell are these kids?" asked Benjamin who was wearing a brown suit, a pink shirt and black boots.

"Dad, these are Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Harry Judd and Dougie Poynter, they're from out of town and asked to crash here," Jeff said. "Tom, Danny, Harry, Dougie, this is my dad Benjamin Tracy!"

About a half an hour later, the boys were looking around the Tracy house with Jeff and finally went into the kitchen for some sodas and saw a woman preparing dinner.

"Jeff, are these boys friends of yours?" asked a familiar sounding female voice.

As Scott turned around, he realized that she was his grandmother Jennifer Tracy. She had shoulder length dark hair and blue eyes and was wearing a white apron over a red blouse, dark blue pants and black boots. Jeff just nodded.

"It's very nice to meet you boys," said Jennifer. "I'm Jennifer Bennett-Tracy, Jeff's mother."

"Hi, Gran- I mean Mrs Tracy," Scott said nervously. "Thanks for letting Jeff ask us to stay for a few days."

"Yeah, it's very much appreciated." added Virgil.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Jeff," Benjamin said as he looked at Scott mistaking him for Jeff. "If these boys skip town or get lost, you're not going to that dance with Nicola on Saturday."

"Oh, Ben, I can tell just by looking at Jeff that he'd never do anything like that," Jennifer insisted. "Mother's instinct."

Jeff just smiled weakly at Jennifer.

"You seem very surprised at all this, Boys," commented Jennifer. "What are your names anyway?"

"I'm Tom Fletcher and these guys are my friends Danny Jones, Harry Judd and Dougie Poynter." Scott told his grandmother from the 80s.

"Well, there are a lot of people in town who really believe in what Jeff did just last week," Jennifer explained. "He wants to join the Air Force but his father wants him sent off to the Army. It takes a lot of guts to be willing to go to jail for your beliefs. I admire that."

"Yeah, thanks," muttered Virgil. "I mean, isn't America supposed to be the land of the free? Having the draft is rather antithetical to the principle of our founding fathers. I bet they don't have the draft in Canada."

"Well, I'm not about to give up on this country," Jennifer replied. "I really love living in Hill Valley. This is the city that I grew up in. Anyway, I have two other children Andrea who's 18 years old and Louis who's on 16 years old. Jeff's 21 years old and I'd hate for him to ever have to go off to war."

"Don't worry about that." Scott blurted out without really thinking.

"And my brother Izzy Bennett was sent to Vietnam in 1965 and to my father's chagrin, he was also a draft resister," said Jennifer. "In fact, the two of them are pretty much still on speaking terms. I'd hate to see Jeff being sent off to war or even starting World War 3. I think it's nice for you boys getting to know Jeff. I'm sure you boys'll probably get along great."

"Well, I'm totally sure that we should." Gordon said excitedly.

"I'm really glad you are though," insisted Jennifer. "Andrea's upstairs doing some stuff and Louis is at his friend Taylor's, I won't mind a few extra mouths..."

"Well, we really should get going." insisted Scott.

"Going where?" asked Benjamin with curiosity.

"Uh, well," Scott stammered sounding a bit like Brains. "We were sorta gonna meet someone."

"I'll give you a ride," offered Benjamin. As he pointed to a 1949 DeSotto which Jeff remembered had annoyed him so, he added "My car's right here."

"Well, it's kinda far," stated Virgil. "On Riverside Drive actually."

"Look, Grandpa... I mean Mr Tracy," Scott insisted. "We think you think we're something we're not."

"Thank you, Tom," Benjamin protested laughing. "Goldie Wilson Jr said he'd never met such determined uncompromising young men unless it was Jeff, Rick or Larry. Now you boys are joining us for dinner and I won't take 'no' for an answer."

Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan glanced at each other and shrugged as they joined Benjamin.

"Hey, Brains," Fermat called out as he walked into Brains's lab carrying a magazine. "I went over to the drug store to pick up some snacks and I found this m-m-magazine. It looks pretty interesting."

"Is it a fashion magazine?" Tin Tin asked rushing towards Fermat. "Cause if it is, I'd like to see what they wore back then."

"It is one of your f-f-fashion magazines, Tin Tin," explained Fermat. "But the clothes on the fashion pages are just too retro but I'm sure Brains won't mind, will he?"

"I don't mind since my mom's got my clothes from the 70s back in Chicago," Brains explained. "Where young men between the ages of eighteen and 25 are recruited into military service. It is r-r-required that all young men register for the draft within a month of turning eighteen."

"So what are we going to do, Brains?" Tin Tin asked worriedly. "I don't want to impose and ask you for money but..."

"Say no more," interrupted Brains. "I'm more than w-w-willing to spend that money if that's what it takes to find Jeff and your friends."

"Oh, yeah, right," said Tin Tin. "'Cause if me and Al- I mean Dougie never get married, then we'll never have kids and then..."

"Besides, they can't d-d-do this to your friends," Brains protested. "They're from around here, aren't they?"

"Well, Virg- I mean Danny turns 21 years old next week," commented Fermat. "And I'm s-s-sorry but we're not from around here."

"You're listening to KKHV, your good time rock and roll station," the disc jockey was announcing on the radio. "And now, we'd like to play a special request from Nicola Harper to Jeff Tracy."

[race]

Chapter 6

"Hey, Jeff, let me in." said a female voice which sounded more like 16 years old than 18 years old as soon as Jeff rushed to the door.

As soon as Jeff opened the door, Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan noticed a 18 year old girl and a 16 year old boy both of whom had the same red hair and green eyes as their father. Scott recognized them as his aunt Andrea and uncle Louis.

"Mom, Guess what Lou did," Andrea insisted. "He told Nicola that I dye my hair!"

"Don't be a tattle-tale, Lou." Jennifer scolded gently.

"Mom, Andy told Nicola I was fat!" Lou said as he walked towards hs mother.

"That's 'cause you called me fat!" protested Andy.

Jeff and Scott stared at each other and rolled their eyes. Scott began to realize that he had to put up with that kind of behavior from John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan.

"Dammit, will you two shut the hell up," commanded Jeff. In a softer tone, he said "These are my new friends Tom, Danny, Harry and Dougie." Then, turning to Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan, he said "This my sister Andrea who I call Andy and my brother Louis who I call Lou."

"Your bro and sis are, uh, totally tubular." Virgil said nervously as Scott, Gordon and Alan nodded.

"Mom, is Dad home?" asked Lou as he looked at his mother.

"Yes, he's in the lounge," replied Jennifer. Then, to Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan, she said "My husband was the famous rock 'n' roll singer Benny Tracy back in the mid to late 50s and early to mid 60s. He retired from the rock scene in 1965 to become a songwriter and he's hoping to get a number one hit as a songwriter someday. Anyway, I apologize for Andrea and Louis's behavior. Jeff says they can be quite a handful."

About a half an hour later, the boys, Jeff and Benjamin walked into the dining room of the Tracy home where dinner had been prepared by Jennifer.

"Mom, where are Lou and Andy?" Jeff asked indicating two empty spaces.

"I'm sure they'll be ready to come down soon," Jennifer commented before turning her attention to Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan. "I hope you boys like chicken and potatoes."

"It's kids like our Jeff who are ruining this country," groused Benjamin as Lou and Andy came downstairs. "Resisting the draft to the army. Do your parents approve of what you're doing?"

"I guess our folks do!" Scott said quickly apparently remembering that he, Virgil, Gordon and Alan weren't supposed to be brothers.

"If it was up to me," Benjamin stated. "I'd send you boys into the army. That'd make men out of you and this includes you too, Jeff!"

"Will you shut the hell up, Dad?" shouted Jeff. "I know you're angry with me about last week but..."

"Angry?" Benjamin asked. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say! I'm not angry with you, Jeff! I'm proud of you!"

"Thanks, Dad." Jeff said smiling.

"My pleasure, Jeff," said Benjamin. "I mean I did that sort of c**p in the 60s and this is no different!"

"You know! I agree with you, Dad." said Louis as he stuck his tongue out at Jeff. Jennifer quickly looked at Louis and shook her head.

"Louis Samuel Arthur Tracy, stop that," Jennifer said. "Or you're grounded for a week."

"Look, we're sorry," Virgil blushing. "We should maybe get going. It's our fault that Mr Tracy mentioned what Jeff did last week at the dinner table tonight."

"That's okay," replied Jennifer. "Benjamin just gets into those moods every once in awhile. I'm pretty sure he'll get over it in a few days."

"Yeah, maybe in like about twenty years." muttered Andy.

"Why don't you guys come with me?" Jeff suggested as he motioned for Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan to join him. "This is my fault too. I shouldn't have spoken back to my dad."

"It's pretty understandable," Gordon said gently. "Your dad did say some very hurtful things to you, so I understand that you would be upset." Then, smiling at Scott, Virgil an Alan, he added "I'm sure glad my dad's not like that."

"Well, you're lucky then," replied Jeff. "I can't believe that Dad actually forgives me what happened last week. I mean, for several months now, I was worried that he might hate me but I kept trying to convince myself to be rational and that Dad'd never hate me. To have Dad confirm my worst fear to me tonight really cut me deeply."