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Post by Peggy on Jul 18, 2007 2:30:05 GMT -5
Must.Find.Out What Happens.Next. *whimper* I'll be okay. Wonderful job!
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Post by I love Snow White on Jul 19, 2007 5:58:15 GMT -5
Yeah, scoot's right. This story's AWESOME! I'm lovin' it!!! ;D
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Post by megatude on Jul 20, 2007 23:33:36 GMT -5
Continued...
Taking the lantern with her, Meg rummaged through the garage, for an extension cord. After sorting through various tools, old Christmas decorations, and gardening essentials, Meg hit the jackpot. "Eureka!" A genuine, 100ft, orange colored extension cord. With some electrical tape and a length of copper wire, (also treasures of the garage) Meg constructed a make-shift connector, to plug the cable into the machine. With that end taken care of, she stepped outside to complete the chain. Zebra agreed to act as a look-out, so she could warn Meg if they got caught. Before venturing next door, Meg glanced back at her friend. Zebra's face was flush with guilt and apprehension, her eyes darting this way and that to every sound. "You know Zebra....." said Meg gently. "We don't have to do this. We could just scratch the whole thing and go home...." She was hopeful. As tempting as it sounded, Zebra didn't believe in un-finished projects. "No. I've come too far to see it end now." To ease her nagging conscience, she figured she would just send the un-suspecting neighbors, an anonymous check, for the goods they would un-knowingly provide. Silent and stealthily as a cat on her midnight prowl, Meg searched for an outdoor outlet. The rain began to pour more heavily, causing the soil to soften and shift. Meg made her way through the backyard, carefully placing her steps. Finally, she spotted her target, just above an abundant vegetable patch. She sloshed across the mud, avoiding tomato plants and Zucchinis, sitting above ground. Shielding the male end of the plug from the on-coming down pour, she inserted it snuggly into the outlet. 'Mission complete. Return to base.' Meg found her way back to the house and met Zebra on the porch. "Well, let's see what we can do with that machine of yours." Together, they returned to the basement. To Zebra's delight, the machine hummed with newly found power. As requested, Meg plugged her laptop to the monitor on the time machine, with a connector cable. She made herself comfortable, seating herself in the chair and propped her legs against a work bench. With her trusty laptop set upon, where else? Her lap. She cracked her knuckles, preparing her fingers for work, she logged onto the main screen. As she bypassed the massive security installations, she began to develop a growing admiration for the crazed scientist. He knew what he was doing, about wanting to keep his secrets hidden. After about a half-an-hour of non-stop typing and mind boggling puzzles, Meg finally reached the last hurdle. The screen before her now was the final entry to the machine's controls, but might prove to be the most difficult.
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Post by Arabella on Jul 20, 2007 23:37:36 GMT -5
*sits wide-eyed in front of computer* Wow! This is SO amazing! I CAN'T wait to read more!!!!
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Post by Jennifer on Jul 21, 2007 10:00:54 GMT -5
Hmmmm... *ponder*
Wonder what's going to happen!
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Post by Scooterly on Jul 21, 2007 10:02:58 GMT -5
Eeee! I gotta have more! *is clinging to monitor* More . . .!
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Post by sereneflower on Jul 21, 2007 15:12:50 GMT -5
OMG!! Can't wait for more!! Please update soon!!
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Post by Peggy on Jul 21, 2007 16:56:07 GMT -5
*Squeee!* Must find out what happens next!!! *Stares at computer with BIG eyes* Maybe if I stare at it long enough more will pop up.
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Post by megatude on Jul 24, 2007 16:12:39 GMT -5
(I can't believe you guys actually like it)
Continued...
Meg bit her lip and groaned wearily. "What is it? What's wrong?" Up till then, Zebra had been making some last minute adjustments. Sensing the distressed tone of Meg's groan, she came up behind Meg, to peer over her shoulder and inspect the problem. "I'll tell you what; Your grandfather was one complex guy. This is the last screen to pass before the file can be opened." Zebra couldn't the reason to stress. "So what? Just surpass it like the others." Meg eyed her friend with some annoyance. "I'm afraid it's not that simple. You see..." She pointed out. "This screen requires a password to open the file....." "So?" Zebra repeated. "Just keep guessing till you've uncovered the right one." Meg pinched her thumb and index finger together to demonstrate. "There's a slight snag in that plan of yours though. According to the database, it will only allow us three chances to enter the correct password. If we fail to do so, the whole system will shut itself down, and lock us out for good." Zebra's heart catapulted to her throat. She couldn't imagine loosing all she'd worked so hard to gain. The keys to the mystery, only a moment ago, seemed within her grasp. Why did it have to be so complicated? "Did that journal give any hints or clues of what the password could be?" Zebra drew herself from her self-pitying gloom, to seriously ponder the question Meg had pronounced. "Special dates. Names. Places. Anything that would stand out as significant or dear to him...." Meg offered when Zebra didn't answer right away. The obvious first choice, would be the name of his deceased wife. After all, wasn't she the sole purpose of his expeditions, retrieving her from time? "Try 'Layla'" Zebra urged. "My grandmother's name." Meg looked doubtful. "His wife? It's a bit cliche, but alright." She did as she was requested, and punched the name into the computer. After hitting, 'ENTER', an obnoxious buzz sounded, like the kind you hear on various game-shows, when a contestant answers a question wrong. The screen flashed; 'INCORRECT PASSWORD!' There appear a countdown in the corner of the screen, that indicated they only had two guesses remaining. Zebra smacked her forehead with the base of her palm. "What?! How could that NOT be it?!" Zebra protested. "I was sure that would work." Meg only shrugged. "I don't know. But you'd better come up with the right password, quick." Zebra slowly lowered her hand to look at Meg. She didn't like the casual tone in her voice. "Why?" She asked. "Well......there's another, small dilemma, I never got around to tell you." Zebra's muscles tensed, dreading what other mishaps could possibly befall them. "You see, there's also a time limit to how long we have to guess." She didn't like asking, but she needed to know what they were up against. Zebra sucked in a breath to ask the all, burning question; "How long do we have, exactly?" Meg's eyes returned to the screen. "About....ten minutes. No, wait. Scratch that. Eight minutes." The blood rushed into Zebra's face, heightening her anger. "You knew this. You knew this all along, didn't you?" The right corner of Meg's mouth steadily climbed up her cheek, as her lips curled into a half-smile, finding Zebra's temper quite humorous. "Well, if you must know, then.......... yeah. I was aware of that." Zebra's jaw dropped a mile. She grasped Meg's shoulders. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" Meg coughed, hiding a chuckle. "I didn't wanna worry you." Zebra released her grip and began pacing, marching back-and-forth continually, spinning on her toes as she turned. "OK. I can do this. I can think under pressure." The panic in her voice said everything, but. She clenched her fists, urging a solution to surface. "Take it easy Zebra." Said Meg, motioning her hands downward. Only when she complied, did Meg push forward. "Now. I know you can figure out the correct password. Just try and recall anything else he would think to use to lock in his secrets."
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Post by Scooterly on Jul 24, 2007 18:29:16 GMT -5
Lyndsay, how could we not like it?! With the twists, turns and discoveries, it's a wonderful read and, to add to all that, you leave off at the parts that leave us going "heeeyyyyyy!" and scratching at the monitor in protest! ;D Such as this part now . . . I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS! Time limits always make me twitchy . . . poor Zebra!
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Post by Arabella on Jul 25, 2007 0:32:22 GMT -5
Scoots, I couldn't agree more. We LOVE it! It's entertaining, intriguing, and extremely interesting! And I HAVE to know what happens next!
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Post by sereneflower on Jul 25, 2007 10:41:20 GMT -5
I agree with arabella and Scooterly. How could we not like it!?
Anyway, POOR ZEBRA!!! I bet the correct password is her name. PLEASE UPDATE SOON!!
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Post by Jennifer on Jul 26, 2007 18:49:34 GMT -5
Ooh... the SUSPENSE!
Great work!
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Post by megatude on Jul 27, 2007 19:02:23 GMT -5
Continued.....
Zebra snatched up the infamous journal from the workbench, and flipped through it's pages, searching for any clue, any hint, to free them of this road block. Nothing really seemed to stand out in his writing. It appeared that Zebra was on her own. If only time wasn't constantly pushing against her. Wait a minute.....that could be it! TIME. After all, it appeared to be a common theme throughout his life. "Time!" Zebra shouted frantically. "Yes, I know we're running out of time." Meg sighed. "No!" Zebra shouted once again. "Type in the word, time! Type in time!" "Alright, alright", said Meg, sensing the diar stress in Zebra's voice. So, she did so. Again, the computer denied their attempt. 'ACCESS DE-NIGHED, INCORRECT PASSWORD!' Zebra shrieked aloud, like a mad banshee. Meg cringed at the sound of Zebra's frustration. (2 minutes left) All seemed hopeless. The man had left no trace of his hidden password. Thunder crashed loudly outside, pushing Zebra to her limits. She plopped herself down onto the workbench, holding her head between her hands in utter despair. (1 minute) So it had all come down to this. All the careful preparations were for not. Why? (49 seconds) The computer screen began to flash red, as the seconds ticked silently away. (35 seconds) Apparently, the brilliant college professor had beaten them. Zebra suddenly released her head, as a possibility crept into her thoughts. Was it sheer coincidence that she attended the very same school, where her grandfather had taught. He had enjoyed his career at the home of the 'Nittany Lions'. (18 seconds) Zebra scrambled to Meg's side. "Quickly!" She cried in haste. "Nittany!! That has to be it! There's a legend behind it, that he mentioned. I can't remember the details now, just put it in!" Prepared to enter the word in herself, if Meg didn't comply. (9 seconds.....8......7......6) N-i-t-t-a-n-y. (5 seconds.....4....3) Enter! (2 seconds) Zebra and Meg held their breaths still, awaiting the system's response. 'PASSWORD ACCEPTED. WELCOME BACK MR. SANDERS!' The screen scrawled happily.
Chapter 11
Zebra gasped for air, when she felt it was safe enough to breath. Then, she wrapped her arms around Meg's neck in jubilation and relief. "We did it!" She squealed triumphantly. Meg only nodded. 'What exactly have we done?' She pondered to herself. Things still weren't sitting right with her. She had a strong, gut feeling, that this was only the beginning of their troubles. Another thunder bolt cracked against the pouring rain. This one, shook the ground beneath the girl's feet. The cue to go was soon at hand.
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Post by sereneflower on Jul 27, 2007 22:26:54 GMT -5
Wasn't expecting that at all! Great work, can't wait to see what's next. So update soon!
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