Rayguns and beer

Posted on 28 Jun 2026 @ 5:35pm by Lieutenant Commander Steven Remington & Lieutenant Ryan Collingway

1,197 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Location: Sherman Oaks

///Sherman Oaks///

Ryan and Steve did what anyone would do after learning their understanding of the world was not correct.

They went to a pub.

But even that seemed off.

Ryan stared at the menu in chalk above the board. Corbin's cod burger. Batenburg beer. Flammia flaming nachos.

Ryan tore his gaze away and sighed. "Maybe it would help if we go over our history a bit. How long have you lived here? What are you studying?"

A big sigh preceded Steve’s reply. “I don’t think I’ve ever lived here. I have not memories of living here. I just have stuff I know about this place. Like a monorail from the school to that park. I was in a school here, studying …” His eyes tracked all around, looking for the answer. “Ok, let me think. What do I know about? Animals, something about animals. But I don’t remember sitting in a class here. I remember a different place, like remembering a dream locale. Xeno-Zoology.101. That was the title of one class. That’s what? The study of foreign animals? Is that African gazelles? I know nothing about African gazelles.”

Ryan shrugged a little. "It's all kind of scrambled for me too. My dad's an asshole. He robbed three banks but the cops couldn't pin it on him. He wants me to quit college and work for him. I spend my time either sleeping in my car or couch surfing. I know these details are right, but they're not right at the same time," he added with significant frustration. "And it doesn't explain those devices we have, which to be honest, seem out of this world. Or a textbook that reads like a science fiction novel."

He waited as the waitress delivered two Batenburg beers. "Do you think there are other people like us?" he asked. "Trapped in this dream?”

“Maybe.” Steve shrugged. "I do know I haven’t spent most of my life here, but have significant memories ABOUT this place. Our questions seem to indicate a connection with time/space. What if this is a time warp or something that we are living in two of our multiple lifetimes. The devices, now that’s even more weird and more than a little scary. Are we some kind of special agents with advanced futuristic weapons? Do we know each other in a different place? Should we be in hiding? Are we already in hiding? Too damn many questions. No answers. Wait.” He looked around the room and spied a newspaper on the table of another booth. He hoped up and grabbed it, bringing it back to the table. He handed a couple pages to Ryan and kept a couple for himself. “Maybe this will jog our memories. Date is July 17, 1984.” He stared at the date. “That’s not what I was expecting. I’ve never even seen a newspaper. How’d I know to look there?”

"How have you not seen a newspaper?" Ryan looked away. "Wait, have I seen a newspaper before?" He shook his head. "I have a car. I know how to drive it. But I feel like I shouldn't be driving a car. Man, this is trippy." He thought about it for a moment. "If what you say is true, we are in 1984. We have the tools and the knowledge to function in this place. But we should be somewhere else. In a place where these futuristic tools would make sense."

He said nothing for a moment, listening to the radio. It gave him an idea. A dangerous one. "The radio has a call-in show. For people to leave messages. Lost connections. Things like that. We could send a message that way. If someone is looking for us...." He shook his head. "But that could be dangerous. If we're hiding, like you said.”

“Maybe we just say it’s Ryan and Steve and we’re wanting to let our folks know we are alive and well in California but don’t have the money to get back home,” Steve ventured slowly, examining his own idea for flaws.

"Well that's not too far from the truth," Ryan said jokingly. He went to the bar and asked for the phone. He relayed the message to the radio station, then hung up and sat back down in the table. "All right. What do you suggest we do in the meantime?”

“What do you plan to pay for these beers with?” asked Steve, concern lacing his words to a weak smile.

In response, Ryan held up a ten dollar bill. "Criminal family, remember? I pickpocketed the drunkest guy I could find on the way back." He wasn't exactly proud of himself, but it was very minor compared to everything else. "Maybe in the meantime we should see how our weird devices work. Try a little target practice, maybe.”

“You are definitely resourceful, my new friend Ryan,” Steve lifted his hand in a high-five gesture. Ryan replied with the appropriate slap of the hand and they both looked at each other again. “Where did we learn that?” They both laughed, a little nervous, but beginning to ride with the situation.

“Target practice?” Steve restated.

"Well, since for some cosmic reason we are meant to own rayguns, it makes sense to me that we should know how to use them," Ryan said with a smirk. "I think I remember an area that's abandoned near the campus. We could try there."

“Sounds like a plan! Let’s go.”

///Park near the campus///

A red beam of light hit the boulder spot-on. A second later it disappeared into nothing. "HOLY CRAP!" Ryan said in astonishment at what the weapon could do. He couldn't believe it. This was a genuine raygun. He glanced at Steve whose brows were raised high and eyes wide open.

“Well, mmmmm. That’s beyond interesting and … you’re a damn good shot there Ryan,” said the Science Chief. He walked over to check what was left at the former site of the boulder. A thin scattering of black sand, more like bits of glass. “What’s that other button do? But don’t aim at anything significant.” He laughed, and watched as Ryan shifted the phase pistol to stun.

"I won't," he promised. He aimed and fired at a nearby tree, which seemed to do...nothing. "Huh. Maybe it's a less lethal setting," Ryan suggested.

Steve examined his own weapon and discovered a sequencing available in the setting that suggested the ability to adjust the strength of the second setting. “Move that little thing and see if it makes any difference …. a rock, not a tree. Don’t wound the tree,” Steve added quickly.

Ryan obliged. This time the shot left a distinct black mark and tore a chunk out of it. But it wasn't full vaporization. "I can't believe we have these. Who would trust me with one?" he wondered outloud.

In the distance, they suddenly heard a siren. "Um...uh-oh," Ryan said. Maybe the park wasn't quite so abandoned after all...

TBC
~~~
A JL by
Lieutenant Ryan Collingway
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Arawyn

Lieutenant Steve Remington
Chief Science Officer
USS Arawyn

 

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