"Jeff, can you see if we have any more of that quartz crystal upstairs? You know, the stuff you used when you were working on that time machine for your science project junior year?" Dr. Andonuts hadn't changed one bit. At 64, he was still an inventor at heart, always formulating ideas for new projects, always experimenting. His current piece of work was just that - an experiment, in every sense of the word - but he enjoyed playing around with materials and tools. It gave him something to occupy his time and keep his mind active.

"I'll check, but I'm pretty sure there isn't any up there." Jeff walked across the lab and headed upstairs, where supplies were stored. It took only a few easy strides for him to reach the top; at 23, Jeff was no longer a little short for his age, finally having reached a rather average height of 5'11". He still wore glasses, even though contact lenses were an option; the thought of putting a piece of glass in his eye gave him goosebumps, and he didn't like it one bit. He'd had friends in college who wore contacts, and while they liked them well enough, Jeff just couldn't get used to the idea.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Jeff entered the storage room. His green eyes searched over shelves and boxes of tools and supplies. Now where did I leave that jar when I was done with it? Jeff wondered, thinking back to his junior year at Snow Wood. It was so far in the past now, the memories so unclear, fuzzy. Jeff had a funny sort of scientific mind, in that the really important things stuck with him for ages, while the little things, like where he'd left the jar of quartz crystal, were little more than a blur.

The storeroom was a mess, which didn't help. Things sure haven't changed since I was in college, Jeff noted. He had attended the Scaraba Scientific Institute, a prestigious school built less than a decade ago in the vast expanse of desert where Dungeon Man had once stood. Jeff had been part of only the second class to graduate from the Institute. Through hours of grueling hard work and perseverance, Jeff had gradu ted 27th in a class of nearly 400, with a double major in chemistry and computer science. He still remembered spending summers at the lab with his father, working on invention after invention, running back and forth from the supply room to fetch things. It had been a wreck even then. His father was always too busy creating to straighten up the storeroom, so it remained perpetually chaotic. That was how his dad's mind worked best, it seemed - in the midst of chaos. He had never worked so hard at anything as he had that summer when Jeff and his friends ultimately needed an invention called the Phase Distorter to save the world from destruction.

Finally, he spied the jar on a table near the back of the room. "Quartz crystal," Jeff said aloud, reading the label. The jar was empty, though. I knew I'd used it all up that time.

"I told you, Dad, there's none left up here," Jeff called down the stairwell.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive, Dad. Can you do without it?" Jeff was on his way down the stairs now.

"Well..." Jeff turned the corner just in time to see the look of disappointment on his father's face. He felt bad. "I'm sure I can think of something to use as a substitute. This is just experimentation, after all." He smiled weakly.

"I'm sorry, Dad, I wish I could help you out there." Jeff thought for a moment, then smiled suddenly. "Actually, I think I can! I've got the shell of that old time machine sitting in my attic someplace, and if my memory serves me correctly, the quartz I used should still be in there, and readily available. You want me to go get it for you?"

"Oh, Jeff, you don't have to do that..." Dr. Andonuts said in a tone that meant, Could you please, if it wouldn't be too much trouble?

Jeff recognized that hopeful look in his father's eyes right away. "No, no, I insist. I'll be right back, won't take me that long." He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "See you in a bit."

The old scientist smiled. "Thanks, Jeff."

Springtime in Winters was something else. Snow still blanketed the ground, as it did in all seasons here, but the air was different. The sun shined a little warmer, the wind softened to a breeze's gentle caress, and the mystical Snow Flower started to come into bloom. Native only to Winters, their delicate frost blue blossoms brought a touch of beauty to an otherwise barren landscape.

Jeff had always found his native land beautiful anyway. To foreigners, it was a desolate snowy wasteland, but to Jeff, it was pure bliss through and through. The snow was deep and crisp and lovely all times of year. He never got tired of that background of innocent white, a happy symbol in a world that sometimes seemed to have more than its share of darkness. As a small boy, he had built snowmen and forts and had snowball fights here. Now, to preserve his fond memories of this place and to be near his father, Jeff had made Winters his permanent home.

His was the little house upon the hill. Once so empty, Winters was now starting to become more developed, with trees being cleared to make room for a residential zone and possibly some small shops. Jeff's house was the only one there so far, but he knew he'd have neighbors in the future, people who appreciated the beauty of Winters as much as he did. A stairway cut into the side of the hill just north of Stonehenge provided Jeff with access to his home, set back a short distance, secluded, surrounded by evergreen trees.

Once atop the cliffs, Jeff started walking towards the thicket where his house stood. He fished around in his pocket for his keys as he padded along, the snow crunching beneath his feet. I need to invent something that recognizes my fingerprint to unlock my front door, or a retinal scanner or something, so I don't have to fiddle with my house key anymore, he was thinking. Ju t as he finally located his keys amidst all the junk in his pants pocket, Jeff entered the yard and looked up at his house.

It was small, but just right for him. A comfortable little place, the outside was painted a pale sea-foam green with a gray shingled roof and paler gray door. Inside was a small bedroom and study, a kitchen, a miniature parlor, a bathroom and a science and computer lab in the basement. The attic was very small and was used mainly for storage.

Jeff was picturing his attic in his mind as he stood on the front steps. There were the remains of the unsuccessful time machine project, sitting in the corner beside a small card table covered with tools. A small chamber inside the machine contained the quartz crystal his dad needed. Sliding the key in, he unlocked the door and -

He froze. A tiny, almost inaudible sound resonated in his mind like a sonic boom - a helpless sound, telling him he wasn't alone. And there it was again. Jeff turned the key back to lock the front door and stepped back into the yard. It was a cooing noise, soft and gentle... an animal, a wounded bird perhaps, a tiny dove. Though it had not been his career choice, Jeff had always had an interest in medicine and was intrigued by the sound. He knew someone from the Institute, a good friend who had become a veterinarian, one of the best in Eagleland; Jeff vowed to give him a call as soon as he had rescued the hurt creature.

He crept around the yard, searching the snowy terrain with wide green eyes full of curiosity. The sound grew louder. He heard it coming from a nearby clump of bushes. Anxious, he parted the shrubs with his hands and peered down into the snow. His mouth fell open in surprise.

Dressed in pale pink, with a little note attached to the basket. Please take care of me, Jeff read mentally. But the initial shock was still gripping his mind, making everything so hard to comprehend.

It was a baby girl.