Rick rushed into the room and gasping for breath slammed the door shut behind him. The sweat of fear and exertion formed beads on his brow and slowly dripped down his nose. Still panting heavily, Rick turned and swiftly slid the bolt home in some vain attempt to make his haven secure, not really caring that the sudden noise would give away his presence.

Rick paused and leaned heavily against the door and slowly his laboured gasping eased as he listened intently for his followers. Blood oozed down his right arm from a gash just above the elbow, where his assailant had almost got a hold. He brushed away the dripping sweat and stared at his once immaculate light grey uniform, now torn and virtually unrecognisable. Rick winced and his face contorted with pain as his shattered arm forcibly reminded him of it's presence.

The single light bulb swung gently to and fro, disturbed by the sudden inrush of air as Rick had forced his way into the room. It's weak yellow light danced shadows around the bare walls and highlighted the torn and damp wallpaper. Grotesque shapes seemed to chase each other across the floor and up and over the only piece of furniture.

Fearful of making his whereabouts known, Rick flicked up the light switch and the room was plunged into darkness, save for the washy light that collapsed through the only window and spread itself around.

Rick limped over to the table and in the gloom his gaze fell onto his only hope of escape. Invisible to all except himself and his followers, a small black box no bigger than a box of matches, lay where he had left it. Thankfully, Rick reached out his good arm and grasped his treasure tightly. It felt cold to the touch, yet had a warmth that only plastic can give, not like steel.

Protruding from one end, the short aerial seemed to glow with a gentle electric blue light and threw an aura around his hand and arm as he grasped his prize. His space-time continuum generator was still working.

As silently as he could, Rick padded over to the window and gazed at the deserted street below. His eyes narrowed as he tried to pierce the gloom for some sign that his assailants had found his refuge. The shimmering street lights glistened off the wet road and showed no lurking shadows flitting around. For the moment Rick was safe until it was time to time warp back to the future.

An almost imperceptible slithering sound on the rickety stairs forced it's way into his frightened brain and immediately got his attention. His followers had found him. It was no use looking out into the street. They were there, right outside his door and even as he stared in horror at the flimsy barrier between himself and oblivion, he could visualise his assassins getting ready to blast away the door.

Rick tightened his grip on his STC and the blue aura started to spread around his whole body. One more squeeze and he would be gone, but he had to wait for just the right moment and that moment was not yet on hand.

Rick's breathing slowed, as painfully and straining every nerve, he listened for the first sign of the door being blasted away. The aura crept up his legs.

Just a few more seconds.

His hips and chest were cocooned with the pale blue light and with a painful slowness that had all his nerves screaming for mercy, the light eased up towards his head.

The crackling sound of an energy bolt hitting the door, brought panic to Rick's heart. The door glowed red, then white and with an incandescent burst of light, disintegrated before his eyes.

The pale blue aura closed over his shoulders as Rick heard the first micro second of crackling sound and saw the ever growing bolt of pure energy flashing towards him.

The aura closed over Rick's head and the tiniest possible fraction of a second before the energy bolt invaded the space that Rick occupied, he was gone.

Rick rushed into the room and gasping for breath slammed the door shut behind him. The sweat of fear and exertion formed beads on his brow and slowly dripped down his nose. Still panting heavily, Rick turned and swiftly slid the bolt home in some vain attempt to make his haven secure, not really caring that the sudden noise would give away his presence............

Once again Rick's timing was wrong!