The Prologue shows a Triassic pterosaur being frightened by something, but the book’s title alone tells you what “it” was and how she got there. This next excerpt jumps ahead to Chapter Four. Rob Howard is showing wife Connie and their two teenagers Ben and Bessie a pair of his company’s latest VR (virtual reality) headsets, one for each to try out. Their good pal (especially Bessie’s) Alex Ricci is there too. (More italicized explanations are included).

                                                            *

Everyone sat in a semi-circle before the computer console, its large flat-screen monitor bathing the room in a pale blue luminescence. Atop the console were two sets of wireless hand controls for tonight’s video game contestants.

As Rob held up one of his new VR headsets, the others were surprised at how trimmed down it was from the old model. The brainchild of Marsh Perry, his inventive business partner, this prototype was far more user friendly in size and design than the original helmet and pesky trailing cables. Looking little more than a wide headband with a visor attached, its white elastic fabric betrayed only a slight bulge in back from the rechargeable power pack. The neural-sensor wafers for receiving and transmitting the user’s commands were hidden within the liner.

          He was explaining this when Bessie looked toward the doorway. “Hey, girlfriend, just in time!”

          (Her best GF Nina Manchester lives next door. Always practicing her modelling styles, she currently struts the runways at fashion shows in Madison).

          Grandly making her entrance, Nina made a swirling pirouette. Favoring them with a de rigueur pout over one shoulder, she arched an eyebrow. “Here I am darlings! Now we can start!” Ben and Alex greeted her wondrous presence with hoots and grins.

Shaking her head, Connie laughed, “Okay kids, settle down. Continue, dear, we’re all ears.”

Eagerly, Rob started again. “Thanks, sweetie. Anyway, other than a USB in back for recharge cables, these’re wire-less and the power packs are good for twelve hours. But mainly, the sensors on these babies are upgraded like you won’t believe. They transmit your voice commands more accurately than our older ones ever could. They even respond to…”

He paused for the right way to put it. Though savvy enough with cyber technology he lacked his partner’s technical acumen for using the correct terms.

“Screw it, call them your thought signals. Long as you keep ‘em simple this unit can usually translate them for the computer. You with me so far?” When all nodded, he nodded back. “Of course, our research team is already working to replace these headbands. They’re currently trying to fit all the apps into what amounts to over-sized sunglasses.”

          As he started to go on, Connie tapped his shoulder. “Dear, you’re excited and so are we but why not just hand them over? Our kids will figure them out.”  

          He laughed, “You’re right. After a couple of video games they’ll know more than I do.”

          Eyeing his kid sister, Ben grinned smugly, “Alex and I will, anyway!”

          Even though amazingly adept with her dad’s VR units, Bessie had never beaten brother-Ben in a single one of his video games. Her mind made up there’d be no waiting in line, not tonight anyway, she narrowed her eyes. “After I play, you mean!”

          Alex agreed, “Bean here should have first crack at using it before I do.”

          Scowling at hearing the Bean thing, a muted “Argh!” escaped her. With more important things on her mind she let it go just this once.

          (Tall and skinny starting her freshman year, Bessie was nicknamed String Bean-soon shortened to Bean. Now a curvier sophomore, the tag was no longer apt, but to her growing annoyance it had stuck).

          Muttering, “I knew this would happen…” Ben took his own and eyed it all around. “It’s okay Dad but I liked wearing our old helmet. It was like I was racing the Daytona 500!”

          Tone dripping with scorn, Nina retorted, “You guys are total idiots with all your hot-car racing and fighting your dumb war battles! Whereas…” Tossing him a get lost wave, she looked away, her nose tipped up. “…we women focus on more intelligent things!”         (Obviously, she’s crazy about him, this established earlier).

          Taking hers and tapping the visor mounted in front, Bessie smiled, “It’s exactly like the headband I wear when skiing. I like it, Dad.”

For Connie’s part, with a weekend coming on and especially these days with all the worrisome stuff going on out there, she was always happier when her two and their friends were gathered safe and sound under her roof. Waving “Okay, kids, have fun.” she left the room.

          Rob heaved his large frame up from the chair. “Give them a good run-through, you guys. Bess, if you find any glitches, Marsh would like you to note them down, OK? Oh, and here’s another thing, so listen up!”

He stressed not yanking off the headband before first reorienting to their surroundings here in the room. “One of our testers didn’t and mentally lost it for a bit. Anyway, you need me for anything I’ll be watching the sports channel. All set?” When they told him they were, he left too.

          Ben said, “OK Bean, put it on and let’s play!”

          “Wait, I want to name it!” As did many girls, she personalized her fondest possessions by naming them after favorite people, places, and things. Except, only Bessie Howard, one of the school’s best science students, could be so enamored with Albert Einstein she’d name her new VR unit after him.

          As Ben went into his groaning act, Bessie hissed, “Shush! I’m trying his name.” She said it slowly, “Al…bert! Al…bie! No, it doesn’t sound right!”

          The school’s very best science student, Alex ventured, “What about the famous physicist from way back, James Clerk Maxwell? You just now studied him, remember?”

          She nodded, “I’ll try him. Max…well! Maxwell! Ah, that’s good!”

          “That’ll work.” Nina said. 

          Ben let out an aggrieved sigh. “Now are you ready?”

          “No, there’s one more thing.” Her wizard staff leaned against the wall. Standing it up beside her, she stared at it for a long moment.

          Ben’s skills as a champion gamer made him nearly unbeatable even by Bessie and her gifted and talented friends. Impatient to prove it again tonight, he wasn’t having any of his sister’s witches and wizards stuff. “You’re wasting time! Why are you messing with that old stick?”

          Still in a vengeful mood for Ben ignoring her earlier at school, Nina fed him a look of utter disdain. “Because, dimwit, it’s magic and wizards do that!”

Turning from him, she urged Bessie, “C’mon girl, beat him!”

          Standing behind Bessie’s chair, Alex put a hand on her shoulder. Unconsciously placing hers atop his, she glanced up to see him giving her a puzzled look. He said, “You’re really good at physics and the same with astronomy, so I don’t get it.”

          “Don’t get what!?”

          “Why you always do this Harry Potter routine with your VR unit. Real science can’t possibly mix with all that magic stuff - can it?”

          Ben growled, “You guys going to just hold hands or what?”

          Seeing their joined hands, both quickly drew them back. Ignoring Ben and still looking up at Alex, she frowned, “It’s not magic, exactly, not how most of us think of it.” Looking away, she muttered, “Or…maybe it is, who knows?”

          Ben growled disgustedly, “Al, my sis a whack-job! What can I say?”

          Oblivious to his grousing, Bessie gripped her staff in both hands. Seemingly lost in thought for a moment, she nodded, “I’m good to go.” Leaning it back on the wall, she held up her headband, “So, Maxwell, what about you? Feel like winning a battle?” First holding it to her ear as if listening, she turned to Ben. “He says he’ll kick your butt! Let’s go!” With that she snugged Maxwell down around her head. 

          Ben fed his sister an evil grin. “You in a hurry for a whipping?”

          She whacked his shoulder. “This time, Butt Brain, you’re the one who’ll be whipped!”

                                        TO BE CONTINUED