With Jim calmed down somewhat, Franklin invites both Jim and Judy to come aboard his ship. 'I have an idea. If I can get in touch with my professor from the institute, he might have some idea how this gun is supposed to work.' Judy said, 'Well the Diner sure isn't doing any business right now. I haven't been in your ship for awhile. Might be nice to take a little break from standing all day.' 'Okay.' says Jim. 'In for a dime, in for a ten spot. At this point, what have I got to lose?' Inside the spaceship, Franklin cranks up his intergalactic communication device. After a little fiddling, the image of a man appears on the ancient looking screen. 'Okay, Franklin, what trouble have you gotten into this time?' says the man. 'No trouble!' says Franklin. 'I just need a little help with a device I have been trying to figure out.' And then he tells the professor the entire story. To which the professor responds witht enthusiastic laughter. 'Yes, I see, Franklin. No trouble at all. Like I haven't heard that one a million times before!' So Franklin shows the professor the gun. The professor has him hold it up so he can get some numbers off the side. The professor disappears from the screen. Before long, the professors reappears and tells Franklin, 'Yes, I had forgotten about that old gun. When I was attending intergalactic U, I was working at a factory that made items like that. Helped me pay my way through the institute. Anyway, here is what you do. See that little button on the bottom of the handle. Gently press that. A small access door should open on the side.' Franklin does this and is rewarded with the little door on the gun opening. The professor continues, 'Now see the writing on the small buttons in there? Well, what you need to do is aim the gun at Jim's car and press the one that says 'reset'. That will return his car to the time when you first activated the gun. Then, to take it back to before you did the damage, there is an incremental button you press. Each press of that button will go back an hour. So, however many hours it has been since before you banged up Jim's car, that is how many times you press that button. Just be careful, you knuckle head and don't press too hard or you will wind up with the sheet metal and rubber tree again. You got all that, Franklin?' 'Yes sir, Professor. And thanks again for all your help. I can't get by without contacting you at least every week or so. Sorry for all the trouble I cause but I'm very grateful you are around to get me out of these scrapes.' 'Don't mention it, Franklin. By the way, how is your mother doing? I haven't spoken with her in quite some time.' 'Oh, she is doing fine. She misses playing chess with you though. Mentions it about every time I see her. You might think about playing her a game again sometime.' 'Thanks for the heads up, Franklin. I will be sure to get together with her soon.' And with that the screen goes blank. Franklin has them follow him outside once more. He presses the reset button like the professor said and like magic, Jim's car is resurrected back to the state is was after Franklin banged his hatch door on the rear fender. Jim is elated to see it returned this much and wears a huge smile once again. Then Franklin asks them how long is has been since the accident and Judy says 'well, I am guessing it must have been about two hours ago.' So Franklin starts pressing the incremental button. One press. Two presses. Then he suddenly gets a cramp in his finger and on the third press, he bears down on the button a little too hard! Luckily the car is still there. In fact, it looks beautiful without the ugly dent Franklin put in it with his hatch door. Jim is all excited and gets into his beautiful Eldorado and gives the interior an intensely thorough inspection. 'I can't believe it! If I didn't see it with my own eyes, ... That third press of that button really did a number on this car. When I drove it in here today, it had over 75,000 miles on the odometer. I've had this car for several years and have loved driving it all over. Now, the odometer say 10 miles!' Jim gets out of the car and goes around to the front. He opens the hood and jumps back! 'OMG! Look at that engine! You could eat off of it! It never sparkled that clean before anytime I've owned it. Well, Franklin, one last thing before I thank you for this miracle.' and Jim gets back in the car and starts the engine. It fires up and purrs like a kitten. 'Franklin! You did it. I was getting worried I might have to have the engine reworked. I was noticing a little ticking noise somewhere and hadn't tracked it down yet. That noise is gone completely. Franklin! If you weren't so ugly, I could kiss you!' and he laughed uproariously. Franklin and Judy look at each other and finally they both realize why Jim is so happy so they join in the laughter as well. Judy says, 'come on back in the Diner. Free pie and coffee for you bums. This has been the most entertaining morning I've had in a long time!' M3, M4 and Miki2 characters. Rendered in Poser 11.3 pro. Post work in Photoshop 7. Thank you for taking a peek! Your support is greatly appreciated!