New York City – Time Square – 2009

Everything hurt. She tried to move her toes and fingers. It felt like they moved, but she couldn't be certain. Perhaps she was just badly bruised, but she could have sworn that she should be dead. She'd been hit by one of those energy weapons, and so far, everyone who had been hit was dead.

As her hearing returned the familiar sounds of people and cars began to fill her ears.

"Hey lady, are you ok," a voice somewhere about her said. This wasn't right. She had just been in the Alps. None of this made any sense.

She struggled to open her eyes and was struck by the bright sun and the blue sky overhead.

"I think I'm ok, but where am I," she asked starting to blink.

"Time Square," the voice said. Her eyes snapped open. That wasn't possible.

Almost as soon as she opened her eyes, she closed them again. There were moving pictures all around her. This couldn't be Time Square, it was too bright, too loud.

"Step aside sir, this lady is with us," a deeper gravely voice said.

"She is," the first voice questioned.

"Yes, it was a training exercise gone wrong, you understand," the second voice explained. Then there were steps. She assumed the first voice was leaving.

"Can you sit up," the deep voice asked. She did her best, struggling through the pain.

Once in a sitting position, she opened her eyes again.

"Can you tell me who you are, where you are," the voice, an older black man with an eye patch asked.

"The first person said I was in Time Square, but it's not possible," she said.

"And why's that," the man asked.

"Because I was in Times Square 2 years ago. It didn't look anything like this, and there is no possible explanation for what I'm seeing," she explained looking from screen to screen.

"Ma'am, what year is it," he asked. She fought to stand, and the man reached out to help her up.

"It's 1945," she answered.

The man shook his head.

"I hate to break it to you, but welcome to 2009."

She looked at the man just as she fainted, another man catching her on the way day.

New York City – Grand Central Terminal -1942

Another train pulled into Grand Central Station. Another train full of women coming to the city to fill the holes left by men going off to war. The station was full of all sorts of women looking for all sorts of jobs. This was the hustle and bustle that greeted Lucy Byrne as she disembarked. The station itself for larger than she could have imagined, and she couldn't help but stare in wonder at everything.

"Move along girl, don't you know there's a war on," yelled a woman behind her on the platform. Lucy shook her head returning to the matter at hand. Suitcase in hand, she moved forward towards the are that lead to the subway. The train to the Bronx was easy enough for her to find and the trip as comfortable as it could be.

Sitting in her seat, Lucy couldn't believe how far she'd come. It felt like a few hours ago that she was graduating from Randolph Macon University with her degree in teaching. Now, here she was on her way to Hunter College for WAVE Officer training. She was going to be in the Navy, just like her father before her. Granted he'd been drafted in WWI, but as his only child, Lucy felt like this was the best way to honor the man who had taught her to sail and the importance of service. It had been the primary reason she'd picked teaching in college. What better way to serve as a woman than to teach the next generation of Americans? However, once the Navy started accepting women, she simply couldn't stand by.

As the train slowed to her stop, Lucy stood bag in hand ready to exit the train.

Exiting the train station, Lucy sighed as rain poured down in front of her. According to the orders she'd been sent all-new servicewomen had to present themselves no later than 4PM at the College's Office of the Register to complete intake that day. If she wasn't there, she might as well go back home to Williamsburg and start looking for teaching work. Lucy checked her watch, 3:30 PM. Surely that would be enough time to walk to the College.

Lucy opened her pocketbook and pulled out her orders one last time to check the address. Bedford Boulevard? Wasn't the station she was in Bedford Boulevard? It must be close then. She set off at a brisk but sensible pace. Getting there on time was one issue, but getting there in one piece was another problem.

Sure enough, there was a small sign at the end of the block "WAVES Training Camp à". Lucy breathed a sigh of relief and fell in with another girl heading the same direction.

"Are you a WAVE too," Lucy asked as they walked.

"Sure am," the girl answers, "I'm Dot Williams." She didn't extend a hand to shake but smiled at Lucy as they walked.

"I just got in from Lynchburg," Dot explained.

"Lucy Bryne, Williamsburg," Lucy replied.

As the pair continued to walk, they could hear the soft murmur of many people talking softly. We must be getting close Lucy thought.

Sure enough, as they passed a small block of trees there was a line of women out the door of an impressive stone building.

"Guess, we'd better line up," Dot said as the pair moved to find the end of the line.

"Hey, dames," a man called out as he walked past, "don't you have some socks to knit or bandages to roll?

Lucy gripped her suitcase tighter. Her father had always told her to stick up for herself, but it was hard to do that when society said women did not fight.

"What a fat-head," Dot whispered as the line continued to move.

"Exactly, men these days can't stand that us women are just trying to do what we can for the war," Lucy said.

Once the pair were inside, they were rushed through a series of stations that completed their intake into the WAVES. There was a general physical, pelvic exam, uniform fitting, hair cut, etc.

Lucy was exhausted by the end of the gauntlet as the final Navy Officer handed her a room assignment.

"Muster is at 500, be in uniform in the hall by then," the man said turning his attention to the next

Lucy moved along looking at the slip of paper in her hand.

Building E Room 302

"Hey Lucy," Dot called out from across a grassy quad, "what room are you in?"

"Building E, RM 302!"

"Woo! We're in the same bunk. Our roommates better watch out for us Virginia girls," Dot said briskly walking over.

Lucy couldn't help but smile. If she and Dot survived this experience, they were going to be great friends.

First Chapter Complete- I promise that Steve and Bucky will be in the next installment.