Maddison knocked before entering the lab. The doors were slightly ajar. The room was dark save for a soft glow coming from the desk lamp and the control panel.  She called to Jake and stepped down cautiously, not expecting to be attacked by a flash of blue light that came from everywhere all at once like a strobe light in a wild 70's disco.  It lit up the room then crisscrossed along the walls in long thin ribbons. Simultaneously, the speakers crackled to life in a thunderous roar and Maddison felt like she was caught in the middle of a bizarre electrical storm.  Either that or she had entered the twilight zone.  A loud scream escaped her as she jumped back, falling on the steps as one last brilliant flash exploded before her, momentarily blinding her. Then the room fell dark and silent. It took her a moment to find her voice.  “My . . . G -- God Jake,” she gasped. “What in the hell are you doing playing it up for Halloween?”
Jake turned on another light on the edge of the bench.  “Sorry.  Didn’t know you were there. I’m experimenting,” he replied.
Her eyes slowly adjusting, Maddison carefully made her way into the center of the room. “Oh really," she replied in a sarcastic tone. All she could see were blue spots. 
“Watch where you step,” he said.  “I’ve got stuff on the floor.”
“Great.”  She grunted, stepping over a few boxes and something round with wires sticking out of it.  “What’s this wired rug?”  She asked.  There was a round rubber mat about 3 feet in diameter with several wires bunched together sticking out of the underside. Her eyes followed its path to the outlet strip under the bench.
“That’s the time pad.  Don’t step on it,” he shouted, playing with the console.
 “Don’t worry, I won’t.” She assured him in a firm voice. “What's it for?”
 “It's part of the next phase. I’m trying out the old equipment; hardware from my college projects.  We used the mat to simulate vibration, a virtual ride.  We called it the “time pad” or “time rider.”  Like a magic carpet ride only it’s a magic mat. It was part of the original time travel game. Only now I have another idea for it." He said, turning his attention back to the task at hand.
"Oh," was all she could utter.  She looked around the room. Maybe she had entered the twilight zone. “I don't recall the mat," she said, pointing to it. It made her a little nervous.  "Does it work?”
“Don't know yet. I haven’t tried it. I was just fooling around with the lights when you came in.  That's part of it."
“Part of what?"  She asked hesitantly. "It looks a little scary."
 “It’s still primitive,” Jake said, shaking his head.  “Nothing is working the way it should, but that's because I'm mixing old and new technology.  It's very clunky.  I need new hardware to go with the new computer and the programs.  All the mechanics are ten years old." 
“Well from what I saw things seem to work fine, if you're going for effect, that is." 
“Well, it’s a miracle.  What I really need is to get in touch with the guys.” Jake said, leaning back in his chair. "Maybe Matt can build me something to support my ideas and Jason can work on some new graphics.” 
“Well, you'll see Jason next week for that interview when you're out in San Francisco?”
“Right, I plan on picking his brain and seeing if he's interested in getting the old project off the ground. If so, I'll get in touch with Matt too. Well, what did you come in for?”  He asked, turning back to the computer. 
“I wanted to see if you've reviewed the list and if you had a chance to code in the information on Sadie’s trip over?”
“I have,” He said.  “Thought I'd test it out first, which by the way is the next phase; the interactive part.  We'll be tracking her voyage using the mat.  I’m not sure it'll work, but we can take it for a test drive if you like. Or we can view it on the monitor. Otherwise, it'll have to wait till I get back from my trip.”
"So you plan on using that, that rug." She pointed to it as if it was a huge ugly insect about to attack her.  It looked ten years old.  
"That's the idea. Would you like to take it for a ride? I can't be at the controls and on the mat at the same time so it would be helpful if you. . . ."
"Ah, no thanks." Maddison said, making a face and backing away.  "I'll wimp out for now.  But I would like to see what you've got.  I'll watch the monitor."
“Alright. Take a seat."
"Cool." Maddison said. She could hardly wait to see Sadie's voyage play out, but the doorbell rang announcing the first trick or treaters.  
"Well, there goes that idea," Maddison said jumping up.
She left Jake to his own little shop of horrors as Maggie scampered past her in the hall.  She heard the sound of thunder echoing out of the lab to set the mood.  Maddison smiled as she answered the door.