From the Mahdist War of 1883 Doug and Tony hurtle to the seaside town of Cliffport, Maine in September 10, 1978 – a full ten years in the future. They appear in a basement packed with strange scientific gear. Upstairs is a chemical laboratory. The door out of that leads to a hotel whose kindly owner has no idea she even has a cellar! The travelers show her the door to the chemical lab. When she opens it, it leads to a pantry! The travelers follow her inside and show her the door to her basement. Then she taps each man on the head, instantly paralyzing him. Seconds later she transforms into a black robed and purple skinned alien! What sort of trouble have the time traveling pair uncovered this time?