In Book 1 of Nik of Time, Nik Turner starts off to Ohio, to see an old Air Force buddy. Along the way, just before he gets within 90 minutes of his destination in Ohio, he picks up a beautiful girl hitchhiker. She is going almost to the same place he is going. A few minutes later, a severe lightning storm develops and her side of the car is struck by a large green lightning bolt, it comes through the car envelopes them both in a bright green cold fire mist and then goes to ground out Nik's car door. When they wake up, they discover they are 100 years in the past.