The Time Machine Earth Story: Saturday Writing Essential (Topic: Write tale in genre that is uncomfortable)

Chapter One:

Outside the prying eyes of the government on a college campus was a hush hush laboratory concealed in the basement of a building scheduled for demolition. The generous benefactor had pulled the plug on Dr. Mars Glaxba, whom had claimed he had built a machine that could see into the future, but not quite.

The good doctor had worked to solve each quantum mechanics roadblock. All possible integers and equations said the machine should work. However, it would only work in century cycles. Each attempt to see into the future had shown the landscape devoid of any form of life and had odd light flickering flashes of buildings fading in and out and falling apart.

Instruments of this future machine also took a beating for some unknown reason and getting it in running condition again was time consuming and rather costly. Dr. Glaxba had taken his Sabbatical 3 years ago to work on the time machine, then, instead of teaching classes, he decided to retire and work on his machine and the university let him only because of the benefactor.

Only Dr. Glaxba rode in the time machine. Five times he went forward 100 years and each time had seen the same mirage-like scene of  buildings shimmering, crumbling and disappearing. After each trip, a thorough review and examination for a glitch was never found. On the 6th trip, the good doctor went forward 300 years with the same results found.

Shortly after reporting the sixth trip failure, the benefactor pulled the plug. The university also said it had had enough and needed space for a new parking structure. The good doctor was given one month to move his gear out before the wrecking ball tore down his future.

Estimating how much time it would take to get his time machine ship ready for another trip came to 28 days, if there were no complications. On the 27th day the doctor ran out of money and needed a $50 part. Dr. Glaxba had to run down friends all day and finally got the money, but now time very short after the part had been installed.

Yearning to taste success and knowing this his last chance, Dr. Glaxba threw caution to the wind and set the time machine forward 1,000 years. He knew he would be suspended into the future for at least 24 hours. He knew no one could see his animated figure in the time machine, and if moved, would be trapped in the future. The wrecking ball a real danger.

‘Each life must take a risk,’ Dr. Galaxba said almost prayer-like as he looked out the window at the silently parked wrecking ball crane before he gingerly stepped into his time machine. He flipped the switch and the machine made a low hum and a gentle stream of lovely soft white light guided the good doctor forward.

Stars were shining with a naked moon in the night sky. Dr. Glaxba rubbed his eyes because he could see buildings and people milling about. There was a knock on the ship’s door and the doctor said, “Come in. It’s open.’ A beautiful blonde walked in and said ’I’m Ann. I’ve been instructed to take you to our library, so you can learn, then return to warn humanity of the state they're in.’