Maybe, This Time

Chapter 1

December 6 3001
I was trying to think of what have I done wrong for failing to make my project work. I tried changing different elements but nothing just seem to really work. If I fail this one more time, every living being would cease to exist.

Many people have told me that my project was insanely impossible because « TIME TRAVEL » is just fiction and it could never happen in real life. Despite all those comments, it never discourage me for trying my best to make it possible.

I disconnect a few wires from the machine and change it with different types of wires that is more that could handle a more powerful voltage

I installed some parts that I recently bought hoping this could fix it and I could finally travel in the future to see what the universe hold for us.

I know scientifically it's only possible to travel in the future and I could never go back to my current timeline as soon as I would be sent in the future but I made some gadgets that could theoretically help the communication between different timelines

As soon as I push the power button, a massive light filled my vision and everything just seems to be fading.

I opened my eyes thinking I failed again as I see myself laying in the same laboratory as before but something seems off, the atmosphere feels different, the-

My thought was interrupted by a man that looks like a younger version of Professor Johnson

« What do you think you are doing here? This area is off limit tomany students! »

I was just petrified and looking at him strangely as he tried to cover a strange looking machine in front of me.

Could that be a time machine? But why did he never talked about him attempting of making a Time Machine and he always have pushed the idea that time travel is impossible.

"You're not from this timeline are you?" He asked as I observe my new surroundings. It does look familiar but many things also look unfamiliar.

"I...-"

I try to compose a sentence but nothing seems to just come out of my mouth. I have no idea how to explain to him that I accidentally time travel in the past which is nearly the opposite of I'm trying to achieve. He tried reassuring me that I could trust him with the information I'm about to spill. "I'm a scientist myself, so you could tell me things that sounds impossible to happen"

I sat on a chair that is next to a table that I supposed this room is his office/laboratory. I cleared my through trying to make words come out of my mouth. "I know this seems impossible to believe but I think I accidentally traveled back in time because you look so...young? No offence but the professor in my real timeline looks very old and I'm just not used seeing him looks so young and by the way you are the professor" I just want to mentally slap my face for being to straightforward knowing all this damn informations could literally change the timeline and make my complete existence disappear in this Earth.

I keep fidgeting my hands as I got caught up with my scary assumptions that might affect everything. "I always thought it was impossible to travel back in time but here you are a walking proof and that just give us hope from saving our planet"

"I know you are exited to share this with everyone but no one could ever know this. The more people know about this the more chance it might fall in wrong hand" I could not afford to mess up any timeline in the past. Now I understand what professor meant when he was trying to warn me from making a time machine. It will not fix all the world problems and it will just cause more chaos.

But if he did warn me was it possible that he also succeeded creating a time machine? But why did he hide it from me? So many questions left unanswered are stuck in my head.

"What is the date today?"

"March 10 2020" he said as soon as he finished looking it up of what I believe is a phone. In 3001, we don't use phone anymore, all the smartphones features are all inserted on one small chip that is installed to us as soon us we were born.

I was amazed how it looks better to use a phone by tapping it physically than using our mind to control it.

But wait if it's 2020, then why was professor is in here, something just seems off, how could he still be alive after 981 years. Did he time travel in future or was he from the past and travelled in the future? I just pushed aside for now. I need to focus on how to fix this mess I made.

After looking at the same space for sometime, I remember that I created a device that I believe it could help me communicate with my original timeline. I just hope it works or else I'm doomed

Good thing I'm still wearing my lab coat that have that device built in it. I type the date of timeline I wanted to communicate with.

As soon as I click the button, I could hear my best friend Lexa cheerful voice that change into panic overtime« Finally it worked! Are you in the future now? How bad does the future look like? because I could see that you look terrified. Is there a Zombie apocalypse? OMG! I'm gonna need to save up money to build a bunker for myself I'm too young and beautiful to be eaten by ZOMBIE!»

I look away at the camera in my coat's wrist. As I try to explain to her that I was sent in the past where I didn't exist yet. I also asked her to do some research about the year 2020. Which turns out to be a year where there's was a virus called SARS- CoV-2, which well known here as COVID-19.

« Girl you seriously need to go back here! Before some deadly virus from the past kill you »

The truth is I have no idea how could I go back. My time machine is definitely broken base on the energy it absorbed while travelling. It would probably take years to repair it. And I have no idea where I could get the same energy I will use to travel back.

"The machine is broken! I'm stuck here and I'm not sure if it would still possible to comeback there..."

"If that's the case I would try everything in my power to get you back here safe and sound. Ok? Now get rid of that sad face in front of the camera! Just enjoy yourself in there. Think of it as a vacation"