Odyssey Z (WIP Beta)

Prologue

It's so hard to believe, the biggest mistake I made in my life would be the best thing to ever happen to me. I never would have imagined that I'd make history one day, that I'd have a story to tell only heard of in science fiction.

God, I could never forget the last night before we left. How peaceful my fiancé and I felt, staring up at the skylight from our bed as the rain fell and the lightning lit up the whole room. The thunder gracefully singing from the sky, and a crackle from the fireplace. This was just how we preferred to spend our evenings. I can't recall what we were listening to, I do remember it was some mix of 1950's music with its volume way down low. I remember how I hadn't noticed Aleister had turned his gaze to me at some point. I turned my head, my eyes met his. He'd his glasses off. I asked him what was on his mind, he simply told me he had never seen me look more beautiful. He tells that to me often. And he's just so handsome himself, I always loved his stoned, sleepy, sapphire eyes.

What he didn't know that, was that I had a secret. Let me preface - I was a physicist. I ran my own lab out of my home, with only the help of my best friend Alex, a talented tech expert; and the support of our partners. I took an interest in time travel at a very young age after reading H.G Wells' "The Time Machine". Well.. after years of Alex and I working tirelessly, with their know how and my research, we truly did the unthinkable. After years of reading into the theories, into the physics, gathering the materials, absorbing every article I could find.. the two of us developed and furthermore opened a portal we believed was our key to reaching the future, if not another dimension. Alex created this machine along with it.. almost like a vehicle, hoping the technology inside could help us determine a destination and withstand what we thought could be a dangerously powerful force. And it was exactly that.. We tried it just that day, found ourselves 5 years from then. We only stayed a moment before opening the portal again, set the machine back to our time and date. We survived, we came back in one piece.. we succeeded. We didn't want to inform the media just yet. We wanted our partners to be the first to experience it. We could've potentially come back with solutions to poverty, cures for illnesses viruses and diseases, prevent and prepare for disasters.. the possibilities endless.

I couldn't help but smile. I moved a stray strand of hair from his face, and pulled him into my chest. He's always been my biggest fan, he's been there for me through everything. From secondary school and university, the passing of my parents, my endeavors in the arts and sciences.. hardships and successes. To know he'd be there for me to potentially change mankind as it is was the highest honor I could receive.

I knew just as well Alex was probably sharing my same excitement. To have gotten the opportunity to be the first to develop such a technology, to make an impossible idea possible. To see it with their own eyes. They'd already told me over the phone how badly they'd wanted to tell their girlfriend Tammi before the afternoon. Tammi was a beautiful woman, a kind soul. To share such a discovery that could make a better world for their child felt like the best gift they could give the women they loved.

We were a team of sorts. And in less than 24 hours, we'd be potentially changing mankind as we knew it. Aleister inevitably drifted off to sleep, shifting himself to his other side. I stretched so slightly to turn off the lamp and continued to watch the sky pour from above me, entranced by the moment. I would have a very vague anxiety, however, that something would go awry.. i felt it in my chest and stomach. I tried to curb the feeling with a spliff and a cigarette, and I curled up closer to the man I loved. I kissed him once on the back of his head wrapping myself around him. I laid awake for a bit, still pondering the anxious feeling I had. I managed to drift off myself eventually, completely unaware the following day would entail much more than I, or any of us ever bargained for.

You know, it was so long ago now, it's hard to remember exactly when the whole thing transpired. I remember it was November 4th, but.. what was it, a Thursday? I can't recall. I do remember sitting excitedly in the main hall waiting for Aleister to get home. Alex and Tammi had already made their way, God do I miss them. Tammi of course, thought this visit was just going to be your typical jam out have a drink visit, I'm not sure how she didn't notice Alex's excited fidgeting about. Alex was never good at keeping secrets. I remember complimenting Alex on their hair, the dark red colour in their dreadlocks complimented their mahogany skin. A very handsome individual might I say.

We sat about until 5:30, Aleister finally walking through the door. I got up to greet him, unable to contain my smile. I pulled him by the tie and kissed him, arousing the question of just what had me in such a bubbly mood. I told him to sit down a moment, I needed to take Alex to the lab. We made our way downstairs, just to once more look over the tech to assure it would survive a second trip. I put on my lab coat, only natural for a scientist. Alex carefully inspected the portal tech, and the transport machine they politely dubbed the Rifter. Surely, everything appeared fine and well. We even assured to check twice. I put my guitar in the bottom storage of the machine, Alex and I already packed for everyone. We figured just a quick two day trip to learn and explore a decade from now would be manageable. Once we were positive everything would be in order, we called them down.

They opened the door, not knowing what to expect. They'd known we'd been working on a vehicle of sorts, but they didn't know what. This would be our big reveal. We told them to brace themselves, for what they were to see. Alex turned the first power switch on, and before us, a large metal ring slowly turned its way upright, moving in a clockwise motion rapidly gaining speed. They flipped a second switch, and from the middle of the ring did we see the empty space itself become a dull, small light, it grew slowly for what felt like an eternity, though it was only a good 15 seconds or so. And then in a single instant - it flashed before us a big white light, now rapidly swirling insert at the same speed as the ring. We shielded ourselves at the flash, and turned to see our partners faces intrigued and frightened. They stood back up straight. Aleister asked the meaning of all of it, looking at me with such concern.

Well, I told him the truth as bluntly as I could. That my lifelong dream and fixation on was finally a reality. That we had perfected the technology, that we'd succeeded. Alex filled him and Tammi in on exactly what transpired yesterday, that we'd already succeeded travel once.  He looked at me like I'd two heads. We asked if they'd accompany us for the first real trip, since the test run ran flawlessly. I was so confident in myself and this project. While I have no regrets, I still wish I knew exactly what went wrong..