Odyssey Z (WIP Beta)

I: Don't Panic! It's Only A Bug!

I remember the exact tone and expression Aleister had in his face when he asked me if I was insane. How Tammi looked intrigued, but concerned, at a loss for words.

"Zephyr.. Alex.. this is all very impressive but, do you not know exactly how reckless this is?" He detested. "You created the portal, but you don't know how stable it is, or the effects it could be having on yourselves or even machine. And for both of you to go off and just try it out without saying a word to either of us, what if something had gone wrong?"

He wasn't aggressive or even angry sounding, but you could tell this man was trying to hold himself back from absolutely blowing a basket. He's always known how to hold himself together, especially with me. I tried my best to justify myself, though he had at least made a point about mentioning something. Oh we bickered about it a moment eventually, until Tammi chimed in. She always tried to see the better in everything. She mentioned that we had successfully ran once without an issue, that everything seemed in tact, and that she had utmost confidence in Alex's technical abilities. She said very specifically she was going if Alex was going. They were so loyal to eachother, really. Alex of course said their piece, that they hadn't created a faulty machine since they were 15. Alex might have been on the younger side, but they knew well their way around an engine and any sort of machinery there was. By god, they knew everything about steam mechanics by age 12, and was nearly a master of robotics by the time they were 16. We all assured him, there wasn't much to worry about. It's really just funny how that I'm looking back on it so vividly for the first time since it happened.

It took a few minu.tes of convincing, but in due time, we'd put ourselves in our respective seats. Alex up front with myself and our knowledge on navigating the machine, our partners right behind us. We closed the top of the vehicle, and Alex set our course. 10 years, to the date. They adjusted some levers and switches. They paused a moment before pressing the ignition button, until I have them the nod to go.

They pressed it, and in what was a literal instant we were launched inside, mesmerized by the light. We didn't know in that glorious moment, everything was about to go terribly wrong.

The first few moments of the ride were good fun, I won't lie. We were all too stunned to speak. We watched the. Clock on the Rifter, nearing our projected date. The rifter was to detect the rift into our projected time and pull us closer. My heart was pounding in anticipation as we reached 7 years.. 8 years.. 9 years... finally 10 years. This is really where things get hazy for me. From what i remember, he Rifter didn't pull, or stop. No, no.. it went faster as the clock desperately tried to keep up with our ongoing speeds. Alex tried to veer off, but some force bounced us beck into what we now felt was a roaring vortex. Tammi asked what in the world was happening but.. Alex didn't have an answer. I could feel Aleister holding onto my seat for dear life. I remember watching the clock stop at 1496 years, but we were still going. I know there was commotion, Alex cursing as they desperately tried to work the machine.

It could've been seconds, or minutes, but I do vividly remember our personal commotion and yelling halted a moment as we heard a loud creak come from the back of the Rifter. The machine was going to fall apart. We could hear bolts busting, steel bending. I remember Alex saying they spotted a large rift in the near distance. I remember turning back to Aleister and grabbing his hand as the creaks grew louder, the belt holding me nearly squeezed the life of of me as i contorted myself. I turned my head back to see Alex turning into the rift. It was bright, we were going through it so fast I couldn't process a bit of it until we approached the end, what appeared to be an opening. In a matter of seconds we flew through the opening, finding ourselves in a bright blue sky, falling as we continued projecti g forward. Alex tried to push forward, to get us to just crash somewhere, have it over with. I turned my head back to Aleister, still holding his hand. He was quiet, but you knew from the look on his face that he was panicked, he didn't want to lose his life. I felt a guilt for even convincing him to come, he'd detested the idea so for this reason alone. The creaking grew louder and louder...