War On Time

Chapter 1

The green paper in front of me changed everything. The words travel and time shot me full of excitement. I glanced over at Ben to see his face and it had the same as mine. Disbelief and anticipation.

"I assume you have read the slip, yes it's true, we've been given permission by the government to take you in time the 10th grade classes of 2699 are going to be a test run so I hope you have read the rules and regulations?" Mrs. Lyra asked. The class' nods seemed to satisfy her and she dismissed us right when the bell rang.

I grabbed my stuff and sped to my locker Ben right behind me. We met at my locker, and while I was super excited, I couldn't help but wonder why they were letting a class of 15 year olds do this. "Wow, can you believe this? My mom is going to flip she's totally going to sign yes." Ben said pumping his fist in the air.

"Yeah my dad will let me go anything for learning right?" I muttered bitterly.

I never really had the best relationship with my dad.

"Come on Adena at least be a little excited we're going centuries into the past!" Ben whispered excitedly.

I wrapped up my stuff and closed my locker, slinging my bag across my shoulders. "Bye Ben I'll call you tonight and we can fan girl all about our trip to 2015."

I said heading out the door waving.

"Fan boy!" he yelled in retaliation.

I smirked walking on my usual route home. The sound of people taking on their phone and the whooshes of hovering objects as the public and private transportation all headed home. I got blasted by the usual searing heat of the hover board park the guys and gals doing amazing tricks while never touching the ground.

It took me 10 minutes to get home as usual and the green slip burned a hole into my pocket as I spotted my dad.

"Hey dad, I have something for you to sign," I muttered handing him the paper.

He took out his pen and read the pass before a crease formed in his forehead he sat down the pen.

"You're not going on this trip." He said evenly.

I froze before, being unable to stop myself asking "Why?"

"I said so, I'm sorry." He said. Before walking upstairs. I shook my head before rushing upstairs.

I grabbed my phone and called the one person I knew could help me Ben. He answered with his regular greeting of what's up, but his cheeky grin fell apart when he saw my face.

"What's wrong?" he asked his blonde hair getting in his eye as he blew it away.

My dad isn't signing the slip" I admitted.

"What!?"

"Yeah, He didn't even give me a reason and he's the one who's always been uptight about school!" I said anger kindling in me as I realized just how much this trip meant to me.

"I just don't know what to do now," I muttered losing my heat the slow burn going out.

"Well I might have an idea, head over to my place I'll show you." Ben instructed his hologram wavering before cutting off.

I shut off my phone and jammed it into my pocket. I ran out my door grabbing my bike and riding it to Ben's house. While locking my bike to his I thought I heard something but when I turned around, nothing was there. I narrowed my eyes before swiftly knocking on the Tory household door. Ms. Tory or Ms. Emma as she would like me to call her opened the door, her face brightening into a smile as she noticed me.

"Hi, Adena come in, Ben's upstairs."

She said opening the door wide I smiled at her before, I took the stairs 2 at a time to reach his room quicker. I opened the door his usual impeccable cleanliness giving me the willies before I spotted him at the headboard of his bed before springing myself to sit at the foot of the bed in front of him.

"So what's this idea you have?" I asked looking at the unsigned slip in my hands.

"Well, have you watched crime T.V shows?" he asked his voice dangerously low.

"Not many. Why?" I said lowering my voice.

He looked up briefly at his closed door before slipping his hand into his satchel and bringing out a metal, beetle.

"What is that?" I inquired in a normal voice.

"It's the writer 500. This can copy anything, perfectly or at least only subtly get something wrong. I got it a few weeks ago from Cameron Valentina. Look." He said letting it onto my paper.

It began to move at a leisurely pace leaving ink where it moved until it stopped at the end of the signature line. My eyes grew to this size of half my face as I saw my dad's signature on the paper.

"Oh my, gosh!" I squealed crushing Ben before jumping on his bed in my enthusiasm.

I collapsed eagle spread as the energy left me and my chest heaved as Ben's eyebrows sky rocketed to the top of his forehead.

"What I can't be excited?" I asked rhetorically Ben rolled his eyes before pushing me off the bed.

"Go home and get ready, you know they only gave us a day to get it signed and the required things,". He reminded me.

I pulled a face before nodding and heading out the door. My newly signed slip burning a whole into my back pocket as I grabbed my bike and rode home.