It was a fine day, calm clear skies as far as the eye could see. But no one was interested in the conditions outside the lab, at least not in the sense that they wanted to stop what they were doing and plan a picnic. No there was something important taking place today… today was the day.

“Good morning Dr. Madison, how’s the wife?” The young man inquired, as if he couldn’t wait for the latest bit of gossip involving a much-loved celebrity. He appeared to be in his mid to late twenties, and had a charming way about him. Even his voice was pleasing to hear.

“Somehow, I believe I’ll always prefer Professor, Mr. Lincoln,” he replied. “I’ll tell you about her latest adventure, later.” Ordinarily, Professor Alexander Madison would be all to eager to share his wife’s latest globetrotting adventures with his team. But today they were finally ready to do a live test, and he for one could hardly wait. “For now, I really want to get started on the test. Today… we make history.”

“Something like that,” Selene commented. “Everything’s ready to go… Professor,” she added with a teasing smile. She was after all very much the playful type, and if truth be told, she favored Dr. Madison among her all time most inspiring people to have ever known. With his wonderful wife, who was a personal hero of hers, and his beautiful beautiful mind, which was about to help them open the gates to the Universe.

“Thank you, Ms. Enahwei,” the doctor responded, as he moved towards the control console. “Mr. Parker… are you ready?” He asked the man inside the machine.

“As I’ll ever be, Doc.” The man was fit, a little burly in the chest and shoulders even. His mind was sharp. He had endured a barrage of physical and psychological test. He was well conditioned for what lie ahead. As he had been preparing for this day for well over a year. His mind began to race, as they initiated the machine. This was a chance to make history, to change the future of the entire world… perhaps quite literally. Sure, it was reckless, but there was only ever going to be one. Only a single person could ever claim this moment, and he wanted to be the one. The first man to ever travel…

Before he could finish his thought, the machine began to steal away his ability to focus. His watch, he grabbed it from his pocket. He wasn’t sure why he had brought it with him… or who had given it to him? What good would it do him, where he was going? Would such a thing even matter after today? The questions vanished as soon as they appeared, it was happening, and he could hardly hold a thought. Then the room was flooded with a flash of light, and he was gone.

“Well, professor…” said the young man.

“I’ve told you time and again, its Doctor,” she replied, “Dr. Madison, were not in class any more, Mr. Washington.” She admonished him. “Mr. Enahwei… Samuel, check the machine.”

“Ash,” Samuel said. It had taken him a little longer to recover from the blinding flash, since he had dropped his glasses only moments before. Samuel Enahwei was slightly photosensitive, and could become clumsy when he was excited. But he had been an excellent student, and was blessed with superior attention to detail and near photographic memory. Which was somewhat ironic, because he was near-sighted to such a degree, that anything more than a few meters in front of him was completely obscured from identification.

“Do you think we’ll ever be ready for human testing?” Oscar asked.

“Don’t worry Mr. Peterson, well get there. Maybe a few more months, maybe a year, but we’ll get there… I’m sure of it.” Dr. Madison assured them all, like an older sister encouraging her siblings. It seemed like Oscar asked her the same question every time. Mr Peterson was the anxious sort after all. But he was also fearless and fit. She didn’t imagine he’d make a good husband, not that she was looking, but she often wondered if he would be as eager to perform in other areas of his life. Of course, she didn’t really want to complicate things, but he was easy to look at… and she had eyes.

The truth is, Dr. Madison and her team had no real reason to doubt their course. After all, the real failure hadn’t been theirs to experience. They hadn’t lost a colleague, merely a beacon, a simple device that emitted a simple signal. The four of them were still all quite intact, and making progress, however slowly. While this sequence of events had happened to other Dr. Madison’s, Reeves’, Franklin’s and so on, they had left no record of their efforts… because they no longer existed. Nor did their teams, or the worlds that gave birth to them. Perhaps Dr. Madison and her team would give up, before they’d have the chance to attempt a living trial. Perhaps they too would meet the same fate as others who’d attempted to meddle with the fabric of reality.

As for Mr. Parker…

Another time, another place… perhaps.