Time Traveller
You deftly type in the details to return the machine to the present, strap yourself in and flip the switch. The machine launches and you feel your stomach do acrobatics. You feel nauseous as the machine hurtles through timezones and narrowly dodges the impossibility complex.
You heave a sigh of relief as the machine touches down with a thump. You slide open the door and step out, expecting to see an angry overseer, ready to berate you for meddling with history.
You blink, surprised. Instead of the clinical white lab room, you are standing in a dark, metal hallway. Dim lights overhead flicker and hum, and you can see cells all about with no people in them.
"Hey, what are you doing?" A voice barks, and you jump. A man wearing dark blue trousers, shirt and cap and black body armour is striding angrily towards you. "Isn't your shift over, Doctor?"
Terrified, you turn to get back into the time machine, but it has vanished. Hold on, what time machine? No-one can travel through time.
"You look confused, Doc," The prison guard says. His anger has been replaced by concern.
You rub a hand over your face. It's because you've been working so many late nights. You remember now. You've been working in this prison for ten years now as a doctor for the inmates. This is Edwardson Correctional Facility, and this guard's name is William.
"Sorry, Will," You say to the guard and offer him a tired smile, "It's been busy recently, haven't had much chance to sleep."
"I understand," He smiles, "Tell you what, you go home and get some sleep, and tomorrow night we'll go out for a beer. How's that sound?"
You smile.
"Sure, that'd be great," You say, and Will slaps you on the back good-naturedly and carries on walking.
You head off along the corridor, humming to yourself. Time to hand in your electronic pass and go home. It's a long shift tomorrow, so you'll have to get a good night's sleep.
You toss the key onto the reception desk and wave at Barbara, the guard on duty.
"Good night!" You call, and head out of the heavy metal doors into the chill night air. You look forward to getting home and having a nice hot cup of coffee.
You heave a sigh of relief as the machine touches down with a thump. You slide open the door and step out, expecting to see an angry overseer, ready to berate you for meddling with history.
You blink, surprised. Instead of the clinical white lab room, you are standing in a dark, metal hallway. Dim lights overhead flicker and hum, and you can see cells all about with no people in them.
"Hey, what are you doing?" A voice barks, and you jump. A man wearing dark blue trousers, shirt and cap and black body armour is striding angrily towards you. "Isn't your shift over, Doctor?"
Terrified, you turn to get back into the time machine, but it has vanished. Hold on, what time machine? No-one can travel through time.
"You look confused, Doc," The prison guard says. His anger has been replaced by concern.
You rub a hand over your face. It's because you've been working so many late nights. You remember now. You've been working in this prison for ten years now as a doctor for the inmates. This is Edwardson Correctional Facility, and this guard's name is William.
"Sorry, Will," You say to the guard and offer him a tired smile, "It's been busy recently, haven't had much chance to sleep."
"I understand," He smiles, "Tell you what, you go home and get some sleep, and tomorrow night we'll go out for a beer. How's that sound?"
You smile.
"Sure, that'd be great," You say, and Will slaps you on the back good-naturedly and carries on walking.
You head off along the corridor, humming to yourself. Time to hand in your electronic pass and go home. It's a long shift tomorrow, so you'll have to get a good night's sleep.
You toss the key onto the reception desk and wave at Barbara, the guard on duty.
"Good night!" You call, and head out of the heavy metal doors into the chill night air. You look forward to getting home and having a nice hot cup of coffee.
