Excelsior (teaser)

A Timeline Deviation Story

Chapter 1

Timeline: 1980-1.19.06

As Daniel’s time machine ran its program, initiating its sequences, tasks, and subroutines, the silence in his tiny workshop faded. Fans whirred faster as switches and solenoids clicked and clacked, filling the air with an anxious buzz. Heat poured off the CPUs and GPUs, increasing the aroma of the newly built shed. Notes of pine and off-gassing solder paste mixing in the air, leaving a pleasant potpourri of science and nature. For a scientist/inventor like Daniel, anyway. Numbers and text filled his screen as green, yellow, and red lights blinked in a seemingly random pattern until they settled into a rhythmic, almost transient, state of on and off. They pulsed as if the machine were a living thing, happily sleeping with dreams of butterscotch and fairies. A smile crossed Daniel’s face as everything seemed to be going exactly to plan. They would have too if he had used a name brand capacitor on board number fifteen instead of a Chinese knockoff. Unfortunately, that somewhat erroneous decision was the flaw that sent this timeline on a somewhat sideways trajectory. You see, the capacitor on board fifteen had a very small, very minor defect that under normal circumstances would have only resulted in a failed test. This would have been a tiny irritant at most, causing Daniel to remove the faulty part and replace it with a new one. This particular capacitor, however, featured an anode foil that was microscopically too long and positioned on the cathode’s opposing side. With an energy only a scientist would muster in this situation, Daniel watched the computer code scroll down his screen as a loud cracking sound broke the monotonous droning of the equipment. From the viewpoint of the backyard, Daniel’s little workshop was gone. The only evidence that it was ever there being two extension cords, cut off at the point they entered the shed. A perfectly rectangular scorch mark the size of the shed’s footprint, and a strange musky smell in the air. Everything else in the yard seemed as it should. Birds chirping happily, worms dug satisfyingly, and leaves waved normally in the cool fall breeze. Daniel, startled and breathing heavily, sat in his chair staring at a now blank screen. A cold metal wall, replacing the spot his newly built equipment once occupied, radiated cold air across his face. Summoning bravery, Daniel pivoted his head to take in his new surroundings. What he saw was confusing and made nonsensical thoughts ran through his head. A solid steel wall, reaching from floor to ceiling, replaced half of his little shed. Standing with a wobble, his knees taking their time to cooperate, he turned to the door. “Did a plane crash on top of me?” he thought to himself. Reaching his hand towards the door, he trembled as adrenaline flowed through his veins. Pushing gingerly, the door didn’t budge. A terrible feeling filled his body as the tips of his fingers went numb. Pulling in a deep breath, he tried again, a little harder this time. Nothing. With the feeling of dread and doom increasing, he repositioned his body. Placing his shoulder against the door and his dominant foot behind him, he gave it a heave-ho. The door crashed open with a clatter as Daniel flew to the ground with a thud. Wait, not ground, but floor. A steel floor. Drawing in his hands, he lifted himself to his knees. Eyes wide with disbelief, Daniel took in his environment. The walls were a dull grey with the floor and ceiling to match, while plastic, steel, and wood crates were neatly stored around him. “It must be a storage room.” He gathered. Glancing behind him, he paused. The shed that he had just fell out of fit seamlessly with the contours of the wall. Mulling over the sight, he couldn’t fathom how that could happen. Approaching it to investigate, he noticed something even a little more peculiar. In the dim light of the storeroom, Daniel could see something dark and furry sticking out from under the wooden decking. He stopped short when he got near enough to see what it was. With a hand covering his mouth, he retched and gagged. It appeared to be half a dead skunk. The front half, thankfully. This would explain the musty smell he left behind. The creature, seeking new lodgings, must have been investigating floor hollows when Daniel activated his device. Having had enough of the sight, Daniel turned away and began exploring. “There must be a door in here somewhere.” He mused to himself. Walking through the rows of crates that he assumed to be supplies, he eventually found one. His eyes wandering around the frame, it appeared to him to be a pocket door. Puzzled by its simplicity, noting there were no fingerholds or handles to pull, he ran his hands around the edges. “How the heck do I open this stupid thing?” Pondering his dilemma, he crossed his arms and leaned on the wall beside the door. With a whoosh, the door slid open, causing Daniel to choke on his own spittle. He had inadvertently touched a button that was seamlessly designed into the wall’s surface. Pushing himself off the wall, he cautiously peeked into the hallway. It was just as dull and bleak as the room he was in. LED lights lined the upper parts of the walls, illuminating the passageway, and there were more doors sporadically placed along each wall. With reluctance, Daniel stepped into the hallway, taking a deep breath with each step. Once across the threshold, the door whooshed closed, slowing down at the last second to apparently prevent a loud bang, Daniel supposed. With shoes lightly squeaking, Daniel made his way down the hallway. As he made his way further down the corridor, a sense of calm washed over him, slowing his heart rate. Making sure not to allow complacency to settle in, he kept his senses on high alert. The other doors lining the hallway appeared unremarkable. The only difference being the writing above each one that Daniel could not read. Reaching a T at the end of the hall, he looked both ways as he tried to decide which route to take. On the right, a brief corridor culminated in a doorway. Yellow and black stripes marked the door frame, and red lettering spelled out unfamiliar words above the door. “That seems like a warning.” Daniel thought to himself and promptly ruled out heading in that direction. With his mind made up, Daniel turned left. The hallway, slightly longer than the one on the right, also concluded with a doorway, but this one was framed in green. “Green for go.” Daniel whispered to himself. Feeling around the wall beside the door frame for a button, he finds it. It lit up brightly with his touch, and the door slid open smoothly. Daniel’s heart stopped as he took in the sight. Beyond this door lay the bridge of the starship Excelsior, or so he would soon learn. Little men appear to be hard at work, pushing buttons, pulling knobs, pointing at screens, and yelling back and forth at each other in a language that Daniel could not understand. Daniel’s head swam with thoughts and considerations as he contemplated what to do. Should he run? What good could that possibly do if he is on a spaceship? Shaking his head, he decided that the only logical course of action was to meet this situation head-on. Standing up straight and taking in a large gulp of air with his eyes closed, he stepped onto the bridge. Not hearing any fresh sounds, Daniel slowly opened his eyes. It appeared nobody noticed his entrance. Clearing his throat loudly, he exclaimed. “Hello, I am Daniel Carver!” Silence enveloped the bridge as all the little men slowly turned their heads towards Daniel. For a brief instant, stillness reigned as the situation dawned on each tiny man. Their too big for their faces eyes got even bigger as they each realized what was happening. Chaos ensued as the little tiny men with their oversized eyes in heads that seem too small for their bodies began to run frantically around the bridge. They bumped into each other, tripped over consoles and screamed in an awful tone as they panicked and scurried. Finally finding places to hide, silence returned to the room. The little men took cover behind anything they could find. Some behind a console to the left of the bridge, others by the large central console that appeared to be for navigation equipment. Daniel could hear them whisper loudly in their alien tongue as they discussed what to do. “They seem to be arguing amongst themselves.” Daniel thought as he stood stoically, waiting for something else to happen. Whisper yelling ensued for a short while, then one small man got shoved from behind the central console. Frightened, his alien features contorted, he hesitated before attempting to rejoin the others behind the console. Following a brief scuffle and more whispered arguing, the man got pushed from behind the console once more. Gaining balance, he brushed the wrinkles from his uniform and made a sound similar to Daniel’s clearing of his throat. “Zee bork nap Tulia.” The man spoke nervously, clearing his throat once more. “Za ne cantolia dan troopa.” A unisonous stomp emanated from behind the consoles when he finished. Stepping towards Daniel, the man raised his hand toward the ceiling, leaving his arm at a ninety-degree angle. Thinking briefly on what the action could represent, Daniel decided that this must be their form a greeting, like a handshake. Stooping, he places the outside of his palm against the shaking man’s hand and lays his arm parallel. The little man, visibly relieved, let out a sigh and smiled with a mouth that stretched further than it should. “Zambozi aba da Elsipana!” Opening his arms wide, the man spun toward the bridge. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand you.” Daniel said with a dumbfounded look. The diminutive chap, lost in contemplation, offered another smile. With his hand raised, a new idea dawned. He turned toward a workstation right of the bridge and began searching a drawer. “Gabuda!” He exclaimed, holding up a small, round device in his hand. Hurriedly, he skipped to Daniel. Stopping in front of him, he held the device in the air. Not knowing what to do, Daniel didn’t move. Seemingly irritated, the man shakes the device at Daniel. “Do I take it?” He thinks, reaching out his hand. Smacking it away, the man reached for a chair, pulling it in front of Daniel and. “hafpoda da pito.” He spat as the other men slowly emerged from hiding, making sounds resembling chuckles. Stepping onto the chair, the little man grabbed Daniel’s shirt, pulling him closer. With one of his two tongues sticking out the side of his mouth, he carefully pressed the device to Daniel’s temple. Daniel cringed as a pain sears through his left frontal lobe, followed by the sound of microphone feedback rang through his internal monologue. The man spoke again once the device stabilized. “Ze po fe nep? Phe for te pep? Blah blah blah bah? Can you understand me now?” With widened eyes, Daniel gasped. “Woah...” With a smirk, the little man continued. “There we go. Now we can understand one another. I am Captain Steve Sarmazian of the starship Excelsior!” The loud stomp echoed again throughout the bridge. This time Daniel could see that it was the other men stomping in unison. “And these fine gentlemen are my crew.” The other men walked forward with caution. “It is a liking to meet your acquaintance.” Ending his introduction, the captain waved his left arm in an elaborate motion, then stomped his right foot. A motion caught Daniel’s eye behind the captain. Outside, in front of the ship’s window, the other half of his shed slowly floats by. Daniel then realized that he did not create a machine that could control time, he created a teleportation device. “Hi, uh, I’m Daniel.” “Yes, yes, we know. We can already understand your native tongue.” The captain replied, waving his hand dismissively. “Oh, uh, okay. Can I ask where we are?” Looking over his shoulder, the captain looked at his crew, thumbing in Daniel’s direction. “Can you believe this guy?” The crew chuckles again as the captain turns back to answer. “I already told you already, you are on the starship Excelsior.” The crew stomps their feet again. “Ok, I get that, but where is the starship Excelsior located?” Another stomp echoes off the walls. Daniel realized at this point that every time someone says the ship’s name, the crew stomps their feet in unison. “We are currently traversing what you humans call the Milky Way. Approximately fifteen thousand light-years from your planet Earth. Which leads me to my first question of the evening for you. How are you on my ship?” Daniel’s brain throbbed as the walls closed in around him. His breath became shallow and short as his vision narrowed. Finally succumbing to the stresses that have unfolded, he fell flat to the floor, landing on top of poor Captain Sarmazian. “At least the floor is cool on my face.” Was the last thought through his mind as his consciousness gave way to darkness with a tiny little captain wiggling beneath him.

Thank you for reading. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.