Flash Forward, Page 2

  She was extra careful when their time came. She checked and rechecked John's belongings several times. Even tipped the security people about him. But he was absolutely clear.

  They were quarantined together for five hours. By the end of that, she felt tired and much drained. The little slot at the Time Machine had lost its charm for her. She dreaded if John would still take a crack at sending something in the past.

  John was cool and whistling softly. As a last attempt, she tried to stop him before entering the massive control room. "John, no material things," she said.

  "OK," he threw his hands up and continued whistling.

  Once they were inside, the control group set the Time Machine at Newton's time and his estimated location at that time. Sara took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on what she could see in the giant window.

  Suddenly John straightened and started reciting the theory of relativity in a loud and clear voice, sending the sound waves back in time.

  By the time Sara realized that, and pulled the emergency lever, the critical information had reached Newton.

  Next instant, there was no Time Machine.

  Instead, there was a huge speaker and some marvelous, magical acoustic machinery. The Time Research Center was nowhere in sight. Its great empty space was filled with heavenly musical notes.

  John merely shrugged. Still with a dazzled expression on his face, he reiterated a known truth.

  "Apparently, Newton was so thrilled to receive sound waves from the future, that he had abandoned all his ongoing research work and had directed his entire effort only towards research in sound!”

  ###

  The First Contact

  The land was soft, quite like the home planet. It had small pebbles and stones, but no hills. Not even small mounds. The heavy wind would not allow it.

  Jasper exchanged glances with his crew. "All Clear." They shouted.

  He took the first step. The giant step for the humankind.

  The soft soil sunk a bit. The cameras transmitted the video back to earth. Jasper walked a few steps and then returned to the ship. The first contact has to be gentle.

  The wind blew again.

  "You managed?" Questioned the Head Microbe suspended near the ship.

  "Yes, we did." Replied the army of microbes. "We managed right through the spacesuit."

  "Good." The Head approved. "The first contact must be brutal."

  ###

  About the Author

  Meghashri Dalvi writes science fiction when not consulting in Technical Communication or teaching Management. Flash stories under 1000 words, or often under 500 words, is her forte.

  She can be contacted at [email protected].