"Time Flies" drabbles by Christopher

Sic Semper Tyrannis

Time Flies #7

This was the closest the temporal watch had ever cut it. I popped into the theater April 14, 1865 just before the incident. I materialized backstage moments before and had to rush out into the theater. I looked up at the balcony and saw him and his wife. I also saw the assassin.

"Sic semper tyrannis!" John Wilkes Booth yelled before shooting President Lincoln in the back of the head. As Mary Todd screamed, Booth jumped from the balcony and ran right past me.

I started to grab him, then remembered I wasn't supposed to interfere, only observe.

Damn shame...

Impeto

Time Flies #6

I laid there among the dead bodies perfectly still, barely breathing. There was no escape until the temporal watch pulled me out of there, so all I could do was play dead.

The invading soldiers were checking over the bodies to ensure that their job was done. It was a long and hard fought battle. I was proud to have witnessed it. And, as sad and terrifying as it was, I was proud to be lying there among these brave men; these brave soldiers; these brave Texans.

Remember the Alamo.

Brother, I would never be able to forget the Alamo...

Genus

Time Flies #5

I stood there staring at this baby, wrapped up and lying in a cow's hay trough. Not exactly an auspicious beginning for a birth that would split time in two. He looked so frail, so vulnerable.

There were two men next to me who'd given the newborn frankincense and myrrh. All I had, other than the temporal watch that brought me there, was a solid gold cross on a chain I'd been wearing since I witnessed His crucifixion. I pulled it from my neck and dropped it in His mother's hand.

Then the three of us turned and walked away.

Supplicium

Time Flies #4

I stood there watching the execution. I had come a long way and I had to see it for myself. I was unsure whether I believed any of this was real. The man being executed looked up and said something. Then he died. Dark clouds rolled overhead and thunder and lightning crashed in a way I've never seen before.

A Roman Centurion next to me said, "Truly this was the Son of God."

Then the temporal watch in my pocket beeped. I was about to return to my own time.

But nothing would ever be the same for me.

Nothing...

Primum

Time Flies #3

I took the watch.

"This??" I said with incredulity. "This is a time machine?"

The Doctor frowned. "What were you expecting? A sports car that drives really fast and hurls you into the mists of time?"

Sounded feasible to me. "No, I just didn't expect it to be housed in a piece of 16th Century technology, that's all."

I went through extensive briefings on how to use the "time machine" and what to do if things went wrong.

The General said, "Well, my boy. You get to make the first choice. Anything you'd like to see first?"

Yes, there was...

Machina

Time Flies #2

We gathered at the laboratory from where all the time traveling missions would be launched. I wasn't sure how I'd been tapped for this project, but I have to admit I was excited. I would actually get to watch historic events as they unfolded before my eyes.

Dr. Praeteritum, the scientist who'd devised the method for time traveling, greeted me with a pocket watch.

"Thanks, doc, but I'm too young to retire," I said, chuckling.

He looked puzzled, like he had no idea what humor was.

"No, Commander Clark. This," he said holding up the watch, "is your time machine."

Tempus Fugit

Time Flies #1

The General brought me to his office. I sat down in front of his desk. He went around and sat down behind it. He lit a cigarette and took a puff.

"Now, Commander," he said as a little wisp of smoke went wafting up in the air, "I know you've been acquainted with the new Time Flies program. Basically what we're wanting is for you to be an eyewitness to history. You're not there to interfere in any way. You're not there to avert major disasters or anything that might alter the future. You're simply there to witness and verify."