Dr. Obenweiser's Diary

January 6th, 2006

I’ve done it! By George, I’ve done it! After years and years of hard work I have finished my time machine. I can’t wait to tell Wilson. He’ll be just as jubilant as I am. How Wilson has put up with me all these years is anyone’s guess.

This morning I woke much earlier than usual. I even forgot breakfast in my excitement. I only have a few adjustments to make and a final test. I’m so excited.

January 7th, 2006

The tests took a little longer than usual. Mainly because Wilson wanted to be doubly sure things were “in the green” so to speak.

After lunch I set the arrival date for the year 3006. I’ve always wanted to know what is in store for humanity.

I waved goodbye to Wilson and away I went. I must admit, as the lights came to life on the control panel, that I suddenly felt nervous, excited, sick to the stomach, and anxious all at the same time. What a feeling!

January 7th, 3006

At first I did not think it had worked. The room that the time machine materialised into looked somewhat like my lab. As I looked around, however, I realised I was in a museum. Curious.

I stepped outside the room, taking care not to wander too far from the time machine at first.

I was amazed by what I saw. Not because it was different, but because it was strangely familiar. Sure, the city I found myself in was modern — cars flew above just as easily as they travelled on the road — but other than that it was exactly like any city I had ever seen or imagined.

January 8th, 3006

I spent the next 24 hours in this beautiful modern city. It was not until I picked up a local holo-paper that alarm bells started to ring. The headline was: COUPLE EXECUTED FOR MARRIAGE.

I read on. What I discovered astounded me. This society used a system like China’s “one child” policy only much, much worse. In this society it was a capital crime to be with the opposite sex unless sanctioned by the government. I knew population was a problem, but this was certainly drastic to say the least.

What made me run back to the time machine as fast as my legs could carry me was a great burly bloke, built like a brick out-house, coming up to me in the street, asking me for a date. Besides the fact that I was not into that sort of thing, I didn’t think I was that attractive.

January 8th, 53,006

I decided to go far into the future this time. Surely a population control policy would be short-lived. I was correct. And this time I was amazed by what I saw.

It was indeed glorious. The buildings of this far future city were stunning. They shimmered like they were made of living crystal. And because they were made of this crystal there seemed to be a song emanating from them that permeated the atmosphere. It made me feel relaxed and at peace as I wandered through the streets of this place. Speaking of the atmosphere, that was a deep blue, almost purple hue, without a cloud in sight. The place was beautiful.

I noticed that there were men and women, and they were, to my relief, able to be together.

I decided to get something to eat. I sat down at a coffee shop table and about to look at the menu when a waitress came up to me.

As I was about to order she asked me if I had permission to sit there. I was naturally surprised.

As the conversation went on I recall, it became evident that things were not right here either. What confirmed it for me was the fact that I was placed in a holding cell overnight.

January 9th, 53,006

I met many other men in that jail. And what they said to me made my skin crawl. I had basically arrived in a society that treated their men like cattle. To be consumed, used, and abused as the women saw fit. Apparently men were no longer useful. I shuddered at some of the stories I heard: I had basically arrived at a time in human history when there was a sort of “black widow” mentality. Horrible, absolutely horrible.

January 11th, 53,006

It took a lot of doing, but I finally got back to my time machine. With the help of a male underground of all things. I had to do a lot of explaining about who I was, but they eventually helped me.

January 11th, 5,003,006

This time I took no chances. I wanted to make sure I travelled to a time when humanity had hopefully sorted itself out. Again I was nervous.

What I saw confused me to say the least. There was not a human in sight. Sure there were plenty of “people” here, but not one human. I could only describe those that I saw as quasi-human. As they were an alien-like mix of human.

One “human” came up to me and said something. Its forked tongue darting out as it spoke, and its black, bulbous unblinking eyes stared at me. What it said to me I could not tell. But from the tone it was like it was trying to communicate with a two-year old. I ran, horrified by this.

January 6th, 2006

When I got back I destroyed the machine, burned my notes, and purged my hard drive of all but this diary. Some things are best left unknown. Wilson thinks I am mad.

* * *

Diary of John Wilson

Unfortunately, Dr. Obenweiser tested his machine before I could tell him about the last-minute adjustments I had made. I suspect he crossed into a parallel universe while traveling in time. Tomorrow I will test that theory...

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