30 Years in the Future

Borg Industries HQ

. . .

The four teens didn't look very excited to be there that early in the day. Well, one was, but she was always like that.

"Thank you for coming so quickly." Cyrus told the four in a proud voice.

"Did we have a choice?" the oldest of the four asked as he let out a long yawn. His name was Hyun, but preferred to be called Cap. He was dressed in loose fitting clothing, and his dark brown hair was combed back but never brushed out.

"No, not particularly." Cyrus sheepishly admitted. "But it was only right that you four be the first to know about this new advancement."

"Why us?" the other boy in the group, Kass complained as he flicked his shaggy slate black hair to the side. Unlike Cap, who looked like he had just been shipwrecked during a horrible storm, Kass dressed much cleaner with a white varsity jacket, light washed blue jeans, and a graphic T-shirt with the emblem of his favorite band, the Folded.

"Can't an old man enjoy the company of fresh, young minds?" Cyrus joked with a smile.

"Without it getting creepy after awhile?" Kass snorted, "No, not really."

Cyrus let out a rather contented chuckle before looking around at the four young adults.

"Speaking of fresh, young minds," Cyrus then said, "Where is Montgomery?"

"Oh, I know!" one of the two females present spoke up with great enthusiasm. Although she didn't look it on first inspection, she was actually an android created by Cyrus to age and grow while learning. Her full name was Artificial Life In a Child's Ethnic, but everyone called her Alice because it was more simple. Alice had platinum blonde hair that was held tightly behind her in a long ponytail, while her outfit consisted of a light blue sundress with a matching bolero jacket. On Alice's face was a perpetual smile that hardly ever went away. If anything, it served to be anyone's first guess to know that she was more than what she seemed.

"Have you heard from him recently?" Cyrus asked her. Alice nodded eagerly.

"I sent him an electronic mail message yesterday and he has confirmed that he is at a mechanical refinery seminar for the next two days. He sends his regards and apologizes for having to miss your next great technological unveiling!"

"Montgomery is always so apologetic." Cyrus said, mostly to himself.

"More like a huge butt kisser." Kass retorted.

"I've seen you get lower." Cap mused. "At least Monty means it, while you just try to get out of trouble."

"Hey!" Kass shouted in anger and defense, preparing to attack Cap.

"I agree, this has gone on long enough." Cyrus then told the kids. Cyrus then turned to look at the last teen in the room who had yet to speak. "Minerva, you've been quiet. Is something on your mind?"

The last teen present, a girl, gave Cyrus a rather dull glare. Of anyone there, she was the one that looked the most like she had just gotten out of bed. Her messy, mousy brown hair was held back in a loose fishtail braid- she was also dressed in red flannel pajama pants with a black tank top. She was also the only one lacking any shoes, and her feet were paying the price against the cold steel floor.

"Come on Minnie, when you're quiet, you're thinking of something big." Cap agreed playfully.

"You call me Mina." she replied darkly as she flashed him a dark look. "And you know it."

"She talks!" Cap replied in a joking tone. Mina glared at him with a grimace and a disgusted grunt.

"Minerva, what's the matter?" Cyrus asked, moving his wheelchair closer to her in an act of concern. "Is there something you would like to say?"

"You said that..." Mina started to say, but hesitated.

"Said what, child?" Cyrus asked curiously.

"You said that this project would... would help me understand."

"Indeed it would." Cyrus agreed with a smile. "You see, I created a time window."

"A what?" came the collected breath of all four teens.

"A time window." Cyrus repeated as he moved toward the contraption in the middle of the room. "Look, I'll turn it on and you can see for yourselves."

With blank stares, the teens watched as Cyrus turned to machine on and moved his wheelchair back as it hummed to life. Slowly, a small orb of light appeared over the console and started to flicker in and out like an old television set. It took some time, but color was soon distinguishable on the orb. Kass was the first to notice what they were looking at.

"It's the four ninja!" Kass exclaimed. "You see them? There's the Ninja of Fire, the Ninja of Earth, the Ninja of Lightning, and the Ninja of Ice! You see them too, right? They're all right there!"

Sure enough, everyone could see the four different colored ninja on the orb above Cyrus's machine. The teens stared in awe as the four ninja spun around in full Spinjitzu mode as they took out some kind of skeleton creature one by one. When the last of the skeleton army had fell, the four different colored ninja threw back their hoods in victory- that was when a collective gasp in surprise erupted from the teens.

"But that's...!?" Kass started to say, but found he was at a loss of words. Everyone else looked on in awe at the new revelation as well.

"Look at how cute Zane was before he had his second skin!" Alice playfully mused as she saw the head of the white ninja. "I wonder why he changed- his first skin looks handsomely made and super realistic!"

"Wow..." Cap added as he kept watch of the blue ninja, "Jay sure had more hair back then..."

"Well, look at Cole!" Kass said in a rather hurt tone, "Compared to that body, it's almost like he doesn't even work out any more!"

"Now that you mention it..." Cap agreed as he tilted his head to look at the black ninja.

"Oh, Zane must have said something witty- do you see how they're all laughing now?" Alice then enthused.

"If it was so funny, why isn't Zane laughing?" Cap asked Alice with a bemused smile.

"He simply does not know how humorous he can be!" Alice declared, "See? He's letting out a small chuckle now to show that he finds it rather hilarious like the others do!"

"I... do not think that's why he's laughing..."

"Of course it is, why else would they laugh at him?"

"Well..."

Throughout their chatter and reaction to the now revealed identities of the four ninja, Mina stood still and stared at the orb. Cyrus could tell that she was in a paralyzed shock and moved his wheelchair closer to her.

"Are you alright Minerva?" Cyrus asked quite curiously, "I know this is quite a shock to you- would you like to talk about it?"

"Kai..." she muttered in a breath, almost appearing to be in a trance that had tuned Cyrus out. "Why...?"

"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, I truly am." Cyrus then told Mina in a soft tone, "But there is no other option and time is running out. They need you."

Mina slowly started to back up as she shook her head. The three other teens turned their heads to Cyrus.

"What do you mean 'they need you'?" Kass asked. "I know they're missing and all, but why do they need her?"

"Not just her, all of you." Cyrus told them with a solemn face.

"No." Mina said, shaking her head. "I can't help anyone! I can't save anyone! I'm not going anywhere!"

And with that she fled before Cyrus, or anyone else, could stop her.