Title: The Wicked Time Machine: Spring Forwards
Summary: A girl from '08 is forced into going to the future by her friends when the government finds out about their time machine. She takes the GW boys under her wing and bides her time until her WTM is repaired. PWP?
Rating: Teen
Pairings: None. I fail at writing romance. So I've decided to just forget about it. Sorry to my old readers that were looking forward to a DuoxWufei romance.
Warnings: I have no beta reader, so there may be mistakes in this. If you spot any, please tell me.
Disclaimer: If I owned Gundam Wing, would I be writing this?
To My Old Readers: Hey guys! Sorry for the wait. I got caught up in school and life in general. Yeah, I know that's lame. But, eh, that's how the story goes. The good news is, I've improved my writing style! I am proud of myself! (Beams)
And yes, sadly, there will be no romance in the story, unless it's lightly implied. But I doubt it. I seriously do suck at writing romantic stories. It might be because I've never been in a relationship myself, so I don't know how the whole 'love' thing works; not personally, anyway. Sorry, guys.
Oh – I decided to keep up the first person point of view, by the way! :3
I hope everyone enjoys The Wicked Time Machine: Spring Forwards, formally known as Ho Shiz(!).
Chapter 1: Into the Uncertain Future
March 3, 2008
"Okay..." I said to myself, double-checking my supplies. "Ramen, check. Water bottle, check. Wine coolers, check. Cell phone, check. Laptop, check. MP3 player, check. Notebooks and writing utensils, check. Box of Cheese Its, check. Bubba's little pot for cooking ramen in (which I totally stole), check. Clothes, check. Camera and it's extra batteries, check. Sonic screwdriver, check. Sleeping bag and tent, check. Gun (which I also stole, but from Dad), check. Cloak, check. Photo album, check. Goggles, check. Books, check. Back up MP3 player and it's batteries, check. Jewelry, check. Make up, check. Pads, check. PMS pills, check. First Aid kits (both the portable one and the larger one), check. Bags, check. Pulse," I paused to check my pulse. "Check. Okay, I'm all set."
I chuckled to myself, looking at my reflection in the mirror of my room here at the Base.
I had my hair up in a pony tail (for once), and I was wearing my goggles to help keep my bangs out of my face. I wore a purple shirt, a black jacket, dark jeans, my scruffy army boots, wrist warmers, my gun and it's holster, my ring, my locket, my MP3 player and headphones, and my faded red messenger bag, my mini backpack with my last name on it on it, and I held my travel bag on wheels with my right hand.
I looked kick ass, which was perfect, since I was going into an unknown future. It's best that I look as intimidating as possible so no one tries anything with me – and hey, wait a minute.
I squinted at the mirror, and then cursed.
Oh, God damn it! My eye liner is all funky. I hate it when that happens; stupid cheap makeup...
Grumbling, I quickly fixed it and then I walked out of my room and headed down for the lab. Amanda and Brandon were getting everything ready for the last test, with me as the test subject, of course. I still can't believe that we've actually came this far into the WTM project – that the stress, sweat, tears, electrical shocks, debt, and panic attacks weren't for nothing.
We actually made a working time machine, which we've name the Wicked Time Machine (WTM), because it's absolutely wicked and totally awesome. And yes, we know that it works (with non living things and small animals) since we sent a squirrel to yesterday morning two weeks ago, and it appeared like it was supposed too – in one piece!
We actually did it! I feel so proud of myself now! And smart, too, can't forget that!
I grinned stupidly as I slid the hidden door open and walked down the familiar steps to the lab, shutting the door behind me. I stepped down the steps, not caring for the fact that I was making a lot of noise with my travel bag as I went down the stairs.
I lost my smile, however, when I heard Brandon and Amanda talking to each other in worried voices, sounding scared, and slowed to a stop at the foot of the stairs.
Oh shit – how much do you want to bet that there's something wrong with the computers? Damn it, I knew it was too good to be true! Shit, shit, shit, shit...
"OY! What's up?!" I quickly rushed over to them, and they looked at me with stressed out expressions on their faces.
"Tia!" I suddenly had my arms full of two very worried soul siblings.
"What? What's wrong?" I asked, bewildered.
"The government knows!" Amanda said, and I felt my blood go cold at that. "And they're coming here now!"
Oh snap.
"H-how?" I stuttered out, tightening my hold on them. "How did they find out?"
"We don't know!" Brandon almost shouted, and he was suddenly pacing about, his red lab coat billowing agitatedly behind him. "No one outside of this room knows about our plans – NO ONE!"
"What if...what if they watched our calls over the phone?" Amanda theorized, loosening her hold on me a bit to reach out to her fiancé, grabbing his hand. He stopped his pacing and squeezed her smaller hand, his expression a mix of anger and deep sadness as he gazed at us.
I bit my lip.
"But...I thought that was just a rumor? You know, the whole government conspiracy thing?" I was so glad that my voice didn't shake – I was scared out of my mind here! Why? Because this is scary shit! What if they lock us up and force us into working for them and telling them all our secrets? Oh man...I hate my life!
I must have somehow gave myself away, because Amanda slowly shook her head, and soothingly petted my head, knowing that it always calmed me down.
"How else could they have known?" She said reasonably, and I had to agree.
The idea of one of us being a betrayer never once crossed our minds. We all knew that we were fiercely loyal to each other, and that we would rather die than hurt the others.
I sighed and sat down in the WTM's chair, placing my head in my hands. How could this have happened? We were so close to actual time travel! So damn close!
I flinched when I heard the front door get knocked down, and stared up at the ceiling with dawning horror.
Oh shit. FBI agents? The scary kind that look like they could eat babies for breakfast?
Oh my Goddess...
I turned my attention away from the shouting upstairs and loud foot steps when a folder with a TARDIS drawn on it was tossed into my lap. I stared at it, confused. Uh...why are the WTM's blueprints in my lap?
I looked up at my soul siblings for an explanation, bewildered, and I felt my eyes widened as I took in the grim, but determined, expressions on Amanda and Brandon's faces as they quickly started up the WTM.
Oh no. No, no, no, no!
Amanda turned to me, smiling sadly at my stunned form. "Everything's all set – you should be safe 300 years into the future, Tiana." She stepped over to Brandon, gripping his hand tightly as she stared at me, her eyes watery.
I was still too shocked to move. They couldn't! No way! We're all in this together! We promised each other at the beginning that we would see this to the end – all of us, not just them!
Brandon grinned at me, hand hovering above the activation button. "Bye, Tia! Have fun!"
"Wha – Brandon, NO!" I finally shouted, and I was about to stand up and slap some sense into them, but I was seconds to late to do anything.
The last thing I ever saw of 2008 was them waving goodbye at me – Brandon with a strained grin on his face and Amanda crying while trying to smile reassuringly at me – and then I was violently sent into the future where nothing at all was familiar to me.
You idiots. Why? Why did you do this? Why?
...
March 3, AC 197
I was in a state of shock, as I stared with wide, horrified eyes at the darkness that surrounded me. I could smell dust, old paper, and rust. I remembered how, just moments ago, it smelled of Amanda's perfume and of the freshly made cookies that me and Brandon made while Amanda was rechecking everything in the lab. She was pleasantly surprised when we came down with milk and cookies for her, and beamed at us. Brandon had said something about how fair maidens like her need to take a break, or they would surely die from all the stress and that would just suck wouldn't it? Amanda just rolled her eyes and threw her pen at him, giggling at his mock-hurt look, and I just laughed and laughed...
I let out a choked sob at the memory, and cried for the first time in nearly two years.
Those idiots! Why did they have to be all noble and send me – the youngest – into the future?! Why? We promised – we all swore on our honor that we would all see this to the end, rather that ending was good or bad didn't matter. So why...why did they do that? Why...?
Sniffing, I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my jacket. Once I had my composure back, I stood up and felt the walls for the light switch, determined to go back to 2008 and assist my soul siblings with the FBI agents and the government – and kick their asses for sending me away!
Stupid idiots...
I let out a triumphant 'ha!' when I found the light switch, only to stare dumbly at the lab with shock as the lights weakly flickered on. Everything was destroyed. The computers were overturned and in pieces, the table and chairs laid brokenly in the floor, the file cabinets were all open and dented and rusted, our fake research papers were all over the place, torn to sheds, and the WTM itself was shattered, and only the chair was intact...
That, I decided, is Brandon's handy work. Destroying the WTM before the government agents could confiscate it.
I let out a shaky sigh, and I subconsciously held the WTM plans close to my chest. I took several deep breaths, trying to calm down. I refused to cry a second time in one day, damn it.
Okay...okay, so the lab was utterly thrashed, but I can fix it. It's not hopeless. And I can take as much time as I need to, too, since it's a time machine. So, as long as I have it set for March 3rd 2008 at precisely 11:29am (or a few minutes after that) then I won't be missing a thing. Yeah...yeah, I can that.
I sighed, and then headed up the stairs. I need to drop my stuff off in my room and hunt down a broom and a dust pan. I'm going to need to clean up before I can actually get to work. I'll need a trash bag, too. Several trash bags, in fact.
Oh goody. I hate cleaning. It's no fun...
I sighed again and opened the door.
Five heads swung around to face me, staring at me with varying looks of shock and surprise at seeing some strange girl show up in their living room. I paused at that, blinking at them with a taken aback look on my face.
The occupants were five boys, each one around my age. One was Asian with his hair tied tightly back with sharp and intelligent eyes, one had blond hair and had wide and innocent looking baby blue eyes, one had messy brown hair and was glaring death at me with his dark blue eyes, one had long brown hair that was tied in a braid (reminding me of Mom for one disorienting moment) and had violet eyes that stared at me with surprise, and the last one had brown hair that styled vaguely in a Emo style and had bright green eyes.
I only had time to see all this for about about two seconds (maybe even less) before each boy pulled a gun on me!
"Holy fuck!" I squeaked, taking a step back. I quickly bowed my head to them. "Terribly sorry – I wasn't aware that anyone was living here. Please excuse me..." I said as politely as I could, and then I attempted to quickly slid the door close and rush down the stairs for my life.
Keyword: Attempted.
Emo Boy quickly put his foot in the door and tossed me into a chair, and I was so stunned, and it happened so fast, that I didn't even have the chance to squeak. How the fuck did he get there so fast?! He was WAY the fuck over by the couches! Not anywhere near the door or the TV!
I stared at him with wide, awe-filled eyes.
"Fucking ninja!" I said, pointing at him in disbelief. All he did was raise an eye brow at me.
Braid Boy peeked through the secret door, which caused me to twitch and watch him with narrowed eyes.
He whistled, amazed. "Hey guys! There's a set of stairs that leads too --"
"My lab, now get away from there, you twit!" I interrupted, disgruntled. Hey, old habits die hard and I am so used to having only me and my soul siblings go in there. It's unnerving otherwise! "Who the hell are you guys anyway? You guys can't be descendants, since you obviously have no idea what this building is supposed to be used for..." I ranted, taking my bags off – they were heavy, damn it.
I promptly ignored Messy Hair who put the barrel of his gun against my head and glared at me. I causally took my own gun holster off and handed it to Messy Hair, who tensed when he saw my gun.
"Here, make yourself useful and hold this for me, yeah? Good puppy!" I cooed, just to be annoying, grinning cheekily up at him.
My eyes widened slightly when his eye twitched. Oooo! That is so cool!
Braid Boy laughed, clearly looking impressed. "Wow! You have balls, don't you?"
I sniffed. "Damn straight, bitches." I said bluntly – inwardly slapping myself for that automatic response – and, without missing a beat, tossed my purple haired troll at Emo Boy, who was trying to sneak away and into the lab.
It was my turn to be impressed when Emo Boy caught it with a masterful ease.
I couldn't help it – I clapped.
"Good job!" I praised, my expression bright. "That was really awesome considering your back was turned. Wow!"
The closest I got to something like that was with a basketball, and that was just a fluke.
"You're a really cool ninja." I decided, nodding to myself.
In fact, he was such a good ninja, I'll just change his nickname to Ninja Master.
It fits.
I saw a flicker of surprise in those green eyes, and he nodded, accepting my praise and then tossed my troll back to me, causing me to spaz out a little as I scrambled to catch the damn thing, much to the boys endless amusement.
I barely caught it, but I caught it! I effing caught it!
"I caught it!" I repeated aloud, looking proud of myself.
"Barely!"
I flipped Braid Boy off.
Don't get me wrong, I thought his comment was funny, but my pride was hurt, okay? My poor little pride...I don't have much of it left after years of tripping over shit, running into walls and doors that said 'Pull Not Push', stumbling over my words and making strange new words out of them, and having some asshole insult my artwork...
Yeah. I really don't have that much pride left to spare.
"Oh shut up, I bet you don't even get laid!" I retorted back hotly. "Because you certainly suck in the sweet talking department, pretty boy!"
"Alright, alright," Blondie quickly intervened before Braid Boy could get out of his shock and have a witty comeback for me.
Oh darn. I was looking forward to a verbal sparing.
"Who are you anyway, miss?" The blond one asked me. And I don't mean stupid-blond, just...he was blond, you know? I don't know that many blonds...
And while I was sorely tempted to say some smart ass comment – "I am Purple, the Candle Master! Fear me, mortals!" – he had these eyes. Those baby blues that I mentioned before, and damn it, he could probably make a leopard change it's spots by just asking it sweetly and giving it the hurt puppy look.
I inwardly sighed.
I am pathetic.
"Tiana," I said causally, leaning into the chair I was in. Comfy... "Tiana Van Zandt, but you may simply call me Tia, if you so wish." I nodded them. "Now, who might you all be? Because I do believe that it was me that asked for your names first? You haven't answered yet. And lets not forget that this is my house."
I have the deeds in my jacket to prove it, too.
And haha, I think I startled them with my regal and high society act. I love acting like my namesake – a princess...
Tell anyone that, and I'll stab you to death with a pencil. Got it?
Good reader.
And my GOD! Messy Hair is so damn creepy. He hasn't said a damn word yet! Just keeps a close eye on me and has his gun trained on me – not wavering for a second! He's making me paranoid here! Gah!
"Your house? But it's been abandoned for 300 or something years!" Braid Boy exclaimed.
I blinked, looking at him thoughtfully while I was smug on the inside. "Oh really?" I said mildly, amused with how he twitched. Wow, I am so good at annoying people...
"Yes." Asian Dude confirmed, watching me carefully.
"Huh." I pulled out the deeds from a hidden pocket in my jacket, making sure I did so slowly, and held it out to him. "Then what's this, eh?"
After a nod from Messy Hair – is he the leader? – Asian Dude warily took the deeds and read through them.
While Asian Dude was reading, Braid Boy came a little closer to me, looking at me curiously.
I gave him a 'WTF?' look. Personal space, much?
"What are you doing?" I asked lightly, but looking wary.
"You look a lot like me." He suddenly blurted out, rather bluntly, I might add.
And he was right.
We did look uncannily alike – same heart shaped face, almost cat-like eyes, long brown hair (that had the red and gold strands that I was so familiar with), high cheek bones, nearly the same height...the only differences were eye colors, the fact that I wear glasses, our body types (I was more chubby and he was a scrawny little bugger), I have a dimple on my chin, he has a button nose, I have an Indian nose, his lips were more pouty than mine (which is so not fair, by the way. He's a BOY!), and he had flawless skin while I had acne.
Bastard...pretty little bastard.
But he did look a lot like me.
"Hm...well, I'll be..." I mused to myself, absently putting some stray hair behind Braid Boy's ear, in an almost motherly way. I didn't even realize I did it until Braid Boy stared at me like I was a freak for touching him.
This unnerved me.
"Please stop staring, Braid Boy, or I shall be forced to kick you." I said in a no nonsense voice, but my grin gave me away. Hey, he might just might be my (or my brother's) descendant, so it's kinda like I'll be kicking my own grandchild (times infinity).
That was an amusing mental image.
Without warning, I tossed the troll again at the Ninja Master. I gave him an exasperated look.
"Little ninja, just give up already." I said. "I may be ADD-ish and easily distracted, but I'm not stupid either. So please sit down – and Psycho Messy Haired Man!" I said suddenly, turning around in my seat to look at him, looking distressed. "Please stop being creepy!" I pleaded, at my wits end with this G.I Joe guy.
"I mean, what the hell?! Your other friends aren't in Defensive Mode anymore, so why the hell are you?!" I continued ranting, not noticing that Asian was done reading and was quietly speaking with Blondie over the deeds. "I have no weapon – I gave that to you to appease you, you dumbass! And...and you have funny hair!" I stopped at that, an aghast look on my face. "Oh no, I did not just go 2nd grade on you. Oh crap - I did, didn't I?" I groaned and covered my flaming face with my hands, embarrassed as hell.
I feel so ashamed of myself now!
And slightly homicidal at Braid Boy's laughter. I should choke him to death with his braid – we'll see who's laughing after that!
Wait...I'm distracted now. I looked up, and sure enough, Ninja was walking to the secret door. I locked eyes with him and nodded tiredly to him. I give up.
'Watch your step,' I mouthed to him, because there's still a bunch of shit in the floor, which I still haven't had time to clean yet, and I'd feel bad if he hurt himself. He nodded and I returned my attention back to Messy Hair, twitching when I realized that he was still watching me. But at least he's lowered his gun.
That's a plus.
"This looks authentic," Asian Dude spoke up, Blondie nodding with him, both of them looking worried. Braid Boy and Messy Hair looked worried too (well, the latter just tensed). I was confused. Why were they so worried that I own the place – oh.
Duh, Tiana, I mentally reprimanded myself. They're worried your going to kick them out of their home.
"Relax," I said, taking the offered deeds, shooting Asian Dude a quick smile of thanks. "I won't kick you out or anything. You can stay here for however long you want. I don't give a shit as long as you don't burn my house down or anything." I paused. "And help me fix up my lab, if you have the free time, of course." I added.
Blondie gave me a curious look. "Why would you need help fixing your lab?"
I opened my mouth to reply, but Ninja came back and beat me to the punch.
"Because it's completely trashed," He said quietly. "And very old." Ninja glanced at me when he said this, and I could see the curiosity in his eyes from over here.
I snorted. "Well of bloody course it's old!" I said, standing up and stretching, yawning. "Damn, I'm tried. But anyway, duh, Ninja. I haven't been around for 300 years, so of course it's a little behind technologically speaking."
I frowned.
"Shit. I'm going to have to update the WTM, because I doubt that they have the parts I'm going to need. God damn it all!" I cursed, frustrated as hell as I paced back and forth. I undid my pony-tail and ran my fingers through my hair for comfort, like I usually do when I'm anxious or worried.
"300 years?" Messy Hair echoed, causing me to stop my pacing to stare at the boys with wide eyes.
Oh shit.
How am I going to get out of this one?
End of Chapter 1