The Time Machine

"Lucas, you know you can't be under there all day right?" said a girl with long blonde hair, blue eyes that sparkled, with a smile. "I know, just hang on one sec Jess. I think I'm close to figuring this thing out." A boy with a determined smile on his face popped out from under a golden bizarre-looking machine. "What are we having for lunch?"

"..... it's time for dinner." said Jessica, with a confused face. "You really have lost track of everything have you." Jessica playfully nudges Lucas. "Honestly, you can't keep track of anything once you're down there. This machine is truly a mystery, as mysterious as your behavior. What do you want?" Lucas replied as he scoffed a bit at his sarcastic sister. "Need help with this." said Jessica as she proceeded to stack a pile of papers on the machine. Without having to look, Lucas instantly knew what it was. "No I'm not filling in the forms for the science olympics."

"You know Lucas, you have to take break from inspecting and fixing machine all day. This science olympics is a good chance for you to take a break and show what you're really good at. I know it's hard that dad disappeared and only this bizarre machine was left from him, but it's like you're separated from the world itself." "Science olympics? To relax? You've got to be kidding me. I'd say jumping into a volcano or making a time machine would be more relaxing" said Lucas. "Anyways, what are we actually having for lunch, errr I meant dinner?" "Pizza."

After eating a few slices (give or take a few more dozens) Lucas and Jessica rushed into their dad's workshop and Lucas continued working and Jessica sat down while trying to help her brother with figuring out the use of the buttons on the control panel of the interior. Science has never been her strong point "Jess, whenever you work on this machine, do you ever feel like he's here, like a part of him is still left here?" "A part of him will always be with us Luc, always." Lucas smiled as he felt that his dad was watching them from above

"By the ways, I'm wondering. What day is tomorrow?" said Lucas while working on some cables. Lucas suddenly popped out and stared at Jessica. "Chemistry test is tomorrow!" Both instantly jumped out of the room and started studying chemistry.

As they studied, time went by quickly. Suddenly their studying was interrupted by the sound of their clock striking 12 o'clock midnight.

"You know I thought having dad watch at us from above was good. But now I'm thinking it's not such a good thing for him. Having to see the world's most forgetful children." said Lucas as his attention was still onto the book. "I think I'm just going to go to sleep. As long as I get a C or C+ I'm fine." said Jessica as she shut the book and walked drowsily to her room.

On the next morning, the alarm started beeping, waking up Jessica. Her hand instantly slapped the alarm, snoozing it. But as soon as it was snoozed, it sounded again. "I have to wake up, I have to wake up, I have to wake up." as she said to herself while trying to get up. Finally after a few minutes, she accepted defeat against herself and the alarm clock. She prepared herself for school, switching her outfit from her pajamas to a white school uniform top, with a skirt and a black robe to top it all off. As she went down the stairs, she saw the sleepy Lucas, asleep on top of the chemistry book. "Luc, Luc, do you need coffee or a slap?"

Lucas drowsily opened his eyes, staring at his sister. "I think I'll take coffee." He drank the cup of steaming hot coffee that had been prepared by Jessica, and it instantly popped his eyes open (Ok maybe not literally, but it looks like it) He instantly rushed around the house, preparing everything. He isn't as prepared as his sister, even though he was definitely brighter than his sister.

"The bus is here, let's go." Both board the bus, as their gang of friends instantly greeted them. Lucas was admired by the other students because of his intelligence, while Jessica makes up for her grade with her social skills and an UNGODLY sport skill. "Did you study for the chemistry test today" said one of his friends. "There's a chemistry test today?" replied another friend, with a nervous expression. The bus was extremely loud and noisy, but Lucas attention was not in the bus. He stared at the window of the bus as he remembered his dad telling him about the time machine.

"Lucas, I want you to see this." said his dad as he waved him to see the time machine. "One day, I'll take you with me to see the world! In different times, of course." His dad had always been a warm and loving person. His smile was the most charming smile anyone had ever seen. "Why can't I go with you now?" said a smaller and younger version of Lucas. "I'm afraid I can't do that now." said his dad as his face changed, obviously showing that there was something wrong. "I promise I'll take you one day."

Suddenly the sound of the bus honking disturbed Lucas from his thoughts. The bus had arrived at his school. A gate with the words 'Conville Middleschool' was seen as they got off the bus. On the steps of the school, a middle aged lady with a very warm smile greeted them. It was Professor Evangeline, their Botanics teacher.

*Botanics: Lesson of Magical Plants

"Good morning Lucas and Jessica! Where are you off to?" said the professor. "Professor Triton's class. We have a test today." said Jessica. "Oh I see, have a nice day!" The professor always had a soft spot for the two, especially ever since their father disappeared.

"Are you all ready for today's test?" said Professor Triton as he began passing the test to the entire class. As usual, Lucas finished in about a quarter of the time given and started daydreaming. This has been a habit for him ever since his dad disappeared. He had been wondering about the adventures his dad had ever gone to. Every time he came back, he always brought back a special item, maybe a trinket or two from his adventures. But then he would bring a specially shaped case and enter his mysterious vault, which Lucas and Jessica had not figured out how to open it. One day, his time machine warped back, but he wasn't there. And as soon as it appeared in the house, it was broken down and was unusable. Ever since then, Lucas has been working on it everyday, and soon Jessica agreed to help him with the time machine, if it means that they'll find out where their dad is, or what happened to him.

"And time is up! Pencils down, and start collecting the test to me." said the professor as the school bell rang. When it was time for Lucas to collect the paper, the professor put his paper in a different section. "May I borrow your test for something?" "Sure, I don't mind. Have a good day prof!"

"How did you do it so fast?" asked Jessica as they walked home. "I don't know. I guess I just start writing and then it's just there." Jessica look at Lucas with an observing expression. "You're thinking about something else aren't you?" Lucas had forgotten how good his sister was in understanding emotions. "I've been thinking more and more of dad lately. Wherever I look, he's just there, always with that time machine. If only I could figure that thing out." "I know you will. You're the only person I know that could figure that machine out." said Jessica with a smile. "Of course, I'm the only person you know." Lucas laughed as Jessica nudges him over.

Suddenly a flash appeared from their house as they got close. "What was that?" Both instantly rush into their house, confused as the flash disappeared. "What was that?" asked Lucas as he looked around the house. Nothing changed, except for a bubbling purple-greenish fluid kept in a canister. "Jess, what kind of weird juice did you make?" "What is that?" asked Jess, ignoring her brother. "I don't know. I've never seen anything like that before. Even after learning over 150 kinds of elements, chemistry and stuff." said Lucas, while he took his chemistry book and started flipping the pages of his book. "You know what, just put it somewhere away from us. It looks pretty dangerous. There is no need for a chemistry expert to say that." said Lucas as he took the canister and placed it in the attic.

Suddenly another flash appeared in the house. "It's back! Quick downstairs!" said Jessica as she grabbed Lucas' hand and ran downstairs. "How does it disappear that quickly?" Lucas walked towards the time machine and on top of it, was a paper with calculations. "Is that alien language?" said Jessica as she looked at the paper. Lucas smirked at Jessica and quickly ran to his dad's workshop and started calculating a ton of gibberish physics and math. As Jessica studied the vault door, she could hear sounds of paper crumpling and hammer banging from the workshop.

12 AM was shown on Jess' alarm but she couldn't sleep because of the noise from downstairs. "I guess this is a sign that I have to accompany him huh?" said Jess to herself as she forcefully jumped out of bed and went downstairs. "Still haven't figured out?" Lucas was shocked hearing his sister. "Uhhh, no. But I think I'm super close. Like super close." said Lucas while still trying to keep his heart calm after being shocked. "Alright I'm gonna go grab a drink before you have a heart attack." She knew her brother existed on his own world whenever he worked on the time machine and had absolutely no clue what is happening in the actual world.

Suddenly, Jess' glass vibrated, along with the house. "Something's happening!" shouted Lucas from the workshop. Jessica instantly rushed out of the kitchen into the workshop. "Is it working?" said Jessica. As soon as she said that, the vibrations stopped and the time machine stopped glowing. "Ok, help me out. What just happened?" asked Jessica as she approached Lucas and the time machine. "I don't know. For a moment it was working, and now it's not." said Lucas as he was so frustrated. He thought he would fix the time machine. "Hold on a second Luc. I think it's lacking fuel." said Jessica as she noticed a blinking light symbolizing fuel from the control panel.

Lucas moved his hands around the time machine until he felt an opening. "Fuel tank." He opened it up, and from the tip of the hole, some purple greenish fluid was dripping from it. "The canister is the time machine's fuel!" said Lucas as he ran upstairs and brought the canister down. He poured the contents into the tank and suddenly the time machine started to rumble again. Not only was it vibrating, it was flashing a bright light. "Hold on one second Luc! Shut it down-