Date: 4270I made it back to ECU and ran toward the physics building. Outside of the hall were two large, black vehicles with the letters “NEO CORP.” painted in white on the driver doors. “Halt,” said a man guarding the doors to the hall. “I am Grange’s assistant, let me through.” The two men looked at one another. “This is a school. We have research to complete. You have no authority here,” I exclaimed.

The two men looked at one another once more, but seemed convinced by my argument. They let me pass into the hall, where I sprinted to the lab that contained the time machine.

As I opened the doors, I saw Professor Grange in the custody of two E.C. Police Borgs. A tall, skinny man with slicked-back black hair stood in front of the machine.

“Who are you,” the tall man asked me.

“He is Quixen,” said the Professor. “He is my colleague.”

“Is that so,” said the tall man. “Arrest him too.”

I waved my hands in protest. “Wait, what have I done?”

“As a colleague of Grange, that means you’re also connected to this act of terrorism.”

“Terrorism?” I asked.

“Mr. Holly thinks that we’ve created this machine to surge the power plants of E.C.” said Grange.

Dumbfounded, I backed away from the police borgs that approached me. They continued their aggressive approach, pinning me to the time machine. I was zapped by a stream of energy from one of the borgs.

Pain flowed from my mind down through my spine, numbing my limbs. A residual amount of energy struck the time machine, as well.

A roaring began to emit from the machine, as a blue crackle of energy collected in front of everyone. Professor Grange closed his eyes and began to concentrate. An arc of electricity surrounded him, striking the two borgs that held him. They collapsed into smoking piles of metal.

“Quixen!” he cried. Grange grabbed my arm and pulled me into the crackling field of energy. Within the center of the energy field was a blue orb of light…

All within a mere moment, I saw Mr. Holly and the remaining borgs swirl into nothingness as Grange and I were sent into the past once more.

I was used to the effects of time travel, but in my weakened state, I felt increasingly queasy.

We appeared in the middle of a busy village, near a stone well. Small trees lined the village, pointing into the sky. I could hear a small river to the south. I could also feel my breakfast and lunch coming up into my throat.

I collapsed to my knees near the stone well and threw up. Grange laughed, dumbfounded by the exhilarating time travel feeling. “Weak stomach?” he asked me.

I wanted to retort, but was still feeling the effects of the borg’s discharge.

“Do you know where we are?” Grange asked.

I shook my head, still unable to speak. “You are in the Halfling Village!” bellowed a voice behind us. Ten armed men, nearly half our size, raised swords in our direction.

“State your purpose! Why have you defiled our village with your putridness!” bellowed the lead guard.

“I think he’s asking you, Quixen,” said Grange, with a half-smile on his face.

Though we were outnumbered, we could not help but feel at the advantage, considering the size of our captors.

“Do you work for the kobolds?! Are you modrian thieves? Answer!” cried the guard.

Ten pointed blades advanced towards our position. Grange responded by creating an electrostatic field around his body, doubling up his fists.

“Hold, guard,” said a wizened, raspy voice.

An old halfling with a graying beard wiggled his way past the guard, and approached us with a wide grin.