That evening, as the orange glow of sunset faded into the darkening sky, each of them hurried to finish dinner and chores at home. Their minds were alive with anticipation, but they kept calm faces, careful not to reveal a hint of their true plan.
One by one, they told their parents the same story:
"We're going over to Vinci's place tonight to work on a big group project. We might stay late, maybe even sleep over if it gets too late."
Some parents nodded distractedly, some reminded them to be careful, and a few insisted they take extra snacks or jackets. None of them had the slightest idea what these young geniuses were truly preparing to do.
As night fully settled, they each packed their bags in their rooms with trembling hands. Maria double-checked her protein bars and water bottles, slipping her camera and extra batteries in last. Eliza stuffed notebooks and her solar-powered flashlight into her bag, her heart pounding with every zip. Hawkings arranged his mini gadgets and a small drone with military precision, making sure everything was charged.
Vinci carefully folded extra circuits and a portable charger, tossing in a few tech tools he "might need." Einstein, after placing in his simple food, his tea, and his worn journal, paused for a moment to take a long look at a photo of the group[Maria was not part then] ; a quiet reminder of how far they had come.
When they were ready, they slipped out into the cool night air, bags slung over their shoulders. The streets were hushed, lit only by the pale glow of street lamps and scattered stars.
They all met at Vinci's place, hearts thumping like drums inside their chests. Vinci was already there, moving fast around the lab, adjusting wires and powering up the prototype.
Maria, Eliza, and Hawkings arrived first. They dropped their bags, trading nervous glances and shaky smiles. Vinci's eyes sparkled as he welcomed them in.
Then Einstein finally arrived, slightly out of breath but grinning, his hair messier than usual. "Sorry I'm late," he said, brushing his forehead. "Had to double-check something important."
They all stood together on the raised platform Vinci had built ; a smooth surface, slightly above the ground, glowing faintly under the lab lights. Around them, the humming prototype pulsed softly, its lights swirling like a living galaxy.
Vinci moved to the console, his fingers flying across the keys. He typed: 336 BC. The machine gave a soft, rising hum.
Einstein looked at each of them, his expression serious but full of excitement. "Once we move… that's it. If we don't come back, we don't come back. But I believe we will."
A hush fell over them. They tightened their backpack straps, exchanged quick nods, and took one final breath.
Vinci entered the last code. The machine whirred louder, the platform trembling gently beneath their feet. Shimmering arcs of light wrapped around them, growing brighter and thicker with each pulse.
Their hearts raced. Maria grabbed Eliza's hand, Vinci shut his eyes for a split second, and Einstein muttered softly to himself, almost like a prayer.
Then, with a sudden surge of light and sound, everything twisted and blurred. Their bodies felt weightless and impossibly heavy all at once, as if they were being pulled through a tunnel of pure energy.
And in that dazzling moment ; they vanished.
Back in the lab, silence settled again.
But far away, under the starlit sky of 336 BC, a bright flash burst in the shadows of an ancient world. One by one, they stumbled forward, feet hitting the warm, dusty ground of a time long past.
Their real journey had begun.