Chapter 1 Off Grid Living

• Elvinia Whitaker was on her way to Alaska, heading toward a place called Talkeetna. She had purchased land there to begin living off-grid. She had taken off a year to get everything settled on her end; and once she had done so, she was moving forward with her plans. She looked at the chance as an opportunity, for her way to start a new life. Where she could be herself, without having to get on a plane to another dig site or go to work at the college. She thought about all the times she wished to be out in the great outdoors, no this was her chance to live. Where she didn't have to worry about pleasing anyone. Her dreams were finally coming true for her. Something she had always wanted to do on her own, and for once, with no family member to get in the middle of her life's choices. She was tired of her family disregarding her feelings and attempting to make her feel bad, for not pursuing a career that she had gone to college. Yes, she knew had been blessed with winning several grants. She understood how much both of her parents had worked so that they could give her the best education and private lessons, along with tutoring, especially in certain studies. Her parents dedicated years and expenses towards their children, which were her brothers and herself, so she and her brothers were giving the best of everything when it came to education. Her brothers had followed in the steps of their parents for they had wanted what their parents had which was a reputation, along with the success. Compared to her, her brothers were the saints, for they did everything that mom and dad wanted. Although her parents favored her brothers, they still continued to persuade her but she was bound and determined to make her own way. In that sense, she could understand why her parents thought she was ungrateful. However, she really was grateful for her accomplishments. Including all of the scholarships, grant monies, along with the awards, and even getting college funding for her discoveries and projects. However, she was searching for a challenge something out of her comfort zone, such as the day she enlisted in the Navy. Her parents on the other hand didn’t see it as she had seen things. Because apparently, she had offended her parents by enlisting to pay for her education. What her parents didn't like the most was that she didn't enter the Navy as an officer. Even her father didn’t understand why she went into the Navy, but to neglect her degrees and be paid more. It wasn't about the money to her, it was something in her blood that wanted to go against the currents and find her way in this world. She had always dreamt about going on an adventure and not being judged by her degrees, but by her character. It was about being seen as an individual, she had taken courses and workshops to prepare for living off the grid and even took fencing and blacksmithing, here and there. She was tired of reading more and more about the field she had studied, she wanted to do something that didn’t consist of sitting behind a book or doing lectures. Though her family was very well known for their respected careers, it wasn't for her at all. Her, she wanted to put her knowledge and her skills up to the test and get out of her comfort zone. Now, she was looking at her new home and staring at the areas that had been fixed for her to start living off-grid. She wanted to take off a year from work and focus on a different path, by wanting to experience the great outdoors, live off-grid and start her writing career. She had wanted to write a book about her research, even though her family hated her idea. She came to realize that she didn’t care anymore because her family had practically turned their back all because she refused to play by their rules. She was over the age of twenty-five and though she looked more like a college student, she was old enough to go her own way.
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• She had two yurts built, one was her home to settle in and the other was her office. Her office would have the technology, but as for her home, it was all low-tech. In both of the yurts, the fireplace was in the center, yurt that was her home was made to look like a cabin on the outside. Inside though was a different story, it had stone and real wood. Fashioned to be like the older days, she didn't have a stove but the fireplace was to be her cooking source using the flames to cook everything. The sink was customed made and of course, the fridge was hidden so that it kept the old-time look. Her bed was fashioned to fit in with the design inside. She loved the fact she would be cooking either by grill outside or over the fire inside. Her office was a different design, outside it was like any other yurt but it was the inside that was different. She had her desk and computer, it was much darker keeping it somewhat modern. She had the start-of-the-art fish tank along with the ambiance that kept everything peaceful. She had wished her family to come and see for themselves, but they were repulsed by the idea that she really was doing this. Her parents wanted their way, which also meant her agreement to marry a man, she had no idea who he was, only that he was rich and invested a lot into her family’s work.
• She took a deep breath before stepping out of her diesel truck, which was going to come in handy considering what she had in mind. There were three barns made out of cargo holders, that were fixed to withstand the winter and keep her animals safe from predators. The one to the left of her home was for the nursery so that even in the coldest weather she would still have fresh produce and even grew food for her animals. The other barn had two steers, one milk cow who was expecting a winter calf. On the other side of the barn were her chickens with the one rooster, then her turkeys. She was going to wait to get a horse once she got settled in. She would have to get someone to build to the backside of the nursery, for now, though she was excited to begin this journey. The other barn had her sheep and goats, then she had a place for her animal’s feed. She thought about having a few pigs but for now, she had what she had. She was unloading her things into the house and then office, she knew soon enough winter would be making its way. She didn’t take a lot of things with her, just the essentials, she would have to go shopping tomorrow. She got out her axe and saw, she began cutting down a couple of trees. She needed to get firewood started for the winter that Alaska was known for. Her muscles were aching but after taking a shower she was in her home, having some bourbon and eating sandwiches, there was no television in her home as she watched the fire dancing. She made her list of what she was going to need as she took another bite of her bacon sandwich and then swallowed her food before having a drink of her bourbon. She checked her phone and there were no calls. Her family hadn’t said anything to her not even on the day she left. Her brothers never answered her phone calls or texts, and it hurt her so much to know that her family was being so distant. She had always felt different from them, they got along with others, and she didn’t like being around snobs as she had called them. She was much happier whenever she was at a dig site or when she was in the Navy.
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• Elvinia looked at her walls where pictures of her family should have been but instead, she had pictures of her days in the Navy, and pictures of the dig sites, but there were also her degrees and certifications since she was fifteen. That was when she entered the university and started taking classes upon classes, but to her recollection, she never really got to enjoy her childhood. She had degrees in Ancient history, and some medical courses though she didn’t go all the way to become a doctor; when she enlisted she became a nurse even though her professors wanted her to be a surgeon. She had adapted very well in the medical field and took as many courses as she could, and even got to work on the cadavers, but she didn’t go any further only to the next subject. She had a degree in Biology and Forensic Anthropology, not to mention her Master's in Archaeology. Her family was in the medical field from the mental side to the microbiology, her brothers were renowned Hematologists, not to mention their wives, who were both microbiologists. The last words her mother ever said behind Elvinia’s back was that she shouldn’t have invested in her only daughter’s education as she did her sons. That Elvinia was a disappointment considering her daughter was more advance. Her mother didn’t know that Elvinia was listening by accident when she heard that she didn’t come while she was in the Navy. It wasn’t until she had left the Navy to go on a dig with her professor Graham who encouraged her to follow her heart. He had encouraged her to learn trades from blacksmithing, working with pelts and tanning, and even had Roger teaching her how to sword fight and military tactics that he was trained in. He taught her how to use a crossbow and bows, and though she didn’t think knowing all he was teaching her was going to be used, it gave her an outlet. She remembered the day she came home, she was dressed in white’s holding her duffle bag, and stepping out of the airport and there was no one there to greet her. She had considered going back into the Navy, maybe going this time into the reserves. She looked at the picture of her dressed in uniform the day she graduated Bootcamp. She remembered looking for her family and not one of them was there for her. She watched others hugging and laughing and crying when they were allowed to be with their family. She watched as everyone left and she walked away because she wanted to cry but instead that night she went to the gym and was taking her anger on a punching bag. Professor Graham was out of the country, but he had sent her a care package when she was sent overseas, which was Scotland.
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• She raised her drinking glass into the air for this wasn't going to make her stop going after her dreams of being self-sufficient. She knew she was different and she wasn't going to be sorry about it any longer. By the next day, she had already fed her animals and finished chopping the wood, she had an early morning that day because she needed to go to the store. While in town she picked up a few things, including groceries. She turned around and thought she saw someone watching her, but there was no one there, maybe it was her own imagination. Once she had gotten back home and unloaded her groceries and supplies, she went back over to the animals making sure they had water, and gathered the eggs. She fixed herself a bacon and an egg sandwich before going to her office. She began working on her book by starting a journal then went over to her blog and started posting about her off-grid life, keeping track of everything she had done and had completed, so far. Each and every day that she was in Alaska she worked on her book and kept her blog and videos of her homestead. She wrote about her experiences from when she started college early to her time in the Navy. One of the places she had been stationed, was in Alaska. Once she was here, she quickly fell in love with the beauty here and felt the connection. Which was something that she had never before experienced. She had been around the world, and the only regret she had was leaving the Navy. She worked another two years for the college while her homestead was being set for her, she talked about how her animals were brought here just a few days before she arrived. Winter was just starting she found a package, she thought it was from her family. She had believed they were just very busy, but she was just giving them an excuse. She hated the fact that they were being this way. As she drove back to her homestead, again checking in on her animals before going inside her business yurt. She found that the package was from her professor who had just arrived back in the country, and wanted to see her. Normally in the winter season, he would be down in South America but he was back home on Long Island.
• She typed on her computer then saw that someone was trying to talk to her live on camera, and sure enough it was Roger.
• “Hey you, been a long time Roger.”
• “Yes Elvinia, it has been a while. Have you been practicing your swordmen’s skills and archery?”
• “Every day, early in the morning just as you had taught me. I got professor Graham’s package. I don’t know if I can leave right now, I got to take care of these animals and try to write my book that I had been putting off for so long…”
• “Professor Graham needs to see you urgently, hon. Your book can wait a little bit longer, and we can make arrangements for you by the way. Your animals and your home would be taken care of, trust me you want to come down and hear the professor out.”
• “You know, I have been wanting to write this book ever since I left the Navy, right?”
• “How would like to go on an expedition that will not only put you on the map, but you would have enough time to write your book making it a best-seller?”
• “It would have to be a major find for me to leave; what is it something down in the Tropics?”
• “He built it.”
• “I'll leave tomorrow.”
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• Two days later, her flight was landing in New York City. She needed to stop at the University and had put in a request for one of the prodigies to take her place so that the funding wouldn't be used or taken away. She had been working on that paper, for a very long time. This would be the first time she would be leading an expedition. Even if she wasn't going to be there, at least this would give someone a chance to gain experience. Whenever professor Graham couldn't be at the site, he asked her to be the lead person, on his projects. So now, it was her turn to pay it forward, just as she had been given the opportunity, she was going to do the same. She already knew she would be given recognition for whatever the team found, but to lead your own team nothing could compare.
• Finally, her next stop was to go and see her family, who was working at a new facility that was top-of-the-line for any scientist. Especially for those, who were in the process of discovering a new drug that could not only save lives for humans but also help cure animal's diseases, as well. They were not to discuss this with anyone, not even with her. However, they rarely talked to her and she didn't expect that to change any time soon. However, she was at least hoping when she stopped by, that maybe they did in fact, want to see their only daughter and sister. Even though it was a long shot, and that was only wishful thinking. Her family didn't disappoint because just as she had thought, they were too busy that they had told the guards that the head of the facility had given them a timeline to complete the testing of their test subjects. Already completed the first of a few phases, there was more testing to be done before they could take a break. Apparently, her family was staying on the compound, so they didn't have to drive back and forth.
• She knew they were upset because she was “throwing away her life” for a stupid dream that didn't produce anything, even if it made her happy. Since she couldn't see her family, or rather they didn't want to see her. She took the cab to the University that she had done when she was only seventeen and decided to read some of the books there while waiting on the call from Roger. She texted him once she arrived then went inside to relax and read some ancient historical books. A few students recognized her and asked her opinion on some of her research though she couldn't help but see someone watching her then the person walked away. This wasn't the first time she had felt someone was watching her, and this person didn't say anything just stood there.
• She happened to look down and saw that Roger had paged her. She finished speaking to the group and then put the book back where she had found it. She went outside and there was Roger always dressed like he was some secret service or agent. He opened the door for her and then headed to Long Island. He didn't seem to age much, but considering she was turning twenty-six in the next few days, she didn't look her age, either. They talked a little but Roger was very serious and when traffic was picking up she knew he was done talking. They finally arrived and she took her satchel and coat with her inside the mansion. Roger on the other hand grabbed the duffle bag that she had since when she was in the Navy. She was expecting to see professor Graham aged for the man was over sixty years old but there he came in his wheelchair. He was in a wreck a few years ago, and even though he was paralyzed from the waist down, he wasn't going to let it stop him. He always told her that life doesn't stop unless someone dies. So here she was wanting to see the machine had talked about for so long. Though most said it couldn't be done but she knew the man was brilliant. She was waiting in the lavish room when Roger came in with a tray of hot ginger tea and some toast smothered in butter. Then she heard the wheels and looked up almost jaw dropping because her professor her mentor didn't look older than he did when she turned eighteen. She wondered if he had found the fountain of youth because he should be looking older, but he wasn't. Professor Graham Reyes was very much pleased to see the woman Elvinia had turned into. He couldn't believe this was the same girl who was quiet and had always felt awkward. In the back of his mind, he knew this day would come and it had. He just hoped she would accept the chance to learn the full truth. They exchanged pleasantries, she liked him he was like a father figure because her own father was critical and her mother was only worse. The fact was that in her parent's eyes, her brothers or their wives were perfect, and could do no wrong. Unlike her, she was the black sheep of the family and her only escape was being on her own and away from everyone that never stood behind her.
• When he finished his tea he finally looked serious, "I am sure Roger informed you of the machine?”
• She smiled even though part of her didn't think it was possible but the majority of her thoughts wanted to believe he had found the way to travel back. She wondered if he was going crazy and what if this was a ploy; then again, what if he had and he was asking her to go the voyage through time and collect evidence and data. This would be a chance of a lifetime and it would give her a chance to prove to her family, she had never wasted her time. She didn't understand she was so bound and determined to prove anything to her family. Maybe because she wanted their approval that she in a way was so desperate to earn. Her family stopped being involved in her life once they found out she didn't get her doctorate or the fact she didn't become a surgeon. The fact she worked as a nurse when she could have been a Naval surgeon was a let down and an embarrassment to the family as her father had told her.