Leonard paled as he took in the grisly scene. Months of repetition and training kicked in as he ran to Glade’s side, tearing open his first aid pouch. The backside of his commanding officer’s body armor was nothing more than a smoking ruin.

From the looks of things, the Captain’s body armor had saved him from the worst of the blast and was likely the only reason he was even still alive. Still, even with the armor’s protection, blood ran freely as the smell of burnt flesh nearly overwhelmed Leonards senses.

Out of habit drilled into him from countless hours of simulated training, Leonard yelled for a medic, only to be reminded that there was no sound.

Fighting down the rising panic, Leonard reoriented his focus to the problem at hand. Either he was deaf, which was a real possibility after traveling through the hellish portal, or wherever they were didn’t allow for sound waves to travel. Which was ridiculous in the extreme. There was plenty of breathable air, which meant there was enough mass for sound to travel. That was simple physics.

Leonard pointedly ignored the giant floating islands, which was a clear indicator that the laws of physics might not apply here.

Growling, and getting more frustrated for not being able to hear himself growl, Leonard turned back to the more serious matter at hand.

Saving Captain Glade.

Leonard quickly applied his only tourniquet to the most damaged leg and then applied what few medical compresses he had on hand. He avoided the charred skin. It would have to be treated later, but was well beyond his skill level to deal with.

A flicker of movement was all the warning he had before the portal next to Leonard bulged outward, the mercurial green surface expanding like a balloon stretched to bursting.

Without hesitation, Leonard threw himself over Glade in the vain hope his personal body armor would be sufficient in protecting them both from the impending blast.

Moments turned into seconds, which turned into half a minute before Leonard cautiously raised his head to find that the portal was simply… gone.

Sending a silent prayer of gratitude to whatever god was listening, Leonard turned his attention back to saving Glade. He knew better than to think he had enough experience to treat the majority of the wounds, but that didn’t matter so much as keeping the man alive. All he had to do was hold out long enough for Doc to come help.

Leonard paused in his ministrations as the fact that the tall Nigerian medic was absent struck him like a freight train. Where was he? More importantly, where were his other teammates?

Having done everything he could for the Captain, Leonard shot to his feet with the intent to find the others while cursing himself for being an utter moron. He had been so focused with the surroundings and administering first aid that he hadn’t even taken the time to think! Hopefully there was still time.

As he stepped forward to find a better vantage point to look for his missing team, three small clouds, each no bigger than a beach ball, flew into his line of sight, blocking his view as he tried to search for help.

Leonard moved around the misty balls of gold and silver doing his best to remember his training. Doctrine dictated that the first thing they should have done when entering a new location was to establish forward security. But no matter where he looked he couldn’t see them anywhere.

He had taken maybe two steps when again, Leonard found his way blocked by the small bits of floating fluff. This time he stopped dead in his tracks, understanding finally dawning on him.

Swallowing the newly formed lump in his throat, Leonard carefully stepped back while raising his rifle to what he now realized was most likely a threat. How a rifle could damage a cloud, he wasn’t sure, but at least it made him feel better.

Were they dangerous? Loenard didn’t know, but he didn’t want to risk being wrong. And if he wasn’t certain, then there was a good chance his team didn’t know either. He doubted they were as prepared as he was for potential interaction with alien life.

Of course, that’s when he started hearing voices.

“Designation…” a voice echoed inside his head.

Leonard was exceptionally glad there was no sound. If there had been, he was certain the incredibly hot looking elf kneeling close by would have heard him scream in a most unmanly way.

“Designation…” the voice repeated, the sound echoing in his mind.

Leonard put more distance between himself and what was likely some sort of will-o-wisp. The cloud creatures resembled the monsters from his D&D days, which were extremely dangerous. Better to be cautious than be taken by surprise like some third-rate red shirt.

“Designation…” he heard a third time.

Leonard shoved his panic to the back of his mind and forced himself to think. He was in a world that defied all known descriptions and natural laws. The girl who was likely from this place was cowering in fear but had made no move to run or fight. And these… wisps for lack of a better term, were trying to make contact. That could only mean they didn’t mean him any immediate harm, right?

If that was the case, then he was acting like an utter moron with an unknown species.

“Designation… Moron?”

Leonards eyebrows shot to the top of his head. Could they hear his thoughts?

“Yes…” The voice in his mind replied. Leonard swore he heard a subtle hint of humor in the response.

Grimacing at how this probably looked, he tried to orient his thoughts toward the closest wisp.

“Can you understand me?”

“Yes…”

“Wow! That’s… incredible! My designation is Leonard. Not moron,” he projected, his fear quickly replaced with an overwhelming sense of curiosity.

The presence in his mind shifted and he had the distinct impression the voice was pondering.

“Leonard… Not.... Moron... Acceptable…” the voice whispered.

Leonard could barely contain his excitement as the implications of this situation washed over him. He, Leonard, was communicating with other sentient life! Likely a first for the entire human race!

Oddly, the desire to rub this experience in his fathers face flashed through his mind. That and the obligatory ‘take me to your leader,’ popped into his mind before he could squash it.

For the briefest of moments, Leonard felt a low chuckle come from the presence before him. Choosing to play dumb and ignore the inadvertent leak of thoughts, Leonard focused on their most immediate needs.

“I’m sorry to ask, but is there any way you can help my friend?” Leonard pleaded, pointing to the dying man. “There was this crazy situation back on Earth, the place where we came from, and he just saved our lives. I mean, he’s not my friend per say, more like my boss? Anyway, he pushed me and the girl through what I think was a wormhole before our side exploded, which sort of destroyed our only way back. Which means we’re stuck here. Not that we’re upset mind you! It’s Incredible! I have so many questions…”

The clouds shifted ever so slightly as another cloud appeared from nowhere to join the other three, interrupting Leonard’s train of thought.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“Sorry. I’m rambling. And now there’s another one of you. Hello? So, back to my original question. Is there any chance you could help my friend, er.. I mean, boss? I’m not able to treat his wounds on my own.”

Moments passed in uncomfortable silence as a fifth cloud joined the others. Leonard was a bit worried that he may have either made some unknown blunder or, even worse, had completely misjudged the situation and was about to be eaten. They didn’t seem hostile, being nothing more than vapor. However, that didn’t mean they weren’t a threat. He would never forget the lesson Sigourney Weaver learned in Galaxy Quest - appearances were more often than not deceiving.

“Or if that isn’t possible,” he thought after a drawn out pause. “Maybe you could just show me where my team is? They might be able to…”

“Permission…” the voice projected, overriding his thoughts.

“Permission? Oh, I think I get it. Do you need permission to help?” Not seeing a downside, other than Glades imminent demise, he agreed. “Sure. I mean, yes. You have my permission to help.”

No sooner had the thought formed than the cloud closest to him grew a silvery appendage that immediately reached out to prod his face. Surprisingly, the touch felt… real. Like the hand of a child patting his face.

“Aren't you supposed to be helping my friend…” Leonard began, right before the vaporous tentacle plunged into his forehead.

Leonard, caught completely off guard, dropped to his knees as he felt his mind ripped apart. Anger surged as he realized that the Johnson and Johnson cotton ball rejects had attacked him!

The pain vanished as quickly as it had started the moment the cloud’s pseudopod retracted. Leonard fell forward on all fours, gasping for breath, as a semi-translucent screen formed in his vision.

Surprisingly, it resembled the prompt found in most of the MMORPG games found back on Earth.

Cerebral interface now operative within entity known as Leonard, not Moron. Fragments of Dimensional Adjudicator’s may now commence base level of communication without risk of permanent physical or psychological degradation. Further integration within this dimension’s interface is recommended for advancement options and progressive communication.

Your request, render aid, has been received. Before aid may be granted two conditions must be met. First, permission must be given for direct interaction with unknown entity requiring aid. Second, designation of unknown entity must be provided.

Note: Due to the unfamiliar nature of your corporeal bodies, one of the Adjudicators, Acumen, requests permission to study unknown designation during treatment.

Reward: Potential integration into Dimensional Authority.

Do you accept these terms?

Yes/No

Leonard’s eyes widened in surprise as he slowly stood before the small clouds of light, or more precisely, Adjudicator fragments if what he read on the screen was accurate. Though, he didn’t know if his surprise came from the fact that these fragments could communicate or that he was now living one of his longest running fantasies of all time!

He briefly rolled his eyes at the blatant misunderstanding of his name, but he didn’t let it get him down. Even the construct of the message resembled a quest, making him believe this was exactly like the games he had played so much.

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than another prompt appeared.

Note: Quests cannot be granted to designation Leonard, not Moron, until further integration is complete. Integration into dimensional 008 jurisdiction cannot commence until an absolute understanding of unknown designations corporeal physiology has been compiled and analyzed.

Leonard’s subconscious screamed for him to accept. The implications of what that last statement entailed was every gamer’s dream! But there were too many unknown variables. Like the fact that his choice could have unforeseen impacts to his entire squad. Not to mention for Captain Glade, who would likely be subjected to who knew what kind of probes.

He shivered, his imagination running away from him as every area 51 movie flashed through his mind. For once in his life, he needed to think beyond the immediate.

Warning! Current assessment of unknown designation is that permanent death will occur in less than three minutes.

Warning! Permanent death of unknown designation outside of dimensional jurisdiction 133, assessed point of origin, may result in becoming a cursed spirit, unable to ascend.

The last prompt made Leonard's moral dilemma easy. He couldn’t have Glade becoming a cursed spirit after all.

Leonard selected yes.

Please provide designation of unknown entity.

Leonard winced, realizing he didn’t know his commanding officer’s full name. The whole rank and callsign thing still annoyed him, but that wasn’t important. Unfortunately, all he really knew was his commanding officer's last name.

“His designation is Glade.” Leonard thought, giving a mental shrug. Besides, it likely didn’t matter if these fragments knew his full name or not.

Confirmed. Designation receiving aid is now recognized as Glade.

Please confirm permission for comprehensive study, restoration, and integration of designation Glade into dimension 008 jurisdiction.

“... Confirmed?” Leonard thought.

No sooner had he granted permission than hundreds of golden threads shot from the cloud base, covering Glade in an array of translucent filaments.

Mesmerized, Leonard watched as hundreds more of the threads appeared, gently lifting the man from the ground as they moved in an intricate dance across the man’s damaged body. More joined the increasingly complex movements, some weaving in and out of wounds, while others passed through him without restriction.

The moment was beyond surreal. Leonard was cocooned in absolute silence in a heavenly landscape while watching unknown aliens operate on his commanding officer. Moments like these, and the ones he had just experienced from the wormhole, should have driven him mad. But they didn’t. In fact, he was smiling. The only word he could think of to describe what he was feeling was - awesome!

Pulling his gaze from Glade’s treatment, Leonard glanced over to the girl they had rescued. She was trembling with fear, her body prostrated on the ground as three Adjudicator fragments floated gently around her.

Now that he thought about it, the girl’s actions made sense. These beings must be like gods to her.

Initial scan of designation Glade complete. Race identified as human. Evolutionary comparison with known human sentients within Adjudicator's jurisdiction is complete. Significant differences identified. Compatibility for integration confirmed. Commencing integration protocols for all parties.

Attention designation Leonard, not Moron! Compatibility for further integration into this jurisdiction has been confirmed. Authorize approval?

Yes/No

Note: Due to the destruction of the inter-dimensional gateway the option to return to dimension 133 is no longer viable. Choices have been limited to full integration into dimension 008 and be placed on the world of Veil, or to cease corporeal existence and proceed to the spiritual plane.

Leonard had to re-read the last prompt twice to make sure he understood the implications. Not much of a choice in his opinion.

Note: Integration into this jurisdiction will grant the following. Opportunity to advance by being placed on the world of Veil. Location of placement determined by choices made during the integration process. Ability to manage personal advancement through an interactive module. Other opportunities are available depending upon the number of boons granted.

Note: Due to the current stage of development on Veil, items found on designations Leonard, not Moron, and Glade are prohibited and will be replaced.

Leonard pinched himself, praying this wasn’t a dream. He, Leonard Bernard Wolf IV, was about to go through a character creation! Any one of his friends would sell their own families for a chance like this!

Thinking of friends, Leonard was reminded about his team. Were they being given the same option?

“Could you tell me what happened to the others that came before me?” Leonard projected.

A new prompt appeared.

Note: All other entities from your dimension, other than designations Leonard, not Moron, and Glade, have concurred and have begun their integrative process. Further communication is not possible.

Leonard rolled his eyes at the continued misuse of his name but understood the explanation. The team must have already been given their choices. Either way, there was nothing he could do for them at the moment.

With that dilemma solved and Glade well on his way to being healed, Leonard rubbed his hands together and selected yes.