“Jode we are all here and ready when you are,” I hear Drake's voice in the air.

I walk into the wall thinking of the Grand hall. I appear at the back again and walk up to the couch where the others sit with Drake and Star.

“What is that room with all the tables and items on it?” I ask.

“There are many rooms with tables and equipment on them,” Drake answers.

“This one had one table with a glove, rod, and a laptop.”

“A laptop?”

“It is a device in the human world for storing information,” Star says.

“Oh that is one of the many experimental rooms in the city.” Drake says then asks, “Are you ready?”

“Yeah go for it.” I say.

Drake speaks under his breath. The room looks like it shakes really fast or vibrates, but I do not feel anything. I look around and say, “Well what happened?”

“The city is fully active now,” Drake says.

“Well did we move or what?” I ask.

“I don't know,” Drake says.

“Well let's find out,” I say and head for the wall. In my hurry I look at a spot a few steps before the wall. I think teleport and find myself taking a step at the wall. I then think of the foyer and walk through the wall.

In the foyer I walk to the door and then walk out when it opens. At no time did I have to wait. I thought of teleporting to the doors, but I was afraid it might not open fast enough.

I walk out to see a yellow hew covering everything. I look up and see even the sky is yellow. The air itself looks sick. “What did we do?” I ask out loud.

“Nothing we are in another place or even world,” Drake says.

“Why?” I ask.

“I don't know,” Drake says, “Balthazar set the city to take us to the next puzzle.”

“Great, how do we get down?” I ask, then add, “Although I'm not sure I want to.”

“The lift will work anywhere the city is. You just take a transporter ball and use it to get back.” he says.

“Will it work here?” I ask.

“Your magic works so the transporter will work.” Drake says.

“Well let's find out something,” I say

“What?” Rock asks.

I envision a bird and say, “Construct aid.”

A hawk appears on the ground at my feet and squawks. I look down to see it looking at me. “Can you understand me?” I ask.

It squawks and nods its head. “Can I see through your eyes?” I ask. Again it squawks and nods its head.

I close my eyes and imagine I can see through its eyes. At first I see a fuzzy image, then I hear a voice in my head, “Relax and it will come.”

I relax and see the strangest image of my life. I see the area, but at a lower level. I no longer see the yellow hew. In fact I see no color at all. Everything is in black and white. I think ‘is this how hawks see?’

‘No, you see what your mind will perceive. I will send you extra images as I see them.’ I hear in my head.

“Does it hurt you if you die?” I ask out loud.

‘No.’ Comes the voice in my head. ‘I simply return to my home plane. I would recommend you disconnect from me though. It might hurt you if we are still connected.’

“I forced you into this didn't I?” I ask.

‘Yes, but do not feel sorry for my kind. We like to do this. If we didn't you could not summon us.’

“Do you know how long you will remain here?” I ask.

‘No, that depends on the link. It varies greatly. Is there something you would like me to do?’

'Do you mind scouting around?” I ask.

‘Not at all.’ I see the ground move. I see a light jerking as it gains height.

I watch in wonder as I fly around the city, then over the edge of the city. I see a barren wasteland. Everything is burnt and dry. The ground looks to have juts of rocks sticking out at odd angles.

I see no sign of life. I don't even see plants. “Can you see if there is anything that looks like civilization?” I ask.

It swoops around at different angles. Every once in a while I see distant spires come into better focus quickly. After a couple of minutes of nothing I say, “Come back. I don't think there is anything.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

I open my eyes and take a few seconds to refocus with my own eyes. I turn to the others and say, “There is nothing, just desolation.”

“Why did he bring us here?” Drake asks.

“I don't know. Too bad we didn't have a life scanner or something,” I say.

“The city can't scan for life, but it can detect magic,” Drake says.

“Well that is better than nothing,” I say.

“Arbitrator,” Drake says. A fairly large watcher appears in front of him. He then says, “We need to find any magic in the area. Locate and describe.”

“Only one location detected,” it replies, “To the southeast about two days walk in a structure that emanates a high level of magic. The signature indicates ancient human magic.”

“Thank you, return to post,” Drake says and it disappears.

“I guess that is where we go,” I say.

“Don't forget the return balls,” Falls says.

“I think I have a better idea. Let's take the balls and I will link us,” I say.

“How did you learn that?” Rock asks.

“Not sure I have yet, but I was going to test it,” I say. I walk over to a bush and say, “Link,” as I touch it and envision the cord connecting me to the tree.

I see flicker of a silver cord connected to my belly and the bush. I try to see it after it is gone, but there is no sign of it. I walk a distance away from the bush and say, ”Activate link.” As I finish the last word I appear next to the bush.

“Awesome,” I hear Rock yell, “Why do we need the ball when we got Jode.”

I turn and look at him, “For safety. Just in case my spell is not strong enough. Plus the link spell will only work if you are in the same plane or dimension. I am figuring the city's transporter is a bit stronger than the spell,” I say.

“Actually no Jode,” Drake says, “That is the same spell that is on the balls.”

“Um oh, Then I guess pick an object you want to link to,” I say.

I step over and link again to the bush and the others line up behind me. I roll my eyes and let Rock step up to the bush, “Now touch the bush,” I say.

Rock touches the bush. I point to Rock and say, “Link”, I see the silver cord flash between him and the bush. I then repeat it on Oaky and Falls.

I look at Drake and Star, “You want to just in case?” I ask.

“I have already linked us earlier,” Drake says.

“Okay, Ooo I just thought of something, Sesney?” I say.

“Yes,” He says behind me.

“Are you able to feel what dimension we are in?”

“Yes,” I hear as the hawk lands on my shoulder.

“Anything?” I ask looking sideways at the hawk.

‘No.’

“Are we in the same plane or dimension we started at Sesney?” I ask.

“No, It would be what the ancients called a higher dimension,” he replies.

“I don't understand. If it is a higher dimension, then why do we still see it like our normal dimension?” I ask.

“It's not a dimension as you were taught, Jode. The best I can describe it is a different plane like in D&D. The ancients did not see dimensions as in the third, fourth, and so on. A dimension was more like a different universal plane. Then in each universal plane exist different planes of existence.”

“Oh the multiverse concept,” I say.

“Best comparison yes,” Sesney says.

“Drake is there some way we can have a device or something that will direct us to this magic?” I ask.

“No,” he says.

“I can do that,” Oaky says, “I can feel where it is.”

“Okay,” I look sideways at the hawk, “Do you mind being our eyes in the sky?” I ask.

‘No.’

“Well we got a look out unless you want to Rock?” I ask and look at Rock.

“No I'm fine staying on the ground. It is easier to defend that way,” he returns.

“Well off we go then. Don't wait up Mom and Dad,” I say looking at Drake and Star.

Drake gives me a glare and Star just smiles. I get in the lift and wait for the others. After everyone is in, I put my hand on the plate. The doors close and the room lights up. After a few seconds the front doors open.

As they open hot dry air blasts us in the face. It feels like the doors opened into a furnace. I hold my hand out and say, “Pull water,” and nothing happens.

“Great, no water in the air. I hope there is enough water in the belt for us all,” I say.

“There are no nutrients in the air either,” Oaky says.

We walk out of the lift and the door closes. I watch as it shoots straight up into the air. I turn around and see Falls on the ground.

“There is water in the ground, but really deep. It would take me a while to pull it up. It is also very hot. It will burn skin easily. The rock in the area is unusual, but I can work with it,” she says, then stands up.

“Looks like this is going to be very arduous,” I say and the hawk takes off.

‘Judging by the angle of the light, the sun will be down soon.’ Hawk comments in my head.

“Well the sun may be going down. Maybe that might help,” I say, “Well off we go.”

I motion for Oaky to lead the way. She heads off and we keep pace beside her. “Sesney do you know what happened here? And why there is air without plants?” I ask.

“I don't know what happened. I have never been here. As for the oxygen, it appears it is being produced deep in the planet. How, I don't know. I see large vents releasing it,” Sesney replies.

“How odd. How can oxygen be produced without sunlight?”

“I don't know. It could be that something in the planet is chemically separating the oxygen and hydrogen in the water.”

“Wouldn't that produce a lot of hydrogen in the air too?”

“Theoretically yes, there are two hydrogen atoms to one oxygen, but there seems to be a lack of hydrogen.”

“Really strange.”

‘Something is coming.’ I hear the hawk in my head.

“Hawk says something is coming,” I say and stop, “What is it?”

I see a vision of what looks like large rolling boulders. There is one large in front that looks to be half a size bigger than the other two. They make a 'V' shape with the larger boulder in front.

“Okay we have three boulders heading our way,” I say.

“What?” Rock asks.

“I see three boulders rolling our way,” I say and the hawk lands on my shoulder. Then I feel a rumbling in the ground below us.

I look in the distance and see a dust trail heading our way. “Well maybe we are on a bolder path or something. Lets shift off to the side,” I say and walk a distance to my right, then stop.

‘Didn't work, they are still heading our way.’ Hawk says.

“Great, they changed course. I guess we meet intelligent boulders or something,” I say.

“What if they are trying to roll over us?” Rock asks.

“Then we are in deep. If all else fails return to the city by the link. Do you all know how to? I ask. They all nod in agreement.

I wait and watch the boulders grow in size. The front boulder looks about ten feet tall. As they get closer they look to be slowing down. They get a couple of yards away and stop.

I watch as they turn from rocks to dark magma, then morph into a semblance of a human. Large round bodies with arms and legs. The head is ill proportionally small.

“Who are you?” the large magma man asks, sounding like a man drowning in thick liquid.