The base was buzzing with activity by that evening, everyone trying to prepare for what lay ahead.

Summers watched a pair of soldiers in a medical tent, one with what remained of his legs wrapped up to the knee, the other looked to be missing an eye. Even so, they seemed happy, even excited that they might finally see home again.

As they spoke, Summers realized something. He didn't share that feeling. Despite knowing he was making the right choice, if not for himself, then for the others.

Not that it mattered. He'd already made up his mind.

“You coming or what?” Nowak's question stirred Summers from his thoughts.

“...Yeah.”

Summers sat up, ignoring the pain. He still had a job to finish.

----------------------------------------

The Colonel stood in a large tent at the center of the base, an odd expression as she stared down at the small pile of dog tags on her desk, most were of the 63rd, some, their own people.

The mementos had been one of the few things that survived their fight at the bunker, and all that remained of those that had been lost in this world.

Knowing the one responsible was just a few hundred feet away, was another feeling all together.

The Colonel cleared her throat.

“... Thank you. I'll make sure these get to the right people. Hopefully, once we're on the other side, we'll see to a proper ceremony.”

“...Do we have an eta on that, ma'am?” Nowak asked.

“Soon.” She answered. “You made the right choice. I'll do everything in my power to ensure you're comfortable while we work things through, you have my word on that.”

Her eyes lingered on the helmet moment before a loud rumble caught their attention.

The group turned to find the wide doors of a bunker opening. Summers could see several carts wheeling what were almost certainly missiles inside.

“...Insurance.” The Colonel explained. “We want to keep the Sergeant honest here, and that anchor's all the bastard cares about.”

Summers paused, thinking over his next words. It was something he had been mulling over a while, seeing the Colonel's “insurance” only hardened that resolve.

“Ma'am, I had a... suggestion for this deal of yours.”

“...I understood you were on board with my decision.”

“I am. But I think I've proven I can counter his uh... unique methods?”

The Colonel glanced him over before speaking again.

“Say what you're going to say, Corporal.”

“I think I can stop the Sergeant if he tries anything. I've seen him deflect gunfire and... I think it would be smart to have a backup plan short of your missile solution. With respect, ma'am.”

The Colonel put a hand to her chin, thinking.

“I'm not opposed to the idea, but you're aware of the risk?”

Summers gave a tired smile.

“...Ma'am, if our only other option is to blow the place to hell, I think I might actually be safer like this.”

----------------------------------------

“...Any particular reason you wanted to get into more shit, or you just feel like pushing your luck?” Nowak double checked the rifle at his side.

“Because I'm almost sure this is going to go to hell, and I'd rather get ahead of it while we have the chance.”

“You had one foot in the grave earlier, man.”

“...I can handle it, trust me on this, Sarge. Guy tries anything, pretty sure I can give him a concussion just by yanking his brain around.”

Two soldiers led them to the bunker that Summers had seen when they'd arrived. Inside, a long ramp led the group deep underground.

As they walked, they were pointedly ignoring a large missile being wheeled along beside them. The soldiers had assured them it wasn't armed. It didn't do much to soothe their nerves.

“So, we just leaving everything behind?” Cortez felt at her mostly empty pack. “Feels like a waste.”

“Everything we move just gives that asshole more time to try something.” Nowak answered. “And not like we're short on bullets on earth. Or food, or missiles for that matter.”

“Well, definitely not missiles.” Cortez agreed.

Nowak looked back to the group.

“If anyone else is having any second thoughts, now's the time...”

None of them said a word.

Summers caught sight of Pat staring at the missile, he and the others were all looking more than a little shell shocked after yesterday's revelation.

“Pat, you doing okay?”

Pat turned to Summers, seemingly surprised at the attention.

“No, my friend, I'm not. I don't know what I should do.” He hesitated. “You've shown me things I would have seldom imagined. And I'm thankful.”

“Look I've told you before, you don't owe me anything, if-”

“We follow you because we want to.” Pat interrupted. “I'm not a fool, Commander. I would not pledge my life to an idiot.”

Summers considered that. Compared to the others, Pat was the only one with solid ties in this world. Even Synel had spent most of her life on the road.

“Look man, I don't know what to tell you.” Summers admitted. “All I know is that if we stay here, we're not going to be able to accomplish much.”

Pat looked back at Summers.

“...I trust you.”

“So do we.” Bard added, grabbing his brother.

Cortez put an arm around a dour looking Orvar, who nodded as well.

Summers took a breath to steady his nerves. They were coming up to the finish line now. And while they were all tired, at least they were together.

It was his fault Nowak and Cortez had been stranded in this world, now, he'd at least be able to repay that debt. As for the others...

Nothing he did could fix what was coming. But they'd get out of this with their lives.

Synel moved up beside Summers.

“So, this stock market you were telling me about...”

He flashed her a smile, some might adapt a little faster than others.

“...Don't understand a bit of it if I'm being honest. But if anyone can figure it out-”

Summers stopped as the hall opened up to a cavernous room. The entire group slowed as it came into sight.

A black sphere almost as large as the room was tall, its surface rippling like water. As Summers watched, a series of dark tendrils broke the surface, three branching fingers forming from their end before receding back into the mass.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“Going to guess that's our anchor.” Cortez said after a moment.

Summers could only stare at the structure. There was something about it...

“...Home.”

He caught himself taking an involuntary step forward, his mind immediately going on high alert. Whatever that thing was doing, it was calling to him. And he was not stupid enough to answer.

“You okay there?”

Summers found Cortez staring at him, worried.

“Yeah. Just a little... off.” Summers looked at the anchor, doing his best to suppress his urge to approach it.

The rest of the room was filled with soldiers. All in full gear, and each staring at the entrance they were occupying.

Summers realized only a second later they weren't looking at him. Behind them, he found the thin man, Wendel, with more than a few guards in tow.

The fact he was walking on his own two feet, with two fully functional hands, was telling in and of itself. He also seemed slightly taller.

He gave Summers a wide smile.

“Well, this just keeps getting better and better.”

----------------------------------------

Summers stood at the thin man's side, ready to move if he so much as twitched funny.

So far, all he'd done was stare up at the “anchor”. There were a group of people beside it, double checking the various systems Summers was sure he wouldn't understand.

He did, however, recognize the explosives strapped to the various “normal” components. Those that looked to be obviously added by the army.

Meanwhile, every other soldier had their hands on their weapons, eyes fixed directly on them.

The thin man didn't seem to care.

“We're still willing to reach an agreement you know. It's not as though we hold a grudge, our death would merely be an... inconvenience. If you wanted to remain here, we would be more than happy to oblige. You have an interesting resourcefulness to you. With the proper education...”

“...And help you murder innocent people?”

“Simply a means to an end, that much we can assure.” He looked at the injured men at the far side of the room.

They were being led in a few at a time. Hopefully, a sign they'd be leaving soon. As Summers watched the man's face, he could see something like recognition, or remorse. Maybe there was still some part of Wendel in there. Or maybe he wasn't a complete bastard.

Either way, the less he had to do with the man, the better. He was essentially responsible for everything that had happened during his time in this world. Including those they'd lost. Talking with him, that would just make what was coming harder.

Unfortunately, the other man didn't seem to share that sentiment.

“We’re far more familiar with you than you know, and far more alike. We both want to protect our people, after all. Can't imagine how many you’ve killed coming here. As for this world, you'll find our methods far more merciful than our colleagues...”

Summers glanced over to his friends in the distance.

“I've seen what you did to this world.” Summers stared right back at him. “You really think you're going to justify that?”

“Justify? Do you not understand the danger your people face?”

And that just pissed Summers off.

“Whatever the fuck you have planned-”

“Oh, for the god's sake, not us.” He paused. “This world, imagine it's similar to your own, isn't it? Rough around the edges, maybe, but let us assure you, our planet is the same. Our bodies. Our minds. We're, all of us, human.”

“Is that supposed to make it better?”

“...We've told you that life is rare. Human life, even less so. There’s a purpose for all this, our world's survival is paramount.”

“And the rest of these people don't mean jack shit.”

“Those left will be led into a golden age with our brightest minds to guide them. And in the face of what's coming...” He hesitated. “The anchors were our last resort. Cobbled together, really. We had weapons that could shatter planets. Wonders you couldn't imagine. And we died. Have you considered what could have done that? Across every existence the earth remains mostly the same, so why would humans, life, be an exception?”

Summers thought about what he said. Truth be told, he'd never considered what could destroy a civilization that created something like the hamr. Let alone why they'd do it.

“...You’re saying it's being wiped out?”

“Very good!” The thin man's smile broadened. “Your people have hope yet.”

There was something that destroyed a people thousands of years ahead of their world, and they were still out there.

That was its own kind of terrifying.

But it didn't change what he needed to do.

“Uh, sir?”

Summers turned to find a soldier at their side, the man looked more than a little nervous.

“…We're ready to get started... If you'd approach the anchor-”

“Ah, no need.” The thin man snapped his fingers, and the sphere in the center of the room responded. It pulsed with an unseen energy as it rotated, slowly ramping up as the tendrils on its surface reacted in kind.

The thin man gave Summers one last smile.

“...We'll see you off.”

----------------------------------------

Asle watched as the sphere in the back of the room began to vibrate. Then, all at once, the world seemed to split.

There was a flash of light, and the room was suddenly much, much larger. With several very confused soldiers on the other side.

Before they could so much as react, the Colonel approached the threshold, hands raised.

That was good thinking on her part, the soldiers on the other side were all armed, and surprised. She was shouting some kind of jargon Asle couldn't quite understand, but she'd announced her title so Asle was confident her meaning would get through.

A few feet away, Summers stood beside the thin man. He'd tensed once the “anchor” started to do something. Now that the Colonel was closer, he only seemed more focused.

“We're going to start headed across, no more than three bodies at a time.” The Colonel announced. “I want the injured up and going, now!”

Asle saw a group of soldiers help limping and bandaged men to their feet.

She questioned the reasoning behind the Colonel's order before remembering what had happened to the beast they'd encountered when they first got here. It had been torn to pieces when the “portal” turned off.

Considering its opening or closing was dependent on their enemy, she could imagine what that would do to a human body. In fact, from what Summers had told them, the Colonel was probably more than aware of that fact herself.

Another man took a soldier under his arm, helping one that was missing a leg.

“Delta...” The Colonel approached their group. “We have people coming to handle your team's transfer once this is done. Contamination procedure, need you to hang tight until then.”

“Understood.” Nowak replied.

There was an implied order there. They were still outsiders to the army at large, they'd need to be watched. That was something she would need to get used to all over again.

She'd found somewhere she belonged. Somewhere she could be useful, where she was trusted, and where she could live a real life. Now, that was going to end. But it wasn't the worse fate she could imagine. At least she had friends.

Bit by bit, the soldiers from their side began to move to the other.

“Squads one and three!” The Colonel shouted.

At once, the soldiers that were called began to cross over. The soldiers on the other side all held weapons ready, watching for anything strange, but not showing any outright hostility.

In less than a minute, the room had emptied out.

Only their group remained.

Then, a handful of heavily armed soldiers arrived on the other side. They wore the same rubber suits Asle had seen on the Colonel's men. The Colonel gave them a nod of approval.

“Delta!” The Colonel yelled from the far wall.

“Sarge...” Summers called to Nowak. “Get everyone over. I'll follow once we have the others clear.”

Nowak hesitated for a moment, glancing between Summers and the portal.

“Cortez, Asle, you're with me. Pat, Synel, and Bard next. We'll cover from earth side.”

Cortez nodded, hefting her gun.

“C’mon.” She held out a hand to Asle.

Asle walked to the machine, turning back to look at Summers as she approached the threshold. To her surprise, he was focused on them, not what he was doing, not even the men that had come to “handle” their reception.

And for whatever reason, he seemed sad.

He’d been trying to sell all of them on his world, ignoring any troubles he’d face by leaving. Or even the problems he’d bring to his “earth.”

And suddenly, she understood what was happening. Asle stopped just as they crossed the threshold, then started walking back.

“Asle!” Nowak shouted.

“Shit what's she doing?!” Cortez held her gun aimed at the thin man.

But neither of them followed.

As Asle approached, Synel gave her a small smile.

“He's a terrible liar, isn't he?”

“Asle, get back over there.” Summers spoke harshly.

Asle didn't move. None of them did.

“...You were planning on staying, weren't you?”

Summers hesitated.

“Please... go.” He repeated.

Pat moved up beside him, the twins followed.

Orvar cast a quick glance to the portal, to Cortez, before he too moved to Summers' side.

“...As I said…” Pat began. “I trust you. We trust you. If this is your path, it's our privilege to follow...”

“And as much as I prefer living, life in a cage would be much lonelier without company.” Synel added.

“...God damnit...” Summers muttered.

The thin man listened to the exchange, still grinning.

“Wonderful. You've made a wise choice.”

Summers gave the man a harsh look before he raised his gun.

Asle saw both Cortez and Nowak bolt towards the portal as one. Summers acted before they could, firing into the machine beside the anchor.

“Summers, you a-”

Cortez' voice was abruptly cut off as the portal collapsed, leaving the room much smaller, and emptier, than it had been.

Summers allowed his gun to drop, letting out a long breath.

“...You want to know the difference between me and you?” Summers started as he looked at the man known as Wendel. “I don't try to justify what I've done as some greater good...”

In one swift move, Summers hand shot out, wrapping around the thin man's head.

“Wai-”

The thin man was cut off as his body immediately froze, then went limp. Summers let him fall to the ground before lifting his rifle and putting two shots into the back of the other man's head.

“...In fact, I'm kind of an asshole.”

Then, everything was silent.

Synel took a step back as blood began to pool around their shoes.

“That was violent.”

“Yeah…” Summers agreed. “Sorry.”

Asle stared down at the body impassively.

“Don’t be.”

After a moment, Summers turned back to the group, giving a pointed glance to the missile a few feet away from him.

“So... we should probably get out of here sooner than later.”

----------------------------------------

BOOM!

Even from this distance, the explosion that came from the bunker shook them to their core.

Figuring out how to detonate the missiles was easier than Summers would have expected, having watched them set it up.

“…No way in hell that “anchor” survived, but we should double check either way.” Summers shaded his eyes with a hand.

“...So, what's the plan?” Synel prompted. “...I assume you have a plan.” She gave him a severe look.

“I didn't plan for you to be here.” Summers retorted.

“As if you'd be rid of us that easily. Come now, you're their Commander.” Synel gestured to the four men beside him.

He turned to the others, tired as they were, there was life in their eyes, even Asle's.

They were fighters, each of them, he should have seen it sooner. Every fucked-up monster he'd faced was something these people lived with all their lives. Of course they wouldn't balk at the idea of a bigger threat. It was just what needed to be done. It was life. Impossible as it may be.

“...Just because we closed their way home doesn't mean this thing will stop spreading. It's only a matter of time until someone like Wendel shows up again, right?”

“Most likely.” Synel answered.

Summers sighed, still staring at the base.

“...Then we should get ready, we have a world to save.”