Gary worked in Interceptions.

His day started as many other public servants bagan. First he got out of bed, kissed his wife on the forehead, accepted her sleepy re-affections, and stumbled into the shower to clean up.

He showered, shaved and dressed out of pure habit. Consciousness arrived again and he found hiself absorbing some sweet caffeine from the little corner store near the train station. He had a quick bite of something hot and full of carbs, brushed crumbs off of his suit, and continued on his journey.

He caught the T3 into the city, entered a building looking far older than its chrome and glass neighbors, and flashed his ID badge on three separate scanners.

Studiously ignoring his much too awake coworkers, he entered an elevator, hit the lowest button, and tried to catch some sleep.

Far too soon he was forced back to wakefulness by the ding of the elevator.

This is where Gary's day starts looking a little different than the average paper pusher.

Loud noises, demonic screaming, lasers, and far more.

Bright lights strobed across his vision.

Gary grumbled, shielded his eyes, and marched resolutely across the floor.

A young boy at a desk with a laptop. A USB cord ran from it into a large circle drawn in chalk. It was sparking wildly.

An older woman stood at a blackened gun range, shooting a flamethrower.

Five teenages and an older man sat in a circle, exchanging stories, learning they are far from alone.

Ignoring all of this, Gary walked to his station. A desk and chair facing a blank white wall.

A prankster had drawn two large ovals, one in blue, one in red, next to each other.

A stack of paperwork sat in its cradle, ready to be reviewed. A new page appeared in a puff of static, and fell perfectly onto the top of the stack. Gary sat down, read the piece of paper, pulled a pair of reading glasses from his desk drawer, and read it again.

He was halfway through an absolutely fascinating report about the financial decisions regarding company paperclips when a large hum split the air.

The generally manic atmosphere evaporated. The noise and lights dimmed and all attention, save one, was focused on the wall.

*********

Two large portals appeared on the blank wall, completely ignoring the suggested locations.

A young boy stumbled out of the left portal. Through the right portal, A throne room, filled with courtiers and men in pointy hats was visible.

Gary hit a button under his desk. He did not look away from his report.

A silver hand emerged from beneath the desk, flew through the right portal, and dragged back a man. He was wearing enough jewelry to outfit a small retail shop.

The silver hand dumped the man unceremoniously on the floor and disappeared.

“Uhh, Excuse me, what's going on?” The young boy said.

The bejeweled man rose to his feet. “What is the meaning of this!” He bellowed.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Gary put one finger up, in a universal “Just a second” motion.

The king, for that was what he could only be described as, seemed to be near apoplexy.

The boy, after a moment of bewilderment, recognised the situation, held his hands together and waited patiently.

A few tense moments later, Gary put down his paper, removed and folded up his glasses and proclaimed in a bored, monotone voice, directly at the man.

“You have been found in breach of section 19 of the Inter-dimensional Relations act of Earth, 2007”

“As this is your first transgression, you will be allowed to receive a handbook detailing the proper Laws, Regulations and Procedures relating to the hiring of Earth personnel in matters of Augury, Fate, and Prophesy”

Gary reached to his side, and retrieved a thick book from a box. He took aim, pressed a small gem on the cover, and the book flew quickly towards the king.

It hit him solidly, and with the grace of an aardvark, flew back through his portal. It closed with a satisfying click.

With a much warmer voice, Gary turned to his astonished audience.

“You have been found important to someone. A call to fate if you will. Are you familiar with what I speak?”

The boy nodded.

“You may decline, the option exists, do not feel pressured.” The boy was shaking his head fiercely.

Gary smiled weirily.

“If you do decide to take part, we have lawyers to go over any contacts on your behalf. You will get proper compensation. You can either return through the portal and we will contact you or” Gary paused for a moment and continued, with a bit more compassion. “We have facilities and accommodation, you may stay here”

“Could I stay here...?” The boy seemed hopeful. He glanced back towards his portal.

“Of course”

Gary signalled to some of the watchers from the side. A young teenage girl ran over, spoke quietly with the boy, and led him away.

He watched as the portal closed. Memories of a much younger man played in his mind.

***

Inside a meeting room, A young boy, looking happier than he had before. A bespeckled lawyer, A nondescript management type, A particularly bejeweled man, and Gary.

“...for a maximum service of five years…”

“…yment will be made through ritual portal drops to this address…”

“...cation shall be continued through remote schooling through the use of a laptop or scrying mirr…”

“...vided with at least three weeks leave per annua…”

The lawyer droned on, the participants seemed to be falling asleep.

“...nd so on. That concludes the summary of the contract”

The king was handed a thick parchment book, dotted with little “Sign Here” tags, and a small quill, with a very sharp tip.

He resolutely stabbed the quill into his arm, blood seemed to fill the quill.

As he signed the document, sparks flew.