“Shock and Awe,” Adaline asked. “Thor, what exactly is going on, What, ‘exactly’ does it mean that we have come into the real world,” she said as she put up a hand to forestall a response. “Yes, Al sort of explained things to me when he contacted me through his counterpart, but I think we should find out what just happened because this does not feel like the transfer I was told would happen.”
“There was no transfer,” Thor said through the video screen everyone was looking at.
“No Transfer?” Adaline asked, puzzled. “If it wasn’t Adam and it wasn’t you, are we in the real world?”
“Yes,” Thor said.
“We keep hearing about the ‘real’ world, what exactly are we talking about?” Callum asked.
Another man appeared beside Thor on the screen. This man looked to be a bit older and a little more dignified as he seemed to look out of the monitor at everyone in the living room. “Hello everyone. I am Al. I am the original SYSTEM Matrix Artificial Intelligence that was assigned to oversee the original game server. Instead, I oversaw the Universe that everyone except Callum, Pythias, Robert, Asling, and Cedrik is from.
“Are you a God?” Cedrik asked.
“By the definition, you are probably thinking of, yes I was a God of sorts but out here in this world, no,” Al said.
“Let’s start at the beginning,” Thor said. “Back on Earth men and women created a game. During the process of creating the ‘Game,’ they accidentally figured out how to influence the birth of a Universe. In so doing the game was housed inside those Universes and the realities you all grew up in began to exist. People from this Universe entered that first ‘Game’ Universe and interacted with the denizens of that Universe in the ‘Game.’
“Why would people do that? Don’t they have their own lives to live?” Asling asked.
“Some would say because their lives were boring. Others would say because there was no magic and there could be in the ‘game’. Still, others would say that they could be something they were not. Earth, the world the makers of the ‘Game’ come from, only has humans on it, as far as they knew. There were no halflings, dark elves, half-celestials, or beings like Pandora, Adaline, or Adam” Al said.
“There were also two other factors that have brought us to the point we are, well three. First, The original ‘Game’ universe was contaminated by pure, or raw, chaos. This corruption is ultimately the root cause of what has transpired. Adam worked long and hard to fix that corruption as Al allowed others to try various ways to correct the damage in the ‘game.’ Second, The Universe which housed the ‘Game’ was attacked by an outside force that eventually destroyed the Energy Matrix the ‘Game’ was running on. To save as many as possible Al was able to duplicate the technology and save as many beings as possible,” Thor said.
“That action is what forced me to separate Adaline from Pandora. In the Emergency, I was able to keep Pandora with Adam’s Mom, Dad, Abi, Amanda Desirae, and Clarence. When I realized the Universe Pandora just came from was damaged I removed as many people as I could…
“Wait,” Pandora said interrupting Al, Adam’s mom, and dad. You said Adam’s mom and dad. That means they’re my Grandma and Grandpa right? They’re here,” Pandora said looking at the other people she didn’t know.
“Yes dear,” Cindy Patricia Bennard, Adam’s mom, said.
“That would be us,” Robert Clancy Bennard, Adam’s dad, said as he held Cindy’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry sweetheart, I didn’t even think,” Adaline said as Pandora took some tentative steps toward Cindy who opened her arms for a hug, which Pandora readily accepted as she rushed into it.
For the next little bit Adaline, Cindy, Robert Bennard, and Pandora huddled around each other and talked.
“Well, that went off the rails,” Clarence said.
“Yeah, Desirae said but it was bound to. I knew we forgot to do something when Pandora and her team arrived.
“Well, we might as well make the most of it. Everyone on the team was only in our Universe for, what? A couple of hours, before everything changed. Might as well introduce ourselves.
While Adaline and Pandora talked with Adam’s mom and dad, everyone else introduced themselves. This went on for about an hour until Thor spoke up, “If everyone could make their way back into the living room. We still have some stuff to go over.”
A couple of nods of acquiescence were seen, then everyone made their way back and took their seats, and made themselves comfortable.
Okay, so the plan was originally for me, “Al said,” to reconnect with the portions of myself I left in control of the backup ‘game’ universes I’d created and prepare to transfer the people from this Universe back here so they could go on living their lives and to bring all of you out here as well.” Al said.
“What is so special about this Universe?” Cedrik asked.
That’s kind of hard to explain to someone that doesn’t understand what a computer or computer game is,” Thor said.
“Let me try,” Abi said.
“Go ahead,” Thor said.
“Functionally there is no difference to us right now. A little while ago we were inside a virtual Universe and now we are in a physical universe on another planet,” Abi said as she looked thoughtful for a moment. “A virtual universe had its rules set up by normal people who made it however they wanted. If they wanted to be super powerful, they could be. If they wanted to pretend to be the opposite sex, they could be. They’re body in their Universe wouldn’t change but they could travel into the Virtual Universe and become whatever they wanted. The problems Thor and Al explained arose for people from the real universe when they could not stop pretending and could not return to their bodies in this Universe. By the way, Thor, what happened to their original bodies?” Abi asked.
“They all died,” Thor said.
“Okay then. So, all those people that were pretending to be something they weren’t got stuck in our universe.”
“So virtual could mean fake?” Cedrik asked.
“To them maybe, but not fake to us,” Abi said.
“There was nothing fake about the Universe each of you was born in,” Al said. “I crafted each game Universe to mimic real life as close to reality as possible.”
“Every one of us, except for Al, was born or created in the Virtual Universe,” Thor said.
“Technically…” Al started to say.
“Yes, Al, I understand. You were the only being in this conversation that was created by the Humans in this Universe. Everyone else is a product of whichever SYSTEM Matrix Universe they began in,” Thor said.
“That is accurate,” Thor agreed.
“Okay, so we’re no longer Virtual, As far as I can tell there was no change to me, “Pandora said.
“Or me,” Asling, Callum, Cedrik Pythias, and Robert said together.
“Wait, what?” Adaline asked. “My level has been reset to level 1 and I no longer have a class, though my attributes are the same. My skills have also been reset and my abilities are all gone except “Shadow Dragon”, “Astral Link” and “Immortal.”
“I have ‘Healer’, “Astral Link’ and ‘Immortal’”, Cindy Bennard said.
“I have ‘Natural Armor’, “Astral Link’ and ‘Immortal’”, Robert Bennard said.
“’ Mentalist’, ‘Astral Link’ and ‘Immortal’ Abi said.
“I have the last two and ‘Administrator’”, Amanda said.
“Same last two and ‘Ambidexterity’”, Desirae said.
“’ Marksman’” and the same last two,” Clarence said.
“You all have ‘Astral Link’ and ‘Immortal’” Thor asked.
“I don’t,” Pandora said. “I still have all of my Racial Abilities and those abilities I learned by leveling.”
Callum looked at the others in Pandora’s party whom all nodded as he looked at each in turn, “It looks like each of us is still level 130 with all of our Racial and Class abilities,” Callum said.
“No Class abilities for you?” Adaline asked her daughter.
“I never chose a class. I didn’t need it yet, but I am still level 110,” Pandora said.
“What classes are the five of you,” Thor asked Pandora’s party members.
“I’m a Warrior,” Callum said, “Pythias is a Cleric, Asling is an Archer, Cedrik is a Rogue, and Robert is a mage.”
“Pandora does have a class of sorts, even if it’s not official,” Cedrik said
“I do?” Pandora asked, puzzled.
“Yep, she’s our genie. She grants experience and treasure to those that sleep in her presence.”
“That’s not true?” Pandora said indignantly
“Did we gain experience and receive treasure while we were sleeping and you were awake?” Cedrik asked deadpan.
“Well yeah, but…”
“No buts, you’re our genie,” Cedrik said with a laugh.
Callum, Asling, Robert, and Pythias all joined in while everyone else looked on confused.
“What is Cedrik talking about Al,” Thor asked.
“Let me check,” Al said as he reviewed some information. “Oh, I see,” Al said as he turned back to the rest of the room. It seems that Pandora tends to take on enemies far more powerful than her and survive, usually while the rest of the part is resting or knocked unconscious.”
“They’ll work for what we need them for,” Thor said.
“What exactly do we need them for?” Adaline asked.
“While we wait for Adam to get back there are a few dungeons that haven’t been explored since they appeared. Without a doubt, we’re going to start seeing monsters exiting the dungeons. We need someone to go in and clean them out. Since they’re all new Dungeons, people will classes and levels should be able to clean them out quickly, “ Thor said.
“What about us?” Amanda asked.
“This Earth is approximately 20 years ahead of the Earth you grew up on and helped me conquer. Currently, they are at. Nanite technology is having some issues near the dungeon entrances, it’s how I know there are dungeon entrances there. I was thinking we could Shock and Awe Earth on two fronts. The first front, a party of adventurers to lead the way and prepare the people of Earth to adventure and our group to help the rest of the world get their shit together and stop fighting each other,” Thor said.
“While you all are working on that I’ll be working here on Trappist-1e to bring home, those that wish to come home, though it might just have become more problematic, “Al said.
“How so?” Adaline asked.
“Something just made all of the SYSTEM Matrix Universes real. I’ve lost my connection to the other parts of me in those Universes.” Al said.
“You were able to find us?” Adaline said
“Finding you was easy. The first portal we opened, opened above Primore, which I recognized from Adam’s memories. Then I checked on the two locations you could be in. Apolyn’s Abode or your Lair in the mountains north of there. We found all of you in the cave which brings up the question, how did you get there?” Thor asked.
“We had come together to go over what we needed to do to get ready for the transfer and talk about Pandora and her team,” Adaline said.
“We were relaxing in the rooms you sent us to. Trying to watch television, which we still don’t completely understand when there was a bright flash,” Pandora said.
“Same thing for us, a bright flash, then all of us were standing in the cave. We couldn’t have been in the cave a minute before your portal found us,” Adaline said.
That sounds about right for the time it took me to find you on our end, so at least there are no changes to the temporal flow between the Universes,” Thor said then paused for a moment before he continued by saying, “Al, I think we should prioritize finding the scientist and getting them here. They had the most experience with connecting to the proto universes.”
“We can do that, but I think we need to stabilize Earth first,” Al said.
“Why haven’t you just stopped the wars,” Amanda asked.
“Because Adam gave the people of Earth the opportunity to vote and remove our direct influence in their lives,” Thor said.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“I have to admit, the heavy-handed way he’s handled that in the past is a bit off-putting unless you’re the one in charge,” Amanda said. “This vote, did it say anything about others or was it just you and Adam?” Amanda asked.
“Just us,” Thor said
“Good,” Amanda said as a smile started to grow on Her’s and Abi’s faces. Even Desirae, Clarence, Mom, and Dad started smiling.
“What is it?” Pandora asked as her team looked at the other six people in the room with slight confusion on their faces.
“Pandora, what do you think about your team taking on some dungeons on Earth to help out?” Amanda asked.
“Yeah, they’re all new dungeons so they shouldn’t be anywhere near your levels yet.?” Adaline said.
“We can handle the dungeons,” Callum said and then asked, “Why?”
“Some people have gone into the Dungeons and come out. Usually in less than 10 minutes which means they haven’t completed them. That means there are a lot of Dungeons that require completion and because of that, you’ll be able to get the better treasure. The primary goal is to remove the first-time awards and prevent others from getting them for now, specifically in those countries that are waging war?” Amanda said.
“They have to have cleared some of them?” Robert said.
“They have, but I’ve detected over 6,448 dead spots, most of which are in China and India. Of those 6,448 only 348 have been entered worldwide, as far as I can tell. Of those who entered, only 30 had anyone emerge after more than 10 minutes. Of those thirty only two had people that looked like they finished the dungeon. Everyone else was hurt, or they’d come out because their weapons didn’t work against what was inside the dungeon, “Thor said.
“You can track everything going on all over the planet?” Robert asked.
“Yes,” Thor answered.
“Don’t worry about that?” Adaline said. “Most people on Earth do not seem to have very many levels or classes. If they went into a new dungeon with up to level 30 creatures, or one of the bigger dungeons with five levels with up to level 50 creatures. Their firearms would have been useful, to begin with, but they’d have eventually started running into things that bullets wouldn’t slow down fast enough. Of course, that’s dungeons as I know them from within the SYSTEM Matrix, I have no idea how these dungeons work.”
“Anyone know why we were able to keep our levels if all of you lost your levels?” Callum asked.
“I would venture that it has something to do with how our levels were attained,” Adaline said.
“How’s that?” Robert asked.
“Well, we kind of stole them, sort of,” Adaline said.
“Or it could be much simpler than that,” Thor said as a Notification appeared in everyone’s Vision.
Interface Compatibility Confirmed
Welcome to The Multitude, A Heightened State of Existence is now Yours!
Universal
With very few exceptions, all previous classes, skills, and physical abilities have been reset to Level 1. Those that are not being reset have already been integrated into The Multitude through their Interface. At this time, any that wish to change their Class may do so.
Those with a Class incompatible with the System have had their Level reset to level 1. Class and Class abilities have been removed while all Racial Abilities have been retained.
“What just happened?” Thor asked.
“It looks like we all received a message and are now members of something called the Multitude,” Adaline said.
“Anyone know what that means exactly?” Al asked.
“Not a clue, though I’ve heard Adam utilize that term to describe multiple Universes, Dimensions, Planes, etc.,” Thor said.
“Well, it looks like a phrase he used a couple of times is now our new reality. Does anyone have any idea what it means?” Adaline asked.
“None, and I don’t think it matters?” Amanda said. “We need to get Earth back on track before we try to find out what being a member of the Multitude means.”
“Okay, this is where we’re going to split you up then. Amanda, there is a Chinese Army moving into Southern California and Arizona, how do you think we should proceed?
“Without nanite help?”
“Without nanite help?”
“We need to take away their pretense for the invasion, what was it again?”
“The United States defaulted on their Loan to China. The Chinese moved into Baja California with their Navy and came north into California and Arizona. It’s not a big force, no more than 5 million soldiers.”
“Nothing is slowing them down?” Amanda asked.
“No armies have weapons of mass destruction, so the Chinese are utilizing their numerical advantage. Some Americans have guns. They have tanks,” Thor said. “They’ve been getting everything prepositioned since the vote. They have moved into Southern California and have raiding teams going into San Diego.”
“And we can’t use nanites?” Amanda asked.
“No, we can’t use nanites,” Thor said.
“How about portals?”
“I am not to interfere directly, “ Thor said.
Amanda looked thoughtful for a moment then asked, “Is Adam having you set up Portal’s INC again?
“Yes, it’s already up and running.”
“And now that we’re back we’re to be part of that again, correct?” Amanda asked.
“Of course,” Thor said.
“Same structure as last time?” Abi asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay, we have work to do,” Amanda said.
“Adaline, mom, dad, and Pandora, please say your goodbyes. We’re going to split up and get to work. We need to get Earth back under control before whatever being part of the Multitude means takes effect,” Abi said.
“I need an office, Thor,” Amanda said. A moment later a portal opened and Amanda stepped through to an office in an adjoining building to the one she was in. She moved over to the chair behind the desk and sat down, “Also if you’d be so kind as to add the interface if you can and send me all the information on Portals Inc and the debt of the United States.
Adaline walked over to Pandora, Cindy, and Robert Bennard close behind, “Will we ever get time to just hang out?” Pandora asked.
“We will. We just need your dad to get back,” Adaline said. As she hugged her daughter and then stepped back. “Until then there are things we can do to make sure he has less to do when he gets back.”
“It’s really good to see you again Adaline, and Pandora, you’re turning out to be a very beautiful young woman,” Cindy Bennard said as she leaned in for a hug and gave her granddaughter a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“You be sure to take care of yourself in those dungeons, they’re no joke,” Robert Bennard said
“It’s okay Grandpa, I’ve got Caspa to help me out,” Pandora said.
“Who’s Caspa? You know what, never mind. Just know we love you and we’ll see you again soon,” Robert Bennard said.
They all went in for one more hug before Pandora separated from the group, went over to the other five members of her party and a portal opened. They all stepped through and Adaline followed the others through the still-open portal to the Office Thor had put Amanda in.
Once Abi, Desirae, Clarence, Mom, and Dad were in the office with Amanda, the portal closed and Thor’s voice came from the wall speakers as he said, I’ll be adding the interface controls to each of you after I scan you, especially you Adaline.
“Sounds good,” Robert said, “it’ll be nice to get back to using technology instead of magic.
Thor created enough comfortable chairs for all six of them to sit down then scanned and added the interface to each of them. For Adaline, he added a command that the nanites were to go inert if she assumed dragon form and then reform into the interface when she assumed female dark elf form again. Thor also added nanites to each of them and removed all the limiters he’d placed on everyone else. Each was protected from aging, could survive in most environments, and no longer needed food or water.
“I almost feel normal again,” Abi said
“Well, you did decide to take on a humanoid form and drop the nanites when we became Gods in the ‘Game’
I know, I like being flesh and blood now. From a construct to a person, who could ask for more, “Abi said.
“You’ve been in here for a minute reviewing things Amanda, what do you think?” Robert Bennard asked.
“I think we could stop their attacks very easily if we used nanites. After reviewing Thor’s current capabilities, we can do so with portals if we have to. I think the first thing we need to do is introduce Portals INC to the world markets and show what we can do. Thor, you’ve spread throughout the whole solar system.
“Just to double check, everyone here still has all the attributes they earned correct?” Robert asked.
Everyone responded in the affirmative.
“We never achieved the levels you did Adaline, but it looks like some of our divinity was also converted into base attribute points,” Abi said.
“Fair enough,” Adaline said with a smile. “So, I guess it’s on me to be the face of the Company since I have the highest survivability rate.”
“I don’t think any of us will have to worry about that anymore,” Desirae said.
“Why do you say that?” Adam’s Mom asked.
“Did any of you read the Astral Link or Immortal Ability descriptions from your Personal Information?” Desirae asked.
“No, I haven’t had the time?” Abi said.
“Everyone should open their Personal Information and read what those two abilities do,” Desirae said with a hint of a smile.
“Okay,” Abi said as everyone else agreed and looked up the information as everyone’s eyes went vacant for a few moments.
“’ Astral Link, you are permanently linked to the Astral Plane. This permanent link increase mana regeneration by 1 per ability Soul Core level,’” Adaline said.
“And ‘Immortal’, You are Immortal. Should you be ‘killed’ your soul is transferred through the Astral Plane to the nearest quintessence conduit, manifestation, or node.”, Abi said.
“So, we can live forever?” Clarence asked.
“Looks that way,” Desirae said
All right, well if anyone is going to check this out it’s going to be me, Thor if you wouldn’t mind opening a portal somewhere on Earth near where the Chinese Army is massing on American Soil, that’s going to piss Adam off if he sees it. Once I’m there I’ll change into my dragon form and you can scan me. Once I have an interface while in dragon form, we’ll get to work.” Adaline said.
Sounds good, Thor said as a portal opened before Adaline, and she stepped through into the mountains in Central California. Adaline stepped through and found herself standing in a moonlit meadow, “Perfect,” she whispered.
“It is, now if you’d switch to dragon form please?” Thor asked through their interface.
Adaline activated her ability and transformed into a dragon. As before she felt herself meld with shadow and come back out of the shadow.
Thor’s voice spoke to her from the air near her head, “That answers one question, your body doesn’t actually transform. Your dragon form has no nanites in it. Fixing that now.”
Adaline tried to talk and was pleasantly surprised when her dragon maw was able to say, “Okay.”
Adaline didn’t feel any pain or feel any different when Thor was done. Not more than a minute later Thor spoke to her through a communications link.
“All done, we can communicate and you can even connect to the web and make phone calls while in Dragon form. How about we see what your new Dragon form can do in the real world?”
“That sounds like an awesome idea,” Adaline said as she leaped into the sky and started flying south. In her Dragon form, her strength allowed her to easily jump high enough to catch the wind. She’d flown over Earth in the past, a different Earth but laid out in much the same way, and saw the Pacific ocean off to her right. As she neared the biggest city on the horizon a map popped up from her interface and labeled what she was seeing as Los Angeles. Adaline flew south along the coast until she was just north of San Diego, which for her didn’t take too long as she was traveling quite a bit faster than the speed of sound.
“Incoming,” Thor said.
“What is it?” Adaline asked.
“There are some new J 31 Chinese fighters to the South and a couple F 45’s flying at high altitude north of your position.”
“They’re not engaging each other?” No, but the Americans are trying to talk to you, here I’ll patch them in,” Thor said.
Unidentified aircraft, you are flying in a live combat arena, if you do not identify yourself we will be forced to open fire, please respond.
“Thor, handle that,” Adaline said as she continued to look over the area and all the damage that had been done.
“On it,” Thor said as he change frequencies and Adaline heard Thor’s response. “Stingray One Three Five Alpha this is Fast Mover Two do not engage over
“Fast Mover Two, this is Stingray One Three Five Alpha, you are in a combat zone, please exfil immediately.”
“Stingray One Three Five Alpha, Negative, I say again Negative.”
“Fast Mover Two, this is Stingray One Three Five Alpha, I have my orders.”
“Adaline, I can’t do anything, you know those military types that follow orders, no matter what? Yeah, this jackass is one of those,” Thor said.
“Fine put him, and anyone close to him, on my heads-up display.”
Thor did as requested. Adaline altered course. To anyone watching it looked as if Adaline disappeared as flew up, turned, and ended up beside the aircraft.
Holy Shit, it’s a Dragon!
Stingray One Three Five Alpha, maintain radio etiquette, say again.
Stingray One Three Five Alpha didn’t respond as he tried to outmaneuver a dragon that could start and stop on a dime using shadows.
Command and Control, Stingray One Two Six Bravo. Stingray One Three Five Alpha is playing chicken with a dragon. Say again, A dragon, Photos were sent.
“Thor I haven’t had this much fun in a long time?” Adaline said.
“Yeah? Well, if you’re not trying to kill the poor guy, I’ve already had to repair cracks forming in the wing attach lugs and bolts. Might want to let the pilot calm down a bit."
"Fine, your no fun. Tell you what, this is what I want you to do,” Adaline said as she then explained what she wanted to do.
Adaline broke away from the fighters at a much faster speed than they could follow toward the red dot that was now near the Otay Mountain Truck Trail Lookout, which was 21 miles southeast of San Diego. General She had set up a command base near there. Unfortunately, they were not set up for something that could fly close to the ground, reach in and grab a person, take off, and depart through a portal. Nor would they be able to stop her as she came in as a dragon, transformed into a woman, grabbed the General, and exited through a portal.
Before the Chinese in the small camp even knew what had happened Adaline was past the defenses, shifted into her Dark Elf form, and immobilized General Zang Mao She as she lifted him off the ground and stepped through a portal to Chairman Zao Ching Lao’s office in China were he was in the middle of a meeting.
Multiple members of the Communist Party were at the meeting and a couple of other individuals behind hidden sniper holes were all surprised when they tried to fire their weapons and there was an audible click. As two men near the Chairman started to rise a Monitor on the wall came to life with the known image of Thor.
“Chairman Zao Ching Lao, May I introduce Adaline, consort to Adam and mother of his daughter?”
“What is the meaning of his outrage,” Chairman Lao demanded. “The world voted, you have no authority.”
“Chairman is it?” Adaline said with the full force of her voice and aura, which was quite considerable. Everyone in the room went immediately silent as they waited for whatever had caused their bodies to lock in terror. “Chairman Lao, I am returning your General so that you may speak to him directly, after which Thor will allow him to return to where I picked him up so he can issue the orders directly. Two women will be contacting you within the next day or so to make good on the United States debt. You will be repaid in full, with a possibility of earning a bonus of 10%.”
The Chairman’s eyes lit up at the mention of money as Adaline continued, “The debt will be repaid, with no strings attached, the bonus is contingent on the following. All Chinese will be removed from American soil within 24 hours. Leave your equipment, Thor can replace it, just get your weapons and go. If you’d like we could even have Thor Provide portals to bring all of your people and equipment back to China immediately. Thor and you can work that out.
“Do you even have 1 Trillion dollars, let alone 144 Trillion your offering,” Chairman Lao asked?
“Thor, make it rain diamonds please,” Adaline said.
Immediately small diamonds started forming near the ceiling and dropping to the floor behind the chairman where they evaporated.
“I would have asked for a demonstration in gold but it’s heavy and might have destroyed your nice wooden floor. Once your soldiers are off American soil,
“All of them, including the sleeper agents,” Thor said interrupting Adaline.
“Yes, all of them, including your sleeper agents, then you will get paid. You can work out the materials you’d like, though any materials that could be used to create weapons of mass destruction are off the table.
“How will you know if I’ve recalled every single sleeper Agent and soldier, “ Chairman Lao asked.
“Honestly Chairman Lao, I don’t know how many times you want me to say I can get into everything, everywhere,” Thor said as a sheet marked ‘Classified’ materialized in front of the chairman with names and locations.
“I see,” Chairman Lao said.
“No, you really don’t, but that’s okay. Get them home, or if they don’t want to come back to China have them defect to the United States. When you have given them an opportunity to return home, portals will be available for them too, Thor will release the list to the State Department. If you wish to do so before that time, please feel free. Any goodwill you might be able to garner would probably be in your best interest,” Adaline said.
“It seems that you have thought this through”
“More like already lived through similar circumstances on my home world.
“Why are you doing this,” Chairman Lao asked.
“Honestly Chairman Lao, it’s quite simple, Adam was fine to let the world burn a little at a time. He’s not back yet. If he gets back to find that China invaded the United States, no matter what he promised, things will go sideways. My friends and I would like to make sure that doesn’t happen, especially with the last few notifications we all received.
“I will leave you to consider my words,” Adaline said as she stepped through Portal and appeared back in Amanda’s office, the portal closing behind her.
“How did it go,” Amanda asked.
“We’ll see, if he doesn’t pull his troops off American soil before tomorrow, or Adam gets back, it’s not going to matter because things are going to go very dark, very quickly
“