I thought it was odd how the events unfolded before me. Sitting in my office, recollecting the events I didn't think the struggle I became embroiled in was actually true. I thought I was in a dream, but in reality, I could have died. Yet, the events were unclear as if my actions were not mine but somebody else altogether. So when I ventured into the elevator and saw the man standing before me I naturally propelled myself backwards trying to get away, because the man was not human. I moved into the corridor.

"Hello, Professor Jacobs," the creature snarled.

I noticed it was not a Grog or anything I could recognize from my research, but something else entirely. The face was at first human and then morphed into large multifaceted eyes and large mandibles. It, as I call it, looked like a large locust creature but with harsher features.

I didn't have any weapons and stood frozen in fear for several seconds.

The creature said, "Why should we fear you? You don't have any armor or claws. This will be easy."

"You are part of the Swarm."

The creature laughed a throaty sound. "Yes. We will take your planet and your magic. There will be nothing left but the ashes of your dead."

"Why do you do this?"

I groped for anything and tried to recall any spell or incantation to fend off this beast, but to no avail. My earlier magical training was in medical healing and I didn't have any offensive power. My terror was strong.

"Why?" the creature screamed. "Your kind are always looking for answers where there are none. There are no answers in the darkness of space, only resources and magic. We are the nothingness."

From behind the creature I saw a large stinger. It rose up ready to strike at me. I tried to get to the guards posted at the front. I knew the door to the guard station was securely locked and soundproofed from the outside. But I ran all the same.

Something struck me hard on my leg and I fell to the ground, banging my knee and my hands. I turned to see the monstrous creature tower above me, its large stinger poised to strike at me. I didn't have anything on me to protect myself. I raised my hand up knowing at any time death was awaiting me.

The creature smiled at me with a mouth filled with large sharp teeth and then suddenly moved backwards, making a gurgling noise. The corridor started to smell of ash and something alien. A hole appeared on the creature’s chest and it fell to the floor. I was stunned and stared at the smoking carcass.

"Hello, Professor. Sorry, we’re late."

Looking behind the smoking insect, I saw a group of people. It was a trio of two elves and a shorter fellow, a dwarf. I was confounded and confused. I had never seen an elf or even a dwarf, but I knew one when I saw one.

"Professor," the dwarf said. "We have to hurry. Only you have access to open the relic and you don't have much time."

I heard a rasping noise coming from the door at the far end of the corridor. A soldier came into the large passageway. I didn't know what to do and was thinking of some type of plausible excuse but came up with nothing. Suddenly, the elves, dwarf and the stinking carcass vanished. My eyes must have looked surprised.

"Hello, Professor, sorry to startle you. We thought we heard something." The soldier’s face changed to show repugnance. "Wow, what is that smell?"

"I don't know. Maybe a rat died in here."

"Yes," the soldier said. "We will check on it."

"Can you wait until I finish? I won’t be long."

"Sure, Professor."

The soldier closed the door. The elves, the dwarf and the dead creature appeared again. I was shocked. None of the mages at the University had such power.

The dwarf said, "We will dispose of the body but you do not have much time. Della will escort you. Once you have the catalyst, she will transport you back."

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I wanted to ask more questions. I wanted to know all the hidden mysteries but I complied. I walked to the elevator with Della walking next to me. I pressed a button and the elevator started moving down. Being this close to an actual elf thrilled me. She was tall and slim in build. She wore a dark blue leather uniform with an insignia on the right front of her chest. I couldn't recognize it.

"Professor, I know you have many questions, but you have to focus. Only you can unlock the catalyst. You have the necessary codes?"

I nodded. "It’s in my pocket and I memorized it."

"Good, I’ll be close by."

This facility was not enhanced like the other government buildings with magical holocameras and force fields. Nobody came here. But they had to be careful, magic or no magic. A powerful mage or sensitive, if there was one here, would have sensed the elves’ or dwarf's magic.

I said, "Are you all magic users?"

"Yes, but the dwarf is a cleric."

I did not understand the reference. The elevator stopped at the bottom floor and the doors opened. An acrid scent permeated the long corridor.

"Wait," Della said. The elf walked forward. A scratching came from the far corner and several large insectile creatures attacked Della. The elf stood there not moving and then she held up her hand. I sensed magic. I am a sensitive but with mild powers and I felt her magic gathering inside her. A bright light appeared in her hands. It was sabers made of pure magic. She moved so fast I only saw a blur when she attacked. The creatures all fell with eviscerated stomachs, guts and intestines splattered along the walls and ground. The doors of the elevator started to close. I pushed through and entered the massacre.

The elf waited for me at the other end. The magical sabers were gone. She nodded for me to move to her and I gingerly walked around the guts and gore, shaking my head.

I reached the far corner and opened the adjoining door. The next room was a vast chamber with many shelves where the device with the catalyst was located. Each shelf contained an item or book. I moved through the labyrinth, picking my way along a trail I have walked several times before.

I came to the area where I knew the suitcase would be. Looking behind me, I saw Della following, moving silently in the bright lights of the archives. Her eyes scanned the area. I turned back to the shelf and saw it was empty. I froze.

"It should be here."

"It's fine," the elf said. She waved her hand and the leather suitcase appeared

Della said, "A day before we scouted the area and placed an invisible barrier over it."

"Why didn't you take the case?"

"Only a human with the specific code can do that."

I nodded. This suitcase was not a mere container. It was called a nuclear football. All the leaders of the free world had such device close to them. It usually had a device that can authorize the leader to attack with nuclear weapons. But I knew this satchel was not the case for nuclear attack but for something special. It was made out of black leather with a strap for a man to be strapped in.

I had to be very careful. I was not sure if the device would still work. I grabbed the top hand strap and moved it toward me. Unzipping the top, I heard the noise of something entering the room.

Della said, "Take this."

She gave me a round white crystal. "When you get the catalyst, touch the top of the stone then you will be transported back. Here, take it."

I grabbed it and before I could speak she left. I placed the stone in my pants pocket. The bag was heavier than I thought and it flopped to the side with a heavy thump. I jumped back when I heard a loud scream. It sounded inhuman and I looked up to see Della facing a large beast, bigger than the other Swarm creatures I saw before. I wanted to help her but I needed to get the catalyst to the Alphas.

Grabbing the top of the bag, I unclasped it and peered inside. I could not see anything at first. Then a box inside started to glow a bright green from a square display panel. On the display was several numbers. I placed my hands around the box and took it out. The sickening sound of a body being cut in pieces sounded very loud in my ears. I didn't look up. I started to enter the numbers. I had to make sure the code was entered in the correct order and before the time limit of three minutes or I would have to start again and if I didn't enter it correctly the third time the box would explode.

I punched in the code and then something hit me, sending me sprawling. I could hear a clicking and growling noise. I saw a small insect creature looking at me. Its mouth had hundreds of razor sharp teeth. It growled again at me.

The creature was about to attack me when its face exploded in a spray of gore and blood. I shielded my face as I was showered with gore.

"Sorry," Della said. She stood close to me, holding a weapon in her hand.

"Hurry, before they come back."

I tried to brush some of the blood and gore off my face as I stood, seeing the box with an opened lid. The device inside was made of round clear glass. It rolled out on the shelf and then stopped.

"What is that thing?" I asked.

The glass started to change. In the center of orbs pinpricks of light appeared like a small star. It started to glow so brightly it hurt my eyes.

"Are you ready, professor?"

"What?"

"Are you ready?"

"Yes."

The orb spoke to me. I said, "Della, do you hear that?"

"Yes," the elf said. "Get the crystal and leave."

Another creature came slithering into the room.

"Go," the elf urged. She ran toward the creature.

I took the crystal out of my pocket. I was not a mage and didn't know what to do. Instantly, the crystal grew warm in my hands. And then the world spun and I fell down a chasm and found myself standing on a pyramid with the biggest Grog wolf I have ever seen. Its glowing eyes bore into mine.