The man was sprinting as if his life depended on it. His poor legs pummeled the ground like it was his tenant and the rent was due last year. His black hair whisked back around his face as he wiped it from his face, screaming. His army uniform bustled and browned in the dust clouds as he fled through the ruins of a temple. But that was not his concern. What was chasing him was. The immense creature that was chasing him was much faster and was gaining on him. He had seconds at most if he was lucky.
The scaly lizard barely fit within the deserted temple. Its massive ebony horns scrapped this aged building, sending dust and debris downward. The dust was almost as harmful as the beast. He coughed as he moved to the other end of the room. The supporting pillars fell forward, trying to crush him. He kept running to an exit, narrowly evading the falling pillars. A small crack in the sandstone had appeared just enough for him to get through and hopefully get out alive, or at least unmaimed.
His gun, a simple Beretta M9, clung to his holster as he jumped through a crack in the sandstone wall like a mouse escaping a particularly nasty cat. Without a word, he crawled forward, sucking himself further into the gap and escaping the dragon. A horned 15-foot winged lizard was a mix of fiery red scales with brown spots that made it stand out even more. Wings sat on the back of the massive creature with needle teeth and even a forced tongue that smelled of brimstone and death. It had a tail that was spiked mostly with round points that were also three feet and shone in the sun, but that was not what shook the man. It was the eyes. Those eyes, the beaded burning eyes, seemed to know where to go and had a spark of bits of intelligence. The small glances he saw into them, funnily enough, reminded him of dolphins.
It was the least maddening idea in this damned world. He spared no glance back. The echoing roar shook the crack. Still, he had to escape. He just moved further down, slipping into the inner workings of the temple. After all, it couldn’t get worse than the goddamned dragon. Well, it could, but he couldn’t think of that.
Then and only then he stopped and looked into his pad. He sighed.
"Fucking bullshit."
He rested in the little opening within the walls of the template. The same template that sat in the middle of nowhere and thought about how he got here.
****
12 00 one week before the incident
"Excuse me, sir, another dimension?" Colonel JD Keirsey the ranger, repeated, perplexed leaning forward in his chair.
He and the leaders of his groups sat in a conference room. The training had started for his soldiers and the fact they were getting trained with the older weapons raised some alarms in his head. This meeting just put the nail in the coffin.
"Yes, We were testing out wrap drives, which didn’t have the intended effect. We cut a hole somewhere. Needless to say, it is becoming a major slip-up. The last contact we got from the eggheads was distorted. The only words spoken were clear skies. It has been a road silent scene and top orders for the above want to check it out. “Colonel Jason continued. The man stood in front of the project in full uniform, a deep green that stood out in the dark room with a medal and his name tag arrange on his right breast pocket. His hard brown eyes stared at the group assembled with cold faces as he started again.
“So why are we going in? I thought Wrap Travel and Development was beyond what we were capable of ?” JSOC asked taking a drink of water. He reached for a beef jerky as he glanced at the others in the room.
“We can’t request help from the Xenos as the warp drive production is one thing we shouldn’t be doing. However, intel shows that all the major powers are working on it. “ The secretary of chief responded
“So aliens then, sir we have peacefully traded with the galactic federation and we have an ongoing war with the other one. Why is this theatre, sir?” questioned the head military engineers with a bit of a cheerio.
“One, this is a resource run. You lads should be aware time is running out on the resources on earth, and best we have only 3 to four decades. Two, we pretend to be a federation but are making our things, which is on the probation list. They seem to be all about modularity and tape and a wish barely held together us. So we are working on our interstellar engines and we need the resources. And to cover up and clean up any unintended effects of this. “ The colonel spoke as he looked at the secretary of staff.
“Unintended effects ?” JSO questioned with a raised brow.
“Think of a warp drive like a punch and a space-like piece of paper. Normally the hole is made for a moment to connect two points despite the distance. There are other things in between the paper and the punch. So ideally you would make the hole to the other side but sometimes what happens is you punch the others when use the punch you make a hole into things in between the paper that would lead to many bad things.” Doctor Ortick said with a glass of water in hand.
“Like what? Chtulu ?” Gregory swallowed some water from a cup.
“Unironlically yes. The document provided by the intergalactic federation showed that is not an impossibility. But due to the data we do have it seems like an earth-like environment, Along with that the rift seems stable as it didn’t kill us all. So this team what are the objectives and am I required to go as well?” Ortick questioned nibbling on a bit of granola as he leaned back in his chair.
“So then why the hell are we sending in a simple platoon and not a whole deployment of the army ?” The JOS asked as he glanced around.
“That would raise too much attention from the other nations. Tension is still high and Israel is still a major drain. Then the fact we went behind Intergalactic federation guidelines. That and we are in the no-fly zone the planet is facing. We are in a sticky situation. That and the aggression shown by China and Russia can’t be ignored. There is also the Morious Alliance which is aiming at our solar system. We need to prepare and make sure we are not caught off guard. So we have a proposal, as they are training for your men and the creation of a small platoon to check out the area. The aim is to make a basic beachhead from both ends. So this mixed formation will be heading out in a matter of days” The security of staff spoke with a cold glance. “ We will also be requiring your help Dr. Ortick as well. “
“Will I be getting a government stipend / Just in case send it to my wife?” Ortrick
responded as he reached for another piece of jerky.
“Yes, and we will ensure it.”
“Sir, will we be using the more advanced stuff? That may attract attention.” Gregory spoke as he took a bit of meat.
“No, we can’t afford to. The laser weaponry may get affected by the dimensional effect. Most of the next-gen stuff are radio silence. So we will have to move out with this and make shit ground to set up. Send it to those with nothing to lose and remember to brief them only on what is necessary. “
*************************
Jim had looked toward the objective with a scowl. It was after a brutal week of training with the older tech and only now get any real idea of what exactly they were doing. He sat in the car leading the convoy and swore in his head. Leave it to the government to cut corners. They slap together this ramshackle group, a mix of army and data forces combat engineers, and first responders. The scientist was the human first professor in the field of dimension and wrap. They didn’t give them the hovercraft or more state-of-the-art tech, just the older shit, Still, he should be grateful. Hell, they still had wheels and didn't have new state-of-the-line super engines with fuel effectiveness with about 150 miles to a gallon.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Still, the fact they could drive suggested it was some distance away. They considered the civilians' opinions, but the army did not care. The briefing had not stated anything about any real danger, so they just hoped for the best. Although the jaded amount of them, including senior officer Jim, held their weapons tight.
The rift was located at the base of the desert, and the building shuddered like a mirage. They could barely define it as they drove up. It seemed modern but not even the scanners had given them details. The area around the rift looked like it came from a fairy tale, and not the happy, modern one. The sky looked wrong. The ground shook with the air having a faint scent of lavender. That worried the soldiers and after a brief but heated discussion, they agreed on a course of action.
They had then stopped the convoy about half a mile out. Octrick had to admit it was freaky. The alternate reality had not encroached on the new time-space but seemed more to sit like a filter. He was unsure of what to attempt first but he could help but feel unease at this. He was not alone. The whole convoy was on edge, they could feel something was wrong. Everyone did a double check of the convoy and equipment. Some started praying, some just kept tapping on their rifles. Jones held his cross as he looked up with a silent prayer for a quick and easy mission without any strange or memorable occurrences.
“So call it ?” Jim asked looking at his commanding officer
“Nah I doubt they would take a look at it shit looks weird. We have to at least get a bit closer” the man responded. “Did anyone do any checks on background radiation or weird shit like that ?”
“Checking now, No nothing out of the ordinary but there is a notable increase in limestone and coal” Orctick radioed while looking at the veil.
“Sir I will be honest I don’t think we should go any further” Jim spoke clicking his teeth
“Yeah? Well, I will keep that in mind now. Come on, we have to make sure it is not any worse than weird.” He started, grabbing the radio. “ do a double check on equipment and get ready”
. After verifying their weapon, they moved on and at a quarter mile, the convoy stopped. All the engines then just stop shutting down. The drivers tried turning the key and stamping the gas pedals and one got out and tried to push it further. Then as the crew started to exit the frozen vehicles a shutter twisted the sky.
Screaming the group foolishly tried to flee but it was too late The filter rapidly expanded as the vehicles and those too slow were taken first. Some of the faster men tried but in a snap of fingers, the whole convoy was consumed.
.
……
0900 after incident
Jim was pissed. He woke up in the sun and was struggling to think of a reason for not screaming. His head was pounding and the last thing he could think was I am going to die He got up in a fucking desert and wreaked around him confusing him with a marking on the car.
Am, 1900 hours to Hero veil.
Damn, what would that even mean? He searched around the wreckage grabbing a knife, a pouch with some snacks and a bit of ammo, and luckily a gun, a mere pistol, and a pack that had some clothes. Ruc always sucked, but it looked like that was what he would have to do. He could damn well stay in the sun. Groaning, he started at a jog, moving to that gigantic building in the distance. It looked a bit like a temple.
01000 after incident after the encounter with dragon
It was the smoke that woke him. He stood still for a moment as his mind play over the week event as he woke up on a stick. Twice in one day, he woke up somewhere he did recognize, he hoped no one would find out about this. Heat stung his feet as he glanced down, he was on a spit. His last memory is escaping a large ass dragon and him taking a moment. That new thinking in his head revealed this new enemy.
. Oh, whatever did this, this is dead Jim growled in his mind.
He soon got visual confirmation as a few humans started to dance around him. The hollering and drumming had gotten annoying fast. He stared at the weird sense and did some mental math about what the hell is going on. If it was a fantasy world, mainly like these were parasites in the dragon area. It could be some kobload but that was not the most important thing. The fact was it or they were trying to kill him and that would not fly. The choice was a clear escape or an attempt to kill it. He puffed out a breath and choose violence.
They were green, and they had crooked noses., and goat's eyes with stringy hair and long flapping ears. They sang some weird tune like auto tunned scrapping against a chalkboard.
They also had a basket that glistened in the low light as something big sat in the center of them.
He started to count all those he could see. Three danced around the fire and two more by the basket. For a moment he felt a bit lost as to how he was going to get out but the crackling of the rope under the heat gave him at least a starting point.
After a glance at his body, he found his gun and other stuff still in his pockets. That was the final mistake. He then started to wiggle and noticed that the stick was slowly becoming loose as the bastards just kept dancing. He hoped they would as he shook forward, snapping the post and landing on one of the goblins.
It squealed as it met Jim's chest and fell silent as they got to the ground. Then, with a flick of his shoulder and a quick push of his arms, the rope gave way. He didn’t give the other one to the left a chance, grabbing it by the neck and slamming it into the ground. It was surprisingly light almost the weight of a small baby, which may his next move even better. He then chucked the goblin at its friend, who grabbed its spear. The other two had noticed and started to make some strange movements.
Jim's eyes narrowed as his hand slipped out the gun. Without hesitation, he fired putting a bullet in the head of the first and another one with a spear. The first corpse slipped back tipping the basket over as the still living shrieked wildly. They would be no more time for the poor creature as a hole was punched into the other two almost as quickly. The final one gulped as it struggled to breathe as Jim simply walked over and ensured its quick death. Thier final mistake, Jim thought as he started to glance over the area.
His foot brushed against something very weird as he looked about. The dim light of the fire did not do much for his eyes, but it was better than no light. He then kneeled and stared down in awe. His surprise consumed him as he saw three-midnight Obsidian objects, ovals that lay on the ground. They could have been considered large orbs of quartz, but the texture was a bit too luscious and the faint but steady heat came for it. He lifted the eggs and moved to the basket, glancing around it as two more were in there. Then he collected them as he wondered about what his next move was and what exactly these orbs were. He moved closer to the fire as the eggs shone a deep red like the dragon.
Then he started to connect the dots. That dragon was a mother, and the goblins had stolen her eggs. That was why she was so irritated and attacked. However, this gave him an idea, maybe if he gave her back her eggs, and hopefully, if she accepted it she would let him go. But where exactly? His mind flashed back to the broken vehicles and the words hero veil. He hoped that was a town or something more than a meme of this world.
He grabbed the basket and gently placed the little eggs then he looked at the goblin corpse. He stripped the body of clothes and wrapped it around the broken stick, then set it alight. Hopefully, this would be a good peace offering to the mama outside. Or just a surprise with dinner, but that was the gamble.
It took longer than expected. The dark cave had multiple paths that somehow circled back to the campsite. He swore as he looted another body and made another torch. He had expected the eggs to be very heavy. The eggs however were so light compared to the size, only having three pounds to what looks at least ten. He had started to speak to them just to pass the time. It was random, starting with the types of color to nerdy bullshit like the swords and why it made no sense for everyone in movies to use swords, then it escalated even some of the major tactics of his units and random factoids from his home. Still, it was a company weirdly. They seemed to listen as he swore and spoke to them. Damn, if the eggs died after, this would be awkward.
Finally, after what lasted for days, he walked forward in over to a crack that leaked sunlight. He hoped it was an exit or at least, something other than the darkness. The prodding footsteps were slow and harsh as he moved. over. The light blinded him for a moment as the heat of the sun rained down on his black hair. He did even get a mind of peace, at least.
Until the dragon came back. He didn’t even get the time for an ad break as its silhouette quickly appeared in the sky. Then it landed on the ground in front of him and roared. The cry sent him to his knees only to blazing eyes. Its wings flared up as within its mouth fire danced forming into a ball. He had only this moment as he then held up the basket, looking down. Then he waited. He took a breath and held up his eyes, hopefully. It would not be that bad. He felt wind whip around his hair as he glanced up.
He expected to be roasted, but luckily, a sandstorm appeared. Sand whipped up as the dessert somehow grew hotter as he slipped back. Well, more of a localized tornado as the dragon faded from his sight, but an abnormal pressure held him down. It was like he was green again and he just walked back off the battlefield out of his first firefight.
A figure moved forward to the soldier and grabbed the scuff of his uniform. The basket tumble gently strangely lightly to the ground as the wind seemed to slow it down. The sandstorm rather than the tornado moved with the figure and hide the finer detail only. However, the hand was feminine and had a nice brown tan and the powerful fingers had claws.
“You have my eggs, why ?” a powerful rumble in front of him. “What are you seeking?”
“Found them, in the crack, you should look over there.” Jim joked, trying his most damn not to shit himself. It could talk. Why the sweet hell could it talk? he screamed in his head.
The figure smiled as the sandstorm faded, revealing a bombshell of a lady. She was tall and a bit too tall to be normal, almost seven feet, and she was filled in all the right places... An amiable blossom and hips that made the perfect hourglass figure did not, however, comfort him. It was burning in her eyes and the fact she held him up off the ground with two fingers. Two clawed scaly fingers that were like iron to his chest. Her face was shocking and quite beautiful. The fine detail of her oval eyes bled raw power as she scowled and her well-shaped nose curled a bit. A sharp fang twinned from under her rosy lips as she growled.
“So why did you come to my lair? Your ilk has trampled under this world you and your kind “ she spat.
“What does that even mean lady? I got lost here. Your lair was the only thing not in the sun,” Jim said with a cough, a slight smell of sulfur coming from her mouth.
Her left eyebrow narrowed as she stared at him. Then she pulled him closer. Those eyes are beautiful and dangerous like a volcano mid-eruption. The ruby eyes had little beads of red that were captivating as the claws that held him close.
“You are a fool!” She scowled, whispering in his ear.
Her arm then jolted up as he then was lifted to the sky. His eyes widened as this world brought a new surprise. The sky was cracking like glass that was beaten to shit and that was not the most surprising thing. The spaceship that swam through the cracks was worse. His body shuddered as that warship of the serious alliance. The same alliance that had declared war against the intergalactic federation and any possible ally. That, of course, meant and included Earth.