Through the Gate (working title)
Jun. 6th, 2017 08:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tigerAuthor's note: posts with the tag 'through_the_gate' are essentially out of order, lightly edited cross-posting of a bunch of stuff from my tumblr, which apparently can't do tags to save it's own soul.
---------------------
It had taken a couple months to get the coordinates figured out, the equipment built, and a suitable location to set up everything. The borrowed old barn didn’t have any power going to it, so Ed, my research assistant, and I rented a trio of large industrial/construction generators which we set up just inside the barn doors.
The frame and targeting computer had been set up, the cables connected, and the hand-built mark I prototype tunnel generator (ed laughingly referred to it as a portal gun- he did play more video games, after all) was connected to everything. It was a grey overcast day as we started up the generators which screamed to full power to start charging up the tunnel generator’s capacitors and the frame.
The targeting computer beeped to indicate that it had locked everything in, the tunnel generator started to first hum, then growl as it did its thing, and Ed went to check on the generators as they did not sound at all happy. The indicator lights on the frame lit in succession, and I saw a swirling mist inside the frame form. I moved toward the frame to check some indicators regarding the environment on the far side.
The next things happened too fast: the fifth indicator on the frame lit up which meant the far end had formed, the mist inside the frame cleared to show a rainy alien morning/afternoon, I looked at the indicators which indicated an environment safe for humans, and one of the generators made an ungodly noise followed immediately by the other two.
I looked up in time to see Ed run out the door as fast as his legs could carry him, as he screamed ‘oh SHIT!’ as all three generators proceeded to explode. The blast and fireball knocked me through the frame and set my clothing on fire. I landed on the ground and managed to put myself out before collapsing. The last image I saw was the gate snapping closed in front of me.
————————————————————————————
It was cold, and everything was dark. Nothing registered at first, until a multicolored explosion of pain rippled through my head and all my senses. I was awake, and my head was throbbing quite painfully. As I opened my eyes, I saw the eyes of a bi-pedal black panther staring back at me. In the dim light of the stone room, I could see that the panther was wearing a tunic or dress that went from her shoulders past my range of vision. I found that I was strapped down on a cold metal table, and my burnt clothing was nowhere to be found. The throbbing slowly resided and I was surprised when the panther started speaking to me in the local language, and even more surprised that I somehow understood it.
“I am sorry for waking you up in this manner. You should understand my speech, yes?” On seeing my faint nod, she continued.
“Good. You have been brought here so we can find out how you got here, and who you are working for, spy. Before we begin that process, we must bring you back to good health.”
The eyes and hands/paws of the panther began to glow a sinister green. I screamed as she placed her paws on my chest, pain coursing through my body as all my burns screamed out for attention in unison as I was healed. Mercy was still with me, but as I blacked out, the last thing I heard was her soft purring laughter.
————————————————————————————
When I woke up this time, all my joints ached. There was someone doing something to my restraints. I managed to look over and saw something dressed like a furry ninja working on the straps that were holding me down. When it got the last strap free, it turned and said to me “Ah, you are awake. I’m here to rescue you. Can you speak?”
The voice sounded somewhat feminine. I tried to reply, only to find that I could not actually speak the language. I shook my head.
“OK. Come with me if you want to live.”
I swung my feet experimentally off the table and woozily got to my feet. I started looking around the room when she grabbed my hand.
“We don’t have much time. Your clothes are gone, I have a way to get you out and disguise you, but first we need to get out of this room.”
I nodded, and it was all I could do to keep quiet as she led me outside the room, down a couple hallways, and into what appeared to be an office of some sort with a window to the outside. it was quite dark outside.
She did something to the door, and asked for me to sit on the floor, which I did.
She went to put her paws on my head, and at my expression said, “This will not hurt, and will allow me to speak at length to you.”
I nodded, she placed one paw on my forehead, and the other on the back of my neck. I heard her voice in my head.
“We have about 30 ta'lens before the guards check inside that room. I saw your entrance into our world- it was unlike any of the other times your type of people have arrived. My kingdom is a safe harbor for your kind, and I can guide you there. You will receive protection from the forces of this kingdom, and as long as you are willing to work, we can provide a place to stay, food to eat, and a change to earn a living. My offer comes with a price- You will tell my king your story of how you arrived. I will need to shape-change you in order for you to escape- you are far too noticeable at the moment, and the hyena brigade will easily track you down and capture both of us. it would be a fate worse than death. Do you accept?”
I carefully formed the words in my head. “Do you understand me? I accept.” She replied, “Yes, although you have a terrible accent. I will also impart upon you the languages I know so that we can talk during our journey home. It is a 2 ta'del journey to my kingdom. There is one final thing- Once I shape-change you, we must get to my father within 3 ta'del, otherwise the change will be increasingly difficult or impossible to reverse. This is your only change to back out.”
I mulled it over for a few minutes, then replied.
“Do it.”
---------------------
It had taken a couple months to get the coordinates figured out, the equipment built, and a suitable location to set up everything. The borrowed old barn didn’t have any power going to it, so Ed, my research assistant, and I rented a trio of large industrial/construction generators which we set up just inside the barn doors.
The frame and targeting computer had been set up, the cables connected, and the hand-built mark I prototype tunnel generator (ed laughingly referred to it as a portal gun- he did play more video games, after all) was connected to everything. It was a grey overcast day as we started up the generators which screamed to full power to start charging up the tunnel generator’s capacitors and the frame.
The targeting computer beeped to indicate that it had locked everything in, the tunnel generator started to first hum, then growl as it did its thing, and Ed went to check on the generators as they did not sound at all happy. The indicator lights on the frame lit in succession, and I saw a swirling mist inside the frame form. I moved toward the frame to check some indicators regarding the environment on the far side.
The next things happened too fast: the fifth indicator on the frame lit up which meant the far end had formed, the mist inside the frame cleared to show a rainy alien morning/afternoon, I looked at the indicators which indicated an environment safe for humans, and one of the generators made an ungodly noise followed immediately by the other two.
I looked up in time to see Ed run out the door as fast as his legs could carry him, as he screamed ‘oh SHIT!’ as all three generators proceeded to explode. The blast and fireball knocked me through the frame and set my clothing on fire. I landed on the ground and managed to put myself out before collapsing. The last image I saw was the gate snapping closed in front of me.
————————————————————————————
It was cold, and everything was dark. Nothing registered at first, until a multicolored explosion of pain rippled through my head and all my senses. I was awake, and my head was throbbing quite painfully. As I opened my eyes, I saw the eyes of a bi-pedal black panther staring back at me. In the dim light of the stone room, I could see that the panther was wearing a tunic or dress that went from her shoulders past my range of vision. I found that I was strapped down on a cold metal table, and my burnt clothing was nowhere to be found. The throbbing slowly resided and I was surprised when the panther started speaking to me in the local language, and even more surprised that I somehow understood it.
“I am sorry for waking you up in this manner. You should understand my speech, yes?” On seeing my faint nod, she continued.
“Good. You have been brought here so we can find out how you got here, and who you are working for, spy. Before we begin that process, we must bring you back to good health.”
The eyes and hands/paws of the panther began to glow a sinister green. I screamed as she placed her paws on my chest, pain coursing through my body as all my burns screamed out for attention in unison as I was healed. Mercy was still with me, but as I blacked out, the last thing I heard was her soft purring laughter.
————————————————————————————
When I woke up this time, all my joints ached. There was someone doing something to my restraints. I managed to look over and saw something dressed like a furry ninja working on the straps that were holding me down. When it got the last strap free, it turned and said to me “Ah, you are awake. I’m here to rescue you. Can you speak?”
The voice sounded somewhat feminine. I tried to reply, only to find that I could not actually speak the language. I shook my head.
“OK. Come with me if you want to live.”
I swung my feet experimentally off the table and woozily got to my feet. I started looking around the room when she grabbed my hand.
“We don’t have much time. Your clothes are gone, I have a way to get you out and disguise you, but first we need to get out of this room.”
I nodded, and it was all I could do to keep quiet as she led me outside the room, down a couple hallways, and into what appeared to be an office of some sort with a window to the outside. it was quite dark outside.
She did something to the door, and asked for me to sit on the floor, which I did.
She went to put her paws on my head, and at my expression said, “This will not hurt, and will allow me to speak at length to you.”
I nodded, she placed one paw on my forehead, and the other on the back of my neck. I heard her voice in my head.
“We have about 30 ta'lens before the guards check inside that room. I saw your entrance into our world- it was unlike any of the other times your type of people have arrived. My kingdom is a safe harbor for your kind, and I can guide you there. You will receive protection from the forces of this kingdom, and as long as you are willing to work, we can provide a place to stay, food to eat, and a change to earn a living. My offer comes with a price- You will tell my king your story of how you arrived. I will need to shape-change you in order for you to escape- you are far too noticeable at the moment, and the hyena brigade will easily track you down and capture both of us. it would be a fate worse than death. Do you accept?”
I carefully formed the words in my head. “Do you understand me? I accept.” She replied, “Yes, although you have a terrible accent. I will also impart upon you the languages I know so that we can talk during our journey home. It is a 2 ta'del journey to my kingdom. There is one final thing- Once I shape-change you, we must get to my father within 3 ta'del, otherwise the change will be increasingly difficult or impossible to reverse. This is your only change to back out.”
I mulled it over for a few minutes, then replied.
“Do it.”
