ã€ŠInfinite Horizonsã€‹


 1. An Arrest on Earth-68

    Kevin scrunched his nose against the smell and sprayed another layer of disinfectant over the recently returned shoes on the counter and glanced at the clock. Just six more minutes and he¡¯d be free to head back to his apartment. He sighed and brushed a lock of brown hair out of his eyes before greeting another party of customers. He¡¯d been working at the bowling alley for three weeks and he was pretty sure the manager didn¡¯t like him. She was seventeen and regularly smoked pot in the bowling alley¡¯s kitchen and if it weren¡¯t for Kevin wandering in at the wrong time, she would have lost her virginity inside the Jurassic Park Arcade Game that had been out of order since his second day on the job.

    On autopilot, Kevin rang up four pairs of shoes and a lane while he watched the seconds tick down. He smiled genuinely, pointing to lane 11. It wasn¡¯t the first service job Kevin had worked, he loved helping people out. The problem was that he just wasn¡¯t particularly skilled. After starting out as a social work major, Kevin tried to get into nursing only to drop out and become a bartender for three years. He was actually bad at that too but the regulars liked talking to him so much that the owner put up with the broken glasses.

    Waving a friendly goodbye to Amanda despite her scowl, Kevin walked out and headed for his Silver Ford Focus. On the way home he thought about the cup of noodles that was waiting and decided to stop by the grocery store. He¡¯d noticed himself putting on a little weight but it wasn¡¯t stopping him as he grabbed a family size bag of Funyuns off the shelves. Arriving at the checkout, Kevin looked around confused. Not a single employee was waiting to scan his groceries, even the robotic self serve stations were blinking red.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Kevin called, suddenly very aware of the lack of human presence. Come to think of it, he hadn¡¯t seen a single customer as he browsed either. He¡¯d chalked it up to the time of night but now as he looked around there didn¡¯t seem to be a single soul anywhere in the store. Tapping at the nearest checkout screen he craned to look into the nearest aisle.

    ¡°I just need to check out, please!¡± He called awkwardly. Pulling out his wallet, Kevin checked for cash then frowned before walking the length of the store again peering down every aisle for signs of life.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­. odd¡­¡± He muttered to himself as he reached the front of the store for the third time. Letting out a sigh he walked to the exit doors, carefully positioning himself in front of the store¡¯s security cameras. Waving his arms and pointing to the checkouts he shouted, ¡°There¡¯s nobody to check me out up here! Please send somebody!¡±

    After six embarrassing minutes, Kevin was beginning to get annoyed and with his patience running thin he held up the Funyuns and pointed them at the camera.

    ¡°Look, they¡¯re 4.39. I¡¯ll come in tomorrow and pay it alright.¡± And with that he gingerly walked out of the shop. Guiltily he stepped through the doors, straightening up when no alarms blared as he went through. He turned and looked back at the store, then shrugged.

    But before he could turn around there was a sharp pain at the base of his skull and he felt himself tumbling to the pavement.

    ¡°Get the dampeners on him quick, we don¡¯t know what this one can do.¡± Kevin tried to turn toward the voice but a thick slab of forearm was suddenly pressing his face into the ground.

    ¡°Wait, they¡¯re just Funyuns! There was nobody there! I can pay now!¡± Kevin frantically struggled, equal parts confused and scared but the officers cuffing his hands behind his back were burly and strong. He regretted skipping the gym the last 32 months.

    ¡°Get the lock in his mouth, I can¡¯t stand all this squealing.¡± Officer one¡¯s acne-pocked face came into view as he stuffed a black mouthguard shaped item between Kevin¡¯s lips.

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    ¡°Wait¡­¡± The rest of Kevin¡¯s cry was muffled by the mouthguard and acne face¡¯s fingers and once he¡¯d gotten into place a clicking sound echoed through his skull and an enormous pressure lit up his jaw. Panicking, Kevin tried to move his mouth but it was fully locked shut somehow. He hadn¡¯t heard of this sort of device before and the combination of it and the cuffs activated claustrophobia he didn¡¯t know he did. Shaking and wiggling Kevin struggled against the knee in his back.

    ¡°This one is wiggly, should we hit him with the buzz?¡± Kevin didn¡¯t have to wonder long what the buzz was as it pulsed through his nervous system lighting up every pain receptor like a Christmas tree. After an initial painful shock, Kevin went fully limp. His eyes shot around frantically as he lost all control of his muscles.

    ¡°Alright Base, this is Tactical Three, we¡¯ve got him. Kev68 secured, loading up and initiating jump in one barring interference.¡± What the hell does that mean, Kevin thought idly as his body actively disobeyed every order he tried to give it.

    Before he knew it, Kevin was seated in a bucket seat with an X shaped belt holding him in place. Looking as far as his eyes could scan without moving his head, Kevin was struck by how odd the interior of this police cruiser was. It certainly seemed more like a full tactical van. Weapons and tools he had never seen lined the wall across from him and the two officers seemed to be in seats somewhere behind him.

    ¡°Alright Base, Tactical Three initiating jump now in 3, 2, 1.¡± Kevin felt like his entire stomach was suddenly ripped up out of his mouth as a loud popping sound erupted around him. Straining to remain calm, Kevin watched as the world around him seemed to be yanked away at lightspeed. He tried desperately to scream as colors burst and strobed across his vision. Through the mania, he thought he could see a wrought iron gate but just as quickly he was suddenly sitting back in the strange van as an eruption of vomit escaped his mouth. The vomit flew through the air but zipped up a hose like device held by officer one before it splashed across the floor.

    ¡°What the hell.¡± Kevin mumbled as he slowly regained the use of his muscles. He searched around with his tongue for the black mouthguard with a dazed look on his face. ¡°Where¡¯d that thing go?¡± He managed to squeak out.

    ¡°They evaporate during the jump.¡± Officer one said to Kevin as he roughly moved him from the back of the vehicle out into a grey hangar. With his face no longer pressed into the pavement, Kevin finally got a good look at his arresting officers and frowned. Blue jumpsuits, these cops looked more like exterminators than law enforcement. If it wasn¡¯t for the guns, Kevin probably wouldn¡¯t have known the difference.

    The first officer reached into a pouch on his utility belt and pulled out some kind of misting spray that he carefully squirted over his hands before grabbing Kevin by the upper arm and tugging him along into a long dimly lit hallway. Emerging on the other end, officer one had a casual conversation with another police exterminator sitting at a desk before waving him over.

    Kevin eyed the strangely dressed officers carefully. Their belts looked advanced and the jumpsuits were emblazoned with IPF and the officer who had brought him over had a circular pin with the same letters. The new officer walked him over and deposited him in a large holding cell that was surprisingly clean. Instead of the traditional bars, the front of the cell was enclosed in a hard plexiglass. Kevin sat on a bench lining the back wall and watched this unknown force go by before knocking gently on the glass. The officer from the desk peered at him with scrunched eyebrows then slowly walked over.

    ¡°Where in the hell am I?¡± Kevin was holding it together fairly well he thought given the circumstances, but he couldn¡¯t wait any longer to get this question out. Before the officer could answer, Kevin watched a beautiful woman with a thick tangle of dark red hair slink past the officer¡¯s desk snatching an ID card as she went. ¡°And who is that?¡±

    The officer turned and looked at the woman for two full seconds before a sudden blaring alarm sparked him into movement. As a rush of officers sprinted past the cell, Kevin¡¯s head continued to spin until a pair of officers stopped, removed him, and marched him through a maze of hallways to a new cell. This one looked like a bit of a long term stay and Kevin voiced his reluctance to the uninterested officers. Without a response, the officer unceremoniously dumped him into the cell and tapped some buttons on a control panel outside the door. A holograph display above the door changed from Mel1 to Kev68 and before he knew it, Kevin was alone again.

    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to suspect they don¡¯t have a law against police brutality wherever this is.¡±

 2. Crash Landing

    The flickering light from the candle made shadows jump along the concrete walls and ceramic floor tiles of the old train station. They danced around the large room before disappearing down dark hallways, lending an eerie feeling to the area. Cassia, however, had long ceased to be affected by it. She sat in her socks on an old bench near the ticket booth, surrounded by documents and notes spread haphazardly. With a pencil to her lips, she sat unmoving, lost in thought.

    Eventually she moved, standing up and stretching. She was neither short nor tall, with a lithe build. Her dark brown skin caused her short, shockingly silver, hair to stand out even more. Finished stretching, Cassia perched back on the bench. After a moment, though, she sighed and stood up again.

    ¡°I can¡¯t get around it¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°I need a Jumper.¡± She bent down and scattered some of the papers at her feet, pulling a single sheet out and peering at it. The center of the paper featured a seemingly crude drawing of a spaceship. Cassia nodded at it, folded it up, and stuffed it in her pocket. She began to straighten and organize the remaining documents, when the sound of a gong rang out loudly. Cassia was in motion before the echoes had died away. A quick somersault brought her to another bench, this one made into a bed. In seconds she had her shoes on and a sort of extendable baton held at the ready.

    The station was silent for a moment. Cassia waited, hoping that the radar had only picked up a rodent of some sort. Just as she was beginning to relax, the gong sounded again, this time twice. The second checkpoint had been reached. Safest to assume it wasn¡¯t a rodent. Cassia leapt forward and blew out the candle. Instantly the station was plunged into complete darkness. She waited a moment for her eyes to change. While she couldn¡¯t see fully in the dark, she¡¯d come across few people who had better nighttime vision. Odds were high that the intruder wasn¡¯t on the list.

    ¡°Cassia¡­Cassia Moreng¡­¡± the voice came out of the darkness to her left, taunting. Cassia remained silent. She soon heard the sound of someone treading lightly. She set herself to move, and then paused to listen again. That was definitely two sets of footsteps. A smart ploy, to have one talk and keep her unaware of the second intruder. Cassia crept silently backwards until her back hit the station wall. She slowly followed the wall to the right, away from the man who had spoken and, she hoped, towards the silent one. The original voice spoke again.

    ¡°Cassia, no need for anyone to get hurt. Give it up and we can both win!¡± Cassia relaxed slightly. Bounty hunters were not to be feared as much as others who were likely hunting her. She stopped and listened. There were no sounds of footsteps. The bounty hunters had likely stopped to listen as well, since their initial ploy hadn¡¯t worked. She continued to creep along the wall, and shortly the outline of a hunched man materialized out of the darkness. He was moving slowly along, and his current trajectory would take him just to the left of Cassia. She took a breath, and then sprinted.

    The bounty hunter obviously saw Cassia right before she reached him, but it was too late. He half turned towards her and the baton caught him straight in the neck. There was a buzzing sound, and a strained gurgle, and the man hit the ground in a heap. Cassia danced two paces away, and then melted back to the wall. There was a loud crack and a chunk of the wall exploded at head height, pricking her face with tiny needles of pain. The second bounty hunter had been closer than she expected. Without thought, Cassia hit the ground and rolled to the side as another chunk of the wall was blasted apart. The man cursed, and then a ball of light appeared in his hand.

    ¡°I¡¯m tired of hide and seek!¡± the man yelled, and rolled the ball in her direction. Cassia dodged to the outskirts of the glow from the orb as it rolled, but the man had already lit another one and rolled it in a new direction. Cassia watched as he lit a third, and then she suddenly leapt into action. She sprinted in the narrow shadow that was left between the two orbs and launched herself towards the bounty hunter. With another curse, he dropped the orb he was holding and yanked his weapon up at her. She felt her shoulder blaze with pain before she crashed into the bounty hunter, knocking them both to the ground. Cassia recovered first and rolled off the man, springing to her feet. She flicked her baton out, slipped around a wild punch, and cracked the man in the ribs. The baton buzzed again, and the man dropped back to the ground. He growled in pain as Cassia stepped up to him and seemed to be trying to speak before she buzzed him again, this time at the base of his neck, and he lost consciousness immediately.

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    Cassia faded back into the shadows as her shoulder stitched itself together and the room fell silent. She waited there for a few minutes, straining her ear to determine if there were any more intruders. Eventually the glowing orbs of light began to flicker out, and soon the entire room was in darkness once again. Cassia slowly made her way back to her benches, and relit her candle. She was surprised a bounty hunter had found her this quickly, and more than a little worried that others now knew where to find her. Bounty hunters weren¡¯t the most forthcoming with their leads, but that didn¡¯t mean the information didn¡¯t spread between them anyway. She was going to have to relocate.

    Moving quickly now, Cassia gathered up all of her notes and plans into an old brown bag. The candle and the bedding followed, and then she swung the bag over her shoulder. Taking a glance around the area, she nodded in satisfaction at the cleanliness and then headed to the train tracks at the back of the station. Suddenly she paused and rummaged around in her bag before pulling out a single sheet of paper. It was the spaceship again, and Cassia stared at it for a long moment.

    ¡°Now is as good as ever,¡± she whispered in the dark. Having made a decision, she stuffed the paper back in the bag and quickly moved to the tracks. In the middle of the main line was an elegant, if a little worn, stagecoach. Cassia opened the side door and slung her bag onto the bench seat. She hesitated again, though only briefly, then set herself and circled around to the rear of the stagecoach. She leaned her shoulder against the back, then pushed with all of her might. At first the heavy wooden vehicle didn¡¯t budge, but Cassia continued to put her full weight into it, and eventually the wheels began to slowly roll forward. She pushed until the stagecoach was rolling along at a speed that forced her to trot, and then she leapt out from behind and sprinted up to the open door. With a leap, she pulled herself up inside and closed the door behind her. The stagecoach picked up speed slightly, and she was grateful for the small incline that the track appeared to be built on. Soon it was up to sprinting speed, and Cassia determined it would have to do.

    She closed her eyes and fixed her destination in her mind¡¯s eye. Almost immediately she felt the familiar feeling that came with jumping, as if she was about to fall off a cliff. Then suddenly her stomach flipped and she felt a brief moment of nausea. There was a loud popping noise and her setting changed. There was no easy transition, it simply went from being the train station to a cinder block wall that was rapidly approaching. Cassia braced herself, and the stagecoach smashed into it. The wall crumbled, and Cassia vaguely recognized the sound of wood cracking before a jagged chunk of wall punched her in the ribs. She gasped in pain, and then the stagecoach wheels broke and she was tossed out as if she had been bucked off a horse. Fortunately she landed on her feet, but unfortunately her momentum worked against her. There was a snap as her ankle rolled, and pain shot up her leg. Instinctively, Cassia dropped to a somersault to take pressure off her ankle, which only served to increase the pain in her side. She rolled up against a wall as the dust settled. She knew that haste was necessary but she needed to rest a moment to let her body recover.

    Groaning, she moved herself to a sitting position as she felt her rib cage adjust slightly. Slowly the pain lessened there, but her ankle was taking significantly longer. She must have actually broken the bone. With a grimace, Cassia got to her feet. She didn¡¯t have time to wait around for a bone to heal, so she¡¯d have to deal with the pain until it did. She glanced around at her surroundings. The bars on one wall indicated she was in a prison cell, as planned. Blinking dust from her eyes, Cassia glanced around the cell for the occupant. She finally located a man huddled into a corner and staring at her.

    ¡°Hello,¡± she said, trying to sound reassuring. ¡°I was looking for a woman named Melissa Promise Alfaro. Have I located the wrong cell?¡± The man appeared too shocked to respond, as he stared at her. A part of Cassia¡¯s mind wondered why he wasn¡¯t staring at the stagecoach, which she considered to obviously be the most incongruent object in the room. Then she realized that the man was staring at her shoulder, after which came the realization that her shoulder was hurting again. Frowning, she twisted to try to get a good view of it and saw blood trickling down her arm. Apparently a piece of wood had sliced open her bicep, and between her other injuries she hadn¡¯t even noticed. Even as she looked, the blood slowed and then stopped, and then her skin started to seal up. Cassia turned back to the man.

    ¡°Good as new,¡± she said, with a half smile. ¡°Pardon me, but I¡¯m looking for a woman named Melissa Promise Alfaro.¡±

 3. Escape Artist

    ¡°Melissa Alfaro! Stop where you are immediately!¡± The voice boomed over the intercom and reverberated through the halls of the Multiversal Police Department Detainment Center as a stampede of Peace Keepers rushed past the booking desk. The alarm continued to blare through the halls as Melissa snaked her way through the hallways.

    ¡°God dammit, for the last fucking time, it¡¯s Mel!¡± Mel cursed the boring-looking freshly arrested prisoner that had sold her out as she stumbled around a corner. Sprinting through a wide doorway, Mel found herself in an employee cafeteria of some kind as she knocked a tray from a portly man¡¯s hands by accident. As mashed potatoes and peas rained around him in a circle, his eyes flashes from confusion to frustration to recognition to rage.

    ¡°No time, sorry!¡± Mel swiped a plastic tray off the nearest table and smashed it as hard as she could into his throat eliciting a horrific gurgling sound before shoving him sideways and continuing to run. The scene prompted several other off duty Peace Keepers in the room to action and they swarmed towards her. She leapt up, jumping from table to table as she dodged their outstretched arms.

    While Mel could hold herself pretty well in a scuffle, she wasn¡¯t a one to one match for a trained Peace Keeper. Her shorter stature made her elusive. Her stockier, compact build made her hit like a bowling ball if you weren¡¯t expecting it and the tall thin woman who blocked the door at the other end of the room was certainly not expecting it. As Mel trampled through her, she yanked at the woman¡¯s utility belt and came away with some sort of aerosol can. On the other side of the door a hallway stretched off to her left and right. Listening carefully for approaching footfalls over the din from the cafeteria, Mel took off to the right.

    She turned a corner hard, nearly toppling a confused legal representative. Flicking him on the nose instead and throwing herself through a doorway, Mel looked frantically around the stairwell as she entered. The echo of stomping boots behind her went mercifully dull as the door shut. Mel picked down and took the stairs two at a time knowing that they¡¯d be right behind her any minute.

    Emerging quietly into a lower level, Mel found herself under a long, flickering fluorescent light. With no pursuers within sight at the moment, she moved more stealthily, watching for cameras and darting between sight lines. Finally, Mel found an unoccupied office and slunk in, locking the door behind her. Relatively safe for the moment, Mel methodically searched the room, finally producing an aged brochure that depicted a basic outline of the Detainment Center.

    ¡°Impound, impound¡­¡± Mel scanned the image, locking it in her mind before tucking the brochure into her jumpsuit. ¡°Right. Clothes too.¡± Doing a second loop of the room, she grabbed a leather jacket off a chair in the corner and hoped it would be enough to keep eyes from immediately jumping to her.

    Slipping from hall to hall, Mel made her way back to the stairs and continued further down into the facility. As she turned the corner towards the impound storeroom, she spun back around the corner. Three Peace Keepers stood between her and the double doors to the final piece of her escape plan. She exhaled, thinking through her options and drawing an expansive blank.

    Pulling the swiped aerosol spray from her pocket, she looked over the container. No makings or labels presented themselves and Mel bit her lip while she ran through the possible contents. Contrary to what her Department assigned legal representative said, Mel wasn¡¯t a total psychopath and she didn¡¯t want to use some kind of lethal fog on these three officers. Thinking about every kind of spray deterrent she¡¯d encountered on the 71 Earths she had visited, Mel decided to believe that she was holding mace and took a deep, calming breath.

    Turning the corner, Mel rushed towards the officers at full speed, the can held confidently in front of her as she unleashed a cloud at the three Peace Keepers standing between her and freedom. Initially panicking and covering their faces, their expressions transitioned to confusion as the four stood looking at each other. Mel sniffed the air carefully.

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    ¡°Fucking Febreeze? Who keeps unmarked Febreeze on their fucking utility belt?!¡± Then she took a baton to the chin and nearly did a full flip before crumpling to the floor in a heap. It took about three seconds for her eyes to stop spinning and the Peace Keepers began pulling her back to her feet. She felt a pair of cuffs around her wrists stopping her from rubbing her aching jaw and she exhaled. Mel looked longingly at the door as they began to drag her off the other direction.

    ¡°Straight to the Hole for her, we can ask the Shift Sergeant if we need to move her from there.¡± The biggest of the three Peace Keepers was speaking in an arrogant drawl that barely cut through the buzz in her head from the shot she¡¯d taken. Add concussion to the list of minor injuries she¡¯d have to deal with once she could get to a Jumper. This was Mel¡¯s third visit to Earth One and surprisingly it was only the second worst experience.

    Through a maze of hallways and down two more separate stairwells, Mel was convinced they were taking a roundabout way to confuse her sense of direction. Lucky for her, Mel had an impressive memory and was great at taking mental snapshots. Unlucky for her, she had her brain rattled around less than five minutes ago so she was struggling to retain anything she saw as they pushed her forward down an unlit hallway.

    ¡°Really? Solitary confinement is a punishment here? Maybe I¡¯ll stay after all.¡± Mel slurred as they dumped her forward into a nearly pitch black room.

    ¡°You better hope the Sergeant has other plans for you. The mind doesn¡¯t fare well in the Hole.¡±

    ¡°Fuck off.¡± Mel felt her way to the small cot in the room, sat down, and finally massaged her aching head. Listening for the Peace Keepers footsteps, she waited until she couldn¡¯t see or hear a thing before taking another centering breath. Mel removed her right boot and pulled out the ID she had swiped earlier.

    ¡°This oughta come in handy this time¡±. Mel untangled a paperclip from some loose thread in her jumpsuit''s armpit and began to uncoil it into a straight tool. Methodically, Mel began to pick at the lock until she quietly slid the door open again and crept out into the dark hallway.

    Mel slunk to the wall and carefully felt around until she found a chair. Mel stood on the chair, fumbling with her short height for the ceiling panels. Using a light fixture for balance, she pushed herself up and through the panel tucking herself up into the space between floors. Muttering to herself about dust and bugs, Mel crawled aimlessly hoping to eventually jog her memory.

    After several minutes without hearing the alarm, Mel figured she must have a good amount of time before they actually check on her in the Hole. By then, she planned to be several Earths away. For now, she kept crawling, carefully feeling ahead. Her head had finally stopped vibrating and she was pretty confident that she was heading in the right direction. She moved towards some shafts of light coming through some kind of vent and peeked down to the floor below.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about the price man, the ad said E-498! I¡¯m telling you, this place doesn¡¯t mess around, it¡¯s full nude.¡± Mel wrinkled her nose in disgust at the pair of Peace Keepers talking about their post work plans and against her better judgment carefully let a wad of spit drip down onto the helmet of the one speaking. Satisfied, she shuffled onward for several silent minutes.

    WEEEEEOOOOOOOOO! The blaring alarm shook the smug smile off her face and she crawled faster. They must have brought someone to check on her in the Hole sooner than she expected. That really threw a kink in things. Mel was running through potential adjustments to her already ramshackle plan when a creaking froze her solid.

    But not for long, as the panel her legs rested on suddenly cracked and gave out beneath her back half. Unable to get a hand hold, she went tumbling backwards to the floor below and landed heavily in a cloud of dust and asbestos. Coughing and waving dust from her face she looked up nervously.

    ¡°Is this her? Excuse me, are you Melissa Promise Alfaro?¡± Mel took in the scene in front of her. A woman with bright silver hair was addressing her and at her side, the moron that caused the alarm during her initial escape was smiling dumbly at her. Neither was dressed in MVPD uniforms or set off her internal cop radar but she ignored the question all the same and scowled at the moron.

    ¡°Hey thanks for getting me caught earlier, asshat. I¡¯ve got a splitting headache because of you.¡±

 4. The Pathfinder

    Cassia was fairly confident that the attractive redhead who had fallen out of the ceiling was insulting the stranger behind her, but she often struggled to grasp sarcasm. The woman made to move around her towards the door, and Cassia blocked her way. The redhead¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and then her whole body tensed. Cassia held up her hands to cut her off.

    ¡°Wait. Are you Melissa Pro-¡±

    Mel groaned loudly and Cassia stopped abruptly.

    ¡°Quit saying that fucking name! It¡¯s Mel,¡± the redhead said. ¡°Now get the hell out of my way.¡± Cassia nodded in satisfaction. Finally she could proceed to the next phase of her plan.

    ¡°Come with me then, Mel,¡± she said as she turned towards the door. ¡°I¡¯ll fill you in on the way to the Impound Center.¡±

    ¡°Are you with the IPF or something?¡± Mel asked, having not moved an inch. ¡°Why should I follow you anywhere?¡± Cassia smothered her irritation and turned back to the other woman. She probably deserved an explanation anyway.

    ¡°I need to access the Impound Center so that I can steal a Pathfinder,¡± she said calmly, watching Mel attempt to hide her surprise. ¡°Specifically, I am looking for the Pathfinder Odyssey.¡± Cassia kept her face expressionless as Mel was unable to stifle a gasp.

    ¡°Why would one of those be in the Impound Center?¡± she asked incredulously. Cassia shrugged.

    ¡°To my knowledge it was damaged on its last mission, and was dropped here temporarily,¡± she replied. ¡°It may not be here for long, and I will need your help getting in. You have my word that I will drop you in the location of your choice if you help me acquire the Pathfinder.¡± Cassia stuck out her hand formally. On most Earths that was the preferred way to make a deal. Mel stared at her hand suspiciously before finally grasping it.

    ¡°Deal. You should know that the entire IPF is probably shitting themselves looking for me right now,¡± Mel said. ¡°I¡¯ve actually escaped twice today, and I was already at the top of their list.¡± Cassia nodded curtly.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± The woman moved towards the doorway, only to stop in surprise at seeing a man there.

    ¡°Hey,¡± he said sheepishly, ¡°can I tag along? I have absolutely no idea what is happening, but you seem, er, capable.¡±

    ¡°Who the hell is this?¡± Mel almost growled and the man tried to hide in place.

    ¡°This is Kevin, apparently,¡± Cassia answered. ¡°He filled your cell when they moved you to the Hole. He knows where we¡¯re headed, so we bring him along or incapacitate him.¡± Kevin started visibly and Mel laughed.

    ¡°What are you, some sort of weird fucking robot chick?¡± She pointed at Kevin. ¡°If you let me punch you once for getting me caught, then you can stay. I¡¯m not the unhinged criminal the IPF likes to say I am.¡± Kevin seemed to have trouble deciding, so Cassia just nodded at Mel. The woman stepped up and slugged him in the gut. Kevin grunted and doubled over, and Mel leaned in close.

    ¡°If you ever do that again, I swear to anything that I will make you all the way dead. Not part of the way, but all the fucking way, do you understand me?¡± Kevin nodded weakly and Mel stood up and grinned at Cassia.

    ¡°Ok then, welcome to the team, Kev! Let¡¯s go get a spaceship or some shit! This way to the Impound Center.¡± Mel darted out into the hallway and took off. Cassia rolled her eyes as Kevin followed. She¡¯d read the intel on Mel, but the actual version was something entirely different. As long as she had the skills she purportedly had, though, everything should work out fine. Cassia raced down the hall.

    <hr>

    They all arrived safely at the entrance to the Impound Center, though the trip had not been without incident. An IPF officer had stumbled upon them and Mel had reacted with brute force. Cassia frowned slightly. Brute force was probably an understatement. The man had fired at Mel with a weapon that released some sort of energy bolt, and she had immediately charged into him. A solid punch to the gut, similar to the one she¡¯d given Kevin, had doubled the officer up and she had followed that with a full smash of his head into her knee. The man had not moved again.

    Cassia shivered slightly, remembering the sheer brutality of Mel¡¯s response. Still, had she not reacted in that way, who knows what would have happened. As it was, the alarm had only really been raised a minute or two ago. The wailing klaxons were a strain on the senses, so much so that Kevin had resorted to plugging his ears. She studied him briefly as she waited for Mel to finish picking the lock on the giant hangar-like door. He was an odd man, in that he didn¡¯t seem to know much about anything that was going on. He claimed he had no idea why he was on this Earth, or even that the multiverse existed, but Cassia had learned to not take anything at face value. Besides, anyone who was wanted on Earth One surely had to know about the multiverse.

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    ¡°Hell yeah!¡± Mel shouted triumphantly over the wailing of the alarms. She punched a button on the keypad and the giant door slid open with a mechanical whirring. The large room beyond slowly lit up as the automatic lights blinked on. Cassia frowned. She¡¯d expected there to be more resistance than a simple locked door. Yet there was the Pathfinder Odyssey, in the back right corner of the room. It sat there almost gracefully, a giant matte black orb. The color was such that her gaze almost slid off when she looked at it directly, and there didn¡¯t appear to be any obvious doors.

    Mel didn¡¯t have any of Cassia¡¯s misgivings. She shrieked and ran towards the ship, almost skipping like a child. Five feet from the ship a blueish laser line appeared at waist height, circling all the way around the ship. Mel barely stopped herself from sprinting straight through it. As the other woman shouted expletives, Cassia couldn¡¯t help but smile. This was the type of resistance she¡¯d been expecting, which meant this must be the Pathfinder Odyssey she was looking for.

    ¡°Identification required,¡± said a robotic voice, as Cassia approached. Kevin jumped in surprise and Mel swore, then waved a hand in the air.

    ¡°They got cameras hidden in here somewhere?¡± she wondered, and then she yanked Kevin¡¯s arm down so his shirt sleeve passed through the laser beam. There was sizzling noise and Kevin lurched backwards with a three inch line burned through his shirt and an angry red streak on his skin. The laser barrier flashed red.

    ¡°What the hell!¡± he yelled, somewhat squeakily.

    ¡°Identification required,¡± the computer repeated. Mel turned to Cassia.

    ¡°Well, it sure doesn¡¯t want us in there,¡± she said. ¡°Got any plans? Toss this one through and see what happens?¡± She gestured to Kevin, who glared back at her. Cassia sighed internally. Mel certainly had a brute efficiency in getting things done.

    ¡°I think we can avoid Kevin¡¯s untimely death for now,¡± she said, ¡°I believe that Mel has something we can use.¡± She watched Mel frown, then pull an identification card out of the waistband of her pants.

    ¡°This old thing?¡± she said, waving it in the air. ¡°I¡¯d forgotten I had it.¡± Almost immediately there was a loud clunk and the laser beam flashed green, then disappeared. Mel looked around suspiciously for cameras as Cassia strode confidently up to the ship. There were no obvious entrances, in fact, the entire thing appeared to be solid. She placed her hand on the outside, and was surprised to find that it was somewhat warm, like a sidewalk after being warmed by the sun. There was a small pulse, and she yanked her hand back. Slowly, silvery lines began to form across the dark surface, outlining an entrance. Mel muttered an oath under her breath, one Cassia was fairly certain she hadn¡¯t heard before.

    Nothing else seemed to be happening, so Cassia placed her hand back on the ship¡¯s exterior, this time within the boundaries of the new outline. She felt another small pulse, and the wall seemed to dissolve into nothingness. As she watched, the same silvery lines began to flow along the interior of the ship, almost acting as rope lights. The silver light lit up the interior with a somewhat ethereal glow. Cassia slowly made her way further in, with Mel and Kevin right behind her. There was a shared silence, until Kevin broke it.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never been in one of these¡­.er, ships? But shouldn¡¯t it have a window or something?¡± Cassia nodded her agreement. She¡¯d been thinking the same thing. The interior of the ship had four flight chairs that seemed to simply be growing out of the ship, but it didn¡¯t have any viewpoints. Or a control console, she noticed.

    ¡°None of us have been in here, idiot,¡± Mel retorted. ¡°This ship is probably worth more than all of Earth One. Or maybe it¡¯s a defect because they forgot the damn windows.¡± She sat down in one of the flight chairs.

    ¡°It is strange that there is no way to look outside,¡± Cassia agreed. She stepped up to where a control panel would typically have been. Resting her arm on the empty dashboard area, she felt the same hum and warmth she had felt from the outside, and it sparked an idea.

    ¡°Viewing window,¡± she spoke firmly, and instantly felt the strange pulse through the ship. Again, silvery lines appeared on the wall in front of her and begin to make a wide outline. As soon as the shape was completed, the black wall seemed to dissolve, and they could see the large hangar. Unfortunately, they could also see the twenty IPF officers looking back at them, weapons at the ready.

    ¡°Oh shit,¡± said Kevin, to which Mel raised an eyebrow. One of the officers raised his hand to his mouth, and they heard his voice amplified throughout the hangar.

    ¡°Cassia Moreng, Melissa Alfaro, and Kevin Crane, please exit the Pathfinder with your hands up. If you come out peacefully, no one will be hurt.¡± Mel rolled her eyes at this, but Cassia could tell she was unsure. Kevin asked the obvious.

    ¡°So¡­do we go out there? Does this thing even turn on?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, can we just jump out of here?¡± Mel had stood up from the flight chair and was glaring out at the IPF officers. Cassia said nothing as the lead officer repeated his message, this time with more urgency and more threats. Then she reached down and pulled a small, crystal clear, cube out of her boot and set it on the dashboard. For a long moment nothing happened. Then a small opening materialized below the cube and the object fell into it and disappeared. Cassia felt an increased hum through her hands on the dashboard. Silver lines appeared on the dashboard, spelling out words that disappeared to be replaced by others.

    Cassia Moreng¡­31 years, 4 months, 211 days¡­New Command Accepted¡­

    The ship suddenly vibrated strongly. The IPF officers in the hangar backed up warily, and Cassia realized the ship was hovering a few inches off of the ground. She couldn¡¯t help feeling like it had just stood up.

    ¡°What were those words?¡± Mel asked from behind her. She had gone back to a chair when the ship moved.

    ¡°It was my name, written in my native language,¡± Cassia replied in a wondering tone. She was going to say more, but was cut off by the impatient IPF officer.

    ¡°Be advised that the continued operation of this ship will result in extended sentences for all of you! IPF officers will breach the ship in sixty seconds. It would be better for you to surrender now!¡±

    ¡°What a douchebag,¡± Mel remarked. To Cassia¡¯s surprise, Kevin laughed. But then he looked to her.

    ¡°What now?¡± he asked. Cassia smiled.

    ¡°Now we jump.¡±

 5. A Bad Jump

    Kevin once again felt the horrible sensation of being ripped out of being and forced through some kind of cosmic garlic press into the fabric between worlds. For the second time in a day, Kevin glanced around as his body felt like it was being forced through a sieve. Having a little more mental preparation for the jump made the process a little easier and he took in his surroundings. Once again, he saw a burst of color and reality warped around him. He thought he saw a large stone door covered in symbols to one side and as he glanced at it he even thought he saw a shock of silver hair flinging into it. Kevin returned his attention forward toward a set of elevator doors and just as suddenly, he felt himself flex forward in his seat against the belt and stars burst in front of his eyes as he took a sharp breath.

    ¡°Good news, we lost the robot.¡± Mel glanced over at Kevin and scrunched her nose. ¡°Do not even think about hurling all over our new ride, these things are nearly impossible to acquire for the average non-rich civilian!¡±

    Kevin forced down the bile rising up his throat against his better judgment and took slow deep breaths while Mel began searching around the vehicle¡¯s cabin. She rubbed her hands along the interior of the Pathfinder walking in a full circle. Pressing a hand to the wall she addressed the ship.

    ¡°Location?¡± A dull red pulse emanated from the spot her hand touched. ¡°Start! On! Fly! Fucking move!¡± She slapped the wall hard as red pulses continued to extend out from where her hand had been.

    ¡°At least we can get out?¡± Kevin leaned around and pointed to the back of the orb where the door had once again materialized. ¡°I think I could use some air.¡±

    ¡°Oxygen 97% breathable, atmosphere deemed safe.¡± Kevin and Mel started at the robotic feminine voice that issued from the ship.

    ¡°Oh you¡¯ll talk to the moron, will you?¡± Mel slapped the ship once more for good measure as Kevin frowned at her.

    ¡°We only just met, you don¡¯t know I¡¯m a moron.¡± Kevin crossed his arms and after a beat extended an arm. ¡°I¡¯m Kevin and I work in the service industry and I have had a very confusing morning.¡±

    Mel considered his hand with indifference then slapped it like a high five. ¡°Mel. There. Now can I call you a moron?¡± As Mel turned to exit the ship Kevin let out an exasperated sigh before following.

    They stood outside the ship and looked around. They were on the roof of a large flat building that stretched out a long way in all directions. Kevin could see an access door popping up in the distance and pointed.

    ¡°That¡¯s probably our best way down, huh? Oh and by the way, where are we and what the hell is going on?¡±

    ¡°My God, you¡¯re such a whiner.¡± Mel waved off his question as she walked to the nearest edge. ¡°Hm, I think we¡¯re on a mall.¡±

    ¡°On a mall, ok that answers the first part but can you get to the what is going on part now?¡± Kevin joined her and looked over the edge at a parking lot full of cars that stretched out in front of them. He craned his neck to see a section of the building off to his right and could make out the familiar logo of Barnes and Noble.

    ¡°I guess if you¡¯re going to be following me around we should get you caught up on the basics. Sit.¡± Mel turned and examined the roof before going carefully into a crouch and gestured for Kevin to do the same. ¡°The Earth that is all around you right now? It¡¯s not the Earth you were on when you woke up. I don¡¯t think, at least. Wait, what Earth did you come from? Oh right, you probably don¡¯t know that.¡±

    ¡°This is very helpful so far, thank you.¡± Kevin said as sarcastically as possible.

    ¡°Watch it, I am still very much considering dumping you off this roof.¡± Mel squinted at him then continued. ¡°The multiverse is real, like in comic books or whatever. There¡¯s a bunch of different Earth¡¯s and each one deviates from the next a little bit. The further you jump into the multiverse, the more different it gets but this one doesn¡¯t seem too weird.¡±

    ¡°But hold on, the jumping? How is that possible? And why am I here, I didn¡¯t know anything about this stuff and suddenly I¡¯m bouncing between Earths willy nilly.¡±

    ¡°Willy nilly? Slow down grandma, you''ll have a heart palpitation.¡± Mel snickered and got to her feet again. ¡°I¡¯m not a fucking scientist, I don¡¯t know how it works, it just does. I mean you can¡¯t just do it, you have to have a jumper of some kind. That Pathfinder back there, for example. Top of the line and prod¡­¡± Mel trailed off as she pointed over her shoulder and realized the ship was gone. She let loose a string of creative expletives as she dashed back towards the middle of the roof. Kevin followed calmly and caught a shimmer in the air ahead.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s still there, just camouflaged.¡± Kevin said just before a thud rang out as Mel ran face first into the hull of the cloaked ship. Kevin couldn¡¯t stop his chuckle, clamping both hands over his mouth as Mel rounded on him.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Think that¡¯s funny, huh? And you! You can cloak yourself now, that¡¯s just great. What the fuck kind of ship just does whatever it wants?¡± Mel started to storm off towards the access door, still ranting.

    ¡°Wait for me! Where are you going?¡± Kevin jogged to catch up to her as she swung open the door.

    They walked in silence down a rusty stairwell until they came to the back hallways that ran through the mall. Mel walked with confidence as if she belonged and Kevin tried to match her bravado. Kevin¡¯s nerves began to subside after they uneventfully walked past a delivery driver and a Hot Topic employee. Finally arriving at a door that seemed to go out into the mall, Mel turned to Kevin.

    ¡°Keep your eyes open out there. We need to figure out what city we are in, what year it is, anything about this Earth that might help us blend. Apparently I am stuck with you now, so you¡¯re going to do this shit my way, got it?¡± Without waiting for a response, Mel opened up the door and pushed Kevin out into the mall.

    Kevin looked around and wrestled with the idea that this was a separate reality from his own and thought about the fact that these humans were fundamentally different from him in some way. Blinking hard he fought down an existential crisis and tried to focus on what Mel had said. He looked at the store signs, he looked at the people, he listened for bits and pieces of conversation. It was Mel who caught something useful first though and nudged him.

    ¡°Army recruiter on the first floor, read the sign.¡± Kevin glanced over the railing to the lower level and immediately found it. Drone Pilots Needed for the War in Europe, Signing Bonus Today! ¡°Must not be very serious yet, people seem pretty calm.¡± Mel continued as she looked around.

    ¡°Cassia chose this destination, right? Shouldn¡¯t we look for her? Or something?¡± Kevin was trying very hard to trust Mel but in his brief time away from his original Earth, Cassia seemed a much safer travel partner.

    ¡°Shit happens when you make distant jumps, we¡¯ve still got the ship and we¡¯re wanted so we stay here and lay low until we can¡¯t. If she finds us, great but I¡¯m not risking my ass to go looking for her.¡± Mel waved around at the mall, ¡°Right now, we need to find supplies. And when I¡¯m jumping there¡¯s three important things: Currency, bed, weapons.¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll just pop over to the mattress firm then. What about food Mel?¡±

    ¡°Currency buys food.¡±

    ¡°It can buy a bed too?¡±

    ¡°Kevin, I¡¯ve been jumping since I was 15, don¡¯t question my process.¡± Mel turned towards the aroma of the food court forcing Kevin into a trot to keep up. To his surprise, she walked confidently toward an older couple carrying trays to the garbage.

    ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯m so sorry to bother you! My brother here misplaced my purse while I was trying on some clothes!¡± Mel gestured to Kevin who stood nearby dumbfounded. ¡°He means well, he just has the worst memory since the accident. Have you seen a dark blue purse anywhere? I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to get lunch today!¡±

    ¡°Oh poor dears, I¡¯ve got memory trouble myself. Here¡¯s a twenty to hold you over till you find it, I¡¯m sure it will turn up.¡± The old man handed over the bill and Mel thanked him profusely as she pulled Kevin away towards the nearest fast food counter.

    ¡°Suckers, good job Kev, you caught on quick standing there with your mouth hanging open. It really sold the scam. Now let¡¯s double it.¡±

    Forty five minutes later, Kevin¡¯s pockets were filled with cash. Mel had tricked the cashier at the McDonald¡¯s out of another 20 dollars, bought a fake ring at Claire¡¯s that she passed off as a 14K ring from her broken engagement to generate another $150. Kevin¡¯s head was spinning, he wasn¡¯t a gifted liar and conning innocent people didn¡¯t come naturally.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think we¡¯ve got enough for now?¡± Kevin asked awkwardly as Mel pocketed another $15.

    ¡°Still have that old moral compass, hm? Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get over it. Lucky for you we have a place to sleep tonight already or we¡¯d need triple this.¡± Mel stepped up to a map in the middle of the walkway and studied the stores listed. ¡°Ah, here we go. There¡¯s a sporting goods store. We should be able to steal some weapons there after close.¡±

    ¡°What do we do till then?¡± Kevin sighed, resigning himself to his new life of crime.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to figure out what city we¡¯re in. Fancy a drive?¡± Mel held up a stolen key fob and smiled wickedly.

    It took nearly half an hour of walking through the vast parking lots before they were able to find the match for the fob. Mel quickly got into the newer model Sedan and began rifling through the glove box. Joining her inside, Kevin looked around nervously.

    ¡°What are you looking for?¡±

    ¡°Aha! Hell yeah, registration. Based on all the Arizona license plates, this registration, and the fact that I¡¯m nearly sweating through this shirt, I¡¯m thinking we¡¯re in Phoenix. Ever been before?¡± Mel turned on the engine and tossed the registration into Kevin¡¯s lap.

    ¡°No, till this morning I had never left Colorado actually.¡± Kevin looked out his window then snapped his attention back to Mel confused. ¡°Wait, I got arrested at night, after my shift.¡±

    ¡°Time is one of those things that differs from Earth to Earth. Your Earth to Zero must have been about a twelve hour deviation, it was mid morning when you screwed me over.¡± Mel had a smirk that gave Kevin the idea she was enjoying his total confusion.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯ve got several hours till night, where are we going till then?¡±

    ¡°If we¡¯re going to be hiding out on this earth a little longer, there¡¯s a few more things we should swipe. That reminds me, you any good with a gun?¡±

 6. The Veteran

    Cassia¡¯s setting shifted, which she was used to, but it felt slower than usual, which was different. Also different was the feeling of rushing forward. There was a brief blur of color, and she thought she saw Kevin float away from her. Then her setting stabilized and she fell as if she had stepped off a moving train. With a gasp, she realized she was four feet above the ground and falling through a rainforest. She barely had time to wonder before her head smacked a tree branch as she crashed downward. Cassia could feel her body starting to heal itself from what was likely a concussion, but she lost consciousness just as she hit the ground.

    <hr>

    When Cassia opened her eyes she could¡¯ve sworn she saw a leopard head floating in the air by a tree across from her. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. Her head still hurt, but it was rapidly fading. She must¡¯ve really hit the tree hard. Opening her eyes again, the leopard was gone. Cassia slowly stood to her feet, testing out her limbs and muscles to confirm she was fully healed. Everything seemed to be in order, though the headache was still persisting at a low level. Cautiously, she stepped away from the big tree and took in her surroundings.

    Apparently she¡¯d crash landed in the middle of a large rainforest, which gave no helpful indication of which Earth she might be stuck on. The Pathfinder had seemingly disappeared, which meant she was going to have to locate another jumper. Cassia gritted her teeth in frustration. She had expected the acquisition of the Pathfinder to be the hard part, but that seemed easy compared to being stranded somewhere in the multiverse. She circled the tree and came face to face with the leopard. For a long moment, the two stared at each other. Then the leopard growled and took an exploratory step towards her. In the back of her mind, Cassia was relieved that she hadn¡¯t been seeing things earlier. The rest of her brain was consumed with trying to remember anything helpful about fending off a leopard, but was coming up empty.

    Backing up slowly as the big cat continued to approach, Cassia pulled her belt knife out and held it in front of her. She kept her back to the tree, and slowly circled it as the leopard growled. It pounced without warning, and Cassia barely managed to hit the ground and roll. As it was, sharp claws grated her right shoulder blade. As she came out of the roll, she twisted to face the cat again. This time, she didn¡¯t wait for it to pounce, but feinted to the left then lunged back to the right. The leopard leapt for the feint, twisting in midair to try and change direction. Cassia¡¯s knife point slashed its foreleg, and the animal hissed as it landed. Even though she¡¯d scored a hit on her opponent, she¡¯d paid for it with another deep scratch down her arm.

    Cassia could feel her body trying to heal itself, which only took more energy from her. There was no way she could keep dodging leopard attacks. She gritted her teeth and glared at the leopard. It was wary now that it knew its prey wasn¡¯t weak, and it slowly stalked towards her. Keeping the knife up, she backed up until she hit the tree. Then she suddenly launched off the trunk towards the cat. The leopard snarled and leapt towards her. Cassia¡¯s knife struck home, deep into the animal¡¯s neck. Their bodies collided and fell to the jungle floor in a heap. Cassia tried to heave the unmoving leopard off her body, and then cried out as pain rolled along her body. The leopard¡¯s teeth had also hit the target, tearing a large gash at the base of her neck. Her vision darkened, and she could feel her body desperately healing itself, trying to replace the blood she was rapidly losing. Remarkably, there was another floating head approaching from a distance. She briefly wondered what seeing two floating heads meant for her sanity, and then Cassia passed out for the second time that day.

    <hr>

    There was a smell of smoke in the air when Cassia awakened. Night had come to the jungle, and Cassia panicked briefly before she realized she was no longer on the ground. Instead, she found herself laying on a pallet of bamboo rods. The source of the smoke smell was coming from above her, and she realized there was another bamboo pallet above her. Light was trickling out of a gap between the pallet and the tree, and Cassia realized there was a crude ladder tied to the trunk. Sitting up, she peered over the edge of her pallet into impenetrable darkness below. Forcing down her fear, she moved back towards the tree trunk and the ladder. Something caught on her shirt, and she lifted a hand to find some sort of makeshift bandage on her neck. Frowning, she unwrapped it to discover it was covered in blood. She felt at the spot the leopard had bit her, and gasped in surprise to find an open wound. It wasn¡¯t big, and it had stopped bleeding, but she couldn¡¯t remember the last time her body hadn¡¯t fully healed an injury.

    Cassia cautiously climbed the ladder, still concerned about her wounded neck. She slowly poked her head into the upper pallet to find it empty. There was a small collection of stones that held the glowing remains of a fire, with a rug laid out nearby. With a start, Cassia realized the rug was leopard. She crept towards the embers and realized that she could see the stars, which meant she must be near the top of the rainforest! She couldn¡¯t suppress a shiver as she remembered peeking over the side of her pallets minutes ago.

    Something at the edge of her senses caused Cassia to spin and draw her knife. She was too late, though, as a giant boulder of a man seemed to have appeared out of the darkness with a makeshift spear pointed straight at her heart.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°You are quiet,¡± the boulder growled. ¡°I almost didn¡¯t notice your entrance.¡± He lowered the spear.

    ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you. You are safe here, unless you try using that knife.¡± Cassia watched him for another long moment, then returned the knife to her belt.

    ¡°I suppose I have you to thank for bandaging my neck?¡± she said, more of a statement than a question. The boulder nodded.

    ¡°Neat healing trick you did. Might have to teach me that.¡± He chuckled at himself, then turned and produced a giant leaf.

    ¡°Food?¡± The giant seemed to dislike using many words. Cassia nodded gratefully, realizing she felt hungry and weak. No wonder her healing process had stopped. The leaf was full of large slices of meat that crunched on the outside but had the texture of cooked mushrooms on the inside.

    ¡°This is good,¡± Cassia mumbled around a mouthful. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Snail,¡± the man said, then chuckled again at her reaction. ¡°I¡¯m Lieutenant Robert Patterson.¡± He paused and considered her.

    ¡°But you can call me Grit,¡± he added. Cassia told him her name as he sat down on the leopard rug with a sigh. The glow from the embers allowed her to catch a better glimpse of him. He had a military buzz cut, but his hair was gray. His face had deep lines, and stubble along the jawline. He seemed to be in his sixties, though when he glanced at her his blue eyes were bright.

    ¡°So, Cassia, why did you crash land in the jungle?¡± he asked, and Cassia was startled. Had he watched her fight with the leopard? Grit nodded at her as if he could hear her thoughts.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you help?¡± she blurted out without thinking, and Grit shrugged.

    ¡°Had to determine if you were a friendly or not. Leopard got there first.¡± Cassia waited for more explanation that didn¡¯t come.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem to be a populated place,¡± she countered. ¡°Who are you afraid of?¡± Grit shrugged casually again.

    ¡°IPF,¡± he offered. Cassia couldn¡¯t believe her luck.

    ¡°You know about the IPF?¡± she almost shouted, and he nodded. ¡°That means you know about the multiverse! Do you have a jumper?¡±

    Grit held up his hands as the words flew out of her mouth. Then he stood up and stretched before he answered.

    ¡°Thought you might ask about that. We can go see it in the morning.¡± He made towards the ladder to leave. ¡°You can sleep here, I have another spot.¡±

    ¡°Wait, Grit!¡± Cassia stopped him with her anxious tone. ¡°I¡¯ve got to get to where I was headed. It sounds trite, but the multiverse needs me too!¡± Grit considered this for a moment.

    ¡°It does sound trite,¡± he agreed, putting a hand on the ladder and turning to go. Cassia grabbed his shoulder and he stiffened.

    ¡°Look, something is wrong with the fabric between the universes. It¡¯s causing¡­problems. Please, I can explain more but I need a jumper!¡±

    Grit turned back towards her, surprisingly interested.

    ¡°You say the fabric between is broken?¡± he asked, and Cassia nodded.

    ¡°It¡¯s causing jumps to have issues,¡± she said. ¡°Especially the further out you go.¡± Grit was focused now, and he stepped closer to her.

    ¡°I have noticed this,¡± he said, grumbly voice filled with excitement. ¡°Coming here, my dog¡­¡± His voice trailed off as he looked to the corner of the pallet where a small chest was sitting. Cassia could see an olive colored ball of some sort up against it.

    ¡°Well, now I have¡­that,¡± he said, gesturing towards the ball. Looking closer, Cassia could see that it was covered in scales.

    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, and Grit whistled through his teeth. The ball unrolled into a strange anteater-like creature that made a chuffing sound and waddled over to Grit, hunched over and walking on its hind legs.

    ¡°That is Tango,¡± said Grit, sadly. ¡°And he¡¯s a pangolin now.¡± The pangolin reached Grit, who patted it on the head, and then curled back up into a ball. Cassia was unsure of what to say, but Grit spoke again.

    ¡°So, yeah, you could say I know what you mean about jumps. I don¡¯t know what Earth this is, but I know it¡¯s far out. The entire planet appears to be jungle, as far as I can tell.¡±

    ¡°Take me to the jumper,¡± Cassia said firmly. ¡°I can fix this, but we have to start with a specialized ship that can jump through the multiverse. I¡¯m hoping that it¡¯s still on Earth Forty-One, and the sooner we get there, the better. Currently it is in the care of children.¡± Grit considered her for a moment. His steel gray eyes seemed to be probing her mind, and eventually he nodded.

    ¡°I can help you,¡± he said simply. ¡°I would like the multiverse to remain stable. I don¡¯t like staying in one place too long, and I¡¯ve been too afraid to jump from here for a while.¡± The older man slung a large pack on his back and whistled through his teeth again. Tango unrolled himself, and climbed up Grit to settle down on the top of the pack. He turned to Cassia.

    ¡°Let¡¯s jump,¡± he said, and then he disappeared down the ladder into the darkness.

 7. Elias Thorn #41

    ¡°It¡¯s been two days, do you think she¡¯s coming?¡± Kevin chewed on a pack of dry Ramen noodles and spun in one of the Pathfinder¡¯s bucket seats while Mel checked their supplies. ¡°I mean, I still don¡¯t really understand anything what¡¯s going on but it seemed like she needed this ship for something right?

    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s dead for sure.¡± Mel deadpanned without looking. The sound of Kevin perking up nervously in his seat made her smirk. ¡°Probably got ripped in half during the jump and scattered between worlds. Happens sometimes, you know.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re messing with me again.¡± Kevin said it as a statement but Mel could hear the hint of unease in his tone. She¡¯d come to enjoy making him squirm in the two straight days they¡¯d spent together. Mel hadn¡¯t made a real human connection since elementary school and was surprised to find she mostly enjoyed his company.

    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t know where she is or if she¡¯s coming but we gotta start thinking about contingencies. We can¡¯t live on this fucking roof forever.¡± Mel looked over the pile of supplies they¡¯d bought and stolen and grabbed a couple cans of spray paint.

    ¡°What are those for?¡± Kevin asked with his head tilted curiously.

    ¡°You and I are going to go find some help. Fire up the ship, I¡¯ll leave robocop a message just in case she finds her way back here.¡± Mel walked out of the Pathfinder as Kevin shrugged.

    ¡°Turn on. Start engine.¡± Kevin spoke with a hint of uncertainty, his hand resting on the dash. The Pathfinder didn¡¯t budge as he tried several more phrases. He let out an exasperated sigh then glanced out a viewing window and watched as Mel signed her graffiti note with a giant red middle finger.

    ¡°Good news, the ship doesn¡¯t listen to me.¡± Kevin greeted Mel as she stepped back inside. He sat with his arm crossed in his chair like a pouting child. Mel cracked a smile at the sight and walked over to try for herself.

    ¡°Fly. Up. Go. Fuck you then.¡± Mel returned to the pile of supplies and began packing a children¡¯s Spider-Man backpack. ¡°We¡¯ll go on foot then, we can always come back.¡±

    ¡°On foot to where?¡± Kevin stood and moved to help her. In their two days here, Kevin and Mel had been actively moving around Phoenix and had amassed about $400 and collected a few duffle bags of supplies. Kevin looked at the assortment and tried to figure out what Mel wanted to take and leave behind. She was currently tucking a compact 9mm pistol into some kind of tactical utility belt she had under her shirt. He picked up the matching handgun, checked the safety like Mel had taught him, then put it into a small North Face hiking pack. From there he haphazardly grabbed items to pack. A hint of a smile played on Mel¡¯s face as she watched out of the corner of her eye as Kevin picked up a pair of brass knuckles and a can of aerosol hairspray.

    ¡°We¡¯ll snatch another car and take a little day trip. I know a guy that we should talk to. I¡¯ll see what he knows about our missing acquaintance and if we¡¯re lucky he can help us figure out where to go from here to lay low. You¡¯re a fugitive too now, after all. You better start taking notes if you wanna get as good at surviving as me.¡± She couldn¡¯t help feeling a little sorry for Kevin as he let out a groan and rubbed his face with both hands. She¡¯d been lost and confused like him before and gave him a gentle clap on the shoulder before shouldering her bag and heading for the door.

    ¡°So we¡¯re driving to meet a person, how do you know them if you don¡¯t even know what Earth this is? Isn¡¯t it most likely that they don¡¯t know you here?¡± Kevin followed Mel, making sure the ship shut and cloaked itself behind them.

    ¡°Elias Thorn will know me for sure. I¡¯ve got a bit of a reputation with certain elements across the multiverse. Thorn is of them. He¡¯s a little eccentric, but if it¡¯s worth knowing across the Earths, he does. Given me a job or two here and there and helped me stay a step ahead of IPF. On many Earth¡¯s he is the only person who knows me.¡±

    ¡°Ok, so he knows you or will know you and he might be able to help us. How is that better than staying here and waiting for Cassia to show up right where she left us?¡± Kevin¡¯s tone was curious, not rude and his face showed genuine concern. ¡°She could come back any moment, she said she needs you right? She¡¯ll come back.¡±

    ¡°Or she¡¯s dead. Either way I left a note. Shit obviously went sideways, as it often does when you¡¯re a multiverse jumping criminal. She¡¯ll follow us when she can.¡± Mel shrugged. She was a survivor and doing an oddjob for Thorn in exchange for access to a safe house seemed a hell of a lot more appealing than playing campout on a mall for the foreseeable future. The pair passed through the access door and were almost out into the parking lot again before Kevin spoke.

    ¡°It¡¯s strange how similar it is.¡± He gestured around them. ¡°I haven¡¯t noticed much of a difference really.¡±

    ¡°The hundred or so Earths closest to Earth Zero aren¡¯t very exciting.¡± Clicking the lock button on a set of keys she¡¯d lifted on the way out, Mel guided them around the lot till they found their next ride, a beat up truck with a dented camper shell featuring a bumper sticker that said If You Can Read This You¡¯re in My Crosshair. As they climbed in, Mel looked into the back at a hunters rack complete with a rifle and a shotgun.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t that lucky, maybe you¡¯re my good luck charm or something.¡± Mel ruffled Kevin¡¯s hair and he batted at her hand then fiddled with the radio. It crackled to life on an AM news show.

    ¡°The European Coalition has launched offensives from the gulf coast area and rumors suggest they¡¯ve fully occupied the southern border and it¡¯s only a matter of time before advances northward begin.¡±

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    ¡°Turn that shit off, never ever get caught up in local news.¡± She swatted at the radio until a whir of electronic pop music burst from the speakers.

    ¡°A world war hardly seems local!¡± Kevin retorted and began rolling down his window.

    ¡°Local means on this world. I hate to break it to you, but you don¡¯t have a world anymore. We jump to survive, we don¡¯t stay long, and we never get caught up in local affairs. That¡¯s how you die, or worse, get pinched again.¡± Kevin rubbed the bridge of his nose at this but clearly didn¡¯t have the strength to argue, choosing instead to gaze out the window.

    ¡°Where are we going anyways?¡±

    ¡°Ever heard of the Vegas strip?¡±

    What Mel anticipated would be an easy four hour drive sprawled into nearly six as they ran into several military checkpoints and had nearly a 45 minute wait for a convoy to cross the highway. As it turned out, the local news was important and they were just ahead of an invading force. When they rolled to a stop at the valet station in front of the Bellagio, it was eerily calm. The Strip was not nearly as crowded as every other visit Mel had paid to it on dozens of Earths.

    ¡°I thought it would be a little more peppy.¡± Kevin stretched and looked around at the small number of tourists making their way quickly between casinos.

    ¡°Seems like World War IV breaking out will do that.¡±

    ¡°You mean three? World War III.¡± Kevin tilted his head.

    ¡°Oh right. I always forget my third one happened on like only four Earths. Just my fucking luck, right?¡± Mel tossed the keys to an older man in a dapper valet suit and headed inside.

    On the way to the bank of elevators that Mel typically used to get to Thorn¡¯s high roller suite, she tried her best to fill in Kevin on anything he needed to know. She could tell he was getting nervous and she couldn¡¯t have him screwing this meeting up.

    ¡°He¡¯s a bit of an odd guy so just try to stay focused and let me do the talking. We¡¯re in and out here, just getting some information and we¡¯re on our way. Don¡¯t get sucked into a conversation about building cities to scale with LEGO or South American bird diets. I¡¯m serious, he¡¯ll talk even your polite ass off and long before that I will have hung myself with an extension cord so stay away from the chit chat, alright?¡± Mel scanned the casino floor as she lectured, looking for anomalies. Thorn  was active in the multiverse and the unusual was often drawn to his door.

    ¡°I get it, you hate my small talk. I¡¯ll pretend to be mute, let¡¯s just figure out where Cassia is or whatever and get out of here.¡± Kevin scratched his neck nervously and patted his backpack for the fifth time. He was clearly uncomfortable lugging around a gun.

    Arriving outside Thorns door, Mel felt a wave of relief. After a whirlwind several days, it would be nice to be around something familiar. The pair were led into a smoke room with large leather armchairs but didn¡¯t need to wait long for Thorns to make his appearance. They¡¯d barely sat down when he came zipping in.

    Kevin¡¯s eyes widened as he took in Elias Thorn for the first time. The man had a slight pudge and was dressed in tight fitting shiny black leather pants that did him no favors. As he entered he drew Mel into an awkward almost air hug, barely touching her before sitting down. He smoothed a dark maroon blazer that he wore over a Guns N Roses T shirt and adjusted his sandy brown ponytail. His face was split into a wide smile that revealed a mouth full of teeth made of different stones, gold, silver, even crystal. The smile turned south as he turned his attention to Kevin and he lowered a pair of rosy hued round glasses to look at him closer.

    ¡°Mel, who is this man in my house?¡± Thorn leaned over to whisper to her.

    ¡°Yes, sorry, I¡¯m Kevin. I¡¯m sort of tagging along with Mel right now.¡± Kevin led out an awkward chuckle then extended a hand.

    ¡°I don¡¯t shake.¡± Thorn bit his lip then turned to whisper loudly to Mel. ¡°I simply don¡¯t like him, can you send him to the hall?¡±

    ¡°Kevin, do you mind waiting outside?¡± Mel asked, barely suppressing a laugh.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Kevin plastered on a false smile and rose to leave. As he walked out the door, he heard Thorn let out a huge breath of air. ¡°Thank Gaia, he reeked of hydrogen, is his odor toxic.¡± With a half turn Kevin put on his best scowl and flipped off Mel behind Thorn¡¯s back.

    In the hall, Kevin paced while Mel spoke with Thorn. She¡¯d warned him that he was eccentric but this was beyond his expectations. Kevin retraced the path to the front door of the suite but froze in his tracks as he got to the entry.

    ¡°Oh shit. Uhhhh, MEL!¡± Kevin broke into a sprint back towards the smoke room nearly tripping over one of Thorn¡¯s guards who was laying in a pool of blood. ¡°Attack, Mel, it¡¯s some kind of attack!¡±

    The entry room had been painted with blood and two of Thorn¡¯s bodyguards had lain with various levels of their limbs removed. As Kevin ran a flurry of gunfire erupted from an adjacent hallway and a mountain of a man collapsed into his path full of holes. Mel¡¯s training from their first day together popped into his head and he went into a crouch, moving swiftly between furniture items for cover.

    In another room, he got a glimpse of three of Thorn¡¯s guards fighting off a petite red headed woman who was swinging a katana in a wide circle. Blood sprayed Kevin¡¯s shoes and he sprinted forward smacking into the door to the smoke room and knocking furiously.

    ¡°Mel, please, something is going on out here!¡± He was pulled roughly through the door as it opened and collapsed in a heap next to Thorn.

    ¡°Who the fuck is this?¡± Mel shouted at Thorn and pointed her pistol at a bullet hole filled corpse on the carpet.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find whoever you want, Mel! I¡¯ll pay good money, I¡¯ll owe you one favor, anything! You have to get me out, you can¡¯t let them take me!¡± Thorn¡¯s eyes whipped around the room wildly looking from the dead assailant to Mel to Kevin. ¡°It¡¯s those Singularity bastards, they¡¯ve been hunting for me all across the verse!¡±

 8. Rendezvous in Vegas

    The Humvee landed on the roof of the mall with a crash, and Tango went flying out of the back. Cassia sat still in her seat for a moment to make sure everything was settled before she stepped out. Jumping seemed to be getting bumpier. At least on the way back towards Earth One, they¡¯d only lost the passenger door. It had disappeared midjump. For the second time in as many jumps, the smell of smoke tickled her nostrils. This time, though, it was much stronger. Grit appeared at her side.

    ¡°This building is burning,¡± he said, in a confusingly calm voice. Cassia ran towards the edge of the roof. Sure enough, flames were working their way up towards them. She could hear screaming, and see people running from the mall towards their cars in the parking lots. Sirens wailed in the distance. Quickly, she turned back to Grit.

    ¡°The Pathfinder should¡¯ve been on this roof,¡± she said. ¡°But it can camouflage itself, so it could be anywhere. We¡¯ve got to find it.¡± Without waiting for a response from Grit, she moved away, hands extended to avoid running into the invisible ship. Grit followed in a similar manner. Unfortunately the roof was expansive, and the smoke from the fire below was causing Cassia¡¯s eyes to water.

    ¡°Cassia, we need to leave,¡± Grit prodded. ¡°This roof is dangerous. Even with no flames, the heat could make it collapse.¡± Cassia ignored him, and kept moving forward. Eventually, Grit shrugged.

    ¡°I must go,¡± he said. ¡°Tango!¡± He moved away from her as he called again for the pangolin. Cassia was getting desperate and picking up speed. She could heal herself if she ran into the ship at full speed. She heard Grit calling in the distance and she vaguely hoped she found his pet. With a loud groan the roof in front of her caved in, and heat shot upward. Cassia barely stopped in time to avoid falling into the sudden pit. As it was she tumbled to the ground. Grit was still shouting in the background, and she finally realized he was calling her name.

    ¡°Cassia!¡± He sounded closer now. Cassia picked herself up and scrambled away from the hole. She could see Grit sprinting towards him, with Tango nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­here! The ship¡­next¡­edge¡­hurry¡­!¡± It was difficult to hear the man over the roaring of the fire below her, but she eventually determined that he had found the ship. She raced towards him, as loud groans behind her let her know that the roof was continuing to cave in. Grit turned as she approached and together they sprinted towards the edge of the building opposite from where the Humvee had landed. A roof caved in just to the right of Grit. He stumbled, but Cassia yanked him backwards by his backpack, barely even stopping her sprint, and Grit resumed running after her. As she approached the edge, she could see Tango sitting on his hind legs, with seemingly nothing but empty space behind him. She waved her hands over her head as she got closer. It made her feel like an idiot, but it worked. The familiar silvery lines rapidly appeared as the space behind the pangolin gradually faded into the dark black of the Pathfinder Odyssey.

    Cassia barely broke stride, launching herself into the open doorway and immediately approaching the dashboard. She checked quickly to see that Grit had also entered, bringing Tango with him, and then she placed her palm on the dashboard.

    ¡°Get us above these flames!¡± she shouted, and the ship pulsed then rocketed upwards. The force of the movement through Cassia and Grit to the floor. Tango, in a scaly ball, tumbled haphazardly around the interior. As the ship settled, Cassia lay on the floor, eyes closed, to catch her breath. When she opened them, Grit was standing over her. He extended an arm towards her.

    ¡°Thank you for catching me back there,¡± he growled. ¡°I owe you.¡± Cassia shook her head, but accepted his help in standing.

    ¡°Seems to me that we¡¯re even,¡± she replied. Grit seemed to accept this, and turned to examine his surroundings.

    ¡°Damnedest ship I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± he muttered. Cassia snorted.

    ¡°Yeah, well, few people have seen it,¡± she said. ¡°So consider yourself lucky.¡± She placed her hand back on the ship wall to open up a viewing window. Sunlight streamed in, but Cassia could also see the flames engulfing the building. A window opened near Grit as well, and he eagerly looked out. Suddenly he gasped.

    ¡°What do you see?¡± Cassia asked, and he pointed at the roof.

    ¡°There¡¯s a message for you!¡± he exclaimed, his voice higher with excitement. Cassia quickly moved to look out his window. Sure enough, spray painted on the roof in bright red paint was a string of words that started with her name.

    Cassia, we wen¡­see Thor¡­See us ther¡­u can¡­

    ¡°Is that a giant middle finger?¡± Grit asked. Cassia shook her head in exasperation, though she couldn¡¯t quite keep from smiling.

    ¡°It sure is,¡± she answered. ¡°Looks like Mel signed it. Smart of her to leave a message. Good thing we arrived before the building burned down or we wouldn¡¯t know where they went.¡± Grit turned from the window to look at her.

    ¡°You know where to go from that?¡± he asked, surprised. Cassia nodded.

    ¡°It turns out they¡¯re going right where I was planning to go all along,¡± she said. Grit shrugged.

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    ¡°Ok,¡± he said simply. ¡°Lead on to Thor, then. You¡¯re stuck with me, because I¡¯m fairly certain my Humvee didn¡¯t make it through that fire.¡± They both looked back out the window. On the ground below they could see rescue personnel fighting the fire, though there were a good number of them that seemed to be staring up in their direction. With a start, Cassia realized that she had assumed the Pathfinder would stay camouflaged in the air, but that must not be the case. She quickly put her hand on the ship.

    ¡°Take us to Thorny,¡± she said. ¡°And step on it.¡± Grit buckled himself in seconds before the ship launched into motion.

    <hr>

    The Pathfinder was hurtling through space one second, and the next it was not. Cassia and Grit slammed against their seat restraints, and the pangolin went flying through the cabin. Cassia collected herself for a minute before unbuckling and stepping out of the ship, Grit right behind her. They were on the top floor of a massive parking garage. Grit gave a low whistle.

    ¡°This here is Sin City,¡± he observed. Cassia didn¡¯t respond. She just moved towards the stairway. Grit didn¡¯t speak again until they stepped out of an elevator bank towards the expensive suites of the Bellagio.

    ¡°This guy Thorn is a high roller, huh?¡± Grit remarked. Cassia opened her mouth to reply, and then Grit swore loudly. Following his gaze, Cassia saw a body lying halfway out of a nearby smoke room. Slipping her knife from her belt, Cassia motioned to Grit for silence and then slowly approached the doorway. Grit had produced a handgun from one of his many pockets, and he put a hand on her shoulder then pointed to himself. Reluctantly, she nodded and let him take the lead. The big veteran quickly leaned out and scanned the room, weapon extended. Then he motioned to Cassia and headed in.

    The inside of the room was a grisly mess. There were blood spatters on the furniture and the wall, and three bodies dressed all in black lay unmoving that Cassia could see. Through a doorway, she could see three more casualties. One seemed to be nearly headless. She glanced at Grit, but he seemed to be handling the bloody scene fairly well.

    ¡°Any of yours?¡± he asked simply, and Cassia shook her head. She moved through the smoke room to the door leading to Thorn¡¯s living space. It wasn¡¯t locked, which was a bad sign. Grit again took the lead, and slammed the door open with a massive kick. The only body in this room was a small red haired woman with a hole in her forehead. Cassia surged ahead of Grit, bursting into Thorn¡¯s kitchen. There were two more dead men in black, one with a knife still stuck in his neck and the other full of bullets. Moving even quicker now, Cassia rounded the corner into a hallway leading towards the bedroom. As she entered the room, something in her subconscious began blaring an alarm, and she abruptly turned and tackled Grit around the midsection as bullets exploded into the doorframe.

    Almost immediately, Cassia was back on her feet. Ignoring the beginning of a protest from Grit, she dove through the bedroom door with her knife ready to fling. Her gaze barely took in a redheaded stocky woman, face full of fury, attempting to bring a weapon up towards her. Behind the woman was the pale face of a terrified man, and at the last second Cassia¡¯s brain kicked in. Her knife buried itself in the wall to the left of Mel¡¯s head, and she hit the ground with a thud, blood roaring in her ears from the adrenaline.

    ¡°...fucking stupid piece of shit!¡± Mel finished shouting. ¡°I almost blew your brains out of your silver head!¡± Cassia sat up. Mel, it seemed, was yelling at her. Kevin was staring wide eyed at the still quivering knife handle protruding from the wall.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you guys made it,¡± Cassia said, standing up and ignoring Mel¡¯s yelling. ¡°This is Grit, he helped me get here.¡± She gestured to the doorway as the big man entered slowly. He eyed Mel warily. Cassia noted the pangolin snuffling around in the hallway. She was surprised it had made it this far without her noticing.

    ¡°Did you get Mel¡¯s message?¡± Kevin asked. Cassia nodded.

    ¡°Barely, right before the building burned to the ground.¡± Mel¡¯s eyebrows raised, but she didn¡¯t say anything. Kevin, however, was incredulous.

    ¡°The mall burned down?!¡± he exclaimed, but Cassia was already searching the room.

    ¡°What happened to Thorn?¡± she asked. Mel frowned at her, and Cassia sighed.

    ¡°Yes, I know Elias Thorn. I was planning on coming here anyway.¡± Mel stared at her for a moment, and then shrugged.

    ¡°The Singularity picked him up,¡± she said, unusually serious. Cassia''s eyes widened in recognition.

    ¡°Those were Pinnacles in the kitchen?¡± she asked, and Mel nodded.

    ¡°And you killed two of them?¡± Cassia¡¯s tone changed to disbelief but Mel nodded again.

    ¡°Got one fair and square. The other one was distracted by a fucking idiot,¡± she said, gesturing towards Kevin. He somehow seemed to turn paler remembering the fight.

    ¡°Good work,¡± Cassia said. She started to say more but Grit interrupted.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but what is The Singularity?¡± he asked Cassia, still keeping an eye on Mel. ¡°And what are Pinnacles?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have time now,¡± Cassia replied, waving him off. ¡°We¡¯ve got to find another Thorny.¡± Mel nodded her approval, finally putting away her handgun. Grit visibly relaxed.

    ¡°I agree,¡± she stated. ¡°I need to talk to him about all this shit. He owes me new shoes.¡± She walked out of the bedroom. Grit looked at Cassia, confused.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Thorn who we came to meet?¡± he asked as Cassia hauled Kevin to his feet and led them after Mel.

    ¡°Yeah, but he¡¯s gone now,¡± Cassia answered. ¡°So we¡¯ve got to find a different version.¡± Grit shook his head, still not understanding. Kevin looked like he¡¯d given up even trying to keep track.

    ¡°Won¡¯t any other version of Thorn not know who we are?¡± Mel chuckled at this.

    ¡°I know where another one is,¡± she said to Cassia, then looked back over her shoulder at Grit.

    ¡°Elias Thorn is probably the weirdest fucking guy in the multiverse,¡± she said in all seriousness. ¡°But if the Singularity¡¯s going after him, we¡¯re all in deep shit.¡±

 9. Parisian Holiday

    Grit buckled himself into the flight seat along with the others, but could¡¯ve sworn that there had only been two seats before. He¡¯d sat in one, and Cassia in the other. Now, though, the ship was easily holding the two of them, plus Mel and Kevin. Each one of them had their own seat, and the interior didn¡¯t feel cramped. Grit shook his head and let it go. It was unimportant for right now.

    He watched Cassia place her hand on the ship, and he braced himself. He had never really gotten used to jumping across the multiverse, even though he was forced to fairly often. The ship jumped. He could tell by the small pulse that went through the ship. Other than that, and Cassia jumping out of her seat towards the exit, there was no indication anything had happened at all. The door of the ship opened and sunlight streamed in. Grit was relieved to see that they were not on top of a mall this time, though he couldn¡¯t tell where they had set down in this universe.

    ¡°Yay, Paris!¡± shouted Mel, clapping her hands like a child. Grit blinked until his eyes got used to the sunlight and he could indeed see the Eiffel Tower looming nearby. Mel gestured for everyone to follow her, so he scooped up Tango and set him on his shoulder. The group followed Mel as she led them closer and closer to the tower. They received a number of strange looks from passersby, and Grit felt that they were all directed at him. He was, after all, still wearing his jungle camouflage outfit, and he also towered over everyone else. He frowned and focused on walking and observing.

    Finally, Mel stopped and pointed down a street full of obviously expensive apartments and penthouses.

    ¡°This should be it,¡± she said. ¡°Looks like my kind of place! Let¡¯s find number fifteen.¡± She was halfway there before Grit grabbed her arm.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we scout ahead for enemies?¡± he asked. ¡°Look what happened last time.¡± Mel rolled her eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure even The Singularity isn¡¯t moving this fast,¡± she said in an exasperated tone. ¡°But fine. I¡¯ll go knock and you cover me from the bushes.¡± Grit was fairly certain that she was joking, but he nodded his agreement anyway. Then he hustled around and put the bush at the front of the walk in between him and the front door. Unholstering his pistol, he clicked the safety off and immediately started scanning for trouble. Across the sidewalk, Cassia and Kevin did an awkward imitation of him. Grit hoped Kevin wouldn¡¯t try to shoot the gun he¡¯d pulled out. Based on the way he handled it, he was just as likely to shoot any of them as he was an enemy.

    At the door, Mel tapped out a complicated knock, which resulted in a tiny electronic device extending from the middle of the door.

    ¡°Password required,¡± said a metallic voice. Mel laughed, then cleared her throat and spat a glob of saliva onto the screen. Grit frowned, and readied himself for action. That girl was too brash. There was no chance the owner of the ritzy penthouse would accept that without hostility.

    ¡°Password accepted. Welcome, Melissa Alfaro,¡± said the computer, then the electronic device slid back into the door. Mel grinned back at them.

    ¡°You can put your guns away now, children,¡± she called out to them. Grit lowered his weapon, meaning to click the safety on, but then things went south. The front door opened right as Grit realized that Tango was no longer on his shoulder. Then he noticed the pangolin tugging at Mel¡¯s pants. She frowned at it and then bent down and shoved it away, right as a bullet exploded into the wall at head height. Mel hit the ground with a yell, and Grit saw Cassia charging out from behind the opposite bush. Mostly though, he heard the distant thump of helicopter rotors.

    Everything in real life seemed to slow down for Grit, the thump of the rotors magnified and bouncing around his brain. Suddenly he was back in the foxhole, explosions providing a constant white noise in the background. He could see Jorge¡¯s body laying in an unnatural position halfway out of the hole. He could see the other men running, retreating, towards that fortified position in the rocky hills. And he could see the helicopter slowly rising up over that hilltop to face the men running towards it. The rotors thumping, always thumping. Everything was happening fast, and he was too slow, and then the helicopter was gone and the world was silent.

    Grit blinked in surprise to find his face flat against the pavement. He sat up slowly to get his bearings, and realized the other three were surrounding him.

    ¡°You ok there, big guy?¡± asked Mel. ¡°¡®Cuz you look like shit.¡± Cassia frowned at her but then looked to him for an answer. He nodded slowly.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Sorry,¡± he grunted his answers. Cassia didn¡¯t seem to believe him, but Mel was fine with his answer.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get inside,¡± she said. ¡°Who knows how many of these fuckers are still out here.¡± Turning, Grit could see two bodies in all black lying prone on the walk. He gestured to Kevin, who quickly stepped forward and helped him to his feet. As he stood there was movement in his peripherals. A black shape stepped out from between apartments and fired towards them. Instinctively, Grit shoved Cassia to the side, already drawing his own pistol and firing back. The bullet hit the man center mass, and he dropped immediately to the ground.

    ¡°Very nice,¡± Mel said, then turned to Cassia. ¡°Soldier man is ok, so let¡¯s get the hell inside.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for a response, just turned and ran back up the walk and shoved open the front door. Grit followed, with Cassia and Kevin right behind. Kevin slammed the door behind them, and Grit wondered if he thought that would keep out bullets.

    They gathered inside the front door on the marble flooring. Grit was fairly certain it was real marble. The excess expense vaguely irritated him, but he pushed it down. There was a small sitting room off the hallway, and he could see a small man laying back on an oversized chair, one hand lightly resting on his forehead. He was wearing a tight fitting suit with pinstripes, and a white lacy shirt that bubbled up out of the jacket. Mel stomped over to him.

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    ¡°Sit up, you dumbass,¡± she said as she grabbed the man by his slim striped suit jacket. The man groaned and sat up, then glared at Mel.

    ¡°Melissa, please,¡± he scolded. ¡°Have some tact.¡± Mel smiled at him, but it wasn¡¯t nice. The man looked around.

    ¡°Who are these¡­people?¡± he asked with a slight frown. Grit saw Mel reposition herself so she was behind the chair. Then she looked over at him and gestured to the door. Grit tried to be subtle as he eased himself into the doorway.

    ¡°They¡¯re here to save your ass, so you better listen up,¡± Mel replied. Something in her tone must have alerted the man, as he glanced sharply at her. Cassia stepped forward.

    ¡°Mr. Thorn,¡± she began, and the man raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°I apologize for bringing trouble to your door¡­¡± Thorn held up a hand to cut her off, and then turned to smirk at Mel.

    ¡°This is how one speaks in a civilized world,¡± he said, then looked back at Cassia. ¡°Please, continue.¡± Grit rolled his eyes, but Cassia simply proceeded.

    ¡°We are here for two things. First, any information you may have about the Weft and Warp.¡± She paused as Thorn gasped in surprise, but then continued. ¡°Second, we believe The Singularity may be searching for you.¡±

    If the first statement had surprised Thorn, the second sent him into a panic. He leapt up out of the chair and tried to head towards the bookshelf on the back wall, but found Mel blocking his way.

    ¡°Sorry, pal,¡± she said as he turned and ran for the door. Grit set his feet and glared at Thorn, who quailed and simply sat down on the floor.

    ¡°I must leave,¡± he mumbled. ¡°But I thought they were simply ruffians. I am a dead man.¡± Cassia knelt down by the distraight Thorn and put a hand on his shoulder until he looked up at her.

    ¡°We can help get you out of here,¡± she said softly. ¡°But we need the information.¡± Thorn looked at her wildly.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t know where the Weft and Warp are,¡± he said. Cassia looked at him sadly, then stood up.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go find the next Thorn,¡± she said to the group. Kevin was shocked, but Mel just nodded and joined Cassia. Grit was surprised that Cassia would simply leave the man, but when she looked at him he shrugged and moved from the doorway.

    ¡°Wait!¡± shouted Thorn. ¡°There are few of me who even believe the Weft and Warp are real. You want to talk to Thorn-41. He¡¯s crazy about that legend.¡± Cassia turned around.

    ¡°We just came from Earth 41,¡± she said, and Thorn¡¯s face fell. ¡°That Thorn is already taken by The Singularity.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s the Thorn you need,¡± said the one on the ground. ¡°No one else knows what he knows!¡± Grit looked around the room. Cassia was considering this, but Kevin seemed anxious. Mel looked mostly indifferent, but then Grit was fairly certain she could survive anywhere. Maybe in a different way than him, but they were cut from the same cloth. He realized Cassia was still debating.

    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t know what The Singularity is,¡± Grit said. ¡°But if we¡¯re going to have to fight them every time we visit this guy, we may as well fight them for the first Thorn.¡± He wasn¡¯t entirely sure he¡¯d said that right. Talking about the multiverse often got complex quickly, so he was relieved when Cassia slowly nodded.

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve got to get Thorn-41 from The Singularity,¡± she said. The Thorn on the ground looked overjoyed.

    ¡°Thank you, thank you!¡± he said, standing up from the floor. ¡°Mel! Get The Singularity off my back and I¡¯ll have the biggest job I¡¯ve ever had for you!¡± Mel snorted derisively, but Grit could tell she was already interested.

    ¡°What is this damn Singularity anyway?¡± he asked. ¡°Some sort of government group or something?¡±

    ¡°More like religious,¡± Mel muttered. Grit gave her a confused look, but it was Cassia who responded.

    ¡°They¡¯re a fanatical group that believes there is one copy of each person, across the multiverse, that is better than all the rest,¡± she explained. ¡°They see it as their mission to either eliminate the weaker ones themselves, or by pitting them against each other in fights to the death.¡±

    ¡°They are growing in reach,¡± said Thorn, shakily. ¡°They¡¯re certainly not the biggest group across the multiverse but they are¡­relentless.¡± He shuddered. Cassia shook her head, as if to clear it, and then strode past Grit and into the hallway.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said. ¡°If The Singularity isn''t here yet, it¡¯s only a matter of time. And we have to go across the city to get to the Pathfinder.¡± She looked at Thorn and hesitated for a moment.

    ¡°Thorn, we can take you with us, but we have to leave now,¡± she said reluctantly. Thorn shook his head rapidly.

    ¡°Oh no, I¡¯ve prepared for this moment,¡± he said, seemingly gaining confidence. ¡°All Thorn¡¯s know that such a time may come. Thank you for the warning.¡± He bowed low to them, then turned to Mel.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Melissa. I will reward you for getting rid of these guys!¡± Anxiety returning, Thorn turned and bounded over to the bookshelf. He pulled a specific book, and Grit expected the bookshelf to swing open. Instead, a trap door slid open below Thorn¡¯s feet, and he dropped from view. The door slid back into place immediately. Almost simultaneously there was a loud crash from the front of the building.

    ¡°They¡¯re back!¡± Kevin shrieked, and Cassia shushed him as Mel directed them towards the back of the penthouse. Suddenly both entrance doors slammed open, kicked in by the men outside. Smoke flooded into the house. Grit grabbed Kevin and hurled him towards a side door.

    ¡°This way!¡± he shouted to the others as he flung the door open and shoved Kevin through. He slammed the door behind him as Mel and Cassia sprinted by. They were in a garage of sorts, though it was fully taken up by the shiny Land Rover in front of them.

    ¡°Oh, hell yes!¡± shouted Mel. ¡°I¡¯ll drive!¡± As she spoke, bullets came whizzing in through the door, causing everyone to duck.

    ¡°Get in the car!¡± Grit bellowed and everyone moved except Mel. She was holding her left side, and blood was seeping through her fingers. She slowly looked up at him.

    ¡°Shit,¡± she said, and then she collapsed on the floor.

 10. The Stranger

    Mel¡¯s head was pounding as she slowly came back to consciousness. Keeping her eyes shut she took in her surroundings. She could feel that she was lying prone on her back. Whatever she was on was cushioned, which was nice. Mel could remember taking a bullet to her side but currently felt no pain there and she didn¡¯t seem to be hooked up to anything. She could faintly smell a hint of vanilla lingering in the air.

    Mel cracked her eyes open a sliver and was relieved to see the mostly familiar interior of the Pathfinder. She was laying on some kind of medical slab that had materialized out of the inner wall. She could hear a shifting of clothes and out of the corner of her eye caught sight of a man seated in one of the ship¡¯s bucket seats.

    The man was trim, wearing a casual suit with a tie that had been loosened. He had golden hair in a perfect part, cut just right and styled fashionably. She could barely make out a tattoo on the back of his hand as he scratched his neck and stifled a yawn. Mel staunched the panic that began to rise in her stomach and silently felt for the knife at her belt. Whether this was a friend or an enemy, Mel was going to handle it the same way.

    Leaping from the medical slab, Mel pressed her knife against the mystery man¡¯s neck. Ignoring his look of shock, she pressed a knee to his chest and forced herself not to grimace at the sudden pain shooting from her side.

    ¡°You¡¯re not Kevin or Grit so how the fuck did you get in here.¡± Mel growled.

    ¡°We ran into each other during the skirmish at Thorn¡¯s, your friends went back to search the place and left me here!¡± The man kept his hands raised and calmly but firmly explained.

    ¡°First off, ¡®friends¡¯ seems like a little much.¡± Mel eased the knife back slightly but remained in position to strike. ¡°Who the hell are you and why would they trust you?¡±

    ¡°My name is Derrick, I got you all out of a situation and when the ship allowed me in, your leader thought it best if I stayed with you.¡± He remained motionless, piercing blue eyes keeping direct contact with Mel¡¯s as she scoffed.

    ¡°Leader? Well ok, fuck right off.¡± Mel eased back and tucked her knife back into her belt. ¡°What¡¯s your deal then, you some kind of criminal?¡±

    Derrick slowly lowered his hands and his eyebrows raised in disdain. ¡°I am a perfectly upstanding citizen who happens to know how to deal with a bullet wound while riding at high speed in a motor vehicle.¡± At this Mel cracked a smile and lifted her shirt to reveal that she¡¯d ripped open the stitches in her side.

    ¡°Time for my follow up already it looks like then, doc.¡±

    <hr>

    Derrick tossed the medical gloves down a trash compartment and rinsed his hands in the sink that had materialized in the Pathfinder when they¡¯d arrived with the unconscious Mel the evening before. He sighed, wondering how he¡¯d gotten caught up in this. So far, he much preferred Mel unconscious.

    ¡°Alright then, seems you¡¯ve got some tricks up your sleeves, let¡¯s see them.¡± Mel sat gingerly in one of the ship¡¯s seats with a smug look on her face.

    ¡°I trained as a surgeon, yes. You¡¯ve seen my tricks.¡±

    ¡°Tsk tsk, I¡¯m a bit of a wanderer and in my travels I¡¯ve seen some things. For example, that tattoo there.¡± Mel pointed at Derrick¡¯s hand with a sly smile. ¡°So why don¡¯t you drop the act and show me your real face.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ well¡­¡± Derrick stuttered and sighed. ¡°This is my real face. The rest of your crew know, I guess you might as well too.¡±

    ¡°Oh goodie.¡± Mel clapped her hands together and laughed. ¡°Now, you and I could get into some real trouble! Shall we catch up with the others?¡± She hopped to her feet and began checking around for supplies while Derrick looked on dejectedly.

    Derrick was from Earth-103, an Earth that was very closely monitored by the IPF and considered a Stage 5 Multiversal Threat. Its citizens were kept in the dark about multiverse travel and Derrick believed he was one of very few who had left. A misunderstanding had led to his arrest but before he could be booked he escaped into the multiverse. He¡¯d been laying low here for several years, working with Thorn occasionally to stay afloat. A human that could shift his appearance was pretty valuable to a guy like Thorn.

    ¡°Wait, you shouldn¡¯t be up and moving. I just re-stitched your wound.¡± Derrick stood and shadowed Mel around the interior of the Pathfinder.

    ¡°You can stay if you want, but I¡¯m getting back in the damn action.¡± Mel turned and flicked Derrick on the nose, causing his bright blue eyes to flicker grey for a second. She smiled mischievously. ¡°I knew it. Must be hard keeping that appearance up all the time.¡±

    ¡°Please¡­¡± Derrick fought to maintain his composure as his protest was cut off by Mel stepping out of the ship. Alone again, he let out a soft sigh. ¡°What an absolutely maddening woman.¡±

    Derrick followed after Mel and watched the Pathfinder ripple with its stealth effect as he pressed the outer door shut. The ship was parked on the roof of an apartment building near the base of the Eiffel Tower. Derrick walked a half step behind Mel as they maneuvered fire escapes, windows, and stairwells before arriving in the park outside.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°What exactly is your plan at this point?¡± Derrick spoke quietly through his teeth as he surveyed the area. In his mind, he noted anything out of place, every possible anomaly, an unfortunate habit he¡¯d picked up during his time in hiding. From an inside pocket he produced a pair of leather driving gloves and slipped them on.

    ¡°Loosen up, the others might need some help, so we¡¯re going to go find them.¡± Mel spun in a circle, getting her bearings before walking briskly in the direction of Thorn¡¯s home. After a beat, Derrick paced after her.

    ¡°They specifically said that we should stay with the ship, what if someone finds it?¡±

    ¡°Nobody who isn¡¯t supposed to find it, will find it! I left it on top of a fucking mall and Cassia found it just fine, I think.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Derrick scrunched his face up in confusion as he came level with Mel and matched her pace.

    ¡°I. Left. It. On. A. Mall. And. It. Was. Fine. Jesus, just my fucking luck that I get myself into a crime team with some kind of robot on a power trip, a doof who doesn¡¯t know his head from his ass, some off grid conspiracy headcase, and a goody two shoes shapeshifter! Do you know how much money we could steal together?¡± Mel rounded on him even as Derrick raised his hands in an effort to control her volume.

    ¡°Fine, ok, we¡¯ll check on them. Just please keep your voice down!¡± Derrick moved to take the lead and began walking a roundabout route to the penthouse. ¡°Act natural, like you belong on this planet please. Follow me, we¡¯ll approach from the south instead of sprinting right at it.¡±

    ¡°Booooring.¡± Mel over exaggerated a yawn but followed nonetheless. The walk took nearly an hour with Derrick constantly forcing the pair to stop to act natural and check for tails but eventually they arrived a block over from Thorn¡¯s residence.

    ¡°Something¡¯s off.¡± Derrick nodded slightly in the direction of a pair of French officers knocking on doors. ¡°They¡¯ll stop us, we need to go back to the ship.¡±

    ¡°Yeah fucking right. We duck them, get a look at the front of the place first. If it¡¯s swarming, you take on the face of a superior officer and we¡¯re in. Ea-fuckin-sy.¡± Mel tapped Derrick towards an alleyway.

    ¡°That plan is deeply flawed. First of all, I can manipulate my form, not my clothes. Second, you don¡¯t think they¡¯ll find it curious when there are two of the same person in front of the same house?¡± Derrick¡¯s nostrils flared in frustration and he took two deep steadying breaths before continuing. ¡°Mel, the streets aren¡¯t blocked off, they clearly aren¡¯t in some kind of standoff. We need to clear the scene and meet back up at the Pathfinder.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, fuck that.¡± Mel turned and took off in a crouched run through the alleyway.

    ¡°Unbelievable.¡± Derrick muttered before walking carefully after her. ¡°Mel!¡± He whispered after her form but she paid no attention and began pulling herself up a drain pipe. Derrick watched her go higher and higher. He looked down at his suit and angrily began looking for another way up.

    Derrick let out a sigh as he settled on Mel¡¯s plan. He walked carefully out the other end of the alley and surveyed the scene. A handful of officers were walking in and out of the building. Really, just a uniform was all he needed. He watched a thin officer carry a box of evidence to the back of a larger response vehicle and after a beat approached him.

    The officer looked up at Derrick but saw brown hair cut short and bright green eyes. Derrick had softened his face as well, his jaw was more rounded, his cheeks looser.

    ¡°Could I bother you for a minute? Just a couple of questions for the paper?¡± Derrick spoke in exquisite French, his accent honed over the last 22 months.

    ¡°No comment.¡± The officer grunted and turned to head back into Thorn¡¯s home. Derrick was faster, grabbing him by a pressure point in his hand he prodded a small needle into the man¡¯s neck and pulled him behind the vehicle. Derrick frowned in disgust, he hated physical violence almost as much as the thought of wearing another person¡¯s clothing but he swiftly got into the uniform and adjusted his face to match the unconscious man. Doing his best to stuff the man under the car, Derrick shrugged. All his hard work undone by this hurricane of a woman. There were other Earths to hide on but he¡¯d grown to like the meager existence he had carved out here.

    Before he could mourn too much, an explosion shook the street and all hell broke loose as officers rushed into the dust cloud emerging from Thorn¡¯s former front door. Derrick shook his head and ran in with them moving quickly to the study where he knew the secret office was contained. The door had already been discovered and it seemed Mel had blown up something else as a diversion. Officers streamed past the door and up to a bedroom on the second level.

    Derrick stepped into the office and made to shut the door.

    ¡°Easy there cowboy.¡± Mel crooned from the desk in the center of the room. Derrick turned around very slowly, his face returning to his golden locks and blue eyes as he did. ¡°Oh, you stuck around? Perfect, make yourself useful and open this computer up.¡±

    ¡°This is what I was here for yesterday, your group and your injury derailed my plans a bit. That explosion won¡¯t keep them distracted long, watch the hall.¡± Derrick began to adjust his appearance to Thorn¡¯s as Mel moved to the door.

    ¡°That¡¯s what these are for.¡± Mel held up a belt loop of various grenades and a stun baton. She winked as she headed to the entry.

    Derrick shook his head and placed his changed hand on the tabletop.

    ¡°Welcome Thorn-53.¡± The desk lit up like a laptop screen and Derrick rummaged until he found a portable drive to store files on. Grabbing anything interesting, he watched the progress bar tick by. While he waited, Derrick opened up a messaging application and began scanning through for anything interesting.

    ¡°You¡¯re looking for the Singularity, right?¡± Derrick looked up at the exact moment Mel tossed a flash grenade through the door. Mel laughed and leapt around the doorway, leaving Derrick alone at the desk. He could see half of the room outside, strewn with debris and hear the sound of Mel bashing her way through the local police. An officer flew into sight suddenly, fear in his eyes before the stun baton caught him in the neck. Mel kicked him to the floor, convulsing and she returned to the door.

    ¡°Yes, Singularity. Chop chop, please.¡± Mel shook a second flash grenade and turned back to the hall.

    ¡°At least she¡¯s saying please now.¡± Derrick murmured as the progress bar hit 85%. Another explosion echoed through the building and Derrick could hear the thud and hum of Mel¡¯s stun baton. The door rattled as an officer pushed into the room, a gun trained on him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mo¡­!¡± He began to shout in French. Blood burst from the officer¡¯s shoulder and Mel leapt onto his back, wrestling him to the ground. Mel kicked his gun towards Derrick and glanced over the desk as the bar hit 100%.

    ¡°Perfect, take the drive and move.¡± Mel began shoving the desk towards the outer wall of the building.

    ¡°What are you doing, we need to get out of here!¡± Derrick looked out the door at the bloodied officers in various states of consciousness.

    ¡°The doors are not an option, so I¡¯m making a new one.¡± Mel produced a frag grenade and waved it in his face before gingerly pressing it into the gap between the wall and the desk.

    ¡°Wait, no that¡¯s a very bad idea.¡± Derrick took a step forward as Mel pulled the pin and tackled him to the floor.

 11. While Mel Was Out

    Kevin¡¯s hands shook as he lowered his gun slowly. The man in the doorway to the garage was a bloody heap on the ground and though he¡¯d shot Mel, Kevin felt sick to his stomach. He could vaguely hear Grit shouting at him but it felt so far away. It felt like his head was underwater and a rushing sound filled his ears. He squeezed his eyes shut and almost felt like he was floating away before a strong hand gripped his wrist.

    ¡°Kid, focus up. Good shots. But the girl needs out of here.¡± Grit looked Kevin in the eyes and waited until he took one steadying breath and nodded. ¡°Hold the wound.¡±

    Grit lifted Mel¡¯s form off the ground while Kevin pressed a rag against the hole in her side. They moved together to the Rover and were surprised to find Cassia in a tense standoff with a stranger.

    ¡°Grit. This man says he¡¯s not Singularity. Could you check him for a weapon?¡± She kept her own gun trained on the blonde man as Grit deposited Mel in the back seat and nodded to Kevin to continue applying pressure. Trying to keep his mind off his new status as a murderer, Kevin watched Grit meticulously search through the man¡¯s suit.

    ¡°Please, I don¡¯t know what the situation here is but I am an associate of Thorn¡¯s. I was expecting to meet with him.¡± The man glanced into the car at Kevin and his piercing blue eyes looked over Mel. ¡°I¡¯m a trained surgeon. I can help your friend.¡±

    Grit turned and nodded an all clear to Cassia then returned to cover the doorway. Cassia took a look around again before begrudgingly lowering her weapon. She waved the man towards the car and pointed to Kevin.

    ¡°You know how to drive?¡± As she tossed the keys towards Kevin, his face scrunched in annoyance.

    ¡°Just because I don¡¯t know anything about all this multiple Earths nonsense doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not an adult who can drive a damn car!¡± Kevin reluctantly allowed the stranger to take over Mel¡¯s care and started moving towards the driver¡¯s seat.

    ¡°Other side Kevin. We¡¯re in Europe.¡± Cassia said like she was talking to a toddler as she got into the passenger seat and checked her gun. Kevin grumbled as he walked around to the right side of the Land Rover and got in. Adjusting the rear view mirror, he saw Grit toss a rolled up Tango into the trunk before diving in himself as another pair of Singularity members rushed into the garage.

    ¡°Drive!¡± Grit shouted as gunfire erupted. Kevin punched the gas and the vehicle burst through the garage door. On the street a handful of surprised Singularity members opened fire and began loading into a pair of black Escalades. Kevin breathed a sigh of relief that the Land Rover appeared to be reinforced with bulletproof glass and gunned it down the street.

    ¡°Other side!¡± Cassia screamed from the passenger seat as she leaned out the window to fire shots back at their pursuers. Kevin lurched onto the correct side of the street, narrowly avoiding a Fiat.

    ¡°I understand it¡¯s a car chase but if you could please keep it steady for a moment, I¡¯m trying to remove a bullet.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m having a rather stressful few days, I don¡¯t need sass from a man I don¡¯t even know!¡± Kevin turned down a side street and mounted the sidewalk to pass a handful of cars.

    ¡°My name is Derrick.¡± A bloody hand came up between the seats for a handshake and Kevin forced down vomit before shaking his head. Glancing at the mirror, Kevin saw the Escalades round the corner and accelerate to catch up. Grit began firing out the back of the Rover and Kevin returned his eyes forward.

    ¡°Oh what the actual hell?¡± Kevin stared in confusion at what appeared to be a 6 way rounded intersection in front of him. ¡°Is this a roundabout? Why is there a red light!?¡±

    As Kevin slammed the brakes jostling everyone and sending Grit careening into the seats, one of the two Escalades swerved around them and smashed into a Tesla in the intersection. The driver flew through the windshield and hit the pavement with a sickening splatter. Before Kevin could throw up, bullets lit up the side of the Land Rover from the second Singularity vehicle. Kevin hit the pedal and swerved around the chaos unfolding in the roundabout and took a left turn.

    ¡°Kevin! One way!¡± Honks blared as Kevin dodged around cars driving directly at him. He narrowly avoided running over a couple outside a cafe as he jumped the sidewalk to dodge an oncoming sedan. A loud crunch came from behind as Kevin continued to weave around approaching traffic.

    ¡°Good work, kid, got the other one off us too.¡± Grit was now leaning forward in the seat to see if he could help Derrick at all and Cassia patted Kevin on the shoulder with a smile. Kevin took the first turn he could and slowed to match traffic.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Follow signs for the hospital, I¡¯ll need to get more supplies to take care of her and police will be swarming any minute looking for this vehicle. We¡¯re not out of this yet.¡± Derrick had pulled the bullet free but was still trying to staunch the blood flow from the open wound. Kevin nodded and looked out for signs.

    ¡°Over there. On the left.¡± Grit was pointing left towards a walled off wooded area. ¡°I saw the sign across that park.¡±

    Kevin maneuvered through a series of small streets until he saw the hospital''s underground visitor parking and pulled in.

    ¡°Find a new vehicle that will fit us, get her moved over carefully and quietly. I¡¯ll go in and get what I need and meet you back here.¡± Derrick reached for the door handle as the automatic locks whirred.

    ¡°Hold on, we are not letting you go by yourself.¡± Cassia had turned to face him and her eyes narrowed. ¡°I¡¯ll be going with you, non-negotiable.¡± Derrick sighed and thought for a moment before nodding his consent. Cassia hit the unlock and the two moved quickly towards an elevator door. Kevin and Grit looked at the unconscious Mel and the amount of blood soaking into the seat and floor. Grit patted Kevin on the shoulder, a gesture that seemed to be the most empathy he could muster and got out of the car.

    Kevin followed and the pair had soon identified a sedan with a roomy back seat. Working quietly together, they watched out for witnesses then moved Mel from one vehicle to the other.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to hotwire a car.¡± Kevin whispered to Grit as they got into the front seats. The pair looked around the interior.

    ¡°Hm. Me neither.¡± Grit craned his neck to look under the steering wheel. Kevin felt around underneath it looking for wires like he had seen in movies but found nothing.

    ¡°Should we try a different car?¡± Kevin looked blankly at Grit for help.

    ¡°How¡¯s that going to be any different?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I suppose not.¡± Kevin sighed and leaned back in the seat. He closed his eyes for a moment and wondered how he¡¯d gotten here at all. He had a fine life before but he was surprised to find he didn¡¯t really miss it. He didn¡¯t have any real attachments and he wondered if anybody even noticed he was gone.

    ¡°What about this?¡± Grit opened the glove box and began pawing through the contents, interrupting Kevin¡¯s contemplations.

    ¡°No keys in there I suppose?¡± Kevin said without opening his eyes. Grit gave an affirming growl and Kevin sighed. ¡°Cassia thinks I¡¯m a bumbling idiot. I am, I suppose, but I¡¯m new to all this. I think it¡¯s pretty reasonable to be bad at universe hopping and criminal activity when I was a bowling alley clerk 4 days ago.¡±

    ¡°Hm.¡± Kevin frowned at Grit¡¯s lack of engagement but didn¡¯t know what he had expected. In the short time he¡¯d known the grizzled veteran he¡¯d learned nothing about him except that he had some kind of pet straight out of Pokemon and he rarely spoke. He turned and looked at Tango curled on the backseat next to Mel.

    ¡°Mel seemed to start thinking a little higher of me. They¡¯re both so confident and self-assured. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing here with them, I guess. I feel like dead weight. I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m telling you this. You¡¯re a brick wall, she¡¯s nearly dead, and I don¡¯t know what the hell that thing is.¡± Kevin sighed and sat back again.

    ¡°You know, I got blown to hell in Fallujah once. Half my insides were outsides, nearly lost a leg. I couldn¡¯t speak, barely breathe, but I was awake the whole damn time.¡± Kevin turned in shock as Grit continued to speak. ¡°You think you¡¯re dead weight? That was dead weight kid. Fella I never met wrapped me in a blanket to keep all my parts together and dragged me through hell. Nearly died himself. But he kept on carrying me because it was right.¡±

    The pair sat in silence for a few moments, Grit apparently done talking. Kevin found himself strangely comforted by the story and he looked curiously at the man next to him. The back doors suddenly opened, breaking the silence, and Cassia and Derrick slid into the back seat. Kevin was startled by Derrick¡¯s appearance, as he settled into his seat, his face shifted and bubbled transforming to the man he¡¯d met less than an hour earlier. When he got in his hair had been a shaggy brown and his face pocked with blemishes. He worked his jaw, trying to form words but Cassia spoke before he could.

    ¡°Yes, Derrick has a very useful skillset. Drive, they¡¯re going to notice missing bags of blood.¡± Cassia began sorting through a tote bag.

    ¡°Oh, um. We didn¡¯t know how to start the car.¡± Kevin swallowed hard and stared straight ahead even as he felt Cassia¡¯s gaze burning into the back of his head. Grit cleared his throat and looked out his window in the uncomfortable silence.

    ¡°How exactly were you lot functioning before?¡± Derrick shook his head and moved into action. He produced a large wallet from inside his suit jacket and pulled out a thin piece of plastic that resembled a credit card and handed it to Kevin. ¡°Put that in the ignition.¡± Kevin obeyed and turned to watch as Derrick produced his smart phone and began tapping away in some kind of interface. After a moment the engine roared to life.

    ¡°Back to the Pathfinder?¡± Kevin adjusted his mirrors while he waited for a response.

    ¡°Straight there and you¡¯d better hope I can figure out your friend¡¯s blood type when we arrive.¡± Derrick¡¯s quick reply cut off Cassia and Kevin looked to her for confirmation. She was looking at Derrick with something stuck between a sneer and respect before catching Kevin¡¯s eye and giving him a nod.

    ¡°Back to the Pathfinder. We need to regroup. If we¡¯re going to save Thorn and fix the folds of the multiverse, we¡¯re going to need to get Mel back on her feet.¡± She turned and gave Derrick a curt nod and spoke through gritted teeth, ¡°Thank you for your help. It would be mutually beneficial if you traveled with us, I think.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like I have much of a choice in the matter now.¡± Derrick hesitated before continuing. ¡°Do you really have a Pathfinder?¡±

 12. Tangle of Thorns

    As Grit and Kevin cautiously approached the front door of Elias Thorn¡¯s penthouse in Paris, Cassia circled around the back. She was surprised to find that she trusted Grit to keep Kevin alive, and even more surprised to realize that she wanted Kevin to stay alive at all. She must be getting old and soft.

    There was nothing at the back entrance beyond a trash bin. Still, Cassia sat in the shadows of the neighboring building to observe before entering. After a few still moments, she crept forward and jiggled the handle. The door was unlocked, which was not expected. Frowning, Cassia noticed that there were scratches on the handle that indicated the lock had been picked before. She slid the door open and darted inside, quietly closing it behind her. She could hear Grit clearing rooms at the front of the house, the plan being that his noise and weapon would chase any others inside the house straight back to her. Looking around the laundry area that she had entered, Cassia spotted a partial boot print in some dirt on the tile. She pulled her knife out of her belt as Grit continued to draw closer. He hadn¡¯t sprung any hidden strangers and Cassia decided the house was probably empty.

    ¡°Clear!¡± Grit shouted down the hallway as he approached her room. She stood up and shouted back.

    ¡°Clear in here, too!¡± Then, looking suspiciously at the boot print once more, she joined the two men in the hallway.

    ¡°Ok, here¡¯s the plan,¡± Cassia said. ¡°We need whatever information we can find on The Singularity, in particular anything that indicates a home base of sorts.¡± Grit nodded his affirmation, and Kevin looked scared, like normal. Though perhaps not quite as scared as usual, Cassia noted.

    ¡°You two take the other rooms¡± she continued. ¡°I¡¯ll search that sitting room bookshelf again. I think there¡¯s something more to that room than a trap door exit.¡± Grit nodded again, and he and Kevin moved off down a hallway. Cassia stepped into the sitting room they had been in the last time they were here and approached the wall to wall bookshelf. She stood to the side and pulled the off white colored book that Thorn had pulled. As before, the trap door slid silently open on the floor, before closing after a moment.

    Cassia rolled her neck from side to side as she observed the bookcase. Suddenly, it jumped out at her. The same off white book appeared in four different places on the shelf. Excitedly, she crossed to the other side of the shelf and pulled the book that mirrored the first one. There was a small click, but nothing moved until Cassia pushed lightly on the shelf. The right third of the bookshelf swung backward on a hinge, revealing an office-like area behind.

    The first thing she noticed was the ornate Victorian chair in the corner. Then she saw the strange map on the wall, or at least something similar to a map. It had stylized numbers in varying fonts, with little lights in the center of each number. The lights were various colors, and they would blink around the map erratically. She noticed that there were some numbers that occasionally had more than one colored light. Cassia shook her head and told herself to focus. She circled around the desk in the center of the room, but there was no computer on the desk. Nor were there any papers, or anything else that looked like it might have information she needed.

    She sat down at the desk and a screen lit up in the center of it. The chair vibrated slightly, and the screen glowed red.

    ¡°Access denied,¡± said a quiet computerized voice. The screen on the desk disappeared. Cassia tapped the desk, then waved her hand over it. The screen appeared again, with the same result. She frowned at the uncooperative desk and its lockout mechanism. If Thorn had gone through the trouble of hiding this room, it surely held valuable information. She examined the room again, her eyes landing back on the strange map with blinking lights.

    Suddenly, a realization struck her. The colors and numbers on the map could represent different Elias Thorn¡¯s across the multiverse. The movement of the lights across the map could indicate the current location of each Thorn. Cassia stood up excitedly and approached the map, studying it closely. The light on number forty-one was out, and she was fairly certain that particular Thorn had been moved to a different universe. One number had two lights around it, each a different color. Was that the universe where The Singularity was gathering Thorn copies?

    Grit and Kevin were approaching from the entrance hall. Cassia was about to call out to them when there was a small vibration through the room. Initially, she couldn¡¯t place the source, until she noticed a faint glow surrounding the Victorian chair. A form rapidly took shape until a man was seated on the chair, hands gripping the armrests. The man blinked, then caught sight of Cassia and was instantly alarmed.

    ¡°What are you doing in here?¡± he demanded, standing up. ¡°Where¡¯s Fifty Three?¡± Cassia started to approach him, and he sat back down in the chair.

    ¡°Are you a Thorn as well?¡± she asked. The man looked even more startled. He shook his head and gripped the armrests again.

    ¡°She shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± he said, seemingly to himself. ¡°If Fifty Three and Forty One are both compromised, what does that mean for the rest of us!¡± His voice rose in panic at the end, and then the chair started glowing and vibrating again.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Cassia shouted, rushing towards it, but the man quickly began to fade from view. Thinking quickly, she darted around the desk back to the map. She was just in time to see a purple-ish light wink out by the number fifty-three. One second later the same colored light lit up within the number twenty-nine.

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Cassia said excitedly.

    ¡°You found something?¡± Grit¡¯s growl of a voice made her jump, and she almost drew her knife before she realized it was him.

    ¡°I think I did,¡± she replied, gesturing for the two men to join her. Quickly, she explained the lights. Grit rubbed his stubbled chin.

    ¡°Those are good deductions,¡± he said. ¡°This means we need to go there?¡± His large finger stabbed at the number seventy-one. Cassia was about to answer before Kevin broke in.

    ¡°That¡¯s getting far away from Earth One,¡± he noted in a nervous voice. ¡°Cassia, didn¡¯t you tell us that getting far away could make¡­bad things happen to jumpers?¡±

    ¡°I said unpredictable things,¡± Cassia said, shrugging. ¡°Besides, we don¡¯t have much of a choice.¡± Grit nodded his agreement.

    ¡°We should check on Mel,¡± he growled. ¡°If she¡¯s well enough, we can jump right away.¡± Suddenly the entrance doors burst in for the second time in two days. This time the windows also exploded simultaneously. Through the doorway, Cassia could see men in uniform pouring into the sitting room. She cursed at her ignorance. She should¡¯ve closed the door so the room was again hidden behind the bookshelves.

    Fortunately, Grit was already moving. He slammed the door shut, but there didn¡¯t seem to be any lock. They just had to hope that the correct book wasn¡¯t found.

    ¡°Who are those guys?¡± Kevin asked, and Cassia shrugged.

    ¡°French police,¡± Grit grunted. ¡°I caught DST. Similar to the American FBI.¡± He glanced sideways at Kevin.

    ¡°If you have that on your Earth,¡± he added. Kevin¡¯s audible gulp answered that.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to have to jump,¡± Cassia said.

    ¡°But Mel!¡± Kevin protested. Grit put a large hand on Kevin¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°She will be fine. We can return to her and the ship. This earth does not have widespread jumping knowledge.¡± Cassia was examining the chair in the corner.

    ¡°This must be a jumper,¡± she said, over the thumps coming from the room. The agents on the other side must be trying each book. She sat down in the chair, but nothing seemed to happen. Then she remembered what the other man had done, and she put her hands on the armrest. Instantly the chair began the same vibration she¡¯d felt earlier.

    ¡°Touch the chair!¡± she shouted at the other two. Grit and Kevin scrambled around the desk to put a hand on the chair. Cassia couldn¡¯t determine any way to choose a destination, so she just focused on an Earth that she knew well. The chair began to glow, and the setting around them quickly began to fade. Still, the jump was moving slower than she was used to. Just as the room fully faded from view, she saw the bookshelf door swing open.

    <hr>

    The setting began to shift and Kevin almost squeezed his eyes shut. Before he could, though, he caught a glimpse of images flashing by. Each image was next to an entrance that looked to him like a tunnel leading in a different direction than the one they were in. The images were rushing by so rapidly, though, that they were hard to identify. He couldn¡¯t tell if the rushing noise was real, or if he was imagining it. Suddenly, one image jumped out at him. A silhouette of a man in black, standing in front of a large black letter S. He wondered if that had anything to do with The Singularity, and almost instantly he realized he had veered from the main tunnel and shot straight through the image. There was a brief second of darkness, and then a new setting blinked into view.

    He was sitting on a leather couch in a waiting room. There was a reception desk in front of him, but no one was sitting in the chair there. He glanced around. In fact, no one else was in the room at all. He groaned loudly.

    ¡°This is not good,¡± he said.

    <hr>

    Cassia¡¯s setting reappeared in a blink. It was different, of course, and she was now sitting on a beach chair in the sand. There was a large blue striped umbrella shading her, and she could see an ocean just down the shore. She heard a sharp intake of breath from Grit, who was standing behind her.

    ¡°Did we die?¡± he asked, and Cassia couldn¡¯t help but laugh. She was shocked at the jump, as well, but she could see a structure of some sort off to the left.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± she said, as she stood up. ¡°Wait a minute, where¡¯s Kevin?¡± Grit looked surprised, then glanced around the beach. The beach rose behind them a few feet, but there was nowhere else he could¡¯ve gone, especially not quick enough to avoid being seen.

    ¡°No idea,¡± he replied. ¡°I don¡¯t think he came through the jump with us.¡± Cassia stifled a sudden feeling of worry.

    ¡°Did the jump feel weird to you?¡± she asked Grit, who nodded.

    ¡°Yeah, it seemed slower somehow. And maybe like there were sort of¡­images flashing by. It felt like we were shooting down a tunnel, or a chute, or something.¡± He looked slightly embarrassed, but Cassia couldn¡¯t tell if it was due to what he¡¯d said, or that he¡¯d spoken more words in one go than he usually did in an hour.

    ¡°I saw that,¡± she said, and he seemed relieved. ¡°I wonder if Kevin ended up down a different chute?¡± Cassia shrugged, then pointed out the structure in the distance.

    ¡°I say we head that direction and find out where we are,¡± she said. ¡°I think this might be the Earth I was aiming for, but I¡¯ve never been to this part of it before.¡±

    There was a sudden crash of glass, and both of them jumped around to face the rise in the sand. There was a rotund man at the top of the hill, a tray of broken glasses at his feet. He stared in fright at Grit¡¯s pistol and Cassia¡¯s knife.

    ¡°Oh dear me, you¡¯re not a Thorn!¡± he exclaimed, in a surprisingly high pitched voice. ¡°Something¡¯s after us isn¡¯t it?¡± Cassia doubted he heard the answer, because he immediately plopped face first into the sand. Grit looked at Cassia.

    ¡°Weak constitutions, these Thorns, huh?¡±

 13. Alone With The Singularity

    Kevin looked around the waiting room anxiously. He¡¯d realized after speaking aloud that he probably didn¡¯t want to draw attention to himself. Who knows if this was a place that was friendly to multiverse jumpers. Or if they even were aware of the multiverse at all. He shivered at the thought of being stuck in a universe that wasn¡¯t his own.

    His outburst appeared to have gone unnoticed, as no one came running into the room. Kevin slowly stood up from the couch and ventured up to the reception desk. There was a monitor on the desk, but nothing else, and the monitor was dark. Checking the doors on either side of the room, he skirted around the desk. He¡¯d been hoping to find buttons to turn on the monitor, or perhaps a drawer with something in it that could help him identify where he was, but he was out of luck. There were no drawers, and the monitor remained off.

    Kevin walked over to each of the doors leading out of the room, but could only see a long hallway beyond, so he walked back to the desk and sat down in the chair.

    ¡°On,¡± he said to the monitor, but nothing happened other than the sound of his own voice startling him. It sounded strange in the silent room. He tried a variety of vocal commands that didn¡¯t work, before resorting to swearing at it, which didn¡¯t work either. Kevin leaned forward in the chair and drummed his fingers on the edge of the desk. What was he supposed to do now? He supposed that he could explore beyond the doors, but something was creeping him out about the hallways.

    Suddenly, he realized that he couldn¡¯t hear a sound from his fingers tapping on the desk. Frowning, he lifted a hand and snapped loudly. He could hear that, but when he went back to tapping on the desk the sound was gone.

    ¡°Hello,¡± he said aloud, then began speaking as if doing a sound check with a microphone. ¡°Testing one, two, three¡­can you hear me now?¡± As he spoke, he varied the loudness of his voice, but he could still hear all the words. Frowning, he whispered.

    Kevin¡¯s eyes widened, and he whispered again, but he still couldn¡¯t hear a sound. Intrigued, he tried tapping harder and harder on the desk, and eventually he was able to hear the tapping sound.

    ¡°It¡¯s almost like there¡¯s some sort of noise gate,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s on the whole room.¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± said a voice from behind him. Kevin whirled around to find a middle aged woman in a black dress standing at one of the doors. She had short blonde hair and brown eyes. Something about the blonde color felt contrasting to the room¡¯s vibe, but Kevin couldn¡¯t quite place what it was.

    ¡°There is a ¡®noise gate¡¯, as you call it, across the universe,¡± the woman continued, her voice almost a monotone. Kevin was relieved to hear her reference the universe, and missed her next question.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± he asked. The woman blinked, and then sniffed at him.

    ¡°Your identification chip, please,¡± she repeated, and the relief Kevin had been feeling evaporated. He watched the woman walk over to the desk, but he couldn¡¯t hear her footsteps. The strange lack of sound below a certain decibel level was starting to unnerve him, and he jumped when the woman suddenly looked up at him. She was holding out a hand expectantly.

    ¡°I..er¡­well, I don¡¯t have one,¡± he managed. The woman frowned at him for a moment, and then shook her head as if disappointed in him. She placed her hands over the desk, and a portion of the desk flipped over and revealed a keyboard. The woman sighed.

    ¡°Name?¡± she asked bluntly.

    ¡°Uh, Kevin. Kevin Miller,¡± he said. The woman typed, frowned at her screen, and then tapped something on the desktop that made a drawer pop up. Kevin was surprised he hadn¡¯t discovered it earlier. The woman looked in the empty drawer and then sighed again.

    ¡°Wait there,¡± she commanded, and then she walked briskly out of the room, unnerving Kevin again with her silent footsteps. She was back almost instantly, carrying an electronic device with her. It looked to Kevin like one of those instruments a doctor uses to look in your ears. The woman marched back around the desk, then leaned forward over it to hold the device in front of Kevin¡¯s face.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± she ordered. Kevin stood stock still as the device beeped and then scanned a bluish light across his face. It beeped again when it was finished and the woman glanced down at it. Then she frowned and looked closer, before looking curiously back up at Kevin.

    ¡°How did you get here?¡± she asked, some of the harsh tone missing from her voice. Kevin shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯m not really sure, to be honest. I thought I was jumping somewhere with my¡­er, friends. But something must¡¯ve gone wrong and they aren¡¯t here.¡± He paused and looked at the woman hopefully.

    ¡°Do you have a jumper I could use?¡± She frowned at him.

    ¡°To jump to where?¡± she asked, with a note of suspicion. Kevin realized he wasn¡¯t sure where he had jumped from, or where Cassia was jumping to, so he just said the last Earth he could remember.

    ¡°Um, Forty-One?¡± he asked. The woman considered him for a moment.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t know where you are, do you?¡± she asked, and Kevin shook his head emphatically.

    ¡°Can you tell me?¡± He was surprised to see the woman give a look of concern when he asked the question.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I am at liberty to say,¡± she said slowly. It seemed like she might say more, but then the computer on the desk made a beeping noise. She quickly sat down and typed at the keyboard. When she looked back up at Kevin, she had on her serious face again.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± she said, and then headed towards the door on the left without waiting to see if Kevin followed. He briefly considered staying put, but he had no reason not to follow her. He stepped quickly to catch up before the door closed behind her.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s your name?¡± Kevin asked, after they¡¯d passed four different doors in the extremely long hallway. He saw the woman frown, open her mouth, then shake her head and close it again. Kevin shrugged.

    ¡°Well, if you can¡¯t tell me what Earth we¡¯re on, can you tell me what country we¡¯re in?¡± She looked over at him, confused.

    ¡°Country?¡± she asked. ¡°What is a country?¡± Kevin, surprised, considered trying to explain.

    ¡°Never mind,¡± he said eventually, and then the woman stopped in front of a door. Kevin wasn¡¯t sure how she knew it was the right one. It looked the same as all the others. The woman knocked, then stepped back to go back down the hallway. She took a step and then turned back to Kevin.

    ¡°Good luck,¡± she whispered, and then hurried away. The door opened behind Kevin, and he turned to see a tall man wearing all black step out. Kevin gasped. The man¡¯s uniform looked extremely familiar, but this one had a large insignia of a man¡¯s silhouette in front of a giant letter S. It was exactly the image he had seen while jumping.

    ¡°The Singularity,¡± he whispered in shock. The man smiled at him, though there wasn¡¯t much life in it.

    ¡°Ah, so you do know where you are,¡± he said in a smooth voice. ¡°That should make this quicker then.¡± He stepped back from the doorway and gestured inside. Kevin hesitantly stepped into the room. He wasn¡¯t sure what he was expecting, but it certainly was not a large area with what looked like a jungle gym inside. The tall man pointed to the center of the room, where the metal jungle gym sat.

    ¡°Your opponent will arrive shortly,¡± the man said. ¡°Apologies for the delay. We were not expecting you.¡± He moved to the corner of the room where there was a desk and multiple monitors. Kevin followed, tentatively. He caught a glimpse of a list of names before the man clicked on one labeled ¡®Kevin¡¯, with a long string of numbers following. He looked up at Kevin and frowned.

    ¡°You do not know what this is?¡± the man asked, and Kevin shook his head. The man frowned at him for a moment, then shrugged.

    ¡°This is The Singularity combat zone,¡± he said, as if that explained everything. ¡°Only one of you will leave here alive to proceed to the next test.¡± Without waiting for a response, the man headed back to his corner. Kevin could feel his heart rate increasing rapidly, and then it spiked when the door opened on the other side of the room and a figure stepped into the room. That person had a man in black, just like Kevin did, who went and sat in the opposite corner.

    ¡°You may not leave this room while the other lives,.¡± said the man behind Kevin, his voice somehow magnified through the room.

    ¡°Begin.¡±

    Across the room, the other figure immediately started sprinting towards the jungle gym structure in the middle. After a moment, Kevin did as well. He figured he could maybe learn something from the figure. Unless he was really going to try to kill him. When he got there, he quickly realized that the jungle gym was actually a series of bars and platforms that a person could climb on or hide in. He quickly climbed up to a nearby platform and stared across at the other person climbing to the top of the structure. Something about him looked familiar, but Kevin couldn¡¯t place it.

    With a start, Kevin realized that there was a stash of weapons at the top of the jungle gym. Worse, his opponent was already halfway there. Kevin quickly started climbing towards the top. He was still a couple feet away when his counterpart reached the top. The other man grabbed a pistol and immediately fired it at Kevin. The bullet clanged off a metal bar and Kevin flinched, almost losing his grip. He looked down to see that he was approaching ten feet off the ground, and immediately looked back up. The other guy was swinging down from the top platform now, trying to find a better angle to fire.

    Kevin jumped to the right, then reached out and grabbed a nearby bar to swing back to the left. His opponent seemed to have anticipated this and countered instantly. Breathing hard, Kevin pulled himself up through the bars, and took two wobbly steps towards the platform, only for his opponents to pop up through the bars across from him, pistol aimed unwaveringly at his face. Kevin yanked his body sideways, losing his grip in the process. He could feel himself dropping towards the floor, and he flung out an arm in desperation, barely latching on to the last available.

    Surprised that he wasn¡¯t dead, he slowly pulled himself up again. His opponent was nowhere to be seen, and Kevin realized that the other man thought Kevin had fallen too. There was movement to his left, and he could see his opponent scrambling back up towards him. Kevin hauled himself up to the top platform. There was a heavy pipe and a knife remaining.  Kevin hesitated, and then selected the blade. Turning, he spotted the other man on the next closest platform, leveling the pistol at him. He¡¯d moved faster than Kevin had expected, and now there was no way out. Still, Kevin¡¯s brain screamed at him to move, so he lurched to the side and straight off the edge of the platform.

    His stomach dropped through his feet, and he felt like he was falling in slow motion. His brain was in overdrive, flashing images at him of the last few days. Halfway down, Kevin realized that the images were the same as when he had jumped. He focused on them, and found himself hurtling through the tunnels he¡¯d seen before. He was moving faster this time, and the images were flying by. Somehow he sensed he was running out of time, and he reached out at the next image. He groaned as he passed by the logo for The Singularity, and he closed his eyes in anticipation.

    No impact came, however, and Kevin opened his eyes to find himself sitting on the leather couch in the waiting room again. The blonde woman from before was sitting at the desk, staring at him in shock. Suddenly an alarm started blaring throughout the building. Kevin jumped to his feet, but the woman was still stunned.

    ¡°Which way is the exit?¡± he shouted at her over the alarm. She gaped at him for another moment, and then pushed a button on her desk. Kevin saw a door appear behind her, and she slowly turned and pointed to it.

    ¡°Thank you!¡± he shouted as he dodged around the desk and yanked open the door. There was a flight of stairs descending out of view. He looked back over his shoulder at the woman, who was still staring wide eyed at him.

    ¡°My name is Elaine,¡± she said. Kevin was unsure what to do with that, so he nodded and then slammed the door behind him. He sprinted down the flight of stairs to the next landing and yanked open the door. The alarm was blaring there as well, and men in black uniforms were moving about. Kevin quickly closed the door and determined to follow the stairs to the bottom. After two more flights, he finally reached it. Bursting through the door at the end, he was blinded by sunlight. He blinked until his vision caught up, and then stopped suddenly. The man from the jungle gym was in front of him, wearing a satisfied smile. Kevin gasped. The familiarity of the man made sense now. Kevin was staring at himself.

 14. Derrick in Paris

    ¡°Why won¡¯t it work? You look just like her!¡± Mel slammed a fist against the interior of the Pathfinder. After escaping through the hole she¡¯d made in Thorn¡¯s secret office, she and Derrick had managed a pretty uneventful walk back to the ship near the base of the Eiffel Tower.

    ¡°I told you the ship would be able to tell. It¡¯s a cosmetic change only.¡± Derrick was currently sitting with both hands pressed against the ship¡¯s dashboard in the appearance of Cassia. Even his voice was altered to match her higher pitch and sharp intensity. ¡°Do you mind if I change back now, this is a very uncomfortable experience that verges on invasive.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re such a prude, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re stripping you down to look at her bits.¡± Mel waved a hand at him and stalked out of the ship to the rooftop they were parked on. Derrick took this as an opportunity to return to his normal form. He stared at his face in the reflective surface and tried to tackle the problem logically. Could he apply the same techniques to this situation that he would a ruptured spleen? Sometimes helpful, the exercise mainly served to curb his crippling anxiety. The face looking back at him remained, as always, composed and sure. He clenched his fists then followed after Mel.

    ¡°I know of a jumper we might be able to use.¡± Mel turned with an eyebrow raised and Derrick continued. ¡°There was a man that Thorn turned to from time to time. He¡¯s a smuggler of some kind and he¡¯s a regular jumper. I¡¯m not sure what he uses but I know how to reach him.¡±

    ¡°Well let¡¯s grab some gear and get going then!¡± Mel slapped Derrick on the shoulder and skipped back into the Pathfinder to grab her things. Derrick stood still for a moment wondering if he¡¯d regret this while Mel tossed supplies around behind him. After a few minutes, she emerged again and they watched the ship¡¯s shimmering camouflage ripple across its surface.

    ¡°Bye again ship, thanks for nothing and also fuck you.¡± Mel smacked the surface of the Pathfinder and began to shimmy her way down the fire escape they¡¯d used before with Derrick close behind.

    As they reached the ground and began to walk along a path skirted by trees, Derrick pulled out his smartphone and navigated to the maps app. Rather than entering an address, he zoomed and panned across Paris, tapping a business here and there. Mel tapped her foot impatiently, looking around for anyone who might be watching them.

    ¡°What are you doing? Do you know where this guy is or not?¡± Mel hovered over Derrick¡¯s shoulder as he tapped on Chez Gourmets and shook his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s complicated.¡± Derrick continued until Le Grande Residence jogged his memory. ¡°Here we go, we need to take the metro. We need to go to one of the northeastern suburbs for this. I don¡¯t know where he works, but the one time Thorn had me do a drop for him it was through this sweet shop.¡± Derrick tilted the phone towards Mel to show their destination, then began walking towards the station.

    The trip through Paris was uneventful. Derrick had gotten used to the city. He¡¯d studied it and knew it well. This was his hideout and he had no time to see it as a tourist might. He¡¯d gotten the sense that Mel had traveled extensively, both on Earth and between Earths, so he was surprised by the way she ogled everything they passed. Mel had been to Paris, multiple versions of it actually, but still she was awed by its sights, sounds, and smells. She made them stop for espresso and then forced them to add fifteen minutes to their trip to look at the Arc de Triomphe. Now, Derrick impatiently waited for Mel outside a cafe near their destination. She¡¯d convinced the owner to let her use the employee restroom somehow.

    ¡°Much better, so where were we? Cameroon?¡± Mel stepped onto the sidewalk next to him and attempted to return to their previous conversation about countries they¡¯d been to.

    ¡°We were about to try to find a jumper. So that we can, hopefully, find the rest of your group.¡± Derrick frowned at her and pointed down the street. ¡°Another block and we¡¯ll be there, come on.¡±

    They approached a rundown storefront simply labeled Chocolat and Derrick sighed when he noticed Mel licking her lips. Before entering, he checked his pockets and remembered the penknife he had taken from the Pathfinder. Mel had a gun tucked somewhere on her person. Derrick had insisted it wasn¡¯t necessary but as they entered the sweet shop, Derrick decided he was glad she hadn¡¯t listened.

    The last time he¡¯d come here had been a delivery for Thorn. No questions, no other information. Derrick had taken a North Face backpack from Thorn, walked it nearly four hours across the city, delivered it to a woman in the shop, then rode the metro back to Thorn and was handed an envelope filled with 1,000 Euros.

    This time, Derrick was surprised to find the shop active. At least five customers milled around the shop where it was empty last time. A teenager was behind the counter completing a transaction with a young couple and the woman Derrick had met before was nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Derrick approached the counter as the couple left, ¡°I¡¯m looking for the owner? I was supposed to meet with a friend here.¡±

    The young man looked surprised by Derrick¡¯s flawless French but regained his composure quickly. While sorting bills into the cash register he nodded to a back door.

    ¡°She is working on a batch of chocolates and usually doesn¡¯t see visitors.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll make an exception.¡± Derrick headed towards the door and the teen cut him off.

    ¡°Please, I can let her know. It would be better if I go in first.¡± He put out his hands and waited for Derrick to nod before heading back through the door. Through the crack, Derrick could faintly hear him speaking to a woman but couldn¡¯t make out the exact words. After a moment, both emerged. The woman was the same he¡¯d delivered to before and her eyebrow rose curiously when she saw him. She ushered him and Mel into an industrial kitchen in the back where the smell of chocolate was overwhelming. Mel smiled and breathed deeply, practically floating like a cartoon character.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°I¡¯m not expecting deliveries, what can I do for you?¡± The woman eyed Derrick warily as she spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for the man who receives the deliveries. I¡¯ve heard they call him Twixt?¡± Derrick settled on getting straight to the point, this woman didn¡¯t look like she had time for nonsense or pleasantries.

    ¡°Some do.¡± She said with a sad look. ¡°Others call him Nico.¡±

    ¡°Please, we just need to speak with him. We need to get somewhere and we think he can help.¡±

    The woman examined them thoughtfully then nodded once. She held a hand up indicating they should wait and left through a back door.

    ¡°Do we just sit here on our asses? This better not be a waste Derrick, I spent 90 Euros so far this trip.¡±

    ¡°That is because you bought coffee and a scone and bribed your way into the bathroom.¡± Derrick looked at her sideways with a half smile playing across his lips.

    Mel flipped him off and plopped into a wooden chair in the corner of the room. Derrick remained where he was as the minutes passed by. It was a half hour before the back door reopened but the woman did not return. A bulky man in a dark green tracksuit entered first and looked both of them over. Behind him was a thinner, athletic looking man with red Nike shoes. He had dark skin and wore jeans and a plain tank top.

    ¡°Nico.¡± He held out a hand for them to shake then nodded to the large man.

    ¡°Any weapons?¡± The large man said to them. Mel gently revealed the handgun holstered under her pantline while Derrick produced the penknife. When he folded the blade out, both Mel and the larger of the gentleman snickered.

    ¡°I¡¯m Derrick, I¡¯ve delivered for you before from Thorn. I thought you might be able to help us. We need to get to another Earth.¡± Derrick took a chance that the muscle knew Nico¡¯s business.

    ¡°You need a jump? You¡¯re in luck, you do a delivery run for me, you can use the jumper for one extra jump. Deal?¡±

    ¡°Uh, yes, deal then.¡± Derrick was taken aback. It seemed too easy.

    ¡°The delivery was intercepted. You¡¯ll need to get it back first.¡± There¡¯s the catch Derrick thought. Mel hopped up.

    ¡°Easy enough, any idea where it is?¡±

    <hr>

    Derrick watched as Mel looked through a pair of binoculars at the auto shop across the street. Mel had picked the lock of a second story art studio and they were currently sitting in the dark by the window. Derrick was surprised to find Mel very meticulous and insisted they case the place before trying to recover the delivery.

    ¡°What do you see?¡± Derrick could see two mechanics were out front looking under the hood of a sedan, he hoped Mel was getting a little more information.

    ¡°Stupid ass street gang punks by the look of it, I don¡¯t think they have a major affiliation. Looks like there are six of them inside at the moment, can¡¯t tell if the mechanics are in on it. I think the delivery we are looking for is in the garage though. I have half of an idea.¡± While Mel was talking a young man stepped out of a side door and walked to a nearby car. ¡°Oh shit, now, go time!¡±

    ¡°Wait, what? You said you only have half a plan.¡± Derrick stood as Mel raced to the door.

    ¡°Yes, quick look like that fucker down there and follow me! We¡¯ll get the rest when we get there!¡± Mel ran out the door and Derrick sighed as he followed after her.

    Outside, Mel casually crossed the street and Derrick tried to act naturally while adjusting his appearance to match the teenager in the alley ahead of them. Mel pulled out her gun smoothly as they entered the alley and was on their target in a flash. With one hand over his mouth she smacked his temple with the butt of her handgun. As he dropped in a heap, Derrick stood watching.

    ¡°And now?¡± Derrick whispered to her and helped stuff the teenager into the car¡¯s back seat.

    ¡°Easy, you put these clothes on and you go inside and get the delivery of course.¡± Mel had begun stripping the gangster¡¯s outer layer of clothes and Derrick reluctantly changed into the costume.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± Derrick frowned at her and walked towards the shop¡¯s side door. Inside, he found himself in a garage with multiple vehicles in stages of being taken apart or put back together. A man with long hair and several tattoos creeping up his neck was currently working underneath one of the cars. On the other side of the garage, there was a lounge area where three gangsters were watching a football match. That left one more if Mel was right.

    ¡°Nobody fucking move or I blow his head off!¡± Mel¡¯s voice erupted into the space and Derrick felt the barrel of her pistol press against his temple.

    ¡°You cannot be serious.¡± He whispered harshly. She shoved him forward and pulled a lever. The nearby car lowered and a scream came out from under it as she trapped the man working there.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try it!¡± She shouted to the trio in the lounge and prodded at the lever again. ¡°I¡¯ll squish him.¡±

    The three on the couch slowly raised their hands away from the guns tucked into their waistbands.

    ¡°Better. Where¡¯s the last guy?¡± She pointed the gun around. ¡°There was one more of you.¡±

    As she finished, a shot rang out from the opposite corner of the room and Derrick heard the bullet whiz overhead.

    ¡°Are you fucking kidding?¡± Mel shouted and kicked the lever. Horrible screams erupted from beneath the car as the last gangster burst out of a restroom gun blazing. Mel shoved Derrick away and dove behind a large toolbox. Wasting no time, the three leapt up and began firing. Before they could find cover, Mel returned fire, dropping one of them.

    ¡°Emile! Here!¡± One of the remaining gangsters was tossing a gun to Derrick. Confused, he caught it, then turned it on the tosser. Derrick shot him once in each leg then tucked behind a Coca Cola vending machine as the man by the bathroom fired wildly.

    From where she crouched, Mel saw Derrick shoot one of the gangsters. With only two left she sprinted free of her cover, hopped off the hood of a mini cooper and cracked the first shooter across the face with her handgun before turning and shooting the last gangster in the arm.

    Satisfied that they wouldn¡¯t be fighting back, Mel began searching pockets for keys then moved to the trunk of Nico¡¯s stolen Volkswagen. Derrick joined her there, returning his appearance to normal as she opened it to get the package.

    ¡°Holy shit.¡± Mel and Derrick exchanged a look and stared at the contents of the trunk. Looking up at them was a child who couldn¡¯t be more than eight or nine years old. He gave them a nervous wave before Mel shut the trunk again.

 15. Beach Trip

    Cassia looked skeptically at Grit as he undid his belt in order to bind the new Thorn¡¯s hands behind his back.

    ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s necessary?¡± she asked. Grit paused to look over at her and nod his head.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know if this Thorn is a friend or foe,¡± he stated. Cassia waited for more, but that seemed to be all he was willing to say. She sighed. She could, unfortunately, see the logic in what he was saying. Grit finished his task, then moved to the sink. Cassia walked to the doorway and peered out at the sand, and the ocean in the distance. It turned out that Thorn¡¯s house had been the structure she¡¯d seen. Though, it couldn¡¯t really be called a house. It was more like a lean to with running water. There was a splash, and then a loud gasp from behind her.

    ¡°Who the hell are you people?¡± Thorn sputtered through the water Grit had poured on him. ¡°You don¡¯t look like IPF.¡± He was looking at Grit when he spoke, but the big army vet simply looked over at her and didn¡¯t reply. Cassia stepped forward into Thorn¡¯s line of sight.

    ¡°We¡¯re not with the IPF,¡± she said, and Thorn visibly relaxed, though he continued to occasionally struggle against the belt.

    ¡°That¡¯s good news,¡± he said, in his high pitched voice. ¡°I always thought the IPF would be the ones to come through that stupid chair jumper.¡± He paused and narrowed his eyes at Cassia.

    ¡°If you¡¯re not IPF,¡± he said, ¡°then I ask again. Who the hell are you people?¡±

    ¡°Your saviors,¡± Cassia replied, perhaps a bit melodramatically. Thorn frowned in confusion as Grit rolled his eyes.

    ¡°The Singularity is tracking down Thorn copies,¡± she said, and Thorn blinked in surprise and stopped fidgeting.

    ¡°The Singularity?¡± he repeated, and Cassia nodded. The large man frowned in thought, then shook his head.

    ¡°You must be confused,¡± he said, to which Grit snorted a laugh. Thorn was undeterred and continued as if Grit hadn¡¯t made any noise.

    ¡°The last time I checked on The Singularity, they were a small group. Only barely beginning to creep across universe¡¯s. The Thorn¡¯s agreed it was something to keep an eye on, but nothing to worry about yet.¡±

    ¡°Well, you should¡¯ve worried,¡± Grit growled, and Thorn looked scared again.

    ¡°Have they¡­gotten bigger?¡± he asked, somewhat lamely. This time Cassia laughed.

    ¡°Big enough to have removed Thorn-41, and caused Thorn-53 to disappear into hiding. Does that count?¡± she asked. Still sitting awkwardly on the ground, the large Thorn turned pale, and slowly nodded.

    ¡°It has been¡­some time since I checked in with the Thorns,¡± he admitted. He was about to say more before a loud pounding on the door of the shack interrupted him.

    ¡°Open up, IPF!¡± came a muffled shout. Thorn looked up at Cassia, eyes wild, and seemed to make a decision.

    ¡°Untie me and I¡¯ll talk to them,¡± he said, in a surprisingly calm voice. ¡°The beach chair won¡¯t do. You can take the chute to the garage, it¡¯s in the closet. All of the vehicles are jumpers.¡± Cassia blinked in confusion, then decided to ignore Thorn¡¯s insane sentence for the moment. The pounding on the door increased.

    ¡°You can come with us,¡± she said, but Thorn shook his head.

    ¡°Better the IPF than The Singularity,¡± he said. ¡°At least this way I don¡¯t have to fight myself to the death.¡± Cassia nodded to Grit, who removed his belt from around Thorn¡¯s wrists and then helped him to his feet. Thorn took a deep breath.

    ¡°Good luck,¡± Grit said somberly, and Thorn gave him a curt nod. Cassia moved quickly to the back of the house, Grit right behind her. Just as she entered the tiny bedroom in the back, she heard Thorn open the door.

    ¡°Goodness fellas, can¡¯t a guy use the toilet in peace these days?¡±

    The bedroom closet was barely big enough to hold the rack of Hawaiian shirts hanging in it, and there were no doors. Cassia looked for any indication of the chute that Thorn had mentioned, but could find no visible buttons or levers.

    ¡°These shirts are huge,¡± she said, stepping fully into the tiny closet. As she did, the bottom of the closet slid open and she plunged into the dark void. She fell for what seemed like minutes, as the chute twisted and turned like a demented slide. Suddenly light appeared in the distance, growing rapidly bigger and brighter, and then she shot out of the shoot and into a pit of foam blocks. She could hear noise from the chute behind her, which meant Grit was probably on his way. Cursing under her breath at the difficulty, Cassia clambered her way out of the pit and then stood in stunned silence.

    In front of her was an enormous garage, with several different vehicles. Also in front of her was a tall athletic woman in uniform. She had a weapon trained unwaveringly at Cassia¡¯s chest, but Cassia was mostly distracted by the indigo shade of the woman¡¯s skin. Behind her, she heard Grit fall into the foam pit. The woman cocked an eyebrow and stepped strategically so she could see Grit around Cassia. Her eyes widened, and she pulled a second weapon from her waistband to cover Grit.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Grit finally extricated himself from the pit, and groaned at the sight of the woman. She grinned back at him.

    ¡°Well, Chark save me, if it isn¡¯t Robert Patterson,¡± she said, her voice strangely melodic. Grit did not reply. The woman¡¯s uniform was short sleeved, and Cassia was staring at the exposed skin on her arms. What she had initially assumed were tattoos looked more like tiny cracks in her skin, yet there was definitely a pattern there. Cassia would¡¯ve sworn that they were glowing, almost like a bioluminescent ocean creature.

    ¡°Miss Moreng,¡± the woman said, turning to Cassia. ¡°My name is Detective Tek K¡¯Nani of the Interversal Police Force, and you are under arrest for illegal universe hopping and grand scale theft.¡± Grit seemed like he might protest, but K¡¯nani arched an eyebrow at him and he remained silent. She looked at Cassia.

    ¡°Will you surrender peacefully?¡± she asked, studying Cassia¡¯s face. Cassia¡¯s brain was examining the angles of escape. They had superior numbers, but it was almost certain that one of them would be shot in the process.

    ¡°Cassia, don¡¯t.¡± Grit¡¯s voice broke her train of thought. ¡°Detective K¡¯Nani is one of the IPF¡¯s best. She will shoot both of us.¡± He spoke with his eyes focused on K¡¯Nani, who smiled at him again.

    ¡°You know her?¡± Cassia whispered to Grit. He nodded once, but declined to give her any other response.

    ¡°Thank you for that glowing review, Mr. Patterson,¡± K¡¯Nani said, in her musical voice. ¡°Now, Miss Moreng, if you would please turn around.¡± Cassia turned and allowed the woman to put some sort of metallic binding on her hands, which were behind her back. She did the same to Grit, and then stepped back and spoke quietly into a device on her wrist. Then she looked at Cassia.

    ¡°Where is the Pathfinder?¡± she asked. Cassia was surprised. So far the other woman had seemed mysterious, and almost all knowing. She shrugged.

    ¡°What Pathfinder?¡± she replied, and K¡¯Nani chuckled.

    ¡°It will greatly benefit you, Miss Moreng, to cooperate,¡± said the detective, leaning forward to be inches from Cassia¡¯s face. ¡°We know you stole the Pathfinder. Now where is it?¡± Cassia held her gaze for a moment, and then gave it up.

    ¡°We left that behind a jump or two ago,¡± she said vaguely, but also mostly truthfully. ¡°It¡¯s not here.¡± K¡¯Nani¡¯s lips tightened, but she seemed to believe the answer. She stepped back and appraised her captives.

    ¡°I assume your answer is the same for the whereabouts of Melissa Alfaro?¡± she asked. Cassia nodded, and the detective sighed heavily before speaking quietly into her wrist device again. Then she turned to Grit.

    ¡°And what is your part in all this?¡± she asked him. Grit stared silently at her for a moment.

    ¡°I helped them steal the Pathfinder,¡± he finally replied, and K¡¯Nani almost immediately started shaking her head.

    ¡°You know I did, Tek,¡± Grit said in his growly voice. K¡¯Nani leaned in close, and Cassia had to strain to hear.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Grit. You shouldn¡¯t be here, this goes beyond -¡± the woman cut off as she realized Cassia was listening in. She straightened up.

    ¡°You will both be transported to Earth One for questioning,¡± she said, her tone matter-of-fact. ¡°Unless either of you can provide information on the Pathfinder or Melissa Alfaro.¡± As she spoke, she punched a button on her wrist device, and the shiny black vehicle at the other end of the room roared to life.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Cassia said, and K¡¯Nani turned to face her. She clearly hadn¡¯t been expecting anything from either of them.

    ¡°I can provide you with Melissa Alfaro,¡± Cassia continued. She saw Grit frown in her peripherals.

    ¡°Ok, where is she?¡± Detective K¡¯Nani asked, but Cassia shook her head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly where she is, but I can find her. In exchange, you let Grit and I walk away.¡± K¡¯Nani pursed her lips in thought.

    ¡°And the Pathfinder?¡± she asked. Cassia nodded.

    ¡°I use the Pathfinder to track down and deliver Mel, then return it to you,¡± she offered. The detective considered this for a moment. Then, abruptly, she nodded.

    ¡°Deal,¡± she said, ¡°But I¡¯m not just going to let you walk out of here, free to go back on your word and disappear into the multiverse.¡± In one quick motion, she holstered one of her weapons, and then reached out and spun the barrel on the remaining one. It clicked into place and then she shot Cassia without warning.

    Instinctively, Cassia ducked, but the small projectile hit her in the arm. Immediately, she could feel her body start to heal the tiny pinprick, and the projectile clattered to the floor. K¡¯Nani raised her eyebrows, seeming almost impressed. Then she smoothly turned and fired at Grit. The silver projective hit him in the arm as well, but this time it rapidly burrowed into his skin and disappeared.

    ¡°That little silver bug will track you across the multiverse,¡± explained K¡¯Nani. ¡°Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t be watching for any funny business. If I don¡¯t see progress soon, you¡¯re both going back to Earth One.¡± She pushed another button on the wrist device, and the bonds around their wrists fell to the floor.

    ¡°Better get started right away,¡± she said, then turned on her heel and paced back to her vehicle. Cassia and Grit watched her until the vehicle sped away with a loud roar. Eventually, Cassia looked at Grit.

    ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± she said. Grit shrugged.

    ¡°Tek - Detective K¡¯Nani is the best hunter of illegal hoppers that the IPF has,¡± he replied. ¡°Apparently they really don¡¯t want Mel out there, and they also must be pretty attached to that ship.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of ships,¡± Cassia said, sweeping an arm to the open garage. ¡°Which one should we take?¡± She wandered through the vehicles. There were a handful of sports cars, and a truck. There was even a bright pink ice cream truck that she rejected as being too noticeable. Grit was standing next to a dark green SUV, which seemed subtle enough. Cassia joined him and climbed into the driver¡¯s seat. She checked the glove compartment for keys as Grit settled in next to her. The compartment was empty, but then she pulled down the sun visor and the keys fell in her lap. She looked over at Grit.

    ¡°Guess he¡¯s not too concerned about security,¡± she said with a grin. ¡°Shall we?¡± Cassia could feel the car vibrating slightly beneath her, ready tlo jump universes. Grit looked worried.

    ¡°Cassia, you shouldn¡¯t have made that deal with her,¡± he said. ¡°She¡¯s not going to let you out of it.¡±

    ¡°Who says I¡¯m going to try and get out of it?¡± Cassia said, and Grit¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°You mean, you¡¯re just going to hand Mel back over to the IPF?¡± he asked, his voice a dangerous grumble. ¡°You only needed her to get the ship and now she¡¯s expendable?¡± Cassia sighed.

    ¡°Calm down, big guy,¡± she said. ¡°I did what I had to. Being taken back to Earth One would¡¯ve been a disaster. We have to find the Weft and Warp.¡± Grit nodded slowly, but he still looked unconvinced.

    ¡°Just¡­be careful with Tek,¡± he said, not realizing he again used the detective¡¯s first name. ¡°She¡¯s good at what she does.¡±

    ¡°So am I,¡± Cassia replied determinedly. She couldn¡¯t help but notice that, while Grit had furrowed his brow when talking about the detective, he¡¯d also sounded somewhat proud. Cassia shrugged. It was a problem for another time. She flipped the sun visor back up and jumped.

 INTERLUDE: The Detective [Chapter 1]

    Detective Tek K¡¯Nani sighed with pleasure as she slowly slid into the bubbling waters of the hottub. Normally she¡¯d play music, but the late hour caused her to soak in silence. She was trying to be a considerate neighbor, after all. She didn¡¯t even have the lights on, though the luminescent streaks in her indigo skin provided enough purple glow to get by. She sighed again. At least the late hour meant clothes were unnecessary.

    As Tek breathed in the steam from the water, she thought about her day. It had been a shock to see Grit, but she was proud of herself for how she had handled that situation. There were some on the force who whispered, behind her back, of course, that she was getting too old for the job. Especially now that more and more people were learning to multiverse jump.

    ¡°Skezzing Jarna,¡± she muttered quietly. ¡°Too old, my ass.¡± She reached back and took a sip from the bottle sitting on the side of the tub. She settled into the water up to her neck, thinking about how trim Grit had looked, while also kicking herself for thinking about him at all. Then she heard a small scuffle noise in the dark yard beyond the tub and she sat bolt upright.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± she called out softly, but received no response. Tek waited a moment, then took a deep breath and slid silently under the surface of the water. She focused hard, and the luminescent light leaking through the cracks in her skin winked out. The moon was hidden tonight, so the back patio and yard were plunged into darkness. Tek held her breath as long as she could, then exploded upward. She burst from the water, light shooting out from her skin as bright as she could make it. The glow illuminated a man in dark clothes, frozen in shock almost right in front of her. As well he should be, she thought in the back of her mind as she continued her momentum out of the tub and towards the man. It¡¯s not every day a glowing naked woman launches herself at you.

    Tek¡¯s full body weight landed on the man¡¯s shoulders. He¡¯d tried too late to move, causing his balance to be weak, which sent both of them crashing to the ground. The man tried to get a hold of Tek, but her body was too slippery. She scrambled off of him and aimed a barefooted kick at his head that connected with his upper ribs instead. The man grunted in pain, and Tek sprinted around the hot tub, dimming the light from her skin. It wouldn¡¯t go all the way out, though, and she cursed herself for not being consistent with her exercises. Fortunately she¡¯d stepped out of her clothes and straight into the tub, so her weapon was holstered and lying on the patio. She reached it just in time to roll on her back and fire at the approaching man. He jerked backwards, the bullet slamming into his right shoulder. The man immediately turned and sprinted away into the darkness.

    For a moment, Tek relaxed. Then she heard multiple car doors slam in the front yard. Without thinking, she sprinted around the side of the house, stopping short at the sight in front of her house. The dark vehicle sped away, but Tek was more concerned with the words emblazoned on the lawn. Elsefreak. A slur for those from other universes. She¡¯d heard worse. After a moment of staring at the flames, it occurred to her that she was standing completely undressed in front of her house. As she turned to go find some clothes, the front of the house suddenly caught on fire. Tek watched in horror as the fire spread across the front door, and then the windows that looked into the dining room. The back of her mind suggested that an accelerant had been used, as the flames were spreading quicker than they should¡¯ve. But the rest of her mind was stuck on the fact that those glimps had set her house on fire. They weren¡¯t content with the burning words, they¡¯d set the skezzing house on fire!

    Finally, her shock dissipated enough for her to actually think. She heard distant sirens approaching, which meant a neighbor had already called for emergency services. And already seen me in the nude, she thought uncomfortably. Tek sprinted back around the house, and in through the back door. Smoke was everywhere, and she could barely see anything. She snatched her laptop from the kitchen counter, just as part of the roof collapsed in the front room, cutting off any hope of making it to her bedroom for clothes. The smoke intensified and she started coughing. It was clear that the fire was beyond control, at least for her. She whirled around to exit the room, only to see flames licking at the back door now. She was trapped!

    Tek stood there in the burning house, the paralyzing shock returning, but then the windows in the front room exploded from the heat with a crash of glass. She decided that if she was going to die, it wasn¡¯t going to be at the hands of those glimps. She snatched her pistol off the kitchen counter and frantically emptied her remaining bullets into the kitchen window, shattering it outward. Then she climbed up on the counter, coughing uncontrollably now, and tossed her laptop out into the grass near the hot tub. With a last look at the burning house, she threw herself out the window. Her knee scraped roughly along the concrete patio, but she mostly landed in the grass. Tek rolled forward and ducked behind the hot tub, just as the fire caught a gas pipe. The explosion rocked the neighborhood, and the house began to collapse as debris flew in all directions.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Tek cautiously stuck her head out from behind the tub. It had shifted from the explosion, pushing against her, but it seemed to have stabilized now. Unfortunately, not before it had sloshed hot water over her head. She pushed her wet hair out of her eyes and stood up. Slowly, she moved forward, surprised to see her uniform still laying on the ground. Tek picked up the clothing, only to realize that various burning pieces of house had put holes all over it. The sirens were in front of the house now, though, so it was this or nothing. She decided enough people had seen her naked tonight, so she pulled on the singed uniform.

    Fortunately, there were no large burn holes in the important places, though there was a huge one in the very middle. She pulled and twisted at the fabric until it was good enough. Then she steeled herself, picked up her laptop, and walked around the burning shell of her house.

    <hr>

    Tek ignored the catcalls and whistles from the other IPF members as she stomped through her station and barged into the captain¡¯s office. Captain Garry Graves looked up in surprise. He was an older man, aging well, with a salt and pepper beard and close cropped hair. Graves was a no nonsense captain, but if you followed the rules then you had nothing to worry about. Tek liked him alright. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Captain Donald Jarna was also in the room, and she absolutely detested him.

    ¡°Detective K¡¯Nani,¡± Captain Graves said slowly. He said everything slowly, as if he was measuring every word.

    ¡°Captain Graves, sir,¡± Tek responded, losing some of her fire. She glanced over and caught Jarna ogling her through her singed uniform and the fire came roaring back.

    ¡°Permission to speak candidly, sir?¡± she asked, then glanced again at Jarna. ¡°And privately?¡± The captain considered her for a moment.

    ¡°Permission granted,¡± he said, then nodded to Jarna. ¡°But Lieutenant Captain Jarna stays, considering your¡­condition. What happened?¡± Tek sighed at the captain¡¯s unflappable following of the rules. He was ever vigilant in avoiding potential lawsuits. She explained the events of last night. When she finished, the captain was silent, a raised eyebrow his only difference in expression since she had entered.

    ¡°Am I to assume, then,¡± the captain finally spoke. ¡°That you are here to ask for a task force?¡±

    ¡°Respectfully, sir,¡± Tek replied. ¡°I am here to demand it.¡± The captain raised both eyebrows at this, an unusual response from him. Tek wondered if she¡¯d overstepped her station, but then he sighed and leaned back in his chair.

    ¡°God knows you¡¯ve earned it, Tek,¡± he said. ¡°And you¡¯ve had to put up with more of this versist shit than anyone on the force.¡± He looked down his nose at her.

    ¡°You realize this is a tough spot for me, right?¡± he asked. Tek shrugged, and the captain leaned forward again and put his elbows on the desk.

    ¡°Earth One funds the IPF, as you well know,¡± he explained. ¡°Too much policing here upsets the local police forces.¡± He paused, and Tek started to respond, but then the captain continued. This was already a longer conversation than they usually had, and Jarna was unusually quiet. Tek decided these were both good signs.

    ¡°The problem is that the IPF is the group with the highest rate of extraversal citizens. If I don¡¯t police it at all, I risk losing good officers.¡± The captain was silent for a moment, then opened a desk drawer and pulled out a flask. He took a long swig, then replaced the cap and shut the drawer. He looked Tek in the eyes.

    ¡°Detective K¡¯Nani, you can have your task force,¡± he said formally. Tek was shocked. The captain had denied her so many times before that she hadn¡¯t really expected to succeed.

    ¡°You may utilize up to three additional officers,¡± he said, holding up a large hand to cut off her response. ¡°But you will work with local law enforcement for prosecution, and you will report directly to Lieutenant Captain Jarna.¡± Tek felt like she¡¯d been tricked.

    ¡°But sir,¡± she started and the captain shook his head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it, Tek,¡± he replied, sounding tired. ¡°I know you two don¡¯t get along, but this is important, and you will need to keep each other in line.¡± Tek looked over at Jarna¡¯s dumb grin and sighed. If that was what it took to get the task force and go after those versist assholes, then so be it.

    ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± she said respectfully. ¡°I¡¯ll provide team recommendations tomorrow.¡± She nodded to the captain, glared at Jarna, and exited the room. As the door was closing she heard the captain speak to Jarna.

    ¡°And if you keep staring at her ass like that, Lieutenant Captain,¡± he said, emphasizing Jarna¡¯s title. ¡°Then you will no longer be employed here.¡±

    Tek smiled as she walked back through the catcalls and headed to the car. Her house had burned down, she was saddled with the Lieutenant Captain, and she needed new clothes, but at least something had gone right. After a long shower and as much sleep as she could manage, she was going to be right back here in the morning, ready to punish those assholes to the fullest extent of the law. Or just shoot them, she thought. Whichever comes first.

 INTERLUDE: The Detective [Chapter 2]

    The sun beat down mercilessly through the windshield. Tek sighed and sank down lower in the driver¡¯s seat. The person next to her shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and Tek glanced over at her. She¡¯d always assumed that Shanree was female, but realized now she had no idea how gender worked on Earth-94. Shanree did have curves in the normal places, but she also had golden, metallic skin that made her look very much like a robot. Tek wondered if Shanree¡¯s skin felt like metal.

    ¡°It feels like skin,¡± Shanree said suddenly, still looking out the passenger side window. Tek almost jumped out of her seat before she remembered the strange ability of the Jannui. She would have to be careful what she thought around Shanree. The other woman sighed and sat up straighter in the chair, finally turning to look at Tek.

    ¡°I can¡¯t just read your mind,¡± she said, with a tone that implied she¡¯d explained this many times before. ¡°But if you are thinking hard about something, I can get a glimpse of it. Especially if it¡¯s about me.¡± She looked pointedly at Tek with the last sentence. The luminescent lines in Tek¡¯s skin turned dark purple for a moment, before fading back to a normal color. The Jannui woman smirked. Tek looked back out the window, though there wasn¡¯t anything new to see.

    ¡°Stakeouts suck,¡± Shanree complained. Even her voice was somewhat of a monotone, which only contributed to the robotic feel for Tek. Still, she was good at her job and, more importantly, from another universe.

    ¡°Yeah they do,¡± Tek agreed. ¡°The first one was okay, but they just keep getting worse.¡± They¡¯d been staking out various locations all over Earth One¡¯s New York, which is where the main operations branch of the IPF was located. It had been two months since Tek was granted her task force, but red tape had tripped them up again and again. For starters, the only other agent who she¡¯d been able to add to the task force was Shanree, and even that had taken a while. They¡¯d generated some early leads on more versist attacks throughout New York City, though Tek had heard about others across the world. They had to start somewhere, though, and so their start had been staking out various potential meeting points across the city. So far they¡¯d had exactly zero luck.

    Tek took a sip of her lukewarm soda and slumped back into the seat, just as a bullet exploded through the windshield and buried itself in the headrest where her head had just been. A second later, another bullet slammed through the windshield and into Shanree¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°What the-¡± Tek started to shout, but was cut off by additional fire. Keeping her head low, she threw the car into reverse, backing up and stopping just short of smashing the front fender of the car behind her. She slammed the car back into drive, and flew forward, glancing sideways at the injured Shanree. Her shoulder was bleeding; the bright red blood looked strange against her golden skin. The woman was gritting her teeth in pain, but she raised her other arm and pointed out the window at the house they¡¯d been watching. As the car flew by, she tapped the window.

    ¡°Tek, look!¡± she said around her still clenched teeth. ¡°It¡¯s Alderman Sachar!¡± Tek followed her pointing finger in time to see a middle aged man hustling around the back of the house. He had gray hair and a sharp hook to his nose, but his trademark cane is what really gave him away. Tek looked back at the road in time to swerve out of the way of an oncoming car. Her late reaction bumped the police vehicle up onto the sidewalk, which was fortunately clear of any pedestrians. It also saved their lives, as gunfire erupted from the other vehicle. The bullets punched holes in the trunk of their car, and chewed up the front of the building next to them. Tek lurched back onto the street at the corner and punched it up to full speed until she could confirm there was no one following them. Or shooting at them.

    ¡°How bad is it?¡± she asked Shanree as she started making her way to the nearest hospital. There was no response, and Tek looked over at the other woman. Shanree had passed out, her head lolling forward.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Tek yelled aloud, skidding through a turn at full speed. She hated these versist creeps with a passion. Then she remembered the Alderman walking into the house and she smiled grimly. At least she¡¯d finally gained another lead. Tek was surprised that it possibly went as high as an alderman, but she didn¡¯t care. She¡¯d take them all down, no matter how far up it went.

    <hr>

    The hospital was a buzzing hive of activity when Tek and Shanree arrived. Tek pulled her car straight up to the front entrance. She scrambled out of the car and leapt around to open Shanree¡¯s door. There was already a hospital attendant approaching.

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    ¡°Ma¡¯am, you can¡¯t park here, that¡¯s¡­¡± her voice trailed off as she noticed the injured and bloody woman in Tek¡¯s arms. There was a moment¡¯s pause, and then the attendant snapped into action. She barked orders into her radio, and almost immediately there were two large men taking Shanree from Tek and wheeling her quickly inside. Tek had to hurry and follow before she lost sight of them.

    Eventually they arrived at an operating room, and an orderly kicked her out into the hall. After an hour of anxious waiting, the door opened and Tek followed the operating party to a different hospital room, where she was again shoved out into the hall. The noise and chaos was lesser here, she realized. With a small groan, Tek slid down to the floor, her back against the wall, and pulled out her phone. She quickly searched online for information about Alderman Sachar, but nothing jumped out at her as fishy, or even interesting. She sighed, and put her phone back in her pocket. Movement at the corner of her eye caught her attention, and she looked down to the end of the hallway to see a man in a leather jacket walk by. Their eyes met and Tek was shocked by how cold his looked. That was a man who didn¡¯t care. Her thoughts briefly imagined him as a hired killer, and then she shook her head. Maybe a bathroom break would make her less jumpy.

    <hr>

    Tek returned to the hallway, but something felt different. It seemed less busy somehow. She felt like she had arrived in the immediate aftermath of a giant explosion of movement. Unsettled, she started to slide back down into her position on the floor when she saw the pool of blood start to leak from behind the nurses¡¯ counter. Tek leapt to her feet, and sprinted down the hall to find a nurse crumpled on the ground behind the counter, a vicious knife wound in her neck. Tek punched the emergency alarm button on the radio, and sprinted out into the main hallway. She caught a glimpse of a leather jacket striding quickly away.

    ¡°Skezzing idiot!¡± she said to herself. ¡°Always trust your freaking instincts.¡± She watched as the man angled towards the main exit, and then she turned and sprinted back towards Shanree¡¯s operating room. She burst through the door to a scene of carnage. The two nurses and the surgeon all had slit throats, and Shanree had multiple stab wounds. Still, when Tek slammed the door open, the golden skinned woman¡¯s eyes blinked open, and she weakly raised a fist that held a bloody syringe.

    ¡°Good girl,¡± Tek said under her breath, and then she fired her pistol at the window across the room. Cracks appeared throughout the glass, and then Tek launched her body at it. The window exploded outward, and Tek crashed to the concrete outside the hospital. Leaping up immediately, she sprinted towards the entrance, just catching sight of the man in the leather jacket. He was heading towards the parking lot, so Tek gritted her teeth and ran as fast as her body would allow.

    She caught up to the man right as he was opening the passenger door of a gray sedan. He noticed her approaching, and he ducked low as she fired. She was fairly certain he didn¡¯t have a weapon beyond the knife, so Tek continued sprinting towards the man until a bullet pinged off a side mirror in front of her. She skidded into an awkward dive, taking cover behind a vehicle that was two spots away from where she¡¯d last seen the man. It finally clicked in that he had been using the passenger door, which meant he had a partner as the driver. That must¡¯ve been where the bullet came from.

    Tek slid down to her belly and looked under the car. She couldn¡¯t see any feet nearby, but before she stood up she heard a thud and realized the man was on top of the cars. She quickly shimmied her way under the car nearest her. There were a couple more thuds, getting louder, as the man jumped his way towards her. Eventually he landed on the very car she was under, and then he stopped. Tek held her breath, cursing in the back of her mind about the insane situation she¡¯d found herself in. The man continued to stand there, then he shouted something unintelligible, presumably to his partner.

    After waiting another long moment, Tek decided she needed to move before the man jumped off the car and decided to look underneath. Quietly sliding off her boot, she readied her weapon in the other hand. Then she launched the boot out the side and heard it thunk up against the next car¡¯s side. She army crawled out from under the trunk, ready to aim up at the man, and blindly hoping he was distracted. Instead, motion to her right caused her to launch her body sideways as a stream of bullets flew past her. She hit the ground hard, but then rolled up into a shooter¡¯s crouch and fired. She watched as a blonde woman, also in leather, took the bullet in the center of her chest and fell back in a spray of red.

    Tek quickly adjusted her position, expecting return fire from the man, but none came. After a moment she heard the roar of an engine. She leapt to her feet in time to see the gray sedan speeding away. She allowed herself a moment of disappointment before she checked on the woman. Surprisingly, the blonde woman was still breathing, though faintly. Tek loomed over her, and the woman¡¯s eyes opened halfway.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Tek asked, almost shouting. The woman¡¯s eyes closed again, and Tek slapped her cheek. The eyes fluttered open once more.

    ¡°Who sent you? Who are you?¡± she asked frantically. The woman¡¯s lips quirked in a tiny smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re next,¡± she said, in barely a whisper. Then her eyes closed again, and Tek knew she was gone. She sighed and slumped back on her knees. Then she looked back at the pandemonium that was now the hospital. She sighed again. The captain was really going to regret giving her this task force.

 INTERLUDE: The Detective [Chapter 3]

    The waiting room had completely emptied out by the time Captain Graves made it out of the operating room. Tek jumped to her feet and saluted. The captain looked serious, which wasn¡¯t anything new, but the tired lines in his face seemed more obvious than usual. He nodded at Tek and she released her salute.

    ¡°Well, she¡¯s going to be okay,¡± Graves said with a sigh. ¡°Eventually. Somehow she dodged a major organ issue.¡± With another sigh, the tall man eased himself into a chair next to where Tek had been sitting and then patted the seat next to him.

    ¡°I take it you found something,¡± he said, as she sat down. Tek nodded, and then paused. She wasn¡¯t sure exactly what she had found, only that it was already way above her pay grade. She opened her mouth to speak, but Graves raised his hands.

    ¡°You know what, I don¡¯t want to know,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°At least not yet. Continue reporting to Lieutenant Captain Jarna, and only to him. Judging by your face, whatever you¡¯ve stumbled upon will need to be locked up tight.¡± He studied her face for a moment, and Tek again noticed how tired he seemed. Finally, Graves patted her shoulder.

    ¡°Shanree is awake,¡± he said softly. ¡°And somewhat coherent. They said you can talk to her if you want.¡± He patted her shoulder once more, then left the waiting room. Tek stood there for a moment. She desperately wanted to pursue this, but a good officer was already in the hospital and she felt like they¡¯d barely even started unraveling this, well, whatever this was. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, and pushed through the swinging doors towards the recovery rooms.

    Shanree had her eyes closed when Tek entered, and she looked pale. If a lighter gold color counted as pale. When Tek entered, the other woman opened one eye to look at her.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time you came around,¡± Shanree said in a voice just above a whisper. ¡°Thought maybe you didn¡¯t like me anymore.¡± Tek stood at the side of the bed and tried not to feel guilty. Shanree opened the other eye and glared at her.

    ¡°Stop that. It wasn¡¯t your fault and you know it,¡± she said, as sternly as she could. Tek was startled, then irritated at forgetting about the strange ability of the Jannui.

    ¡°I know, but still¡­¡± Tek said, shrugging. Shanree was still glaring at her.

    ¡°Look, let¡¯s just get that bastard,¡± she said fiercely. Tek couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the dichotomy of the woman¡¯s tone and the way she looked lying on the hospital bed. Shanree slowly moved her hand to rest on the edge of the bed, and Tek saw she had something clasped in it. Tek felt like she could almost hear the creak of the golden skinned woman¡¯s knuckles as she slowly uncurled her fingers. Metal glittered in her palm and Tek gasped.

    ¡°Dog tags?¡± she asked, incredulous. Shanree nodded painfully.

    ¡°Grabbed them when he stabbed me,¡± she said, obviously beginning to lose strength. Tek slipped the metal tags from the woman¡¯s hand and peered at them.

    ¡°Old school,¡± she muttered, ¡°But I bet it¡¯ll work. If he¡¯s in the System on Earth One, this should ID him.¡±  Shanree nodded, and her eyes fluttered closed.

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± she said, in barely a murmur. ¡°Worth a stabbing, probably.¡± Tek chuckled and patted Shanree¡¯s good hand, still resting on the edge of the bed.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find this guy,¡± she said, but Shanree was already asleep.

    <hr>

    It turned out the guy was in the System. Very much so, in fact. Tek had a name, Kyv Staner, and a whole list of wrongdoings. She just had one problem.

    ¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± she repeated to Lieutenant Captain Jarna, who squinted at her through tired eyes. Eventually he sighed and leaned back heavily in his chair, his large mass causing it to creak in distress. Tek stared across the desk at him and tried to keep her face from frowning. She¡¯d been working with Jarna consistently since the Captain had agreed to the task force, and yet she still despised the man. Jarna smiled mirthlessly at her.

    ¡°So, to clarify, you¡¯ve had a task force for months now with exactly zero to show for it, other than a dead suspect. You have, however, racked up thousands in damage to the city and personal property that the department will have to pay for.¡± Jarna sat back up in his chair so he could look down at Tek.

    ¡°Does that sound about right to you?¡± he asked. Tek couldn¡¯t keep the frown from her face now.

    ¡°No,¡± she said, hating that it sounded so childlike. ¡°We have a lead.¡± She gestured to the dog tags sitting on Jarna¡¯s desk in an evidence bag. The big man stretched his face into another smile that wasn¡¯t a smile.

    ¡°Come on K¡¯Nani,¡± he said, his tone dripping with condescension. ¡°You know it¡¯s a dead end.¡± Tek set her jaw and fixed him with her most determined gaze.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to check it out, Jarna,¡± she said. ¡°The tags were last pinged on Earth Six, in the Fractured States. It¡¯s my only lead, and I¡¯m going to see it through.¡± Her voice sounded growly. Almost like Grit, she thought, then noticed the fury rising in Jarna¡¯s face.

    ¡°Lieutenant Captain, sir.¡± The title was late, but enough. Tek watched her nemesis get visibly calmer. He kept glancing over at her, but she kept her gaze fierce. Finally, he yawned and sighed.

    ¡°Fine, K¡¯Nani,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m well aware that if I tell you no, you¡¯ll do it anyway. Then I¡¯ll have to fire your ass and I don¡¯t want to do the paperwork.¡± He abruptly grabbed a pen from a mug on his desk and scribbled a signature on Tek¡¯s interversal jump request form. Jarna stood up and stuck out his arm, but when Tek reached for the paper he pulled it back.

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    ¡°Just know, Detective,¡± he said, emphasizing her rank, ¡°if you spend more department money, or if you come back empty handed, or if I just don¡¯t like what you find¡­this little experiment is over.¡± He finally handed her the form and then waved dismissively towards the door. It was all Tek could do to keep the words from exploding out of her mouth as she walked quickly out of the office. As it was, she may have shut the door a little too hard. She thought she saw Jarna jump slightly, then make an active decision to let it go. That shouldn¡¯t have helped, but it did. She had her signed form, which meant she¡¯d won this round. Now all she had to do was actually find something worth a damn, and on Earth Six that wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    <hr>

    Tek passed her jump request form to the jump tech and then settled onto the hard metal folding chair. Trust the IPF to spend the absolute minimum on a jump pad. The technician read briefly through the form.

    ¡°Jumped before?¡± he asked, and when Tek nodded he looked relieved. Must¡¯ve jumped some rookies recently. The tech went back to his desk, then counted down on his fingers from three. As the last finger disappeared, Tek¡¯s setting shifted. Suddenly the air was so dry that Tek was sure she should¡¯ve been able to see water leaching out of her skin. For a moment she couldn¡¯t breathe, but then she squashed the panic and forced herself to focus. Turns out Dallas on Earth Six was not at all humid like its counterpart on Earth One. The folding chair beneath her started beeping, and Tek stood up hurriedly. Ten seconds later the chair vanished back to Earth One. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure how the IPF could make that work. Maybe that¡¯s why they used folding chairs instead of recliners.

    Looking around, she saw she had landed in an abandoned industrial park, just as expected. She pulled up a map of Earth Six¡¯s Dallas that she¡¯d downloaded back at the station, oriented herself, and walked briskly towards a garish billboard for the Dallas Classic Car Show. It wasn¡¯t long before the White Rock Convention Center came into view, complete with cowboy hats and giant trucks. Tek rolled her eyes. This, at least, was the same as the Dallas she was used to.

    Tek passed through the security wanding with no problem. The IPF had long ago come up with a service weapon that could get by a metal detector. She quickly located the upstairs suite of offices where her target was located, and threaded her way through the masses. The small placard on the door simply said ¡°Buckshot¡±. Tek raised an eyebrow, then knocked quietly. There was a shout in response that sounded enough like ¡°Yeah!¡±, so she turned the handle and entered cautiously.

    The inside was a much more normal office than she had expected, if you could exclude the miscellaneous weapons, large and small, laying around on display. There was a rugged man with a giant beard and lots of hair sitting behind an enormous desk. He nodded politely at her when she stepped inside.

    ¡°Jackson Calhoun?¡± Tek asked hesitantly. The man smiled widely at this. He had a long scar running in a small curve from the outer tip of his right eyebrow down almost to his jawbone, that stretched oddly when he smiled. He stood up, and Tek realized he was a giant.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, call me Buckshot,¡± he said with a heavy Texan drawl. He shook her hand and then sat back down.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get many Feds purty as you,¡± he said with a chuckle. ¡°What can I get ya?¡± Tek was confused for a moment before she realized the man had already identified her as a law enforcement agent.

    ¡°Impressive,¡± she said, and the man nodded politely at her again. ¡°You probably don¡¯t get many of my kind here, either.¡± Buckshot chuckled again, a low rumble of a sound.

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am, not too many Raeyen ¡®round these parts,¡± he agreed. The man seemed genuine and nice, and Tek had to keep reminding herself that he was an arms dealer with a connection to her suspect. It suddenly occurred to her that he named her race.

    ¡°You know of the Raeyen?¡± she asked, probably too aggressively. Buckshot didn¡¯t seem to notice. He just gave her that big grin.

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Y¡¯all come through here, now ¡®n again,¡± he drawled. ¡°That why you¡¯re here then?¡± There was a long pause while Tek stared at him in shock. Eventually she shook her head and blinked.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did you say we come through her sometimes?¡± she asked. Buckshot nodded slowly.

    ¡°As in, you¡¯ve seen someone with purple skin like mine before?¡± Tek asked again. Buckshot looked concerned.

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Is somethin¡¯ wrong?¡± he asked. Tek shook her head, and took a breath to steady herself.

    ¡°No, no, nothing¡¯s wrong. I¡¯ve just, well, I didn¡¯t know there were more¡­¡¯ she trailed off, embarrassed. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s not why I¡¯m here. I¡¯m here about these.¡± She tossed the dog tags Shanree had snatched onto Buckshot¡¯s giant desk. He gazed at her for another moment, before finally looking down at the tags. Then he frowned.

    ¡°These are Kyv Staner¡¯s tags!¡± he exclaimed, and Tek nodded. The big man stood up and handed them back to her.

    ¡°I ain¡¯t got nothin¡¯ to do with Staner,¡± Buckshot said forcefully. ¡°He¡¯s bad for business.¡± Tek held up her hands to calm the man down.

    ¡°Staner¡¯s dead,¡± she said. ¡°Likely murdered. I¡¯m here because his last location was here, and intel says you knew him.¡± Buckshot slowly sat back down, his face a dark thundercloud.

    ¡°I know him,¡± he grumbled. ¡°Always tryin¡¯ to get me to join ¡®em, or give ¡®em an extra good deal. Ya know, come to think of it, those Raeyen I met were always with Staner and his boys.¡± Tek¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°Wait, join them? Join who? Was Staner part of a group?¡± Tek clamped her mouth shut to avoid asking more questions at once. Buckshot nodded.

    ¡°Yeah, somethin¡¯ shady,¡± he said. ¡°Heard rumors it was trafficking, but I stayed too far away to hear more. Alls I know is they operate somewhere out of Earth 49.¡± Tek was entering all this information into her phone when there was a commotion outside. Tek crossed to the window and watched as a group of guys dragged a woman just barely into her view. She looked familiar¡­

    ¡°Say, can I test this?¡± She asked Buckshot, picking up a nearby rifle.

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± he said, a bemused look on his face. That changed as Tek opened the window, then swiftly grabbed the nearby box of bullets and loaded one into the chamber.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Buckshot exclaimed, standing up. Tek continued looking through the scope as she flashed her IPF badge in his face. Not that it meant anything to him, but it kept him occupied long enough for her to determine that Grit and Cassia were indeed in trouble down below. She watched as they eliminated two of their adversaries, but then Grit had left himself open to a direct shot from the remaining enemy. With the smallest of hesitations, Tek fired. The man dropped to the ground in a heap, and Grit looked around in shock. Tek turned to Buckshot.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± she said, and tossed him a business card. ¡°Send me an invoice.¡± She turned back to the window.

    ¡°Mr. Patterson,¡± she called as she slipped through the opening, and began climbing down a drainpipe.. ¡°We cannot keep meeting like this.¡± Grit¡¯s face twitched, and she was sure he¡¯d almost smiled.

    ¡°Tek. Nice to see you again.¡±

 INTERLUDE: The Detective [Chapter 4]

    Tek shielded her eyes from the bright sunlight as she stepped out of the old IPF jumper. She clanged the door shut behind her and winced at the metallic groan. Jarna must have given her the skezzing worst jumper available. Tek blinked rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the light. Peering up into the sky, she squinted at the large sun that was almost directly above her. She could also just barely make out a smaller sun, further away, to the east. The people of Earth-49 called the big sun Helior and the smaller one Lira. Her notes had told her that much, at least, but they hadn¡¯t mentioned the fact that Helior was significantly closer to the earth than the sun she was used to at home.

    With a sigh, Tek pushed a button on her communicator to lock the jumper, and set off across the large concrete pad she¡¯d landed on. Earth-49 was one of the Earth¡¯s in the Upper Hundred that had a jumpport, which was nice, though she¡¯d seen much better. In the center of the port was an enormous silver bubble-like structure. As she approached, she could tell that the silver was some sort of material that seemed to reflect the sunlight. Or perhaps it was a giant solar panel, judging by the electrical wires running all around it.

    For a moment, she found herself thinking about Grit, as she always did after they crossed paths. He seemed better than he had been the last time they¡¯d met, though their conversation had been just as one sided as usual. Maybe he¡¯d found a purpose, instead of just meaninglessly jumping across universes. Part of her wished she was that purpose, but the other parts of her forced that thought down deep as she reached the port entrance. This wasn¡¯t time for emotions, but for action. Besides, hadn¡¯t she just sent Grit back to Earth One and likely some jail time? That was one way to slam a door on a relationship. Then again, with the little that she knew about his current partner, maybe he¡¯d thank her in the end.

    The big double doors at the entrance slid open with a whoosh of air as Tek stepped in front of them, and she gratefully entered the climate controlled building. There was a large number of people inside, scurrying between counters and escalators. In fact, it felt just like a busy airport back home.

    ¡°Change, ma¡¯am? Anything you can spare?¡± a man said in a raspy voice to her left as he gripped her wrist. With a start, Tek yanked her hand out of the grasp of a man lying against the inner wall and holding a cup out in her direction.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have the right currency.¡± She moved quickly towards the row of gate attendants in front of her, only glancing back at the beggar when she¡¯d put some distance between herself and him. Unnervingly, the man was staring right back at her, though he quickly averted his gaze when their eyes met. Tek shivered as she approached the counter.

    ¡°What can I do for you, ma¡¯am?¡± the counter attendant asked, pulling Tek back into the moment.

    ¡°Yes, um, I¡¯m trying to get to Lockwood,¡± she said, and the attendant nodded as he began typing. Almost immediately, something printed out of a box to his left and he ripped it off to hand to Tek.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be at Gate Five, boarding in three minutes. You¡¯ll have to hurry,¡± the man said, pointing towards one of the many escalators leading down below the main floor. Tek thanked him and quickly hurried in the appropriate direction. As she reached the escalator and glanced back, she saw the beggar from the entrance standing at the counter she¡¯d just left, with a phone to his ear. Both him and the gate attendant turned to look in her direction, just as the escalator dropped her far enough to obstruct her view. Tek shivered again. At least she knew that she was correct on some level. Something weird was definitely going on here on Earth-49.

    <hr>

    The subway train zipped her underground until it reached Substation Brussels, which was essentially a miniature version of the station she had just left. Tek took a deep breath as the train doors opened. She hadn¡¯t seen the homeless man try to board the train, but she was still concerned about a potential threat. It didn¡¯t help that she was the only one getting off at this station. Stepping out onto the concrete pad lining the track, she thought she knew why. The station was filthy. There were a couple of other people waiting for trains, but otherwise the station seemed empty. Tek carefully stepped her way around the trash and moved quickly through the dingy hallway into the main station lobby. She kept a nervous eye on the hallway, but nobody else came through before the train arrived. She boarded with the others and found an empty car to sit in. Twenty minutes later she reached Lockwood. The ride had been nice and calm, almost putting her to sleep. Tek yawned as she stepped out onto the Lockwood platform, or she might¡¯ve noticed that the platform was completely empty. Instead, she shook her head to try and wake up, and headed down the hallway.

    Tek finally realized something was off as she stepped into the hallway towards the main port and it was completely dark. She paused for just a moment, then reached for her weapon in her side holster. She was a second too slow, as a large figure materialized out of the darkness and swung a giant fist towards her head. Tek ducked under the blow just enough to take it on the shoulder blade. The force of the punch still knocked her to the ground, and her gun skittered into the dark hallway. The giant grunted and turned back towards her as she scrambled to her feet.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Tek yelled. ¡°I work for the IPF! Stand down now and -¡± she cut off as the man cocked his hand back for another strike. Feinting to the right, Tek dodged left and dropped into a roll. The punch missed, and the force of it knocked the man off balance. He grunted angrily again and lumbered towards her.

    ¡°I am an IPF detective!¡± Tek tried again, finally having whipped out her badge before realizing it wouldn¡¯t be visible in the dark. She turned and glanced down the hallway. There was a circle of light at the end where it opened up into the main lobby. Tek looked back at the approaching giant and then sprinted towards the lobby. She could hear thunderous footsteps behind her, and just as she was about to scream for help, two shadows appeared in the hallway entrance. Stifling a surprised scream, Tek pressed her body to the wall and cautiously began to edge her way back the way she¡¯d come. She could hear the giant coming closer, and she hoped the darkness was enough to obscure the fact that she¡¯d stopped running.

    Suddenly an arm wrapped around her chest from behind, while a hand simultaneously covered her mouth. Tek reacted instinctively, throwing her head back at her attacker. Instead of hitting flesh, the wall seemed to disappear and Tek was yanked backward. She landed hard on a body, and there was a muffled curse before she was shoved off to the side and landed on cold cement. There was a soft click, and then rope lights flickered on. Tek could see that she was in a tunnel of some sort. A tall woman was getting gingerly to her feet. She was wearing shorts, and the rope light illuminated her skin, causing Tek to gasp. It was purple.

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    ¡°Y-you¡­you¡¯re Raeyen!¡± Tek exclaimed and the woman shushed her.

    ¡°Yes, and you¡¯re about to be dead if we don¡¯t move,¡± the woman replied in an angry whisper. ¡°They know you were in the hallway; they¡¯ll find this tunnel soon. Follow me.¡± The woman turned and ran down the tunnel. Tek blinked, then quickly recovered herself and raced after the Raeyen, head spinning with the discovery of another member of her race.

    <hr>

    By the time Tek sank into her unexpected savior¡¯s couch, she felt her train ride had happened days ago. After racing down the tunnel, they had journeyed quite a ways down the train track, pressing themselves against the tunnel walls when trains passed. Eventually they¡¯d reached a sort of nook in one of the sharper turns, and they had settled there to wait. Sure enough, flashlights and loud voices had eventually come up the track towards them, though the hidden cleft they hunkered down in was not discovered. Eventually, the other Raeyen had led her out of the train tunnel and through the back alleys of the city to a small home. Tek was exhausted and confused, so she sat quietly for a moment with her eyes closed as her host bustled around the tiny kitchen.

    ¡°I¡¯m Tek,¡± she said finally, opening her eyes. The other woman paused briefly to look at her.

    ¡°I know,¡± she said. ¡°We knew you would be coming here eventually after Staner was found dead.¡± She sounded happy about that.

    ¡°Obviously those other bastards didn¡¯t know who you were,¡± she continued, happiness replaced by anger. She glanced at Tek. ¡°Or maybe they just didn¡¯t care.¡± Tek frowned.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, who is ¡®they¡¯?¡± she asked. ¡°And for that matter, who are you?¡± The Raeyen stared at her briefly from the kitchen, then turned back to her cooking.

    ¡°I¡¯m Ren,¡± she said over her shoulder. ¡°Ren Z¡¯Nora. And ¡®they¡¯ are the Harvesters. They¡¯re traffickers.¡± She was quiet for a moment, then swung around to face Tek.

    ¡°Wait. The IPF doesn¡¯t know about the Harvesters?¡± she asked, glaring. Tek shook her head, and Ren made a growly noise in the back of her throat. The lines in her skin glowed a deep purple for a moment. Then she shook her head and turned back to angrily tossing something in a pan. Tek stood up from the couch, forcing herself not to groan like an old woman, and cautiously approached Ren.

    ¡°Why does that make you angry? There is much in the multiverse that the IPF is not aware of,¡± she said as gently as she could. Ren flinched at her closeness.

    ¡°The IPF doesn¡¯t have to know everything,¡± she replied bitterly. ¡°But you would think they might be interested in the destruction of an entire race!¡± Ren set the pan down on the small kitchen table with a crash.

    ¡°Especially one as important as the Raeyen!¡± she exclaimed as she wiped up the spill from the pan. Then she took a deep breath and gestured at the thick stew-like concoction she¡¯d made.

    ¡°Eat,¡± she said. ¡°You need it.¡± Tek hesitated, but she was starving, so she sat down and ate gratefully.

    ¡°So then, why did you rescue me?¡± she asked around a mouthful of surprisingly good stew. Ren frowned at her. Tek was beginning to think that was her face¡¯s natural shape.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Raeyen,¡± Ren said with a shrug. ¡°Believe me, I was tempted to let you be taken. I thought it would force the IPF to come looking.¡± Tek raised an eyebrow at this, but Ren didn¡¯t seem to notice or care.

    ¡°But you saved me anyway,¡± Tek prompted, and Ren nodded.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Raeyen,¡± she said again. ¡°And I was overruled.¡± Tek covered her surprise by taking another bite of stew. So, there was some sort of resistance group in Lockwood. She wondered how many other Raeyens were a part of it. Her spoon hit the bottom of the pan and she realized she¡¯d eaten the entire stew. Ren took the dishes from her, still wearing a frown.

    ¡°Thank you for helping me,¡± Tek said as the other woman cleared the table. For a brief moment she thought Ren might not respond, but then she nodded and her glare seemed to reduce by a fraction. Tek watched as she rinsed the dishes in the sink. Ren was taller than she was, but still had the lithe body type that was typical of a Raeyen. The intricate lines in the woman¡¯s skin were much more active than Tek¡¯s. Right now they seemed to pulse with a deep purple. It seemed that anger rarely left Ren.

    ¡°Are there more Raeyen here in Lockwood?¡± Tek asked, her mind returning to her original purpose now that she¡¯d been fed. Ren froze at the sink, then turned her customary glare on Tek. After a moment, though, she sighed.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t know anything about what¡¯s going on here, do you?¡± she asked, and then sighed again when Tek shook her head. Ren leaned back against the counter, her glintscars fading to a more constant violet.

    ¡°The Harvesters want our lumina,¡± she said. Her normal glare was gone, replaced by sadness. Tek¡¯s mouth dropped open.

    ¡°But the lumina is what fills the glintscars,¡± she protested. ¡°It¡¯s with the blood in our veins, it¡¯s part of us!¡± Tek was surprised at the fervor of her voice. For good reason, though, she thought. The lumina was essentially what made one a Raeyen. Ren was nodding sadly at her.

    ¡°Which is why it¡¯s illegal to harvest lumina from a living Raeyen,¡± she said. Tek started to nod. Of course it was illegal to harvest something from a living being.

    ¡°But, why do they want it?¡± she asked. As far as she knew, the lumina didn¡¯t do anything special, other than provide an outward expression of emotion. Which was often more unhelpful than anything else.

    ¡°It cures phase drift,¡± Ren answered. Tek frowned. The term was familiar, but she couldn¡¯t place it. The sadness in Ren¡¯s face deepened.

    ¡°Temporal Distortion Disorder,¡± she said. ¡°Lumina harvested from Raeyen is made into an injectable shot that you take prior to jumping.¡± Tek was stunned. Temporal Distortion Disorder had only recently begun to show up on Earth One, likely because most Earth One jumpers had specialized protection. The disorder initially affected the victim¡¯s mind and sense of time, but it quickly progressed as an aggressive form of brain cancer. As far as Tek knew, there was no cure.

    ¡°Raeyen are¡­immune?¡± she said slowly, and Ren nodded.

    ¡°Scientists are excited to learn what other uses lumina might have,¡± she said, sarcastically, as if she were quoting something. ¡°Of course, they haven¡¯t yet found a way to use lumina that isn¡¯t taken from a living Raeyen.¡± The glare was back in Ren¡¯s eyes, but this time Tek shared the feeling.

    ¡°This has to be stopped!¡± Tek exclaimed, again surprised at her depth of feeling. Ren looked at her in surprise, but then nodded approvingly.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s why we agreed to save you then,¡± she said. It looked like she was about to say more, but there was the sound of a car door closing from outside. Ren tensed immediately.

    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to bring you to a meeting tomorrow,¡± she said, looking worried towards the front door. ¡°No one is supposed to be here tonight.¡± Tek joined Ren in the kitchen.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s for the neighbors?¡± she suggested, but then the sudden pounding on the door eliminated that possibility.

 INTERLUDE: The Detective [Chapter 5]

    Ren hesitated, throwing a brief glance at Tek. Then she set her jaw and strode across the small room to the front door, throwing it open to the night. A short round man practically threw himself across the threshold, tumbling to the ground as Ren shut the door behind him.

    ¡°Kekei?¡± Ren asked in surprise. The short man rolled himself around until he reached a standing position. His eyes darted around the house, and the sight of Tek made him jump.

    ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± he said in a squeaky high voice. Ren reached down and grabbed his shoulders.

    ¡°Kekei, calm yourself,¡± she said slowly. ¡°She is a friend. What is the problem?¡± Kekei sputtered for a moment before words finally came out.

    ¡°It¡¯s the Hangar,¡± he managed. ¡°It¡¯s been compromised.¡± Kekei sat down at the kitchen table, seemingly on the verge of hysteria. Ren was already in motion, gathering various items from cupboards and drawers around the small living area. She was ready to go in minutes, and Tek could tell this had been practiced. Ren seemed calm as she stood by the door and looked back at Tek and Kekei.

    ¡°Ready?¡± she asked, taking a deep breath. Tek nodded, but Kekei was silently wringing his hands. Interestingly, his temperament was in stark contrast to Ren¡¯s. Tek noted the nervous sweat on his neck, and the man¡¯s eyes darted back and forth. He was on the verge of panic, she realized. Something bad must¡¯ve gone down at the Hangar, whatever that was.

    Ren threw open the door and headed out into the night, Tek right behind her and Kekei bringing up the back. Tek quickly lost any sense of direction in the dark as she followed Ren down alleyways and through yards. The other woman was obviously concerned about being tailed, as she often doubled back and seemed to take winding routes. Finally, they reached a large open field with a large building in the distance and protected by a chain link fence. Ren stopped at the fence and turned back to face them. Tek was breathing hard, and Kekei was huffing and puffing, but Ren seemed hardly winded.

    ¡°This is an actual hangar?¡± Tek questioned, realizing that there was an airport runway far off to their right.

    ¡°It is,¡± Ren answered simply. ¡°We have an airport official that is¡­sympathetic to our group.¡±

    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± Kekei said worriedly. ¡°I told you this place was compromised!¡±

    ¡°I know you did. But I had to see for myself,¡± Ren said. She reached down and messed with the fence, then straightened up and lifted a section of fencing up. At her gesture, Tek scrambled through the opening, followed by Kekei and then Ren, who replaced the fencing behind her.

    ¡°We should approach carefully,¡± Ren cautioned. ¡°If the place is actually compromised, there could still be Harvesters here.¡± The group crept along in the dark until they reached the edge of the hangar. There were lights on inside, though there seemed to be no activity. Ren motioned to Tek to go around the other side, then she crawled away. Kekei stayed put, still trembling, as Tek made her way around the back of the large building until she came to a set of double doors that looked like they were for large equipment. There was no outer handle, so she continued along the metal wall of the building until she reached a small door. Tek tested the handle, and was surprised to find it unlocked. She slowly opened the door a crack and peered in. The inside of the hangar was full of death. Tek could see bodies scattered across the floor, including many with the telltale purple skin of the Raeyen. This was enough. She quickly pulled out her communicator and sent a request for immediate assistance to Jarna. Then, stifling her emotions, she forced herself to enter the hangar. It was a large building, but relatively empty, so she was able to clear the room quickly. Suddenly the door towards the front whipped open. Tek jumped, reaching for her weapon, but it was Ren striding towards her. The woman had worn a frown before, but now she wore a thundercloud of fury. Tek could see her refusal to look at the bodies on the floor, as Ren instead stared straight ahead.

    ¡°I killed the sentry,¡± she said bluntly, her voice devoid of emotion. ¡°They must be planning to come back for the bodies. We need to move.¡± Tek nodded slowly. There had to be at least eight dead Raeyen sprawled across the hangar floor. The weight of losing something she¡¯d only just found was beginning to grow heavier. She was distracted by Kekei pushing through the door, somehow looking even more shaken than before. He was muttering to himself and shaking his head.

    ¡°Tek.¡± Ren¡¯s voice was startlingly close to her. Tek turned to face the other woman.

    ¡°We have to move. The Harvesters must be making a full scale attack. There¡¯s another safe house..¡± Her voice trailed off as Kekei fell to the floor, blubbering.

    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± he was mumbling. ¡°They¡¯re all dead, I can¡¯t.¡±Ren moved towards him, but then made a face at Tek.

    ¡°We have to go,¡± she said, her tone barely indicating sadness. Kekei took a breath, and sat up.

    ¡°Don¡¯t go to Kyen,¡± he said, surprisingly clearly, then fell back on the floor. Ren waited for a moment, but the man seemed to be broken. She threw another look at Tek, then turned and ran out of the hangar. Tek had to sprint to catch her, wondering about Kekei. Something seemed off about him, more than just the mental breakdown. Soon, though, following Ren cut out any other thoughts. Ren led a winding path back to the city, one that was obviously shorter than the first trip because they quickly emerged from an alley onto a city block that was familiar to Tek. Ren¡¯s house was down the street, and it was on fire. Ren screamed, full of anguish. It was as if the fire finally broke through the wall and all of her fury and grief burst out at once. When she finally turned to face Tek, her face was still stormy, but some of the energy had gone out of it. Tek could tell she was exhausted.

    ¡°Gotta keep moving,¡± she said in a low voice, and led Tek back into the twisting, turning alleyways of Lockwood. Again, Tek was just beginning to run out of stamina when Ren slowed her pace. They were on the edges of the city, approaching a small squat building that had no lights on inside. Tek crept silently behind Ren as they approached the building from the back. Ren listened intently at the door, then pushed the doorbell with three short jabs. The moments waiting seemed to drag on, until the door finally opened just a crack. Tek realized she¡¯d been holding her breath. Then the door slammed shut and she let all the air out in surprise. There was the sound of multiple locks being worked, and then the door flew open and a small Raeyen girl came flying out the door and leapt on Ren, who caught her with a grunt.

    ¡°Jil, come back in, quickly,¡± said a tall Raeyen man, appearing in the doorway. He helped wrangle the girl from Ren, then stepped back and ushered them inside. As soon as Tek crossed the threshold, he threw the locks back in place. The interior of the building was extremely dark. The man held up a small light as he led the way, and Tek caught glimpses here and there.

    ¡°It¡¯s a church,¡± she said.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ren said over her shoulder. Strangely, she had a small smile on her face. ¡°My parents¡¯ church, once.¡± The man in front stopped, and opened a trapdoor in the floor. Light spilled out as he did, and Jil quickly leapt down, followed by Ren. The man gestured to Tek, and she scrambled down the ladder. The room below was surprisingly large. She guessed that it must be at least the entire size of the building above. It had a concrete floor, but had been filled with beanbags and blankets that gave it more of a homey look. There were at least a dozen people, most of them Raeyen. Jil had joined a couple other children playing in the corner.

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± said a low voice behind her, and Tek jumped. The man who had let them in was standing on the ladder, trying to look down at her over his shoulder. Tek stepped out of his way, and he jumped the remaining distance. He smiled at her and stuck out his hand.

    ¡°You must be Detective K¡¯Nani,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m Kyen, Ren¡¯s brother.¡± Tek shook his hand and smiled back. He was startlingly attractive, though that could just be due to the fact that the only other male Raeyen she¡¯d met had only been eleven years old.

    ¡°Do the Harvesters know of this place?¡± she asked, forcing away annoying images of Grit in her mind. Kyen frowned and shrugged.

    ¡°They don¡¯t, as far as we know,¡± he said. ¡°Then again, we thought they didn¡¯t know about the Hangar either.¡± As if on cue, there was a loud doorbell sound. The room immediately hushed, and Kyen¡¯s glintscars went a pale lavender. A screen on the opposite wall flickered to life, showing a black and white view from a camera somewhere above the door. A group of men were peering up at it.

    ¡°We know you¡¯re in there!¡± the man in front shouted. ¡°And we know you can hear us!¡± Tek saw Ren look at Kyen with a question in her eyes, but her brother just shrugged. On the screen, the men split apart to force another to the front, then yanked the man¡¯s head up to face the camera.

    ¡°Kekei,¡± Ren groaned. ¡°He led them here.¡± Kyen nodded, then leapt into action.

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    ¡°Battle stations, everyone!¡± he shouted, as he pulled the trapdoor back down. The rest of the people in the room moved instantly. Tek saw a Raeyen woman gather the children into a small closet she hadn¡¯t noticed in the corner. Others followed Kyen up the ladder, including Ren. Tek hustled up close behind her.

    ¡°Ren, I notified the IPF back at the Hangar,¡± she whispered as she followed the woman through the dark. ¡°They should be here soon, if we can hold out.¡± Ren didn¡¯t give any indication that she¡¯d heard, and settled into place beneath a large window. Tek crouched down next to her, then risked peeking out the window.

    ¡°They¡¯ve got us surrounded,¡± she whispered to Ren over her shoulder. Bright lights suddenly drifted down out of the darkness, and Tek had to shield her eyes against the glare. Eventually she could make out figures stepping approaching the church from the ship, and she gasped in recognition.

    ¡°Ren, it¡¯s Jarna! The IPF -¡± Tek suddenly stopped talking as Jarna walked up and shook hands with one of the Harvesters. She swore under her breath, and Ren was instantly peeking out the window next to her.

    ¡°Of course the IPF is working with them,¡± she said in a growl. She turned to glare at Tek. ¡°If you¡¯re going to betray us, just do it now and get it over with.¡± Tek stared at Ren in shock.

    ¡°Ren, I¡¯m a Raeyen,¡± she sputtered. ¡°I¡¯m not going to betray you after I only just found you!¡± Ren gave her a searching look and finally a short nod. She seemed about to say something when there was a pounding on the door.

    ¡°This is the IPF. You have been surrounded. We know you are holding one of our agents. Release her and we can work this out harmlessly.¡± Tek rolled her eyes. Jarna loved using megaphones. She glanced at Ren, who seemed to consider Jarna¡¯s offer for a moment, before nodding to Tek again.

    ¡°Shut it Jarna, you asshat!¡± Tek called from inside. ¡°I¡¯m not a captive here and you know it. If you think Graves hasn¡¯t heard about this already, you¡¯re an idiot.¡± There was a pause, and when Jarna spoke again, he sounded irritated.

    ¡°So be it,¡± he said. ¡°And I don¡¯t think you called Graves. You checked in with me and I¡¯ve been monitoring your communicator ever since. Goodbye, Detective.¡± There was a moment of ominous silence, and then the front door exploded inward. Harvester flunkies stepped forward and tossed oblong shapes into the darkness, and Tek reacted immediately. Tackling Ren to the floor, Tek squeezed her eyes shut and then clamped a hand over Ren¡¯s. There was a blinding flash of light, along with a hazy mist that floated at the top of the room. The mist was giving off a small glow, causing eerie shadows to fill the sanctuary. Tek crouched by Ren.

    ¡°The mist will knock you out,¡± she explained. ¡°So we have to stay low, and we have to move quickly before it starts to fall.¡±

    ¡°It lights the room and works as a weapon,¡± Ren whispered, looking upwards at the mist in awe. Tek smacked her, and the customary glare returned. Ren gestured to their left.

    ¡°Let¡¯s move towards Kyen,¡± she said. Across the sanctuary gunfire erupted, along with shouts and screams of pain. The two women crawled across the floor, dodging pews, until Tek ran straight into Kyen. He grunted in surprise.

    ¡°I¡¯m assuming that¡¯s bad?¡± he asked Tek, pointing up at the mist that had started to slowly move closer to the floor. She nodded, and he turned to his sister.

    ¡°I told the basement to evacuate,¡± he said. ¡°With the IPF involved, the Harvesters have too much firepower for us to resist. Retreat is the only option.¡± Ren¡¯s face crumpled in sadness, but she quickly replaced it with hostility. The sound of approaching boots stopped the huddled conversation. All three of them moved at once, Ren slicing low and Tek and Kyen both moving upward. Tek reached the Harvester first with an elbow to the neck. He made a weird gurgle noise as Ren swept his feet out from under him. Kyen was there immediately with a knife to the chest. He stood up halfway, ducking under the mist, and looked up at Tek.

    ¡°This is war,¡± he said with a shrug. More gunfire and shouts came, closer this time.

    ¡°This way,¡± Kyen whispered loudly, and Tek followed him and Ren blindly through the sanctuary, almost smashing into Ren¡¯s back when she stopped suddenly. Kyen had his hands up and was backing away from the exit he¡¯d been leading them towards. In front of him, three Harvesters had weapons trained on the group, with Jarna at the front.

    ¡°Ah, K¡¯Nani,¡± Jarna said when he spotted her. ¡°Couldn¡¯t take my opening earlier, and then didn¡¯t have the good sense to just die in the battle.¡± He shook his head like a disappointed father. Suddenly Kyen lurched to the left, yanking the gun away from the Harvester and dislocating the man¡¯s shoulder in the process. He raised the gun and fired as he was tackled from behind by the others. The bullet grazed Jarna¡¯s temple, though he only slightly flinched. Tek and Ren had barely had time to think, much less move, and it was too late now. Strong hands grabbed them both from behind as the other Harvesters arrived.

    Jarna calmly wiped blood from the wound then stepped over to Kyen and viciously kicked him in the head. Kyen dropped to the floor in a heap, and Ren shouted in fury, struggling against her captors. Jarna smiled.

    ¡°Spunky,¡± he said. ¡°Good for you.¡± He looked over at the newcomers and one stepped forward.

    ¡°We checked the basement, sir,¡± the man said. ¡°No sign of anyone else, and no sign of an alternate exit.¡± Jarna¡¯s face twisted in anger.

    ¡°Check it again!¡± he shouted. ¡°The rest of them were in here, we know this. Find it, or I¡¯ll have to, and that will cost you.¡± The man saluted, then ran off into the darkness. Tek noticed that the mist was slowly falling down to face level, so she hung her head lower.

    ¡°There there, K¡¯Nani,¡± he sneered at her. ¡°If you tell us where your friends went, I¡¯ll let you die quickly.¡± Tek lifted her head, and then spit at Jarna¡¯s feet. The anger filled his face again, but this time, he said nothing and just nodded to the Harvesters behind her. She felt someone go through her pockets and remove her communicator, then toss it to Jarna who scrolled through it.

    ¡°Ah, just as I suspected,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°You didn¡¯t call Graves after all.¡± He dropped the communicator on the ground, and destroyed it with a booted stomp.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the plan. Those two will be harvested,¡± he said, gesturing to Ren and Kyen, who was still limp but seemed to be breathing. Jarna then pointed at Tek.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this one. We¡¯ll make it look like the IPF was investigating some sort of gang related disturbance that got out of hand.¡± Another Harvester saluted and led Ren away into the darkness. Others lifted Kyen to a sitting position, and his eyes fluttered open to stare at Tek. Jarna pulled out his gun and leveled it at her face.

    ¡°You had a nice run, Detective,¡± he said. ¡°But it ends here. I won¡¯t lie and say this doesn¡¯t give me great pleasure.¡± Tek snapped her head back suddenly, connecting with the chin of the Harvester behind her. The man dropped with a grunt, his weight pulling Tek to the ground with him. She heard Jarna¡¯s gun fire above her, and she rolled to her right to kick the man next to her in the side of the knee. There was an audible pop and the man fell to the ground with a scream. Tek scrambled to her feet, careful to stay crouched below the falling mist, and then dove over a pew as Jarna fired again. Landing hard on the floor, she paused a moment to catch her breath, then squirmed under the pew. She wormed her way under the pews in the direction they¡¯d taken Ren. Behind her, she could hear Jarna screaming.

    ¡°Get the lights on, and find the goddamn woman!¡±

    Tek stopped at the end of the line of pews. She could see the door she¡¯d entered with Ren, seemingly hours ago. Booted steps caused her to wait, and a couple Harvesters soon walked into view. They were dragging Kyen between them. Tek hesitated for a moment, and then scrambled out from under the pew. She slipped in behind the man on the left, then yanked his belt knife out and stabbed him in the ribs. The man lunged forward with a shout of pain, and Tek leapt over him. The second man reacted well, throwing a punch instead of wasting time bringing his gun up. Tek had to twist around to take the blow on her shoulder, which meant that her throw of the knife went awry. The blade buried itself in the center of the man¡¯s neck, and he fell to the floor with a burble. Kyen was looking at her from the floor, and she shrugged at him.

    ¡°Sometimes you get lucky,¡± she said, then hoisted him by the armpits and dragged him towards the door.

    ¡°Tek, I can walk, I think,¡± he said shakily as she reached the door, so she helped him to his feet. It seemed they¡¯d somehow found a gap in the perimeter and Tek was unwilling to waste any more of it.

    ¡°Kyen, we¡¯ve got to move!¡± she said, and shoved the door open. Tek stepped out into the night with Kyen stumbling out behind her. They were on the opposite side of the church from where Jarna¡¯s ship had landed, which provided shadow cover for them. Blessedly, there were no Harvesters patrolling the exterior.

    ¡°What¡¯s that way?¡± Tek asked, pointing straight out over what looked to be a field. Kyen shook his head.

    ¡°There¡¯s a river,¡± he answered, words somewhat slurred. ¡°Steep drop.¡± Tek considered for a moment.

    ¡°Has anyone ever jumped from here?¡± she asked. Kyen nodded, then grimaced in pain.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he said. ¡°But not everyone survives.¡± The door burst open, and Jarna rushed out followed by three more Harvesters.

    ¡°Guess we¡¯re going to try it!¡± Tek exclaimed, breaking into a run and yanking Kyen with her. Jarna fired after her, but the shot missed. Fortunately, he¡¯s always sucked at shooting, she thought. Then they were through the field and racing towards the cliff.

    ¡°Tek!¡± Kyen called in a sort of question and yell combination, but Tek ignored him. Kyen paused at the edge of the cliff, but Tek didn¡¯t break stride. She grabbed his arm as she ran by, and then threw both of them off the edge. Rushing air filled her lungs and ears, but the last thing she saw was Jarna¡¯s stupid face peering over the ledge and then fading as she tumbled downwards.

    <hr>

    Tek pulled herself from the water with a gasp and a last burst of desperate energy. Then she reached back and lugged Kyen to the bank as well. Breathing hard, she rolled him over to see if he still had a pulse. Before she could check, the man gagged and coughed, water drooling out of his mouth.

    ¡°Tek,¡± he croaked. ¡°We¡¯re alive.¡±

    ¡°Somehow we are,¡± she agreed, looking back at the river. The rapids were visible in the distance, and she could almost feel the disorienting chaos she¡¯d felt moments ago.

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± Kyen said, strengthening enough to move to a sitting position. Tek¡¯s lips flattened in a grim line as she looked at the rising suns.

    ¡°Now we kill Donald Jarna.¡±

 16. Delivery on Earth-49

    Derrick and Mel drove Nico¡¯s car in an uncomfortable silence. Unsure of exactly what to do, they¡¯d moved the boy to the back seat and Mel had conceded that she probably didn¡¯t need to keep a gun on him while they drove. Derrick drove them carefully through back streets towards the rendezvous point that Nico had provided once they¡¯d sent a picture of the boy.

    He had hair buzzed short but his eyes unsettled Mel. They were a steely gray and unreadable. The whole situation had her on edge. Trafficking cocaine she could handle no problem. Selling kids? She hadn¡¯t told Derrick, but she was going to have some serious questions for Nico.

    ¡°So. Do you need water or food?¡± Derrick asked it so cordially that Mel cringed. She couldn¡¯t imagine what his bedside manner must have been like.

    ¡°No.¡± The boy answered softly. He didn¡¯t seem afraid or even concerned about his circumstances. Mel rubbed an ache in her left thigh and wondered what the hell she¡¯d gotten into now. Before she could think about it long, the car came to a stop outside of a boarded up convenience store. Mel popped her neck, unholstered her gun, and marched with purpose towards the door.

    ¡°Hey Mel, wait¡­¡± Derrick¡¯s voice trailed off as she stalked to the entrance. ¡°Oh, not good.¡± Derrick rushed to help the boy out of the car and catch up.

    Mel swung through the door and saw that Nico was seated at a small card table counting a stack of bills. To the left of the door, the large associate of Nico¡¯s quickly came to attention and stepped towards her casually. Big mistake, she thought as she lunged around him and leapt at Nico. Midair, she saw Nico¡¯s eyes go wide before she wrapped her legs around his neck, swung him out of his chair and slammed him to the ground. Keeping a tight grip on his neck, she pressed her gun to his temple and pointed at the big guy.

    ¡°Stay right the fuck over there while I chat with your pal!¡± Mel turned her attention to Nico as the door swung open and Derrick came in with the boy. ¡°Care to explain why you are trafficking children?¡±

    ¡°What the fuck, man!¡± Nico shouted over Mel as he wrestled against her grip. ¡°Trafficking? You really are as crazy as they say! For fucks sake, he¡¯s a refugee. I smuggle refugees between worlds.¡±

    Mel stared at him dumbfounded and it was Derrick who spoke first.

    ¡°I thought you ran drugs?¡±

    ¡°Of course you did, it¡¯s a great cover. God damn, could you loosen up or what?¡± Nico tapped gently at Mel¡¯s left calf and she slowly released him. ¡°You thought what? I¡¯m selling sex slaves or something? Fuck out with that shit! Disgusting.¡±

    ¡°I.. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Mel stammered as she holstered her weapon.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, not the first time honestly. Leo is actually a shit bodyguard.¡± Nico nodded towards his massive friend who shrugged sheepishly. ¡°We help people, ok?¡±

    ¡°Right. I¡¯m sorry, so who is this then and where¡¯s he going?¡± Mel composed herself and gestured to the boy standing alongside Derrick in the doorway.

    ¡°We¡¯re burning his real name, sorry. Now he goes by Ben, he picked it by the way. The less you know the better actually. His true identity needs to be as fully lost as we can get it. Just drop him at the designated coordinates on Earth-49. He¡¯s going to be moving in with a woman there named Lee, she¡¯ll be waiting for you. Jumper is downstairs.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you Ben.¡± Mel crossed the room and stuck out a hand, which he gingerly shook. ¡°How about we get you out of here?¡±

    The trio moved to a side door that led down rickety stairs and emerged in the basement. At first glance the place was in horrible condition, cobwebs filled every corner and a large stain covered the floor in front of them. Mel led them further into the room and around a pile of junk that filled most of the space. A photobooth took up the corner of the room and was the only thing that seemed to have working power in the room.

    ¡°Oh fuck yes, you ever use one of these?¡± Mel turned towards Derrick then looked at Ben sheepishly. ¡°Ah, sorry about that¡­¡±

    To Derrick¡¯s surprise, Ben let out a long high giggle and he watched as Mel joined in with a loud snorting laugh. She noticed his expression and composed herself.

    ¡°What? That¡¯s how I laugh, shutup.¡± Mel stared daggers at him in a very sudden shift. Derrick put his hands up in a surrender pose and stepped up to the photobooth. Pulling the curtain, he gestured for Ben and Mel to get in.

    ¡°Now what?¡± Mel was looking at the screen where the three of them were reflected once Derrick joined them. She prodded at buttons and eventually found a dial that moved a number in the corner of the screen up and down. ¡°Aha!¡± She moved the dial until the number read forty-nine then tapped the middle of the screen where it said Start.

    Derrick and Mel exchanged a look as the screen began to countdown from three and a large message appeared over their faces that said ¡°Say Cheese!¡± Mel frowned and flipped off the screen while covering Ben¡¯s eyes.

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    ¡°I think this piece of sh¡­.eet metal¡­ is broken.¡± Mel said, censoring herself just in time. But as the booth''s camera began flashing she felt the familiar feeling of her stomach dropping away from her body and in a flash she felt herself landing again. The sharp intakes of breath next to her reassured her that they¡¯d jumped successfully and she looked down to see that the booth had indeed produced a string of pictures of them. The final photo showed them to be stretched to incomprehensible lengths like Gumby.

    ¡°That¡¯s unusual.¡± Derrick was looking down at his hands and Mel gasped when she looked over and saw that his fingers looked stretched and bendy, almost like they were boneless and made from jello. All three watched in awe and disgust as Derrick experimented with them, pulling and stretching them or bending them the wrong way. Eventually, after about two minutes of this, he shook them and they began to return to rigidity.

    ¡°Well that was fu¡­.nking¡­ weird.¡± Mel frowned. She was not used to being around kids and she looked at Ben out of the side of her eyes. ¡°Ready for this, Ben?¡±

    Ben only nodded in response and the three of them slowly slipped out of the device to find that it was sitting at the end of a boardwalk with a beautiful view of the ocean. There were several old run down arcade machines sitting along the pier and as they walked back towards land, the place began to show signs of life. Couples made out in shady corners, a group of teenagers crowded around an arcade cabinet, a pair of parents won their daughter an oversized stuffed bear. The boardwalk was coming alive as dusk drew closer.

    ¡°Let¡¯s find a car, hopefully we¡¯re in the right state at least.¡± Mel steered the three of them through the merriment towards a parking lot. With minimal effort, they were able to find an unlocked hatchback with the keys in the cup holder and were soon on their way. Derrick and Mel drove in silence, while Ben slept in the backseat. It wasn¡¯t a long trip, they passed through Philadelphia and Baltimore without issue and arrived in DC around midnight. Following Derrick¡¯s GPS app to the coordinates that Nico had given them, they pulled to a stop in a DC suburb outside a Walmart.

    ¡°The hell? He wants us to drop him off at a Walmart?¡± Mel turned off the car and stepped outside, looking around. There were a few cars scattered around the lot, the store seemed to be open all night. Sharing the parking lot were a Burger King, a dentist¡¯s office, and a beauty salon, all closed. ¡°Well, Walmart it is.¡±

    Derrick got out of the car and gently woke up Ben and helped him out of the car. The two came around to stand with Mel. Despite a very composed expression, it was obvious Derrick didn¡¯t have the slightest idea what to do which made Mel sigh loudly.

    ¡°Come on, we¡¯ll stretch our legs and maybe get some candy at least.¡± Mel led and the other two followed across the lot and through the automatic doors. Now walking side by side, Mel could feel Derrick¡¯s alertness. He looked like a pretty normal guy walking through the store but she could see that he was assessing every other shopper they came across.

    A twenty minute walk through the store provided no answers but it did reveal that Ben was a little odd for a child. Mel told him he could look through the toys but he didn¡¯t really care to. He was very interested in tools of all kinds and they spent nearly half their time watching him handle screwdrivers and sanders and pliers. Eventually they got some snacks and cold drinks and made their purchase. Mel still had some cash and it wasn¡¯t noticeably different from the currency used in this version of America.

    On the way out, Derrick grabbed Mel¡¯s arm and nodded towards a wall of missing children posters. Ben was staring at them from one of the pictures. The poster was different from the ones around it, there was no name listed, it was just the picture and a phone number. Mel took it down and once they were back in the car she made the call.

    ¡°Oh thank god, I thought maybe something went wrong! Do you have Ben?¡± The voice on the other end was a woman¡¯s. Mel listened carefully to her voice but found that it sounded like every single normal suburban housewife she¡¯d ever scammed.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got Ben but we don¡¯t have a lot of information. Who are you?¡± Mel kept her tone short.

    ¡°Well¡­¡± The woman hesitated before continuing, ¡°Nico told me not to give my name just in case. He said that if the person who called was skeptical I could tell them, ¡®say cheese¡¯. Does that help at all?¡±

    ¡°Actually, yes it does.¡± Mel relaxed and asked the woman where to meet for the drop off. She hadn¡¯t exactly bonded with Ben but she was wary of delivering him to just anyone. After getting the information she reassured Derrick and the group set off again.

    Another forty-five minute drive through DC suburbs landed them in the parking lot of an insurance office two spots away from a silver coupe with rental plates. A woman stepped out of the car in a hooded jacket and black yoga pants. Mel noticed that she was very obviously wearing a wig and nearly laughed at the situation. She realized that to smuggle Ben from world to world he must have been in serious trouble and decided not to laugh at the safety precautions involved.

    ¡°Uh, hello there. I, um, I¡¯m picking up Ben?¡± The woman shifted her weight uncomfortably and despite her large sunglasses, Mel could tell she was looking around anxiously.

    ¡°Calm down lady, he¡¯s right here.¡± Mel opened the back door and let Ben out. She gave him a tap on the shoulder and attempted her best smile. ¡°Alright kid, this is a fresh start. Good luck here.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the ride.¡± Ben gently hugged Mel at the waist and waved into the passenger window at Derrick before turning to meet his new caretaker. Mel was surprised at the burst of emotion she felt and stuffed it down quickly.

    ¡°Listen, take good care of him alright? I don¡¯t want to have to come find you.¡± Mel forced her face into a scowl as she looked at the woman and was satisfied by the obvious terror on her face. She got back into the car and nodded to Derrick.

    ¡°Are you ok?¡± Derrick looked at her with a piercing stare as he asked.

    ¡°Oh fuck off.¡± Mel shrugged and wiped at her eyes then started the car. ¡°Long drive back to the photobooth, then a jump to Earth-71 so maybe you should take a nap on the way.¡±

    Derrick shrugged and patted her shoulder awkwardly before she peeled out and headed for the highway.

    <hr>

    Back in the photobooth, Mel turned the dial to the correct number and took a deep breath. Derrick gave her a reassuring nod and they tapped the screen. After the familiar sensation of jumping, they stepped out of the booth. Even Derrick gasped as they took in their surroundings. The scene directly around them was pretty normal, the photobooth had landed in an alley with clean white walls rising on either side. But when they looked up they found themselves staring into a dark sky through some sort of clear dome. And beyond that, they saw something they¡¯d only seen in pictures. The Earth was floating there in space.

 17. Retrieving the Pathfinder

    The car landed on the hard surface as if it had been dropped a couple feet straight down, which was unusual. Typically the setting just changed after a jump and nothing was in motion. At any rate, the green SUV seemed to handle it just fine. Grit exhaled, and looked over at Cassia. Her face had gone completely pale and she was gaping out the windshield. Grit followed her gaze and gasped. On the hood of the car was an enormous black snake.

    ¡°Cassia, stay calm and move slowly,¡± Grit warned. He could see the snake was coiled in a striking position, and was watching her through the glass. She nodded, and cautiously moved to open her door. As soon as the door opened, the snake hissed loudly. Cassia shut the door again.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get out and move it,¡± Grit said, but as he grabbed his handle a second snake slithered down the side of the car. This one wasn¡¯t in a striking position, but Grit yanked his hand back nonetheless.

    ¡°I told you the jumps were getting worse,¡± Cassia said, her voice strained. ¡°What do we do now?¡±

    ¡°Drive?¡± Grit suggested, but Cassia gestured to the dashboard. Leaning over, he could see that the gas gauge was showing empty. He sat back in his seat with a growl. Cassia leaned forward to look in the rearview mirror, and on the hood the snake struck. It hit the windshield with a jump, and Cassia let out a yelp. Seemingly unfazed, the snake immediately coiled itself back up.

    ¡°Wonder what pissed him off,¡± Grit said.

    ¡°Probably getting yanked off its universe and put here,¡± Cassia replied. Grit shrugged and shifted in his seat.

    ¡°I guess that would do it,¡± he said, slowly reaching over and sliding Cassia¡¯s knife out of its sheath on her belt.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Back door,¡± was all he said, as he clambered between the front seats and landed on the bench seat in the second row. From there, he pulled the clasp that opened the hatch door at the back of the vehicle. Slowly he let it open, praying there weren¡¯t any more snakes waiting to surprise him. He was in luck, though, and he stepped out onto the ground safely. Slowly, he peeked around the edge of the car on the driver''s side. The coast was clear, so he snuck up the side of the car until he was directly below Cassia¡¯s window. He took a deep breath, and then sprung.

    Grit leapt from ground, using the driver¡¯s side mirror as leverage. The snake hissed and tried to strike in his direction, but it was too late. The knife swept the snake¡¯s head clean off, and the body slid from the hood. Grit was sprawled across the hood, his momentum having carried him fully onto the car. Looking up, he saw the second snake staring back at him. It reared back, and Grit knew he was done. In the next second, though, the snake¡¯s head exploded in red mist and the crack of a gunshot reached his ears simultaneously. Grit let his forehead thunk down on the hood.

    ¡°Nice work with the knife,¡± Cassia said from behind him. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I think we should get out of here.¡±

    <hr>

    The walk back to the Pathfinder was significantly less eventful than their initial landing had been. They had quickly discovered that they had landed only a few streets away from where the ship was stored, and it hadn¡¯t taken long to make their way back to the rooftop. Grit watched as Cassia put her hand out in front of her, seemingly into the open air. The Pathfinder suddenly shimmered into view about a foot in front of her, the door wide open. Grit started to follow but a ball of scales came shooting out of the door, somehow transforming into a pangolin a second before it crashed into him.

    ¡°Tango, you made it!¡± Grit exclaimed, hugging the strange animal as he entered the ship. Cassia raised an eyebrow at him as he entered.

    ¡°That animal is so weird,¡± she said. Grit just shrugged and sat down in the seat. There was now a large flat space jutting out from the back wall that hadn¡¯t been there before. It looked like a table. Grit watched Cassia put her hand on the ship wall, and the table slowly melted back into the exterior. Grit whistled as the door also filled itself back in.

    ¡°This is some ship,¡± he said. Cassia nodded, hand still on the ship wall.

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure it can do more than we know,¡± she said. ¡°If only I could remember everything the Elder said about Pathfinders.¡± She spoke softly, as if she was talking to herself. Grit sat for a moment, then stood up abruptly.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to take Tango for a walk,¡± he declared in his customary growl, and then he scooped up the scaly pangolin ball and stepped outside into the bright sunlight.

    Grit inhaled and exhaled deeply, then stretched his arms to their full height. He¡¯d expected to enjoy a moment without action, but he¡¯d started feeling strangely restless. Besides, Cassia was giving off a vibe that said she planned to be in there a while, trying various things with the Pathfinder. Grit gazed across the rooftop as Tango uncurled and started slowly wandering and sniffing at the air. They were on a large building, and Grit couldn¡¯t actually see the far edge of the roof around all the various air conditioning units and other items popping up here and there. He was fairly certain there was a rooftop garden in the distance, so he began to amble in that direction.

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    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tango suddenly begin to sprint towards one of the larger air conditioning boxes. For a moment he was unconcerned. In fact, he was more impressed with the pangolin¡¯s speed than anything else. Then some sort of sixth sense kicked in from the back of his mind, and he found himself pulling his handgun out and racing after the animal. As he ran, a figure rolled out from behind the air conditioning unit and fired. Grit heard the bullet zip past his face as he dropped into a roll. Too late, he noticed that there was a second man approaching from the other side of the unit.

    Grit came out of his roll firing at the first man, and simply hoping the second one missed. He watched his bullet hit his target¡¯s neck as the crack of a gunshot rang out. Almost in slow motion, he realized Tango was leaping off the air conditioning unit, and curling into a ball of scales as he did. The bullet hit the pangolin with a strange ping and thud combination of sounds. Grit forced himself to focus on the enemy and pushed his worry, and disbelief, about his pet out of his mind. He hustled behind the air conditioning unit and peeked out.

    He was now in the position the original two men had been in, and the remaining man was a sitting duck. Grit started to move when he noticed a third man arriving on the roof over by the Pathfinder. For a moment he was struck with indecision. Unless she¡¯d heard the gunshots, Cassia had no idea there was an armed man approaching the ship. Grit leaned out and fired a shot towards the Pathfinder that clanged off the outside. The man approaching the ship froze and then hit the deck. Grit ducked back behind his cover as bullets smacked the air conditioning unit. Counting to three, he breathed deep, and then sprinted across the gap between his air conditioning unit and a large satellite dish. He heard bullets whizzing behind him, more than there should¡¯ve been. He risked a glance outward as he dove behind the dish, and saw the man from the Pathfinder had joined the firefight.

    Grit¡¯s shoulder hit the ground hard, and he grunted in pain as he curled up behind the satellite. He sat up slowly, back to shooters. He was tired, he realized. It had been many years since he¡¯d been fighting this consistently. He also realized that it was still invigorating, and he decided not to dwell on what that meant for his mental health. Tango ambled up to him from somewhere. Grit could see a dent in the animal¡¯s scales on the left side, where the bullet had hit. Tango seemed otherwise unharmed, though.

    ¡°Hey buddy,¡± Grit said, patting the animal. Gunfire exploded behind him, closer this time, and the pangolin curled up into a scaly ball. Behind him, Grit could hear the men reloading, which meant they were about to make an attack around the satellite dish. He took one more deep breath, and then leapt into action. Seizing the pangolin ball, he jumped out from behind the dish and hurled it at the first man he saw. The man fired wildly and then the pangolin hit him in the chest. Grit used the moment to swing his gun around towards the other man, who was flanking him on the other side. He fired twice in rapid succession, and the man jerked twice and fell to the ground.

    Spinning, Grit crouched and aimed for the first man, but he was gone. Tango still lay where he had fallen, curled tightly. Grit frantically scanned the rooftop in front of him but there was no one to be seen. Then the crunch of a slide being pulled back yanked his vision to the left. Somehow the man had circled all the way around the air conditioning vent. Grit was impressed. The man must¡¯ve been moving fast immediately after getting hit by a flying pangolin. He turned and faced his death. The man with the gun inclined his head almost respectfully. Grit decided it would be okay to go out this way. There certainly were worse ways.

    A knife suddenly appeared in the man¡¯s neck. For a long moment he stared at Grit, wide eyed. Then he slowly keeled forward, the gun firing as he fell and burying a bullet into the rooftop. Grit realized he¡¯d been holding his breath, and he slowly exhaled as Cassia walked up and retrieved her knife.

    ¡°You know, I can¡¯t keep saving your ass like this,¡± she said, wiping her knife on the dead man¡¯s uniform and then sheathing it. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to start looking out for yourself.¡± Grit grinned at her, but the adrenaline rush of battle was fading, and he felt weary and old. Cassia must¡¯ve noticed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the Pathfinder,¡± she offered. ¡°I think we¡¯ll just have to start looking somewhere. Better than doing nothing.¡± She reached down and cautiously picked up Tango and handed him to Grit.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your strange pet,¡± she said. ¡°Did I see you throw him at that guy?¡± Grit grunted a laugh and nodded. Cassia shook her head.

    ¡°You¡¯re crazy, man,¡± she said as she climbed into the ship. Grit followed her in and collapsed back on his chair. He tried not to wonder if he should¡¯ve just stayed there in the first place. Cassia had her hand back on the ship wall, and Grit could feel an occasional pulse of energy.

    ¡°I still haven¡¯t figured out how to get it to do anything,¡± Cassia said, sounding frustrated. ¡°I need a computer screen or something.¡±

    ¡°Just tell it to find Mel,¡± Grit suggested facetiously, as he settled back in the chair that was now more reclined than it had been before. He saw Cassia roll her eyes, and then he closed his. He was hungry now, to go along with being tired, which was not a great combo. He was about to suggest to Cassia that they pick up some food, but she cut him off.

    ¡°We need to find Kevin first,¡± Cassia said firmly. Grit opened one eye.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell Tek you¡¯d find Mel?¡± he asked. Cassia nodded.

    ¡°Yes, but I didn¡¯t tell her when. And Kevin possibly went to The Singularity¡¯s headquarters, which is where we need to be in order to get answers from Thorn-41.

    Grit started to protest but Cassia continued.

    ¡°Once we get the information from Thorn, we can go find Mel and¡­¡± she trailed off and glanced at Grit.

    ¡°Well, we can see what happens then,¡± she finished lamely. Grit again opened his mouth to bring up the issue of food, when Cassia suddenly slapped her hand against the wall.

    ¡°Find me Kevin-68, somewhere in the multiverse,¡± she said, and the ship pulsed and began to vibrate. Cassia looked at Grit with excitement.

    ¡°It¡¯s doing something!¡± she said, unhelpfully. Grit braced himself for movement, but none came. The ship simply stopped vibrating, and then the entire interior blinked once in a brilliant green flash.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Grit asked, somewhat worried that Cassia had caused the ship to malfunction.

    ¡°I believe, Lieutenant, that we jumped to Kevin¡¯s current universe.¡± Cassia¡¯s voice was full of awe.

    ¡°And I also believe we know why the IPF wants this ship so badly,¡± she added.

 18. Which Kevin?

    Cassia¡¯s silver head poked out cautiously from the door of the Pathfinder. She looked around for a moment and then ducked back inside.

    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re in a parking garage,¡± she said. Grit scooped up his pangolin and set him on his shoulder.

    ¡°You think the ship just knew where Kevin was this whole time?¡± he asked. Cassia shook her head.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what is going on with the ship,¡± she answered. ¡°But I do know that it feels¡­different than it should. Almost like it¡¯s communicating with me.¡± She thought about that for a moment.

    ¡°When I want it to do something, it¡¯s almost like I¡¯m having a conversation with it,¡± she said. ¡°I know that sounds crazy.¡± Grit shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯m carrying around a pangolin,¡± he stated simply. Cassia chuckled.

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± she said, and led the way out of the ship. They were indeed in a parking garage, and on the bottom level by the looks of it.

    ¡°Nowhere to go but up,¡± said Cassia, pointing to a nearby elevator. Grit nodded his approval and they stepped into the machine. With a shrug, Cassia punched the button labeled ¡®Lobby¡¯. After a minute, the doors opened on a large nondescript room, with a plain looking desk in the center. A woman dressed neatly in black sat behind it, typing at a computer. With no other indication of where to go, they headed towards her. She wasn¡¯t sure what it was, but something about the place felt off to Cassia. On her right, Grit leaned over to say something.

    ¡°...kind of¡­here¡­you think?¡± She looked over at him in confusion, and he tried again. Cassia watched his lips move, but still could barely hear bits and pieces of the sentence. Grit frowned.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you hear me?¡± he asked, louder now.

    ¡°I can now,¡± said Cassia. Grit looked thoughtful. His lips moved again but Cassia couldn¡¯t hear what he said. She thought maybe he¡¯d said ¡°strange¡±. She stopped walking suddenly, and Grit looked at her in surprise. Cassia pointed to her foot and then tapped it on the ground. No sound was heard. Grit¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    ¡°...like you can¡¯t hear anything over a certain decibel level?¡± he asked, his voice getting gradually louder until he found the point where it could be heard. Cassia started tapping her foot louder and louder. Right about the time she finally heard the noise it was making, she realized the woman at the desk was staring at them pointedly. She grabbed Grit and they quickly approached the desk.

    ¡°Can I help you?¡± the woman asked. Cassia thought her tone sounded suspicious.

    ¡°We¡¯re um, looking for our friend, Kevin?¡± Cassia said, realizing too late how childish she sounded. The woman let out an annoyed sigh.

    ¡°Do you have your identification chip?¡± she asked, holding out a hand. Cassia looked at Grit, who just shrugged.

    ¡°We, um, don¡¯t have that,¡± Cassia replied slowly. ¡°We¡¯re¡­not from here.¡± The woman frowned at that, and looked them up and down.

    ¡°I see,¡± she said, and then grabbed a device off of her desk. Grit nudged Cassia, and she looked over to see his lips move. He rolled his eyes.

    ¡°It looks like an otoscope,¡± he growled with a smile. Cassia nodded absently. She wasn¡¯t sure what an otoscope was, but now the woman was pointing the device at her.

    ¡°Hold still, please,¡± the woman said, though it sounded more like an order. The device beeped, and Cassia watched a bluish light sweep across her face. The device beeped again, and the woman studied it.

    ¡°Interesting,¡± she said after a long moment of silence. ¡°I take it you don¡¯t have an appointment?¡± Cassia was about to say no, when an alarm started blaring and there was a commotion at a stairwell behind the desk. Three men in black were rushing down the stairs. At the bottom, they paused long enough for one of them to provide hand signals, and then they rushed off in different directions. The woman appeared unconcerned.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to wait here,¡± she said sternly, as if the two of them were in trouble. Cassia realized that they might actually be, for all she knew. The woman walked away from her desk, and then up the same staircase the men had rushed down earlier. Her footsteps couldn¡¯t be heard, and Cassia thought the silence was eerie. She looked around at Grit to comment on it, but he was following the woman from a distance.

    ¡°Grit!¡± she called in a low voice, but it wasn¡¯t loud enough to get over the strange sound barrier. Cassia vaguely wondered if the barrier extended across the whole universe, or if it was specifically located in this building.  She stepped around the desk and rushed after Grit, catching him at the bottom of the staircase. He was peering up, and ignored her when she approached.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Cassia said through gritted teeth, though she made sure that she spoke loud enough for him to hear. ¡°We don¡¯t have any idea where we landed! We shouldn¡¯t be making any waves!¡± Grit raised a hand and pointed up. Cassia tilted her head and realized she could see the balconies of the upper levels. There were vague figures walking away from them.

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    ¡°Who does that look like to you?¡± he asked. Cassia squinted, trying to make out details on the figures. Suddenly she recognized the middle man.

    ¡°Kevin!¡± she exclaimed, and Grit nodded. ¡°But he looks different somehow.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s changed his clothes,¡± the old man said. ¡°But I¡¯m confident it¡¯s him.¡± They watched the men walk out of view. Grit started climbing the stairs.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Cassia called. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we stay here until the receptionist gets back?¡± Grit shrugged.

    ¡°You can,¡± he replied. ¡°But I''m going after him. Besides, I want to see what this place is.¡± He turned back towards the stairs and, after a moment of indecision, Cassia followed him. They went up two flights of stairs and stepped out onto the balcony where they had seen Kevin. No one else seemed to be around, so they wandered down the hallway. At the end, Grit pushed through a door and they entered another reception area. There was a woman behind the desk, just like on the first floor. She dressed almost exactly like that first woman, but this one had blonde hair that seemed incongruous somehow, and she frowned at them as they entered.

    ¡°Can I help you?¡± she asked sternly.

    ¡°We¡¯re looking for our friend,¡± Grit said as he approached the desk. ¡°His name is Kevin.¡± The woman¡¯s eyebrows went up in surprise and she was silent for a moment.

    ¡°Are you with the IPF?¡± she asked eventually.

    ¡°No,¡± Cassia answered in surprise. ¡°We¡¯re just looking for our friend.¡± The woman seemed disappointed, and even somewhat agitated, when she heard the answer.

    ¡°I had hoped he was with the IPF,¡± she said, staring at her computer screen. She suddenly seemed smaller. ¡°I assumed that was why he had survived so long.¡±

    ¡°Survived?¡± Cassia asked, leaning forward. ¡°What does that mean? Where¡¯s Kevin?¡±

    ¡°And where are we?¡± Grit added, somewhat forcefully. The woman seemed unsure of who to answer first. Eventually she simply reached down and touched something on her desk. Behind her, a door clicked open in the wall. She gestured towards it.

    ¡°Your friend Kevin seems¡­nice,¡± she said, slowly. ¡°This door will take you to him, if he still lives. Follow the stairs to the bottom.¡± Grit hustled around the desk towards the door, but Cassia hesitated. She looked at the girl in front of her and realized something strange. She was afraid. Cassia could see it in her eyes.

    ¡°What are you scared of?¡± she asked quietly. The sound wall blocked her words, but apparently the woman could read her lips.

    ¡°The Singularity,¡± she said, loud enough for Cassia to hear. ¡°If I am caught helping a contestant, they may make me¡­¡± Her voice got quiet enough that Cassia could no longer hear, but she could guess the last word. Fight. She put a hand on the woman¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Come with us!¡± She felt like she was shouting. The woman shook her head sadly and gestured to her ankle. Cassia could see an electronic band there with a blinking light. The woman was stuck at her desk, or at least tracked so that she could be punished.

    ¡°But why¡­¡± she started to ask, before she worked it out on her own. She looked back up at the woman.

    ¡°Is one of your copies a Pinnacle?¡± she asked. The woman¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, but then she quickly nodded.

    ¡°So they don¡¯t always just kill you,¡± Cassia said. She¡¯d spoken too softly for the sound barrier, but again the woman understood. She looked like she might cry.

    ¡°Cassia!¡± Grit called from the doorway. Cassia patted the woman and stepped back.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to get you out of here,¡± she said, not fully sure why she would commit to such a thing for a stranger. Grit raised an eyebrow at her as they descended the stairway behind the door, leaving the woman staring sadly after them.

    ¡°Hey, we¡¯re already on a mission to get The Singularity off of Thorn¡¯s back, so we may as well solve that girl¡¯s problem too,¡± she said. Grit only grunted in reply. Cassia stopped him as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

    ¡°You already knew this was The Singularity,¡± she said, and he nodded.

    ¡°I had a guess,¡± he admitted. ¡°Something about the feel of this place is similar to how I feel about them.¡±

    ¡°Grit, I think they don¡¯t always pit copies against each other to the death,¡± Cassia said. ¡°That woman back there is in some sort of forced labor.¡± Grit put a hand on the door in front of them.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, we can check that out when we look into the Thorn thing,¡± he said. ¡°But right now, we should probably prioritize Kevin.¡± Cassia paused for a moment, and then nodded, and Grit threw the door open.

    Bright sunlight blazed in at them, and Cassia had to squint to see anything. As her eyes adjusted, she could see Kevin in front of her, with a pistol extended and aimed at¡­Kevin? Cassia blinked rapidly, but both Kevin¡¯s were still there. The one with the gun was turning towards her, but Grit was already moving. With an aggressive swipe, he backhanded the gun out of Kevin¡¯s hand. Cassia suddenly realized there were two Singularity Pinnacles just beyond the two Kevins, reaching for their own weapons. Grit¡¯s was already out, though, and it fired accurately twice. The Pinnacles jerked and fell to the ground. Grit had his gun trained on the first Kevin, and he gave Cassia a rare grin.

    ¡°Now we¡¯re even,¡± he growled. Cassia rolled her eyes and let go of her belt knife. Grit had moved too quickly and efficiently for her to even draw it fully.

    ¡°Guys, you¡¯re here! I just disarmed this copy,¡± the first Kevin said, gesturing to the other Kevin. Grit raised an eyebrow at him, then spoke to the other Kevin.

    ¡°What¡¯s the name of this pangolin?¡± he asked, crouching to pick up the strange animal. The second Kevin smiled.

    ¡°Tango,¡± he replied, and the first Kevin snarled and leapt at Grit. Cassia¡¯s arm whipped, and her knife buried itself in the man¡¯s neck. He dropped with a gurgle. Cassia retrieved the blade, wiped it on the dead man, and grinned back at Grit.

    ¡°Guess you still owe me,¡± she teased, and he let out an actual growl. She turned to Kevin, who was sitting down and taking slow, deep breaths.

    ¡°You ok there, Kev?¡± she asked, and he nodded.

    ¡°Just trying to process barely escaping death for like every minute I¡¯ve been in this universe,¡± he said, his shaky voice belying his calm breathing.

    ¡°Well, you better process fast, because we¡¯ve gotta get out of here,¡± Cassia said. ¡°Any big ideas on where to go from here?¡± There was silence for a moment.

    ¡°Perhaps we should sit here with this loud alarm and wait for more Pinnacles to arrive?¡± Cassia asked in a falsely sweet tone. Grit said nothing, but Kevin¡¯s face colored slightly.

    ¡°I think I know a place we can start,¡± he said. ¡°But it¡¯s not going to be easy.¡±

 19. Moon Landing

    ¡°What the actual fuck.¡± Mel stared up at the Earth through the gap between two buildings then turned to Derrick with eyes wide. ¡°Where are we?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of universes where space is colonized but I¡¯ve never been before.¡± He looked up at the Earth and his eyes squinted in thought. ¡°We can¡¯t be too far, the moon maybe? Or some kind of station.¡±

    ¡°How are we breathing? What¡­ Where are we supposed to go?¡± Mel looked around frantically and crept to the edge of the alley.

    ¡°Mel, just take a deep breath. That dome must be providing some kind of atmosphere and gravity for us. We¡¯re going to be fine.¡± Derrick came alongside her to look out of the alley as well.

    They stood at the edge of a street of some kind, thinner than a typical Earth street. As a vehicle drove past they noted that it was a small compact electric car of some kind. It was much smaller than the cars they were used to. Across the street, there was a small park area. They crossed to it and Derrick leaned down to inspect the grass.

    ¡°Turf. Not real grass. Interesting.¡± Derrick stood and looked around again. ¡°There¡¯s a cafe on that corner. Maybe we can find out more there?¡±

    Mel nodded and the pair walked through the park to a cafe called Luna¡¯s. After having a seat, they were approached by a stocky man in a blue apron. He smiled warmly and took their order before turning to head to the back.

    ¡°Wait, we¡¯re new here, um, any must see places or¡­¡± Mel trailed off awkwardly.

    ¡°Oh sure, are you just visiting? Lots of tourists come from the first world nations. You must be lost though.¡± The cafe owner laughed and continued, ¡°Most folks don¡¯t come to this side of Moon Base Delta. It¡¯s not especially unsafe, just not where the tourist traps are! You¡¯d want to head right out of the cafe and walk till you see the Alpha Memorial. Huge Moon shaped statue, you can¡¯t miss it. Us locals call that area the Stalks. Tall thin buildings there.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, we¡¯ll head that way after this.¡± Derrick nodded and gave the man a warm smile. A few moments later he returned with a pair of drinks for them and left them to chat.

    ¡°So, the moon. The actual fucking moon.¡± Mel shook her head and spoke in a hushed tone. ¡°I thought I¡¯d seen it all¡­¡±

    ¡°The multiverse is endless, Mel. Trust me, you haven¡¯t seen anything.¡± Derrick glanced around for the owner and sipped his cappuccino. ¡°There¡¯s a whole Earth full of people like me, for example.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, what is up with that actually?¡± Mel¡¯s head turned to the side curiously. ¡°Like how¡¯s that work, isn¡¯t crime out of control?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s actually extremely controlled.¡± Derrick¡¯s eyes almost rolled at the question but he maintained composure and held up his right hand. A strange symbol was tattooed onto the back. ¡°We¡¯re all marked from birth. Oh, and wearing anything over your hands is illegal before you try to figure out a loophole.¡±

    ¡°Nobody ever hides a child?¡± Mel¡¯s forehead was scrunched up in thought.

    ¡°Impossible. Childbirth is carefully regulated. Population is small, as well. Our Earth was nearly destroyed by climate change, that was about two generations ago. Population has been very carefully monitored since.¡± Derrick absently scratched at the tattoo on his hand and looked out the cafe window. ¡°It¡¯s a very different Earth.¡±

    Mel watched Derrick carefully. His face was often closed off and carefully maintained. He didn¡¯t reveal much and it wasn¡¯t lost on her that this was the most he¡¯d shared about himself in the couple days they¡¯d been traveling together. She finished her own drink and thought again about the Earth hanging in space outside.

    ¡°Why the fuck are we up here?¡± Mel broke the silence and reached into her pocket for a wad of cash. ¡°Oh shit, what currency do you think they use?¡±

    Derrick¡¯s mouth opened and closed once and he produced a billfold from his jacket¡¯s inside breast pocket. Rifling through it he pulled a credit card that had been marked with a number 4 in sharpie. Confidently, he stood and called to the owner, ¡°Sorry, do you accept Quantra?¡±

    ¡°Oh sure, can never be too careful right?¡± The man laughed and took Derrick¡¯s card to run it. Mel had heard the word before but she mostly stuck to cash in her dealings on various Earth¡¯s. Her experience had been that digital currency didn¡¯t often work when she jumped to a new Earth. Quantra was some kind of new private currency used by upper crust elites and criminals from what she knew of it.

    ¡°I can see your face, try to act normal till we get outside.¡± Derrick could obviously read the questions forming in her head so she busied herself with standing and preparing to leave as a distraction. The owner returned with Derrick¡¯s card and passed it over without issue. When they stepped back out onto the street, Derrick turned them right and led the way towards the area apparently known as the Stalks.

    ¡°So¡­ Quantra.¡± Mel snuck a look at Derrick and was met with his customary almost frown. ¡°I mean, I thought it was just for criminals and rich people. So I guess just for criminals.¡±

    Derrick let out a small chuckle. ¡°Yes, Quantra is used by criminals. It was designed on Earth 6, which is a¡­¡±

    ¡°Multiversal crime haven.¡± Mel finished. Earth 6 was close enough to Earth One to be nearly identical but a small difference in their development of multiversal travel meant the population was far more open minded and actively resisted the IPF¡¯s rule over the sector.

    ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s designed to work across universes. I imagine it¡¯s similar to Thorn¡¯s personal network.¡± Derrick looked up as they walked under a bridge. A series of pipes intertwined along its underside and a man in a white jumpsuit was currently doing some kind of maintenance on them.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Damn, I¡¯ve been carrying cash like a fucking idiot this whole time.¡± Mel frowned as they continued down the lane, moving to the side for another small vehicle. The streets seemed to be designed for all traffic, including pedestrians and she noticed that the small cars only moved at about the speed of a human at full sprint. ¡°I¡¯ve even got some caches stashed around the multiverse. I really should go around and gather those up. Probably twenty grand tucked away here and there.¡±

    ¡°Twenty grand?¡± Derrick couldn¡¯t hide his face or the incredulous tone. ¡°That is completely foolish.¡±

    ¡°Oh fuck off, I¡¯ve got money somewhere if I need it. Where¡¯s it leave you if your fancy wallet falls out.¡± She snatched it out of his breast pocket and waved it in his face as they walked. The Alpha Memorial came into view ahead and they both looked around in surprise. The Stalks really was an apt name. Dozens of buildings rose in this area nearly to the top of the dome. While the buildings followed similar designs, tall, thin, and cylindrical with various wide disc shaped sections near the top, they were surprisingly unique. Some were covered with shining reflective solar panels, others had massive windows showing off stores, restaurants, casinos, hotels, pools, and museums. Mel could make out one that was wrapped in an odd scaffolding. Squinting, she suddenly recognized that it was the track of a rollercoaster. She¡¯d almost forgotten she was in the middle of teasing Derrick until he grabbed back his billfold.

    ¡°It¡¯s not going to just fall out of my pocket. I keep it safe at all times.¡± In imitation of Mel, he waved it under her nose, but before he could tuck it away it flew from his hand and a teenager in a black hoodie went sprinting down a street to their left.

    ¡°Yeah, see, this is exactly what the fuck I¡¯m talking about.¡± Mel almost laughed at the irony but Derrick took off at a run after them. ¡°Ok, I guess this is what we¡¯re doing.¡± She took off after them.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Derrick yelled breathlessly as he ran. He wasn¡¯t in bad shape, but Mel quickly caught up to him. While they were both ¡°on the run¡±, Mel seemed to end up having to take that literally more often than Derrick.

    Mel got a few steps on Derrick and kept pace with the small framed human running ahead of them. They took a turn into an alley and Mel followed, hopping over a square box that seemed to be some sort of recycling machine and losing a couple steps. The figure ahead jerked to the right then changed their mind and smashed through a building''s back door.

    Through the door, Mel looked around at a sizable storage area full of crates. She heard a shout and saw the dark hoodie pushing past a pair of workers unloading clothing from the pallets. Derrick nearly smashed into her back as he burst through the door. Together, started running again, following the figure out of the storage room into a department store, then across a hallway, through a door labeled Kitchen Staff Only.

    The kitchen they¡¯d entered was bustling, whatever restaurant this kitchen was attached to was very busy. The figure in the hoodie was making a ruckus halfway through the kitchen, having knocked a kitchen assistant to the floor and causing a large vat of something to spill across the floor.

    Mel and Derrick skirted the spill and dodged around the chefs but the hoodie managed to get out through a far door before they could catch up. It led out into another alley that led straight away from them and hoodie had almost made it to the street at the end. They took off after them and Mel looked around for something to throw. The lack of trash or debris frustrated her. She was used to cities with bricks and garbage just lying around.

    As they came out of the alley, the figure was slowing down and approaching a row of large greenhouses situated across a turf lawn from them. They caught up and entered the greenhouse almost right after the hoodie and came to an abrupt halt.

    Mel put both hands up slowly in reaction to what appeared to be a gun made of PVC pipe pointed at her face. It was held by a bulky man with a shaved head whose expression at the moment was bored. In Mel¡¯s experience a bored man with a gun was dangerous. Beyond him, the greenhouse was full of screaming.

    ¡°You fucking led a mark straight back here, that¡¯s the last damn straw Aloysha!¡± A thin, muscular man with a thin mustache was shouting at the figure in the hoodie.

    ¡°They¡¯re stupid tourists, just space them then!¡± The figure pulled back their hood to reveal hair roughly cropped short and several piercings in their nose, lips, and ears. They snarled at the taller man despite appearing barely into their teen years.

    ¡°Sorry, Aloysha, was it?¡± Mel waved a hand at the pair as they turned in confusion. ¡°We really just need my friend¡¯s wallet back and we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±

    ¡°Shut up bitch.¡± Aloysha shouted then turned to continue shouting at the taller, older man. ¡°Grigor, they¡¯re nobodies. Fucking shoot them already and let¡¯s see what they got.¡±

    ¡°Nobody calls me a bitch.¡± Mel¡¯s voice was low and menacing and Derrick let out a sigh next to her.

    ¡°There¡¯s two more.¡± Derrick said matter of factly with a slight nod to the right. A pair of thugs stood dumbfounded watching the argument unfold. This greenhouse obviously housed some sort of illegal operation. From the obvious blanket of scents in the air that Derrick guessed was meant to conceal the true smell of the place, he assumed they were growing some kind of drug.

    ¡°Like I fucking care. Little one is mine.¡± Mel snarled as everyone in the room¡¯s expression grew confused. Derrick dove to the side as Mel made her move, leaping forward onto the bulky man she clawed both hands across his eyes and in the ensuing screaming Derrick was able to clobber him in the back of the head with a shovel. The ensuing panic made it obvious this gang had never encountered the tiniest bit of resistance. They clearly had just the one plastic gun, their eyes widening as Mel stomped on it, breaking the barrel.

    ¡°You!¡± Mel screamed at the small one called Aloysha and sprinted at them. Derrick made for the two on the other side of the room. He wasn¡¯t as much of a fighter as Mel, but he was well trained. Where she was fierce and wild, he was methodical and controlled. He met the first thug with a hard jab to the throat then dodged the second¡¯s big swing and kicked his knee hard. The crack of his knee cap was followed by an eruption of screaming joining the first who was gasping for air.

    Meanwhile, Mel leapt onto Aloysha, pulling the hoodie tight around their throat and causing the two of them to tumble into a table covered in cash. She grabbed a clay pot and flung it hard at the one called Grigor and it exploded against his chest. Following it up with another as she kept Aloysha in a choke hold, it erupted into fragments against his head and he grabbed at a cut on his cheek. As he got to Mel and began to reach for her, Derrick hit him hard in the temple.

    ¡°You¡¯re the bitch.¡± Mel kicked Aloysha once for the road and tossed Derrick his billfold on the way out. After looking around at the mess, Derrick hurried after her. They hurried down the street trying not to call attention to themselves, still feeling rudderless despite their small success.

    ¡°Look, check that building out.¡± A huge gray building rose up to their right on the edge of the city, at the top they recognized the symbol of the Singularity.

    ¡°Yes, come on!¡± Mel ran the remaining distance and was crossing a parking lot when Derrick caught up and grabbed her arm.

    ¡°Wait, we need a plan. We can¡¯t just go sprinting into every¡­¡± But before he could finish the sentence there was a rippling in the air around him and he was flung backwards onto the pavement.

 20. A Little Help From Elaine

    Kevin looked at Grit and Cassia, who were both looking at him expectantly. He realized he hadn¡¯t been the de facto leader of anything since he¡¯d started hopping across the multiverse. Suddenly, he felt a little nervous, though he supposed that was probably appropriate given the situation they were in.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± he told the other two, glad that his voice sounded more confident than he was actually feeling. He turned and led them through the door they had just exited from, and straight back up the stairs. Kevin paused at the same door from earlier, and turned to the others.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure that Elaine will help us,¡± he said slowly. ¡°But she seems to not like it here, and she helped me get away initially.¡± Cassia was nodding at him.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m pretty sure one of her copies is a Pinnacle,¡± she said. ¡°And it looks like she might even be forced to work here.¡±  Kevin grimaced.

    ¡°Well, maybe we can help her and Thorn,¡± he said. Pushing open the door, they stepped straight into chaos. Elaine was crying in big, gulping wails and standing shakily in the corner of the room. Across from her was another copy of herself, brandishing a small dagger and grinning. The two were hemmed in by three Singularity agents. They¡¯d come in right as the Pinnacle Elaine was charging, not five feet away from them. Everything seemed to happen at once.

    ¡°Elaine!¡± Kevin shouted, almost involuntarily, which caused the Pinnacles surrounding the two Elaine¡¯s to turn and face him. Grit¡¯s gun fired right behind his ear. Kevin flinched as he saw the bullet hit Pinnacle Elaine in the shoulder, causing her to drop her dagger and stumble to the side. Cassia was moving like a wild animal. She had thrown her knife immediately of course, burying it in the chest of the middle Pinnacle. Kevin vaguely wondered if she ever missed.

    A bullet whizzed by his ear, and he ducked so fast he found himself lying on the floor. Looking up, he saw Cassia leap up and latch herself onto the chest of the Pinnacle who had fired at him. She almost instantly swung her body around behind him, grabbed his head, and then launched herself back off. The man¡¯s head bent at a weird angle, and he fell to the ground next to Cassia, unmoving. The third Pinnacle had taken shelter behind the desk and was exchanging fire with Grit, who had fired his last shot.

    ¡°Kevin, look out!¡± The cry came from his left, and he jerked his head around in time to see the Pinnacle version of Elaine leaping towards him, dagger in hand and blood dripping from her shoulder. There was a small brown blur from the other direction and Tango suddenly bowled into the woman, knocking her off just enough that she only crashed into Kevin instead of stabbing him. He rolled to his right, and jumped to his feet. Turning, he saw Pinnacle Elaine grinning at him, ready to pounce. Slowly he put his fists in front of his face. He felt like an idiot.

    ¡°Why are we always fighting?¡± he asked, and the Pinnacle frowned in confusion. Kevin decided to lean into it.

    ¡°I mean, I only knew there were multiple universes like, yesterday,¡± he continued. ¡°But every time I land on a new one, somebody wants to kill me. Why is that? Is it just human nature?¡± The Pinnacle grunted, and crouched like she might leap. Then her eyes narrowed. Kevin looked around to see Cassia and Grit step up on either side of him, both holding out weapons they had obtained from the fallen Singularity agents. There was a split moment of silence, and then Pinnacle Elaine flung her knife at Kevin and sprinted out of the room. The momentary distraction of dodging the poorly thrown knife prevented either of Cassia or Grit from getting a good shot at her, and she disappeared through the door.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Cassia shouted, easily the most animated she¡¯d been since they had met. She sheathed her knife and looked over at Kevin.

    ¡°We¡¯ve gotta move,¡± she said. Kevin nodded, and then quickly approached Elaine. She was still in the corner, but no longer crying. Instead, she seemed to be experiencing some combination of awe and disbelief. If Kevin was honest with himself, he was feeling the same way. Cassia and Grit were like some sort of two man wrecking squad. He couldn¡¯t even imagine what would¡¯ve happened if Mel had been here as well.

    ¡°Are you¡­ok?¡± Kevin asked tentatively. Elaine wiped tears from her face, but then nodded.

    ¡°They found out I helped you,¡± she said sadly . Kevin had to piece together the meaning of the sentence, as her voice kept dropping below the sound gate.

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna get you out of here,¡± Kevin promised as she pushed blond hair out her eyes. He watched her take a deep breath and try to compose herself. From this close, Kevin saw that she had darker roots beneath the blond coloring. She had a squarish face that was not unattractive, and he could see that she used to wear a nose ring.

    ¡°Kevin, let¡¯s go!¡± Cassia hissed at him from the other side of the room. She looked at Grit and her lips moved, but she wasn¡¯t speaking loud enough for it to carry through the sound gate. Kevin reached down and extended a hand to Elaine. She took it, somewhat tentatively, and then gave him a small smile that was almost jarring. He realized that this was the first time he¡¯d seen someone smile since arriving at the Singularity. Grit said something growly and Kevin led Elaine towards the others.

    ¡°Okay, Elaine, we need to get to that combat room I was in,¡± Kevin said, as Grit checked the hallway.

    ¡°Clear,¡± the big man grumbled. Elaine took a deep breath.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± she said.

    <hr>

    Somehow the group made it to the combat room without incident, though the alarm was still blaring in the distance. Kevin entered with caution, but the room was empty. He sprinted over to the computer in the corner, followed closely by the others. He placed his hands over the desk, similar to how he¡¯d seen Elaine do it before, but nothing happened.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°Move over,¡± Elaine said, pushing him out of the way before he could respond. She held her hands out and the keyboard flipped up below them. She began typing quickly, and Kevin wasn¡¯t sure if she was entering commands or passwords.

    ¡°We¡¯re looking for Elias Thorn,¡± he said when she looked up expectantly. Her eyes widened, and then she smiled and resumed typing.

    ¡°Found him,¡± she said eventually. ¡°He¡¯s in a couple different rooms.¡± She paused to type for a moment.

    ¡°I¡¯ve unlocked the doors, and erased him from the internal database,¡± Elaine said excitedly. ¡°It should keep them from searching for him until they realize what¡¯s happened. It¡¯s the best I can do with my permissions.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Cassia said sincerely, but then she launched back into leader mode. ¡°Take us to him.¡±

    They followed Elaine down a series of hallways, stopping only briefly for Grit to incapacitate an unsuspecting Pinnacle who turned into the hallway in front of them. Finally, they reached a small holding cell. Elaine yanked the door open and an extremely short man with curly red hair leapt to his feet in surprise.

    ¡°Elias Thorn?¡± Elaine asked, and the man nodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s not Thorn,¡± Cassia said. The man glared at her.

    ¡°Yes it is!¡± His voice had a tone that seemed like he was always shouting. Elaine held up her hands for peace.

    ¡°There are two Thorns captive here,¡± she explained, and led them to the next cell. Inside was a pudgy man wearing tight fitting black leather pants. He had a long brown ponytail, and was wearing a Guns ¡®N Roses graphic tee. Kevin thought he looked slightly insane. When Elaine opened the door, he jumped up with a wide smile that showed off all of his differently capped teeth.

    ¡°Elias Thorn?¡± Elaine asked again. He looked between her and Cassia, and then stepped forward and extended his hand to the silver haired woman.

    ¡°Cassia Moreng, I presume?¡± he said, and Cassia shook his hand. He turned to the short Thorn and nodded brusquely.

    ¡°Seventy-three,¡± he said, with a pout. The short man grinned, though not in a nice way.

    ¡°Forty-one!¡± he shouted. The odd man turned back to Cassia and then gestured towards the hallway.

    ¡°Shall we?¡± he asked. They all stepped out into the hallway, only to see a handful of Pinnacles marching towards them. Elaine quickly led them in the other direction, until they came to an intersecting hallway. The redheaded Thorn held up his hand and stopped the group. They could hear the Pinnacles rapidly approaching from behind.

    ¡°I believe our escape will be more effective if we part ways,¡± the shorter Thorn said in his shouting tone. ¡°Forty-one and I will take these side halls, and you all continue forward.¡± He took a couple steps down the left hallway before Cassia stopped him.

    ¡°Wait! You don¡¯t have any weapons. Maybe we should split up as well.¡± Thorn shook his head.

    ¡°I appreciate the gesture, Cassia,¡± he said. ¡°But a Thorn has more than one trick up his sleeve.¡± He gave a look to the other Thorn.

    ¡°Well, most Thorns, anyway,¡± he said, and then took off down a hallway. The rocker Thorn looked worried.

    ¡°I suppose he¡¯s right,¡± he whined. ¡°God, I hate running.¡± He made an elaborate show of stretching, then looked at Cassia.

    ¡°Be sure to look me up when you get out of this mess, Cassia Moreng,¡± he said, and then awkwardly jogged down the hallway opposite of where the short Thorn had gone. They stood frozen for a moment, until a bullet buried itself in the wall near Kevin¡¯s head. He jumped and yelled, and they quickly took off down the hall. Following Elaine¡¯s directions, they navigated up a floor before doubling back down and continuing downwards to the parking garage. As the elevator doors opened slowly, Grit exploded out of them, gun drawn and ready to fire. The garage was empty, though, and they quickly piled into the Pathfinder. As the door closed behind them, Kevin exhaled loudly. He felt like he¡¯d been holding his breath the entire time. Beside him, Elaine sat heavily on a chair.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe we made it this far,¡± she said. Cassia frowned.

    ¡°Me either,¡± she agreed. ¡°I expected a lot more resistance, especially with that alarm blaring the whole time.¡±

    ¡°Something else must¡¯ve come up,¡± Elaine said quietly. Kevin nodded.

    ¡°Hey, the noise gate is gone!¡± he exclaimed suddenly, then started whispering. ¡°At least, I think it is.¡± Cassia nodded affirmation.

    ¡°I can hear you,¡± she said. ¡°I guess the Pathfinder is blocking the gate somehow.¡± There was a moment of silence, until Grit¡¯s grumbly voice broke it.

    ¡°What now?¡± he asked. Cassia gave a small shrug, and then put her hand on the ship wall.

    ¡°Might as well find Mel,¡± she said, ¡°and then we can go talk to Thorn-41.¡± Even as she was speaking there was a small shift. For a brief second, Kevin could see the strange tunnel-like system he¡¯d seen before, but then it was gone.

    ¡°That seemed¡­shorter than usual,¡± he said. Grit nodded in agreement. Cassia frowned and opened the exterior door.

    ¡°Well, we jumped,¡± she said, and stepped outside. Kevin and the others followed her. They were standing in a large parking lot, with what looked like a small city spread out before them.

    ¡°Where are we now?¡± Kevin asked, before he suddenly realized that Elaine had gasped and turned extremely pale. She slowly raised a hand and pointed behind them. Turning, Kevin could see a large building in the distance. Emblazoned on the top floor was the symbol of the Singularity.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t left,¡± Elaine said, tears threatening once again. ¡°We¡¯re still here.¡± Cassia was shaking her head and mumbling. Kevin could hear her, so apparently the sound gate was only a Singularity thing. He looked up at the strange, glassy sky. It took him a moment to realize that he was actually looking at a dome, and it took him another moment to notice the Earth hanging in space, far away.

    ¡°Um, guys,¡± he said. ¡°I think we¡¯re on the moon.¡± That stopped Cassia¡¯s muttering, as they all gazed out into space.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Cassia insisted. ¡°When I asked the Pathfinder to locate Kevin, it did that just fine. Why didn¡¯t it find Mel?¡±

    ¡°It didn¡¯t just find me,¡± said an annoyed voice behind them. ¡°It fucking almost squished Derrick.¡±

 21. Weft and Warp

    The Pathfinder was back in a parking garage.  Looking through the front window, Cassia assumed it was the same parking garage they¡¯d landed in the last time they were on Earth-41. It had taken some convincing, particularly of Mel, but she¡¯d talked her way into visiting Thorn-41 first. The fate of the universe was a compelling motivator. Cassia stood up and stretched, then surveyed the inside of the ship. Kevin and Elaine were napping on a bench, heads leaned against each other. Grit staring into the past, absently patting his pangolin, and Mel was forcing Derrick to shift his appearance between the various members of their group.

    ¡°Not bad, but that left ear is a little droopy,¡± she said. Grit¡¯s face on Derrick¡¯s body frowned, and then slowly faded into the now familiar golden haired symmetrical face that actually belonged to him. As Cassia walked by, Derrick shifted his face to mirror hers. Mel smirked as Cassia studied the strange reflection of her.

    ¡°Nice work,¡± she said, even though the hair was shifting rapidly between golden blonde and silver. ¡°Good thing you can¡¯t imitate what you can¡¯t see¡­¡± Mel¡¯s eyebrows raised in surprise. Cassia slid past her to the door.

    ¡°Like tattoos,¡± she whispered as she passed, then laughed at the look on Mel¡¯s face. Low hanging fruit, but it felt good to laugh. Her good mood quickly melted away as she stepped out of the Pathfinder into the dry heat of Las Vegas. It was time to get some answers.

    <hr>

    The leather armchairs in the large smoke room were the same, but the room felt different to Cassia now. In fact, the whole room looked the same, so perhaps it was just her feeling about it that was different. The last time she had been here bodies and blood had decorated it. Kevin sat down on one of the chairs and almost slid off it. She¡¯d given everyone the option to let her go alone, but they had all refused to stay behind in the ship.

    ¡°Ah, Cassia, you made it,¡± Thorn¡¯s breathy voice entered the room before him. He walked up to her, wearing a variation on the outfit he always wore. This time the leather pants were a vibrant purple, and the graphic tee featured a band called Aerosmith, but he¡¯d skipped the blazer. Thorn gave her one of his weird, barely touching, hugs.

    ¡°You did as well,¡± Cassia said, impressed. Thorn flipped his ponytail back over his shoulder with a practiced gesture.

    ¡°Surprised?¡± he said, with a pouty smile. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me, Cassia. I am capable of many things, and ohmyGod he¡¯s back.¡± Thorn¡¯s gaze had settled on Kevin, who was awkwardly reclined on an armchair.

    ¡°Mel, I thought I told you about this man before,¡± he said, not taking his eyes from Kevin. Mel rolled her eyes, grabbed Kevin by the arm, and marched him back out into the hallway. Thorn sighed heavily.

    ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± he said, then held out an arm to Cassia. There was silence for a moment, until she figured out that he expected her to link her arm in his. Once she had, Thorn led them through a hallway and into a meeting room. Cassia couldn¡¯t help but notice how ornate the suite was. Even the meeting room had marble statues in each corner. Thorn clapped his hands, and a tuxedoed man slid silently into the room with a tray of ice waters. He deposited them on the table and then disappeared again.

    ¡°Cassia, Mel,¡± Thorn began, somewhat dramatically. ¡°Old dude who I don¡¯t know.¡± Grit¡¯s face reddened slightly, and he started to stand.

    ¡°I can go,¡± he grunted, but Thorn waved a hand at him.

    ¡°No, sit. I like your vibe,¡± he said, crooking an eyebrow at the veteran. Grit sat back down, and Cassia was fairly certain it was the first time she¡¯d seen him blush.

    ¡°Perhaps, introductions¡­¡± Cassia began but Thorn quickly cut her off.

    ¡°No, no. There¡¯s no time, of course!¡± Thorn gestured elaborately to a laptop on the table then turned it dramatically so they could all see. On the screen was an image of a thin, old, leather book. ¡°You all have a passing familiarity with the Catholic Church I assume? They¡¯re fairly consistent across the ¡®verse. You see, I¡¯ve studied carefully through my network any and all anomalies and this is the answer.¡±

    ¡°It looks like a Bible.¡± Cassia said skeptically to frantic head shaking from Thorn.

    ¡°No, not a Bible per say. These are the writings of Saint Vendarus, heard of him? Of course you haven¡¯t! Throughout the entire Thorn network, Saint Vendarus only exists in one of our realities! And in it, he wrote this book, a staggering account of his visions where he saw into other worlds. As you all know, of course, jumping wasn¡¯t discovered until the very late 90s.¡±

    ¡°Not necessarily, it wasn¡¯t formally recognized as a scientific breakthrough on Earth One until then, but it¡¯s been practically possible for much lon¡­¡± Elaine began but was quickly cut off by Thorn.

    ¡°Semantics my dear¡­ Wait, who are you?¡± Elaine awkwardly looked down and opened her mouth to answer but Thorn continued without waiting, ¡°No, there¡¯s no time for introductions! The point is, Saint Vendarus wrote these things in the early 1200s! I was able to get photos of some of the pages but it¡¯s under lock and key by the Church. No matter though.¡±

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    ¡°Seems like a pretty big ass matter to me.¡± Mel mumbled with arms crossed as Thorn pointedly ignored her and rushed on excitedly.

    ¡°Combine Vendarus¡¯ writings with the Order of the Weave, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of them. Secret Society, 1500s, believed time was collapsing inward or some nonsense.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Grit muttered while leaning towards Cassia. Thorn waved away his comment and continued.

    ¡°See, I was able to get images from one of their meeting halls. Here, an inscription in the stone of their chamber.¡± Thorn taps through to another image that looked like an archaeological dig and clicked through to a photo of a crumbling wall with carved writing. ¡°Within the fabric, ever moving. The great machine all things producing. By Weft doth turn the gears of time. Within the Warp the wheels prime. Every door within the border, line the hall of endless order.¡± Although the words are displayed on the screen, Thorn recited from memory then paused, head raised triumphantly. The group began speaking all at once.

    ¡°What the fuck does that even mean?¡± Mel frowned and looked from Cassia to Thorn.

    ¡°This sounds very much like a conspiracy theory.¡± Derrick said simultaneously.

    ¡°What does the Pope or whoever have to do with that then?¡± Grit said with his head turned to the side.

    ¡°Please, let me finish! You¡¯re ruining it!¡± Thorn shook his head and stomped a foot like a toddler then cleared his throat. ¡°Now, the writings of Vendarus very clearly speak of a great hall filled with doors into other worlds! You see now? The rhyme? They clearly speak of a place between, a hallway of sorts that passes between our realities and that, it seems, is where the fabled Weft and Warp reside!¡± At that Cassia shook her head skeptically.

    ¡°Between worlds is just that, between. By its very nature it¡¯s not a place. It¡¯s inaccessible.¡± Cassia frowned, deep in thought.

    ¡°I¡¯ve actually been there I think.¡± Kevin¡¯s voice through the door was muffled but could just be heard in the silence.

    ¡°You?!¡± Thorn exclaimed then stormed to the door and swung it wide. ¡°You¡¯ve been into the fabric?¡± You? Look at you!¡± With a defiant face Kevin crossed his arms.

    ¡°Yes, I have actually. Everytime we jump I¡¯ve seen it but I¡¯m definitely not taking you there, you pompous dick.¡± Thorn gasped sharply and Mel let out a sharp laugh which caused Thorn to round on her with a hurt expression.

    ¡°Et tu, Mel? Well, a lot of good that¡¯ll do when this one sells you out to the IPF!¡± With a pouty lip, Thorn pointed dramatically at Cassia then plopped into an armchair.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Mel eyed Cassia with dark eyes.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, tell her all about your deal, dear.¡± Thorn taunted and scooched himself deeper into the chair.

    ¡°Your what?!¡± Mel and Kevin shouted in unison. Cassia put her hands up placatingly and looked from Kevin to Mel to Grit and back to Mel again.

    ¡°I have no intention of turning you into the IPF. I did make a deal with an agent to do that, but it was a stall. It was the only way forward at the time.¡± Grit sighed at that and stood.

    ¡°Last thing you want is to break a deal with Tek. She¡¯ll hunt us through infinite worlds.¡±

    ¡°Not helping, Grit.¡± Cassia snapped at him. ¡°We¡¯re already wanted, this bought us more time. It doesn¡¯t change anything.¡±

    ¡°Using me like a fucking bargaining chip doesn¡¯t change anything? Fuck you Cassia and this wild goose chase you¡¯ve got us on.¡± Mel stormed out of the study and Grit motioned everyone to stay while he followed.

    ¡°Woah Mel, hold on there!¡± He caught up to her in the lobby of the suite. ¡°Mel just hold on a minute before you storm out.¡±

    Mel turned angrily and nodded once.

    ¡°Cassia is a bit single minded. Driven. Now I didn¡¯t think it was right when she did it either. I told her not to. But she did. And I¡¯ve seen her save you, me, Kevin, everybody¡¯s lives throughout this nonsense. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s going to screw anybody.¡± Finishing up his little speech, Grit shrugged his shoulders and patted Mel on the arm before turning to head back to the group.

    Mel stomped one foot and stormed back after him. As they entered, Kevin was speaking.

    ¡°Yes, Cassia, I do see the halls, is that so hard to believe?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not doubting you Kevin, I¡¯m just trying to figure out if that means you can stop us in them.¡± She paused and glanced at Mel as she stomped back into the room.

    ¡°I¡¯m pissed at you and I think you¡¯re kind of a bitch but you¡¯re alright sometimes too. You take me anywhere near the IPF and I''ll make sure I kill you before they take me down.¡± Mel stood angrily in the center of the room. Cassia stood and stepped up in front of her, then stretched out a hand.

    ¡°Deal.¡± Cassia said calmly. Mel¡¯s face softened to confusion then resolved into a half smile as she shook.

    ¡°For the record, every last one of you is insane.¡± Derrick looked around the room then settled on Kevin. ¡°But maybe, I can help you figure out how to work your ability.¡±

    ¡°You all are really doing this? You¡¯re going to try to go to a place that by definition does not physically exist?¡± Elaine looked up at them as though they were all mad.

    ¡°I worked at a bowling alley like a week ago, for me it¡¯s no crazier than anything else that¡¯s happened in the last few days.¡± Kevin shrugged and looked at Derrick. ¡°Where do we start?¡±

    Thorn clapped gleefully and perched in his chair.

    ¡°Oh shut up, you are definitely not coming.¡± Mel flicked his ear and marched out of the room with the others close behind.

 22. Earth-6

    Kevin settled back onto his bench seat in the Pathfinder, next to Elaine. He was unsure what exactly was going on between them. In fact, he mostly believed that it was just a product of stressful circumstances, but he also didn¡¯t really care. He hadn¡¯t had many opportunities on his Earth, because he was fairly certain it was a multiversal law that females were not really attracted to bowling alley employees. Elaine was trying to have a conversation with Grit, so Kevin leaned his head back against the ship wall, closed his eyes, and thought about how strange it was that he¡¯d suddenly acquired friends after being yanked from his universe.

    The ship pulsed and Kevin opened his eyes in time to see Cassia with her hand on the ship wall. Almost immediately, the tunnels appeared outside the ship. Kevin could see them flashing by at lighting speed, each one sort of tugging on his consciousness. He knew that if he gave in to the tugging and jumped from his seat, he could take one of those tunnels and end up somewhere else in the multiverse. Kevin shivered at the thought of being lost and alone among infinite Earths. He was so distracted that he almost missed the enormous boulder-like object flying up the tunnel at them.

    ¡°Cassia, look out!¡± he shouted. The Pathfinder lurched to the left, narrowly dodging the obstruction. The miss had been so close that the side of the ship had actually scraped the boulder thing. Abruptly, the Pathfinder shot to the right down a tunnel and the entire tunnel system disappeared. They¡¯d completed the jump. Kevin realized he was sitting straight up in his seat, and his heart was racing. He took a deep breath before he looked around the cabin. Everyone else looked a little shook. Mel looked angry, which was to be expected. She was the only one who¡¯d fallen out of her seat. Kevin started when he noticed that Cassia was staring directly at him.

    ¡°What did you do?¡± she asked, in a low voice. Kevin could feel all the eyes on the ship turn to him.

    ¡°Wh-, do you-, I mean, I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± he stammered. Cassia¡¯s eyes narrowed and she stepped closer to him.

    ¡°Yes, you did,¡± she said bluntly. ¡°The jump seemed longer than usual, then you yelled something and the ship practically rolled. Not to mention that!¡± She pointed to his right. Kevin followed the direction of her finger to see an oak tree seemingly growing out of the floor and straight up to the ceiling, with the branches and leaves smashed up against the roof of the ship. The tree wasn¡¯t whole, in fact it looked like a sliver of it had been sliced off of a bigger tree and deposited into the Pathfinder. Kevin gasped slightly as he remembered the giant blockage in the tunnel he¡¯d seen while jumping.

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± Kevin managed. Cassia considered him for another long moment, before nodding tersely. She turned and addressed the group.

    ¡°Ok guys, this is Earth-Six. We¡¯ve stopped over here to gather supplies, since this Earth doesn¡¯t allow the IPF access to arrest anyone. We need more ammunition and, well, Mel has her own shopping list.¡± Mel smirked at her. Kevin wanted to shop too, though for a very distant set of items than what he assumed Mel was shopping for. He didn¡¯t have any money, though, and he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to go through another session of Mel acquiring funds.

    ¡°Stopped over before we go where?¡± Grit asked in a quiet rumble. Cassia frowned.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet,¡± she said eventually. ¡°I hope to figure that out before too long.¡± Her voice trailed off and the ship was silent. After a moment, Cassia shook her head.

    ¡°Grit and I will be looking for ammunition and additional weapons here,¡± she continued, moving towards the door. ¡°Mel will be taking the ship and collecting her own items elsewhere.¡± The last part came out through gritted teeth, and Kevin could see that Cassia obviously was not a fan of this part of the plan. Mel chuckled.

    ¡°If you want to go shopping with mom and dad, feel free!¡± she said in a sing-song voice. ¡°But if you want to have a little fun¡­¡± Mel winked at Cassia, who sighed audibly.

    ¡°I thought the ship didn¡¯t work for anyone else,¡± Kevin said. Cassia nodded and pointed above the dashboard where Kevin noticed a clock that hadn¡¯t been there before.

    ¡°Mel has two hours,¡± Cassia said simply, though a muscle flexing in her jaw gave away her nervousness. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure it will work.¡± She put her hand on the wall of the ship. The door opened and dry hot air rushed in. Cassia looked like she wanted to say more, but she settled for a pleading look at Mel. Then she and Grit, with Tango on his shoulder, stepped outside. Derrick looked torn, but then he gave Mel a little shrug and hopped out after the other two. The door solidified behind him. Mel cracked her fingers.

    ¡°Ok, kids, let¡¯s fucking do this.¡±  She sat down in Cassia¡¯s normal seat and put her hand on the dashboard. This time, the ship pulsed like it usually did. Mel let out a long breath, and Kevin realized that she hadn¡¯t really expected it to work. Mel spun around to look at them, hand still on the dashboard and a grin on her face.

    ¡°It¡¯s showtime,¡± she said dramatically, and then the ship lurched through the air, throwing Elaine into Kevin. As the ship settled into cruising speed, Elaine shifted back to her seat...but not quite all the way. Mel swiveled back around to face them.

    ¡°We¡¯re stopping by Wraith Harbor,¡± she said, and Elaine gasped slightly. Mel looked pleased at the response.

    ¡°What¡¯s Wraith Harbor?¡± Kevin asked. He was getting tired of being the only one who didn¡¯t recognize names or places. Elaine looked over at him with her brown eyes opened wide.

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t exist,¡± she said, almost in a whisper. Kevin was unsure how to read her expression. She seemed somewhat in awe, or perhaps like she could burst out laughing at any moment.

    Mel¡¯s customary smirk was fixed in place.

    ¡°Oh, it exists alright,¡± she said. She put her hand on the ship wall. Kevin felt the familiar pulse through his feet, and then a large window opened in the front. The ship was hovering over what appeared to be the ocean. Kevin gave Mel a worried glance, but she just winked at him.

    ¡°This is the fun bit,¡± she said, and the Pathfinder suddenly plummeted straight down. Somehow the g-forces didn¡¯t seem to affect them inside the ship as much as Kevin assumed they should have. Still, he felt like his stomach would never recover.

    The Pathfinder hit the water at full speed, and for a moment there was nothing to see through the windows except bubbles. That slowly faded away, and it was Kevin¡¯s turn to gasp. The Pathfinder was docking up to an enormous underwater structure that looked like something out of a movie. There were multiple giant bubble-like domes, and many smaller ones, all connected by a confusing array of enclosed bridges. Most of the domes were just transparent enough that Kevin could see people moving around inside. In fact, it looked like there were people everywhere.

    Mel was grinning out the window as the ship fully docked. Then she whooped loudly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, kids!¡± she said as she stepped up to the door that had materialized. There was a pulsing glow from something outside. Kevin wasn¡¯t sure how much he liked being called a kid by Mel, but he was distracted from that thought when her face suddenly got very serious.

    ¡°Stay right next to me at all times,¡± she said, as a system of filters sucked the water out of the docking bubble they¡¯d landed in. Kevin followed her as she pranced out and through a sealed corridor, and his curiosity seemed to pique Mel¡¯s enthusiasm. Elaine was right behind him, though she was visibly nervous. As he stepped through the door, his eyes widened in amazement.

    The first thing Kevin noticed was the sheer size of the place. Wraith Harbor was an enormous underwater city. The giant domes that he had glimpsed from the ship''s window were now towering over him. Looking around, he noticed that their ship had docked at the edge of one of the domes among hundreds of similar docking pods, and people were moving in and out of shop fronts between the edge and the center. Large enclosed bridges connected their dome to others but from where they stood he couldn¡¯t see across to the other side of the enclosed city district.

    ¡°It¡¯s like a cross between a mall and a club,¡± he said, still gazing around in awe. Elaine chuckled quietly, but Mel glared at him.

    ¡°Kevin, snap out of it!¡± she hissed. ¡°Act like you¡¯ve been here before or you¡¯ll get your ass kicked and your lunch money taken before we even get inside.¡± She grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him along to a line of open air food stands and trinket sellers, feigning at perusal. A practiced eye would see that Mel¡¯s attention was everywhere except the wares in front of her.

    ¡°Mel, I don¡¯t suppose we are here for an I Survived Wraith Harbor novelty hat.¡± Kevin whispered next to her as he picked up and then set down a black ballcap. He felt Elaine¡¯s arm wrapped like a vice around his bicep but despite her nerves she was keeping a calm expression up.

    ¡°Stay calm and stay quiet and whatever you do, don¡¯t fucking forget the number of the dock we parked in.¡± Mel pulled them along, continuing deeper into the mass of shoppers as Kevin took a bewildered glance over his shoulder.

    ¡°They were numbered¡­?¡±

    <hr>

    A fifteen minute walk later, Kevin found himself standing in the lobby of a tattoo parlor trying to pinpoint the exact moment he¡¯d lost all control of his life. The obvious answer was when two trigger happy IPF officers dragged him from his reality but he was currently trying to puzzle out why they¡¯d targeted him in the first place. For a brief time in college he used to bring up the Mandela Effect a lot because he thought it made him sound smart. Maybe that?

    ¡°Look alive, dipshit.¡± Mel muttered it out of the side of her mouth, shaking Kevin from his ponderings. Mel was currently seated flipping through a binder of tattoos with Kevin and Elaine sitting miserably on either side.

    ¡°Got an idea what kind of design we want today?¡± The tattoo artist was a middle aged man who had unfortunately gotten a wolf¡¯s open mouth tattooed around his entire neck in such a way that it seemed he was being swallowed by the creature. Kevin caught himself staring and glanced away immediately.

    ¡°Sure, this looks pretty sick, but I¡¯d like to workshop the outfit.¡± Kevin looked over to see that Mel was pointing at a drawing of Bugs Bunny with a Hitler mustache and full Nazi uniform. He glanced up to see that Elaine¡¯s wide eyes and open mouth mirrored his own but Mel had a cool even smile.

    ¡°Right this way.¡± The artist led the trio back towards a sterile room where the inking took place but once the door was shut he took them into a storage closet that then shifted and began to descend to a hidden lower level. As the door opened again, they were facing a hallway with numbered doors on both sides. They followed wolf-neck out and down to the door marked 9. Before he shut the door and left he pointed to a doorbell-like button. ¡°Three rings if there¡¯s an emergency, one ring to leave.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a little ominous Mel, where the hell are we are?¡± Kevin said through gritted teeth once the door had shut again.

    ¡°You know the black market? The dark web?¡± Kevin and Elaine nodded slowly. ¡°Toys R Us compared to this shit. Come on.¡± Mel stepped over to the wall opposite the door and sat in an armchair before tapping a button on the wall. It suddenly lit up and Kevin realized it was a screen that nearly took up the entire wall. On it, a series of items were slowly scrolling past as if on a conveyor belt. Numbers and words he didn¡¯t understand filled the vacant spaces and the top right corner had a square space that held the silhouette of a figure hidden in shadow.

    ¡°So¡­¡± Before Kevin could form a full sentence Mel flicked his ear. Hard.

    ¡°Broker, I believe you owe me some credit.¡± It was a statement, not a question and Kevin noted just how menacing Mel was when she dropped the playful profanity from her lexicon.

    ¡°Half pay, for half completion.¡± The Broker¡¯s voice was warbled by some sort of software making their voice somewhere between monster and government leaker.

    ¡°You said stop the Illic brothers from getting your crate onto Earth-18, you didn¡¯t say shit about returning it.¡± Mel stared at the screen with a hint of a smile on her lips and the silence stretched for a full minute.

    ¡°Three-quarters and a Silver.¡± Kevin was utterly lost but could tell the Broker¡¯s words had the weight of finality and, at them, Mel¡¯s smile stretched wider.

    ¡°Pleasure. Now let¡¯s buy some highly illegal shit.¡±

 23. The Gun Show

    Cassia walked confidently away from the Pathfinder across an abandoned industrial park. Despite her reservations about Mel, she was surprised to find she trusted her. Mel might actually be more than a screwup with a penchant for petty crime. And if she was wrong, the timer on the ship would bring it back with or without her.

    ¡°Looking awful chipper for someone less than a day removed from raiding the home base of interversal nutsos.¡± Grit sauntered alongside her with Derrick a few steps behind them.

    ¡°We got what we needed and got out. We¡¯re finally back on track.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask,¡± Derrick jogged up on her other side falling into step with the others. ¡°What exactly are we on track for? I like to know what I¡¯m getting into.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with the Weave and I intend to find the Weft and fix it.¡± Cassia stepped around a cactus growing through the cracked earth of what was once a dirt parking lot.

    ¡°Ok.¡± Derrick rubbed his temples, a habit that seemed to be occurring more often lately. ¡°You realize that was gibberish to me?¡±

    ¡°Get used to it, kid.¡± Grit was chewing a beef stick that he¡¯d produced from God only knows where as the trio climbed over and around an out of order parking gate.

    ¡°Alright if you can¡¯t give me a concrete answer about our long term goals, can you at least explain why we seem to be in the American south?¡± Derrick glanced across the street at a billboard for the Dallas Classic Car Show.

    ¡°Plenty of guns in Texas and few qualms about who buys ¡®em.¡± Grit spat onto the sidewalk and pointed to a sign that indicated the White Rock Convention Center was two miles away.

    ¡°I imagine you¡¯d agree that we¡¯ve been shot at enough in the past few days that some extra firepower wouldn¡¯t hurt?¡± Cassia said as she shot a glance over her shoulder at Derrick. He gave a nod and shrug and the group continued on their way. About halfway to the Convention Center, Derrick pointed.

    ¡°That¡¯s a Pizza Hut on Earth-11.¡± Cassia turned with a perplexed look and he continued. ¡°I lived in Dallas on Earth-11 for a few years. Didn¡¯t end well.¡±

    ¡°This Dallas is a lot different than yours was, I imagine.¡± Grit raised an eyebrow as he spoke. ¡°On Earth-6 Dallas is the Capital of the United Southern States. Country is split apart here and you can bet it¡¯s twice as dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, did you say split?¡± Derrick eyed Grit curiously as they turned a corner.

    ¡°Fragmented America is usually classified as a Major Deviation. Earth-6 is the only fragmented America in the lower 100 Earths, it¡¯s an anomaly. So stick together and be careful.¡± Grit scratched Tango¡¯s chin as he spoke.

    ¡°That¡¯s the most I¡¯ve heard you speak.¡± Cassia cracked a smile at him.

    ¡°You speak about the multiverse like a scholar.¡± Derrick commented.

    ¡°No, not a scholar.¡± Grit shook his head adamantly. ¡°I¡¯m a traveler. And every good tourist knows you study your destination before you go there.¡±

    ¡°Heads up, we¡¯re here.¡± Cassia pointed out a large boxy building with a scrolling jumboscreen on the front that currently said Guns Ammo More.

    ¡°How did you know the gun show would even be running today?¡± Derrick¡¯s brow was scrunched in confusion as they approached the front doors.

    ¡°Easy, it¡¯s never not.¡± Cassia held her arms up to be wanded by a guard at the entrance and a moment later they were wandering the massive convention floor from booth to booth.

    Cassia quickly found that the qualities that made Grit good in a firefight made him horrible to shop with. He meticulously handled every weapon and seemed to find something wrong with every seller or their wares. She couldn¡¯t get a read on Derrick¡¯s combat training but he certainly didn¡¯t seem uncomfortable surrounded by several tons of ammunition. Eventually he stopped next to Cassia while Grit examined a genuine WWII Thompson submachine gun.

    ¡°At this rate, I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be back when the others return.¡± Cassia turned to examine his expression. It was the most amused she¡¯d seen him so far. Derrick usually kept his expression a very unsettling neutral, even under significant stress.

    ¡°They¡¯ll either be there or the ship will be there without them. You¡¯re right though, he¡¯s too particular. You distract him, I¡¯ll get us something and meet you out front.¡± Derrick didn¡¯t look enthusiastic about her plan but Cassia broke off and walked quickly out of Grit¡¯s line of sight anyways. She walked across the convention floor, getting some distance from the others to be safe. It wouldn¡¯t take long to acquire enough guns for all of them and a proper stash of ammo to keep in the Pathfinder.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    <hr>

    Grit held a .50 caliber bullet up in front of his face, appearing to study it while Derrick hovered over his shoulder. Grit was actually watching Cassia slink across the convention center in the reflection of a plexiglass screen two tables ahead of him. The kids were trying to lose him. It was almost cute. He figured he¡¯d let Cassia have a few minutes and then track her down and make sure she was getting quality gear.

    ¡°So, what do you think?¡± The antsy seller wouldn¡¯t let him stall any longer so Grit decided to move on.

    ¡°Hmmph.¡± He tossed the bullet back and began to meander with Derrick on his heel.

    As they walked silently from booth to booth, Derrick occasionally tried to cut the silence. What is that? What are you checking for? Why was that bad? Annoying questions like that. Grit gave it a solid thirty minutes before he began to really look for signs of Cassia. Fifteen minutes after that he was certain. Cassia was missing. Grit grabbed Derrick¡¯s arm hard, startling him enough that his eyes briefly flipped from gray to blue to brown and back to gray.

    ¡°Where¡¯d she go? Gonna go off and get herself killed because she¡¯s impatient!¡±

    ¡°I uh, I don¡¯t know! She just went to get some stuff by herself.¡± Derrick stammered uncharacteristically and glanced to his arm where Grit gripped it.

    ¡°Sorry, come on.¡± Grit let go, obviously Derrick did not like being manhandled, and walked briskly across the floor looking for a side exit.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure we should be here?¡± Derrick glanced around as he followed Grit through a back hallway that ran parallel to the convention floor. They slipped through a partition near the bathrooms and were now exploring the bowels of the building.

    ¡°Tango, scent.¡± The pangolin crawled down from Grit¡¯s shoulder where it had been resting and began to sniff the floor. They followed it down the hall through a pair of double doors and through a large storage area before emerging in a darkened stairwell that seemed to lead to an emergency exit.

    Grit looked up and down the stairs as Derrick examined the door.

    ¡°This is disconnected.¡± Derrick pointed at a wire on the upper corner of the door that had been snipped. Grit pressed an ear to the door and listened. He heard the muffled sound of voices that could be anyone but he had a good feeling about this.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get out there then.¡±

    ¡°Wait, we don''t even know what¡¯s going on, anything could be out there. We need a plan.¡± Derrick spread his arms for emphasis.

    ¡°Plan is find Cassia and don¡¯t get shot.¡± Grit pushed the door open and stepped out into the warm air. The sun was getting low and this alley behind the convention center was well shaded. All conversation stopped as the door open and Grit found himself looking at a tense situation. Cassia stood to his right, her knife at the throat of a teenager wearing a cowboy hat. To the left a group of four men pointed guns at her and quickly turned them towards Grit.

    ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve got a little standoff, huh?¡± Grit drawled at them.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have guns.¡± Derrick whispered from behind him.

    ¡°I¡¯m handling this!¡± Cassia shouted at them as the group of four shifted their guns between her and Grit. A man with dark tan skin and a thick mustache kept his gun trained on Cassia and signaled for the others to keep theirs on Grit.

    ¡°Hombre, I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re out here but I suggest you step back inside.¡± He spoke at Grit but didn¡¯t take his eyes off Cassia. Grit pegged him as the leader and made a microstep backwards.

    ¡°Alright, friend, I don¡¯t want any trouble.¡± Grit put his hands out in front of him slowly to show they were empty, then looked at Cassia and gave a wink.

    ¡°The hell was that? I can see you, old man!¡± The leader turned his .44 magnum towards Grit with a sneer.

    ¡°That¡¯s the signal.¡± Grit shrugged then let out a whistle and shoved Derrick back into the stairwell as bullets started flying. At his whistle, Tango sprang onto the face of the nearest gunman eliciting a scream as his claws dug into the man¡¯s cheeks. The leader fired at Grit has he sprinted to the right and dove behind a dumpster for cover. Simultaneously, Cassia flung her knife into the shoulder of the shooter next to the leader and he crumpled to the ground without firing a shot. A bullet grazed the shoulder of the boy she was holding and she flung him to the side and dove back to Grit.

    ¡°Now what?¡± She shouted at him as they crouched in the garbage. Grit shrugged and pulled out his hunting knife. ¡°This was your plan!?¡±

    ¡°Least I bothered to come find you.¡± Grit muttered and sprinted out of cover with his knife ready to strike. Tango had been flung across the alley and the man he¡¯d been attached to was currently kneeling nursing bloody scratches all over his face. The leader of the group turned to fire on Grit but before he could a bloody hole burst open in his chest and he collapsed.

    Grit stopped and turned his head curiously as a second shot rang out and the last gunman spun from the force of the bullet and landed in a bloody heap. Grit got low looking around for the shooter.

    ¡°Mr. Patterson. We cannot keep meeting like this.¡± Detective K¡¯Nani¡¯s voice sang down to them. Grit¡¯s mouth unconsciously curled into a smile as he heard a groan escape Cassia from behind him. Grit looked up to see her climbing down a fire escape on the derelict office building that shared the alley. Above her, Grit caught the glint of a scope in one of the windows. He risked a glance back at the door they¡¯d come through and saw it quietly shut.

    ¡°Tek. Nice to see you again.¡±

 24. Wraith Harbor

    ¡°Can you believe it? Look at this!¡± Mel waved a rectangular device with an LCD display that looked like it had a roll of saran wrap inside.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what the hell that even is.¡± Kevin stomped along grumpily. Mel hadn¡¯t let him help at all with her little black market shopping order and now she was taunting him with unknown otherversal technology and equipment. He stopped at a hot dog stand and fished around in his pocket for change but snapping fingers near his face pulled his attention.

    ¡°Hey, yo, no time for a snack break. Cassia put me on a stupid time limit so get walking.¡± Mel tugged at his sleeve and he trudged along after her. Ahead of them, Elaine was approaching the outer dome where the Pathfinder was docked. She¡¯d been drifting along with them as if on autopilot since escaping the Singularity. Kevin thought maybe she was suffering some trauma and should speak with a therapist but then he realized they all probably needed a therapist and it felt silly to bring it up.

    ¡°Are you even going to explain what any of your new goodies do?¡± Kevin stretched out a hand and shook the tote bag that Mel had left the tattoo parlor¡¯s basement with and promptly received a sharp slap on the back of the hand. As he pulled back his hand in surprise, Mel shot him a glare.

    ¡°When we link up with the others, I¡¯ll show off my goodies. But they¡¯re my goodies. Got that? I earned this shit through some damn hard work!¡± Mel turned to catch up with Elaine and Kevin sighed in frustration. Glancing at a digital billboard that displayed the time, Kevin turned back towards the hot dog stand.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got a whole eight minutes and the ship is right there. I¡¯m stopping for a hot dog, Mel.¡± A grumbling came from Mel¡¯s direction and she flipped up her middle finger as she walked away.

    Kevin watched her go with a scowl then ordered his hot dog from a man who was extremely wet with what he hoped was grease, not sweat. While he was getting the hot dog out, Kevin looked over at Mel and Elaine who were now standing awkwardly at the Pathfinder in its individual docking bay. Elaine seemed kind and had a sort of regal beauty about her. And yet, Kevin kept glancing back at Mel. She was certainly attractive as well but it was her wild recklessness that Kevin found himself drawn to and he hated himself for it.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your hot dog, you dope. Now turn over your goods.¡± Kevin glanced at the vendor in confusion and recognized the barrel of a large revolver hidden enough behind the cart but obviously pointing at his gut. He started to glance towards Mel and felt another prod in his side.

    ¡°Stay put and we¡¯ll do you fast.¡± A large overweight man in a track suit was now shoving the double barrels of a sawed off shotgun into his ribcage. Kevin sighed and cursed his bad luck.

    ¡°I don¡¯t even have anything!¡± Kevin slowly turned out his pockets and gestured at himself. ¡°Where do you think I¡¯d be storing it!¡±

    ¡°Check his ass.¡± The vendor nodded downward and the overweight one responded with a sound of disgust.

    ¡°You think I¡¯m gonna grub around inside this guy, you can go to hell Seymour.¡±

    ¡°Dammit, I told you not to throw my name around on the job! Now we have to kill him for sure!¡± The vendor started to come around the hot dog cart when a boot clocked into the side of his head and sent him stumbling to the sidewalk. Kevin ducked down and shoved at the barrel of the shotgun pointing it up into the air. Two blasts ripped through the bustling sounds of the marketplace as the shotgun fired into the air. Immediately, chaos broke out as people began to stampede for cover.

    ¡°I said no snack breaks!¡± Mel roared at Kevin as she splashed the overweight gunman¡¯s face with hot grease. Kevin almost vomited at the sight and sound of his screams but Mel was already in motion. Kicking Seymour the vendor¡¯s gun back towards Kevin, she clocked him twice in the side of the head with her fist before delivering a heavy knee to his chin knocking him out cold.

    ¡°Mel, uh¡­¡± Kevin began a stuttered apology but she cut him off.

    ¡°No time! Run!¡± Mel took off toward the dock with Kevin a foot behind her. As they approached they saw Elaine standing in the Pathfinder beckoning to them but her face broke into an expression of surprise suddenly as the door in the side closed by itself and the ship began to launch on its own.

    Mel slammed her hand against the shut hull then leapt back before the airlock cycled to let the Pathfinder leave, screaming the whole time.

    ¡°Fucking Cassia! Dammit! This is your fault you moron!¡± She rounded on Kevin. ¡°Now we¡¯re stuck here and your girlfriend is floating through the ocean in a ball that only listens to a sociopath!¡±

    ¡°Did you say girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°I swear to God, Kevin.¡±

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    <hr>

    ¡°Right turn!¡± Mel shoved Kevin into an alley and sprinted after him. Mel¡¯s outburst at missing their ride was short-lived as friends of the goons she¡¯d incapacitated opened fire on them. Now they were hurtling through the market with bullets flying by, a less than ideal way to spend a shopping trip.

    ¡°There, go through there!¡± Mel pointed towards a door on the left and Kevin burst through it obediently. In the kitchen of a shoddy diner, voices shouted in alarm as they dodged through towards the dining area. Kevin leapt over a counter and was through the front door with the commotion in the diner drowning out any sounds of gunfire.

    ¡°Now what?!¡± He shouted back to Mel who shouldered past him and ran across the street dodging a pair of pedicabs zooming by with cursing drivers. Kevin followed quickly and after several excruciating minutes of running, Mel pulled him into a consignment store full of junk. Weaving through the store, Mel grabbed pieces of clothing, used makeup, and mismatched accessories before beelining for a curtained off changing room in the corner.

    ¡°Here.¡± Mel shoved half the pile into Kevin¡¯s arms and began stripping. The space they were in was clearly meant for one person and Kevin inhaled sharply as Mel leaned forward to pull off her pants and her chest pressed against his.

    ¡°Erm, I could wait outside while you¡­¡±

    ¡°Now, idiot, they could be right behind us!¡± Mel flicked him hard on the ear. Kevin let out a squeak of pain and frowned at Mel but any protests were lost before they made it out of his mouth as she pulled her shirt up over her head. ¡°Hurry! My god, they¡¯re boobs Kevin and they¡¯ll be the last thing you see if you don¡¯t get a grip!¡±

    Kevin shook his head clear and forced himself into motion, changing into the ensemble that Mel had cobbled together and pointedly ignoring his traveling companion¡¯s bare body. Eventually he managed to mumble to himself, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be the worst last thing to see.¡± And then Mel flicked his ear again.

    They emerged from the dressing room looking ridiculous but Kevin was surprised to find that when he saw himself in a full length mirror, the outfit wasn¡¯t too far from the fashion that he¡¯d seen around them in Wraith Harbor. Kevin turned to Mel, impressed but held his tongue when he caught sight of her expression. Probably too soon for positivity.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I know a guy who runs a dominoes parlor. We gotta get a ride out of here and we should know whose face I burned off.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t remind me.¡± Kevin nearly gagged at the thought as he watched Mel pay the shopkeeper. He stayed a half step behind her as she weaved out of the market area around the edge of Wraith Harbor and deeper into the center of the city. The city grew vertically closer to the core as the shape of the dome allowed for taller structures and soon they were winding through a mess of multistory buildings that nearly scraped the apex of the glass dome. Kevin shuddered thinking of the pressure that the glass must be holding back at this depth. He¡¯d been scuba diving once on a family trip in college and had been under for only a few minutes before surfacing in a panic. Familiar claustrophobia began to creep in as he eyed the water all around them when Mel¡¯s voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

    ¡°While we¡¯re in here are you actually going to listen this time?¡± Mel had turned fully to face him and Kevin realized for the first time that they were standing outside what seemed to be a massive office building. He nodded while Mel looked him over skeptically.

    ¡°This is my world, Kevin. I know the people. I know the language. Follow my lead and we¡¯ll get back to the surface.¡± She grabbed his shoulders firmly in a surprisingly tender gesture. Then with a nod she turned and led him through the front doors.

    Inside, Kevin looked around a large open lobby lined with thick boxy columns. Several counters lined the entry and Kevin realized that this entry area was a bank of some sort. Everything was shockingly mundane down to the roped stanchions marking out the queue. His eyebrows scrunched up quizzically but he held his tongue. Mel¡¯s world, Mel¡¯s rules.

    Mel ignored the bank that took up much of the room and walked to the left towards a wide hallway that led into a sort of cafeteria area. After crossing through a sea of tables and chairs, they took a revolving door into an indoor garden where office workers in business casual clothing picked at lunches or read books or, mostly, checked their phones. Kevin followed Mel in a sort of daze, nothing about this building made sense to him and each consecutive room left him more confused than the last.

    ¡°Ok, you need to wait for me right here.¡± Mel gestured to a bench that was situated against the wall outside a set of restrooms. The alcove they were in was off of a hallway that came from the indoor garden area and there was a bank of elevators along a hallway that ran perpendicular to it.

    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re going alone?¡± Kevin¡¯s brows knit together in concern before his expression hardened with frustration. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me. I made a mistake and now you¡¯re literally benching me.¡±

    ¡°Kevin, yes, you did fuck up royally. But I¡¯m making you stay here because this person I¡¯m going to meet is dangerous and only meets with friends. And I don¡¯t trust this jackass to not steal my shit which is why I¡¯m trusting you to keep this safe.¡± Mel pushed the satchel full of her black market purchases into Kevin¡¯s hands then nodded towards the bench. ¡°If I¡¯m gone longer than thirty minutes, go back to the bank lobby and ask for directions to the surface transit station, get a ticket to the San Francisco Bay Area dock then find Cassia and get the fuck off this Earth. Got it?¡±

    Kevin nodded dumbly and sat down on the bench full of inner turmoil. For a second, he thought about refusing but as bold as he¡¯d become in the last few days, the intensity of Mel¡¯s words had pressured him into obedience. He watched Mel walk down the hall and get onto an elevator headed up, sighed, then leaned his head back against the wall and started counting the minutes.

    Surely Mel would be fine. This was her world and she knew how to take care of herself. Kevin took solace in that fact and was glad to have her pulling him along in this strange new world. He was just starting to relax, having convinced himself that Mel could handle anything when an elevator dinged and a muffled commotion reached his ears. He glanced up and saw down the hall three bulky men in suits roughly pulling a bound Mel with a black hood over her face from the elevator through to a stairwell as she whipped her limbs against them uselessly. Before he could even move they were gone into the bowels of the building.

 25. A Tale of Two Elaines

    Derrick kept his expression calm as he walked along the sidewalk back through Dallas. His pace was nonchalant, his steps even, but Derrick¡¯s mind was firing rapidly in a panic. He had immediately changed his appearance and his mind was working overtime to keep shaggy black hair, dark brown eyes, and several heavy wrinkles in place. He tried to think through what he¡¯d seen. The shootout was an all too familiar experience but the appearance of what seemed to be an IPF agent was jarring. Not just because she appeared to be a species of human he¡¯d never encountered but she knew Grit. What the hell was going on?

    Derrick slowed, realizing he¡¯d picked up pace and feeling his hold on his hair slip. He took a deep, centering breath. Then he looked down at Tango. He sighed shallowly and continued walking for another three blocks. With distance came some clear-headedness and he could tell his control of his features was much stronger. Derrick felt the relief throughout his body and his jaw untensed.

    He took in his surroundings carefully then walked purposefully across a parking lot and along a small access road between a sporting goods store and a movie theater. Feeling foolish, he bent down and spoke to the pangolin.

    ¡°I need to go inside, so I need you to wait right here for me.¡± Derrick searched the creature''s unusual face for a hint of understanding. Tango sat down and a tongue nearly as long as his body slithered out and hung to the ground between them. Derrick rubbed his eyes slowly, then turned back to head through the front doors of the sports store.

    The blast of air conditioning as he entered was welcome. He wiped a streak of sweat from his forehead, realizing for the first time just how hot it was outside and made a mental note to buy a water bottle for Tango. Derrick ran through what he thought he would need quickly then set off around the store and was back out in ten minutes, now with a duffle bag slung over one shoulder. Inside, Derrick had stored several protein bars, a few water bottles, a pair of gloves, a hunting knife, a flashlight, and the sport coat he had finally removed.

    Back in the alley, Derrick found Tango eating the remains of a cup of noodles from a nearby dumpster. Derrick¡¯s nose scrunched slightly in disgust and then he pulled out the notebook that he usually kept tucked into his breast pocket. Flipping through, he found his notes on Earth-6.

    ¡°Hm, Thorn here is in Venezuela. Don¡¯t think we can get there easily.¡± He muttered to nobody in particular while Tango rolled on a folded up cardboard box. ¡°Then again, if Mel and Kevin are back anything is possible. Let¡¯s go Tango.¡±

    Derrick took up a more brisk pace. Having a plan was good, it kept the mind focused. Derrick, more than anyone, needed to keep his mind sharp. He liked the face he¡¯d chosen after escaping from his Earth but it was still exhausting to keep it up at all times. Mental distractions like emotions or panic or dark, terrible memories didn¡¯t help. Within the hour he found his way back to the abandoned industrial lot where they had landed the Pathfinder and was filled with relief to see the familiar black hull. He poked his head through the open hatch with a slight smile before the near empty interior decimated his optimism.

    ¡°Where¡­¡± He trailed off looking at Elaine¡¯s tear stained cheeks.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t get on in time!¡± Her eyes were large wet pools as she sat curled up in the middle of the floor. Derrick watched silently as Tango hopped into her lap and began licking at her cheeks.

    Derrick plopped into the captain seat nearby and exhaled. Turning to the front of the Pathfinder, he ran his hand along the console¡¯s surface hoping for some reaction. When nothing happened, he took a steadying breath and turned to Elaine.

    ¡°Right now, it¡¯s you, me, and this creature. I¡¯m not sure if any of the others will be able to meet us here. I¡¯ve got some supplies that will last a night, we can wait till morning and see if anyone shows up but then we need to move. This little crew seems to have pissed off a few entities in the last few days and I¡¯d rather not be here when they find the ship.¡±

    Elaine nodded quietly and wiped at the streaks on her face. Even this vague plan seemed to jostle her out of despair and she stood to move to one of the ship¡¯s cushioned benches.

    ¡°A little more comfortable?¡±

    Elaine nodded in response and lifted Tango to her lap.

    ¡°Alright then, one night.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°Here, you should eat a little.¡± Derrick passed Elaine a protein bar and took a long drink of water. The evening had been uneventful and they¡¯d both slept fitfully. At the very least, it seemed the Pathfinder was climate controlled and it had kept the interior at a nice even temperature. Now that morning had come with none of their companions showing up, Derrick was even more sure of himself. ¡°When you¡¯re done we should get moving. Cassia and Grit had a run in with the IPF, I¡¯m not sure what the deal was there but I know where we should go for information. I think the Switchboard on this Earth is in Atlanta.¡±

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    ¡°What¡¯s a switchboard?¡± Elaine asked around a mouthful of granola.

    ¡°The Switchboard is a communication network. Some people use it to send messages between Earths but more importantly, they track any interversal news. They keep all the IPF records they can get on file. If Cassia and Grit were arrested, that¡¯s our best bet to find out.¡± Derrick gestured outside. ¡°If we can find a ride to Atlanta anyways.¡±

    Elaine nodded and stood to exit the Pathfinder and Derrick followed. Outside, they watched as the vehicle¡¯s entry sealed itself shut and the whole thing rippled into its now familiar camouflage. With a sigh, Elaine turned and walked towards the main road. As the pair reached the sidewalk they abruptly stopped as a gray sedan squealed to a halt across the street from them.

    Derrick¡¯s carefully kept expression broke slightly into concern as a nearly exact copy of the woman standing next to him stepped out of the vehicle. He looked from Elaine to her Pinnacle and frowned. Elaine¡¯s eyes were wide with fear and Derrick was concerned she might collapse on the spot. At his feet Tango made a snorting sound and seemed to rear back. As Pinnacle Elaine took a step towards them, a wicked smile grew across her face and she pulled a pair of sharp stiletto knives from somewhere within the folds of her black vest.

    Derrick risked a glance over his shoulder, the Pathfinder was safely tucked around the corner of an abandoned factory and even its near invisible shimmering was well out of sight. He thought they might be able to run for it, Pinnacle Elaine was certainly taking her time crossing to them. She seemed the type that would want to play with her food. He grabbed Elaine by the wrist and tugged her into a run towards the ship and heard a sharp laugh over his shoulder.

    ¡°Nowhere to hide, little rabbits!¡± Pinnacle Elaine¡¯s voice sounded the same, but there was an eerie sharpness, a clinical calm that was unsettling. As they rounded the corner, Derrick chanced a glance back at her. Pinnacle Elaine was still walking but at a faster pace. Her twisted smile curled at the edges and she twirled her daggers as she approached.

    ¡°Please open. Please!¡± Elaine reached the Pathfinder and felt around the hull frantically but it remained shut and partially camouflaged, the spaces under her hands rippling into a cold steel briefly at her touch.

    ¡°Stay spread out, keep her having to look in two directions.¡± Derrick issued the command to Elaine calmly and pulled a rolled up leather case from his duffle bag before sliding it towards the Pathfinder. His hands moved quickly, unrolling the leather case and producing a syringe which he filled from a separate vial. Turning quickly in a fighting stance, the syringe held in a fist, Derrick was barely ready in time as Pinnacle Elaine came around the corner and jabbed forward swiftly. Derrick skipped back a step and the stiletto knife caught nothing but air. Tango snapped towards her heels and she kicked the pangolin hard enough to send him rolling across the lot. Elaine, despite being clearly terrified, at least took his instruction and fanned out to the right looking around desperately for anything to use as a weapon.

    While Elaine grabbed for a chunk of broken concrete, Pinnacle Elaine continued to press towards Derrick as he feinted and dodged away from her flurry of jabs. Derrick was quick and had trained for hand to hand combat but Pinnacle Elaine was clearly a killing machine. Derrick tried to create space by swiping with his syringe but it was clear she could tell the strikes were aimless. And despite the sound strategy of surrounding her, Pinnacle Elaine spared no attention for her counterpart. She obviously didn¡¯t have a shred of respect for this ¡°lesser¡± version of herself.

    ¡°Elaine, now!¡± Derrick shouted through gritted teeth as he dodged around the backside of the Pathfinder trying to get some space from the stabbing blades. He could feel searing pain from a number of cuts along his arms where he¡¯d been just fast enough to avoid severe injury. Fighting back the pain and surging with adrenaline, Derrick could feel his hold on his physical features slipping. A lock of red hair streaked across his head before returning to blonde, he felt stubble bloom on his chin and blinked hard to retain control. They¡¯d looped around the ship and were fighting back towards Elaine who was now standing with a hunk of concrete in front of her. Shaking her head, she flung it awkwardly and Pinnacle Elaine laughed as it went wide of her head and clanged off the hull of the Pathfinder.

    A charge ran through the air, a strange wave of current emanating off the Pathfinder where the concrete had hit it. A small shock of electricity, some kind of defensive measure, fizzled in the air directly around the ship. Pinnacle Elaine turned curiously towards the disturbance, unaffected, but the distraction was just enough. Derrick dove forward, thrusting the needle into her thigh. She ripped away from him quickly, only half the syringe emptied but the movement caused her shoulder to bump the Pathfinder and there was a horrific sizzling as the voltage building around the ship was directed into her body.

    Before she could even cry out, she dropped to the ground, writhed for a moment, then was still. Blackened charring centered on her shoulder spread down her arm and up her neck. Her eyes were rolled back and trickles of blood were running out of her nose and ears. Derrick exhaled slowly, crouched a few feet away from the corpse. He glanced up at Elaine who stood shocked, with one hand covering her mouth and her eyes wide.

    Derrick gathered up the two knives that Pinnacle Elaine had dropped, but without sheaths he couldn¡¯t figure out a proper way to store them and let them clatter back to the pavement. He watched Elaine warily, unsure of exactly how she¡¯d take watching herself die. Tango limped back to the pair and licked at Elaine¡¯s ankle and to Derrick¡¯s surprise a laugh erupted from her mouth. She turned to him with a widening smile and tears in her eyes.

    ¡°She¡¯s dead. I can¡¯t believe that bitch is finally dead.¡± She continued her laugh crying and slowly sat on the pavement scritching Tango under the neck. Derrick let himself crack a slight smile and patted her on the shoulder gently.

    ¡°Not out of the woods yet, but at least she brought us a car.¡±

 26. Returned to Earth-1

    Grit tried not to stare at Detective Tek K¡¯Nani as she approached, but it was difficult. Her purple skin was odd, sure, but he found it alluring somehow. Besides, the way the cracks in her skin changed color with her emotions was helpful. What had she called those again? Distracted now, he wondered whether Tek could actually control the color changes of her skin.

    ¡°Grit!¡± Cassia¡¯s voice made him jump, and he realized he¡¯d ended up staring at Tek as she approached after all. She was staring back at him with an odd smile on her face.

    ¡°Um, hello Detective K¡¯Nani,¡± he managed. For some reason, that only made her smile grow. Eventually she turned to Cassia.

    ¡°I see you wandered into some sort of arms deal,¡± she said, gesturing to the bodies on the ground. Cassia started to speak, but then settled for a small nod.

    ¡°Look, Tek,¡± Grit began, but Tek turned and raised an eyebrow. He sighed and started over.

    ¡°Detective, we weren¡¯t a part of this,¡± he said. ¡°We just ended up here at the wrong time.¡± She narrowed her eyes at him.

    ¡°Come on now, Grit,¡± she said, her tone serious. ¡°You can only expect a detective to believe that line so many times before she starts catching on.¡± Grit frowned and looked at Cassia, who gave him a small shrug. He looked back at Tek.

    ¡°So it¡¯s Grit now?¡± he asked. ¡°What happened to Mr. Patterson?¡± Tek frowned at him for another moment, then grinned unexpectedly and slapped him on the shoulder.

    ¡°Oh cheer up, big guy,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m just messing with you. I was up there talking with Buckshot and he filled me in.¡± She gestured back up towards the window she¡¯d exited earlier. Then she frowned again.

    ¡°He¡¯s probably run off now,¡± she mused. She took a moment, then abruptly looked over at Cassia.

    ¡°So, where¡¯s my fugitive thief?¡± she asked, and Grit had to hide a smile at Cassia¡¯s jump. He¡¯d been around Tek¡¯s seeming randomness when she was on the job before, but it was still surprising. And in the end, not as random as it seemed. He absently rubbed his shoulder where Tek had smacked him.

    ¡°I, um, well, we haven¡¯t really¡­found her yet,¡± Cassia managed to get out a full sentence as Tek stared at her with another raised brow. Grit chuckled at Cassia¡¯s pained face, which unfortunately caused Tek to turn her stare on him. His laughter shut off quickly.

    ¡°Mr. Patterson, you think it¡¯s funny that you aren¡¯t holding up your end of a deal?¡± she asked. So it was back to formal now, Grit thought. That interrogation stare of hers was really unnerving. He hadn¡¯t seen it on full display in some time, and now he found himself wishing that time had been longer.

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am, not funny at all,¡± he replied. Tek¡¯s face didn¡¯t change, though the cracks in her skin pulsed a pale violet. Glintscars, that was the word!

    ¡°You sure you don¡¯t know where Miss Alfaro is, Mr. Patterson?¡± Tek asked, stepping closer. ¡°You seem somewhat excited.¡± Grit shook his head firmly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where she is,¡± he replied, forcing his tone to be even. He wasn¡¯t nervous, but damn that woman for standing so close to him.

    ¡°Ok then,¡± Tek said, then she winked at him and turned back to Cassia. Grit could feel his frustration mounting, along with another type of feeling that he shoved back down. Tek on the prowl in a case could be excruciating for her suspects.

    ¡°You know, I¡¯ve got another question for you,¡± Tek was saying to Cassia. Grit watched Cassia set her face in determination.

    ¡°Do you know The Eldest?¡± Tek asked softly. Cassia obviously hadn¡¯t been prepared for that question. Her eyes widened and she even let out a small gasp. Tek stepped back looking pleased.

    ¡°Oh, so are you part of the Varynnic line then, or just associated with the Varynn people somehow?¡± Tek continued to question. Cassia set her lips in a flat line and glared back at the detective. Tek seemed almost proud of that response.

    ¡°Maybe I should shoot you in the arm and see what happens,¡± she said to Cassia. Then she immediately held up her hands.

    ¡°I¡¯m joking, I¡¯m joking!¡± Tek looked towards Grit. ¡°You two are so on edge.¡±

    ¡°The Eldest is dead,¡± Cassia said suddenly. Tek seemed just as surprised as Grit that she had spoken. She turned back towards Cassia, who seemed pale, which was unusual.

    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Tek asked softly. Cassia nodded, and Grit was surprised to see that she seemed close to tears.

    ¡°I watched him die,¡± she said in a whisper. Tek paused, and Grit could tell that she was reconsidering her approach. For once, she relented.

    ¡°I think you may want to check your source on that,¡± Tek said in the same soft voice. Cassia blinked back tears as Tek stepped back to look at both Cassia and Grit.  She seemed to make a decision.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen your movements from the tracker,¡± she said, glancing at Grit¡¯s arm. ¡°And you haven¡¯t exactly been doing your job. Do you even still have the Pathfinder?¡± She directed the question at Grit. He started to respond in the affirmative before he remembered that they¡¯d sent the ship with Mel to Wraith Harbor. Tek narrowed her eyes at him again as he hesitated. He hated that look.

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    ¡°We don¡¯t¡­right now,¡± he said. He could feel Cassia¡¯s disappointment, even though she wasn¡¯t saying anything. For the first time, he could see anger appear in Tek¡¯s expression, and her glintscars faded into a deep purple.

    ¡°Do you know where it is, Mr. Patterson?¡± she asked, very slowly. Grit started to answer but Cassia jumped in.

    ¡°Of course we do, Detective,¡± she said, almost with a snarl. Grit was surprised at her intensity. Whatever Tek had said about the Eldest, whoever that was, must¡¯ve gotten to Cassia. Tek seemed surprised as well, but she recovered easily.

    ¡°Take me to it now,¡± she said, undaunted by Cassia¡¯s glare.

    ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Cassia answered, crossing her arms. ¡°Not for another hour at least.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what that can possibly mean,¡± Tek said, the anger becoming more apparent in her face.

    ¡°Tek, it will be here,¡± Grit broke in, ignoring her side-eye at him for using her first name. Tek just shook her head.

    ¡°This is a step too far, even for you, Grit,¡± she said. ¡°Perhaps it will be back, as you say, but I just don¡¯t have time to wait around to find out.¡± She unclipped a strange device from her vest at her back. It looked somewhat like a small version of a nightstick, with a pointed end on the ground. Tek stepped back and jammed the device into the ground, causing it to immediately expand to almost six feet in height. Tek pushed a button on her communicator and the device suddenly emitted a light blue light, spreading out in a circle around them. Grit realized that Tek had backed out of the circle while they had been distracted by the device activating.

    ¡°You will be picked up by the IPF within the hour,¡± she said. ¡°Please do not try to exit the force field, as you will be seriously injured.¡± She quickly turned and walked back towards the gun show.

    ¡°Force field!¡± Cassia shouted. Grit stepped to the edge of the circle and could hear the hum of energy around him.

    ¡°Tek, if the IPF doesn¡¯t show up, are we just stuck here?¡± he called. She stopped in the distance.

    ¡°The force field will fail in three hours,¡± she answered. ¡°Grit¡­this is something I have to do. I¡¯ll talk to you again at headquarters.¡± She disappeared inside the building, and Cassia yelled in frustration. Grit decided being angry was no use, so he simply sat down.

    <hr>

    Grit rubbed his wrists as the IPF agent shoved him into a cell. Cassia stumbled in behind him, and then the door slid shut. There was an electronic buzzing sound and the IPF agents disappeared back down the hallway. Grit took a seat on the bench, but Cassia was already pacing. That was impressive, considering she¡¯d done the same thing for the entire two hours they¡¯d been stuck in the force field.

    ¡°This is bad, really bad,¡± she said. ¡°The Pathfinder is going to show up in Dallas with Mel and Kevin and Elaine, but we¡¯ll be here on Earth-1 and they won¡¯t be able to use the ship.¡± Grit sighed and rubbed his temples.

    ¡°Calm down, Cassia,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Mel is extremely capable. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be fine.¡± Cassia nodded absently, and kept stalking back and forth across the tiny cell.

    ¡°The Eldest is who we need to find,¡± she said, muttering now. ¡°If he¡¯s still alive then¡­no, that doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± She stopped suddenly and looked at Grit.

    ¡°If Detective K¡¯Nani knows about the Eldest, then that means there¡¯s probably information on him somewhere around here, right?¡± Grit shrugged.

    ¡°Probably,¡± he replied. ¡°But they probably won¡¯t let you use a computer.¡± Cassia took some time to frown at him, then resumed pacing.

    ¡°If we can access that info, then we can at least determine where to jump to in order to fix the Weft and Warp.           ¡°Wait, you haven¡¯t known where we were jumping to next?¡± Grit asked. Cassia shook her head.

    ¡°I almost think we just need to jump from universe to universe until maybe Kevin figures out¡­whatever thing it is that he needs to figure out. But finding the Eldest would help us a lot. Even if Kevin does figure it out, we don¡¯t know if that will actually lead us to the Weft and Warp or not. It may tell us nothing, but it¡¯s a direction.¡±

    Grit sat back down. He wasn¡¯t sure Cassia had ever said so many words at once to him. She usually kept things to herself, kind of like he did. Suddenly, she stopped in the middle of the cell.

    ¡°That means we have to get out of here,¡± she said, in a matter of fact way. Grit chuckled, and leaned back against the wall. There was silence for a moment. He vaguely wondered if Cassia was glaring at him, though she wasn¡¯t as much of the glaring type as Mel was. Hopefully she was doing ok -

    ¡°HEY, I HAVE TO PEE!¡± Cassia¡¯s shout jolted all thought out of Grit¡¯s brain, and his eyes flew open as he leapt to his feet. Cassia was standing calmly at the door. She winked at Grit.

    ¡°HEY YOU MORONS, I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!¡± She bellowed again, smiling at Grit the entire time.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Grit said, half tempted to plug his ears. Who knew the woman had that kind of pipes?

    ¡°I¡¯m getting us out of here,¡± Cassia replied.

    ¡°With pee?¡± Grit asked. ¡°They¡¯re not going to believe you.¡±

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s only a trope because it works,¡± Cassia answered. She opened her mouth to yell again, but an angry looking IPF agent arrived and slid open a small section of the door near Cassia¡¯s head.

    ¡°You can use the toilet provided,¡± he said sternly, looking pointedly at the toilet attached to the wall in the back corner. Cassia laughed.

    ¡°Are you serious?¡± she asked incredulously. ¡°You stuck me in here with this big guy, you think I¡¯m going to pee while he watches? Look at that toilet, it¡¯s disgusting. I mean, look at that?¡± She stepped back and theatrically swung her arm towards the toilet. The guard stepped up and peered through the small window.

    ¡°It looks normal to me,¡± he said, and then Cassia shoved her arm through the window, grabbed him by the hair on the back of his head and slammed his face into the cell door. The guard slid slowly to the floor on the outside of the cell as Cassia quickly grabbed the man¡¯s hand. He landed on the floor turned sideways with Cassia holding his arm up. She turned triumphantly to Grit. He peeked out at the unconscious guard, then looked at Cassia.

    ¡°We¡¯re still stuck in here,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯ve accomplished.¡± Cassia smiled at him.

    ¡°Boost me up to that window,¡± she said. ¡°I think if I can get his hand to the lock¡­¡± she ended in a grunt from holding the man¡¯s weight through the small window. Grit didn¡¯t really think it would work, but he figured they were committed now so he hoisted Cassia up. She squirmed and stretched in his arms, making it hard to hold on, and at one point she gave a sharp yelp of pain. Shortly after, though, the electronic buzzing noise sounded, and there was an audible click as the cell door unlocked. Grit set Cassia back on the ground, and when she turned to face him her right arm was hanging limp.

    ¡°Dislocated my shoulder,¡± she said. Oddly enough she was smiling, and as he watched, Grit could see the shoulder begin to reset itself. After a moment, Cassia moved her arm up and down, then smiled in satisfaction.

    ¡°Told you we were getting out of here,¡± she said. Grit found himself grinning at her in spite of the situation.

    ¡°Smug doesn¡¯t look good on you,¡± he said. Cassia winked at him again, and then slid open the cell door.

 27. Bag of Tricks

    ¡°Shit. Shit. Shit.¡± Kevin muttered to himself as he walked briskly back across the bank lobby he¡¯d crossed with Mel less than an hour ago. He clutched the duffle bag of Mel¡¯s belongings to his chest as he walked. Mel had told him to get directions to some kind of station and find Cassia. He had, frankly, not been totally listening and it seemed he wouldn¡¯t be able to abandon Mel to her fate even if he actually wanted to. No, as rough as she was, Mel was one of his only friends now and he was going to find her.

    Kevin took a deep breath. With the decision made, he felt himself calming into a more controlled panic. Sure, he had no idea what he was doing but he had a task. Save Mel. Glancing down at the bag, a few things came to mind.

    ¡°Ok. What do we get?¡± Kevin whispered to himself and walked towards the sign for the restrooms. Luckily, he found they were individual bathrooms with locking doors and they were well cleaned too. He sat awkwardly on the lid of the toilet and began to go through the bag. He¡¯d watched Mel purchase these things but he had no clue what they did. There had to be something that could help right now though.

    First he produced the rectangular device Mel had been flaunting earlier. The central screen seemed translucent and as he held it over his thighs a gentle chime rang out and No Wound Detected blinked across the top of the screen.

    ¡°Ok, some kind of first aid device?¡± Kevin mumbled to himself and tucked it back into the back, producing a second item. He looked at the tube-like item and saw that it held several thin disks, like a larger, thicker roll of quarters. Removing one slowly from the tube he checked the size and estimated the tube held about six of them. The disc fit easily in one hand and felt almost delicate, flimsier than a quarter. It didn¡¯t seem to have any visual indicator of what it might do and there was no button or switch. The disc was smooth and metallic with no markings. He turned his attention to the tube and noted a logo of some kind, a pixelated generic face with a Z instead of a mouth. Next to this, the tube simply said Lights Out.

    Kevin tucked the disc back into the tube and scratched his head in frustration. This was going nowhere. He pulled a third item from the tote, a glasses case. Opening it, he found himself staring blankly at a pair of sunglasses. They were unremarkable, and from what he¡¯d seen so far, not especially stylish on any Earth. He picked them up gingerly looking for labels or buttons but they were completely unmarked. With a sigh, Kevin tried them on and was surprised when he was looking at his surroundings through something resembling a heads up display.

    ¡°Calibration to owner retinal function complete.¡± The sunglasses said calmly in a quiet robotic voice.

    ¡°Oh no.¡± Kevin gasped. ¡°Mel¡¯s going to kill me.¡±

    <hr>

    Mel pulled steadily at her bindings. She was blindfolded but could tell that her wrists had been zip tied together then linked to something above her head. She was seated with her feet similarly bound. She could tell the space was small, the three goons who had brought her here had struggled to fit in the space and in turn, struggled to properly secure her. Nothing to do now but play the long game. She continued sawing the zip ties around her wrists against whatever held her in place. She¡¯d been in spots like this before, with enough time, her hands would be free.

    She thought back to her meeting and her anger boiled up. Apparently, the status quo had changed since she¡¯d been in Wraith Harbor. A contact she thought could give her some information had been bought up by a newcomer. She should have known better than to think she could trust any of the lowlifes in this city. None of this would have happened if Kevin had listened to her. Kevin. A pang of guilt ran through her when she thought of him sitting on a bench in a hallway somewhere in the building above her. Hopefully, he¡¯d do as she said before they snagged him too.

    The low sawing sound her ties were making changed tone ever so slightly and she cracked a smile. Just a little longer and she¡¯d get out of here and apologize to Kevin. She did bring him to the most dangerous city on Earth-6 after all.

    <hr>

    ¡°E-Patcher MedBox, Origin Earth-18.¡± The glasses spoke through some sort of bone-conduction speakers in the temple arms. He was looking at the rectangular device and the words he¡¯d just heard were currently displayed unobtrusively at the edge of his vision. Kevin glanced over to the tube. Zeta Brand Lights Out tablets, Origin Earth-98 replaced the previous text and the glasses once again spoke them. Kevin had figured out how to access a menu of sorts to make the voice speak through the headphone-style output instead of actually out loud via speaker.

    The final item in the bag was a gun-like device that the glasses labeled as the Pentyon Cryo-XL Proto, which Kevin thought sounded dangerously experimental. The weapon didn¡¯t have a barrel so much as a tube-like tip and with no spot for a clip or magazine, Kevin found that it instead had a valve connection that fit a few cylinders that had been loose in the tote bag. The end result resembled something close to a paintball gun that Kevin had moderate experience with. Looking over the haul, Kevin tried to think of how these things might come together in a plan. Planning hadn¡¯t gotten him far in life honestly. He tucked the tube into his pocket, kept the glasses on, and put the MedBox and Cryo-XL into the bag again and left the bathroom.

    In the hallway, Kevin thought frantically about how to proceed and found himself heading back to where he¡¯d last seen Mel. The glasses gave a small low beep in his temples and ¡°Blood Pressure Elevated¡± popped up across his vision. He rolled his eyes and kept moving, his anxiety climbing. What if he couldn¡¯t even find her? A wave of nausea started to hit his body and his vision blurred. For a brief moment, as he leaned against the wall for balance, Kevin saw the corridor of doors that always accompanied a multiversal jump. He blinked rapidly and it dissipated and he remained in the hallway.

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Arrival, Earth-6. Local Time, 10:45pm.¡± The glasses chirped at him.

    ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± Kevin murmured to himself. He pulled the glasses off, looked at them, then returned them to his head. Taking a breath, he stepped into the stairwell. ¡°If I were Mel would I be up or down?¡± Kevin muttered.

    ¡°Down, probability 58%.¡± Kevin stared through the glasses in confusion. They answered his questions too? He shrugged and started walking down the steps. As he walked, he thought about the fact that Mel had come from a higher story of the building in the elevator. It made sense that they would take the stairs lower, rather than just stop at the higher floor they¡¯d been aiming for. Down made the most sense.

    He passed three landings, deciding to go all the way to the lowest basement level before he heard a muffled cry. Kevin stopped immediately and produced the Cryo-XL. He didn¡¯t have a clue what it would do but he felt safer with it in his hands. As he approached the final landing, he could hear footsteps in the hall beyond. He paused, listening quietly from the stairs. The footsteps were definitely coming from more than one person and they stopped close to the stairwell.

    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s secure now. Almost rubbed clean through the fuckin¡¯ zips. Got her sorted and Ward¡¯s watching her. How much longer you want her to stew?¡± Kevin listened intently to the conversation, marking the pauses that indicated the speaker was on a phone. ¡°Sure boss, I can have the boys take shifts till morning. Want us to bring her up first thing or¡­?¡±

    Kevin crept up the stairs to the next landing and stepped into a hallway that ran the length of an underground parking garage. He walked briskly towards the other end and found a restroom to slip into. A plan hadn¡¯t fully come together but Kevin resolved to wait a few hours till the middle of the night to make his move.

    <hr>

    Mel tried to shift her weight. It had been hours since she¡¯d nearly broken free of her ties and her wrists felt like fire. She was bound much tighter with her hands fully behind her back. The zip ties dug into her and she could feel the blood running down her fingertips. Since her near escape, she¡¯d been moved to the floor seated with her legs criss-crossed like a child. Her ankles were bound and whatever connected her to the edges of the room was taut and in the opposite direction of the leg it connected to. The result was that she was almost entirely unable to move.

    She was blindfolded but she could tell the man guarding her hadn¡¯t left. He was a shadow blocking a little light that came from a single bulb near the door of the small room. He made very little sound, in the minutes after she¡¯d been rebound she had even wondered if it was just a bluff left in place to keep her from trying to escape. One attempt to move and a hard slap across the face answered that question and she¡¯d been still ever since. Mel wasn¡¯t one to give up but she was beginning to accept the circumstances were dire.

    Of course, she was alive and hadn¡¯t been tortured or maimed. Someone probably wanted to talk to her and that would be her opportunity. She waited patiently, slowly testing her various bindings just in case. She wasn¡¯t sure of the time but hours had passed with her sitting on the floor in pain when a clatter echoed from the hallway outside and the large shadow across her limited vision shifted.

    <hr>

    Kevin frantically picked up Cryo-XL from where he¡¯d dropped it. He had been confident in his plan until he¡¯d kicked off the execution of it. It was nearly three in the morning when he¡¯d slipped out of a closet near the stairs and crept toward the door he knew Mel to be behind. Of course, his sweaty hands betrayed his nerves and the gun had slipped away as he drew it.

    He moved quickly and quietly hoping that the sound wouldn¡¯t derail the whole plan. A click as the door opened shot down that idea and a grunt soon followed. Kevin turned and saw a mountain of a man looking into the hallway, directly at him. Unsure of what to do he watched as the man¡¯s eyes flicked from Kevin¡¯s face to the gun in his hands and a semblance of recognition crossed his face. Any wariness left the man¡¯s expression and he was almost smirking as he stepped towards Kevin.

    ¡°Impact imminent.¡± The glasses whispered to him and a translucent square drew his attention to the man¡¯s right hand as he approached. Before Kevin could react, he felt himself spinning through the air as the man¡¯s full might slapped him across the face. As he landed, with the new glasses crooked on his face, Kevin tried to turn to keep eyes on his assailant. As he did, a hard kick caught him in the stomach and he winced in pain.

    Kevin pressed the glasses back into position and watched the man casually produce a silenced handgun. His glasses highlighted the gun and prompted him that there was a 95% chance of lethal force. The plan had gone directly off the rails so Kevin did the only thing he could think of and fired the Cryo-XL.

    A burst of frigid air erupted around the weapon as it fired and Kevin shivered as he tried to roll away from the man. The blast had hit the man¡¯s gun and he tossed it aside as if it were on fire. The barrel cracked apart when it hit the floor and frost accumulated along the grip. The man¡¯s face crumpled into a frown and he rushed towards Kevin, prone on the floor.

    ¡°Impact imminent.¡± The glasses chimed again and a square around the bulky man¡¯s right fist was outlined. Kevin fired the Cryo-XL again and watched as the man¡¯s expression switched to confusion. His fist became blue, ice crystallizing across his knuckles. Kevin rolled back against the wall as the frozen fist smashed into the floor where his face had been and shattered. A horrific cry of pain echoed throughout the hall as Kevin closed his eyes to protect from projectile shards of ice bursting away from the impact.

    Kevin opened his eyes to see the man seated, his eyes staring at the mangled end of his arm. Bits of his frozen hand were scattered throughout the hallway and the stump at his wrist was blackened with severe frostbite. A slow ooze of blood leaked down his sleeve. Kevin¡¯s glasses highlighted the wound and the man¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Victim is in shock, loss of consciousness probable.¡± As the glasses spoke, Kevin turned and vomited on the floor. After wiping his mouth, he edged around the man and opened the door to the room Mel was held in. He pulled up her blindfold first and checked her for serious wounds.

    ¡°Are you alright? I used your stuff, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Kevin smiled nervously as he produced a pocket knife from Mel¡¯s bag and began cutting away her bonds.

    ¡°Kevin, this one time only, I¡¯m sure fucking glad you didn¡¯t do what I said.¡±

 28. Assisted Escape

    Cassia and Grit peeked out of the hallway leading back to the cell block. The door leading to the lobby had been locked from the inside, but Cassia had managed to convince Grit to drag the unconscious guard to the door to unlock it with his fingerprint. Then she¡¯d also forced him to drag the guard back and lock him in the cell. She wasn¡¯t sure why he¡¯d grumbled about it so much. It was a sound strategy, but he¡¯d seemed concerned about the guard¡¯s safety. Cassia shook her head, and cracked the lobby door open further.

    ¡°Cassia, maybe we should hide out somewhere until we can talk to Tek,¡± Grit whispered from behind her. Cassia rolled her eyes. Somehow Grit¡¯s emotions surrounding the purple woman were slowing him down. She¡¯d have expected that from Kevin or Mel, but Grit was a surprise. Cassia ignored him and decided an aggressive approach would be best. The remaining guard was sitting casually at a desk, facing the door. Currently, he was doing something on his computer, but he would only need to glance up and he would spot the two of them. Cassia slowly let the door slide shut, then stood up.

    ¡°It¡¯s go time,¡± she said to Grit, and she was out the door before he could utter any words of caution, or suggest waiting for the detective. There was something going on between them, she was sure of it, but she didn¡¯t have time to figure it out now, considering she was striding across the open lobby.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯d she want?¡± the guard said absently as she approached. It wasn¡¯t until Cassia was right next to him at the desk that he realized she wasn¡¯t his partner. He managed to get out a surprised gasp before she slammed his head onto the desk and he slid out of the chair into a pile on the floor. Grit finally caught up to her.

    ¡°You like smashing heads, huh?¡± he said dryly. Cassia shrugged.

    ¡°It was the quickest way to get him out of the picture,¡± she answered. Grit started to reply, but she cut him off. ¡°Grit, we can¡¯t wait for Detective K¡¯Nani. She¡¯ll just put us back in that cell, no matter what you have going with her.¡±

    Grit frowned at that, but didn¡¯t seem to have any argument to offer. Cassia quickly circled around the desk and tapped at the computer.

    ¡°Well, Grit, we¡¯re in luck,¡± she said. ¡°Our friend here was requisitioning a ship of some sort, and it looks like he was having it delivered.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to steal another ship from the IPF?¡± Grit asked skeptically.

    ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes,¡± Cassia said with a small sigh. Sometimes she couldn¡¯t figure out the old guy¡¯s sense of right and wrong. Or perhaps she just couldn¡¯t tell when it would be activated. She reached down and unclipped the ID badge from the slumbering guard, hoping that the ships weren¡¯t fingerprint activated like the doors were. She was about to step around the desk when she noticed writing on a sticky note attached to the bottom of the computer monitor. It simply read ¡®Research, Level Two¡¯.

    ¡°Grit, we¡¯re going downstairs first,¡± she said, spotting an elevator to their left. Grit started to speak, or protest, she wasn¡¯t sure, but she pulled him to the elevator. Unexpectedly, it opened with a ding right as they approached, and a small blonde woman in uniform stepped out. For a moment they all just stared at each other. Cassia moved first and shoved Grit into the elevator. She stabbed the button for the second level then jammed her finger on the close door button.

    ¡°Hey, who are you?¡± The blonde had finally realized something was wrong. Cassia ignored her as the door shut. The woman didn¡¯t try to get in, but Cassia knew she would alert the building.

    ¡°What happened to stealing a ship?¡± Grit asked.

    ¡°The whole reason we even went to Earth-6 in the first place was to load up for finding the Weft and Warp,¡± Cassia said. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know where that is, so the other part of that is finding information.¡± The elevator slowed to a stop and the doors dinged open.

    ¡°And this,¡± she continued, gesturing to the hallway beyond the elevator doors, ¡°is where we find that information.¡± They stepped out, and peered both ways, but the hallway seemed to be empty. There was a small placard at the top of the wall that listed research to the right and evidence to the left. They followed the hallway until it bent to the left and led them to a pair of large glass double doors. The room in front of them contained a small bank of computers, with shelves full of boxes and file folders that stretched out farther than Cassia could¡¯ve expected. She could feel the scholar in her jumping for joy. What would she give to study here for a while?

    ¡°It¡¯s locked,¡± Grit said, snapping her out of the daydream. Cassia tried the door, but he was right. She recognized, now that she was focused on the present, that the room was only lit with emergency lighting.

    ¡°Are they at lunch or something?¡± she asked. Grit just shrugged.

    ¡°Time is different across universes,¡± she said simply. Cassia kicked herself. She knew that, she just wasn¡¯t paying attention.

    ¡°Break it, big guy,¡± she said, trying to play off her ignorance. Grit looked shocked at her suggestion.

    ¡°You want me to just break it?¡± he asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it going to be stronger than that?¡± Cassia shook her head with fake confidence.

    ¡°No. This is just a research division. All the good stuff is either upstairs, or below us. Or maybe in evidence. Either way, they aren¡¯t expecting people to break in here.¡± Grit looked like he wanted to object, but then he sighed heavily and sidled up to the door. He examined it for a moment, then took a few steps back, lunged forward, and landed a vicious, booted kick right in between the two doors. With a crash, the latch busted through its casing and the doors fell inwards. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Well done,¡± Cassia said, impressed. The doors didn¡¯t even look too damaged, especially if she left them open. Grit mumbled under his breath about less noise, but Cassia ignored it. She was in.

    <hr>

    The minutes were flying by and Cassia still hadn¡¯t found anything worthwhile. She¡¯d set Grit on the task of searching the computer, even though she probably would¡¯ve been faster. The reason was probably that she wanted to see if she could come across anything interesting, even while skimming for the Weft and the Warp. Cassia sighed. So far, even that minor goal had been unobtainable. Everything was sorted into boxes, or folders that were clipped shut. They were all labeled neatly, so Cassia could tell there was important information contained inside, but it would¡¯ve taken too long to open each one. Already she was concerned about the amount of time they¡¯d been in the research area.

    ¡°Grit, we should probably get going,¡± she called. It had been a moment since he¡¯d grunted any updates in her direction. She¡¯d reached the end of her row, and she reluctantly returned to the computer bank. Grit was hurrying in her direction as she emerged from the shelves of files.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve got something,¡± he said. ¡°I could never really find anything under Weft and Warp. But I kept finding references to something called ¡°Unverified¡±. I tried to find it on the computer but¡­¡± Cassia was already running back to the shelves. She quickly located the correct section, and began searching for a folder, running her finger along the labels as she went.

    ¡°Aha!¡± she exclaimed as she pulled out three large manila folders that were rubber banded together. ¡°Grit, the IPF doesn¡¯t even believe the Weft and Warp exist!¡± Cassia realized she was basically shouting at the man, but it was hard to tone down her excitement. She thumbed through some of the pages to verify it was what she was looking for.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Grit asked, confused. Cassia thought she faintly heard the elevator bell ding.

    ¡°I think we have company,¡± Cassia said, pulling Grit into the row with her so they couldn¡¯t be seen through the glass doors. She carefully led him to the back of the shelves, where there was just enough space to squeeze between them and the wall.

    ¡°What I mean,¡± she whispered, ¡°is that the Weft and Warp intel that the IPF has is deemed not credible. That¡¯s why they have it in paper form, and basically in a miscellaneous folder. Ok, I¡¯ll lead.¡± They had reached the farthest corner of the room, and Cassia now started tracking along the wall back towards the entrance. Looking through the shelves, she caught a glimpse of a couple women in uniform sitting down at the computer bank. Their uniforms were obviously IPF, but different than the ones Cassia had seen before. As she watched, the women chatted idly, then began to focus on their respective screens.

    ¡°Did you shut your computer down?¡± Cassia whispered over her shoulder to Grit. He nodded. Cassia turned back to watching the women, but she was impressed. She¡¯d taken Grit for a simple, albeit mostly nice, soldier. Maybe he was a notch above that. After another minute of watching the women, she turned back to Grit.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that the IPF is looking for us,¡± she said. ¡°Or, at least, they don¡¯t know that we¡¯re down here. It¡¯s been almost ten minutes now, there¡¯s no way they wouldn¡¯t have checked here if they were searching for us.¡± Grit considered this.

    ¡°That woman we saw in the elevator,¡± he said. ¡°She had to have seen that guard you knocked out.¡± Cassia frowned at this. He was right, the unconscious guard should have been obvious. Eventually, she shrugged.

    ¡°Well, these ladies obviously aren¡¯t looking for us,¡± she decided. Then she stepped towards the front of the row.

    ¡°Follow my lead,¡± she said, then strode forward before Grit had a chance to reply. Fortunately, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, he followed her as she approached the women at the computers. When she was still a good distance from them, she half turned back towards Grit.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that idiot sent us down here on a fool¡¯s errand,¡± she said angrily. Grit looked at her with wide eyes, but then quickly stepped to catch up to her.

    ¡°Look, it was probably an accident,¡± he said in a pleading tone, and Cassia again had to adjust her impression of his intelligence level. Cassia turned forward again. They had reached the computer table, and all of the women were looking up at them with various startled expressions.

    ¡°I¡¯m done!¡± Cassia shouted. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of just being an errand girl!¡± She stormed past the surprised women as Grit hustled to keep up with her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even start with me, Brian!¡± she called as she reached the doors. ¡°I¡¯m leaving this time.¡± She heard Grit offer a hurried apology for his distressed colleague and then they were both out in the hall and around the corner out of sight. Grit was laughing.

    ¡°Brian?¡± he asked. Cassia tried to glare at him, but couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.

    ¡°Yeah, I really got into it, didn¡¯t I?¡± she said as they cautiously continued down the hallway back to the elevator. When they reached it, Cassia paused.

    ¡°Do we just go back up?¡± she asked. ¡°In theory, there¡¯s a ship waiting for us to steal.¡±

    ¡°Like you said, if they were looking for us, they would¡¯ve just come down here and found us,¡± Grit answered. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem likely that they would instead just wait for us to come back up the elevator.¡±  Cassia pushed the button in response. The elevator was already on their floor apparently, because the door opened immediately and they were shortly stepping out into the lobby on the main floor. The lobby was empty, so Cassia hustled Grit along and led them straight out the main entrance and into the parking lot. There was an old jumper parked on the curb. Cassia fished in her pocket and pulled out the guard¡¯s key card she¡¯d taken, and then swiped it across the door lock. There was a small beep and the door unlatched. Cassia pocketed the card and then gasped.

    ¡°What?¡± Grit asked, worried. Cassia looked at him, mouth agape.

    ¡°The guard,¡± she said. ¡°He wasn¡¯t there.¡± Grit was confused at first, but then realization dawned on his face.

    ¡°But why would he¡­?¡± Grit asked, trailing off. Cassia agreed with the unspoken question. There wasn¡¯t any reason the guard wouldn¡¯t have raised the alarm. Unless¡­

    ¡°It was her,¡± she said slowly, almost in awe. ¡°She¡¯s letting us do this.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± Grit asked. Cassia thumbed through the file folders again, paying closer attention to the names of the reporting agents. Then she looked Grit straight in the eyes.

    ¡°Your girlfriend,¡± she said. ¡°Detective Tek K¡¯Nani.¡±

 29. Detectives Orders

    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s Tek?¡± Grit asked for roughly the fifteenth time in the last minute, causing Cassia to grind her teeth in annoyance. She was struggling to figure out how to move the ship they¡¯d stolen. Or rather, the ship they were trying to steal. She didn¡¯t have time to help Grit with his emotions.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± she said, proud that she¡¯d managed to at least address his question. ¡°I am, however, mostly sure that this ship doesn¡¯t have jumping capabilities.¡± Grit looked over at her from the passenger seat. His shoulders were slumped forward awkwardly. Apparently the IPF didn¡¯t have officers as large as Grit.

    ¡°So maybe Tek isn¡¯t orchestrating some grand plan, then,¡± he said. Cassia looked at him questioningly, and he shrugged. Or, at least, tried to.

    ¡°She would¡¯ve given us a jumper, right?¡± he asked simply. Cassia considered that, but then shook her head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know that she would¡¯ve,¡± she said slowly. ¡°Maybe she¡¯s trying to push us to do something else here on Earth-1. Or maybe she doesn¡¯t have enough pull to get us a better ship.¡± She saw Grit suddenly stiffen in his seat.

    ¡°I think we need to leave now,¡± he said when she glanced at him, then he pointed out the window where an IPF officer was approaching with a confused look on his face. Cassia looked at the dash display and saw that she¡¯d missed another ship pull in behind her. She swore under her breath and Grit immediately buckled his seatbelt.

    ¡°Guess we can jump later?¡± he asked. In response, Cassia punched the accelerator. The ship rocketed forward, and the approaching IPF officer leapt backwards in surprise. Cassia could see him on her display as he raced towards his ship, shouting into his communicator. Grit sighed in the passenger seat and Cassia frowned at him as she yanked the vehicle around a sharp turn.

    ¡°What?¡± she asked. ¡°You would¡¯ve preferred I sit there, answer the officer¡¯s questions, and then get re-arrested?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Grit said in a gloomy tone. ¡°But it would be nice to have a break from being on the run at some point.

    ¡°Yeah, well, when we save the multiverse you can go ahead and settle down with your girlfriend and make purple children together.¡± Grit looked out the window and Cassia immediately regretted her comment.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just -¡± suddenly there was a crackle from the speaker on the dash that almost caused Cassia to leap out the window.

    ¡°Grit? Cassia?¡± a familiar voice said through the radio. Grit immediately swung back around in his seat.

    ¡°Tek?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Patterson,¡± Tek replied, with a note of fondness in her voice. Cassia rolled her eyes. She didn¡¯t have time to reply, though, because her dashboard display beeped to warn her of an impending collision. Checking the monitor, she noticed that the pursuing IPF ship had crept up behind her. Apparently the other driver had authorization to damage the stolen vehicle.

    ¡°You should be aware that the IPF has issued authorization to damage your vehicle, if that¡¯s what it takes to stop you,¡± said Tek¡¯s crackly voice through the radio. The ship behind bumped the back of theirs, throwing them forward against their restraints.

    ¡°No shit,¡± Cassia muttered, scanning the dash. ¡°Does this old bucket go any faster.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it does not,¡± Tek replied. ¡°It¡¯s tough to work remotely, so you¡¯re just going to have to make do.¡±

    ¡°So it was you who was helping us,¡± Grit stated. There was a pause before Tek replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure I have no idea what you are talking about, Mr. Patterson, and my official advice to you is to pull over and turn yourselves in to the IPF.¡± Cassia sighed inwardly. Even from a distance the detective was able to frustrate her. Grit smiled, though, because of course he did. The ship bumped them from behind again, a little harder, and Cassia swore under her breath.

    ¡°Should we, um, do something?¡± Grit asked, and Cassia almost punched him.

    ¡°I¡¯m doing it,¡± she growled. ¡°One more second¡­¡± The road they were on was just a feeder road, albeit a large one. She¡¯d spotted the turnoff for the mainway up ahead, and had initially planned to avoid it in the hopes that surface streets would be easier to hide on. But now that she had a tail that was faster than her, it was time to improvise.

    ¡°Hold on!¡± she managed to call out as she yanked the steering controls to the right, just as the ship behind moved forward to nudge her again. The old IPF flyer shot towards the rapidly disappearing mainway ramp, clipping a wheeled vehicle on the way by. Cassia watched with satisfaction as the pursuing ship attempted to follow, only to ram nose first into the guardrail. There was silence for a moment as the ship flew down the mainway, until Tek finally cracked back through the speaker.

    ¡°That is going to cost the IPF a lot of money,¡± she said, though Cassia thought she detected a surprising amount of amusement.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± she said, shrugging at Grit. ¡°Where do you want us to go?¡± There was another long moment of silence from Tek, and for a moment Cassia thought that maybe she¡¯d lost the connection. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    ¡°Why would I want you to -¡± Tek finally started to say, and Cassia groaned loudly.

    ¡°Cut the crap, Detective!¡± she said forcefully. ¡°We know you had a hand in this. The second you talked to us on the radio you confirmed it.¡±  Tek gave a crackly sigh.

    ¡°I am one of the few in the IPF who believe in the Varynnic line, and the Eldest, having anything to do with the holding together of the multiverse.¡± Cassia stifled her gasp, and felt her face grow pale.

    ¡°You may remember I mentioned this to you when I apprehended you,¡± Tek continued, though Cassia could barely hear her beyond the rushing noise in her ears. Tek was still talking, she thought, and she saw Grit glance over at her.

    ¡°Are you ok?¡± he asked worriedly, his gruff voice snapping her attention back to the present. She jerked the ship to the side to avoid another vehicle and forced herself to be calm.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said tersely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Detective, could you repeat that?¡± The detective sighed again.

    ¡°I said, I have found evidence, or about as close to evidence as you could expect to find, concerning the location of something called the Weft. I gather from that noise you just made that you know of such a thing.¡± Cassia kicked herself for making a sound out loud and giving away any sort of information to Tek.

    ¡°Please stay on the road,¡± Grit said in his gravelly voice. She paused for a moment to roll her eyes at him and then focused back on Tek, as she maneuvered back into the correct lane.

    ¡°What do you know about the Weft?¡± Cassia asked, keeping an eye on a vehicle in her monitor that she thought maybe had been behind them before.

    ¡°I¡¯d love to ask you the same thing,¡± Tek said. ¡°I¡¯m sending you some coordinates now for the location of my source.¡± Cassia was fairly certain Tek was still talking, but the vehicle she¡¯d been watching had now sped up to exactly level with her. She glanced out the side window and saw a visored face looking back at her, with a small green lightning bolt across the side.

    ¡°Bounty hunters!¡± she shouted. ¡°Why now?¡± She watched the man raise a weapon and point it towards her, lowering his window, and she yanked the steering controls to the right. The ship lurched away, narrowly avoiding other vehicles on the mainway. Grit shouted in alarm. Tek was still talking on the speaker.

    ¡°Sorry, Detective, I¡¯m a bit busy right now,¡± Cassia grunted. ¡°Got a bounty hunter on our ass.¡± The bounty hunter had rapidly followed her jolt into another lane. Cassia cranked the ship up to maximum speed, zipping in and out of lanes to dodge traffic, but the bounty hunter stayed directly on her tail.

    ¡°Grit, you¡¯re going to have to shoot him,¡± she said as the ship blasted around a large hovercraft of gaping tourists. Cassia pulled a small weapon from her waistband and handed it to him.

    ¡°But this is just a stunner,¡± he said. ¡°It won¡¯t do anything to the ship.¡± Cassia glared at him.

    ¡°I know that,¡± she said, biting off the words. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to shoot through the open window. I know you can shoot, so don¡¯t make excuses and get the job done, soldier!¡± Grit frowned at that last bit, but then he unbuckled and tried to squeeze behind her to aim out the driver¡¯s side window.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked. ¡°Get over there on your side, you idiot!¡± Then she rolled down the passenger window. Grit blushed, which was surprising, and rolled back into his seat before taking a ready position.

    ¡°Brace yourself,¡± Cassia muttered, then smashed the brakes. The ship lurched to a stop, and the bounty hunter behind her went flying by, narrowly avoiding slamming into the back of them. He quickly flipped the ship around and came back, dodging traffic going the opposite way. Cassia jammed the thruster forward again and the ships raced towards each other.

    ¡°This is it, Grit!¡± she shouted. ¡°One chance!¡± At the last second, she veered to her left, and the bounty hunter went flying by. She was fairly certain she¡¯d heard the electric sizzle from the gun, but she wasn¡¯t sure until she saw the ship hit the mainway wall at full speed in her rear monitor. Cars and ships frantically dodged the wreckage, quickly jumbling up into a tangled mess. Cassia smiled.

    ¡°Well done, soldier,¡± she said, patting Grit on the arm. He tried to maintain his stoic look, but she could see he was proud.

    ¡°I assume you¡¯ve lost the bounty hunter?¡± Tek cracked from the radio. Cassia jumped. She¡¯d forgotten the detective was still there.

    ¡°Yes. Your boyfriend here is a good shooter, Detective.¡± There was a long pause on the radio, and Cassia couldn¡¯t smother her grin. Grit shifted uncomfortably next to her.

    ¡°Well done. I expect the bounty hunters are monitoring the IPF radios somehow. I¡¯ll have to look into it later.¡± Tek continued as if she hadn¡¯t heard Cassia. ¡°Did you get the coordinates?¡±

    Cassia studied the monitors for a moment before noticing a flashing light in the bottom corner of the main screen. She tapped the icon. There was an electronic beep and then a map displayed on the screen.

    ¡°Looks like it,¡± she said to Tek. ¡°Where are we headed?¡± She waited for a response, but there was nothing besides a few random bursts of static.

    ¡°Detective?¡± she asked, then looked over at Grit. He looked worried, which was no longer surprising. She briefly wondered why he was so insistent on hiding his feelings towards the detective.

    ¡°Tek?¡± Grit called, leaning towards the speaker. There was a loud static burst, and he jumped back.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got to go,¡± Tek¡¯s voice said, sounding strained and out of breath. ¡°Follow those coordinates. I¡¯ll try to meet you there, or contact you another way.¡± Another burst of static obscured any other words she may have said. Cassia tapped the speaker.

    ¡°Detective? Where are you sending us? Why should we do what you want us to?¡± she asked, irritated to find that she wanted to follow the detective¡¯s orders.

    ¡°Just¡­to find the Weft. We¡¯re all¡­the same¡­here¡­or not.¡± Tek said, static going in and out of the speaker and making her sentence almost incomprehensible. Cassia looked at Grit, who shrugged.

    ¡°Tek, are you ok?¡± he asked. There was a pause, then another large burst of static before a moment of clarity.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, Mr. Patterson. Just get to those damn coordinates!¡±

    ¡°Where are you sending us?¡± Cassia asked again, still unsure she should just follow Tek blindly. In response she received rapid bursts of static before one sentence made it through.

    ¡°His name is Elias Thorn.¡±

 30. The Switchboard

    In Derrick¡¯s first year away traveling the multiverse, he had been forced to learn quite a lot. On his home Earth where everyone could shapeshift but was marked from birth to ensure this incredible gift wasn¡¯t used for evil, crime was handled brutally. The population was kept low. Technological advancements to maintain this watchdog society were well beyond what Derrick ran into in his travels. Transportation was an immediate hurdle he had to overcome. He¡¯d never had a need to learn to drive, all transportation where he came from was automated, an effect of efforts to eliminate road rage, accidents, and vehicular homicide.

    Learning to drive had been extremely difficult for Derrick, there was nothing like it in his home universe. Driving simulations had fallen out of style well before he was born. After a year of practicing in arcades of all places, Derrick began test driving vehicles from questionable used car dealerships where a modified clean cut appearance deterred any questions. He moved slowly and studied methodically and finally took and passed his driver¡¯s test in a small town south of Chicago.

    From there, Derrick roamed. For a year, Derrick drove all across the United States in a beat up 2000 Chrysler Voyager. Where he¡¯d come from, Derrick had never set foot out of his universe¡¯s Chicago, a city walled and segmented into carefully managed districts. Now, the entire country was his to explore. He learned a great deal during that year. He took a temp job at an accounting firm, very briefly conned his way into a clerk position at a law office in Des Moines, was a fish and game warden in New Mexico, went back to his medical roots volunteering at a clinic in rural Kentucky, but always eventually found himself forced to make money by less than legal means. It led him across universes. It led to a stable job working with Thorn in Paris. It led to less driving and less freedom.

    Driving twelve hours in Pinnacle Elaine¡¯s abandoned Nissan brought the memories back and Derrick felt more at ease than he had in the last week. There was something calming about the long stretches between cities. He and Elaine spoke minimally and most of their conversations were limited to whether or not Tango needed a bathroom break and if it was ok to feed him another package of Doritos or if they should splurge for a beef stick. The unease began to return just east of Birmingham. Though Derrick had suggested it to Elaine as their best source for information about where their friends might be, and it was, the rational part of his brain saw it for what it really was. They would need to figure out a means of travel and a source of funds. The Switchboard could offer both if they never heard from Cassia and the others ever again.

    Derrick was surprised to find that he actually was hopeful that they¡¯d find a lead. Even in the nearly two years he had spent in Paris, he never formed attachments since leaving his original home. It hadn¡¯t taken more than a few days to find himself enjoying the dysfunctional company of Mel, Cassia, and the others. Derrick continued to drive, glancing into the mirror to check on Elaine who was curled up sleeping with Tango. Elaine hadn¡¯t volunteered to drive and Derrick didn¡¯t ask her to. Despite her reaction, he expected that watching herself get electrocuted to death had probably created some trauma that would need to be dealt with at some point.

    As trees gave way to the western edges of Atlanta, Elaine shifted in her seat and she paused with her mouth half open, clearly choosing words carefully.

    ¡°How did she find me?¡± Elaine finally said quietly. Derrick shifted his weight as he got off the interstate.

    ¡°They must have something planted on you.¡± Derrick coughed awkwardly and added, ¡°Or in you.¡±

    Elaine cringed at that but didn¡¯t say anything further. She returned to looking out the window at the passing buildings. They drove along the edge of the city turning southward towards the airport. Derrick had been here once before early on when he started working for Thorn. He jumped from Paris on Earth 53 to Paris on Earth 6, took a series of flights to Atlanta, caught a cab to a dingy business park and delivered an envelope at the front desk then made the whole trip in reverse. Later he learned it was the Switchboard he¡¯d visited and he hoped it was still here.

    ¡°Do you think we can get it out, whatever it is?¡± Elaine kept her gaze firmly out the window.

    ¡°If you have an idea of where it might have been implanted, then I can get it out. It might be painful without the proper equipment though.¡± Derrick followed her lead and kept his eyes forward as he navigated the late night traffic. It was dark, and after midnight by the time they came to a stop in an empty parking lot. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Derrick stepped out of the car and took in his surroundings. Elaine followed him with Tango circling her. This was definitely the same place he¡¯d been before. It was just as rundown as before. He had wanted to just confirm that and then find somewhere to sleep but he took a chance and checked the door. It pulled open, unlocked.

    ¡°I guess they are open through the night.¡± Derrick pulled the door wide for Elaine and the odd trio stepped up to a security desk in the lobby of the office building. At the desk, a bored looking woman with bright blonde hair glanced up at them from a tablet.

    ¡°Delivery?¡± The woman asked in monotone as she continued to catapult birds across the tablet screen.

    ¡°We¡¯re actually hoping to get some information, is there someone we could speak¡­¡± Before Derrick could finish his sentence the woman sighed and pulled open a desk drawer.

    ¡°Fill out this form, one for each of you. When you¡¯re done I will buzz you through to the ticker.¡± She passed a pair of clipboards to them and continued playing her game.

    ¡°Not the strongest security.¡± Derrick muttered to Elaine as they sat down across the lobby. He scanned the form and frowned at questions like Designation of Universe of Origin and IPF Species Registration Number before filling in what he could. Elaine wrote silently and Derrick noticed her pausing as though she too was deciding how much to divulge. He whispered reassuringly, ¡°I don¡¯t think it needs to be too detailed.¡±

    Elaine gave him a nod and after a few minutes they were back at the desk. The blonde guard barely glanced at the forms before scanning them and putting them through a shredder. ¡°It¡¯s all digital now.¡± She offered before gesturing to a hall behind her left shoulder. ¡°Down the hall, third door on the right. There¡¯s a button by the handle, hit it once, I¡¯ll buzz you in.¡±

    Derrick nodded his thanks and they started to head back. ¡°Oh, make sure that thing doesn¡¯t shit on the floor.¡± The guard pointed at Tango. ¡°On the night shift, the desk handles janitorial emergencies.¡±

    They found the door to what the guard had called the ticker easily enough and passed through into a large open room reminiscent of the stock exchange. Upon entering, they were looking into a sunken, carpeted area that was covered with desks and computers. Above, in the center of the room was a bank of larger TV screens, each with different feeds scrolling across them. The room was occupied by five people, two who seemed to work in the building. They wore lanyards around their neck that had a picture of their face and the words First Floor Access in bold. The others were either seated at a computer or watching one of the feeds going by above. Derrick shrugged at Elaine and stepped down into the main part of the room. Elaine and Tango kept close as he approached one of the Switchboard operators.

    ¡°Excuse me, we¡¯re looking for an IPF blotter over the last 48 hours.¡± Derrick tried to smile like he wasn¡¯t a wanted criminal as he asked.

    ¡°IPF arrests, announcements, and persons of interest are scrolling on screen one. You can look up past information from a terminal.¡± The man gave a weak smile and returned to his own screen.

    Derrick turned to Elaine and gestured at the screens. ¡°How about you watch screen one for anything and I¡¯ll see if I can turn up anything in the last couple days?¡± He moved towards the closest computer station as she nodded her agreement.

    Derrick quickly found that the IPF produced a lot of news. He scrolled through endless arrest records, bounty postings, and general news announcements and his eyes quickly became unfocused. He stopped frequently, rubbing at his eyes and forcing himself to take in the information he was scanning. After an hour of searching, he hadn''t seen anything about Cassia or Grit and words were blurring together. As he rubbed his eyes again, a name stood out. Tek. He¡¯d heard Grit say that right before they got split up.

    Derrick clicked on the headline into a brief statement.

    The IPF is seeking any information about missing Detective Tek K¡¯Nani who is deemed missing in action. Detective K¡¯Nani¡¯s last known location is Earth-49 where IPF agents are currently investigating more than one instance of multiple homicide in Earth-49¡¯s United States.

    Derrick scratched his forehead. Were Cassia and Grit involved in this somehow? He thought back to the moment before he¡¯d rushed away from the convention center and Dallas. He had moved quickly and heard nothing more of Grit¡¯s conversation. Elaine¡¯ sharp intake of breath from nearby pulled him out of his thoughts.

    ¡°Derrick, look!¡± Elaine was pointing at the screen as words ticked by. He stood quickly to read it before it was gone.

    Cassia Moreng is wanted after escaping IPF custody this afternoon. The IPF is seeking Moreng and any known associates. The IPF is opening bounty contracts in reaction to her violent escape.

    ¡°Well, the good news is they aren¡¯t arrested anymore. We aren¡¯t the only ones looking for them though.¡±

 31. Another Thorn

    The sun was slowly slipping below the Earth-1 horizon as Cassia slowly pulled the ship up to the curb and parked it. Grit looked around curiously.

    ¡°I really thought we were being sent on a wild goose chase,¡± he muttered, staring up at the weakly lit sign indicating that the building in front of them was called The Tin Counter. There appeared to be a small apartment on the top floor, perhaps indicating that the owner of the diner lived there. Cassia¡¯s door hissed open and she stepped out with a groan.

    ¡°I know you did,¡± she said. ¡°You told me that a million times. You don¡¯t even trust your own girlfriend to¡­¡± The rest of her complaining was cut off as the door slid closed. Grit sighed, then got out as well, stretching until he¡¯d popped as many joints as possible.

    ¡°She¡¯s not my girlfriend,¡± he said quietly into the gathering gloom, even though Cassia couldn¡¯t possibly hear him. He had to admit, though, that there was a small part of him that enjoyed it every time. Rolling his neck to loosen up, he stepped up onto the sidewalk. Cassia was already headed to the entrance, so he hurried to catch up. The diner seemed to be the only building on the street that was open, and Grit  again worried that Tek was sending them after nothing, but this time he kept his doubts to himself. There were only two other vehicles in the parking lot which only reinforced his fear. He was very surprised, then, to find that the place was relatively full.

    ¡°This way,¡± Cassia called over her shoulder, already being seated by an older woman wearing a permanent frown. Grit followed, feeling transported back through time by the locale. The smell of burnt coffee and cigarette smoke mingled with the irresistible scent of bacon and pancakes on the griddle. Had it really been so long since those breakfasts with his dad?

    ¡°Um, Grit, everything ok?¡± Cassia¡¯s voice cut through his reverie and Grit blinked in surprise. Looking around, he realized that he¡¯d stopped at the correct table, but had simply remained standing. The waitress was frowning at him and Cassia was looking up at him with a worried expression. Grit quickly seated himself.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± he said gruffly. ¡°Just had a weird feeling that I¡¯d been here before.¡± The waitress waited for a moment, then sighed and began to run through the specials. Judging by her tone, she¡¯d been part way through this when Grit interrupted. After listening to the spiel, which Grit barely heard anyway, Cassia seemingly ordered one of everything. Grit just asked for pancakes, bacon, and coffee, which earned him an eye roll from the overworked waitress. She scribbled on her pad and then stalked off towards the kitchen. Grit wondered if he actually would get any coffee.

    ¡°So, how do you think we¡¯re supposed to find Thorn?¡± Cassia asked, sipping her water and surveying the rest of the diner behind him. Grit shrugged. He figured if Tek had legitimately wanted them to meet this Earth¡¯s Thorn, then she either would¡¯ve provided instructions or would have Thorn approach them. Or she was simply sending them here to waste time, in which case he would eat his breakfast food and leave. Either way he was going to get some pancakes. The coffee still seemed like a question mark, though, as he had yet to see the waitress reemerge from the kitchen. Across the table, Cassia sighed.

    ¡°Sometimes I wonder if I just talked to myself, I might get more answers,¡± she said, narrowing her eyes at him. ¡°I know you have helpful thoughts in there, no need to keep them to yourself.¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll work on it.¡± Movement at the corner of his eye caused him to notice the waitress making her way back out of the kitchen. He noticed with disappointment that she wasn¡¯t carrying a coffee pot. She was, however, approaching their table. A plate of toast thumped down on the table in front of Cassia, and then she turned to Grit.

    ¡°Coffee¡¯s brewing,¡± she said bluntly, then jabbed a thumb towards the kitchen. ¡°You can go grab yourself a cup. Cook¡¯s got a question for you anyway.¡± Then she was headed off to another table, leaving Grit in confusion. When he looked back at the table, Cassia was already halfway through the toast.

    ¡°That was weird,¡± she said around a mouthful of bread. Grit grunted in reply, and then stood up abruptly. He turned towards the kitchen, then paused to look back at Cassia. She probably wanted more than a singular noise.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to go in there,¡± he said slowly, pointing towards the kitchen. Cassia¡¯s eyes widened, then she snorted in laughter.

    ¡°Look at that,¡± she said. ¡°It can learn!¡± Grit grunted again and then strode over to the swinging doors that led to the kitchen and pushed his way through them.

    The kitchen was surprisingly empty, save one old griddle cook with his back to Grit. The cook continued dicing something, and didn¡¯t turn around. Grit was unsure what he was supposed to do, so he chose his default response and simply waited quietly. After a moment, the waitress appeared at the window.

    ¡°Flop two, a Noah¡¯s boy, and a dough well done,¡± she barked, sticking an order sheet to the magnetic strip above the window and then disappearing again with the pancake laden plates already sitting on the counter. The cook nodded to himself as he finished his dicing, then turned and glanced at Grit.

    ¡°Make yourself useful and pass me that egg carton,¡± he said, gesturing with his spatula. Frowning in confusion, Grit did so. The cook grunted his thanks, then cracked a couple eggs and tossed them on the flat top.

    ¡°Tell me, Mr. Patterson, about when you first met Tek K¡¯Nani.¡± The sentence was delivered so casually, with the cook facing away from him again, that Grit almost didn¡¯t realize the words were directed towards him. With a start, he realized that the cook must be the Elias Thorn he was looking for. Was this some sort of test? If it was, Grit suddenly felt that he was taking too long to answer.

    ¡°Why?¡± he finally asked, which prompted a chuckle from the cook as he laid a slice of ham on the griddle. The man turned to look at him again, and Grit could see the deep creases in his face. This man had been through many things.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Because I¡¯ve heard your name from her many times, which is high praise from Tek.¡± Thorn chose each of his words carefully, and despite the odd situation, Grit found himself at ease.

    ¡°But mostly,¡± the other man continued, ¡°because I want to know if you are who you say you are. I¡¯d hate to have to kill you right here in my kitchen.¡± He turned back to the griddle and scooped the eggs and ham onto a plate. Then he squeezed past Grit and set the food on the counter in the window. He smacked the small service bell to indicate to the waitress that the meal was ready. Thorn turned back to Grit, and Grit realized that he had a couple inches of height on the other man. He also had a deep sense that those inches wouldn¡¯t matter in a fight.

    ¡°Well, the first time Tek and I met, she¡­well, she arrested me,¡± Grit admitted. Thorn nodded.

    ¡°Why?¡± he asked, and Grit sighed.

    ¡°Got in a fight with an IPF officer over an unauthorized multiversal jump,¡± Grit said. ¡°And to be perfectly frank, if you need more information than that, then you¡¯ll need to take that up with Tek.¡±

    Thorn chuckled again at this, and studied Grit for a moment. The other man had surprisingly bright light blue eyes that took in everything underneath his mop of unruly white hair. Eventually, Thorn nodded once more.

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± he said, then smacked Grit on the shoulder. ¡°You pass the test, Mr. Patterson.¡± At that moment, the waitress reappeared at the window.

    ¡°Burn two,¡± she called out. ¡°A yellow blanket on a hockey puck and keep the other one off the grass.¡± She disappeared again, and Thorn gave Grit a shrug.

    ¡°I¡¯m off in ten,¡± he said. ¡°Go eat your pancakes, and tell Marta to keep the coffee flowing. You¡¯re gonna need it.¡±

    <hr>

    Cassia was obviously startled when Thorn draped his apron over the back of a chair and then sat down at their table, but Grit was impressed with how well she covered it.

    ¡°You work here,¡± she stated, and Thorn smiled.

    ¡°I live here,¡± he replied, then stuck out his hand. ¡°Elias Thorn.¡± Cassia shook his hand cautiously, and Thorn smiled again.

    ¡°The two of you are careful,¡± he commented. ¡°I like that. Let me show you my home.¡± He stood up again, and Grit quickly finished off his coffee.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, it¡¯s on the house,¡± Thorn said, when Cassia looked around for the waitress and the check. ¡°Follow me.¡±

    Thorn led them back through the kitchen, where Grit saw a different, much younger, cook cleaning the griddle. The cook didn¡¯t even glance up as they passed through and out the back door. There was a flight of stairs on the outside back wall of the building, and Thorn led them upwards to the front door of the apartment.

    ¡°Short commute,¡± Grit said, but no one responded as Thorn unlocked the door and ushered them inside. An alarm started beeping, but Thorn quickly silenced it with something that looked like a key fob for a car.

    ¡°Have a seat,¡± he said, gesturing towards the only furniture, a small dilapidated couch. Then he stepped into the kitchen, which was really just an extension of the living room, but with a sink and fridge.

    ¡°Coffee?¡± he asked. Grit was interested, considering Marta had not, in actuality, kept the coffee flowing, but Cassia answered first.

    ¡°All I want is answers,¡± she said firmly. Thorn didn¡¯t reply until he¡¯d dragged a small chair in from the kitchen. He sat on it with a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Well, I appreciate your directness, Cassia,¡± he said. ¡°Tek told me you are here in search of information regarding the Weft and Warp. I¡¯m sure you know that such information is often considered to be rumors or myth.¡± Cassia nodded impatiently.

    ¡°Unless you have some groundbreaking knowledge on the Weft and Warp, I probably already know it,¡± she replied, somewhat testily. Thorn raised an eyebrow, but Cassia either didn¡¯t notice, or didn¡¯t care.

    ¡°I¡¯m more interested in what you know about the Varynnic line,¡± she continued. ¡°More specifically, the Eldest.¡± Thorn raised both eyebrows now, and then settled even deeper into his chair.

    ¡°Interesting that you are even aware of the Varynns, and the Eldest,¡± he said, very slowly. ¡°Are you part of the line then? The multiverse has largely forgotten what they look like, after all.¡± Cassia gave him a strange smile, but then simply shrugged. Thorn smiled back, as if he¡¯d expected such a response.

    ¡°Well then, you have already skipped ahead of the information I was willing to reveal,¡± he said. ¡°Thank you for coming, and I hope you enjoyed your meal. Please don¡¯t come back.¡± The man stood up abruptly and gestured towards the door.

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Cassia exclaimed, leaping up from the couch to face Thorn. ¡°You don¡¯t have any information on the Eldest?¡± Thorn didn¡¯t reply, just smiled and walked to the front door. Grit finally stood up from the couch.

    ¡°You told me earlier that Tek had high praise for me,¡± he said softly, and Thorn stopped to listen. ¡°She obviously sent us here expecting you to help us. Isn¡¯t there some direction you can provide?¡± Thorn stared back at Grit, considering. He seemed about to reply when another alarm began to beep from somewhere in a back room. Thorn cursed and immediately leapt into action.

    ¡°Now we all have to leave, I¡¯m afraid,¡± he called over his shoulder as he disappeared into what Grit assumed was a bedroom. He reemerged almost immediately holding a communicator that looked very similar to one that Grit had seen Tek using, as well as a small duffel bag.

    ¡°And we have to leave now,¡± he said, then cursed again. ¡°Something¡¯s going on at the IPF. I wonder if it has anything to do with what Tek did.¡± He seemed to be talking to himself.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Cassia asked, and Thorn pulled himself out of his musings.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been discovered,¡± he said, and his sentence was punctuated by a loud crash in the diner below. Thorn threw open the front door and ushered them out, but stopped them abruptly at the top of the stairs.

    ¡°In case we get separated, I will tell you this one thing.¡± Thorn suddenly looked more stern than he had all night.

    ¡°The IPF is keeping the Eldest in one of its black prisons,¡± the old man said. ¡°They are trying to get information about the very fabric of the multiverse out of him.¡± He noticed Cassia¡¯s shocked face, and leaned towards her, gripping her shoulders.

    ¡°Someone has to get him out of there,¡± he said. Any chance of more discussion was gone with the sound of a siren at the front parking lot.

    ¡°This way!¡± Thorn called as he led them down the stairs, then threw open a trap door at the very bottom. ¡°Let¡¯s go find Tek!¡±

    Grit followed Cassia as they climbed down the ladder into the ground. As he dropped below ground level, Grit pulled the trapdoor shut, plunging them into total darkness. All he could do was follow the whistling of the strange old man as it led them further into the earth.

 32. Pink Ice Cream Truck

    Kevin looked out his window hesitantly. Dark water spread out away from the Wraith Harbor ferry that Mel had booked them two seats on after their escape. Now that he had several multiverse jumps under his belt, Kevin was able to complete interversal travel without hurling. But this was different. He closed his eyes and wiped his clammy forehead and tried not to think about the fact that the ¡°ferry¡± was basically a decommissioned submarine. A prod to the shoulder reminded him that Mel was speaking to him and probably expected a response.

    ¡°Hm, yeah, sure.¡± Without opening his eyes he could feel Mel¡¯s stare boring into his temple. ¡°Ok, you caught me. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, I can barely breathe in here. Can you tell that there¡¯s limited air? I think I can tell.¡±

    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake Kevin, submarines have been around longer than cell phones. Relax and help me figure out our next move.¡± Mel tapped at her chin and looked out the porthole window.

    ¡°Relax? I blew a man¡¯s hand apart forty minutes ago and cut you free in a utility closet, I think I¡¯ve earned a small uninterrupted panic attack.¡± Mel held up her hands in surrender and tapped impatiently at the sunglasses case in her hands.

    The ferry ran frequently between Wraith Harbor¡¯s undersea docks and a pier in the San Francisco bay area. Mel had ridden it four times before, two trips in and out but found the view of the lights across the Golden Gate Bridge as they surfaced especially exciting this time around. They cruised above the water the rest of the distance and when the hatch finally opened, Kevin was the first one to rush out onto the dock taking long, deep breaths.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re a little claustrophobic, huh?¡± Mel meandered up beside him and took in their surroundings while Kevin shot her a glare. It was still dark out, but the edges of dawn were beginning to creep into the sky. Kevin took one more calming breath and then took in their surroundings. Berkeley was fairly quiet at this early hour. Kevin sighed with relief, finally letting it sink in that he and Mel had escaped the immediate danger.

    ¡°How do we find the others?¡± Kevin asked after they¡¯d watched color and light spread across the sky for a few silent minutes.

    ¡°Yeah, I haven''t even come up with a half-assed idea for that.¡±

    ¡°How about quarter-assed?¡± Kevin asked earnestly.

    ¡°Not that either. It¡¯s hard enough finding someone on one Earth, hell if I know where they are! We could go back to Dallas but it¡¯s been a whole day now. Would be another full day and night of driving before we could get there.¡± Mel scrunched up her nose as Kevin turned to her hopefully. ¡°Oh no. No. Fuck no. Kevin, I¡¯m not spending twenty-four hours in a damn car just so we can turn up two days late to a meeting.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re our friends! They¡¯ll be waiting! We waited for them back in Arizona.¡±

    ¡°Kevin, no, we actually didn¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°Ok, but we left a message! They¡¯ll have left us a message too.¡± Mel rubbed furiously at her eyes, neither of them had properly slept in a day or two.

    ¡°I don¡¯t even know where the hell the Pathfinder was when we were in Dallas, there¡¯s no way we could find the exact spot in a whole city.¡± Kevin¡¯s face fell at that argument.

    ¡°Right, yeah, I suppose that¡¯s true.¡± They fell back into silence until Mel finally nudged him.

    ¡°I¡¯m fucking wiped, Kev. Let¡¯s find somewhere to get a few hours sleep then put our heads together. With food. We¡¯ll get waffles.¡± Kevin¡¯s face broke into confusion.

    ¡°You like waffles?¡±

    ¡°Everyone loves waffles, Kevin. Why wouldn¡¯t I like waffles?¡±

    ¡°I just thought you¡¯d be more into MREs or protein bars or¡­¡± Kevin broke off as Mel slowly turned to look at him with dangerous eyes. ¡°...nevermind.¡±

    <hr>

    Five hours later, Mel and Kevin sat in a diner south of UC Berkeley with no better ideas than when they¡¯d stepped off the ferry that morning. It was nearly noon and Mel was getting especially antsy. The longer they waited the less likely they¡¯d find their friends. Mel grimaced at the recognition that she considered them friends and did, in fact, want to find them. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°What if we spoke to whichever Elias Thorn lives on this Earth? See if he can track them?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Mel said forcefully. ¡°Thorn is a real asshat here. Also I robbed him. And shot him with a taser once.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that all?¡± Kevin teased her while biting into a biscuit.

    ¡°And once with a real gun. But it was just a .22.¡± Kevin rolled his eyes and looked out the diner¡¯s wide window with a smile that slowly slid off his face as the glasses spoke.

    ¡°Impact imminent.¡±

    The window of the diner exploded inward as Kevin tugged at Mel while shouting for her to get down. Kevin shook glass out of his hair and crawled with Mel around the counter as patrons and the lone waitress scattered.

    ¡°Melissa! Don¡¯ make this too hard now, c¡¯mon out now!¡± A woman¡¯s voice called through the broken window in an accent caught somewhere between British and Australian. ¡°An¡¯ I¡¯m not patient neither so before I get ta three.¡±

    ¡°Anna?¡± Mel called from behind the counter cautiously.

    ¡°You know her?¡± Kevin whispered frantically while Mel shushed him.

    ¡°Bugger me! No fookin way! That yoo, Mel?¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me, Anna!¡± A male voice shouted from outside.

    ¡°Sod off Gerald, I didn¡¯ read the full postin¡¯. Mel how yoo been then?¡± Mel shrugged at Kevin and slowly peaked over the counter.

    ¡°Anna. Gerald.¡± Mel greeted them carefully. ¡°You gonna fucking shoot me if I stand up?¡±

    ¡°Pshhhttt!¡± The question was greeted with a loud raucous laughter from the woman and Mel fully stood and gestured for Kevin to do the same.

    ¡°Good to see you two got your ride back.¡± Mel offered as Kevin took in the scene. On the other side of the blown out window a woman was standing in front of a bright pink ice cream truck pulled halfway onto the sidewalk. She wore a long sleeve white jumpsuit with patches sewn all across the chest and had a sleek helmet on that resembled what a racecar driver would wear. It was covered in stickers of cartoon characters Kevin had never seen before but his eyes were drawn mostly to a very large gun she now leaned against her shoulder with the barrel toward the sky.

    ¡°Bloody hell, what a goof, eh! Who the fook is this then?¡± Anna said with a playful tone. Mel nudged him in the arm and he worked his mouth furiously.

    ¡°Kevin,¡± was all that came out.

    ¡°Is he on the bounty too, we could take him in for half?¡± The male voice piped up again and Kevin realized that it was coming from a large rabbit who was perched in the window of the truck.

    ¡°Am I seeing a talking rabbit?¡± Kevin whispered out of the side of his mouth to Mel, who promptly kicked his shin behind the counter.

    ¡°This is Gerald, he and Anna are partners.¡± Mel said, her eyes boring into Kevin.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. Talking animal, get over it buddy, you¡¯re lucky I don¡¯t shoot you myself. We taking them in or not Anna?¡±

    ¡°O¡¯ course not! Mel¡¯s a friend!¡± The woman in the jumpsuit stepped to the window and began stretching as if to come through with one arm wide for a hug but stopped short and cocked her head. ¡°Shite, bobbies.¡±

    ¡°Everytime you pick the contract it goes caddywompus, Anna!¡± The rabbit, Gerald, hopped twice frantically as the sirens grew louder then turned towards the front of the truck and called back to them. ¡°Are you guys coming or what?¡±

    Kevin turned to Mel with his brows furrowed but she just shrugged and hopped the counter towards the busted window.

    ¡°I¡¯m dead. This is hell.¡± Kevin mopily dragged his feet out from around the counter and headed for the truck. Anna, with her huge gun under her arm clapped him on the shoulder as he got to the door.

    ¡°Don¡¯ worry! Gerald¡¯s a helluva driver!¡± Anna¡¯s endorsement did not change the sick look on Kevin¡¯s face or the sinking pit in his stomach as he climbed into the back of the ice cream truck and plopped onto a bench seat that ran the length of the truck behind the driver seat.

    From farther away, Gerald had looked like a typical rabbit but up close Kevin was shocked by his appearance. He was seated in a near human fashion and clearly had opposable thumbs. He frowned back at the two of them.

    ¡°I¡¯d say buckle up, but we don¡¯t have those so good flipping luck back there.¡± With that he turned and began to drive. After lurching into Mel, who smacked the back of his head, Kevin leaned forward curiously to look into the front. Gerald was large for a rabbit but there was no possible way he could be operating the pedals normally. The front seat was mostly normal, but the pedals seemed to be fitted into some sort of telescoping block to allow them to stretch up to directly under the seat where Gerald could reach them. He also sat on a child¡¯s booster seat decorated with stickers. Kevin glanced at Anna¡¯s helmet and figured that must be her handiwork.

    ¡°I hate to be rude.¡± Kevin started.

    ¡°Then don¡¯t be.¡± Gerald responded crisply before taking a sharp turn that flung Kevin back against the side of the truck. Kevin rubbed the back of his head gingerly and tried again.

    ¡°I¡¯m just not sure I understand what¡¯s going on.¡± This elicited a sigh from Mel.

    ¡°What else is new?¡± She mumbled.

    ¡°I¡¯s horrible rude not to do proper introductions, but giv¡¯n the circumstances.¡± Anna said while she punched numbers into a high tech console where the glovebox would normally be. Catching Kevin¡¯s curious eyes, she tapped the console lovingly and winked at him. ¡°Normal ol¡¯ bobbies won¡¯ follo¡¯ through a jump.¡±

    ¡°A jump to wher¡­¡± Kevin¡¯s question was cut off as the familiar tugging sensation made his stomach turn and their surroundings turned briefly into a series of doors and passages. Then just as suddenly, Kevin lurched forward in between the front seat as tires squealed loudly.

    ¡°Cripes, come on man!¡± Gerald shouted out as he wiped spilled Slurpee off his right leg. ¡°I told you to hold on, you dope, they don¡¯t have 7-Eleven on Earth One!¡±

 33. Thorn To Be Wild

    Cassia cursed under her breath after scraping her knee on the side of the tunnel for the hundredth time. It felt like they had been following Thorn for hours through the pitch black. Every once in a while his voice would float back to them, alerting them to a turn ahead or telling them to duck under a low spot. At one point, Thorn had pulled a communicator out of his pocket and studied it for a moment before silently continuing on.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got to be out of the city by now, right?¡± she whispered ahead to Grit, mostly just to interact with anyone. The darkness was starting to get to her.

    ¡°No idea,¡± came the gruff reply. She waited for a moment, but apparently that was the end of his interaction. Figured. Finally, after another few minutes of walking, Cassia saw the light from Thorn¡¯s communicator light up the tunnel in front of them. As they caught up to Thorn, she could see that they¡¯d reached the end of the tunnel. There was a ladder that led up to a trapdoor, which Thorn was standing directly beneath.

    ¡°I¡¯m fairly certain we weren¡¯t followed,¡± he told them. ¡°But I have no idea how much they know. This leads up to my garage, just outside city limits. If the IPF is here too, then, well¡­they¡¯re much better than they used to be.¡±

    With that, Thorn climbed the ladder and pushed the trapdoor open. Clambering out, he reached back in to help Grit and Cassia step out. For a second, standing on the concrete floor, Cassia thought she had simply traveled from one blackness to another. Shortly after they emerged from the floor, though, lights began to blink on, illuminating an enormous garage with multiple vehicles littered throughout. Grit whistled in surprise.

    ¡°Do all Thorn¡¯s have secret garages full of cars?¡± Cassia asked, though this garage far outstripped the Elias Thorn they had met on Earth-29. This Thorn furrowed his brow at her question.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked. Cassia suddenly felt unsure of herself. Grit glanced at her, then filled the silence.

    ¡°We¡¯ve met Elias Thorn¡¯s on other Earths,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re pretty sure that they had some sort of network across universes. Are you not aware of this?¡±

    Oddly enough, Thorn just stared at Grit, then Cassia, for a moment before shaking his head slightly.

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± he said, then turned to face the cars. ¡°We should go. Even though I doubt the IPF can connect me to this garage, I also was certain they wouldn¡¯t find me at the diner and they were able to do that.¡±

    He led them past a large black van, then a shiny blue sports car, before opening the door to a small silver sedan. Grit and Cassia looked at each other for a moment, and then Grit opened the front door.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Cassia said primly, glad she hadn¡¯t had to force him to let her sit in the front. As they clambered into their seats, Thorn pushed a button on the dash and the car revved to life briefly, before dropping to a low purr.

    ¡°Nice,¡± Grit said from the back seat. Thorn, surprisingly, smiled at him in the rearview mirror.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t look it, but this baby has the most power in the garage,¡± he said proudly. ¡°I built her myself.¡±

    ¡°Built her?¡± Cassia asked incredulously, and Thorn nodded.

    ¡°Sure did,¡± he answered. ¡°I¡¯m somewhat of a car nut.¡± He reached out and pushed another button on the dash, and a door began to slide up on the far side of the garage. Thorn clicked his seatbelt into place, then glanced over at Cassia.

    ¡°Buckle up,¡± he said, then he hit the gas and the car shot forward with tires squealing, slamming Cassia against the seat. She thought she heard Thorn chuckling as the car raced through the garage and exploded into the night.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Thorn shouted, as flashing lights immediately lit them up. ¡°The IPF is getting better.¡± He yanked the steering wheel, causing the car to drift sharply to the left, narrowly avoiding an IPF ship. Thorn purposefully didn¡¯t avoid the next vehicle in their way, ramming his front left bumper into the side of the IPF sedan and pushing it out of his way. For a moment, there was a clear runway, and Thorn slammed on the gas pedal again. The car responded immediately, leaving the IPF behind in seconds. Grit, surprisingly, let out a whoop from the back seat and Thorn grinned at him.

    ¡°I may have lost everything to IPF just now, but damn if that wasn¡¯t a good time,¡± he said. Cassia shook her head. Were all old men like this?

    ¡°I wonder if Tek was behind this,¡± Thorn continued, though now musing to himself. ¡°Seems unlikely, but she did know about my garage.¡±

    ¡°If you trusted her, there¡¯s no way she turned on you,¡± Grit said forcefully. Thorn looked at him thoughtfully in the rearview mirror, then looked at Cassia with an eyebrow raised. She shrugged.

    ¡°They¡¯re kind of a thing,¡± she said. ¡°I think, anyway.¡± She looked back at Grit, who just rolled his eyes in his version of a huff. She turned back to Thorn.

    ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I agree with him. I doubt that Detective K¡¯Nani would simply betray your trust without so much as warning you.¡± Thorn nodded slowly.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°True,¡± he agreed. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t compromised somehow. We¡¯ve got to make a play now, before the IPF has time to do anything more to counter us.¡±

    They had reached a mainway, and Thorn punched the accelerator up to what Cassia was sure had to be the highest speed the car could go. They were flying down the large road, dodging vehicles left and right. She looked away from the window, trying not to think about what would happen if they even slightly clipped any of the vehicles that Thorn was zipping past.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± she asked. Thorn¡¯s face was set firmly, his lips pressed in a thin line of concentration.

    ¡°IPF Deep Prison Six,¡± he said, focusing intently on the road.

    ¡°Is it nearby?¡± Grit asked from the backseat, and Thorn¡¯s mouth twitched into a small smile, though he still watched the road intently.

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± he replied. ¡°We¡¯re going to make a jump.¡± Cassia frowned at this, then took a closer look at the myriad of buttons on the dashboard.

    ¡°This car makes jumps?¡± she asked, unable to make sense of any of them. ¡°Why didn¡¯t we just jump from the garage then?¡±

    ¡°Because we¡¯re going to need a running start,¡± Thorn said, staring straight forward still. ¡°And on that note¡­brace yourselves.¡± He spoke relatively softly, but seriously enough that Cassia couldn¡¯t help but double check her seatbelt. They had reached a space on the mainway with relatively few cars in front of them. Thorn passed a couple more, and then reached out and punched multiple buttons on the dash and rolled a dial to the right.

    ¡°Multiversal jump pending,¡± said an electronic voice that made Cassia jump. ¡°Earth-211 selected. Jumping in 5¡­4¡­3¡­¡±

    ¡°Earth-211!¡± Cassia shouted. ¡°That¡¯s too far! Anything could happen during the jump!¡± Thorn didn¡¯t reply, and the electronic voice reached the end of the countdown. There was a popping noise, and then the setting shifted.

    <hr>

    The new setting was extremely disorienting. The car went from flying down a mainway in the dark to offroading through a desert in broad daylight. Cassia blinked against the sun¡¯s glare for a moment before the windows of the car slowly tinted. She looked around to assess the damage, but everything appeared to be normal.

    ¡°How did we do that?¡± she asked Thorn. ¡°Jumping to the 100 level is getting dangerous, much less 200.¡± Thorn shrugged as he maneuvered the car around a giant rocky outcropping. Cassia realized that there was a road of sorts that he was following. She also noticed that they were rapidly approaching a gate that was guarded by multiple men with weapons.

    Before she could even get words out, Thorn hit the gate at high speed, crashing straight through it with barely a pause in momentum. Out the window, she could see men shouting and scrambling for their vehicles. A couple of them started firing on the car as it rapidly distanced itself from them.

    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± said Grit from the backseat. ¡°A running start.¡± Thorn smiled and nodded, then looked over at Cassia.

    ¡°This car is special,¡± he said. ¡°Got a lot of protections in place for jumps like that. I think maybe you¡¯ve driven something similar.¡±

    Cassia frowned in confusion, then suddenly realized what he meant. She reached out and placed a hand on the dashboard, immediately feeling a familiar pulse of energy.

    ¡°A Pathfinder?¡± she asked, almost whispering. ¡°Wait, you made one?¡± Thorn nodded, but then made a face.

    ¡°Kind of,¡± he admitted. ¡°Pathfinders are tricky. They¡¯re sentient, at least on some level, as I¡¯m sure you discovered. And acquiring one is difficult. But if you know how to - hold on!¡± They were quickly approaching a convoy of vehicles blocking the road, with large weapons mounted on top of them.

    ¡°This is the end of the line, folks,¡± Thorn said, shockingly upbeat. ¡°I hope you¡¯ve enjoyed your ride.¡± He continued approaching the blockade at full speed, and for a second Cassia thought he might just slam into it.

    ¡°This is the IPF. Stop your vehicle and exit immediately.¡± Somehow the voice blasted through the radio, similar to the way Tek¡¯s had done before. For some reason this only made Thorn smile as he determinedly sped towards the vehicles.

    ¡°We will open fire if you continue,¡± the voice warned, but of course Thorn paid it no heed. Seconds later, the machine guns mounted on top of the trucks began firing rapidly. Bullets started bouncing off the car¡¯s exterior with loud pings. Multiples of them struck the windshield, though only one caused any sort of crack that Cassia could see. Thorn must of read the shocked look on her face, because he chuckled.

    ¡°Told you I made it myself,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m surprised they even managed to put a crack in it.¡±

    ¡°Thorn!¡± Grit suddenly shouted from the backseat, as the car continued to catapult towards the barrier. At the last possible second, Thorn yanked the wheel around, and the car lurched to the side, somehow managing to remain upright. He launched the vehicle forwards again, now going perpendicular from the road, then suddenly yanked the wheel back. The car flipped completely around, facing the way they¡¯d just come. Cassia could see a huge cloud of dust completely obscuring the barrier they¡¯d just dodgedd.

    ¡°Maybe next time we just knock on the door?¡± Grit suggested from the back, and Cassia ws inclined to agree. She¡¯d had enough of racing full speed towards a stationary object for one day. Thorn just chuckled again.

    ¡°You do that and the IPF will put you in the prison just for being here,¡± he said, then gunned the accelerator and the car shot forwards again, launching directly into the dust cloud Thorn had created. Almost immediately, he was forced to dodge left and right around the IPF vehicles that had belatedly followed them off the road and into the desert. Cassia felt all of her muscles tensing in anticipation of a collision, but moments later Thorn had driven them straight through the oncoming vehicles and right back to the road. Turning sharply onto it, he again accelerated to full speed.

    ¡°Now comes the fun part,¡± he said. From the backseat, Grit groaned loudly. Up ahead, Cassia saw a foreboding sign.

    ¡°The Pit?¡± she asked Thorn, and he gave her a small nod, eyes on the road. ¡°What¡¯s The Pit?¡±

    ¡°I told you it was a deep prison,¡± he said, not explaining further. Cassia looked back out the windshield, and then gasped. In front of them, the road simply ended at a hole in the ground. She looked back at Thorn and, to her horror, he released the wheel and sat back in his seat with his arms folded across his chest.

    ¡°Let¡¯s drop in on the Eldest, shall we?¡±

 34. Into The Pit

    Grit felt like the world switched to slow motion at the very moment that the car launched off the end of the road and directly into The Pit. The back of his brain started analyzing things, like it always did. He recognized the cells built into the side of The Pit, going all the way around in an enormous circle. The diameter of the hole was much larger than he had assumed. There was a shocking burst of sadness from missing Tango. At this moment he would¡¯ve taken him back in either dog or pangolin form. He also vaguely realized that Cassia was screaming, which seemed both appropriate and quite surprising.

    The front of his brain, however, was much more concerned about his personal safety in the moment. Thorn had just launched their vehicle over the side of an enormous pit and, for a moment, the car seemed to hang in space. Then the bottom fell out and they started plummeting into the blackness of the prison below. Grit thought his stomach might come floating out through his mouth. The car fell for what seemed like an hour, though the logic in the back of his brain kicked in just enough to tell him it must have only been seconds. Just as he began to accept that Thorn had indeed led them to their deaths, there was a sudden lurch that threw him forward against his seatbelt, causing the fabric to dig into this collarbone. The lurch stopped, and Grit fell back against his seat, then realized that the falling sensation had disappeared. Thorn grinned sideways at Cassia, then twisted around to look at Grit.

    ¡°That was fun, huh?¡± he asked. Grit could only grunt in reply, and Cassia groaned loudly in the front seat.

    ¡°I¡¯m starting to think that every Thorn in every universe is some level of insane,¡± she said, looking a little sick. Grit wanted to ask her if her healing ability worked on the inside, but Thorn had already started talking.

    ¡°In a minute we¡¯re going to land on the most secure holding cell that the IPF has in the entire multiverse,¡± he said. ¡°To my knowledge, no one has tried to break someone out by going in through the roof. So here¡¯s hoping they aren¡¯t ready for that. If they are¡­well, get ready for some action.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the roof?¡± Cassia asked. ¡°This place is just a giant pit, open to the sky. It doesn¡¯t have a roof.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not the roof of The Pit, it¡¯s the roof of the cell,¡± Grit said, suddenly realizing what Thorn was talking about. ¡°The most secure cell in this place would be in the center of the giant pit, way down at the bottom.¡± Thorn inclined his head at him in the rearview mirror.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± he said. ¡°Grit, could you hand me that laser cutter?¡±

    Grit looked around the backseat and noticed, for the first time, that there was a large device on the ground behind the driver¡¯s seat. He picked it up, noticing its surprising weight, and passed it forward to Thorn.

    ¡°Going in through the roof?¡± he asked, and Thorn nodded again.

    ¡°Won¡¯t we be sitting ducks?¡± Cassia asked. She was staring out the window apprehensively, even though there was nothing to see but the very faint outlines of the cells in the side of the pit.

    ¡°The IPF knows we launched ourselves in here,¡± Thorn said in reply. ¡°But I¡¯m banking on the fact that they don¡¯t think we can land directly on top of the cell we need.¡± He paused for a moment and frowned.

    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not entirely sure that we actually can,¡± he said. ¡°But we have a better shot than any other random insane person who dropped their car in here.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the encouraging words,¡± Cassia said dryly, still staring out her window. Grit felt similarly, but he kept it to himself. There was a dinging noise from the car, and Thorn perked up.

    ¡°Destination approaching,¡± said the computerized voice. A moment later they landed with a surprisingly soft thump. Thorn smiled.

    ¡°No IPF presence that I can see,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± He threw open his door and hauled the laser cutter out with him. Grit and Cassia followed. Almost immediately, bright lights lit up the entire roof top, illuminating the many IPF guards surrounding the three of them, weapons at the ready.

    ¡°Ok, so maybe there is some IPF presence,¡± Thorn admitted belatedly.

    <hr>

    Grit sat with Cassia and Thorn in a cell, deep in the bowels of The Pit. They had been hauled off the roof of the Eldest¡¯s cell and marched along a circular passageway before being shoved through an unmarked door and told to wait. That had been roughly an hour ago, by Grit¡¯s count. There was a dim view out the small, dirty window of The Pit, but the darkness outside made it difficult to see anything of importance. The cot they were all sitting on was the only furniture in the cell.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Can the IPF just keep us here indefinitely?¡± Cassia asked. Thorn stood up and stretched, and didn¡¯t reply at first. Eventually he shrugged.

    ¡°They probably can if they want to,¡± he said. ¡°Who¡¯s going to come looking for us?¡± His question was met with silence. Thorn started pacing the small room.

    ¡°The IPF is the biggest governing force that spans the multiverse,¡± Thorn said. ¡°They essentially have a monopoly on interversal policing.¡± He stopped speaking, though he continued walking back and forth.

    ¡°Meaning what, exactly?¡± Grit asked. Thorn nodded, as if he¡¯d simply been waiting for someone to prompt him to continue.

    ¡°Meaning that they can get away with things like locking up some random individuals in a prison far outside the Initial Hundred universes,¡± Thorn answered. ¡°However, they also like to try and put on a good front. Just because they are the current superpower of interversal policing, doesn¡¯t mean they always will be. Especially with more and more universes discovering interversal jumping.¡±

    ¡°Which means there is some risk to keeping us here,¡± Cassia interjected. ¡°Because if word does get out that they just disappeared a few people, it¡¯s going to look really bad for them.¡± Thorn nodded at her as he walked.

    ¡°Precisely. Right now they¡¯re weighing the pros and cons of what to do with us. I assume they¡¯ll be done with that shortly. Which means we can sit here and wait for our fate. Or we can try to get out.¡±

    Grit looked at Thorn in surprise, then shared a look with Cassia. Maybe this man actually was insane. After a moment, Cassia couldn¡¯t take it anymore.

    ¡°And how do you suggest we get out of here?¡± she demanded. ¡°We¡¯re in an enormous pit on Earth-211! Didn¡¯t you tell us yourself that this was the most secure prison that the IPF has?¡±

    Thorn smiled at her, and finally stopped pacing. He stood in the center of the room with a mischievous look on his face.

    ¡°I did say that,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°But the IPF has very little information on Pathfinders, and therefore they were quite willing to simply ignore mine.¡± Grit perked up at this, and by the way Cassia¡¯s eyes widened, she had forgotten about the ship as well.

    ¡°Can the ship pick locks?¡± she asked, trying to keep up her frustrated facade, though the revelation about the Pathfinder had obviously depleted some of her frustration.

    ¡°It can do better than that,¡± Thorn said. He looked at Grit, who was sitting closest to the dirty window.

    ¡°Grit, I¡¯d suggest you move away from that side of the room. I believe it could be dangerous over there.¡± Grit looked from Thorn to the window and back again, then decided that he probably should take that advice. He scrambled over to the other side of the room, next to Cassia, and Thorn joined them.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly when we¡¯ll get out,¡± Thorn admitted. ¡°Only that the Pathfinder was told to - ¡± His words were cut off by an explosion outside of their cell. The wall seemed to crumble inward, revealing Thorn¡¯s car hovering outside of the cell.

    ¡°That¡¯s our ride!¡± Thorn called, racing across the small room and yanking open the driver¡¯s door. ¡°Hop in!¡±

    Grit glanced at Cassia, who shrugged at him, so he ran after Thorn and threw himself into the backseat. Cassia landed in the passenger seat shortly after. Through the windshield, Grit saw the door to the cell fly open and multiple IPF officers rush in.

    ¡°Good timing, my friend,¡± Thorn said fondly, patting the dashboard of the car as if it were a pet. He pushed a button, then pulled up on the steering wheel, and the car quickly turned around and darted forward into the darkness. Within seconds they had arrived back at the roof of the cell from which they had been arrested earlier.

    ¡°Wait, why are we here again?¡± Cassia asked, sounding somewhat frantic. ¡°Won¡¯t they just come get us again?¡± Thorn chuckled.

    ¡°They will inevitably try,¡± he answered. ¡°But I put the car to work while we were being locked up.¡± He stepped out of the vehicle without saying more, and Grit and Cassia reluctantly followed him.

    ¡°See there?¡± Thorn said, extending his arm proudly towards the roof of the cell below them. Grit squinted through the darkness. Sure enough, he could see a small outline of a circle that seemed maybe just wide enough for one of them to fit through. Thorn stepped back, and then stomped his foot down inside the outline. There was a crash, and the entire circle fell through to the cell floor below.

    ¡°Voila!¡± Thorn said, gesturing towards the new hole as if he were a magician who had just performed a sleight of hand. Grit couldn¡¯t see her do it, but he could tell by her posture that Cassia had rolled her eyes at him.

    ¡°A touch dramatic, don¡¯t you think?¡± she said sarcastically, but then she knelt down and peered through the hole. Thorn and Grit joined her. The cell below was lit by a single bulb, secured beneath heavy plastic. There was a tiny cot in one corner, with a figure sitting in it. Grit leaned forward to look around Cassia, whose whole body had tensed next to him.

    ¡°Ah,¡± whispered Thorn. ¡°Even I didn¡¯t see this one coming.¡± Grit shifted on his knees, finally finding enough room to get a good look in the room. He squinted at the figure on the bed, who suddenly looked straight up at the three of them. Grit¡¯s mouth fell open in shock. The thin figure on the cot, the Eldest who was somehow supposed to be an integral cog to fixing the very fabric of the multiverse, was a child.

 35. Spilled Slushy

    ¡°And you¡¯re sure we can trust them?¡± Kevin mumbled to Mel in the back of the ice cream truck as they watched the woman and the rabbit walk into a gas station.

    ¡°Yes, Kevin, for the twelfth fucking time. These are my people. Sort of. They¡¯re my people adjacent at least.¡±

    ¡°They nearly shot us.¡± Kevin shifted to look at Mel¡¯s face incredulously.

    ¡°Well, yeah. They¡¯re bounty hunters and apparently we¡¯re wanted. Not too surprising. You¡¯ve been making enemies everywhere we go, you jackass.¡± She punched his arm with a hint of a smile playing on her lips. Kevin scowled at her good humor.

    ¡°All of you are bad influences.¡± He crossed his arms and plopped back down on the bench seat.

    ¡°Look, this is good. We¡¯re with friends and I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll help us find Cassia and the others¡­ As soon as they finish the bounty they¡¯re on¡­¡± Mel mumbled the last part.

    ¡°Another bounty? And we¡¯re just going to hang out while they do it?¡± Kevin¡¯s eyes bugged out and he gave a loud sigh.

    The back door of the truck swung open and the rabbit, Gerald, hopped in holding a frozen drink. At the same time Anna hopped up into the front seat and began messing with the dials and buttons there.

    ¡°Not the same as a slurpee for sure, but it¡¯s not too bad.¡± Gerald slurped at his frozen blue drink and handed Mel a candy bar then tossed one at Kevin. ¡°I know you said you didn¡¯t want one but I thought it might help with that dang grumpy attitude.¡±

    ¡°Leave ¡®em be, Gerald! I almos¡¯ shot the bloke!¡± Anna leaned back through the middle and put a gentle hand on Kevin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°An¡¯ I do apologize for that bit o¡¯ violence back there. Live and fookin¡¯ learn, as the sayin¡¯ goes.¡± Kevin stared blankly at the soft hand and Mel gave him a swat on the other arm.

    ¡°The polite thing would be to accept the apology.¡± Mel looked at Kevin pointedly.

    ¡°Right. No worries.¡± Kevin said unconvincingly which evoked a barking laugh from Anna. Kevin was quickly learning that her personality bounced around wildly.

    ¡°Alright, are we all good now? Can we move it along?¡± Gerald climbed over Kevin¡¯s legs and up into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Good. Because I¡¯d like to get flipping paid.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, you money grubbin¡¯ rodent.¡± Anna flipped a switch and turned a dial. ¡°211, hell of a jump, that is.¡±

    ¡°211? Did she say 211?¡± Kevin bumped Mel¡¯s knee with his own and pointed. ¡°211 is too far, right? We¡¯ll turn into snails or lose our bones or something, right?¡±

    ¡°Dunno.¡± Mel shrugged. ¡°We¡¯re along for the ride, Kev.¡±

    ¡°Along for the ride?!¡± Kevin said incredulously. ¡°You¡¯re all insane.¡±

    ¡°Damn right!¡± Anna let out a loud whoop and punched a button on the dash. Kevin was getting used to jumps but the stomach dropping sensation seemed to be more powerful on this long of a jump. Kevin could once again make out a sort of hallway or passage and felt them travelling through it. To his right, he could see Anna drifting towards a closed gate and an alarm bell inside his head went off. He could tell that she shouldn¡¯t go there. Something inside of him forced his mind into action and in this strange in-between space he grabbed Anna by the hand and carefully pulled her back into their group.

    In a similar fashion, Kevin recognized that they were overshooting their destination. As they began to pass a sleek metal door, he pulled them all to a halt. Normally hesitant, Kevin felt perfectly at peace. He pushed his spectral form toward the door, pulling Mel, Anna, and even Gerald along with him. As he opened the door, everything flashed into motion at once and they were in the ice cream truck again. Anna was aggressively vomiting out the window and Gerald had yet again spilled his frozen slushy. Kevin looked to the side at Mel who had rolled onto the floor.

    ¡°That was a fucking trip.¡± Mel wheezed out as if she¡¯d been punched in the stomach. Kevin stepped over to the window and looked out. The pink ice cream truck was parked on a dusty trail in a desert landscape. In the distance, he thought he could make out a city rising up from the heat haze on the horizon. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Alrigh¡¯, targets escaped prison on Earth-1 an¡¯ apparently jumped here. Mus¡¯ be hidin¡¯ out.¡± Anna looked around at the desert out the windshield and looked back down at the tablet she was reading from. ¡°Here, take a look noobie.¡±

    Kevin leaned forward to look at the screen as Anna held it between the seats for him. A blurry security image showed the unmistakable figure of Cassia next to Grit in surveillance video from a cell like the one he¡¯d been only days before when he landed in this mess. He sighed heavily and gestured for Mel to look.

    ¡°Oh for fucks sake.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°What exactly is the plan again?¡± Kevin shifted uncomfortably on the sandy ground between Mel and Anna. He looked from Mel, who was looking through binoculars, to Anna, who was sighting through a long scope, and suddenly felt very inadequate about the small remote he¡¯d been entrusted with. Mel turned his way and rolled her eyes.

    ¡°This is recon. Bounty hunting isn¡¯t all busting down doors and blowing up diners.¡± Mel went back to her binoculars and continued to watch the compound they¡¯d found after driving around the desert for a few hours. He didn¡¯t fully understand where they were but it seemed like some sort of IPF base. A few buildings around a large hole in the ground. Kevin recalled sci-fi comics about giant killer worms in the ground as he looked across the expanse at the small hole in the distance.

    They were situated far away from the facility, parked in the shadow of a dune, and were laying flat on a small rise where they could study the surroundings. Kevin looked over at Gerald, who was eating from a party size bag of Doritos. Kevin lay quiet for a few minutes with only the crunching of chips for sound. Letting out a long yawn, he finally turned back to Mel.

    ¡°But what exactly are we reconning for?¡± Mel closed her eyes and exhaled through her nose at the question while a little snicker came from Anna¡¯s direction.

    ¡°We know Cassia and Grit escaped the IPF and according to Anna¡¯s tap of the IPF feeds, they jumped here. But, we don¡¯t know why and we don¡¯t know their status. If they ended up here at this facility, it is either important and they might need our help blasting it open or it is a black site prison where they are being held.¡± Mel turned back to her binoculars after this explanation and Anna chimed in.

    ¡°And we need to know which it is before we blow it up.¡± She gestured to Gerald who held up what looked like a brick of brown clay.

    ¡°C4.¡± He said through a mouthful of chips.

    ¡°So to be clear, the plan is look at the place until we decide which part of it to blow up?¡±

    ¡°Sounds stupid when you say it.¡± Gerald muttered.

    ¡°Leave it to Kevin to make black site infiltration sound lame.¡± Mel nudged him with her shoulder and laughed quietly. She was cut off suddenly but the sound of an explosion and smoke began to rise from the hole in the ground.

    ¡°Nuts, somebody beat me to it.¡± Gerald grabbed the C4 and began hopping back to the van.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Mel pulled Kevin up by the arm and they dashed back to the ice cream truck. Jumping in, Gerald hit a switch and a minigun swiveled into place in the back. Anna pointed Kevin to the front seat and mounted the gun, aiming through the side window of the truck as they took off toward the compound.

    ¡°Remember, don¡¯t shoot Grit or Cassia!¡± Kevin shouted over his shoulder. ¡°Actually, I guess Cassia would probably be fine, but don¡¯t shoot Grit!¡±

    The truck raced across the cracked earth and the minigun began to spin up. Kevin looked out nervously at a group of IPF guards at a checkpoint. He caught their confusion and surprise before they began to raise weapons and fire shots that bounced and ping off the truck¡¯s bulletproof frame and windows. The minigun erupted in a staccato burst behind Kevin and he covered his ears in shock. Nervous to add killing police to his list of interversal crimes, Kevin let out his breath when he realized Anna was aiming at the fence they were guarding, shredding the gate from the post before they got to it.

    ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll do a lap around but if we don¡¯t see your friends, I think we have to roll back to regroup. We can only take so much freaking gunfire.¡± Gerald kicked the ice cream truck up to higher speed now that they were in the compound¡¯s grounds. As they circled the giant hole in the ground, Kevin peered through his window and tried not to flinch when bullets pinged off of it.

    ¡°There¡¯s something down there I think but I can¡¯t make out what!¡± Kevin leaned his head harder into his window and craned his neck but couldn¡¯t quite see the bottom. As they closed the lap, Mel let out a noise of frustration as she fired a bean bag cannon out a sliding slot in the back door.

    ¡°Can we go around one more time?¡± Mel asked as she blasted an IPF officer off his feet with a bean bag and laughed.

    ¡°We can¡¯t spare the time! One of these shots is going to punch through sooner rather than later!¡± Gerald was scanning out the windshield, looking for an exit when a rush of air surged from the pit.

    ¡°Bloody hell, that your friends now?¡± Anna was staring, open mouthed at a silver sedan that flew up out of the hole. Kevin could make out Cassia¡¯s face in the passenger seat and waved awkwardly.

    ¡°Freaking flying car, some folks.¡± Gerald whipped the ice cream truck around and raced to follow beneath the hovering sedan.

 36. Pot of Gold

    Elaine was really unsure as to how she¡¯d ended up here. Since escaping from The Singularity, she¡¯d been tossed around the multiverse with a band of strangers. Now here she was with Derrick, who was some sort of shapeshifter, on some strange Earth. Kevin was nice, though. In fact, he might be the person who had been the nicest to her in her entire life, though her training with The Singularity had made memories from before blurry, at best. She did miss Kevin. He had an unassuming naivete about him that made him easier to talk to than the others. They were all full of confidence, and driven towards their goals. Elaine had the feeling that Kevin was more like her; drifting at the whims of the multiverse.

    ¡°There!¡± Derrick exclaimed, causing Elaine to jump. ¡°Earth-211!¡± Elaine followed his pointing finger, embarrassed that she¡¯d stopped helping, and saw a screen that was focused on a strange flying car and a pink ice cream truck. At the top of the screen, above the vehicles, was a graphic showing Cassia and Grit¡¯s faces, along with one of an older man she didn¡¯t recognize. The headline below them was startling. Moreng and Patterson escape with high interest prisoner in brazen prison break.

    As she watched, many of the other screens began to show the same footage, with similar wording. The room seemed to pause for a second, as everyone in it recognized that major news was breaking. One of the men with a lanyard around his neck reached out and turned up the volume of one of the screens with a news anchor.

    ¡°...and Thorn. Sources are saying that the three of them were in detainment for less than an hour before causing an explosion in their cell. As of now, we have still not confirmed who the prisoner is that the three took with them, but we will update you as more information comes in.¡± The man turned the volume back down, and Elaine felt as if all the eyes in the room were staring at her and Derrick. There was a long pause before Derrick finally spoke.

    ¡°Look, I¡¯ll admit my friends have a¡­disagreement with the IPF. But last time I checked, the Switchboard was an entity unto itself, and messages could be sent regardless of your affiliation.¡± Elaine was surprised at the intensity in Derrick¡¯s voice, and his facial features somehow seemed more stern than she remembered. WIth a start, she realized that he was likely manipulating them in order to match his voice. What a useful talent.

    ¡°I am needing to communicate with them,¡± Derrick continued, his voice still loud and firm. ¡°Does the Switchboard still provide messaging services?¡± There was another short pause, and Elaine briefly thought that the rest of the room might simply ignore him.

    ¡°For a fee,¡± the second man with the lanyard spoke up finally. ¡°Although, I¡¯m not sure our capabilities extend to an Earth as far away as 211.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Derrick said, his voice less intense. ¡°We will need your service in a moment, assuming my friends are able to jump away from 211.¡± The man in the lanyard nodded at this, and slowly the room returned to its normal busyness. Elaine leaned over to Derrick.

    ¡°That was impressive,¡± she whispered. Derrick gave a tiny shiver.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I hate talking in front of people.¡± Elaine looked at him closer, and noticed a slight tremble to his hands. She smiled, in what she hoped was a comforting way.

    ¡°Me either,¡± she replied. ¡°So thanks for doing that. Now we just have to do what? Watch the screen and see if they jump? Will we be able to follow them to another Earth?¡± Derrick nodded, and leaned back in his chair to get a wider view of all the screens.

    ¡°The Switchboard has some sort of closely guarded secret around how they track jumps,¡± he explained. ¡°But however they do it, they pay close attention to the most newsworthy people and organizations. If they jump, we should see -¡± He was cut off from further explanation by a chime that sounded throughout the room.

    ¡°IPF Tracker - jump from Earth-211 to Earth-73,¡± an automated voice said. As soon as it finished, there was a second chime. The room quickly returned to normal. Derrick raised his eyebrows, looking impressed.

    ¡°They really have upgraded this place since the last time I was here,¡± he said. ¡°Now we need to find a feed of Earth-73.¡±

    One of the screens fuzzed for a moment, and then blinked back on to show the pink ice cream truck they had seen earlier. Right behind it was the other car, though it wasn¡¯t flying anymore. Elaine glanced at Derrick, who looked thoughtful.

    ¡°Something is familiar about this,¡± he muttered, rubbing his chin. Elaine glanced back at the screen, watching the ice cream truck lead the other car.

    ¡°How does the Switchboard have cameras everywhere?¡± she asked. Derrick chuckled softly.

    ¡°That is a good question,¡± he replied. ¡°I think you¡¯d be surprised at everything the Switchboard can do, even if their building seems so commonplace.¡± He went back to his musing for a moment, then glanced back at Elaine.

    ¡°Perhaps it is for just that reason that they are able to be so effective,¡± he said contemplatively. He turned back to the screen, and the two of them watched as both cars turned off the road and started bouncing down a long dirt drive. Eventually they approached a small cottage, with an extremely pointed roof of thatch. Elaine heard Derrick breath in sharply, and she glanced over at him. He was staring at the screen with a stunned expression.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been there,¡± he said. ¡°I know that house.¡±

    ¡°You have? Who lives there?¡± Elaine asked, excitedly. Maybe they would be able to reunite with Kevin, and the others, after all. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°A leprechaun, believe it or not,¡± Derrick replied. Elaine snorted, but then looked at Derrick¡¯s serious face and realized he was not joking.

    ¡°Wait, really?¡± Elaine asked, and Derrick nodded solemnly.

    ¡°Really,¡± he answered. ¡°Worst of all, I just remembered why I thought that Earth-73 was familiar.¡± Elaine watched the screen as Grit and Cassia stepped out of the car, followed by a man that she was fairly certain was another Elias Thorn, and a child who she didn¡¯t recognize. They were joined by Kevin, Mel, a woman in a jumpsuit, and a large rabbit. Elaine blinked a few times, but the rabbit was still there. She realized that Derrick hadn¡¯t finished his thought, and looked over to find him still staring unblinkingly at the screen.

    ¡°Why is it familiar?¡± she prompted. ¡°And why is that the worst thing?¡± Derrick glanced over at her.

    ¡°Earth-73 is dangerous,¡± he said slowly. ¡°Because it¡¯s the only Earth in the Initial Hundred that has magic.¡±

    <hr>

    Grit shut his car door and apprehensively followed the others up to the door of the cottage. It looked like a house out of a fairytale. According to Thorn, they were somewhere in Ireland, on Earth-73. Strangely, they¡¯d seen almost no other cars in the short time that they¡¯d spent on the road after jumping. There had been quite a few sheep, though. The group reached the front door, and Anna knocked on it. Thorn had suggest coming here, and apparently the two bounty hunters had worked with the owner of the cottage multiple times. All three had insisted that it was a safe place to hide from the IPF for now, though Thorn had clammed up when they asked for additional information about either the occupant or the universe. He¡¯d only promised to explain more later.

    ¡°Maybe they aren¡¯t home?¡± Cassia asked, after they had waited for a couple of minutes. The large rabbit, whose name was Grit thought might be Gerald, turned towards Cassia.

    ¡°No way, he never leaves,¡± the rabbit said. ¡°He¡¯s probably just hiding to make sure that we¡¯re serious.¡± He suddenly leaned forward and kicked the door three times in rapid succession with his back leg.

    ¡°That should do it,¡± he said cheerfully. After a moment, the door opened a crack.

    ¡°There be no need t¡¯be banging down me door!¡± The voice inside was high pitched and cranky sounding. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you.¡±

    The door swung open wider to reveal the shortest man Grit had ever seen. He had a wide bulbous nose, and wispy red hair that was streaked thoroughly with gray. His beard was long and patchy, and he wore a faded green jacket over a dirty green button down.

    ¡°I see ye brought guests,¡± the man said grumpily, squinting up at the group. ¡°Best come in, ¡®fore ye be seen.¡± He stepped back from the doorway, into the gloom of the house. Anna and Gerald led the way in, and Grit was shocked at how big the interior of the house seemed. He could¡¯ve sworn that the outside wasn¡¯t nearly as big as the inside. The group passed through the main hallway and into a large dining area. The table at the center appeared to be carved from a giant tree trunk that was growing straight out of the floor. He watched Anna and Gerald settle down at the table as if they¡¯d been there many times before.

    ¡°Bloody good ter be back, eh Gerald?¡± Anna said with a sigh. The rabbit nodded, or at least Grit thought that it did.

    ¡°It sure is,¡± Gerald said. ¡°Thanks for inviting us in, Eli.¡± The short man grunted as he busted around the kitchen doing something Grit couldn¡¯t see.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t have no choice,¡± he grumbled, then returned to the big table carrying a tray loaded with cups of tea. Grit wondered how he¡¯d made tea so quickly, but he happily accepted his cup. This place seemed to be constantly chilly.

    ¡°Are you a leprechaun?¡± the child asked abruptly. Mel laughed, sitting backwards in her seat. Grit nervously watched the short man to see how he¡¯d take the question. They called this kid the Eldest, but he seemed very much like a child. When he did speak, that is. He often just remained silent. Their host squinted at the kid.

    ¡°Sure am,¡± he said. ¡°What gave me away, the stature or the hair?¡± He suddenly burst into loud guffaws. The other chuckled in an embarrassed sort of way. The kid, however, didn¡¯t laugh but simply blinked across the table at the man.

    ¡°Neither,¡± the Eldest replied in an even tone. ¡°It was because you did magic.¡± The odd man¡¯s bushy eyebrows shot up in surprise. In fact, looking around, Grit determined that the only person not surprised by this was Cassia, for some reason.

    ¡°Ye be a smart kid,¡± the man said before turning to Gerald. ¡°Now tell me why I be servin¡¯ ye tea.¡±

    ¡°Well, Eli, we¡¯re kind of on the run from the IPF,¡± the rabbit replied, then gestured towards the Eldest. ¡°This kid here is important to them for some reason. Something to do with the multiverse unraveling or something. Ask them about that.¡± He pointed towards Mel before continuing..

    ¡°All I really know is that we¡¯ve grabbed two bounties in a row now with no extra funding to show for it. This is how bounty hunters go broke, you know.¡± He addressed the last comment to Anna, who just rolled her eyes at them.

    ¡°The IPF ye say?¡± said the man. ¡°S¡¯pose I can help. Wait here.¡± He suddenly vanished with a faint popping sound and brief flash of colors. Cassia yelped, and jumped up from the table, while Grit tried to blink away the after image of the light.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Cassia exclaimed. ¡°Where did he go?¡± Anna and Mel were laughing at both of them, but Gerald just rolled his eyes. Or, at least, Grit thought that he did. Kevin just sat in his chair looking tired, which Grit thought was normal. Mel, though, had done less talking than he remembered.

    ¡°Old Eli loves showing off. He probably just teleported to the end of the driveway to make sure his wards are in place,¡± the rabbit exclaimed. Grit frowned.

    ¡°Teleported?¡± he repeated, as a question. Thorn nodded at him from across the table.

    ¡°The kid was right,¡± he said, glancing at the Eldest who was sitting next to him. ¡°Eli is, in fact, a leprechaun. This Earth is the only one in the Initial Hundred that has actual magic.¡± Grit shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around the information, while the rest of the room started talking at the same time. That was the problem with jumping universes. Things got sideways quickly.

    ¡°And on top of that,¡± Thorn continued. ¡°He should be able to help us with Kevin. I¡¯m increasingly certain that we¡¯re going to need him in order to get the kid back.¡±

    ¡°Kevin?¡± Grit asked, glancing over at a very surprised looking Kevin. ¡°Our Kevin?¡± Thorn nodded at him and, oddly enough, so did Cassia. She leaned forward.

    ¡°Yeah, our friend Kevin,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s got some sort of super power.¡± There was a moment of silence, until Kevin sighed heavily.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I think she¡¯s right.¡±

 37. Folds Between Worlds

    ¡°Try again!¡± Eli smacked Kevin on the back of the knee.

    ¡°Ow! Knock that off!¡± Kevin crouched down and rubbed his eyes. He was standing in the basement of a leprechaun¡¯s home on an Earth where magic was normal. Sure, why not. Kevin stood again and thought back to all the times that he¡¯d jumped between universes. He thought of the strange hallways filled with doors and paths lined with gates. Each time, he¡¯d felt a pull towards an opening. Initially, he assumed this was just interversal travel but he¡¯d gathered along the way that the jumps were more instantaneous for his companions.

    ¡°Come on then, lad, focus and jump!¡± Eli tapped his foot impatiently and gestured ahead. He¡¯d put an image up on a flatscreen TV in front of Kevin of a skyscraper on a busy street. Instruction was minimal. Just jump, he¡¯d told Kevin. Kevin frowned. Easy for a magical creature of legend to say.

    ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t understand how to make it happen!¡± Kevin focused hard on the picture, grimacing in concentration. For a half second, he thought he could hear honking cars and a bustling street but his stomach flipped and he nearly fell sideways and it was over just as quickly.

    ¡°Aye, there it is!¡± Eli hopped excitedly. ¡°Yer nearly the¡¯e, lad! Just need a little motivation.¡±

    ¡°Hey, what the hell!¡± Kevin put both hands up defensively as Eli pointed a sawed off shotgun at him.

    ¡°Now jump or I¡¯ll blow yer head off!¡± Eli swung the gun wildly and hopped around Kevin in a circle. ¡°Stressful circumstances make the jump easier, now go!¡±

    Kevin blinked rapidly and tried to focus on the image again. He exhaled and glanced towards Eli who fired a shot into the wall. Kevin ducked, scrambling backwards, his stomach left behind in the room. A sensation like leaving his body overtook him and he bumped into something firm behind him. Turning, Kevin found himself in front of a glass door. Touching its handle, he found himself pulled through and suddenly standing in front of the very skyscraper he¡¯d been looking at before.

    ¡°Holy shit.¡± Kevin rubbed his eyes and looked around. He had indeed jumped. ¡°That crazy little guy was right.¡±

    ¡°Damn sure, I was right! I don¡¯t miss much!¡± Kevin whirled around as Eli laughed loudly next to him.

    ¡°How are you here?¡± Kevin stared at the leprechaun in surprise as the sea of pedestrians flowed around them.

    ¡°Grabbed your ankle and came along for the ride.¡± He winked and tapped his temple. ¡°Now the fun part, stopping in the middle! Jump us back!¡±

    <hr>

    Mel slept like a corpse. It had been a minute since she¡¯d felt safe enough to truly rest but curled up on the bench seat of a piano she was able to get several hours of sleep while Kevin trained with Eli. Mel had never had a problem sleeping with noise, in fact, she struggled to rest without it. After growing up in a small town, she¡¯d hopped from city to city and found the sounds at night comforting. For her current nap, a soundtrack of Gerald and Anna bickering about where to go from here and the whispered planning of Grit and Cassia was just right.

    Eventually, Mel sat up, stretched, and yawned widely. Glancing around, she saw that Anna and Gerald had given up their argument and were asleep in a pair of armchairs. She moved into the kitchen to find Cassia scribbling thoughtfully in a small notebook.

    ¡°How¡¯s our boy doing?¡± She plopped next to Cassia and pulled the teapot towards her but quickly realized it was long cold.

    ¡°There was a gunshot a while ago then nothing for a few minutes then a lot of whooping and hollering so I assume he¡¯s coming along alright.¡± Cassia paused and looked up at Mel. ¡°So, I need to introduce you to someone.¡±

    Mel followed Cassia back through the open room she¡¯d slept in and through a hall to a cozy office. Seated in two large chairs playing checkers were Grit and a boy who couldn¡¯t be older than ten. The image was comical. Grit spilled over the sides of his chair, while the boy couldn¡¯t cover the whole seat cushion and his feet dangled above the carpet.

    ¡°Mel, this is the Eldest.¡± Cassia said cautiously. The child completed a series of jumps, taking a handful of Grit¡¯s pieces then turned a blank expression on Mel.

    ¡°Hello Mel.¡± He didn¡¯t reach out a hand so Mel didn¡¯t offer hers either. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve been helping Cassia, that¡¯s very noble.¡±

    Mel couldn¡¯t help but let out a laugh but stopped promptly at his expression. Instead she nodded and looked helplessly at Cassia.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°The Eldest needs to return to the folds between universes. He keeps the very fabric of the multiverse from collapsing. Without him, the multiverse is in grave danger.¡± Cassia placed a hand awkwardly on Mel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°This is why I needed your help.¡±

    ¡°If I can¡¯t return home, then the space between will continue to shrink until universes collide and consume one another. I provide the buffer that keeps each world safe.¡± The child spoke to Mel slowly and deliberately with the confidence of someone much older.

    ¡°And that¡¯s why we need Kevin to get his shit together?¡± Mel asked with eyebrows raised. ¡°The Pathfinder couldn¡¯t go there?¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Cassia shook her head and looked down with frustration plain on her face. ¡°I thought for sure the Pathfinder could get us there and I still think it can in combination with Kevin somehow.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll probably figure it out.¡± Mel shrugged and gave a small smile. ¡°He¡¯s a bit stronger than he lets on.¡±

    <hr>

    Another three hours later, Kevin collapsed to his knees. He was tired and the repeated jumps were taking a toll. His legs felt like jelly and if there was anything in his stomach he¡¯d be throwing it up. But he was making progress. After several successful jumps back and forth, he could reach an almost meditative state and feel the doorways. He was developing a new sense that reached out for a door to pull away from his current universe and simultaneously learning how to focus his mind on another place. He could convey his intent to the space in between worlds and it would provide a doorway.

    Over the last hour, he¡¯d jumped to his old bowling alley job, Thorn¡¯s Vegas Penthouse, the Eiffel Tower, and the dry docks at Wraith Harbor. Now, Eli was trying to coax him into pulling them not to another world but into the folds between worlds itself.

    ¡°No, no, you gotta empty your mind, don¡¯ let it take ye elsewhere.¡± Eli, in an uncharacteristically gentle gesture, helped Kevin to a chair. ¡°One more try, then food.¡±

    Kevin nodded once, cleared his mind, and reached out for a door. The sensation was different as he was ripped from his current universe and pulled along into the tunnels between. Jumping was normally an out of body experience where he lost most sensation but this time Kevin felt more himself, more real. He landed abruptly and awkwardly at an intersection. Hallways extended in all four directions around him and he touched his own arms and legs tentatively.

    ¡°Did it work?¡± Kevin whispered into the nothingness. There didn¡¯t seem to be a source of light here but he could see perfectly. Turning in a full circle, Kevin quickly noticed that Eli had not followed him here but to his surprise, this didn¡¯t cause panic. A smile grew across Kevin¡¯s face. Purpose bloomed inside of him and with it the notion that maybe he was a little bit special. For the first time since this ordeal began, he started to feel like he wasn¡¯t just tagging along with others more competent. He felt like he could contribute.

    <hr>

    Hours had passed since Mel met the Eldest. Anna and Gerald had packed up their things and were gone. An easy bounty had popped up and they needed the payday. They¡¯d invited Mel along but she¡¯d stayed instead. Now, she sat at the table with Cassia in Grit sharing something that resembled a messy fully deconstructed pot pie. Grit nodded and grumbled out his approval as he ate.

    ¡°Does the kid eat?¡± Mel said as she set down her fork and pushed away her plate of mush.

    ¡°Only rarely, I think.¡± Cassia said slowly. She turned wide eyes to Mel. ¡°I wish I knew more.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. When Kevin learns what he needs to learn he will take us¡­ somewhere?¡± Mel was trying to get a grip on what exactly the plan was here.

    ¡°Well, Eli thinks we should get the Pathfinder.¡± Cassia spoke slowly, for the first time sounding unsure of what came next. ¡°The other Thorn had something like a Pathfinder but he said he needed to get off the grid, left right after we got here while you slept.¡±

    ¡°Coward.¡± Mel smiled at Cassia as she said it and gestured vaguely around them. ¡°Do we know where the Pathfinder is? Last I saw it, that helpless dope was riding it back to Dallas but it seems like you guys didn¡¯t receive it there.¡±

    ¡°Derrick and Tango might have made it back to it. I suppose it probably wouldn¡¯t work for them. Unless, maybe he turned into me?¡± Cassia tilted her head as she explored the possibility and Mel barked a laugh.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t work, we fucking tried.¡± The two shared a small laugh that was suddenly interrupted by a scream from outside. Grit rushed to the window first, and turned to them with a confused look.

    ¡°Mailman¡¯s stuck in the ground.¡±

    Outside, Mel and Cassia found that the mailman was indeed stuck in the ground. He had sunk into the earth up to his waist and it didn¡¯t seem to be in any mood to let him out. This must be from the wards Eli had checked. They tried tugging him by the arms and digging around him but nothing had an effect on the grassy ground around his midsection.

    ¡°What the hell is this?¡± The man, who was tall and thin with round glasses balanced on the edge of his nose, gestured at the ground and tried again to push himself upwards.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know, we haven¡¯t been here long.¡± Cassia looked at Grit leaning in the doorway. ¡°At least pretend to help and get the leprechaun!¡±

    Grit ambled inside as the two looked down helplessly. Mel gave the ground near him a kick but this really only elicited a groan as pain shot through her toes.

    ¡°Well, might as well give you this, I guess.¡± The man produced an envelope from his breast pocket. ¡°Letter for Ms Moreng.¡±

    ¡°But, how do you¡­¡± Cassia trailed off as she took the letter and exchanged a concerned look with Mel. Before she could open it, a sudden gust of air hit her in the side and she turned to find Kevin standing between her and Mel with an elated smile.

    ¡°Can I take you two ladies on a trip?¡±

 38. Evacuate

    Derrick watched Elaine as she chatted with one of the Switchboard employees. The older, gray haired man said something that made Elaine laugh, and the man smiled at her as she patted his arm. Derrick found himself smiling as well. He wasn¡¯t sure what it was about Elaine that was so attractive to him. Perhaps it was just that she was so normal, even though she¡¯d worked for a company bent on gaining multiversal power. As he watched, Elaine said something back to the employee that brought on more chuckles. Maybe it was just that she could still laugh.

    A changing graphic on one of the small screens to his right caught his eye. There was a scrolling banner of text rolling across the screen repeatedly.

    The IPF has located escaped prisoners on Earth-73. More information as events develop.

    ¡°Elaine!¡± Derrick called, the urgency in his voice causing her to jump in surprise. She followed his pointing finger to read the message, and her face fell.

    ¡°They found them already?¡± she asked, walking back to where Derrick was sitting. He nodded.

    ¡°The IPF is the biggest multiversal organization that exists,¡± he said. ¡°They have resources we don¡¯t even know about. And I think they¡¯re very interested in that kid that Cassia and Grit busted out.¡±

    A chime sounded as Derrick finished speaking, and the room seemed to pause in expectation.

    ¡°IPF landing on Earth-73 confirmed¡±, the electronic voice said. Another chime signaled the end of the message.

    ¡°They¡¯re already there!¡± Derrick said, as he scrambled around the table. A screen at the front of the room had come to life, showing video of Earth-73. Sure enough, there were a number of IPF vehicles speeding down a highway. The text information in the top right hand corner indicated they were somewhere in Ireland.

    ¡°Derrick, I don¡¯t think they know they¡¯ve been found,¡± Elaine said, in a worried tone. She¡¯d followed him to the screen and was leaning across him to get a better view. Derrick shifted a little to give her more space. Elaine was more and more distracting, but Derrick shoved aside his feelings and focused on the screen in front of him.

    ¡°They definitely don¡¯t,¡± he agreed. ¡°There¡¯s no way they would be prepared for the IPF to be there already. We¡¯ve got to warn them.¡± He turned towards the staff member Elaine had been talking to.

    ¡°Do you have messengers on Earth-73?¡± he asked. The staffer nodded, glancing over at Elaine.

    ¡°Indeed we do,¡± he said, surprisingly upbeat. ¡°I prepared one already, actually. I thought maybe the young lady would want to contact her friends.¡± He gave Elaine a fond look.

    ¡°Could you send ¡®IPF in Ireland, headed towards you. Signed, D and E.¡±? Derrick asked. The man nodded and moved away to begin tapping on his computer. Elaine watched him, then looked over at Derrick questioningly.

    ¡°Messengers?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yeah. The Switchboard has a network of messengers across universes,¡± Derrick answered. ¡°When I said the IPF was the biggest organization, I wasn¡¯t lying. But the Switchboard has employed at least as many people across the multiverse. Just not as a policing force, and often only for small jobs here and there.¡± Elaine looked awed, and Derrick couldn¡¯t blame her. The Switchboard was a shockingly large organization that functioned better than most across universes. Though it much preferred to remain in the background, available only to those who knew about it.

    The chime sounded again, indicating a new update was coming through.

    ¡°Messenger successfully scheduled on Earth-73.¡± The chime sounded again, and Derrick looked at Elaine.

    ¡°Now we just have to hope the messenger gets there before the IPF does.¡±

    <hr>

    Elaine settled back into her chair, keeping an eye on the screen with the messenger in it. So far, it appeared that the Switchboard messenger was going to arrive at Eli Thorn¡¯s house ahead of the IPF. Though it wouldn¡¯t give the group much time to react, it would at least give them a chance. She idly wondered at the existence of leprechauns, and magic. There was so much of the multiverse that she had never seen, let alone heard of. She stole a glance over at Derrick. His golden blonde hair wasn¡¯t perfectly parted like it usually was. Running his hands through it nervously had given it an unkempt look that she kind of liked.

    He was staring intently at the screens, going back and forth between the messenger and the IPF. Elaine frowned. Why was he so invested in the safety of this group? They hadn¡¯t spent that long together, and it would probably be safer to cut and run instead of being tied to a group wanted by the IPF. Her frown deepened. For that matter, why was she still here? Initially, when Kevin had first given her hope of escape back at the Singularity, she¡¯d convinced herself she stayed with the group because she didn¡¯t know where else to go. Now, though, she was fairly confident that she could settle down well enough in any of the universes in the Initial Hundred.

    Elaine looked over at Derrick again. There was something about him that was different than the others. He was often obviously nervous, and he had the shapeshifting ability that she hadn¡¯t fully seen in action. But she found herself feeling calm around him, in a way that she didn¡¯t around the others in the group. In fact, probably calmer than around anyone else in her life, going back to before the Singularity. She sighed, looking back at the screen, and tried to tell herself that she was not still hanging around because of Derrick.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Hey, Elaine, I was thinking -¡± the rest of Derrick¡¯s sentence was cut off by a sudden blaring alarm that blasted through the small room, accompanied by a flashing red light. Immediately, staff members in the room scattered. The old man who had sent the messenger stopped by Elaine in his rush out of the room.

    ¡°Intruder alarm!¡± he shouted over the wailing. ¡°We¡¯ve been compromised! Follow me.¡± Without looking to see if she would, the old man shuffled off towards the back of the room. Elaine looked back at the screens, which were rapidly going blank. She glanced at Derrick, who gave her a worried shrug, and then she quickly followed the Switchboard staffer. Derrick paused for a moment, then tagged along.

    The old man led them to the back wall, and then opened a door. Elaine peered in, only to see a bunch of mops and cleaning supplies. The old man gestured for her to enter. Elaine thought for a moment, and then went in. She¡¯d already decided to trust the man, so why stop now? Derrick followed her, and then the old man squeezed in behind the two of them and softly shut the door behind him.

    ¡°What is the pl-¡± Derrick started to ask a question, but the man glared at him and held a finger to his lips.

    ¡°Later,¡± he mouthed. Then he turned to the wall and flipped open a breaker panel that Elaine hadn¡¯t seen initially. The man squinted at some scribbly writing next to each breaker, muttering something about handwriting. On the other side of the door, there was a loud thumping sound. Elaine looked at Derrick.

    ¡°Entrance breached?¡± he said, in the barest of whispers. Even so, the man turned to frown at him.

    ¡°I think we need to hurry,¡± Elaine whispered to the man, who nodded and looked back at the breaker panel. He paused for a moment, then rapidly switched off three of the breakers, before turning the second one back on. Then he turned off two more, before turning the very first one back on. Immediately, Elaine felt a small hum of vibration in her feet, and Derrick actually jumped.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± the man said in a normal voice. ¡°This is the fastest elevator you¡¯ve ever been on.¡± The vibration in the floor kicked up another notch, and Elaine looked around for something to hold on to. With surprise, she realized that there were various metal hand holds screwed to the wall. They looked like something you might find in a shower. She quickly grabbed one, and glanced over to see Derrick doing the same thing. Before she could say anything, though, the closet fell straight down.

    Despite herself, Elaine screamed. It felt like the floor had simply ceased holding up the closet. It was an odd sensation, the sense of falling while standing in a broom closet. Just when she thought her stomach might not be able to hold out, the elevator closet stopped abruptly and Elaine fell forward directly into Derrick. He caught her with a grunt, letting go of his hand hold and falling back against the wall. She stayed there for perhaps a moment too long, then stood up and pulled Derrick to his feet.

    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± she said, desperately trying not to blush. What was wrong with her anyway? She¡¯d hadn¡¯t really known this man for very long. Derrick mumbled something in response, and Elaine realized he felt just as awkward as her. The old man cleared his throat, and then opened the closet door. Beyond the doorway was darkness, but the man stepped out into it confidently. Elaine and Derrick were more hesitant.

    ¡°Come,¡± the man said, turning back to them. ¡°We must hurry. The IPF has probably already opened the closet door and seen the elevator shaft. They will be down here soon.¡± As he was talking, the man moved farther into the darkness. There was a scratching sound, and then a lantern blazed to life. The flickering flame cast dancing shadows around the small cave, but at least they could see. Elaine stepped out of the closet and looked around. It was like they had walked into the middle of a mine shaft. There was mine carts on tracks, pointed in five different directions. There were signs above each of the smaller shafts, with a number on each one. The fifth one simply read ¡°Out of Order - Cave In¡±.

    ¡°I am sorry we didn¡¯t have more time to chat, Miss Elaine,¡± the old man said, approaching her and grabbing her hands in his. ¡°I would¡¯ve liked to get to know you.¡± The man turned to Derrick and gave him a stern look.

    ¡°You take care of this young lady,¡± he commanded. ¡°She is a bright spot in this world.¡± Derrick coughed, and then nodded awkwardly. Elaine couldn¡¯t keep her face from flushing this time. The old man turned back to her once again.

    ¡°Take the cave in,¡± he directed, pointing towards the fifth mine cart. ¡°It¡¯s misleading, you¡¯ll be fine. If you¡¯re lucky the IPF won¡¯t follow that tunnel right away.¡±

    ¡°But what about you?¡± Elaine asked, frowning. The old man smiled at her.

    ¡°I have to go to Earth-57,¡± he said. ¡°I need to alert Switchboard operatives there that this one was compromised.¡± He chuckled at her worried expression and patted her hand.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dear,¡± he said reassuringly. ¡°This has happened before, and it will happen again. The IPF doesn¡¯t really like the Switchboard, though it also doesn¡¯t have the resources to fight it. Occasionally it breaks up one of our stations. We always regroup though!¡± He said the last bit proudly. Elaine gave him a hug.

    ¡°Be safe,¡± she said. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll meet again.¡± The man smiled.

    ¡°I would like that,¡± he said. Then he turned and clambered into the mine cart pointed down the 57 tunnel. He nodded to each of them, and then yanked a lever on the outside of the cart that caused him to shoot forward into the darkness. Derrick looked over at Elaine.

    ¡°Should be fun, huh?¡± he asked her wryly. Elaine looked skeptically at the mine cart, but then climbed into it. Derrick got in behind her, and they quickly realized that the cart wasn¡¯t made for two full grown humans. She was practically sitting on his lap by the time they got themselves situated.

    ¡°Sorry, I um¡­well, you see -¡± Derrick awkwardly tried to discuss the situation. Elaine rolled her eyes, though he couldn¡¯t see that, and then abruptly reached over and yanked the lever. The cart immediately lurched forward, and she was pressed back against Derrick, who grunted in surprise. She was just thinking that perhaps the ride wouldn¡¯t be that bad, when the cart jerked to the left, then went straight down for a moment, before veering back to the right. Elaine peered into the darkness, trying to see anything in front of her, but to no avail. As the cart yanked them to the right again, she changed her opinion. This ride might actually kill them.

 39. Split Up

    A coyote howled nearby and Grit started awake. For a moment, he had no idea where he was, until a small knot in the small of his back reminded him that he was under a tarp in a field somewhere in southeast Ireland. No longer feeling disoriented, the events of the last day came blasting back into his brain.He glanced quickly at the sleeping boy behind him to confirm he was still there, and still asleep. Then he pulled back the tarp and wriggled out into the darkness.

    There were too many clouds in the sky to see many stars. Grit absently reached for his jacket pocket for a pipe before he remembered that he hadn¡¯t had one since this whole mess got started. He contented himself with frowning at the dark countryside around him. Just yesterday, it had begun to feel like they were reaching an ending point. Now, everything was in chaos once more and he couldn¡¯t even reliably say where any of his friends were. Odd that he considered them his friends now. He¡¯d spent most of life keeping people from becoming just that.

    There was a rustling from beneath the tarp, and a dark haired child poked his head out. His eyes seemed like they were perpetually wider than others, as if he were constantly in a small state of shock.

    ¡°Is there danger?¡± the kid asked in a quiet voice. Grit shook his head.

    ¡°No more than normal,¡± he answered, trying to keep the typical gruffness out of his voice. He didn¡¯t really have any idea how to interact with kids, and he was fairly certain that this one was somehow much different than the average kid. As if to prove his point, the Eldest nodded his head, and then moved out from under the tarp to sit next to Grit. He gazed up at the cloudy night sky in silence.

    ¡°You are feeling sad,¡± the boy said, after waiting just long enough to make Grit uncomfortable with the silence. He said it as a statement, rather than a question. Grit thought about it for a moment, before nodding.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied. Again, the boy didn¡¯t say anything right away, but just sat there staring upwards. Eventually, Grit decided that he didn¡¯t need to fill the silence. If the boy was comfortable being silent, then he would be also. Instead, he let his mind wander back over the last twenty four hours.

    The warning from Derrick and Elaine had been helpful, albeit very unexpected and initially confusing. Eli Thorn had been the one to finally explain about the existence of a shadowy organization called the Switchboard, and its ability to send messages across the multiverse. Still, the IPF had been right on the heels of the message, and had exploded into the cottage soon after it had been delivered. Cassia had been with the Eldest in the kitchen, near Grit, when the IPF breach had happened and she had pushed the boy towards him with instructions to get out immediately. He¡¯d started to protest, but the look Cassia gave him had shut that down quickly. Grit was pretty sure he¡¯d never forget that face.

    ¡°I am sorry for causing your sadness,¡± the boy spoke again. His voice was still quiet, but the contrast to the silence of the night still caused Grit to jump slightly. He glanced sideways at the boy.

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Grit replied, and the boy turned his dark eyes upwards to look at him.

    ¡°It is,¡± he countered. ¡°The IPF wants me, of course, and your actions to protect me have placed you and your friends in danger.¡± Grit wondered again at the maturity of the boy¡¯s words, even though he looked so young. Grit sighed, and shook his head.

    ¡°Look, kid, I¡¯m positive that, whatever the situation is, the IPF probably didn¡¯t need to keep you in a cell to get it resolved.¡± The kid seemed to be surprised by this answer, as his eyes widened even further before he went back to staring at the sky.

    ¡°What should I call you?¡± he asked abruptly. The kid looked at him, startled, and Grit was glad the darkness hid the color rising in his cheeks. He really didn¡¯t know how to talk to kids.

    ¡°Well, I mean¡­do you have a name?¡± he asked, trying again. ¡°Or do you just get called the Eldest?¡±

    The kid thought about this for a moment. Grit was realizing that he gave almost everything an element of thought, regardless of whether it was a question or a statement. Eventually, the boy shook his head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve been called anything but the Eldest,¡± he said slowly. ¡°Though perhaps I was called something else before my memory began.¡± He gazed back up at the sky, as if he had properly answered the question and not said something completely strange. Grit decided to let it go.

    ¡°What if I just call you El, then?¡± he asked. The kid looked at him for a long moment, unblinking, then suddenly smiled.

    ¡°I like that,¡± he said simply. ¡°A nickname.¡± This time, he didn¡¯t look back up at the sky, but instead stared out into the darkness with Grit.

    ¡°We should probably get some more sleep,¡± Grit said. ¡°I doubt the IPF thinks we moved as far as we did, unless they think we jumped. Either way, we should be safe here a while longer.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Again, the boy considered the words as if weighing each one before considering the thought as a whole. Then he turned his wide eyes back on Grit.

    ¡°I do not feel tired,¡± he stated. ¡°Do you? Is there a reason we should not begin our journey now?¡±

    Grit realized that he was also feeling surprisingly awake, maybe due to the brief fear of discovery when waking to the coyote¡¯s howl. Still, he felt a strange reluctance to leave the area. They were still close enough to Thorn¡¯s cottage that he could entertain thoughts of his friends running into him, or going back to check on them. Leaving meant abandoning that hope. He sighed, and kept his thoughts to himself.

    ¡°I suppose now is as good a time as any,¡± he said to the boy. ¡°We should take the tarp, though.¡± El nodded, and they folded the tarp before climbing on the moped they¡¯d taken from Thorn. They didn¡¯t really have an idea of where they were headed, other than a general northern direction. At this point, Grit didn¡¯t really care. All he needed to know was that this kid was important to the multiverse somehow. The IPF had confirmed that fact by showing up for him so quickly. Therefore, his first mission was to get the kid to safety. His next mission after that would be to find Cassia, Mel, and Kevin. Or die trying.

    <hr>

    Cassia woke up to a pounding headache. With a groan, she rolled over and realized she had been sleeping on a sandy floor. Squinting her eyes against the glare of the sun, she could barely make out that she was in a small hut. There was no door, and the sun was streaming through the opening directly into her face. She sat up slowly, the headache throbbing in protest. On a small cot to her right was Eli. The leprechaun seemed almost comatose, but his breathing was steady so she assumed he was ok.

    Standing up carefully, Cassia made her way to the door. The light was still causing her headache to pulse, but her eyes had finally adjusted to it. With a shock, she realized that she was looking out at a beach. Waves were gently crashing to the shore a hundred feet in front of her. Stepping out of the hut, she looked up and down the water line, but couldn¡¯t spot anyone else. In the distance, she thought she could see a similar hut, but overall the beach appeared to be deserted. There was a thump behind her, and she whipped around, reaching for a knife that wasn¡¯t there.

    ¡°Ach, I hate this part,¡± Eli said from the ground. Apparently, he¡¯d rolled himself off the edge of his cot. The fall wasn¡¯t far, but it had been enough to wake him. He sat up groggily and looked at Cassia in confusion. Her headache hadn¡¯t liked the jumping she¡¯d just down, so she sat down in the doorway and rubbed her head, wondering why her body hadn¡¯t healed itself yet.

    ¡°Oh right,¡± Eli said, still staring at her. ¡°I know you. We should get some food.¡± He tried to stand up using the cot as support, but immediately fell straight back to the floor.

    ¡°What did you do to me?¡± Cassia grumbled. Headaches were not normal for her, and it felt like she was trying to think through a cloud of smoke. Somehow, Eli managed to grin at her from the ground.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t this terrible?¡± he said. ¡°Magic jumping really takes somethin¡¯ outta ya. Sorry ¡®bout that, lass. I ¡®ad teh use some of yer energy as well.¡±

    Cassia just blinked at him. Was she supposed to understand those sentences? The leprechaun saw her confusion, and sighed heavily. Then he heaved himself to his feet, cursing under his breath.

    ¡°Get yerself outside then, lass!¡± he said, shooing her with his hands. Cassia slowly got to her feet and stepped back out onto the beach.

    ¡°Eli, why are we on a beach?¡± she asked. ¡°And why is my head pounding?¡± The leprechaun frowned at the sun, and then at her. Finally, he reached into a pocket and pulled out a piece of squished caramel.

    ¡°Eat that,¡± he commanded. ¡°Should help. Yer gonna need more food though, lass. Follow me.¡± He set off through the sand towards the hut Cassia had seen. She cautiously put the caramel in her mouth and started chewing as she followed Eli. Almost immediately, she could feel her headache begin to recede. Quickly, she caught up to the leprechaun.

    ¡°That caramel worked!¡± she said. Eli barked a laugh at her.

    ¡°Course it did!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Magic jumping eats through your energy. Sugar replaces some of it quicker than other things.¡± He glanced sideways at her, with a strange smile on his face.

    ¡°Betcha it works faster for you,¡± he said, with a mysterious tone. ¡°Considering yer healing abilities.¡±

    Cassia frowned. She didn¡¯t remember telling Eli anything about her healing power. For that matter, she didn¡¯t really remember telling anyone about it. She knew some had seen it in action, but Eli wasn¡¯t among them. Still, she had bigger questions.

    ¡°Magic jumps?¡± she asked. ¡°What exactly is that?¡± Eli looked up at her, chewing, and she realized he¡¯d eaten a caramel as well.

    ¡°Pretty simple,¡± he said. ¡°Ya just use magic to jump.¡± He faced forward again, still walking in a determined fashion though Cassia¡¯s longer legs allowed her to easily keep pace with him.

    ¡°Wait, we jumped?¡± she asked, suddenly very worried. ¡°We¡¯re not in your universe anymore?¡± Eli shook his head, and looked at her as if her question had been extremely stupid.

    ¡°Course not!¡± he said. ¡°Whadya think I was gonna do, stay ter be questioned by the IPF? Not on yer life, lassie!¡±

    Cassia almost imagined her headache returning as she thought about the ramifications of this. The last thing she remembered had been shoving the Eldest towards Grit and insisting that the old man take the kid to safety. She¡¯d been about to resist the IPF when Eli had grabbed her from behind. There¡¯d been a loud pop and¡­well, then she¡¯d woken up on the beach.

    ¡°Where the hell are we, Eli?¡± she said, stopping in the sand. The little man continued a ways before sighing theatrically and turning around to face her.

    ¡°We are safe, lass,¡± he replied. ¡°For which yer very welcome, by the by. We are currently on Earth-29.¡± He turned back to continue walking, but quickly faced her again.

    ¡°And yes, I intend to get ya back to yer friends. But first, we need food. Magic jumps have lasting effects if yer not careful.¡± Cassia nodded slowly as she again followed Eli. Then she remembered her other question.

    ¡°Eli, how did you know I could heal?¡± she asked. The leprechaun stopped again and looked at her in surprise.

    ¡°Why, lass, because that bullet nearly killed ya.¡±

 40. Tourist Trap

    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think it¡¯s just not meant to be, Kev-o.¡± Mel patted Kevin on the back in an unnaturally gentle gesture. ¡°Looks like your lessons worked though! More or less.¡±

    ¡°Less.¡± Kevin looked around sullenly. Just when it seemed like they¡¯d all be back on track together everything blew up. Just hearing from Derrick and Elaine, albeit through a scrap of paper, had renewed his energy. Now, sitting at a cafe in Paris on Earth-53, Kevin thought the whole thing was probably hopeless again.

    ¡°Alright get up, you mopy shit. I¡¯ve been stuck with you for a while now so we¡¯re going to make the most of it.¡± Mel tugged Kevin along as he looked back over his shoulder.

    ¡°Mel, we didn¡¯t pay¡­ Oh what¡¯s the point.¡± Kevin let Mel pull him for half the walk before she finally jabbed him in the side and made him carry his own weight. They made their way to the Eiffel Tower and took in the view. Kevin¡¯s glasses chimed in his ear and a series of facts about the structure passed across his vision. The words projected on reality made him a little dizzy so he tucked the glasses into their case, he¡¯d been wearing them sparingly since they helped him bust a man¡¯s hand into fragments.

    ¡°Pretty fucking cool actually. Last time we came this way I wasn¡¯t exactly taking in the scenery.¡± Mel gestured around them. ¡°You may not have meant to bring us here but I think you did damn good under stress.¡±

    ¡°Mel, the last thing I saw was blood spraying out the front of Cassia¡¯s face! I don¡¯t know how her little trick works, she could be dead for real this time.¡± Mel pulled a face and waved his concern away.

    ¡°That psycho has recovered from everything we¡¯ve seen her get hit with. The little guy poofed away with her anyways, I¡¯m sure they¡¯re ok somewhere.¡± Mel looked aside awkwardly but Kevin could see that she was just as unsure as he was.

    When the IPF had arrived, Kevin and Mel had fought back alongside Cassia. Mel had been a fiend with the Cryo-XL until it very suddenly ran out of whatever caused it to fire freezing blasts at which point Cassia got shot in the face and everything rapidly fell apart. Literally, the whole house began caving in on itself once Eli disappeared with Cassia. It was either a calculated abandonment or a gesture of great faith in Kevin¡¯s newly learned ability that he didn¡¯t take Kevin and Mel with them.

    ¡°So why Paris again?¡± Mel began to walk and steered Kevin along next to her. Truthfully, he didn¡¯t really know. In the panic, he hadn¡¯t been aiming for anywhere in particular, he was just trying to get somewhere else.

    ¡°I just love the culture, felt like a baguette.¡± Kevin deflected sarcastically before stopping with a confused look. Mel had steered them away from crowds and down a dingy alley before bringing them to a stop on a darkened stoop.

    ¡°Do it again. Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± Mel smiled. ¡°We just about died back there. I¡¯ve been jumping from near death experience to near death experience for a long time. It may be irresponsible but before we go chasing after our friends into certain peril for the hundredth fucking time, I¡¯d like to jump for fun, for once.¡±

    ¡°You thinking of anywhere, in particular?¡± Kevin swallowed and his pulse raced. Mel was standing awfully close.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a few places in mind.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°Really? This is your first choice?¡± Kevin stood with his arms crossed trying to force a scowl, but the sight of Mel leaning over a railing to catch a glimpse of Minnie Mouse made it difficult not to smile. Kevin hadn¡¯t really chosen a particular Earth on purpose when he¡¯d jumped them to Tokyo Disneyland but from what he could gather they¡¯d ended up on Earth-56 which put his childhood memories of Disneyworld in Florida to shame.

    ¡°Shut the fuck up.¡± Mel hissed at Kevin as a passing tourist covered their child¡¯s ears. Then, playfully, she added, ¡°If you can¡¯t appreciate this then you¡¯re too far gone. The life of a fugitive has made you jaded, Kev.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m appreciating that under all that bravado you are apparently an eight-year old girl.¡± Kevin laughed and dodged under Mel¡¯s halfhearted swat.

    ¡°If you tell the others about this I will cut out your snitch tongue.¡± Mel narrowed her eyes and mimed a snipping motion before continuing, ¡°But one ride before we go.¡±

    <hr>

    The next stop on Mel¡¯s wishlist was more in line with what Kevin had been expecting. He squinted against the rising sun and realized he no longer had any idea how many days it had been since he was wrongly arrested outside Striker Lanes after his last shift of work. An explosion shook Kevin from his reverie and he returned his attention to Mel.

    ¡°Did you see that one?¡± She shouted over the noise cancelling ear covers they both wore. Mel was laying fully horizontal sighting through the scope of the largest sniper rifle Kevin had ever seen. Including movies. In fact, he was sure it was bigger than in movies. Despite that, Kevin¡¯s eyes repeatedly flicked to Mel¡¯s backside. He shook his head, blinking his eyes back to where her head leaned in towards the scope instead. ¡°That was dead center, a perfect shot! You¡¯d know if you could keep your damn eyes off my ass!¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°I, uh¡­¡± Kevin¡¯s stammering was interrupted by Mel¡¯s sharp laughter. To Kevin¡¯s relief she decided to finally stand back up. Still laughing, Mel pressed the rifle into his hands.

    ¡°Give it a go, this is the best range in the multiverse. Aside from IPF HQ but obviously I don¡¯t want to go there.¡± Mel quirked an eyebrow as Kevin awkwardly held the rifle out from his body. ¡°Unless you¡¯re ready to grant my third wish?¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°This is not what I expected.¡± Kevin looked across the suburban street at a typical craftsman-style home. It was a cookie cutter of the houses that lined the street with only slight variations and a street number to differentiate it.

    ¡°Came all this way, might as well check in.¡± Mel crossed the street with Kevin cautiously tagging behind.

    ¡°It¡¯s such a nice neighborhood.¡± Kevin struggled to keep the confusion from his tone as he looked around.

    ¡°What, I¡¯m too rough to have grown up in the suburbs?¡± Mel¡¯s tone was friendly enough but her expression remained tight.

    ¡°No, I just mean. What happened I guess?¡± Kevin winced at his own tactlessness.

    ¡°Life just happens sometimes Kevin. Same as it happened to you.¡± Mel spared him a meaningful glance then knocked three times at the door of her childhood home. After a moment the lock slid and Kevin forced his face into something close to a smile as a woman who looked no older than 50 opened the door.

    ¡°Melissa, my love! It¡¯s been such a long time since your last visit!¡± Mel¡¯s mother immediately swept her into a hug and despite her small stature nearly pulled her over. Kevin¡¯s confusion doubled at the warm reception. He¡¯d always assumed Mel didn¡¯t have a home or at the very least that she was not welcome at home. ¡°And who is this gentleman, mija?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Kevin, ma¡¯am.¡± Kevin cleared his throat awkwardly and held his hand out.

    ¡°Listen to him! So refined with the ma¡¯am! I¡¯m not an old grandmother yet, call me Valentina.¡± Mel¡¯s mother ignored his outstretched arm and smashed him into a rib-crushing hug as well before gesturing for them both to come inside.

    ¡°Mom, we can¡¯t stay too long. Work just has us passing through.¡± Valentina¡¯s face fell a barely noticeable fraction and she looked from one to the other.

    ¡°Oh, a coworker of Melissa¡¯s but it¡¯s still lovely to meet you. I have some cookies somewhere, just stay for one or two.¡± She moved into the house and Mel followed. Kevin felt fully off kilter as he stepped into the house and tried to reconcile the aggressively middle class home around him with the tornado that he knew as Mel.

    Inside, Kevin sat mechanically at Valentina¡¯s behest and ate a wonderful snickerdoodle cookie while Mel spoke to her mother with little to no warmth. Valentina, on the other hand, was glowing and exuded pure joy over just a few minutes of conversation. Kevin didn¡¯t know what to say so he said nothing, listening with a furrowed brow as Mel answered her mother¡¯s questions about her life with a series of lies.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s been a whole year since you were home last.¡± Valentina set a glass of milk in front of Kevin and put a hand on Mel¡¯s cheek. He noticed her tense up at the contact.

    ¡°Well, you know how the US government is. Really keep us busy. Lot of travel. We were just in Paris actually. Right, Kevin?¡± Mel nudged him and he nearly choked on his milk.

    ¡°Right, yes. It¡¯s beautiful there.¡± Kevin trailed off uncomfortably, unsure of himself as he was being dropped into the middle of what felt like a well constructed scaffold of lies. He didn¡¯t want to topple them so he left it at that.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure, I¡¯m sure. Little old me has never left California. One of these days maybe we can go on that trip we used to talk about.¡± Valentina patted Mel¡¯s hand and Mel interjected abruptly.

    ¡°Right, we probably need to get on the road. Right, Kevin? Out of country again.¡± Mel stood suddenly, gripping Kevin¡¯s bicep.

    ¡°Uh, yes, government¡¯s got a timeline to keep.¡± Kevin followed Mel and waited in the entryway as Valentina gave her a strongly one sided hug.

    ¡°Take care, love!¡± Valentina called from the door as they walked down the sidewalk and around the corner out of sight. Mel exhaled a deep breath.

    ¡°Now, take us anywhere else please.¡± Kevin opened his mouth, searching for the right way to word his question but what came out was a little less than stellar.

    ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Mel gripped him by both wrists and closed her eyes.

    ¡°Please, jump and then talk.¡± Kevin nodded slowly and focused his mind. The familiar ripping sensation, his stomach tumbled, and before he knew it they were back on solid ground outside an apartment building. Mel¡¯s breathing was beginning to normalize and color returned to her cheeks.

    ¡°That was Melissa Alfaro¡¯s mother and it was Melissa Alfaro¡¯s house.¡± She took another steadying breath. ¡°But my mother is dead and that isn¡¯t the house I grew up in. That Valentina¡¯s daughter is dead.¡±

    Kevin¡¯s head spun as he wrapped his mind around it. Mel was filling in for a dead version of herself for a different version of her mother, presumably from a different Earth. It wasn¡¯t the most confusing thing he¡¯d learned since this whole thing started.

    ¡°Why?¡± Kevin tilted his head curiously and searched Mel¡¯s face. Her expression was pained, as if this charade was extremely difficult to keep up. Before she could answer her eyes widened and Kevin turned to see why.

    ¡°Do not move, you are under arrest.¡± The IPF agents were moving slowly towards them from the apartment building across the street. Kevin sighed and screwed up his face in frustration. Why did he jump to his own home? Of course they were monitoring it.

    ¡°How did they¡­¡± Mel began but trailed off as Kevin grabbed her arm and pulled. A burst of gunfire sprayed around them and Kevin pulled Mel into a tackle as he focused his mind and reached out for any other Earth.

 41. Aventus

    The mine cart took a sharp right turn and dipped, before suddenly beginning to rise. As the cart crested this latest hill, light shone up ahead. Derrick heard Elaine breathe a sigh of relief. He wasn¡¯t sure he trusted himself to open his mouth again, after losing all the contents of his stomach a while back. The cart slowed at the top of the hill, stopping at the end of the track. There was very faint light surrounding them, and Derrick realized there was a cave wall in front of them that was blocking the light source.

    ¡°Well, we made it,¡± Elaine said, her voice shaky. Derrick climbed out of the cart and then helped Elaine down as well.

    ¡°I guess there¡¯s nowhere to go but forward,¡± he said. ¡°Unless you want to ride that mine cart back again.¡± He chuckled as Elaine¡¯s face paled and she shook her head, then cautiously poked his head around the rock wall. The tunnel led straight outside, and Derrick could see that the light was coming from a very bright full moon. There didn¡¯t seem to be anyone waiting for them, so he carefully stepped out of the cave, Elaine right behind him. They were standing in some sort of grassy area, but Derrick couldn¡¯t see anything that might indicate where they were. As they stood there, the sound of a distant engine drifted towards them. It grew slowly louder, and Derrick stepped back into the mouth of the cave with Elaine. Eventually, headlights appeared, and a car went racing by on a road that he hadn¡¯t noticed in the darkness.

    ¡°A highway,¡± Elaine said with relief. ¡°It¡¯s just a normal highway.¡±

    ¡°But why would the Switchboard have an escape tunnel that just ends in a highway?¡± Derrick asked. ¡°You¡¯d think they would want the escape route to put them out in the city or something. Which way are we even supposed to go?¡±

    They were silent for a moment, thinking. Derrick was about to suggest choosing a direction randomly, when a chuckle from behind startled them.

    ¡°Humans are funny sometimes,¡± said a low voice. It was raspy and almost whispered, and it caused Derrick to jump and Elaine to yelp in fright. They scrambled away from the cave entrance and turned to see a figure in all black sitting casually on a small ledge above it. As they saw him, he chuckled again, and then dropped lithely from the ledge to the ground.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Derrick asked, trying to keep Elaine from hearing the tremble in his voice.

    ¡°My name is Aventus,¡± said the man in black, bowing formally. He paused, as if waiting for something, and then straightened back up. Derrick squinted, but he couldn¡¯t make out the man¡¯s face. It was as if he was entirely in shadow.

    ¡°I see that you haven¡¯t heard of me,¡± the man said, sounding more irritated than disappointed. ¡°Cassia always did like to play things close to the vest.¡±

    ¡°Cassia?¡± Derrick repeated. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for Cassia, she isn¡¯t here.¡± Aventus nodded.

    ¡°I can see that,¡± he said, his voice still a raspy whisper. ¡°She has become quite talented at cloaking herself. Still, I think that perhaps you can lead me to her.¡± He took a step towards them, and Derrick instinctively moved away, putting an arm out to move Elaine. Part of his brain hoped that she would be fine with him moving protectively in front of her, and another part wondered how he could worry about such things with this threatening stranger advancing towards them.

    ¡°We can¡¯t help you. We don¡¯t know where she is,¡± Derrick heard himself saying. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure why, but something about this man seemed off. Of course, that could just be the fact that he had seemingly been lying in wait for two people to step out of a hidden cave in Georgia. Aventus gave another one of his low, ominous chuckles.

    ¡°Very noble of you,¡± he said. ¡°But you owe nothing to Cassia. Why hide her? Besides, I know that you were tracking her in the Switchboard.¡± Aventus took another small step closer to them. Even from a few feet away, his face still seemed to be in shadow. Derrick backed himself and Elaine up another step. He glanced behind him to see how close they were to the road. Too close, he decided. Aventus sighed, drawing Derrick¡¯s attention back.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have much time,¡± he said. He drew a knife from somewhere on his person. The movement was fluid, almost natural, and it took a moment for Derrick to realize that a weapon was in play now. He glanced around wildly for an escape route, though something told him they would find it difficult to outrun Aventus. A glimmer of light caught his eye. To the left of the cave opening, behind a shrub of some sort, something was glowing. Derrick glanced back at Aventus, who was twirling the knife casually in his hand.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask once more,¡± he said, the rasp in his voice more pronounced now. ¡°Where is Cassia?¡± Derrick glanced back at the glimmer of light. It seemed to be that something was hidden behind the shrub. A vehicle of some sort, perhaps? He figured that dying while trying to escape was probably preferable to dying while just standing here. He should say something to Aventus. Maybe he could distract the man before suddenly sprinting. Hopefully that would give him enough time to also drag Elaine with him. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Derrick opened his mouth, but found that he couldn¡¯t speak. His mouth was dry, and somehow he was too frightened to put his plan, small though it was, into action. Behind him, he felt Elaine grab his hand, and suddenly he had a different emotion contrasting his fear. Before he could speak, though, Elaine did.

    ¡°She¡¯s with Eli Thorn,¡± she said, her voice full of determination. It was a simple statement, though Derrick appreciated what she was trying to do. Elias Thorn was obviously a name known across multiple universes. She was telling a vague truth in hopes that Aventus would let them go. Derrick, though, was certain that he would not. Surprisingly, however, this statement seemed to give Aventus pause.

    ¡°Eli Thorn,¡± he muttered, knife hand still outstretched. ¡°The leprechaun?¡± Derrick realized this was likely the best distraction he would get, and he suddenly sprinted for the shrub, yanking Elaine¡¯s hand behind him. She lurched after him with a yelp, and Aventus followed with a guttural growl.

    Somehow, Derrick and Elaine won the race. They skidded around the large shrub ahead of Aventus to find a large tricycle. It had two seats next to each other, just in front of the back two wheels. Each seat had its own pedals, and there was a small knob in the center of the handlebars that looked to Derrick like a bicycle bell.  He was crushed. He hadn¡¯t expected to make it this far, but in doing so he had begun to hope they could escape the strange, knife wielding man behind them. There was no way they could escape on this. Still, he jumped into one of the seats and Elaine settled in next to him as Aventus arrived. The man, still seeming to be fully in shadow, laughed openly.

    ¡°The Switchboard always was old fashioned,¡± he said, still chuckling. ¡°Thanks for the tip about Thorn.¡± He raised the knife. Elaine suddenly reached forward and turned the bell knob. The classic sound of a bicycle bell rang out in the night, and Aventus laughed again. Suddenly, Derrick felt the familiar ripping sensation of a multiversal jump, and Aventus shouted. The setting suddenly shifted, and Derrick found himself on the tricycle in the middle of a street. The moon was not as bright on whatever Earth they had found themselves on, but Derrick could still tell that they had arrived at some sort of town.

    ¡°It was a jumper,¡± Derrick said, looking over at Elaine. ¡°Of course. You¡¯re a genius.¡± She smiled at him and shrugged.

    ¡°It seemed like the only thing left to try,¡± she said. ¡°I mean, this thing was obviously left for a reason.¡± Derrick was so relieved to have escaped, that he impulsively gave Elaine a hug. She leaned into it, and they stayed there for a long moment until Derrick suddenly felt self conscious. He let her go and stood up from the bicycle.

    ¡°Good job distracting him,¡± he said, as he tried to peer through the darkness. ¡°It gave us just enough space to get to the bicycle.¡± Elaine nodded, but then her face fell.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to give him any clue about Cassia,¡± she said. ¡°I thought that Eli Thorn would be vague enough, but he knew immediately who I was talking about.¡±

    ¡°No, it was what gave us an escape,¡± he replied, leaning down and briefly rubbing Elaine¡¯s back in what he hoped was a comforting way. ¡°Now we have a chance to warn Cassia ourselves.¡± Elaine seemed to brighten at this thought.

    ¡°Should we just jump to where we last saw her?¡± she asked. Derrick frowned in thought.

    ¡°I guess so,¡± he said. ¡°We just have to hope that our message through the Switchboard got through to her in time and that she¡¯s not detained by the IPF right now.¡±

    ¡°Only one way to find out,¡± Elaine said, putting her hand on the bicycle bell. Derrick smiled and sat back in his chair. There was a small popping noise, and a dark form appeared in a crouch out of thin air about ten feet in front of them. Aventus stood slowly and ominously.

    ¡°Find out now!¡± Derrick shouted, and Elaine twisted the knob.

    <hr>

    Aventus growled in frustration as his two quarries disappeared for the second time. Perhaps he was losing his touch after all these years, but it had been sometime since he had underestimated someone twice. Not that a second jump was much of an underestimation, but he hadn¡¯t expected them to jump again so soon. He could track them again, of course, but it took effort to follow a multiversal jump stream. Maybe he was getting old.

    He jumped back to his ship that was sitting back at the cave entrance on Earth-6. Once inside, he stalked up to the control panel, tossing his shadow cloak to the side. He looked out the viewport at the night sky for a moment, then queued up his computer.

    ¡°Where are you these days, Eli?¡± he muttered under his breath. Eventually, the computer told him that Eli Thorn¡¯s last known location was on Earth-73.

    ¡°Ah, back at home,¡± Aventus said to himself, entering some coordinates for a jump. He paused before pushing the button. Had he just seen movement at the cave¡¯s entrance? He stared through the moonlit darkness, but couldn¡¯t make out anything unusual. It was true, then. He was getting too old for this job. He finished punching in the details, then hit a bright yellow button that caused the ship to begin hovering a few feet off the ground.

    There was more movement out the window, and Aventus growled, leaning forward on the dashboard to peer out the window. Below him, he saw a small, strange animal disappearing under the ship. In his brief glimpse of it, he could¡¯ve sworn it had been armored. Likely it had been disturbed by the engines coming to life. Aventus found it strange that the animal hadn¡¯t been displaced by the earlier confrontation, but perhaps it had simply wandered over while he had been chasing those two. He pushed the strange animal out of his mind, then punched another button and the outside shifted.

 42. Path Finder

    Grit blinked bleary eyes against the rain that seemed to be falling constantly. It wasn¡¯t much, but speeding through it on a motorcycle seemed to magnify its effect. Grit blinked again, and then leaned to the right as the road turned, making sure to counter the weight of the child on the back. The Eldest sat with his arms tight around Grit¡¯s torso, staring unblinkingly off into the countryside. They¡¯d been riding for an hour or so now, on a bike that they had stolen from the same farmer whose tarp they¡¯d camped under. El had remained silent for almost the entire time, leaving Grit alone with his thoughts.

    Somehow it didn¡¯t seem all that strange to be racing through an apparently magical Irish countryside on a motorcycle, with a strange child clinging to him. He¡¯d simply done too much universe jumping recently, and met too many strange people, to be surprised by the newest twist that his life had taken. Though, the thought that he couldn¡¯t be surprised anymore was a surprise in itself. Grit shook his head, and looked out over the countryside to see if he could determine what El thought was so interesting out there.

    As far as he could tell, though, the fields were simply normal fields. Grit grunted to himself. Eli Thorn had claimed he was a leprechaun, and had seemingly done magic, but Grit wasn¡¯t fully convinced. He¡¯d seen no other magic since arriving here. Something thumped at the edge of his consciousness, and he had a wild thought that some ancient magic had heard his thoughts. He quickly realized that it was probably the motor, though he no longer heard the thumping. This old bike hadn¡¯t seen any road action in quite some time.

    They traveled in silence for a few more miles. The rain finally decided to call it quits, and the sun peeked out from behind a cloud. The light rays illuminated the deep greens of the fields they were rolling by, and Grit thought he could at least see some magic in that. Almost immediately, the thumping returned. It was even louder this time, and almost aggressive. Worried, Grit pulled the bike over to the side of the road and turned off the engine.

    ¡°Have we arrived?¡± the kid said, still clinging to him from behind. Grit shook his head, frowning down at the meters between the handlebars.

    ¡°Not yet. Something wrong with the bike,¡± he muttered. Everything appeared to be in working order. He turned to look at El, and suddenly realized that he could still hear the thumping. He focused on it for a moment, still twisted in his seat. It was less of a thumping sound, then a feeling, as if something was pulsing his insides.

    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± El asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet,¡± Grit answered, turning back around to face forwards. He started the bike back up, paying attention to the strange thumping. It didn¡¯t change, but it could still be felt over the vibrations of the motorcycle.

    ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± he said aloud, then looked over his shoulder at the kid.

    ¡°Hang on!¡± he called, waiting for a moment for El to adjust his grip. Then he opened the throttle and launched the bike back onto the road. He drove for a while, distracted by the thumping feeling, and almost missed a sign that said the next town was in a few miles. He twisted around and grinned at El.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see how fast this thing goes!¡± he shouted through the wind, then fully opened the throttle. The bike groaned in protest but shot forward. Grit could hear the boy laughing behind him, and the wind in his face was invigorating. Suddenly, the thumping was loud and obnoxious. filling his consciousness. He realized it felt like a thing he could almost grab onto, and so he did, pushing back on the thumping internally. It pushed back, whatever it was, and Grit growled. He put all of his internal strength into it, teetering in the balance for a moment, and then finally pushing through. There was a loud pop, and his setting shifted. He briefly saw a strange tunnel formation, with offshoots flying by on the left and right. He thought that he vaguely heard El shout something behind him, and then they went careening down a right hand tunnel.

    Just as suddenly, the tunnels were gone and he was back to a setting that he knew. The motorcycle was flying down a four lane road. Fortunately, there didn¡¯t seem to be other vehicles around, but there was a stoplight just ahead showing red. Grit slowed the bike down, but there was no way to fully stop without laying it down, so Grit simply ran the red light and hoped that there were no cops around to see. They cruised down the road, and he heard El gasp as they approached a cross street.

    ¡°Go left!¡± the kid suddenly shouted, startling Grit. He waited for an oncoming car to pass and then made a left turn. After a few minutes of driving, during which Grit realized he was feeling surprisingly tired, the buildings along the street began to be more and more in disrepair. Eventually, they reached a vacant lot that was tucked in behind a large building and the kid almost jumped off the bike. Grit quickly shut the motorcycle down, and they dismounted together.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Grit asked. ¡°Do you know where we are?¡± El gave him a halfway shrug and nod, then strode off across the lot. Grit frowned, but followed him anyway, wondering if this is how normal kids acted.

    ¡°It¡¯s here,¡± El whispered excitedly, stopping abruptly. Grit squinted, but there appeared to be nothing in front of the kid, though he was grinning like a fool.

    ¡°Hey, um, El,¡± Grit began. ¡°Is everything ok?¡± El looked at Grit over his shoulder, still grinning, then reached out his hand. Arm almost fully extended, his hand ran into something solid, and the air seemed to shimmer. A moment later, the Pathfinder ship gleamed into view. Grit felt his jaw drop open, as El gave a little yelp of excitement. The door slid open, and the kid ran inside. Slowly, Grit followed him. He suddenly felt exhausted, and he barely made it inside before collapsing on a bench. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Good work, El,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Maybe just a short nap¡­¡±

    <hr>

    Mel felt hungover. Her head pounded and her eyes ached as she blinked them open. She was laying on her back on a patch of grass along a cobblestone path of some sort. Blinking rapidly to focus her vision, she sat up with a groan. It required effort but not nearly what she expected. She felt a sort of weightlessness, like she was under water.

    Mel stepped onto the path and looked around her. She seemed to be in a park of some kind but a strange fogginess made it difficult to see more than ten or fifteen feet beyond the path. She took a few experimental steps. Something about her body was not quite normal. A strange sensation accompanied the sort of weightlessness, almost like her form wasn¡¯t a solid physical mass. She grabbed her arm and found that she was corporeal but there was a sort of humming to her form when she touched it.

    ¡°Good, you¡¯re up!¡± Mel turned as Kevin came speed walking along the path towards her. ¡°Thank goodness, you¡¯ve been out for¡­ Well, I don¡¯t think time really works here but it feels like it¡¯s been a while.¡±

    ¡°Where the hell did you bring us?¡± Kevin cringed a little as he came to a stop in front of her. He seemed to glide slightly past where he was aiming to stop.

    ¡°This seems to be the space in between universes. Where Cassia meant for us to go before everything fell apart.¡± Kevin gestured around. ¡°It¡¯s strange, when I was here with Eli we entered a sort of long corridor. Like the back hallways in a shopping mall. This is¡­ different.¡±

    Mel took a look around them again. It reminded her vaguely of Central Park in the winter. With a fog settled overnight. She took a few steps off the path to where her vision would not pierce and found she could go no further. Whatever this place was, it wasn¡¯t a normal park and it had limits.

    ¡°Yeah, I tried to go through it but it didn¡¯t work. There¡¯s a few doors in each direction and some intersections in the path. I¡¯m not sure how it works yet. Eli implied that each door is connected to a specific place in a specific universe. I can¡¯t get my head around that, this place would be massive. Infinite. There would be halls and doors going on forever, how would you find any place?¡±

    Mel looked in each direction along the path. It stretched as far as she could see. Her head still felt fuzzy and there was a dull pain at the base of her skull but it wasn¡¯t as sharp as when she¡¯d first come to consciousness.

    ¡°What now? Should we just pick a door to try?¡± Mel took a few steps in the direction Kevin had come from.

    ¡°I could jump us out I think. I¡¯m not sure how we ended up here. Those officers started shooting at us and I just jumped. I can¡¯t control it very well under pressure.¡± Mel gave a barking laugh, surprising Kevin. He smiled as he gave her a sarcastic snip. ¡°Glad you find my infirmity amusing.¡±

    ¡°Kevin, no, I¡¯m glad you got us out of there in time. Isn¡¯t it ironic that you took us right where we need to go but without anyone who actually knows what we¡¯re supposed to do?¡± She kept giggling and Kevin allowed a chuckle.

    ¡°I guess we better go find someone who knows what they¡¯re doing then.¡± Kevin grabbed Mel¡¯s hand and exhaled. ¡°Let¡¯s start with our old ride.¡±

    The sensation was different from between worlds. The familiar ripping and pulling wasn¡¯t there. It was like half a jump, the rollercoaster-like drop and the sudden firmness of earth under your feet without the whiplash of being yanked through space and time.

    ¡°That¡¯s an ass ton easier. Let¡¯s jump like that every time.¡± Mel poked Kevin in the shoulder.

    ¡°Considering you dropped unconscious on landing in the in between, maybe let¡¯s not.¡± Kevin looked up thoughtfully. ¡°There¡¯s got to be a better name for that space.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure Cassia can give you a full history lesson about it when we find her boring ass. Now where are we?¡± Mel looked around at the large industrial buildings and bright midday sun.

    ¡°Finally keeping our appointment with Cassia.¡± Kevin put on his sunglasses and scanned their surroundings. ¡°Don¡¯t see anything that triggers a danger warning.¡±

    ¡°Keep those things on, I paid a lot for them. Maybe we wouldn¡¯t have gotten fucking ambushed if you¡¯d been looking through them.¡± She teasingly punched him in the arm.

    ¡°Ow! I told you they give me a headache after a while. And a major headache during jumps.¡± He looked around a little more, then pointed. ¡°That way. That¡¯s the abandoned building the Pathfinder was parked behind.¡±

    ¡°How do you remember this, I barely recognize any of this shit. I hardly knew we were in Dallas before.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just in my brain, I don¡¯t know. I think it has to do with this jumping ability. I¡¯ve got very vivid recollection for places.¡± Kevin shrugged and tilted his head in thought. ¡°I guess I¡¯ve always been good at that.¡±

    The pair walked across a parking lot and waited to cross the street. As they walked across the next lot and around the side of the large concrete building, Kevin let out a gasp.

    ¡°How the¡­¡± Mel trailed off. Kevin began to jog forward with a laugh and Mel followed. As they reached the Pathfinder, the door was opening for them to step up inside. The Eldest turned to them.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you made it here. We¡¯ll need your ability.¡± He nodded at Kevin and gave Mel a polite smile.

    ¡°How did you get back here?¡± Kevin looked at the boy and then up at Grit.

    ¡°No time. Let¡¯s get Cassia.¡± Grit said gruffly and waved for Kevin and Mel to enter the Pathfinder.

 43. Beachin

    Cassia and Eli sat across from each other at the small shack that was apparently the only restaurant around this section of the beach. When Cassia had asked where they were, Eli had only smiled and kept walking until they reached this place. Then he ordered ice creams for both of them and sat down at a table looking out over the beach.

    ¡°Where are we?¡± Cassia asked, or rather demanded, when she finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore. The leprechaun sighed, then took another bite of ice cream before replying.

    ¡°If ya must know right the ¡®ell now,¡± he began, sounding fully put out. ¡°We are on a beach, on Earth-29.¡± He went back to his ice cream, apparently thinking that he had explained their situation fully. Cassia glared at him, but when he didn¡¯t look up to see it, she had to resort to speaking again.

    ¡°Ok¡­and what are we doing here? Besides eating ice cream?¡± She added the last bit in a hurry, trying to cut off Eli¡¯s delaying tactics. The bearded man sighed again, heavier this time.

    ¡°We are waitin¡¯ ter make sure we¡¯re not about ter be arrested by the IPF.¡±

    Cassia raised an eyebrow at this, and eventually the leprechaun sighed once more. He finished off the last of his ice cream cone and hopped down off his seat.

    ¡°Should be in the clear by now,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s go break in ter me home.¡± He immediately set off down the small path of sand and dirt, without waiting for Cassia to follow. Fortunately, he couldn¡¯t outpace her for long on his short legs, and she quickly caught him.

    ¡°You have a home on more than one Earth?¡± she asked as they walked. Eli nodded, a smug smile on his face. Cassia thought for a moment, and then frowned at him.

    ¡°Wait. It¡¯s not your home, is it?¡± she asked. ¡°Not technically, anyway. It¡¯s another Elias Thorn, right?¡±

    She felt a small measure of satisfaction to see the silly grin wiped off his face, though she was still irritated at having to pry the information out of him. She briefly wondered if all of Thorns, across the entire multiverse, were as odd and unbearable as the ones she¡¯d met so far.

    ¡°Close ¡®nuff,¡± he muttered. ¡°S¡¯not like he¡¯s using it right now anyways. Somehow the IPF caught up tuh ¡®im a while back, and I¡¯m fairly certain he¡¯s spending some quality time on Earth-6 getting a lil attitude adjustment.¡±

    ¡°This Thorn was apprehended by the IPF recently?¡± Cassia asked in surprise. Eli didn¡¯t look at her, but nodded.

    ¡°I was here!¡± Cassia exclaimed, realization dawning on her. ¡°He was picked up by the IPF because he was giving us time to get out through the hidden garage!¡± At this comment, the leprechaun looked sharply up at her.

    ¡°How do ya know about the garage?¡± he asked, somewhat aggressively. Cassia frowned back at him.

    ¡°I just told you,¡± she replied. ¡°I was here when the IPF knocked on Thorn¡¯s door.¡± The leprechaun thought about this, and for a while they walked in silence. He didn¡¯t seem to like whatever it was he was mulling over. Eventually, though, he shrugged and continued to walk. Cassia tried to be patient, but she was so out of sorts that she finally had to ask.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you just, I don¡¯t know, magic us somewhere? Like you did to get us here in the first place?¡±

    Eli just rolled his eyes at her.

    ¡°I can¡¯t teleport,¡± he said flatly. ¡°I used magic tuh universe hop, which is very difficult magic tuh perform, by the way, so yer welcome.¡± He seemed to be expecting some response, so Cassia inclined her head towards him.

    ¡°Thank you for bringing us here, Eli,¡± she offered, managing to keep most of the sarcasm out of her voice. He raised an eyebrow at her, so she must not have fully succeeded, but he did continue.

    ¡°Magic is a fickle mistress, anyway,¡± he said. ¡°She may let ya do somethin¡¯ downright crazy, or she may not. Doesn¡¯t matter, though, ¡®cause teleportin¡¯ ain¡¯t somethin¡¯ ya can do. What ya would ¡®ave to do is jump somewhere an¡¯ jump back. Basically a teleport, but I don¡¯t know any of us have that kinda power.¡±

    Cassia still didn¡¯t really understand magic, but she was content for now that Eli was willing to even attempt to explain. She almost was going to ask how much longer the walk was going to be, when Eli led them straight up to a drop off and then stopped to peer over. Cassia stepped up beside him, and gazed down at the beach below.

    ¡°We¡¯re ¡®ere,¡± Eli said simply. Cassia looked around again, but didn¡¯t see anything resembling a house, or a garage for that matter. Then she looked at Eli, who again was displaying a smug grin, and she groaned.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°It¡¯s below us, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    The leprechaun smiled wider and nodded, then pointed his finger at a sizable rock near Cassia¡¯s feet. His face took on a more concentrating look, and Cassia suddenly felt a force of some sort emanating from him. The rock rolled over on its side, and she looked up to see satisfaction replace the focus in Eli¡¯s face. She was busy thinking about how interesting it was that the magic followed him across universes, implying that it was somehow related to the leprechaun himself, that she missed the small mechanical noises.

    Suddenly the ground disappeared, and she dropped down a chute into darkness. She could hear Eli¡¯s cackling growing further away as she slid rapidly down the slide. After a few moments, she launched out onto a small pad. Quickly, she made room for Eli, who she assumed would be following close behind. Looking around, she realized she was back in Thorn¡¯s garage. The vehicles were all still there, minus the green SUV that she and Grit had taken. She also noticed that the garish pink ice cream truck was missing as well.

    Eli landed next to her with a small thump, and was quickly back on his feet. He seemed almost giddy as he ran towards the vehicles.

    ¡°What¡¯s with this guy and trapdoors that shoot you down slides?¡± Cassia grumbled as she followed. Eli barked a short laugh.

    ¡°You know, I¡¯ve never understood that,¡± he said. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with regular secret doors?¡±

    ¡°This coming from a guy who used magic to knock over a rock that I could¡¯ve just kicked,¡± Cassia said, rolling her eyes.

    ¡°Hey, that was important for the gravitas of the moment,¡± Eli protested, stopping in front of a baby blue Camaro that looked to Cassia like it was older than the rest of the vehicles. ¡°Let¡¯s take this one.¡±

    Cassia frowned as Eli threw open the door and then pulled the keys out of the glove compartment.

    ¡°Won¡¯t this stand out?¡± she asked. Eli grinned at her from the driver¡¯s seat.

    ¡°I hope so!¡± he called. ¡°It¡¯s a ¡®67 Camaro, it should stand out! Get in!¡± Reluctantly Cassia climbed in next to him, and he immediately slammed the gas pedal to the floor. The car growled and then leapt forward, racing across the cement floor. Eli laughed maniacally, and Cassia desperately scrambled to put her seatbelt on. They careened straight towards a garage door at the other end of the gigantic room, and Cassia was unsure if Eli noticed that it was closed.

    At the last second, he jabbed a series of buttons on the dash, and the setting shifted abruptly. Cassia¡¯s stomach lurched, and she was barely able to keep the contents of her stomach where they belonged. They were suddenly speeding down an off ramp, approaching a stop sign. Eli slammed on the brakes and the car screeched to a stop. He looked around, confusion evident on his face.

    ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Not where I was aiming.¡± He punched the buttons on the dash again, and Cassia felt the familiar ripping sensation of a jump, yet her setting didn¡¯t shift. Eli cursed loudly, and punched the buttons once more. The same sensation repeated itself, but they stayed in the same location.

    ¡°Somethin¡¯ wrong with this ol¡¯ beater,¡± Eli complained, but Cassia shook her head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± she said. ¡°I think something¡¯s wrong with the universe. Or more specifically, the place in between the universes. Something is out of whack.¡± Eli looked surprised, but didn¡¯t provide a quippy response, so he must¡¯ve agreed with her on some level.

    A car honked from behind them, causing both of them to jump. Eli started the Camaro moving forward, and they cruised into the town they¡¯d found themselves in, both of them looking around for any location clues.

    ¡°Atlanta,¡± Eli declared after a while. ¡°Or somewhere nearby.¡± He pointed to a road sign indicating the direction to the city. Cassia nodded.

    ¡°But who knows what Earth we¡¯re on,¡± she replied. ¡°Or how to find out.¡± Eli considered for a moment.

    ¡°There are ways to find out,¡± he said, then gestured to the sun beginning to sink below the horizon. ¡°But for now, we probably need to get some rest. It wasn¡¯t that long ago you healed yourself from near death, and I heroically saved both of us.¡±

    Cassia rolled her eyes, but found that she agreed with him. Just mentioning getting rest had caused her to realize how tired she felt. Eating food back on Earth-29 had helped, but the fatigue was still lurking. No wonder Eli didn¡¯t want to magic jump more than once. She watched as a group of people on the sidewalk stared at them as they passed.

    ¡°Eli, I think we¡¯re standing out a little too much,¡± she said quietly. To her surprise, he nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Fortunately,¡± he replied, ¡°magic can actually help us ¡®ere.¡± Cassia watched as his face took on the intense look of focus from before. She blinked, and suddenly he was dressed in a long sleeve shirt and jeans. He grinned at her surprise.

    ¡°I mean, I was referring to the car, but that is¡­much better,¡± she acknowledged.

    ¡°Don¡¯ worry, lassie,¡± he said, the accent standing out even more against his new clothes. ¡°I took care o¡¯ the car too.¡±

    Cassia looked out the windshield, and sure enough, the baby blue color was gone, replaced by a dirty gray color that was rusted in spots. She was impressed, and turned back to Eli to say so, but something caught her eye.

    ¡°Wait, I think I¡¯ve been here before,¡± she said. Eli¡¯s eyes widened, and he stopped the car. Cassia looked around at the buildings slowly falling into disrepair.

    ¡°Somethin¡¯ look familiar to ya?¡± he asked, and she shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet,¡± she replied. ¡°Keep driving.¡± When he didn¡¯t immediately comply, she frowned at him.

    ¡°If we keep moving, maybe I¡¯ll figure out why this place is familiar,¡± she said, then realized that Eli was staring straight ahead.

    ¡°Could be ¡®ard to do that at the moment, lass,¡± he said. Cassia twisted around in her seat to look out the windshield. Sure enough, a group of tough looking men were slowly approaching the car, walking down the middle of the street. A gang of some sort, she knew, though that could mean almost anything depending on which Earth they were on. No matter the Earth, though, it meant trouble. Eli seemed to have already reached the same conclusion.

    ¡°Get out of here!¡± Cassia exclaimed, but Eli shook his head, and gestured towards the rearview mirror.

    ¡°Too late,¡± he said, but Cassia had already turned to see a car blocking their way out the back.

    ¡°Of course,¡± she said, frustrated. ¡°Something¡¯s going on with the multiverse, and we¡¯re stuck on some back alley getting attacked by the local gang. What more could we want?¡±

    As if in response to her words, there was movement to their left. From a different alley came a different group of tough looking men. Eli groaned.

    ¡°Now ya done it.¡±

 Interlude: HOLIDAY!

    Earth 97, New York, Brooklyn, Israel Union Synagogue

    ¡°Gather in now, let¡¯s have the story of Hannukill. Light the hannukiah, David. Now listen closely, little ones.¡± The children crowded in close with bright smiles, their stomachs full of Babka.

    ¡°Who remembers the story of Hannukill? What do we celebrate during these eight nights?¡± The rabbi smiled generously at his young charges as their sticky hands shot into the air. ¡°Yes, Adaya.¡±

    ¡°In the second century BC, the Maccabeans rebelled against the Mechanists and reconsecrated the Temple.¡± The young girl recited from memory in a monotone, bringing a smile to Rabbi Dov¡¯s face.

    ¡°Yes, and why do we light the eight candles?¡± Another burst of little hands. ¡°Tell us, Jacob.¡±

    ¡°Because when the battle was won and Judas entered the temple there was no oil to light the ner tamid! They used the oil from the mech warriors they killed to keep it lit for 8 whole days when new consecrated oil was found!¡± Little Jacob mimicked swinging a sword then made spark and explosion noises with his mouth eliciting a chuckle from Rabbi Dov.

    ¡°Yes, children! Hannukill celebrates the revolt that freed our people from mechanical overlords and the rededication of the temple! These are very important moments in our history! Even today, we light our own ner tamid, an eternal light to represent the presence of God with us!¡± Rabbi Dov smiled warmly and patted the children¡¯s small heads. ¡°Come on, little ones. I smell Challah, let¡¯s meet your parents at the table.¡±

    <hr>

    Earth 101, The North American Amazon, Lake Hearon

    The water churned as Jackson stepped quietly through the shallows. His spear was carefully poised and struck at the exact moment. He withdrew it from the murky water. The Wideye impaled on the end thrashed as he held it up for examination. Decently sized and with minimal bloat. Jackson decided this would be a decent enough offering for the village Christmas dinner.

    Jackson swished his feet through the water, freeing his toes of the thick mud that caked the bottom of the lakes. He recalled stories that he¡¯d heard passed down about clean water that turned solid in winter and laughed. It was warm and his clothes were damp with sweat despite the time of year, there was no cold and there would be no cold. But if the village wanted to pretend and have a party with free food, he wouldn¡¯t miss it.

    He walked along the familiar game trail into the thick jungle, he walked carefully for an hour before arriving in a clearing where several wooden huts comprised the center of the village. He rolled his eyes at the tree limbs that had been cut and decorated with pressed flowers and scavenged trinkets and approached Emma.

    ¡°Here.¡± He plopped the dead fish down onto the table next to here as she prepared several cuts of rabbit for roasting. ¡°Now can I join the Christmas feast?¡±

    Emma didn¡¯t pause her preparation and barely spared a glance for the Wideye that was now stinking up her cooking space. Instead, she skewered one of the rabbits and set it on the spit to cook then turned to point at Dale, her sandy haired brother.

    ¡°Dale, prepare this stinking fish before we all die of the smell.¡± She continued with her preparation.

    ¡°Still? Emma, I brought a peace offering! You can¡¯t stay mad!¡± Jackson stomped a foot and turned to Dale for help.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. You know how important the Christmas is for Emma.¡± Dale grabbed the fish as Emma shot him a glare.

    ¡°It¡¯s just Christmas, not the Christmas. And he cursed Santa!¡± Emma pointed her cooking knife at Jackson and he took a measured step back. ¡°You know how important Santa is! You know the old story!¡±

    ¡°Ok, ok, I take it back Emma! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sure that Santa Kringle was real and I¡¯m sure he delivered Coca Cola to children.¡± Jackson held up his hands supplicantly. Emma continued to glare but slowly softened.

    ¡°Alright, you can stay for the feast. I knew you had some Christmas spirit in you!¡± Emma laughed despite herself and looked up at the break in the trees. ¡°Oh look! There he is!¡±

    Jackson stared slack jawed up into the air as a flashing light crossed the patch of sky he could see between the trees.

    ¡°Santa¡­?¡±

    <hr>

    Earth 89, New York, Manhattan, Times Square

    ¡°Ten!¡±

    This is the year. I just know it. This year I¡¯ll be better. I know I can be better. It¡¯s time to break free from those old habits. Going clean and going straight. That¡¯s what the new year is all about, right? I can do this. Sure, it¡¯s been 165 years of the same old Carmilla but this is the year, I can just feel it.

    ¡°Nine!¡±

    So many people. Maybe just a little taste though. I have nine seconds. I could just grab a little bite then finish the countdown and then, Wham, new and improved Carmilla! No, no. That¡¯s the whole point, keep it together Carmilla. No biting. We do not bite anymore. We do not feast. We can do it. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°Eight!¡±

    Thank goodness they do this thing at nighttime. Just these stupid lights are killing me. Eighty years in this city and no wonder the natives all say to stay away. Just awful, these lights. Ugly ads too. Oh, my god. They¡¯re reviving Dracula, the Musical. I must go.

    ¡°Seven!¡±

    Almost there, Carmilla. Think of all the things we can do next year when we aren¡¯t stalking darkened alleyways or fluttering outside windowsills or enchanting beautiful virgins at that awful nightclub. I should branch out to other clubs, maybe it¡¯s just that 18-21 club that¡¯s so horribly bright and loud. No! Carmilla, no more need for clubs! No more need for virgin blood!

    ¡°Six!¡±

    God, for ten seconds this is taking an awful long time. Whoever came up with this stupid ball should be hung upside down and carefully drained. No, Carmilla, stop. That¡¯s the kind of thing we can¡¯t be thinking now that we¡¯ve decided to go sober.

    ¡°Five!¡±

    Yes, this is for the best. It¡¯s so very tiring having to hunt and then cover up death after death after death. I know I could prey on some of the more undesirables of the city and have less post-meal cleanup to do but where would that leave me? Magnus started that unhoused shelter a decade ago and the man is practically feral now. This is for the best.

    ¡°Four!¡±

    And think of brunch! Ambrosia will surely reinvite me now. She¡¯s been unbearable since she went Vegan. And the un-invitation she sent me was pretty mean and unnecessary but I do miss Esmeray and Lillith. I wonder if they¡¯re vegan too or just pretending. Come to think of it, I think I saw Esmeray skulking around Alaric¡¯s penthouse at the last dinner party.

    ¡°Three!¡±

    If Esmeray is still partaking then maybe I could just pretend to go clean. I could just cut back and then for all Ambrosia knows, maybe that is just pig blood in my Mimosa. No! Carmilla focus. You can do this! It¡¯s much healthier anyways, think about that. It¡¯s a new me.

    ¡°Two!¡±

    Yes, I know it. This will be a good year. The last decade has been so lonely. Even the dinner parties haven¡¯t cheered me up. Less and less attending these days. Alaric is hardly good company. The man spends more time naked than otherwise and has the wit of a mortal. Two millennia of life, you¡¯d think he would pick up a single interesting quality.

    ¡°One!¡±

    Almost there! A new year, a new Carmilla! I¡¯m really going to do it! It all starts now.

    ¡°Happy New Year!¡±

    Here we go! The new Carmilla! Oh my, folks really do take that kissing tradition seriously. Oh hello lovely. She¡¯s leaning in, I suppose a kiss with a stranger is a cultural norm for the new year, why not? When in Rome! My what tasty lips, look at that neck. The collar bone. So. Exposed. And clean. Maybe. Maybe just a little taste. Just once. Nobody keeps these resolutions anyways right?

    <hr>

    Earth 165, Midgard, Trondheim

    ¡°Hail, Harald. How holds the Eastern Wall?¡± Arne nocked another arrow and fired it into the throat of one of the creatures that ventured into the shallows of the river that formed his cities western border as Harald approached.

    ¡°Jarl Arne¡­¡± Harald began but Arne held a hand up to interrupt him.

    ¡°Hersir, or even Thane, but I am no Jarl.¡± Arne nocked again and fired. Another of the creatures fell as Harald cleared his throat.

    ¡°Thane Arne then. But please consider. The Jarl is dead and the people need you. These draugr fill the people with fear and show no sign of ending their siege. The winter is a cold one and some think we won¡¯t survive the night.¡±

    ¡°Harald, tell me this. Every year comes the Winter Solstice and every year Trondheim stands strong, does it not?¡± Harald nodded gravely.

    ¡°Yes, Ja¡­ Thane. But the draugr are thick this night. They¡¯ve nearly breached the Eastern Wall. Your men grow weak with fear.¡± Harald pointed to one of the lifeless creatures as it ventured into the deeper part of the river and Arne put an arrow through its head.

    ¡°Are they warriors? Will they not protect their children?¡± Arne shook his head angrily then turned to a nearby archer. ¡°You, Troels. You will hold this river, will you not?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Thane Arne. By my bow, not one draugr will cross those waters!¡± Arne grasped his arm and nodded.

    ¡°Archers of the riverbanks! To Troels! You will defend these banks or die in the reeds!¡± The remaining archers gave a warcry and re-assembled around Troels as Arne turned to walk with Harald.

    ¡°Harald, where are the walls weakest?¡± Arne strode with purpose, large even among men, and Harald rushed to keep up with him.

    ¡°Near the Old Gate. The draugr have set upon it with great force, throwing themselves into our spear.¡±

    ¡°Then that is where I will go.¡± Arne turned down a dirt road and arrived at his destination. The longhouse of the Jarl was dark. ¡°Bring me the Jarl¡¯s robe, Harald.¡±

    ¡°Thane?¡± Harald muttered nervously.

    ¡°Bring it to me.¡± Harald rushed to the body of the Jarl, pierced a hundred times over by draugr weapons, and returned with the thick robe.

    ¡°Now horses. And the Jarl¡¯s sledge.¡± Harald rushed to bring Arne what he requested. Soon, Arne stood in the Jarl¡¯s sledge wearing his heavy robe.

    ¡°My Thane, how will this help hold the gate?¡±

    ¡°The gates will hold Harald. Our warriors will hold it. Hya!¡± Arne whipped the horses into a run and they pulled him through the city towards the eastern wall and the old gate.

    ¡°On Glenr! On Grani!¡± Arne shouted at the horses as they approached the barely held gate. His warriors scattered out of his way and at the last second he called out to the steeds. ¡°Leap Glenr! Leap Grani!¡±

    The sledge soared through the air and with it Arne. He landed like a boulder smashing several draugr at once and spun like a top, his axes carving a large opening in the hoard. Arne flung a handaxe at the draugr nearest the gate as his warriors watched in awe from the ramparts. Before them, Arne stood tall in the robes of the Jarl, covered in the blood of enemies. Stained red he let out a primal roar, Hooooooo!

    ¡°To the Jarl!¡± Came the cry from Harald the skald and the warriors flung forth the Old Gate and charged out to meet the draugr head on. At Arne¡¯s feet were forty corpses before they even arrived. The warriors of Trondheim fought through the night alongside Arne as Harald the skald watched from the wall. As the son rose, the draugr collapsed lifeless as they did every Winter Solstice and Arne stood tall and mighty. Harald looked on in awe as the men cheered their new king.

    ¡°A Solstice miracle.¡± Harald whispered to the sunrise.

 44. Sacrifice

    The ship woke El from a short, but deep, sleep with a quick pulse through the bench he was laying on. He yawned briefly and sat up. The ship pulsed once more, lighter this time, and El smiled. A quick look around informed him that the others were still asleep. It was interesting how long the average human took to sleep. Even odder, they didn¡¯t seem all that concerned about that time loss.

    El stood up and padded barefoot to the dashboard, where the ship had backlit a small keyboard in a soft light. As he approached, small glyphs glowed to life on the keys, and El smiled again. It had been some time since he¡¯d seen his native language. As he reached for the keyboard, a small line of glyphs appeared in the center of the blackened windshield.

    The silver haired Vyrinnic is near.

    The text faded rapidly as El read it. He thought for a moment, then pecked at the keyboard. Immediately, the windshield faded from black to clear, and El could see the empty lot, lit by the slowly rising sun.

    ¡°What did the ship say to you?¡± Grit asked from behind, and El jumped. In their short time together, El had already been surprised by how silent Grit could be. He smiled at the older man.

    ¡°It told me that Cassia is nearby,¡± he said, and Grit¡¯s face brightened. Or, at least, it did Grit¡¯s version of brightening. The big man stepped up next to him at the dashboard.

    ¡°Is she coming here?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± El said thoughtfully. ¡°The Pathfinder can¡¯t really track her location more than it can just¡­feel that she is near?¡± He ended the sentence as a question, realizing that he didn¡¯t actually know much about how Pathfinders really worked. They were extremely rare throughout the multiverse these days, and a lot of his working knowledge came from reading. He put a hand on the dashboard and felt the ship humming. He hadn¡¯t expected it to feel so much more alive than other ships.

    El glanced around to see that Grit had pulled on his boots and appeared to be getting ready to leave the ship.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± El asked, then realized the answer was obvious as Grit looked up from tying his shoes.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to go look for her,¡± he said, and Grit nodded.

    ¡°I won¡¯t go far,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe just a block or two. My experience with Cassia tells me that she¡¯s probably bringing some kind of trouble with her.¡± El considered this, then nodded.

    ¡°I will join you,¡± he said. Grit held up his hands in protest, but before he could speak, the ship pulsed strongly and the entire edge of the windshield flashed a bright red. El gasped.

    ¡°Aventus!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°But how?¡± The ship flashed and pulsed again. El placed his hand on the dash and felt the intensified humming there. Aventus was definitely in the area.

    ¡°Aventus?¡± said a new voice from behind him. El glanced at the newcomer and identified him as Kevin. The one who could apparently travel the actual fabric of the multiverse.

    ¡°Who¡¯s Aventus?¡± asked Mel loudly. The redhead was short and solid, and attractive by human standards. El was somewhat scared of her.

    ¡°Yes, Aventus,¡± he replied. ¡°He is the very agent of chaos, and he wants to destroy the multiverse.¡±

    His explanation was met by a moment of silence, and then a loud barking laugh from Mel that caused Kevin to chuckle as well.

    ¡°Sounds intense,¡± Mel said. Only Grit looked serious. El was uncertain of how to proceed. He¡¯d explained Aventus in the most dangerous terms he knew, but apparently he¡¯d said something funny. The ship pulsed again, and to El¡¯s horror a figure stepped into the empty lot.

    ¡°He¡¯s here,¡± he whispered. ¡°So fast. He must¡¯ve been waiting for me to be released from the IPF.¡±

    The four of them watched as the figure stalked towards the ship. The Pathfinder continued to pulse and flash red until the figure stopped in the center of the lot, facing the ship. Another line of glyphs appeared in the center of the screen.

    The One Who Ends wishes to communicate with you.

    ¡°What¡¯s it say?¡± Mel asked, immediately. El looked at Aventus through the windshield for a moment, and then turned to face the others.

    ¡°Aventus wishes to speak with us,¡± he replied. ¡°I am not certain that he knows I am here, though something has drawn him to this place.¡± He looked solemnly at the group. Grit was impassive, as usual, but Mel still seemed to find the whole thing slightly humorous, judging by her slight smirk. Or maybe that was her normal face. Kevin, at least, had started to look concerned.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it would be best if one of you spoke to him and attempted to hide the fact that I am on board,¡± El said. He doubted any of them could stand up to Aventus¡¯ questioning, but it also seemed to be their only choice. There was silence as the four of them looked at each other.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°It is difficult to lie to Aventus,¡± El continued. ¡°It is much better to speak in vague truths and hope he doesn¡¯t guess your true meaning.¡±

    ¡°Who is this guy?¡± Kevin asked, sounding incredulous. ¡°Some sort of super villain?¡± Mel snorted, but Grit leaned forward looking serious.

    ¡°I think we should listen to El on this one,¡± he growled in his low voice. ¡°At the least, we should take this threat seriously.¡±

    The ship pulsed again, and another line of glyphs wrote themselves into the center of the screen.

    The One Who Ends is asking if there is anyone alive here.

    El sighed.

    ¡°Aventus grows impatient,¡± he said. ¡°Someone must address him, or we risk him attacking.¡± There was more silence from the group, until finally Mel stood up.

    ¡°What the hell, I¡¯ll talk to this guy,¡± she said, stepping up to the dashboard. El tapped on the keyboard.

    ¡°I¡¯ve assigned the ship to you for now,¡± he told Mel solemnly. She made a weird face at him, and then blinked in surprise at how the keyboard was now labeled in her own language. Then, before El could provide some quick advice, she punched the microphone button.

    ¡°Hey shithead, we¡¯re sleeping here. Fuck off!¡±

    <hr>

    Aventus paused. He generally considered himself someone who prepared well, but he had to admit that the aggressive female voice that had just shouted at him from the Pathfinder was shocking. He found himself unsure of how to respond. While he stood there, the voice returned.

    ¡°Can you hear me out there, numbnuts? I¡¯ll fight you if I have to.¡± Aventus frowned, then shook his head. He understood the words, but he was not used to the aggressive tone. This human woman wanted to fight him? Most humans were innately afraid of him on some level. Most creatures in the multiverse for that matter. He absently rubbed his arm as he remembered another creature he had met recently that had been surprisingly unafraid.

    ¡°We do not need to fight,¡± he finally said. He spoke softly, and in his own language, knowing the Pathfinder would amplify his voice and translate his words.

    ¡°I simply seek your companion, Cassia Moreng. If you can provide me with her, I will go peacefully.¡± Aventus spread his arms out wide to indicate he was not carrying a weapon.

    ¡°She¡¯s not here,¡± came the reply, still forceful. There was something in the tone, though. Aventus took a step forward.

    ¡°Stop right there, pal, or I¡¯ll step out there and blow your fucking head off.¡± Aventus paused again. The tone had changed from over aggressive to ice cold. For the barest hint of a second, Aventus questioned if he was somehow in the wrong place. He couldn¡¯t see the Pathfinder after all, only sense it. He growled and shook his head. Who was this woman to make him indecisive? He¡¯d had enough. He reached inside his cloak, and then remembered that he¡¯d lost it while hunting Eli. When that creature had¡­he suppressed a shudder. No matter. He didn¡¯t need weapons to rip apart whoever was in the ship. They obviously were not Cassia.

    <hr>

    Kevin jumped when Mel slammed her hands against the dashboard.

    ¡°Shit, I pissed him off,¡± she said, as they watched Aventus begin to stride purposefully across the lot towards them.

    ¡°Good thing,¡± she continued. ¡°Because he pissed me off too.¡± She turned and stomped towards the door.

    ¡°Wish this fucking magic ship had some weapons,¡± she muttered angrily. The ship pulsed, and the wall near the door formed into some sort of cabinet. Mel opened it cautiously and pulled out some sort of futuristic looking gun.

    ¡°Damn, a laser blaster!¡± she exclaimed, examining the gun.

    ¡°Is she really planning on facing Aventus?¡± El whispered at his side, and Kevin jumped again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, probably,¡± he said with a shrug. ¡°You know, she¡¯s¡­Mel.¡± As he spoke, Mel pushed by them to look out the windshield. Aventus was still approaching, and was almost to the ship.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Mel said, and whooped. Kevin grabbed her shoulder as she went by.

    ¡°Mel, I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s the best thing to do,¡± he said. Then he grunted as she turned and chest bumped him.

    ¡°Thanks Kev, love you too,¡± she said, then turned to Grit.

    ¡°Grit, my man. Take care of that one if I die. He won¡¯t survive on his own.¡± She pointed at Kevin. Slowly, Grit nodded, then shockingly reached out and fistbumped her. Mel grinned. Kevin hated and loved that grin.

    ¡°Kevin, I think you need to jump us,¡± El whispered, again at his side. This time Kevin didn¡¯t jump.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kevin asked. ¡°Can¡¯t you jump yourself? We need to stop Mel! Or help her, or something!¡± He started to move towards her, but the kid grabbed his arm.

    ¡°Kevin, if I jump us then Aventus will recognize the trail. I seriously doubt he is familiar with yours.¡± Kevin shrugged off El¡¯s arm and started after Mel, but the boy was relentless. He ran after him and grabbed him again.

    ¡°Kevin, please! Aventus will go through both of you. You have to get the rest of us out of here!¡±

    Kevin started to shake him off again, but Grit put a hand on his other shoulder, and nodded. Almost as if through slow motion, he watched as Mel launched out the door of the ship, laughing. Spinning, he could just make out Aventus through the windshield. He had a wolfish grin on his face, and as Kevin watched, he started sprinting towards Mel. Even in that brief time, he could tell that Aventus was moving impossibly fast. Finally, he reached out mentally and launched the three of them into the multiverse. As the tunnels appeared in his vision, Kevin could hear himself shouting Mel¡¯s name.

 45. Lend A Hand

    Cassia flexed her right hand then swung again. The eyes of the thug she held by the collar rolled back as he slumped unconscious and she moved gracefully between the thrusting stab of one of his companions and a mistimed full body tackle from a member of the other gang. Clearly, they had rolled into a disputed alleyway between rival street gangs and the ensuing brawl would determine which one got to rob them. Cassia¡¯s eyes burned with rage as she drilled a kick into the knee of a hulking beast of a man. He collapsed in a whimpering mess, hands hovering over the spot where his knee cap was fully facing the wrong direction. Nobody would be robbing her today.

    She swept past the now rusty gray car she¡¯d gotten out of to join the melee and frowned at Eli lounging in the driver¡¯s seat. He¡¯d reclined the seat even. Shaking her head, she brought both arms in an arc in front of her, clapping hard on either side of the head of a knife-wielding gang member. Stunned, he was easy to fold forward and she smashed his face hard against the hood of the car. Cassia smiled as the resulting thump elicited a slight jump from Eli.

    ¡°Thanks for your help.¡± She mouthed through the windshield at him. He pointed past her with a raised eyebrow in response. Cassia heard the thug coming and didn¡¯t bother turning. She slipped onto the hood and rolled into a crouch on the driver¡¯s side of the car as the man swung down with a tire iron, smashing a dent into the bumper. The window cracked slightly as the man reared back for a second attack.

    ¡°Y¡¯ know, lass, we could jus¡¯ be leavin¡¯.¡± The leprechaun Thorn spoke through the window to her with a nonchalance that did not match the setting. Cassia ducked her head under the swinging tire iron then struck with two jabs in swift succession. The man crumpled in pain holding both his throat and his unmentionables.

    ¡°Hard to drive out of an alley when you¡¯re surrounded, Eli.¡± Cassia grumbled back at him as she picked up the tire iron and tested its weight.

    ¡°Lassie, y¡¯ gotta start rememb¡¯rin we got magic.¡± He reached out the window and grabbed onto her wrist as two of the gang members produced handguns and just like that their surroundings warped and changed as Eli¡¯s mysterious powers teleported them away from the fight.

    <hr>

    Kevin¡¯s despairing cry pulled at Meg even after it was cut off as he jumped away from the abandoned parking lot. She steeled herself, trying not to show any of the torment she felt. Mel wasn¡¯t stupid and beneath all her bravado and forced confidence, she knew that this wasn¡¯t a fight she¡¯d win. She could buy them time though. She was good at that. And she would damn sure do her best for Kevin and the rest of her unlikely new friends.

    Mel¡¯s forced smirk grew genuine as she thought of them. They were her friends, as much as she¡¯d tried not to make any. She was glad she had anyways. Even if she was about to die. Mel rolled away from the Pathfinder¡¯s opening and heard it shut itself with a whoosh.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do it then, you ugly shit.¡± Mel opened fire with the slender handgun she¡¯d found in the Pathfinder. Bursts of energy shot from it and Aventus hissed and dodged to her left. Mel used the brief opening to turn and sprint towards the abandoned factory between them and the main road. She heard Aventus change direction and begin to chase her and fired blindly over her shoulder.

    Pain burned in her right leg as she ran and she turned to see that the man that El had called Aventus was wielding a silvery whip. It snapped again and she managed to duck under it before slipping into a doorway of the nearby building. She glanced down and saw a bleeding gash that wrapped halfway around her calf just above her boot. She fired a flurry of shots from the covered doorway, slowing Aventus as he dodged and weaved through the bursts of energy.

    He was incredibly fast, Mel knew she couldn¡¯t beat him but she¡¯d expected to at least be able to land a lucky hit. Exasperated, she rushed down the hallway to her right looking around for anything to use as a weapon before he caught up. Finding a room that must have once served as a small office with storage space, she quickly snatched up a hammer and continued rushing through the hallway that ran along the edge of the building parallel to the parking lot where the Pathfinder sat.

    Mel didn¡¯t get far before she saw Aventus¡¯ shadow through the doorway she¡¯d come through. She fired repeatedly, thinking maybe he wouldn¡¯t enter the more confined space while she had a shooting gallery lined up.

    ¡°Oh shit balls.¡± Mel fired more rapidly as Aventus came rushing into the hallway, running along the ceiling then transitioning to the wall as she corrected her aim. Even in the tight hallways, he stepped easily between the projectiles with a cruel grin on his face. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    As he closed the distance, he unfurled his silvery whip again but as he snapped his arm to crack it at her, they both realized the space was too tight as it hit ineffectively against the ceiling. Mel almost laughed aloud but her smile disappeared as the growling Aventus leapt towards her producing a long dagger from his belt.

    ¡°How many medieval ass weapons do you have!¡± Mel shouted as she raised the hammer to block the first slash. The second knocked the gun from her other hand, sending it spinning away. He moved with inhuman speed, too fast for Mel to counter every blow. She was good in a scrap, but as she backed down the hallway dodging and blocking for her life, more and more gashes and cuts began to mark her body.

    Aventus smiled viciously and ducked under her guard, thrusting the dagger upward. In a motion only the desperate would attempt, Mel blocked the blade as it stabbed towards her stomach with her own left hand. The pain was enormous and she cried out angrily as the blade cut cleanly through her palm. She couldn¡¯t feel her ring finger or pinky but she knew she only had a small window. Before Aventus could withdraw the weapon, she closed her remaining fingers around the hilt, holding it tightly. Aventus was fast but with her grip on his blade hand she found that his strength was that of a normal man. A strong, normal man, but not otherworldly like his speed. She wrestled against him as he attempted to continue his thrust and stab the blade not only through her hand but her chest as well.

    As Mel pushed back out of pure survival instinct, the intelligent part of her brain remembered she was holding a hammer in her other hand. She managed two solid strikes to Aventus¡¯ head before he managed to shift and resist her swings. He was clearly made of something more solid than the average human. Her next blow glanced off his shoulder and their shifting momentums caused them to fall sideways into the wall and slide to the floor in a heap. Mel maintained control of the blade stuck through her palm and Aventus refused to let it go as well so while they wrestled for control, they also swung and blocked each other¡¯s other arms. Mel tried to catch the clawed side of the hammer in his thigh but had to swing upwards to knock Aventus¡¯ hand away from her throat.

    After what felt like hours but must have only been a minute or two, Aventus brought his fist down hard into Mel¡¯s ribs and then backhanded her arm as she winced. The hammer flung free and clattered down the hallway. With the improvised weapon out of the equation, Aventus gripped Mel by the throat with his free hand and locking his other arm to give him extra strength, he lifted her off the ground.

    ¡°It¡¯s been centuries since one of your kind put up such a fight. It¡¯s usually like cutting through butter.¡± Aventus stared at her face, his own eyes cold. Mel watched a trickle of blood makes its way down his temple from where she¡¯d struck him.

    ¡°If I knew how easy it was to crack your noggin¡¯ I would have led with the hammer.¡± Mel groaned as she struggled for air. Aventus scowled then thrust her through the nearest window.

    Mel landed roughly on the pavement, dazed and bloody. Glass scattered around her from the shattered window and Aventus himself stepped casually through it after her. Mel crawled towards where she thought the Pathfinder was, her vision was blurry and she couldn¡¯t quite make out its shimmer. A shadow crossed her path and Aventus¡¯ foot came down on her back, halting her progress.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been quite the opponent, but I think it¡¯s time we wrap this up.¡±

    <hr>

    Cassia leaned into Eli as their surroundings came back into focus and he shoved her back up. She blinked once taking in the horrific scene in front of her. Mel lay covered in bleeding wounds and Aventus himself had a foot on her back with a hammer raised over his head. She opened her mouth in shock as Mel spoke.

    ¡°About fucking time you showed up.¡± Her voice was ragged and weak but through her bloodied face, Cassia could make out a smile. Aventus paused his motion, his face briefly showing surprise before it moved to something sinister.

    ¡°Well, well. I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d deliver yourself just like that.¡± He shoved Mel to the side with his foot and took a step towards Cassia. He spared a brief glance for Eli. ¡°Run now, imp, and you might be able to die calmly before I finish destroying this world.¡±

    Eli looked uncertainly at Cassia but she kept her cautious eyes on Aventus as he slowly advanced. The two sized each other up, carefully settling into fighting stances. Eli fanned to the side so that Aventus had to keep track of both of them at different angles. Aventus smiled. Cassia knew that he enjoyed a more challenging fight. It was quiet as they continued to circle slowly.

    ¡°Kick his ass, girl!¡± Mel managed enough strength to shout out. Cassia spared her a glance and grimaced. She didn¡¯t look good and it gave Cassia the push she needed. She had to try to fight him off fast if she was going to save Mel from bleeding to death. As she prepared to strike, a ripping sound filled the parking lot and Aventus was suddenly knocked off balance as a bicycle clipped him. He hopped backwards as Elaine and Derrick tumbled in a heap with their bicycle jumper. Aventus snarled in rage and advanced back towards Cassia again.

    ¡°By the Depths, how many of you damned people are there!¡± He shouted as he prepared to swing.

    ¡°Enough to take care of you.¡± Cassia muttered back as she charged to meet him at full speed.

 46. Tango

    At this point in his life, Derrick had jumped across universes more times than he could count. Still, the sudden appearance of sheep dotting the lush green countryside made his brain do some sort of mental spasm. For a long moment, he just stared. He eventually realized that Elaine was trying to pedal the tricycle. She glanced over at him with raised eyebrows.

    ¡°Care to help?¡± she asked, smiling slightly. Derrick laughed, which felt nice. Especially considering they¡¯d managed to escape from some sort of multiversal stalker. He started pedaling from his seat, and the strange cycle began to cruise down the road. It wasn¡¯t long before Derrick recognized the area. He¡¯d seen it on the screens while at The Switchboard.

    ¡°It worked!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°We¡¯re on the road towards Eli¡¯s house!¡± Elaine, surprisingly, let out a whoop of excitement and then laughed. Derrick thought they must make quite a sight, riding a strange tandem tricycle down the country road while shouting and laughing. Fortunately, there were only sheep to notice.

    That is, until they made the turn onto the unpaved drive that led to Eli¡¯s actual house. That was when they remembered that the reason the others left his home in the first place was to avoid the IPF. In front of them were multiple large vehicles, and up ahead they could see that there were still a handful of IPF agents milling around. They quickly veered off the road, and rode the trike up to an old shed that appeared to be seconds from collapsing.

    ¡°Do you think they saw us?¡± Elaine asked, peeking cautiously around the flimsy wall. Derrick slowly peered out around her, doing his best not to think about how close they were. Initially, it had seemed like there was a large IPF presence at the house. But now, with a more prolonged look, Derrick thought it looked like the agents were finishing up. Indeed, as they watched, a couple of male IPF agents climbed into one of the large vehicles, made a giant u-turn on the grass, and roared up the road. It happened fast enough that Derrick and Elaine barely had time to try and hide behind the shed.

    ¡°I think they¡¯re moving out,¡± Derrick whispered to Elaine. ¡°Maybe we can get in the house once they leave?¡± Elaine looked worried, but she nodded her approval. So they leaned back against the shed wall, carefully choosing the spot that seemed least likely to cave in, and waited.

    Eventually, Derrick opened his eyes with a start. The sun was sinking behind the fields and he realized they¡¯d fallen asleep. Elaine¡¯s head was leaning against his arm, and she was sleeping with her mouth open. Derrick considered not moving, but he had to know if the IPF had left. He slowly twisted to peer around the edge of the shed. Sure enough, there were no vehicles in sight, though he could see warning signs that the agency had left up around the property. He felt Elaine shift next to him.

    ¡°Did they leave?¡± she asked, somewhat groggy. He nodded at her.

    ¡°Looks like it. Fortunately, they missed us while we were sleeping. Shall we?¡± He stood up, then reached down and helped Elaine to her feet. Deciding to approach on foot, they stashed the tricycle and then warily walked up the drive. Derrick realized he was almost tiptoeing, and forced himself to stop. He tried to reassure himself that the IPF wouldn¡¯t booby trap the house of someone they were looking for.

    They reached the front door without incident. Elaine twisted the knob, and the door opened easily. She looked over at Derrick, and he shrugged, so she pushed it open fully and stepped inside. There were no lights on, so Derrick stepped over and flipped the switch in the entryway. Nothing jumped out at them, so they proceeded down the hallway to the kitchen. Everything was surprisingly picked up, besides a few dishes that the others had obviously left out in their hurry to leave.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s going to be anything here,¡± Elaine said, turning to Derrick. ¡°Anything that would¡¯ve helped us was probably picked up by the IPF.¡± Derrick was afraid she was probably right. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t have anything else to go on. Cassia could¡¯ve jumped anywhere. When you lost someone in the multiverse, it was extremely difficult to find them.

    A shout from Elaine, who had moved into the dining area, snapped him out of his depressing thoughts. He raced into the other room and found her staring at a device with a small screen on the dining room table. As Derrick reached the table, the device flickered and then the screen lit up, filled with the indigo face of  Detective Tek K¡¯Nani.

    ¡°You are not Eli,¡± she stated flatly, though the musical quality of her voice was still evident. She frowned at them.

    ¡°Where is he?¡± she asked, though it sounded more like a demand. Derrick looked at Elaine, who simply stared back at him with wide eyes. He leaned forward.

    ¡°We¡¯re not sure, Detective,¡± he answered. ¡°We¡¯re looking for him, or Cassia, ourselves.¡± The detective frowned again. There was a beeping noise from her end, and she glanced to her left, then cursed under her breath.

    ¡°Look, I¡¯ll ignore the fact that you apparently bypassed all the IPF warnings to avoid entering the house,¡± she said, her voice growing more firm. ¡°Simply because you are now tangled up in something that is much bigger than you know.¡± The beeping noise repeated itself. The detective paused, then set her jaw and somehow seemed to loom even larger on the screen.

    ¡°You need to get out of there. Let me find Cassia and Eli. It would be best for both of you to remove yourselves from this situation. Get out now and I can keep the IPF from coming after you.¡± There was silence for a moment, and Tek raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Um, I suppose we might be able to do that, Detective,¡± Derrick managed, looking at Elaine to see her nod. Tek stared at him through the screen for a moment, then gave a curt nod.

    ¡°Good,¡± she said. ¡°And if you meet anyone named Aventus, run as fast as you can in the other direction.¡± Elaine let out a strangled squeak, and the detective narrowed her eyes and leaned back in towards the camera.

    ¡°I take it you have already met him?¡± she asked, and Derrick nodded in affirmation. Tek sighed and leaned back.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Well, consider yourselves lucky to still be alive,¡± she said. ¡°Where is he now?¡±

    Derrick opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off by the a small thump from the entryway. He recognized it from when they had entered earlier. It was the sound of the front door bumping against the small bench that Eli had placed near the door.

    ¡°Detective,¡± he said, trying desperately to keep the tremble out of his voice. ¡°I think he¡¯s in this house.¡±

    <hr>

    Aventus crept along the entry hallway towards the kitchen. He¡¯d heard voices in the house immediately upon entering, and as he ventured further in, he scowled. It was the same two who had eluded him before! How had they known that this was his next destination? He paused for a moment to reconsider his evaluation of the male and female. Initially, he¡¯d thought them to be ordinary humans, accidentally caught up in the larger schemes of those more powerful than they. And yet, they had successfully slipped through his fingers twice, and were now potentially anticipating his next moves. Perhaps there was more to them than it first appeared. He resolved to only kill one, and continued his stealthy advance to the next room. The kitchen was empty, but he quickly determined they were in the dining area that was just off to the right.

    ¡°...will be very loud, so get as far away after you toss it as possible.¡± Aventus thought he recognized that voice, but couldn¡¯t place a name to it. He paused for a moment to evaluate his options, now that there was a third person in the mix, apparently standing closest to him. In the end, he decided to go with surprise and a hostage. He drew a long knife from a sheath on his belt and stepped into the dining area, ready to grab the owner of the third voice and put the knife to their throat. Immediately, he realized his mistake. The third person was just a voice, coming from a device that the man was currently holding. He saw the woman¡¯s mouth open in a shout, and then the man was hurling the device towards him.

    His subconscious put the clues together, and Aventus launched himself backwards into the kitchen, twisting and covering his ears with both hands. He hit the ground hard, and then everything blew up.

    <hr>

    Derrick and Elaine sprinted with everything they had towards the shed that hid their tricycle jumper. The back of Derrick¡¯s mind laughed maniacally at how they found themselves running for their lives towards a tricycle for the second time in less than twenty four hours, but the rest of his brain was simply focused on putting one foot in front of the other. That wasn¡¯t true, he realized. A good portion of his brain was paying attention to Elaine and making sure she didn¡¯t fall behind.

    As they slid around the shed to the jumper, they heard an impossibly loud roar of rage. Aventus had lived through the explosion, after all. Detective K¡¯Nani had indicated that he probably would, but after seeing, and hearing, the explosion, Derrick was shocked someone could¡¯ve lived through that. As it was, he was certain both him and Elaine would have bruises from being flung to the ground by the force of the blast.

    He risked peeking around the shed. Elaine grabbed his arm as he did, and he felt a surge of adrenaline. He would get her out of her safely if it cost him his life. Even as he thought it, he wondered what was happening to him. Did he even know this woman? Elaine made a small gasping noise, and Derrick yanked his focus back to the now burning house. A tall figure stepped out of the flames, then surveyed the now dark fields that surrounded the house. After a moment, Aventus gestured, and a large ship shimmered into view on the front lawn. He sat back against the shed.

    ¡°I think he¡¯s going to leave,¡± he whispered to Elaine. She looked relieved.

    ¡°What do we do then?¡± she whispered back, and Derrick shrugged.

    ¡°I guess we do what the detective said,¡± he answered. ¡°We lay low somewhere. I don¡¯t know how we can help, even if we want to.¡± Elaine seemed about to respond, but then she stared upwards in horror. Derrick turned to follow her gaze, though he knew what he would find.

    ¡°Hello humans,¡± Aventus said in his growly voice, looming over them as they cowered against the shed. ¡°You¡¯ve made things difficult. I commend you on your efforts, but it ends now.¡± He drew his long knife in an impossibly fast move, and Derrick knew they would both die here in Eli Thorn¡¯s field. Aventus raised the knife, and Derrick set himself to charge the man. Perhaps it would buy Elaine enough time to use the jumper.

    Suddenly, Aventus screamed. It was a terrible, guttural scream that seemed inhuman. In fact, Derrick thought it probably was inhuman. Aventus whirled around, trying to reach over his shoulder and Derrick saw some sort of animal attached to the man¡¯s back. It looked like it had its teeth in Aventus¡¯ neck. The man stumbled around trying to get the animal off. As he stepped slightly away from them, the light from the moon illuminated him.

    ¡°Tango!¡± Elaine shouted. Aventus finally dislodge the pangolin, who fell to the ground in a tight ball, then unrolled and ran through Aventus¡¯ legs. Snarling, the man took a swipe at Tango with the knife, but the hasty attempt glanced off the pangolin¡¯s scales. Tango immediately turn and snapped at the inside of Aventus¡¯ thigh. The man screamed again and contorted his body, knocking the pangolin to the ground.

    Derrick felt a yank on his arm and turned to see Elaine sitting on the tricycle.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± she hissed, and Derrick scrambled to jump into the second seat. She reached for the bicycle bell to jump, but Derrick grabbed her hand.

    ¡°Wait!¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s obvious Aventus can follow us wherever we jump. Let¡¯s try and outrun him.¡± He started pedalling as he spoke. Behind them, Aventus was still dealing with Tango, who had continued his unexpected attack. Derrick and Elaine fled into the darkness. Derrick risked a glance back, and saw the tall man fling the pangolin from his shoulder once more, then sprint towards his ship.

    ¡°Elaine, wait!¡± he called, stopping his pedaling. The tricycle ground to a halt, and they watched as Aventus stepped into his ship. A moment later, the ship shimmered and then disappeared. They waited for a couple more long minutes, but neither the man nor the ship reappeared.

    ¡°He jumped,¡± Derrick said, hardly daring to believe it. Elaine slumped back in her seat in relief, but then movement in the darkness made them both alert.

    Slowly, Tango limped into view. His scales were bent or cracked all along his body, and he was heavily favoring his front left paw. There was a large gash near his right eye that had hit an unarmored part of his face.

    ¡°Oh, Tango!¡± Elaine cried, jumping out and scooping up the animal. ¡°You saved us!¡± Tango licked her face in a very dog-like way, and Derrick wondered for the umpteenth time about how strange of an animal it was. She looked over at Derrick as she sat back down with the pangolin on her lap.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, starting to pedal. Derrick quickly joined her.

    ¡°Where?¡± he replied. ¡°I don¡¯t think either of us has a home world to jump to.¡± Elaine smiled.

    ¡°Just jump by feel, then,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll get where we need to go.¡± Derrick thought that was probably untrue, but he kept his opinions to himself as he looked at how happy Elaine seemed to be. So, instead, he reached out and turned the bell.  The ripping sensation happened immediately and their setting shifted. For a brief moment, he caught a glimpse of a bloodied Mel, and then they crashed directly into Aventus.

 47. Varynn

    Kevin forced himself to focus, pushing thoughts of leaving Mel to the back of his mind. The tunnels of the multiverse were flying by at higher speeds than he was used to. With a start, he realized that the Pathfinder was visible around them. The entire exterior had become clear, enabling everyone inside to see. Grit was staring out the window with his mouth open in shock. El, however, was staring calmly out the front. He glanced back at Kevin.

    ¡°Well done, Kevin,¡± he said in his serious tone that belied how old he looked. Kevin nodded to him.

    ¡°What now?¡± Kevin asked. El smiled, and somehow that made Kevin feel less nervous about their situation. Even if their current situation was tearing through the fabric of the multiverse.

    ¡°Keep going and don¡¯t stop,¡± El said. ¡°It will get more difficult, but you must push through.¡± Even as he spoke, Kevin could feel an odd sort of mental pressure, similar to times that he¡¯d been so stressed it had been difficult to focus on anything specific. He gritted his teeth and nodded to El. The tunnels continued to fly by outside the Pathfinder. Somehow, Kevin could tell that they were just now headed out of the Initial Hundred. El was at the front of the ship, but he didn¡¯t seem to be touching any of the controls. Instead, the Pathfinder seemed to dip and dodge around the various obstructions in the tunnels. It maneuvered surprisingly fluidly on its own, though Kevin almost lost concentration when it barely slipped by what appeared to be a giant cactus floating out of a side tunnel.

    ¡°What is all this stuff in the tunnels?¡± Grit asked, breaking the silence. He looked at Kevin, but Kevin could only shrug in response. He had no idea how he was directing them through the tunnels, let alone any idea of what might be in them. Fortunately, El answered.

    ¡°It is the multiverse breaking down,¡± he said somberly. ¡°Things from individual universes are leaking into the multiversal fabric. As you can see, it is worse out here than it is closer to Earth One.¡±

    The Pathfinder dodged a pack of strange armored animals that looked familiar to Kevin. It wasn¡¯t until he heard a sharp intake of breath from Grit that he remembered the pet the older man had with him when they had first met. El looked back questioningly, but Grit just turned to stare out the side window. The kid looked over to Kevin, so he joined El at the front of the ship.

    ¡°Grit had a dog once,¡± he said in a whisper. ¡°Apparently the dog changed somehow during a jump. I think into one of those strange animals we just dodged.¡± El nodded thoughtfully as he stared out the window.

    ¡°A pangolin,¡± he said. ¡°Quite an unique animal.¡± Kevin nodded, because it felt appropriate. The kid didn¡¯t say anything else, so he moved back to his spot near the door. The mental strain was growing steadily as they passed Earth-275. A minute later, they passed Earth-300 and suddenly the pressure expanded greatly. Kevin groaned and staggered to a bench seat. His sinuses closed as if he had launched himself into space, and his brain felt as if it were being slowly squeezed.

    He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to see El looking down at him in concern. The kid¡¯s dark eyes had a strange deepness to them, and Kevin suddenly understood how this being could be far older than he looked.

    ¡°It is not much further, Kevin,¡± El said. ¡°You can make it. Focus!¡± The pressure continued to increase, and the pain knocked Kevin to his knees. He could see across the ship that Grit was lying on the floor with his head in his hands. Only El seemed unaffected.

    ¡°400!¡± El shouted. ¡°Hold on, Kevin!¡± He¡¯d resumed staring out the front window, leaving Grit and Kevin to fend for themselves. Kevin tried, he really did. He could feel the ship passing Earth-450, but after that he couldn¡¯t hold onto a coherent thought. The pressure in his head and his brain was building to a crescendo, drowning out any other noise or thought. El¡¯s face appeared in his vision, and the kid¡¯s mouth was moving, though Kevin had no idea what he was saying. El grinned and pointed out the window. Somehow, Kevin forced his head up to look out the window, and saw a line of deep black approaching in the distance.

    The Pathfinder suddenly swerved to avoid a giant object that Kevin vaguely thought might have been a dinosaur. Whatever it was took up too much space in the tunnel. The ship managed to squeeze by but the contact flung Kevin across the cabin. He crashed into Grit, who may or may not have been conscious. The back of his brain told him that they had just passed Earth-475, and the ship lurched again. Kevin flew back across the cabin floor and smacked his head on the bench. The last thing he saw was El¡¯s smiling face approaching, and the dark line in the tunnel enveloping the ship. Then there was only darkness.

    <hr>

    Kevin woke up to a giddy El. His earlier impression of age in the kid¡¯s eyes was replaced by the bounciness of a child. He sat up slowly, gingerly rubbing his head where it had hit the bench. Fortunately, the pressure in his head was entirely gone, almost as if it had never been. The outside of the ship was dark, but apparently the Pathfinder had some hidden lights, because there was a soft white glow filling the interior. He stood up and joined Grit at the front of the ship. Then he gasped.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Grit said. ¡°It¡¯s incredible.¡± Together, they stared out the window at the source of the soft light Kevin had seen. Filling up the window was a giant moon, tinged a pale green. Kevin could barely make out mountains and valleys across its surface.

    ¡°What Earth is this?¡± he asked in a whisper.

    ¡°It is not an Earth,¡± El answered, having bounced his way back to the front. Kevin glanced over at him to see that he was still beaming.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    ¡°Well, which Earth system is it in, then?¡± Kevin asked. ¡°I think the last Earth I remember passing was 475.¡± El shook his head and looked up at him, still grinning.

    ¡°You made it to 476,¡± he said. ¡°You did well! Our momentum carried us beyond the next three. And this is no Earth system. It is simply the end. This is Varynn, my home.¡±

    Kevin was stunned. A planet at the end of the multiverse? That sustained life? He looked at Grit, but the man just shook his head. He didn¡¯t know any more than Kevin did, obviously.

    ¡°You are from here?¡± Kevin asked. ¡°Do you have a family here? How many people live here? I have so many questions.¡± El laughed at him, the full unencumbered laugh of a child.

    ¡°I have family here, though not many,¡± he answered. ¡°There are few who live here. Varynn can sustain life, though not on a high level. Many of the luxuries you may be used to will not be found here.¡±

    ¡°Varynn is familiar,¡± Grit said, frowning. El smiled at him, but said nothing. Grit thought for a moment, then his eyebrows shot up.

    ¡°Cassia!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Tek said something to her about it. I think.¡± He stopped and looked at El again. The kid nodded excitedly.

    ¡°Yes, Cassia is of the Varynnic line!¡± Kevin and Grit waited for the kid to continue, but he simply turned back to stare out the window at Varynn.

    ¡°So¡­now what?¡± Kevin asked after a moment of silence. ¡°Are we going to land?¡± El turned towards him, looking uncertain for the first time.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± he admitted. ¡°We can land, but we are still missing a piece.¡± Next to Kevin, Grit frowned.

    ¡°A piece of what?¡± he asked.

    ¡°The multiverse,¡± El replied, as if that were enough. After a moment, he recognized the confusion on their faces, though he looked surprised to see it.

    ¡°I would¡¯ve thought Cassia had told you about the Weft and the Warp by now,¡± he said. The words sounded familiar to Kevin, but so much had happened to him recently that he couldn¡¯t place them. Grit nodded, however.

    ¡°Yes, she mentioned it. Or someone did,¡± he growled. ¡°Something about fixing the fabric of the multiverse. Still not sure I believe it.¡± He paused and glanced over at the planet filling their window.

    ¡°Maybe I do now,¡± he muttered.

    ¡°The Weft and the Warp are what keep the fabric of the multiverse in order. Without them, chaos happens,¡± El explained. ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯ve only been able to bring the Warp with us, though I had hoped the Weft would be close behind.¡± His words were again met with silence.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kevin finally asked. ¡°What is the Warp, some sort of tool?¡± El didn¡¯t respond, just smiled. Then he slowly raised his hand and pointed at Kevin. After a moment of dumbfounded silence, Kevin laughed.

    ¡°Me?¡± he said, chuckling. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re mistaken.¡±

    ¡°The Weft and Warp are people?¡± Grit asked, and El nodded, finally dropping his arm to stop pointing at Kevin.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± the kid responded. ¡°The Weft and Warp are both people. Or beings.¡± Kevin suddenly felt like he had to sit down, so he stumbled back over to the bench near the exit door. There was no way he was whatever it was that El was saying he was. It wasn¡¯t that long ago that he¡¯d been disinfecting bowling shoes on Earth-68. How could he be some important piece of the universe?

    ¡°I apologize for being dramatic,¡± El said as he approached. ¡°But I thought maybe you had known. There aren¡¯t many who can see the tunnels of the multiverse, after all.¡± Kevin nodded absently.

    ¡°What does it mean?¡± he asked. ¡°What do I have to do?¡± El considered these questions for a moment, his face resuming the characteristic solemnity that Kevin was used to.

    ¡°You will learn more once the Weft is here,¡± the kid answered slowly. ¡°But both the Weft and the Warp must work between universes to keep the chaos from breaking out. It is¡­difficult to explain. There is much responsibility for each, not the least of which is keeping the other in check.¡±

    ¡°In check?¡± Grit repeated. ¡°As in, they may be at odds with each other?¡± El nodded in affirmation.

    ¡°Sometimes,¡± he replied. ¡°They are opposite in their desires. Often the Weft desires more freedom, more chaos, while the Warp seeks to provide order. Between the two, the various universes remain in their place, but with great variety between them. When one or both of them are no longer performing their duties, the multiverse begins to unravel.¡± He looked over at Kevin, who was still trying to wrap his brain around what the kid was saying.

    ¡°You can feel it, right?¡± El asked. ¡°The chaos in the universe threatening to take over?¡± Kevin started to shake his head no, but then paused. He had felt something tugging at the edges of his mind, almost ever since he¡¯d started on this journey. He had chalked it up to the stress of having his universe expanded, literally. But now, after hearing El¡¯s words, he realized it wasn¡¯t quite that. He looked over at the kid and nodded. El beamed.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad it¡¯s you, Kevin!¡± he said, then clapped his hands. Even through his astonishment, Kevin had to wonder at how the kid could alternate so easily from acting like an ancient being to acting like an innocent child.

    ¡°Hopefully Cassia will be able to do what needs to be done,¡± El said, turning back to the window. ¡°There isn¡¯t much time left.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s the Weft, then?¡± Grit asked, moving to join El at the front of the ship. Kevin sighed, then forced himself to stand and join the other two.

    ¡°No, Grit, she¡¯s not,¡± El replied, smiling up at the old veteran. ¡°She is simply supposed to be leading him here.¡± Kevin and Grit frowned at each other, then at El.

    ¡°Leading who here?¡± Kevin asked. ¡°Eli?¡± El smiled again, but sadly this time, and shook his head.

    ¡°No, not him either.¡±

    ¡°Then who?¡± Grit asked. El paused for a moment to look at the two of them, the sad smile still lingering on his face.

    ¡°Aventus.¡±

 48. Duel to the Death?

    Mel¡¯s vision blurred and she shook her head slowly. Surely she wasn¡¯t actually looking at Derrick, Elaine, Tango, and a tricycle right now? A chuckle escaped her lips.

    ¡°What the actual fuck?¡± Mel blinked her eyes closed hard and then took the scene in again. Yes, Elaine was closest, her body wrapped protectively around the pangolin who looked much worse off than last time she saw him.

    ¡°Hi Tango, long time no smell.¡± Mel laughed again then frowned. That wasn¡¯t all that funny, must be the blood loss. Further away, Derrick was on his hands and knees, scampering towards Elaine. Mel was surprised to see an expression of distress on his face. She was used to him being clinically dispassionate and in the brief time she¡¯d spent with him, torturing emotions out of him had brought her great joy.

    ¡°Every one of you is dead!¡± Aventus screamed over the chaos as he leapt to his feet, spinning in a circle with his knife outstretched. Mel watched Cassia move to engage him, a knife of her own held in a reverse grip. As the two clashed, Mel felt her mouth drop open. Cassia really was a better fighter than she was. She¡¯d refused to believe it but watching her move, the fluidity of her strikes, it was impossible to deny.

    As Cassia scored a strike on Aventus, a slash along his upper thigh, Mel began to notice the other wounds that marked his body that she hadn¡¯t seen before when she was fighting for her life. Several fresh wounds marked his lean figure, a jagged gash on his neck, blood stains on the back of his legs, bumps and bruises where Derrick and Elaine had crashed into him. Mel smiled. If he could hurt, he could die.

    <hr>

    Stay on the offensive, don¡¯t let him find his footing. The crash unbalanced him, keep it that way. Cassia struck out again, nearly slicing off the tips of Aventus¡¯ fingers. She moved quickly and with her innate grace. There was a beautiful recklessness to her form, she knew this was a product of her healing ability. There were wounds she could not recover from, of course, but not having to worry about minor stabs and cuts gave her a vast edge.

    Aventus could heal as well. She knew this, though his healing was not innate. It took time and effort on his part. She couldn¡¯t give him the opportunity. Cassia struck again, a thin, shallow slice appearing on his cheek. She couldn¡¯t kill him this way, attrition wouldn¡¯t be enough and Aventus was too clever to expose his heart or throat. Eventually, he would collect himself and even she wouldn¡¯t be able to heal from what he could do. She had to buy time for the others to get away. Dodging under one of his swipes, Cassia glanced around for Eli.

    ¡°The tricycle, Eli!¡± Cassia slipped between Aventus and her friends that were slowly pulling themselves off the ground. Eli was among them trying his best to staunch Mel¡¯s bleeding but his magic could only do so much away from his home world. She needed real medical attention. From the glimpse of her Cassia had gotten, it was shocking she was alive at all. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Eli begin to pick up the three wheeled jumper and continued to attack.

    Aventus was quick despite his fatigue, Cassia could tell that he was worn down from a series of fights but even so he was the most formidable combatant she¡¯d ever faced. She¡¯d been trained for this yet she¡¯d been told every day of her training, she could not beat this opponent. She gritted her teeth and tried anyway.

    <hr>

    Derrick helped Elaine to her feet and tried to assess his surroundings. Mel was clearly dying, the leprechaun crouched over her. He fought to clear his mind, who could he help and how? Over his shoulder, he heard Cassia cry out something but didn¡¯t process it. How had he gotten so distracted? He felt a shiver across his face, it was changing on its own. Derrick closed his eyes and exhaled, bringing his appearance back under control.

    Something suddenly was being pressed into him and he looked down as Elaine deposited the beat up pangolin into his arms like a newborn. He opened his mouth to protest but she was already rushing away towards Eli. He watched as she tried to help him with the damage to the tricycle. Everything seemed to be moving so slowly and yet he couldn¡¯t catch up. He couldn¡¯t force himself into motion to help. When had Elaine gone from a timid bystander to a hero? Derrick shook his head, looking at Tango.

    The pangolin had taken a beating and although Derrick knew nothing of its anatomy, it looked like it would survive just fine. The bloody cut across its face was the biggest concern. Without thinking, Derrick lowered the creature to the asphalt and began pulling out the few medical supplies that remained on his person. He had a small amount of antiseptic cream that he rubbed on the wound while Tango licked at his chin. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    The mundane task jumpstarted his brain and Derrick suddenly looked around with alarm. Mel. He could help Mel. Patting his pockets for medical supplies, he searched frantically. Mel was not on the ground where she¡¯d been a moment ago. Scanning further, he saw her. She was slowly crawling across the blacktop. He moved to catch up to her and then paused as she rolled over, some kind of gun in her shaking hands.

    <hr>

    He was beginning to move quicker, to strike more precisely. Cassia dodged away and realized she now sported a dozen cuts. Even a body that healed as fast as hers did would die if it lost enough blood. She glanced over to Eli, he was fiddling with the tricycle and Elaine was now peering over his shoulder. Good, the sooner they jumped the better.

    Cassia continued to fight, though her movements were more defensive now. Aventus had settled into the fight, no longer distracted, no longer off balance. It was only a matter of time now till she was dead. She was determined to go down swinging though. She let Aventus inside her reach, earning a slash across her ribs for it but in return she sunk her blade deep into his right bicep.

    He snarled, switched hands and continued the assault. With ease, he cut a shallow gash across her shoulder then nicked her earlobe as she pulled back. Cassia tried leaping back into him but Aventus was too quick, slashing her across the thigh before blocking her own slice with his blade. Instead, Cassia kicked out his right leg causing the two of them to tumble, wrestling over the knives. It was foolish, he was certainly stronger than her but it gained her a few seconds reprieve from his swift strikes.

    ¡°Eli?¡± She called as she rolled, trying to control Aventus¡¯ knife hand.

    ¡°Almost!¡± Elaine, of all people, shouted back. Cassia¡¯s brow scrunched up in exertion and added confusion as she managed to get on top of Aventus, attempting to use gravity to force her blade down into his chest. The next moment she was flying, Aventus had used both feet to kick, flinging her over his head. She rolled to a stop and quickly brought up her guard. He was faster than any human, following her through the air and attacking almost as soon as she landed.

    Cassia felt a searing pain as the blade dug into her side, the worst wound she¡¯d sustained in the fight so far. A gush of blood splattered the pavement as Aventus reared back to stab again. Cassia kicked out shoving free of him, scrambling backwards to try to get her footing. Aventus wasn¡¯t far behind, stalking after her with burning rage in his eyes.

    ¡°Now, come on!¡± Elaine shouted suddenly. Aventus turned sharply, wary of letting anyone escape. Cassia followed his eyes to where Elaine was now seated on the tricycle with Tango in her lap, Eli perched on the handlebars. Cassia began to open her mouth to tell them to go when her eyes caught the sudden movement of Derrick diving to the side. His leap revealed the badly bloodied figure of Mel leaning on one elbow, her other arm extended in front of her with a strange gun shaking in her grip, pointed right at Aventus.

    Without hesitation, Cassia grabbed Aventus tightly around the waist. She watched realization dawn in his eyes and he began to stab into her back. Once, twice. The third time the blade ripped into her back, she closed her eyes and listened to the series of shots. She felt a strange limpness pulse through the body she clutched and then both of them collapsed in a bloody heap.

    Mel¡¯s aim was true, despite her wounds. Cassia opened her eyes briefly and took in the bloody mess of holes in him. She sighed. She could feel a weak pulse still in his chest. She¡¯d worry about that in a minute. She closed her eyes and willed her body to put itself back together. She¡¯d never lost this much blood before and she was feeling very woozy.

    <hr>

    ¡°There.¡± Derrick wiped sweat from his forehead and leaned back. They were sitting in the abandoned factory and, after an hour, Derrick had finished cleaning, stitching, and bandaging all of Mel and Cassia¡¯s wounds. Several of Cassia¡¯s were half closed on their own but when she lost consciousness they¡¯d stopped and continued to bleed. He looked down at the two anxiously and then over at Elaine. She¡¯d held instruments for him and cleared away dirtied rags and bandages, a perfect assistant. Both of them were covered in blood from the work but Mel and Cassia both still had a heartbeat which was something.

    ¡°He¡¯s still out.¡± Eli stepped into the room, pointing over his shoulder. Cassia had briefly gasped awake telling them they couldn¡¯t kill Aventus. It seemed like delirium and Derrick refused to actively repair his wounds but she wouldn¡¯t relax until they left the near corpse alone in a separate room. Eli had teleported to a closed rural veterinary office and stolen a sack full of supplies and they had pumped Aventus full of bull tranquilizers hoping he wouldn¡¯t suddenly wake up.

    ¡°Now what do we do?¡± Elaine looked between them. Fear gone, her expression was one of determination. He¡¯d been ready to run with her only a few hours ago and now she seemed committed to seeing this through. Derrick sighed. He supposed they had to as the only ones here and conscious. A sudden motion caught his attention.

    ¡°Varynn!¡± Cassia gasped as she sat up. Her body still weak from blood loss, she teetered slightly but tried to push herself to her feet anyway. Elaine rushed to try to calm her but Cassia grabbed her tightly then looked around at the three of them.

    ¡°We must go to Varynn now!¡± She paused looking at Mel¡¯s broken form. ¡°And we must bring the body.¡±