by Jeff Sabean
“So, what you are saying is that superheroes are real, and they are from different planes of existence?” Aki asked skeptically.
“Precisely, Doc, although the stories themselves are all that comes through. On different planes, different abilities are available if you learn to use them. A man who can fly in one plane of existence might come to your plane and lose that ability. So, what does he do? He adapts and begins writing stories about a human who can fly, turns the stories into a comic book, and basically all he has to do is tell stories of his own life and people will buy the books, watch the movies, and the entire time are thinking he has such a vivid imagination when in reality he is just writing from his memories.” Zatus paused, watching his friend’s face for signs of understanding.
Aki sat in thought for several minutes before he realized Zatus had stopped speaking, then nodded his head for his friend to continue.
“Have you heard or seen anything here that you might think is magic?” Zatus asked, to which Aki immediately responded affirmatively. “Some planes allow an individual to manipulate energy in different ways. I have discovered that on this plane it is possible to do so. On your plane, you would have called it ‘magic,’ although that is not a very precise definition of what is happening. What you think of as magic is simply the manipulation of molecules to perform an action. For example, I have heard your new acquaintance Ja’ade is able to create fire in the palm of her hand...”
“How did you hear that already?” Aki interrupted, then realized he had interrupted again and nodded an apology.
“I hear things. It is one of my talents. But back to Ja’ade, what she is doing is manipulating the molecules of the air, super-heating them, and causing flammable particles in the air to combust, thus creating the fireball. It is a simple trick, but not everyone can do it, even those of us who understand how it is done. Each person has different abilities, and they manifest in different ways. She clearly has some type of affinity with fire; thus, she can conjure it at will. I have heard Tiane developed the ability to see heat signatures at night, which is an advanced form of infravision, but Heishi was not able to develop that ability. Heishi, however, seems to be learning to reduce the resistance of air molecules around him, allowing him to move with incredible bursts of speed. I cannot wait to see them again to learn how they do this.”
Zatus paused again, allowing the information to sink in. A question appeared on Aki’s face, and Zatus nodded his consent to ask it.
“What can you do?”
“I knew you would ask,” Zatus laughed, “although I thought it was obvious. I am what you might think of as an enchanter, or an illusionist, depending on what types of movies and video games you play. I have the ability to change not just how people see me, but how they interact with me as well, which is why you have never been able to tell that my human body was not real, and I have been a gnome the whole time you have known me. It is a bit more difficult than it sounds, but I can change the appearance of people, animals, and even objects. I maintained some of that ability in your plane of existence, although the extent of my abilities varies greatly with where I find myself.”
“How many different planes of existence have you lived in?” Aki asked, nodding his understanding.
“This is my third. I still have not discovered how the plane shifts occur, although both times it has happened to me there was a storm and the flashes of red lightning. I hope that whatever took our place was not placed in the air with no parachute...that would be awkward for anyone on the ground at the time,” Zatus said, then began chuckling as he thought about it.
The laughter proved contagious as Aki pictured an orc appearing in mid-air, trying to flap its arms to keep from splattering on the ground.
Just as suddenly, both friends sobered at the same thought: “I wonder if the bomb went off,” Aki said, remembering why the team had been deployed in the first place. “Millions could be dead.”
“Unfortunately, yes. Not to be callous, but it is no longer our problem. I have not discovered how the plane shifts occur, which means I have also not discovered a way to go back where I came from either. We are stuck here indefinitely, or until fate decides to shift one or all of us somewhere else.”
Aki paused to consider the ramifications of this new information, and Zatus waited patiently for his friend to process everything.
“Wait,” Aki snapped after a few minutes of silence, “you said we are on Earth but in a different plane of existence. Where exactly are we?”
“If my previous experience proves true, we are exactly where we disappeared from your plane: so, this is Florida,” Zatus replied.
“No, can’t be,” Aki stated definitively. “I landed next to a mountain, and there are no mountains in Florida,” he finished, a smug expression on his face.
“You got me, Doc, you clearly understand more than I do about this,” Zatus replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes for effect. “The scientist of the team seems to understand very little about plate tectonics, and that the planet could produce different landscapes in different planes of existence depending on the environmental factors of that plane. But please, do explain it to me so I might understand more thoroughly.”
“That’s not exactly how mountains are made...” Aki began, then stopped, sheepishly nodded his concession, and waited for Zatus to continue.
“That is pretty much the extent of my explanation of what happened to us,” Zatus stated, “although I would like to know what you have been up to. You smell like a sewer...”
“I thought you hear things,” Aki deadpanned, taking his turn to roll his eyes at his friend.
“Hahaha, fair enough, my friend,” laughed Zatus. “I would like you to fill in the holes with details, however. Including what you have heard about Heishi and Tiane. Did you see what happened to CPT Aldith?”
“Yeah, she burned in right before I shifted through to this plane. Looked pretty nasty,” Aki said, shifting his gaze to the floor. “Which reminds me,” he continued, still staring at the floor, “how did you find me, and how did you get into this fortress?”
“I landed here about a week ago, and after making my way to town I just missed Heishi and Tiane, although I heard all about their exploits in the orc mountain and removing the tyrant who previously ran this town. Unfortunately, I discovered their presence as the city caught fire, and I made it to the docks just in time to watch them sail out of the harbor. I decided to stick around to see if you showed up, and today I heard guards talking about another other-worlder showing up, so here I am.”
“And how did you find your way into this keep?” asked Aki.
Zatus shifted his image again, and suddenly Shenroc appeared before Aki.
“Did you even need to ask?” the image of Shenroc with the voice of Zatus asked.
The friends laughed together as he shifted his image back to that of Zatus the gnome.
“Now, I would like to hear all about how you ended up here,” Zatus stated.
Chapter 6 – Chasing Heishi
The next day, the two friends sat at the table with Abugraic and Hankish in the main hall having breakfast when Shenroc and Yutri entered. Upon noticing the gnome at the table beside Aki, both reached for the weapons at their sides, then relaxed a bit noticing how at ease the two were as they ate.
“You appear to have known each other for some time,” Shenroc reflected, grabbing the attention of those at the table.
“Shenroc, Yutri, meet my friend Zatus, who comes to us from a much more technologically advanced society, by way of my plane of existence,” Aki said, rising from the table politely.
“This will require more explanation, Master Aki,” Shenroc said, cautiously looking at Zatus.
“Have a seat, my friends, and I will explain everything,” Aki replied, waiving to the empty seats normally occupied by Shenroc and Yutri. “We were waiting for you so Zatus didn’t have to repeat everything.”
The group listened as Zatus recapped the conversation from
the evening before, interrupting occasionally much to his irritation. When his story was complete, everyone at the table sat silently, unsure of how to respond.
“That is a simplistic explanation, but it will suffice,” Ja’ade stated, stepping from the shadows at the end of the room with Mialin in tow.
“Aye, how long have you been standing there?” Abugraic demanded, clearly unnerved that these two had snuck up on him yet again.
“A while,” Mialin answered, smiling sweetly. “We did not want to interrupt Master Zatus. His explanation is simplistic, as Ja’ade stated, but it covers the truth well enough. We have heard of ways to move between planes of existence, but have never found any truth to these rumors, and even in the rumors they say there is no way to tell which plane you may land on if you are able to open one of these portals.” Looking at Aki and Zatus sympathetically, she continued, “I am very sorry, but I would not plan on ever going home again.”
The room sat silently as the companions digested this information, then Aki laughed.
“If there ever was a group of guys that could shift to a new plane of existence and adapt, it is Ronin Team. One of the requirements for our team is that we have no living relatives: it makes it easier to put yourself in life-threatening situations if you do not have to worry about who will take care of your wife and children if you die. I can’t speak for the rest of the team, but I suppose I will find a way to make a difference here, the same as I would at home.
“I have heard there is an evil army headed toward an elf city, and that is where the other half of our team has gone. I suppose that is as good of a place as any to begin making a difference in our new home.”
Zatus stared at Aki as he spoke, then grinned, “Aye, I suppose you are right. I started over once already, I can here as well.” Then to Mialin he asked, “What do we have to do to track down our lost companions?”
“We come and go as we please,” Ja’ade replied, watching Zatus carefully. “As for the two of you...”
“The four of us,” Hankish interjected, laughing jovially as Abugraic glared at him. “This sounds like it will be great fun!”
“As for the four of you,” Ja’ade corrected, nodding her head at the brothers, “there are several ways to proceed. As Master Shenroc has already explained to Master Aki, no ships are putting into port at Terminus at the moment, presumably because the city remains on fire. You may either wait out your time here until such a time as the fires have abated and the port is secure, or you may travel North along the coast to Eskanda, the closest port to Terminus. The road is fraught with danger, as you have already experienced, but four brave travelers such as yourselves should have no problems with a few beasts and highwaymen.”
“How far of a journey is this Eskanda?” Aki asked, watching the sisters for any sign of deceit.
“By foot? A few days,” Mialin answered, giving her sister a mischievous wink. “And if you ask nicely, we may even join you, if only to hear stories of your other worlds.”
Aki turned his gaze on Shenroc and held it there for a moment.
“My friend,” he began, searching for the words, “I owe you a debt of gratitude I can never repay for bringing me in and giving me a place to stay. I have no money and was lost until you found me. I will stay here as long as you need me to assist in bringing order to your city, but just know that I need to find the rest of my team at some point.”
Shenroc stared, his mouth moving slightly, but no words coming out for a few moments.
“I never knew humans could be as compassionate as you and your team from another world,” he began. “I have never fit in with either humans or orcs, but you have shown me a better way. For that I owe you a debt of gratitude, so let us call it even. You have never owed me anything: it was the right thing to do to look out for you, and I owed Heishi and Tiane that much for their help here. You may stay or leave whenever you like, and when peace has been restored, I will be raising an army to march North to Harmonui to assist the elves in the defense of their city from the forces of evil.”
“Well, that appears to be settled, then,” Zatus stated, getting the attention of everyone in the room. He then tossed a device to Shenroc, who caught it deftly. “That is a communications device of my own design. We have used them effectively in Aki’s world to stay in contact with each other anywhere in the world. They were not working when each member of the team arrived here because of differences in the, well, you wouldn’t understand anyway, let’s just say there are differences in the worlds I had to account for. The point is that I adjusted our communicators, so if you keep this strapped on your wrist you can speak to our team from anywhere in this world. I will adjust the communicators for Heishi and Tiane when we reach them, but for now you may speak to Aki and me at any time.”
“Fascinating,” Shenroc stated, staring at the communicator.
“And what about me?” Yutri asked, looking hurt that no one had given him one.
“Yours is right here, my overly large friend,” Zatus replied, smiling as he tossed another communicator to Yutri. “I wanted to explain what it was before throwing them around, but we would never leave you out!”
After Yutri was satisfied, he went around the room handing out communicators to all present and teaching the group how to use them. When he came to the sisters, they both grinned and accepted the gift without needing to be instructed on the usage.
“There is definitely more to those two than what they appear,” thought Aki. "I have to remember to ask Zatus if he has any insights, he keeps grinning stupidly at them like he knows something...”
“And now, to show my latest addition,” Zatus began with a mischievous smile, “Everyone press the orange button when it flashes, please.”
The orange lights on each communicator began to flash, and as each member of the group pressed it, a small holographic image of Zatus was projected above the communicators.
Grinning, Aki slapped his friend on the shoulder, “Amazing, Chief! When did you do this?”
“While I was playing solitaire in the woods waiting to be rescued, of course,” Zatus replied cryptically, causing the friends to burst out into laughter.
◆◆◆
The group agreed to stay an extra day, both for the Xyrstiina sisters to continue to search for Jim’s treasure and for Aki to hunt down the Brewdigger brothers and offer them protection to move on to Eskanda if they so desired. On the morning of the second day, the treasure of Big Jim the Illustrious was still a mystery as the companions stepped out of the keep to meet the Brewdiggers and their wagon. To their pleasant surprise, Renout the Honorable was standing next to the wagon as well.
“Well met again, Captain Renout,” Aki said, dipping his head in a slight bow as he reached the wagon and grasped the guard’s outstretched hand. “I had hoped to see you again before we departed.”
“Master Shenroc has asked me to escort you to the gate this fine morning, as I am sure he has already explained that he is otherwise engaged,” Renout replied with a smile.
“Aye, it must be difficult to run a city, especially one as hot as Terminus!” Aki laughed, looking around at the smoldering buildings.
“The city remains far from safe, as you can see. However, thanks to your efforts in the tunnels under the city, the ruffians have far fewer places to hide. The good people of the city have come to realize they have nothing to fear and have been standing up to the remaining thugs by reporting them to my guards. Soon, very soon, this will be a respectable place to live, with free trade and no fear of tyrants,” Renout proudly explained, his chest puffing up more and more as he spoke.
“My friend, I would love to come back here after we stop the coming war in the North, and next time will stay as long as you need us,” Aki replied, wrapping the surprised Captain of the Guard in a bear hug.
“Yes, well, let us be off to the gate, some of us still have work to do this day,” a flustered Captain Renout replied.
The party began toward the gate shortly ther
eafter, with Hankish lounging in the back of the wagon, composing a song:
Farewell and adieu, to you Terminus ladies,
Farewell and adieu, to you ladies aflame,
For we have decided to leave for Eskanda,
But we hope in a short time to see you again.
He paused, noticing the rest of the group staring at him.
“Too soon?” he asked, an impish smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“It bears a striking resemblance to a song I have heard in my world,” Aki stated, staring at the little bard weirdly. “An old sea shanty, although I do not believe any of the ladies were aflame in the version I know...”
“Sounds like a boring song to me,” Hankish stated, a sad look on his face, and no one present could tell if he was serious or not.
◆◆◆
With only a single turn left to reach the front gate, a wall of flame suddenly appeared in front of the group, blocking the road and trapping the wagon in place. As the companions spun into defensive positions, weapons at the ready, a crowd of hungry-looking Chondri swarmed the street behind the cart, coming from every door and alleyway. They were all similarly garbed, holding shields with the same shark god engraved in them and a combination of clubs, swords, scimitars, and war hammers in their other hands.
“Chondri are not known for using the Art,” Ja’ade called out as she and Mialin climbed into the wagon for better visibility. “Look to the rear of the group for one who is manipulating the fire,” she recommended, waiving a hand at the wall of fire and immediately dousing the flames.
Hankish changed the tune he was playing from the shanty to a jaunty ballad of a spear fisherman. As the tune sped up, the companions could feel their movements hasten, and the closest opponents began to move more sluggishly.
Aki looked to Zatus with a grin, saying, “This is where Heishi would tell us it’s time to make the green grass grow,” then rushed into the crowd, shadows curling around his spinning tonfa blurring their movements as blades popped in and out to connect with his opponents.
