“...38, 39, 40, 41 aaand 42.” The head scientist counted out. “Looks like everyone is here. So without further ado, let’s get started.”
There was a general murmur of excitement as most of us settled in. Since everyone in the base was called together for this meeting, all of the normally guarded areas were left open. This left the security team on edge.
“Don’t worry security, I’ll get the important stuff out of the way first so you can go back to watching the front.” The head scientist said, sensing our unease. “So today we show you all the secret project that we’ve been working on. The one referred to as the Science Machine, as our team has dubbed it. If all goes as planned it will stay opened for exactly 168 seconds before it exhausts its power supply. This machine is going to create a portal to another land. One hopefully devoid of zombies. After the machine runs, it will also create a replica of itself wherever it ends up, but I’ll leave the details out of the explanation. Now, I know it’s only the first test, but who knows when we’ll be able to power it up again so we’re sending in a group to scout it out and figure out if its a good place to start over from.”
This revelation got a collective gasp of surprise. No one knew about this, other than the head scientist and what looked like five others.
“We have already decided on a team that we will send through.” The head scientist continued.
“Why wasn't I consulted about this?” I spoke up. “No doubt you need someone from security to keep the others safe. As head of security I could best determine who should go.”
“That's because you are going.” The head scientist revealed. “I consulted with your second in command instead, as the head of security you are best suited for this situation.”
“Who else is going?” One of the scouters asked.
“Yes, I’ll list off the group if you’d let me finish” The head scientist said annoyed. “First will be Shawn as stated earlier. Second will be Camden, he will be able to fix anything that breaks. Third is Cody, he will assist Camden with whatever he needs to. Fourth is Matthew, as head of the scouting group. And lastly is Nick, he is a useful scout. You five will be the ones to go through the portal. Of course I also chose you guys because of the teamwork you showed getting up here. That alone was a feat that no one else here could have completed with a group as small as yours.”
“What about me?” Zoe said exasperated. “You’re sending my boyfriend and not me? And Shawn too?”
“Yes, I am.” The head scientist deadpanned. “No offense, but we know better than to send in a couple on a possibly very dangerous mission. Could cause trouble on the other side. And we all know your fixation of Shawn, but he is best suited to deal with conflicts on the other side. Now if there aren't any other questions...I’ll continue. Security, other than Shawn, you are dismissed.”
With that, security went back to their posts and the head scientist talked about a bunch of science and stuff. Afterwords our group was pulled aside and debriefed on whatever the head scientist could think of. All manner of problems that we may encounter on the other side of the portal. I didn’t really listen because I figured what can be more hostile than zombies? I survived them so I’ll probably do fine with whatever awaits.
Before we knew it we’re standing in front of the Science Machine, all geared up and ready to go. Unfortunately my jeep can't fit through the portal so instead we all have backpacks and a makeshift wagon filled with stuff to erect a camp on the other side. There’s a ramp that angles down to the portal so we literally just have to push the wagon down the slope and let it roll out the other side. Then we set up a base camp around the portal and go from there. At least that's the plan. But if I've learned anything from the zombie outbreak, it's that a plan never survives contact with the enemy. As we waited for the Science Machine to warm up we made idle chat.
“So..how ‘bout this weather?” Matthew awkwardly asked.
“Well, it's snowing, like always in the mountains.” Camden replied nonplussed.
“Camden, when was the last time you even went outside?” I asked.
“I go outside at least once a day.” Camden replied.
“You walk to the window and look outside at least once a day.” Cody corrected.
“I can attest to that.” I replied. “I keep a log of who leaves and when. You haven't actually left the building for at least three weeks.”
“So how about that sport ball.” Cody added helpfully.
The Science Machine whirred to life silencing our group. A strange haze accumulated in the round opening of the machine. The haze turned into more of a liquid and started to ripple.
“Now that’s some sci-fi shit right there.” I said, looking skeptically at the swirling, waving whatever in front of me.
“Well the reason it looks like that,” Camden began, “is because of the isotope we used with the-”
“Camden, S.T.F.U.” I interrupted. “The smart people already know and Nyjill and I are tired of hearing what we don't understand.”
“Hey!” NIjill protested, but before he could say more the head scientist interrupted.
“Ok, it’s powered up and ready to take you away.” The head scientist beamed.
“Well guys, have fun with that cart.” I said as I started to run towards the portal. “See y’all on the other side! But really I’ll go through and make sure the path is clear.”
With that I jumped through the portal. When I came out on the other side the first thing I noticed was how the air smelled. It was so fresh and earthy. The second thing I noticed was the ground promptly coming to greet my face.
“Son of a biscuit!” I said while nursing my nose. It was bleeding a little but not broken.
“Stupid stick placed perfectly to trip me. Why you do this.” I said as I grabbed the stick. “Hmm, actually this will make a nice walking stick. Alright stick, you have been redeemed”
With my new walking stick in hand I surveyed the area. I was in a small clearing in a dense forest. It was day time and the sky was clear but it still wasn't as bright as you’d expect. The trees looked like they had a red tint to the bark and dark green leaves. They also looked like they had faces on them, but moving on…
“What are the chances of the portal landing in a little clearing like this.” I mused. “We really didn't think that part through but I guess it worked out.” I said taking in my surroundings.
“Alright, the wagon is about ten feet long since the portal is so skinny so this clearing will due just fine.” I said looking around the portal.
Seriously the clearing is about a hundred feet across and one-hundred and fifty feet wide. The portal is even nicely placed off to one corner with just about ten feet behind it, enough room to build a wall behind it and still have a little walking room. An important thing to keep in mind while building a perimeter wall is to make sure nothing can climb the trees nearby and jump over it. Luckily these trees are short around here and get taller as they go away from the clearing.
I started walking around with my trusty walking stick. “Well they’ll probably give me some time to clear anything out of the way if need be.” I paused, “I probably should have brought an axe...what if there was a friggen tree in the way?”
I decided that was my fault for jumping ahead but the scientists were going to send us all through at the same time so what then?
“Sometimes it takes a moron to point out the obvious I guess.” I said as I started to trace out a perimeter with my stick.
After I finished tracing the perimeter I paused to think for a second. “They only have one-hundred sixty something or other seconds before the portal closes right?” I asked nobody in particular. I checked the portal and it was still rippling with ‘special isotopes’ or whatever Camden started saying before I cut him off.
“So…” I started while I took a look at my watch that Camden made for me. “Let's say it was one-sixty seconds, that translates into..shit I hate math. It’s about four-eighty lols, and it’s been like twenty woots since I came here. That’s twice as long as they said it would stay open.” I stared at the portal a little longer. “Really wish we thought to include a normal time function on this watch. As great as ‘Epic Time’ is, the conversion is confusing.”
I briefly contemplated going back through the portal but decided against. “What if I tried to go back through at the same time they were coming out? Would I merge with the wagon or something? I better not then... Yah, I’m sure there’s a reason for it. Whatever that may be-”
I stopped suddenly as an axe flew through the portal handle first and landed on the ground.
“There we go, just took them longer to think of that than it took me. I’m so smart.” I praised myself. “They must have said minutes rather than seconds so I have a while before the portal closes.”
I walked over to the axe and grabbed it off the ground. The head was wrapped up in duct tape and cloth. As I unwrapped it I realized the strange shape.
“Really, they gave me the fire axe? These things suck at cutting wood.” I said as I finished unwrapping it. “Well, at least splitting wood, I guess I’ll test its cutting ability by cutting branches off of trees to expand this clearing a little.”
Forgetting all about my walking stick I grabbed the fire axe and went to start chopping off the branches encroaching on our future base of operations. I got the the first tree and brought down the axe on one of the branches. The wood was very soft and the axe went straight through and into the dirt below.
“That was strange.” I said lifting my axe from the dirt. “I wonder how well this wood will burn being so soft..and wet.”
I shrugged it off and went to work on the rest of the branches I could reach, piling them up inside the clearing to use later. Moving from one tree to the next I got about halfway done with the clearing and decided to take a break.
“I’m gonna do something else now.” I said taking the branches I cut back to the clearing. “Ohh, I know! I’ll explore a little and if I’m not here when they come through, I won't need to help set up some stuff. The perfect plan! Mwahaha.”
I looked up at the sun to get my bearings. It was just past it’s noon point so I could tell what way was north.
“Welp, lets go north.” I said slinging the axe over my shoulder. I only made it to the edge of the clearing before I had a thought. “Wait, if they come through and don’t see me they may think I was kidnapped or died or something...I’ll leave a note.”
I went back to my previously forgotten walking stick and picked it up. I then walked over beside the portal and wrote a note in the dirt with the stick.
'Went 2 Xplore ->'
“There we go.” I said admiring my handiwork. “Now they’ll know.”
Just as I was about to leave again I heard a thud on the ground. I looked over in front of the portal to see my crossbow and bolts in their quiver.
“Ohh, that will be useful.” I said walking over to the portal and slinging the quiver and crossbow over my back. “Thanks!” I yelled at the portal pretending they could hear me.
“Ok, now I’m off.” I said walking North again.