//------------------------------//
// Other Worlds Than These 
// Story: My Little Cyborg 
// by Ignimbrite 
//------------------------------//

So... This is the place then...

Shadowpiercer gingerly approached the stone ring in the ground.  His handlers were jumpier than normal today, but considering what they were dealing with, they had every right to be. 

He had, of course, reassured them that he wouldn't use the ring to escape or try to summon some new weapon.  To be honest, he still considered it sheer grace that the rulers had spared him from a death penalty or life in prison already, and he was not about to try anything that might jeopardize his position.  

The fact that he had permission to travel all the way out here at all was surprising enough, although his permission may have been related to the report that the guards expected him to write afterwards.

Upon finding the ring, he took measurements and compared them to his notes on the one back home.  The ring here was damaged, evidently as a result of the conspirators' "measures."  Shadowpiercer was quite glad he had his notes still.  The damage was fairly easy to repair, although it took several hours, half of which were spent obtaining more permission just to do so.  

If his calculations were correct, the new portal should have enough juice for a flash in a few days. For that one instant, there would be a link between this world and his own.  

Unfortunately, the margin of error was sufficient that he couldn't exactly predict which day it would be. Besides, even if it did flash soon, there was no guarantee it would lead back to the research station. Besides that, his travel agreement did not permit him to stay particularly long anyway. 

So, instead of sitting by the ring waiting to see if it would lead home, he did the next best thing he could think of. He placed a bright orange box in the center of the ring and weighted it to ensure it would fall through as soon as a portal opened. 

He then turned to his handlers and left. 

Across the top of the box, he had written in bold print:

"Torak Dal K'tar.
8864323 East Industry Lane
South Orbital Ring, New Eta"


Within the box was a message:


I'm alive.  Thought it would be nice to let you know.  The shadowpiercer works, albeit not in the manner intended.  Rather than across the galaxy, I appear to have traveled into another realm entirely.  There is currently no reliable way back, although I have found remnants of another portal similar to our own. 

This message is a test.  If you receive it, please throw a return message into the shadowpiercer portal so I will know that there is a way to return. 

The world here is inhabited and easy to survive, and the inhabitants are quite friendly.  I'll be back as soon as I can be sure that the new portal is working and as soon as I get out of my current legal situation.  Don't worry, it's not like last time.  

Can't wait to see you all again.  Tell Norra and the kids that I said hi.

Sincerely,
Dak the Wizard
Known in this realm as Shadowpiercer