He must have taken a wrong step in the space between the worlds.
He’d been heading for the world he’d found that one time, the one that kind of reminded him of that planet from Star Wars prequels, covered in metal skyscrapers and flying cars. He’d been looking for a place where he could run from explosions and fire lasers and get involved in and shout passionate things about politics he didn’t really understand.
He always got all the nature he needed in the city, whenever he saw a potted plant cry and slowly die from loneliness and despair in the back corner of somebody's office. He hadn’t been looking to come to a world like this.
It wasn’t a complete loss, though. It hadn’t been a bad week. The natives were a friendly lot, and some of them were even as friendly as he was. He’d had a good time with that Sea Swirl, alright. Now there was a girl who how to treat a guy like him.
Yes, he might have been out of his element, but he’d still been amazing, hadn’t he? The locals had loved him, and he was pretty sure he’d saved the world at least twice during his stay. Or something like that, he hadn’t really been paying attention. But there was this one mare who’d said that he had to sleep with her or the world would end, so that was something. Of course, that might have been a joke or something.
Anyway. In short, he was awesome. All anyone had to do was ask him, and he’d tell them exactly how awesome he was. At length. Great length. Just like his...
The sliding machine beeped. He slid it out of his pocket to check the meter. It would be charged soon. In just a few minute he’d have enough magic to take him to the next world.
Maybe he’d come back someday. Not his usual type of world, but not bad. Besides, he should probably follow up with that mare he’d kind of accidentally gotten married to. What was her name again? He didn’t remember; she was a terrible kisser.
He looked over the side of the cliff where he’d come to find the best place to open his portal into the space between the worlds, hand rested on his hips, making himself look like Superman. There was a crack in the rock face, and on the other side the rock continued at a long slope until it ended abruptly for a second time. It looked like the cliff had been longer once, but something caused it to collapse in on itself in a way that frankly, didn’t quite make sense. Shouldn’t there be a bigger gap between the edge of the cliff and the slope?
He looked at the device again. Thirty seconds had passed. How is it that five minutes is no time at all when you have to get something done, but when you’re waiting on something it feels like five minutes just might last the rest of your life?
On his back--pressure. By the time he realized he’d been hit, he didn’t have time to turn and see who’d hit him, he was already rolling down the cliff face.
He reached for something to hold on to, but even if there had been anything there it would have been impossible to grab a hold of it while spinning. The back of his hand hit something sharp, and he wound up with a gash for the trouble he put into trying to save his own life.
Then he was in mid air, flying and spinning and covered in bruises and wishing he hadn’t made that wrong turn.
Fortunately, he missed the trees and landed on his back, although that wasn’t much consolation when the ground wouldn’t stop spinning and the back of his head felt like he’d hit it so hard his brain might start leaking out at any minute.
He steadied his breathing, and after what felt like an eternity, sat up to assess the damage he’d taken.
He had too many pains to differentiate one from another, so he was honestly surprised when he noticed what appeared to be bone sticking out of his right leg. Of course, part of his surprise might have been caused by the many blows to the head he’d just taken.
It wasn’t a problem. As soon as the machine charged, he’d be able to get himself to a high tech world where he could be treated and wind up good as new in a couple of days.
As long as whoever pushed him didn’t come down to finish the job.
He reached into the holster on his hip--but zark, it hurt to move his arm--and pulled out his laser. Best one he could afford--targeting system on the back, stun, kill, pulse, burn or cut settings, light weight, as strong as some of the ones on industrial grade spaceships.
That was when he noticed them. Three huge creatures like nothing he’d ever seen before. Tan fur, huge forepaws, standing up on skinny legs that hardly should have been able to support their weight--must have been an effect of all the magic around them. Giant wings, leathery and with tons of joints, like bat wings. Tails like a giant scorpion.
Walking towards him, slowly, menacingly.
He hoped his translator microbes hadn’t been damaged in the fall.
“I mean you no harm, my friends. Are you sentient?”
The one closest to him let out a deep, snarling growl in response.
He took that as a no. He also took it as a sign that they meant him all the harm in the world, which made his previous statement null and void.
He set his gun to stun--intelligent or not, there wasn’t any need to kill these creatures when he’d be safe and gone before they woke up. He didn’t have time to set the targeting computer, but the things were huge and moving slowly--for the moment--so how could he miss?
He fired at the closest one. It let out a loud roar as energy coursed through it, then collapsed to the ground.
He’d hoped that might frighten the other two off. No such luck; both of them broke out into a run and lept into the air. He switched the dial on his gun to “pulse.” The stun setting wouldn’t do him much good if they landed on him anyway.
The blast struck one of the beasts hard enough to throw it off course and knock it into a tree. It fell to the ground and didn’t get up.
He turned to face the third creature.
It was right next to him.
It’s giant front paws came down on his chest, hard, followed by the blade of it’s tail.
Mercifully, the venom did it’s work fast.
The sliding machine beeped, one last time, to show that it was fully charged. The creature that had killed James payed it no mind. It walked off to help its comrades to their feet.