Chapter 1 - Back into the Rift
“...but I don’t want to go out again! Last time you sent me out there you-”
A giant wall of meat in a black suit was haul me out of the black humvee. “I don’t care what you want, I want th’ Boss off my back. Now, you’re gonna shut up, follow me, and do what th’ big guy says.”
Hi, I’m Andrew. Usually I’m doing homework for the most asinine teacher on the planet, but today is a special day. Today is one of the days that the government decides to grab me for an experiment.
“Look, I have a research paper due at midnight, and I’ve only got six of eighteen pages done, and I really think that-”
“If you don’t shut up, I’m gonna call Carlos to come pick you up.” I breathed in sharply. “That’s what I thought.” You think? “We’ve got a few eggheads working on your paper to get it done as fast as possible. Just wait ‘till we get to HQ, then you go in and we the Boss gets the readings he wants. Win-win.”
For you guys. I’ve got to go in there and do whatever the asswipe in charge wants me to without question.
Mr. Meat walked me up to the front door and brought me in. The receptionist looked up and did something under the counter. A panel on the wall slid into the floor, and Meatboy shoved me in. I picked myself up off of the floor and dusted myself off.
“Welcome, Mr-”
“HOLY SHIT!!!” I’ll never be able to deal with this guy. “Don’t do that G-man! You know you scare the hell out of me!” You heard me right. THE G-man. He showed the government how to jump between dimensions, and it’s also how Valve came up with Half-Life.
I guess when I think about it working for the government isn’t so bad. You get a HUGE paycheck, whether you deserve it or not. In a month, I make enough money to stimulate our economy three times over. And then I go and spend the money on video games and Doritos.
“I do apologise for this... inconvenience, but there are certain things that must be done at certain times.” Yeah, no shit. “We have found a portal that is quite unstable. Once a biological anchor is there, we should be able to take the readings we want. You can take what you deem necessary, but you may lose it on the other side of the portal.” he walks over to another door down the hall. “You have a few minutes to decide before you are sent through. Your things will be pulled through as well, and if there are dangers on the other side, you will be given something to... help you along.”
“G-man, you’re creepy as fuck.”
“Have you chosen what to take with you Mr. Black?” A scrawny man I have come to like sat at the portal controls a few feet away from me.
I sigh. We go through this little spiel every jump, and he asks, despite already knowing what I want to bring. “Yes I have, Baker. Now could you send me through already? I wanna get this overwith as fast as possible.”
“And I understand that, but we must go through the checklist before we send you through, it’s standard procedure.”
“Yes, I know, but I don’t really care. I just want this done.”
“Well too bad for you. Alright, back to the list. Do you have anything on you that might compromise the security measures we are taking?”
“No, doc.”
“Do you have any diseases currently that would hinder the mission or infect the inhabitants of the other side?”
“Besides a case of mild halitosis, I think I’m fine.”
“Have you used the bathroom recently?”
“Yes! Let’s go already!”
He chuckled to himself and shook his head. “Alright, alright. I’m opening the portal now. It will be highly unstable for a while, so you will need to jump through the event horison as soon as you see it. Get ready.”
I crack my neck in anticipation. I Honestly do enjoy this part. It’s a strange feeling, having your entire body separated down to the atom. It’s kinda fun, and it’s the only reason I put up with this job. That, and the hot interns.
The portal generator crackled with energy sending sparks off in every direction. My grin widened as I saw a ripple of bright, blue energy. I took off into a sprint, charging into the portal, not knowing what lays behind. When I think about it, I don’t think charging into something you have no idea what it is, is a good idea. Oh well, not like the government cares, I’m just a random citizen they chose to do shit for him. It’s not their problem if I die, now is it?
I open my eyes sitting in an office of some sort. I look around the office for any inhabitants, finding none. I sigh and pick up the backpack that was dropped off next to me. I pick it up to make sure everything I wanted was in there: phone, laptop, mouse, headphones, and a few cans of throwback... they forgot my Doritos! How dare they!
“Nice to see you made it here alright,” a motherly voice said. “I thought you decided not to come.” I whip around to see a woman in a white suit, with multi-colored hair smiling at me.
I jump back a bit, more than slightly surprised about the hair. It didn’t look natural. The colored strands didn’t cross over in a single place, which on it’s own didn’t seem possible, but add it to the fact that this lady worked here with aid crazy hair, meant they might have some VERY weird standards for normal.
“Um... who might you be? I didn’t know I was to be expected.”
She smiles and shakes her head slightly, “Of course, he didn’t tell you where you were going did he? I’m Principal Celestia. I make sure Canterlot High runs smoothly.” She stuck out her hand and shook it, and she continued talking, “I was told by a certain man in a suit that we were having an unconventional exchange student come by sometime today.” Of course. G-man always thinks ahead, probably just to creep me out. “He gave me your file, and I took the liberty of setting you up with some classes for while you are here. I assumed that you weren’t going to show up. Sixth period will be starting soon, and it just so happens to be your free period. Would you like me to give you a tour of the school?” I guess it won’t hurt, but I’m still kind of mad I have to go to high school even when I’m away from it. Kinda sucks. Oh well, better be nice to the principal so this all goes smoothly.
“I would appreciate that,” I say with a smile.
She smiles back, “Excellent. Shall we start with the library?”
Dang, she already know what gets me moving. I walk over and open the door for her, “After you miss.”