Brass And Gold

New Albion Eastern Border

"Damian, ya lazy boy wake up! It's one in the afternoon!" I heard my mother call from downstairs, Ma was a very kind women and I love her very much but it's a weekend for god's sake, anyways my name for those who care is Damian McCrary. "Coming Ma!" I called back before sitting up in my bed. I tumbled over the side and landed face first on the floor. "You okay brother." I looked up, Nina my nine year old sister stood in front of me in her favorite blue and green dress, smiling I pat her blond head. "Yeah I'm fine sis." I walked over to my closet and grabbed my cloths. My clothing as usual was a baggy white hemp shirt and black vest, brown gauge work pants, and finally my favorite pair of welding goggles. I checked myself in the mirror, my hair was short, black, and messy as usual.

Walking into hall Nina began to talk about random things as she always does, I love the girl to death but if you get her talking it's hard to make her stop without hurtin' her feelings. I found Ma making lunch in the kitchen, she turned to us and smiled warmly. "'bout time you dragged yer butt outta bed. Now come sit down and eat ya fish bone." Ma always teased me about being skinny, I had never been able to build much muscle or body fat so I built machines to do things like lifting for me. I looked out the window into the calm streets, the east side of Albion was mainly an agricultural district with a market in the center, so it was rarely ever too crowded. "Oh, Damian ol' Doctor Richardson said he needed yer help with some machine he's buildin'." Ma said, offhandedly. Dr. Richard is one of Albion's greatest minds, albeit he's a little eccentric. I help him at his workshop designing knew machines, tools, even weapons much to mother's disdain.

"Alright, did he say what it was?" I asked, normally if the Dr. needed my help it was for something important or too big to handle alone he would ask me for a hand with the lesser things. "No, he just said he needed your help with some project." She said, taking out plates to wash.

"Alright I'll head out there then, bye Ma bye Nina." I said, before leaving. Stepping outside I was greeted by the smell of various foods, perfumes, and steam. The ever present water vapor from the steam hung lightly in the air, simply being water vapor crops seemed to grow better. I walked through the streets too the workshop, the market district of my neighborhood was relativity calm as far as things in Albion go.

"Oi, Damian!" I looked around before spotting the voice. Rocco Marino, he has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Our parents had known each other before we were born so we had always been close friends. "Afternoon Rocco how has your day been?" I asked bumping his fist. "Ah, you know dad's having me help him with the stall." Rocco worked not with machines like I use, but the machine all humans use... their heads. Rocco is one of the best sweet talkers, liars, and all around silver tongue I have ever meet. His dad usually had him help with sales on the jewelry his mother crafted.

"You headed to see the Doc?" He asked, whenever I leave the house it's usually to bring my sister to her friends house, shopping, or to the Dr. "Yeah. ya wanna come along?" I ask hopefully, while Rocco may not be good with machine's he still likes to see the more advance ones work their wonders. "Sure, business is slow today as it is." After a quick farewell to Mr Marino me and Rocco headed down the road.

If you ever came to Albion one building in the east side that would stick out above all others is the Doctor's. The building was five stories tall and very wide, the outside was covered in solar panels, pipes, and turbines. Me and Rocco walked up to the door which seemed to be the only normal thing about the home. I knocked on the door waiting for a response, the door quickly flickered and winked from reality. Seemed to be normal. Upon entering the abode I saw a very large machine taking up most of the already crowded work space. The base of the machine looked to be made of steel and uncommon metal now days, the top rose up in layers and three large bulbs shown brightly.

"Ah Damian there you are." We both looked up to see the the Dr hanging from what looked like a zip line. He slid down the rope landing in front of us. "Nice ta see ya again Doctor, Ma said you needed my help with something?" I said, he grinned a face splitting grin. "Damian my boy, have you heard of matter displacement?" The Dr. asked, I had only heard theories about the subject. "Yes doctor, but I have yet to hear of anything conclusive as to it's functionality." I said, he beckoned me and Rocco to the machine.

"This my boy, is a fully functioning MD tower. I have proof that it works." He said, I looked over the machine. It radiated a blue energy and lightning flowed through tubes and bulbs. "Eh doc," Rocco spoke up. "What exactly does MD do?" He asked.

"Well Rocco, MD is the use of electricity to temporarily scramble the atoms of your body into a sort of wave like state of being, allowing you to travel infinite distances in the blink of an eye." He said, I looked the machine over before noticing something. "Dr. when using MD you body is sent through a passage of sort to a receiving end I.E another tower. You only have one." I looked around the shop and it was indeed the only one. "Ah yes, well I ran out of funds to build a second one. But from the test I ran on things like apes, frog, and plants they all vanished after the test. The machine also indicates they are being received on another end." He said, he walked over to a filling cabinet and pulled out a document. "From my data I am positive that something is picking up the organisms I send through. I just don't know where they are going." He said, furiously looking over the documents as if the answers would appear.

"So where do we come into the equation doc." Rocco asked , growing bored. "Well I understand if you decline, but I need two people I trust two travel through the MDT and find what is on the other side. Now, I only ask you two now because I trust both of you. But you are free to decline and I can as a group of peacekeepers if they will help." He said, me and Rocco looked at each other silently debating the pros and cons. "We'll do it." We said grinning like idiots. The doctor smiled throwing his document over his shoulder. "Wonderful! Now follow me, if you two are to be going through the void who knows where you will pop up. So you will need to be ready." He walked to a wall and smacked it.

"Holy Maria!" Rocco said, the wall slid apart revealing an armory, I grinned seeing most the things in the armory were things we had built. "Now both of you should prepare for you journey." Doc said before leaving us to it.

~~10 minutes later~~

"I think we're ready doc." Rocco said, the doctor turned from his machine and his jaw dropped. Both me and Rocco looked as if we were about to take on every peacekeeper in Albion. "Yes well I don't think anything will even think of attacking you two." He said, he tapped a few buttons and the glass door on the MDT slid open. "Now take your places." He said, me and Rocco stood on the pad. As soon as we did the pad sprung to life, electricity flowed underneath us sparking to our feet. The machine began to hum loudly and lightning began to charge around the outer shell. "Prepare yourselves boys. I do not know what you will feel when you are sent into the void!" The Dr called to us. Rocco and me looked at each other and nodded. "HOLD ON!" The Dr threw a switch and we were gone from Albion.

~~???~~

"And so it begins." A voice sounded through the void.

~~???~~

"Ugh, I fell like I'm gonna puke." Rocco said falling to his knees. The ride had been rough, and I could feel the nothing of simply being molecules somehow. The only thing I saw was distorted images of something, colors and lights. Now I didn't know where we were, I to was on the ground my mind and stomach not settled yet. "You gonna be okay Roc?" I asked, he threw up and didn't speak. We sat there for a while before our legs found us again. Once we could stand I examined our surroundings, tall and thick trees surrounded us, shadows ever present, the mud beneath our feet sucked at our heels. "A jungle?" Rocco questioned, Rocco always though far away places would look more alien than Albion but in truth most of our world where people lived was mainly steam cities. I looked to the sky, like our homeland the sky was blue, had a single sun, and puffy clouds. "Any idea where we could be?" I asked, he gave me a deadpan look. "No, now come on equipment check." We both collected our gear that was strewn around us.

Damian McCrary
Weapon(s): Bionic Gauntlet, Gauss Rifle, Steam Cannon
Armor: Scout Mask, Stealth Suit MK2, Leaper Boots
Other: MREs, Lantern, Flying Drone+PDA

Rocco Marino
Weapons(s): E-Riot Baton, Pre-War STG-44, Combat Shield
Armor: Tact Vest, S-Boots, Riot Helmet
Other: MREs, Lockpicking Set, Tac-Mask

"That everything?" Rocco asked, checking his ammo. "Yeah, I think those." We both began to move north hoping to find something or someone who could give us an indication as to where we were. The forest had an overbearing feel, as if something was right behind me. We pressed one, looking around I could tell no human had been here in quite sometime but from gashes on trees indicated we would be coming across something... something big. "Hey Damian, how are we going to get back home?" Rocco asked, that;s a good question the Dr. never told us how he would get us back to Albion. "I'm not sure man, but the Dr. hasn't let us down before he'll either know or find a way." I reassured him. "I hope you're right, this place is creepy as fuck." He said, while Rocco may be use to the occasional fight we usually had some form of back up but we didn't here.

~~???~~

"Sister did you feel that?" The being said to the other. "Yes, we did. We have never felt a surge such as that before." The other said. "Gather the guards."

~~Damian POV~~

The sun was beginning to set and the moon rose. "Rocco help me break of few of these branches we need to make camp." Me and began breaking the bigger limbs from the trees and took a few large leaves from a few plants. In a few minutes we had a small three sided hut built. Rocco began to start a fire and I began making the beds (Big ass pile of leave) and food. After everything was said an done we were pleased with the results. "What do you think we're gonna find here?" Rocco asked, either he's bored or actually want's to know, or both. "Not sure, but from the look of the trees, plants, and temperature I'd say we're gonna run into some animals, and bugs lots and lots of bugs." I took a drink form my canteen. "Do you think any people live close to here?" He asked, he's defiantly bored. "No way, listen you can't hear gears, steam, propellers, the like. No, no 'people' live anywhere close." We sat in silence for a while listing to the sound of insects and the sound of howling.

*SNAP*

Faster they you could blink me and Rocco had our guns aimed at the noise. We saw nothing but the now dark forest, I using my HUD I switched my mask to night vision. "Son of a bitch." As I said that Rocco put his shield up. Along the entire side of our camp was a hoard of wolves... wooden wolves. The entire jungle was silent waiting for either us or them to make a move. "Run!" Me and Rocco took off our boots letting us run faster. I punched everything out of our way leaving a trail of chaos in our wake. Rocco fired over his shoulder knocking two wolves down. It was useless to fight them head on, they just kept coming. We turned and turned trying to loos them in the thick brush, it held little results. "River!" Rocco called over the firing of his gun. Looking to the right I saw the dark blue of rushing water, taking a sharp right we sprinted to the water.

As we neared the bank I saw how wide it was, and how strong the current was. I could barely hear the gun fire over the roar of crashing water. I could easily use my boots and jump half way but I would be swept away to quickly, Rocco wouldn't even have a chance. We stopped at the bank the creatures quick to surround us. Rocco put his gun away shield ready, I felt my gauntlet working my muscles. The wooden canines closed in on us taunting us. We didn't need to say or do anything we knew what to do. Both me and Rocco jumped back into the frigid water.

To say the current was strong would be an understatement. I felt myself get pulled under water filled my lungs and Rocco was nowhere to be seen. "Roc!" I cried out hoping my friend would answer. I felt the current pull my down stream and under the surface. I was slammed into rocks, fallen trees, and I could barely breath. My lungs burned and my body began to shut down.

Then among the confusion I felt something, an energy. I felt my whole body become covered in the electric feeling, and like in the lab I was thrown back into the void. I felt my body get disintegrated as I was pulled back though where ever I was.

~~Dr Richardson's Workshop~~

After a few seconds I felt my body come together. With a thud I landed on a hard glass surface. "My god! Damian!" I felt a someone pick me up my head spinning, I blinked a couple times to see the Dr. smiling back at me tears in his eyes. "Hey doc, I knew ya wouldn't let me an Roc down." I said, he chuckled and helped me to my feet. I looked around to see we were in the MDT machine back safely in New Albion. I saw Rocco sitting in a chair still a little damp form the river, he smiled at me.

"Damian next time we go through that thing let's make sure a few peacekeepers go with us, eh?" He said lightheartedly, I gave him a confused look.

"Wait a sec, after being chased, almost drowning, and the weirdness you still want to go back?" I asked, I wasn't saying Rocco wasn't brave but after all that happened I wouldn't want to go back unless I had a whole platoon of peacekeepers. all Rocco did was smile and nod, I sighed. "Alright but only if we bring more people." I said, he pumped his fist and sat back.

"I believe you boys have quite a story to tell, but that will have to wait. You should head home for now and rest up, I will see about the peacekeepers assistance but you're parents are going to worry about you if you stay out too late." Doc said, me and Rocco looked out the window to see the sun was getting lower. "Aw hell, ma's gonna be pissed at me if I miss dinner." I said, I hurriedly took off my gear and changed back to my regular cloths. "Later doc!" I called and ran out of the shop.

The streets of Albion were generally quite in the evening so I had little trouble running through the streets. All the while I ran I kept thinking back to the world I had left. Wooden wolves, odd plant life, strange celestial movements what kinda place was that. Should we risk seeing what else lies in that place. But then again what treasures and resources could that place have? I continued to ponder these thoughts until I arrived at my house. I took a moment to catch my breath before pushing the door open. I saw mother in the kitchen just finishing dinner, Nina was sitting at the table reading a book, I saw pa coming down the stairs he spotted me as I came in. He smiled before nodding his head to the kitchen and mouthed. Come on. I smiled and followed him in trying to be quite.

"If ya think that ol' trick's gonna scare me you two better think again." Ma said as we came up behind her. "How'd ya know?" Pa asked giving her a kiss. "The two of you wear enough metal you may as well be made of it." She said happily. The four of us sat down talking about simple things, no one asked about the MDT which was most likely a good thing if I was to continue to help the doc. I excused myself form the table.

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror looking at the scratches and bruises I had, I kept looking at them knowing what had happened was real. Throwing my cloths off I stepped into the shower. Alright, so specimen #1 Wooden Canine: A solid wooden body with leaf like hair. Carnivorous and very hostile. I must study one of these things. I think, the warm water felt good after the long day. I need to ask the Dr. if he has a telescope, the way the sun and moon moved was strange to say the least. I also should see if there are any familiar constellations. I stepped from the shower towel around my waist.

After getting a pair of shorts on I climbed into bed my eyes closed as soon as my head hit the pillow. What a weird day.

~~???~~

I sat in the center of Albion Square a bustling area where stores of all kinds displayed their wares. I sat on a bench in the center area where a large stone fountain gave a wonderful show. I looked around, all was as it should be yet something felt out of place. I passed it off and took a sip of ice tea, yep another brilliant day. Nina playing with her friends around the fountain, Ma an Pa looking at all the different trinkets, strange blue horse staring at me from across the fountain, all was...wait...da fuck? I looked across the fountain to see a tall blue horse staring right back at me. It had wings and a horn, it's mane flowed in an mysterious wind and looked like the night sky. We both stared wide eyed at each other, after a few seconds I scooted to one side of the bench. The horse walked over and sat next to me.

We both ended up staring at the fountain before she finally spoke up. "Who art thou?" She asked, I screamed inside my mind but forced my self to look calm. "Damian, Damian McCrary and you are?" I asked, looking her over. "We are the Ruler of the Night and Warden of Dreams, Princess Luna." She said striking a formal pose, I looked at the city around us. "Let me guess this is all a dream?" I asked, she nodded. "Yes." I let out a sigh. "Okay say I'm not crazy, why is a horse Princess coming into my dreams?" I asked, she looked offended. "We are most certainly not a horse, we are a pony." She said as if it were common knowledge. "Okay but that doesn't answer my question." I said, she looked back towards the fountain.

"Tell us young Damian, where was thou a few hours ago, In your waking life?" Luna asked, thinking back I remembered the MDT and the strange world I visited. "I-I was in your world wasn't I?!" I asked, she nodded. "If we are correct then you were the cause of a grand flux of magic in our land?" She said, her horn began to glow in a blue aura. I watched as the city began to dissolve and fade only to be replaced by a forest. After a second I realized it was the same area where me and Rocco had appeared. "It is in this area we had felt a disturbance in magical energy. We assume you are the cause." She said, I looked to see what appeared to be scorch marks on the ground where we had landed. "Yes that was me, as well as my friends. We were testing a machine and ended up here." I said, Luna perked up interest filled her eyes.

"A machine you say. What king of machine can cause power of this level?" She said giddy like a school girl being asked to a dance. "Tell me Luna have you ever heard of Matter Displacement?" I asked, she shook her head eager to hear the rest. For the next few hours I told Luna about the MDT device and my short visit to what she called Equestria, I also learned about her sister Celestia and their roles in moving the sun and moon. That explains one thing. We talked for a few more hours before the forest around us began to shimmer. "Well Damian, our time is short now, but if you are able to travel to our world again please find us and we may talk in person, farewell." Luna said, she walked off into the forest and turned back to wave, I waved back and soon the dream was gone.

Luna, what a nice name.