A bit a go I started a chapter a month writing project. At the time I was trying to wrap my head around writing in first person, something I’m still mulling over to day. Over all I am satisfied with it being where it is for what it is. For those wondering I am pondering reviving this project as an example for worldbuilding, probably with the still in development podcast. Regardless below is Circuchron in it’s entirety including the unreleased start of Chapter 5, as it currently exists elsewhere, with a minor degree of format editing. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1: Arrival

I was falling in darkness, Lord only knows how long, before I hit the ground. It was hard concrete, hard dirty concrete. The rubble I was laying in was dimly light, amber and red lights. Sounds of dripping water and crumbling rubble. I stood up and began to look around I was in ruins, crumbling walls, dripping pipes, and flickering lights. An indistinct din of chaos was in the distance. Looking around the large empty room, something drawing me towards the archway.

Slowly working my way though the ruined hallway climbing over debris, the acidic smell filling the air. I came to a room. The walls were collapsing in, leaking pipes spilling caustic liquid. As I crept around the pool of the glowing blue and orange liquid. A large slab of the ceiling had crushed a giant rat, wearing a chest rig, a black riffle sat just out of it’s reach. I watched the rat for some time, making sure it wasn’t moving. I tossed some rubble at it, it didn’t react. I approached and took both items. I checked over the rifle, it looked to be in .300 blackout, with a large integral suppressor under the hand-guard, Cool, a full mag in the rifle and five more on my chest I moved onward much more quickly. Walking down the next ruined hallway I wished I had a light on the rifle and that the optic made some sense. It was a mess of chevrons and circles with strange markings on the bottom. I decided this nightmare had turned good.

I jaunted though the next two hallways, drifting around corners as I had worked up a quite enjoyable amount of speed. I wasn’t paying that much attention to where I was going, as I was following the dream. I passed though more ruins, broken pipes, strange corpses, the sounds of chaos growing. Then one sound punched though, a woman screaming.

"Hilfe!" she screamed.

I turned and dashed heading towards her screams, sliding around corners, vaulting over debris. Skidding I entered a room the girl screaming a seven foot tall ant with a scorpion tail was approaching her. I snapped the safety off and put a burst into the creature. The gun chirped, bouncing with the recoil. The carapace of the ant-scorpion had holes punched in it the rubble behind was painted in a chunky blue substance. Instead of being whisked to the “logical” results of rescuing a cute girl, I got hit with another dump of adrenaline. I’m not dreaming. that realization snapped my mind into focus. I turned back to the girl, who was looking at me in shock.

I approached her, the safety making a satisfying click. “Are you okay?” I asked lowering the rifle. She blinked, her emerald eyes sparking with recognition before smiling and unloading on me. I caught every seventh or so word. Most sounded like questions and I answered them all by saying, “American” placing my hand on my chest. Understanding spread across her face, her freckles were cute, very cute.

“Österreicher” she said mirroring my gesture. “My English ist old.”

"Me, two" I replied half in German, hoping she would understand. After puzzling for a moment understanding spread across her face. She brushed her copper hair out of her face and we looked around the small room. We both had one question on our mind, how did we get in here? I sat down on a hunk of rubble letting my heart-rate slow. She seemed to realize I needed a break and she sat next to me. In our hybrid language she asked, “What do we do now?” I looked around the room, there were two doors other than the one I came in from. “Which door?” I asked her, gesturing to the two other doors. She pointed to the door across from the one I entered, “It chased me though.” She eyed the giant ant-scorpion.

We both looked at the third door. I lead the way. The hallway was in just as bad condition as everything else I’d seen so far. Eventually it was collapsed, with a staircase going down. We went down into dark tunnels. Dull red lights cast long shadows, she grabbed my shirt. I slowed down but kept moving. I didn’t want to stay down here. I could tell she agreed with that sentiment.

Eventually the tunnel narrowed and then stopped, a cliff of broken rubble. The only way to go was up. The rubble looked largely stable and there were a few large platforms, a sinking feeling swept over me. If this is a nightmare, or a dream it’s been going on for far to long. What is going on. I thought shaking my head. The sound of collapsing rubble made both of us turn to the tunnel. One of the ant-scorpions broke out of the tunnel we had came from and turned to go away from us, it’s carelessness collapsing the tunnel behind it. We were trapped. I saw the soul leave the Austrian girl. She collapsed to her knees her poke-a-dot dress falling in a circle around her. I realized how small she was, she had to be five foot two, maybe five four, and small. I decided she was a little younger than me, 23 maybe? I sat down on my heals in front of her and offered her my handkerchief. She lifted her face, and took it.

“Danke.” she whispered.

I stood up as she dried her eyes. I got air. Surprised I did a few toe hops to test a theory. I got reasonable air. She giggled like a glockenspiel, I had to make a bit of a fool of myself prompting more giggling. “Do we climb?”, I asked.

She looked at the walls of the shaft. She nodded, “You first, because, ah” her face scrunched in confusion, “Rock.”

I looked at her confused. “What rock?” I said looking around, trying to find what rock she was worried about, there was rubble all around. Nothing he’d call a rock. She saw the confusion on his face. Giggling she swayed her skirt “This Rock.” then it clicked. I laughed Of course the girl in the 50s housewife dress doesn’t want the strange man helping her up from below. I shook my head and hopefully gave the universal I'm a dumbass hand gesture before jumping up a platform. I than lay down and she jumped and grabbed my hand. I picked her up. The gravity of this place was clearly light as it was easy to lift her onto the platform. We repeated this little dance layer by layer until we both heard something.

The sound of helicopter blades filled the air along with voices shouting. They didn’t sound human, the clicking sound of the ant-scorpions then yelling, and gunfire. We attempted to hide, on the flat outcropping. Deciding we couldn’t stay here we continued our climb, at a much slower pace. We got to the final platform I poked my head over, “Clear” I whispered. We clambered onto the floor of a massive warehouse, or at least before it was abandoned and the current chaos rolled though like a hurricane. It was clear that a battle was raging around us. Gunfire, the clanging of metal, screams, and the roar of engines.

We moved towards some cargo containers, I kept my head on a swivel. Strange werewolf like creatures were in melee with the ant-scorpions various balls of blue, green and red were flying across the warehouse. It looked like a mix-mash of Sci-Fi firefights. Sprinting from container to container was taking it’s toll on Austrian Girl. We reached an exit, and I saw a road leaving the immediate danger. She grabbed my shoulder, and wheezed something. I turned and sat her down. I kept watch as her breathing returned to normal. I prayed the chaos around us didn’t notice us.

Then it did.

A lanky tentacle, thing spotted me and open fire with teal bolts of energy. I ducked down as the bolts flew over my head splashing against the container above us. My first shot went low hitting the dirt at the base of the tentacle creature, the second popped the middle mass of the creature. I looked at her “We must move.” she said reading my mind. I nodded and we dashed outside into the container yard, going from container to container, my route hoping to minimize our exposure to fire. I stopped in the last line of containers before a long sprint across a road and clearing before we could get to the far side of the concrete wall that surrounded the container yard. I poked out and as grabbed by an ant-scorpion. It struck me with it’s tail and I felt something get injected. The pain was bad but manageable and I lifted my rifle, seemingly to it’s surprise, and emptied the rest of the mag into it’s abdomen. Another wave of pain washed over me as in it’s death more toxins were pumped into my left shoulder.

Hunched over I reloaded, stowing the empty mag, “Go” I yelled gesturing towards the break in the wall “I’ll be behind you”, I said not quite believing myself. To her credit Austrian Girl took off at a mad dash, I struggled to keep up but managed. Each beat of my heart spreading what felt like molten peanut-butter though my body. But I made it, we were outside the wall and the chaos was largely behind us. She got in front of me and said something, I saw her speak but I couldn’t hear anything over my own heartbeat. When I didn’t give a response she put herself under my collapsing left side and we started stumbling down the road an inviting glow in front of us. We continued on like that for a while, yet I knew we couldn’t have gotten as far as it looked when I turned my head around. Whatever that ant-scorpion hit me with was making me loopy.

I could tell we were heading towards a city. Yet there wasn’t a firm horizon. The city seemed to meld into the mountain behind it. Yet there was something strange about it. There were other hills in the sky. Trying to make sense of that made my stomach twist knots and I dropped my eyes. Strange creatures, strange guns, flying islands and some form of toxin was mixing to cause nausea. I lowered my head, watching the pavement helped to calm my stomach. While my stomach was unraveling I noticed her shoes, or rather lack of shoes. On her feet were slippers of some sort, the kind girls wear to fancy parties. They were very sparkly and her feet were very red. I raised my head to limit the pounding of my heart.

Suddenly bright lights started approaching, from her reaction very loud bright lights, a green and black thing with orange and green lights came to a stop in front of us and I shoved Austrian Girl into the alley we were crossing. A large alien in dark armor got out as the thing landed on the ground. It was huge. Twice the size of the ant-scorpion and thrice as shiny. “Who are you! What are you doing! Stay there!” I attempted to yell however my mouth only could produce a jumbled mess. It approached one set of hands on its hips and I growled at it. That seemed to convey my message clearer and it stopped moving and raised all four of it’s arms. Something then touched my mind. I knew it wasn’t real and my attention was spun to a telephone pole of a creature. I let out another growl and raised my rifle at it. The mind touched feeling didn’t change so with what strength was left in my left side I shouldered my rifle and pulled the trigger.

As I stood up to get a better angle on the telephone pole creature I realized; I was screwed. A dark curtain fell across my vision, yet I heard the rifle chirp, before I started to fall. The last thing I heard was the cry of the Austrian Girl. Then all was dark and quiet.

Chapter 2: A Strange Morning

The rhythmic beeping roused me from the deepest part of sleep. The comfort of a bed was a welcome, fluffy pillows, warm blanket and a pleasant floral smell. My left side was noticeably numb. Opening my eyes I found myself in a comfortably lit room. Wood beams framed the celling, soft orbs of light illuminating the room. The walls were cream, some kind of plaster, with dark wooden beams supporting everything. A sound to my left drew my attention and I was face to face with Austrian Girl. I froze. She had nuzzled up shoving her shoulder in my armpit her face resting next to mine. I didn't want to disturb her. It was clear she was the source of the floral smell.

"You're a wake, this unit will notify the sisters." I turned my and saw a wooden robot looking at me. it's face was projected over a small wooden barrel. A larger barrel formed the body with rough cut logs to form arms and legs. It approached me, "This unit will remove your IV now. Is there any thing else this unit can do for you?" In a smooth movement it removed the IV tube from my right arm a faint glow emitted from the robot's hand. I was utterly confused what was real, or was I trapped in some kind of dream within a dream thing. The rifle was sitting on the nightstand to my right, which was comforting. I reached over to flip the selector from full auto to safe.

"What are you doing?" A shrill voice pierced the fairly quiet room. On reflex I rolled out of bed and raised the rifle, pointing towards the sound. Expecting to see an altercation instead I saw a nine foot tall woman pale ghostly blue skin in a brown habit. I glanced over to Austrian girl who was now sitting up holding the blanket to her chest. Looking around I didn't see any danger. The face of the large nun was uncanny but not threatening.

"Ärztin." Austrian girl said sleepily. I gave her a confused look. She adjusted the blanket and pointed at the nun. "Friend." I safed and lowered my rifle. She nodded "Come, bed" she said patting the spot where I was lying.

"Bathroom." I said, putting the rifle back on the nightstand. I turned to the robot, "Where's the bathroom?"

The robot turned and pointed towards the door that didn't have a giant stunned nun in it. "That way sir."

I nodded and went on my way. I realized I was in my boxers, but that would be a question for later. I looked myself over in the mirror. Where I had been stung turned into a coppery green circle with copper colored roots spreading out across my shoulder and pec. It looked cool. I returned to the ward. Austrian Girl was talking to the nun. I couldn't be bothered to try understanding her rapid German.

"If we use you as a base line and account for standard female-male morphology he seems to be fine. I don't know anyone who could survive a Gubtasian's sting and dying injection. I must apologize on behalf of the Sisterhood of Utris for not believing your explanation of both your species and Earth." The nun said, as I sat down on the bed. My stomach growling. "Ah the man of the hour. Do you know how much worry you caused Ms. Buhl?" she said addressing me.

I blinked, "No, I assumed we were being kidnapped. The fact we weren't is a relief. Unless this is some kind of strange kidnapping?" I said looking at her as 'Ms. Buhl' looked at me peering out from under the covers.

"No, this is not a kidnapping. Some paladins of Eorr found the two of you fleeing the chaos at the abandoned space dock. You seemed to think they were hostile. Thankfully you only clipped the armor of Brother Yavurri, which spared his life." I could vaguely remember shooting at some tall thin thing. "After running a more consensual experiment with Ms. Buhl here we deduced you must have reacted to his telepathy as some kind of attack and responded in kind." I nodded along. "Once you got here to the Temple of Life we treated you for the Gubtastian poison and a few broken bones. That was two days ago." As if queued my stomach growled again. "You must be famished." I nodded.

"This unit will go retrieve food." The robot said as it walked out of the room.

"Thanks?" I said. I got back into the bed and leaned back into the pile of pillows.

The nun spoke up "I should introduce myself, I am Theribus."

"Bryan Williamson." I replied.

"Anja" My Austrian friend chimed in.

"With introductions complete I do have some questions." Theribus said, "According to Ms. Buhl you two are a species known as Human, a new one on Circuchron, that grew up on what appears to be a death world. The gravity alone is close to three times the galactic standard, it's almost five times what I grew up with. Ms. Buhl said there were some problems with your species and low gravity."

I nodded. I turned to Anja, "What did you say?"

"Weak body." She replied completely in German.

"Ah," I turned to Theribus, "Low gravity weakens our muscles, bones, and can cause problems with our digestion. Although this room feels right. I'm assuming space technology?"

"No, there is very little technology in the temple. Everything here is done though magic." Theribus replied. "Although there are technologies that would allow for your level of gravity should it be required. Most spaceships use technology as it is slightly more reliable in the void of space than magic is." She clearly saw my confusion, "Is there not magic on your world?"

"Sie ist eine Hexe." I hear Anja whisper to me.

"Yes, she's a witch." I echo.

"I will have you know that's very offensive language." Therbious said.

I heard a 'heh' before Anja and I, pointed and shouted, "She's a witch!", and "Sie ist eine Hexe." in sync before bursting out into laughter. It would have been funny even if we hadn't switched languages. Our outburst of laughter softened Theribus' expression.

"If you two are well enough to joke like that, I assume you two can be processed and put to work." she quipped in a motherly tone. "Once the construct returns with food; we will go though the paperwork and get you two registered, and situated."

As if queued the wooden robot returned with food "Thank you Barry." I said taking one of the trays from him. I felt something, like the wind was knocked out of me but it didn't last. My confusion didn't last long enough to stall me from attacking what looked like a turkey leg.

"You are very welcome Master Williamson." Barry said with a silky British accent. I turned to Barry, confused.

"How did you do that?" Theribus said, confused.

"Do what?" I said swallowing a bite of the not turkey leg.

"Name the construct?" Theribus said, her voice taking on an inquisitive tone.

"I just called him Berry? It seemed like an obvious name for a robot made from a barrel." I replied taking a spoon full of some kind of cooked beans.

"No, constructs are like monsters. They aren't named, to name one takes a large amount of magic. Usually they only get named after a tragedy or miracle, even then the first person to use the name dies." Theribus blurted, her hands nervously danced, "I have to prepare some tests. Barry bring them to the training room once they are ready. The paperwork can wait till afterwards."

"Yes Madam Sister." Barry replied, as Theribus left the room in a hurry.

"Berry; why are you calling Bryan, Master Williamson?" Anja said.

"Master Williamson named me thus I shall serve him and any designated successor until I am no longer able to function." Barry stated.

"What are you planning to do? I thought you were a medical robot of some description." I asked.

"Firstly Master Williamson I am not a robot, robots are prices of technology. I am a construct a magical artifact. While we share functionality we differ greatly in form and capabilities. Secondly I am a general use construct. I do have medical knowledge I am not specialized in medicine. It would be best to compare my services to that of a knowledgeable butler, with a secondary role as a body guard. Although I doubt you will ever need a body guard." Barry replied, his voice taking on an instructional tone. "It may be worth mentioning that by granting me a name we have entered into a pact. Due to your overwhelming power I could only have been a servant. If we were closer in power we would have a more symbiotic pact."

That was interesting. I decided pondering could wait as I inhaled the rest of the food. "Barry, could you fill Bryan in about our... situation?" Anja said as she picked at her food.

I turned to her, "I understood that." I turned to Barry, "Why did I understand that? I don't know that much German." Before Barry could respond Anja jumped in, "Yah why can I understand him? I can recognize English at best."

Barry's head cooked slightly, "My apologies Master Williamson, Ms. Buhl, I was unaware of the full details the naming pact brought. It appears that Master Williamson has been granted my comprehend languages and speak all language magic. I am sure Madam Sister Theribus will be able to enlighten the three of us." I wasn't sure to be relieved or concerned.

I turned to Anja, "What is this situation?" I said trying to figure out why Berry had picked up a British accent of all things.

Anja's face turned a bright red. "You see during our escape... well you passed out and, my..." as she gestured the embarrassment spread down her neck. Her shoulders were bare. There weren't even straps. I half jumped half fell out of the bed we were in.

"I am sorry." I stammered from the floor "I should have said something." I fought against my imagination to keep the blanket on her. Feeling blood rush to everywhere I didn't want it I spun around and looked out the window. "Barry where are our cloths?"

"Your pants are in the drawer to your left. However your shirt and Ms. Buhl's dress were casualties of the medical procedures. Would you like me to retrieve you some fresh cloths?" He replied all business like.

"Please." I replied watching the various flying vehicles out the window. Barry didn't reply but I did hear him leave the door shutting behind him.

I heard Anja moving around, "Can you still understand me?" She said, her voice soft and meek. I nodded. Not knowing what else to say. "You don't have to be sorry. I refused to leave your side, and didn't make a fuss when we had to discard my dress. I should have said something about the culture of clothing." Her voice getting closer but no stronger.

"I'd guess you were overwhelmed, aliens, a ring world, magic, and having to run for your life?" I sighed, "That's a lot." We sat in silence that last sentence hanging in the air.

After a moment she broke the silence, "They asked if we were a bonded pair." I fought the urge to turn and look at her. Instead I stayed cross-legged on the floor. "I said yes." she said getting out of the bed, "I said yes. I don't know why I said yes. Fear probably. I was afraid of everything, and, overwhelmed as you put it. You saved me not once but twice. And then I thought I lost you. Hell they thought you were dead when they got you here." I felt her sit down behind me, her bare back pressed up against mine. "I don't know if that was right or of we are or could be or should be."

Those words hit me hard. I knew I didn't know Anja, but I understood. I racked my brain in the silence as she leaned into me. "Lord help me." I mumbled. "Lord help us."

"Amen." She said, leaning her head back and touching it to mine. "So what's the plan?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. Fill out the paperwork, get settled in and find a way home? Or do we stay here? Although that does lead to the first question. Are we a we?"

Before I could form an answer Anja spoke, "I've had one reoccurring nightmare, chased by a monster. With a princely man resucing me." A knock at the door cut her off.

"Master Williamson, Ms Buhl I have returned." Barry said from the otherside of the door.

Chapter 3: Introductions in Kind

After getting dressed in what functioned as gym cloths despite the fabric being aggressively shiny. I had been given a short sleeve T shirt and basketball shorts; Anja got a tank top and those, too short, shorts girls wear. "Master Williamson if you could bring the weapon and ammo carrier? Sister Theribus requested I ask for you to bring it with you to the training room." Barry asked after Anja came out of the bathroom. I nodded and put on the chest rig and slung the rifle over my shoulder. "Good, now please follow me."

We followed Barry though the temple. It was made of stone and very beautifully carved. Statues of various creatures were stood in alcoves. People got out of our way, it was strange. They were acting as if they were afraid. "Barry, are people afraid of us?" I asked as another group of aliens scattered to clear our path.

"It is likely they are afraid of the weapon you carry Master Williamson. Chemical kinetic weapons are only used by the most dangerous of individuals." Barry replied with out looking at me. That was interesting and concerning. I mulled over that as we walked. I had killed two of those ant-scorpions, Gubtasians as Theribus had called them, and something else in the firefight.

"Knights are meant to be dangerous." Anja said, seemingly reading my thoughts.

"So I'm a knight?" I said flashing her a smile. She responded with a coy smile. I wasn't sure how to take that. My thoughts spun their wheels trying to make sense of both of these statements. Before I realized it we had walked into the training room.

It was a large gymnasium with a smattering of equipment around. Opposite where we entered there was a firing range. Theribus was talking with a few other people. The largest of the three reminded me of a Machamp wearing dress blues of the USMC. The smallest was a four foot tall mouse. "Madam Sister, Knight General, and Doctor. I have brought Master Williamson, and Ms. Buhl." Barry said introducing us. "Master Williamson and Ms. Buhl this is Doctor Minh," he gestured to the large mouse, "and this is Knight General Leo Wheat." Barry said gesturing to the large for armed man. "And of course High Sister Therbius." He finished with a nod to Therbius.

I was expecting something more, but Doctor Minh, and Knight General Leo Wheat were staring at us, shocked. This lead to "How are you two alive?" Doctor Minh finally broke the awkward silence. I looked at Anja, who looked at me. We both then looked at Barry, and Therbius.

"You two have more mana than could be reasonably expected from living creatures." General Wheat said, "I am expecting you," he said pointing to me, "to implode or explode. If I didn't know better I'd expect you to be some kind of dragon or demigod. Had we not carried you in such a sorry state I'd suggest we all try and kill you before something horrific happens." he continued Doctor Minh nodding along beside him.

"And you Ms. Buhl are almost as dangerous. We will need to find a way to keep your mana stable otherwise either of you could destroy Circuchron. Thebie, you should have told me the magnitude of our guests." Doctor Minh said absentmindedly looking up at us. Anja squeezed my hand. "Don't worry, you aren't in danger yet. We just need to teach you before you accidentally do something." She continued.

"Yes think of it like a warrior who doesn't understand his own strength." General Wheat added. Therbius had a look on her face that read of concern. I wasn't sure what they meant. I couldn't have magic, there was no magic back home. "I'll leave the proper magic up to the good Doctor and the Sister, why don't I run you two though the physical assessment and some rifle drills. Miss, you are free to join in with those however I'm not expecting you to participate." General Wheat said after a short awkward pause.

With that we were put though the wringer. Every muscle group was tested, and we shattered every record. After the strength tests we were told to run laps until we felt like stopping and we fell into a jogging rhythm. At first I thought I was going to leave Anja behind, as I was almost a full foot taller than her, she surprised me by keeping up and pulling me along slightly with her pace. We ran shoulder to shoulder for a while. Lap after lap after lap.

After a while Therbius and Minh seemed to come to an agreement and Doctor Minh scampered off on all fours. Therbius saw us running conversed with General Wheat and after questioning Barry called out to us "Are you to doing okay? You've been running for a concerningly long time." I glanced at Anja, giving a Done? face. She nodded and we finished our lap.

"You two are certainly impressive, Human am I saying that correct?" General Wheat said as we came over to the two evaluators. We nodded as we caught our breath. "I do wonder if there are more of you out there. Yet it would be slightly terrifying given your abilities."

"We... aren't... special..." Anja wheezed, "Well I'm not. He might be, though from what I've heard about Americans he probably isn't." I chuckled at that, and shook my head.

"Regardless Mr. Williamson when you are ready collect your rifle and lets go though some basic drills." General Wheat said, "I'll take you to the firing range." I picked up the rifle and followed him towards the back of the gymnasium, Anja was my shadow. "Are you interested in rifle drills Ms. Buhl?" General Wheat said as we left the gymnasium, Therbius and Barry in tow.

"No, I want to see Bryan in action again. I was scared the last time, and it didn't seem to be testing him much." Anja smirked.

"Who is paying for the ammo? I don't think I have any money, unless my credit and debit card still work." I turned to Therbius, "Is that possible?"

Therbius shook her head "I doubt any card based currencies would still work. The temple will be supplying the ammunition as this is considered part of your arrival testing. Although that ammunition is rather cheap, seeing as few species can use it."

"Yes Mr. Williamson, chemical kinetic weapons such as yours have too much recoil to be used by most species. Plasma weapons are the main stays. Lasers are also around but their short ranges leave much to be desired. With your strength and speed I assume you could dodge most plasma weapons outside of the shortest of ranges. If you're half as proficient as described, I may have a commission for you." General Wheat said as we entered the range.

Unlike the orderly lanes I was used to for indoor ranges. This one was closer to the outdoor shooting range on Leo's property, the flat range, as he called it. A smattering of targets and obstacles were littered around at various ranges. Off to one side there was a glass viewing area. "The women will stay behind the protective glass, I will lead you though the routines." General Wheat said as the door into the range shut behind him.

"Before we start, I don't understand this sight. It is a mess." I stated, as I watched Barry take position adjacent to the viewing area.

"It was working fine when I looked at it, range drop and lead calculations all where there." General Wheat said giving me a puzzled look.

"Do you have a red dot? It doesn't have to be red, but a simple dot sight would let me work better." I said hoping to clarify. Instead I got dumbfounded looks from the two aliens. "If these are supers I'd probably want an LPVO, but these don't sound like supers." I continued hoping to break across the assumed language barrier.

"How would you calculate the range? The drop? All chemical kinetics fire supersonic rounds, that weapon has a magical silencer to negate the sound from the bullet breaking the sound barrier. I can get you a red dot. Are you sure you don't want that sight it's rather expensive." General Wheat said recovering faster than Theribus.

"I'll trade you for a variable 1 - 6 optic especially if it only needs a battery to light the reticule." I said pulling the sight off the rifle; thankfully pic rail worked like pic rail. General Wheat took the sight walked over to a cabinet and exchanged it for an optic that looked a lot like the Sig Tango I was used to.

"If you're sure, that sight is worth quite a bit. This one doesn't even adjust to the weapon it's mounted to. If you can score even half on the long range shots I'll break my lower arms." He said handing me the optic.

I mounted it, "Bet. Let's get started." General Wheat ran me though a good number of drills that were similar to the ones I knew. After a few adjustments to the sight I went from scoring average marks to high marks. A few more adjustments and I got it dialed in, and I got in the flow. Each test went smoother than the last until I ran out of ammo.

"You are impressive." General Wheat said tallying up my scores. "I haven't seen anyone go faster or be more precise. Usually that is done with lasers. You did it with chemical kinetic. How did you learn to control the recoil?"

"Practice. After putting a few thousand rounds through different rifles, you get used to it." I said picking up the magazines I dropped around the range. "You do it enough you get good at it. Especially if you have a good set of teachers like I did. Although the guys who taught me probably don't exist, officially speaking." I smiled thinking of Leo and the crew, "I'll miss those assholes if we can't go back."

"There is nothing implying the two of you are stuck here. If anything you should have more than enough magic to go anywhere. Speaking of which Doctor Minh says she's ready for the two of you if you are willing to learn some magic." Theribus said emerging from the viewing area.

"I don't think I want to go back." Anja mused. "At least not right now. It would be a shame to come here and not experience it." I nodded, it was a fair point. It wasn't like we knew how to get home anyway.

"So learn magic?" I quipped.

Anja shook her head, "Shower, change of cloths. Then magic." With that Theribus and General Wheat left us to help Doctor Minh with setting up our first lesson. Barry lead us back to our room. Once again people made way for us.

When we entered the room the medical equipment was gone. A large dresser was now sitting where the bulk of the equipment had been sitting. On top were two baskets of cloths. "I believe that we have the correct sizes for everything now. Likewise the bathroom should be stocked with everything you need. If something is missing please let me know and I will fetch it for you." Barry said before posting up next to the door.

I looked at Anja and she looked at me. "Ladies first." I said with a shrug, she didn't seem happy about that but she didn't protest. Taking her hamper of clothing into the bathroom with her. I turned my attention to my rifle. It occurred to me that I hadn't spent much time looking at it. I had glanced at it, and ran six mags though it but I hadn't inspected it closely. Sitting down at the table I found it, wasn't exactly the AR platform I had been using it as. The stock folded with the help of a button and the receiver was the wrong shape. Thankfully it was held together with pins. Which helpfully had the indent for the cartage as a punch technique. Unhelpfully I didn't have any cartridges. I'd have to wait to see what was inside.

"Bryan, can you come in here?" Anja's voice carried out of the bathroom.

"What do you need?" I asked standing up, unsure what it is she could want. I got to the door when a thought hit me, "Would you rather I sent Barry? He's quite helpful."

"No, grab the other basket and get in here." She said from the other side of the door. I got the other basket and entered the bathroom. "Ah, shut the door." Anja said as I entered, I mentally shrugged as I followed her instructions. Anja came out from the shower, still clothed, which caused a breath of both disappointment and relief to leave my lips. "I grabbed the wrong basket; I don't understand the shower; I want to finish our talk." she said, as if she was ripping off a band-aid. Before looking at me with pleading eyes.

Chapter 4: Show and Tell

I wasn't sure what to do with her doe eyes. I put the basket next to the other one. "Where do you want to start?" Was all I could think to say. Anja pondered for a moment.

"Men have always been uncomfortable. They are unnerving. Not in a creepy way, but in a sense of danger. You've probably heard the saying, 'A man is only as good as his skill with weapon.' Which, while I apricated from a keep the monsters at bay sense. Always worried me as it seemed men were more often than not the monsters that needed to be kept at bay." Anja trailed off, her face hinting at a painful set of memories. "You are comfortable. Like a warm blanket, or a teddy bear. Maybe that's because you saved me from a monster, got in a gunfight and well." Trailing off again staring at my left shoulder. "Anyway," she shook that memory out of her head, "you are the first man who is comfy, and I don't want to lose you." She said with a degree of finality.

My face clearly conveyed my confusion. She gave me a thoughtful look, "I must sound crazy." She rubbed her face. "I know Americans are all hunters. I know you are all much more combative than we are in Europe. It helped with the monsters." she trailed off, my confusion growing. "Do you not have any monsters?" she asked confused.

I shook my head. "There are some people I'd call monsters and some dangerous wildlife but nothing I'd call a monster."

Anja's face revealed how alien that concept was. "No slimes, vampires, or goblins?"

"No, unless Florida Man counts as a goblin." I quipped.

Anja laughed, "No." she said though laughs. "Although I've heard stories."

"I'd bet, although it seems we aren't from the same Earth." My comment got a thoughtful look out of Anja.

"If we do leave, can I come back to your Earth?" She said breaking the thoughtful silence. "It sounds better than the one I came from."

I pondered the nightmare of figuring how that would work. Assuming she just showed up at the chalet, how would she exist, could she exist? What if we ended up in a world that neither of us were from? There weren't any easy answers. "Sure I guess?" I said rubbing my temples. I wasn't expecting the tight hug Anja responded with. She than mumbled something into my chest. "What was that? I couldn't make it out."

"Thank you." She said looking up at me. "I don't want to go back home. It's to dark, too sad." I returned her hug with that not knowing what else I could do.

"Should I read the shower for you so we can get out and learn magic?" I suggested. Anja nodded. To my surprise the shower was labeled rather clearly and self explanatory. Shower solved I left Anja to her shower and went back out into the main room. Barry hadn't moved from his spot. "Barry is it possible that Anja and I aren't from the same Earth?"

Barry turned and looked at me, "I apologize Master Williamson I don't know enough about Earth, Magic or the differences between your homes." Which was reasonably unhelpful.

"Do you know anyone who might know anything?" I asked stretching.

"I do not Master Williamson." Barry responded. Barry was fairly unhelpful, but apt. While I waited I paced trying to wrap my head around what all had happened. I wasn't in Colorado anymore. I had an Austrian girl who seemingly was interested in me. Not to mention the aliens and magic. At least it seemed we had gathered up with people who weren't hostile at least. And there was Barry. What would I do with Barry? I was broken out of my stewing by Anja.

"Barry do you have a hair dryer?" Anja said emerging from the bathroom in a button down shirt.

"Is that my shirt?" I asked, looking at the oversized button up shirt she was wearing as a dress.

Anja shot me an impish grin, "or some way to dry my hair?"

"No Ms. Buhl, I don't know how to dry hair." Barry responded.

Anja responded with a disappointed 'hmm' I took that queue to take my shower. My shower thoughts took another run at the questions I was pacing to. While I found a few new uses for Barry, even if they would require a fair bit of property. I was pulled from my thoughts by the sound of an opening door. "I'm just getting a proper dress." Anja announced as footsteps entered the bathroom. I welcomed the announcement, if nothing else so I knew she was there. What started to concern me was when she didn't leave. I had finished my shower yet something was telling me Anja was still in the bathroom, somewhere. "Bryan?" She said confirming my suspicion.

"Ye-Yes?" I stuttered trying to project where she is going with this.

"Are you..." She started before changing her opening, "I love you." She confessed with a confidence I wouldn't expect from a girl as mild mannered as she seemed to be, especially with us knowing each other for so little time. "I know it's probably irrational. I know it's unexpected. But I can't think of any other word for what I am feeling. It's not just compassion, not just gratitude, certainly not lust." Her voices fades out as the words hung in the air before she hurried out of the bathroom, slamming the door on her way out. I shook my head in disbelief. With that I got dressed and emerged into our little studio.

Anja was doing some pacing of her own, had I not known better I would file her as the definition of 'Woman who doesn't know how to confess to her crush.' although I was still conflicted on if she was or wasn't accurate with her assessment. Still the display brought a warm smile to my face. "Ready? Or do you want to do a few more laps?" I teased. Anja turned and saw me now wearing the shirt she had borrowed and her entire upper body tuned an embarrassed red. She manages an adorable, embarrassed squeak and a nod. I couldn't hold back a chuckle. "Barry where are we headed?"

"Follow me, Ms. Buhl, Master Williamson." Barry said leading us out of what I was now thinking of as an apartment. Out of habit I grabbed the rifle and slung it over my shoulder. Anja gave me a concerned look, "What? I'd rather not let it get away from me." I attempted to defuse her concerns. She gave me an unconvinced look but didn't say anything. We left the apartment and followed our inorganic guide though the temple. Which seemed to be waking up, more people were in the hallways the quiet din of hundreds of quiet conversations. It felt much more alive then when we last traveled the halls. We still had the make way bubble seemingly granted by the rifle although we were getting some disapproving looks.

Anja dealt with the looks by grabbing my arm, trapping it in her bosom. I attempted to figure out why it was she decided on that course of action. I didn't think it was fear nothing here seemed all that hostile or threatening; likewise she was holding my arm too tightly to be a display of affection. I pondered if it could be jealousy as it seemed the Temple of Life was almost entirely female, or creatures that read as female to my eyes. As I figured out what I was going to say we rounded a corner and were both blown away.

We were looking into the center of the Temple. It was huge. The center of the area was forested with strange trees, some of them were clearly bioluminescent even from this distance. Then we both spotted the river. That hit fairly hard, and lead to a scanning of the rest of the atrium. Barry than realized we had stopped and were leaning over the railing. "Please come along, it would be rude to keep Dr. Minh waiting." Barry said as he approached us.

"Give us a minute. This is something else." I said taking everything in.

"No this is the main atrium, not something else." Barry responded in his matter of fact way.

"Atriums aren't this big, nor do they have rivers." Anja mumbled.

"The main atrium is about four fifths of a mile long on each side, enclosing fifteen acres. Now we can come back and explore after your meeting with Dr. Minh." Barry said starting to lead us away. Anja's puppy dog eyes weren't affective on the robot, so begrudgingly we followed Barry back into the network of hallways. Anja was grumbling the entire time.

We arrived at a lab, Doctor Minh was scurrying around as Theribus shook her head. "Doctor hey were probably very tired once they finished the physical. Couple that with the condition they were in I wouldn't expect Barry to show up and tell us they decided to sleep for the rest of this cycle."

"I know Thebie but with that much magic you can't blame a girl for wanting to see what they are capable of. That male might have capacities beyond all but the heroes." Doctor Minh said as Barry entered, "Oh Barry, I take it you bring news?" She said looking at us, "No you bring the patients, please if you two would come take a seat over here I'll start with the tests and then we will get to see what you can do." She continued cutting Barry off as he tried to answer her. We followed her gesture and sat down on the couch she had on one side of her lab. "So from what you said earlier, and from what Thebie has said you two have never seen magic before. Which implies you haven't had any sort of magic lessons, which when coupled with your impossible amount of power could be quite disastrous. With a large amount of mana you could do almost anything, if not everything. So I am going to run a few tests to see what your capacity is and how much control you have over it." Doctor Minh said pacing back and forth in front of the couch.

"I don't know what you mean by magic, or mana." Anja said as if she read my mind. "Sure there was magic back home but humanity couldn't use it. The monsters could, and would."

"I didn't have monsters nor does home have magic so I'm even farther out." I followed Anja's description of home.

Doctor Minh gave us a thoughtful nod. "That doesn't matter as you have magic here, and I am going to attempt to show you how to use it." She emphasized the last word with a snap of the fingers on her paw as a dozen orbs bounced into existence and started orbiting the room. "That way you will be able to use the power you have before someone more nefarious decides to take advantage of you."

Chapter 5: Learning to Crawl

It was clear neither of us were following Doctor Minh's lecture that she jumped into after pointing out the danger we were in for being this powerful and this ignorant. She quickly went and pulled out a chalkboard to start writing what looked like math. "Doc you've lost me." I spoke up interrupting Doctor Minh's lecture mid thought. "You're saying there's another gas, that isn't made of matter yet we can interact with and need to live. So we all have spirit lungs or something?" I attempted to summarize her explanation.

"That is a crude but accurate description." Doctor Minh said truing away from the chalkboard. "Right now you two are functionality holding your breath. Not immediately a problem however we should get you breathing again before it becomes a problem." She said wiping the chalkboard clean, "To do that we are going to use these rings. They will open your airway and give us some way of helping to control the flow." she finished by handing each of us a ring made of some polished green stone, strange symbols were etched into the stone under some protective coating.