Chapter 7

I awake with the most excruciating headache ever. I open my eyes and sit up. After clearing the last of the dizziness out of my eyes, I look up to see the barrel of what looked like a gun aimed at me. Connected to the gun is the beautiful woman that I saw earlier.

“Who are you?” she asks with a hint of anger that told me she will be answered.

“Why should I tell you?” I ask, knowing full well I may regret it.

"Computer, scan for retinals.” She says with a commanding voice.

“Scanning…” A voice from nowhere says and a blue light comes out of the wall and sweeps over my eyes.

“Scan Complete. No records found. Subject does not exist.”

“Hmmm. You’re obviously are not a REM soldier.”

“REM?”

“Then you must be a spy!”

“No. I’m no spy. I’m actually a scientist of sorts.”

“Of sorts?”

“I study inter-dimensional theory.”

“Right. And I’m an empress.”

“Really, it’s true look in my bag.”

“Already have. Computer, results.”

“Subject is telling the truth.” The voice from nowhere says.

“What is your name?” she says in a more compassionate tone.

“Lucas Tiberious Hunt."

“Where are you from, Lucas?”

“Well, I’m actually from another universe. If you don’t believe me, I can show you.”

“Ok.” She holsters her weapon. “Any funny business and I’ll kill you. Understand?”

“Um…ok.”

She leads me outside and down the street. We finally come to where I last remember.

“This is where I found you. Can you find your way back?”

“Yeah. I think so. How long have been out anyway?”

“About 23 hours. Wh…”

“D****t! Hurry I don’t have much time!”

She follows me down the street, easily keeping pace. I round the corner hoping and praying that it didn’t disappear. As I approached where the portal was it instantly materialized. I look at my watch and see I only have two minutes.

“This is my portal back to my universe. You can come if you want.”

“Can I come back?”

“Of course. But you can only stay for one day at a time.”

“Ok. Let’s go.” She says with a mischievous smile and grabs my hand.

And we walk into the portal…holding hands.

<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>

When we exited the portal and shook off the ice I led her to the kitchen, as she went to the window that overlooked Central Park.

“Wow. Its so beautiful here. It’s like something from a holobook that my mother used to read to me when I was a little girl”, she says in amazement.

“Where is she now?”

“Dead.” She says matter-of-factly.

“Oh. I’m sorry for your loss.”

She remained silent as she watched the bustling city as it woke to do its deeds for the day.

“Do you want some coffee?”

She whips around in surprise. “You mean real coffee? Like with coffee beans and everything?”

“Well of course. How else would it be made?”

“Ours is synthesized. The only real coffee we have is owned by Ubel Rathon.”

“Who’s that?”

“He’s the emperor of the Rathon Empire.”

What’s your name, anyway? We never got around to it.”

“My name is Merinda. I am a lieutenant in the (Freedom Fighters)”

“I see. Tell me about your planet. Your world so to speak.”

“Well…there is so much to say. We return I’ll give you holochip to peruse.”

“How am I going to use a holochip?”

“Oh, I didn’t think of that.” She thought for a minute. “You can just borrow one of my holoreaders.”

I hand her her coffee and lead her to a table with two chairs out on the patio. We sit in silence as we listen to the bustling of the city. After awhile she sets her empty coffee down on the glass table.

“So…what now?” she asks.

“Would you like to see Central Park?”

“Of course. Is it very far?”

I get up and gesture to the large park across the street.

“You’re looking at it.”

“Oh.” She giggles for a second and as soon as she did this, it was gone and her normal soldier self came back out. “Let’s move out then.” She says as she gets up quickly to hide the reddening of her cheeks.

“Off we go then.” I say with a smile.