C31 I Was Curious

"We appreciate the help, but who are you, stranger?"

I turn around as Sera and Lana hide behind me, wrapping their tails around my legs.

'They learned how to use them fast enough.'

I had a casual smile on my face as I answered him, "Me? My name's Zadkiel. And you?"

"I've gone by many names, though I prefer Manitou." He nods, showing the respect given to an equal.

He may be the 'lead deity' of his pantheon, but I hold power no weaker than him. If we fight, nothing would be left of his realm.

"That was quite the creature; there aren't any more around here, I hope." I try lightening the mood a bit.

He catches on, "Ah, haha. No. That should be the only one. At least—let's hope so."

I nod, "Let's."

Before we can say more, the one I presume is his wife whispers to him, "Perhaps, they would like to join us for a meal."

She was referring to the three of us, but I could see her eyes sparkle when she looked at Sera and Lana.

With a wry smile, he asked me, "Would you care to join us for dinner? I believe we just harvested some squash, and Owayodata was about to hunt a caribou before—all this."

I looked down, to my sides, and I put my hands on their heads. Their extra features were already withdrawn.

Nudging them out a bit, so they could be seen better, I say, "I think we would enjoy that. Thank you for the invitation."

The lady became even more excited after seeing them and hearing my reply, "Great!" she turned to Manitou, "I'll go get everything started."

Turning around, she ran off in another direction, though not before telling Owayodata to bring back a large caribou.

The rest of the people follow her, leaving Manitou with the three of us.

I smile, "She's quite lively."

"That she is. Onatah has always been so." After saying that, he turns to me with a more serious face, "I'm curious as to what drew you here? I don't believe we have anything here that would attract someone of your stature."

I rubbed Sera and Lana's heads, "I was teaching these two how to fly in the grand canyon when I sensed the dimensional disturbance. I thought it would be a good adventure to go check it out with them."

He evaluated my words for a moment before sighing, "It was a good thing too. I don't know if I could have kept my realm safe otherwise."

"Don't mention it. They got some experience out of it, and an enemy of yours was dealt with. Sounds like a win-win to me."

We and Manitou walked to his camp as he fixed the damage caused by KhLΘG.

I learned that they were both connected. Meaning that if Manitou were to have used his 'godly' power, it would have made KhLΘG stronger as well.

He was finished after a short while.

The girls had loosened up a little by the time we reached the camp as well.

"Dinner should be close to completion by now. Why don't we join them in the final preparations?" He turns to me.

"Sounds good."

What followed was Sera and Lana being dragged away, by an overeager Onatah, to be dressed up—multiple times. I was 'kind' enough to seal their powers again as well.

After she was—somewhat—satisfied, it was time to eat.

Caribou stew and grilled squash.

'I don't know if they put something in this or if it's just the stuff from this realm, but this is the best food I've ever had.'

I leaning back after I 'fill' myself.

'I could literally sit here and eat this forever.'

"I think this was the best meal I've ever had." I get a nod from the girls as well.

Onatah gives a cheerful smile, "I'm glad you liked it so much! We've always prided ourselves in our cooking."

Manitou was about to add something, but he paused.

I felt something as well.

Looking at him, I say, "It seems you aren't getting any breaks today."

He gives me a tired nod, "It seems so."

---

"Wow—what's this place?" Ben asked.

Next to him was Reed, "A completely new dimension," looking up, he continues, "perhaps it will hold answers to questions we don't even have."

He was holding a tablet that displayed numerous different charts and numbers.

"Well—the airs breathable," Johnny said after taking off his helmet—gingerly.

He was smacked upside the head by a force field.

"Idiot! What would have happened if the air was toxic?!" Susan reprimanded.

"Uh. Not breathe?"

"Don't worry Susie. Anything the Firebug breathes just gets burned up anyway. He'd be fine." Ben reassures her.

Johnny appreciated the save.

"Yeah, don't worry. I'm too hot for some fumes to hurt," he puffs his chest.

Ben isn't done though, "Too bad everythin' that comes out of 'is mouth is hot air too."

"Hey!" Johnny takes back his appreciation.

"I would have to agree." Susan walks away, going to Reed.

"Aah, come on! You too?!" Johnny falls to his knees.

"Find anything worthwhile, Hun?" She wraps an arm around Reed, who's looking at the tablet and the differentiated surroundings.

"Mm, maybe. These different sections of the environment are being kept apart by—some strange energy I haven't seen before."

He looks at the diagrams for a while longer, "It looks artificially done, but I can't see any signs of implementation. Like it's a natural function of the dimension to section off the ecosystem like this."

"Is that so weird?"

"Um, well, It wouldn't be much different than if skyscrapers were a naturally occurring str—"

"Stretch," Ben said in a deep tone.

"—yeah?" Reed turned to Ben. He isn't usually this serious.

"We got company," he's looking around along with the other two.

Reed looks at the surroundings as well. Not seeing anything, he asks, "How do you know?"

Ben looked in his eyes, "'Cause none of us asked that question."

Reed's eyes widened. He didn't even register that the voice didn't belong to anyone he knew.

-Cough-

All of them turn to a spot that, conveniently, none of them had looked at or was in a blind spot.

"Yeah—that woulda been me," standing there was a handsome black-haired man with golden eyes.

He had his arms crossed, "I was legitimately curious, so I thought I would ask."

Johnny nods, "Fair enough." He was the only one not on alert.

Susan gives him a look that says, 'What are you doing!?' then asks the man, "Who are you?"

---

Behind me walks out Manitou, who says, "Shouldn't that be my question? Seeing as you're the trespassers."

"Where'd he come from?" I hear Ben say.

Reed finally regains his bearings and speaks, "W-we didn't mean to trespass. It's just that I detected dimensional turbulence coming from the Grand Canyon. We followed it to the source and—"

"Thought it was a good idea to hop in and see the other side." I interrupt.

Reed paused for a moment before shrugging, accepting the statement.

"I don't know whether to call that bravery or idiocy. That passage could have led to any number of dimensions which could've completely destroyed you all, even Mr. Orange," I pointed at Ben.

None of them looked too good.

'I suppose they've only been around for a few years and have yet to really become the dimensional tourists from the comics—or they're just slower in this universe.'

They have advanced tech, but it's not enough to travel to the places they'll end up and survive. Not with the strength they currently possess.

While Reed looks like he's reevaluating his life choices up to this point, I hear, "Who are they, Brother?"

Grabbing the hem of my shirt, Sera and Lana join the party, looking at the four.

"Just some visitors that took the wrong turn and ended up here."

"Is that another rock monster, like before?" Lana asks.

"No, that isn't a monster. Just a man who had an accident."

Ben twitched a bit at being likened to a monster, though he calms down after I reply."

"Can you fix him? He's much less smelly than normal people."

"It's not my place to intervene, and we don't know if he wants that."

The group didn't hear everything said but they did catch the meaning.

"Hey, do you mean you can—"

I didn't give them a chance to say anything though, and spoke to Manitou, "I believe it's time for me to go. Do you want me to take them with me?" I point at the four.

"If you would be so kind, and do come by again some time. We don't get many visitors." He bows slightly and smiles.

'Fuck yeah! That food was great!'

"Absolutely."

I turn to the four, snap my fingers, and they disappear along with their flying car thingy.

Grabbing hold of my two clingers, I say, "Chao," and walk through a portal.

On the other side is a still confused Fantastic Four.

Seeing me they try to ask what happened.

I cut them all off, "If you can find me, I'll answer your questions. Otherwise, the answers you seek would be useless to you."

Turning away, I whistle.

They're all confused until a flaming motorcycle cruises up to me, all by itself.

"Cool," is the only thing Johnny says.

'Two Johnnys, and they both light on fire…'

"Ah! Don't—"

I and the girls get on, while Susan panics, thinking that we'll get burnt.

Waiting no longer, we ride off into the night, going to our next destination.

---

//Note//

I didn't do much editing on this one.

--

Is the story going too slow?

Maybe. It's going at a comfortable pace for me, and I honestly can't give more than two shits worth of thought if someone doesn't like it.

Actually, scratch that, I could never give such an important time of day to internet people's thoughts.

--

I have found the perfect 'bike' for the MC!