1 Not in Kansas anymore
The week of walking around Sedona, Arizona filming supposed vortices for his Online stream is coming to an end. Next couple of days is mainly about editing and voice overs. Though there were a few places where the electromagnetic fields were slightly higher, science could definitely debunk this set of legends. A trip to Stonehenge may be a good next episode to follow with the supposed energy levels increase theories.
Taking a lunch break Mark sees a glowing rock in reach of where he is sitting. "What is that? Might make a great addition to my stream." Reaching out, picking it up the world suddenly goes black. A sudden sucking feeling surrounds him similar to a gravitational pull. Sudden bright light causes Mark to blink. In shock looking around he finds himself someplace else.
Everything is so overwhelming, standing amongst scattered stone blocks. Growling noises coming from within what appears to be a darkened entrance way. All this while words appear in the air just above eye level. Instinctively jumping behind a few stacked blocks 4' in height. Every time he moves his head to avoid those floating words they move with him. Mark begins to read these words while listening attentively to the growls coming closer.
"- Willow Flycatcher Soul-"
"-Soul incompatible-"
"-Soul explosion in 10 – 9 – 8 – 7 transformation possible -"
" ------------------------"
While trying to digest and figure out what is going on, Mark's phone vibrates in his pocket. Then the camcorder connected to his wrists does the same. Both the magnetic scanner and satellite up link connected to his belt also begins to vibrate. Just as this surprising situation develops Mark notices he is still holding the glowing stone as it not only starts to vibrate but also burns into his hand. "OUCH!!" Starting to stand up then remembering the approaching growling. Mark drops back down flat to the ground. The stone seems to be stuck to his hand. Upon closer inspection it is sinking and flowing into his skin. A cool feeling can be felt running throughout every vein, as if the stone has become part of his blood stream. New words begin to appear in front of him.
"-?????? Soul-"
"-Integration possible-"
"-Assimilate external soul stones-"
"-Integrating now 30 – 29 – 28 "
As the obvious count down continues Mark notices his smart phone is fading, then his digital camera and all the vibrations stop. The growling noise is just on the other side of the stones from Mark. Now that they are close he can tell there are grunts and other similar sounds. Slowly looking around the side Mark is astonished at what he sees. Two 4' tall humanoid figures with hooked noses and leathery skin are looking around. Quickly getting out of sight again. He is flummoxed, if he didn't know better those looked like goblins from out of Celtic myths.
"They say you aren't in Kansas anymore, well I am not in Arizona anymore." "Lets leave the scanner and crawl into those trees." Reaching down to remove his scanner Mark realizes that both the uplink and scanner are now missing too. Deciding it is better to get out of here before trying to figure things out. Slowly as quietly as possible he crawls into the woods. Periodically looking behind as the goblins turn and walk slowly the way they came.
Shocked, confused, and mind numbed Mark falls asleep, or is it feinting due to stress. As no one is there to see does it really matter? In his dreams words in a darkened atmosphere, appear making this one of the strangest dreams ever. Maybe once he awakens this will all be gone and his lunch break will be over.
"-Final integration-"
????? soul level 1
Sojourn level 1
Library level 1
Mapping level 1
Chat level 1 no connections available
Energy scanner level 1
"-Integration complete host must assimilate-"
As the sun begins to fall and twilight rolls in Mark awakens. "Trees, those stone blocks, nope not a dream or nightmare after all." "Where am I?" Just as he thinks that a map appears in the air in front of him. "Hey this only shows where I have been kind of like those RPGs I played in high school." "That must mean the dream with all those words was real."
Climbing up the nearest tree to take a look around. What Mark sees is astounding, just a quick look places him in some sort of forest. The hills and plains of Arizona long gone. Those stones are actually huge blocks of what must at one time have been a small keep or maybe even a castle. Now in ruins the archway from which those goblins came leads steep into the ground. "My career as a myth buster is obviously way way over!".
Mark concentrates on energy scanner hoping to find what brought him here and get back home. If thinking of locations caused a map to appear. It stands to reason this came from his now faded smart phone. It stands to reason the scanner words are from his now missing Electra Magnetic scanner. If it can detect high energy out puts on earth then maybe it can detect the vortice that brought him here. Alas either the scanner is too low level or he has no idea how to operate this function to find a way home.
His backpack is still in Arizona so no food, no water, and he realizes that hunger does exist. As a streamer, Vlogger he has no idea how to hunt or find food. Seeing a river in the distance. Fishing shouldn't be too hard to figure out right? Looks like the forest ends a little way from the river. However between here and there are several location of smoke. This is concerning due to all the strangeness of this world. "Yes this is a different world or maybe even entirely different cosmos."
Mark walks slowly throughout the night listening to the sounds of birds and other night time animals. Every estimated hour climbs a tree to insure the paths continue towards the river. The most nerve wracking aspects of this journey were the various fires denoting campsites. If this were Arizona those would be great for getting help, however those goblins from before were concerning. More so as the 3rd campsite was scouted and yep goblins were there. "Just where have I ended up."
Avoiding temptation to steal food from those camps, Mark finally reaches the river. But how does one fish without a fishing pole, hook, or bait. Definitely didn't' think this one through did he. After traveling all night and some of the early morning. Tired and discouraged a walk along the river to find shelter seems the best idea instead. Within an hour a cozy alcove hidden by bushes feels like a good place to nap.
????? soul level 1
Sojourn level 1
Library level 1
Mapping level 1
1. Current location - 1
Chat level 1 no connections available
Energy scanner level 1
"-Daily assimilation complete-"
Mid afternoon Mark wakens wondering what time it is in this strange world. Suddenly in a similar position to where the map previously appeared numbers appear 13:48. "WOW the time, but is it the same length of day here as home?" Those words once again were in my dream but there was something new added under mapping. Since there was nothing added to scanner then obviously my attempt last night to find that vortice didn't count. I will need to return once I learn more of how these strange words operate in this reality.
"I now have a mapping skill or is it ability? What is this soul thing about anyways?" Thinking about all that has happened since his lunch break yesterday. "The map function happened and now I have a new listing for it. The time function just went up so tomorrow I will have a new listing supposedly. Does that mean that my attempt to scan did nothing?" "hmmm? Thinking most of that list is related to my smart phone, and supposedly the scanner. What about the camcorder and Satellite up link?" Obviously Mark has lots to ponder and learn.
Standing up, looking towards the river Mark spots a boat. The design is similar to a canoe but wider to fit 4 abreast. Its length is almost 3 times that of the canoes Mark is familiar with back home. What are these folks in the boat? Short at most 4' tall with beards on each and everyone of them are over a dozen obvious dwarfs. One standing at each end. Several in the middle holding bows pointing where else but at Mark. With jaw dropping and a look of pure stupidification, once more mind numbed. Two arrows pierce the ground to either side of Mark. When he suddenly raises his hands, shouting "Peace, I mean no Harm!!"
