Time to farm
A few days had passed by in the blink of an eye with my family coming up and visiting me for a couple hours while the rest of the time I spent either sleeping or watching some old reruns on the tv that was mounted in every hospital room you could imagine. Ya know, thinking about how much destruction and change occured over the last ten years.... We as a species really bounced back and even took a huge step forward! I mean even now I can start to sense and even see a faint blue pulse that would constantly travel between the outlet in the wall and the machine monitoring my vitals. I mean it's a little insane once you think about it.... But nevermind that, I'm just rambling....
Anyways, the day of my release is finally here and Hector came to pick me up saying Jasmine and Julie were back at home cooking up some food to welcome me back. Upon getting home and opening up the door I am welcomed by a rocket blast of a hug as Julie comes sailing through the air at mach 5K right at my lungs and we both go bowling backwards as I try and instinctively keep her from getting hurt to badly.
"Dammit Julie are you ok? I knew you were already getting your powers but this is crazy! We are going to have to start getting serious with your training honey." Hector ran over and looked her over than seeing as she was ok and just looked embarrassed at what she'd done then he helped me up and saw as I got a few cuts from tumbling off some concrete and as I lifted up my shirt he winced as I saw a nice bruise already starting to show around my ribs.... This little girl is a fucking beast already and she hasn't even trained properly!
"That is not a good looking bruise Jim, You feel dizzy or nauseaus? Anything like that? I know we just got back from the hospital but if that gets any worse you might have to go back." Jasmine said as she got a good look at it, She looked worried but besides a little pain whenever I moved, I felt fine and dandy. Hell even a little starving if I was honest.
"I'm fine, But I am starving so let's go inside and eat. We can check up on it later if that'll ease your worries." I smiled and started to shoo Julie inside while leaving Hector and Jasmine outside.
"That don't look good babe, Julie really launched herself at him.... Did you catch those little whiffs of flame that puffed out as she jumped?" Hector said with a worried look towards Jasmine.
"I did but I don't think she consciously did it on purpose. What I'm confused about is how Jimmy just got up and started walking away when a bruise that already shows up like that is usually from something broken or internal bleeding. But he just acted like it was nothing and I mean just look even now he is wolfing down food like he hasn't eaten in days."
"You don't think.... I mean it's not unheard of but...."
"What? That she gained both of our powers? Your flame control and my healing? So your saying she unconciously burst forth like a rocket and then healed Jimmy afterwards?"
"Yea... But that hasn't been heard of outside of those pompous A rankers kids. Even the oldest is only what 9? maybe coming up on ten?"
"Hector when are you gonna learn that nothing is gonna be normal for a while in this world. We are still discovering new things every day. But nevermind that and let's go inside and eat ok? We can figure this out later when we start training her. Don't you and Jimmy have something to do here in a couple hours?"
"Shit your right let's go!" Hector said with wide eyes as he realized he had set up a two man expedition, just him and Jimmy starting in a few hours. He thought it would be best to get Jimmy up and going as soon as possible even though it might be a bit hard on the boys system, but this life wasn't an easy one anymore and this is what was required. Yea you could spend a few days in the hospital getting treated and making sure your fit for duty, but after that you gotta get your ass in gear and get rolling...
After eating Me and Hector went to the HQ building and after a few medical checkups from the docs in house, I was marked as fit for duty and was allowed back through the portal. Seeing the portal again made my breath hitch as the memory of the intense pain I experienced last time came to the surface, but after a few deep breaths I remembered the awesome ability that lied in wait for me just across the boundary of this world and the next, so with a big grin and a heart full of excitement I took the plunge yet again.
HUUUUURGGGHGHHGHGH
"Oh god! Will I get used to this Hector?" HUUURRGHGHGHGHGH
"Hahahahaha, yea boy you will, just takes a few jumps first. That is just your brain getting used to the change of scenery that's all."
Hector patted me on the back as I puked my awesome lunch that didn't taste so awesome now. But after wiping my mouth and steadying myself on a nearby wall I took in a deep breath as I could feel the essence of this new world for the first time.
"That is what should have happened after you ate the food from this side. You should have been immediately able to breath in the essence and energy of this side of the portal... I'm sorry that happened to you buddy... BUT! Now is the time to move past that and start getting stronger and go out there and become the best you can be! I signed us up for a little expedition to a nearby nest of creatures that are fairly docile and even farmed for their amazing fur and eggs and milk."
"Excuse me? One animal produces all of that? Is it a giant furry chicken cow? What the hell?"
"Ha, yea the first of us to discover it was pretty amazed and also confused by it aswell. But the things this one animal provides is actually what you ate a few days ago. Its fur is used as even insulation for the harshest of cold climates in some of the portals while the skin is tanned and can make excellent leather armor for newbies. Trust me if we hadn't lucked out and found this animal first, I doubt we would have survived long enough to explore half of what we had."
"Ok..... But what exactly are we going to be doing there? If they are farmed doesn't that mean they have like farmers or ranchers that take care of em?"
"Yea but around this time of year is breeding season, and some of the males can get a little.... Rambunctious so to speak. The Rancher in charge of this farm we're going to is a good buddy of mine and he agreed to let us be the one to take care of his this time as a favor to me. All we have to do is get the males that are being rough away from the girls and then shhck we kill em, easy peasy." He laughed while making a slice across his neck with his thumb.
I went wide eyed as the realization that this was going to be my first combat... And against a furry chicken... I just shook my head since everyone had to start somewhere and I have Hector here with me to help out if things go wrong.... Wait.
"Hey! How the hell am I supposed to kill them if I don't have a weapon?" Hector stopped as he turned to look at me with a wide eyed expression as he just realized I had nothing but normal clothes on.
"Hehe, yea that's true, Well let's go grab something for you real quick and then after the job is done we can come back for the daily essentials."
Great, there goes the grand start I was hoping for.... But hey atleast I made that first step. That's all that counts.