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1,000,000 BA- Arrival
Foreboding. It was the only way he could describe the vortex as it swirled ten feet in front of him, blackness the color of murky ink emanating from it.
Unable to prevent a shiver from creeping down his spine, he glanced around him at the fearful faces that, behind their eyes, held a small burning hope. He prayed to the Three he was not leading his people to disaster.
He turned and gazed with longing, for the last time looking upon his home world. Knowing he would miss it the moment he stepped into the vortex, he took one last look before he had to do his duty.
They were standing at the outskirts of a large forest, about to embark on a mission to a distant planet they were to populate, one that had a small settlement of Thysians waiting to welcome them and begin their new empire. The forest was what he had called home for most of his life. He had only been to the cities once, to receive his mission and duty requirements. The forest was his favorite place with its big yellow-golden leaves and black bark, copper colored bushes, and silver grass. It was home. His family was the few who had chosen to stay in the traditional homeland rather than move into the city of stone and light. But now he was leaving the homeland, along with his wife and their children, to build a new home. The other people he was bringing along with him numbered in the thousands, as did the number of technologies they carried.
Filling his lungs with the last breath of his homeland, he grasped his wife’s hand who in turn held the hands of their children. He stepped into the vortex, waiting in the blackness for the others to follow.
When all that were leaving were inside, the nothingness beneath their feet gave a heart-stopping lurch and they went spiraling away.
It had all been set up before, the path the vortex would take. There was always a small percentage of error, but one had never happened. They were safe.
After only a few moments, he could see light at the end. They neared it quickly, and jerked to a stop.
He stepped out of the vortex, everyone following him, eager to leave behind the dark and cold. The vortex smeared out of existence.
Standing on an empty plain, he knew they were on the wrong planet. He could tell by looking at the sky. This sky was blue, it was supposed to be red.
“Where are we?” his wife asked him.
He shook his head, dropping her hand and moving away from the group.
Holding a hand up to shield the light, he looked to the horizon. He did not need to look so far, however. Not but a mile from him were a small cluster of tents and creatures milling about. What is this place? he thought.
The grass of the plains shifted in front of him and a young creature with dark green hair stepped out, looking up at him as if gods had descended to earth.
It said something to him in an odd language. It was guttural and harsh, almost an irritation to the ears. It bent at the waist, groveling at his feet.
He drew his black sword and set it at the creature’s throat. “What is this place?” he demanded.
The creature gave the sword a fearful look and said something; it’s large glowing green eyes even wider in fear.
His wife approached behind him. “They are barbarians, thylith. Look at how they live. In huts! This poor creature needs help. There is no way it can survive without it.”
He nodded. “Yes, and in payment they will help us build our cities. That is what our mission was so it is what we shall do.”
Casting one last glance at the creature with the dark green hair, he sheathed his sword, calling for warriors to come with him to locate a place for the first city of the Thysians. Copyright 2007
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