A Chance Meeting Part 1
A Chance Meeting Part 1
Magnus is © his player. Matthias is © me. Khira is © hir player. Halo: Reach is © Microsoft studios and Bungie Taco Bell is © Taco Bell iPod is © Apple
A loud alarm sounded and echoed around the room. Magnus stirred and looked up lazily at the clock. He swatted it and it stopped ringing as he rolled to his back and grunted. He brushed his brown hair from his eyes and sat up.
"*sigh* Another useless day." He muttered.
He rubbed the laziness from his eyes and went to the bathroom to get ready for work. His shoulder length hair was a mess. He grabbed his brush and combed it gingerly, careful of his ears. "Well, I guess this is as good as it's gonna get. Time for work." The young fox muttered. He brushed his bushy tail a few times to smooth his fur and went back to his room.
He made it to the bus stop just in time, as it was just about to leave.
"Where to, boy?" The old grizzly bus driver asked.
"Centurion plaza please." Magnus said kindly, then scanned his bus pass on the console. The bus was packed for the early Monday morning commute. He couldn't find a seat, so he just decided to stand. Magnus worked for a big building company as one of their lead architects. The job paid well enough, but it was tiring, and the deadlines were bullshit. His boss, especially, was a surefire bitch. 'I don't think I can take any more of her high and mighty bitching or snottiness.' He thought to himself. After a 20 minute drive he arrived at his destination.
The building was one of his designs, and it was an impressive structure. From the air it looked like a giant "V" in the middle of the city. He always had to smile when he saw it, as it was his pride and joy, and he was proud to brag about it. The smile faded from his face when his bosses ditzy son stepped from the limo that pulled up behind him. They were friends but Frank Martin couldn't design a building to save his life, so the boss often shoved his work into Magnus' inbox and ordered him to make it better.
"Hey Magnus! Wait a sec!" The young collie hollered.
"Oh hey Frank." Magnus said with a fake smile.
"Hey man! My mother and I need to talk to you so come with us!" He said excitedly.
Magnus had to ask, "Do I have to? I've got to finish the New York job."
"It'll be fine. Come on!" Frank said even more excitedly.
'Shit. Now what?' Magnus thought to himself as he stepped inside the limo.
He sat next to Frank and received the drink Frank offered. Across from them was Frank's mother, the Head and C.E.O. of the Hierarchy Building Company, Angela Martin. A very dainty collie, Angela was never afraid to impose her status on others to make them feel inferior. Every day she wore some colorful outfit to draw attention to herself. This time she was wearing a short yellow skirt with a yellow top and jacket that was low enough to show off her...assets. Her red hair was loose today draping down over her shoulders.
She opened her eyes and peered at Magnus with piercing green eyes.
"Ah. Magnus. I wish to speak to you about the New York Job you and Frank are working on. I have a proposition for you, that is of you'll hear it." She snorted.
"I'll hear it Mrs. Martin." He replied.
"While the New York job is a substantial offer, I'm taking you off that project and putting you on something more important." She said with a commanding voice.
"What?! But I've spent 7 months doing this job! Who's gonna take charge of it now!?" Magnus almost shouted.
"Watch your tongue, fox. You will still be in charge. Designing, paperwork and permits will still be your job. I'm going to send Frank to the site to be foreman to oversee construction. He will make sure everything goes to your design." She scowled.
"So in other words, I'll be doing all the work...while Frank just watches MY design get built and takes the credit? Again?" Magnus growled.
"Tread Carefully you brat. I hired you for your exceptional skill for design, not to run your mouth. You design buildings for our contractors and clients, and I pay you your check. I do NOT need to listen to you cry like a pup when things don't go your way." She leaned forward and shouted.
"*sigh* Whatever. Will you just tell me where you're gonna send me this time so I can deal with the permits and make arrangements for the trip? Remember, I'm still working to finish for YOUR deadline." Magnus growled back.
"...Fine. I'm sending you to Ireland, to finish the last of our overseas firms. When this is done, you will be traveling worldwide, with a team of your choosing I might add, to design projects around the globe. Also with a substantial increase in pay." She said with a jaded voice.
"Why me?" Magnus asked.
"Because while I despise your smart-ass attitude, you are the best architect we have at our use. And even though it pains me to say this as well, you are the only one who can do this right the first time. Those are the ONLY reasons I'm sending you. Now, there are some things you'll need to know before the trip." She said, then threw him and envelope that smacked him in the forehead. He swore he saw her stifle a laugh. Frank growled at her as a warning and continued explaining.
"One of our contacts in Ireland, a Miss Khira Neferkey, will be the one working with you on this trip. She has said good things about us to the president, so we're being allowed to set up shop there as well. This is her." Frank explained then pulled the picture from behind a page.
The lemur was quite beautiful. Her gray fur seemed to glow in the photograph. Her hair was blonde, with blue and pink tips here and there. Around her neck she wore a seashell. She was wearing a bowler hat, and was winking at the camera.
"Where will I meet her?" Magnus asked, brushing back his shoulder length hair.
"You are to meet her at the Starry Eyed pub in Dublin, not far from where the project will be. She already started making preparations for the project. All of the supplies and building materials, permits and paperwork, as well as the hiring of the workers has all been taken care of by Khira. She has also paid for your travel arrangements. Your ticket for the plane is inside." Frank finished.
"When do I leave?" Magnus asked.
"Tomorrow. 7 A.M., so you have until then to get the New York permits and paperwork taken care of." She snorted while gazing out window.
"Fine. I'll go." He said, then kicked open the door, jumped out and stormed off, followed by Frank, who admonished his mother with a 'What the hell is your damn problem?'
Hitting the button for the 55th floor, Magnus fell against the wall of the elevator as the doors shut. His eyes betrayed him and unleashed a short flow of tears. 'All my work...for nothing.' He thought to himself while hiding his face. Frank turned and saw his friend sobbing quietly.
"Aw Mag, I swear I didn't know she was gonna do that to you." he said then pulled out a couple of tissues. Magnus took them, then just stayed silent.
The doors opened to their office floor, and Magnus stormed off to their design studio, with Frank following behind.
"Listen buddy, I really am sorry." Frank apologized.
"YOU aren't the one who needs to apologize. Your thundering bitch of a mother is the one who needs to!!! Damn it Frank, 7 years she's been doing this to me! She dumps YOUR work on MY plate and says 'Make it better! I want my baby boy to look good!' Not giving a damn about the blood, sweat and time I threw away for it! I'll repeat that! ME! I'm the one who keeps getting screwed while, you, your mother, and the rest of this damn company keeps making money from MY designs! You want her to take notice of you? TELL HER TO STOP COMING TO ME! I know you can do it if you would just make the effort! JESUS!" Magnus yelled.
Frank just stood there silently and accepted his lashing.
"You're right Mag. I'm sorry for what she's done to you. You ARE the hardest working architect we have. Here," Frank said then took Magnus by the shoulders and sat him down on the couch, "You let me worry about the Permits and Paperwork. You just take a rest. And I know the designs by heart, so when you're in Ireland, I won't call you unless there's an emergency. OK?"
Magnus just looked up at Frank and smiled. Frank ruffled Magnus' hair and went over to the phone and called in the permits. After that, they shared the paperwork and finished it around 2:00 p.m. so they left the office and went to the local taco bell for lunch. They spent the next few hours at the office playing Halo: Reach.
"OK smart-ass, you got lucky last time! This time I'M the one that's gonna own YOU!" Frank said with a grin.
"Oh yeah! Sure! Luck is how I'm a major and you're still a captain first grade!" Magnus laughed.
They played for the next 5 hours and when it was time to leave, Magnus hugged Frank and left for the bus stop. When Magnus walked through the door of his home, he threw his coat on the floor and went upstairs to shower the day's bad luck and heartache from his aching muscles.
The water was warm as it hit his body, and he just banged his head against the wall and closed his eyes, still thinking about the trip he would be leaving for. Somehow, his mind drifted back to the lemur he was going to meet in Dublin. 'I wonder how she is in person. With my luck she'll be like my boss. No...no don't think like that. Be positive. After all you've always wanted to travel to faraway places' He thought to himself. After he dried his fur and hair, he walked to his bedroom and finished packing his iPod, his laptop, his flash drives with the designs for the new building, his guitar, a few dress shirts, dress pants, dress shoes, as well as work clothes for when he was at the work site. When he was finished he crawled into bed, too tired to bother with pajamas. He set his alarm and turned over to watch the sun set behind the trees, before drifting into a deep sleep.
However, as he fell asleep, he swore he could hear a faint, echoing, wheezing noise outside, as well as seeing a glowing and fading light.
"Mmmm...Wha?" Magnus mumbled.
The alarm clock read 6:15 A.m.
"SHIT!" He shouted, realizing he would miss his flight. He jumped from the bed and threw his dress clothes on and called the Taxi. He was outside waiting when it got there, and he hauled his luggage into the trunk and ordered the driver to hit the airport and step on it. The cab arrived in 35 minutes, and Magnus didn't really care about the change so he threw a 20 dollar bill to the driver and ran off. He made it with seconds to spare, just as the doors were closing. The flight attendant showed him his first class seat and he breathed a sigh of relief as he plopped into his seat after he loaded his luggage into the overhead rack.
"God...why the hell didn't my alarm go off? I KNOW I set it for 5. Oh well. Doesn't matter since I made it." He wondered to himself.
'ATTENTION PASSENGERS OF FLIGHT 17, NONSTOP TO DUBLIN, IRELAND. THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN, AND WE WILL BE LEAVING IN 5 MINUTES, SO PLEASE FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS AND PLEASE ENJOY YOUR FLIGHT. THANK YOU'
Magnus rolled his eyes and put his headphones. He flipped it to his favorite song, What About us? By John Barrowman. He just sat back and closed his eyes, then drifted back to sleep. A faint wheezing noise filled the air and brought him back to reality. He sat bolt upright and looked around, not seeing anything. The plane shuttered and he felt it take off to the open sky.
"Boy." He said shaking his head. "I must be really exhausted." He sat back and went back to sleep. His dreams drifted him to his destination, and of the woman he was to meet. He dreamed he met her and was informed that the project was again being led by Frank and his devil mother. He shouted out and tried to yell no, but nothing came out. The dream seemed to go on forever.
24 HOURS LATER
Magnus awoke to the sound of the same wheezing noise he heard before he passed out, and this time he knew he wasn't imagining it. He got up and looked around the cabin, but nothing made a sound.
"OK, somebody's screwing with me here." He muttered. He walked out of his seat and walked to the bathroom, since he hadn't went in 24 hours. He shut the door and looked in the mirror. His hair was a little messy, so he fixed it and finished what he came for. As he walked out, he turned and bumped into a male red panda.
"Agh!" Magnus said when he hit the floor.
"Ow!" The panda said.
Magnus rubbed hit head and got up to look at the person he bumped into. He had long brown hair and piercing emerald eyes that seemed to look right through Magnus' heart.
"Damn it! I am soooo sorry! I didn't watch where I was going. You okay?" The kind panda said before helping Magnus to his feet.
"Uh...yeah..." Magnus couldn't stop looking at the panda's glowing eyes.
"Again, I am so sorry." The panda said.
"Hey...don't worry about it. Thanks for helping me up." Magnus said.
"You're welcome. I uh... gotta go." The panda said.
"Oh! Well uh...don't let me keep you." Magnus said with a smile.
"Well, bye!" The panda smiled back. Then passed him. Magnus turned to look and he saw that the panda had THREE tails. And he thought his eyes were deceiving him, but he swore he thought the rings on his tails were shining. He just shrugged it off and went back to his seat. He opened his laptop case and turned it on, then opened the blueprint files to make sure they were still there. They were and he opened up the Mozilla Firefox icon. The internet opened up and he browsed the internet for awhile, downloading a couple of songs here, a few movies there. After about 4 or 5 hours, he got bored and decided to take a nap before the plane landed in the next few hours. He knocked out easily, and this time he heard no wheezing noise and had no dreams.
The plane shaking as it landed woke him and alerted him that he had arrived in Dublin. He rubbed the slumber from his eyes and repacked his laptop and iPod, then waited for the plane to land. The doors opened and he walked through the gate. 'Wow, even the air smells different!' He thought. The terminal was filled with people scrambling here and there to try and make there flight. Through the crowd of people he saw a familiar bowler hat, and wondered if it was Khira.
It was and she was leaning against a concrete pillar, wearing a white jacket that had pink flowers on it, along with the same pants she was wearing in the photo Magnus saw of her. Her eyes were closed and her arms were crossed, her still form listening to the music blaring through the ear pods she was wearing. Magnus drew in a deep breathe and walked forward to meet her. Just as he was about to say hello she opened up and said:
"I never expected you to be so young, Magnus."
He was taken a little aback and just said back, "Sorry to disappoint."
"Actually, you are pretty cute. A good thing, just as long as you are not a total ass." She said with a soft, but commanding voice.
"Um...okay?" He said, a little shaken.
"Now, first things first, I'm Khira Neferkey." Khira said, extending her hand.
"Nice to meet you" Magnus said and shook her hand.
"Shall we?" Khira said, and they walked through the terminal.
They arrived outside, and a Silver Jeep was waiting for them. Khira helped him with his bags and they both got in and took off.
"Now before I take you to the site, there are a few things you must know. First, the men I hired work for me and me alone, so don't give them orders. Give the orders to me, and I promise ill make sure they get done." Khira explained.
"OK." Magnus agreed.
" Good. Second, while you ARE the architect and the one who's the reason we are all getting paid, if I say something in the plans needs to be changed so safety can be maintained, I mean it. It WILL be changed." Khira further explained.
"I understand." Magnus said.
"Brilliant." She said with a smile, "we're gonna work well together."
After a short drive through the city, they were in the outskirts, and the building site could be seen over the countryside. Khira pulled up beside a long trailer and hopped out of jeep, followed by Magnus.
"After a quick tour of the area, ill let you do your job, and then ill take you back to your hotel." Khira explained.
"Actually, I'd rather stay near the site if you don't mind." Magnus said.
"Suit yourself, my friend." Khira said with a nod.
She then grabbed a megaphone and used it.
"HEY! EVERYONE COME HERE!" She shouted, and the workers walked over to listen.
"Everyone! This is Magnus, the Man we've been waiting for. He'll direct you in every way you need, and tell you what goes where. Now the last time we did a job for the people he works for, you went berserk and destroyed the site, then tried to hurt the last architect. This job is FAR too important for you people to be pulling that shit this time around. I'm only saying this once and once only. If anyone, ANYONE, starts any trouble, they will be removed from their job and be replaced. OK! Back to work."
The workers dispersed and she continued to show Magnus around the trailer. It was rather nice and neat, the desk perfectly organized. There was a small bed in the next room.
"This is your office. I sleep in the trailer behind yours, so if you need me, knock and come in. Now if you are situated, I'll go get back to work." She said.
"Hm? Oh yeah. And thank you." He said with a smile.
"Don't worry about it. Later!" She said with a wink, and then she was gone.
Magnus was really happy that she was so sweet, unlike his boss. The countryside was so beautiful and warm, and he couldn't help but smile and laugh a little. His luck was finally changing! He ran out to get his luggage and began his work.
While engrossed in his work, Magnus did not see a glowing and fading light shining outside his window.
"PHEW!" Magnus yawned.
The moon was shining brightly on the Irish hills, the grass shining in its glow. Magnus opened the front door and stepped into the cool air.
"I didn't think it was so beautiful here." Magnus thought aloud.
"It is, isn't it?" Khira said. "GAH! Please stop doing that." Magnus said, "you pop up at the most unexpected time. You're gonna give me a heart attack!"
She walks forward and laughs before sitting on the steps.
"Sorry, Magnus. I always seem to have that effect on people. How's the blueprint coming?" She asked.
"It's finished" , he said before sitting down beside her, "We can go over it tomorrow if you like."
"Sounds nice." She replied. Her facial expression turned and looked worried.
"Something wrong Khira?" Magnus asked.
"Hm? No, nothing." She said with a sigh, "but...did you ever have a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, and then not know why?"
"Sometimes. But I usually just say screw it and continue with my day." Magnus replied.
"Heh, not so easy for me. I've got to worry about everything." Khira said.
Magnus just stared at her worried face and noticed she was shivering.
"Here, take this." He said and unbuttoned his long sleeve shirt and gave it to her, "you may have fur, but you still need to keep warm."
"Thank you." She said with a smile. She looked up at the moon and sighed again. "Well we've got a big day tomorrow. The building starts then we can get paid."
"Yeah. You know what? I think this job's gonna be the biggest and best I've done." Magnus said.
"Maybe, but there's still a long way to go! Night!" Khira said with a wave.
"Night!" Magnus replied, and then she disappeared around the corner.
Magnus decided to pull a jacket from a locker and walk the grounds before hitting the sack. He figured he'd borrow one of the extras from the maintenance locker, then return it later. He grabbed a flashlight and walked on his way.
The first area was a basement area where the drives for the computer systems and data would be stored. He was surprised at how quickly the workers finished it. The walls were set, the cement dried. He smiled and continued on his way up the ramp. The second floor was still unfinished, the metal beams for holding up the floors the only things hanging overhead from the first floor. Magnus had a little quirk when he was on site. The beams were close enough together and sturdy enough to hold his weight, so he fixed the flashlight to his belt and crouched on the first beam. He jumped to the second with ease, landing almost without a sound. His tail keeping him balanced, he jumped from the third, to the fourth, to the fifth, speeding up with every leap. Just as he was about to run out of beams to jump on, he grabbed the support beam and swung around and doubled back. The cold air filled his lungs, his heart racing faster and faster. He did this every time he wanted a rush, and being alone with only his thoughts was a plus too. He found his way back to the trailer and jumped from the second floor to the ground, landing with a dull thud. He smiled and laughed then fell back on the cold dirt, just staring at the sky.
"I wonder what other worlds are like." He wondered to himself. His mind wandered off to the dark reaches of space, dreaming of shining cities, lush green planets, funny looking people. His eyes got heavy.
*loud clambering and crashing*
"Huh!?" Magnus said then shot to his feet. His eyes darted back and forth, trying to find the source of the noise and saw something dart behind the trash bin. He picked up a shovel in a panic and walked toward the bin with light footsteps.
"Hello?!?! Who's there!" He hollered.
*another loud noise*
"Show yourself! Uh...please?" He said a little more meekly.
*a little creature with one eye popped it's head from behind it and peered at Magnus with white eyes.*
"Whoa! And just who...or in this case WHAT are you?" Magnus whispered.
*the creature shivers a little and then hops forward. Its ears are elongated and green, it's body black. It's maw is dripping with raw meat.*
"You're a cute little fella aren't you! Come on now." Magnus called with his hands out, "I won't hurt you."
*the creature shake and then opens its mouth widely and let's out a guttural roar that echoes throughout the hills.*
"Oh crap..." Magnus managed to say before darting back to the trailer.
The creature let out another loud roar before chasing Magnus back through the metal beams. No matter how fast Magnus ran, the creature was always a couple feet behind him, snapping its jaws and roaring, looking for a meal. Magnus managed to finally dive behind the ramp and catch his breathe. The creature ran past him for a few feet then stopped, sniffed then turned to growl at him.
"Oh come ON!" Magnus shouted, then tried to run for the shovel he dropped. The creature jumped clear over to him and knocked him into the basement area, making Magnus hit his head.
"Awww...Ow...uh-oh!" ,he panicked.
The creature leapt at him, and opened it's maw wide. Magnus knew he lost this fight.
"Chew on this you scaly freak!!!!!!!" A familiar voice yelled. Just as the creature was close to his face, a red panda with a shovel stepped in front of him and knocked the creature clear across the compound.
"MAGNUS!!" Khira yelled, "come on!"
Magnus stared at the fur in front of him, and the fur turned to reveal himself as the same three tailed panda, that he bumped into on the flight! He was wearing a dark blue coat with tribal symbols all over it.
"Go with my wife! I'll explain later I promise!" The panda said with a kindly smile.
"Uh...um..."Magnus stuttered.
"Go! NOW!" The panda shouted.
Magnus shot back to reality, and ran to Khira. He grabbed her hand and she yanked him out of the crevice with ease and he followed her back to the trailers. She rushed him toward the alley between them, where a white box that said "POLICE CALL BOX" on was sitting.
She opened the doors and shoved him inside. She locked the doors behind them and took a breathe. Magnus turned and saw the most miraculous thing he's ever seen. The small box contained an entire mansion like are inside it, the walls adorned with strange runes. There was a ramp going up the toward the rooms ceiling in a spiral, a purple seat sitting at the bottom. On the walls, were many examples of machinery, going up the ramp. In the shaft going down were many elevators appearing and disappearing. A golden wolf jumped out of the walla and growled at him.
"Tardis! Easy. He's okay." Khira said. The wolf sat down and just peered at the shaking fox.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?!!?!?" Magnus shouted before falling back onto his butt.
"Welcome to the Tardis!" Khira said.
"But...it's...b...b...bigger...o...o...on the inside!" Magnus stuttered.
"AHA! I never get tired of hearing those words." The wolf laughed.
*the doors starts shaking and a banging comes from outside. The panda bursts through the door with the scaly creature in his hands, unconscious.*
"DAMN SCALIODITE! Ripped my coat! AGAIN!" The panda swore, "hey Tardis? Could you put this thing were it needs to be?"
"You got it boss!" The wolf said, then took the Scaliodite in her maw then dove into the shaft, out of site.
"Oh honey! Look at what it did to you!" Khira said to the three tailed panda.
"Who....who....are you guys?!?!" Magnus managed to get out.
"I am Matthias Reign. I am a time lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterberous. I am 919 years old and I am the panda who just saved your butt from a rabid Scaliodite. This is my spaceship/Time Machine, The Tardis. Any questions? Or are you keeping up?" The panda said, leaning forward with a smile.
"Heh!" Magnus said, then fainted.
Matthias looks over the unconscious fox. "This was your idea my love. I hope you're right about him." Matthias said.
"You and me both baby." Khira said then put her arm around Matthias.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!