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Act XIX: Howling Commandos

Krystal's superior turned out to be a tall, bodily perfect Asian woman with very long black hair and piercing green eyes. She wore a red business coat, with the PSI insignia on both shoulders, and she wore black designer jeans and black high heal shoes. When Krystal and I entered the office, the superior motioned for us both to sit down, then she dimmed the lights and started the closed circuit television. A brief nowhere near perfect air force documentation of the Bermuda triangle was given. I paid attention carefully, but I could already tell that the video was heavily biased. Evidently, Krystal was no fool; she wasn't fooled either.

When the documentation ended, the superior turned the lights back on and opened the blinds on the windows. She was well-spoken as she began speaking.

"As you can see, the U.S. Air Force has little information on the subject. I am Marla Borva, the head of PSI. Danath spoke highly of you, Jansen Tanner. You are perhaps the only Chess agent that I might trust. Might, I said."

I could tell that I liked Marla already. She was smiling and it made her more likable.

"Thank you. I simply try to get the job done. I am a Tanner."

The definitive answer. Marla smiled at that.

"I am pleased that you chose Krystal to work with. After that last fiasco in the southwest, I felt that Krystal should have another professional chance to work with you. And seeing as how this is a dangerous A-class mission, it is perfect for the two of you."

Krystal smiled.

"Thank you, Marla. I messed up on the scavenger hunt and I admit that I shamed myself, not PSI. I look forward to this union of adventure with Jansen Tanner. Now, what provisions will we have?"

Marla nodded her head and began showing some photos of the equipment. The last was a streamlined two-seater aircraft. It was called the Swan Medusa. A contradiction in terms, but that made sense. It was going to be carrying two agents of separate agencies. Marla then shook our hands, and let us get started. Krystal and I proceeded to PSI's processing department. Everyone in the building seemed to already know that PSI and Chess were teaming up for this mission. I wasn't surprised; Marla seemed to be more powerful than she tried to appear in front of me. Just like Danath Gaul. I suppose they all had to have their secrets.

After we had our supplies loaded into my Chess sports car, Krystal directed me from St. Petersburg to Sherwood Forest Florida near Lake Cecile. Krystal's professor friend was an elderly gentleman who also worked for Walt Disney World. His name was Dr. William Hood and he dressed in the clothing of a Disney-styled wizard. His short graying hair made his appearance all that much more believable. William even wore the old timer spectacles that you're expect to see on an old world wizard. Very real in appearance. William greeted us both, then Krystal explained why we had come, and William then walked over to his "stage", and picked up his wand.

"The Bermuda Triangle is not what you might expect, my friends. My fellow peers scoffed at my findings on the subject and I was about drummed out of the scientific community. In order to save face, I had to tell everyone that my findings were a practical joke, to gain laughs among my peers. This saved my career, but I never disbelieved for a second on what I discovered."

I smiled. William was evidently a good actor.

"And what did you discover, Dr. Hood?"

William grinned in my direction, holding his wand across one of his shoulders.

"I am glad you asked. Never would I have imagined the day when the world's two best agencies would not only team up, but would come to see me to ask about this subject. Yes, the Bermuda Triangle... For you see, it is not a triangle; it is a circle. And not just one circle, but many circles. What I discovered almost swallowed me that day long ago. What you are seeking is an opening... a tear in the fabric of time and space that never appears in the same fashion twice, but it's internal nature is always the same. Make no mistake, though: this is a hole in the sky that fluctuates it's position depending upon nearby metallic sources. And not just any metallic source, or there would be disappearances occurring all the time."

Krystal and I blinked our eyes. William was either a genius or a real crackpot. He continued.

"The metallic source must have an equal mixture of magnetic iron, glycerin, alcohol and water. This is usually a mistake in compass making. You would normally never mix alcohol and glycerin into the same mix. Those who make this mistake often attract the attention of the inter-dimensional anomaly, and voila, vanish into the Bermuda Triangle. However... returning does seem to be possible! It has happened before. A ship missing for years would suddenly reappear with all of the passengers missing, as well as the ship's compass. Why would passengers take the ship's compass? The answer is to assume that they can use it to find their way home. But that is often a mistake as well. Removing the compass allows one to navigate back through the inter-dimensional anomaly, and return to our world."

Krystal smiled.

"I told you that William was the expert on the Bermuda Triangle."

I nodded my head.

"So once we're in flight into the Bermuda Triangle, all we have to do is mix the four ingredients, and the anomaly will home in on us? How will we know it is coming? Is there any real way to see it?"

William walked over to a model ship and flipped a console switch. Suddenly, the model become covered in an eerie fire-like light.

"When you see St. Elmo's Fire, you'll know that the anomaly is coming. And when the fire winks out, you'll be passing through the opening. I have no idea what lies on the other side."

I smiled.

"Thank you, Dr. Hood. You've been a great help to our mission. I am sure Krystal will give you a report after we return on what we've discovered. It was a pleasure to meet you."

Krystal and I both shook William's hand, then we departed to the sports car, and were once again underway to the Melbourne International Airport where the Swan Medusa awaited us. The plane was really something. It was literally a two-seater, akin to biplanes and fighter planes of the first two world wars, except that the secondary passenger seat had a mini-lab desk built into the plane itself, and there was storage for our supplies. Krystal decided that she'd pilot the plane, while I played scientist and recorded any vital notes. We were soon in the air and flying out over the Atlantic Ocean.

When we got to a virtual people-free zone, Krystal signaled me to begin the mixture. I did so, carefully measuring out equal portions of each. Then, we waited. The effects were almost immediate. The St. Elmo's Fire lit around the Swan Medusa as if a tractor beam had enveloped the plane itself. I hastily recorded the exact mixture into my Chess tape recorder. Then, Krystal and I both saw it at the same time. It looked like a waterspout lying perfectly on it's side in mid-air. And in the eye of the waterspout, was the elusive anomaly. Krystal lowered her goggles and plunged the plane directly into the central vortex of the anomaly.

What happened next was nearly impossible to describe. Evidently, ships and planes in the older days were built more sturdily than the Swan Medusa, for the plane began disintegrating around us, particle by particle; atom by atom. It was amazing to watch, but I realized that we'd soon be in free fall once the plane was gone. Krystal was already signaling that we needed to bail out. I couldn't agree more with her. For the second time in my career, I was in free fall from a wounded aircraft and I was sure that a pretty witch wasn't going to catch us this time.

I had closed my eyes. I hated falling off of or out of anything. I wasn't afraid of heights; I was afraid of falling, and more correctly, afraid of the impact. I just knew that I was about to join my deceased parents in the great beyond.

Our landing wasn't what we had expected. Krystal was tangled up in her parachute and upside down in a passenger seat. I was being held in the arms of someone with a fur coat and hefty muscles. I then heard a female voice speak.

"How are they? Any injuries?"

I then heard gunfire and lots of it. I quickly opened my eyes and saw what was holding me. It was an anthropomorphic gray wolf wearing a world war one pilot's uniform, with a hole in the back for his tail. I looked for the female voice, and spotted her. She was a beautiful golden-furred, black tipped anthropomorphic vixen. She was piloting the fighter plane we were in.

"What the hell?"

The wolf grinned at me, then said to the vixen.

"This one appears to be OK. I really like his uniform."

The wolf set me down, then proceeded over to help another wolf straighten out Krystal from the parachute. Just before the chute uncovered her eyes, I exclaimed to Krystal,

"Krystal! Don't scream or freak out! Our saviors are these furry people... and I think we arrived in the middle of a war!"

The warning was just in time. When Krystal saw the uniformed wolves, she was taken aback, but withheld any screams. Krystal finally shed the parachute and joined me in the front of the plane with the vixen.

The vixen was dressed in a special uniform. She seemed to be the leader of this small task force, and she was very cute. Well, I thought so. The vixen was all too happy to talk to us.

"So you came through the sky gate to investigate this region. Boy, are you guys in for it. I am Commander Kallista Darius and you've arrived on our world of Atlantis. And we're currently in a world war. I think you're familiar with the term. My crew consists of Captain Marcus Sawyer. Lieutenant Halbert Riordan. Lieutenant Jesse Vanya, he's the one who caught you. We call him the outlaw. Lieutenant Guido Botolf. Lieutenant Aidan Silvain. And our mascot, Buckey MacGowan. He's the teen aged jackalope operating the plane's communications console."

I smiled and replied easily.

"This is Krystal Silverly, the top agent of Psychic and Supernatural Investigations, PSI for short, and I am Jansen Tanner, White Bishop of the Central Headquarters of Ethereal and Supernatural Studies, Chess for short. We are glad that you took the time to catch us from that fall. Our plane couldn't take the stress of passing from one world to the next. That's how we ended up in free fall. Now, if you'll both excuse me, I'd like to go talk to Jesse for a moment."

I left Krystal with Kallista, and headed into the back of the plane to where Jesse was doctoring a flesh wound on Halbert. I aided Jesse with the task, then I drew Jesse aside.

"Regardless of what is written in the Chess text books, never expect your subject to totally obey what you've been taught. They are..."

Jesse responded immediately with a smile.

"... people just like we are. They can think, and they can react to any situation that changes their normal lifestyle."

I smiled and hugged Jesse tightly, crying a little.

"It IS you! I've missed you so much!"

Jesse hugged back, then held me back to examine me.

"Jansen Tanner. You make that jacket look nice. I thought I was a goner for sure when that witch hit us with the cube of fire. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a hospital bed surrounded by furry wolves and furry foxes. They were calling me by name. At first, I thought I was dreaming... but then I found out some stuff. We all have counterparts here in Atlantis, and my counterpart took a fatal gunshot wound while protecting an important officer. My counterpart died during the operation and the doctors were about ready to quit... then suddenly, I was in my counterpart's body and the doctors worked hard to revive me."

I was elated and hugged Jesse again.

"I missed you so much. I have never forgotten what you've taught me. We even have a shrine to you in Chess Headquarters. I just want to hold you forever..."

Jesse smiled, and petted the back of my head with a paw.

"It is a nice sentiment but you can't. I live here now and you have a world to return to. Unfinished duties and people who you've made promises to."

I suddenly grinned.

"Is... is... a young werewolf named Xim here too? I simply HAVE to see him. I just have to."

Jesse smiled.

"Yeah. When we get back to base, I'll take you to him. You're the only one he ever talks about, so I know he'll be glad to see you."

I choked as I thought of something else.

"Are my parents in this world too? They died on Earth while I was on missions."

Jesse hugged me again and petted me some more.

"Yeah, they're in this world too. I'm sure it will be a good reunion. Just remember, Jansen... you can't stay here. Atlantis is a second chance world... this place will be here when you're ready to return. You have a life to live still. I know what Danath has planned for you."

I blinked my eyes.

"You do? What does he have planned?"

Jesse grinned.

"Danath is wanting to retire. He's been grooming you to take his place... as the new Chess Master. He wants you to run Chess."

I smiled. It was a grand thought. A Tanner running Chess. I hugged Jesse some more, just holding on to him. I was really hoping that I'd get to see him again another time, while I still lived. Jesse finally dislodged me from him, and winked, saying that the troops might get the wrong idea. I laughed, then kissed Jesse on the muzzle, and headed back to the front.

Kallista was soon piloting the plane back to the Alphacore Air Force Base, and landed without any difficulties. She then led us and the crew into their headquarters, and introduced us to a large burly anthropomorphic bear wearing the uniform of a General. His name was Burnald Cheston and he was pleased to meet agents of PSI and Chess. Evidently, he and Jesse had long talks about the organizations. We talked for several hours, while the other furries got cleaned up and into their civvies. Jesse soon rejoined us as we departed Burnald's office.

I still couldn't get over how wonderful a wolf Jesse seemed to make. As we walked towards the training hall, Kallista joined up with us again. Jesse and Kallista exchanged some deep kisses, and I began to realize something. Jesse and Kallista were engaged. I had to wipe a tear out of my eye. I got to see Jesse again. It was like walking on balloons.

In the training hall, Xim and I greeted each other in an almost rough tackle and lovingly wrestled on the padded floor mats. Then, we just held each other and petted each other, chatting about all of the recent events, and of what had happened to Hogan Slade. Never mess with Circe.

Our last stop of the day was at a horse ranch located just outside of Alphacore. I almost cried when I saw the name "TANNER HORSE RANCH" over the entry gate. This was it. I was finally going to see my parents again. I was scared, but anxious. We entered the ranch and I knocked on the front door. There was a pause, then the door opened.

Standing there as they had been on Earth was my parents. They hugged me and invited us all in for dinner. We couldn't refuse; it was a Tanner thing. And they had evidently befriended Jesse early on, and that is how my parents knew that I was in Chess, doing important things for the world. I spent the much of the evening chatting with my parents. The chances of my seeing them again were not great, but I really needed this encounter. We ended up spending the night there.

I must admit that I was surprised that my parents in Atlantis were still humans, rather than being anthropomorphic horses, but just the same, this all seemed just right. We were Tanners, after all... after a hearty breakfast and a round of helping my dad with the chores, Krystal and I departed the ranch, with Jesse and Kallista, heading back into Alphacore.

"You know, Jansen... you have the nicest parents. It must have been hard for you to leave. I could tell that you wanted to stay with them."

I looked at Krystal and smiled.

"It was, but they understand that I have a job to do. At least I know that I can see them again someday... The best moment was my getting to see Xim again... he and I made a deal yesterday. He agreed that I could call his Atlantis wolf pack home as a registered official friend. That means a lot to me. I'll be able to see Xim again whenever I want."

Krystal looked at me, questioningly.

"How can you do that?"

I grinned in my best wolf grin.

"Baron Gott'schlecht en gifted me with a wolf trick to make ridiculously long journeys to and from any location where an allied wolf calls me a friend, without any time passing at all. Xim is one of my deepest and most fondest friends. I swore a blood oath for him when he was killed by an evil werewolf hunter. Xim is a part of my heart, and while he is safe, my heart beats true. He is like a brother I never had. I care about him."

Krystal nodded her head.

"I can understand that, Jansen. So that means that now that you've made this arrangement with Xim, you can teleport between Earth and here whenever you want?"

I nodded my head.

"That's right. We can go back to Earth whenever you're ready. I have wolf allies there too."

Krystal then said something that raised my respect of her.

"You know... I don't think PSI and Chess is ready to know about this place. I think we should just report that we ran into a storm and were lucky enough to be brought back to a nearby port. You have loved ones here and I know how I'd feel if a bunch of crazy Earth scientists showed up here and caused these people trouble. Are we agreed? We let this one pass?"

I smiled and shook Krystal's hand.

"Deal. Only... you promised to tell Dr. William Hood about what we found here. What will you tell him?"

Krystal sighed.

"Oh... I forgot about that. I guess I'll have to honor my word and tell him the truth. He has earned it. And I know that he can keep his mouth shut. His peers think he's nuts anyway."

Jesse and Kallista had been standing there listening to our talks. Jesse smiled and hugged me.

"I am pleased that you both can return to Earth. Kallista and I were wondering how you were going to get back. Now that I know, I have a small request. If you could snag my Chess jacket and bring it to me... I'd be forever in your debt. I really miss that jacket."

I smiled and hugged Jesse in return.

"You can count on it. You'll get your jacket. I have to go snag Xim's outfit and bring it to him, so it's not like I wasn't planning a second trip. But you know something? If I become the new Chess Master, I can change some of the dumb-dumb Chess rules that I think are unfair."

We all laughed at that. Then, Kallista drew me off to a private spot and kissed me on the lips.

"I thought you might want to know. Burnald did a search for your counterpart on our computers, and the results are kind of disturbing. The official record is that your counterpart mysteriously vanished right in front of witnesses. He wasn't killed. He just vanished."

I irked when I heard that. I suddenly had a very sinking feeling where my counterpart was. And worse, I had done it to him. I confided in Kallista, sharing my thoughts with her. Kallista hugged me, and kissed me again.

"He belongs here, Jansen. You'll need to keep him alive however you can. If he dies, so do your chances of coming to Atlantis after you die on Earth. You know what you have to do."

Kallista and I rejoined the others, then Krystal and I held hands as I initiated the teleport magic... Atlantis vanished around us and San Francisco, California, appeared around us. We were standing at Xim's Rest. I place I knew all too well.

"Xim..."

Krystal hugged me.

"We're in California, aren't we?"

I grinned.

"Yeah. I don't know too many wolves in this hemisphere, so this is my teleport spot for the United States. We'll catch the Chess jet, fly to Melbourne, Florida, snag the sports car, visit Dr. Hood, then we'll head to the nearest Chess bunker where I'll fulfill my promise to you. I believe you've earned your own agent sports car. You'll get to choose the color you want."

Krystal smiled and we both headed for the airport. We had succeeded in our mission, but we couldn't tell our superiors much about it. Krystal and I had made an oath.

---

She sniffled as she finished reading this section. She felt choked over the information.

"So that's what awaits us all when we die. A second chance in Atlantis. Jansen must have had a devil of a time leaving Mr. and Mrs. Tanner like that. Should I tell Leia, Sallee and Jo about this? I know they'd want to know... And Dominic is from Atlantis? No wonder he doesn't seem altogether. He doesn't have Jansen's willpower and experience."

She hummed, pondering whether to tell the Tanner sisters or not. Leia deserved to know, if anyone. Sallee was a blabbermouth, and would likely pester Jansen until he promised to take her to see the place, all for a news story. And Jo... No, the Tanner sisters were just too busy to be bothered with this kind of information... but if it slipped out... hee hee...

"I wonder what Jansen's next mission will be? Krystal turned out to be a pretty nice girl. She's not as dumb as I first thought she'd be."

She ate some more popcorn and poured herself some more cola, taking a drink. Then she resumed reading Jansen's agent history. She was really getting into this document.

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