FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

CHAPTER 4 - JOURNEY'S BEGINNING, EPILOGUE: THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

"Are we going or not?"

"Yeah, yeah. In a minute."

Draig sighed, watching Max lying on the grass nearby. "Why? The Device has been recharged for several hours..."

"And it's very likely it'll take us somewhere nasty, knowing my luck." Said Max, sitting up. "So can you really blame me for wanting to spend as much time here as I can? It's a nice place."

"I agree." Said Draig, glancing around at the green hills and trees that surrounded them. "But it's not somewhere I'd like to stay permanently. There's no civilisation here."

"We don't know that for sure." Max got to his feet. "We've only seen a relatively small part of this place."

"We've been looking for the entire three days we've been here, Max." Draig pointed out. "We've seen no signs of intelligent life. Just plants and animals."

"Still doesn't mean there isn't intelligent life elsewhere on this world." Max argued.

"Whatever." Draig wasn't really interested in a debate. "Can we go now?"

"Okay, okay." Max sighed. "Still planning on taking that axe?"

"Yes." Draig nodded. "We need things if the journey ahead of us really is going to be a long one. New clothes, supplies, equipment. This axe is all we have to trade."

Max avoided pointing out that they also had Draig's sword. The weapon had a very personal attachment for the wolf-man, and Max wasn't heartless.

Max swiped at the air with his right hand. "Let's be moving the on then." He said, as the now familiar hole in the air appeared. The human stepped aside. "After you."

Picking up Malign's axe from where it lay on the grass, Draig jumped into the hole and was gone.

Max glanced around, taking one final look at the pleasant world he was leaving behind. Then he turned and jumped through the hole...

* * * * * *

...And slammed head first into a metal wall.

He fell back, landing hard on a metal plated floor. "Arghh! Dammit!" At the corner of his vision, Max saw the dimensional hole closing and disappearing.

Draig lay on the floor beside him, clutching his head in pain.

"Hit the wall as well, eh?" Said Max, sympathetically.

The wolf-man simply gave him a look of restrained anger as he got up.

"Where are we now?" He growled.

"Don't ask me, I just got here." The human mumbled in reply.

Max stood and looked. They were in a wide metal corridor. Electric lights were embedded in the ceiling. The walls were dull and grey. In one direction, the corridor turned, carrying on out of sight. In the other direction, the corridor connected with another, and it looked as if there was a window, although from where he stood, it looked dark outside.

"Let's go take a look." Said Max, pointing out the window to Draig and leading the way.

They reached the other corridor to find that one side of it was lined with wide windows, offering a startling view of what was outside.

"Wow." Said Max.

"Very impressive." Was Draig's comment.

They were looking out into the starry void of space. Below, a deep purple planet could be seen. They were apparently standing in part of a network of interlocking structures that seemed to form a vast space station orbiting the planet.

The station was made up of a number of massive pyramid-shaped sections, connected with each other in a very haphazard fashion. Clear tunnels and various minor structures stretched between the different sections. It all looked very unusual.

And there was more than just the planet and the space station. Small spacecraft zipped here and there, and Max was sure he could see a few that were docked to a distant part of the station. Beyond the station itself, a few huge starships could even be glimpsed.

"Well, it's not exactly what I was expecting." Said Max in awe. "I mean, a space station. Wow."

"You don't have space travel where you come from?" Draig asked.

"Oh yes." Max nodded. "It's just nowhere near as advanced as all this."

"Oh." Said Draig, simply. A moment passed.

"Hang on." Said Max, a thought occurring. "Do you have space travel where you come from?"

"Yes." Draig said, with a smile. "Back home, we have quite a few space craft, an orbiting space station, and small colonies on two of our three moons."

"Really?" Max was astonished at this.

"Yes." Said the Wolven Knight, grinning. "My world is more than just a 'snowy wasteland', as I believe you put it not too long ago." The wolf-man turned away from the window, looking around the corridor, trying to decide which way they should go.

"Hmm." Max muttered to himself. "Should have expected him to throw that wasteland remark back in my face sooner or later."

"Over here." Draig called. "This is what we need."

Max went to look at what his companion had found. A short distance down the corridor, a large screen was set into the wall.

"What is it?" Asked Max.

"It's a map of the space station."

The screen did indeed display a three-dimensional image of the station, with the various sections labelled with alien writings.

Draig pointed to the top corner. "Galactic Union, Varanza System Commercial Outpost." He read.

"You can understand that?" Max was surprised.

"Can't you?" Said Draig.

"Yeah, but I've got the Device doing the whole translation thing." Max explained. "How are you able to read it?"

The wolf-man thought about it. "I don't know." He concluded. "It's strange. I look at the writing and I just understand what it means, even though I don't know the language."

"That's sort of how it is for me." Max mused. "I suppose it's possible that the Device has somehow detected that you're travelling with me and has extended its translation abilities to include you."

"That'd certainly be useful." Said Draig. "But I can't even begin to imagine how it would do that."

"And I can't even begin to imagine how it creates dimensional holes that allow us to travel anywhere." Said Max. "And yet, amazingly, it does."

"Good point." Draig nodded.

They studied the map. A flashing red symbol indicated where they were. It was a section labelled 'Cargo Storage Bays'. The centre of the whole space station was a large section identified as 'Trading Centre'.

"That's where we want to go." Said Draig, hefting Malign's axe. "We have trading to do."

It took barely a moment to memorise the route to the Trading Centre. And then they were off, weaving their way through the maze of bright, wide corridors, headed for their destination.

"I find myself wondering about something, Max," Draig said as they walked. "I know that you will do everything in your power to get me home. But what will you do after that? Head for your home?"

"My home?" Max laughed. "That's a joke, there's nothing back there for me. And I've got an incredible opportunity here. The Traveller Device and thousands of worlds to explore..."

"Wait." Said Draig, interrupting, holding Max back at a turn in the corridor.

"Someone's coming." He got ready with Malign's axe.

"What do you think you're doing?" Max asked.

"Being ready." Draig replied. "This is a strange environment. Whoever it is may be hostile."

Max sighed. "Are you going to be doing this everywhere we go?"

"There's no harm in being cautious." Said Draig, still standing ready to attack if necessary.

"Yes. But there is in being too cautious." Max pointed out.

Someone or something was indeed heading their way. There were footsteps coming towards them. Draig tensed, as the footsteps got louder.

Something eventually came around the corner. Max could only think to describe it as a 'creature'. It was tall, sort of humanoid, but with a few too many limbs, which were all long and slightly spindly. It was carrying something metallic that looked like a briefcase.

This creature passed by them, only giving the human and the wolf-man a cursory glance. It went on its way without comment.

Max nodded. "Too cautious." He continued on. Draig followed, carrying on the conversation.

"I am not too cautious." Draig protested.

"Yes, you are!" Said Max. "It's probably a result of all that combat training you must have gone through when you became a knight. I'd bet you were taught to expect everything to be hostile until proven otherwise."

Draig was about to refute this, but decided not to. "If I am too cautious." He said. "It's better than not being cautious enough."

"And I suppose that's a comment about me?" Said Max.

"Yes." Said Draig. "Just then, you would have charged blindly around that corner, unaware of what was coming. It could have been a blood-thirsty creature, intent on ripping you to shreds."

"But it wasn't." Max pointed out.

"But it could have been." Said Draig. "This is a strange place. We have no idea what to expect. Running around without caution is liable to get you killed. And I don't want that."

"I didn't know you cared that much, Draig." Max said, smiling.

"I don't." Draig said, a little too quickly. "But if you die, there'll be no way for me to get home."

"Not necessarily." Said Max. "When I die, the Device will pass to a new Traveller..."

"A new Traveller who will not be obligated as you are to get me home." Said Draig. "It's likely whoever follows you will not be interested in a travelling companion."

"For all you know, the Device could pass to you." Max suggested.

Draig laughed. "It wouldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not suitable." Draig explained. "As my grandfather always explained it to me, the Traveller Device only bonds to those who are suitable. I have no desire to go exploring other worlds. Therefore I'm not suitable."

"But I am?" Said Max.

"Didn't you say there was nothing at your home for you?" Said Draig. "There's nothing to hold you back. And you look at the Device as an opportunity, not a burden."

"I suppose you're right." Max mused. He caught himself looking down at his hand. At the Device.

"I am right." Said Draig. "And, however we look at it, you're my only way home. Which means I'm probably going to have to do everything I can to keep you alive."

"A bodyguard, eh?" Grinned Max. "Well, don't I feel important?"

Draig just mumbled something under his breath in reply.

Together, they continued wandering through the labyrinth of corridors inside the space station. At one point, Max was worried that they might be lost, but Draig assured him that he'd memorised the route exactly.

They did run into a few other people on the way. Of course, they weren't 'people' in the normal sense of the word. They weren't human.

One was definitely some form of insect. Max and Draig didn't get a good look, as it scuttled past them pretty quickly, but it vaguely resembled some large beetle. Max was sure he caught a glimpse of various devices and equipment strapped to its body.

Another being they passed was huge. It was sort of humanoid, with green and blue scales covering its widely built body. It wore some simple overalls and was carrying various alien devices that neither Max nor Draig could recognise. The two of them had to press themselves up against one wall in order for it to get by. It muttered an alien word as it did that they both heard as, "Sorry."

"What do you make of all this?" Draig asked, after yet another creature had gone by, this time what looked like some sort of feline.

"Well, that map we found described this place was a Galactic Union outpost." Said Max. "I'd guess this 'Galactic Union' would probably be a coalition of various space-faring alien races. And we're getting a glimpse at some of them as they go about their business."

"Those are some very weird aliens." Said Draig.

"I'm sure they'd describe you in a similar way." Said Max.

"Hmm." Draig seemed to have a problem admitting whenever Max was right. "The Trading Centre is just up ahead."

The wolf-man was right. The corridor they were following soon widened and opened out into a large open area.

The Trading Centre was a huge circular chamber. From where Max and Draig stood, they could see the transparent dome above them, with the star-filled void beyond.

Below the platform they found themselves on, the Centre extended down for quite a distance, incorporating several levels of the space station. The centre of the chamber was filled with floating holographic advertisements, flashing and blinking in a variety of clashing colours.

Each level of the Centre was lined with an assortment of shops and stalls, restaurants and bars, some large, some small. Pretty much all of them sported glowing neon signs in a whole host of alien languages.

They also found the Trading Centre to be a very busy place. It was packed full of alien life forms bustling about.

Max spotted a group of insect creatures; similar to the beetle-like being that had passed them. There were some black-furred feline creatures, tall and slender. There were gangs of short reptilian beings scampering about. Grey-skinned humanoids. Hulking quadruped beings with shaggy blue fur. Stocky, winged beings flying from level to level. Spindly limbed creatures with craggy, crimson skin. There were many more, the sheer variety of life on display was startling, to say the least.

In fact, Max and Draig blended right in. As far as anyone seemed to be concerned, they were just another couple of aliens in the crowd.

"I've never seen anything like this." Said Draig, awed by this overwhelming sight.

"I have." Said Max.

"Really?" Draig frowned in surprise.

"No, not really." Said Max, with a smile. "I just wanted to see the look on your face."

Draig let his annoyance show, but otherwise let Max's remarks pass. "The question is," he said, "where in a place like this are we going to find someone who'll want to buy an axe?"

"That's easy." Said Max. "Over there." He pointed. Across on the other side of the chamber, a few levels down, there was a small-looking shop. The glowing sign outside it read 'Antiques'. Another beneath it was 'Bought and Sold'.

It was a slight struggle to reach the antiques shop. The Trading Centre was so crowded, Max and Draig had to fight their way through the throngs of people just to reach the nearest stairwell.

Despite the crowds, they did manage to reach their destination eventually. They entered to find the shop surprisingly empty. There were only a few beings browsing the aisles and shelves, viewing the multitude of artefacts on display.

The collection of antiques in the shop was truly impressive. Stone statuettes of various beings and creatures. Abstract metal sculptures. Vibrantly coloured tapestries. Bizarrely shaped alien furniture. But what Max noticed most was the antique weapons.

There were swords and axes and spears, all worn metal and intricately inscribed surfaces. Also, there was an assortment of strangely shaped weapons that Max couldn't recognise. But this didn't matter. The shop's owner dealt in weapons and that was what they wanted.

Finding the shop owner was easy. There was a small desk tucked away at the back, behind all the shelves of alien antiques. There was a creature sitting at it, working away at a computer terminal.

It was a weird looking creature. While it was definitely reptilian, it was unlike any reptile Max had seen before. Short torso and limbs, with a very long thin tail. It's head swayed about at the end of a long neck.

The creature wore some oddly designed clothes, that were brightly coloured, clashing with its dark green skin.

It looked up from its work at its new customers. "Yes?" It said, its voice deep. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Probably." Said Max. "Are you the owner of this shop?"

"Yes." Said the creature. "I am Granal Trakai. And you... I don't recognise your species."

"Really?" Said Max.

"Oh, don't take offence." Said Granal, quickly. "With 89 races in the Union, a being can't be expected to know them all, let alone recognise them. But you I do know you." He indicated Draig. "You're a pranarlan, aren't you?"

"Well, I..." Draig began, uncertain what to say.

"You're a bit larger and hairier than the average pranarlan," Granal said, "and as pranarlan ceremonial weapons go, that sword on your back is quite unusual."

Draig looked as if he were about to deny the reptilian's assertions and correct him, but Max cut in. "That's right, he's pranarlan. But that's not important. We have an item we want to sell."

The axe of Malign was placed on the desk before Granal, and the creature cast an appraising eye over the weapon.

"Interesting." Hummed Granal. "Axe. Looks old, but let's make sure, eh?" He pulled a small device from a drawer and ran it over the weapon, a few times before looking at its small built-in screen. "Just over two thousand years old. Amazing. Where did you get this?"

It only took Max a moment to come up with an answer. "From an acquaintance. It was a gift."

"And this acquaintance just gave you this?" Granal seemed surprised.

"Well, he didn't have any further use for it." Max explained.

The antiques dealer apparently accepted this, and continued to examine the axe. "It's in remarkably good condition, considering its age. I don't recognise any of the markings on it, so I can't tell where it comes from. But antique weapons of this size and age are rare."

"So you'll buy it from us?" Said Max.

"I'm sure we can come to an arrangement." Granal smiled. "How does 25,000 credits sound?"

Max wasn't familiar with the local economy or currency, so he couldn't tell how good an offer it was. He decided to bluff it.

"I assume that offer is open to negotiation?" He said.

"Everything is open to negotiation." Said Granal. "Provided you've got time to haggle?"

"Well, I think..."

Draig coughed noisily, having stayed silent through Max and Granal's conversation. Max looked and the wolf-man gave him a look or urgency.

"Well, apparently, we don't have the time." Said Max, turning back to Granal. "So we'll have to take the 25,000."

The reptilian antique dealer shrugged. "It's your choice. If you wait here a moment, I'll just get your money." He stood and left, heading off into a back room, out of sight.

"And just why don't we have time to haggle?" Said Max, not looking around at Draig. "If you don't mind me asking."

"I don't want to draw unnecessary attention." Draig commented. "Since it might be from the wrong types of people. And the longer we stay here, the more attention we draw. Hence no long, drawn-out bargaining session."

"Always suspicious, aren't you?" Said Max.

"If we hope to survive through the journey that lies ahead," said Draig, seriously, "one of us has to be."

Granal returned, carrying a small pouch. "Here we are," he said, "25,000 credits in small bars. Feel free to count it and make sure it's all there."

"I'll think we'll trust you." Max smiled.

With a smile and a nod, Granal was about to hand Max the pouch. Then suddenly he stopped, staring at the Device, which he just noticed on Max's hand.

"That looks very unusual." Granal commented, with curiosity. "Could be very valuable..."

"Yes, shame its not for sale." Said Max, quickly taking the pouch. "Thank you, but we must be on our way."

Max and Draig left the shop, leaving its reptilian owner looking very thoughtful indeed.

* * * * * *

"Do we have any money left?"

Draig gave his human companion a look. It neatly expressed just how much he didn't like Max's sarcasm.

The Wolven Knight was sorting through all that they had bought with their money.

There were two backpacks, one large, one small. A whole load of food rations in vacuum-sealed wrappings. A small, high-tech looking cooking device, complete with spare power cells. A couple of electric torches, also with spare power cells. A basic medical kit with bandages and various painkillers and anti-biotics.

They'd also bought themselves some new clothes, their old ones being tattered and dirty from their travels thus far. Draig settled on a pair of darkly coloured trousers and a loose-fitting plain white shirt. Max chose some black boots and trousers, a greyish shirt and a dark blue jacket. They also bought some extra clothing, in case what they wore got damaged during the journey ahead.

They had also found a medical centre that could heal Draig's still-bandaged injuries for a small price. An appointment had been made for the wolf-man to return a little later.

All in all, it had been a very tiring shopping trip.

Since they would probably be staying for a time, they had rented some living quarters, paying in advance. They'd had enough money left to rent a pretty nice place, as well. It was a spacious cabin with two adjoining bedrooms. The cabin's main room was well furnished with a selection of couches and chairs and even a large table at one end. But the table was currently covered with all their new possessions.

One wall even had some big porthole-like windows offering views of the starry void outside and the planet beneath them.

Max was sat in a chair beside one of the windows, feet up on a small stool and watching his furry companion busying himself at what he was doing. The knight was dividing their new things between them, packing them all away securely in the backpacks.

The human lost interest after a time and took to looking out into space, his mind wandering, and going over his recent adventures.

"Do you ever wonder about Malign?" He eventually said, without really thinking.

Draig was just finishing up with what he was doing. "What do you mean?" He said, puzzled. "He tried to kill us, we beat him and left him trapped on a ruined world. What's there to wonder about?"

"Well, where he came from, for one." Said Max. "How did he get hold of a Traveller Device? Why was he using it to hunt and kill other Travellers? What..."

"The way I see it." Draig interrupted. "There's no point spending time thinking about questions you have no hope of answering. Just write them off as 'mysteries of the universe' and move on. Malign is behind us. End of story."

He sighed. "Anyway, I've got an appointment to keep at the medical centre. Can I trust you to stay out of trouble while I'm gone?"

"I'm not a child, Draig." Said Max, offended. "Believe it or not, I can take care of myself."

"I'd choose not to believe it." Draig replied with a wry grin. "I wouldn't be surprised to find you in trouble and fighting for your life when I got back."

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response." Said Max. "I'm just going to point out that you should get going or you'll be late."

The wolf-man departed, that grin still on his face. The big metal door of their quarters slid shut behind him.

Alone and bored, Max's mind wandered back to Malign. He just couldn't help himself.

Where had that monster come from? It was the obvious question. Some other world was the obvious answer.

But why was he hunting Travellers? How many had he killed before Max became the Traveller? There was really no way of finding the answer to either question. He could only guess.

Maybe some previous Traveller had wronged Malign in some terrible way. Maybe he had always just been a cold-blooded killer. For all he knew, Malign could have killed hundreds of Travellers.

Max didn't like it, but Draig was actually right. This was pointless. Whatever Malign's origins or motives, he was behind them now and so were any possible answers. Best to just forget about it.

As if on cue, a sound shattered the silence, giving him something else to think about.

It was a shrill beeping. Having already looked about the place beforehand, Max knew it to be the door chime. Someone was at the door.

It wouldn't be Draig. They both had been given an access code that would get them in at any time.

He wasn't expecting any visitors, but didn't see any point in being cautious. The only person they'd met here was Granal Trakai and they'd managed not to make an enemy of him. There was no one around here who wished him harm. As far as he knew, anyway.

Max hit the switch by the door and it opened. A familiar short reptilian creature stood there, smiling.

"Greetings!" Said Granal Trakai.

"Umm... hello." Max wasn't too sure what to say.

"Can I come in?" Granal asked.

"Well, actually..."

"I insist." Granal's voice suddenly had a hard edge to it. Something had appeared in the creature's hand.

Despite the fact that this was some alien space station in some alien universe, Max was able to recognise that Granal was holding a gun. It was basically the right shape and looked pretty lethal.

"Shall we step inside?" Granal said with mock politeness.

They stepped back into the living quarters, Max at gunpoint. The alien antiques dealer closed the door behind them.

Max was cursing inwardly. Not because he'd let Granal in, but because this meant Draig was going to be right. He would be in trouble when his companion got back.

"Let me guess." Said Max. "Problem with the axe?"

"No, of course not." Said Granal. "It's a very impressive piece. In fact, why don't you tell me where it really came from, Traveller?"

"What did you call me?" Asked Max in surprise.

"Yes, I know what you are." Said Granal. "I knew that thing on your hand was familiar. A few hours research and I found it matched the description of the legendary Traveller Device."

"Okay." Said Max. This just got interesting. "Then why the gun? Please tell me this isn't about some grudge you have against the Traveller. Because I just got through dealing with something like that, and don't want to go through it again."

"A grudge?" Said the antiques dealer. "Nothing of the sort. This is strictly business. I know several very wealthy collectors who would be very interested in getting hold of such a rare item as the Traveller Device. I dare say once they've finished bidding over it, I'll be rich enough to buy several planets, if I so chose."

"You're doing this for money?" Said Max, stalling for time. It couldn't be too long until Draig got back.

"Why else?" Granal seemed puzzled at the human's surprise.

"I should tell you that killing me won't get you the Device." Max told him.

"I know." Granal nodded. "I research everything very thoroughly. I know all about the Device. I won't kill you unless I have to. If I have to, I'll simply take the Device from whoever it bonds to next."

"And how do you plan to remove it?" Said Max. "It is actually bonded to me." Dammit! He was thinking. Where's Draig when you need him?

"Correction, Traveller." Granal was explaining. "It is bonded to your hand. I know a good surgeon willing to amputate it, no questions asked, for a reasonable fee. After that, your hand will be connected up to a small life support unit that will keep it's cells, and therefore it, alive."

"And you think that'll work?" Said max.

"Both you and your hand will still be alive." Granal pointed out. "The Device will have no need to find a new Traveller."

The reptilian creature hefted his gun. "Now, where's that companion of yours? It's best I take care of him now, rather than worry about him later."

"Strangely enough, I was wondering where he was, as well." Max mumbled.

There was a sudden sound. The door behind Granal opened, revealing Draig.

"Wow." Said Max in amazement. "Talk about good timing."

Granal Trakai turned and took aim with his gun. There was a moment of pause as each of them decided what to do next. Then the fight broke out.

Draig ducked. He threw himself to the floor as Granal fired. The red bolt of light shot past him and hit the wall. It left a blackened scorch mark.

Max took a lunge at the antiques dealer, grabbing him from behind. He tried to reach for the gun and failed. Granal was short, but surprisingly strong. He threw Max away. The human struck the floor a short distance away with a thump.

Twisting around, Granal intended to take another shot at Draig. But the Wolven Knight had drawn his sword and thrown it. Granal turned just in time for the blade to hit his gun and knock it from his hand.

His opponent disarmed, Draig moved in. He let out a fearsome growl as he leapt forward, colliding with Granal.

Max had picked himself up as the ensuing fistfight began. He was content enough to just watch. From the beginning, Draig had the upper hand. He was, after all, a trained warrior. Granal was only an antiques dealer.

It lasted ten minutes and ended with Granal Trakai being knocked unconscious. Draig let him drop to the floor. Then he glanced toward Max.

"Didn't I tell you?" Were his first words. "That I'd come back to find you in trouble?"

"Don't gloat." Max retorted. "It's a sign of insecurity."

Draig frowned. "Is it?"

"Damned if I know." Max shrugged. "Thanks for saving my life. Again. I'm beginning to think that being the Traveller is like hanging a sign around your neck that reads 'Please Try To Kill Me, I Enjoy It'."

Draig was retrieving his sword and returning it to its scabbard. "I thought that was just you."

"Very funny." Said Max, not amused.

"But I did predict you'd be in trouble." Said Draig.

"Yes." Max admitted. "But since I'm the Traveller, that's like predicting that water is going to be wet."

"So you think Malign and this dangerous antiques dealer were just the beginning." Draig gave the unconscious Granal a kick.

"Yes, it's the shape of things to come, I'm afraid." Said Max. "Slightly depressing, isn't it?"

The wolf-man was about to respond, but noticed a glow from Max's hand. "It's recharged." He said.

Max looked down at the Traveller Device. "So it is. Let's get going before Mr. Trakai wakes up and causes us more trouble."

Draig was already grabbing their fully packed backpacks. He passed the smaller one to Max.

"By the way." Said Max, as he shouldered the pack. "How did your medical appointment go? All healed up?"

"It was incredible." Said Draig. "A few minutes, some impressive high-tech machines and I was in perfect health. I'm ready for whatever we run into next. Let's go."

With a smile and a wave of his hand, Max opened a black dimensional hole.

"Then let's see where the Device takes us next." He said, stepping aside. "You go first, in case it's dangerous."

The Wolven Knight gave Max a glare of restrained annoyance. He jumped into the hole, and was gone.

"I think this journey could be fun." Max said to himself, grinning.

Leaving the space station behind, Max jumped into the dimensional hole, bound for another world...

To Be Continued...