Ranger James "Bishop" Davidson scanned the area ahead of him, alert. Damn, he thought to himself, things were really going to hell.
He worked as a ranger in one of the National Parks. Slung over his back was his rifle; patrol rangers were allowed to purchase and maintain their own weapons, but his C.O. had friends in Heckler & Koch, so he had issued him a single-shot 'DMR' H&K M417, firing 7.62X51mm cartridges. Mounted on the top, completely replacing the iron sights, which had been folded down, was a 12x zoom scope. On his left hip, in a sheath, was a 6 inch combat knife, and the right hip had a holstered, and rare, MP412-REX Revolver which fired .357 Magnum cartridges. To his left, right, and rear were the other members of his 'squad': his C.O., Chief Ranger Henry "Bossman" Edwards, their biology specialist, Ranger Valerie "Hawk" Brooks, and the ranger group's gunsmith and weapon expert, Ranger Michael "Mickey" McLeod. They all had their nicknames for various reasons, Bishop's being his love of chess, and the fact that he was good at range, like a chess bishop.
Usually they would just send out regular rangers instead of specialists in certain areas, but lately some animals in the park, mostly black bears, had been found with odd-looking bullet wounds, like they'd been "hit with some kind of lightning gun", as Mickey had put it, so both he and Hawk had been drafted in. Bishop was just along because he was a good shot. Ranger Gareth Jacobs had been sent to investigate, and promptly disappeared without a trace. So now, expecting poachers or terrorists hiding in the park, an armed response had been mobilised. The rest of the team were carrying H&K P30L handguns, firing .40 S&W ammunition, but the rest of their weapons varied. Mickey was carrying an M249 SAW, Hawk an MP5-SFA2 Submachine Gun, and Edwards an 'old school' Remington Model 1887 Lever-Action Shotgun.
"It's like I said, there ain't jack shit anybody out here. Those bears must have just been real unlucky." Edwards told the group for the millionth time.
"So you're telling me," Mickey began, attempting to retort, "That three lightning bolts all hit the same bea-"
"Guys? Anyone notice the sudden storm, yet lack of rain?" Val suddenly asked. Bishop scanned skyward, and, sure enough, there was some kind of localised storm going on, blue electricity crackling in swirling, dark grey clouds, only around 12 feet across.
"Well," Edwards said, "That definitely ain't a natural formation."
A bolt of lightning lanced out of the center of the tiny storm, striking a jet black boulder behind them. To everyone's surprise, some kind of blue rune appeared on it's surface. Then, suddenly and without warning, the storm dissipated, and was gone.
"Alllllllright then. What the fuck just happened?" Mickey asked aloud. He began to step towards the boulder, reaching outhis hand to touch the symbol.
"McLeod, wait..." Edwards began, but by that point he had already touched it.
"Ah, don't goddamned panic, Boss," he said, back turned to them and hands still on the symbol, "It's not even electrifi-"
And, with that passing remark, he promptly disappeared.
"Mickey!" Hawk yelled, running toward the rock, followed quickly by Edwards and Bishop.
"Hawk, he's gone..." Edwards began.
"Sir, it... it must be some kind of teleport." she replied, "Otherwise, there'd be a trace; ashes or his weapon or something. I'm going after him, he's a fellow ranger and I sure as hell ain't leavin' him behind. Sir."
After a good few seconds thought, Edwards finally groaned like a parent being talked into something by his daughter, and muttered "Fine."
Hawk immediately spun round and placed both hands on the stone.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gai-"
And with that, she was gone too.
Edwards and Bishop stepped closer to the jet black stone.
"Mind is I go first, Bish?" the older man asked.
"Sure." Came his simple response. Bishop wasn't mute or anything, he just didn't talk to others much.
"Alright," Edwards said, placing his hands on the stone, "How long does this thing ta-"
And then Bishop was alone.
"Nothing ventured..." he muttered to himself, placing his left hand on the rock, and drawing his revolver with his right.
In a flash, he was gone.
Always wanted to write a fic for this, didn't know what 'till now.
