Chapter 1
"You'd think smashing atoms would be a lot more interesting than this. Am I right or what?" A young man, no older than 30, asks his partner at a massive computer with dozens of lights and meters. The man is leaning back in a swivel chair with his feet resting on the control panel. Clothes and hair disheveled and a growing beard forming around the man's face. An ID tag was hung haphazardly on his belt and would fall off at any minute. The lax employee also had his phone out, playing one of the countless mobile games for the growing number of smartphones. His compatriot glares at him and knocks his feet off. The lazy individual's co-worker was what every boss would expect from their workforce. Hair combed professionally, freshly cleaned clothes, and groomed facial hair. However, this man had a face that completely shaved. ID tags were hung properly on his left breast, and his phone was in a holster along his leather belt.
"Dammit man pay attention. I'm not gonna get fired because of you" he angrily states. The second coworker turns back towards the control panel, hunched over and vigorously studying a meter. The arrow was erratically moving around the meter, with a faint red light flashing above it. Normally this wouldn't concern him, as any meter that would normally have this happen would be either the doorbell to the control room, or a notification of a message sent to them. This however was not one of those lights. No this one was much more serious, and recquired his immediate attention. "Focus and maybe it will be interesting. Now get the doc up here. I think we might have a problem" the model employee states. A faint bead of sweat was forming on his forehead and he started to tap his foot.
"Why's that Nick? What could possibly be so important?" said the slacker with a lazy grin on his face. He continues to play on his phone, determined to beat the level he was on. If one were to look at it, all they would see was a dot moving around different shapes and avoiding spikes. He was completely oblivious to the control panel in front of him. Ironically, the issue was spelled out on one of the many screens in front of him.
"The sensors are saying a section of the tunnel is unstable. I wanna tell the doc so then he can alert the ass holes that were supposed to check the damn thing this morning for hiccups, and get them to do their job for once. That's why Alex" Nick said. "This could do anything from create a black hole to just a supersonic atom that will tear you in half."
Alex sat up straight and looked directly at Nick. His phone long forgotten."So basically we're fucked either way?" Nick nods with Alex muttering some obscenity under his breathe. "The first test for us in several years and we're about to screw it up" Alex exclaims angrily. He launches out of his chair and frantically dials the number for the head researcher in charge of the test.
Nick resumed to monitor the control panel, but not failing to notice his co-workers nametag fall off his belt. 'We might fuck this up because of you. Lazy bastard, how he got this job is beyond me' Nick thought. He shook his head at his co-worker's antics and started typing a message to the head of engineering. This was gonna cause a lot of problems, and the engineers are not gonna be happy about fixing this thing. Just imagining all the precautions and logistics made Nick shudder. But that wasn't his job so he wouldn't have to experience that hell. He decides to listen in on his co-worker's conversation to help alleviate the stress that was building inside him.
"Hello? This is Doctor Ha-"
Alex cuts the doctor off and frantically says "Doc stop the experiment the tunnel sensors are reading a major structural problem. Stop the damn experiment!" Nick could see Alex glance at him out of the corner of his eye. He looked like he just saw a ghost. Though he might become one soon if this issue doesn't get fixed soon. Nick sends his message he was typing to engineering and hoped they would get it in time to stop the experiment, or put in place whatever safety protocols they needed to.
"Are you sure young man? The engineers said that everything was fine when they checked this morning…" The doctor says. He trails off just and someone on his end was frantically yelling at him about something Alex couldn't decipher.
"Doc I'm telling you turn the damn thing off and hold the experiment! The tunnel isn't sta-"
"Dammit Alex hold on" the doctor says. As Alex waited for the doctor to return, he hears sirens go off. 'Dammit, the test is starting' Alex thought.
"Alex tell the doc to halt the experiment!" Nick screams at Alex from his seat at the control panel. Just like a plague, red dots and warnings multiply on the control panel's surface. Every time a light would turn on, Alex and Nick would flinch and the new alarm. Each more intense than the last.
"I'm trying but the Doc won't listen! Something else is holding his attention!" exclaimed Alex. "He won't fucking listen! I don't know what could be more…"
Nick jumped out of his chair, knocking it over in the process. Using his elbow, he shoves his co-worker out of the way and violently grabs the phone from his co-worker. "Doc turn the experiment! The fucking tunnel isn't stable! Turn the damn thing off!" Nick screams into the phone. Alex rushes to the panel to take his partners place. Desperately trying to stop the experiment from his post. Just as he was sitting down, every alarm blared its signature screech and the lights on the control panel all lit up. 'The old bastard didn't listen' Alex thought to himself. Him and his partner slowly turn to look at each other. Shock was quickly replaced with fear and dread as both men pondered about what would happen next. Regretfully, they didn't have to wait long.
Their vision was suddenly filled with a blinding light and every sound was muted. The millions across the US also felt the same sensation. Every man, woman, and child halted in their daily tasks as they were assaulted by the light. The staff on board the International Space Station would have told you that the entire mainland US was swallowed in a blinding light for no more than half a second, and then the light receded. Many of the astronauts believed it to be a nuclear strike, but they were proven wrong as they saw a massive crater where the US should have been. The Pacific and Atlantic poured into the crater, creating massive tidal waves and drowning many towns that were near the American border. In another dimension, another garden world was experiencing a similar phenomenon. The only difference was that a whole nation was not uprooted from their world, but a new one was put into theirs.
AN: There we go first real chapter out. I know this is pretty short, but I wanted to get this out. The next few may take some time and I guarantee that they will be longer. A lot longer. As always, Constructive criticism is welcome so don't be afraid to critique the story. I will be accepting certain OCs for the following roles: US and remnant soldiers, Remnant council members, Director of FBI, and several news reporters. PM your character ideas, but they must have the following: a name, age, sex, personality traits, and what role you want them to have. Be warned, I already have most government positions of the US filled, but if I like your idea better then I'll decide to add it instead.
That's all for now. Until next time.