Ok, here's chapter 2 everyone, ready to begin!

thermalsnipern7: ...Yeah, about as much as I wanted to use a song that appears later this chapter...

Chapter 2: You have Purple Hair...


Daniel's Point of View

Both ARC-170s are now speeding through FTL to...what I can only guess is either the trio's asteroid base or New Eden. I look at the controls again, amazed at my earlier performance. I mean, sure everything was labeled and this thing used a joystick, but still!

Then, I remember who is with me, so I look back at her. Katarina does seem to be...unnerved...by her predicament. Hell, at least my world has stuff like this in fiction! This is probably beyond the imaginations of anyone from her world. "Hey," I call to her, "You alright back there."

"...I'm fine..." she replies. Even I'm not falling for it, and I suck at reading others' emotions.

"I doubt it," I reply, "You don't look fine..."

Katarina was silent for a moment, before finally saying, "This is all so..." She doesn't finish the statement.

"Unusual? Weird? Scary beyond all reason?" I ask.

Katarina thinks a moment, and nods. "The third one...probably..."

"Hey, how do you think I feel? Then again...the fiction of my world DOES have stuff like this, so I at least have a clue as to what's going on...Your world probably doesn't have anything like this, even in fiction, does it?"

"No, it doesn't...still, what's your world like?" Katarina asks.

I shrug. "Well, our tech level isn't nearly to the level of this universe, but we got a few things: guns and stuff."

"Can you also fly through...space...like this in your world?" she asks.

I shake my head. "No, in my world, we're only gaining rudimentary space travel tech: so far, we can only fly to the moon, and even then, it takes a long time."

"And, yet, you could pilot this thing alright," she replies.

"That's because we have this form of entertainment from our world called Video Games. I'll explain them in greater detail maybe when I have something to actually demonstrate them, but needless to say, the controls for some of the video games were similar enough to this ship's controls that the concept was similar enough for me to apply here." Katarina nods at that. "So...you haven't told me much about your world. What's it like? What'd you do there?"

Katarina apparently thinks for a moment...obviously debating whether to tell her true story to me or maybe even her fake one. Finally, she says, "I was...orphaned, and then taken in at an orphanage...only, the people there...weren't the best..." Holy shit, she's going the honest route! "...Myself and the others were raised in the orphanage's basement, and...turned into puppets for the owner of the place. She turned us into killers, and when I was old enough...set me out to kill a prince in the world. I went in pretending to be a recruit for the nation's knights, where I met a female Myrmidon named Kris-" Default female my-unit, should have known. "-and...well...we became friends so...when the time came for me to turn on everyone...I almost couldn't do it, but...remembering what would happen if I didn't...I tried it anyways, and all it ended up with was wounds when Kris was forced to turn her sword against me and a failed mission, not to mention having almost no one there trust me."

"Almost no one?" I ask. I mean, I remember how Marth wanted Kris to help her, and how Kris wanted to help her, but I can't let her know HOW much I know.

"There were 2 main ones that did...The first was Kris...she seemed she could almost tell what was going on with me...She was always smarter than I gave her credit for...The other was, ironically, the Prince, I was sent to kill, Prince Marth he was called. Eventually, I met them again, but rather than fight, Kris threw her sword aside and refused to attack, even as I attacked her twice when she refused to fight. At that point...I couldn't handle it anymore. I turned on Lady Eremiah that day, and helped out Marth and Kris. By the time we faced Eremiah herself, I'd grown stronger, in both power and mind, and managed to fight her myself. Working with some of the mages that were with the group, Kris made a new Fire Tome, something called 'Valflame'. She'd given it to me prior to the fight, and it was with Valflame that I defeated her. Then, I stuck with the others to the end, even as we fought Medeus. I used Imhullu on the Shadow Dragon. Kris, who'd began training as a Mage by this point, used Starlight, and that allowed Marth to use the blade Falchion to strike down Medeus. Since then, we'd been working to help Marth restore the kingdom. However...a group of mages attacked, and it was when 5 of them attacked me all at once, one with Bolganone, one with Blizzard, one with Thoron, one with Shaver, and one with Glower, that I ended up here."

"Damn...that's some serious shit..." I mutter after several moments of silence. Then, a random thought comes into my head. "Were you...particularly close to anyone there?" I mean, it's bad enough she's taken from her world, but if she had a boyfriend while there...that'd be worse, wouldn't it.

"In the way it sounds like you're suggesting, no: the only male I even got close to being friends with, let alone liking was Prince Marth, and he was engaged," she answers, resolute in her answer. I nod in understanding.

Finally, though, Captain Shack's voice comes over the comm. "Alright, you two, we're here!" The fighters drop out of FTL at...

...Well, this certainly looks like their asteroid...somewhat...Maybe it's from a future episode: the entrance is no longer just a hole, but is now connected to some kind of platform, where the refinery is now located. Docked with the refinery is the Huggy-Bear Mark I (I can tell due to the yellow coloring). The biggest difference, however, is how there's another asteroid nearby. It's not TOO close to the trio's asteroid, but it IS close enough to build a neighboring base on.

The twin fighters move towards the asteroid base and land on the platform. "Well, you two, welcome to our humble abode," Captain Shack says, flourishing as he does so.

I look around the place, while Katarina says, "It seems...impressive...How long ago did you find it?"

"Oh, we didn't find it, lady: we BUILT it!" Valefor replies.

Katarina's eyes open wide. "You BUILT this?!"

"Into the side of an asteroid, yes," Shack replies, with pride, "All it was, was a big rock when we got here. Now, it's our base of operations."

Katarina just mouths 'Wow' in awe.

Now, it's Alteran's turn. "Why are you wearing a cloak over your space suit?" the AI asks.

"Because it doesn't fit inside the space suit," Katarina replies. No one responds, and minutes later, the trio just leads Katarina and me inside.

We enter the airlock, and the tone stating that it's operating causes Katarina to jolt. "Airlock. Outside is no air, so the Airlock fills with air so there's no...explosive decompression...when the doors open," I tell her.

"Ah, I see, otherwise all the air tries rushing out at once, emptying the base of air," she replies.

She IS catching on quick. "Exactly," I reply to her, smiling.

Soon, the airlock finishes cycling, and the door opens. "Alright, everyone, we're inside. We can take off our space suits now!" Captain Shack comments, doing so now.

"Finally!" Valefor exclaims, also removing his space suit.

I also remove my space suit, and when Katarina does so, she gets everyone's (except my) attention. "...What?" she asks the trio staring at her, as she puts the cloak back on over her blouse, chestplate, and skirt.

"You...have purple hair," Valefor responds, Captain Shack elbowing him. "What? She has purple hair. It's not natural!"

"Hush!" Captain Shack harshly hisses. "Sorry about him, I guess he just isn't respectful of other peoples' hair color choices..."

"What do you mean?" Katarina asks, "It was like this when I was born."

Captain Shack's eyes widen. "You mean to tell me you were naturally born with purple hair?"

"What? Is that so unusual here?" Katarina asks.

"Unusual: no...downright impossible: HELL yes!" Valefor replies.

"Really? Where I come from, it's completely possible..." Katarina says, looking like she's growing nervous.

"Really? What's next?! Neon green?!" Valefor asks. The look Katarina gives him causes him to facepalm. "What the fu-REALLY?! You and your world, of wacky hair colors! You'd almost think you're from another universe or something!"

"Actually-"

"Oh, GOD no! You're not telling ME that YOU are from another-" Valefor begins, but is interrupted by Captain Shack.

"Actually, that would explain a few things: that 'Thoron' thing you did back at the station, that was magic, I take it?" he asks.

"Yes," Katarina replies, "Why?"

"Because magic doesn't exist here. In order for it to exist here NOW, it'd have to come from somewhere that it DOES, ergo a universe with magic," Shack says. Now he turns to me. "Can you do magic?"

"No, no...I come from another universe as well, but my universe is...a bit like this one was BEFORE space travel was as...pervasive...as it is now..."

"Ah, your world is like it was during the 21st century?" Shack asks.

"Well, that's the era my world is in at this current point and time..." I reply.

Shack nods. "Fascinating...making your piloting skills all the more impressive, although you must have flown something before. Were you military?"

I shake my head. "No, not military, never even flew a real aircraft...I was a cart pusher at Wal-Mart."

"...A cart pusher from Wal-Mart...Well...if they haven't fired you yet, at least you still got a job..." Valefor comments.

I roll my eyes. "Of COURSE Wal-Mart exists...uhm...what century is it?"

"The 27th century," Shack replies.

"...Exists 600 ye-600 YEARS?! DAMN! Wal-Mart lasts a long time! I still wonder how-"

"Hold on. You said you were a Wal-Mart Cart-Pusher from 600 years ago, is that correct?" Alteran asks me.

"...Yeah...why?" I ask in return.

"...You...might need to see this..." I walk over to the monitor where Alteran was working...

...And my heart nearly stopped: 'Wal-Mart Cart Pusher Hit by Delivery Truck – 22-year old Daniel Mitchell was reported missing when he was, while working at the Kings Road Wal-Mart and was reportedly hit by a truck. All trace of Mr. Mitchell has disappeared, leaving no evidence he was present, despite witnesses and security cameras catching the accident-' I can't read anymore...Dafuq? I mutter, "This isn't some other universe...this is MY universe...600 years in the future...I...how..."

I...I need...


Katarina's Point of View

The 3 people and I watch Daniel run off, muttering and whimpering...6 centuries after his time...everyone he knows probably dead...I can't begin to understand how he feels. At least we know I'm from another universe, and that means my friends could still be in existence. Daniel however...he said this is his universe in the future, so everyone he knew was dead...I can't begin to think about how he must be feeling.

"Hey...you think you could talk to him?" Shack asks me.

"I don't know...I've only known him for a day or so..."

"Well, that is a 'day or so' longer than we have known him," Alteran replied, his reverberating voice warbling through the room, "You have the best chance to talk him down out of any of us..."

I think about it for a moment...He has to be feeling lonely right now...

...And while I can't imagine how it feels to be thrown into the future beyond everyone and everything you care about...I don't HAVE to imagine how it would feel to be alone...I know that feeling all too well...

"...Alright...I'll see what I can do..." I reply.

"Alright, I think he's in the game room. Hall to the right, first door on the left," Shack says.

I follow his directions, and, sure enough, I find Daniel inside, whimpering on a couch in the corner of the room. He looks up, sees me, but doesn't respond and just looks down again. I slowly walk over to him, and, without him responding, I sit down next to him. There's a moment of silence, before I finally say something to him. "...Is there...anything you want to talk about?"

He looks up at me, tears streaming from his eyes. "Everyone and everything I knew is gone...I mean, all this happened for a reason, I know that...but it's escaping me what good this all is..."

"Listen, I may not know what being thrown into the future is like, but I DO know what it's like to be alone...I was alone for a long time, until I met the people who would become my friends. The way I see it, you just need to make some friends here as well. They could never replace your family, I know...but at least you won't be alone..."

Daniel seems to think it over, before shaking his head. "Thanks for that...you're right..." He seems to think for a moment, and I pat his back. "Thanks for that," he says again, in a low voice.

"We're here for you...no matter what...just remember that..." I say to him.

We remain silent for a long while, as he calms down. Then, possibly a couple hours later, he asks me, "Did...any being from your world say anything about why you're here?"

"Well, I was contacted by the Divine Dragon Naga...who I was surprised to find out was actually Female, considering I knew of her as the "Divine Dragon King" my whole life...and she said that I was brought here for a reason...but she didn't explain what it was..."

He was silent for a moment. Then, when I was about to try to get his attention again, I heard him singing softly to himself. I listened to the song...and I got the feeling he was maybe putting things together in his head with the song.

*Music Track - "Time to Say Goodbye" by Jeff Williams and Casey Lee Williams*

"There's a point where it tips,

There's a point where it breaks,

There's a point where it bends,

And a point we just can't take,

Anymore.

There's a line that we'll cross,

And there's no return;

There's a time and a place;

No bridges left to burn,

Anymore.

We can't just wait with lives at stake,

Until they think we're ready.

Our enemies are gathering,

The storm is growing deadly.

Now it's time to say goodbye,

To the things we loved,

And the innocence of youth.

How the time seemed to fly,

From our carefree lives,

And the solitude and peace we always knew..."

*End Track*

*Music Track - "Rally (Sarge's Speech)" by Jeff Williams*

As he finished, his expression grew more resolute than before. He turned to me, and said, "We were both brought here for a reason...what if it was to protect this universe? You saw those pirates back there: imagine if it were a pair of harmless travelers instead of...well, a cart-pusher who was lucky enough to be paired up with a Tactically-Adept Mage? We were both brought here for a reason: maybe we should team up and be the ones to help defend those who can't defend themselves."

Well...he rebounded fast...Still, he sounds so sure, and...I'll admit, his offer was...enticing...No, more than that: I really do want to help the people here...maybe this is indeed why we were brought here. "Alright," I reply, "I'm in..."

*End Track*

He smiles at me. "Alright. First...we need to figure out where to have our base at: as much as I'm thankful those 3 are letting us stay here, we can't bunk with them forever."

"Maybe not, but we have a place you can stay permanently," says a voice from the door. We both jolt our faces in the doors direction. "Good to see you alright again, Daniel," Shack says.

"Well...alright...but how long were you there, listening?" he asks.

"Around when you started with your whole "We were both brought here for a reason" deal," Valefor said, stepping forward.

"And while Katarina was thinking, we talked things over: we are in as well," Alteran states.

*Music Track - "Fairy Tail Theme" by Yasuharu Takanashi*

"That's cool!" Daniel says, beginning to fill with energy. I can't help but notice how...I don't know, childishly cute...he seems to get when he gets energized. It's amusing...I can't help but giggle a little. "So...where is this place?" he asks.

Shack responds, "You see that asteroid? It and ours seem to have become caught in orbit of each other. Maybe we can connect the two and that other one can be your base."

"That sounds cool!" Daniel replies back to him, "Can you help us make the base, though: I don't know the first thing about engineering an Asteroid Base."

"Sure, we'd be glad to help, right Valefor?" Sounds like Shack has to force that guy to do anything.

"Hey, you don't gotta worry about me: fighting pirates, taking names, kicking ass? If building this base lets me do that, I'm more than glad to help," the security guard responds, in response to his partner's tone, "I'll get the Huggy-Bear and dig out a decent-"

"Wait, wait wait!" I exclaim. I mean, COME ON! "'Huggy-Bear'?"

"Our mining ship...Valefor named it," Shack replies to me...And why does it not surprise me...

"Let's just get going!" Valefor stressed.

*End Track*

"Oh, before we go..." Shack says...before handing both Daniel and myself 3 tools: one was some kind of thin container with a nozzle, and a trigger. The next was some bladed wheel with a cover. The last...was a box with a pointed end.

"What are...these things?"

"Oh, those would be a welder, grinder, and hand drill: the required items for ANY engineer. You'll need these for helping build the base," Shack explains.

"Oh..." I reply, trying to figure the devices out.

Apparently, they're watching me, because I hear Valefor mutter, "This is gonna take a while..."


Ok, there's chapter 2 of this story, hope you guys like it. Next chapter, myself, Katarina, Captain Shack, Valefor, and Alteran begin building our group's base...

Also, a final note, I started this story around Episode 6 of TheXPGamers' Space Engineers series, so stuff from after that episode might NOT be seen here...