::Chapter Two::


For a few seconds the event had totally failed to register. Everyone along that street stared in stone faced silence, unable to believe what their eyes had just seen, and Afura and Shayla stood among them.
The object was obviously the product of high technology; it's unnaturally black steel body glistened as the sunlight reflected off the moisture on it's surface, and a low-pitched mechanical thumping sound came from one of it's ends. The owner of the pottery cart made a noise too, but it was more of a terrified whimper, as the shiny chrome front bumper had missed chopping his legs off by no more than a few centimeters.
A few nervous voices in the crowd began to speak up, and Afura shook her self from her momentary astonishment, and began to approach it slowly. Were her eyes deceiving her, or, no! There was someone inside that thing, seated facing out over the tremendous flat front end, and as she moved towards it he made no movement.

Johns face was bone-white as the shock of what had just happened caught up with him. Two seconds ago he had been driving home on a perfectly normal night, and now the sun was shining and there were broken vases arrayed across his hood.
His head turned almost against his will to look out the drivers side window, and a hundred incredulous faces stared right back. He whipped his head back around, trying to ignore the attractive woman in the sleeveless green dress who was now walking towards him, and his addled brain tried to cope with what was going on in the only way it knew how, by referring to it's vast knowledge of cinema.
Now what, John asked himself, would Shaft do in this situation? No no, as far as he could remember nothing even remotely like this had happened to Shaft, and his mind sputtered to a halt as he tried to think of something to compare his current situation to.
Caddyshack? he thought to himself, no, too silly. Plan Nine from Outer Space? No, too cheesy. Oh, that's it! Army of Darkness, of course! What would Ash do?
The woman was now standing directly outside his window and staring at him, which took John completely by surprise. He yelped and tried to jump backwards, and when his foot came up off the clutch pedal the car lurched and died. It was only then that he realized that the radio was still on too, but all he could hear through it was static. So he turned it off and removed the keys from the ignition, and steeled himself for the coming encounter.

Afura had leapt backwards when the thing had jumped suddenly, but it was no longer making that strange drumming noise and was obviously dead. Or turned off, or whatever might apply to it. But as she started to walk foreword again the figure inside of it reached for something, and then a panel on the side of it opened up, and the figure stepped out, and the mixture of terror and utter confusion on his face might have been funny under any other set of circumstances.
He was obviously human, at least, and stood only a little taller than Afura herself. His short spiky hair was a golden blonde, and his young face couldn't have been more than 19 or 20. His green eyes were sharp, though, and darted around the area with the nervous energy of a caged animal. He wore odd striaght-legged pants and a plain-looking green topshirt, but his clothing was definitely not from any of the lands of Roshtaria. It took Afura a few seconds before she realized that the only thing they did resemble were the clothes Makoto and Mr. Fujisawa had worn when they first appeared in El Hazard, and when she did her jaw dropped and she stared at the stranger in obvious amazement.
Noticing her attention, the stranger looked at Afura, and his earlier apprehension was replaced with puzzlement. He didn't know why, but her attention seemed to be entirely too focused, as though she knew something about him that he didn't.
Shayla walked up behind Afura and put a hand on her shoulder. Hey, Afura, what's going on? Why does that guy look like he's from Japan, too?
The stranger's attention turned suddenly to Shayla, and he said in high-pitched amazement, You, you can speak, I mean, how do you know about Japan? Where is this place? How did I get here? Who are you people!? His gaze moved across the crowd slowly, and then came to rest on Afura's face again.
Who are you? he asked again in a much sturdier voice, and Afura forced herself to respond.
I am Afura Mann, High Priestess of Mount Muldoon, advisor to the Royal court. This is Shayla Shayla, also a High Priestess. And just who might you be?
The stranger replied, Uh, well, my name is John. John Grey, high school senior from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Um, that's not in Japan, by the way.
Afura considered for a second. He was obviously just as confused as to how he got here as they were, so an invasion or spy of some sort was out of the question. Besides, there were plenty of ways to get into Floristica without making such a big noisy mess.
And then there was the contraption he had arrived in. It was obviously designed for ground transportation, the four wheels at it's corners said that much. But if that was true then it was one of the most efficient means Afura had ever seen. There was no obvious sail or propulsion mechanism on the outside, and yet it's speed upon exiting the phenomenon had been considerable.
At that point the city police came running up in response to the disturbance, and as soon as they came into the astonished group of people that had formed a ring around the accident, they pulled up short as it's sheer impossibility registered. They stared for a few seconds, and then the captain noticed Afura and Shayla Shayla standing in front of a strangely dressed man, who seemed to have taken responsibility for what had happened.
The captain approached them, and said urgently, Great priestesses, what has happened here? We were told there had been an accident involving one of the merchant's carts, but there was never a word about, well, this! He gestured towards the black object, obviously at a loss to explain it.
Oh, yeah, that's just my car, replied John. I'm really sorry about the pots, but I have no idea what just happened. Can you guys tell me where I am?
The captain stared back at him, unwilling to believe it. But then he looked back to Afura and Shayla, and they nodded confirmation.
the captain continued in the most normal voice he could muster, you're in the city of Floristica, capital of the Kingdom of Roshtaria in the land of El Hazard.
The corner of John's mouth quirked up at that, and to everyone's surprise he began to laugh. It was hard to make out whether he actually found it funny, or if this was the only response his nerve wracked brain could come up with, but then he walked over to the captain and slapped him on the back.
That's great! he said while he wiped away the tears of his laughter, I've heard of things like this happening before! Sudden disappearances, mysterious new dimensions, beautiful girls at every turn! This is exactly what I needed to happen to me. Ha! Then he turned back to his and opened the door again, and his mind was busy as he sat back down on the seat and rested his feet on the stone street.
Afura walked up and knelt in front of him, and she said, listen, I know that this must be very confusing to you, but you must believe me when I tell you that this is not the first time such a thing has happened.
He looked up at her, holding his face in his hands, and he gestured for her to continue.
You're from a world called earth, right?
John nodded again dumbly.
Well, there are others that have come here from earth, as well. They came about four years ago, from a land they called Japan. Only they had the courtesy to appear in the forest outside the city, not in the middle of a crowded marketplace.
Her tone lightened on the last sentence, and John smiled weakly. There was very little that was actually funny about his situation, but this woman had known that, and was actually trying to cheer him up. There was no way for him to know that she'd actually had a great deal of experience with this kind of thing before, but it wouldn't have mattered to him anyway.
Thank you, he said simply. He looked up into her eyes, and noticed for the first time that they were a perfect deep amethyst, like nothing he'd ever seen before, and his own eyes grew large as he stared into them. They seemed to confirm something for him, and if he could still not believe what had happened, he at least could trust what she was saying.
He stood up finally, and spoke with greater assurance. Well, it seems appropriate that I would wreck my paint job the same day it was finished, he remarked, but I suppose we should move what's left of it out of here.
Afura turned to the captain and said, please, make arrangements for his, um-
John inserted for her.
-yes, his car to be stored at the Royal Palace. Shayla Shayla and I will escort him there to meet with Princess Rune and the others, to discuss what will come next.
Certainly, great priestess, replied the captain, I believe that there is room in the eastern docking bay. But, how exactly are we to get it there?

****


Makoto sat in one of the private study rooms in the Royal Library, and his face was drawn and haggard as he stared at the reams of calculations he and Dr. Stalubaugh had made.
There had been times in the past when his failure to get back to earth had been acceptable. None of the methods he had tried had really been that certain to work, and actually building his own dimensional transporter? Preposterous.
And now his failure was complete. He had attempted to control the very systems which had been used, if indirectly, to bring him to this world in the first place, and the worst part was that everything had gone according to plan. Everything had been perfect, except for the result.
All his pent-up anger and frustration flashed through him in a moment, and with an animal yell he threw the table in front of him in a rage. Papers went flying, books were splayed out, and he tore through the wreckage, ripping to shreds the scrolls that he had believed could send him home. He broke the spines of several volumes, venting his fury, and finally collapsed in the middle of the room. A dark feeling of hopelessness began to descend on him, and he didn't even try to stop it as the memories played themselves over and over again in his mind. Every success, every new insight had ended up the same way, and now that every avenue he could find had been exhausted, he allowed himself to know, not just suspect, that he would never...
A knock at his door broke his intense brooding, and a cautious voice came through it.
Makoto-chan? Are you in there, Makoto-chan? Hello?
He couldn't seem to get up the energy to open the door himself, so he simply said and turned away from the entrance. He didn't want his best friend, his last friend in all the world, to see him at this moment, but avoiding her would only make things worse.
Nanami opened the door slowly, as the carnage her friend had caused registered. She had known that he was up to something for the past few months, but she had been too busy with her precious restaurant, which had recently expanded into a franchise with branches in four separate kingdoms, to take much notice. Now she chided herself for not making the time earlier to talk to him.
Gosh, I'll bet even Afura would be impressed with this tornado, she said in a breezy tone. But her attempt to lighten Makoto's mood was wasted, as he glanced over his shoulder and the utter lack of emotion on his face was plain. Nanami winced inwardly, then waded through the wreckage and put an arm around his shoulders.
she continued, I don't know what you've been working on lately, but it looks like you've spent too much time on it to just throw it all away like this.
Makoto looked up at her, and Nanami was surprised to see that he had actually been crying. He may have been sensitive, but he was still a guy, and he hated to admit his weaknesses even in front of his friends.
But you don't understand, Nanami, I did just throw it away. All this work was for nothing.
What happened? she asked him softly.
Nanami listened as he recounted the story for her, the midnight skull sessions with the doctor, sifting through ancient literature for clues as to how the Eye of God worked, asking Qawoor to help him and the need for absolute secrecy, and the terrible failure aboard the Eye. And when he finished, he looked at her and said with total sincerity, I'll never see her again. We'll never see home again. You were all counting on me to get us back, and I've failed you.
The pain in his eyes was too real for Nanami to try and dismiss it with words. It was obvious that Makoto believed it himself, but the only thing she could do now was be here for him, and so she laid his head on her shoulder, and tried not to break down herself as he wept silently into it.

****


The procession certainly looked ridiculous, but under the circumstances it was the best the city police could come up with. John's Mustang was making it's way slowly though the winding roads of the capital city, which had been designed hundreds of years ago for foot traffic and animals only. Every few blocks, it seemed, there was a cart or tent or something in the way, and the procession of police in front of his car seemed to be torn between protecting the populace from this unknown danger, and protecting John from the curious but insistent populace.
The circle was incomplete behind the car, as John had recommended people stay clear of the tailpipes. The damage to the car had actually been minimal; the paint on the passengers side was a total write-off if it hadn't been before, and the dents would have to be hammered out, but mechanically there was nothing at all wrong with it.
Afura rode in the front seat, and Shayla draped her arms across the two seats from behind. They both wore an expression of tolerant bemusement as what John had called rock and roll blared from the speakers in the front and rear of the cabin, and he bounced along in his seat as though he were in his own world.
They made their way through the crowded streets slowly, as obstacle after obstacle was cleared out of the way, and confusion followed them all the way to the palace.

****


For the second time the once quiet study was disturbed, but this time there was no quiet knock. Sir Londs burst through the door and into the small room, and began to speak before he noticed the papers strewn about the room.
Sir Makoto, I...
Makoto looked up, his face red and exhausted, and Londs pulled up short. Nanami looked at him too, her own face taut, but this news was too important to wait.
Good Nanami, I must tell you both of an incredible event! Another traveler from earth has appeared inside the city!
A fresh wave of horror crossed Makotos' face as the realization slowly sunk in. Now not only had he failed to restore the lives of his friends, he'd inadvertently ruined someone else's' life as well. This knowledge was almost enough to break him, and had Nanami not been there, it might have. But when he looked into his friend's eyes, he didn't see the contempt that he felt he so manifestly deserved. Instead he saw concern, and... love Not romantic love, but the kind of love you only have for a person when you've known and cared about them all your life.
Sir Londs, Nanami said, thank you for telling us. Are they here yet?
Londs nodded. Almost, he is approaching the palace now in a strange contraption called a car. He was obviously unsure of what that meant, but he continued. The traveler is being accompanied by Shayla Shayla and Afura Mann, who were in the market when he appeared suddenly. His, car, came flying out of some sort of portal in the middle of the market square and crashed into a merchant's cart.
Makoto turned to Londs and exclaimed, Oh God, was anyone hurt?
Londs answered the fear in his eyes with a shake of his head. No, thankfully, nobody was injured. They are due to arrive in the east gallery in an hour, and Princess Rune has requested that everyone be present to greet the traveler.
Makoto nodded in assent. The diversion to the east gallery made sense; there were five separate storage areas for the fleet of transports that the royal family required, as well as the guard and spy craft that were the property of Royal Security. There was a boat gallery at every corner of the palace grounds, and one underground facility that housed secret or experimental craft.
Since the s existence would be common knowledge throughout the city by nightfall, the best they could hope to do was to keep it out of the public eye, and the east gallery was on the edge of the grounds that was closest to the outside of the city. And, of course, it could always be moved into the underground facility from there, in the instance that Royal Sec. decided to reverse engineer it for their own purposes.
In the past, there had been several skirmishes with the other steadings over trading or land rights under the Kingdom's rule, but never had they faced a full-scale war until the Bugrom emerged, and Roshtaria's military forces had proven woefully inadequate to deal with such a large threat. Sir Londs, as chief military advisor, had decided that the Kingdom could never be left so unprepared again, and had formed the Royal Army and Air Corps to ensure their security.
With the memory of the Bugrom armies crossing their land practically unchallenged still fresh, initial recruitment had been unnecessary as volunteers started pouring in from every provincial district in the land. But since a great army hadn't existed for centuries, there was plenty of historical precedent but no immediate example to work from. In that capacity, the Army and Air Corps were still very new formations, and the study of any technique or weapon that could be added to their still new arsenal had become a top matter for Royal scientists.
Here, Masamichi Fujisawa had proven to be a literal gold mine of information. Since detailed records of the strategies and weapons used in the last three wars on earth had been a standard part of his history course, he had been able to provide the Royal Army with invaluable assistance in forming their military and training doctrine. This fact was also what had earned him a position of High Professor at the Royal Academy, where he would combine lessons in earth and El Hazard history to help new students understand the historical importance, as well as the devastating costs of waging war.
Many in the common populace had wondered about the wisdom of raising an army when the Eye of God had proven so devastatingly effective in removing the Bugrom threat. The official line of reasoning was that it was always better to have a backup plan in case the main one failed, and the better the backup, the safer the citizens of all the lands would be.
But the real reason was far less innocent. There was only one Ifurita, and it had taken her powers to stop the Eye from destroying all of Roshtaria the last time it was used. No one in the Royal court was prepared to risk the kingdom a second time on a weapon which might save them.
Try as they might, Royal Sec. had been unable to convince the Princess to allow them to disassemble the inside of the Eye. It was deemed too potentially disastrous to be worth the gain, and so the Eye was sealed once again by the three priestesses. This had not prevented them from tinkering with the devices they had discovered on the ground, however, and there were rumored to be several highly secretive projects being developed in that underground .
The only one who had been allowed access to the Eye on anything like a regular basis was Makoto, and then only under guard. But none of this was in his mind as he prepared himself to meet the person whose life on earth he had just ended.
Who is he? Makoto asked Londs.
He claims to be John Grey, from the land of Pennsylvania. He is as you were when you first came here, a student in high school.
Was he hurt at all?
Londs began to turn around, an obvious bid for the two to join him, he actually seems to be rather enjoying himself at the moment. But we will speak more when he arrives. Follow me, please.

****


So you see, because the pistons are connected to the shaft that provides wheel movement, the more forceful the explosion, the faster the car can go.
John was explaining internal combustion to the priestesses as they approached the eastern boat gallery, and while Afura was paying only slight attention, Shayla was absolutely fascinated for reasons she had yet to explain to him.
And how often do these explosions happen? she asked with total concentration.
Several each second, John replied, that's what this dial here measures- he pointed to the RPM gauge -in Revolutions Per Minute. That's what tells me when to shift gears; when the RPM's get to a certain point, then you shift to slow the engine back down.
Shayla replied thoughtfully. And where does the flame come from, again?
John couldn't help but smile at her inquisitive nature. That bit comes from the spark plugs. There's one for each piston, and when they're switched on by the distributor cap, they create a tiny spark that ignites the gasoline in the chamber, and then the smoke from that explosion gets vented out the back.
she said again. Can I watch?
Um, I can show you the engine, but you can't actually see the gasoline burning, no.
Oh, darn, she said, disappointed.
Before John could get started again, Afura pointed ahead of them and said, Look, we're approaching the palace grounds. They had come past the last in a series of taller buildings nearing the edge of the city, and were now on top of the hill that was half covered by the sprawling capital's main residential district.
This was the first clear view of the palace John had had through the crowds of people and police, and his face hung for an instant at it's sheer immensity.
The main, well, castle was about all he could call it, was easily fifty stories tall, not including the Arabian-style dome at it's top. There were perhaps ten other smaller towers arranged around it in a seemingly random pattern, and the grounds extended out like some kind of fantasy island resort. Everywhere his head turned, he could see immaculate gardens, pools with terribly ornate fountains at their center, and smaller buildings built for housing administrative and housekeeping staff. The Royal Roshtarian Academy which sat to the west of the palace was equally opulent, if not nearly as large, and it's dormitories and teaching halls were spread out over enough space to house two Ivy league colleges from back home.
They made their way around the outside of the walled off grounds, to the gated entrance to the East Portico. No fewer than twenty guards stood outside of it, and there were watchtowers evenly spaced around the wall at intervals of thirty meters. The towers housed at least five lookouts and archers, and were kept on watch all day, every day.
The captain at the head of their procession waved to one of the guards, and he stepped foreword and spoke with the captain for a few hurried seconds. The guard looked at the car, and the escort, then noticed that Afura Mann was waiting patiently for him to decide to let them in. He turned around in a hurry and motioned to the rest of the guards, and they stepped aside as the gate ground open to allow them through.
The captain walked ahead, and motioned for John to follow him, and as the gate closed behind them a crowd of onlookers closed in on it, trying to get a peek over the wall at the stranger who had entered their world to wreck a display cart, only to be invited into the royal palace itself.