Colors.
These colors focused into a shape.
It looked like a face. Did I die and go to Heaven? Was I about to meet the Lord Jesus Christ?
Then the face became clear, and it was clear that I was not looking at Jesus.
I was still hurting. I certainly could not be in Heaven.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"Be still," said the young man whose face I was looking to. "You've been hurt. We found you in the wreackage of a helicopter. We took you to our village, healed you."
I looked at my watch. There were fourteen hours left until I slide.
I looked around. it seemed I was in a hut made of wood. The floor was just bare dirt.
I was given some water to drink; I happily drank it.
Another man came in. He was wearing simple clothes, just a shirt and pants. Blond hair covered his head, and his soutache was equally blond.
"Hello there," he said in a British accent. "Are you feeling all right."
"I'm just glad to be alive," I said.
"You'd be in much worse shape if it weren't for our friend Wesley here," he said. "What is your name?"
"I am Colin Mallory," I said. "I was brought here yesterday. I stole one of the kromaggs' helicopters and escaped, but I was shot down."
"We saw the wreckage of one of the attack helicopters; it must have crashed intoone of these huge trees. Both the pilot and the gunner were killed. The forest is too thick to attack us with their fighters and bombers. My name is Jonathan Reed."
"Mr. Reed," I said. "what is your back story?"
"I was sergeant in the British Royal Army. In 1990, they came and attacked. Most of our forces were destroyed in the initial bombing raids. I tried to fight them, but there were too many of them. I was captured and then brought here. I was their slave for years before I escaped. Others have also escaped, and we stick together in small bands, trying to make a living on then forest floor."
"So I am in one of your villages."
"Yes. The forest which the maggs built their bases and cities on top of also serves to hide us from any aerial surveillance. Occasionally, there are ground patrols. We've had to move whenever a ground patrol finds one of our villages."
I told Reed about my life and travels.
"So these kromaggs are from Earth's counterpart in a parallel universe," he said. "the same version of Earth you were born in."
"Yes," I said. "You would not get home even if you have a way to get back to England."
I approached Wesley. "What's your deal?" I asked.
"I was created here," he said. I looked at his teeth, and noticed he was a humagg.
Humaggs were human-kromagg hybrids created in genetic engineering labs by the Dynasty. They have psychic powers of kromaggs, and look a lot like humans. Human woman are used to incubate these people.
"I defected from the kromaggs," said Wesley. "I helped Jonathan and some others escape."
Someone walked into the room. "Hey, Jon, is our patient now awake?" he asked.
I looked, and saw Clayton. His duplicate had been eaten by zombies on another world.
"Hello, Clayton," I said.
"How do you know my name?" he asked.
"I've met one of your duplicates," I said. I did not mention the circumstances.
"Colin here has visited many parallel Earths," said Reed. "He was born on the world the maggs came from."
"You were from their world?" asked Clayton.
"Yes," I said. "From what I could tell, humans and kromaggs existed on that world. Around the time I was born, a war broke out between them. The kromaggs were forced to flee to another Earth in a parallel universe. The humans back home built a slidecage to prevent their return."
"So you say," said Clayton. "How do we know you're not working for the maggs?"
"I just escaped from them. i almost got killed crashing that helicopter. You don't think they would shoot down the helicopter I was lfying if they intended for me to escape?"
"So you say. You could have a homing device."
"If he had a homing device, the kromaggs would have found us by now," said Wesley.
"Says you," snapped Clayton. "You're part kromagg; how do we know you're not working for them?"
"Enough!" shouted Reed. "Wesley here saved my life and helped me escape from the kromaggs. We've been living in this giant jungle for years."
"Sorry," said Clayton. "It's just that we have to be careful of traitors. After all, you're free because Wesley betrayed his kromagg masters."
"True," said Wesley. "I am persona non grata among the Dynasty's High Command; they would kill me if they find me."
"Still," said Reed, "Mallory here has not earned our trust."
"So I am a prisoner here?" I asked.
"Yes," said Reed. "If that story you told me was true, wou will be out of here by tonight. We won't be as cruel jailers as the kromaggs are. You will get plenty of food and water."
Reed and Clayton left. "I'll stay with you," said Wesley."If there is anything you need."
"I'll jusat be alone now," I said.
I looked out of a small window built into the hut. I could see other huts, as well as gardens where food is grown. There were even children here. And I saw large reptiles that could only be dinosaurs.
I had seen live dinosaurs on my previous slides before, even so much as spending an hour on a world where reptile people created civilization in North America, and perhaps other places on Earth. On my world, dinosaurs became extinct millions of years ago.
The dinosaurs here were domesticated. I saw a human riding on top of a dinosaur outfittled with a harness and a saddle, like a horse.
"We grow vegetables in the gardens," said Wesley. "We also do hunting to supplement our food."
"Can I go out for some fresh air?" I asked.
"Okay," said Wesley. He showed me a pistol. "If you try to make a run for it, I'll put a bullet in your back."
I heeded his advice. I went out and smelled the air. It was a lot different than the city air I was used to.Through nthe canopy of leaves, I could see the sky covered with clouds. And the trees were huge, as big as skyscrapers. No wonder the kromaggs decided to build on top of them rather than clear the forest. I could hear the sounds of birds, or possibly pteradactyls.
I looked up and saw a Negro man lead a chicken-sized dinosaur to a stump. Then he took an axe and chopped the head clean off.
"That will be dinner," said Wesley.
"How do dinosaurs taste?" I asked.
"Maybe you'll find out," said Wesley.
We both went back inside. "Where did you get weapons?" I asked.
"I had this gun here when I busted Jonathan out of the slave camp," said Wesley. "We acquire weapons by ambushing kromagg patrols."
"Did they ever find where you are?"
"At least two times as I can remember. If there is a large attack force nearby, we abandon the huts and pack the tents and move out. A few of us stay behind to fire upon the attack force as we withdraw. We have very good tacticians, myself included. Of course, I have the added ability to find out if someone is really a kromagg."
"I know they can disguise themselves as humans," I said.
"It's not easy for them to find us. There are only a few places where the canopy is thin enough to allow their helicopters to fly down here. Most of their ground forces get down here by using huge cargo lifts that run up and down the tree trunks. If we could cut down the trees that suypport their base, we could deal them a crippling blow."
"That wouild work," I said. "With you being down here and all."
"We don't have the tools to chop down any of these trees," said Wesley. "anbd we can't just go up to the base and ask them if we could borrow a chainsaw to cut the trees down."
"I see you have a sense of humor."
Wesley and I spoke about each other, about my experiences, and his experiences.
"So on that world, it was the humans who tried to exterminate the kromaggs?" asked Wesley.
"That's right," I said. "Quinn and I thought it was home, until our parents tried to have us arrested. We got away by taking a train."
"and where is your brother?" asked Wesley.
"I don't know. I know he is looking for me, and a while ago he actually managed to bring me to him for a while." I changed the subjwect. "Wesley, how big is this forest?"
"Pretty big," said Wesley. "The forest extends north and east all the way to the coastline. to the south, it extends over ten days' walk to a plain, and extends to the mountains to the west."
"Can you draw a map of the continent we're on?" I asked.
Wesley scribbled something on the dirt floor. I looked, and it was a rough approximation of South America. He drew an X showing our location, which is near the northern coast.
I had traveled far. Though I traveled through many universes, this is the first time I've been to South America.
"We're best off here. In the plains to the south, we would have no cover from manta fighters. The mountains to the west have a harsh climate, especially during the winter."
Wesley went out, leaving me alone in my thoughts. When he came back, he brought some meat on a clay plate.
"It is dinosaur meat," he said. I happily ate the meat. I knew I would be gone by tonight, hopefully where I won't be taken straight to jail.
Dino meat did not taste so bad either. Maybe, in another universe, there are restaurants that serve dino meat.
I was still laying on the cot a few hiours later when I heard a bell ring. It reminded me of a church bell. I hoped I would get another opportunity to attend Mass.
I went out, and I saw this woman on top of a dinosaur.
"Alert!" shouted a man. "We've spotted an attack force heading in this direction. We are ordering an evacuation."
I went up to the scout. "How big is this attack force?" I asked.
"Two tanks,three APC's, one attack helicopter for close air support, and maybe twenty heavy foot soldiers," she said.
I could see the people of this village packing the tents and supplies. People armed with rifles got on top of the dino mounts.
"You!" shouted Clayton, ruiding on top of a dinosaur, "you led the maggs here!"
"They are as much my enemy as they are yours," I said.
He pointed the rifle at me. "I may get killed today, but I'm gonna kill this traitor first!"
"Stop it!" shouted Jonathan Reed. "I trust him now."
I heard the noise of all the people carrying off their tents and stuff. I then heard a whistling sound.
"Missile inbound!" shouted someone.
I instincively got on top of a dino mount and then starting riding. I hoped this beast handled like a horse. Then I saw a streak.
then I heard a massive explosion. The smoke covered my eyes. When I looked, I could see the bodies of the dead who were too close to the missile's impact site.
Then I heeard another sound, the sound of a helicopter. Then I saw it.
It was a small craft, with room only for two people. the emblem of the Kromagg Dynasty was on the hull. It started firing its machine gun. The humans scattered all about, and some of them fell. I took cover behind the massive tree trunks. I saw a laser beam come out from the underside, circling the ground below the helicopter and scorching everything in its path.
"This is the Kromagg Dynasty!" shouted a voice from the attack helicopter's loudspeaker. "We have you surrounded. Surrender and you may live to serve the Dynasty!" The helicopter then flew out. I figured that when it comes back, it will be with the ground forces.
I rode over to a fallen human, and grabbed the rifle, an amunition clip, and some grenades.
"I hope I don't regret this, Mallory," said Clayton.
"We have to keep the maggs busy until we sucessfully relocate," said Reed. "I hope the raid in the armory was worth it."
I heard another missile come in, striking the ground near where the first missile struck. I then heard the helicopter come on.
I saw Clayton holding a huge tube of some sort. I saw something shoot out of the tube and I heard a whistoling sound.
My eyes tracked whatevercame out of the tube. I could see it was heading for the helicopter.
It was a direct hit! The helicopter crashed to the ground in flames! Their air support was gone.
Then was little time to celebrate, as I saw a laser beam shoot past me, hitting a tree trunk and leaving a big hole in it. I had to ride fast, maneuver around the tree trunks so the kromaggs could not get a clear shot at me. I rode the dino mount to another position. I then saw an armored vehicle, except it had tires and no turret.
"This must be the APC," I said. I saw the door open. I immediately fired at the open door. then the soldiers came out. they were decked head to toe in armor. I fired a few more rounds, but they did not penetrate. They fired a few rounds in my direction, and I rode off.
I met upo with Reed. "I think the main camp has gotten away," he said. "We've got to keep them...."
It was interrupted with gunshots. I saw Reed down on the forest floor, bleeding. the next instant, I was riding off, trying to avoid getting shot by the foot soldiers.
I looked around. I couild hear footsteps. It seemed the soldiers did not know where I was.
Then I saw one of the kromaggs' tanks. The tank gunner was shooting with the machine gun located on top of the laser turret. Tanks had machien guns on top of the turrets as a defense against enemy foot soldiers.
Or dino riders.
His attention was fociused elsewhere, so I had one chance. I charged towards the tank with my dino mount. I pulled the pin from the grenade.
then I threw it. I saw the grenade go into the turret; a direct hit! Then htere was an explosion. smoke was coming from within.
I went on top of the tank and piulled the body of the kromagg soldier out. I went inside the cabin. There were two more soldiers in there, either dead or wounded.
I took a pistol and shot both of them, to ensure they were dead.
The console was charred, but seemed to be operational. I had to learn how to use the controls-fast. I noticed a viewscreen; it showed the point-of-view from the turret. There was a joystick; it rotated the turret.
I squeezed the trigger on the joystick. a second later, the tank blew up! I then rotated the turret, aiming it at the armored soldiers. they were fleeing.
I saw a human on a dinosaur riding towards me; I stopped firing the laser. I stuck my head out of the turret.
"Mallory," said Clayton, riding on the dinosaur. "I'm sorry what I said about you earlier."
"Apology accepted," I said. I got out of the tank. I went looking for Jonathan Reed.
Minutes later, i found him. He was dead.
"bring his body to the new camp," Clayton said to another human.
"Okay," he replied.
"So what now?" I asked.
"I think it is time to honor Jonathan's memory," he said. "I've an idea."
Clayton and I were riding in the tank again. "this is the spot," he said.
I looedk out of the tank, and saw we were in a clear area circled by trees.
"Let's start cutting down trees," said Clayton. "It looks like there's enough juice for that.
I did the honors. I squeezed the trigger, using the high-powered laser to cut the trees down. One by one, the trees fell down.
"That's enough, Mallory," said Clayton. "Let's get out of here before it falls upon us."
so we did. We pushed the tank to its limit. then we heard a giant crashing sound.
After a while, we stopped. Clayton and I looked out. We saw the huge circular platform where the air base and barracks are located, now touching the ground.
"All right!" shouted Clayton. "Let's head to the new camp."
We held a memorial service for Jonathan Reed and the other humans who had fallen. I could see that Wesley had broken down in tears over the loss of his friend.
"You showed me the way to freedom," he said in Reed's eulogy. "you freed me even as I freed you."
"May the Lord Jesus Christ welcome you to His Kingdom," I said.
It was time for me to go.
"Will I ever see you again?" asked Wesley.
"Maybe," I said.
"Mallory, you're a good fighter," said Clayton. "I would trust you with my very life."
I smiled, knowing that I managed to save this version of Clayton.
I looked at my watch. it was nearing zero.
"Goodbye, you all," I said before seeping through the barriers between dimensions.
These colors focused into a shape.
It looked like a face. Did I die and go to Heaven? Was I about to meet the Lord Jesus Christ?
Then the face became clear, and it was clear that I was not looking at Jesus.
I was still hurting. I certainly could not be in Heaven.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"Be still," said the young man whose face I was looking to. "You've been hurt. We found you in the wreackage of a helicopter. We took you to our village, healed you."
I looked at my watch. There were fourteen hours left until I slide.
I looked around. it seemed I was in a hut made of wood. The floor was just bare dirt.
I was given some water to drink; I happily drank it.
Another man came in. He was wearing simple clothes, just a shirt and pants. Blond hair covered his head, and his soutache was equally blond.
"Hello there," he said in a British accent. "Are you feeling all right."
"I'm just glad to be alive," I said.
"You'd be in much worse shape if it weren't for our friend Wesley here," he said. "What is your name?"
"I am Colin Mallory," I said. "I was brought here yesterday. I stole one of the kromaggs' helicopters and escaped, but I was shot down."
"We saw the wreckage of one of the attack helicopters; it must have crashed intoone of these huge trees. Both the pilot and the gunner were killed. The forest is too thick to attack us with their fighters and bombers. My name is Jonathan Reed."
"Mr. Reed," I said. "what is your back story?"
"I was sergeant in the British Royal Army. In 1990, they came and attacked. Most of our forces were destroyed in the initial bombing raids. I tried to fight them, but there were too many of them. I was captured and then brought here. I was their slave for years before I escaped. Others have also escaped, and we stick together in small bands, trying to make a living on then forest floor."
"So I am in one of your villages."
"Yes. The forest which the maggs built their bases and cities on top of also serves to hide us from any aerial surveillance. Occasionally, there are ground patrols. We've had to move whenever a ground patrol finds one of our villages."
I told Reed about my life and travels.
"So these kromaggs are from Earth's counterpart in a parallel universe," he said. "the same version of Earth you were born in."
"Yes," I said. "You would not get home even if you have a way to get back to England."
I approached Wesley. "What's your deal?" I asked.
"I was created here," he said. I looked at his teeth, and noticed he was a humagg.
Humaggs were human-kromagg hybrids created in genetic engineering labs by the Dynasty. They have psychic powers of kromaggs, and look a lot like humans. Human woman are used to incubate these people.
"I defected from the kromaggs," said Wesley. "I helped Jonathan and some others escape."
Someone walked into the room. "Hey, Jon, is our patient now awake?" he asked.
I looked, and saw Clayton. His duplicate had been eaten by zombies on another world.
"Hello, Clayton," I said.
"How do you know my name?" he asked.
"I've met one of your duplicates," I said. I did not mention the circumstances.
"Colin here has visited many parallel Earths," said Reed. "He was born on the world the maggs came from."
"You were from their world?" asked Clayton.
"Yes," I said. "From what I could tell, humans and kromaggs existed on that world. Around the time I was born, a war broke out between them. The kromaggs were forced to flee to another Earth in a parallel universe. The humans back home built a slidecage to prevent their return."
"So you say," said Clayton. "How do we know you're not working for the maggs?"
"I just escaped from them. i almost got killed crashing that helicopter. You don't think they would shoot down the helicopter I was lfying if they intended for me to escape?"
"So you say. You could have a homing device."
"If he had a homing device, the kromaggs would have found us by now," said Wesley.
"Says you," snapped Clayton. "You're part kromagg; how do we know you're not working for them?"
"Enough!" shouted Reed. "Wesley here saved my life and helped me escape from the kromaggs. We've been living in this giant jungle for years."
"Sorry," said Clayton. "It's just that we have to be careful of traitors. After all, you're free because Wesley betrayed his kromagg masters."
"True," said Wesley. "I am persona non grata among the Dynasty's High Command; they would kill me if they find me."
"Still," said Reed, "Mallory here has not earned our trust."
"So I am a prisoner here?" I asked.
"Yes," said Reed. "If that story you told me was true, wou will be out of here by tonight. We won't be as cruel jailers as the kromaggs are. You will get plenty of food and water."
Reed and Clayton left. "I'll stay with you," said Wesley."If there is anything you need."
"I'll jusat be alone now," I said.
I looked out of a small window built into the hut. I could see other huts, as well as gardens where food is grown. There were even children here. And I saw large reptiles that could only be dinosaurs.
I had seen live dinosaurs on my previous slides before, even so much as spending an hour on a world where reptile people created civilization in North America, and perhaps other places on Earth. On my world, dinosaurs became extinct millions of years ago.
The dinosaurs here were domesticated. I saw a human riding on top of a dinosaur outfittled with a harness and a saddle, like a horse.
"We grow vegetables in the gardens," said Wesley. "We also do hunting to supplement our food."
"Can I go out for some fresh air?" I asked.
"Okay," said Wesley. He showed me a pistol. "If you try to make a run for it, I'll put a bullet in your back."
I heeded his advice. I went out and smelled the air. It was a lot different than the city air I was used to.Through nthe canopy of leaves, I could see the sky covered with clouds. And the trees were huge, as big as skyscrapers. No wonder the kromaggs decided to build on top of them rather than clear the forest. I could hear the sounds of birds, or possibly pteradactyls.
I looked up and saw a Negro man lead a chicken-sized dinosaur to a stump. Then he took an axe and chopped the head clean off.
"That will be dinner," said Wesley.
"How do dinosaurs taste?" I asked.
"Maybe you'll find out," said Wesley.
We both went back inside. "Where did you get weapons?" I asked.
"I had this gun here when I busted Jonathan out of the slave camp," said Wesley. "We acquire weapons by ambushing kromagg patrols."
"Did they ever find where you are?"
"At least two times as I can remember. If there is a large attack force nearby, we abandon the huts and pack the tents and move out. A few of us stay behind to fire upon the attack force as we withdraw. We have very good tacticians, myself included. Of course, I have the added ability to find out if someone is really a kromagg."
"I know they can disguise themselves as humans," I said.
"It's not easy for them to find us. There are only a few places where the canopy is thin enough to allow their helicopters to fly down here. Most of their ground forces get down here by using huge cargo lifts that run up and down the tree trunks. If we could cut down the trees that suypport their base, we could deal them a crippling blow."
"That wouild work," I said. "With you being down here and all."
"We don't have the tools to chop down any of these trees," said Wesley. "anbd we can't just go up to the base and ask them if we could borrow a chainsaw to cut the trees down."
"I see you have a sense of humor."
Wesley and I spoke about each other, about my experiences, and his experiences.
"So on that world, it was the humans who tried to exterminate the kromaggs?" asked Wesley.
"That's right," I said. "Quinn and I thought it was home, until our parents tried to have us arrested. We got away by taking a train."
"and where is your brother?" asked Wesley.
"I don't know. I know he is looking for me, and a while ago he actually managed to bring me to him for a while." I changed the subjwect. "Wesley, how big is this forest?"
"Pretty big," said Wesley. "The forest extends north and east all the way to the coastline. to the south, it extends over ten days' walk to a plain, and extends to the mountains to the west."
"Can you draw a map of the continent we're on?" I asked.
Wesley scribbled something on the dirt floor. I looked, and it was a rough approximation of South America. He drew an X showing our location, which is near the northern coast.
I had traveled far. Though I traveled through many universes, this is the first time I've been to South America.
"We're best off here. In the plains to the south, we would have no cover from manta fighters. The mountains to the west have a harsh climate, especially during the winter."
Wesley went out, leaving me alone in my thoughts. When he came back, he brought some meat on a clay plate.
"It is dinosaur meat," he said. I happily ate the meat. I knew I would be gone by tonight, hopefully where I won't be taken straight to jail.
Dino meat did not taste so bad either. Maybe, in another universe, there are restaurants that serve dino meat.
I was still laying on the cot a few hiours later when I heard a bell ring. It reminded me of a church bell. I hoped I would get another opportunity to attend Mass.
I went out, and I saw this woman on top of a dinosaur.
"Alert!" shouted a man. "We've spotted an attack force heading in this direction. We are ordering an evacuation."
I went up to the scout. "How big is this attack force?" I asked.
"Two tanks,three APC's, one attack helicopter for close air support, and maybe twenty heavy foot soldiers," she said.
I could see the people of this village packing the tents and supplies. People armed with rifles got on top of the dino mounts.
"You!" shouted Clayton, ruiding on top of a dinosaur, "you led the maggs here!"
"They are as much my enemy as they are yours," I said.
He pointed the rifle at me. "I may get killed today, but I'm gonna kill this traitor first!"
"Stop it!" shouted Jonathan Reed. "I trust him now."
I heard the noise of all the people carrying off their tents and stuff. I then heard a whistling sound.
"Missile inbound!" shouted someone.
I instincively got on top of a dino mount and then starting riding. I hoped this beast handled like a horse. Then I saw a streak.
then I heard a massive explosion. The smoke covered my eyes. When I looked, I could see the bodies of the dead who were too close to the missile's impact site.
Then I heeard another sound, the sound of a helicopter. Then I saw it.
It was a small craft, with room only for two people. the emblem of the Kromagg Dynasty was on the hull. It started firing its machine gun. The humans scattered all about, and some of them fell. I took cover behind the massive tree trunks. I saw a laser beam come out from the underside, circling the ground below the helicopter and scorching everything in its path.
"This is the Kromagg Dynasty!" shouted a voice from the attack helicopter's loudspeaker. "We have you surrounded. Surrender and you may live to serve the Dynasty!" The helicopter then flew out. I figured that when it comes back, it will be with the ground forces.
I rode over to a fallen human, and grabbed the rifle, an amunition clip, and some grenades.
"I hope I don't regret this, Mallory," said Clayton.
"We have to keep the maggs busy until we sucessfully relocate," said Reed. "I hope the raid in the armory was worth it."
I heard another missile come in, striking the ground near where the first missile struck. I then heard the helicopter come on.
I saw Clayton holding a huge tube of some sort. I saw something shoot out of the tube and I heard a whistoling sound.
My eyes tracked whatevercame out of the tube. I could see it was heading for the helicopter.
It was a direct hit! The helicopter crashed to the ground in flames! Their air support was gone.
Then was little time to celebrate, as I saw a laser beam shoot past me, hitting a tree trunk and leaving a big hole in it. I had to ride fast, maneuver around the tree trunks so the kromaggs could not get a clear shot at me. I rode the dino mount to another position. I then saw an armored vehicle, except it had tires and no turret.
"This must be the APC," I said. I saw the door open. I immediately fired at the open door. then the soldiers came out. they were decked head to toe in armor. I fired a few more rounds, but they did not penetrate. They fired a few rounds in my direction, and I rode off.
I met upo with Reed. "I think the main camp has gotten away," he said. "We've got to keep them...."
It was interrupted with gunshots. I saw Reed down on the forest floor, bleeding. the next instant, I was riding off, trying to avoid getting shot by the foot soldiers.
I looked around. I couild hear footsteps. It seemed the soldiers did not know where I was.
Then I saw one of the kromaggs' tanks. The tank gunner was shooting with the machine gun located on top of the laser turret. Tanks had machien guns on top of the turrets as a defense against enemy foot soldiers.
Or dino riders.
His attention was fociused elsewhere, so I had one chance. I charged towards the tank with my dino mount. I pulled the pin from the grenade.
then I threw it. I saw the grenade go into the turret; a direct hit! Then htere was an explosion. smoke was coming from within.
I went on top of the tank and piulled the body of the kromagg soldier out. I went inside the cabin. There were two more soldiers in there, either dead or wounded.
I took a pistol and shot both of them, to ensure they were dead.
The console was charred, but seemed to be operational. I had to learn how to use the controls-fast. I noticed a viewscreen; it showed the point-of-view from the turret. There was a joystick; it rotated the turret.
I squeezed the trigger on the joystick. a second later, the tank blew up! I then rotated the turret, aiming it at the armored soldiers. they were fleeing.
I saw a human on a dinosaur riding towards me; I stopped firing the laser. I stuck my head out of the turret.
"Mallory," said Clayton, riding on the dinosaur. "I'm sorry what I said about you earlier."
"Apology accepted," I said. I got out of the tank. I went looking for Jonathan Reed.
Minutes later, i found him. He was dead.
"bring his body to the new camp," Clayton said to another human.
"Okay," he replied.
"So what now?" I asked.
"I think it is time to honor Jonathan's memory," he said. "I've an idea."
Clayton and I were riding in the tank again. "this is the spot," he said.
I looedk out of the tank, and saw we were in a clear area circled by trees.
"Let's start cutting down trees," said Clayton. "It looks like there's enough juice for that.
I did the honors. I squeezed the trigger, using the high-powered laser to cut the trees down. One by one, the trees fell down.
"That's enough, Mallory," said Clayton. "Let's get out of here before it falls upon us."
so we did. We pushed the tank to its limit. then we heard a giant crashing sound.
After a while, we stopped. Clayton and I looked out. We saw the huge circular platform where the air base and barracks are located, now touching the ground.
"All right!" shouted Clayton. "Let's head to the new camp."
We held a memorial service for Jonathan Reed and the other humans who had fallen. I could see that Wesley had broken down in tears over the loss of his friend.
"You showed me the way to freedom," he said in Reed's eulogy. "you freed me even as I freed you."
"May the Lord Jesus Christ welcome you to His Kingdom," I said.
It was time for me to go.
"Will I ever see you again?" asked Wesley.
"Maybe," I said.
"Mallory, you're a good fighter," said Clayton. "I would trust you with my very life."
I smiled, knowing that I managed to save this version of Clayton.
I looked at my watch. it was nearing zero.
"Goodbye, you all," I said before seeping through the barriers between dimensions.