The Dimension Jumpers

Chapter 4 A Day of Rest and Preparations for a Long Journey Ahead

Disclaimer: Please See First Chapter

Story Notes: Please remember this when reading this story to avoid confusion.

"Words surrounded by "" are spoken words."

words in Italics are thoughts or descriptions

Words in regular type are spoken by anyone from the parallel dimension.

Words in Bold are spoken by Keitaro.

Words in Bold AND Italics are spoken by Motoko

Names that are underlined are referring to the people in the parallel dimension

Names that are NOT underlined are referring to the people from our dimension.

A lot has changed over the past few days since being sent into this parallel dimension. I was never on her good side when we first met and she wanted nothing to do with me at first. When we were sent to this parallel dimension, we both had to set aside our differences in order for us to survive and go back to our own dimension. I thought that was the only reason that she was being so nice to me.

When I was walking to the home of Eagle Eyes, we saw a lot of things along the way that were terrifying to both of us and neither of us knew it then but we were holding hands as we walked to give each other security and comfort. Any other time, I would have been sent into the air by a ki attack but not this time. It was different now and we both kinda knew it but neither of us would acknowledge it at the time.

She showed a look of strength and resolve in facing this predicament but I didn't know it but she was just as scared as I was. It gave me the strength I needed to continue this journey and I was thankful for it. There were only two bedrooms in the place that we were staying at and we had to share a room. Neither one of us cared any more because staying somewhere safe was the only thing that mattered now. Besides, it felt better knowing that I was with someone I knew. I didn't know it then but we were both starting to become good friends and neither one of us knew what that was going to lead to but it could only be a good thing.

We both woke up feeling a lot better than before since a bed was a lot better than a hard floor. It was a new experience for me sleeping next to a beautiful girl like Motoko and I wish I could stay here forever but that wasn't going to happen. We both got dressed in the same clothes that we wore for the past couple of days. We both needed some new clothes and a bath since we had neither of those things since coming to this parallel dimension. It's not like this was exactly planned out in advance. We were not prepared for a trip especially the kind of trip that we had taken. Thankfully, we were about to get both of these since we could not stand the smell anymore.

"Motoko and Keitaro, there is a bathroom to clean up and I have some clothes that should fit the two of you since I was prepared for your arrival. It's nothing flashy but it is better than wearing those dirty things. You can't go walking around wearing those clothes because people are going to get suspicious. I hope none of Tsuroko's agents have noticed you. If they did, there is going to be a lot of trouble for all of us and that is something we really don't need right now."

We took the clothes that Shinobu gave us and both took a shower. Neither one of us was used to it since we always took baths before but it did make each of us feel better. The clothes that she gave us actually fit perfectly and I was a little surprised but I did appreciate any help I was going to get while I stayed in this place.

Shinobu cooked all of us some breakfast and it wasn't anything like the kind of food that the Shinobu back home cooked for us but it wasn't that bad either and it's better than going hungry.

"Thank you for cooking us breakfast and giving us some new clothes, Shinobu. We really appreciate all of the kindness that you have shown us."

"I hope that the new clothes fit. I wasn't positive that they were the right size or not."

"These clothes fit perfectly and you couldn't have picked out better clothes than these. Thank you very much, Shinobu."

"I had received a letter back and they are coming over later today with the "gills" that I have asked for and some weapons for the three of you. We can't have you running around without some protection."

"I don't like guns. I don't need any of those cursed things. I have my sword and that is sufficient."

"I hate to break it to you but just about everyone around here is packing heat. Bringing a sword to a gun fight is not very wise and that kind of thinking that you have shown me right now will get you killed out there."

Kitsune was probably right about that. I don't think that there is anyone here with any sense of honor. Definitely not the kind of honor that Motoko expressed in all aspects of her life so learning how to use a gun and getting used to the idea of carrying a gun is going to be hard but we will have to manage it the best that we can. The thought that either of us would have to kill a person had never crossed either of our minds before coming here but if we are forced to use deadly force, I hope that we will have the courage to do just that when the time comes.

There wasn't much that we could do here while we wait for the people implanting the "gills." Motoko just started to mediate like she always did in the morning before anyone else got up and I started to look for something to do while we waited. I never really knew how she could do that at a time like this but it must be relaxing to temporarily forget about everything that has happened to the two of us so far.

Meanwhile . . .

Tsuroko was in her office looking when she heard a knock on her door.

"Who is it?"

"There is a man, who calls himself Black Cobra, here to see you, miss Aoyama. He says that you have arranged to meet him today."

"That is correct. Please let him in now."

The door opened and a man walked inside who didn't look too friendly. He wore a black trench coat and a pair of black shades. The coat was unzipped which was revealing a picture of a black cobra and if you could see his right arm, you would have noticed a tattoo of a black cobra. He was already an effective assassin but made many "enhancements" to his body to strengthen it and make himself even stronger than he already was.

He was the one person besides her husband that she respected. She had tested his abilities in a fight that was not just about who was stronger but smarter as well. He knew full well that she wouldn't want anyone better than her being hired as an assassin because she wanted the impression that she was the strongest since she was the leader and a good leader is always the strongest out of everyone who associates with her. In his duel with Tsuroko, he managed to match her strength with equal force that lasted for many hours before she was satisfied that he would be the perfect candidate to be an assassin.

"Hello Tsuroko. What have you been up to lately?"

"You know the usual, taking care of business and how about you, black?"

"Please there is no need for such formalities, Tsuroko"

"Fine, fine! How are you, Seta?"

"Fine, fine. I have been kept busy with work for a while now. What do you have for me?"

"I have received unconfirmed reports that Motoko Aoyama has been spotted in sector five. Care to explain why she is still alive? I hired you to kill her but yet she appears very much alive."

"What do you want me to do? What location was she heading to?"

"She was headed to sector four. One more thing, there are a young man and another young woman following her. Make sure that this man is kept alive. As for the other people, you can get creative about what you do, just make sure they end up dead."

"Very well then. I will go now and carry out the mission, Tsuroko"

He bowed his head as a sign of respect and left the room to complete his mission.

"Good, I will finally be able to continue work on the immortality gene shortly. I don't how she managed to fool him into thinking that she was dead. I will make sure of it that he doesn't fail again. I don't know for sure but I think that they are trying to get to East Hinata. He better not let them get across because I cannot let the Su government get a hold of the immortality gene or I will surely lose this war and that cannot be allowed to happen."

Back at Eagle Eyes hideout . . .

It had been several hours but they have finally arrived. The people who had got the weapons and the "gills" that we needed finally arrived. They were given the same treatment that we all received when we first arrived at her hideout. They seemed to be used to the procedure. I don't know how anyone could get used to that contraption. It makes that pain that comes from Naru's punches and Su's inventions feel like bee stings compared to that machine but there they just handled it like it was nothing.

"So ladies what kind of weapons are you interested in, hmm?"

Those two guys look vaguely like my friends: Haitani and Shirai. I knew that they would look familiar. It seems everyone I meet is someone that either Motoko or I knew as a friend or family member.

"I am going to need three pistols and shotguns and plenty of ammo for both. One thing, don't try to screw me again with those inflated prices or I will not take it so nicely this time."

They looked like they were a little scared. I don't know how they could think that they could screw with Eagle Eyes and get away with it. She looks like she can see through people like I look through windows. They are just as stupid as my friends back home.

"Of course, we wouldn't do that to you. You are our best customer. I don't deal with those Aoyama monsters. They make me sick to my stomach and I am not supporting their murderous ways with my stuff. "

They were truly scared out of their minds. I was surprised that she just didn't kill them for that. This Shinobu doesn't look like she takes kindly to people who fuck with her. I guess they must be very good at what they do to be able to try to rip her off and get to live another day. They seemed to be just as stupid as their counterparts back in my dimension.

"Good because if you did, I have to cut you down where you stand. I don't tolerate anyone in my presence that supports that monster. My life's work is to kill that bitch and anyone stupid enough to get in my way."

"I also need two pairs of gills implanted into those two over there."

She pointed to Motoko and myself and I was having the feeling that it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience getting those gills implanted but the thought of swimming underwater as long as I wanted to without being able to drown sounded like it was worth whatever pain we were going to have to endure to get that ability.

She paid the two men and then they showed us our new weapons first. I had seen a gun before but never actually held a gun in my hand much less fire one. Motoko on the other hand had grown up despising such weapons and was now forced to use something that wasn't considered an honorable style of fighting to her family or to herself.

I could tell that it would be hard on Motoko and I tried to reassure her that it would be all right. I personally didn't know how this trip would end for the two of us and she probably knew that already. She seemed happy to have my support during this difficult time for her and I saw her smile for the first time in this world. There wasn't much to be happy about in this screwed up dimension but the look on her face brightened up my day and I would do anything to bring us home no matter how much suffering I would have to endure to get us both home. We were going home and there wasn't anything that was going to stop us from achieving this goal.

"Ok Keitaro. We are going to implant the gills in the two of you. We will start with you and than we will do Motoko after you are finished. We will try to make this as painless as possible but it will hurt for a while. We can't completely knock you out so you will be partially aware of what is going on. We can't have you knocked out for us to do the procedure, ok. This procedure should only take a couple of hours."

"Ok, I guess. Lets do this already."

It took a long time to do it but they finally finished doing the procedure and I didn't feel any different. Neither of us did and that was a good thing. I took a look in a mirror to see if these devices were noticeable to anyone and they weren't which was also a good thing. I can't look like a freak when I came home from this dimension. Strangely enough, Motoko didn't seem bothered the least that she was also getting this device implanted. I would have thought that she wouldn't want a foreign device implanted in her body but she didn't seem to care. I guess she realizes that going home is more important right now and is exactly what I was thinking anyway.

"Well, everything is finished now. We will be leaving right now."

Shinobu paid the two for their services and they left.

"Tomorrow morning, we will start the journey to East Hinata. You better rest up because this is going to be a long hard journey for the four of us."

We didn't know it then but we were about to run into some serious trouble.

Story Notes:

This is the end of chapter four of The Dimension Jumpers. This chapter reflects on how Keitaro and Motoko have changed during the time so far spent in this alternate dimension. They get prepared for their journey with the gills implanted and weapons procured for the journey ahead. It also shows that Black Cobra is starting to look for Motoko and Keitaro and the encounter with him could prove disastrous for everyone. Will he find them and if so will everyone survive or is this the end for one of our four travelers? That answer and more will be answered in chapter five.

Author Notes:

Don't forget to read my other story Keitaro gets more help or trouble which is classified under humor/general. I think it is very funny and want some reviews to confirm whether I am right or not. I would like reviews for all my stories since I want to know if what I am doing a good job if something needs improvement since I am not psychic.