Chapter 2 - Crossing Paths

Rayl's theory of dimensional travel consists of two main parts:

Firstly, there are two types of dimensional travel: travel through time, and travel through space. All dimensions with the same prefix, such as Beta-182 and Beta-001, represent different points on the same timeline. Theoretically, a dimensional leap from one Beta dimension to another would be considered "time travelling", and any change that occurred as the result of this type of dimensional leap would affect all future dimensions of the same timeline. Conversely, dimensions with different prefixes represent completely different realities, with completely different laws and outcomes. Something that occurs in an Alpha dimension, for example, could never directly affect anything in a Beta dimension, though the dimensions are believed to progress through time at the same rate.

Second, it is neither good for the body, nor the mind to exist outside of one's home dimension. If someone is to stay in some other dimension for too long, the results could be catastrophic. Despite being in this new dimension for not even a day, Thorn is beginning to feel these effects already. He's been abnormally tired ever since the dimensional leap, and is having trouble remembering certain details of his life in Beta-182. If he spends too much time here, it may never be possible to save his world from ruin.

When the plane finally lands, Thorn wakes up. He isn't sure how long h's been asleep for, but he knows that his dream wasn't pleasant. He remembers it vividly; the laboratory in shambles, overrun by the soul-stealing machines. Rayl was nowhere to be seen, but he could hear her voice calling out for him.

"You okay there, Thorn? You look sort of disturbed."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine."

"Well, we're here," Tails exclaims, "this is Sonic's place! He's a hero. He's saved the world from Dr. Eggman countless times."

This is Sonic's place? It doesn't look all that heroic, Thorn thinks. It looks more like a shack to him, somewhere you could grab a cold beverage, not a place somebody would actually live.

Tails knocks on the door, "Sonic! Somebody is here to see you!"

Immediately, the door swings open.

"Oh, hey Tails! Who's this guy?"

"This is Thorn, a hedgehog from… where again?"

"Beta-182," Thorn replies, "mind if we sit down to talk? It's kind of a long story."

"Fine with me," Sonic says. The three decide to take a seat in the lounging area.

"I know this might sound crazy, but Beta-182 isn't a location, per se. It is an entirely different dimension from the one we are in now."

"What!" Sonic exclaims, "you didn't tell me your friend was crazy, Tails!"

"Sonic… hear him out."

"Eh, all right. Can't hurt I guess."

"Uh, okay. As I was saying, I do come from a different dimension, Beta-182. The reason I am here before you now is because my world is at the brink of destruction. Only a few are still alive, and one of them is my girlfriend, Rayl. Without her, I would have given up long ago. It is because of her that I am even alive myself. I owe it to her to save all of Beta-182."

"Unbelievable..." says Tails, "but how did you end up here specifically?"
"It was by chance. Rayl is a genius, you see. She came up with all these theories about alternate dimensions, and was able to invent a machine that could even leap between them. Unfortunately though, or time was limited, and we weren't able to test it. Neither of us knew which dimension I would end up in, but we took the chance. Anywhere was better than Beta-182, we thought. We hoped that if we were lucky enough, I could land in some other dimension that could somehow offer us some help."

"That's a pretty crazy story, Thorn. I'm not sure how I can help," Sonic replies, "but I'll do what I can."

"And so will I," says Tails, "but I have one question… where is the machine now?"
Thorn sighs, "regretfully, I do not know. After waking up from the dimensional leap, it was nowhere to be seen. It could be anywhere, possibly even in some other universe."

Thorn looks to the ground with a painful expression, feeling as if he has already failed.

"Don't look so down, Thorn!" Sonic says, hoping to cheer him up, "you know, a friend of mine, Amy, she knows someone who claims to be in a similar situation. Maybe you know them?"

"Wait, are you serious!? Who is it?"

"I don't think I caught her name, but Amy was talking about some girl she found washed up on the beach. She was spouting some crazy stuff, sorta like you, but she seemed pretty dang smart apparently."

Could it be? Did Rayl somehow find her way to this dimension as well?

"Sonic, I need to meet her. She might be someone I know."

"All right, all right. Come along with me, I'll show you the way to Amy's."

Sonic dashes out the shack as Thorn follows, struggling to keep up with the unreal speed that the blue hedgehog is attaining. Tails tries to follow too, but isn't nearly fast enough. Luckily, he knows his way there.

When the two hedgehogs arrive at Amy's, they decide to wait up for Tails since Thorn needs to catch his breath anyway. Tails shows up a couple minutes later.

"Well, Sonic, are you gonna ring the doorbell?" Tails inquires.

"No way, Tails! I thought you were going to!"

"Sonic, you have to grow up. Amy isn't gonna hurt you."

"Ah, all right, I'll do it for our friend Thorn over here, but never again."

Ding dong. About fifteen seconds pass, then the door creaks open.

The pink hedgehog jumps excitedly, shouting, "Sonic! And Tails too, and… who is this?"

"This is Thorn," Tails replies, "He wants to talk to you."

"What about?"

"Rayl," Thorn utters, "is she here?"

Amy covers her mouth in shock, then motions for the three to come inside. On the couch in the living room, lies a sleeping Rayl.

"I… can't believe it," Thorn falters, "it really is her, she's still alive..."

"No way, so you really know her?" Tails gasps.

Disturbed from all the commotion, Rayl comes to.

"What's going on here?" she asks.

"Rayl! How on earth did you make it here!? Did you construct another dimensional leap machine? Or did you-"

"Who are you..." Rayl interjects, "and how do you know my name?"

Astonished, Thorn shuts right up for a moment.

"You can't be serious, Rayl… it's Thorn, remember?"

"I've never met you before. Are you from this dimension?"

"No, I… I'm from your dimension, Beta-182."

"You're not from my dimension. I'm from Alpha-182. How the hell did you get here?"