The space-time tunnel resembled a slide. Similar to those in a McDonald's Playland, but made of...energy, a weird multicolored swirling...thing you shot through like a bullet.

Hard to describe the experience, there's that `ozone' smell you get when standing near an electrical transformer, epoxy and...broiled brussel sprouts. The smell changes from time to time, sometimes I think I smell fried chicken or burgers. You hear voices, people talking, but you never can make out the words, and there's this ghostly...singing sound.

Einstein Rosen-Bridge. I invented a device, a Timer, that opened a gateway between my world and other ones. Just did my first human test. Came back safe and in one piece.

Crazy world I landed in. Get this: Green lights meant go, red meant stop, they had the gold standard instead of silver, and the Golden Gate Bridge was red.

You probably know all that from the video I recorded before I left. What you probably don't know: I increased the power and brought along two people this time, my girlfriend Wade and my Physics professor, Mr. Arturo.

Also: We're trapped.

So the Slide itself turned out great. All three of us jumped into the swirling vortex, zooming through that psychedelic rainbow tunnel. Nobody died.

The trouble came when we reached its end, and came flying out into the air.

We crash landed without bruises or injuries because the place had wrestling mats fastened to the walls and floor, as if someone knew exactly where we'd end up.

I hit the padding first, brushing myself off as I took in my surroundings:

It reminded me of an animal exhibit.Rectangular cell, reinforced glass walls. Four (not three!) army cots with sleeping bags, pillows and blankets. A water cooler, desk and typewriter. Leather living room set, a television attached to the ceiling nearby, playing Spanish language Franklin and Friends. A little bathroom stood in the corner: Sink, shower, toilet.

The area outside the glass reminded me of the Asian section in a museum. In addition to the wide assortment of scrolls, books and calligraphic wall hangings, it held neko figurines, Asiatic themed bas reliefs, samurai armor and weaponry...to name just a few. It smelled like a Chinese restaurant...and incense. A hidden speaker system played Syd Barrett's Octopus.

I tried the door. Locked.

The bulky, trenchcoat clad figure of my professor came flying out the portal, colliding with the blue mat. He groaned and staggered to his feet, frowning in puzzlement at the arcane symbols etched on the glass. "At least we had a soft landing."

He stroked his scraggly beard as he examined the Chinese brush paintings hanging on the walls outside. "Where the devil are we?"

I could only shrug. "Your guess is as good as mine, Professor. It almost looks like we've landed in China...or some exhibit at the Smithsonian."

Arturo tested the door.

"Already tried that. I think somebody was expecting us."

Whoosh! A red haired pixie of a girl whipped out the portal, crashing into him before he could move out of the way.

"Miss Welles," he harrumphed.

"Sorry." Wade got up from the mat, putting her hands on her hips as she noticed the four walls.

She immediately tried the door. When it didn't open, she banged her fists on it. "Hello? Anyone?"

Nobody came. Wade pressed her face against the glass, peering through archways between the bonsai trees and the ornately carved dragon sculptures. "Hello! There are people in here!" She pounded on the glass. "Help! Someone!"

I decided to lend my voice to the noise, and hit the door a few times myself.

The Professor, though, had discovered a small gong next to the typewriter, and a sign reading `Ring for Service.' Once struck, the gong made a huge amount of noise, like he'd just struck one ten times its size, and it glowed blue.

A few seconds afterward, an unsmiling, thick limbed Asian with short stubbly hair came marching into the chamber. Although dressed like a Mandarin, he could have easily played the role of Oddjob from James Bond.

My girlfriend smiled and waved to him through the glass. "Hi! My name's Wade Welles. My friends and I are stuck in here. Could you please let us out?"

The stranger frowned. "No."

He turned around and walked out of the room.

"That was rude!"

I rubbed my forehead, sinking into an armchair. "Okay, so...it's clear we're being held captive here for some reason..."

Wade rolled her eyes. "No! You think?"

"Allow me." The Professor rang the gong again. "Service!"

In came the heavy set stranger, sighing through his nostrils.

Arturo marched up to the glass. "My dear fellow! Could you please explain to me and my companions what the devil we're doing here?"

The stranger crossed his muscular arms. "Preventing the Multiverse from becoming unraveled."

"Well now we're getting somewhere!" Arturo leaned on the glass. "How can I phrase this? There has been a mistake! I and my companions were merely performing a scientific test! We have no intention of destroying the universe!"

"Your dimensional doubles have stated similar things, and have caused us innumerable problems. You'll have to stay where you are until we can figure out what to do with you."

I pulled the Timer out of my pocket. I'd put fresh batteries in, and charged it up before I left, but now it refused to light up.

"Oh, and I wouldn't try to use that. The runes we cast on these walls suppress magic and devices that operate on the quantum realm." He cleared his throat. "The name's Wong, by the way. Let me know if you need anything, food, towels, we have some very good tea..."

"How about letting us out?" Wade asked.

For the first time, a smile cracked on the man's face. "Nice try."

With that, he walked away.