July 15, 1997

It happened.

I met him.

I was walking down the hallway at the Yerba Buena Transdimensional Research Center with Dr. Steven Jensen.

He suddenly appeared in a flash.

He was me, or rather my double from some other dimension.

"Mark sent me," he said.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To this little town called Ely. Hold on."

He held on to him, and I heard him hum.

I felt weightless.

And then we were not in Yerba Buena anymore.

And I doubted i was in the same dimension I woke up in this morning.

I looked around, seeing what appeared to be a small living room, with what looked to be old furniture.

I saw this white haired bearded man.

"I'm Mark," he said. "Welcome to my abode. we are in a town called Ely, in eastern Nevada.

I shook his hand. "Nice to meet you in person, dear sir,." he said.

"Please excuse me," my other self said. "to make two transits within a minute is very taxing on my body. I must rest. In addition, I came from London, so my body thinks it's time for an afternoon nap."

"Of course," replied my host.

He sat on this leather recliner and soon he was asleep.

"I must wonder how he is able to traverse the dimensions," he said.

"A very long story. But perhaps you wish to hear my story."

"Yes.

"I had a heart attack in September of 1994, and I was in a coma. I had visions of you and Quinn Mallory and Wade Welles and Rembrandt Brown. In my dreams I followed you. I even wrote down stories. I made contact with you after that other self of yours replaced you."

"so it is true that my home world was conquered by an army from another dimension?"

"Pretty much."

I sat on the couch. My home, conquered by a threat that can teraverse the dimensions. I thought of my colleagues. Were they even still alive?

"How do you know him?" I asked, pointing to my sleeping other self.

"I made psychic contact with him in January of '95. I was able to help him. Before, he was not able to stay in one dimension permanently."

"Very good. How long will I have to be here? I am involved in a research project in that other dimension."

"I would give him two days. The morning of the 17th should do."

He mentioned other things. It was safe outside, but North America was at war, and has been since 1991, with the coasts under the control of the enemy. I had too many experiences with war in my twenty months of sliding.

I went for a walk outside, soon reaching Ely's main street, which was called Aultman Street. I saw various shops and bars and this large establishment called the Hotel Nevada. I saw an armored Humvee rumble down the street.

I decided to head back. All I could do for now is sleep.