First a flash, then another.
And suddenly a beautiful picture of a beach at sunset appears.
But slightly above the horizon we see a hazy green planet with rings, just like Saturn.
It's so big that it fills half of the sky. The mirror now acts as if it were a normal TV screen. Then we hear the sound of waves gently hitting the beach. Am I imagining things, or can I also smell the salty air and feel a gentle breeze?
"Mmm.. it seems we owe you an apology. That's definitely not a normal mirror," Swan stated the obvious.
"Apology accepted!." I said with a smug smile. " So What do we do now?"
"Let's throw something small against the mirror. See what happens. It might just be a projected image.
Katie, do you have something with you?"
"Sure." She checks her purse and finds her lipstick. "Will this work?"
"That's perfect. I will buy you a new one. Can you throw it at the mirror? Without too much force please, I don't want to break it."
Katie nods and throws the lipstick without much force against the mirror. And
It falls right through!
"Where did it go?" Swan asked, obviously surprised with the results.
He carefully checks the back of the mirror, but can't find the lipstick anywhere.
"Alright, let's throw something with a bit more force. If it really is a gateway of some sort, we should see the object on that beach once it arrives."
He asked one of the guards to take off their shoes, because it would take too much time to find another object for this purpose.
He then throws one shoe with enough force through the mirror, and we all see it land on the beach in real-time, as if there were no mirror at all.
"Interesting." Swan said.
"It really IS a gateway. Okay, we now officially believe your story."
"Thank you for that!. Now please be careful, you don't want to end up wherever that place is," I said carefully looking at it.
Swan ordered a small drone to be delivered here and once everything was set up,
someone piloted it through the mirror while it streamed a live image to us through a laptop. Swan asked to keep a cable attached to it, perhaps we could pull it back.
The drone then approaches the mirror and it appears on the other side without delay.
The video feed immediately ends and we lose control of the drone.
Swan then orders the drone to be pulled back by using the cable and surprisingly it worked. The drone is safely back on our side now.
"Show us the footage." Swan ordered a review of the drone's onboard camera to see what it had recorded.
When the images appeared on the small screen, we could see the drone looking back to us.
There was another mirror on the other side!
What we couldn't see from our original perspective, was that next to this beach stood some kind of structure, having a mirror on the outside of it, under some kind of protective roofing.
"I can't believe it. That actually seems to be a real alien planet." Swan said.
Katie and I exchanged glances. I shrugged and said "probably, but I've never been there.
So, now what do we do now?"
"Alright. We will attach a cable to you, just to be safe. I don't want you to step through that mirror. I just want you to touch a symbol on the top of it. Nothing more, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir" I said, feeling excited that I was going to be useful to these people after all.
I slowly approach the mirror again, while they gently pull on the cable, with just enough force to keep me from moving too far.
Then I touch a symbol on the top part of the mirror, just as Swan has ordered me to.
The image flashes, but nothing else happens. It also didn't zap me this time.
Phew!
"Alright get back here for a second," Swan ordered.
I backed off and we all waited for what would happen, if anything.
The image flashes three more times and then we see ourselves.
"What is that? Is that us? Or are they another us from another reality looking back at us?" Katie asks.
"Only one way to find out." Ewan said while gently throwing the other shoe at the mirror. The shoe bounced off the mirror and fell down in front of it.
"Excellent," Swan said.
"That seems to be the off button. It's back to being a normal mirror again. Normal for us, that is." He looked at me for a second.
"Now how do we get it working again without zapping me?" I asked.
"Try touching the same symbol again. It might just do the trick."
I did as requested but nothing happened, but more importantly, also no new shock.
"Try the next one." Ewan said.
I did as he asked and the mirror flashed. At that point they pulled the cord really hard, making me gasp for air. But at least I was safe.
We watched in anticipation. What would it do next?
Then the mirror flashes three more times, with about ten seconds between each flash.
What happened next, nobody could have anticipated.
The mirror changes from a reflection of us, slowly into an image of three female looking beings who are looking at us in surprise.
They look exactly as I do! But their fur is brown/reddish in color. They appear to be in a large wooden room, maybe a mountain lodge of sorts? It definitely doesn't look like a high tech place on that side, but it might not represent the whole planet.
They are wearing something similar to what I wore when I first arrived in New York.
But what's more important, they seem really interested in me for some reason.
One of them points at me and is shouting something, but there is no sound.
They seem to motion for me to join them on the other side of the mirror. When I just keep staring, one of them steps forward and might want to come over here. But then the image is suddenly shut down before anyone can step through.
"What happened, did you do something?" Swan asked with obvious disappointment in his voice.
But I couldn't answer the question.
The mirror did.
Yes, you heard me alright. The mirror did.
"If you don't mind, let me explain. I bring you peaceful greetings, ancient one."
Swan, Katie and I exchange glances while we all take a few steps back.
"Do not be afraid, as I mean you no harm. May I show myself to you?"
"Yes, but no sudden movement please." Swan said signaling his hands for the Men behind us to get ready.
Then the mirror flashes again and suddenly some kind of transparent being is standing before us.
If I had to guess, I would say that it seems to be a holographic projection of some sorts.
The guards behind us immediately raise their guns, ready to shoot, but waiting for Swan's order to do so.
The strange being looks mostly the same as the beings we saw a moment earlier, but this one is a male.
He looks around, forming an image of who or what we are. His fur is the same silvery-white as mine.
"I am the guardian of portal 73184. I am an artificial being. It took some time for me to learn your language, so I humbly apologize for the belated introduction. Again, I mean you no harm.
Ancient one, would you please step forward?"
That...'guardian' or whatever it is, is staring directly at me. I point a finger at myself and I see it nodding.
I look at Swan for approval, and he nods, while adding " be careful. We will pull you back if we need to." Reassuring me
I nod and slowly step forward towards the mirror and the guardian who stands directly next to it.
"Ancient one, it is a privilege to meet you.
Let me explain. I am the one responsible for stopping the connection you had earlier with the Enkirians.
As a guardian I need to inform you that this portal is of old age and may not work as expected. I was merely protecting your and their lives." He said
"Alright guardian, thank you for that.
But why would you call me an Ancient one?" I said, while tilting my head. I guess I need to keep talking to it, or Swan would have said something by now.
"Simple, the color of your fur is of the purest white as is mine. I was made to resemble our people from many years ago.
Of course they weren't called Ancient ones back then. Due to natural evolution, over countless millennia, Enkirians have developed Brown and Red colored ears and tails. That is why those people from a moment ago were surprised to see an Ancient one. Do you perhaps not know of more recent events, which make you special among your people?"
"Honestly, I have no idea what I am. You should know more about this, guardian. We have met before, you did this to me remember!"
" Hm? We have met before? How strange. I have no memories of that event. Might I scan you? I promise that I won't harm you."
I see Swan nodding.
"Alright, but be careful please."
"Yes, Ancient one. I would never harm anyone including you ." Two bright and very wide green laser-like beams come out of the mirror, scanning me from top to toe and back in less than three seconds, while making a strange humming noise.
*Brzzz*
The guardian seemed lost in thought for a few seconds before continuing. "You are indeed an Ancient one. You biologically precede the Enkirians of more recent times.
Your life signature matches that of what the Enkirians call their honored ancestors or Ancients ones.
But more importantly, you indeed used a portal recently, but not this one. Your quantum signature does not correspond to the quantum signature of this universe."
"Excuse me? What does that even mean?" I scratched my head, looking back at Swan who shrugged not knowing what it is either.
"It means, in simple terms, that you stepped into another reality. My people were still researching this topic while I was being constructed.
But perhaps they succeeded in your originating reality where our people failed in this one."
"So...can I go back to my own reality?" I asked, hopeful to undo whatever was done to me.
"I am afraid not. I do not have that technology. But perhaps you can contact your people and see if the technology has been invented in the meanwhile.
This portal has been asleep for the last millenium, so anything is possible. But, dear Ancient one, might I inform you about the most recent developments of your homeworld? Even though a thousand years have passed since then?"
"Yes, please continue," I said, while occasionally making eye contact with Swan. He seems to agree with me.
"While the people, who the Enkirians now call the Ancient ones, roamed the galaxy and installed portals such as myself on developing planets.........
....a disaster happened in their home world. An experiment with revolutionary technology that promised to yield unlimited energy, had unforeseen side effects. Let me show you."
The mirror then showed an image taken from space. It shows a huge blue and white blast reaching the planet's core and immediately causing volcanic eruptions, ending all life in a matter of hours.
"The only survivors were the ones who were living in a distant colony and the ones traveling through space, such as the ones who were installing portals.
All Enkirians decided to join the colony and make it their new home world. After several thousands of years, their biological structure adapted to their new homeworld, causing a coloration in the ears and tails. I do not know how you could live as long as you have, Ancient one. But you can't return to the original Enkiria Homeworld.
That planet is no more."
"I am sorry to hear that. But why would you think that I have lived for so long?"
"You haven't? Then how is it possible that your life signature is that of an Ancient one, but you haven't aged at all since the Day of Destruction?
You also do not have any markers in your blood that would show that you were exposed to the new home planet's atmosphere. Did events in your original reality perhaps unfold differently?" The guardian seems quite confused. But not as confused as I am, though.
"Maybe I can answer that with a question of my own. Hypothetically speaking, what would happen if a portal malfunctioned?" I asked. I can feel my ears twitching, I'm feeling nervous.
"It depends. Hypothetically speaking, due to countless years without any maintenance, you might find yourself at another portal, one not of your own choosing. That is the first symptom of an aging portal.
A malfunctioning portal however should shut down automatically, but that is no guarantee."
"I think I may have experienced a malfunctioning portal. If you are correct, then it sent me to another universe too. And it changed my physical body as well."
"Interesting. My sincere apologies. I must admit that your theory is plausible. Portals were designed to experience life on other worlds. You would exit the portal on another planet in either your own form, or a form known to exist on the other side. When you return to your original portal, your body will always be restored.
If you really aren't an Ancient one, then this might explain why your quantum signature is different and why your code of life matches that of the Ancient ones.
The portal you used might have accidentally used a stored body image from an Ancient one to restore you on the other side."
"Then how is it possible that I ended up in a place without a mirror? I thought they were connected?" I sighed, this is getting technical, isn't it?
"They should be. But because you originated from another universe, that might be another variable in their transportation equation.
Such a thing should not happen in this universe. Our technology was not that advanced yet."
Swan slowly shuffles over to me. The guardian glances at his intentions for a moment, then waits for us to speak again.
"Can we use the mirror to travel to other worlds too?" Swan asks in a polite and calm way.
"Yes you can. But I advise doing a diagnostic on the portals involved. Most portals are ancient and might fail any day.
This portal is still functional but even I see the degradation of the circuits. I therefore advise against travel. Within another thousand years, this one will stop working too. Should you decide to travel anyway, I would not stop you."
"Can you tell us how to use this portal?" Swan asks. He obviously expects a lot from this little project.
"It is easy. If you are telepathic like the Ancient one here, just think of the place you want to visit. Otherwise say out loud where you wish to go. I will remember where you have been, so just describe the destination and I will find it for you. You will also see an image on the portal to see if it is the right place for you. Just try it. Or ask for my assistance as I will always monitor all activity."
"Wait a second. Did you just say that I'm telepathic?" I asked.
"Yes you are. You would be able to talk mentally to me and others of your race, assuming they continued to develop the telepathic capabilities in the last thousand years of my slumber. Perhaps you could try speaking to the other beings who are standing around you now?"
"Interesting. Ah, one more thing. Why did you only react to my touch? Lots of people have touched the mirror, but nothing happened to them?" I asked.
"That is to prevent unauthorized races from reaching the Enkirian homeworld. When you touched the portal, you were recognized as an authorized user, thus enabling you to interact with or perform maintenance on the portal."
"I see...alright guardian, thank you very much for your answers. I need to think about this stuff first. You have been very helpful. Can we talk to you again when we have more questions?"
"Of course. It was a great honor to meet you after sleeping for so long. I will return to my slumber now. I look forward to meeting you again, Ancient one."
The guardian then appeared to step into the mirror, which then looked like a regular old mirror again.
Katie joins Swan and me who are still staring at the mirror. "Wow, did that just really happen?"
I look at her, "either that or we are all hallucinating. Which might be just as plausible if you consider what we just talked about."
Swan then turns to me. "I had no idea what had really happened to you. But everything you said seems at least plausible now.
We will need your help to figure things out, and you have proven your usefulness to us.
So, I have been authorized to offer you a junior position within the ATF. The same restrictions apply of course, but it would make things easier in our organization. What do you say?" Swan seems elated about the prospect of me helping them along.
"If it means that I can get out of this building at some point, then yes." I look at Swan, hoping he will see my point.
"Of course. But we need time to think about how we can do that. Any other...demands?" Swan said.
"Are you going to pay me?" I couldn't resist asking this. I'm only teasing Swan here.
"Yep. But we are not going to discuss that now. There's a time and place for these matters, and now is not the right time for that. Anything else?" Swan asked, he was getting a bit impatient.
"Nope. I'm just relieved that I will be of use to you. I couldn't stand the thought of being a prisoner forever.
But this is just so unreal to me. The only thing I want is to live my human life again. But now I have to accept the fact that I really am an alien for good."
"I understand your feelings all too well. But for now at least, we still need you to stay here. You were never a true prisoner, but...we really can't have you running through the streets of New York looking like that." Katie said.
"Yeah, I understand."
"Just give it some time. We will find a way to give you more freedom later." Swan said in a way that shows me he's serious about this.
I lean over to Katie and whisper in her ear "Katie, I'm hungry...can we.."
But before I can finish my sentence, Swan's radio beeps.
"Swan here. Hm? What? Everywhere? Are you really kidding me? Mmm? Yes, do that. Who? Yes, let him handle it then. Swan out."
"What's happening?" Katie asked, trying to read Swan's expressions.
"Let's go HOME. We will discuss things there." Ewan said while turning around and walking towards the elevators on the other end of the parking deck.
"Whose home?" I asked, looking confused, then quickly following the two.