Dimensional Travels: World at War-Chapter 78: Dreams can become reality

Trephania looked at Eric in shock. "The mortal can see us?" Her eyes widened as Dreha treated the situation as normal.

Dreha sat down. "He is a demigod. Even if he doesn’t realize the power he holds, it is normal for him to observe and interact with us."

Eric sighed in response to the pair of gods acting like he wasn’t right there. "I’m right here, you know? I can hear everything you are saying."

Dreha waved his hand. "It is of no matter." He then looked off into the distance, and laughed. "Oh that fool. A cornered rat will always act like a rat."

Eric ignored the God while turning back to the reports in front of him. Mia walked into the room. "Liara is with Samara." Mia said as she sat down beside Eric.

Eric grumbled. "I still think you should take more time off."

She smacked his arm gently. "No. I sat in the sidelines for nearly a year. It is time for me to help out."

Eric sighed. "I hope Liara isn’t as stubborn as you."

"Me? Stubborn? Mr. ’I charged a nuke by myself?’... I’m the stubborn one?"

Grumbles answered her pointed glare.

"Anyways... do you see the same thing I am seeing here in these reports? Look." He pulled out a report from the stack.

"Last Tuesday at 1800CST, a man was seen approaching the turbines. He claimed to be a lost tourist. The man was wearing a blue jersey with a star on it. We guided him back to the bridge, with no further action."

He then pulled out another report.

She read it, her eyes wide. "On Thursday a man with a blue hat and star on it approached that same area."

The two compared pictures from both days.

"Stakeout." Eric mumbled grimly.

"Eric? I think there is a bigger problem. This picture is remarkably similar to a description of one of the heroes." She whispered. "His name is Ryan. He was summoned roughly half a year before 6-8 was."

Eric’s pen dropped from his hand. He looked back at the two pictures, comparing them side by side while grabbing another report.

"Once? A lost tourist. Twice? Sure, might be a coincidence...."

She finished his throught for him:

"But three times is definitely intelligence collection."

Eric called down to the Vegas security district of V.E.T.S.

"Hey, Susan? I got a big favor to ask. Can you check all CCTV for a guy wearing any paraphernalia having the blue star from Dallas?"

Susan paused for a second. "You mean the Cow-"

Eric stopped her. "We are not recording that name on a recording line."

"Yes sir. I will have my team scrub the footage by COB on friday."

"Thank you. We will continue to monitor on our end as well."

After hanging up, Eric looked at Mia. He sighed. "What do you know of this guy?"

She shook her head.

"Next to nothing. There are rumors that he was the person behind the Empire modernizing, and the mana suppression circles. Those rumors have never been confirmed though."

Eric looked back at the picture.

"If he is that smart, then he is revealing himself on purpose."

Ryan hummed as he walked the Vegas streets. He blended in with the crowd as he took note of the buildings, and smiled as he walked up to a food truck he loved on the strip. The cook took his order.

"Do I know you sir?"

Ryan shook his head. "Nah man. I’ve never seen you before."

The cook nodded back. "Okay. You look like someone I used to know."

Ryan sat down and pulled out his phone. His eyes burned as tears built up in the corners of his eyes. Unanswered texts lit up his screen. The last message:

"I love you Ryan."

His phone dropped as he ate.

Memories burned in his mind: the night of his wedding. Holding his daughter for the first time. Building lego’s with his son.

"I’m so sorry." He whispered.

A voice called behind him as a chair pulled up. "Do you want to see them again, Ryan?"

Ryan turned around and froze.

Cat ears and a calm demeanor. A black skirt and green eyes that pierced the very soul.

"Mia."

She nodded. "You know me?" Her response even as she began to pull documents from her bag.

"Every Hero knows you." Ryan responded. His eyes darted from building to building. His eyes glowed in a shimmer of green while he scanned his surroundings.

"I see."

He powered down, sighing.

"You have me surrounded. As expected from the infamous ’Scoutmaster’."

She smiled while sliding him a picture.

"Your son still plays with Lego’s."

He paused, shaking hands reaching for the picture. Tears blurred his vision. "They’re here?"

Mia doesn’t respond, simply getting up from her chair.

"Follow me."

Ryan reached for the picture.

"Leave the picture behind."

His head hung low as he stood up, following her reluctantly.

She lead him to a small park outside of the strip. A place he used to take Eleny and the kids to every day after work. Eleny used to call it their "own little paradise."

Mia turned to him.

"If you want this life back, Hero." She said the last word with a sneer.

"You will prove it. You will work for 6-8. Tell us where the other heroes are. And who is in Riemskin right now. If you do not..."

She let the silence paint a picture in his head.

"When I came to this world. I had no choice." He whispered. "It was either follow what they wanted, or death. If i can be with my family again... I will do what it takes."

Mia turned back around.

"Good." Her eyes soften. "I promise that if you do well, you will see them again. We are not the Empire. After you work for us for a little, and give us what we need... you will be free. We will watch over you, of course."

"But we will not control you."

Ryan nods. "Thank you."

Mia called into her radio. "All units stand down. Target is not hostile."

She then walked to the truck. "Follow me. I will take you to HQ. We will detain you until any intel you give us is verified. After that, we will release you."

Ryan allowed cuffs to be placed over his wrists as he stepped into the truck. Two soldiers got in the truck as well. One in front, one in back next to him.

The drive back to HQ was silent.

After arriving at Hood Hill, Ryan was led to a cell, and Mia stood outside HQ looking at Eric.

His arms were crossed as he looked down at her.

"We’ll talk later." He said as he hugged her. "I’m just glad you’re okay."

They still had work to do.

Ryan was lead to a room that was brightly lit. A small table with four chairs sat in the middle. He looked to his left, a glass window reflected the light back at him. "You guys really brought Earth with you, huh?" He said as he sat down, his hands were uncuffed as the two soldiers that had traveled with them stood silently in opposite corners of the room.

Mia sat down across from him, pulling out a map from her bag. His remark was left unanswered.

"Choose."

She handed him a marker.

"Us..."

Her finger traced over Esponia.

"Or them."

Ryan sighed as he leaned back in his chair. He took off his glasses as he looked up. Wrinkles and dark circles hung under his eyes as he thought about lying.

A small girl jumped into his lap. Hugging his neck as she kissed his head. "I love you Daddy!" She squealed as she looked at the newest doll he had gotten her for Christmas. She turned the doll on...

And then the world went dark. Ten men in medieval armor stood around him, their spears aimed at him. "You will work for me." A cold voice echoed from the back of the chamber he stood in. "Or you will die. Once you are done with what I have for you, I will send you back to your world. Prince Heith, lead him to his chambers."

Ryan shook his head, coming back to the present. "I want your assurance my family will be safe." He said quietly, meeting Mia’s eyes. "I am not worried for my safety... but they will kill them to make an example of me."

"I can’t bury them" He whispered.

Mia sighed, understanding his point of view completely.

"They will not be touched."

She turned back to the map.

"You have your answer. Now it is time for mine."

Ryan looked down at the map.

After wiping his face, he brought out the marker. He drew circles around Hoover Dam, Austin, and Vegas.

"We were tasked with plotting infrastructure on maps they gave us. If you check my belongings you will see a map where I checked off locations. On my phone are messages between myself and the other Heroes."

He then pointed to Austin, circling it. He paused.

"Mickey is there." He exhaled. The village of a village burned to the ground flashed in his head. His hands tremble as he finished drawing the circle.

"He’s the only Hero whose location I can confirm. I would suggest you find him quickly. Something is wrong with him, and his missions often turn violent quickly."