Work Text:
Taiwan, Asia
16th of September, 2041
Dimension 02
“Juniors and Recruits of the Expedition…” Field Officer Holden spoke, removing their helmet. “This is a Wilson Breach. Discovered by one Elijah Wilson, today some of you may get to experience one.”
Maya huffed, keeping her folded arms to her chest. Elijah Wilson had been lucky, according to the reports. Anyone on the team could have found it, but because Elijah was the one to write it he coined the term “Wilson Breach”. “Fogbreak” was much cooler.
“Entering one of these can have a variety of effects. You will always enter a void when you enter one of these. NEVER go in without a harness, or you cannot be retrieved! Understood?”
The group of recruits and many juniors - of which Maya was a part of the latter - mumbled in unison. As Maya turned around, she felt a hand on her right shoulder, cold and metal, mechanical in nature. Turning around, a man with a bright-red augmented arm looked at her. Grey eyes and black hair, and the foulest look ever.
“Pay attention.” The man hissed.
“ Als ob es mich interessiert, was du denkst. ” Maya mumbled in German. Translated, “As if I care what you think.”
“ Betrug .” They returned. “Fraud.”
Maya scoffed, blinking a few times in quick succession as she returned her attention, wishing she signed up less and less. Holden was still continuing with more talk about the Fogbreak.
“When you enter this, do your best to remain calm!” Holden sounded like a drill sergeant. “You will be flooded with information of whoever shows up! You may learn things you never wished to know! It is your job, should anyone show up, to tell them about us and establish contact! Find a way to keep in touch, or your chances of seeing someone from the same dimension are one in a million!”
Maya rolled her eyes. Dimensional travel was still a work in progress, and the chances of it ever working were - according to the high-rankers like Daniella and Everett - incredibly unlikely to happen.
“Oculus! Tourne!”
Maya snapped from her thoughts, brushing some red hair aside as she looked to Holden. The man next to her moved through the crowd to Holden, Maya following him quickly so as not to get in trouble.
“Yessir?” Tourne stood at attention. It was clear to see he took the entire “LCM” bit more seriously than Maya did.
Holden held up a pair of harnesses, handing them to Tourne and Maya.
“You two managed to beat the ring the fastest back in June. You both get to test out the Wilson Breach. The chances of both of you ending up in the same place are slim. After ten minutes, you will be pulled out. Press the button on the side if you need more time.”
Tourne attached the harness, Maya managing to do the same. Seeing herself on the same level as the calm and controlled man next to her was a bit of an uplift - if he was good at fighting and she was on par with him, she had to be too, right?
Besides, she was told that most people hospitalised or killed their ring opponents - something that stopped people from joining up most weeks. So she was on the same level as a killer.
It gave Maya a warm fuzzy feeling, though that might have been from the weather.
“Now then…” Holden handed Maya and Tourne a small handheld pistol each. “This is for in case you get trouble. You can’t exactly die, but you will if we pull you out in critical condition so defend yourself in there if necessary.”
Maya gave a slow nod, slotting the pistol in her hip holster. Field Officer Holden stepped out of the way of the pair, gesturing to what was behind them. It looked like the inside of a tunnel, but at the very edges of the hole were cracks and tears. The inside was dark, but seemingly moving like an ocean.
“While the two juniors go out and investigate, I will explain to you what else we know of these Wilson Breaches!” Holden was explaining to the others.
As Maya went to enter, she felt Tourne’s hand on her shoulder again. Looking at him, he wasn’t looking at her.
“Scared?” He asked her quietly.
Maya swallowed, exhaling through her nose. “Not letting it get to me.”
“Good.” Tourne nodded. “Hold your breath, by the way. Archives say it helps.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Maya muttered in thanks.
Looking into the abyss that was the Fogbreak, Maya held her breath as per Tourne’s words. Then, with a few steps and a slight hop, Maya was in.
Standing in The Void
Time becomes irrelevant.
Between dimensions.
The first thing she noticed was darkness. Everything was dark. When Maya looked down at herself, holding out her pale hands, she found that she could still see herself clearly… but everything else was just gone.
As she walked around, she felt the harness tighten on her ever so slightly, reminding of her attachment to the place outside of… this one.
It had only been a few moments, but each moment felt longer than it should. Things seemed slow, like molasses… and yet not so.
Each step sprayed white paint across the floor, yet said paint faded whenever she stepped away from it. It never stained her boots, but it was definitely paint…
One thing she noticed about the void was that it was quiet. Quiet as in “no electricity, no nature” quiet.
“Hello hello?” Maya called out.
Nothing in reply.
Moments ticked by before… something changed. Something in the non-existent air changed. Maya felt slower than before for a moment… And then came the flashes.
Images flickered by in her head, of a man with blonde hair and green eyes. Voices, sounds, faces, places…
Maya clutched her head in pain, shutting her eyes and trying to focus her breathing. Slowly, the images stopped, yet they remained in her mind. Her head felt… full, like she lived someone else’s life. There was loneliness, there was hardship, there was friendship, and there was love… so much love, with so many people.
And then, a name flashed in her head. A full name, a name she knew was connected to the face.
“Neil Hogan…?” Maya spoke aloud, slowly forcing herself to her feet. “...What do I do with…?”
Maya’s question was answered as footsteps rang out in the void. Breathing in, she forced her eyes shut, shuffling around events from old to recent. As she opened them, the man named Neil was in front of her, yet unaware. A lump formed in her throat, one she pushed down as she forced herself to speak.
Something mystical and powerful, Maya thought to herself. Act like you own the place.
“You’re… doing well so far.” Maya spoke. “All the pressures of your life, and you’re managing to have things settled down. Good for you.”
Oh god, that was terrible.
Neil turned around, facing Maya in confusion. She glanced around, then cleared her throat, smiling as she put her hands behind her back and under her dark red coat.
“Who are you?” Neil asked in a slight sense of awe.
Nevermind, we’re fucking great at this! Impress the fuckster!
“Oh, me?” Maya brushed off her grey vest, one designed to keep people warm - helpful, since her coat was better for the arms and she had no shirt on underneath.
Neil nodded simply, and Maya puffed her chest out in a bit of pride before stopping herself.
“Maya Oculus. Head of the Wilson Breach Expedition. I work for the Lunia Citizen’s Militia.”
Two truths and a lie - in what world would a junior be the head? But she had time to lie. A little bit, at least.
“The what?” Neil tilted his head, scratching the back of it.
Maya clapped her hands in a sense of excitement, the sound echoing.
“Let me explain, Neil.” Maya stepped towards Neil, a slight jump in her step.
Neil watched Maya, puzzled as she took a short breath. Time to pull her memory of the LCM.
“I am from… another dimension.” Maya started. “The dimension I resided in is called Dimension 02. We know of a few others, that being Dimension 01 - a sort of Control Dimension, and Dimensions 03 and 04 - 04 is the worst one possible, all dead in 2012. Someone got there, managed to call us, we can’t get them back.”
Maya took a breath, flexing her fingers.
“03 is this weird place, we don’t know what to say it as. It’s like… some sort of “everything’s right” dimension according to what we found, but it’s also just… not that great for some reason. We can’t tell, but something’s off.”
Maya crossed her legs, tapping the floor. Neil silently sat down.
“Now then. Dimension 01 is where nothing changed. You…”
Maya paused, focusing on deciphering what had gone through her head. Faces, names… Lovers, friends. Both.
“You never met Catherine. Or Mikayla, or Lori or anyone. You DID still meet your other friend, uh… Kayla. I think. It’s what I know. You two are close?”
Neil gave a cautious nod.
“You two are probably married in that timeline, considering you don’t have the others.”
“...How do you know all this?” Neil asked slowly, looking over Maya. “Me, my life… The dimensions? What Dimension am I from?”
“Dimension… 05!” Maya clicked her fingers. “You’re in the year 2041, yes? Like us? Well… So are we, just with different things. The closest you have to augments are like… little chips that go into robot parts. We’ve got full on improved prosthetics that make you go above and beyond, eye replacements, organ replacements… Same tech, but lateral and ours is more public. Much more.”
Neil blinked, processing information. Maya shut her eyes again, going through more memories of Neil. A scene flashed - one of Neil surrounded by three, four different women, faces all familiar, almost in a dreamlike state if you could call it that. If it WAS a dream, it was important enough to attach to him.
“You had a bunch of girlfriends, yes? At the same time? They all look very happy with you, so… A harem of sorts you could call it? You have that, even if your, uh… parents hate it?”
Neil nodded again.
How am I getting all of this right? Maya grinned internally. God, this is just… Agh! I am powerful!
“I… I did, yeah.” Neil muttered, turning slightly red. “What’s your dimension like?”
“Well…” Maya grinned as she pulled out a few tidbits of recent history from her head. “About 24% of the world is augmented - most of them are in the manmade island of Lunia, others are around the world, mostly first world countries… Oh! And we found this neat tear in reality recently! We call them ‘Wilson Breaches’ - well, the officials do. I call them Fogbreaks, it’s cooler.”
“What do they do?” Neil crossed his legs, putting his hands on the floor. “The, er… Wilson Breaches?”
“Well, they sort of let you talk with people from other dimensions! If anyone’s listening. What are they called in your world?”
“Oh, uh…” Neil blinked a few times, taken off guard. “I… just drank some alcohol. Deep blue, like ocean water but darker. And sort of… tangy?”
“Sounds like Lapua Lake.” Maya mused. “I’ve had some before, kind of funny tasting but it’s aftertaste is great.”
“It made me pass out.” Neil added. “...Will I be okay?”
“Maybe.” Maya shrugged. “I’m no doctor.”
A few moments of silence passed, and Maya felt a tug on her harness. She pressed the button on it, prompting an expression of questioning from Neil.
“Oh, that’s to let the people back in Taiwan know I need more time. That’s where that Fogbreak is.”
“Ooh…” Neil pursed his lips. “...What will they do once you’re done?”
“Question me on if I managed to keep contact. As to how we do that… I think we need to.. Trade something. Photos, clothes, accessories, meaningless things… Anything you have?”
Neil rummaged through his pockets, fishing for something before producing a handkerchief. Maya took it, tying it around her wrist with a grin.
“ Danke schoen, Neil. Now, uh…”
Maya put her hands in her pockets, going to grab something before frowning. Emptying them, all she had was her phone - plus the pistol on her hip, but she didn’t want to give that away.
“Nothing for me. Phone numbers should work, though. Plus, it’ll let us talk to each-other!”
Neil nodded, taking out his phone and reciting his phone number. Maya grabbed hers, typing it in. Then, scrolled through photos before a grin crossed her face that could only be described as naughty .
“I’ve got a great surprise for you.” Maya smiled, sending the photo.
Neil looked at his phone for a few moments before his eyes widened, looking up at Maya.
“Did you-?” Neil hesitated. “...Why did you send me your… tits?”
Maya winked, holding up a finger in front of her lips.
“Why not? If this doesn’t work, I’m not going to lose sleep. And if it does, then the others in the LCM are going to be reacting much worse than you. Not enough for me to get kicked out, though.”
Neil hesitated before giving a soft, short laugh.
“Fair enough. Say, uh… Maya?”
“Yep?”
“Do you mind if I…?” Neil gestured to Maya’s vest, and Maya laughed loudly.
“All those women, and you still ask?” Maya laughed.
“If it doesn’t work, it’s not anything to lose sleep over.” Neil smiled. “And if it does, well… I know what your boobs feel like.”
Maya nodded. “Got me there. Go ahead, blondie.”
Neil shuffled closer to Maya, putting a hand on her vest, gripping onto her breast. The feeling was nice, in its own way. As Neil continued moving his hand across her chest, Maya hummed quietly to herself.
“If this does work…” Maya added, in between humming songs. “Don’t bring up this bit. I’ve got someone waiting for me back home - when he does come home, at least.”
“Cross my heart.” Neil replied, finally removing his hand. “...When do I get to go?”
“Nobody knows.” Maya shrugged. When you wake up, maybe?”
“Hope that’s soon… When do you go?”
“When I follow my way out with the harness… Speaking of which, I should probably go…”
Maya stood up, followed by Neil, who kept his guilty hand behind his back. Maya did a small curtsy to Neil with her jacket, tugging on the harness.
“See you in another place, Neil?”
Neil went to reply before yawning, stretching his arms. Maya chuckled to herself before slowly making her way out, following the harness’ cord, bit by bit.
Taiwan, Asia
16th of September, 2041
Dimension 02
Maya covered her eyes, rubbing them as she slowly revealed the sunlight to them. Holden rushed over to her, putting a hand on her shoulder before she opened her eyes. She looked up to him, giving a small grin - out of character for her, considering how she acted before.
“Tourne’s returned already.” Holden replied. “About ten minutes ago. I hope you have a reason for your slow return.”
Maya brushed some hair out of her eyes, winking to Holden.
“I’ve got a great reason.” Maya smiled. “I think I may have made contact.”
Maya held up her wrist, untying the handkerchief.
“This came from a man named Neil Hogan. From the unexplored Dimension 05.”
“You spread word of the LCM?” Holden raised an eyebrow.
“Not just that… But I think we may have a method of contact. Which means we can trace it. Which means we can tear ourselves a rift!”
Maya looked past Holden, finding Tourne sitting on the ground, hands steepled as he looked at her.
“What’d you find, Tourne?”
“Nobody.” Tourne shook his head. “Unfortunately.”
“Don’t worry,” Maya gave a small thumbs up. “It wasn’t for nothing.”
Maya handed Holden the handkerchief, sighing as she unclipped her harness.
“Now then… Can we get back to Lunia?”