Captain Firecrest arrived at the power station, dressed for travel and armed with his rifle, pistol and sword. His mood had been somewhat improved by the promise of traveling by portal, something he had never done before. Most stories suggested they were unpredictable and dangerous, leaving destruction and deadly creatures in their wake. Students drinking at the former Gangplank had more optimistic accounts. They claimed portals could originally only be used by clockworks, but with the latest technological advances they were now ‘mostly safe’ for human travel. He figured the truth was somewhere in the middle.
His mood darkened again when he saw Mr Wright waiting for him, along with Captain Heinrichs, armed and ready to move out. He glared at the back of John’s head bitterly. The wolf refused to leave his post to help Russell and his ‘friend’, but was now willing to jump across a continent for someone else? He could see how it was.
The three walking towards a common area, seemingly prepared to take on a riot, may have drawn a curious glance if it was not for Loki. The boy was as subtle as a cat whose collar bell had been replaced with a klaxon horn. As he walked his pack clanged as his unsecured instruments struck one another. Whenever he shifted his weight, or even his tail, there was a metal chorus accompanying it. Perhaps the spiders hated loud noises? The adventurer moved into town after the spiders attacked, and was unfamiliar with their weaknesses. He felt it was too late to ask now.
Bookworm lead them towards an inner chamber, passing several scrutinizing clockworks that verified their identity and purpose before allowing them to pass. They were asked not to touch anything or else risk their own destruction and half of the city with it. Russell adjusted his coat as they passed through the tightened security.
They could hear the portal before they could see it. Dust, paper, leaves, and other debris that had been left unattended on either side of the portal flitted about the air of the chamber. The matter scraped against the walls and created a whirlwind that would at its worst cause a paper cut. The Professor had sent in clockworks to clear the mess that he blamed mostly on the other side of the portal.
Loki gasped in awed delight as he appreciated the machine that was stabilizing the portal. Russell too appreciated the hole between them and another place in reality, but wanted to do so at a distance.
The proceedings later seemed to be a blurred dream to Russell that he could not remember clearly. He allowed the others ahead of him and watched them bravely departed the station one after another. He did not see how they reacted to the effects of the portal, nor would he have any memory of being assisted by technicians on Aquilla III. He only remembered being violently ill and losing the contents of his stomach.
He’d traveled the world and done some death defying acrobatics, he liked the feeling of his stomach rising into his chest, but nothing prepared him for passing through that portal. It was not like stepping one room to another, rather it felt like the entire world, gravity, everything shifted and warped around you. The room spun and he collapsed to the ground.
The world righted itself after half an hour, but it was an unpleasant way to pass the time. They reassured him that humans always had that initial reaction, but they could get used to the effects after prolonged use. He thanked them roughly and informed them that he he would stick to his airship thank you very much.
Wright seemed unphased, which only annoyed Russell even more. Captain Heinrichs recovered first, having more experience with this method of travel, and spoke with the staff. She did not like the answers she received and Russell was in no condition to make sense of what she was asking.
He would later discover that the group agreed to approach Itsy in her own territory. He would grow even less enthusiastic when they added that was how Dr. Westbridge had disappeared.
Yer don’t need ter worry bout not knowin’ them spider’s weaknesses, they ain’t got none, so ain’t worth worryin bout! Have fun on yer adventure!