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Jenny couldn't help it. She gaped. The large room was kind of like entering an egg. The curved walls flowed upward to a large globe in the ceiling which exuded a bright light that illuminated the colors in the room in a way that they popped out. It was furnished similar to the offices of executives in office buildings at home. There were no windows, but where windows might have been were ovals that appeared to be glass that glowed softly, occasionally shifting in the color spectrum independent of one another.
Shelves lined the walls with many interesting things that were mostly unidentifiable to her. However, all of this was taken in with one quick glance around the room, for in the center of the room, dressed similarly to all of the townspeople was a woman. The difference was that the colors she wore were subtler, not necessarily pastel, but muted colors of green, gold and brown. Her brown hair was long, as what appeared to be the common style, but it was held back with a headband of the same green as her loose, smocked blouse.
Her eyes were an intense green and her smile was welcoming. She said nothing but held out both hands to Jenny as she almost glided across the room to stand before her. Jenny hesitantly held her hands out as well, as seemed to be expected. The woman grasped her hands firmly, still smiling warmly. Her eyes twinkled with some hidden mirth and, still not speaking, she reached one hand to Jenny's little necklace. She touched the key with one long manicured finger.
"Welcome, Jenny." Jenny heard this, but the woman's mouth had never moved. "Now you can converse with us. I am Miriha. I am The Gatekeeper. When you wish to speak to me, think my name and then what you want to say. Try it now."
Jenny marveled but followed the instructions. "Miriha, how is this done?"
"It is mind-speak. It is how we communicate. We can, vocalize when we wish, mostly to sing, but we prefer this way for everyday conversation. It is more accurate, and it is calming. We communicate concepts, not really words, exactly. Therefore, the meaning is always clear and truthful."
"Can you read my mind?" Jenny asked with some concern.
"Not at all. This is why you think my name first. It creates the connection between you and the person you are speaking to. You can do a general broadcast to a group if you don't think the name first. For instance, Tarafau cannot hear our conversation currently." Her green eyes twinkled mischievously. "As far as he is concerned, we are exchanging disgraceful secrets about him."
"Tarafau, can you hear me?" Jenny queried.
"I can now hear you, Jenny." Tarafau replied turning his amber eyes on her. "Miriha, we are here to align Jenny's key to the gateways and to explain to her the tasks that Lizzie left her."
At last, Jenny thought, I'm going to get some answers.
Miriha gestured to some comfortable chairs. "Let us sit," she said. "And we will talk."
They seated themselves and the lights on the wall shifted to forest colors, as if they sat in a grove of trees. The bright light at the top of the egg-shaped room dimmed slightly.
Jenny's head swam. What questions to ask first? Miriha looked at her expectantly.
"I know almost nothing about what Aunt Lizzie was involved in or what she expects me to do." She started, trying to organize her thoughts. "I guess maybe the first question is: Where am I and how did I get here?"
"Your home is a portal or 'gate' to many places. each door in the hallway behind the gateway office leads to a different dimension. You will notice that they are represented by different colors and symbols on each door representing the place they will take you. These physical representations are, of course, an illusion generated by the gateway to communicate with you. The doors do not exist as a solid form nor do they have any reality. A person without the key cannot see them. The door in your hallway was never "built" into the physicality of your house. It exists only as a concept in your mind to allow you to locate the gateway."
Jenny considered this. It sounded very much like the magic in her favorite fantasy books and she said so.
"Ah, magic. Well, you could consider it that way, if you prefer, but there is nothing magical about it. Matter is more flexible than you may think. The science of your world is evolving rapidly, but there are many misunderstandings of the order of things and you tend to think of matter in terms of relative solidity. Matter, time and space all have many more dimensions than we suspect, I think.
In any case, the portals are ancient in origin. You have several on your Earth. Once we fully activate your key, you will have access to all of them. The passport you carry will identify you as a "Guardian" and, regardless of local politics, you have what your people might call "diplomatic immunity".
Anyone but you will see the passport as whatever document they are used to seeing. Your papers will always be in order. You cannot access the gates on your own planet directly. You must come through our gateways here to do that. Therefore, from time to time you will be travelling by conventional means. Lizzie has VIP accounts with most of the major airlines and hotels on your planet, so this should be no inconvenience."
"You said dimension, not planet. What does that mean?" asked Jenny. "I thought I had been transported to another planet."
"Oh, you are definitely on another planet, Jenny. This is Lanatrix, but we are not in your galaxy or even your universe. The portal is not a 'transporter' as portrayed in the legends of earth, but it is a doorway to alternate dimensions. It is not a time travel device either. Rather it simply allows you access to places that would otherwise be impossible for you with your current level of science."
"But why? I'm not sure why they even exist and why they would be connected to Earth at all."
"Your aunt was right about you, Jenny. You are a thinker with a curious turn of mind. The gateways aren't of our construction and their origins are lost to us, but they have been discovered over time, mostly by accident, and as time progressed and people started realizing the implications of the potential havoc that could be caused and the potential advantages of the gates, eventually, over thousands of centuries, a coalition formed of a 'Gatekeeper', 'Guides' and 'Guardians' whose mission is to allow the dimensions to live safely together and to prevent potential invasions or harmful interactions by those with ill intent.
The Gatekeeper, Guides such as Tarafau, and Guardians are carefully chosen as beings with integrity, the ability to handle difficult things and make decisions that impact billions of worlds in dimensions we have as yet been unable to count."
Jenny sat back in her chair, realizing that she had been perched on the edge of it. "And how am I involved in all of this? And what do you expect me to do?"
"If you accept, you will become a Guardian. This will require you to travel occasionally to other dimensions as you are called to help with issues that may arise. You will associate with your fellow Guardians on a great council on a regular basis to learn of developments and issues in the council and you will further your education about the science involved.
You will be given technology that will allow you to interact with other planets in your universe, at a certain point in your training, as you will become the representative of all beings therein. It will be part of your job to keep track of anything that would threaten the Dimensional Alliance."
Jenny's eyes widened, and she realized her hands were shaking. "Me? Why me?"
Miriha's eyes crinkled in amusement. "I am not laughing at you, Jenny, but you must know that this is the exact question your aunt asked me so many years ago. She was about your age when she came to us. I imagine she left you her journals?"
Jenny's mind went to the yet unopened boxes on her dining room table so very far away and nodded. Had that been only yesterday?
And she looked more carefully at Miriha. She looked to be about the same age as her mom. How could she have known her aunt when she was her age?
Miriha continued. "You will find great instruction in reading her journals. I encourage you to focus on them when you can. I understand this is a lot to take in at the moment and for now, most of what I can tell you are generalities. If you choose to accept this position, you will receive instructions and guidance from the tech I will give you."
"And what happens if I refuse?" she asked.
"If that were to happen, your memories would be altered, and arrangements would be made to deactivate the portal. Your key would disappear, and you would no longer be able to see or access the gate. Your house would just be a house and the cat would just be a cat, replaced by a common feline of Earth. You would live your life out in your house, doing what you have always done. The funds in your bank account would remain for you to use as you choose, and the inheritance would continue as if nothing had happened. Your aunt's boxes of journals and photos would be removed as well as all traces of communication from her that mentioned anything about the portal. You would have no idea about any of this and you would live your life as before.
I doubt Lizzie would have recommended you, however, if you had not been an ideal candidate."
Jenny quieted her breathing and realized she had been gripping the plush arms of her chair in order to calm the shaking.
Suddenly Tarafau spoke up in her mind. "Jenny, I have observed you to be a responsible person, intelligent, kind and you adapt well to surprising circumstances. I am sure I would miss you if you decided not to accept, but you should know that this is entirely your choice. I have something for you."
He reached into a pocket of his robe and pulled out...
...a lavender envelope.
Jenny couldn't help it. She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Another one?"
She unsealed the envelope and opened the note in her aunt's precise lettering. "Jenny," it began, "You are now in the presence of The Gatekeeper. Miriha is a kind and an amazing being. The offer she has made to you has many responsibilities. It also has many compensations. As she has already told you, you have a choice to make. I want to suggest to you that you take the opportunity and the potential risk it implies. At any point, should you decide this is not for you, you can go to Miriha and she will reverse you and all memory of portals and dimensions will be removed and you can go about your life.
But I want you to know that in all the time I have been a Guardian, even when things were difficult, I have never regretted choosing to be a part of the Dimensional Alliance. As I have kept track of you over the years, when I was on Earth, I have been so impressed with you: your steadiness, your curiosity and your strong desire to be actively engaged in something worthwhile. How I was able to do that will be revealed when you are ready.
This is important, in ways I cannot clearly express to you at this time. Please, consider taking the post. I feel strongly that you will not only not regret it, but it will enrich your life and give you the power to do many good things that will affect billions of beings you will likely never meet.
Love, Lizzie"
Jenny thought back on her life. She had been comfortable with her choices, following her passion for writing and her interests in science and nature. She had, however, considered herself more as a reporter of life rather than someone who had "adventures". She liked her clients and enjoyed her routine of writing and hanging out with her friends.
Her little apartment had been in a nice part of town and she didn't really want for anything, although she didn't have much in the way of luxuries. A quiet life. A safe life. And it didn't have to change. She could go on that way in a beautiful home in a nice neighborhood. She wouldn't realize that there was a portal in her house. (Would it still be in her house?). She would be able to afford to live very well, with no rent to pay. And with her writing income, she wouldn't have to touch the money in Lizzie's account except for emergencies or the occasional splurge.
"Aunt Lizzie had been doing this for a very long time, hadn't she?" she said at last.
Miriha smiled, reminiscing. "Indeed. As I said before, she was about your age when the key was passed to her by one of her university professors. She was very skeptical about the whole thing, but Tarafau helped her see the value of what we do. Lizzie has made a large impact for so many over the years. We will miss her."
This last thought held a wistful sadness. This method of thought speaking was more than mere words. The actual intent of the speaker came across so clearly that there was no mistaking exactly what they meant, and their feelings were attached to the thought.
Jenny looked at Tarafau. "You knew my aunt well. Why did she do what she did?" Jenny meant so much more than just being an interdimensional ambassador. "Why did she choose me? How did she even know I could do this? What made her think this is something I could even succeed at?"
Tarafau looked seriously into her eyes. His amber eyes were piercing, yet kind, and his face was solemn. "Your aunt was one of the most joyous, kind, and intelligent beings I have had the pleasure of knowing in my lifetime. She cared deeply for peace and justice and was anxiously engaged in doing her part to keep the cosmos in balance.
I won't lie to you. This work is intense and can be dangerous, but it is also very satisfying, and you will see and do things that even your fertile imagination cannot yet picture. It will mean you won't see a lot of your friends and family, and like your aunt, you will be more of a family legend than anything. But every action you take will be a protection to them and every other Earthling you know, not to mention all living beings on planets in galaxies your kind have yet to discover.
You are feeling inadequate at the moment. You've had no training and you had your life set the way you wished it. This will be a sacrifice on your part, but I promise you it will be worth it. And, as your guide, I will be with you every step of the way. Should you choose to join us, you will be thoroughly trained in all skills you will need to do your part."
His thoughts came to her mind forcefully and there was no doubt he was sincere.
"And my friends? Won't they notice I'm not around much? Won't it cause them to be suspicious?"
Miriha nodded. "We have taken all that into account. Remember, we have been doing this for a very long time. Your cover story is that you have been hired by a large travel firm to do a series of documentary guides and that it will require you to travel extensively. This is not a lie. You will be recording your travels for us and you will be traveling to places you can't begin to imagine. You will even go many places on your Earth you may not realize exist. There are other agents on Earth with whom you will consult from time to time and one of them will be your trainer while you are learning what you must know to function in your position."
Jenny felt that her mind was going to explode with the influx of thoughts, ideas and possibilities. As a young person she had always known she would be a writer. She had imagined herself writing impressive, popular novels or great scholarly works. Her instructors had always told her to "Write what you know." Admittedly, most of what she wrote at this time was all researchable online. Very little of it actually had anything to do with personal experience. This was her opportunity to experience things that would light her imagination and help her to make a difference as well.
"All right, so, if I find, down the road, that I no longer want to do this or find that I can't what happens then?"
"Your life and mind will be purged of anything having to do with the portals and you will be given a good cover story and the necessary memories to support it. This doesn't happen often, but we have the technology to do it."
"So why don't you just implant the suggestions in my mind to make me do it and by-pass the whole 'choice' thing?"
"That would contradict everything we stand for. It would violate one of our primary directives. Only Evil ever uses force to accomplish their goals. We will not compromise this, and we would never use the technology available to us in this manner."
Jenny decided. "I'll do it. When do we start?"
"Give me your passport," Miriha said, holding out her hand.
Jenny slid her wallet out of her backpack and removed the little gold book. "My golden ticket?" she thought wryly.
"Now give me your left hand."
Jenny held out her left hand and before she could wonder what would happen next, Miriha poked her finger with a needle that appeared from Miriha's pocket. She gasped, but Miriha held her finger firmly and pressed it on the first page of the passport.
The blood stained the page and then disappeared as the page filled with characters, first unrecognizable and then they squirmed and became English. It outlined her name, her address (with the appendage "Earth" after "United States of America") and then an updated photo of her formed above the writing.
"Wow, you could have warned me," Jenny gasped.
Miriha dabbed at the puncture with a piece of gauze. "Hold that there for a moment. You had said you would do it and I saw no need to hesitate."
She handed the passport back and said, "This is an important document, if a little archaic. It is infused with your genetic code now and cannot be forged or allow anyone to impersonate you. You must keep it with you at all times and to facilitate that..."
She pulled out what looked like a black sports bracelet with a gold and burnt orange logo on it. She proceeded to insert the passport into a horizontal slit in the bracelet. The 3x5 inch passport slid into it as if it were smaller than the slit and disappeared. "Another dimensional portal. This will hold an amazing cache of things of various sizes, somewhat like your backpack, but it has no weight, because the things in the bracelet actually exist in a different dimensional space.
There is no actual space in the bracelet. They are just like the doors. They simply appear to be this shape because you see them this way. Other beings will see them as something different and someone who cannot see gateways will not notice you have anything more than one of those rubber bracelets that are so popular on your world.
It also has a beacon you can invoke that will allow us to know where you are. In addition, the room inside has equipment you will need as you travel, from tents to food to tech of various kinds. To open it you say, 'transport' and tell it what you need. Try it now."
Jenny started to do this, but hesitated. "Do I say it out loud or mind-speak?"
Miriha grinned. "You are as smart as Lizzie told us you were. You could say it out loud as often and loudly as you wish, and nothing would happen. This is a 'Miniature Dimensional Portal" device. The MDP is attuned to only your mind and Tarafau's. Only you or he can activate it. We give both of you access so that if you were incapacitated Tarafau could still get the things you need and activate the beacon."
Jenny took a deep breath. "Transport passport."
The passport appeared on the floor in front of her. She picked it up and examined it with increased awe. "Coolbeans!" she exclaimed aloud. Miriha and Tarafau both grinned.
"To replace it you need only touch the bracelet to it, and it will return to its place in the dimensional room. In your training we will familiarize you with the resources that are already contained in the MDP. For now, would you like to put your backpack in there?"
Jenny grinned. She touched the bracelet to the strap of her backpack and it kind of shriveled and slid into the bracelet as the passport had done. "Wow. Are there any limitations to what I can put in there?"
"We have yet to find any," Miriha replied, "but there are probably some things that would be somewhat impractical to do. You'll learn more about the capabilities of your MDP in your training."
"So, when do I start?" The possibilities of this new opportunity were beginning to excite her. She was anxious to get started.
"You will need to return and make the arrangements your aunt will have sent to you in an email. Follow her instructions exactly. Something else you should know. This is no time portal. The same amount of time will have passed on Earth as has passed since you came here. I know of no actual applications of time travel among the dimensions, for reasons you will begin to appreciate as you proceed.
Once you have made all your arrangements, invoke your bracelet with my name. It will notify me, and we will then schedule your first training."
Miriha held out both hands as she had when they had first entered the room. "Blessings of The Creator of All Things on you, Jenny. We will see you again soon."
This was clearly a dismissal. "Thank you, Miriha. I will get everything done and see you again soon."
