Prologue
It was another hazy day in Pismo Beach, and Wes, a man with short brown hair, deep brown eyes and of indeterminate age, looked over at his visitor as they sat in the living room looking out over the calm Pacific. Through the open patio door, the sound of the Pacific rushing against the rocks far below could be heard, as well as the call of seagulls.
His visitor was tall and thin, with long golden blonde hair in a ponytail, bright blue eyes, angular features and Elven ears. Which was only natural, as he was in fact an Elf who could have stepped out of the screen from a recent fantasy movie.
Wes looked long and hard at his friend.
“So let me get this straight. You want me to go to an alternate Earth, which is doomed, and steal away some of the most beautiful women on that Earth, then bring them to Shiron for you?”
“Well, not for me actually. You see, I have this friend, we used to work together on the world I lived on before I came to Shiron. We were friends for over a century actually.
Well, he left, and later so did I. But he found me again, and he mentioned a few favors I owe him. So yes, that’s what I want.”
“Umm, Your Highness, isn’t that against the rules? Won’t the gods be a little miffed at that?”
“Not in this case, as you see, you won’t be affecting the proper development of that Earth by using magic since, well, it doesn’t have a future.”
Wes was shocked. Prince Hans was asking him to steal people. Not that Wes hadn’t done it before, as a number of women could attest, including Michelle who was busy fixing dinner next door. A dinner that they were supposed to be at in few minutes as a matter of fact.
“If it makes you feel any better, I and several others will be trying to save a few other people before the end comes to that world. Most of whom will end up in Shiron as well.
But the priorities for that mission are substantially different. Otherwise I would be handling it myself.”
Hans looked over at his friend. “You owe me you know. I looked the other way when you engaged yourself in kidnapping and slavery here. Don’t give me the excuse that you made all of your girls lives better. You didn’t exactly give them a choice, and you played with their minds. I could have thrown the book at you when you came back to Shiron with them and you know it.”
Wes looked uncomfortably at his friend, who as it happens, was also his boss. “Okay, you made your point.”
“Look, if it makes you feel any better, I will pay you. And I will throw plenty of incentives for anyone you take with you. I wouldn’t take your girls though.”
“No, you’re right about that.” Wes thought as he pondered the ramifications of his girls realizing that on that Earth, their alter egos, and everyone they knew, were doomed. “Am I on that Earth?”
“No, neither you or Grim are there. So I would suggest he would be good to take with you.”
“He goes by Eric here, you know.”
“True, but he will always be Grim to me, as you will always be Gavin.”
“Yes sir.” Gavin replied. After all, his boss was entitled to call him whatever he wanted on a job like this.
“I will tell all the girls after dinner then.” Gavin stood up and walked over to the bar.
“Care for a drink before dinner?”
Hans stood, and smiled. “Yes, I think some of that Scotch you like so much would definitely be in order.”
A familiar, yet different, place...