Kron: The Metamorphosis

By A.G. Cushman

Ted Tuscoma is a senior in high school and the smallest skinniest kid in school so everyone picks on and bullies him. One day Ted was exploring the attic in the house that his parents had just bought and came across a five book series about a six foot nine inch, three hundred and fifty pound barbarian named Kron.
When Teds reading the book he loses all track of time and space. It would feel like he was Kron walking through a world where he was not the punching bag but the one doing the punching. Ted hated the world he lived in and loved reading about Krons world. One night while reading one of the books he fell asleep. He awoke in the morning when his mother hollered to him to get up for school. As he gets up he feels different but he is not sure why. Then he walks into the bathroom to get ready for school and looks into the mirror. What Ted sees there takes him totally by surprise. Standing there was not toothpick Ted, but Kron. As he stands there in disbelief, everything around him starts to vanish. Suddenly hes standing in the middle of a forest with nothing left of the world he knew. He is now Kron, in Krons world. This book is about his journey and experiences in this new world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468536843

A.G. Cushman

My name is Allen Cushman and I live in a small town in Southern Vermont. I have been told by many people in my life that I have a very vivid imagination and that I should put that imagination to good use. I was hooked on the Conan fantasy books, so I took a science fiction/ fantasy class in high school to learn more about fantasy wtiting. It got me hooked on fantasy stories and I have been reading them ever since then. As a matter of fact this book came from an assignment in that class where I had to write a four page story on a metamorphosis. I passed that class easily and when I graduated I packed the metamorphosis story away and became a working man. A few years ago I was living with my sister in Tennessee and I was going through some things of mine and came across my story and after looking it over I set it on the table. My sister saw it and told me that I should lengthen it and make a book out of it. So I started writing and this book is the result of it. This is my first book and it is the first in a series of five books based on this character.

Book preview

© 2012 by A.G. Cushman. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/04/2015

ISBN: 978-1-4685-3682-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-3683-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-3684-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011963380

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

KronMap_1.jpg

This book is dedicated to:

My parents, Allen and Marion, for not discouraging me

from using my imagination.

My wife, Pat, and my sons, Ben, Logan, and Lucas for all their love and support.

I would also like to acknowledge the following people:

My sister, Marianne, who saw my notes and convinced me to write this book.

My sister, Linda, for proofreading and making corrections.

Vicky McGinnis for her wisdom and encouragement.

Linda Bushway for her tireless enthusiasm and excitement about this book.

Linda Felch for giving me the homework assignment

that gave me the idea for this book.

Rich Lennon for all his knowledge and advice.

Todd Westfall for putting up with me while designing the cover.

And finally to Lisa Comstock for using her knowledge as an author to help me.

Cover Art and Map Drawn By:

Todd Westfall

Great Job Todd!!!!

KRON

The Metamorphosis

Chapter 1

In a small town in central New England lived a boy named Ted Tuscoma. He was a senior in high school and very intelligent, yet his one problem was that he was only five feet tall and weighed one hundred pounds. This bothered him because, not only did it make him the smallest kid in school but it gave everyone, even the freshmen, reason to bully him. He hated his size and appearance so much that in the past few years he had tried things to change it. He tried hanging upside down from a chin-up bar, hoping to stretch himself out to get taller, or lifting weights to make him bigger, but nothing ever seemed to work. No matter what he tried he never got any bigger or taller.

The one thing that did bring him joy was reading fantasy books. In particular, the ones he found about a barbarian named Kron. He remembered very distinctly the day he had found them. He was on the second floor of the new house that his parents had just bought, and he was in the hallway when he saw a big rectangular shape cut in the ceiling with a rope hanging from it. He jumped up, grabbed the rope and pulled down on it. What came down surprised him, for it was a set of stairs folded in half. Ted pulled the stairs down all the way and unfolded them. He looked up and saw the attic through the opening. After finding the light switch for the attic and turning it on, he quietly climbed up the stairs. As he reached the top step, he put his head directly into several cobwebs. As he wiped the cobwebs from his head and face, he looked around the empty room. His eyes settled on an old weathered box sitting in a corner under a broken window. The whole room was semi dark and covered in cobwebs, and as the wind blew through the broken window it gave the room a very eerie feeling. It didn’t help Ted’s nerves at all that it was night, and the single light in the center of the room was casting creepy looking shadows all over. So, he quickly climbed into the attic and crawled over to the box, not daring to stand up into the web infested room. When he reached the box, a sudden gust of wind blew through the window hitting him in the face and sending cobwebs streaming over him while blowing his hair all out of place.

Ted wiped the cobwebs off his face again and examined the box. It looked like a small footlocker, but very old and unlocked. When Ted opened the lid, a spider about an inch in length jumped out of the box and started to rapidly climb up his arm. It scared the hell out of him causing an involuntarily scream to shoot out of his mouth. He quickly shook off the spider then peered into the box. All he saw was just some old folded up shirts lying there, but curiousity got the better of him. He reached in and started pulling out the clothes to see what else might be underneath. The wind continued to blow through the window and into his face as he looked into the box. There before his eyes were five books. He pulled them out and looked at them realizing that it was a five book series on a huge barbarian named Kron.

Ted brought the books down to his room and put them on his bookcase, except for the first one in the series which he took and continued to read. When he read them, he would lose track of time and space. It was as if he himself was Kron, a fierce warrior capable of taking on a dozen men and surviving it. He was now halfway through the first book of the series and was eager to get back into the world that he was so mesmerized by. Ted loved Kron’s world from the barbarian’s of Carnon with their constant wars with the Guwani savages to the east of them. To the open fields and wooded hills of Nakorn and Torret, perfect for raising their cattle and all kinds of livestock. Then there was the country of Gaskar that was so mountainous that it was just struggling to stay alive. It was surrounded by Guyana, Yenkor, Benjuma, Monoma and Ugonia. One of the only reasons Gaskar was able to survive was due to the fur of the animals that lived on those mountains, which they traded with its neighboring countries for supplies they needed. Well, all except Benjuma, the Spurned, which is what it was called due to the fact that it was filled with dark and evil sorcerers. Then there were the flatlanded, opened field countries of Logania, Lucanis and Kanor, rich with rivers of flowing water that helped for growing corn, wheat and all kinds of vegetables and grains. The greatest country of them all, though, was the mighty Mysticia. It had huge mountains to its west and waters on the east for protection. The water not only provided protection, but was used for business and trade as well. Having the open water also allowed for a prosperous fishing trade. The land itself was perfect for farming and livestock. It boasted the biggest army of this world and proved it so many times that the other countries ceased to challenge them anymore. Kron had vowed to himself to see them all before he died, and thought the best place to start was the mighty Mysticia.

Ted was thinking about all this as he propped himself up on his bed and started to read. Soon, he was so absorbed in the book that he could no longer tell fact from fiction, for he was Kron.

Kron was headed for Mysticia, taking a shortcut through Guwani territory. He was in a hurry and didn’t feel like skirting around it. Kron was a big man standing six feet nine inches tall and weighing three hundred and fifty pounds of pure muscle. He also had shoulder length blonde wavy hair and emerald green eyes, which were common in Carnon but not so much in the rest of his world. He was one of the biggest men in the country of Carnon home of his birth, which was full of big men. He moved through the forest with the stealth of a jungle cat, but that still was not quiet enough for the savage Guwani’s. Just as Kron sensed their presence, a score of the fierce Guwani warriors stepped out of the woods in front of him. The Guwani’s were a short race with their tallest man coming only to Kron’s chest.

You’re trespassing barbarian, leave or die! spoke the leader. Kron knew he was the leader by the stripes tattooed on his right upper arm. Kron was familiar with the Guwani for they were one of his border countries and very territorial.

I’m heading for Mysticia and I’m pressed for time, so if you don’t wish to die then you better let me be on my way. Kron spoke in broken Guwani dialect, as he put his back to a huge rock wall behind him.

This is Guwani territory and strangers are not welcome here, so leave now or die! The leader of the group of warriors repeated. Without another word, and as swift as a striking cobra, Kron whipped out his sword. He leaped all in one movement, taking the Guwani by surprise and freezing them in their tracks. The first to go was the group’s leader. He was nearly cut in half by a diagonal slash that went from his shoulder to his waist. He crumpled into a mass of broken flesh as his life giving blood flowed all over the cold hard ground. Kron turned to face the others; he was now in a psychotic rage. He leaped toward the nearest men swinging his sword with deadly accuracy.

Theodore it’s time to wake up and go to school, someone yelled. Kron turned to see who yelled, but could see no one. The Guwani took full advantage of Kron’s hesitation and jumped on Kron, knocking him to the ground.

Theodore Edward Tuscoma, I’m not going to tell you again. Get up, it is time for school! The strange voice came again. Sitting up in his bed Theodore woke up.

Awe mom, did you have to wake me up? I was having an awesome dream! Ted yelled. And mother my name is Ted. I hate the name Theodore.

It’s time for school Theodore. If you don’t hurry up you will miss the bus again! His mother screamed again from outside of the door.

Ted hated school, life, and himself. Once he was stuffed into a gym locker, by some football players, where he stayed for three hours before someone finally heard him and let him out. One other time they hung him from the flag pole out in front of the school by his underwear. Oh, how he wished that he was Kron, a giant of a man gifted with the size, strength, and ability to survive whatever crossed his path. If I were Kron, he thought, none of the kids at school would even dare to bully me and I could date any girl that I wanted to. There was not a day that went by that he didn’t think about this. That is why he lived to read his Kron books, to get away from the world where he was the punching bag, and be the one who does the punching. Ted thought about this as he finished getting dressed and then grabbed something to eat as he ran to catch the bus.

Once the bus arrived at school, Ted dashed toward his homeroom trying to avoid everyone. He was unsuccessful for as he rounded the corner he ran right into Butch, the biggest, strongest kid in school. Ted tried to stop, but he was not quick enough and ran straight into him. Ted fell over backward landing on his butt, but Butch hardly even budged.

Where do you think you’re going skuzzball! Butch said looking down.

H-H-Homeroom before I’m late. Ted stuttered looking up from the floor.

Well, I think you’re gonna be late ’cause ya wrinkled my shirt and that means you’re gonna hafta’ pay for it! Butch laughed.

A-A-All I have is the ten dollars that I got from my parents for lunch this week. Ted said reaching up to give him the money.

We’re not talking about money here, pea brain! Butch laughed again as he leaned down grabbed the money and Ted, picking him up off the floor and hanging him by his shirt on an old hook on the wall. Ted looked down and saw that his feet were dangling over a foot from the floor.

See ya later putz and thanks for the ten bucks. Butch said as he walked away, his laughter echoing down the corridor. After several minutes of struggling to get down and not succeeding, Ted’s friends finally found him and took him down off the hook.

Are you okay Ted? one of them asked.

Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t know what I would do without you guys, Ted responded. Dennis, Tare, Big Arn, and Walt, you guys are my best friends.

What do you mean? We’re your only friends! Dennis said sarcastically. Then they all laughed and Ted thanked his friends again as he headed off to homeroom to explain why he was late.

This group of kids was very unique. Ted was extremely intelligent, but physically small. Dennis DeGummit, who was five feet five inches tall and one hundred twenty pounds, was a computer geek and could enhance or design anything, but he was a scatter brained wimp. Terence Hamshaw, called Tare, was the same height as Dennis but weighed one hundred and fifty pounds. He was athletic, always concerned about his appearance, but was often gullible. He was not afraid of anyone or anybody regardless of their size; which meant he fought a lot but never ever backed down or changed his opinion no matter how badly he got beaten. Arnold Hugoman, called big Arn because he was six feet tall and weighed one hundred eighty-five pounds, was the strong man of the group. He was very loyal, had a big heart, and very giving, but very shy. Then there was Walter Duscon. He was a year younger than the others, but the same build as Big Arn. He lived on the same street as Big Arn and Tare, and was a street fighter. He was a little different too. He was a bit of a loner until Big Arn invited him to join the group. Walter had an incredible sense of humor and was fiercely loyal to his friends. He was not afraid of anyone, though. He was a hit first and talk second type of person. Even as a group they were still taunted and bullied by people, but it was much worse when they were alone.

As Ted went to his first class, he was thinking that these four friends of his were definitely one of the few bright spots in his rather gloomy life. Much to Ted’s surprise he made it through the day without another incident. Now he was in his last class of the day, English, and was bored, so he started to read his book.

Suddenly Kron stood up, threw his arms in the air and sent half a dozen Guwani flying so they landed sprawled out on the ground half dazed. Kron turned to face the remaining Guwani. They just stood there stunned by what they had witnessed. Kron didn’t hesitate. He lunged at them slashing left and right carving up the Guwani with every stroke. One Guwani fell back looking at the bleeding stump where his arm used to be. Another dropped to the ground with his leg cut off at the knee moaning in agony. While the third was hastily trying to put his intestines back into the hole that Kron had created in his midsection. Now the other Guwani were getting up shaking their heads trying to clear the cobwebs out. Then they surveyed the situation and lunged at Kron with their axes and spears raised to attack ….

Theodore, can’t you put that book down and pay attention for five minutes! a voice shouted.

What? Ted said looking up from his book, and hearing all his classmates laughing at him.

I said, the teacher started again, can’t you pay attention to class for just five minutes?

I’m sorry, it won’t happen again. It’s just that I’ve had a very rough day today, Ted replied.

You have a rough day everyday, Theodore. His teacher said matter of factly while his classmates laughed even harder. Now can you tell me the topic we’re on and its importance to the English language?

The name’s Ted and no ma’am I can’t.

I didn’t think so, she responded as she turned away. Now can anyone else answer … Before the teacher could finish, the bell sounded and school was dismissed for the day. Whew, what a day, Ted thought. Then he headed for the school bus excited about getting home, away from this school and all the things that he hated so much. When he arrived at home, he ran straight to his room, propped up his pillow and started his homework, which he finished by suppertime. After supper, he went back upstairs and started to read his book. He was soon so engrossed in his book that he could not tell whether he was reading or dreaming.

The Guwani were lunging at Kron with their axes and spears raised to attack. Kron spun and twisted with the speed of a whirlwind. Two Guwani missed him and stabbed each other. They fell back with their spears jutting from each other’s chests. Kron spun again, his sword flickering out like an attacking snake, cutting an arm off here and slicing a midsection open there, sending blood flying in every direction. The bodies fell so fast that they started building a human barrier between Kron and the Guwani’s. This made Kron smile, for now the Guwani had to either jump or climb over the barrier to get to him. While the Guwani hesitated for a minute, Kron stopped to rest, leaning his back against the rock wall behind him and to wipe the blood from his face. He knew that for them to get to him it would require them to either take their eyes off him to climb over the barrier, or be temporarily defenseless when they jumped over it. Kron’s rest didn’t last long for two Guwani decided to test his theory and they jumped over the barrier. They didn’t live long enough to regret their mistake. For as they jumped, Kron attacked, his first swing decapitated one of the would-be assailants sending the head one way and the body the other, spouting blood in every direction, and then he nearly cut the second one in half, on the backstroke. The remaining Guwani stood stunned trying to decide whether to fight or flee. This gave Kron a brief minute to survey the situation. There were about seven of them standing there staring at him in bewilderment, while a dozen or more lay dead around him covering the ground with blood. Seeing how they could not decide what to do, Kron thought that he would help them out a little. His next move caught them completely by surprise as they watched the blood splattered giant leap over the barrier, sword slashing in the air and letting out a savage war cry. The seven Guwani leaped back in fear, letting out terrifying screams. Then they all turned and bolted into the woods vanishing almost instantaneously.

I guess this means that I have your permission to pass through here uninterrupted. Kron laughed loudly wiping his bloody sword off on one of the dead Guwani’s loin cloths and then sheathing it. His only answer was the quickly vanishing screams of the Guwani as they fled for their lives. Looking around Kron denounced the Guwani for delaying him. He was pressed for time and could not afford to play these games. Once he got his bearings again, he headed for the quickest route to Mysticia.

Theodore it’s time for school! A voice echoed through the forest.

WHO ARE YOU! Kron yelled as his voice thundered through the woods and his sword whistled out of its scabbard. Come out and fight me! He yelled again as he spun in a circle searching for this mysterious voice.

Theodore get up NOW or you will be late for school! the voice boomed again. Kron turned in the direction the voice had come from only to see a small women standing before him.

Mom what are you doing …

Suddenly Ted jumped up in his bed. It’s morning already, he thought. He must have fallen asleep while he was reading. He had no idea when he had fallen asleep or how much of his dream was his and how much was the books.

Aw, mom, you’re always waking me up just as my dreams are getting to the good parts. Ted noticed his voice sounded different. He thought maybe his throat was sore from snoring all night, but he was not sure.

Theodore some day you will realize that a good education is better than a good dream any day of the week! his mother shouted back.

Can’t she think of something more original to say, thought Ted disgustedly? Education, education, education, everyday it’s the same thing, education. Education never saved me from being bullied or beaten up. Oh, if I were Kron for one day, then no one would bother me in any way, shape or form ever again. Then and only then will I be able to concentrate on school and my EDUCATION!

Ted crawled out of his bed and headed for the bathroom, still complaining about school and HIS education. When he got to the bathroom, he groggily looked into the mirror. Suddenly he was wide-awake, for standing there in the mirror was not toothpick Ted, but Kron. Could this be true? Was he dreaming? He pinched himself and then he slapped his face. Nope, he was not dreaming. It was true, he was Kron. As Ted stood there in disbelief, he noticed in the mirror’s reflection, that he was not the only thing changing. The walls began sprouting leaves, vines, branches, and then whole trees. He looked up to see that the ceiling was now the top of a forest with the sky peeking through the cracks. He also could now hear the sounds of the forest: crickets chirping, birds singing, toads croaking. He could feel the wind whistling through the trees and through his now long flowing hair. Ted looked at the mirror again then jumped back as a tree limb shot through the mirror shattering it into a million pieces. Ted spun around in a circle surveying the situation. The bathroom, the house, everything he knew of in his life had just vanished into thin air. He was now standing in the middle of a forest as Kron. As Ted stood there with the smells of the forest being blown around him, it made him feel so good that he took a deep breath and smiled.

Chapter 2

Ted suddenly let out a deep hearty laugh as he realized that his brain and Kron’s had merged into one, with him being the sole commander. He could not believe he was in control of all of Kron’s abilities. He sensed a feeling that he had never known before, CONFIDENCE. Now, he thought, let’s get to Mysticia and have some fun. Ted was amazed at how quickly he could cover territory and how quietly he did this. The miles seemed like yards and he was not even the least bit tired. He could even sense and hear everything going on in the forest. He found out he could now locate a noise, track it down with the stealth of a lion and attack it with the speed of a cheetah. He was enjoying testing out this new body of his and its new abilities.

Ted came into a small clearing and looked up to locate the sun’s position so he could get his bearings. The sun was on its downward descent, so that’s the direction he went, toward the sun. He knew Mysticia was to the west of him, of that he was certain. He was just uncertain as to whether it was southwest or northwest. So west it is he smiled to himself. He didn’t know why Kron was headed to Mysticia, just that he wanted to get away from Carnon, his homeland. Not that Kron disliked it there because he loved it. It was just the same thing every day. Day in and day out, it was the same old routine. Carnon had treated Kron well, Ted was thinking, with its farmlands, forests, ocean, mountains and snow covered winters. Also, if it weren’t for the fact that Kron had fought in the border wars of Carnon, he would not have been so adapt at surviving outside of it. The fight with the Guwani had proved that much to him, but now Ted thought with my knowledge and Kron’s ability … AWESOME!

Suddenly, Ted had a flash back of standing with Kron’s clansmen watching the Guwani charging them and them charging the Guwani. He saw how savage and big his clansmen were. Several were even bigger then Kron himself. His clansmen were using axes and swords that their blacksmiths had made them, compared with the Guwani tribesmen with their spears, primitive axes and some stolen weapons. There was blood and Guwani flying everywhere at the hands of the Carnonians. The battle looked very one sided, since the Carnonians were so much bigger and stronger then the Guwani. As this vision started to fade, all of Kron’s other memories from his childhood to present time came flooding into Ted’s mind. Ted could not help but smile, because he was now Kron in every sense of the word.

Well, I guess it’s time to seek my fame and fortune, Ted thought, as he headed out on his new mission. Right now he had to get out of Guwani territory before they sent out more scouts. Let’s see now, the first thing to do is to find a town or an outpost and get a map. He had to get his bearings and find the quickest route to Mysticia.

Ted had traveled about five miles from the battle with the Guwani when a sound interrupted his thoughts and brought him back to reality. As he surveyed the area, he spotted a Guwani scouting party closing in just to the right of him. So he turned to face them, thinking that it was odd he heard them. Normally you could not. As they entered the clearing, Ted decided to speak first.

Hi guys! Can I help you with anything? Ted jested.

You’re trespassing on Guwani territory. A man stepped up and spoke. He was the biggest one of the group of five, and yet was still a good foot and a half shorter then Ted.

Yes and quite beautiful territory it is! So ah … What’s your point!?! Ted answered trying to test him.

We were sent to check out the sight of a battle where many of our men were killed. We found the site, then followed the trail the attacker left, and it led us to you. It wasn’t easy. You left very little for us to follow, and we lost your trail several times.

Yeeess!?! Sooo go on. Ted taunted.

So, we were sent to bring you back to be tortured, and then killed for what you did.

Yeah, right, you five men are going to capture and kill me after twenty of you could not, Ted said with a very cocky attitude.

Just like a man from Carnon to think you can win every battle you face, but you will not win this time, the warrior said.

Ted suddenly heard a noise directly behind him, but could not move fast enough as he was struck in the back of the head with a force so strong that it caused a bright white light flashed before his eyes and drop him to one knee. As the light slowly dimmed and his vision started to clear, he looked up just in time to see the leader of the men step forward. Then the butt end of his spear struck Ted in the forhead. Ted saw another sharp flash of light and then all went black.

The first sensation Ted felt was the throbbing in his forehead and at the base of his skull. Then as other sensations started to come back to him, he realized that his feet were almost numb. Somehow, he must be crushing them with his weight. The next sensation he felt was from his shoulders. His arms were being stretched out behind him and tied together around something that seemed to be holding him up. Then Ted suddenly remembered what had happened and snapped wide awake. As he struggled to stand up, he realized that he was tied to a post. His feet were tied to the front of it at the base and his hands were tied together in the back. His arms were draped over two huge branches on either side of him to hold him somewhat upright.

When Ted was finally able to stand up, he looked around. Yup, I am most definitely in some Guwani camp, but why so crowded with people. I can’t believe it, Ted thought, I have been transformed into this huge barbarian and I still got captured. Man I am so stupid! I guess nothing has changed. I’m still being humiliated just like in my world. Guess this is just my curse in life. Ted continued to berate himself until he looked around and realized something. These encampments are usually very small and scattered, but this one was enormous and full of warriors. As he stood there looking around trying to take it all in, a huge lightning bolt struck the ground about half a mile off to Ted’s right. The Guwani jumped, shocked by it, and then a half dozen of them took of in the direction it had come from.

Several minutes later they came back dragging a very dazed man in a long dark blue hooded robe. From what Ted could see, he was quite a bit taller then the Guwani and very heavy. They brought him over to Ted and proceeded to tie him to the post right next to him. The man did not put up a fight as he looked like he had been severly beaten. Once he was securely tied to the post, they left him the same way they had Ted. Within a few minutes, the stranger shook his head a couple of times and then suddenly jumped to his feet. He shook his hood off and looked around with a wild look of disbelief written all over his face.

Where the hell am I, and what the hell is going on here! the stranger yelled to no response.

It was then Ted got a real good look at the stranger. He stood a little over six feet tall with an almost bald crew cut type of brown hair, with dark brown eyes and a long crooked nose. There was something strangely familiar about this person, and the fact that he yelled out in English made it even more unusual.

Does anyone understand me around here or do you not speak English? the man shouted again.

They don’t speak English, but I do, Ted responded.

Well, who are you, and what good will that do me seeing how we are both tied to these stupid posts?

Yes, I agree. We are in the same situation, but there is something about you that seems very familiar to me.

Well, you don’t look familiar to me at all, and like I said before, who are you and where am I? the stranger snapped back.

"You are in a Guwani encampment, and I am called Kron. Now who are you?

My name is Dennis DeGummit. I thought I was from the United States until now, the stranger muttered still shaking his head and staring in disbelief at the giant tied to the post beside him.

I thought you looked vaguely familiar, you dirtbag! Ted said trying to hold back his laughter. But boy have you changed!

Dennis looked himself over for the first time since he landed in this strange world and was amazed to see he had a muscular frame. He also suddenly felt a new sense of power and energy.

It seems that I have changed, but how can this be, and how do I look familiar to you? Dennis questioned.

"Well, you see … um, as I said