A Tale of Realms Unknown - Unexpected Heroes

By Justin Vining

Book 1 of 3 ATORU series - Unexpected Heroes.
Four friends stumble into a portal to another world, with little hope of getting back. They are placed between two factions of people who have been in a long, cold, civil war. Who do they trust? Who can help them?
Along the way, the four friends realize they are not helpless and can do things in this new realm or dimension that they could not back on Earth. They develop and hone their new powers and abilities while fighting for survival and defending their new allies. Their situation forces them to mature along the way, which they never quite did, and have a long way to go...

This is an unconventional series full of gaming, pop culture references, and comic relief abounds. The book, story, and characters all make fun of themselves. But don't be fooled, this book and series has a deep and serious plot that can force you to think.
Romance, drama, action, and humor are all blended and timed well. There is something for everyone to enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387135097

Book preview

A Tale of Realms Unknown - Unexpected Heroes

(Book 1 of 3)

A science fiction/fantasy novel

By Justin Vining

Note: this book is intended for adult readers.

Copyright JTV Books, Justin Vining December 2016

Any and all references in this series are copyrighted of their respective ownerships and are used for humor and cliche reasons...duh. Take the free advertising, you're welcome!

Contact: [e-mail]

Please like JTV Books on facebook.

Rev 2, A Final edition after, everything! 11-4-18

This is my first ever book! It has been revised, corrected, and improved several times over the years. This multiverse, story, and characters are a combination of obvious and various worldly inspirations mixed with my own quirky mind. I offer this first book for free in hopes you may like my works and style that are all completely, me. All of my books are written, edited, and published by me alone. No one has assisted me in any way. I hope you enjoy, but if not…"What else do you want for free?! Your money back?!"

Also, please rate kindly and support indie authors!... Otherwise we will keep getting the same washed out cliche, trope filled, rehashed stories again and again.

Act 1

Ariana watches Nicholas as he poorly attempts to hold the colored frets and strum simultaneously on his plastic guitar. His errant annoying sounds play almost more predominantly than the actual song they are playing on Rock Band. The song ends with everyone frantically hitting buttons, yelling, and hitting one final note. The scores for each player are tallied and revealed on screen. Ariana smirks then pokes him in the side with her microphone and says, You are so terrible at this game!

Nicholas responds, Whatever ho, singing is hella easier than guitar...

He grins then proceeds with smacking her in the ass with his plastic guitar that he had strapped to him. Ariana takes the abuse with her continued smirk, hint of a grin, and raised eyebrow.

Quentin interrupts their obvious flirt and says, You two should play or just get a room...

Whatever! Ariana remarks and rolls her eyes.

Alaina quietly sits at the plastic drums, patiently waiting for the next song. Helping her cope with the excessive flirting is a generous amount of rum and cola. She smiles cutely before taking some final sips from her glass.

The four of them albeit dysfunctional, act like a family. They play rock band most weekends together and drink. It's simple, but it's their respite from their normal lives. They look after and mock each other. They each have a job in local Atlanta and share rent together on a house just OTP (outside the perimeter - for non Georgians). All four of them finished college in various fields, none of which are fantastic. They were all left with mediocre jobs that didn't seem worth the tuition or effort...

Alaina pleads with taps of her drumsticks, Start the next song, or I'll need another drink...

Quentin gets up, puts down his plastic guitar, and says, I'll join you, I need another...

Quentin and Alaina proceed to the kitchen.

Ariana and Nicholas watch as they leave the living room then quietly say "yes" together.

Nicholas begins to immediately tickle fight Ariana. He tickles her with one hand all around her waist and under her chest. He holds her firmly with the other and controls her giggling decent onto the carpet. She kicks and screams, mostly in pleasure, but she adds in a little tone of annoyance, for effect. She poorly tries to tickle him back in the neck but his muscles just flex and stiffen.

After a few minutes, Quentin and Alaina walk in with their drinks and see the commotion. Both of them shake their heads and say, "really?" at the same time with a slow finishing facepalm.

What…?! Ariana squeaks out just before a deafening quiet briefly becomes them. They each feel a slight breeze, seemingly from nowhere.

All of them think, "What the fuck…"

Though... Ariana actually says it aloud, absurdly loud. Her voice was loud to her ears, but the deafening quiet seems to have briefly sucked the life out of her volume to the others. They look at each other briefly with a shrug then look around the room and see nothing has changed. Alaina and Nicholas round the corner to check out the kitchen and foyer. They find all of the windows and doors are closed downstairs.

Quentin shrugs saying, Ehh, It's nothing. Let's play! while picking up his plastic guitar.

The others follow suit and prepare to play the next song.

Ariana grabs the microphone then is overwhelmed by an eerie sensation of static and ringing in her ears. She asks concerned, Do you guys not feel or hear that?

No the other three say as they shake their heads.

It's like static... Ariana informs unsurely.

Forget it Ari, let's just play. Nicholas says coldly.

Quentin and Alaina give her shared, concerned looks.

Ariana looks at them with scorn, Fuck you guys! I'm not crazy!

She proceeds around the corner, through the kitchen, toward the garage. Her long dirty blond hair seems to have slightly more volume and starts to stand up slightly, the closer she gets.

Is it because of this staticy feeling? she thinks to herself as she feels her now fluffy hair.

As she reaches the door to the attached garage her arm hairs raise. She raises an eyebrow then touches the handle and receives a light shock that goes through her. She jumps back while grabbing her hurt hand. The other three laugh heartily. Ariana scowls at them, turns around, and opens the door quickly.

To her surprise, Ariana sees...herself...

WTF she says softly as she tilts her head left and right. Her reflection moves with her.

Nicholas asks, Ari, what is it?

He rounds the corner and comes behind her. His jaw drops at the sight of their odd reflection. Quentin and Alaina peek inside beside Nicholas and share in the disbelief of their sight.

None of them move through the door for a full minute. They all stare at a mirror image of themselves in the garage near the overhead door. The center of this mirror like object reflects like a mirror but losses reflectivity and fades away further from the center. The shape is an odd and rough ellipse that constantly spins, just slow enough for them to notice. Faint sparks spin off the edge and dissipate. The mirror’s surface appears solid at first glance but actually has slight ripples like a liquid would.

There is no rim or edge on this... Ariana whispers as she thinks to herself. Her friends are silent and unmoving behind her. She clears her throat, straightens her posture, and heads toward the mirror.

Alaina grabs her arm and pleads, No, Ari, please. We don't know what it is!

Ariana barks back, What are you guys so scared of?

She laughs it off though she is scared shit-less like the others...

Ariana typically acts like the leader of their little band/family and pretends that she likes it. She does this even though she knows she is not so great at leadership. Though she should be with a BA in business management... None of the others ever want to step up so Ariana always does, just like now.

Ariana turns to look at her friends with a stern face saying, "Well you guys aren't going to check this out, so I will... Chicken shits...It is probably just some...swamp gas or some bs..." she ends faintly to a whisper.

Quentin chuckles, What was that assessment?!

Ariana ignores him apart from a middle finger salute then moves within 3 feet of the mirror. It's still eerily quiet and she senses the most static sounds and feelings yet. Her hair starts to rise like she is holding one of those plasma globes from Spencer's. She pushes her long hair down and stares at herself in this mirror object, admiring her pleasant figure. She strokes her long hair to her right, waves her hands down her sides, and ends with a torso twist and grin to herself.

Nicholas says, Quit gawking over yourself and figure this thing out.

Ariana flicks him off indiscriminately then touches the mirror...

She immediately feels yanked in, her vision and consciousness blacks out…

~~~

Ariana slowly comes to consciousness and thinks, "Oh God, how long has it been? How's my hair?"

As she opens her eyes she feels and sees a heavy presence on top of her. She sees her limbs pinned down by her friends that are literally on top of her like a dog pile.

She immediately complains, Get off me assholes!

Her friends start to awaken, separate somewhat, and look around themselves in disbelief. To their best guess they are in a small warehouse of sorts. Walls of greys and whites, pipes and cables of some colors run alongside the walls and in the floors under a transparent material. They also see a large machine, elliptical in shape with two huge black metal magnet rings running slightly offset from each other and spinning slowing in opposing directions. These rings hover gracefully at opposing angles over a platform that's covered in thick cables running about everywhere and particularly toward a large collection of electrical control panels.

Ariana motions and comments, "We apparently fell out of this, thing."

She assumes this because of their position to it and because they watch their reflection fade away in a similar mirror as this device turns off and the rings slow to a stop. The mirror and quiet is no more. A humming sound dissipates and lights around them brighten.

Nicholas gulps and says, We aren't in Kansas anymore toto.

Ariana immediately says, No shit sherlock!

Quentin mocks with, "Anymore cliche lines?!"

Alaina says concerned, I think that was a portal... and this must be another dimension...

Nicholas scoffs and chuckles, You watch and read too much sci-fi shit, nerd.

Ariana punches Nicholas in the gut, but he is unaffected. Nicholas’ tall and built body absorbs it well. He flexes and smirks to her before pursing his lips to her. She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms, trying to play unimpressed.

Alaina ignores this and turns to look behind them. She raises her eyebrows in concern and says, "Hey, I know this is another cliche line but, you guys need to check this out…"

They slowly turn and see staring back at them are a bunch of human like beings with slightly grayish toned skin, upside down earlobes, and hair that resembles formed Playdoh. There are two genders among the small crowd but most are males. The females have figure and shape like human women and their hair is longer than the males, straight and molded behind them. They all wear very similar laboratory style white robes with square black ties that are not tied like humans. They are wrapped more like a small scarf.

"These beings don't seem threatening…?!" Ariana says quietly and unsurely to her friends.

Apparently hearing her speak causes the humanoids to start whispering among themselves.

Seeing them converse makes Ariana perk up. She stands up, adjusts her hair, then says, Hi. We are humans from Earth. So sorry to barge in like that, not our choosing but anywho...Can you turn that thing back on and let us on our way?

The beings turn to her and tilt their heads in confusion as a human would. The humanoid beings start to speak words but they sound like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons. Wah wahhhh Wah wahhhh Wahhhh.

Ariana focuses on their words and every so often she seems to know one or two. welcome she hears and from among all the wahs

Over the next few minutes she can actually begin understanding half of their sentences.

Ariana asks her friends, Can you guys understand them?

Alaina answers, "Partially, no idea how, or why, or why now…"

Both groups converse among themselves and more of these humanoid beings come into the area which makes the four friends a little more nervous.

Over the course of an hour they can practically understand the humanoids. One of the beings realizes the humans can understand them now and steps forward. He begins to speak directly to them.

Welcome, I am Drefasawy and we are the Rafnian people. Our planet is called Notifica and we built this portal out of necessity. Our planet is rather small and we have colonized the entire sun lit side of our static planet. We are wanting to expand within the next millennia...

Ariana puts up a hand that stops him and she says curiously, "Millenia? Planning a little too far ahead huh?"

He rolls his head to the side and looks confused, and offended.

He continues, I'm sorry, I only understood a word or too. Your dialect is, very rough...

Nicholas throws his hands up and says, "WTF Ari, since when do you speak alien?!"

Ariana faces him and punches him in the shoulder. Nicholas stands unaffected. Ariana reels a bit in pain, shaking her hand, before turning back shyly toward Drefasawy. She clears her throat and straightens her posture once more, "Nevermind him...I am Ariana. That was Nicholas, this is Alaina, and Quentin. We are from Earth. Can, we just call you Dre?"

Quentin chuckles and whispers to Alaina, "Doctor Dre…!?"

Alaina very briefly smiles.

Dre looks at Ariana unamused and responds lowly, "That would be…acceptable, I suppose..."

Ariana continues, Ok! So back to your portal... Anyway you can turn it back on?

Another Rafnian walks up and says, Oh no, we cannot do that.

Why not?! Ariana exclaims.

"For one, that portal you came in through used our energy stores that we saved up for 5 cycles. Plus, we don't want other, things coming through..."

Quentin says sarcastically with his arms crossed, Hmm...so we are not welcome here but can't leave either, super!

Dre accommodatingly says, "Apologies... excuse us so we may speak privately. This will give your group time to cope as we discuss our, options..."

Ariana shrugs and says unsurely, sure...ok...

Act 2

The four friends are led through sliding door after sliding door, room by room. There are no hallways. Everything other than the warehouse like space is the same modular like units. Rafnians are at desks and chairs. They are writing and drawing with light pen objects on the desks and walls which are all semi transparent.

The four are finally led into a room with square shaped couches with indentions in the headrests, assumedly for their hair so it does not deform. A few side tables and a clear center table are the only other furnishings. As with the rest they have seen, very few colors are present, anywhere, and there is no decor, style, or art in sight.

All four sit and instantly notice the couches are rock hard, like plastic, and very uncomfortable.

Nicholas remarks, These people are freaks!

Shut up!... barks Ariana, ...Look, let's first discuss how we understand them and now apparently, speak their language...

Alaina ponders a moment, tilts her head back and forth then says, "I believe there is something different here than our planet and dimension. I'm no scientist, but this place may be affecting our brain functions differently, positively. For example I'm good at math in my head normally, but I'm now able to find the square root of 936281645.45. which is..."

Ariana interrupts with waving hands, I don't want the answer to that, but you know... I feel different too, like I can feel objects around me without touching them.

Quentin adds, When I looked at a canister light fixture in the ceiling, as we came in this room, I swear I made it turn off briefly, with my mind, but I wrote it off...

Nicholas scoffs, You guys have lost it! Too many comic books and sci-fi movies... I mean this is crazy, someone pinch me so I wake up from this geek nightmare!

Ariana swings her open hand towards his face and slaps him. After it hits, they all notice some items on the nearby table beside them, fall off and clatter on the floor. They each stand stunned with wide eyes.

How did you do that Ari?... asks Quentin. ...I saw your hand, it never touched those things. By like a few feet! And it's not like there was enough wind off your hand to...

Nicholas rubs his sore cheeks and says, "Ouch, guess I asked for it. But ya, that was weird. Maybe you are telekinetic now, you freak!"

Quentin mocks, "Aww, did that big word hurt your big head?"

Nicholas threatens him with a fist.

Ariana thinks for a second then looks at the fallen objects. She points at them with her hand, extends her fingers, then twists her wrist.

The objects move slightly, making them all gasp as they watched her.

That is some cool shit! says Alaina excitedly.

At this moment Dre walks in.

"Hello again... friends. We have decided that your group is temporarily welcome in our city. You will be accompanied by Drakenraketa who you can call Drak... since you don't like our full names... He will guide you and teach you our culture."

All of them notice the Disgust in Dre’s voice as he called them