GoCorral

Prologue

Djeiclay heard the porthole click as it cycled through to another world. He examined his fingernails as the porthole continued to click. Every twenty seconds a new world appeared in the porthole. Djeiclay glanced at each world for a moment. Too dry, too wet, too cold, too early, too late. He pressed the reject button over and over again. Every day he lived twenty seconds at a time. Another world. Another few seconds of freedom. Then another button press.

Reject after reject. Sometimes Djeiclay had a world that seemed exciting. It met all the basic parameters. But then the more specific criteria came in and he pressed the reject button. At least those worlds were more exciting. He could actually do some work and thought during those twenty seconds. But still. Another press of the reject button.

Djeiclay thought of the last world they’d found. That world was boring, but had some wonderful music. He scratched his pointed ears as he remembered the sounds. Such beautiful instruments. And the way the special metal of that world formed the horns. It made a wonderful resonant sound that he longed to hear again. Press the reject button.

There was an older world that was the best music that Djeiclay remembered. Was that five or seven worlds ago? He’d forgotten at this point. Djeiclay wondered if anyone else remembered by now. Was there anyone still left from that world in the slave quarters? He’d go and check after his shift. Djeiclay’s finger hovered over the reject button.

He didn’t press it. This world met the minimum specifications. Correct temperature. Land and water. Breathable atmosphere. Time flowed at a good rate and the gravity was only a few percentage points off standard. Djeiclay’s hands flew across the controls to take a closer look.

This world looked… good! Vegetation across most of the surface could support life. Evidence of mobile life forms. Was it too early or too late? Djeiclay zoomed in along the rivers. There were cities! Inhabited cities with a hubbub of activity within them. Only one thing left to check.

Djeiclay flipped the controls to scan for magical power. He took in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair before looking at the results. He opened his eyes and looked at the answer. Were the inhabitants of this world magical?

Yes!

All was in order. Djeiclay pressed the accept button and shoved his chair back to jump up suddenly. He would have new music to listen to soon!

Djeiclay brought his index finger to his temple and sent to Kardishan, “We have a hit. All factors check out.”

Kardishan sent back, “Excellent news. I’ll be there in a moment to take a look.”

Djeiclay sat down on the chair once more. He rotated his legs back and forth in anticipation. What metal would these creatures use for their horns? Or something new for their strings? Percussion was always unique on each world but simultaneously boring. There’s only so many ways different objects can go thunk. The patterns were something to look forward to, but not the instruments.

And the singing! So many stories to be heard in song and emotion. The inhabitants always had such strength of emotion when they sang. Djeiclay loved that the most, but it was the hardest part of the music for him to recreate himself in the Realm. Only the inhabitants could really feel and perform their own songs. To him they were words and stories but to the inhabitants their songs were truth. He wished they were truth to him as well. Sadly he’d never managed to experience the worlds from their perspective.

Djeiclay fingered the handle of the blade on his belt. Did the inhabitants feel stronger emotions because of their mortality?

Kardishan opened the door and came into the observation room.

Kardishan said, “Exciting news, Djeiclay. Show me what you found.”

“Here. Take a look at this. Suitable temperature. Land and water. Air that we can breath, actually looks quite nice to breathe according to the analysis.” Djeiclay pointed at each of the factors in the porthole as he spoke. Kardishan looked over Djeiclay’s shoulder. Djeiclay sensed a feeling of impatience.

He continued, “Normal time flow. Gravity is 3% above standard but within the acceptable range. And take a look at this.”

Djeiclay pushed a few buttons to bring up pictures the system had captured of the city on the river. The settlement was surrounded by farms and orchards. “Look! Vegetation and a city. And…”

Djeiclay pushed the button to switch to the live scry feed. “Live inhabitants. New music for us to listen to! New food to eat! New books to read! So much!” He turned with a smile on his face to look at Kardishan.

Kardishan sighed and asked the question Djeiclay knew was coming, “And magic?”

Djeiclay pushed the final button without turning back to look at the controls. The report came up in the porthole. “Yes.”

Kardishan clapped Djeiclay on the shoulder. “Perfect! I’ll get a scouting team together. The Queen will be most pleased. Thank you Djeiclay. Send the report to the Realm Head.”

Kardishan turned on his boot heel and left the room. He would prepare a team to scout the world for possible conquest. All the other factors could be scanned for, but the final one required in person verification. Djeiclay knew little of the broader plans of the conquests. Inhabitants died every day. What did it matter how the Adlishar hastened some of them to their fate?

New music! How exciting! Djeiclay hummed to himself. He tried to remember the tune to his favorite song from the last world. What wonderful horns.

Today’s writing didn’t get as far as I wanted to hit that average of 1667 words. My daughter’s birthday party and the World Series final that went into extra innings set me back a bit. I got to an ending point on the Prologue and decided it was time for bed. Also my 53 previous words went down to 52 as I changed 5 seconds to 20 seconds. ALSO also, Outer Invasion is a working title at the moment. I’m not loving it at the moment but I needed something.