In this Episode, Jack learns to "dime jump" between dimensions!

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In that moment, it was clear what he should do; there was nothing for him here.

He snatched the case and joined them in front of the cabinet. Thing Two handed him a set of armor. He put it on, following their example.

Thing Two stopped him from grabbing weapons, “Not until you're trained.” He said.

Jack popped open the case, and took out the beans. “What do I do with these?” He asked.

Thing One turned to him, “Listen carefully. You swallow the small one...”

Jack did not wait for further instructions.

He swallowed the small pellet, and then looked to Thing One for more information.

“...with water. Yep. Oh, well, your first transition into frequency modulation phase is going to be uncomfortable.” Thing One said, “Put the other one into your left ear. Just set it in there, it will do the rest.”

Jack put the bean in his left ear, the cold, metallic surface tickled. He felt the object expand, then move down into his ear canal. Within a few seconds, it had reached his body temperature, and he no longer felt it.

He looked around nothing seemed to have changed. Then the room began to flicker.

His head spun, and felt as if it were splitting right down the middle, “Aggghhhhh!” He screamed, but as quickly as it started, it was over.
He turned, expecting to find Thing One and Thing Two as they had been.

The two stood watching him, every bit themselves, except for one major thing. They both had large, gray, feathered wings. The wings rose from their shoulders and ran down to just below the knees! He rubbed his eyes and looked again. As he blinked, the wings seemed to get staticky then spring back to full view.

“What the hell?” He gasped, “What are you two, angels?”

Thing One sighed; they did not have time for this. “Yes, and no,” he said, “We are, but angels may not be what you're expecting. We're officers of the Access Network Guardians Extra-dimensional
Legionnaires."

"We are just here to keep you safe. We cannot fight this thing for you. Now, we can answer more questions later, but right now, I need you to decide. Are you in, or are you out?”

“Do I really have a choice? Look at them.” Jack indicated the Nosher pirates.

Thing One put a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye.

“Yes, let me be very clear. You are somewhat sensitive to this sort of thing, so, you might come in contact again. However, if you want, we can remove the B.E.A.N.S., and you can go back to your life, as it was, and none the wiser, but that decision is permanent."

"And if we don’t stop that Nosher your life, as you know it, will be over in approximately 16 hours.”

Jack laughed, “What else would I be doing right now, heating up the fryer to make lunch? I'm in!”

“Alright, then, let's go.” Thing One walked to the wall opposite the shielded entrance they had entered.

He put his palm to a control panel and a section of wall about five feet wide opened into another hallway. The two Things hustled down the hallway. Their wings just brushed the ceiling as they jogged. Jack sprinted to keep up.

After about 50 yards, they entered a larger round chamber that lit up as they entered. The ceiling here was higher. In the center was what looked like a small car, shrouded in a canvas cover.

Thing Two went to the car and began unbuckling straps that held the cover in place. Thing One moved to a console just inside the door. He tapped the panel, activating a round door to the left of their entry point, large enough to drive through.

“Okay, we're about to give you a crash course; you better pay attention. We have reinforcements coming, and I will not have time to repeat myself. This vehicle is a finely tuned piece of machinery."

"It is equipped with inter-dimensional heads-up displays, just like you saw in the Caddy. Although you won’t need them, your passenger might.”

Thing Two yanked the canvas cover away to reveal a dusty Volkswagen Rabbit.

It looked like it had once been white. Emblazoned across the door were the letters A.L.I.C.E. Jack started laughing. “Is that car a Rabbit? Wait a second, is this a prank? Where’s the camera? Come on, this is a joke, right?”

Thing One and Thing Two maintained their stoic sameness; neither one seemed amused.

Thing One continued, “This is the Accelerated Light Impulse Continuum Engine transport. It will allow you to move between and through dimensions without interference.”

“So, it’s just a coincidence? You realize that you are about to send me down a hole in a white rabbit with Alice painted on its side?” Jack asked.

“Oh, no, the allusion is very much intended. Mr. Carroll was an Aedept like you. He invented the filters that allow us to view other dimensions. His writings were rather more allegory than fantasy."

"Much of it is true. Take Thing Two, for example, the Tweedles were his cousins on his mother’s side. Now, can I continue?” Thing One looked stern, which was saying something.

His usual frozen demeanor would make Genghis Khan look friendly.

Jack nodded silently and allowed Thing Two to readjust his armor as he listened.

“This is not an armored vehicle. It is immune to what you would consider “normal” weapons, but if these pirates have any inter dimensional targeting hardware, it could be an issue. So, here is what we are going to do. I have someone coming to join us, to help guide you through this."

"Thing One and I will be occupied for the immediate future. Once he gets here, you’re going to take this,” he patted the Rabbit, “And head one way. Meanwhile, Thing Two and I mount a distraction in the other direction on these.”

Thing Two opened a panel to reveal two sleek motorbikes.

The idea of Thing Two on the bike almost made Jack laugh. Something was becoming clear to him. Although the circumstances felt fantastic, the danger they faced was real. He wished he could have a motorcycle instead of the two-door economy car assigned to him.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Thing One said. “But the bikes don’t have the tracking software you’re going to need. Trust me Thing Two will be much more comfortable on the bike.”

Jack must have seemed surprised by this because Thing Two chimed in. “Last time we thought they would need the Jaws of Life to get me out of it. One more jelly donut and you would be out of luck. That beautiful piece of machinery would be rusting in a junkyard.”

A loud chime sounded, “That will be our guest. Will you let him in please?” Thing One asked.

Thing Two walked to the control panel and pressed a button.

“Okay, back to you, Jack. The B.E.A.N.s you ingested work similarly to the window. To scroll through available frequencies, just press in on your ear once. Press three times to shut the filter off and return to your own dimension."

Jack pressed in on his ear and noticed some subtle changes in the room. He pressed again, and Thing One’s wings glowed a brilliant fluorescent pink. Again, and they were green and two small beings stood beside him.

He scrolled through several more “channels” and then pressed three times quickly. Everything went back to the way it was the first time he was in the room. Although, he thought to himself, Thing One looked better with wings.

“There is one major difference. If you stay on a frequency long enough, you will begin to vibrate at that frequency. You will cease to exist, temporarily, in other dimensions. You can only interact in that one dimension until you change the frequency. It typically takes three to five minutes, but, with practice it can be quicker,” Thing One explained.

“Use the Rabbit’s dimensional filters to determine where you need to be, and then reset your frequency using the B.E.A.N.s. The ALICE travels through space, as well as between dimensions, which can be handy.”

“Really, how does that work?” Jack asked.

“It’s a car; you’re familiar with the concept, right?” Thing Two smirked.

Thing One gave him a look and continued.

“When you use the beans, you are jumping dimensions, but you will stay in the same location. Anyone with the right technology in that area can see you, or apprehend, or harm you. So, just look before you leap.”

Thing One indicated a button on the Rabbit’s dashboard. “That is the Inter-dimensional turnpike access. It works kind of like a wormhole.”

Jack examined the button, “What, no cool acronym, like “looking glass' or 'wardrobe," what’s with that?”

“That would just be silly, Jack. It can take from one place to another in the same or a different dimension rapidly, but it is temperamental, and there is always a toll. It’s great for dime jumping when you don’t have a vortex handy. Just be careful.”

“Dime jumping?”

Jack reached out to touch the button; Thing Two stopped him.

“Yeah, moving between dimensions, that’s what we call it.” Thing Two said, glaring at him. “Don’t touch it unless you have to.”

How soon until Jack has to press the "button" and who is the visitor coming to help him? Find out next time!

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