Chapter 2

I once again woke up disoriented, in a new place, with no idea how I got there. On the bright side, I was well rested and feeling great – better than I ever felt in years actually.

I don't know what kind of "sleep ray" those aliens or "pan-dimensional beings" have, but they sure do give a guy a good night's sleep.

It had taken me around a week to finish the list and the arrangement of my supplies, with Center's valuable help. With no clocks or windows, time didn't have a lot of meaning – I worked, ate when I was hungry and slept when I was tired. I spent a good amount of time reading, studying, planning and preparing myself for my new life, as well as practicing and familiarizing myself with all my equipment.

All in all, it was a busy week.

When I was finally done I took some time to relax in the hot tub, had one really good last meal with several full courses, had a good night's sleep and when I woke up, I told Center that I was ready to go.

"Please sit in the armchair and close your eyes. This will only take a moment."

I did and it did.

A part of me hadn't honestly believed what had been happening. The possibility that I simply had a stroke in my sleep and was now in some sort of brain damaged coma dream had passed through my mind. In fact, it was an ever present worry throughout the days I had spent preparing. But now, here on the ground, on Midgard, seeing the sun rising over a sprawling forest and rolling plains, feeling the dew covered grass beneath my bare feet, smelling the fresh cool morning air, feeling the breeze on my bare skin, and seeing the vibrant colors of the world around me, I really didn't care if this wasn't real – it was close enough for me and I'd enjoy it for as long as I possibly could.

The weight of the reality of my situation sunk in right about then. This was my world now and it had very little in common with the world I was born to. I was in the wild – no cops or rangers to protect me, no EMTs or doctors to save me. It was just me against a hostile environment, wildlife and possibly natives.

And I was buck naked for Christ's sake!

Time to swallow my fear and indecision and man up. I was going to survive, by God!

My container of supplies had been placed a few yards behind me. I had based its construction on a run of the mill cargo container, but in different proportions – three meters tall, four wide and five deep. Instead of corrugated steel, it was made of two layers of a titanium alloy sandwiching a layer of dense foam insulation, and it was designed to be modular, so it could be disassembled and rebuilt into different shapes, sizes or even into multiple, smaller containers.

I unlocked the deadbolt and swung open the doors to the container. Inside, within easy reach, were a backpack of clothes and assorted equipment and a few weapons, ready to use. Feeling literally and metaphorically naked, I quickly dressed – socks and boxers, of course, with camo printed cargo pants, a plain black t-shirt and comfortable hiking boots – all the while keeping an eye on my surroundings. The last thing I wanted was to get killed before I could even get dressed. It took slightly longer than usual though.

I have to admit, that while dressing, I was somewhat distracted ... by myself.

Before going soft and round in my middle age, I had been somewhat athletic in my youth, with a runner's build. Center's rejuvenation device must have been set to eleven, because I wasn't just younger, I was seriously built now. Looking down at myself, I guessed that I had something of a boxer's build, yet despite the added bulk of muscle, it all felt natural to me, like it had always been there. I experimentally flexed different muscle groups admiring the power my new body now held.

I realized what I was doing and shook myself out of it – a half dressed guy, standing in the middle of the wilderness, feeling his abs is positively a weird sight. Especially considering how an unknown number of "pan-dimensional beings" were most likely watching me.

If I got myself killed now, I'd most likely end up on their blooper reel.

After dressing I strapped on a stab proof vest, which offered cutting, slashing and stabbing protection to my front, sides and back. It wasn't standard though, thanks to Center, who had added a thin layer of fine linked chainmail, also made of titanium alloy. That should protect me from just about anything this world had to offer ... except below my waist, my arms, neck and head.

Hopefully anything or anybody who tried to kill me would go for my heart.

Next came my weapons. I'd hunted a few times before, but I've never been much of a gun person. That didn't mean that I was stupid - if I was going to be facing ancient wildlife and tribes of primitives with stone tipped spears, I wanted protection. So, I had made a nice selection of guns and rifles, along with thousands of rounds of different kinds of ammo, and reloading equipment and supplies (I'd have to eventually learn how to use those). These also weren't normal models – Center had tweaked the designs, making the weapons from stronger, more resilient materials, and slightly increasing their range, accuracy and reliability.

There were a dozen 9mm Glock hand guns, four M4A1 carbines, four Benelli M4 shotguns and two Remington 700 bolt action rifles with numerous accessories - night vision devices, suppressors, laser pointers, telescopic sights, bayonets, bipods, etc.

I thought the underslung grenade launchers would be overkill though, so I hadn't bothered with them.

Unfortunately, even the large amount of ammo I selected would run out eventually, so I thought that it would be smart to bring some more primitive alternatives - a whole bunch of knives and blades, bows and arrows, crossbows and bolts.

A Glock with tac light and extra magazine went in a holster against my right thigh. On a strap across my chest I hung a carbine, pausing to adjust the forward handgrip, tac light and 4x scope. I made sure to slip two extra magazines into my pockets. Rounding things off, I hung a ka-bar on my lower back and a hatchet on the left side of my web belt.

Well, it wasn't exactly a camping hatchet. It was actually called a "combat hatchet" or "tactical tomahawk".

So what ... I'm a big fan of the Gary Paulsen book. So sue me.

Being clothed and armed certainly made me feel much better. Not completely safe and secure, but definitely more confidant.

Before setting up a base camp, I knew that I needed to check on my surroundings. Using some prepositioned hand and foot holds I then climbed up onto my supply container, giving me an ample panoramic view of the area.

My supplies and I had apparently been dropped in a large clearing on a plain. Before me, to the west as I confirmed on my compass, were vast steppes with the occasional group of trees and hilly areas. I could see several herds in the distance through my binoculars – most seemed to be of large cattle or aurochs, but there also seemed to be a herd of a type of bison, another of a species of horse, and on the fringes there were what I guessed to be small herds of deer.

I clearly wouldn't have trouble finding game to hunt.

To the east, immediately behind me, there was much hillier terrain with quite a few plateaus rising gradually and unevenly toward a distant wall of light blue and grey mountains, peaked with white.

To the north and south were forests with trees so tall, I couldn't see much beyond them.

I took my time scanning the land around me, ignoring the beautiful view, but I could not see any immediate dangers. I knew that the presence of herd animals meant that there would certainly be predators in the area and I could have no idea what the forest hid, but there were no obvious signs of danger.

I was about to climb down when something else caught my attention. I froze and squinted my eyes before remembering and raising the binoculars to take a look. There, just above the horizon in the distant northwest seemed to be a wisp of drifting smoke.

People were close.

Somehow, I was simultaneously pleased and unnerved by that fact.

I barely felt the impact of jumping off the container and only peripherally noticed the complete absence of pain from my knees - I was too focused on the implications of my new neighbors. Thinking again, this was their neighborhood and I was the new guy on the block. Maybe sending them a "please don't stick me with a spear and use my skin for a drum" gift would be in my best interests.

That would have to be a decision for later though. For now, I wanted to finish securing the area.

After locking the container back up, I walked out for a couple hundred meters toward the mountains, and then headed north, planning on circling the perimeter of my new camp.

I skirted the limits of the northern and southern tree lines. Though there were trees all around me, they were much smaller and not as tightly packed together as in the forest proper.

I have to admit, those woods made me nervous ... I'd never seen anything like them before. Through the amazement, I reasoned it out - most forests in my old world, with the probable exception of those in the remotest part of the globe, had been harvested for lumber multiple times. These trees, on the other hand, had been growing for centuries upon centuries without human interference. They were ancient, surprisingly thick and tall, with massive canopies and an impressive amount of undergrowth spread out between them. The forest was so dense and dark, that I doubt I could see more than 10 meters into it.

Looking out into that vast, dark and almost alien woods, I could easily understand how old stories and folktales portrayed them as forbidden and dangerous areas – a place of the wild and primeval.

I saw and heard the occasional bird and small woodland creature, but nothing that I would have considered a threat. Nevertheless, call me paranoid if you will, but I kept my eyes and ears open and my carbine at the ready as I passed the woods.

Upon reaching the southeastern part of the perimeter, I found something that seriously lifted my spirits – a stream. It varied in width from between three to four meters and it was about waist deep at most. Just before entering the more heavily wooded area, it curved slightly, forming a nice sized pool, where the current was strong enough to guarantee that the water stayed clear. I made sure to keep my eyes peeled, seeing as this could be a popular watering hole. I bent down with cupped hands and tasted the water – it was ice cold and crystal clear, with no discernable taste or smell. With no way to test or filter it (a probable oversight on my part), I simply declared it clean and safe to drink. I guessed that it probably flowed down from melted ice and snow from up high in the mountains.

I quickly made it back to my supply container and once again unlocked and swung the doors open. Inside, I'd organized the numerous and varied consumables, supplies and equipment into smaller containers – boxes and barrels in different sizes, most made of the same titanium alloy as the large container and others made of high quality and extremely durable plastic. I'd organized the order and disposition of those containers, putting the materials I believed I would need first, closest to the doors. As such, it was pretty easy to remove the crate holding the pieces of one of the hand carts I'd packed.

Built along the lines of a bicycle, but much more durable and robust, made mostly of titanium alloy (thank God I wasn't paying for all this), the cart barely took 20 minutes to assemble. Mounting the brake handles and the brake pads on the two thick rubber wheels took the most time. After throwing a dozen collapsible 5 gallon water containers into its box, I pulled it after me towards the stream.

The next couple of hours were spent with me travelling back and forth between the container and the stream until I had filled four 30 gallon water barrels. I figured that much water should last me a few days.

It was mid-afternoon when I finally finished and I was pleasantly tired. The physical exertion left me breathing hard, sweating profusely and with gently aching muscles, but I still felt great – drained but exhilarated. I really didn't remember how a young and in shape body could feel so good and empowering. The rejuvenation treatment was definitely a good thing, because there was no way the old me could have done the job so easily and in so little time.

I sat down in the shade of the container, leaning against its cool metal side with my eyes closed, simply resting, sipping cool water and enjoying the view. I probably should have been paying attention to my surroundings, but I couldn't be bothered at that time. I was feeling too damn good with myself.

A rumble in my stomach ultimately roused me from my relaxation. I decided that it was as good a time as any for a late lunch.

I knew that getting food would be obviously vital for my survival – I would most likely hunt for meat, but I had no idea what fruit and veggies would be safe to eat, nor how and where to find them. Besides that, there was no way I was going to start growing my own food so early in the game. Agriculture is damn labor and time intensive, not to mention very complicated. Make no mistake, it takes a lot of know-how and practical experience to be a truly successful farmer. I'd just have to take it slow, starting with a vegetable garden and maybe a few fruit trees, learning as I went.

So, I had put in a couple dozen cases of MREs, and a large selection of nonperishable, canned, vacuum sealed, and freeze dried foodstuffs. I added a large amount of salt, flour, sugar and spices, as well as a couple of large titanium cook and mess sets. I guessed that I could feed myself solely on my supplies for some time if need be, if I was careful.

Nevertheless, I knew I'd eventually reach the point where meals would get damn boring and repetitious.

I once again went through my supply container and removed my first ever MRE as well as my first meal in my new home. I had to read the instructions first before placing my spaghetti with meat sauce into the flameless ration heater and adding some water. While that was heating I mixed the beverage mix into a full canteen, and ate the bread with cheese spread. The bread and cheese wasn't that great, but the spaghetti was much better, especially after adding some hot sauce. The blueberry cobbler for desert was pretty good too and I left the crackers for later.

It couldn't hold a candle to Center's replicated meals (I'd most likely be dreaming about those for years, if not decades, to come), but it wasn't half bad.

Of course, I was pretty damned hungry at the time, so I was undeniably biased.

I sat there for a while, relaxing and enjoying the aftermath of a good hearty meal. Eventually nature called, so I searched for a shovel and one of the few dozen rolls of toilet paper I'd brought. I then walked well away from camp, dug a hole and watered and fertilized an out of the way bush.

That reminded me that I'd need to dig out and build a suitable outhouse eventually ... oh joy.

I spent the next few hours fixing up my new home. I started by unpacking many of the boxes from the supply container and organizing them somewhat against its right and left side. Next, seeing as a big metal box can stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of nowhere, I stretched out some camo netting over the whole area, making sure to fasten it securely to the ground. Not only did it help conceal my camp, it provided some nice shaded areas.

Taking my cart with me once again, I walked over to the forest's edge looking for squaw wood. I eventually brought two carts full back to my camp, putting it on a tarp near the container's door. On my third trip I carried back a small deadfall. Then, with axe in hand I removed the already rotting portions, and then continued to chop the rest into small manageable pieces. These I shoved into some already empty containers.

I admit that I was surprised how much chopping can take out of you, not to mention the sore hands.

What can I say ... I'm just a city boy when all is said and done.

The sun was low in the sky by now, so I started building myself a campfire. I dug a wide, shallow hole, then surrounded it with rocks. I arranged twigs and small branches into the shape of a teepee, scraped my firestarter against some tinder, placed it in its center and let the fire spread. I then dragged some containers over to the campfire to use as seats or tables.

There ... my first fire on this world. I don't know why it felt like some sort of major accomplishment, but it did.

I boiled water on the fire for one of those ramen noodle mixes for a light dinner, and then sat down to watch my first sunset on my new homeworld.

Maybe it was the lack of pollution or simply the differences born of different suns and atmospheres, but it was one of the most awe-inspiring views I've ever seen. The range and vividness of the colors was beautiful. The dark star-filled sky that was slowly revealed was even more spectacular, proving beyond any doubt that, no matter how familiar it might be, I was now on an alien world.

Apparently this solar system was somewhat close to a nebula. Amongst the white field of twinkling stars, a cloud of purple, red and blue covered a hand span of the night sky. It looked almost like some sort of watercolor painting. To my further amazement, almost straight up in the night sky were two moons. One was very similar to the moon that I had known, probably a bit bigger, but it's smaller and apparently faster companion was red tinged, similar to Mars.

An alien view without a doubt, but a stunning one. And it was all mine now.

A distant animal howl broke my focus on the sky. I realized that I had been staring up at it for well over an hour, and only the dying campfire kept the dark of night at bay.

"God damn it!" I cursed at myself. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"

I shouldn't have let myself get so distracted – this wasn't a weekend camping trip. There were real wild animals out there, predators that excelled at hunting in the dark. Men were just another type of prey here.

A shiver of nervous fear flowed through me.

I quickly got up, while adjusting my holstered sidearm and securing my carbine's strap over my shoulder, and finished putting out the fire. I then made my way to the container.

Shelter had been a high priority for me while working on my supplies, right behind my weapons. For the short term I selected various high-end camping supplies and equipment, including tents, packs and sleeping bags. I had initially considered finding a cave to settle in – it would be secure and relatively protected from the elements. On the other hand, I would have to find a suitable, unoccupied one in the first place, and any kind of alterations or additions to the cave would be extremely difficult and potentially dangerous.

It's not like the cave would magically change shape and size just to suit my changing needs.

Now that I was actually here, simply sleeping in a tent out in the open made me really nervous. The thin material, though useful against the elements, would be of little help against other dangers on four or two legs. For that reason, I had decided to sleep inside the container, with the doors bolted on the inside. I probably wouldn't want to stay inside on a hot day, but it should be perfectly safe and sound for a couple of nights – I doubt anything on this planet could force its way inside.

Luckily I had the foresight to include a few sealable ventilation slots high in the walls.

Long term though, I would definitely build my own place, most likely a log cabin. It would take time and a lot of effort and planning, but it would definitely be worth it. To get the job done I had selected a wide array of tools, including axes, shovels and saws suitable for numerous jobs. I included a few sets of woodworking and carpentry tools. I didn't skimp on the rope, chain, barbed wire, chicken wire, nails and bolts (of varying sizes) either. I was convinced, by the end of it, that I could singlehandedly supply the stock of a large hardware store.

Inside the container, after locking the doors behind me, I set out and turned on an electric lantern, making sure to give the dynamo a few extra pumps. I then placed a couple of sleeping pads over a few boxes, and spread out a sleeping bag and pillow over them. It wouldn't be the most comfortable bed, but suitable for now. Making sure that my weapons were within reach, I stripped down to my boxers and got into my improvised bed for the night.

As I turned off the lantern, I thought about how it had been a long and strenuous day, even without taking the emotional and psychological impact of being on a new and primordial world into account.

I was sure that sleep would come easily enough.

I was right.