Chronicles of Gondwana - Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1-CROSSOVER ALLIES

The desert sun lashed out it’s heat with all it’s vehemence at the lifeless ocean of sand below that stretched out for hundreds, maybe thousands of miles. Each mile only brought sand, and the next, more sand.

Yet, in the midst of this entire conflagration, was a group of people-human beings who at first sight looked ordinary-but on closer inspection were VERY far from ordinary. There were five of them in the group, wearing hoods against the unforgiving heat. They all rode on camels.

The group was composed of Charnaiz dir Castillon, and his wife Primrose Marie Gadlene. The two were the rulers of Gondwana, a continent that existed in an ethereal world men can hardly speak of. Behind them, riding his camel quite awkwardly was Maj. Alexei Kazansky. At 25 tears old, he was an officer of the Red Army in futuristic Russia, a Russia torn apart between imperialistic Whites and militaristic Reds. And ahead of them all, rode two others, their local guide Valeri, and her unnamed aide.

It wasn’t always this way with this peculiar group. Barely a day before, they had been in their respective worlds—and respective timelines. But out of nowhere---a being called Aquilifon—whom Kazansky still thought of as “a really big guy with a fish head”---had appeared and transported them to this dimension, which was totally enshrouded by his power. He was Charnaiz’ staunchest foe, and had Charny been able to muster enough of his Iris energy, the fight would have been confined to their world. But as it turned out, he just happened to be nursing a slight fever at the time, brought about by too much indoor activity with his queen, whom he had doted on so much. As a result, both he and his wife had been flung into this hellish desert, where he had met up with Kazansky, who apparently had the same experience as well.

Now, it was at that point that a local tribeswoman, Valeri, had appeared. She spoke all manners of gibberish, saying that all of them were the instruments of destiny, come to bring about the demise of Aquilifon. The otherworldly visitors had then scorned the local, believing nothing of her speech. But when she had offered them food and drink and a place to stay, the visitors quite implicitly had lowered their scepticism a bit.

“Charny?” the voice of his wife suddenly brought Charnaiz out from his thoughts. They had been riding for several hours now, and he had lost himself in his thinking.

“Yes, dear?”

“Feeling better now?”

“Quite fine, Primrose..” he replied. He turned back to face the Russian major that was riding behind him.

“Hey, Alexei.”

“Wha?” The expression on Kazansky’s face was devoid of any emotion. Charnaiz guessed that the young officer could only either be bored to death or frustrated at being forced to submit to Valeri’s demands.

“You okay, man?”

“Fine. Just fine, your Majesty. However, this camel’s giving me the creeps. Feels like she’s eventually going to break my behind into pieces.”

“Well, either that or try walking in this damned sand, Major,” he said to the red-uniformed man.

“Yeah, yeah I know.” Kazansky somewhat grumbled.

Charnaiz then turned to the pack that was firmly attached at the side of his camel. Inside it contained his precious sword, Char Milvian. He hadn’t even remembered clutching it when Aquilifon had flung him into this dimension, but he had been all too startled when he found it in his hand the moment he and Primrose dropped into the sand. He also glanced at Alexei Kazansky’s packs behind him. He knew that Kazansky was also armed—with Yarygin PYA pistols and VX gas grenades at that. He shuddered at the thought that Aquilifon had probably sent them all here to play with them or make them kill each other.

Kazansky then called out to their guide, Valeri. “Woman! How much longer till we get to some establishment around here?”

“Just within five minutes to go, my good man,” their cloaked guide replied.

“Strange people, strange desert, damned world,” mumbled the Russian.

“Ha, you don’t know the half of it, Alexei. Try living in Gondwana for five minutes, and you’d be one of us,” quoted Charnaiz.

“Now, will you please stop calling me Alexei, your Majesty?”

“Just a touch to drop the formalities, my dear Major,” said Charnaiz in a bemused tone. “I’ve been in war too long, and I’ve grown quite tired---no, I’m actually sick of addressing people as admiral, general, captain or whatever. Hope you understand.”

“Just let him be, my love.” quipped Primrose beside him. Kazansky just shook his head and said nothing.

And the group rode on, not noticing the shadowy figure trailing them on the cliffs above.