The men in their blue rain suits led me to a shower area, where they left me in the care of a dy. The dy in question wore an army uniform and asked me to take a shower.

  I quickly realized that I only had an ugly military training suit to wear, only complemented by some basic looking but still comfortable sneakers. My own clothes were gone...confiscated....as simple as that.

  She then insisted, to put it mildly, that I agreed to a physical examination after the shower. Let's face it, it's hard to argue with armed people.

  After a while I was guided to a meeting room where a nurse was waiting for me. I guess they still have their suspicions about my mental health...or why else let a nurse keep an eye on me? She however seems to be typing something on a ptop and is ignoring me so far.

  I took a seat, since nobody offered me one. It's just a standard meeting room, where a long white table is the only object of importance in the room. No monitors, no phones...just a few chairs and a table.

  The nurse is kinda cute, in her mid-twenties I think. She smiles but still keeps her distance from me when she finally addresses me. "Hi Diane, how are you feeling?"

  Oh, I thought she wasn't allowed to talk to me....okay, talking is good."I feel fine. Tired...hungry...but fine. So....is this a dream?"

  "No, this is very real."

  "Am I going mad?" I have to ask, because frankly....none of this makes any sense.

  "We don't think so, but like you, we're looking for answers. Your way of speech tells me that you are able to think and respond properly, like everyone else.

  However....you showed us a very odd device in the interview and your replies were a bit....unusual as well." She made the so-so gesture with her hand. "To be honest, we don't know what is going on. Let's try to help each other. Soon two people will answer your questions, and you will answer theirs, okay?"

  "Sure."

  "Perfect. May we examine your Iphone?"

  "Someone already took it. But I don't understand why you would be interested in that thing. It's just a standard model?" She's just being nice, because they're probably using it right now.

  "Trust me, nobody owns such a device. Perhaps the military, but nobody else."

  "The military? Is that why I see a camera directed at me on the ceiling?" The thing moves whenever I move. I'm actually having fun annoying the people behind the camera, because I keep moving a bit.

  "Noticed that already, huh? But it's for the government, not the military. They insisted on documenting everything. You are being observed and everything is recorded."

  "You mean....I'm live on TV now?" Just like CNN showed up in the middle of nowhere?

  "Hahaha, no, but the government is watching you. No worries, your privacy is important to us."

  "Thank god. Did they take my backpack?"

  "Yes, it's safe. They found a passport and a wallet, not sure what else. All of it is being studied now."

  "Studied? They are just normal objects?" I really think that they are nuts after all.

  "Trust me, they are not. Even the paper bag is of a new design, apparently."

  I shake my head, shrug and decide to give up."Okay, if you say so. Em....what's your name, miss?"

  "I'm Millie." She smiles.

  "Nice to meet you."

  "Likewise, Diane."

  "So.....what happens next? Can I see my parents?"

  She puts a big round device on the meeting room table, and a red LED light is blinking on it. Probably a microphone.

  "I'm sorry, but the government wants to talk to you first. No worries, you'll stay here. Nobody is going to lock you up, we'll make sure that your rights are respected."

  "Thanks,....Millie."

  "You're welcome. And please understand that nobody will shake hands or such for a while, so please don't think of us as rude."

  "Okay...but I took a shower when I got here?"

  "Hahaha, that's not the issue. Just standard protocol since you returned from a red zone."

  "Oh...I guess that makes sense."

  "Gd to hear. So, are you ready to see them?"

  "Right now? The government folks? They are there...right now?!!!"

  She nods. "Yes, but you have the right to dey the meeting. This is my job...to keep you safe. The President has appointed me to watch over you."

  "Waaaaa? The President? And so soon? Lady.....just who are you?"

  "I could ask you the same question, but no, the President has issued standing orders for simir situations like this one. My job is to keep you safe and isoted. That's all you need to know right now."

  "Right, no questions, gotcha. So not a normal nurse?"

  "Hahah, that was a question, Diane. But I'm a fully qualified nurse, yes. I work for the military."

  "Ah, that makes sense. You really have this...professional...elegance I think it's called."

  "Hehehe....thank you."

  "Is that why you have a gun stuck behind your back?"

  "Impressive. You noticed that?" She appeared truly impressed.

  "Yup. My dad used to be a marine. He still loves talking about those things. I guess that I kinda developed a habit to watch for those things."

  "That makes sense, even though he shouldn't be talking about such things. But I think that we can let that slide this time. So...are you ready?"

  "Yes, but I really could use a nice cup of coffee. And some fuel for my stomach too. This is a really, really strange situation."

  "I agree. Coffee is coming right up. Sugar?"

  "No sugar. But some creamer would be nice."

  "You got it." She winks and leaves me be. Her smile is somewhat unsettling though. An armed nurse......sheesh!!!!

  Not even a minute ter I see two people following her into the meeting room.

  "Here's your elixir of life, Diane."

  "Oh god, thank you, Millie. You just saved my life!"

  "Hahah....you are welcome. Excuse me, I will wait outside. If you need me, just wave at the camera at the ceiling. I'll be watching and keeping you safe."

  "Gotcha."

  A man in fifties and a woman probably in her sixties are approaching me. Are they a couple? Nah. Both of them show a polite smile, but I don't trust them one bit.

  "Good afternoon." I said. "I'm Diane Nicholson."

  "Hi there, Diane, I'm Alexander Thompson, TRT." He's wearing a dark gray business suit, white shirt and striped tie. He looks...sharp.

  "Sorry...the TR what now?"

  "Ah, sorry for that. I work for the Threat Response Team. It's a government agency.""Ah, something simir to the MTA?"

  He gnces at the woman, then looks at me. "Not...exactly. The MTA is responsible for gathering and sharing all sorts of information about monsters. They are mostly doing research. The TRT specializes in dealing with emergencies and such."

  "Oh....so the TRT is more like the FBI?"

  Again he gnces at her. "Sorry, never heard of that. Diane....I'm here on behalf of the President of the Allied States."

  "Okaaaaay, well....the name doesn't matter, because it's still one of the infamous three letter agencies, right? Wait....did you just say....Allied States? You meant to say the United States, right?"

  "No...I meant what I said. Nice to meet you, we are going to have a little chat." He waves, since he's not supposed to touch me.

  "Yes, likewise. Nice to meet you too, sir." I returned the wave. He smiled when I showed him some respect and then took a seat opposite of me. I think it's rude for him to not introduce the dy, but perhaps they don't get along?

  The woman walks over to my right and waves as well. "I'm Amelia Finley, nice to meet you." She too is nicely dressed, but I get the vibe that they pulled her out of her home without the time to change clothes.

  "Yes, ma'am, nice to meet you too." Again I waved.

  She sits down to my right, apparently not afraid to sit close to me, and says "Diane, I own Oakhive Enterprises. Do you recognize that name?"

  I take a moment to think, but the name doesn't ring a bell. "No...never heard of it?"

  "Interesting," she said. "Mister Thompson, may I ask the questions we discussed earlier?"

  "By all means." He nodded and gestured to her to continue.

  I look at her. "Soo......something tells me that you aren't here to collect my visitor's badge." I sip my coffee and wait for a reply.

  She smiles. "Not at all. We will be asking lots of questions, just answer them please. In return, we'll try to help you as much as we can. Sounds fair?"

  "Yes, ma'am."

  "Good. First of all, I'm a scientist and my company specializes in genetic research and since the monster event started, we also analyse those in our bs. We're trying to find their weak spots and report the information to the TRT and MTA. But Mister Thompson here is my main contact."

  "Sounds....interesting."

  She smiles again. "It can be, yes. He and I have been having reguting meetings, so we're on the same page. Anyway, let's focus on you first. Are you in any way a danger to the Allied States of America?"

  "Are you.....kidding me?" I lean forward to her and stare into her eyes.

  "Not at all. Answer the question please."

  "If I were a terrorist....would I admit being a danger? Your question doesn't make sense at all! But no, I'm not a danger to anyone! Sheesh! Just look at me! I can't even use my phone anymore!"

  "Rex, Diane." The guy said. "You are not in any danger. Just answer please. We're only trying to see the big picture. Nobody will harm you. Besides, the whole world already knows about you now. We can't hide you, even if we wanted to."

  "That's...quite reassuring." And still, they could easily lock me away if they wanted to. Duh, I'm not that naive!

  She continues the discussion, so I now look at her again. "The answers you provided in the CNN interview were....surprising....to put it mildly. Do you have any history of.....mental....."

  "Lady, I'm not nuts. Okay?" Yes, I just gave her my best death gre.

  "Alright. I like straight answers. Your phone is currently being investigated. How did you acquire it?"

  "Just a basic monthly pn? It's an older model since I can't afford the test one. There are also earbuds in my backpack, the cheapest ones from Walmart."

  "I see. Where was it made?"

  "Duh...in China probably, like everything else these days?"

  "What is...China?" She seems seriously unaware of the country. And why the strange questions?

  "Oh, C'mon! Are you pulling my leg?"

  "I'm not, Diane. Is that a country?"

  "YES! What else do you think it is? Aliens? For Pete's sake!"

  "Stay calm." The government guy said. "Now let me ask a question about your passport. It's obviously a forgery."

  "No, it's not!"

  Now the dy surprisingly asks a question again. Who am I talking to? Can't they make up their minds? It's confusing! "Our passports are green and haven't been issued for years now. If you make a forgery, why make such an obvious mistake?"

  "Maybe because it's NOT a fake?!!!" I keep staring at my coffee cup and am starting to worry about THEIR mental health.

  She closes her eyelids, sighs and then pinches the bridge of her nose. After a few moments she looks at me again. "Okay. One of the documents in the backpack shows a social security number, and that document was addressed to you. Please expin why a woman would choose to use the social security number and name of a person belonging to a male? What is the logic behind that?"

  "You......whaaa?! C'mon.....stop this already. You have had your fun, just....let me go, okay?"

  "Where will you go?" She asked, ignoring my request.

  "I dunno! Everywhere else is better than here! Put me on the bus home, whatever!"

  I see both of them nodding seriously, telling each other something non-verbally.

  Not going to wait for them, I say "am I going insane?"

  "Do you think that you are?"

  "Ma'am...what kind of question is that? I asked you first!"

  "Well...for now we don't believe that you are insane. But we do believe that something's....different about you. We're here to find out what that is. Now please answer me, why did you use that person's identity?"

  "Because I really, really, really, really AM Diane Nicholson! And if you must know what's different about me, I like women, okay? Do you know what that means?"

  "As in...lesbian?"

  "Yes! You heard that too?!!! I like women! That's my only secret, okay? I'm not a monster. Just look at me! Do I look like a freakin' terrorist to you?" I shouted into the camera on the ceiling.

  She shakes her head and takes a breath, slowly exhaling to stay calm."No, you don't look like a terrorist. Please stay calm. It expins a few other things at least."

  "Really? Like what?" I bet she caught me staring at Millie earlier. Yeah...cute, image saved to the permanent hard drive in my brain.

  "That's cssified information for now. I'm now going to ask you a few ...seemingly insane questions. Just answer them truthfully so we can get this over with. Okay?"

  "No, let me ask something first. Where are my gems?"

  "What gems?" He asked. "Sorry, I'm serious."

  "When I arrived here, they strip-searched me. I don't know how they managed to pull it off, but my gems are gone! Both pockets were loaded with gems! I found them near the blue stone. But when I wanted to take a shower, my pockets were empty! Did they take them out when they took my phone?"

  "There's no mention of these gems in the reports, but we'll check it right now." She nods at the camera, meaning that someone's going to ask a few questions to the dies who strip-searched me. "Just wait a minute, we'll be right back."

  When they left, I parked my head on the meeting room table. "Man...this sucks. I knew I should have stayed in bed today, but noooooo.....I just had to go."

  Both of them returned and he immediately answered my question. "There's no mention of gems found during your security check. Can you describe them to us?"

  "Sure. There were about two dozen of them. All of those looked well polished, ready to be sold. They were a bit smaller than my thumbnail."

  "Those are monster crystals, don't you agree?" He asked the dy.

  "Sounds exactly like them. Diane? We truly don't have those. Could you have lost them when you boarded the transport?"

  "Yeah.....at this point I will believe anything you say. Sure, I lost them. Thanks for checking anyway."

  "Now that this has been cleared, let's continue with the questions. Are you ready?"

  "Yes, ma'am."

  "Good. Did you intentionally travel here from another Earth? As in....from a parallel dimension? Originating from another quantum universe?"

  I alternatingly stare at them for at least 10 seconds. "Another Earth? Do you know how crazy that sounds? Ma'am....I don't know about that! I only know that I can't even call my parents! My phone won't work!"

  "Yes, it's being investigated right now. Quite the odd device. A screen that can be used by touching it."

  "It's just a touchscreen?"

  "Is that what you call it?"

  "Yeah? Doesn't everyone? Duh, it's a screen you can touch, so a touchscreen! Sounds like a no brainer to me!" I shrugged.

  "No, this is new technology. Tell me....who are you ...really? Are you even human?" She looks absolutely serious.

  "She could be a new form of monster?" He said, causing me to shake my head.

  I'm blinking, just staring at them and then at the camera."No, you're right. I'm a new form of monster...a really evil alien. See?" I crossed my eyes and stuck my tongue out. "Duuuuuuuuh!"

  They look at me as if I'm insane, so I continue."Okay, let me be completely honest with you. Listen closely. I'm actually Captain Kirk and I'm from the United Federation of Pnets."

  Both their faces show that they don't appreciate me for wasting their time with such nonsense, so I continue. They can definitely hear in my voice that I'm making fun of them.

  "No, it's true, you have to believe me! They sent me here to make first contact, but messed up by sending me to the wrong Earth. Hahahahaha....!

  Anyway, Mr Spock is still on board the Enterprise, but you can beam up there by calling Scotty if you want. My pen is actually an alien communication device and my bottle of water is actually a sample of a dark matter nebu. You two can join me aboard my ship so we can travel with warp speed to the next universe where I can talk to people who ask normal questions.

  Do you two have any idea how totally stupid that sounds? Do I look like a fucking alien to you?Of course I am human!

  I am not from some secret government person, a spy, alien impersonator or whatever else you can think of! I am ...ME!" I forcefully put my index finger onto my chest a few times.

  "Alright, let's say I trust you. How many siblings do you have?"

  I'm surprised by the question. "That's rather anticlimactic. A normal question? Okay, I can do normal questions. I have two rather stupid and terrifyingly arrogant elder sisters."

  "Correct. But they have one younger brother ..not a sister."

  "Huh?!!! But I'm not lying!"

  "Rex, you don't have to defend yourself. I'm only trying to help." She replied.

  I take a moment to calm down and slowly inhale and exhale."Sorry. I'm really sorry. It really feels like you're yanking my chains. But okay, I'll py along so we can get this over with."

  "Thank you very much. I will answer your questions when you answer mine. Deal?"

  "Yes, ma'am. You have a deal."

  "Thank you Diane. Can you think of a way to prove that they are your parents?"

  "Duh...ask them!"

  "No...we need something else, think."

  "Eh....then....check my DNA!"

  "That's what I wanted to hear. We'll take a sample of your blood right now."She said, while pointing at the door.

  Ah...of course....they are monitoring this conversation! That's how she knew when to enter the room!The nurse from earlier arrived and apologized for interrupting. She took a few samples of my blood, not even asking if I agreed.

  "Hey! leave some blood for me!" I said.

  "You'll be fine, Diane. People usually donate much more. I only need 5 samples, nothing more. We're going to do a detailed DNA chromosome scan to prove your identity."

  "Ahh....of course, you have been watching this conversation via the camera on the ceiling?"

  "You got it."

  "Okay. How long before the results are in?"

  "24 hours, max."

  "Okay. Have fun with that."

  She smiled again and simply left us.

  The dy asked me another question."Diane, what year do you think we live in?"

  "I was 2023 this morning?"

  "Yes, and it still is. Have you ever heard of monsters living nearby?"

  "No, they only exist in stories. Until today that is."

  "Noted."

  "Are you finally beginning to believe me?" I asked, folding my hands, almost begging them.

  "I'm beginning to."

  A soldier entered the room and handed them a note, then left again.

  She reads it and nods. "That's the confirmation I was looking for. I have a theory. A very...wild one. Either you are a total nutcase who managed to set up this ridiculous story...and invented new technology while being crazy...."

  "Or?"

  "Or... you might have traveled here from a parallel world. But if you have....then why aren't you a guy now? Like your counterpart in this world?"

  "A parallel world? Like alternate dimensions? Are you absolutely serious?"

  "It's the only theory that fits the facts at the moment. It expins the Iphone and your knowledge of non-existent technologies. The telephone numbers stored in your phone correspond to people in this world, but none of those have ever heard of Diane Nicholson, only Davey Nicholson.

  Now answer the question..please. Let's assume that you really crossed worlds for now. If you are truly their child, why wouldn't you be a boy now too?"

  "Uuuuuhhhhhhh.......... isn't the multiverse theory something that a scientist should know? No disrespect intended."

  "Please expin the theory."

  "I know that look in your eyes, you know EXACTLY what I'm saying. But okay, you're in luck, because I love sci-fi, so I've heard about this.

  For each probable outcome of a situation, a new quantum universe might be created. In one I'm a boy, in the other a girl. In yet another one there may be twins, and in yet another one....I don't even exist. But in the end it's all hocus pocus fantasy, because nobody knows for sure. So how should I know if even the scientists don't know for sure? Hahaha, but dad treats me like a son, does that count?"

  "Perhaps, please expin." Wow, she's not in the mood to smile right now.

  "Sure. My dad was a marine in the Navy until the accident. We've been on welfare since then, but my mom is working to keep the family together. My part time job isn't really paying that much either. Anyway, dad even taught me how to tie a Windsor knot. He seems to think that girls who like girls must be treated like boys. Otherwise it doesn't make sense to treat me like that! Anyway, he keeps telling me stories about the military and even made me memorize different types of aircraft and such."

  Thompson says "it might be interesting to discuss that ter."

  She nods. "But that can wait. So, Diane, what was his injury?"

  "Something happened during a training mission, but he won't talk about it. He has lost muscle control to one leg and needs to use crutches. He should be in a wheelchair, but he's too proud for that."

  "Your story mostly matches our background checks on him....how interesting."

  "What do you mean by that?"

  But someone interrupted us."Excuse me? Doctor Finley?" Someone asked my interrogator to step outside the room.

  That left me alone with the secret government guy."Sir....what is going on? Am I a victim of a secret government project? Did you mess up my brain?"

  "No, Diane, I can say with confidence that you are not. We're looking for answers, just like you are. What do you think about the alternate world theory?"

  "Em.....it sounds as crazy as anything else I've heard so far. But it does expin a few things. But I'm not convinced yet."

  "I couldn't agree more, let's wait for her to return."

  I finished my coffee in silence and a minute ter the dy returned.

  "Sorry for the interruption. The first DNA test proves that you indeed are who you cim to be. We took a blood sample from your parents and your siblings, including Davey. We can say that, with 99% accuracy, that you indeed are their child. Your sisters are indeed your sisters. DNA doesn't lie."

  "No surprise there."

  Thompson asks me a question again. "Diane, as you can see, I brought a map. Can you please point where we are?"

  "Easy...it's right here. But it looks...huh? Canada extends a bit further to the south? And Aska....is a part of Canada now?"

  "Interesting, but that discussion can wait for now."

  The both of them again stepped out of the room, so I stood up and paced a bit while a soldier kept an eye on me.

  A few minutes ter they returned with more coffee and a few sandwiches for me.

  I look at Thomson and ask "so....may I ask something? What are you going to tell the President about me?"

  "It's my job to assess the situation and so far you do not appear to be a threat. I'm not entirely convinced about the alternate world theory....but.."

  "But...what?"

  He nods. "We found some cash in your wallet. Bills are usually depicting animals, not people. But the serial numbers, the paper itself and watermarks match those we use perfectly. They don't appear to be forgeries. Same for the coins."

  "That's because they are real."

  "Alright. There's plenty of evidence that you aren't trying to harm anyone. Who would willingly fake a passport, use the wrong colors and even have the wrong gender as the one you impersonate? Nobody would be fooled by your counterfeit money either. And yes, I know they aren't fake. For now I will support the theory that you crossed worlds. But....if you did....how did that happen? Do you have any idea how you got here?"

  "Not really. I only saw a fsh and ended up in a meadow." So don't ask me about physics!

  "But you said during the interview on TV that you witnessed an experiment. Expin that if you will."

  "Well.....I was visiting a science project. It's a one-day summer holiday thing for students who don't go on holidays and such. Anyway, a company in Boston built an improved version of the LHC which they use in CERN, Switzernd."

  "I don't recognize those words..please expin using different words."

  "Oh...em.. In another country.....somewhere here on the map.... they built a Large Hadron Collider. Ah...em.....it's a pce where they can shoot atoms at insane speeds. When the atoms smash, they release many subatomic particles. And that thing can measure those particles. But apparently something went wrong, and I saw a fsh...and then ended up in a meadow. At least, that's the only thing that could expin what happened to me."

  She nods. "Impressive....we don't have any technology like that here, so I'm afraid that you are stranded. I'll assign it to my company's project team and at least file a patent for it. Imagine the possibilities! Talking to other realities..sharing knowledge! Do you recall anything else that might be of value to us?"

  "Yes, I heard some science nerds talking about doomsday scenarios. The project could potentially create a micro singurity or mess with the space time continuum. So.....perhaps something like that happened to me? Oh, and there's also a project leaflet in my bag."

  "Yes, we found it already. Some science nerds as you called them are fighting over it right now."

  "Hahahaha......nice."

  He continues this time. I keep turning my head like I'm watching a tennis match. Why can't they just sit next to each other?

  "Diane, I want you to think about the details and write them down for me. Can you do that?"

  "Sure, my pleasure ...but I only had a tour of the facility. Remember...I'm no scientist. I can only tell you what I remember from TV and such."

  "No worries, just write down what you believe is interesting to share. What else were they experimenting with on your Earth?"

  "Experimenting? Yeah, like they are gonna tell me! Hahahaha."

  "Just...answer please."

  "Okay. Oh, right, there's one thing at least.

  I heard that they are building experimental tokamak reactors. Those use deuterium as fuel and burn it using temperatures comparable to the surface of the sun. The magnetic containment is the only shielding that will keep the superheated psma created during fusion from destroying everything. In theory it should create a huge power output without the nuclear waste you see in conventional nuclear reactors. But currently they are putting more power in it than they get out."

  He smiles. "Thankfully you are quite smart, which will be very helpful to us. Anything else your Earth is experimenting with?"

  "Eh... the tour guide mentioned that they also confirmed the Higgs boson, whatever that is. And another visitor talked about how someone measured gravitational waves from space, like those distortions from supermassive bck holes. Emmm....you two know that I'm not making this up, right?"

  She smiles and takes over the conversation again."No worries, I can tell. I'm a woman of science. You use words in ways only people aware of science could. Did your people have luck with antimatter?"

  "No...only a miniscule amount was created. It takes insane amounts of power and money, so we're not able to use it yet."

  Her smile grows bigger and bigger until she starts ughing out loud, surprising both me and Thompson.

  "Hahahahahaha...... I feel like a caveman listening to an astronaut. Maybe if we hadn't been focusing on those monsters, we would have developed touchscreens too? Anyway, tell me, did your world have an Einstein?"

  "Yes. His famous equation is E=MC2." I replied.

  "Same here, thank god."

  "What is your progress? Something you are most proud of? If I may ask?" Can't hurt to ask them, right?

  "Not sure...since I don't have a frame of reference. But I think that besides monster weapon technology, our genetic research is the most advanced compared to other technologies. We can modify DNA...for the most part. My company is leading in that. If this technology continues to evolve as expected, we can be like gods."

  "We do have some DNA progress too. They somehow made a mouse grow a human ear or something."

  "Peace of cake. Beginner stuff."

  "Hahaha...yeah...not for us. So what level have you achieved?"

  The conversation is getting a lot better now, and I don't think that they see me as a threat anymore.

  "We have progressed to the level where we can read the operating system of white blood cells. DNA in general is also being studied...bit by bit."

  "Forgive me, but calling that an 'operating system' doesn't exactly sound advanced. Don't dumb it down too much please."

  "No, I'm serious. They are just like computer codes. We can't understand the code itself...yet... but we can decompile a list of viruses which are recognized by the white blood cells. It's like a map, teaching the cells who is an ally and who is an enemy, including what weapons to use. We can recognize those parts and transpnt that information to other people to heal them."

  "Ha! We wish we could do that! One strand of DNA must contain terabytes of information, if not more. We don't have the processing power to even decompile all of that."

  "I see you understand the basics. Impressive."

  "Yes, basics, well said. But no....we are still identifying genomes or something. Sorry, but I'm no scientist. I only remember a few basic things."

  "It's valuable information nonetheless. Any alien encounters?"

  "Nope. Only on TV...and my neighbors perhaps." I smiled.

  "Hahaha...same here. I guess we aren't all that different."

  "Guess not."

  Thompson excused himself, and said that he would be informing the President.

  The dy gave me a brief history lesson, so that I could see the big picture.

  Apparently monsters started to appear about 3 years ago and the armed forces can deal with most of them. The whole world knows about them, but most people don't care anymore. As long as the military deals with those, people will focus on their own lives.

  Monsters are contained to certain areas and people learned that those strange blue rocks appear first, then monsters appear. The rocks are hard to detect, so they wait for monsters to start showing up.

  They wanted to destroy the rocks to prevent the monsters from forming, but the rocks are resistant to all weapons as if they have shields too. Not even excavating them works. The rocks go down deep into the Earth like roots. At night those rocks release blue colored lights into the atmosphere, like orbs. She showed me a few pictures and it looks absolutely amazing.

  But when she said that the bugs use "shields," she noticed that I had a hard time believing her. Some bugs somehow tap into an energy source and manage to avoid getting hit by our weapons. One of those bugs even used a counter attack, like a lightning strike.

  But no matter how many times I asked if she was tricking me, she swore that all of this was real.

  Humans can't defend against the shields, and the bugs seem to realize that. They are moving closer and closer to cities, pushing us further back. Even though most humans are still unaware, this event is still cssified as an ELE, or Extinction Level Event. Tunnels are being dug in secret, deep into the Earth, hoping to preserve humanity in some form. We need time to create countermeasures, but we may be running out of that very soon.

  When I asked her if animals were being attacked as well, she was surprised by the question and had to ask someone. But apparently the bugs are indiscriminate. They attack anything they see as prey, which was confirmed by what I saw earlier.

  After chatting for a while, the dy says "how about....you come home with me?"

  "Ehh.......I don't understand. Are they forcing you to take me in?"

  "Not at all. You don't have anywhere to go and I have lots of space. Of course the government will compensate me, so no worries. You however are expected to provide us with any information we can use."

  "Of course, that is only fair. How should I address you? Calling you 'dy' or 'ma'am' sounds rude."

  She smiles and shakes her head. "You really are from another world, aren't you? You are way too polite for humans in this world. Alright, call me Amelia. It's my name after all."

  "Alright...Amelia. Thanks."

  "You're welcome. The government will still visit you, study you, pester you and annoy you as much as they can, but at least you'll have a reasonably normal life. If you go with them... you won't have as much freedom, even if they won't admit that. But it's your choice to make. The only choice."

  So only choosing between going with them....or home with her?"In that case it's an easy choice to make. I'll gdly accept your offer, Amelia."

  "Then it seems that we can help each other."

  "Yes, ma'am!" I saluted, US military style.

  "What was that gesture?"

  "Huh? That's how military people salute?!"

  "No....now I'm certain. They do this here...." She put her closed hand on her stomach for a moment.

  "What a crazy world."

  "Hahaha, no, only different. Yours is as crazy to us as this one is to you."

  "Fair point."

  "Good. And now that you are under my care, know that the government will keep an eye on you as well. So please try to follow my rules."

  "Rules?"

  "Of course there are rules, such as....not running away. Not revealing that you crossed worlds. Not crossing over to yet another Earth during dinner, that sort of stuff." She winked, obviously in a better mood now.

  "Hahaha......I promise!"