THE MOMENT
Dr. Valient did his best to live up to his name and title. He was a notable researcher and outdoor enthusiast out hiking during a lovely sunrise. He had a set path that he'd taken for years and today there was something different. It wasn't a minor difference at all, and he immediately halted as he considered what the appropriate action might be.
He'd been walking when a stray glint of sunlight caught the corner of his eye. That was unusual enough to draw his attention fully. There, at the base of the mountain sat a pristine lake with a golden orange sunset reflected in the water; except the sun was still rising behind him and the mountain. The lake looked like it'd been part of the scenery for decades, but he'd never seen it before.
"Well, I have to take a look..," the decision was easy once he decided he wasn't imagining things. He made his along the path and finally reached the lake. He took two steps toward it, then froze again. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled, and something indefinable tingled across his skin. It was enough of a warning to step back, and once he did the sensations subsided.
"Huh...," he also noticed a faint color shift. He carefully moved forward until the light changed, and he felt anxious again. Dr. Valient drew a line in the sand to mark where the sensation overcame him. It was subtle, and maybe imagined, but there was a difference between there and here. It felt like crossing a boundary, and his mind raced. Had he actually discovered something? He was too curious and stepped across one more time, this time embracing the feelings rushing across his skin. It wasn't hot, or cold, or painful, merely unexpected. As if his body simply wanted to inform him that something was different.
"And you are...," the sudden voice surprised Dr. Valient, but he was nothing if not collected. He kept his cool and turned slowly toward the voice, while answering the question to show friendliness.
"My name's Dr. Jim Valient," he said. The unexpected stranger wore spectacles and a shimmering black suit that brought fish scales to Jim's mind. "I might be a little lost, who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Chip," the gentleman nodded with a friendly smile. "You don't know where you are?" he asked as he gestured at the lake. Jim shook his head and Chip laughed with a nod. "You are definitely lost. I'm surprised Mundo let you find your way here," he added.
"Mundo?" Jim shook his head again. "I don't know anyone by that name."
"Really?" Chip's smile grew broader, and to Jim's eyes, slightly colder. It was enough to put his guard up, and even try to step back toward the boundary he'd left in the sand. Chip noticed.
"Oh, that's smart," he nodded down at the sand. "That's about where it is. But, I guess without Mundo, you still don't know what's happening. This..," he gestured at the lake again. "...is a different Earth than this...," he stepped across the line to indicate the backlit mountain.
"The Many Worlds theory is true!!?" Jim asked with a broad grin. His life's work had just been validated.
"I don't know," Chip shrugged. "I have no idea what theory you're talking about. Infinite alternate Earths exist, but that doesn't mean whatever theory your world came up with is true. There are too many variables for any single one to be right. However, worlds do bleed together on occasion, its just that the world is so big nobody notices. Unless you go looking for it."
"How do you know so much?" Jim asked.
"Sorry," Chip shrugged, and stepped forward. He crossed the line and Jim stepped back toward the lake without thinking about it. "I can't tell you."
"What, like some secret multiverse organization? Are you one of the ones that searches out anomalies like this?" In the distance, or maybe just in the back of his mind, Jim suddenly heard a faint musical melody.
"No, nothing like that," Chip said. "It'd be a waste of resources for an organization like that to even exist. The multiverse too infinite to care about occassionally blurry borders. But, it is a decision imposed by my boss, so that's something I guess," he nodded.
Someone was singing. She had an angelic voice, and Jim had no idea where it was coming from. And Chip didn't act like he could hear it, so until he did, Jim wouldn't say anything. But, it was getting harder to focus on what Chip was explaining.
"Wait, what decision is that?" Jim asked. Partially to try and catch up to the conversation again. He'd missed a word or three on account of the song tickling his brain.
"If I explained what I was, there's a tiny chance you might realize what you are, and that would ruin my Mistress' appetite. She likes her meals to be unaware," Chip grinned, then nodded and turned to walk away.
Jim watched the man leave, and for some strange reason, he didn't find the behavior confusing. It was perfectly acceptable that Chip left right then, at least now he could be alone with her.
"What's your favorite number?"
The singing had stopped, but the melody still lingered in his mind like a fog. He turned toward the new voice. A gorgeous mermaid with glinting black scales, pale skin, and long black hair sat on the shore next to him.
"12!" he answered.
"You look brave...," she smiled and leaned closer to caress his bare arm. Her voice sighed in his mind, completely obscuring any other thought he might have had. "There's not much light down there, would you jump in and swim down to the bottom for me to make sure I'm safe?" she asked.
"Right away, Mistress Majicka," Jim didn't linger to remove his watch or any clothing. In an instant, at her command, he was in the water headed toward the bottom. Majicka slid into the water again and followed him down to properly enjoy her meal.