BOOK 1 - CHAPTER 3 - A FAILED START

CHAPTER 3 – A FAILED START

     Johnny was doing his best to stop the flames in the dimensional drive. Eventually, the flames died out along with the dimensional drive being fried. Instead of ending up in the virtual world with a track. Johnny found himself in an alien world. He was in the middle of a large plain with a grassy landscape. He slammed on the brakes of the car. It kicked up rocks, dirt, and grass as it skidded to a stop. Johnny climbed out of the car coughing as he was trying to get away from the billowing smoke. He stood up as he got out to get a better look at his surroundings.

Where am I? he thought.

He tried to radio his crew chief from his headset. "Hey, Jimmy, are you there?" He yelled. All he was getting was static.

"Well, that blows," he said aloud as he sighed, shaking his head. Johnny made his way over to a tree for shade. Now he had a better understanding of why he was picked. His background as an ex special forces operative gave him more survivability if something were to go wrong. Others had applied but were turned down or not selected from the risk of being lost.

Johnny made it to the tree as he sat sweating from the intense heat. He wanted shade to get out of the heat of the sun. He looked around at the surrounding landscape taking in the view. He was mesmerized by his surroundings as he focused up at the sky. Instead of a blue earth like sky he was used to. The sky was a gloomy red in color. The sun had a reddish appearance to it.

Never seen a bigger star than the sun. It must be at least twice as big. Johnny thought as he looked up at the red giant in awe.

Johnny then began to wonder what time of day it was in this new world. It must be midmorning or midafternoon. I can't really be sure since I am not sure which way the sun sets or rises. He thought curiously with his finger on his chin. His thoughts then shifted back to the surrounding landscape.

     All he could see around him was blackened dried-grassy plain expanding as far as the eye could see. With a few trees that had black leaves dotted along the landscape as well. This really looks like a version of a hellscape of a savannah more than anything. I wonder how vast it is. Johnny continued to ponder in awe.

He then turned to look back at the prototype that was still smoking. I'll just wait for the smoke to stop and then ask Albert for a damage report. Can't do much with all that smoke filling the prototype. The anti-matter and matter core should be fine. Without that part I'd really be screwed. Wouldn't be able to survive without that part as it can make anything I need. Johnny thought to himself as he stared up at the leaves in the tree he was sitting under. His stomach made a growling noise. Like food and water. He thought as he began to think of having pizza.

"Just going to have to wait this out," He sighed. He then looked back over at the prototype and began to marvel at all the work that went into it.

At least the body and frame are made out of Ionsdaleite.

As he was thinking he heard a loud bang come from the rear of the car. Thick black smoke began to fill the back of the prototype. Now he was worried. The prototype might be almost indestructible, but he was worried about the power supply. A small plutonium reactor. I just hope that thing doesn't go nuclear. He thought as he got up from under beneath the tree to head over to the prototype. As Johnny walked towards the prototype.

"Albert. What is going on?" Johnny yelled in a concerned tone as he took off his helmet. Albert appeared next to Johnny flickering in and out of existence. Johnny stumbled back in surprise. He looked at Albert with his eyes in concern. "Don't scare me like that," Said Johnny. Albert didn't respond to Johnny's surprised comment, but answered what was going on.

"It has seen the wiring from the dimensional drive had overloaded the core. I have done my best to stop the spread of the damage it has caused thus far," Albert stated.

Johnny was even more concerned now. He said with a shaky voice. "Please tell me the reactor isn't in any danger."

Albert responded as he checked the engine compartment from his sensors. "The reactor is in no threat of danger."

Johnny sighed with relief. He then asked Albert for another command.

"What can you diagnose that has been affected?" Johnny asked Albert more calmly.

Albert did another scan before he replied. "The diagnostics have determined the dimensional drive has been a total loss." Replied Albert. 

No surprise there. Johnny looked back up at the sun. Another thought popped up in his mind just then. He looked back at Albert to speak.

"I had failed to contact Jimmy. Can you get a hold of him somehow or anyone back at the track? Also, can you confirm for me we are not in the virtual world. The surrounding environment tells me we are not in Kansas anymore," Johnny asked Albert in desperation.

"All I am getting is static. Furthermore, my censors tell me we are not in the virtual world either," Albert replied to Johnny. He just groaned in response looking back at the prototype once more. 

"Well better check to make sure nothing else is damaged," He sighed.

Johnny instructed Albert to do a full scan for any damaged parts. Albert continued with his diagnostic assessment. He had found more damage. The news was even worse for Johnny. 

"The anti-matter and matter core has some slight damage. The resulting damage has caused the prototype to not be able to fix the dimensional drive. It has also caused temporary damage to the vehicle changing into other types and adding parts." Said Albert. 

Johnny did a facepalm hearing the news.

"So let me get this right, we are stuck here until I find some way back? Also, the prototype can't change or make parts?" He said bluntly.

"Correct." Replied Albert. "It can still repair broken parts and regenerate new parts as well." Albert followed up. "

What other issues are there?" Johnny asked as he looked over at the smoking car. By now some of the smoke had begun to dissipate.

"Part of my computer near the core was damaged when the dimensional drive blew. I can no longer do functions on my own. You must give me verbal commands if I am to be used in the prototype. Although, I can act independently with my mobile form that is put on the dash of the prototype." Albert replied.

 "This day just gets better and better. What is next.? Aliens start attacking me," Johnny sighed in a sarcastic tone.

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The smoke had now stopped pouring out of the prototype. "Well time to access the damage." Johnny mumbled out of frustration.

Johnny walked up towards the rear of the prototype. He stopped right in front of the trunk and opened it. He got a whiff of burning electrical parts as he approached. He lifted the trunk as light smoke vented out from beneath. When Johnny opened the trunk to see it was separated into three compartments.

On the left was the core. It swirled as it seemed to be fixing itself. One part of the core was blackened from the explosion. To the right were the main controls for all the functions of the prototype. The controls had some damage from the explosion. In the center of the trunk was the dimensional drive which was destroyed beyond repair. The two walls separating it in the middle were blown outwards to the left and right. The dimensional drive had turned into shrapnel that blew through the walls damaging both the controls and core. Johnny looked over at the damage in amazement.

"Albert" he yelled in a concerned tone. Albert appeared right next to Johnny. "Can you help me run a diagnostics check of the core? I believe a lot more could be damaged, and I need to check everything…" He asked Albert.

"Sure, I can help with fixing with what I can," Replied Albert.

"Could you get the core to at least be able to make the prototype change vehicle forms and make parts at the very least?" asked Johnny.

Albert did that while Johnny went over tests with the core that Albert said shouldn't be damaged. Food and drinks could be created from the core without issue. Survival supplies such as camping equipment could be conjured up. Even weapons of all sorts could be used.

"Well at least I don't have to starve to death or sleep without any protection. Hopefully I can find my way back home." Sighed Johnny with some hint of relief as he relaxed a little more.

Johnny prepared to do one more thing. He was sure Albert didn't need to help with this part. He went back over to the control terminal. He planned on having a tiny bit of the core to use as a weapon for self-defense. Having a small piece of the core could let him carry a weapon with him at all times. 

Johnny inputted the commands. Without warning part of the core shot at Johnny with lightning speed. The small fragment of core embedded itself into his head were the scar he had on his forehead. Johnny screamed in pain and fell to the ground in pain. "AHHH!" he yelled as he landed on his back in a daze. His vision began to become blurry. Johnny laid there for a few moments before his vision came too. He sat up in confusion as to what had happened.

He then questioned Albert. "What the heck just happened Albert," he asked in a horse tone.

Albert replied. "Well, it seems whoever installed that part on the core to be used by you had decided to have it implanted in your scar. Also, repairs for the prototype vehicle and part changes have been fixed. I unfortunately had to use up a ton of the core's essence to fix it. The power is at half use. Although, the core should be able to recharge from the plutonium reactor. Within a few days."

Johnny sat there confused and pondering Albert's first statement. I had many rivals, so someone could have tampered with or paid someone to mess with that. At least the thing didn't kill me. Johnny thought. He shook his head.

"Well at least the core is part of me," he tried to laugh it off.

"I think we have done enough work for now," Johnny replied feeling exhausted. "Time to find somewhere to rest so that I won't be in danger," he added with frustration.

Johnny then got back into the prototype. He first took the mini-Albert off the dash and pocketed it.

 "First I need to figure out where the heck we are," he said in frustration.

He put the car at a slow pace. "Can you map the areas we go to Albert?" Johnny asked.

"That shouldn't be an issue," replied Albert.

Johnny had driven for around a few minutes before he found a dirt path. Johnny then stopped the prototype as he put it into park.

Johnny began to give Albert more instructions while he sat there. "Albert let me know if you end up sensing anyone or anything. I'm going to put the prototype in stealth mode." Johnny informed Albert. He was concerned for his safety. He knew he wasn't in the virtual test world. Without knowing what dangers he could face he wanted to be extra careful.

Johnny hit a few buttons on the main control terminal and activated stealth mode for the prototype. One of the buttons cloaked the prototype. "There. At least no one can see us." He talked to himself calmly.

Johnny then hit the gas slowly making sure stealth mode was active. He didn't see any dirt or rocks getting kicked up by the tires. He was very surprised no tire tracks were left behind either. He couldn't even hear the car as it was moving. I wonder how they managed to pull that feat off? Johnny thought.

Johnny then followed the dirt road into the unknown…