Sebastian

Strummed his fingers across the top of the desk. This was not good. Arthur vanishes replaced by some strange girl, who speaks English and Russian. Definitely odd. He checked his wrist watch and cursed quietly. Picking up his cell phone he called Vivienne.

“Hello?’ she said, voice tired, as if woken from a slumber.

“Did I wake you?” asked Sebastian, an apologetic tone in his voice.

“It doesn’t matter. What can I do for you?” she inquired, scrubbing at her face with her free hand.

“Arthur performed the ritual from the book tonight,” he supplied.

“I told him it was nonsense, that I couldn’t guarantee the translation,” she explained, sitting upright in her bed and clicking on her bedside lamp. Her husband stirred, but she shushed him and waved a dismissive hand in his direction.

“He vanished,” Sebastian provided. “In his place, a young woman appeared claiming amnesia like symptoms. The only other person there was not in a position to observe what might have transpired.”

She chuckled. “That’s impossible. The book is a load of rubbish, some fancy concocted by some deranged mind who was probably overexposed to lead.”

“Apparently not,” countered Sebastian. “I was hoping you could provide me with a copy of any of your data to see if there is something there that might give me a clue as to what might have happened.”

“I turned all of my data over to Arthur, hard copies and electronic, he was most insistent,” she replied.

“Dammit,” vented the big man. “Was there anything in those notes or data that might have given you an inkling of what happened?”

“What do you mean? Are you asking me if this girl is really some being from an alternative plane of existence and maybe she somehow traded places with Arthur, Sebastian please,” she said, tone admonishing.

“There’s something else, his clothes were found at the location where he performed the ritual. According to my man there, they were shredded,” he informed.

“Jesus Sebastian,” she said.

“So if there’s anything you can think of that might help me figure this shit out, I would be appreciative,” he added.

“If you think your man is in over his head, get him out there,” Vivienne advised.

“Oleg is exceptionally talented and can handle himself in a tight situation, Arthur on the other hand…” he left the rest unsaid.

“I don’t know what else to tell you,” replied Vivienne.

“I apologize for rousing you at this hour, thank you for taking the time,” expressed Sebastian.

“No problem Sebastian, sorry I couldn’t have been of more help. If there’s anything else, please don’t hesitate to call, good night,” she offered.

“Good night,” he replied and disconnected the call.

Pausing a moment, he stared at the phone. Bringing up a contact, he called. “Vickers, Sebastian. Authorization 0799. Yes. Three man extraction team, Alpha priority. Contain if viable, extreme measures authorized, but only as a last resort. One asset on site.” He went on to provide location details and the nature of the target.

There was a rapping on the door. Sebastian terminated the call. “Enter,” he said.

It was Harald. The big powerful man looked haggard, worn. The dream had continued to plague him. Sebastian had suggested Harald might want to try and see if there might be any identifiable landmarks in the terrain or configurations of stars, anything that might provide an indication of a possible location.

“I have been doing as you suggest, I believe I have identified a location that matches elements of the dream,” Harald said, entering the room and slumping into one of the chairs across from the desk.

Leaning back in his own chair, Sebastian rested his elbows on his rounded stomach and tented his fingers. “Where?” he asked, curious.

“Jotunheimen, Norway,” he replied. “I’ve used the computers to help isolate the spot I believe to be the one in my dream,” he said. “I want to go to the place I’ve been seeing in my dreams,” Harald said, a determined expression on his face.

Sebastian nodded. “Our group is currently in a state of upheaval at the moment. I would recommend delaying your journey just until we’ve restored some degree of order.”

Harald frowned. “I appreciate the current circumstances, but I feel I must do this if I am to be free of this dream,” he asserted.

Sebastian nodded, realizing under the circumstances there was no point of deterring the huge muscular Viking from his intended course. He had the authority to order Harald to remain, but decided to assent. “Very well,” he said.

Sebastian left Harald to make his own arrangements. Closing his eyes, only for a moment, just to rest, he dozed off.