(Nu Draconis, December 25th,2046)

I sat in one of the many offices I had at one of the four portal facilities in orbit around Nu Draconis. This one was of course the first one and the one where I stepped through to Apolyn’s Abode so long ago. I opened my personal interface and utilized my Fundamental Ability “That was Easy” to review what I needed to do to create a pocket dimension within this Universe. I found some interesting information in the Cosmic Interface.

A Pocket Dimension can be created through the use of Space and any of the eight fundamental energies. Space is used to set aside a specific place adjacent to the current Cosmos that is also adjacent to the item that will act as an anchor to the pocket dimension. Note: an anchor can also be a location within a Universe, it does NOT have to be an item. Dungeons entrances are the best example of these types of Anchors.

The characteristics of a pocket Dimension are directly proportional to the energy utilized to create it. For every 1,000 mana used to create the pocket dimension, a one-foot cube is created. For example, a 10-foot by 10-foot area that was 1 foot deep would cost 1 million mana to create. 2 million mana if it was 2 feet deep. 10 million if it was a 10-foot by 10-foot by 10-foot cube. This mana can be supplied by the caster or the Universe itself. The best example of the latter is the use of a wish spell though there are specific spells that have been designed to create the pocket dimensions for items.

I was pretty sure I had the gist of information I stumbled across. I did some quick math in my head. My 572 million mana could be utilized to create a maximum of an 830.13-sized cube. As I considered this I realized that I could sustain the casting and add an additional 156 cubic feet per second with my mana regeneration. So I wouldn’t deplete my mana completely and give myself a mana depletion headache, I decided to start with a 500-foot cube and increase it by 100 cubic feet per second. I tied in Earth, Air, Water, and Fire to make it a solid room with breathable Air, water to drink, and fire to cook and keep the place at a decent temperature. I also added Light and Life to give the dimension to lighting and provide for Health regeneration. Next, I tied the seven entrances to seven different Chaotic Nanites I provided. One for me, and one for Amanda, Mom, Dad, Desirae, Thor, and Abi. They would act as anchor points and allow the person with them to enter and exit the pocket dimension at will. I also set an Anchor point to Earth, in the Center of Stonehenge with an access password. If spoken the portal would appear, otherwise, it was invisible. Someone with a high enough skill in space magic might be able to open it but I doubted it. Just in case I’d make sure the entrance into the pocket dimension from that location was guarded.

The next part was easy. I made my will manifest through my ability Spellweaver to create the pocket dimension. I channeled the spell for 95 seconds which allowed me to create an area inside that would be 10,000 cubic feet. More than enough space for the purpose I was creating it. I willed my anchoring chaotic nanite to open the portal and a portal opened up into a well-lit chamber. I stepped through the portal and it closed behind me. This felt familiar. I willed my version of the true sight spell into existence and looked around. I could see the various energies coming into the space and stabilizing. With a thought, I increased the inflow of air and earth and set my nanites to the task of conversion and creation.

As I had already done this once before it would be nothing to recreate Thor’s new housing. First, though, I created the ground upon which it would sit. I made sure there were at least 100 feet that I could use for hidden rooms and Thor and Abi’s fallback locations. Next, I created the storage devices that would house a copy of Thor and Abi as well as scans of Amanda, Mom, Dad, Abi, and myself. These areas were sealed in a one-inch layer of solid diamond-backed up by a barrier of space magic that had the same effects as micro singularities. Anyone trying to cross the barrier physically would be annihilated by the gravitic stress. I had this all held in place by space magic that would only decay if the Cosmos decayed. If that happened, it probably wouldn’t matter what happened to anyone left inside this pocket dimension. Though, it would be neat to watch as every single atom in the dimension was sucked into multiple black holes, well technically strings, ah who cares. Dead was dead.

Above the backup storage area, I layered another 100 feet of normal Earth to create the foundation of the mansion I was creating. Energy to the facilities was supplied by both the fire and water forces through the use of a specialized thermal hydroelectric generator I created for that purpose. Nanites, would take care of food, and waste disposal. I did set up a stream that entered and exist the pocket dimension to allow for an inflow and outflow of material if it was needed. I did this for air as well.

Lastly, I created the mansion. I incorporated technology and ease of use, as well as, a gym, pool, sauna, jacuzzi, and everything else I could think of that would be a personal convenience. Then, I quantumly tied electronic transmission to my home Universe so everyone could stay in touch with the real Universe. Just in case I added a portal chamber in the underground area and it was done. I set the magical lighting to a standard day, twilight, night, and dawn cycle and floated up to oversee what I’d created. It was nothing like the Dyson sphere I’d created but it would do. I could create the Dyson sphere again but it would need to be able to sustain itself without nanites. Maybe later.

Once everything was ready, I opened a portal and made my way back to Mom and Dad’s place.

As I stepped through my mom asked, “Back already?”

I looked around and saw that everyone was in the living room and even Amanda had made an appearance, “Yep, it didn’t take that long to get everything prepared. I needed to come over and make sure all of you were taken care of.”

“By taken care of, you mean what exactly?” Desirae asked.

“As you know, once magic starts making its way back into the Universe the nanites will become less and less functional. I don’t know why exactly but technology and magic don’t coexist very well. There are exceptions of course and one of them I need to make available to you.” I said as sent my chaotic nanites out to convert every nanite in my family and friends’ bodies to my limited Chaotic Nanites. They’d still function normally with regular nanites but once they were gone the nanites in them would continue to function normally. They wouldn’t have the same functionality as mine and I still didn’t want them to spread throughout this Universe so I’d put very strict limiters on what chaotic nanites were allowed to do that were not being directly controlled by myself. Mainly, take care of their host.

“Exactly what does that entail son?” my dad asked.

“Nothing, it’s done,” I said as the conversion was completed in all of them.

“What?” Amanda asked excitedly

“I upgraded the nanites in your bodies so they would work in a magical environment. Their, one mission is to keep you all healthy and alive. They won’t be able to make meals for you but they will convert anything you touch into sustenance if required and you’ll be able to survive in a vacuum or under water. As before, you’re all still effectively immortal.”

“What about everyone else?” Amanda asked.

“Well, the normal nanites should be able to hang around for a bit but eventually the ambient magic in the Universe will destroy them. With the speed we agreed to introduce magic back into the Universe I’m figuring we won’t see any real issues until we hit about 50% saturation. Even then I think the nanites in everybody will hold together until we get to upwards of 90%. The free-floating nanites that aren’t in living beings, well, those are going to probably start having problems at around the 15% to 20% amount, so 150 weeks to 200 weeks. Just under three to four years.”

“But your just guessing?” Abi said. “Hence the reason you’re making sure we’re all taken care of now?”

“Can’t slip anything past you can I?”

“Nope!”

“You’re right of course. The worst-case scenario is that any level of ambient magic starts to break down nanites. If that happens the infrastructure will fail and everyone will have to learn how to survive on their own. Over the next week, I’m going to have the nanites stockpile food and beverages just about everywhere, just in case that happens. When that’s done I’ll turn the magic back on.”

“So what else did you do?” Desirae asked.

“Well, it’s better if I just show you,” I said as I opened a portal to the new pocket dimension I’d created and waved for them to follow me through into their new mansion.

“Wow,” Mom and Dad said in Unison.

“This Mansion is approximately 10,000 square feet and exists outside of the known Universe,” I said as I closed the portal behind Amanda as she stepped through. “Every Earth, even the Milky Way, could be destroyed and you’d all be perfectly safe in here. Use your internal compasses to find your personal quarters and also pull up a map. I have something to do with Thor and Abi quickly while you look around.”

Everyone headed off to explore this new home as Abi turned to me, “What’s going on?” she asked

I opened a portal, “Follow me and I’ll show you, “ I said as I stepped through the portal into Thor’s permanent resting chamber and called out “Thor!”

“Here Johnathan.”

“Please open a portal from your mind storage chamber to this location and prepare to transfer completely to this chamber.”

“The chamber you’re standing in is identical to the one I currently reside in, why would I need to do this?”

“First, this location is unassailable in the Universe, no one can get in here without permission. Second, the structures in this pocket dimension are all created with Chaotic Nanites. They will withstand the reintroduction of magic into the Universe. Third, if you review the schematics of this location you will note that it has complete functionality with the known Universe. You will simply be changing the permanent storage location of your consciousness and mind.”

“Understood, portal opening now.” A portal opened and a cable materialized that wound from the memory core in this room to the old one his mind currently resided in. “Beginning transfer now, this may take a moment.”

“Take all the time you need, now it’s Abi’s turn, I said as I opened a portal to her permanent storage area.” I opened a portal between her permanent storage and this chamber and also to her so that all her memories were current and began the transfer.

I opened a nanite communication to both and sent, “Abi, the body you’re in has been upgraded already. Just sync with your new memory storage area and you should be good to go. When you are both done join me in the living room area. You know what I mean Thor. I’m going to head into the mansion and check-in.”

I didn’t wait for an acknowledgment. I opened a new portal to stand back at the entrance to the mansion. I made my way to the kitchen and started preparing drinks and snacks for everyone, which was easily accomplished with nanites. I turned on the giant television and checked the news networks. It seemed that in 10 years they’d gotten back to journalism the way it was meant to be. The stories were concise, matter-of-fact, and told the truth, I verified the stories through the nanites, or I should say I reviewed the data Thor had collected on each subject. All in all, not bad. While I watched the news I also checked in on Earth II to see how it had progressed. It was allowed limited contact with Earth I and it looked like the criminal element there had finally gotten their shit together as well and we’re working together.

As I was thinking about how the different timelines and variations in Cosmos had been playing out I wondered if any being could keep it all straight? Even with my mentality and technological help I was having a hard time keeping track of it all. Not that I had to anymore. This was my reality, at least until I let it go.

Desirae was the first to come back into the living area, “There isn’t much past the outer walls is there?” she asked.

“There isn’t anything past the outer walls. This is meant to be a refuge, If you are being attacked there, it’s game over anyway. Speaking of which, in the event of a breach, portal to either Abi or Thor’s chamber. They are below us about 200 feet. At 100 feet there are singularities that prevent anyone and anything, save me, from passing them. You should be perfectly safe there. Then just set the nanites to destroy everything above the singularities and whoever was being stupid, well they won’t be stupid anymore.”

“You put some thought into this?” Desirae said.

“A little. It’s unassailable otherwise. There are an infinite number of possible alternate dimensions we could be in. It would take time to find out which one and to find the place it tethers to. It’s a little wonky how that works but these dimensional spaces aren’t tied to any specific location within the Cosmos. They’re linked, but not tied. Finding that link using technology, while possible, will be time-consuming. Magic, on the other hand, might be able to do it if a sufficiently powerful caster was looking but once they got in, the technology in here would overwhelm them. Chaotic Nanites, so far, don’t really have anything that can stand up to them, save divines and others with abilities that span Universes.”

Just then my mom and dad came back into the living area, “This is a nice place you made here son. That said, why did you make it and want to show it to us.”

“Couple of reasons, the most important of which is that this is a fallback location for you. Also, should something happen to you, Thor or I can bring you back here. The other reason is that this place will always be able to work the way the world has been working for the last 10 years. Nanites work here so if a food shortage happens you’ll be able to come in here and make what you need and get it out to the real world. Thor will be able to help with that.”

“That’s convenient Johnathan,” Amanda said as she came into the living area.

“Well, I don’t think anything bad will happen once I throw the switch, so to speak, but better safe than sorry. If things go really bad I’ll make another area and we’ll give people access to that area to get supplies for everyone as needed. That’ll take a little more time to set up”

“Are you going to make an announcement?” Abi asked as she came out of the kitchen into the living area.

“Now that everyone is together again let me explain the overall plan. I would like Amanda and Abi to craft a statement stating what has happened. I will also be releasing a very basic document outlining the basics everyone will need concerning magic. The various types, how they work, and how they work together. It’ll probably sit on a shelf for a bit but once magic starts manifesting monsters, well I’m sure people will want to take a look at that again.”

“What will you be doing during this break-in period?” my dad asked. “Writing those books isn’t going to take you very long. You’ll think about them and they’ll be created”

“Too true dad,” I said. “I will be traveling throughout the known area of Thor’s influence and checking out the various races he’s come across”

“Wait, what?” my mother said

“Thor, you have encountered other sentient races?” Amanda asked.

Thor’s voice came over the loudspeakers, “Before Johnathan left the last time he was here he gave me full discretion to make choices concerning bringing new races of sentient beings to your attention. None of the beings I have encountered thus far have posed a threat to humanity and are so far outside of our immediate sphere that I did not think there was a need.”

“How close, is not that close?” Amanda asked.

“Approximately 75,000 light-years, almost on the other side of the Milky Way, Thor said.

“I take it none of them were technologically advanced?” I asked, which I already knew the answer to, but everyone else need to know also.

“None of the races I’ve encountered that are alive have shown any degree of technology past the steam age. There are remnants and ruins that hint at technology, as well as stockpiles of fissionable waste materials on a few planets near planets that could have housed sentient life at some point but none, have shown capabilities past those of humans in the early 1600s.”

“So what exactly are you going to go check out? My father asked.

“Well, dad, near the galactic core there’s an anomaly. It’s hard to detect because things get wonky that close to the gravity well there but Thor detected what appeared to be an artificial structure that is in a stable orbit.”

“What makes it so special?” My mom asked.

“Well, you see, there are four singularities in a pyramid shape orbiting the giant black hole. Those singularities create a natural bubble at the center of the pyramid where things are not pulled apart by any of the black holes. something is floating there. Thor could detect it but without my ability to get past the singularities there was no real way to investigate it until now.”

“So, you think someone, or something created it?” My dad said.

“If it was created, whoever created it can manipulate black holes. That means, technologically they are way beyond us puny humans. I was going to go check and see if they were still around.”

“When will you head out?” Desirae asked

“Not for another week. I want to make sure everything is running smoothly here and get the release of magic started before I head out.

“Good,” Desirae said with a smile, “I’d like another combat training session with you before you go gallivanting across the Universe.”

My dad looked clueless but Amanda, Abi, and my mom, that traitor all snickered then coughed when they saw me look their way.

“Sound good,” I said as I sat down trying to hide a grin that had somehow appeared there.