Operation: Antique Shop

Located among the Judaean Hills far outside the city limits of modern Jerusalem lies a very humble shrine within an out of the way cavern. There is a stone relief of the nativity scene carved into the walls of the cavern, with some cloth laid out for those who wish to kneel or bow before a simple stone altar. There is a natural spring of water that appears to have once flowed through the carvings and into a small reflecting pool built into the altar. However, time and the flow of the water appears to have long since eroded away at the carving, and now the water simply flows out through cracks and past the altar, leaving the reflecting pool dry.

This unassuming shrine has stood here for countless years, but there are still subtle signs that it is being kept, despite there being no homes for miles. It is a curious detail that many would easily dismiss as the work of pilgrims who journey to worship. However, there are those who know the secret.

Using The New Path conglomerate's world wide information network, The Lost was able to uncover that secret, but only just barely. This seemingly forgotten shrine is actually the specific ritual site to open a gateway to another world. One that is not quite the next, and yet still not the current. Rather, something in betwixt. It is said in only the most hushed of prayers, that beyond this gate lies Saint Longinus' Cathedral. According to Lost's research, this is where the broken pieces of the true Lance of Longinus are entombed. Its forbidden power had been locked away from the mortal world, behind divine ritual and careful secrets.

"Dabbler, there is something I want. Something that is not mine, and should not rightly be mine. Something I intend to take," He had been completely honest with her, as she was the one person he felt like he could be honest with.

"I need your help to do it," he had asked her. He had learned much of the hushed secrets, through his various sorted means. However, he could not learn how to perform the ritual to unlock the gate. So instead, he would have to improvise his own way to the way open. She was the key. If she personally would not come, he would ask her if he could borrow her power. He'd develop a machine, a device to break open the lock.

Even if the old ways were sealed, one way or another, he was determined to carve out a New Path.

Dabbler was going out today. She picked out a nice yellow sunday dress, though no dress ever quite fit the beat up old witch hat on her head. Also she brought a basket of cleavers, hooks, knives and other very sharp implements. Because Dabbler.

It seemed her 'human' voice prevailed in speaking to Lost's request. "Actually if you want to open a portal to another dimension, all you have to do is..." The next words seemed to slam into Lost's mind like a foreign, alien presence. Like cold, slimy tentacles, eldritch knowledge of a nature man was not meant to know, meshed with his scientific know-how. She spoke in a language beyond the ken of ordinary mortals, yet spoke in a way that etched a ritual into his consciousness. Once he consumed the ritual, it would erase itself from his mind.

"Well I'm off to find some friends. Or food. Or both. See ya later, Fishbowl Head." Dabbler merrily skipped away. At times it was best not to ask.

It was true, Lost was a bit afraid of the unusual presence in his mind. However, he was also excited. He loved to learn. While he did not quite understood, he felt like everything would work out just fine.

"Thank you, Dabbler," The Lost was happy that she was not coming with him. He didn't want her to be a part of his sin, demon or not.

With everything in place, all that was left was to act. Again he felt that rush of fear and excitement. On the tarmac, his hand picked squad was ready and waiting. They were not his usual squad. This was not an official mission of The New Path. This was strictly off the books. This whole operation, all of these security contractors, and even he, himself. None of them existed.

They saluted him as he strode past them and onto the black helicopter. It was not his usual one. It bore no markings and the make was different. The security contractors who boarded after The Lost also wore different tactical gear from the usual set. Several were also wearing special outfits.

Lost gave a nod, and one of the security contractors made a hand signal. The helicopter began to lift off, and so did several others. As they did, The Lost pointed to one of the contractor's silver pins. He took it off and passed it to the man next to him, who took his off, and passed them on. Finally, Lost was holding them all and added his own. Staring at them, he held them out the open door of the helicopter, and finally let them drop.

The silver pins rained down from the formation of helicopters. They caught the light and shined like stars, as they plummeted into the dark abyss bellow.

The men he had with him were officially The Lost Ones now. They were mercenaries, thugs, and cutthroats. Many of which were captured enemy combatants that had been personally reeducated by The Lost himself. As smart as he was, he could be a very good teacher. Especially with no laws in international waters holding back his curriculum. For this operation, he had spared no expense in terms of preparation and resources. They flew in low, bellow radar. As soon as they arrived, The Lost Ones began to repel down into the night. The area had been deserted until the helicopters had blown in, and the flew off into the night before the last security contractor had stormed the cavern.

There was hardly anything in the cavern to secure. Most of the men had to wait outside. Lost 01 gave the signal to Lost 06. He nodded in response and then moved to the stone relief. He began moving things around, shifting the stone carvings and turning them around in a certain order. When he had finished, the water flowed around the rearranged carving and into the reflect pool. The next step would be to kneel and pray in some sort of special manner. However, they did not know how to do that.

Using the ritual that Dabbler had given him, he had spent considerable time and resources constructing a device. He knew it would work, because when he had finished it, the knowledge of her ritual had violently left his mind. Very violently. He thought about taking it apart to reverse engineer it, but then thought that would be an affront to the favor Dabbler had provided him. In the end, he decided against such an insult. Lost 02, 03, 04 and 05 moved to place the device onto the altar. The large circular portal in the base of the device lined up perfectly with the reflecting pool.

They all looked to Lost 01. He nodded. The device was activated. The portal was opened.

The hardened security contractors waiting outside the cavern had to avert their eyes from the light and guard their minds against the roar that erupted from the cavern.

01 grimaced under the black visor of his helm. Even he needed a moment to recover, before finally raising his hand and then pointing it forward. At his order, men began rushing towards the roaring light above the reflecting pool, and jumping into it. It wasn't long before 01 himself would do the same.

Once on the The first thing they encountered was a landing, at the base of a very high mountain floating in a vast, yawning landscape. A simple bell tower served as the first landmark. Here began the grueling 9999 step staircase up to the cathedral complex. Though grand and vast, later on visitors would see much of the place had fallen into disrepair. Budget cuts and all, you know.



An aging bald man with a beard in simple hemp robes came to greet them.

"Pilgrims? It has been a long time... Have you come to pay respects... oh my... weapons?... intruders...?!" When he saw the black clad warriors carrying weapons, he quickly hobbled back to his station to ring the alarm bell.