Emverbale Express

It all started twenty years ago in the small railroad town of Rockland, Wend. I was 20, fresh out of school, heading to the Rockland Train Station for my first job. Oh, my name is Reason. I'm 6'2, slim, and have black hair. Those days, I often wore a black jacket and blue jeans and had an ID badge around my neck with the title Employee of Rockland. I remember it well as I left my downtown apartment and walked to the Station.

The job I applied for was Conductor, and full of excitement, I arrived at the large Station around the entry. It was much larger than it appeared outside, with high castle arches and stained glass windows that beamed the noon daylight across the marble station floor; for a small town, no expense was spared for building the lovely, rich Station with its bustle and size.

Stunned, Reason looked around in amazement and walked over to the info counter. The sounds of the busy Yard could be heard throughout the building, and an elderly man with glasses and a long, white Beard sat at the large wooden desk cluttered with papers. Reason showed the Man his ID and said, "I have an appointment with Mr. Basswood."

The Man put down the newspaper he was reading, gasping at Reason with a sly grin, then said, pointing to an elevator off to the right next to the main doors, 2nd-floor right side, 3rd Door at the end of the hall; the Man went back to his paper as if nothing interesting had happened.

As Reason turned, he saw a locomotive rumbling by the window in the Yard as it moved passenger cars to somewhere out of view. Reason went to Mr. Basswood's office and entered the room. Inside, a large man in a dress, coat, tie, and top sat at a desk with a chair in front of it. A large window showed a full view of the Yard behind him, where the locomotive from earlier could be seen switching a new set of cars.

Reason nervously introduced himself, sat down, and said, "Thank you for taking the time to interview me out of your busy schedule, Mr. Basswood." Dave Basswood smiled and said, "Mr. Blacks, before we begin, let me ask you this: Do you believe in the supernatural and unbelievable?" Reason, perplexed, said, "I like to keep an open mind, Mr. Basswood. Everything is possible with enough hard work."

Dave gave a grin that sent chills down Reason's back, pulled out a strange silver key from his deck and placed it in front of Reason. He said Then, you can forget common sense, Mr. Black. This Key is your future; what I'm about to tell you must never leave this room; that Key is this Station's great secret and can never be known, or a Great disaster will fall.

Reason looked at the Key, puzzled and said I don't understand, Mr. Basswood. Isn't it a regular key? How could it be dangerous? Dave said the key itself is safe, but what it can open is something unlike anything you have seen before, if you choose to accept the risks and pick it up. In doing so, you're entering a world unlike anything you have seen before. Of course, you can decline and leave my office. All this will be nothing but just a dream, and no one will believe a word you say.

Reason was shocked and confused, then, a moment before deciding, as he slowly reached out and picked up the Key and said nervously I'd do my best not to disappoint you, Mr.Basswood! Dave smiled and said Well, that was fast. I'm impressed. The job is on paper; you're just a conductor for yard work, but in reality, you're the Conductor of a train unlike anything you've ever seen before, a train called Emverbale. You will be travelling in a world different yet the same. This Station is a gateway built 100 years ago, with a tunnel that leads into the other world.

Reason was in shock and couldn't believe his ears and said, " How is that even possible, Dave said Didn't I already tell you! This world is full of strange things, Mr. Blacks, so as a precaution, I made some preparations; Dave placed a handgun on the deck in front of Reason and said it was only a last resort; the Man you are replacing met an unfortunate end that had us take safety measures.

Reason, picking up the Gun and looking at it, said, "I used one before in training." Dave said, "Let's hope it stays that way and you don't need to use it." Another thing: you can not reveal this under any circumstances if you are to tell anyone outside these walls about the job. The outcome will be terrible, and you'll be dismissed!

Dave stood up with Reason and walked towards the Door. Dave said that before you go, your new apartment is on the 6th floor, at the end of the hall. As you are now living in the confines of the Station as a permitted resident, you also have all rights and privileges, as well as free accommodation. Your assignments start in 3 days. I'll have the info sent to your room later this afternoon by a trusted employee.

More confused than ever, Reason said. Thank you, Mr. Basswood. I still don't understand what to do in the meantime. Dave opened the Door and said I suggest you relax and settle in. Training begins at 9 am. If you need anything, you can contact dispatch anywhere in the Station, on the grounds, or elsewhere. Dave said ohh, Mr. Black, before I forget, your new partner will be visiting you.

Reason turned to ask Dave something. He didn't hear what Dave just said, but he was gone, and so was the room. Reason was suddenly standing on the 6th floor outside his apartment. Reason opened the Door, walked in, and was blown away by the size. It was a high-end apartment with the most updated appliances and fully furnished with all the best. It was like walking into a king's place. Reason was blown away; he noticed all his belongings were in order.

This was unlike his old apartment, a massive upgrade that only the rich could even dream of affording; a large deck overlooked the entire railyard and east end. The apartment made no sense, given the scale of the Station, as it seemed impossible to exist. The station layout on the map shows the main waiting room, which only indicates three floors and no such apartment complex is attached.

After a while of looking around, it was getting late in the day, and Reason was overwhelmed. He was having difficulty understanding the scents of it all as he sat down in a chair in his living room when a knock came at the Door, and a voice said, "Mr. Blacks, may I enter?" Reason thought it was the employee, Dave, who told him about Reason, saying, "Doors open!"

A cat entered the room, walking over to the chair on the side of Reason, confusing him even more; the cat transformed into a humanoid Cat Girl who stood 4 feet tall, had red eyes, long white hair, cat feathers like cat ears and tail, she wore round small glasses and had a cute face. The Cat Girl wore a blue blazer with wright trim and long black pants; her skin was a soft, fine fur that was silver-gray with black patches,

The Cat Girl said, " Mr.Blacks, I presume I'm Meoows. I've been assigned as your contracted partner and will be with you as long as our lives end. Reason was shocked, as he was in disbelief and stared at Meoows intently, perplexed. Reason said, surprised. Wait, what do you mean by "until our lives end"? I don't remember agreeing to a marriage, but I'm not against the idea.

Meoows laughed and said ohh, my, looks like Mr.Basswood forgot to explain the contract, among other things; the moment you picked up that Key, you automatically agreed, making a contract with one from my world that happened to be me. I just became aware of it myself, as I'm an employee of the Emverbale Express. I wasn't expecting a promotion so soon in my 18 years working for the railroad.

Firstly, Mr. Blacks, I must ask you not to reveal my true form to anyone outside this room. I had to pull a lot of strings to get permission to expose myself in this apartment, as I usually appear as a Cat. Wend, not in my world. This is the first time I have done something like this. Please keep this a secret.

Reason just nodded. He was more confused and couldn't figure out what was happening. His world was turned entirely on its head, as he never saw a Cat girl who could talk for the first time. Reason didn't know how to accept it.

Meoows then sighed and said I understand how confusing this seems. I'm harmless. I'm an employee of Embervale. I'm also assigned to this unit, so I'll be with you 24/7 if you need my assistance in anything job-related; however, address me as Meoows while on the job and while we are working; while off duty, you can address me as you see fit, and I'll bluntly answer the question that gets asked also.:, Relationships are not agents any rules outside of working hours, and I'm not agents it my self.

Reason said, I don't fully understand what I'm supposed to be doing. Meoows adjusted her glasses and said You are in charge of the Famine Emverbale Express across Landured from Rockwood to Emberbale City, the capital of my world. You are a representative for peace and in hopes of opening the borders between worlds; this is a lifeline that, if you fail, will destroy both the world and end war. I'm sure that's something you humans want to avoid. That's why this Station exists; it is a secret from humanity and my people, for the time being at least.

Meoows stood up and stretched, then said Well, I think that covers about everything She then remembered something and pulled a large book out of what looked like a void in the air and handed it to Reason. Then they said This is a manual with everything you need to know about the Emverbare and my world, as well as our contract. Any questions? Reason looked at the book and said I still need to understand this. It feels so unreal to me; what do you mean by us having a contract?

Meoows sat back down and sighed, then said Didn't I already explain it? Let me simplify it so your human brain can understand. I'm a Cat, what you people call a "Pet." I'm new to this myself. I have never been in your world before now, so I'm not familiar with the scents of what you humans consider normal. Meoow's face looked puzzled as Reason started laughing and said sorry, and it was just all that took me by surprise. Meoows said I'm serious. Reason: This isn't a joking matter; I'm supposed to act like a cat while in your world.

Reason stood up and said Sorry, I understand. We are strangers in each other's worlds, so it would feel foreign. I'm still not used to the idea of a real Cat Girl. Meoows said Aren't cat girls real? I've seen videos of them on your websites. That's why I applied for this job. Reason said people are acting like cat girls. It's all fake. Meoows was shocked and said ohh, my intel was misleading. I'll help you understand my world if you help me understand yours. I wouldn't mind getting to know you in a non-working relationship as long as it's kept private.

Reason only nodded, yawned, and said I'm off to bed, then Mis Kitty. Reason left the room and went into the bedroom. Just as she got flustered, she realized what she said was inappropriate and felt embarrassed that she had screwd up.