Season 2 - Episode 38: Thinking With Portals

## Synopsis

Sammie connects with the crystal worm once more and discovers it is currently underneath West. The meet Angelina at the sewer on West and travel down into the tunnel system. They lure out and kill one of the crystal worm's young and it rushes toward them as planned. Bjorn and Angelina open up a Rift portal big enough for the creature to travel through, and it does, but Henry is pulled into the goo by a small worm and Sammie starts to walk toward the Rift.

## Episode Description

Our heroes have a plan, and now they have the "permissions" they need to execute it. Easy right? Never.

## Key Events

* Bjorn and Angelina open a Rift big enough for the worm to travel through but just barely. The crystal worm barrels through the ground and into the portal.
* Henry gets pulled underneath the goo by a small worm while Sammie is compelled to walk toward the Rift.

## Summary

Bjorn, Henry, and Sammie discuss what it means that they're able to open portals without permission. Bjorn explains that it means that the normal protections they have against other people opening Rifts is gone and that literally anyone could open one now. They decide to talk to Miguel about it later and focus on the task at hand. Bjorn asks Sammie if she can try and find the giant worm's nest while he calls Angelina.

Sammie connects with the creature and finds that it's currently underneath West. She realizes it's going to attack the ships in the harbor soon. She's unable to find its nest, but realizes it is telepathically connected to the babies and they could definitely injure one to attract its attention. Sammie passes all this information along to Bjorn and Henry. Bjorn asks Angelina to meet them at the sewer on West.

Once together, Angelina tells them she didn't bring her full crew since she is the main magic user on the squad and will be best equipped to help Bjorn open a portal. Bjorn fills Angelina in on the portal situation. Angelina is surprised that Henry is able to open Rifts but glad Bjorn will be able to help. They then travel down the sewer and to the deeper parts of the tunnel system. Eventually, they reach a part of the tunnel that splits in 3 different directions. Sammie tries to connect with the creature and tell which way they should go but comes up short. Bjorn spots a tooth near one of the tunnel and realizes this must be a new tunnel. They head down the fresh tunnel and start to get their weapons ready.

They start to hear the sound of a smaller worm ahead of them. Bjorn instructs them to wait and eventually the sound stops. They peak around a blind corner and see the tunnel leads down into another layer of goo. They can't continue down this way without having to fully submerge themselves in the strange substance. They decide to try and lure out one of the small worms to draw the giant crystal worm to themselves. Sammie throws a rock at the goo and it seems to draw its attention but not draw it out. Bjorn attempts to shoot the worm the next time it pops out but it just disappears beneath the goo again. They decide to try a different method to lure it out.

Bjorn flies down the tunnel and lands at the edge of the goo. He dips his foot into the surface of the substance and quickly sees a bubble of air as the small worm approaches. He takes a step back but his goo-covered foot causes him to slip and he falls into a prone position. Henry tries to draw the worm's attention away with its sword but it doesn't seem to care. Sammie hits it with a force blast and the worm slinks back into the goo but watches them closely with its head above the surface. Bjorn takes another shot at it with his assault rifle and the worm goes limp, its whole body floating up to the service.

The earth begins to rumble as the the giant crystal worm barrels toward them from nearby, sensing one of its young has been killed. Sammie connects with the giant worm and tells the other that it's coming up from directly beneath them. Sammie asks if the others can make a Rift directly across the surface of the floor so that the giant worm goes directly from the floor and through the Rift. They agree and Angelina asks Bjorn if he knows how to open and make a Rift portal bigger while working with other spellcasters. Bjorn only has a vague idea of how it works. They decide to go for it anyway - they have to.

Bjorn and Angelina start to work together to open the Rift. Sammie is positioned on Angelina's side, up the include. Henry is on Bjorn's side, closer to the goo. Bjorn can tell they're not going to have enough magic to open a big enough portal and asks Henry to join in. Henry tries to help, but can't figure out how to combine his magic with theirs. Bjorn and Angelina are straining hard to keep the portal open. They manage to get it big enough but it's hard for them to keep it open, they have to keep their full attention on it. Henry suddenly stumbles backward as his magic backfires and is pulled under the surface of the goo by a small worm. The giant crystal worm barrels through the bottom of the tunnel they're standing in and into the portal.

Sammie feels a familiar pulling sensation and begins walking forward toward the Rift...

## List of Appearances

* Bjorn Olafson
* Henry Marlowe
* Sammie Overbrook
* Angelina Ripley