A story I've been working on and posting on my social sites has been getting little to no feedback. I'd appriciate any and ALL opinions. Thanks.

Timing is Everything

Entry

What Mark Donovan found amusing about his current situation was three months ago this might've seemed strange. He stood on a large metal platform staring at lush green hills and valleys being blown by a gentle gust. The beauty was not lost on him, neither was the fact that it was also the surface of a planet light-years away from Earth and almost thirteen years in the past. The place that housed this giant portal was within a highly secured, and classified, United States Air Force bunker. The project was codenamed Passport and run by his uncle Dr. Jamaal “Jam” Haas, (pronounced Hayes). It took a lot of convincing on Mark’s part to allow him to do this but eventually once some concessions were made his uncle agreed. Mark still couldn't help but realize this was the last thing he ever expected to be doing.

At age twenty-one Mark had expected to be in College with his girlfriend of one year Emily. Emily thought Mark. He still remembered her blue eyes, soft skin, and the odd stories she used to tell. As his thoughts turned to her he reached into the inside pocket of his long brown duster coat and found a small leather bound book. It was the last gift Emily had given to him before she disappeared. Mark didn't like having to think of her in the past tense. It was this thought that reminded him of his purpose: to protect Emily at any costs. That was why he had undergone the three months crash course training from his Uncle’s military liaison United States Air Force Sergeant Anthony Lewis, callsign Preacher. “Jam” wouldn’t allow Mark to go through with this plan unless he had proper training and could defend himself. After the training Mark felt ready for anything. It was also thanks to “Preacher” that Mark’s duster was so heavy. He had provided Mark with a miniature arsenal: two Glock nine millimeters, two Walther P-99 pistols, six blocks of SEMTEX with detonators, several cartridges of ammunition, and a Remington SP-10 twelve gauge shotgun. Yet Mark felt incomplete so he added his very own lucky aluminum baseball bat and Emily’s gift. Mark's brown eyes had been locked on the book. Feeling tears welling up he placed it back into its pocket and drew out his favorite bat. Mark turned back to see Jam and Preacher staring back.

Preacher having served years in the military had kept the crew cut hair cut, but opted for having a full beard on his face. Preacher smiled at his student and saluted smartly which Mark promptly returned. “Hurry!” the fifty-two year old Jam yelled over the loud gusts of wind whipping from the portal. Mark nodded at his uncle and swung his bat up on his shoulder and with a smile stepped through the portal into space and time. Hoping against hope that he was right and he could save the woman he loved so that he could one day tell her so.

When Mark stepped into the portal the images they saw before became a kaleidoscope of colors. It was as if Mark was a stone thrown into a still pool and the ripples kept sending colors everywhere. Jam and Preacher watched this display praying that their friend had made it. It took a full minute but soon they saw him still holding the bat over his right shoulder.

Mark seemed to be taking in his surroundings. He turned around and waved at them.
Jam was satisfied that Mark had made it in one piece and was alive. So he began to diminish the power supply to his creation causing the large portal to shrink into nothingness. Once it was gone Preacher and Jam looked at each other. “I hope he’ll be okay.” Jam said. Preacher just shrugged. “He’ll be fine so long as he keeps his focus.” Jam nodded but was staring at his creation and wondering what he had just done.