CHAPTER 3: INTERLUDE I

It had been just another summer day for Rob Cordan. The sun was shining, the temperature was warm, and his hotdog stand was doing pretty good business here in Memorial Park, Walla Walla, WA. There were a couple of little league games going on, and many of the parents and players had stopped by his hotdog stand to pick up a quick bite. Checking on his dwindling stock, he decided to stay open another hour, and then pack up and watch the end of the games. He wasn't a huge baseball fan, but the atmosphere at these things was pleasant enough to be worth taking a seat and taking it all in.

Then the world twisted.

Rob stumbled, falling to the ground as the earth underneath him seemed to rise up and reshape itself. He grabbed onto his cart for stability as he rode out this surprise earthquake, only to gape in shock when the tremors stopped as suddenly as they started.

What had happened wasn't an earthquake, unless there was some category of earthquake that could make almost all of the people and all of the park equipment vanish. The baseball field was still there, if a bit bumpier than before, and around it were scattered several very confused looking individuals, all trying to find their feet again. However, instead of the hundred some people that were there to watch the game, only five remained. A young hispanic kid on the field, the umpire, and three people in what had been the bleacher area, all with a strong familial resemblance to the kid.

Rob trembled a bit. He wasn't a very religious man, but he had been raised Catholic, and his hands rose of their own accord, performing the sign of the cross. There was clearly some supernatural shit going on here, and it was much better to be on good terms with God in such situations.

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Suddenly an unusual box appeared in front of him, filling the center of his vision. He flinched a bit, but when nothing else seemed to happen, he gave the floating blue box a closer look. No matter how he moved, it remained steady at the center of his vision, and trying to brush it aside with his hand had no effect. Turning to face the sun did have an effect, as it brightened to remain readable, and it dimmed soon after as he turned away, the setting sun painful to look at. Resigned to the continuing strangeness, he decided to get to reading what was in front of him.

Due to the imminent destruction of the entertainment planet Qn5i9sl43, locally known as Earth, System intervention was required. Due to low approval ratings caused by a lack of interesting narrative on a personal level, System changes have been approved by the local administrator. A full list of changes can be viewed in the changelog.

Rob blinked. So much for hoping God could help him out. The system, satisfied that he had finished reading the message, slowly let the blue announcement fade, revealing another box behind it.

Earth Changelog Version 3.0 Underlying laws of physics changed. (No more playing with Strong Nuclear Forces) Plot System implemented (A chance for individuals to gain some agency) 26 duplicate earths have been created and the population evenly distributed to reduce overpopulation. Efforts were made to keep spouses and families with young children together. (A little lebensraum) Flora physiology slightly altered. Fauna physiology slightly altered. 95% of terrain reverted to pristine condition. Some randomized redistribution occurred.

As Rob read through the list, there was only one reaction that made its way through his brain.

"Well, Fuck."