Another boring day, Dex thought to himself as he clicked the unlock on his key fob. His white 2009 Impala had seen better days, but felt as reliable as the day he bought it. Fitting himself into the driver’s seat, he started the engine, destined for home.
I’m hungry. The thought of cooking was always off-putting, so he often found himself stopping at a local fast food or carry out place. Dex passed by half a dozen restaurants, rejecting them one at a time. Finally, he stopped in the parking lot of a local burger joint, strangely known for their fish and chips. He grabbed the key to turn off the engine, and just as the engine went dead, his world went black.
For only a moment, Dex thought he had passed out. Quickly he realized he hadn’t, he was blind. Panicking, he began feeling around for his phone in the cup holder. It wasn’t there. None of the car he was just sitting in remained. Nothing was there. Panic set in further. His hands began to shake as he found the only thing he could feel was a cold metal table beneath him.
“Calm down Dexter.” A rigid, semi-robotic voice commanded. It was coming from in front of him. “You are not in any danger. I will restore your vision in a moment. You need to calm your breathing first.” He hadn’t even noticed he was nearly hyperventilating. Who could blame him? What the fuck is going on? He thought. He focused on his breath and, within a moment, could get to a steady pattern.
“Good. Please remain seated as your sight returns.” The voice said. Dex’s eyes started to work again, slowly. It took half a minute, but he could finally make out his surroundings. Nothing. There was nothing. Dex could see an endless empty white space that seemed to only contain himself, the cold table he was seated on, and the creature who had been speaking to him. A humanoid-shaped creature, seemingly made of silver. It had no expression, or even a face to speak of. Dex could tell it was looking at him despite the lack of eyes.
“Where- What- I- “ Dex fumbled over his words, still panicking on the inside.
“I’ll explain, do not worry. Focus on your breathing.” A clipboard appeared in the creature’s hand and he looked down, reading something off of it.
“My name is Gib. I am your observer for the time being. It says here you were a computer science major. Your parents are dead, no siblings, no close friends.”
“I have friends,” Dex protested.
“Sure you do, buddy,” Gib scribbled furiously on the clipboard with a pen that appeared in its hand. Somehow, its voice was less rigid and more mocking just then. “So, according to our criteria, you qualify for our multi-versal exchange program. You were placed in a lottery and, luckily for you, your number was drawn.”
Dex focused hard on his breathing. “I have endless questions.” He managed to get out.
“Don’t worry, I won’t answer any of them. Your initial observation starts here, then we will send you into your new world for field observation. At that point, we will no longer have any interactions. When I am finished observing you, you will be left to your own accord to live a new life.”
“But I don’t want to live a new life. I like my current life.” Dex found himself squeezing the table with both hands to avoid shaking.
“Yeah, no you don’t. You sit home alone nearly every night working on your next hobby. What was it this time? Kite flying, was it?” Gib somehow gave off an air of condescension through his featureless visage.
“Can we just move on? I have a feeling I’m not getting much of a choice in whatever-the-fuck is going on here.”
“That’s the spirit. Let’s begin.” A table appeared in between Dex and Gib. It was nearly identical to the metal table he was sitting on. Atop the table sat a sword, seemingly made exclusively out of wood. Gib held its pen above the clipboard and said nothing.
“What exactly?” Dex realized it was a futile question. He waited for a couple of minutes, mostly to see if Gib would say anything else. It didn’t. In fact, Gib didn’t even seem to move a single atom in its silver body. Deciding to proceed, Dex picked up the wooden sword. Gib scribbled furiously on the clipboard.
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“Moving on,” it said. Atop the table, another sword appeared. This one seemed to be made of metal, either iron or steel. Dex was unsure. After a moment of deliberation, he set down the wooden sword and picked up the metal one. Gib scribbled furiously on the clipboard.
“Excellent, you understand equipment very well.”
“I don’t understand- “Gib cut him off,
“Bring up your Personal Sheet, please.”
Dex reached into his pockets and turned them out. “You have to know I don’t have any clue what you are talking about, metal man.”
“Not a man,” Gib corrected, “Please, bring up your Personal Sheet. Just intend to see it and you will see it.”
Naturally, Dex had no idea what it was talking about. He pondered for a moment, then thought Show me my Personal Sheet, and there it was. Floating in front of his eyes like it was a computer straight out of a sci-fi movie.
Name: Dexter “Dex” Mitchell Halden
[PERSONAL SHEET]
Level: 1
Race: Human (Rank 1 - Earthling)
Class: None
Physical:
* Might: 5
* Agility: 4
* Vitality: 1
* Endurance: 4
Cognition:
* Perception: 3
* Adaptability: 3
* Intuition: 6
* Resilience: 2
Spirit:
* Resonance: 0
* Harmony: 0
* Control: 0
What the hell is this? Dex felt anxiety swell in his stomach. It was like some sort of video game. If that was the case, he hoped there would be a tutorial at the very least.
“Very basic, as expected.” Gib scribbled a little more on its clipboard. Dex wasn’t sure what kind of reaction he was expecting, but the one he got felt like an insult. “There are a few more tests I need you to do, then you will be sent out for field observation.”
“In this field observation, I’ll get like a tour guide or something, right?” Dex asked.
“Oh no, that would not be fair to the other inhabitants and exchange program participants. You will choose a starting venue, some supplies and, well, survive.”
Survive was not a word he was excited to hear in this situation.
“I see.” He was starting to feel an overwhelming uneasiness. This has to be a dream.
Gib guided Dex through a bizarre assortment of trials, each more surreal than the last. In one, Dex found himself sorting shapes with a childlike simplicity, a round peg into a round hole, while in another, he performed what felt like a field sobriety test being administered by a seasoned police officer. As the tests went on, Dex found himself more relaxed. Is this really happening? He wondered. After every test, Gib scribbled furiously on his clipboard.
“Excellent Mr. Halden. That concludes your initial observation,” Gib said. Dex wasn’t sure why the metal man was suddenly referring to him by his surname. “Please choose a starter kit from the table in front of you, then you will choose your venue.”
On the table appeared three sets of weapons and various supplies to accompany them. The first one contained the same metal sword from earlier, a leather poncho, two cork-bottles of what looked like fruit punch, and a small bag of dried meat. The second one contained a rather short bow, half a dozen arrows in a quiver, a pair of leather boots and matching bracers, as well as the same juice and meat. Finally, the last set consisted of nothing more than the meat, juice, and a nicely carved stick about nine inches long.
Dex considered for only a moment. He had no experience shooting a bow, so that option was immediately crossed off. The stick probably had some significance, but he doubted he would get much more information from Gib, so he opted for the first option.
As he reached for the sword, Gib scribbled, once again, furiously on his clipboard.
“A warrior at heart, I had predicted as much. Now, to choose your venue.” Gib gestured over the table and several large images appeared. They looked like floating wormholes into various environments. It began to explain each location. “Your first option is the base of Mount Deathfire. A hot and rather unpleasant environment, yet the soil is highly fertile. Located only a few miles from the bustling city of Cresthill, it has become a bit of a tourist attraction as of the last few millennia.”
Dex slowly shook his head at the sight of the massive volcano. Why on Earth, or wherever this is, would he pick that one?
“Okay,” Gib said. “Moving on. Your second choice is deep in the forest surrounded by the Twilight Glade. The forest inhabits a myriad of friendly and dangerous creatures. Rather secluded, the forest sits about two hundred miles from the nearest settlements.”
He was more interested in this one than in the previous options. Dex gave a shrug and Gib carried on to the next venue.
“Lastly, the poisonous swamps of- “
“Nope. I’m not rolling around in a poisonous swamp. The forest, please.” Dex interrupted.
“Excellent choice. One last thing before you go. Try to make it a couple of days at least.” Gib waved its arm and Dex’s vision faded to black.