"Welcome, Marcus." My vision slowly started to focus, and a groggy moan escaped from my throat. Where was I? The last thing I remember was lying on my bed, falling asleep. Eventually, my vision slowly unblurred, and I saw a well-dressed man sitting before me in an otherwise barren white room that looked like it came straight out of a hospital. He had jet black hair that was swept back. His eyes were tinted with a storm grey hue that had a faint glimmer of power within them. His face was flawless and was chiseled to inhuman perfection. His flesh was snow-white, and his lips were the softest shade of pink I have ever seen.
After a moment of me staring at him, I saw the corners of his lips turned upwards into a small smirk. He reached up to adjust his shimmering golden tie that stood in stark contrast to his black suit. He then cleared his throat and shifted slightly in his seat before speaking, "My name is Malek. I am the overseer of Earth and countless other planets."
I felt the fiber of my being strum from the power emitting from him with each word he spoke. My eyes widen slightly at this new bit of information. "So, you're God?" I managed to stutter out as I felt utterly overwhelmed. I only received an eye roll in response as he sat back into his chair and crossed his arms.
"Not in the sense that you are thinking of though I am indirectly responsible for the various religions that have existed over the course of Earth's history. But that is a different story for another day." He explained as a table materialized along with a large pitcher of a clear liquid and a few glasses. He poured some into crystal clear glass and slid it over to me. "Water?" He asked, which tore me from my spiraling thoughts. I nodded slightly and took the glass of water and sat back in my chair.
"Thank you." I took a sip, and I realized that my throat was dry and parched, and the water did wonders in soothing it. "Sorry. This is just a lot to take in. I never thought I would see the day where I would meet the big man himself."
Malek gave me a dismissive wave, "Again, not what you think. I simply create life and watch it grow. It's the Gods below me that tend to gather the religious masses. But again, that is a story for another day. But let me ask you this. Do you know why you are here?"
"Well, either a dream or I am dead. But I am gonna lean toward the first one though in this case." That comment elicited a chuckle from the man.
"No, I wish this was a dream sometimes myself, but sadly it's not. You died in your sleep Marcus. You had a hidden aneurysm that ruptured in the middle of the night." He gave me a sad look as he let me digest this information. So I died, huh. I should probably feel something, but I couldn't help but not feel anything. I guess the shock was kicking in.
"I don't know what to say. Why am I here, though? Am I going to Heaven or Hell?" I asked as I tore my eyes from a spot on the far wall that I was fixated on. Did I live a decent life? I hope it was good enough to get me into heaven.
He gazed at me for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle, his voice changing to more of a light-hearted tone. "Oh, no. That's not why you are here. You actually had a mark placed upon your soul at birth. Now that your soul is free from its mortal constraints, you can choose another path. However, before I tell you about that, let's go for a little walk, shall we." The room we were in crumbled away like ash revealing that we were seated above a large room bustling with life. A sense of wonder filled me as I watched various beings walk around and talked amongst each other. Some sported wings and looked like Angels, while others looked very human in very futuristic apparel, walking, talking, and working on computers.
We sat just above the room, hovering in the air. As I gazed down, "This is my Administration Room; It allows me to access the status of every living being and planet within my domain." He explained to me quite excitedly, as he stood up and beckoned me to follow him. I stared down at the space he was walking on, and I tentatively touched the air with my naked foot, and to my surprise, I found a solid surface that felt like cold metal. I shivered slightly as I stood up and looked down to take the view in once more, and a flash of embarrassment coursed through me as I realized I was naked. Then shock, as I realized I was missing a few key things that made me male. My tan flesh was pulled tightly across my chest and stomach, revealing a very defined body. That was a shock. I waved my hand around where my stomach was and marveled at the fact that it no longer protruded. I admit I did let myself go after high school a bit.
"Are you sure this isn't a dream? That at any moment I would wake up and laugh at this in the morning?" I asked Malek as sadness crept into my voice, and denial started to grow within my chest. This all seemed to be a little too much to be real.
Malek stopped walking and turned to me and, with a sad expression, replied, "No, I'm afraid not. This is all very real, and the sooner you can accept that the sooner we can continue and get you on your merry way." He turned and continued walking, and I had no choice but to follow him, or he would have left me behind.
We plodded along quietly on the air for a moment. It was almost as if I was being allowed to process what was happening before he broke the silence and spoke again, "Now allow me to explain everything to you. You were selected by Alpha, the Administrator that runs this galaxy, to become an Administrator."
I opened my mouth to ask a question since I had no idea what an Administrator even was. "What even is an Administrator?"
"An Administrator is what you make it. You can be like me and oversee hundreds of planets and create unimaginable amounts of life, or you can spend it researching genetics, magic, or the fundamental laws of the universe. Really the possibilities are endless. It's a fantastic job if you choose to take it, of course." As he spoke, we approached a single door that floated in the air. He stopped just before it and gazed at me with concern filling his eyes. "Trust me. I know what's going through your mind. You were thrust into this suddenly, and you have no clue what’s going on. Why you and what is even happening."
I flushed quickly at his words. He was right. Why me, what about my family? I let out a small sigh and nodded my head in agreement to his words, "You're right. I can't believe any of this is happening. Me? It just seems too good to be true. What about my life, my family?" As I spoke, I felt the start of tears appear at the corner of my eyes as the sadness grew in my chest.
Malek gazed at me for a moment longer before speaking again, and his words had a comforting tone as he spoke. "When I was first chosen to become an Administrator, I faced the same dilemma. My life, my future, or this." His eyes lost focus for a moment as if he was lost in memory before he came back, "and you do have a choice in the matter. You can accept this position, or I can remove the mark on your existence, and you lose the right to become an Administrator. You will wake up in your bed in the morning perfectly fine, and you will not remember any of this. You will go back to living your life before eventually passing."
I stood there quietly, pondering his words for a few moments. "What about my parents? And my girlfriend? What will happen to them if I take this role?"
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He closed his eyes for a few seconds before speaking, "Your parents will be devastated but eventually move on. Your girlfriend was never much of a girlfriend. She has been with your best friend Dominique for a long time, and she's just never had the heart to tell you. She will move on with him and make something of herself."
I frowned and felt my heartbreak at his words. My girlfriend Elana and I had been together for three years since we graduated high school and four before that. We had been through so much together, and she got with my best friend? "And if I decide not to do this, even knowing that?" I asked him as I felt the dread spreading in my heart at potentially knowing my future, while heartbreak sat deep within my core with tears threatening to pour down my face.
He stood there for a time, his eyes still closed. He eventually opened them and gazed at me with a faraway expression. "You will wake up in your bed without a single memory of this talk ever happening. You will return to your same boring routine before finding out Elana has been sleeping with Dominique. You will lose her, and your life will start to spiral out of control. Eventually, you decide you have enough and take your own life."
His eyes eventually focused, and his expression went back to being apathetic. "The choice is yours, now that the future is known to you." He reached for the handle of the door and gripped it tightly, "Make your choice. Once you decide, there is no going back."
I sniffled and felt devastated at the news. On the one hand, I'd lose everything, and on the other, I would still lose everything. I quickly wiped away my tears as my mind raced, coming to the only logical conclusion. I slowly nodded my head while trying to suppress the well of emotions growing in my chest, "Alright, I've made my choice."
Malek raised an eyebrow, "And what choice would that be?" He asked curiously.
I let out a heavy sigh, "I will become an Administrator."
Malek nodded his head, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his lips, "Good choice, now let's get you set up." He pushed the door open, and it swung silently on its hinges, revealing a swirling violet vortex that hummed with soft power.
As I stepped through, the portal felt as if a bucket of cold water forced its way into my veins while a bucket of boiling water emptied itself over my flesh. I dropped to the floor in agony as I lost control. Pain rolled through my very core in waves as I spasmed. Through blurry and teary eyes, I could see Malek reach down, and I felt a cold hand on my forehead, "There, there, the first time is the only time it hurts like this." His voice was soft and comforting as his hand rested on my forehead. I screamed and cried as I felt my bones start to break and my body melt. My mind felt as if it was cracking and tearing itself asunder, and I felt my sanity fracture piece by piece as unimaginable pain worked through my psyche. I could hear my pained cries echo across the small room we were in, which only furthered my pain. Each breath I took was like a sharp knife plunging into my chest. After what felt like an eon, the pain faded, and I managed to suck in a deep breath. The air did a lot to calm my nerves as I lay on the floor there, panting. Sweat was pooled underneath me, and my whole body felt warm and full of power. Malek stood and extended a hand that I gladly took.
"What the hell was that!" I asked Malek as I rose to my feet. My entire body felt off. It felt lighter and stronger than before.
"That, my friend, was your body accepting the mark Alpha left on you. This was your first step to your awakening." Malek smiled and gestured to the Pod sitting across the room from us. "This is where you will go to change your body to suit your needs for your future." I forced my eyes away from Malek's flawless face and took stock of the pod.
The pod, which looked like a cryo pod from an old FPS game I rather enjoyed in my younger years, sat in the middle of the room. Holograms were hovering in front of what seemed to be a rather comfy gaming chair. A small smirk crept across my face, and I let out a chuckle as I saw it causing Malek to give me a curious look. "What's so funny?" He raised an eyebrow at me as we neared the pod.
"For an all-powerful being, you sure seem to be using a lot of our technology."
He shrugged as he took a seat and expanded the hologram. "You humans have a rather different use of technology. Stuff grounded in logic is rare in this galaxy, and it is fascinating. This pod is merely a conduit, and I do not need it; I just prefer it."
His voice took on a scholarly tone as he pointed towards the pod. "Now, if you please, Marcus." I nodded my head and walked towards the pod. My fingers gently traced the smooth silver plating that lined the outside of the metal tube. The metal was cold to the touch and slowly curved into a thick glass plane that only reflected the outside room. I rested my hand gently on the glass and took stock of my reflection. My once short-cropped brown hair faded into a deep white while my eyes blazed with bright gold, almost as if the sun took residence in them. I gingerly touched my face tracing the now-defined cheekbones marveling at the lack of fat on my face.
"Malek, why do I look so different," I asked him as my hands traced my face marveling at the bright face and flawless skin in the reflection of the pod.
That's your soul changing to accommodate the power flowing through you. However, this form is only temporary. You can keep it, or you can have a full reset and take another. It's your choice." I froze at his words and started imaging the various possibilities. I stepped back and nodded my head, "I'm ready, Malek."
A small hiss sounded, and the pod slowly opened like the maw of a monster, and I felt my heart pound heavily in my chest. With each passing millisecond, the reality of my situation pressed on my psyche. I reached a tentative hand and touched the pod softly, tracing the lid as I turned back to look at Malek. "Are you sure this is not a dream?" I saw him give me a soft smile through the mirage of holograms.
"This is as real as you and me. Once you get through this phase, we can further discuss everything to understand exactly what is going on. Sadly, time is a luxury that we do not have at the moment." I nodded my head and slid into the pod. The cushion on the back wrapped around my flesh, and I took a deep breath as I watched the lid slowly start close. With each passing second, my heartbeat even heavier in my chest as I tried to reassure myself that everything is alright. With an inaudible click, the pod closed, and the glass lid darkened.
"Marcus, can you hear me?" Malek's voice rang through an intercom to my right and sounded so clear that I thought he was right behind.
"Yes, I can hear you. What's the next step?" I ask him as I shifted uncomfortably in the seat, trying to fight the paranoia growing in my chest; I was slightly claustrophobic.
"Well, You will be creating your new body. One suitable for being an Administrator. Think of it as making a character in one of those MMOs or whatever you humans call them now." I shifted in the pod, trying to find a comfortable position to fight off the growing panic.
"And why does that require me to be in this pod?" I ask him as I let out a gruff of irritation and press my hands against the lid.
"I thought it would be cool." He let out a small chuckle that sounded like thunder rolling in the distance before continuing. "Well, anyway, I digress. Essentially I'm about to set up your connection to the System, and once that occurs, you are going to have free reign to design yourself as you please. However, be aware that once you are in, we will not be able to talk to each other until the process is up." I nodded my head and took a deep breath.
"Okay, Malek, any parting words of advice before I do this?" The intercom sat silent for a moment before I heard a heavy sigh.
"Whatever sense of morals you may have had before this, drop them. Whatever constrained you to the life you lived before this, forget them. They will only serve to bog you down. This is a new chance at life, so take it and live it to the fullest you can. Allow yourself to be fully redefined and accept these changes." I struggled to nod my head as I felt my eyelids grow heavy, and I fell into the all-consuming darkness.