Jeff looked at the reorganized orientation list with interest. He was excited to get some answers, but with how exhausting the last few hours had been, he was more excited to just sit and eat.

He sliced up a cube of purple meat and sniffed it with interest. It was covered in a gravy and looked very appetizing. He readied himself for his first taste of alien food.

Kazi spoke up, "I have a bit of a bombshell to drop on you and you're not going to like it." Jeff paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. "When you entered the System Pillar back on Earth you volunteered to be one of the Chosen by drinking me into you."

"It's not what I would call volunteering, but I've accepted my fate," Jeff stated and refocused on his food.

"Well, let me tell you what Chosen means… Actually, let me show you." The Spore, ever one for theatrics, announced.

Suddenly the walls around the room opened up like windows again, except with a new view. All around him there were people sitting in metal chairs staring in his direction. It was Earth! It was the parking lot he had entered the Pillar in.

“You were Chosen to be an example to the people who remain on your planet.”

Jeff jumped up at the sight, dropping his fork to the plate with a clatter.

"You were Chosen to be an example to all of those who watch you back on Earth. They are watching and learning from your Tutorial experience. What they learn from you will give them the best chance at survival in the coming days." Kazi finished.

Jeff turned in a slow circle seeing the eyes of those that watched him. They seemed to followed his movements. He would normally be embarrassed. Now, after fighting a Monster, humans were a relief to see.

"The best chance at survival? What is coming?"

"The Mysts and with it, Wild Spores. It is your…actually it is our job to teach these people how to protect themselves from fusing with harmful Spores. Fusing with the wrong spore can lead to abominations, like you saw with the crab. The Spores will fuse with every living organism on the planet. Plants, animals, insects. We must teach them how to prepare for the coming Mysts." The Spore said.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Jeff had nearly finished his circle when he froze. His eyes locked on Emily's. She had tears in her eyes, but a smile on her face.

Jeff ran to that side of the large room trying to get a closer view of his beautiful wife. Then he had an idea. Why not just exit the Pillar and have a chance to hold her?

Emily stood up and started walking toward him. He ran to her.

He sank right into the golden Pillar wall and took two confident strides through the goo.

He didn't see Emily like he expected. Instead he came out looking at his plate of food in the same large room. The walls still showed the watching crowd. Many of them had stood up to get a better view of what was happening. He turned around and saw Emily through the windowed view with golden streaks running through it.

She looked so close, but she was what…galaxies away? He felt tears stream down his face. They matched hers.

"Why can't I go to her?" Jeff asked the Spore in his head.

"Because the Pillar can only take us where the System allows us to go.”

Jeff's inner Karen brought a bunch of rebuttals to mind. Can't you ask it for permission? Can't you bring Emily here? Can I talk to your manager? He had a feeling he knew the answers to those questions and wasn't in the right mindset to face them. Instead he focused on the beautiful woman in front of him.

"Can you hear me?" He asked.

She nodded furiously and reached out her hand he saw it touch something and then disappear from his view. Following his gut Jeff stuck his hand into the wall.

Through the goo like material his hand pressed up against something and then interlocked with the familiar fingers. The golden goo turned to solid puddy, not allowing him to move any further.

He saw Emily mouth the words 'I love you'.

"Can I hear her?" Jeff pleaded.

"I'm sorry, but no. The rules for the Chosen Tutorial are quite strict. I've only been able to request this far because the system likes me." Kazi said solemnly.

Emily mouthed the words again and he replied, "I love you too. I love you so much. Please, stay strong. I'll do whatever it takes to come back to you. We will survive and we will see our kids again."

Jeff held his wife's hand from across the multiverse.

He was frustrated with his circumstances, but he was extremely grateful for this moment.

The Pillar wall started gently pulling their hands apart. They gave each other a fierce reassuring squeeze and then let their hands slowly get drawn apart.

Jeff and Emily each sank to their knees staring at each other. Jeff pinched the tears out of his eyes and put on a determined expression.

"Okay, how do we help save Earth?"