“Ahhhhh!!” A man screams, as he free-falls, towards the ground. Nicki had been betrayed, actually, more of straight-up tossed. Ge did ask if he wanted to see the office from the outside. How was he supposed to know she would just toss him out…actually he had no idea what she tossed him out of. His office had no window or exit except for the door. None of that mattered to Nicki at the moment. The only thing that he cared about was the gray lifeless ground with, after a few moments of consideration, craters. Were am I?

Nicki knew he was falling, except the only sign of his descent was the ground rushing up to meet him. There was no air rushing past his face, no sound other than his screams, even that was muted, like in the dead of winter during a snowstorm. He had way too much time to take everything in and think. If theres no air, then there is no air resistance. I should be speeding up. I’m either a lot higher then I should be, and will explode in a fantastic way or something else is going on.

That was when he hit the ground with a dull “Omph” as a gray dust cloud exploded around him. He felt a lot like a cartoon at that moment, only the wind getting knocked out of him. I bet there's a me shaped indent here. Sure enough, when he lifted his head there was a small indent in the shape of his body. “Looks like I’m already making my own mark.” He chuckled.

Did I piss her off? He wondered, there had been no real reason for her tossing him out the window. Was it cause I showed up today in jeans and a hoodie? No that can’t be it. My hoodie is very professional. Since it’s apparently up to me to set everything up then I say it is.

With a soft thump, a woman spoke, “Wow. you sure do scream a lot.”

The voice cut through his odd thoughts as Nicki looked up as the dust settled, catching the sight of Ge with a massive grin, and pointing at something behind him. What is it now? Turning his head, his eyes widened, as something deep within his chest seemed to vibrate with emotion. A longing so deep, and indescribable echo through his entire being. He felt something pulling him towards the blue marble.

“I” He was lost for words as he felt dampness on his face, and a hand on his shoulder.

“Beautiful isn’t it.”

Nicki couldn’t take his eyes away, afraid if he did he might never see it again.

#

A boy in his teens sits in a chair in-front of an empty desk. A place pleasant, a bit dated in its interior, yet lovingly maintained. He could smell fresh paper, warm toner, and the lingering scent of something familiar, like the food made in a microwave that had long since been eaten. It reminded him a lot of his father’s office or his high-schools back office.

His name was Jamie and he felt just as uncomfortable here as he did there. It was just a natural reflex that he associated with being in offices like this. Like he was about to get bad news or get in trouble whether or not it was true.

Now. Now was a thousand times worse. For the one simple fact. Jamie had no idea how he ended up in this place. His foggy mind was starting back up, and his heart was starting to race. The last thing he recalled was a bright light and a loud horn that blasted next to him. Was I hit by a car? Am I dead? He had just gotten a job at the local convenience store, having turned sixteen and he was finally going to get his license, car, and girlfriend. Tina had even seemed interested in him. She had even agreed to go on an actual date with him. He was sure this time, having confirmed it probably a few too many times. But now. Now he was dead, and in some kind of purgatory that was an office.

Wait. None of that made sense to Jamie. How could he be dead if he was sitting and thinking? Slowly, his rising panic was pushed away to a serene calm anxiousness, and confusion. Is this some dream?

Jamie was just starting to test out his theory when the door to the room opened behind him. Startling Jamie, he whipped around to see a man in his mid to late twenties. In a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. Looking a bit like someone he would expect to work at a tech company. The man

The man looked slightly disheveled, out of breath, and covered in gray dust, or possibly powdered sugar. “Sorry, I'm late. Still figuring out the layout.”

It was so absurd Jamie responded “It's ok. I haven't been waiting long.” Why did he say that? I don’t even know how long I’ve bee waiting.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

He was so lost in thought he didn’t even notice the man appear behind the desk, or notice the rather attractive woman in a business suit, standing behind him with a clipboard. She must have been right behind the guy.

Jamie was leaning more and more towards it being a dream. Then the man spoke, “You have died.”

“I’m sorry what?”

“You have died.”

With that confirmation, his mind cleared remembering fully the truck. A bright light a flash of pain. “What do you mean?” Jamie asked irritation growing. How could he be so casual about this? “What is going on? How am I dead?” He surprised himself as his voice grew louder with every question. “Is this purgatory? How did I die?!” His eyes grew warm. “And how dare you for being late to my de-ath.” His voice cracked, at the last question surprising even himself.

The man on the other hand sat there calmly. Taking every shout with a calm smile. The woman on the other hand was looking back and forth between Jamie and the man looking giddy.

“Yes.” The man started calmly, “You are for all purposes dead. On your world at least.” He added slyly.

Confusing returned, as he held tight to what the man said, “Am I dead or not?”

The man leaned forward. “Are you familiar with the term Isekai?”

Jamie’s eyes widened letting out a near whisper. “No way.”

The man smiled a Cheshire smile.

#

In a place, most holy, were priests, bishops, and saints, all calling out in desperation to their God. They had fought for so long against the creatures, and they had just lost their most forward outposts; all of them. One by one each of them fell, as communication ceased, and all attempts to re-establishing contact failed. There had only been a few survivors, and if their reports were to be believed the monsters were growing stronger, and they were being guided by a higher entity. Their lack of coordination had been the only reason they had been able to keep the beasts back. It had been a year since then, a year of losing battles and territory. The other kingdoms refused to help not believing them. Thinking it was a kind of ploy. Now they turn to their only hope.

“Great eternal God Heh. Please hear our plea.” The priest began to chant a language taught by a God. Torn from their minds and throats with every pronouncement. One by one, the priests fell, the temple shook and reality began to rend. There in the air just for a single solitary moment a door appeared, there and not, and a boy stepped through into the temple.

All at once the power vanished, the world was still, and a boy stood looking around with a smile. “Hey, I’m Jamie. You guys need some help?”

#

A boy opened a door in an office on the moon leaving for a place with magic, and fantasy. A place where he can make a difference, a place where he can make himself anew. And if he plays his cards right maybe one day he could return home.

There in the office, a man sits staring at the spot where the boy was. His smile faded. Nicki knew what he had done. He had read hundreds of Isekai novels, mangas, and anime. The boy would have a wonderful adventure but there would be a lot of pain. Betrayal. This entire job still felt like a dream and that moon.

“What was that?” He asked listlessly.

“A Hero.”

“Not that.” He shook his head. “I know that that was. The Earth. What was that longing I felt?” He couldn’t get his mind off of that strange desire. Even now he wanted to go outside and just stare at it.

“That’s because it’s your Earth.” She answered matter of fact but it almost sounded somber to Nicki.

Hearing her words brought no comfort. “I don’t think I want to know more. Not right now.”

"Well On the brighter side, you have successfully connected with this place. Congratulations!"

"What does that mean?"

“It means you're now fully connected with this place and its purpose. It's given you new instincts, and abilities, and you no longer need me.”

It was a big place for a single worker, but what was new? Every place he ever worked at always tried to get away with less than the bare minimum. Why would this one be different? This oddly comforted Nicki, it was familiar territory. “So. I’ll be doing this on my own?”

“Eventually. I do have a world of my own to look after.”

He let out a small chuckle. “Since Heroes are always going off to fight the demon king. What is my end goal?”

“To give Heroes and worlds a bit of help. Otherwise, whatever you want.”

“Do I need to keep this place secret?” Would he be like his own secret society of one?

Ge shrugged. “Up to you.”

Well, that was not what he was expecting. Then something else occurred to him, “How do the Heroes even get here?”

“Our... delivery man.” She smiled as she said the title. “He will be picking up Heroes from all across the multi-verse and bringing them here. Sometimes he picks people up for a specific job; you won’t be getting those. They go right to the client.”

“Clients?”

“God’s. Worlds in peril. Anyway, you get the natural ones. Eventually, your power will act as the gateway itself.” She was now beaming, “He won’t even need to drop them off anymore.” Ge sat herself down on the desk, “Besides the souls brought here. There will be the ones who wander in. Happens all the time, our delivery man specifically made this place to draw them in. Not all souls will be Human. Not all of them will still be alive. Your own powers will grow over time. He created this to be hands-off, and I will only be here for a few days my own world has its own issues I'm dealing with.”

“Wait you're not my planet's God?”

“Nope. My world was very similar to yours except yours has no deity...that I know of.”

“So I get a moon base to myself?” He asked excitedly.

“Yep.”

“Nice.”