"Do you wish to finalize your choices and begin your rebirth?"
Dan stared at the screen, hesitation in command of his heart. The last five days had ground at his very will to live. The number of menus and options available to him were amazing, but they lay hidden, deep within a coder's nightmare.
"Give me one final rundown on my choices..."
"You have chosen to be reborn alongside your wife and pets, within your favorite science fiction universe." The system droned. "You will receive a detailed star map of your new galaxy and maintain use of the system until your new life ends. I will do all I can to help you."
"Yes, yes, and..."
"You and your family will be born as kryptonian lifeforms. All with a composite bloodline, perfected from all kryptonians in fiction."
"That's the one, you remember my definition of perfection?"
"All of the benefits, none of the weaknesses, correct?"
"Correct."
Dan smiled. With this, he wouldn't need to worry about his family at all. They would be safe under any kind of sun, stronger than any who would be in their new universe.
"Now, what's left... oh yeah, backstory and starting location." Ven snapped his fingers. "You can skip the back story, we've been over that enough."
"You will appear in a safe, colonizable solar system with an o-class, blue star," The system continued. "I will provide two free summons, a protector and a teacher, to guide and guard your way."
"Can you really do all this?"
"My creator used all their power to craft me, I am her pinnacle achievement," The system's voice carried a hint of pride. "I am truly limitless, although some things require more effort than others."
"Well then, let's get this show on the road!"
"Do you wish to finalize your choices and begin your rebirth?"
"Yes... that's what I..."
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Awareness vanished. Dan fell into a dreamless sleep.
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Vision returned, wet and muted. Dan floated, suspended from a mechanical tree like a near-ripe fruit. Another child floated beside him, as well as two small animals.
May...
He reached out his shortened arm, stubby fingers clumsy as he held his wife's hand tight. The system told the truth, it had honored its word and brought his family back together.
This time, I'll make sure no one can ever hurt us again.
Sleep robbed him. The next time he woke, his body was much larger, a toddler old enough for school. His gaze found May's eyes, opened in the liquid next to his.
Robotic arms reached in, one for each of them. The soft-fingered devices plucked them from the genesis chamber, a place where all kryptonians were normally born.
System, are you still there?
His thoughts were answered by a calm, female voice.
"I'm here, once the robots get you all cleaned up, you can do your draw to see what summons you get."
Draw? I thought it was chosen by the system?
"Only the requirements, you could get any two characters from fiction that fill the needed roles."
The mental conversation was interrupted. A smooth, tentacled robot hefted Dan into the air and sprayed him clean. The water was warm, a delight on the skin. He squirmed and stretched, unconcerned that the machine held him by a single foot.
"He.. hey, robot," Dan croaked, his first words in this new world. "Could you find us some clothes?"
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"I don't believe it...
"I'm sorry, but it's true."
Dan placed a hand on May's shoulder. They were dressed, seated in the lounge of the small scout ship that had birthed them.
"Everyone else is dead..." May squeezed Bear to her chest, a german shepherd in a border collie's body, reduced to puppy form. "Where are we now?"
"Well..." Dan rubbed his head, a sheepish smile at the corners of his mouth. "I kind of wished us into a fictional universe."
"That's awesome! What is it... Pokemon? Please tell me you picked Pokemon!"
"Well..."
"What... what did you pick?"
"Now, don't get mad," Dan held Stormy in front of himself like a furry shield. "I picked something that has some fantasy elements, at least!"
"Why does that sound like a dodge of the question..."
"Look, I know they weren't your favorite movies, but I grew up on them and..."
"You didn't!"
May slapped a hand around Stormy's small frame. Dan dodged the attack and chucked the cat in her face.
"Look, I made it a composite universe, so it's not just the movies," He retreated from May's wrath. "It's the books as well, and the comics... everything!"
"Fine," May sighed. "But you know, I really wanted to go to the Pokemon universe..."
"I bet with the technology out there, and what I know about the multiverse now, we can find a way to visit!"
Dan wrapped May in a one-armed hug as they looked out a viewport. A massive star hung in space, orbited by several small worlds.
"With our new bodies, and this star, we'll become unstoppable here."
"I guess... but isn't there going to be a war or something? I don't want to hurt anyone."
"That's fine," you can steer clear of the violent bits," Dan smiled as he kissed May's forehead. "But I'll need to take care of some things, or this galaxy will be stuck in a plot that's destined for tragedy."
"Alright, but now that we've got the resources," She waved to the advanced ship. "I want to get all the pets I want, and you can stuff it!"
"You got it," Dan laughed. "This place has a ton of crazy cute animals we can collect."
His eyes shone as he took in the light of the star. They could go anywhere, once enough time had passed. This star was the most beneficial to kryptonians, in five years they would be like gods.
"I still can't believe you wished us into Star Wars..."
"I'm still half convinced it's a crazy dream."
Ven turned his attention to the system interface. It was time to draw his first summons. Then they would choose a planet to settle on. A home where they could build something, greater than themselves.