Three Hours Before the System
*Ring Ring*
The door jingled as John walked into the Café. His eye’s bleary from lack of sleep wandered until the locked on the Girl sitting behind the Counter. He Stumbled forward, dropping his Bag at an Empty table until he Collapsed in front of the Counter.
“John, good to see you, your usual?”
This sight was common in the Cafe, he had been coming in here for months, nearly a year now every day and did the same thing every single time he came in. It honestly was no surprise that she had been told about him, especially considering who her Boss was.
A Massive figure loomed over the counter, his uniform bulging as he squeezed into a space not designed for someone of his Bulk. Quincy Gordenson, owner and Manager of the “Gorden Café”, and a longtime friend of Johns, shook his head at the Familiar sight.
Straining John looked at Quincy, his bleary face paling further as he saw who was behind the counter with the Barista.
“Hey Quincy, how’s it going?”
“What was it this time? Gaming or work?”
“Work, I was up all night”
Quincy Harumphed before turning to the Barista and handing her the Drink he had made.
“Put this on his tab, those little stickie notes next to the Register.”
The Barista, Shannon, flushed and quickly marked another line amongst the hundreds on the Sticky note as she handed John his drinks. Just as he was starting to stumble to his table, everything froze as a massive surge of Energy blasted everything, cracking the windows with its force.
THROOOOOOOOMMM
*ATTENTION RESIDENTS OF EARTH, THIS IS THE SYSTEM SECURITY COUNCIL. YOUR STELLAR SYSTEM HAS BEEN RATED AND DEEMED ADEQUATE FOR ASSIMILATION*
The voice filled the air, coming from everywhere and nowhere in the silence that filled the café. It wasn’t speaking a Human Language, but everyone who could hear it understood it anyways.
*PLEASE STAND BY WHILE THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS AND BRIEFS ARE MADE*
John was standing there, frozen midstumble, but he had still been looking back at the Counter when everything stopped. So, he didn’t miss it as Shannon, the Awkwardly Cute Barista Quincy had told him about, dissolved into Dust.
*PLANETARY POPULATION HAS BEEN RATED AS “MASSIVE”, REMOVING EXCESS POPULATION*
*POPULATION MEETS BASE PARAMETERS FOR ASSIMILATION. ASSIGNING ASPECT PATHS*
John felt it then, even as he was struggling to comprehend what had just happened in his sleep deprived state, a chilling cold like ice water filling his veins, starting from the soles of his feet and working up his body until…
John started feeling good, as if everything was going to be okay, he could still feel the cold invading his veins but, suddenly, it didn’t matter anymore. Just like Shannon didn’t matter anymore and He could just forget about what happened to her.
*ASPECTS ASSIGNED. RESETTING PLANETARY SEED FOR NEW PARAMETERS*
John was starting to get excited now, like a jolt of Caffeine had just hit his Brain. Sure, he couldn’t move but this was just like the books he always read. The Ones where the MC would get super OP from exploiting the System and get the coolest stuff. He was so caught up in his Fantasies that he almost missed it as the ground started Shaking and the Mountains that he could see through the window started moving. When the Ground stopped shaking, he did notice as the Lights went out, leaving the Café’s only illumination the sunlight coming through the glass Panel Windows.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
*PLANETARY SEED RESET. NEW BIOMES NEW MONSTERS DETECTED. RE-EVALUATING PLANETARY RATING*
John stood there, still frozen, for what seemed like hours as whoever was controlling all this came to a Decision.
*PLANETARY FINAL RATING REQUIRES JUDGEMENT, STELLAR SYSTEM TO UNDERGOE BLOCKADE UNTIL FINAL JUDGMENT CAN BE MADE*
*LET THE SYSTEM JUDGE THE VICTOR*
Whatever force was holding him released then, and he fell down to his Knees in the Middle of the Café, before speaking in an awed voice.
“Holy Shit, I think we just got Invaded by Aliens”
This started the remaining Patrons of the Café to start Muttering, their concern starting to grow as they muttered.
“Did we really just get invaded by Aliens?”
“Where did the Mountains go?”
“Holy shit that’s a big rat outside”
“Where did Dina go?”
A Massive form made its way next to him and kneeled down, bringing Quincy eye Level with John. His eyes were gleaming as he put his hand on Johns’ shoulder before speaking.
”Dude, we just got “System’d”. Do you know what this means?”
“Its Gamer time”
“Yes Dude, Its Gamer Time.”
John Stood up, dusting his legs off before grabbing his Backpack from where he had put it before ordering the Coffee. Quincy went behind the Counter, grabbed a large duffel Bag and slung it on his Back before going to the Center of the Café and speaking to the Remaining Patrons.
“Ladies, Gentlemen, as you could hear, we just got Invaded by Aliens. It looks like the power is out right now, so I ask that you take care when Heading home. I am closing the Café until further notice; I suggest you all head home and learn how to exist in our New Existence. I hope to see you all Again here at Gordens Café when we Reopen sometime in the Future.”
With that, he gently began Escorting the Patrons out. His smile never wavering as he Firmly but Gently prodded them out. Holding the Door for the last one, an Old Grandma carefully creeping out on a rocker, he Locked the door behind her before turning to John.
“Well now, how about checking it out. They kept on saying “System” when they were giving all those announcements, you want to bet that there’s a status?”
John laughed and shook his head, before reaching into his Bag and pulling out a New Notebook he was going to break in at class later before the System.
“I’m not taking that bet, that’s a straight up trap. Here, lets take notes with this Notebook.”
“STATUS”
“STATUS”
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NAME: JOHN LEWIS
ASPECT: TECHNOLOGIST
CLASS: [INITIATE]
STATS
[LOCKED]
PERKS
[LOCKED]
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NAME: QUINCY GORDENSON
ASPECT: ANARCHIST
CLASS: [NON-COMBATANT]
STATS
[LOCKED]
PERKS
CIVILIAN
- Monsters are less likely to notice you when presented with an threat
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