My dreams were unusual. Broken and Disjointed. In the past, my dreams were just me running around doing various activities. These seemed random but also had a consistent theme or tone binding the chaos together.

Now they were nightmares, that I couldn't break free of, fever dream moments of terror and pain. Mine, Others all jumbled together in a kludge of horror. Even the very environment itself screaming for release from it's torment.

Something old and vast, terrible and wicked, laughed a counterpoint it it all. Madness. Insanity. Dementated. All given a sound, impossible to describe. Incapable of being ignored.

I awoke with a gasp, a half strangled scream. Sweat poured from my skin, my heart racing. It was trying to escape my chest, as if that could save it.

In that moment, between the nightmare and waking fully, I was my old self. My past thoughts and emotions caught up to the present. Just before they could give a protest, an outlet to their discontent, they were silenced. It was as if a wall slammed down blocking them from my conscious mind.

I was in an apartment. Not a bad place, it had everything one might want, except windows, or a way to leave. Well, that answered one question.

Rage had a teleporter at hand. Was it a device or a person?

I gave the place a more thorough search. I found a bunch of cameras and listening devices. Not unexpected, unpleasant none the less. However, I also found no notes or phones or intercoms, nothing to explain the situation. I guess I have to wait for their next move.

They had taken everything off me, even my clothes. They had dressed me in a simple beige cotton outfit, no socks or underwear though. Probably would have been hilarious to watch. Then again they might have had a telekinetic do it. Fucking powers.

At least the kitchen had tons of food. I wasted no time in cooking pork chops with a side of linguini noodles smothered by a garlic butter sauce. Three pounds of meat and two whole boxes of noodles later, I had taken the edge off. Still hungry, though. I could've fixed some more but it was time to figure some thing out.

I thought, 'Guide Options.' (AN: Here is where it could start to get messy or jumbled, let me know.)

Guide Options

Tier I Options

Basic Knowledge of the Guide - 1 Guide Coin

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Basic Knowledge of the Witness Program - 1 Guide Coin

...

Basic Knowledge of the Star Born (True Fae) and their descendants - 1 Guide Coin

Basic Knowledge of the Metal Born (Dragons) and their descendants - 1 Guide Coin

...

Basic Knowledge of different Crafting Functions - 1 Guide Coin

Literally thousands of types of information options. If there is a Tier I, there is probably a Tier II and so on. Locked behind advancement, I'd bet. I have 6 Guide Coins, so I won't be able to gain much yet. Still the Basic overview of my situation wouldn't be amiss. I buy the first two choices. Time to see how fucked I really am.

"ARGH!" It was like someone shot me in the head. Twice. Except, you know the dying part.

[ The Guide was designed and created in what is thought to be one of the first universes, so long ago that to write the number would take whole libraries of books. Lots of them.

It was crafted by the Forge Born (Primal Gods) of that Era. Forge Born are the Primal Forces of that Universe. In Our Universe that would be Gravity, Electromagnetism, and so on. Neither Sapience or even Sentience are required for a Force to be considered Forge Born.

The Forge Born of that Universe were both, and more besides. In an Act of inconceivable beneficence, or perhaps just boredom, they created the Guide to choose among their lessers and help those chosen to reach parity with them.

Constructed of both High and Low Energies (Divine and Infernal) infused into both organic and mechanical components, it was designed to grow and adapt but never deviate from it's purpose, to Guide. It used both Technology and Magic to spread out through countless universes and their various iterations, binding them together, absorbing their knowledge, to form the Omniverse.

It asserts that it places beings upon a Path, and facilitates the Guided abilities to make the Path whatever they choose. The Great Schism has somewhat limited this. ]

So Somewhere out there is a Cybernetic Cosmic God, that wants me to become, what, another God? Are the Beings that made it still around? Does it create new realms to help this growth? Does it destroy ones that stand in it's way? Where does it get the Energy to do this? So many more Questions.

So much to ruminate on.

Okay what about the Witness Program?

[ The Witness Program arose out of the result of The Great Schism.

A large collective of the most powerful beings, many of whom were at one point Guided, wanted more influence over who could join their ranks. This coalition argued that how a being reached their lofty heights mattered.

There was a conflict. Whole Multiverses were destroyed. Gods and Other Great Beings died. Irretrievably. After horrendous devastation, the Guide relented, not out of fear nor need, but because it realized this war ran counter to it's purpose.

Their treaty stated that the Great Beings could form factions. These factions could sponsor some of those to be Guided. They would also foot the costs for those Guided Advancements. They could now interfere, set some of the starting conditions, random encounters, and could watch everything the Guided does. ]

So The Guide didn't pick me, a Faction did. Not a very pleasant one judging by it's representative.

Time flipped.

The Grand Laughter has subscribed. You gain 1 Guide Coin.

The Grand Laughter had donated 2 Meta Coins.

The Grand Laughter: (Sad Devil Clown emoji) Oh Guided, I am Saddened you think so little of us. Oh Well, perhaps I can change your mind, someday. Oh Wait! (Insane Clown Laughter)

MOTHERFUCKER!