I wake up. I shower. I brush my teeth. I eat. I drive to work. I work. I go home. I shower. I sleep. I repeat. Forever. I smoke to numb the dread. Is this all there is? Am I not meant for more? Where did my childhood naïveté go? Wasn't I meant to be an army man or an astronaut? No, let's take another puff and forget…
Until one day the routine haze is interrupted. Snow and ice coat the roads. Visibility is shit and it only gets shitter. Should've fucking looked at the weather report. The light is green and I continue forward. Until I see the high beams of a semi truck coming directly at me. God fucking dammit. I'd almost prefer the bullet. At least then I'd have a choice. But no people like us don't get to make the decisions.
….darkness...
And then? Light!
I awake to endless all consuming light, no concept of up or down, no gravity, no noise, no sensation, nothing but light and consciousness. Like an old computer booting up I shake the confusion and Fear from my mind. I know this is real. I can feel it. I turn my attention to my surroundings, and the light.
And the light begins "speaking"
A cacophony of noise and pressure, like an army of people scratching on chalkboards while playing a symphony, high pitch squeals and low bone chilling rumbles, a simply indescribable sound conveying meaning that shouldn't be possible for a human mind to interpret.
<[Query?]>
I think it's asking me a question?
<[Amusement]>
How do I reply to this thing?
<[You Do Not Belong.]>
<[Fascination]>
Well fuck you, too God-Thing. My mind is gripped by the fact this creature is so utterly alien and beyond my comprehension. Is this Hell? Heaven? What is it going to do with me? What can it do to a dead man? I refuse to continue this line of thought. That way lies madness. Something tells me I've peaked it's curiosity.
<[Pity]>
<[Consideration…]>
The light shudders and stills seemingly calculating, computing for what seems like an eternity… and I shudder at the thought of my impending fate.
<[Gift?]>
What?! A gift? This is going to end poorly. No sooner than the thought forms I'm suddenly bombarded with images and fragments of visions.
A wall that stretches beyond eternity each brick an incomprehensible being. A planet exploding. A happy family being shattered in an alleyway. A man in red running. Men and women comitting impossible feats. Beings of impossible power. Of indescribable evil and good. A blue speck in the all consuming void. Happiness. Heartbreak. Opportunity. Change. Chaos.
<[COOPERATION?]>
No fucking way.
No fucking way.
I recognize some of the scenes. I realize in but a moment what this thing is implying. Oh god oh fuck.
<[CONFIRMATION]>
A Reincarnation into the DC Universe… Hahaha holy shit I'm so fucked. Will the generous and omnipotent God-Creature grant me a way to defend myself? What's the catch?!
After my query the light stills, flickers, and dims, seemingly deliberating on something. Before it suddenly brightens and "speaks"
<[Expansion]>
<[Collaberation]>
<[Foothold]>
<[Monotony]>
<[Loneliness]>
<[Companionship]>
<[Entertainment]>
<[Broken Warrior]>
<[Shattered Cycle]>
<[No Purpose]>
Well… shit that's a lot to unpack.
A bored, lonely and broken warrior god-thing desperately seeking my assistance getting a foothold in the DCU for some unknown purpose. I can almost empathize with the poor creature. But nonetheless.
Wishes and reincarnation into the DCU. Pretty snazzy deal. I've fantasized about this for a long time, during the soul crushing monotonous shifts at the factory. I've meticulously considered what would happen if I were to die and what would await me afterwards. Never could I have imagined my idle fantasies in my fugue states would come true. Hopefully this being will be chill.
I've got this.
Audentes Fortuna Iuvat!