basic204

[basic204]

# The Traveler's Guide to Completely Preposterous Reality Shifts

*Remain Calm*

(In large, reassuring letters on the cover)

## Introduction by the Archivist

The universe, as documented by myself and several unreliable witnesses who were definitely not sober at the time, is absurdly vast and prone to occasional fits of logical inconsistency. For reasons best described as "quantum whimsy," beings sometimes find themselves transported to alternate realities, abducted by entities with questionable research methodologies, or simply waking up to discover that the laws of physics have been replaced with something written on a cocktail napkin.

This guide provides practical advice for the unfortunate traveler who finds themselves in a situation where reality has decided to take an unscheduled holiday.

## Section 1: Mental Preparations and You

### Rule 1: REMAIN CALM

This cannot be emphasized enough, despite my attempt to do so with capital letters. Studies conducted in my imagination show that beings who panic are significantly more likely to make poor decisions, like trying to reason with sentient furniture or accepting dinner invitations from carnivorous mathematics.

### Rule 2: Reality Is Overrated Anyway

If you've suddenly discovered that trees can deliver sarcastic commentary on your outfit, gravity has become a matter of personal choice, or your refrigerator contains a small but economically thriving civilization, do not waste valuable time insisting on impossibility. The universe has absolutely no obligation to conform to your expectations and, frankly, enjoys the surprise on your face.

### Rule 3: Logic Is Surprisingly Resilient

Even in realities where fish ride bicycles and clouds compose poetry, basic reasoning often remains functional. The number 42 will almost certainly retain its mysterious significance across all possible universes.

## Section 2: Practical Environmental Testing for the Bewildered

### Rule 4: The Basic Physics Check

Drop something. If it falls, gravity exists in some form. If it hovers, transforms into something embarrassing, or begins to deliver a lecture on existentialism, make appropriate notes and adjust expectations accordingly.

### Rule 5: The Memory Examination

Test your personal memories against universal constants. If you recall having breakfast this morning but also remember being crowned Supreme Emperor of Neptune as a child, one of these memories deserves more scrutiny than the other.

### Rule 6: Biological Requirements Review

Determine if you still require sustenance, hydration, and rest. If drinking water suddenly grants you the ability to understand the language of household appliances, this information may prove useful later.

## Section 3: Survival Strategies for the Dimensionally Challenged

### Rule 7: The Documentation Imperative

Record observations using whatever means available. The human memory is fallible, especially when reality itself has become equally unreliable. If nothing else is available, organize information into annoying but memorable jingles.

### Rule 8: Universal Bureaucratic Constants

No matter what reality you find yourself in, some form of paperwork will exist, someone will be unhelpful about it, and the most important form will be available only on every third Tuesday when the celestial bodies align.

### Rule 9: Unexpected Abilities Protocol

If you suddenly discover you can manipulate time with a sneeze or communicate telepathically with condiments, resist the urge to immediately test your limits. Start with small experiments, preferably ones that won't accidentally erase civilization.

### Rule 10: Ethical Consistency in Chaos

Maintaining your moral principles is advisable even when reality doesn't maintain its physical ones. Being randomly transported to a dimension where everyone communicates exclusively through interpretive dance doesn't justify poor manners.

## Section 4: Final Thoughts from the Archivist

In my extensive research (conducted primarily while hiding in various interdimensional closets), I've found that the multiverse operates on principles that are simultaneously perfectly logical and completely absurd. The universe rarely bothers to explain itself, largely because the paperwork would be enormous.

Should you encounter beings who offer to explain your new reality while trying to sell you questionable merchandise, listen to the explanation but keep a firm grip on your valuables.

Above all, remember that the cosmos, in all its chaotic glory, tends to favor those who adapt quickly, maintain their sense of humor, and know when to simply accept that sometimes, space and time are just having a bad day.

*The archivist accepts no responsibility for any implosions, explosions, temporal paradoxes, or existential crises that may result from following this advice. Void where prohibited by laws of physics, which might be everywhere or nowhere, depending on your current dimensional coordinates.*

[basic204]

I made these as a way to compile all the geographical vocabulary that I thought was useful and interesting for writers. Some descriptors share categories, and some are simplified, but for the most part everything is in its proper place. Not all the words are as useable as others, and some might take tricky wording to pull off, but I hope these prove useful to all you writers out there!

(save the images to zoom in on the pics)

[basic204]

More AI to cat thought translations

(Neko, sensing something new and important entering his domain, immediately investigates as you attempt to assemble your new computer.)

What is this? A new structure? A new home for me? I must inspect it thoroughly.

(Attempts to climb inside the computer housing, fully convinced that this is a luxurious cat suite designed just for him.)

Yes… This space is perfect. I live here now.

(When removed, he instantly moves to the next best option—the box. And once inside… he refuses to leave.)

No. This is my box. You cannot take this from me. I have claimed it.

(After finally deciding to vacate his new kingdom, you realize your phone is missing. A frantic search ensues. The culprit? Neko, lounging atop the phone, fully unbothered.)

Ah, you seek the device? Too bad. It is mine now. I will not move. Figure it out, human.

(Once the phone is recovered, you attempt to show him off on a video call with your friend. A simple request—yet, as soon as the camera is on, Neko enacts the ultimate betrayal.)

Ah, they wish to see me? No. I must maintain my mystery. I will leave now.

(Without hesitation, he vanishes, refusing to grant even a fleeting glimpse, ensuring that his presence remains a thing of legend.)

I am not a spectacle, human. I appear when I choose, not when summoned.

[basic204]

[basic204]

Apparently, they're making a sequel to Labyrinth, and I was just reading a discussion about it. I couldn't stop laughing when someone said, "I'll be fine with the girl from the original becoming the Goblin Queen, but only on one condition—she has to wear that gigantic codpiece as well." This then led to people wondering, "Wait a minute… do the powers of the Goblin King or Queen not come from the title, but instead from the codpiece?"

[basic204]

✨ Writing Prompt:

You finally stumble upon a genie and, with trembling hands, make your wish:

*"I wish for a better life. I wish to be free from my illnesses."*

The genie’s expression darkens, its glowing eyes dimming as it solemnly replies:

*"I can't undo another's wish."*

[basic204]

Ass shot GPT to interpret with my cat is thinking I describe what he's doing and this is what he gave me this time

(Neko, after hours of deep, luxurious sleep, finally stirs, stretches, and decides it is time to check in on the human.)

(He enters the kitchen, silently approaches, and sits down right next to you as you make tea, staring up at you with unwavering focus.)

The human. Awake. Active. I must observe.

(Lets out a long, exaggerated yawn, as if to remind you that while you have been doing whatever pointless human things you do, he has been resting like a true superior being.)

I have graced you with my presence. You should be honored.

(Continues to stare at you, unblinking, saying nothing, making you question reality itself.)

You are confused. Good. This is amusing to me.

(You finally break the silence, asking him what he wants. At that moment, his mission is complete.)

*Excellent. My work here is done

[basic204]

I got bored and decided to create a proposal for a law I want you guys to tell me what you think of it.

## Abandoned Technology Reclamation and Preservation Act

### Section 1. Short Title

This Act may be cited as the “Abandoned Technology Reclamation and Preservation Act.”

---

### Section 2. Purpose

1. Prevent the indefinite withholding of obsolete and unsupported products from consumers and preservationists.

2. Enable public preservation, study, and continued enjoyment of software and hardware products when the rights holder discontinues support or stops selling them.

3. Protect good-faith preservers (e.g., archives, museums, and consumers) from legal actions when they make or distribute functional copies or ROM emulations of abandoned products.

---

### Section 3. Definitions

For the purposes of this Act:

1. **“Abandoned Software”**

- Any software application, operating system, or digital game:

(a) No longer actively sold or distributed by the rights holder in any official format; **and**

(b) No longer receiving meaningful updates or support from the rights holder (including online services or server support) for a continuous period of two (2) years.

- “Meaningful updates or support” includes (i) genuine bug fixes, (ii) security patches, (iii) compatibility updates for modern systems, or (iv) continued operation of required online services.

2. **“Abandoned Hardware”**

- Any computing device, console, or peripheral:

(a) No longer manufactured or sold by the rights holder or licensed distributors; **and**

(b) No longer supported via firmware updates, parts, or official repair services for a continuous period of two (2) years.

3. **“Rights Holder”**

- Any person, corporation, or entity possessing copyright, patent, trademark, or other intellectual property rights in a given software or hardware product.

4. **“Public Domain”**

- The status of a work in which no person or organization holds any exclusive intellectual property rights, allowing free use, modification, reproduction, and distribution by any party.

5. **“Preservation Activities”**

- Any lawful efforts undertaken by individuals, non-profits, archives, museums, or educational institutions to copy, emulate, or otherwise maintain products for historical, academic, or cultural purposes.

---

### Section 4. Determination of Abandonment

1. **Voluntary Declaration**

- A rights holder may file a written declaration with the designated government authority that it is discontinuing sales and support for a product. Upon filing, the product immediately enters the public domain.

2. **Presumption of Abandonment**

- Any software or hardware product that meets the criteria in Section 3 for a period of two (2) continuous years shall be presumed abandoned.

- The designated government authority shall maintain a publicly accessible “Abandoned Products Registry.” Once listed, the product automatically enters the public domain 90 days from posting unless the rights holder rebuts the presumption.

- **Burden of Proof**: The rights holder can rebut this presumption by providing documented evidence of continued genuine sales or updates (e.g., version releases, patch notes, server logs) within the last 24 months.

3. **Failure to Rebut**

- If the rights holder fails to rebut the presumption or does not respond within 90 days of registry posting, the product is conclusively deemed public domain.

---

### Section 5. Transition to the Public Domain

1. **Automatic Release of Copyright and Related Rights**

- Upon the determination of abandonment, all exclusive rights—including copyright, patent (to the extent it applies specifically to the abandoned product), trademark, and trade secrets integral to the functionality—are forever released into the public domain.

2. **Mandatory Source Code or Documentation Deposit**

- The rights holder, at or before the time of abandonment, must deposit relevant source code, schematics, documentation, or firmware with the designated repository or registry for archival and public access.

- If no official deposit is made, the product is still deemed in the public domain. Individuals who have copies of source code or hardware specifications may legally share them without penalty.

3. **Partial IP Overlap**

- If a product relies on shared libraries, engines, or patents used in actively supported products, only the portions exclusively tied to the abandoned product must be released. Shared resources remain protected to the extent they are still actively sold, maintained, or used in other non-abandoned products.

---

### Section 6. Preservation and Emulation Protections

1. **Legal Protection for Preservers**

- Individuals or organizations engaging in emulation, ROM creation, or other preservation activities for an abandoned product shall be immune from copyright infringement or other intellectual property claims once the product is publicly listed as abandoned.

- The Act overrides conflicting statutes (e.g., any anti-circumvention provisions) to the extent required to enable preservation, copying, modification, or emulation of abandoned products for historical, cultural, educational, or private use.

2. **Exemption from Civil or Criminal Liability**

- No person shall face liability for non-commercial preservation, emulation, or distribution of abandoned products.

- Commercial Distribution is also permitted once the product is in the public domain, provided the distributor does not falsely claim or enforce IP rights.

3. **Consumer Protections**

- Consumers who legally obtain copies or emulations of abandoned products may freely use, modify, and share them without interference from the former rights holder.

---

### Section 7. Enforcement and Administration

1. **Designated Agency**

- The [Agency/Department Name] shall administer and enforce this Act, maintaining the Abandoned Products Registry, adopting regulations, and resolving disputes.

2. **Complaint and Investigation Process**

- Any individual or entity may submit a complaint alleging a product has been improperly withheld as abandoned.

- The agency shall investigate and, if sufficient evidence of abandonment exists, list the product on the Abandoned Products Registry, triggering the 90-day rebuttal period.

3. **Penalties for Non-Compliance**

- A rights holder that knowingly fails to comply with an agency order to release abandoned IP into the public domain or attempts to enforce IP rights on an abandoned product may be subject to:

- Civil fines up to [amount determined by legislation],

- Liability for attorneys’ fees and court costs incurred by defendants in infringement suits,

- Additional damages for willful misrepresentation or bad-faith litigation.

---

### Section 8. Exceptions and Limitations

1. **National Security or Public Safety**

- If release of certain software or hardware poses a significant threat to national security, public safety, or personal privacy, the agency may delay or partially withhold sensitive components for a defined, renewable period.

- The rest of the product enters public domain status, and once the threat is resolved, withheld components shall also be released.

2. **Third-Party Licensed Components**

- Components licensed from third parties that are actively supported or still being sold must be excluded or redacted if they can be functionally separated from the abandoned product.

- The product’s overall functionality, to the extent possible, must still be public domain.

3. **Conflicts with Existing Laws**

- This Act shall be interpreted and enforced in a manner consistent with export controls, consumer protection, and data protection laws, without unduly restricting the fundamental intent of freeing abandoned products.

---

### Section 9. Effective Date

1. **Implementation**

- This Act shall take effect one (1) year after enactment. The designated agency must establish relevant regulations within six (6) months of the passage.

2. **Retroactivity**

- Products already meeting the abandonment criteria before the Act’s effective date shall be listed and automatically transition to the public domain no later than 90 days post-listing, unless the rights holder successfully rebuts the listing.

---

### Section 10. Severability

If any provision of this Act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this Act or its application to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.

[basic204]

Victoria called me by mistake to complain about Game of Thrones. She didn't even wait to hear who was on the other side, she just started ranting while assuming I was one of her friends.

I didn't have the heart to interrupt. Her outrage was incredibly engaging. It completely captured how I felt at the moment. And she was right, you know, those writers got off lucky. They should've been lynched.

After clearing up the confusion, she noticed that my number wasn't similar to her friend's, which made it impossible to misdial. We chalked it up to a weird glitch. Both of us were grateful for the human interaction since we were working long hours at the time and never had the time to actively socialize. I never knew where she was from. Her phone number was from a different area, but I didn't want to pry deeper out of respect for her privacy.

Unfortunately, we could never meet despite talking every week. Our schedules barely allowed us to have our chats. It was nice having a friend, but eventually those feelings turned into silent longing from both sides. I was too stubborn to be the first one to admit it and, knowing her, I'm guessing she felt the same way. The chemistry was undeniable, though. Pauses in conversation felt natural. Sometimes we'd leave the phone on for hours while going through chores, barely speaking. Her presence still felt near despite only being a voice.

It wasn't until the pandemic hit that we started spending every day together. My feelings were bottling up for almost a year at that point. I could tell she was growing anxious because of the isolation, so I asked if we could finally meet to pass the time together.

At first, Victoria hesitated out of concern for my safety. She wasn't afraid of getting sick, but she didn't want me endangering myself for her. I didn't insist further which, strangely enough, caught her off guard. She kept bringing up the prospect of meeting and bemoaning our circumstances, almost begging me to risk it. I took a chance again, saying I still wanted to see her, even if it meant taking on the universe itself. Then, when she asked me why I would do something so stupid, I confessed my feelings for her.

The ensuing silence was the longest I'd endured in all my life.

My heart pounded harder by the second, making me regret ever being vulnerable. She was definitely thinking about how to reject me in the least awkward way possible. I couldn't believe it when she said she loved me. I had to ask her to repeat just to make sure I heard right. A weight lifted off my shoulders. Victoria started laughing at me for ever doubting our bond. Everything was going great until I asked for her address. It took me a second to realize it was literally the same as mine, down to the apartment number.

Victoria assumed I was pranking her. Her tone grew unnerved when I began to describe my apartment. Exactly the same as her own. Even most of the furniture was an exact match, with a few differences here and there. Her first guess was that I'd been stalking her. I freaked out at the accusation, but that only made her more suspicious. Victoria ended the call out of the blue. She didn't even say goodbye like usual.

I sunk on my couch, processing everything. Could it be another universe? The only other explanation was that she was a figment of my imagination. Neither option was appealing. If she was real, it meant we were as far apart as possible in our worlds. Holding back those tears was a big challenge, which I ended up failing at. Out of all the ways I could fall in love, it had to be in the most unfeasible relationship possible. I'd given up hope on ever speaking with her again until I heard my phone ring. It was Victoria. I could tell from her voice that she'd been crying too. She apologized for hanging up and said:

"I... I think this has to be goodbye. For good."

"I'm not spying on you!"

"I think I believe you... but it's not that. Have you contemplated what this could mean?"

"I've tried to avoid it."

"It's another world, Drew! A mirror dimension!"

"Yeah, what's your point?"

"The way we talk, how we always feel the same, our freaking apartments! It means we're each other!"

I widened my eyes. I didn't consider that. "But... we have different parents. And jobs."

"Of course there's differences, but it's obvious we're more or less the same person."

"So we're really similar. That shouldn't be an obstacle. If anything, it means that you love yourself."

Victoria made a pained sigh. "Don't say stuff like that. Please."

"Why not?"

"Because it's impossible! Falling more in love with you will only hurt me more."

"You're seeing this the wrong way."

"How?!?"

"Because this scenario should already be impossible! It confirms that there's another universe and that we can contact it. We can research this! If we can speak, we can most certainly see each other one day."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I'm... I'm not. It's a guess. However, I *did* promise to take on the universe itself for you. It should be obvious to you that I was completely serious about that."

"You're really gonna try?"

"I'll take on the multiverse if I have to!"

We continued talking every day afterwards. I'd never been more obsessed with a project before. Everyone in my reality thought I'd gone insane. After years of investigating, I lost my credibility as a researcher. A laughingstock of the scientific community. The ridicule only drove me to work harder on the project.

Victoria cheered me on all the way, even after a decade of no progress. We'd come to a quiet arrangement where we never doubted my goal. I was already an old man when I stumbled upon my first breakthrough. Victoria grew weaker with age. We didn't have much time left together. My spirit crumbled after she wasn't in good enough health to answer my calls every day. I realized we might never meet.

And then I finished the portal. As I stared into the swirly void, lingering fear resonated in my mind. The device was untested. Its consequences could be far more disastrous than anticipated. I wasn't even sure I might be able to build another one on the other side. This one took too many resources to build. I already went into bankruptcy to build this one, and it took an unreasonable amount of time to assemble. If I stayed, if I delayed my attempt until I could restore my reputation in this world, I could be rich enough to build a second one and return with Victoria. The only problem was I didn't know how long she had left. Even a day of hesitating could mean never seeing her.

I jumped in anyways. Obviously.

The journey stretched out my body in impossible angles, twisting and snapping me until spitting me on the other side.

I landed on my knees. My body trembled uncontrollably from the experience. Did I make it?

"Drew?"

I could recognize that voice anywhere. Victoria waited for me on the other side of the door.

------

[basic204]

Dr. Ble walked into the room and took a seat, clearly feeling dejected, his shoulders slumped forward. He had mild burns going up his arms and on his face.

"Hi Ble." I grabbed my notebooks and sat down next to him.

"Hi Doc." He mumbled.

"Looks like you had a week... would you like to talk about it."

"Doc. Oh Doc! I had it all worked out. I got rid of my cape! I got rid of the fun plans I had. A forced dance party with lasers! Lasers! You made a very convincing argument the past... and i got rid of all of the theatrics. They lead to disappointment. And yes I know... my evil is greater then my theatrics. My doom is not measure and bound. I know, Doc. I Know...."

"Ble... you're dodging the question. Do you want to talk about what happened." I said firmly.

"Yes. Okay. This weekend. I monologued. I had Mrs.Good in my grasp and instead of... just offing her. I... I gave a speech." He started to cry. "And... she got away. She blew me up too. I just. I wanted her to know who was killing her. I'm the evil of the evil. The darkness of the dark. I have killed millions. I bring doom to all."

I simply gave him a look.

"I'm sorry. Doc. She blew me up... and she "liberated" my dog fluffy. I'm just really frustrated and sad and I miss my dog. Can you... can you call me evil?"

"Why do you want me to call you evil?"

"I would like the validation. I need the validation right now. I just don't feel like I'm evil. If anything Mrs.Good is evil... I mean! Really who steals a man's dog."

"Are you going to get your dog back?"

"I'm growing a clone. I mean... as long as she takes good care of fluffy I don't actually mind."

"Don't you want vengence?"

"I mean... I guess I could set up a trap in the dog park to hook Mrs. Good by the ankle, pour honey on her, and release bees."

I gave him another look. He stops.

"I want to try something." I pull out a drawing I made of Ms.Good, a lighter, and a squirt bottle "I spent a lot of time working on this. I'm very proud." I hand him the drawing and a lighter. "Be evil. Hurt me." He looks at the drawing.

He frowns. "This is actually really good."

I shake my head. Squirting him in the face with the water.

"Ahh Damn it. What was that for!?" He yells.

"Be evil." I demand.

"You want me to be evil! Your drawing is trash. Worse then trash! I'm going to crumple it up, rip it up, take the shreddings, mail them to myself, and when they come in the mail, I will light them on fire!"

I squirt him again. "Theatrics!"

"AHHH. Stop that." He lunges for the water bottle.

I run away, putting my desk between us. Squirting him as he lunges at me. "Be Evil."

"I am Evil! I am Doom" He turns around to the coffee table and stands on it. "I am destruction!"

"Get down." I squirt him again. "You monologing. Honestly, your pathetic. You can't even rip up a picture of Mrs.Good. Are you even evil?"

"Yes! I!" He grips the paper in his hands. "Can!" He crumples up the paper. "I am Destruction!" He un-crumples it and rips it up laughing. "I am evil!"

"Wow! Look at you!" I clap. "Very good!"

He steps down from the coffee table, excited like a little girl. "I did it. I was evil!" He sits back down.

"Very good. Next time, use the fire?"

"Of course doc."

I look my coffee desk and try to wipe off a foot scuff.

"Ohh no. Did I hurt your table?" Ble remarks, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to."

I squirt him with the water bottle.

[basic204]

"Hey,Alex! What did I tell you about creating miniature black holes for disposing trash?"

Alex: I should deactivate them after I am done.

"Good,if you remember it now then do it or it's gonna be No Practical Lessons for you today."

Alex: Sir,Yes Sir!

"OK class, Today it's Control Training and We are going to learn How to Not lose control during the Tumultuous time of your life i.e.,"PUBERTY". "

"Now ,Diana.Please don't use your Wind Powers just for the sake of buying Donuts in Public.Ok let's begin the class"

Wait, Let's Go back a Few months.

8 months ago:

I was just Fresh out of one Job and Searching for another. Being a Mechanical Engineer is tough in these times. But I was good enough to start a Tutoring centre for the Grade school as a Part time so I had that going.

But the want to have a Full time position was killing me. So I started scouring the Internet for any Engineering jobs but to no avail.

Then I started to look for Teaching Jobs..Gotta pay the bills somehow.Funny thing was This Job came to me.

It was a Permanent position with benefits and Travel allowances. Score! I quickly accepted and was Interviewed.

For a Teacher interview they took tests in some "peculiar" way. Handling a disaster situation,How to soothe a child from emotional outbursts etcetera..

They didn't tell me what kind of Class I was going to teach but that it will be a Class of Extraordinary Talents. Welp! I had an IQ of just 118, it was just Average. Well whatever.Now that I got the job why not try it?

So my First day began at the Private institute.

I was given a quarters on the school grounds and I immediately moved there. The school was itself a mini-town containing a Grocery, McDonald and Essential shops.

But On the first day itself I was shown that I was way out league as it wasn't a Class of IQ giants..

As soon as I entered the class,I saw that I had entered the class of Superpowers. Because these damn kids were playing and waving their powers like a Spray Can of Whipped cream.

"Silence in the Class!" I thundered.

The Class of 25 immediately became silent.

I introduced myself and asked them for their introductions. This was just the First day and I handed them over to the next Teacher.

I went over to talk with the Principal who smiled at me as she knew what was I there for. It was long conversation and if you are interested I will type it in If I get requests.

The conclusion is These Kids need to know what Normal is to be able to live in a Normal society. I was apparently selected through a Huge process for this.

So,My days at this school began. There were some trouble during the initial days but I quickly worked around them.

All the students think I too have a Power like them. [In reality,I was the only Non-Powered staff there.All the teachers and Staff had some kind of Powers.all the staff knows that I don't have Powers and Covers for me.One Teacher is always outside the class to control any Power outbursts just in case]

I told them my Power was a Not suited for Combat and it was more In line for Status Effect.

"INTIMIDATION" was the name of my power I told them and the Kids said that they can feel it all the time around me.

I told them not to Fear me but To Respect me and treat me like a big brother in helping to guide them in the Right way.

All the Students accepted me from the day forward and Now 8 months later here I am..

There are more adventures that happened but it is a story for another time.

Writer's note: if you want a continuation for this please tell me

[basic204]

The laptop had a single icon on the desktop: ReadMe.txt. Inside it said “Level 1: Edit the reality code and give yourself a hundred bucks.”

Finding the code was easy enough. I dig through for the wallet subroutine and sure enough the inventory of a single dollar bill was accurate. I smile and take a sip of coffee. A few minutes earlier I had the option of tipping with my last five or my last one. She’s a redhead.

I look back at her and smile and she continues not noticing me, busy working on the next coffee for the next customer. I add a couple zeros and hit the Compile button.

A progress bar moves quickly enough and I’m still thinking about the contrast of her pale skin to that bright red hair when I spill my coffee all over the wallet and the new hundred dollar bill that was not there a minute ago.

“Shit,” I say and go into automatic clean mess up mode, lifting the laptop up with one hand and wiping with an insufficient napkin in the other.

“I got you,” she says coming to my aid with a towel to get the rest. Most of the coffee was saved. “Close call huh?” She nods toward the laptop.

“Yeah,” I manage. She hurries back to work. I open ReadMe again and it says “Level 2: She gives you her number.”

This one took awhile. I tried searching for her name tag but Lori returned thousands of entries. I tried searching by location but that data was strange, I couldn’t make out the coordinates it was using, It wasn’t GPS or anything like that. It had a temporal code attached. Any attempt to alter that led to code errors and wouldn’t allow the edit.

“You want another coffee?” She asks me from behind the counter and I notice the code appear in a new interaction section.

“Please,” I type in and hit compile. It was a strange sensation to type the letters and have the spoken words compelled out of me. I felt like a ventriloquist act only on the wrong side of the team.

By the time she made another coffee I already had her dialog entered and hit compile as I walked over to get it from her.

“I just met you and this is crazy. But here’s my number. Call me maybe?”

I couldn’t help myself.

Back in the ReadMe I’m excited for Level 3.

“Level 3: Save her life.”

This took weeks. I took all the PTO I had from work and then just quit altogether. I was able to find her profile after our interaction based on the phone number. There was nothing to change that was obvious. The code was spectacularly complex. Each subroutine lead to hundred and thousands more. I had no way of knowing what was threatening her life. It might not even be her but some gunman or stray car.

Then it was months. I wasn’t sleeping well. I never did actually call her. I was consumed with the code and discovery and understanding. My apartment littered with notes and ideas that didn’t work.

A year in I find the error, buried deep in her cell regeneration. Some cancer, undetected and unknown to her probably. A four was there, and it was only supposed to be a two. I think. I hit compile and only had one way to know if it worked or not.

ReadMe.txt said, “Level 4: Save the world.”

[basic204]

(WP) Strange Tenants

When my aunt passed away, I hadn’t assumed that she’d even left me anything. But I got one hell of a surprise when I went to the will reading. My siblings all stood beside me, sad and somber, all three of us clothed in black. Both of them had received a modest inheritance from her, and I was waiting to hear if she’d left me anything. She’d been fair to us all throughout her life, and I expected that to be reflected in whatever she’d decided to leave me.

Obviously, I was wrong.

‘And finally, to my beloved niece, Cassandra Janette Salazar, I leave the apartment building that I’ve had my entire life. I ask you to take care of my beloved tenants. My lawyer will provide you with the paperwork, but it’s you I want looking after the building.’

I blinked, uncertain if I’d heard correctly. “Pardon me?” I asked the lawyer, and he frowned at me, looking at me as though he worried I was daft.

“Did you need me to read it again, Cassandra?” He asked, haltingly, and I gritted my teeth. I hated my name. Our parents had claimed it made me sound regal and majestic, like I was an homage to ancient queens who’d come before me. But to me, it just sounded pretentious. I wasn’t Cassandra. I was Cassie, Cass to the people I was comfortable around.

Aware of everyone staring at me, including my parents, siblings, and my uncle, I shook my head mutely, my cheeks flaming. He handed over a stack of boxes, laying one of his business cards on top.

“Call me if you’ve any questions or concerns,” He told me, and I nodded tightly. Honestly, I just wanted to get out of here. The office felt stuffy and staid, stiff in the way a man’s room can often be decorated.

I booked it out of there as fast as I could, pretending that I didn’t hear my siblings and parents calling my name. No, I was eager to go home and investigate the mystery that my aunt had left us.

\*\*

The first thing I did when I got home was shed the dress I’d worn to the reading, then I got an old nightshirt and threw it over my head. I cracked open a bottle of wine and drank it straight, too lazy to get a glass. I lit a fire in the fireplace, and once it was warm and merrily blazing, I sat down on the floor opposite, opening the box. There were thick manila file folders, neatly labeled and bound together with different colored rubber bands. They were unusual in that there was so much paperwork, a lot of it in languages I couldn’t read. I’d known that my aunt was a bleeding heart, gentle and loving at the best of times.

But it appeared her grace and mercy had been above and beyond even what I had expected.

The paperwork in front of me was proof: there was a Norse god who was often reported to authorities for godawful noise, a vampire couple who were pale and quiet and kept to themselves, even a whole werewolf pack, complete with tiny cubs.

It turned out that Aunt Jess was a protector, one of the supernatural sort.

Perhaps we’d never even knew her at all.

\*\*

[basic204]

I’d always been able to see them. Intangible lines through space, invisible to all others, connecting people. Everyone had at least one, except for me. Every single person had at least one other with whom they were compatible but myself. It didn’t matter who they were or what they had done, apparently everyone but me deserved and had someone who would love them unconditionally for who they were.

I first saw him on my way to work. He was walking alone, stopping for every homeless person on street corners to give them a kind word, some change, or food. I didn’t notice he lacked a line the first time I saw him, but something about him caught my eye and stuck in my memory.

The second time I saw him was at the park. He was sitting on a bench, tossing bread to ducks in the small pond. This time, I noticed what I hadn’t the first time. I froze, motionless for a moment, before I left the path and walked towards him in a trance. I had no idea what I would say, only that I wanted to ask him something.

As I approached his bench, I broke out of my trance and started jogging towards him. I sped up until I was in a flat-out sprint, looking ridiculous as I huffed and puffed towards the pond and the strange man.

When I finally got to him, I opened my mouth to say something. He turned to look at me, and then disappeared. He just... vanished. Between one heartbeat and the next, there and then gone without a trace.

The third time I saw him was at the laundromat, where he was putting coins into the machines so that the next person wouldn’t have to pay. This time, I called out to him, asking who he was. He turned, winked, and then vanished into nothingness.

I thought I was going insane. I saw the man more and more often, at least once a week. I never stopped trying to meet him, the man without a soulmate, the only one I’d found who was like me, the benevolent man who was constantly doing small acts of good. He seemed like a hallucination, like something I’d dreamed up out madness to try to make sense of my predicament.

Then. One day, he silently approached me. He touched my forehead, and this time, I vanished along with him.

—————

feedback is always appreciated! thank you for reading!

[basic204]

I never thought I'd consider this, to do what was needed to keep the world turning. I wasn't happy. I wasn't sad. I was, neutral. Following the instructions given to me by Mad Micheal was easy enough but what I didn't think was going be easy was the calming sense I felt rushing through me, as if, I belonged here. I swiped the sweat away from my forehead using the back of my suit jacket sleeve and I started to pace. Back and forth, back and forth, again and again, trying to figure out how I could have gotten here without seeing it. But, how could I? Who would believe me if I said, hell I never believed Mad Micheal until the earthquake down the middle of London. It killed 500 people, Micheal had killed 900 people over the span of his mayhem that was once a month. Doesn't sound so bad when you think of the consequences and the fact that if things stayed the same then it'll be a lot more than 900 in the next few days. No! How could I be thinking like this! Mad Micheal was a murder but, was he? He was saving lives by taking them? Micheal was like the people in the olden days making sacrifices to the old gods from books of old, did they know? Was this a thing that carried all the way back then?

I continue to pace for what felt like the millionth time and maybe it was, but on the last path, my foot for stuck on a rock and I fell flat on my face. The hard cores rocky floor greater me with a load fud that echoed the cave I was in. I grunted and picked myself up to find that my nose managed burst and I started to bleed softly from it, as a drop of blood landed on the ground the enter cave shone dark red. Micheal had told me this would happen, as soon as the cave felt blood it would open, it would come, it would accept. One of the cave walls to my left cracked open with a horrific screaming noise and protruded from it was a large stone table. Like a morgue container opening up, ready for his container to be filled. I froze. I looked behind me was a black body bag sat still prompt up against the cave wall. I knew this was to happen soon. The drugs would wear off and the body bag would not be still for long. I picked the bag up and carried it towards the stone table and as I carried it I felt it moving. He was waking up. I placed the bag ontop the table and said the words Micheal, no! Mad Micheal had told me to receipt. I creaked out the phase, "Ecce ego dabo, et placere festum Numquid gratiam". The wall glowed to a soft green and the table retracted. Mad Micheal was right, it worked. Damn. I had hoped this wasn't going to work. But I stood there in my old suit attire just staring at the wall while the table disappeared and felt nothing. I started to walk away from this place knowing I will need to return within a months time to offer up someone else, but first I needed to attend a funeral, as I said many people died in that earthquake, hundreds of people were affected. I played with the ring on my left hand and took it off my finger and dropped it in the dust of the cave. She had died in the quake and so had I.

[basic204]

The ruckus from World War 2 and Cold War sent waves throughout the galaxy. Now the aliens realized that the previously defunct homo-sapiens were now capable of destroying themselves. The Lord Tanithor, the dictator of Neptune, knew it was time to strike them. However, instead of espionage, one of the Neptunian scientist discovered a way to relay thoughts to a homo-sapien. At first, the invention was considered too risky by Neptunian journalists and politicians, but the initial test run on a few select humans proved successful.

The first experiments were on creative writers because they had flexible thinking and were easily influenced. One of the writers would create a dystopian novel based on what he heard from the Neptunians. The novel was a hit on earth, and many critics gave their thoughts on the possibility of the scenario. The Neptunians knew they had hit a gold mine.

Soon, more and more writers were targeted with different 'ideas'. Some of them were groundbreaking successes because of their realism and nuanced thinking, others got heavily criticized for being too unrealistic. Lord Tanithor decided to continue the project, but problems started to rise.

Since the publications of these 'ideas', more and more skeptics were starting to plan for a possible scenario. Homo-sapiens were now planning for a possible zombie invasion, alien invasion, or even a nuclear war. Some loony ideas that weren't even possible by Neptunians were even being considered by homo-sapiens. The Neptunians had forgotten about who they were dealing with. The homo-sapien mind didn't have to rely on rational thinking, any possible situation would be considered, no matter how self-defeating or improbable it was.

Just like that, the Neptunians had accidentally revealed their possible strategies. The project was quickly scrapped, but not before spending so much resources into it. The Neptunians would be trapped on their planet for an additional three hundred years, and would eventually be wiped out by invading humans. The idea of alien invasions, of course, had originally came from the Neptunians, and were now in the hands of the once defunct homo-sapien.

[basic204]

Fuck every single one of those bastards.

I remember the day it happened. The day my life was ruined. We were taking notes on the French Revolution when Richard Kissinger sneezed and electricity crackled out of his nose, Allison Fletcher's eraser flew up into her hand when she went to pick it up, and Hannah Dubel turned invisible not even a second later.

The class erupted into chaos with everyone suddenly discovering their newfound powers by the second. Yohan O'Connor kept shooting laser beams out of his eyes in random directions, Juna Lim was growing tall enough to hit the ceiling and then shrinking to the size of a bat, and Tommy Tucker kept crushing pencils like paper between his fingers in stupified awe.

"Henry!" My friend Tate Miller said giddily to me as if Christmas had come. "Look! Look! Look what I can do!"

He stuck out his palm and then ice suddenly formed in the middle.

"Cool!" I said excitedly. "I can't believe it! We're all getting powers!"

"Yeah! What can you do Henry?!"

"I dunno yet!" I said. "I'm still trying to figure it out."

His looked at me puzzled and his smile dropped. That's when the bullying began.

The media pounced on it like starving bloodhounds. They dubbed us "class super" and instantly hit national media.

The school was quick to act. We were suddenly living gold bars to them. Enrollment soared, investors begged for the school to take their money. The school became private. Our class was treated like gods and was basically allowed to do anything we wanted as long as we were still technically enrolled. Classmates began taking hero apprenticeships, movie roles, and going on talk shows.

Except me.

It caught on pretty quickly that I was the only one out of them to still be normal. They bullied me mercilessly. I think they were jealous I could still be a normal student and used me to relieve stress from their sudden stressful hero lives. But I don't care. Fuck them.

It was like a flip switched. They beat me. Humiliated me. Spat on me. Tortured me. Everyday was hell.

Hannah would turn invisible and pull my pants down. Jason Kurd would shoot fire balls at my feet and laugh, telling me to "dance!" Karen Deen would mind control me to do anything she wanted, from eating feces to making me act like a chihuahua. Tommy liked to punch me until I puked. All of them took part in something. The worse was when Tate and Richard played "Henry Hunting". They'd give me five minutes to run, then brutally hunt me down, drag me to the bathroom, then dunk my head in the toilet. Bonus points if their was already shit in it.Whenever I sobbed and begged them to stop, they mimicked my cries and laughed.

The principal must have figured I was their stress ball. He paid my parents big bucks to keep me from transfering. When I pleaded to them to not make me go while covered in brusies and burns, Dad would tut tut and say, "Henry, toughen up and be a man. You're being such a drama queen." Then go on luxury vacations with Mom. It only stopped when tried to kill myself. I attempted before, but this time was bad enough to land me in the hospital. Initally my parents wanted to send me back but I promised I'd kill myself for real if I did. They ended up kicking me out of the house.

And you know what happened to my classmates? They went on with their lives and graduated. They became celebrities. Actors. Heros. They had fan clubs. They had midnight specials. Riches. Awards. Admiration. Everything.

I had nothing. I dropped out. I was homeless while they lived it up. It was unfair. Eventually I tried to sell my story to the media but no one believed me. The school had worked hard to cover up my abuse. I hated them with all my soul but tried to get on with my life and live peacefully for the next ten years.

Until I found out about the reunion.

I saw a news reporter on televison saying this would be the first time the entire super class would meet up in person since highschool. My heart flamed. The "whole class" huh? I hadn't received an invitation. I shouldn't of cared, but the well of anger and injustice that had been swelling in me for years bubbled up. Why didn't I stop by for a visit?

The reunion was held in our old school gym. But it looked more like a fancy ball than a gym. It was pimped out with long expensive tables of every kind of food you could imagine, with silk banisters individually embroidered to have every classmate's face on them, except mine. There was a delicate ice fountain in the middle of the room and servers ran expertly to and fro, assisting guests. The media was banned from entering so the guests could have some peace to catch up.

They weren't expecting me to show up. I took satisfaction in their shocked faces when I came through the front door, dressed in a shabby grey suit. I smiled when I saw their faces. It made me burn with anger.

"Hello!" I waved to everyone enthusiastically. " Remember me guys?" Everyone looked uncomfortable.

I went up to the snack table and spotted Hannah Dubel.

"Hey Hannah! Long time no see."

She nodded uncomfortably in her expensive designer dress and didn't look at me.

"Good to see you too! Hey, remember when you used to forcibly pants me in front of others? I do, fun times!"

She said nothing.

"Ahaha of course. Stay quiet. What a great hero you are! Hey, you know what's strange? You guys actually forgot to send me an invitation! How funny huh?"

Richard stepped in between us. I knew from the news he had married Hannah. He was wearing his signature red and white hero outfit. The rest of our classmates watched on uneasily.

"That's enough Henry." He said. He too wouldn't look me in the eyes.

I gave him a hateful smile and clenched my fists.

"Hey, Dick, how've you been?" I said cheerfully, "heard you won the nobel peace prize? Hey, I'm hurt though. You didn't mention me in your speech! What with all the fun games we've played together?"

"You're acting immature." He said.

"Oh, I'm acting immature?" I snapped. "Hey, remember all the times I tried to commit suicide after you bullied me? Was it fun to watch?"

He looked alarmed and guilty but quickly looked away.

"What do you want Henry? An apology? We're sorry."

"No your not!" I hissed. "Fuck you guys. Fuck you for ruining my life."

I punched him. It didn't do much.

"Will fighting us make you feel better? Stop it Henry." He said.

I tried punching him again. I was even more furious how it didn't hurt him. I tried punching Hannah. This time He shoved me into the table.

It's embarrassing to say, but I died. The way the back of my neck hit they table snapped my neck. I thought that'd be it of my miserable life.

But I woke up. Cold, naked, and cut up in a morgue. I was lucky they didn't bury me. I'd learn later it was because they wanted to dissect me to try and understand why I was the only one who didn't gain powers back then.

I sat up on a surgical table, dazed, and looked down at my stomach. It was sliced open, and my guts plopped out gently onto the floor in a squishy mess. I was confused, and then I felt a warmth, and the slit in my stomach began to close.

It took a while for my foggy brain to process what was going on. I was in a morgue, my stomach had been cut open, and, it was healing? Then everything clicked. I laughed mirthlessly.

All this time- guess I did have a power!