Well, this is my first story here. I may continue this or not, just doing this a practice and something to kill time.
"What... where am I?" A man asked – floating in what seems to be space, Stars shined in the distance and comets flew by. It was a beautiful sight, as he watched this peaceful view, realizing that perhaps this may have been a dream… or one hell of a trip.
"You seem to be enjoying this, Alston" a voice said seemingly echoing from everywhere and nowhere at once, "Welcome to my realm, mortal. You are perhaps the first one and the last one to react this way"
"Realm? First one? Last one? And how'd you know my name?"
"Well, yes. This is my 'domain', my home so to speak. A place nowhere near your 'home' or ever will be. By the first one, I mean that you are the first to be so relaxed upon waking and by last? You are simply the last to be awakened and your name? that shall be a secret."
"Is this death?" Alston asked his face one of calmness and peace.
"No, Like I said. This is my Realm and domain. You have not died nor are you in 'Limbo" as the others called it," The voice paused for a moment, before continuing. "I am what you consider a 'God' but I am not THE God and I have a proposition for you."
Suddenly a white light appeared , a white marble appeared covered in red and blue light, mesmerizing the Alston in its sheer perfection.
"Hmm, you should be adequate for the 'mission'," It whispered. "The others were the same."
"What others? What game? Why me, why can I not go home?" The man asked, his urge to panic, to scream and most of all to resist…. Just melted as he looked at the glowing ball.
"The other humans, they were chosen to be a part of this. All of them accepted, when they awakened from their slumber. Whether they liked it or not-" The light soon shined, as four pictures shined showing what seemed to be face shots.
The man's face paled as he recognized a few of the faces, "What? Is that Dan? Why is Francis in this?" Then confusion "and who are the Other two?"
"They were all 'chosen', they all 'agreed' and now they have started their 'mission' as will you when you join them." It glowed as it spoke.
"What have you done to my FRIENDS?" The man raged trying to mentally resist, but to little effect. The light still held him within it's mesmerizing glow.
"I did nothing, they chose of their own free will. Now I am tiring of this conversation. Will you or will you not accept this 'mission'?" it flashed with a red glow violently, before switching back to its original color
"At least tell me what the mission is about?" The man slumped mentally, he knew he had no power here, no amount of rage will help him, no prayer will be answered.
"No"
The man was about to voice something, before he was cut off. "Not because I do not want to, but because I cannot, It shall be revealed when you are 'sent'" It paused as he let it sink in, "However, I can explain a bit about WHAT you're going to get to help you succeed in this mission.
The marble shined, once more adopting a golden hue as a book as formed from the star dust.
Staring at the Book, the man's eye shined in recognition and surprise. For it was something he was intimately familiar with, something he and his friends have spent weeks, no months talking and reading thru… it was a Warhammer 40K codex.
"You…. Want me to play 40K?" The man asked in a puzzled tone.
"Yes… and No," The globe opened the book towards a section, revealing numbers, stats and Units. "You shall be given the ability to 'Requisition' units up to a certain limit, this limit however can be expanded on as you build up your influence or complete goals in this 'game'. It will be all in all, similar to a simple tabletop game of yours."
As the man was about to ask, he was once more cut off. "Do not worry about what faction you are going to use and where their 'loyalties' lie, I've taken the liberty of choosing one you are familiar with an-"
"Why?" The man asked. "Why do this, and do my friends have the same thing also?"
"Yes" was the globes only reply. "Now as I was saying, each unit shall stay with you. They will follow your orders and only your beliefs. They are independent and have their own personalities but cannot and will not harm you; they are in all essence dumb 'AI'."
"You are essentially their leader, a hero and a savior in their eyes. Now time is running short, things are progressing and those who reap shall return. When you awaken you will be given a walkthrough in your new abilities. Seek your friends in the cold galaxy, they will help you…. Or not"
Alston looked onwards with even more confusion, "Wait, What? Where am I going?" he cried out as he started to dissipate.
"You'll see" the marble replied, before Alston faded entirely from view.
"Do you think they will succeed? Another voice said, before revealing itself next to the Marble. The form of another marble, redder and smaller than the first one.
"I believe so, His friends have certainly proven themselves…. to a degree." A small window showed itself, each watching displaying the various humans, both of them peered and watched the screen with a mutual amusement.
* One monitor shows a squad of bellowing Ogryns led by a screaming priest with an Executioner, in what looks like a dessert. Charging into a pack of Blood pack Krogan and colliding with them in a vicious melee. A Ogryn bone'ead headbutting a Krogan into the ground, while another smashed it's head in with a crack of it's shock maul.A Giant Ogryn stood at the back, bellowing orders through a giant vox-caster on his back and protecting a Man in a commissar uniform firing at a Vorcha with his las-pistol.*
*Another monitor, showed what seemed to be half-men and machine in purple cloaks, eyes glowing a light blue as it rotated around an intricate domed stealthy towards what seemed to be an encampment patrolled by yellow armored beings, a symbol of a circle with three lines going sideways. Moving close enough, before they burst out in a streak of mechanical fury and hate. Attacking any and all that approached them or tried to flee, those that arrive fell at their feet. Clawing at bleeding ears and bloodshot eyes from the cries.*
He smiled at these and then looked at the remaining two, these he frowned at. The words "Signal/Player Lost" displayed at him, as if it was taunting him.
"I believe so because I hope so." He said, to his guest.