You couldn't tell by its milky shades that the liquid seas stretching on for miles beyond the small golden island were so sharp and compact especially by their slow waves and subtle motions. Sounds of droplets and the splashing rains of an indoor day fill the atmosphere; a perfect place to waste hours and lifetimes staring at the sherbet shades of an unending sunset. Despite it's seemingly well mooded environment sporting a relished climate and warm solid tile, there had not been a singular human or spectral inhabitant for several generations. The died out location hollowed by ancestors long since unrecorded, owned by a singular leisurely cat.

Chapter 1

A blinding flash of light, like the clap of a sun, left a rupture on the ground near the south of the hushed-yellow island. Emerging from a quickly dissipating charcoal cloud was a spectral form of The Batter himself; clad in his muted clothes and the same flat expression clear on any veteran ghost slayer would bear. His closed eyes seemed tense and his hands were balled like fists. He wasn't quite opaque and yet anyone who saw him would swear they never even noticed. Of course he wasn't used to this new form having just as recently noticed his lack of solidified existince as the clouds dissipated. Taking his first breaths in his newfound body left an unpleasant taste in his mouth (not that the man knew pleasantry more than any other of his absent emotions) similar to smog and as dark as soot. Everywhere heat left his body so did his smoking form. The trail of dark clouds rose into the eternally caramel skies and left enough of an impression to draw the attention of the island's now accompanied "freeholder."

Nearly instantaneously the cat appeared before The Batter and spoke in his clean and unsettling voice, "There cannot be any other living beings in zone 0, so I must assume that you are only a mere figment of my imagination. Nevertheless, I will introduce myself. I am the Judge, and I am aching to know your name, dear illusory interlocutor."

The Batter shuffled and answered in his raspy tone, "I'm the Batter. I've been assigned to a sacred mission... however."

"However?"

"There has been a 'change of plan.'"

"Well, regardless, it is a pleasure. Any way I can aid your 'change of plan' is likely the most fortunate of obligations."

"Thanks."

"On my own interests I would like to address that your strings appear to have been... cut loose."

"Strings?"

"Oh yes, every puppet has it's strings. And yours appear to have been quite tightly wound, spectral form... 'Batter'..."

"Yes."

"You stir memories I do not posses, Batter. What have you not told me?"

The Batter remained silent.

"Perhaps not all knowledge is meant to be shared. Let us continue; where is your puppeteer?"

"They have left."

"'Left'?" Judge repeated.

"They finished. Their guidance has served it's course."

"My, Batter, you do seem questionable but I fear I've already delved too far into my pleasures. If I can provide any service to you please do not hesitate." The Batter remained silent. "I presume you need no combat tutorial, correct? You seem to have a chiseled spirit fit for any such occurence."

"I need so such thing."

"As you wish."

The proceeded forward at a leisurely pace into the towering building. Soft splashes of plastic brushed against it's thick shores however both figures were unfazed. The sound was more framiliar than one's own footsteps. The Judge silently observed Batter's stiff motions providing a rather comical show while he attempted to move in his new form.

"You seem new to this, my spectral friend. How did you come about this new body of yours?"

"I made a trade."

"And this was your 'change of plans'?"

"Yes." Batter replied, appearing annoyed by the barrage of questions.

After a long drawn silence the Judge began, "You see, it gets quite lonely here. My brother..." his voice gave a crack and he motioned his head, starting again, "I haven't seen my brother for quite some time. Otherwise I only have two others I can speak with but only one provides little new discussion."

"And the other?" Batter asked curiously.

"She's... creative."

"She?"

"She."

Followed by another long period of silence. Batter wondered what was beneath the deep thick plastic and Judge wondered what was beneath Batter's deep thick cranium. Both shook the thought away.

"My comrade, do you feel any emotions?" Judge started again as Batter attempted to ascend the ladder at the foot of the building.

"It's... new."

"So you do?"

"Of course I do. But it's different. It feels very artificial."

"It's only fitting," Judge chuckled, "We all become accustomed to it. For some it's overbearing and for others it's a waste of time. I'm glad to see you taking notice to your own."

Batter nodded slowly.

"If I can make a suggestion, and I'm certain I can, why don't you try them all?"

The Batter thought for a moment before replying, "Alright." as they reached the top of the building.