Chapter 1

It was just another day: video games, soda, and snacks. I was enjoying my days off from work. Sure, cold weather and rain might've ruined any plans to go out, but not when I can enjoy this new game with bugs and robots about fighting for managed democracy. Hilarious stuff, yet awesome.

There was just one thing off about today. I'm not sure what it was, but before I could think more about it, my vision faded to black. I didn't even feel tired as it happened. I just felt nothing.

Then, I found myself in a comfortable room with a homey look. Two chairs faced each other, and a small wooden table with a white bowl on top was between them. I stood a little to the side of one of the chairs.

Then, a humanoid being just popped out of thin air on the other side of the table. I couldn't distinguish their features as they were completely white, with no features besides being somewhat male.

"Ah, good. You made it in one piece," the being said as it pulled out the chair and then gestured to the other chair with a hand, "Please sit. I'll explain what's going on."

I hesitated, processing what the heck was going on! Then nodded slowly and sat down.

"First, you can call me ROB, as in Random Omnipotent Being for short. My actual name doesn't matter. Only what I'm about to tell you." ROB was very expressive in his gestures as he talked, sounding more like a doctor now.

I gave him a slightly confused look and said, "Um, well, my name's Cal. Cal..." Nothing came out of my mouth like someone hit the mute button. My face showed more confusion.

ROB gestured with his hand in a sign to calm down. "It's okay. You can't say your family name because you're not in your universe now. I know that sounds dumb, but it's a law placed down when between universes. I'm not the one who made them. If I had, then there would've been a loophole for it. I'm fun that way."

Somehow, I could tell he was smiling smugly. "So why am I here? What happened to me?" I asked, a little worried. I had heard of ROBs, but that was in CYOAs. Some were written to give the ROBs a simple or somewhat shady personality.

ROB hummed, then said, "Well, for your first question, you're here to pick a new life. And for the second, you and the rest of your universe were sadly destroyed by a stray shot from other beings fighting it out. The reason was pretty idiotic, and they were punished for their actions by the governing body of the multiverse."

It was almost like a switch had been flipped. I yelled, "WHAT!?" but ROB said nothing. I let the information sink in for a few more seconds, trying to steady myself. Severely confused, ROB spoke up again before I could completely process his words.

"Don't worry about your family and loved ones. I and a few other ROBs are doing damage control. As in giving every soul in your universe a choice of an afterlife or something else." Their voice was comforting at the explanation, and I could think what most would choose. Wait, why did he say pick a new life and not if I wanted to go to the afterlife?

"You can only choose a new life because you feel you haven't lived a fulfilled life. Isn't that right, Cal?"

I blinked at him then and lowered my head a bit. He's not wrong. Sure, I loved how most of my life has gone or had gone. It's just that there's always been this piece missing in me, like a hole that couldn't be filled with how I had lived.

I nodded as I looked at the empty bowl with these caramel cubes. I took one and popped it into my mouth. It tasted good, and it lifted my spirits a bit. I let it all sink in a bit more. Okay, everyone's souls are now being ferried off to wherever. I can get my head behind that, but why couldn't I enjoy the afterlife, too? I didn't want to do anything. I've always been a lazy bum. I still want to be lazy.

I looked at ROB where his eyes would be, "So what, I just get a random new life to live and hope for the best?"

He shook his head. "No, you get to choose what you can be, where, and when." He got up and walked to a door that wasn't there before. "Come, I want to show you how you'll choose. It's quite simple."

I got up and followed him to a different room with a computer, exactly like mine. Set up and all. It was on with what looked like a…

CYOA?

No, a list of them. With a search engine and all kinds of filter options.

"This is how you'll choose. It's set up to your preferences. Think of what you want, and it'll manifest. Neat, right?" ROB smiled. He now had a face I could discern. He had no eyes and was still completely white, almost like that god from the anime with the two brothers.

Huh, that is neat. But I don't know what kind of life I want to live.

"Here's an idea." I looked back to ROB curiously, "Why not try living in one of those stories you love so much?"

"Wait, like Marvel or DC comics?" I said incredulously.

He nodded, "Yes, any fictional universe you can think of exists. There are an infinite number of them, after all. You can only go to one universe, but it is possible to jump to another once there. I can't tell how. Like I said before, there are laws in place for almost anything. You have to learn on your own."

I only nodded. But since I knew my family was alright, I now had a chance to live out any of my dreams. I was excited. No, I am PUMPED to do what I could almost be before. A true badass.

Now, what universe to choose. There are so many to pick. Hmm. I have to weigh the pros and cons. And think of what I might face once there and whether I'll interfere in the story or not. No doubt there'll be a butterfly effect, only the scale of the effect is what concerns me.

This might take a while.

"Time doesn't matter when between universes Cal. So take as long as you want. The only limit here is your imagination, and the amount points you get depending on the universe and its setting. So go a little wild kid." ROB winked at me, at least I think he winked at me.

With that said I began to think about what kind of life to live and in what universe.