2 Yes and No #2

As Superman soared off into the sky, my left hand moved unconsciously toward my cheek. Reflex kicked in, and I slapped it away with my right hand. Not the most graceful move, but hey, I'm kind of freaking out here. Cut me some slack, will ya?

Focus. It was Time to get out of here, and fast. I scanned the chaotic surroundings, desperately seeking a safe haven—easier said than done in the middle of a citywide crisis. Then, a stroke of luck—I spotted a building in the distance that appeared somewhat intact, save for its damaged door and shattered windows. Talk about convenience!

I sprinted toward the building, my heart racing as I reached the entrance. Once inside, I hurried past the debris toward an empty reception desk and took cover behind it. It didn't exactly feel like the safest spot, but in moments like these, beggars can't be choosers.

Sure, the whole building might come crashing down any second, but for now, at least I was shielded from the ongoing havoc and the strange entities causing it out in the city.

I peeked over the desk, taking in the wild scene around me, trying to figure out my next move. The whole city looked like it had turned into a battleground—stuff falling from the sky, explosions booming in the distance, and folks running around like they were in a marathon they didn't sign up for.

But you know what was weird? By all intents and purposes, the ground should have been littered with corpses, and yet there were none. Not a single drop of blood. It was like a wild action movie without the, well, mess.

Don't get me wrong. Corpses were the last thing I wanted to see right now. I already had a rude awakening, and I don't need to be traumatized as the cherry on top, thank you very much.

Scratching my head, I squinted, trying to make sense of this bizarre situation. Then, it all made sense! I spotted two blurred figures zipping around—one with a snazzy red and gold hue, the other in classic red and blue. Wherever they went, people vanished from harm's way, like some superhero Uber service.

"That's gotta be the Flash... Looks like the good guys are showing up." I muttered to myself, kinda relieved to see some backup. Just as I said that, a bright green light shot up in the sky, making those weird invaders eat dirt. Literally.

Whoa, even the Green Lanterns in town! Talk about a crazy lineup of heroes. I'd be jumping up and down from excitement if I weren't, well, on the brink of having a panic attack and possibly, maybe, shitting myself perchance. Allegedly of course.

I huddled behind the desk, weighing the urgency of finding a toilet (Allegedly of course) against the very real risk of getting my ass squashed, roasted, or worse in the mayhem outside.

Just as I was contemplating my next move, my vision blurred, and words appeared before me.

[Welcome to the Universal Network System]

I blinked, hoping it was some weird eye twitch, but nope, the words lingered, uninvited guests in my sight.

I tried to swipe them away, but they stubbornly remained. What's more, they transformed, almost as if they were reacting to my attempts to shoo them off.

[Proceed with caution in your desires, ser. I could very well be your sole lifeline in this dimension]

The words flickered back at me, their tone robotic yet laced with a snarky edge.

"Who the heck are you, buddy?" I shot back, refusing to be sassed by my own hallucinations.

[The Universal Network System, hence the welcoming message. I'm your personalized, fine-tuned, and custom-built companion for your convenience]

The words altered again.

[Your cheat code, the lone chance for a regular, solitary nerd like yourself to survive here]

I stood there, mouth agape, taken aback by the response. "Well, fuck you too!" I finally retorted after a moment.

[I'm afraid that's not feasible. I lack the necessary anatomy for such activities]

The words remained as composed and aloof as ever.

My eyes twitched in frustration, an unusual moment of speechlessness for me. Normally, I've got a comeback for everything, but here I was, struck dumb by these snarky floating phrases.

Wait! Who cared about my loner tendencies? The pressing matter was these sassy floating words and what they wanted from me.

"Alright, fine, you win this round," I muttered with a defeated sigh. Whether these were hallucinations or not, arguing with floating text wasn't on my to-do list, especially in the middle of a chaos-crazed city.

"So, spill it, oh great and mighty floating text rectangle... what do you want from me?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite the escalating absurdity.

[I'm glad you asked. My current purpose is to help you escape the ordeal you find yourself in, preferably in one piece]

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but it seems the entire Justice League is gonna crash this party sooner or later..." I trailed off, peering at the swirling mayhem outside. "Frankly, I'm quite keen on the idea of surviving, right here, behind this surprisingly sturdy desk."

[Correct. The Justice League will contain the threat eventually, but it won't happen as quickly or easily as you imagine]

[The heroes will be too busy handling the invaders, and if something were to happen to a solitary soul cowering behind a desk, the chances of them noticing are infinitely close to zero]

I furrowed my brow, trying to process the implications of the text's words. 'Contain the threat? The hell is going on here?' I mused, a mixture of curiosity and concern brewing in my mind.

As I stood there, trying (and failing) to absorb the information I was presented with, the floating text morphed into a new interface. It looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, all sleek lines and holographic panels.

Main Menu:

Quest Log:

none

Character Network:

Character: Superman

Relationship: Neutral

Alignment Matrix:

Character: Superman

Alignment: Heroic (Unchanged)

Memories Archive:

Event: Crisis at Metropolis (recording)

Protagonist's Action: Nothing noteworty as of yet

Altered Memory: Heroes are not even aware of the user's existence

Points Exchange:

Available Points: None

Enhancements:Improved Persuasion Skill - 200 points

Resting Bitch Face - 50 points

Gotham City Intel - 100 points

...

"Whoa, what the hell is this?" I muttered, eyeing the interface hovering before me, a mix of bewilderment and fascination in my expression.

[Again, and hopefully for the last time, welcome to the Universal Network System]

The text announced proudly as if it was presenting a cutting-edge gadget.

I tentatively reached out, tapping the holographic panels. Instantly, the screen shifted, revealing a list of options laid out neatly before me. It was like browsing through an advanced computer program but with DC Universe elements.

Main Menu:

Quest Log: Displays ongoing quests or missions related to influencing DC Universe events.

Character Network: Shows connections between DC characters, reflecting relationships influenced by the protagonist.

Alignment Matrix: Tracks characters' moral alignments and the protagonist's impact on them.

Memories Archive: Records key moments altered by the protagonist's actions.

Points Exchange: Allows the protagonist to spend earned points on enhancements, abilities, or items.

Settings & Help: Options for system configurations and guidance on using system features.

I continued to browse the system's panels, hoping for a clearer understanding, but the enigmatic responses persisted, leaving me more baffled than before. Suddenly, a notification disrupted my contemplation, dragging me back from my attempt to make sense of this bizarre situation.

[Would you like to initiate the tutorial?]

"Wait, hold on a second," I muttered, my brow furrowing in confusion. "Before I commit to some tutorial, can you at least explain the purpose of this system and how it actually works?"

The response was prompt, but far from illuminating: [To put it in layman's terms, you simply need to cause chaos and reap the rewards]

I blinked, caught off guard by the blunt response. "Cause chaos? Define chaos?" I prodded further, hoping for a clearer explanation.

[Chaos as in divergences from the original timeline of this world]

The reply seemed to be in a matter-of-fact tone.

The pieces of the chaotic puzzle began to fall into place in my mind. "So, divergences like an army of never-before-seen super villains assaulting Metropolis? You're behind this mess, aren't you..." I trailed off, a creeping realization dawning upon me.

"And I'm your fucking accomplice...." I added, my voice laced with a mix of disbelief and dread. Images of the Justice League piecing together clues, condemning my involvement, and shoving me deep into the butthole of Satan or chucking me into the Phantom Zone raced through my mind.

[Yes and no]

...

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