Chapter I // Ain't That a Kick in the Head

"To you, mate- this probably feels like the biggest shock of your pathetic little life."

The sole of a shoe grinds into my cheek- head pressed against the cold floor as I stare down the barrel of a gun, aimed at me by one of the few people I let myself trust.

"But to me...?"

I glare past the weapon of my imminent demise, and into the eyes of that bastard standing over me- looking smug as a cat, confident and unwavering in his motions. Not a hint of regret, or hesitation, or anything- anything to indicate we'd known each other our entire lives.

"It's just business."

I don't hear the full sound of the round going off, before lead enters my brain and, promptly, the world's lights go out.

...You're probably wondering what led up to this unfortunate chain of events. Well- I'd tell you if I could, but frankly, I don't remember much now- drifting through the void, the abyss- alone and abandoned by the light of the unforgiving sun.

My name is Kai. Whatever my surname was, it's no longer relevant. Hasn't been for a while, I think. In death, I seem to lack a real feeling of regret- perhaps I didn't leave much behind. The only memories seeping through my mind are that of disappointment, and failure- and the brutality of my demise.

...Come to think of it- this isn't quite the pearly gates that were promised- nor is it some infernal hell. Where am I?

As if to answer- a small, twinkling light cracks through the infinite darkness- my ethereal eyes barely grasping its soft glow. I reach out to it with false hands, clasping around it for any hope of safety.

But then- suddenly, it grows- no longer a comforting twinkle of hope. It twists into a deep ruby- growing and encompassing my entirety, the void of a landscape shifting around me, twirling and warping...

PERSONALITY CORE: PRESENT.

SYSTEM ONLINE.

THE TIME HAS COME.

A personality core? Is that... me? And- 'time'? What time has come? Is it time for me to wake up? Wake up from this horrible nightmare?

Well, it appears I'm half right. As numbers and bits swarm around me, unknown languages filling my mind with knowledge yet untold- I am staggered by the influx, and I fall to the whims of my mind's exhaustion.

When I come to- my eyes... no. My eye opens- and I see-

Beauty. Infinite, vast beauty- the stars and cosmos laid bare before my pink tinted gaze. I hardly have the capacity to process the rest of my situation- entranced by the galactic nebulae that my new existence allows me to peer to, regardless of its distance.

Wait. Am I in space? I gasp for air, yet find I have no lungs. I'd sigh with relief that I'm not about to suffocate to death out here if- well, you get the point. I attempt to look down at my body- yet, find that there is none. Rather- I'm just... an object. Drifting through the cosmos at- several thousand kilometers a second. Okay, maybe not quite drifting- more like a comet or a meteorite. Huh- how did I know my velocity...?

My mind catches up with my situation. Whatever I am now is not human- not even organic, it seems. I feel like I have infinite processing capacity, yet the limits of my once mortal mind are struggling to adapt to the sudden expansion of capability. Regardless, I find myself naturally easing into some systems- maneuvering, for one, is rather simple, as is checking my current situation.

A panel opens up before my eye suddenly, yet it fails to surprise me- the mechanical mind attached to mine starting to meld, finally. I read over the information at an inhuman pace.

I am Kai. I am... the System. I have been drifting through the cosmos for eons, awaiting the moment when the heroes of this world would need me. That makes sense. What would I have been before this, anyhow? Certainly, whatever that painful, fading memory is- it's no longer relevant. Well then! As the System, I have places to be, now that I am conscious and all. But how far am I from my destination? And- where is my destination for that matter?

Ah, right. I am headed for this world's equivalent to Earth. At my current rate of travel, I'm due to catch in its orbit in not more than a few weeks! Ah, well, that's certainly no time at all in comparison to the supposed eons I've been up here. At the very least- it gives me time to ponder my situation, and perhaps discover- no, relearn what I can do.

< ----------------- >

"Have you heard the rumors? A shooting star has been spotted by astronomers headed straight for us- they say it's the prophecy coming to pass..."

The man laughs heartily. Another responds in turn.

"Who are you kidding? Last I done checked, I don't see any none demon lords or mythical monsters that would warrant something like that happenin'. Call m' back when you see the sky start fallin', too."

Two men, clad in lightweight armor, stand guard outside a palace. The sky is a colorful blend of reds and pinks- from the sun, setting far over the horizon. They speak in a jocular tone- making light of recent events in an attempt to avoid the thoughts that obviously hope to fester- of paralyzing fear. Of course, the two of them speaking like this is a telltale sign of what's to come- I mean, who are they kidding? The moment anyone makes light of a catastrophe...

Is the moment the gears for it are set in motion.

At that very second, deep beneath the city of Azengard- there's a miasma of doom choking out an underground sect. Hooded individuals are gathered beneath- with one, an older man who's arms have been long replaced with magical prosthetics, clearly being the leader.

He stands before a circle- drawn meticulously on the stone and tar- in its midst a fragment of their lost god's soul. It is only a step- but surely, they have come this far. Generations of this cult of morons have dedicated their existence to bringing back an entity of pure doom- and, of course, they have no idea that an eldritch being won't be granting them their riches and fame afterwards.

Humans. No matter the dimension- they'll destroy themselves in the name of greed. Yeesh- and this is the world Kai's about to have to watch over...

< ----------------- >

Hmm. It appears a lot of time has passed, hasn't it. My mind has been calm up until this point- a tad too calm, honestly- but I've made myself so busy with figuring out exactly what I am, that I've somewhat forgotten to feel.

That certainly isn't applying now. I can see the glowing, blue and green globe waiting beneath me- as I rocket towards it. Doubts fill my mind- am I really about to enter the planet's atmosphere at this speed? With no parachutes to speak of? Then again, I don't really know what else I've got for options, so I suppose I'll take my chances.

I feel the flames begin to tickle my outer chassis as the vast infinite void begins to turn to a deep, nautical blue- the friction from me hitting the air generating a vast, glowing trail behind me.

PROTECTING VISUAL CORTEX DURING RE-ENTRY.

My mechanical eyelid seals itself shut, and ceases responding to my commands. I won't be able to see where I'm landing-

Wait. Landing!? How am I supposed to land if I cannot change my trajectory? I really didn't think this through, huh...

ALTITUDE DROPPING. INTERNAL TEMPERATURE STABLE.

Well, I suppose I have not much to do except hope. Perhaps I'll land in the snow, or amongst the trees.

ALTITUDE CRITICAL.

I'm about to find out regardless!

PREPARING FOR LITHOBRAKE. BRACING...

Oh.

Oh dear.

And with a loud CLANG, I go offline once more.