1 Chapter 1: Standing Before Cthulhu!

In a small suburban neighborhood just outside of New York City, was a midsize house with a small, red-capped garden gnome on the front lawn. The house was currently being rented by three college students and one high school dropout. The three college students where currently at class, while the dropout was currently on the toilet after getting off work earlier that morning. He was in the middle of his favorite activity, streaming Dragon Ball Z on his phone.

"Stop with the mercy shit, Goku! Kill that alien asshole already!"

Screaming at his phone in frustration, stopping only when he was finished with his 'business'.

"Fucking Frieza…"

Mumbling in annoyance, he walked to the sink to wash his hands. Before he even reached the sink, however, he noticed a certain detail about his current state. He stunk! Changing direction, he grabbed a washcloth from a shelf next to him, then walked toward the nearby shower.

The man's name was Theodore Hall, but his friends often called him 'Theo'. Theo absolutely loved Dragon Ball, a fact you could easily tell just by walking into his bedroom. There, one would find shelf after shelf, filled with paraphernalia from Dragon Balls many series. Posters, manga, DVDs, video games, he even had a self-made Vegeta battle armor mounted on its own stand. Theos room was like a shrine dedicated to the Dragon Ball franchise.

Theo soon finished his shower, then walked to his bedroom, cell phone in hand. Once there, he donned a fresh pair of pajama bottoms, before flopping down on his bed. Quickly falling asleep, Theo dreamed of what he would do if he were to ever find himself in the Dragon Ball universe.

"No Bulma… not here… Vegeta could catch us…!"

Roughly an hour later, he was forcefully awoken from a very enjoyable dream. His bed was shaking violently. In fact, his entire room seemed to be shaking. There was a loud, rumbling sound coming from outside and a strange whistling noise pierced the air. Seeing his limited edition set of Dragon Balls fall and shatter on the floor Theo shot to his feet, once standing he rushed towards his bedroom window. His eyes went wide from shock at what he saw when he reached his window, screamed out form panic.

"Fuck my life… an airplane? REALLY!?"

The cause of the chaos surrounding his rude awaking was a large aircraft. One that just so happened to be falling out of the sky… and right towards his house. Theo was not like most people. He was quick to adapt and because of that, it didn't take him long to calm down. He quickly took stock of his situation.

He soon realized that at the rate the plane was falling, he likely wouldn't make it far enough to keep from dying. Theo could only watch as the plane drew closer. Seeing a large billow of smoke coming out from one of the plane's wings, a single thought crept into his head.

'I should have done more with my life.'

Lost in his thoughts, sad smile appeared on his face as the plane was only 100 feet away from crushing him and his home. Knowing what was coming, he shut his eyes. A single tear slid down his face, as he uttered his last words.

"Goodbye mom."

Then, in a massive crash of fire and metal, the man known to those around him as Theo, tragically died.

---

'Blink…Blink!'

Opening his eyes only to find himself in a waiting room of some sort, Theo was more than a little confused.

"I'm still alive? How? …Wait. Where the hell am I? This isn't my room."

Looking around the waiting room in confusion, a string of questions left his mouth. From what he could tell he was alone here, at least that's what he thought until a distinctly child-like voice wrang out from behind him.

"Hello Mr. Hall."

Turning around, he looked behind him. He couldn't help but flinch a bit at what he saw. It was a little girl all right… the thing was, she clearly wasn't human. She was dressed in light grey office attire and had a very odd shade of light blue skin. And as if that weren't strange enough, atop her head were two small white horns. While wondering if this was real, Theo recalled his supposed death, and soon concluded that this was most likely not earth.

"Wooohhh!"

A wailing ghost-like entity passed through a nearby wall, making clear that he was either dreaming, or his previous conclusion was probably correct.

"Yeah… I'm not on earth anymore!"

Theo blurted out his conclusion, not really caring if anyone heard him.

"Tee-hee!"

Giggling, the young girl shot him a knowing look before she spoke again.

"Correct you are, Mr. Hall! You are currently in limbo."

Smiling up at him, she continued.

"Now… I know this might all be overwhelming for you, but could I have you step this way please?"

Motioning him toward a door that he'd only just noticed, she smiled patiently. Theo confirmed he was dead with her last statement, beginning to process what that truly meant, he soon found his thoughts interrupted by her child-like voice.

"Mr. Hall… the door sir. You must walk through."

She seemed to stress that last part as she motioned toward the door yet again.

"Yes…I understand."

Looking towards the door then back at the child. Meeting her gaze, something became clear to him. She wasn't really asking. And more importantly, the person in front of him was NOT a child. With that in mind, he could only chuckle self-deprecatingly. He should have seen it sooner. Reminding himself to be more perceptive in the future, Theo walked forward while speaking.

"Thank you for your patience… and keep up the good work!"

She must not have met many souls as calm as Theo, because as he reached the door, he heard the girl speak softly while peaking at him shyly from behind the doorframe.

"Good luck…"

Theo could only grin at her display. Turning around, Theo found himself in a long narrow hallway with torches on both sides. The fire that the torches gave off was an eerie red color, while the length of the hallway gave it a dismal feeling. Shaking his head as the door closed behind him, Theo began what was sure to be a very long walk forward.

---

A long line of people was formed in front of a large, gated portal that loomed menacingly before them. Four large creatures stood in front of the portal, sending the people in the line through one by one. The creatures had octopus tentacles on their bodies, which was lined with dark grey skin. The people were required to answer a few questions before proceeding. The line moved forward relatively quickly with the four large creature's assistance.

Theo was nearing the back of the line when he caught sight of one of the large creatures in front of the portal. Panicking slightly, he screamed out in his head.

'Holy shit! Is that Cthulhu?!'

It was downright unnerving. The creature in front of him was the spitting image of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu. The resemblance was insane. Lost in his own thoughts, the line moved forward rather quickly and before Theo even realized it, he was standing in front of it, questioning why he walked forward at all.

"Theodore Xander Hall?"

The Lovecraftian horror called out his name in a gurgling voice, while holding a file of paper in his giant hand. Stepping forward, hoping he wouldn't get eaten, Theo blurted out the first thing that popped into his head.

"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn."

Theo quoted a line straight out of Lovecraft's work. Some of the other people in line snickered at that, but the creature itself didn't seem amused.

"Not another one…!"

Flustered, the enormous creature shook its tentacle covered head. It seemed want to say something, but before it could do so, another voice wrang out.

"Suk?! Oh… there you are sweetie!"

The voice came from behind the creature, it was feminine with a slight lisp evident in its speech. Looking behind 'Suk', Theo saw another massive frame approaching. This one nearly a whole head taller than the one it called out for. With what Theo could only hope to be a smile, the larger creature that had approached continued speaking in the same gurgling tone as the smaller one.

"When are you getting off from work? Your father and I have been waiting by the transport platform for nearly an hour."

Turning toward the approaching giant, Suk sighed.

"Mother! Please don't embarrass me. I get off in a little while, you know that."

Speaking as if this wasn't the first time, she had embarrassed him, Suk was clearly upset. At least Theo thought so, it was honestly kind of hard to tell with a face like that. The "woman" seemed unfazed though, as she kept up her baby talk.

Watching the scene play out, some of the other people in line were secretly snickering. Theo, however, was a little sad. Being dead, he would never see his mother... or any member of his family, ever again. Looking from the scene before him toward the portal in the distance, Theo came to a decision. He didn't want to keep watching, he wanted to move on.

He knew from watching the people who came before him that a person would need to walk through in order to move on. With a sad smile at not knowing what was next, he walked forward. Just as he reached the portal he turned back towards Suk and his mother.

"Suk, wasn't it? You should cherish the time you spend with your family, you only have so much time after all!"

He jumped backwards into the portal as he finished his words. Had he stayed longer however, he might have heard Suk's warning.

"WAIT! You mustn't go through without my guidance! You could lose your way!"

---

Suk was in full panic mode. The portal was a way of sending souls to the outcome that the lives they had lived, led them to. Heaven, hell, a new life… in a new reality, all of that was possible. However, that was only possible with a gatekeeper's guidance. Guidance which Suk had failed to give. Worse still he hadn't wiped Theo's mind as he should have, which was clearly a bad thing after looking at Theo's paperwork.

"Dammit, I am SO going to get an earful from oversight for this."

Suk could only sigh again. The last form read, "Theo Xander Hall: Prime Candidate for Rebirth".

Should a gatekeeper walk through the portal, the portal would send its occupant wherever they wished to go. In such a circumstance all gatekeepers could use it to reach a transport waystation, so that they could take a transport platform home. The portal was never intended for mortal use, as to guide the portal one needed a strong will. Mortals did not possess the will to use it properly and that meant they could end up anywhere. They might even inadvertently destroy themselves in the attempt.

That was not what Suk was worried about though. Theo was to be reborn in a new world, a prime candidate no less. That meant that he had a dream in his heart so powerful that even the portal might react to it. Even if only through nothing more than sheer effort, even against the will of the gods… it could happen. That was why Suk was worried, Theo's fate would be his own to decide, unbound by the guidance of any god. He would be dangerous, especially if he was reborn somewhere a mortal could acquire real power. A place a mortal could become something… more.

Suk was fretting all the paperwork he would have to fill out should that happen. He could even be demoted. Seeing her son so worried all Suk's mother could do was pat him on the back. Having once done this job herself before getting pregnant, she had some idea what he was worried about.

"I wonder… where do you think that kind little mortal will end up?"

Suk blanched at his mother's words.

"Kind?"

He had read the mortals file, and it said nothing about kindness. His file mentioned Theo's cunningness. His intellect. His ability to adapt. How almost every interaction he had ever had with others, involved ulterior motives of some kind. That was why he was worried. Because even if Theo wasn't necessarily a bad person, should he obtain enough power… with a personality like his… well, that WOULD be trouble. Not wanting to worry his mother however, he spoke reassuringly.

"I am sure your right mother. What harm could one little mortal do?"

His mother smiled in response, speaking to Suk with a loving tone.

"Ready for dinner, sweetie? It's taco night… your favorite!"

---

Age: Unknown

World: Unknown

Universe: Unknown

On the surface of a red world with two moons in the sky, was a large round building. Inside it, was a large group of strange pods which lined the walls of what appeared to be a medical laboratory of some kind. Various machines filled the center of the laboratory, while odd looking doctors and nurses walked about. Occasionally one of them would check on some of the pods which were filled with a golden-green liquid.

Suspended within the pods, where small humanoid occupants, which at even a casual glance held the appearance of small children. Each occupant was wearing metallic undergarments, undergarments which were tethered to the back of the pods via a single tube. In one of the pods, near the middle of the lineup, one of the occupants began to stir. The occupant's eyelids twitched, soon opening for the first time.