Trucking Along 001
#1 of Nex Quest
To help celebrate the sale (and in my case purchase) of Tales of the Nexus, I'm going to act on an idea that I've had for awhile. I'm going to write the what if story of if I was an employee of the Nexus Conglomerate. Of course, I'm not just simply going to write the story. If possible... I want to make it a Quest.
I was only exposed to the idea of Quests recently, which given how long they have existed and how long I've been on the internet... was a bit of a sobering "still a newb" feeling. It all started back on 2014 when I was browsing Weasyl and discovered a rather innocent picture, found here... This of course lead me to disovering my first quest, A Conspiracy of Wasps. It was fun to not only read, but comment and make suggestions on in hopes of influencing the characters to a brighter future.
Of course, over time I started getting the drive to possibly do my own quest. But when I looked around to see what the protocols and traditions involved in selecting a username... and I was basically told not to do so. Only people who do so are artists, and the nonartists who do so are looked down upon. After that I didn't have the courage to ask about if the community would accept a Quest that was text only with no graphic depictions.
But, that is them, and we're us. So I'm thinking maybe we can make this work.
So, basic things you can expect from this.
I won't be able to act on every suggestion, but I'll try to use as much as I can. Intrusive thoughts are going to be a thing with the writing style I'm going to be attempting, so even if a suggestion is not acted upon it may still help improve the inner dialog.
I will occasionally end a scene with a deliberate choice. Sometimes multiple choice, other times open answer. You are free to still make any suggests, but I would also like anyone actively reading to also make a selection regarding the choice.
While I use the word Quest, this is a writing exercise. I have an idea of the central character; basically me fictionalized given the premise I stated at the beginning. I also have an idea of the type of supporting cast I'll create and worlds we'll traverse together. But this isn't a hero's journey with a definite end. It's an uncertain spice of life... if a spice of life had interdimensional travel, transformation, threat of mind rape, and casual sex.
Casual sex will mostly, and quite possibly exclusively, be done by people other than the main character. Graphic depictions will also be slim to none. This is me we're talking about after all. You don't want to see any of this in action, even in prose.
No preferential treatment... not even for Nex. You know, should one of you blab to him about this story happening. I certainly do not have balls big enough to do it.
Suggestions should obviously be made on the most recent story. I won't put a cut off date, but for this to be writing practice I need to start writing the next step relatively soon... even if no one responds. But given the expectation that not every suggestion will be acted upon, we have really just come full circle.
And, that's about it. Enjoy the always awkward and hard to get started opening scene... should be uphill from here.
The sirens of the damned rouse me from my eternal slumber. The insistent high pitched wail piercing the veil of the night, sending me spiraling down in an endless abyss and back into my waking form.
At which point I quickly flail my hand to the nightstand on the right side of my bed and silence the she demon.
Snooze button hit, I delicately switched off the alarm and clumsily turned on my bedside light. Lethargically pulling my hand back into bed, I momentarily defeat the entire purpose of this ritual I just performed by burying my face in my pillow. It was Monday... not that I'm not like this on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, but on Monday there was at least an excuse.
Sleep clinging to my eyes, I let my mind drift to remember what I was just dreaming. Something about going into ancient ruins with a military force, searching through a bunch of stuffed toys to find the lost relics of my childhood, and then heading outside with a huge armload and getting into the family van. It was one of those mostly meaningless dreams, but at least I was having them.
Keeping my pillow plastered to my face with one hand, I flip over onto my back and flail about on the bed with the other hand for one of the stuffed toys from the dream. Finding him I firmly plant him on my chest and calm down again, lowering both arms to my side... after which pillow on my face promptly falls out of place and the light from the lamp glares in my eyes.
Scrunching my eyes in protest, I reach up with both arms and firmly place the pillow against the bridge of my nose. I then lock it there by putting both arms up and over, grasping the headrest for support. It works, as usual, and for a little bit I just stretch out and let the sleep drain out of me.
Eventually I'm awake enough that I remember I need to go to work today.
Throwing off the pillow, I glance over at the alarm clock with a squint. Six fifty eight. Little bit ahead of schedule, but there's no harm in that. Snagging my glasses from the bedside table, I put them on as I stand up and walk to the kitchen... which due to the marvels of a studio apartment is about eight steps away if I have a bound in my step.
I don't of course. It's Monday. It takes me twelve.
I start dinner before I even start breakfast, hauling out a slow cooker pan from the refrigerator and placing it into it's heating unit. Turning on the heat to medium, I just let it do it's thing as I move about the rest of the appliances to find the electric kettle.
Finding, filling it with water, and then setting it to boil I head to the cupboard where I grab a bowl, spoon, and mug. Then it is to the pantry where I grab two packets of instant grits and a ginger tea bag. After a little bit of arrangement on the counter, breakfast is all but cooked.
Heading to the corner of the apartment that counts as a bathroom, I close the privacy curtain and proceed to relieve myself. Thrice.
Yes I can count. Can you?
As I meticulously scrub my hands, I hear the chime for the electric kettle. Finishing the job thoroughly, I head back to the kitchen and add the water to the bowl and mug, taking the time to stir the grits thoroughly to break up all the clumps. Breakfast now out of my hands and in the fate of the time gods, I grab a twenty ounce cup from the cupboard and fill it with tap water.
It was time to plug back in.
Walking over to my desk slash table, I sit down in front of an unassuming typewriter. A rather old fashioned iron typewriter at that. Looks are deceiving, of course, as I hit the lever for the cartridge return lever and with a metallic ding the device starts emitting a blue light out from where the ribbon should be.
It takes about two seconds for the holographic screen to load. The iconography of the Nexus Conglomerate flashes on screen, a stylized NC that really probably belongs more on the lapel of a gentleman's club than a multidimensional organization. Then again if one believed what the tabloids wrote, the conglomerate was just a boys club. Pure slander, of course.
Straight woman like to watch what we do as much as gay men.
Operating System booted up, I enter my password and let the quick start do it's work by loading the desktop and booting up the login for the Nexus Cloud right away. The login screen for the cloud boots up and prompts me for my serial number. I enter in NXW86432407. The login screen doesn't ask for any more information than that. There would be... consequences if someone other than me tried to use that serial number.
Which is actually a little strange. I always kind of wondered how even with all the different companies in the conglomerate there could be enough unique serial numbers for everyone. Then again when one factors in alternate versions of each employee, the serial numbers might have a purpose more similar to product lines than product ids.
In any event, my computer connects to the Nexus Cloud. First thing I check is my company email. There are of course various offers for trying out NC alternatives to my existing kitchenware. I read through each junk mail carefully before deleting them. Not out of interest but because if I don't read them they will just reappear instantly. Marketing. Give them the power to bend reality itself and you literally could not get rid of them.
There was also an email from Sheldon. He wanted to know if our candyland campaign was still on for humpday. I respond of course, with the small aside of being transformed into a mutant snail might cause small delay but the unexpected happens. It was entirely humorous, of course. Since snails are hermaphrodites they are almost never the subject for Nexus transformation.
Aside from that it was mostly notification reminders from the various artist I have accounts with. I'll be checking in on them later, so I just make note of some of my more favorite writers before closing the email app.
Taking a quick detour to the kitchen, a settle back down with my grits and tea and open up the my agenda for today. Short forty eight hour tour of duty along the lines, I'll be back home by six o-clock tonight. Honestly, whoever introduced the concept of time compression to the head of N-Way needs to be actually forced to work for the man. At least the long work week gets us bonus clinical longevity for our health plan, but it is still brutal to sometimes get an entire month tour of duty as one workday.
Closing the calendar, I open up the web browser. Web browsing from the Nexus Cloud was... trick. With alternate realities spinning off all the time, bookmarking a favorite website can quickly lead to quantum errors. Thankfully, the built in Ping search engine normally knows what you want before you type it, but only if you actually remember what you want to type. As I said, quantum errors.
Checking the three top traffic sites first, two of which are alternate reality versions of the same site, I quickly ingest what various freelance artists have put out there. I even get the rare pleasure of someone producing the same work of art in two different dimensions at the same time. I spend a good minute tabbing between the two pictures looking for slight differences before moving on.
Next, I move to the more obscure web sites. Here is where I find most of my favorite writers, and I quickly download the new stories direct to my phone. I'll have more than enough time to read and comment to them during any downtime on the tour. I do take the time though to comment on one comic that I'm lucky enough to have an update. Artist had been going through a lot lately, and I always get a small jump of joy when he manages to get another page out.
Finishing both my meal and morning routine, I shutdown the computer and return all my dish wear to the sink while refilling my water glass. Relieving myself quickly at the bathroom, I head to my dresser to get dressed. Thankfully this job does not requires me to dress myself. One single color jump suit of the employee's desired color (mine was dark a burgundy red), and a pair of boots. N-Way runs a tight ship, sometimes literally, and it was only due to declining employee morale that we were allowed to choose different colored suits.
Putting back on my glasses, I quickly run a brush through my hair before rushing to the bathroom to brush my teeth. And what big teeth they are. Looking back at myself in the mirror, it's very plain to see that I'm a rat. Thinning brown hair, sunken brown eyes, and ragged brown fur... all packaging a body one would not write home about... I was certainly not your typical long term Nexus employee. But then again, most Nexus employees like to sample the wares.
Not wanting to dwell in front of my apartment's one mirror any longer than necessary, I grab a single vitamin and chug my second glass of water for the morning. Thoroughly hydrated, grab my phone and head out into the day at a bright seven forty am.
My name is Benjamin Mahir, a rat and delivery agent for N-Way. What in the world you're doing in my head following me around instead of someone important is anyone's guess, but please wash your hands before touching anything.