After being teleported back to Earth Zero, I appeared in the living room of the apartment complex. I quickly scanned my surroundings to make sure it was really my place, (I'd been teleported to the wrong house a couple times in the past), and let out a sigh of relief.
The walls were painted a dark navy blue, shiny birch tiles made up the flooring, and there was one singular piece of furniture in the entire room.
"Yep, it's definitely my apartment," I mumbled.
After a 6 month long campaign away from modern civilization, I was finally back home. I could shower in an actual shower, lay on a soft mattress, and eat food that had legitimate nutritional value; basically, live life like a normal human being.
I looked over at the digital clock on top of my microwave and saw that it was September 14th, 2236; the time being 12:23 PM. I was meeting with someone for dinner, so now I had the whole day to do whatever I wanted.
In my case, relax.
I slowly eased myself onto my leather couch and let out a deep breath, letting the soft leather envelop my entire body.
'Ahh, so soft.'
I'm not exaggerating when I say this, but I don't think I've ever felt something so soft in my life. Though life in Hyptis wasn't all that bad, the furniture was a huge disappointment. In Hyptis the so-called 'best bed' in the castle was a bed that even a homeless guy would be hesitant to sleep on. You can't just tie together a couple wooden logs and slap on a sheep pelt and say it's a completed bed.
So after sleeping on those monstrosities for half a year, you bet your ass the moment I set my body on that couch it was going to be life-changing. Hell, it was safe to say that this leather couch brought tears to my eyes with how euphoric it felt.
Right before I could completely relax my body though, a rapid buzzing sound erupted from on top of my kitchen table. Just the sound alone was able to raise my heart rate a couple beats, and when I got up and looked over at the kitchen table I saw that the loud buzzing sound had been coming from my smartphone. I only had one contact on my phone, so it had to be 'her'.
I begrudgingly left my heaven-sent couch and quickly ran over to the kitchen to grab the buzzing phone before it went to voicemail. I picked up the device just in time and brought it up to my ear to listen.
"Hello Grayson." The audio was muffled and static, but I recognized the voice instantly.
"I thought we were meeting up for dinner?"
"Oh? So that's the first thing you say to me after your extended leave of absence? I'm hurt!" she said in an overly sarcastic manner.
"Be real with me, why did you call?"
A click of the tongue could be heard from the speaker of the phone.
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to be fun for once," she let out an audible sigh. "Something urgent has come up so I need to meet up with you now." she emphasized the 'Now'.
"I'll send you the address; don't be late."
The call ended abruptly without her letting me say anything else, but I got the general gist of what she was trying to say.
'Grayson I need to talk to you now so get your ass over here this instant before I murder you.' is how I interpreted it.
'C'mon man, I just wanted to relax.' I thought to myself before quickly exiting my apartment.
***
After about 10 minutes of running, I finally arrived at the place that she told me to come to. Scavenger's Grub & Chug. It was in a desolate location at the end of a long, dark alleyway, but at least I got a good laugh out of its name before I entered the restaurant. When I walked in, I was instantly greeted by the sounds of upbeat music, the aroma of grilled burgers, and the sight of a puking man with a woman standing next to him patting his back. Truly, the average restaurant experience.
With my head on a swivel, I looked around the place in search for the person who called me, but to no avail. It was only after wandering to the furthest corner of the restaurant that I heard her voice.
"Grayson, over here."
I turned towards to the voice that said my name and saw a woman sitting in the corner of the restaurant. She was wearing a white blouse, white heels, and had a white purse hanging from her arm. Her long dark hair and pale white skin blended in with the bleak environment, but her piercing purple irises helped me easily spot her. The God overseeing Earth Zero, Katalina.
"Grayson, I was getting worried you would be late. The drink I ordered for you is getting cold." She pointed towards the glass on the table.
"I would've been here earlier if you didn't call me out on such short notice, but I'll take a drink as an apology." I sat down in the empty seat and reached out my hand to grab the drink she had bought me, but paused when I saw what it was.
"You got me a Qweata?"
The light blue drink was foamy and had a nice sweet smell to it, but I winced once I saw the dark hairy leg of an insect sticking out of the foam like a Christmas tree.
"Yes, I thought that you liked sweet things?"
"It's made from mosquitoes, Katalina. I don't like bugs."
I stared at the drink for a couple of seconds.
"But I'll drink it if you drink it first."
"I bought this just for you though," Katalina sarcastically remarked. "I wouldn't dare partake in something that isn't mine." a small chuckle escaped her lips.
"Very funny."
I tapped on the glass of Qweata a couple times before slowly pushing it away.
"So what's the real reason you wanted to meet at an illegally constructed establishment instead of some high class restaurant where we could actually eat and drink something edible?"
Katalina glanced outside through the restaurant's glass window before turning back to me.
"Because I need to show you a place nearby. All the restaurants are in the food district and that is just too far away from our intended destination."
She then looked me up and down.
"Plus this place is just secluded enough where we wouldn't be bothered by anyone asking about your outrageous clothing."
She was referring to my raggedy clothing and brown cape that stood in stark contrast to her pristine and clean clothes.
"So, what do you want to talk about Kat? It feels like forever since we've last had a conversation."
"Grayson Harris, now is not the time for games. What I have to talk about is serious."
I scoffed. "How serious are we talking? Did you stub your toe?"
"Grayson, our time-table has been accelerated. Iridium has already found the Virantium deposit in the Atlantic." Katalina announced in a grave voice.
The word "Virantium" was enough to give Katalina my full attention.
"Wait, they aren't supposed to be searching for another 9 months." my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"And that's not all: yesterday, Germany signed a treaty with UCNA regarding the trade and commerce of goods; two weeks ago, The Road of Commerce in China was shut down indefinitely; and a month ago, Professor Himari Sato reportedly went missing."
She looked me dead in the eyes.
"Do you see a pattern here?"
I set my elbows onto the table and rested my head on my hands, contemplating what these instances could possibly mean.
I then had a sudden realization.
"Those events you listed are all fixed events in time, right?"
"Yes, you are correct." Katalina confirmed.
I paused and thought for a moment, a quizzical frown emerging on my lips. "But according to our data, these things weren't supposed to happen yet. Unless..."
'Grayson, our time-table has been accelerated.' Katalina's voice echoed out in my head.
"Oh, oh god."
I quickly took out my phone and frantically turned it on, fumbling with its password before opening its calendar.
'December 3rd, 2236; February 15th, 2237, April 9th, 2238. No, no this is horrible. We've nearly lost 2 years.'
I looked up at Katalina.
"Did you do this?"
"Of course not? Why would I undermine my own efforts towards victory?" Katalina's blank looking face only intensified my anxiety.
"Then why is this happening? Tell me why the end of the world has been hastened by 2 years?" I asked loudly.
I didn't even have to look around to realize that I was slowly becoming the center of attention in the room as I could feel the stares of the people around us on the back of my head.
I cleared my throat and shrunk into my seat.
Katalina shook her head. "I do not know. I'm an omnipresent God not an omniscient one."
I grit my teeth "Does that means that the 'other' events are eventually going to occur ahead of schedule?"
"Yes, you are correct."
I sighed and leaned back in my chair.
"Well, damn," I said as I groaned towards the ceiling. "You know, this is the worst homecoming gift you could've given me."
"I see you are still able to joke; I'm glad at least one part of you left Hyptis intact."
Ignoring her blatant attempt at provocation, I glanced at Katalina, who still had an aloof look on her face.
"We've been gathering information on the Rapture for years. Please tell me you have a plan," I asked.
"Of course I do. It involves building a real time machine that can alter past events-"
"Please tell me you have a real plan." I interrupted.
"I'm kidding. I just wanted to see your reaction."
Katalina got up from her chair and extended her hand towards me.
"I said earlier that there was a place nearby that I needed to show you."
I looked up at her. "This better be good."
Katalina smiled.
"Of course," she said as she reached out and grabbed my hand.