Talon blinked, his eyes adjusting to the warm glow surrounding him. Memories of chaos faded into the background, replaced by a thick cloud of confusion. He sat up in an unfamiliar, luxuriously soft bed and took in his surroundings.
"Who… are you?" he asked the person standing at the edge of his very comfy bed,, a perfect mirror of himself yet somehow… not quite him.
The doppelganger tilted his head, as though considering the question. "I'll tell you," he said, gesturing toward a nearby door. "Once you're ready, follow me. Feel free to take your time."
The doppelganger left the comfy bedroom after that statement. The room was painted in a dark green color, with darkened wooden flooring and a nice dark green carpet surrounding his bed.
"This is nice," Talon couldn't help but mumble as he looked into the flames of the small fireplace.
There was no closet, but there was a nice-looking cabinet right next to the bed that could easily fit four people, with a warm, minty-smelling cup of tea next to him. He didn't trust it, though, not yet. First, he needed to find out exactly what was going on.
After gathering himself, Talon rose and followed the doppelganger through the door. He stepped into what felt like a cozy living room, a similar darker style as the bedroom, where a crackling fireplace and the smell of freshly brewed tea filled the air. He settled into a comfortable armchair, the whole setting warm and inviting. It should have been peaceful, yet something was distinctly off.
Talon grew more and more surprised as he looked around. It's way too nice. Honestly, this is something I'd make on my PC in The Si-
His thoughts were cut off by the doppelganger, who spoke in a relaxed tone.
"Ahhh... much better," came the familiar voice. Talon looked over, startled to see the figure from before—a perfect doppelganger, casually leaning against a small table, pouring tea. "I'm quite the fan of tea, did you kn-"
"Yes, I know," Talon interrupted, crossing his arms. "I also love tea, so you don't need to tell me since I'm guessing you're me somehow. How about we skip the pleasantries and get to an explanation?"
The doppelganger sighed, amused, setting the teapot down before taking a seat across from Talon. "Straight to the point, as always. All right, then. Let's begin." He leaned back, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. "I'm you. Well… sort of. I'm the subconscious manifestation of your power. Think of me as a reflection, a guide, if you will."
He gestured around them. "Everything here, this cozy living room, the fire, the armchairs… it's all crafted from your subconscious. A space designed to help you rest and prepare, wouldn't you say?"
"...Sure," Talon muttered, glancing around. "But where exactly is 'here'?"
"You could call this 'the lobby,'" the doppelganger replied with a shrug. "It's a place you'll come back to every time… well, every time you die. You can stay here as long as you need."
A chill ran down Talon's spine. Memories came flooding back, the ship, the chaos, that overwhelming, all-encompassing pressure every Super had given off. "So I did die, then." He swallowed hard, trying to push the images away.
But the thought of millions dying around him... the corpses, the way that man looked at his own cauterized lower half, it surged back, making him grip the chair as he fought to stay calm.
Talon took a deep breath. Now is not the time for this.
Forcing himself to focus, he looked back at the doppelganger. "And… what should I call you? 'Doppelganger' doesn't exactly roll off the tongue," he said, making air quotes with both hands.
The doppelganger gave a small nod. "How about… Let me think."
They both paused for a second, adopting the exact same thinking expression as their eyes turned upwards, thumb and index finger coming up below their chins, almost exactly in sync. The doppelganger spoke first, beating Talon to the punch.
"Noah? After all, it's fitting, a fresh start, a new beginning."
"Noah," Talon repeated slowly. "All right, guess we thought of the same thing. So, Noah, tell me more about what's going on."
Noah's eyes brightened as he reached for a book on the nearby table, handing it to Talon. Its cover was plain, except for three words etched in silver: The Achievements. Below the title, numbers were inscribed: 1/100 Achievements.
Talon looked up at Noah, raising an eyebrow.
Noah smiled expectantly. "Go on. Open it."
Talon hesitated, then opened to the first page, where neatly printed text read:
---
Welcome, Talon
Your journey is just beginning. To strengthen yourself and face the challenges ahead, you will need to complete the Achievements listed in this book. Each Achievement unlocks new aspects of the lobby, and some enhance your abilities in meaningful ways. While you aren't required to seek out each Achievement, most will naturally accomplish themselves as you live through your lives.
You are recommended to complete these Achievements in sequence, following the numbered order from 1 to 100. Although you may choose to pursue them in a different order, this sequence offers the most optimal path for growth. Hints are available on the Achievement cards themselves, giving you direction if needed.
Every interval of 20 Achievements marks a milestone: reaching each interval will allow you to ascend to the next rank, not a moment before. You will begin at Rank E, progressing to Rank D at 20 Achievements, C at 40, and so on.
If you try to ascend before doing so, you will die, and reset back to the lobby.
Good luck!
Signed,
Talon
---
Talon read the description twice, his mind slowly digesting the implications. Achievements meant new features to this… lobby.
The fact that it was signed by "Talon" didn't really bother him. He guessed Noah had signed it.
"So why does it feel so… gamified?" he asked. "Don't get me wrong, it's intuitive, but I didn't imagine a mythical power would be laid out like this, in achievements no less."
Noah grinned. "Remember, this is shaped by your subconscious. You game a lot, so this was probably the easiest way for you to take it all in. Easy, don't you think?"
"Huh… didn't think of it that way," Talon replied thoughtfully, glancing back at the book. Its soft leather cover felt strangely grounding under his fingertips. "So, I already have one achievement?"
Noah grinned wider. "Why don't you take a look? Each page is dedicated to an achievement. Go ahead and check out page 1."
Talon flipped to the next page, where big bold golden letters glowed at the top:
Achievement 1 - Die for the First Time and Arrive in the Lobby
Talon deadpanned, eyes slowly moving to meet Noah's grinning face. "Gee… nice. Anything else I can do now that I have one achievement?"
Noah snorted, but then scratched his head. "Well… not exactly, but it's a start, isn't it?" He leaned in, his voice softening. "Let's just say all of this is set up to help you reach your full potential, but you'll come to understand more as you go."
Talon stared at him, feeling a faint suspicion creeping in. There was something hidden in Noah's expression, a sense that this path had been designed for him with more purpose than he yet understood.
He wasn't sure if it comforted or unsettled him.
"I see," he murmured. "Seems simple enough," though his mind was already racing, piecing together the implications.
"You're taking this rather well," Noah observed, watching him closely.
"Just because I understand it doesn't mean I like it. I don't see myself dying over and over as a… pleasant experience so to say…" Talon muttered. "But after everything I went through to get here…"
He closed the book, looking over at Noah. "I think I get it. This is my 'power,' then? The ability to reset my life each time I die? Becoming better, and better each life?"
"Exactly. This power is part of you, and you're part of it."
Noah's words hit hard, and Talon felt their weight settle in his chest. "So every time I die," he said slowly as he tried to take it all in, "I'll end up back here, in this 'lobby,' and have to start over?"
He paused for a split second, realizing something important, and before Noah could respond, he asked another question. "Where exactly do I… restart? I do hope I don't have to go in diapers again each time I... Restart."
Noah chuckled, shaking his head. "No, don't worry about that. You'll restart the day before each ascension from your previous life, already ascended in your new one. Convenient, wouldn't you say?"
Talon did not respond, seeing that, Noah continued, "It's a journey, Talon. One that only you can take. Think of it as a reset button... one that gives you the chance to try different strategies, see things from new angles."
Talon's face grew thoughtful, a hint of remorse in his expression. He knew all too well what this meant.
Noah watched him with quiet understanding, his expression softening. "Listen," he said, leaning forward, "I get that this isn't what you expected. But this power, it's more than just a curse, as you see it now. It's an opportunity. And how you use it… well, that's up to you."
Talon held his gaze, studying Noah's expression. "What if I don't want it? What if I just… walk away? Can I even?"
Noah's smile remained steady, as if he expected this. "Then you walk away. I'm not stopping you if that's what you're worried about. But remember, you can't outrun what's inside you. The lobby will always be here, waiting. And someday… you'll find yourself back here again."
The fire crackled in the silence, casting flickering shadows across the room. Talon looked down at the book in his hands, the weight of The Achievements heavy in his grasp. He took a deep breath, letting the reality sink in.
"So this is it? Forever?"
Noah replied evenly, "I guess so."
The fire crackled, and after what felt like the longest minute of his life.
Talon exhaled slowly. "Fine, guess I'll see you a lot from now on then; don't really have a choice anyway," he said, his voice firm and resigned.
Noah's smile broadened, approval in his eyes. "That's the spirit." He raised his teacup, offering a toast. "To new beginnings, then?"
Talon hesitated, then clinked his cup against Noah's, a very small spark of resolve replacing some of the hesitation within him. "To new beginnings."