"This phone don't work."
"Well sir did you connect the charger?"
"Of course! Do you offend your customers when they require assistance?"
"Okay sir apologies did you perchance not plug in the charger to an outlet."
The customer face turned red, "I didn't however I currently am behind on bills so the electricity may have been removed."
"Ah I see now dear customer allow me to plug it in here... Ah it turned on wonderful... and its working fine, anything else." I said without a hint of sarcasm after months of being in customer service.
The customer stormed off embrassed of his economic situation being exposed although no one else carried since this was a flea market and no one cares.
"Hey Norman, I'll close shop today boss."
"You got a date with the lady at the jewelry stand? You know she's married right Paul?"
He shrugged, "be doing the old man a favour, keeping his woman happy. A public service I do for the good people of this fine country."
"Whatever just don't bring unwanted attention to the stand, it's bad for business."
I packed my bad and leftover lunch making my way to the parking lot infront. The flea market was about to close in an hour and still was crowded to the brim. I got to my old Honda when I heard a man behind and a click, "that's my wife."
I turned around by instinct and the man shoved his pistol to my left cheek, "she's leaving me for you? Some fucken flea market employee. Do you even own that car or is it your mom's boy."
I raised my hands and glanced around for help but the crowd was silent, afraid to step in. "Hey man I don't know your wife, you got the wrong man pal."
"HOW COULD YOU FORGET SWEET MARTHA!"
"Martha doesn't ring the bell-"
"KEEP MY WIFE'S NAME,OUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!"
"I swear I heard that before?"
"You think of making me a fool Paul."
Shit me and my fucking, I thought I had grown out of it. "I ain't Paul man he's..."
"Martha's mine you broke fuck."
BANG
...
"Oh my head it. The fucker shot me... Wait where am I." I was lying on the floor in some alleyway.
A screen appeared in front of me. It was glitching with a message, "Hello there."
I squinted my eyes trying to discern if I was crazy for what I was seeing, "um hello?"
It changed the message,"my name is... I don't have one. Anyways your alive due to me your mutant power."
"What are you talking about?"
"It's simple you got shot taking one for you buddy Paul. Before you lost brain function in that split second your mutant power activated and I brought you here."
"You carried me here?"
"No silly-dumbass summoned you here to a new alleyway. "
"Okay hold let me process this." I stroke my cheek feeling it completely healed then pitched myself just in case, "okay so what else can you do."
"Help-steal things, give you things for a price, I'm here to help. Afterall we're in the same boat I think. Who knows maybe you'll die and I'll be free from saving you from brokenhearted husband's."
"Can you help me now I don't recognize this alleyway."
"Why would you recognize this alleyway-sewer rat."
"Okay what's your problem."
"You summoner or human or user who cares, just walk let's where we are."
"Don't you know where you brought me."
"Um hello? I had a second to activate or be born for that matter and brought you here, time was of the essence."
I sighed and walked towards the noise off the city and main road while it or the screen followed me. When I arrived it was a normal road with cars and late night club visitors.
"Well this looks hmm I don't know, hey can they see you or are you all in my head after a bullet went through."
"Nope, I'm just for your eyes only I think. No one has noticed me."
I began walking and analyzing the floating screen when I bumped into someone, "hey watch it crack heads. I fucken hate new York can't wait to leave and go back home."
"Hmm New york. I guess you teleported me thats a cool power."
"The correct power would be summoned."
"Right, sure." Dumb screen. "Can you 'summon' me back or is that out of question?"
"Nope that's... failure to understand . I don't know how it just happens."
Alright first things then I'll need to find some cash for a ride. Let's see, my wallet where is it? Fuck did i get robbed in the alleyway? Ah let's just walk a bit while I come with something.
I walked for twenty minutes with my only idea being to stand on the side walk with an empty cup of coffee asking for pennies.
'Hmm struggle for charity or risk getting in a car with Ted Bundy. Wait what is that holy shit!"
In front of me stood a massive tower with a 4 at the top of it, the fantastic four tower.
"Huh would you look at that user, oh by the way do you mind inputting your name."
"Is this a comic world?"
"I mean the answer is right in front of you dumb motherfucker."
"My username is Norman you piece of shit."
"Acknowledge, system is updating functions. This will take a couple of hours sit tight bye 👋. "
With that the screen disappeared. Now what?
Should I try to go inside the tower, no their probably closed and its also their home I think? I do want an autograph.
"System online, hello operator-enslaver ready to serve-help."
"I thought you'd take hours to upgrade?"
"No I didn't. Anyway System notification I come with gifts."
"Oh like bringing me home or money?"
"Ungrateful scum, no operator I have a selection of places you can call home, rent free and tax free."
That does sound pretty good evading the I.R.S, "fine what you got?" Maybe a pent house considering how powerful this thing is.
"Glad your excited as me. We have:
-a mansion with cockroches and termites fully invested.
-penthouse with a malfunctioning elevator death
-a haunted house used by a cult.
-and last but not least an apartment with a roommate."
"What the fuck?"
"Best I can do considering the lack of funds on your part operator."
Okay let's just thing, I was transported to some comic world, do I have to face some world ending and normally? No first worry about my living situation. Alright all these options are absolutely shit but the last one. I just don't trust it for that reason. Fuck I can't be picky I just need to sleep and see if I wake up from this dream, if not I'll leave to tomorrow me.
"Last option hoe."
"Bitch alright activating GPS aka map mode."
The screen went from displaying words to a blue version of Google maps showing me the route to take. I followed it hoping the destination wouldn't be in some slum like hell's kitchen. After an hour of walking while looking around in case someone jumped me at night I arrived at an apartment complex. Outside an old Asian woman stood out waving her hand at me aggressively.
"You! Yes you, its midnight and you make an old lady wait outside. Same on you and your mother's teaching boy. Here take the keys, I gave your roommate the other night his now go before I evict you."
With that she returned inside and I felt ashamed at something that wasn't my fault, "couldn't you have made her leave the keys at the door or something."
"And risk it being stolen and sent on a side quest pardon me for looking out for you." The screen wrote returning to normal.
The keys had a number on them indicating the apartment, 705. I used the stairs just incase the elevator would fail in the old complex building. Everything looked old with decorations being overlapped by one another. Felt more abandoned then occupied. I made it to the seventh floor were I saw only to apartments on either side of a long hallway. 705 on the left and 710 on the right.
"Oi were are the apartments? This place is giving me the creeps."
"Just go in operator, you'll understand."
A bit anxious, I opened the apartment door and entered silently.The place was large and the blueprint of the place was in a sort of *n* shape.
"Wait did they unite five apartments into one?"
"Yup somehow I got the information online, place was used by a gang for making drugs. They bought this side of the floor. Rooms 701-705. Funny thing is that another gang did the same thing with 706-710. Surprisingly it didn't end up in a gang shooting, neither figured out the others were involved until they were busted. Pretty funny actually it made the news."
"You have wifi why didn't you say something?"
"I hate you for not laughing at my story whore-sorry operator. Yes but its only for me, I'm using it."
"Can't you share? I mean look at the place I don't have anything anymore since you dragged me here!"
"Oh glad you reminded. Ahem, I have a gig I mean a noble quest, get money, get laid. I know a place."
"What do you mean?"
"Word on the streets is there's a building with cash, unclean I might add. From a mafia easy money operator."
"Look at me! I'm a fucken eighteen year old and have fuck all. Do I look like I can even shoot up the place."
"No balls , listen operator I'll got you a deal here. I'll give you a power with a minor drawback. You get the money, buy a phone, TV, internet, get me food. Buy I don't know a statue of a naked ape with the money. Point is relax, have some fun your going to be rich. Easy job go in get out. Deal?"
A part of feels it's a setup. First the screen basically gives me this option of the apartment then reminds me I'm broke and have jackshit. I mean who wouldn't kill for some superpowers, afterall I'll probably need them in a comic world.
"Fine were have a deal."
"Excellent! Ahem, drop roll please.
*ps* the drums."
Fuck my life rather be shot in the head. I do a little movement indicating I'm hitting an imaginary drum while talking with a floating screen.
"Ta da!"
Instantly I feel a warm sensation on both my hands. I look towards them seeing odd black tattoos being drawn on them. Even on my fingers there are tattoo like rings with arcana symbols.
"What is it?"
"Oh right you wouldn't recognize it. I redesigned them since their different from what you know or remember. I searched in your mind and found some interesting inspiration. I gave the powers from that game you played once Dishonored 1 and 2-"
"You for real? This is amazing."
"Shut up pardon operator you interrupted my explanation. You only have a teleport, the one we're you kinda grab the place you want to teleport, far reach I believe. Dark vision too, aka wall hacks. And last but not least devouring swarm. I'll let you buy the other powers but you'll need points for that. I wanna see you use them so more ok that later. Oh before I forget, the drawback. Every mission you complete you need to bring a souvenir."
"Not a bad drawback and the only problem is rather or not I'm to par skill wise."
"Live and learn operator, hope you fail apologies."
"Hold on, now I get your mannerisms. Your Ordis from warframe although I don't get the swearing."
"I'm so happy the operator realized useless. Yes indeed, I suppose your mutant power is activated with use of your memories and personality due to my foul language fuck you ruined me. Anyways mission time!"