Interlude - Void Between 'Verses (Patreon)

The grey void of space was like the last one that first brought him to the Death World, but he was able to feel something solid under his feet instead of falling. Behind him, he could see a pair of portals. One showed a grassy plain and had #89,750 above it. The one he just exited showed the scarred landscape of the Death World in the center of the crater and read #68,909 above it. “What happened? Why did we not just go there?” Felix asked.

The Void between ‘Verses (VBV) isn’t just a space between them. It’s unique to each Versewalker. The Versewalker Core logs every ‘Verse you travel to, and you can re-visit it later.

“That’s handy. I’m not locked out of wherever I travel to.” Felix looked around at the blank space, “This is kind of depressing though. Is this just a place to go between other places?

Each level of your Versewalker Core allows you to both add a Room and Function to your VBV. Oh, you can change it from the depressing grey as well. That’ll be a function, but it’s great for your mental health.

“Right. Let’s switch it up to something beautiful. Like, the mountains of Switzerland.” The grey void shifted and warped before Felix found himself standing on a grassy field as gorgeous, snow-capped peaks stretched off into the distance. The environment was everything he had ever envisioned when he saw other people posting their photos on social media from these gorgeous places; as if the VBV read his memories to know exactly what he was wanting. Glancing back, he still saw the two portals open. “Can anyone come through those?”

Other Versewalkers and multiversal…things. Lucifer sounded a bit grossed out as he said the last part. Cthulhu-type stuff. Nasty cosmic horrors. They’re rare.

“Can I close the portals?”

Sure. The portals snapped shut. From here, opening and closing them is instant. But, in a Universe, without a Multiversal Charge, you’ll need to spend 4 hours concentrating to return.

So, no retreating in here in the heat of combat, Felix thought. “I just get to spawn in two Rooms. Any facility I want?” Lucifer made an affirming noise. Felix thought about that for a few moments before he remembered the wad of cash he had in the pockets of his old clothes. He panicked for a moment, checking his inventory, but it didn’t show up there. He patted down his clothes and found – to his relief – a pocket hidden under one of the armored plates. He pulled out the roll of cash. “How does currency work across ‘Verses?”

Whatever currency you have on you will translate to whatever the equivalent would be.

“I’d like a shop then, where I can sell off all of this crap.” As if responding to his will, there was a grey-colored sphere that appeared about ten feet in front of him. The grey melted away, and there was a single, small building with the sign SHOP overhead. He went inside and saw two different vending machines. One said PURCHASE and the other said SELL. They had different slots and instruction signs with pictures. “Okay, so I can dump all of my junk in this slot…” Felix held his hand over the slot for SELL and willed his inventory to partially empty.

[Loot Sold]

·         Waste-Bear Claw (x4)

o   100 VC

·         Waste-Bear Pelt

o   250 VC

·         Alien Junk

o   5 VC

·         Edible Moss (x5)

o   5 VC

·         Waste-Scorpion Stinger (x3)

o   15 VC

·         $10,000 in Universe #5067 Currency

o   1,000 VC

[Monies Dispensed]

·         1375 VC

VC is ‘Verse Coin, Lucifer clarified. They translate to any currency in any Verse, seamlessly, without the inhabitants seeing anything different from their usual monies.

“Let’s see what I can get in the Shop then.” Felix went to the PURCHASE machine. It was a touchpad that he could scroll through, and he saw all manner of equipment. Everything from military gear to science-fiction laser swords, to magical staves – all much more than he could afford. He went to the consumables section and saw Health, Anima, and Vigor Elixirs. They came in a variety of potencies, but effectively, one hundred VC would translate to ten of the resources being restored. It would be smart to stock up on these, he thought.

[Items purchased]

·         <Rank 1> Health Elixir (x2)

o   200 VC

·         <Rank 1> Anima Elixir (x2)

o   200 VC

·         <Rank 1> Vigor Elixir (x2)

o   200 VC

[Monies Paid]

·         600 VC

[Current Balance]

·         775 VC

You can still make one more Room.

Felix felt a wave of lethargy wash over him as, for the first time in over a solid twenty-four-hour period, he felt like he could rest easy as the calm environment lowered his guard. “It’s safe in here, right?”

The safest place in the Multiverse. I can keep watch while you sleep.

“Then let’s do a bedroom.” The grey void of space warped outside the small shop front, and he went outside back into the gorgeous, green hills. A single-story bungalow appeared. “I get a whole house?” Being a homeowner was something Felix always thought was way out of his reach, thinking he’d be a renter for life. But here was a nicely appointed, sleek, futuristic-looking house.

You still have one more Function to assign. The way his voice trailed off at the end implied he was going to ask for something.

“Okay? What do you want?”

Can you make it a Function that I have a body while we’re in here?

“Are you still a part of my Versewalker Core if I do that?”

Yes. We are bound together for eternity, or until you die. It’ll just let me get around a bit and keep myself entertained. I’d really like to stretch my wings for real.

Felix thought about it for a moment. In his ‘Verse’s mythos, Lucifer was a liar and not to be trusted. But so far Lucifer had been nothing but helpful. “I trust you. Let’s make the second Function that you can have a body while we are in here.”

There was a flash of crimson light that was tinged golden that sparked in front of him. Blinking his eyes, he saw a young man dressed in dark, red clothes that hugged his skin. A long skirt hugged his waist, and he had bright, golden hair. His gentle, grey eyes settled on Felix, and a series of six angelic wings spread out behind him. “You have no idea how nice it is to spread my wings!” He chuckled and held out his hand. “Good to actually meet you.”

Felix was shocked at first, Lucifer looked just like him. The main difference was the hair – gold instead of dark black. Felix shook his hand, “Likewise.” The handshake was firm, inspiring confidence. Merely gripping his hand filled Felix with an inflated sense of self, as if he could conquer the world. “Why do you look like me?”

“I’m a part of you now. So, my form mimics yours.” Lucifer’s wings unfurled behind him as he let Felix’s hand go, waving briefly. “Get some sleep. I’m going to take a flight around.” He launched himself upwards and let out a whooping cry of delight and excitement as a big whumph shook the windows of the house, his six wings flapping as he ascended higher and higher.

Felix went inside and found it was furnished very sparsely. Finding the bedroom, he laid down on the large bed and immediately fell asleep – utterly exhausted.

“Hey, come on. Wake up.” Lucifer was standing at the foot of his bed, arms crossed, tapping his foot.

Felix blinked his eyes open and yawned as he stretched, sitting up. “How long was I out?” he asked mid-yawn.

“Two days. I finished re-watching your whole life.” He chuckled. “Very short so far. But entertaining.”

“Not a fan of you digging around my memories,” Felix muttered as he felt his stomach rumble. “But if we are stuck together, I suppose you knowing more about me is reasonable and a wise move.” He pulled out the Squiddoid MRE and snacked down on it. After availing himself of the restroom and shower, he got his armor back on and went outside. The sun shone overhead as a cool breeze came down from the VBV’s mountains. “I’m going to get some provisions just in case.” He went over to the Shop, with Lucifer right behind.

[Items purchased]

o   Versewalker Rations (x10)

·         10 VC each

o   Canteen

·         Free with purchase of Rations. Limit 1 per Versewalker. Does not count against the Inventory limit.

[Monies Paid]

·         100 VC

[Current Balance]

·         675 VC

“Alright. I think I’m set. You ready?”

“Hell yeah.” Lucifer stood in front of Felix and turned into a mote of crimson-flecked gold, reabsorbing into his torso. Let’s see this new world! The pinprick of grey opened up in space, revealing the lush green grassland, and Felix jumped through.

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