Deep in the west Indian rainforest, Everette and the council of controller’s are discussing the best course of action for the Salvation Health chemical storage facility. The day before, it finally melted down due to the lack of maintenance. No one can maintain a facility if they are blind. Only ten controllers were at this meeting, and like always, there was hostility in the tent.

“Everette, we lost almost fifty members. The Hive is screaming at us to leave this godforsaken jungle.”

“The entire west wing blew up! What is your plan of action?”

Everette brushed his hands through his hair and pulled at it. He heard their real thoughts.

If only he couldn’t prevent us from harming him…

Why do we have to ask a teenager for advice? I should be the real leader.

The Hive just kept screaming in his ears, along with all their prisoners.

“Look, simply put, we need to monitor the place. Salvation Health is what made the world like this, we could use the research. Infection is all you guys care about, but I want your VOICES out of my head.”

Calm down, Everette.

Everette’s own Taker Contagion voice, Evan, tried to soothe him, but only added to the chorus that constantly throttled his mind.

“Could we take a few of the hive away from here to satisfy it then? My base in Japan is being run by that nitwit American Daniel. I could use a taste of home.”

Controller Yunmo was the first controller, which made him feel he belonged at the main base. He did not want to be here in the first place. Though, this provoked Controller Sarah, he could feel it. His request was honest though. Everette found that the blind controllers had the least pride, except when they were put against each other.

“I believe that would be fine, but no more than what was lost at the plant. We can’t afford to lose more troops. Roy sent Dinias to Delhi to investigate your unnecessary attacks and to fortify the city. They will try to find out what is going on here as well.”

“We have had plenty of run-ins with them and defended our secrets. We even added troops!”

Controller Sok-chu was the second controller to have a visual ability. He had infiltrated Hong Kong with a small group of the Hive and simply put, quickly converted them.

“How many did we lose to them though?! They only put well-balanced troops with good partners on the front lines. You only took prisoners, some of them still haven’t cracked!”

Controller Yunmo was beginning to show his frustration. More and more tension was in the air and Everette himself started to feel agitated. He knew why some of them were getting mad though. Their newest member, Sasthi, had a chemical aura that caused anger in those around them. She was still getting control over it.

“Stop!”

Everette felt resistance to his command, so he repeated it. They sat quiet, but he still felt the tug of mutiny in them. Before he spoke again, a thud was heard outside. Everette felt the pain of a few members in the Hive dying. The council stood, they felt it too.

“Maury and Renkov! Investigate and protect!”

Controller Renkov growled as Controller Maury held his shirt. They started to walk, but a body was thrown into the tent. A Hive member. He saw his Hive guards bowing down to something. He sent a command to attack, but they didn’t even budge. He sent a stronger command, but they only stood.

Another body was thrown into the tent, this time without a shirt and there were words engraved into his chest. They read,

“Congratulations, you have been chosen as a VIP for Tapas’ grand tournament. Included is a ticket to the box, an interview with Tapas, and many other gifts.”

“Who is Tapas?”

That was the only question he could ask before all the voices suddenly stopped. There was no motion or sound outside, no emotions from the others, and no pain from the prisoners. Almost complete silence. He looked up to find the council frozen, the very dust in the air was struck still.

Who did this? Another controller? Is he higher than you?

I don’t know, but I can finally hear myself think.

Oblivious, he sat down and sighed. Without the extra voices and emotions in his head, he had lost the constant headache and even felt his body release the tension. He lied down, ignoring the wet footsteps of someone outside.

Everette! Get up, someone’s coming!

He tuned Evan out, relaxing even more.

The flap ripped open as he heard a booming voice, almost like the announcers would hear on the radio, thrash his ears.

“What are you doing? You get a gruesome invitation like that and just lie down?!”

Immediately he flew to his feet, setting up his core abilities. He launched a fear aura, switched to ultraviolet sight, and grew his muscle mass just beneath the damage threshold. In front of him was a creature his size. It dripped a viscous black liquid and was shaped like a man dressed in a fancy tuxedo. Its eyes were orange dots and set deep in its head, its most expressive feature. It did not have a nose or a mouth but somehow could speak.

“Are you going to say hi or sit and stare? Your little trick won’t work on me, I don’t have a nervous system to make me scared!”

The thing chuckled.

“What are you? Some kind of sludge monster?”

It scoffed at him.

“I take that offensively you know. No, I am Tapas, a god of sorts. I am hosting a dodgeball tournament of power and have picked you personally to join me as a first-class viewer!”

“A god came to visit the worst world in history? Everyone is either blind or a blind drone here. There is constant bloodshed and danger everywhere you go.”

“That’s looking on the bright side!”

This thing is powerful and very unstable, don’t attack it until the controllers come back.

I may not have a choice. He seems friendly, but he killed people from both sides.

I would get him to shake hands or something, you could try to get into his head.

Good idea.

Everette was less enthusiastic, he had tons of voices already in his head, he didn’t want another crazy one added to the pot.

“Anyways, are you interested?”

Tapas held his hand out in a welcoming gesture. Everette stepped forward, but as he reached for it, Tapas swung back.

“You would join a person who called himself a god who you never met before? Jeez, who educated y- never mind.”

“I don’t think I have too much of a choice here.”

“You’re right, I want you there so I shall have you.”

“Why me though? And why dodgeball?”

“You’ll see. And because everyone always sees violence and there is rarely ever a broadcasted dodgeball tournament. Let’s shake it up!”

“Okay… Who are the contestants?”

“Here, come with me.”

Tapas grabbed his hand and flicked a glob of himself onto the prisoner which seemed to eat into him and grow into a hole that flowed in a circle. On contact, Everette tried to connect mentally but was met with Tapas’ voice.

That isn’t any way to treat your host.

Tapas threw him into the hole and he fell on his back, into an empty room with scrolls lining tables and walls. Tapas jumped over him as the portal closed into a scroll.

“See these scrolls? They are all stories, running along and being merry as can be. Six of them I can’t stand. Either the grammar is bad, their plots are basic, or there is not enough effort put into it. Whatever it is, something should change. I am holding this tournament to see which one will even SURVIVE. I was originally going to destroy all of them, but one of the contestants told me to host a tournament to weed the bad ones out. Yours, however, I have grown quite attached to.”

Tapas described how he could destroy them, and Everette’s blood drained from his face.

Tapas walked over to the table and opened six scrolls, as well as the one that had closed the portal. As they opened, screens began appearing above the table, showing different people with strange abilities and powers battling and traveling across strange worlds.

“Mine? It makes a terrible story! My life sucks!”

“Exactly! Your creator seems to have a habit of torturing you in very creative ways. Who would’ve thought that such a simple plot could make such an expansive story?! Your world is dystopian, however, and I disapprove of the protagonists being “just friends”. It’s disgusting. They should have kids by now!”

“What?”

“Don’t mind it. Anyhow, you, in particular, piqued my interest. Despite you having, in your eyes, a terrible life, I am going to give you a power that others would DIE for.”

“I’m very lost right now. What kind of god are you and who are the protagonists in my “story”?”

“Not you Everette, you are a bad guy. Now don’t interrupt.”

All this suffering and I’m the bad guy? I need to go back to sleep while it’s quiet.

I feel this is just a dream anyway.

“I am going to let you have the power to jump into these stories and do what you wish. Only one section though! I can’t have you exploiting my contestants!”

“Some contestants, some of them look like they will exploit ME.”

“I don’t know about that. You aren’t helpless, just unstable. Just so you know, I will only let you out during intermissions. I brought you here to watch the games with me, not travel around.”

“This is all a very frightening.”

“The word you’re looking for,”

Tapas jumped into the air and his form changed into a ball like creature, still made of the black liquid, with straight arms and legs. It had the same orange eyes, as well as a mouth of white. He wore a little bowler’s hat.

“is fun!”

Everette, don’t do it

Everette started to shake.

This guy is nuts.

I can’t believe THIS is what makes you unstable.

His legs gave out, leaving him on the ground, his eyes watching the people on the screens.

Thanks, Evan, you are helping immensely

He was not well suited to shock, breaking down easily. Tapas picked him up and carried him to the next room, talking about all the contestant’s abilities and who was best to counter who. As they entered, he saw the contestants in their groups. The room was like an auditorium. He hoped they were ready.