“Jonathan! Jonathan, we’re going to be late!” “arrgh my head” John rolled over and checked the time, “six eighteen, what is my mother doing up so early?” John was home for the holidays and was staying at his loving if not overbearing parents’ place. He and his only brother Kyle along with their best friend Liz had spent the night drinking and laughing at their past mischievous behaviour. John fondly reminisced the night.

“man what do you mean there was a donkey come into the middle of the concert, that makes no sense what so ever!” John and his brother Kyle roared in laughter as they heard the story being recounted by a drunk Liz. The dubious story making no real sense made it all the funnier to them.

“Never mind that” Liz replied. “What matters is I got backstage passes and got to meet the band, plus Donny said I can come...” As she was saying this she was trying to get on the bar they were sitting at, albeit to Johns’s horror. She wrestled her way onto it and was starting to walk down the length as though she were a runway model. Johns’s mom lived in a small town in Canada, just on the outskirts of Edmonton; thus the bar lower capacity. They were used to their antics, them having frequented it often.

After getting up Liz continued the story “Back to stay with him whe… ahhhh” Liz was startled as she fell off the bar, John and Kyle too stupified to do anything but watch in shock. They both looked at each other after realizing she was fine and shared a small chuckle. “Common Liz let’s get you back home.” Kyle was much closer to their friend of twelve years, he stayed in Spruce Grove where they grew up with Liz, while John went to Calgary to get into business management. Kyle picked Liz up and dusted her off wiping some ketchup that got into her hair from a patron meal and the three of them started walking out into the street.

“Wow what a night”’ John was still groggy as he was slowly becoming aware of his surroundings, I don’t get that kind of closeness with the accountants and executives I am surrounded by these days.

“JOHN RUBAN DESTROS, GET DOWN HERE NOW!” John’s dad yelled up the stairs firmly at John leaving no room for hesitation. John’s dad was a general in the army and had a very demanding and strict parenting policy. “Boy don’t make me come up there.” knowing that he would be chewed out John fought his blurry thoughts away and got up. His parents being wealthy had a nice house with a lot of rooms. The one he was in was decked out in elegant hardwood floor with a mosaic tapestry costing upwards of 10 thousand dollars, John thought it was too much for a spare bedroom. When in Rome he supposed. He went into the bathroom yelling back down the stairs, “five minutes, sorry!” John remembered the conversation he had with his dad before he and his brother left to go drinking. “Boys, listen I want you to remember that we have a Christmas service tomorrow. It’s at 0700 to honour the lives of those who fought this year and mourn with the families.” John’s father continued “I know it hasn’t been easy with your mom getting cancer, but trust me it will get better. Now scram, you boys have been apart for too long; enjoy yourselves but remember to be up at 0600 to be out the door by 0630.”

‘Oh shoot I totally forgot, I am really out of sync with what is going on in the family recently. I should really be paying more attention’ John thought to himself, in reality he was just not paying attention to his dad already having had a few drinks at dinner. John had a bit of a rebellion streak despite having the intense feeling he needed to please his dad.

After brushing his teeth and combing his hair, John pulled on his dress shirt and slacks, it was wintertime and the trend at the moment is timberlands; there both stylish and warm so it works out. John was a man who liked to present a strong image, he was meticulous and methodical in his approach to his appearance and kept it clean. Making his bed, as he knew his dad would check when they get back, being military. John set out to join his family.

Coming down the stairs Kyle had an easy smile on his face, John was blessed to come from a beautiful woman and a strong-jawed father giving both Kyle and John what most call handsome faces. “Come here my love, you have a crusty in your eye.” Johns’s mom Karen pulled him closer. “Mom, I am not ten anymore. I am a twenty-five-year-old man.” But John still allowed her to get the film from his eye. He would never admit it especially to Kyle but he loved when his mom took him and affectionately helped him.

“There! All better, come now let’s not keep your father waiting.” John and Kyle filed out after their mom who was following a brooding Alexandar their father. On the way Kyle gave a smirk to his brother and an elbow jab in the side, whispering under his breath said. “Awe little mommy’s boy, you ready for your pull-ups yet?” Kyle, of course, was talking about diapers for toddlers, John turned and gave a small shove “you’re just jealous as your not the center of attention anymore with me being here!” Kyle being two years younger than John was following in their grandfather’s footsteps of oil fieldwork. Being a fourth-year steamfitter he was being groomed by the oil company to start his own crew. Staying home has left his mother who is staying home after her diagnosis of brain cancer with nothing but Kyle to dote on.

Walking towards the family Bently, John was walking side by side with his brother Kyle with his parents starting to get into the car. John glanced over at his brother and just as he did his vision blurred and a small blue text entered his field of view.

“Welcome Earthians to the multiverse. Low mana density, migrating flora and fauna to supplement. Error 993X3 not enough space, converging planets Xerses, Earth, and Blemouth. Error 78XXX98 citizens insufficiently equipped to deal with threats. Error override seeds planted. May the strong survive, 4 years until full integration.”

Johns’ world went black.