"We're getting downsized," a low male voice said in the distance.

  Lighting up a menthol, the snap of the lighter set fire to the tip. I pressed the cigarette between my lips and inhaled. After a moment, I blew smoke over the balcony and into the yawning chasm of the infinite void. Beyond the railing, was nothing, just a vast ocean of blackness that swallowed light whole. Ears twitching at the faint voice. I shrugged, turning back.

  "Is anyone here? This needs to be private," the male voice spoke again.

  "No one is here, and who goes out onto the balcony anymore?" another man answered.

  Glancing around the corner, I discovered the origin of the voices. The sector manager and his flunky were standing in the middle of the breakroom, the manager looking pale as a vampire. Death becomes the smarmy dick. Never liked him.

  "I'm letting you know ahead of time so you can get your affairs in order." The manager said in hushed tones.

  "Did I hear you right?" the flunky asked.

  "You need to keep this to yourself; we're getting downsized." He repeated. "What, are you deaf?"

  The flunky gasped, his eyes widened, and his jaw raced to the floor. I couldn't help doing the same. Getting downsized is not something a mere office clerk wants to hear from someone in authority. Frozen, stuck in mid-smoke as the ash fell and sprinkled over my hand. I gripped the balcony rail, teeth chattering as I tried to rationalise what I had just overheard. Thankfully, my rational mind kicked in, and so I listened closer, hoping I had misheard.

  "We're getting fired?" the flunky whispered.

  "It seems we are all on the chopping block."

  The two were silent, and I secretly hoped they were pulling my leg. I had given this company decades of my life, and to be discarded like that... To be dropped after all this time. Does all that work amount to nothing? Just a see you later, pal, and don't let the door smack your ass on the way out?

  "This can't be. Why would they do this?" Shocked, the flunky all but wailed.

  Shaking his head, the manager sighed, releasing his frustrations. "Apparently, they have been working on artificial intelligence that will make the entire department obsolete."

  "A what?"

  "They will replace all of us with machines." He waved his hand as if he could erase the truth.

  "What will happen to us? Are they going to kill us or erase us?" The flunky spoke without thought, fear clear in his voice.

  "Honestly, I don't know," he sighed heavily. "I guess we will find out. But don't tell anyone; I don't want a panic. Just act normal."

  The flunky nodded, but I doubted his sincerity. Fear gripped him, and he wouldn't hold out long. But that didn't matter. I was stuck, frozen, unable to move. Thoughts raced through my mind, careless of my feelings. My employer would fire me, leaving all my work pointless. Would they simply eliminate me, kill me instantly? While I doubted the gods would carelessly wipe us from existence. But then again, they were gods, so who am I to fathom what they consider reasonable behaviour? I don't know what a panic attack is, but I think I am having one.

  Taking a few heavy breaths to calm myself. Getting back to some semblance of calm only for a seething rage to take over. Screw the gods, screw the department, and screw their silly rules of impartiality. I did my job, and I did it well! I struck the balcony with the force of all my frustration, all the bitterness that had built up over years.

  "Yes, embrace chaos!" the void cheered.

  "Shut up, you eldritch asshole! I'm having a moment here."

  "You dare!"

  "Don't make me throw the toaster. I will chuck that death machine over the balcony," I threatened.

  With my threat, the chasm of chaos remained silent. They would not oppose the toaster of doom. And why do eldritch horrors outside of the known universe fear a toaster? The answer was simple; a god and anything made by a god are not to be trifled with. I left the breakroom as if nothing had happened. Walking the lines of cubicles as if it were any other workday. Finding mine and settling in to continue like my world wasn't just upended.

  "Tapping them keys all day long, singing my song as the screen comes on," I hummed a tune as the computer booted up, out of what seemed to be a habit.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Finally, the screen booted up with the familiar logo. A collection of various insignias surrounding the image of a planet. Each insignia that once filled me with awe at its divine meaning, now filling me with dread.

  [System Admin: Access Granted Tier 1]

  "The System Worlds — an entire universe and only a game," I whispered.

  Once the logo disappeared, the operating system had fully booted. A mountain of notifications immediately prompted me. The list was endless, ranging from quest write-ups to future notification pre-setups. Some of them were for events that had yet to happen. My workspace had the essentials. I vaguely noticed the energy drinks to my left, the pack of menthols to my right and the mountain of work before me.

  Following that, I evened myself out with coffee and whiskey. I needed that boost; I need this sense of normalcy, only for a little while. Until I make my decision. It all hit me like a truck, eyes bulging and sleep a memory. The rush of pure, unbridled energy made me feel like nothing as trivial as unconsciousness could stop me. As the coffee kicked in, I felt my hands twitch, eager to move beyond their limits. The shot of whiskey was just for the fun of it. Now fueled by the divine brew, I busted out hundreds of quest notifications and status updates for the next week.

  With barely a dent made in the queue after several hours. Normalcy achieved, it was now time to face reality. I got up and just began walking around aimlessly. Giving a few waves to my colleagues, whom I barely spoke with. Passing by a cubicle on the left, I noticed Sammy lost in thought. He looked like a mid-fifties Sean Connery, but he was way older than that dude. There was something ancient about him. He would not admit how old he was, no matter how many times we went drinking. As I passed, he turned to me with a warm smile.

  "Sup Sammy, how go the quests? Found any pull the sword from the stone types?" I joked, he hadn't done that yet, despite my suggestions.

  "I told you before, Joey, I am going for originality in my major quests. I will not copy tales from that dirt world you go on about," he replied and totally sounded like Connery.

  "It's called Earth, and show some respect. That place is a gem, and I even heard a rumour that the big boss is from there."

  "He did hail from such a world a long time ago."

  My eyes widened, the rumour confirmed by the mouth of Sammy himself. Oh, I was totally going to spread this everywhere. Soon these halls would echo with the truth: Earth was the promised land! Maybe it would be a last hurrah.

  "Or I could be lying," Sammy shrugged before turning back to his computer.

  Rolling my eyes at the guy's antics, I took a few steps before stopping. Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the world I had called home my whole life. Watching them all work diligently to serve gods that would hatchet them all in a second. Caressing my keyboard, its familiar feel. Chuckling in the middle of the office like a madman, getting a few glances here and there. I withdrew the whiskey I'd been stashing in my suit and downed the entire bottle. The burn that travelled down my throat and into my belly was literally intoxicating. Was it the booze or just my genuine feelings on the matter? With hands balled into fists, I stood there, holding my anger until it burned. Screw the gods. Screw the downsizing. I had so much more to do. They would regret this. I sat down ready to act.

  [System Admin: Access Granted Tier 1]

  [Accessing Notification System... Please wait]

  "It's time to cut loose." I chuckled madly, but quietly.

  Fingers over the enter key, I paused mid-motion, paralysed because this was a bad idea. Maybe I shouldn't do this? Is this really the best option? My boozed-up brain tried to parse logical reasoning before discarding that for raw emotion. I pressed it, no going back now.

  [Initiating Program. Designation: Screw the Gods.]

  [Warning! The program is against company policy. Contacting System Admin Tier 2.]

  "Oh, shit." I leaned over and furiously tapped the keyboard.

  Bringing up every system program I had at my disposal to keep the system from ratting on me. Every second that went by was another chance of the higher-ups sending a hit squad. Shaking off the booze, I activated a very useful bit of code. I had been working on something for a while now. She did her job in mere moments; it was glorious. System messages race across the screen before one final notification.

  [Override engaged... would you like to continue? Yes/No]

  "Oh, hell yes."

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