Storyverse: Stealing the Show - Prologue. Prologue

"No… No, no! These simply will not work!"

Fighting back the growing anger, he resisted the temptation to slam his fist onto the control panel. Wythuf had scoured the universe to no avail. "Nothing," he whispered under his breath.

Earth was doomed.

Wythuf plopped in the helm's chair. Hopeless and desperate, he questioned his journey. "Was this all for naught? A worthless endeavor? Humanity's flaws are finally coming to reap what our kind sowed all of those millennia ago."

"Captain," Nelonius, the ship's artificial intelligence system, chimed in, "perhaps you are viewing the issue too linear."

Wythuf groaned. "Nel, if you have a suggestion…"

"This is an interstreaming ship," Nelonius’ monotonous voice drolled.

"Yes?"

"Captain, I am proposing you can travel to a different timeline."

Suddenly hopeful, Wythuf jumped to his feet and opened a holosheet. "Nelonius, start calculations. Triangulate optimal time periods and planes of human creativity. If there is a score of five or higher on the scale, map it. Redirect the ship to the first one you find."

A light tone rang in the bridge. "Captain, setting course for alternate timeline plot 42-Z."

There was a slight jarring motion as the ship took off. Upon arrival, several notifications went off. "There's…"

Wythuf was baffled. "How did I miss this much? There's so much…"

"Captain, there are several popular creators, and from their work, they seem flexible enough to comply with what you’d like written."

Nelonius's statement gave Wythus hope. "Show me a few."

He read a few chapters from several stories. The comedy was unlike anything from his world. The tales were gripping, and if given the time, he would continue. "These two authors. Nelonius, bring them aboard."

"Captain, they are from a lesser-developed timeline."

"We have no other options. Follow my command."

A bright light illuminated the center deck of the bridge. Two humans, one male and one female, stood. The man wore a red apron with a company logo hiding a black polo and salmon shorts. She donned a beat-up t-shirt and strange pajama bottoms with polar bears wearing Santa hats, palm trees, and candy canes. Both appeared distressed by their new surroundings.

Wythuf held his arms up. "I mean you no har—"

The female glowered. "What the fuck's going on?"

"Jesus, lady," the man complained, rubbing his ear.

She looked at him, calming ever so slightly. "A-Aaron?"

“Do I know you?”

“It’s me,” she answered, “Kbois.”

So they know each other? Wythuf thought. He watched them as they inched closer together. Reiterating himself, he waved his hands. "I apologize for the sudden change of scenery, but I—"

"Change in scenery?" Aaron glared at the captain. "You… This is an abduction!"

"No, it—"

"Hell no!" Kbois shouted. "I'm not about to get probed."

"But I'm not—"

"You put us back, now!"

Hearing Aaron's demand, Wythuf knew he had to calm them down and see reason. "Please, can I explain for a moment? My world is about to die."

The two authors stilled and glanced at each other. The captain continued. "My world's leaders sent me. Earth's leaders from a different timeline than yours. Our people are dying, and I have been tasked with finding those worthy of saving them."

Aaron shrugged. "That's all fine and dandy, but what are we supposed to do? I just sell liquor."

"And I babysit senior citizens." Noticing Wythuf’s confused expression, Kbois clarified, “I manage a fifty-five-plus retirement community.”

Wythuf shook his head and ran a hand over his bald head. "No, those are your real selves. I called upon astone2292 and kbois. The content you create… It can save my planet."

Aaron snorted. "Our content? How can our stories save people?"

"My timeline of humanity is fueled by content. Our obsession with media and activity escalated to the point of no return. Without a steady flow of entertaining content, they spiral into a derivative of depression. If they don’t have something to watch, read, or experience– they die."

Kbois’ eyes widened in shock. "How awful.”

Wythuf continued, "But you two. This primitive website praises your work."

"There are better authors in our community on GA," Aaron countered. "Why us, specifically?"

"You two create wholesome plots. They maintain the reader's attention through every chapter."

"You've read our stories?"

"No," Wythuf admitted. "Nelonius, my ship's AI, has. Your reader fan-bases are some of the most committed on your site."

Aaron snorted and turned to Kbois. "You hear that? You'd think Gnomie would be here instead of me."

She rolled her eyes. "Please. Her ego wouldn't fit in here."

Seeing the pair relax, Wythuf capitalized on the moment. "If you two wish, I can take you back to the second before I brought you aboard. All I wish for is a chance. I know you two could create enough content to satisfy my people."

"What'cha think?" Aaron asked. "We've been looking for a reason to collab."

"And we can help save the future," Kbois grinned and gave Aaron a thumbs up.

Rolling his eyes, Aaron laughed. "And I thought Gnomie had a fat ego."

Wythuf was confused by their behavior. "Is that a yes?"

"Sure," Aaron said, taking off his apron, "but we'll need our computers and some food. I'm starving."

"Of course."

"Barbecue," the male author demanded. "Moonlight in Owensboro, Kentucky. Chopped mutton, mac and cheese, and I'll need a whole jar of sauce. K, you want your mango habanero or Skrewball?"

She gave Aaron a leer, then smiled at Wythuf. "Both."

Relief was within his grasp. “Nelonius, materialize everything these two need.”

“Of course, Captain.”

A light in front of the authors went bright, and when it waned, two desks with laptops, chairs, notepads, and writing utensils appeared before them. Aaron’s eyes widened. “Holy shit.”

Kbois smiled. “Can I have a Lazy Boy recliner? I work better with my feet up.”

The light flashed again, and an overstuffed chair appeared.

“Whoa, Nelly!” Kbois exclaimed as she saw that the controller had massage functions.

“Nelonius or Nel is acceptable,” the AI pointed out, sounding rather miffed for a computer.

Aaron flinched at the disembodied voice. “Please tell me Nel isn't everywhere like the sci-fi movies. I don’t need a computer watching me go to the bathroom.”

“Ew,” Kbois stated, taking a seat, “gross.”

Looking with envy, Aaron asked, “Can I get one of those chairs too?” An instant later, a second recliner materialized.

“So, Wythuf? What do you want us to do?” Kbois popped her feet up and then groaned as the massage feature started vibrating loudly.

“Would you rather be alone with your chair in a bedroom? I’m sure Nel could arrange it,” Aaron quipped.

“Nope, I’ll enjoy my vibrating chair right here. Maybe you’ll get some inspiration.”

“Doubt it,” Aaron mumbled.

Wythuf smiled at their antics. “I’d like you two to write a few short stories with a central theme. Maybe something using the cross-over feature television shows of your time employed.”

Aaron and Kbois looked at each other.

“So, like when Supernatural crossed over with Scooby-Doo?” Aaron suggested.

Kbois giggled. “Or when The Simpsons crossed with Family Guy.”

Wythuf sighed. “I don’t know what those are, but it seems you get the idea.”

Kbois and Aaron tossed ideas back and forth until there was an ah-ha! moment.

“A game show theme!” Aaron pumped his fist with excitement. “We each write three chapters based on a different game show.”

A bright smile lit up Kbois’ face. “That’s it! We can call it Storyverse; Stealing the Show. Cuz, you know, we’ll be stealing the idea from existing shows.”

The pair bantered and teased each other as ideas were thrown out and either kept as possibilities or immediately agreed upon.

Watching and listening to the pair operate and roast each other, Wythuf was blown away at their natural comedic genius. “This… These two might save us,” he muttered under his breath.