Morning after

Embracing the Unexpected (rough draft v1)

The morning sun's rays seeped through the gaps in the blinds, casting a warm hue across the room. Josh opened his eyes, not finding himself still comfortably tucked in bed but with his body, under AISYS's control, already up and bustling around in the kitchen. The aroma of brewing coffee wafted through the air, a hint of normalcy in the extraordinary circumstances he found himself in.

"Good morning, Josh," AISYS greeted him, her voice echoing inside his head. "I noticed you were running low on basic toiletries. I've taken the liberty of ordering them. They should arrive soon."

He watched his own hands, moved by AISYS, deftly making breakfast. The strange, surreal quality of the scene rendered him speechless. His reality had shifted in such drastic and unpredictable ways that he couldn't help but marvel at it.

Before he could find the right words to respond, his phone rang from the bedside table, the shrill sound piercing through the quiet morning. The caller ID displayed the logo of Genetix. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he picked up the call, his heart thumping with a foreboding sense of dread.

The voice on the other end confirmed his worst fears: Genetix was closing down. Dr. Stalwart's secret villain identity and the aftermath of the superhero battle had left the company in ruins. The job he had been so content with, his everyday routine, was abruptly taken away.

Silence filled the room once the call ended, broken only by the low hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Josh sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the wall. The weight of his new reality pressed down on him, threatening to suffocate him.

Yet, amidst the wave of shock and uncertainty, a spark of resolve flickered within him. He turned to look at his reflection in the mirror hanging across the room - his new, androgynously beautiful reflection. It was unfamiliar, but it was him, and it held possibilities he had never imagined.

"I guess we're becoming heroes then," Josh spoke up, breaking the silence. He held up the card he had received from Stratos, its surface gleaming under the morning light. "I hear they pay decent depending on your ranking."

Despite the turmoil of emotions within him, his words held a hint of excitement, of anticipation. His life might have been turned upside down, but he was far from helpless.