I'd be bouncing on the balls of my feet if I wasn't floating in the void of space.

  I was finally going home.

  It's been, what, almost 2 years? What a journey it has been.

  Slight issue with my plan though, what am I even going to do when I get back? Run a business or introduce the System to Earth?

  "Nah, better stick with a simple plan. I think I'll eat a sandwich or something." I smiled to myself and created a Gate that would lead me right back to my Earth.

  I didn't enter right away though, as I had this strange feeling something was about to happen. Something less than pleasant or annoying? Hard to tell with my gut what exactly would be happening.

  Then I realized what it was, as one of my instances back in Universe-one, the first universe I went to, noticed that Fraya was being escorted out of the solar system and away from the Mektra Guild HQ. She was going into labor, and headed to a hospital with Xyke in tow. I wouldn't be following, since that would weird.

  But that wasn't what was bothering me. My gut was telling me it was something else, I just didn't know what.

  So I chose to advance with caution.

  Slipping into the Black Hole Gate and popping out on the other side, I was hit with way too many mentally stimulating things at once. I had grown used to dealing with a few billion brains, sapient or not, but what I was experiencing now was much more than even the most densely populated worlds I helped.

  There were the humans, the animals, everything. It was almost overwhelming.

  I sped myself up in a time bubble to make it seem like time was frozen outside, to give myself a break. When I could actually focus on what was in front of me, I froze up.

  Earth, that big beautiful blue marble, was right in front of me. I was floating up in orbit, since I was imagining the view from space and not a street somewhere, but from here I could see everything.

  All of the humans, the animals, even the micro-organisms. As I basked in the glory that is my home, feeling a complex range of emotions that I can't even describe, I began to notice something that put me on edge.

  Beneath all the greatness and the good of my home, there were things happening that cannot be spoken. Everywhere. In every country, on every continent, horrible things were being done. It was only a few thousand total of people doing these things, but what really set me off was the emotions at play.

  "So that's what my gut was telling me..." I mumbled to myself as I sighed deeply.

  I could tell the victims were scared and horrified, but the perpetrators? The rapists, the murderers, truly evil scum living in human shells. They enjoyed it. I could feel how much pleasure they were experiencing.

  There was this horrible disconnect between me, and the "positive" emotions I was feeling from these people. It made me sick.

  I didn't even think that was possible.

  Then I made a hasty decision. Either out of habit or disgust, but one I cannot take back nonetheless.

  I killed every single one of them. Instantly.

  When time resumes, they would turn into a gross pile of wet bloody dust.

  Before I let time resume as normal, I saw just how many children were present. Either as victims or bystanders to the violence. It wouldn't do to scar them anymore than they already are, so I'd come up with a better plan.

  "Alright, how do I try and spare these people from seeing that? Especially the kids..." I rubbed my chin in thought, thankful that my negative emotion blocker thing kept me level headed.

  First thought was to just drop the corpses into the sun, but then I got a better idea. A way I could do it in a bit of a stylish flourish.

  I'd turn them into real glitter. No censorship involved.

  "What am I, some kind of serial killer leaving a calling card?" I joked to myself but it was a bit hollow.

  As I studied the atomic make up for some random brand of glitter in a jar in some random super market, I got to rearranging the scum of the Earth into a fine rainbowy pile of glitter. I left their clothes alone, more cinematic that way.

  With a satisfied nod, time resumed as normal. Now I just needed to help the victims somehow.

  "...Maybe I should introduce the System sooner than I thought." I rubbed the back of my head as I thought about it.

  'No... not yet. I want to experience normal life for just a bit. Maybe a day of human life.' I decided against it, but kept up the slaughter of any horrible people that decided to commit an unspeakable crime.

  "I wonder how long I'll have to do this for." I mumbled and got ready to get busy with yet another pile of work.

  ...

  --------- Frank Lanchester, NYPD Detective ---------

  A soft rain covered the city in a grey foggy blanket. The night air smelling of oil from the washed out streets. It was cold, and wet. Terrible weather for smoking.

  For the last couple of hours, strange things have been happening in this city.

  I watched the footage of a security camera inside our very own department reception hall, where 12 people suddenly materialized through balls of white light. All victims of things I'd rather not think about. Human trafficking, rape, the whole lot.

  Their testimonies all say the same thing. Being assaulted, their assaulters turning into glitter like magic, then being swallowed up in black. Only to appear in our department.

  Checking the locations of where the victims were proved that there was, in fact, piles of glitter. With clothing and some with wallets, providing identification.

  If that wasn't weird enough, it's being reported that every PD across the globe is experiencing the same thing.

  Just what is happening?

  "Detective Lanchester, stop your internal monologuing and meet me in my office." The Chief of police, a surprisingly bulky fridge of a man, interrupted my thoughts.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  I shook off the noir vibe I was trying so hard to build up, and with a sigh I followed after him.

  "What's up Chief Hill?" I asked, plopping my fat ass in the chair opposite of his.

  I was an almost complete opposite of the Chief. While he was tall, muscular, and handsome, I was a short, almost ugly, fat guy. The only thing going for me is my smarts.

  The office was a nice dark space, with an expensive looking wooden desk. It was covered in papers and coffee stains, but it still looked glorious. On it sat a plague with the Chiefs name. Larry O. Hill, Chief of police.

  He looked at me with a tired expression, a slight twitch to his brow.

  "You're doing it again aren't you?" He asked and I looked away, playing innocent.

  "Listen, the higher ups are spooked by what's been happening. Across the entire country, people are turning into glitter. I have been ordered to release a statement before the press accuses us of hiding something this big." Chief Hill rubbed the bridge of his nose and I listened intently.

  "What kind of statement? And what does that have to do with me?" I asked, eyebrow raised.

  "I'll get to that. The statement is to report it as a possible terrorist attack. Well, not so much as possible but is. I'm going to make a few calls, get a press conference scheduled for tomorrow morning. You are going to be the one answering questions." He spoke with a smug smile, the kind that told me he was making me do his work for him.

  "Why me? Pretty sure the people would be more happy to see your perfectly chiseled face over mine." I resisted the urge to click my tongue. This was going to be annoying.

  "I have a meeting with the mayor tomorrow that was scheduled well before this mess started. You know that." His grin only grew wider. Dick.

  "Isn't that at noon though?" I asked and he just shrugged, clearly unbothered by my glare.

  "Anyway, I'll be busy. So that leaves you Detective Lanchester, to be the departments spokesperson on the matter." His smug face angered me, but it seems like I'll be stuck with this.

  "Can't this just be an email or amber alert?" I asked, and then realized my mistake when I saw his smile somehow grow even larger.

  "It should be, shouldn't it? Then I guess you can hop right on that." He said and I had no one to blame but myself for even bringing it up.

  "Whatever. Fine. Can I go?" I asked, feeling pretty done with the whole thing already.

  "You are dismissed Detective. Wear a suit tomorrow, gotta look nice for the camera's~." He teased and I flipped him off as I walked out.

  Despite our differences, we are good friends. It's the only reason I can get away with minor insubordination, but it also means he messes with me as much as he can. Well, I mess with him too.

  I'd definitely get him back for this.

  ...

  Morning came quickly, and the sun was bright.

  Beaming right into my eyes while I stood on stage.

  Fuck me that's bright.

  The light made me squint, which probably made me look even uglier than usual. Truly, I am a cursed existence.

  The conference was taking place in the park, for whatever reason. The tall skyscrapers unable to protect my vision in the wide open space.

  "Detective Lanchester, what do you know about the disappearances?" A reporter asked, and I wasn't surprised that someone had heard about them already.

  They never stopped happening after all. Throughout the entire night, it's estimated that 30,000 people vanished in the USA. Replaced with glitter. More if you believe the global estimate.

  "Only that the only people who seem to be vanishing are the worst kind of criminals. It has been declared a sort of terrorist attack by an unknown party." I spoke clearly, but nearly stumbled over my words.

  The crowd was a lot bigger than I thought it would be, and the only saving grace I had to get through this was the fact I couldn't see half of them through the sun in my eyes.

  A wall of noise hit me as the reporters hounded me with questions, like a bunch of hungry hyenas. I really, really hate public speaking.

  "Do you have any guesses as to who might be responsible?" A woman with a pony tail asked.

  She'd almost be pretty, if her eyes weren't weighing my worth so heavily.

  Before I could respond, I saw something in the sky. I was pretty sure it was bird, but it was behaving strangely. Then it got bigger and...

  "What the-?" I muttered, the microphone on the podium in front of me barely picking it up.

  "Greetings mortals! The magnificent one that greets you now is none other but I~! The Dark Lord Azurath~!" The man floating in the sky chuckled darkly as he spoke.

  He looked...

  Like a power ranger villain.

  With his black suit with white accents, the horns, the big flowing cape, and the massive reflective visor on his helmet.

  His announcement was met with silence, before someone took a picture. Then all hell broke loose.

  Flashes and the sound of camera apertures going off resounded through the crowd as every single piece of tech brought by the reporters pointed up.

  "Are you the one responsible? Who are you?" Questions rattled off, one after another.

  He, The Dark Lord Azurath, ignored them and then floated down to stand next to me. I instinctively backed away, and he took my spot at the podium. I thought about arresting him, but that stopped dead in it's track when I got a good look at how tall he was.

  The fucker was nine feet tall. Nine.

  I felt a child standing next to him.

  The podium only came up to his knees. This wasn't a problem though, because the podium itself started floating into the air. Wires from the mic's being dragged upwards as it lifted into the air. Where it settled at his torso, his hands resting on it like it was completely normal.

  "Yes, I am indeed the one responsible for erasing those I deemed... unpleasant." He sighed dramatically and waved his hand like he was talking about bugs or trash.

  The reporters, having realized just how tall he was now that he was standing before them and not above them, all seemed to be taking a moment.

  I didn't know what to do, so I just stood there. Hand on my gun inside my suit jacket. My brain was going a mile a minute, trying to figure something out. Nothing came.

  "I don't believe you. What is this, some kind of joke? Using strings like that..." The woman that was eyeing my worth earlier changed her target from me to the guy next to me, and he seemed to be... pleased?

  "Oh? Really~? Then I suppose I have to prove myself to you. If you were to check any news site internationally, you'll see that I am everywhere. Doesn't matter what country. But if you need more proof..." He tapped his helmets chin in thought, then snapped his fingers.

  The sun.

  Blacked out.

  Completely.

  It changed from day to night instantly. Everyone yelped or screamed as the sky was black. No stars, no sun, nothing. It was almost pitch black, except for the automatic lights the lined the paths of the park.

  Lights lit up inside buildings, cars honked and came to a stop in the distance. Tires screeching.

  "See?" The Dark Lord sounded smug as he snapped his fingers again, and light returned.

  No one said anything, but a few were looking at the woman that had prompted his action.

  "...What do you want?" I asked, gulping down any fear or nervousness that came up. It didn't work.

  "Ah~, now that is the question isn't it? It's very simple. Behave. Or I erase you. Tootles~!" He waved cheerily, the podium setting back down in it's place and then he was gone.

  Just gone.

  A black hole the size of his torso popping up and swallowing him before disappearing along with him.

  Murmurs filled the crowd, some asked me questions.

  I ignored them in favor of looking through my phone for any proof that he had been on other news sites.

  It didn't take long to find out it was true.

  Every bit of social media was trending with his face on it, or the sky suddenly going dark. All major stations. Every single country. Every single language had him in it and having roughly the same conversation he had here.

  Telling us to behave.

  ...

  I hate my job.

  ...

  --------- Greg ---------

  I may have fucked up.

  Just a smidge.

  'What do you mean?' you might ask, well I'll tell you observer in my mind I haven't spoken to in a long time.

  I just told the entire planet to behave or I'll start erasing people. That's it.

  "What the fuck is wrong with me?" I clutched my face in my hands as I squirmed in orbit.

  The embarrassment was palpable, especially when literally every single person not in a cave is talking about the things I said or did.

  'Well, why'd you go and do that?' you ask? Simple.

  I got sick and tired of seeing all the horrible things being done, and I wanted it to stop.

  Did I overreact? A little.

  Can I take it back? Nope.

  "Oh my God, I'm so fucking stupid." I cursed at myself as I quickly realized I may have just accidentally claimed my home world as my property.

  Like some kind of dictator.

  "I have to fix this somehow... Do I make more public appearances? Explain anything at all?" I muttered, pacing back and forth above the pacific ocean in orbit.

  As I was too busy thinking how to fix my mistake, I failed to realize that the person who I just turned into glitter for getting all touchy touchy with someone way younger than 18, was someone from congress.

  "...It's so over." I went limp, floating there and resigned.

  I had told them to behave so why'd they go and do something like that?

  "Oh well! Not my problem they were a sicko." I snapped myself out of the hole I was in and decided I'd treat myself.

  Time for a sandwich.