Philip Collins ran out of the classroom as soon as the clock turned twelve. Today was his first day of his work program. Thus the first day he was able to wave to all the prisoners that had to stay another 4 hours. And he wasn't going to lie it felt awesome to look at the others as he strolled out of the pre-calculus class. Running through the hallways to the office to sign out he met the principal at the door skidding to a stop "Mr. Collins you know the rules about running in the halls." That's Mrs. Sarah Richards principal for the last two years and a sucker for rules. "yes ma'am, I know I'm sorry just excited for my first day at work. It won't happen again." Nodding she leaves with a "see that it doesn't" huff in her eyes.

As he signs out and leaves going across the bus drop off area he pulls out his phone to check the time 12:13. Sighing he starts to run the gas station and auto shop he is working at is luckily just a five minute run. Grinning as he crosses the street [ Awesome even with that stick up her ass holding me up I'll still be ten minutes ea….] His thought is cut off by screeching tires and a horn as a truck runs the Red light. The last thing he sees before the truck hits him is a young girl no older then him looking up from her phone and eyes going wide [Bitch….]

Darkness

Philip opens his eyes to see he is in a line behind a man in a camouflage uniform and a police officer hearing a muffled pop behind him he looks to see a man in a orange jumpsuit looking around confused. Deciding to ask the camouflaged soldier in front of him rather then the prisoner behind

"Excuse me?" no response "Army dude and y….."

The man turns and says "son I'm not in the Army I am a Marine" remembering some of the friendly rivalry the branches have the same Wayne was teasing his sister that morning.

"Sorry sir I couldn't tell anyway I was wanting to ask if you knew what was going o? One moment I'm crossing the road on my way to work and then a flash of a truck next thing I know I'm here."

The marine looks shocked momentarily as he replies "Me too I was in Iraq leading a patrol and the last thing I remember before being here is a explosion and me flying through the air." Holding out his hand he introduced himself Corporal Gregory Sands United States Marine Corps" shaking his hand. "Philip Collins uhhh high school freshmen."

The door opens and the police officer goes inside. Confused they continue to talk since they can't go anywhere. Anytime they try to go anywhere else their feet don't move, even the step forward after the police officer went in wasn't a conscious thought. They continue the nervous back and forth Philip finds out that Greg is twenty three and a three year veteran of the Marines on his second tour married with two children; billy age 4 and Susan age 1 they were getting ready to keep talking when the door opened and the Marine started forward "well I guess it's my turn see you later Phil…." The door shuts cutting him off.

As he stands there nervously waiting his turn he looks back to see behind the prisoner is now a firemen and what looks to be a doctor or scientist with her white lab coat on. The prisoner catches his eye on his third look around. "Hey kid what's going on?" looking at him I reply "I don't know.. what the last thing you remember before here?" looking around then shrugging I was in USP Pollock in Louisiana for finding and hunting sex offenders who went after kids while I was getting the lethal injection I was bragging about the forty six monsters I hunted down before I was cau….does this mean I'm dead?"

Before Collins could answer the door opened and he felt himself walk inside. The door clicked shit behind him and suddenly a voice called out.

"HUMAN 08151996-46 Philip Collins"

(Philip recognized his birthday and assumed he was the 46th of something maybe person that died today or something)

"First off to answer the first question we always get.. yes you are dead for now any way. And two yes your reincarnation belief held by monks is what happens when you die."

(Reincarnation so I get to live again that's cool I was only 17 when I died)

"Now you can not be reincarnated into your original universe but you may choose a different universe" the tone took on a slight exhausted mimicking tone "but how will I know what kind of…" going back to the tone of authority but also hope "your planets entertainment is not just entertainment over the last five hundred of your years we have been augmenting human minds to be able to see other dimensions and reality so when you die you have a idea of what your facing"

(Philips heart doubled it's pace No Fuckin Way I'm going to get reincarnated in a movie\Tv or even a game what about books?)

"So let's get the selection going shall we? To make things easier we have looked through your digital history and chosen the top ten options. If none look good you may choose from the broad selection."

Philip let out a gasp as a holographic sectional list topped with genre appeared

TV/Movies. Games

Star wars. Fallout new Vegas

Battlestar Galactica. Skyrim

Sword art online. Fallout 4

Shield hero. Minecraft

The walking dead. Fallout 3

Philips breath caught they really did their research.

I always dreamed of going into fallout fighting for the Brotherhood of steel or the NCR. Then star wars the excitement of the clone wars would be thrilling. BSG would be cool but the thought of commander Adama's stupidity… the anime was a interesting thought but….. The walking dead would be a dream come true. Plus I just finished a marathon of the first four seasons….then a thought occurred to me.

"Excuse me? May I ask a question?" the echoing robotic voice was replaced with a curious female voice answered "Yes what can I do to help you?"

"to make a choice on such a broad universe doesn't strike me as a great idea could I request more info?" you could almost hear a smile in the voice "in over five hundred years you are one of less then Two thousand people who have asked for more info most just jump at the opportunity to go into one of their favorite universes.

a grin crept across his face as he asked "can I see the options for each choice like for the ones that . How old will I be? when will I be dropped into my choice? like I imagine for Minecraft I'd start from the beginning most likely with the starting chest but the more important ones are more delicate for example Battlestar Galactica would I just replace a crew member on the Galactica? one of the civilian ships? or would I be on the colonies before? or during the opening of the show? Would I be a adult or child? Those little details are important to my survival"

The voice was silent for a minute before replying "apologies we were compiling a list of starting points I suppose you could call it would you like to see them?"

Philips knees almost collapsed on him Thank god he thought as the screen with the second display popped up with the original choices expanded to show a multiple choice selection list "do you mind if I look over all the possible choices? I don't want to take up your time." A chuckle answered him "in this place time stands still compared to the outside the solider that was before you sent almost three of your hours doing the same thing as you." Looks like Corporal Sands was just as smart as he came across for the few minutes they talked.

" as you surmised fallout New Vegas, fallout 3, fallout 4, and Skyrim you would start out as you do in the game"…. Makes sense Philip thought

For the others you have multiple choice starts I will listen for you now

Star wars you may choose any of the movies cartoons or TV series ranging from follow the Republic rise of the empire with multiple different starts ranging from Jedi, sith or your choice of bounty Hunter with starting ship or select planets defense Force officer for your age and race we will give you the opportunity like in the Skyrim and fallout to have a character creation…. That would be a hell of a lot of help so I didn't have to start from the very bottom I could help myself and a lot of people this way. He thought again leaning towards one of those options

For sword art online you would begin as a random player at the very beginning.. Philip skilled Nodding his head

Shield hero you would begin as a NPC in your choice of kingdom profession at your choice of a month or two weeks before the first cataclysm arrives if you choose the 2 weeks option you will receive a experience point boost.

Battlestar Galactica much the same a character creation and then choosing from specific starts and times ranging from 1 year with command of a firestar-class frigate to day of attack in command of a Battlestar.

And lastly The walking dead you would like the others get a slightly different character creation from multiple characters the day the first episode starts this was the most promising option I just finished a marathon over the weekend of the first four seasons if I can choose Rick I could guide the group much better knowing what's to come as long as I'm careful….A knowing grin spreads across Philips face as he listens to the last comment the voice had to tell me.

"And please remember this is the only reincarnation you get where you keep your past life's memories so be careful to choose carefully." And with that the voice cut off as they waited for my choice.

I went back and forth in the option bar from choice to choice noticing background characters I had noticed while watching shield hero, sword art online, Star wars, Battlestar Galactica, and of course the blocky Steve from Minecraft looking through the others I saw options to become Commander adama from Battlestar Luke or han from Star wars as well as other primary and secondary characters from everything else but my mind was made up

"I have made up my mind." Philip called out to the open room.

The first synthetic nail voice was joined by the more human female voice echoing each other "choose"

Taking a deep breath hoping he was choosing correctly said "Rick from The walking Dead."

The world around him flashed White and he heard as the room went dark "enjoy your new life Phillip and we will be watching."