After some time between now and eternity, Ives returned to the blank space. There was no explanation for it. One moment, he was on Mars with the rovers. The next, he was back.

Ives felt a warmth within. Maybe even a presence around him, but he saw nothing. He did find a note on the ground, written in perfect corporate drawl.

You have passed all the tests. You may leave :)

Ives collapsed.

In his chair of course.

The amount of relief he felt was earth-crushing. The whole room seemed to turn a pastel yellow. He jumped to the heights of his mind, through cleared skies into a sunshine never ending.

He vibrated with a buzzing sensation, and no, it was not his phone.

Thank you, Athena, Ives thought.

At first, Ives waited it out because he was lazy. He wanted to leave, sure, but he was lazy. The chair looked so appetizing. He didn’t know what else to do. The only skill he had was the ability to endure boredom.

And count.

But then the game changed. Someone inspired him.

He chuckled to himself.

Then, he waited.