Time Warp

Our apartment was not that big. It was a two bedroom the was decorated in a color palette of browns and beiges. The kitchen was tiny, with almost no counter space and just enough room between appliances and cupboards to open them, but no place to stand if they were open. The walking space was as wide as a dishwasher door and maybe three times as long. This opened into the combination ion living and dining room. The dining section was identified by the low lamp, which told you where to position the table. The living room was actually decent sized and had a sliding door to a balcony, which we rarely used. If you walked the dingy carpet down the hall there was a bathroom on the right. This was the one room I felt we really took control of, I should say Shelly really took control of, it was complete done in Mickey Mouse. Past that, on the left hand side of the hallway was our room, it was Shelly's before we got married. At the end of the hall was the computer and storage room, which was mine before we got married.

Recently, though, we had to make some changes, this was the place we would be bringing out children home to, and so, things needed to be shifted around. The storage room had been cleaned to the point a crib could be set up, which is was. It was a dark brown, wooden drop side crib, that had previously been the sleeping place of our nieces. Also, the computer had been moved to the closet across the dining room table from the kitchen. This created a workspace which we could close behind the closet when company was over, but could make use of without ne of us being secluded away.

As I think about, I realize we moved this computer here long before we did the other changes to the storage room, because it was here Shelly as sitting, in the kitchen chair we turned around to make use of the space, playing her game when I asked her to marry me. Just for the record, she said, "Of course I will you big stupid head!". This space was also a space of time travel.

The game, like many in that stage of my life, came from the discount shelf at Target. In those days, the electronics aisle had a computer game section, and one of this shelves was full of five dollar games. This was way before Humble Indie Bundle, which is where I get my cheap game fix these days. Anyway, this time, the game was Cyber Empires. It was a strategy game, where you were taking over a map using a robot army. Imagine Risk combined with Robotech.

I start the game confused about rules. I'm physically setting in the closet of my dining room, the space I asked my wife to merry me, but those facts are completely gone. I am the commander of a technically advanced nation. I make a series of bad moves at the beginning of the game, because I don't really understand some of the weapons and rules on overheating, I also disn't know how to actually fight the wars, rather than letting the computer fight them for you. Little by little this changes and my empire starts to regain ground.

I look at the map and take a long pause considering my strategy. Shelly is in bed, drained because of the twins. I warm coffee in the microwave. It is eleven, so I think ok, I'll play for an hour or so more. I return to the command module and take the next region. This lefts me start a new factory, which I do, then I take the next kingdom, then the next. Suddenly, I have the resources to build larger mechs, but I have to decide if that is more worthwhile than continuing with the little flame guys, which have made up the bulk of my army.

I start production on the new mechs and a suddenly fall out of virtual space. The air in the room seems cold. My coffee cup has been empty for I don't know how long. I realize my eyes are burning. I check the time, it is almost three o'clock.

My mind has a flood of thoughts. This is a great game. Tomorrow is going to be rough. I need to go to bed, right now.

I save the game and shut down the computer. I dream of victories and lost time.