by Aeon Solo
Mara held his hand. “Let me show you our past first, so hopefully you can remember please,” she said softly. He accepted her request, she fabricated a wormhole, they walked through. She created a temporary reality where they watched their past. Like phantoms, they were there in the memories, but they could not interact.
Sophia strolled through the beautiful landscape of long-flowing grass followed by someone.
“‘Wait, show me again!” the voice remarked, whilst running after her. She smiled pleasantly at the young man. “Very inquisitive aren’t you boy?” she said, with a smile.
“Well, I’m still fairly new to all this, so yes I am intrigued on how this all works,” he commented. She nodded and continued her walk, he walked beside her. They approached a gargantuan canyon, with beautifully coloured rock layers.
“What is it you seek?” she enquired, she pivoted toward him.
“The truth” he said.
“What truth?” she asked.
“All truth,” he said.
They watched him interact with Sophia.
“You always wanted more, always yearned for more knowledge,” Mara commented.
Sophia nodded, and twisted to face the canyon, she manoeuvred her right hand. Reality itself changed before their eyes. He was gobsmacked.
“Do you see it?” she pondered to him. He was entranced.
“The vibrations?” he said.
“Yes, the universe is made of energy, frequency and vibration. Each individual has a unique frequency, this gives you form, your body, but remember the universe is controlled by us, we determine our reality, we determine what we are, what we want to be,” she explained to him.
“But how? Why?” he pondered. She moved her hand and wavered more, revealing the universe at its smallest level.
“There is no why - it just is,” she stated.
“So, you know everything? All that can be and ever will be?” he asked inquisitively.
“So, do you,” she said. “You just need to access that information and in time you will,” she said.
He smiled grateful for her statement. He wanted, ever so much, to understand all things, knowledge was his true goal.
“You spent most of your time pestering Mother Earth,” Mara commented.
He glanced to her for a moment, before watching his memory play out further.
The twin suns, the crescent shined brightly upon them, gifting them the sensation of warmth and comfort.
“Do you feel the energy from the stars?” she asked, her eyes closed, enveloping the warmth.
“Yes,” he said.
“The stars gift us the energy for this universe to exist, but they are ultimately a part of us, we are it and it is us, all life is inter-connected,” she explained. He was in awe of her wisdom. “That is enough for today,” she stated. In a flash, she returned to her typical form within a deep cavern. He glanced around the area for a few moments, his body vibrated intensely, he too disappeared from the area.
People were interacting in the main settlement zone of the earth, engaging in various activities, both physical and social. Each human had a partner, a soulmate if you will, to accompany them on their journey of life.
“Hey,” Mara said. Viden turned to face her.
“Hey, you,” he said, “You look as beautiful as ever,” he commented with a smile.
She blushed at his comment, missing the past, missing life before the Demiurge interfered. He smiled too.
“Well it’s the truth,” he commented.
“Let’s go exploring again, the borderlands this time,” she enquired.
“Borderlands?” he said confused.
“Yes.”
“Alright, but no-one has explored there yet,” he commented. “Borderlands? That sounds a little interesting,” he said, as they both followed themselves.
“It is, trust me,” she responded, excited.
The two disappeared and emerged beside a large lake. They entered a boat placed within the water and gently glided across the surface. The water was so clear, they could observe the various life forms in the water. Various fish swam through the water. A large vibration disrupted the water ahead, a gargantuan creature rummaged beneath the small boat.
“See this,” she commented excited, shaking his arm. A flamboyant, massive predator began an assault on the nearby fish who began to flurry out of the area. Life was in balance within the ecosystem, the people do not consume food, as they received nourishment from the starlight. Sophia allowed various forms of life to exist on the Earth in harmony with people. Nature was a spectacular scene, which people often viewed as Mara and Viden were. They reached the end of the lake and disembarked the vessel. They strolled a hundred metres forward along a short hill and reach the borderlands. They reached the top of the short hill and scoured the environment ahead. All types of landforms conjoined within their eyesight. The scene was breath-taking. Ice met fire, green met desert, mountains met canyons.
“Look at this site, it is beautiful isn’t it?” she commented in awe.
He was taken aback by the sight, mouth gaping. “Yes, I mean yes, it is,” he muttered.
“It was short-lived though,” she commented deflated.
“Why?” he enquired.
“I’ll show you what happened when ‘it’ came,” she said begrudgingly.
Sophia was resting in her pure state, meditating but she was rudely interrupted by a terrifying sensation. Her form materialised. Her eyes gaped open with complete fear. The Saturn sun dimmed severely, people glanced toward the twin suns and complete dread filled their hearts. A distortion enveloped the Saturn sun, taking hold of it. The distortion permeated pure, unmitigated evil. Sophia materialised at the surface of the Earth. She felt the horror as the star was entrapped by a monster. Suddenly, a wretched vibration overcame the entire Earth, bursting all the senses of the people and they crumbled to the ground screeching in agony. The distortion hacked into the meta-physical universe; a darkness swallowed the Earth. One by one, they fell into darkness. Those who could move, darted like a light particle, but they couldn’t escape the darkness.
Sophia who was overcome, recovered momentarily, blasted a vibration of her around the planet, but was not enough. She pushed and pushed with all her might. The two vibrations warred, Sophia was pushed back. Viden and Mara with their hands moulded together, attempted to reach the cavern which Sophia frequented.
“Come on!” he screamed, the distortion preventing them from instantly changing their location. It encompassed them, suddenly Mara was pulled into the air, she screamed as load as a thousand suns.
“No!” he roared. His grip winding, people around them disappeared into the abyss.
“No!” he screamed at the projection, as the memories returned in his mind. It was as if he was reexperiencing that moment. She gripped his hand. “It’s ok,” she commented, brushing his arm gently. He squeezed her tightly.
“I can’t,” she cried. “I can’t hold…” she faded away in his grasp, he tumbled to the ground heavily.
“No!” he screamed again. The distortion was shredding him apart. He crawled for as long possible.
“It was incredible how you resisted it for so long,” she said.
A light shone nearby, through the deep, thick fog. It was Sophia, her fist clenched, a protective, spherical haven, about a mile across, combatted the distortion. He crawled and crawled, reaching the haven.
“You withstood it,” she commented, deflated but joyed at his survival, she pulled him away from the abyss.
“What happened!” he demanded.
“Sophia knew you were special in this moment, no one else got out, she protected some, but you were the only one to make it out of that hell,” Mara said.
“I don’t know,” Sophia responded solemnly. She hugged him, her essence calming him a little. People emerged from the cavern behind, a look of horror plastered throughout their being. No one else reached the safety of Sophia.
Chapter 9
The project
ion of these memories ended. Some came flooding back to him as he re-experienced them again.
“I wasn’t powerful enough to save you Mara, I’m so sorry,” he said with sadness, eyes gripped to the floor.
“Don’t be silly, don’t say that, you saved us from that monster, you got everyone out and with the greatest sacrifice too,” she replied, holding his arm gently.
“Not the greatest,” he said quietly. Implying losing her was the greatest sacrifice, not himself.
“Can you not show me more of us, our life together?” he asked.
“Ok, I will do that.”
Mara walked through the primary social gathering area. People were dancing, interacting and enjoying one-another’s company. Everyone in pairs but her.
“What is this place?” he enquired.
“You never really liked it,” she said with a cheeky smile as they watched. “It is where people congregated for the most part, well everyone but you,” she continued.
“Where’s your partner?” a friend commented.
“He’ll be here soon,” she responded with a pleasant smile. It soon faded. She continued her walk. The cheers and joy of the others soon overwhelmed her. A small tear came to her eye. Her beautiful, beaming face dimmed with a tinge of sadness.
“Don’t cry,” he whispered with guilt as he wiped away the tear from her projection.
She stood alone and watched the starlight.
“Where was I?” he commented urgently and confused.
Viden was sitting beside a gargantuan canyon, his feet dangled over the edge freely.
He walked over toward himself observing the beautiful canyon below.
Mara appeared behind him.
“You promised me you’d be there today,” she commented upset.
“I’m sorry, it’s just I can’t do it. All those people, it’s just… it overwhelms me and it’s a waste of time,” he responded, somewhat disregarding her emotion.
“So, am I a waste of time?” she hurled back.
Guilt took him. “No of course not,” he answered quickly.
“It’s just you spend more time with Mother Earth than me, spend more time alone than with me,” she responded, still upset.
“Why?” he said with a raised voice. She held his hand whilst they watched.
“It’s just the way you are, I can accept that now,” she said, easing his guilt.
He did not answer, he didn’t really know how too.
“Your quest for truth, your quest for knowledge will be your undoing, you know I wonder why, am I not enough? Can you not just live?” she said. Her words struck deep within him.
“Do you want to know why?” he said; her expression locked on him. “Because if I know everything, I can be what you need me to be,” he said.
“You already are, our Mother bonded us two for a reason, because we suit one another perfectly. I thought you would know that,” she said, surprised and somewhat saddened by his view.
“You are perfect,” he said. “I’m not like the others, doing what they do comes naturally, for me it doesn’t,” he said sadly.
“You don’t have to be like them, it’s why I’m so glad I’m paired with you, because you are so unique, but you have to comply with social norms sometimes,” she responded.
“Ok, I will try for you,” he responded. She walked over to him and sat beside him, her legs too, dangled freely.
“It is beautiful,” she commented. Her head lay on his shoulder.
“Well, not as beautiful as you,” he responded with a grin.
“So cheesy,” she laughed. They held one another in the sensual starlight.
“You held true to your word, you did try and participate with social norms,” she said, the environment swirled away, they observed another memory in the leisure area.
People danced and sang, their love radiated through the area. Enjoying each other’s company, enjoying existence for what it is. Viden was sitting watching Mara dance with a group.
“Come on,” she urged, trying to get him to join her. He glanced around the place uneasy.
“I don’t dance,” he said. She disregarded his displeasure and grabbed his hand, dragging him up.
“Just follow my lead,” she said softly. They embraced, and he followed her direction. They swayed in each other’s arms as the beautiful music flowed through them.
“I love you,” she whispered in his ear.
“I really, really like you too,” he said, somewhat nervously. She giggled slightly at his response.
“Don’t be afraid,” she whispered in his ear.
“You never told me you loved me,” she said, he glanced to her as they watched.
“Love,” he said, with -a saddened smirk. “Love is the scariest thing in this omni verse. It scares me more than anything, more than the Draco, more than the Demiurge,” he said with a glazed face. She held his hand again. They observed themselves dance through the night.
“It shouldn’t, it is the purest thing in existence, only good can come from it, the only thing that is real,” she said.
“Maybe when you have it, but when you lose it, it breeds something more than sadness, more than hate, it breeds suffering,” he said sadly. “And I know, when you are its servant, it will devoid you of any love in any form, it is hell, being without you,” he said. He turned to look into her eyes.
“Well, you’ll never experience that again,” she hugged him strongly.
“I would sooner die than lose you again,” he replied. The memories faded away.
They returned to the main habitation area, where the remaining warriors were celebrating their defence. Their presence, Viden’s, unsettled them. Their cheers stopped abruptly; the crowd glared at them intently.
Alexandria came forth. “Welcome Viden,” she said, bowing slightly with acceptance of his presence.
“Alex,” he said with a nod. Mara walked past her toward Sophia in her human form at the edge of the crowd. Viden followed but his arm was grasped tightly by Alexandria. “I see it still remains in you, but, our source too. Somehow, in some way they live in harmony,” she commented with bewilderment.
“Balance,” he said, “That is how we can defeat it,” he said.
She released him. “I cannot trust you. You understand, right? Given the circumstances,” she said as he continued.
“Of course, but know this, I will destroy the Demiurge, if it’s the last thing I do. And not for her, no, this is personal this time,” he said bluntly.
He approached Mara and Sophia.
“Spartan!” a female voice remarked from behind. He pivoted slowly toward the voice. A male large in stature stood beside a female and another male, all similar age to him in physical appearance.
“I know your face,” he commented softly. They came closer to him. He hugged her tight with a tear in his eye. “I know you,” he whispered in her ear with bewilderment. The large young man grasped his arm gently whilst he hugged her.
“We’re so sorry we didn’t follow you, Viden,” he said.
“Oh, come here,” he urged. They all embraced in a group hug for a few moments. “You’re alive, how?” he questioned.
“Once we died, we returned to our source of course, but instead of being cycled back through the prison matrix we returned home, because of you,” the other male said.
“We’re missing one,” Viden added, searching the area for one. They released from the embrace and split. A man remained in the distance, ahead of a small water fountain.
“Go on,” the female urged. He walked slowly toward the turned figure, he was nervous, excited too. He was within talking distance.
“Spartan!” he blurted. The figure pivoted slowly with a smile. He rushed over and gripped him tight.
“You’re alive,” he commented eagerly.
“I’ve missed you too,” the man replied with a laugh.
“So, when are we suiting up against this demiurge then?” he questioned.
“I would want nothing
more than to stand side by side with you, like old times. But I will have to face it alone this time,” he answered with varying emotions.
“You’re gonna need us on this one, Viden,” he warned.
“I can’t disagree, but anyone who joins me will die. I won’t let you fall, not this time. I need you to live this life, for my sake, see you soon brother,” he responded.
Viden approached Sophia. “When you get back, you will come to the celebrations this time,” he said.
The other three look on for Viden’s response.
“We’ll see,” he remarked to the group with a cocky grin.
“Viden, I’m so glad your home,” Sophia said, her arms open to embrace him. “I knew she could get you back and break its bond over you,” she added.
“Well she is something special. I’ve you to thank for her presence in my life,” he replied.
“It was an easy choice,” she said with a smile. “I need to take you to our Source, we need to discuss how we will take the fight to the Demiurge, you know where it is, yes?” she said urgently, her cheery demeanour gone.
“Stornheim it is called, it is located in the beyond,” he responded.
“Beyond!” she said abruptly.
“Yes, outside of the boundary,” he continued.
“But how? That’s impossible, our Source would know,” she responded.
“Mother Earth, if there is something, I know that is true, it is that truth of all is unobtainable, there are always more layers to uncover, even she does not know everything.”
“We need to discuss how we are going to proceed with her,” she said urgently.
“About that, listen to me, I must face it alone,” he said.
“What!” Mara cried. “But you could die, or worse,” she said unsettled.
“Please listen to me, I know how it functions, its arrogance will be its undoing, it cannot control me now, because of you. I have its power and more, now I have combined them, just have faith in me, I won’t fail this time,” he said strongly toward Mara.
“I don’t agree with this Viden,” Sophia commented anxiously. “I can’t risk your life again,” she continued.
He grasped her hand and mediated deeply. “This is where Stornheim is,” he said. He transferred his knowledge to her. “Let me go, if I do not return, then you can take the fight to it,” he said. “The source, as you all do, avoids the darkness within. I can harness it and control it now, it is this that will make me win, let me dominate and destroy it. Use evil against evil.”