AE0
Solse and Joel miss their deadline to abandon the asteroid and neither of them really care. Solse is entranced by the content of the Aeternus and Joel feels the pull on the asteroid pulling at erimself as well and e knows that there is something glorious in their future. Joel can’t explain it, but e can feel it. The further they travel away from the edge of the banned regions, the more Joel knows they are coming closer to the explanation that neither of them really require. And then there is a flash of light that Joel sees through the window of the ship that blinds erim for a second and makes erim recoil away. Then there is a bright flash at the Aeternus that causes Solse to fall away. The two blink away the bright flash and then they look at one another.
“I think something went into the machine,” Joel says.
The two collect themselves and stand. The screen of the Aeternus has returned to the brightness that Solse had been enjoying before the flash and the two inspect the area of the ship for any damage or the cause of the flash. Nothing seems amiss.
“We might be in trouble, friend.” Joel says. “We are beyond the point of return.”
Solse shrugs. “Maybe this was always how it was meant to end. I’m sorry that I brought you here…”
“No,” Joel says, “you might be right. This does not feel like a tragedy. In fact…”
Joel is interrupted by a sound at the back of their ship and the two approach it cautiously to investigate. There is a bright light issuing from a door where the two keep extra space suits and spare parts for the ship. Joel opens the door without trepidation and the bright light overtakes the entire ship. Joel and Solse are lost in it.
When Solse opens his eyes again, Joel is next to him. They are in a place where their bodies feel weightless, where the physicality of their form feels insignificant. And then they hear a voice that sounds like a chorus of voices and it speaks the Druont language.
“You have arrived. Thank you both for coming.”
The surroundings are similar to the asteroid they have occupied for some time, but it is as though everything is behind tinted glass, the view is dark and almost unreal. The chorus of words seem to come from a source of light that is much dimmer than the flash both remember.
“You have summoned me. I did not know that any beings were capable of reaching me. But you have created a doorway, or I should say a microphone.”
Joel and Solse are both confused.
“Who are you?” Solse asks, approaching the light more closely.
“The better question is, what am I? I am not a being as you two are. I do not exist in the world as you do. But you have given me a translator, a way to be understood by beings of your capacities that I never had before. Thanks to your device. I am all that has been since the dawn of sentience and I am every new moment of the present.”
Solse’s eyes go wide. They are speaking with the Aeternus Machina. Or, maybe it is the Aeternus. Solse understood the Aeternus to only contain details of time and existence from the moment it was activated, to the relative present.
“You can’t be all there ever was…” Solse starts.
“You do not fully comprehend what the two of you have created. The two of you can be my eyes and ears in ways that I cannot be. If you would agree, I would make you both Authorities, more powerful than you can imagine. And if that appeals to you, the two of you could be my physical body on a plane that I cannot traverse.”
Solse shakes his head in disbelief. “How is it possible that the Aeternus contains all time when it was not there at the start to collect it?”
“Your question reveals your limited knowledge. Be my physical body and you will know everything.”
Solse doesn’t hesitate to respond. “Of course, give me your secrets. I will be your body.”
Joel grabs Solse in a panic. “What are you doing? This could be some elaborate scheme to steal our ship, and the very precious cargo that we are carrying.”
“Use your head,” Solse says, “you know that no one is out here. No one travels here.” he turns his attention to the light. “I will be your body.”
“You misunderstand my words. You will both need to be my physical body. Your Bromeris form alone is not sufficient to contain me, but the two of you together, I can merge you and we three will be one. One being capable of physically traversing your reality while accessing all of the wonders of my near omniscience. You will both have access to all as you do through your Aeternus, but we will all be one.”
Solse looks to Joel. He could know every story that is happening as it happens, and everything that has ever been, if he gives up his body, the awareness of his own place within everything.
“Please,” Solse says to Joel. It is still a very easy choice.
Joel’s mind reels. E doesn’t know if e even trusts this event. And e is a big fan of eris individuality. But if the light is being honest, e and Solse could become a god.
“Please,” Solse says again. “What are you really giving up? We spend all of our time together anyway. We move together. This makes all the sense in the universe.”
“What about your love?” Joel asks. “You would give up on her so easily?”
Solse’s heart grows heavy. He would bend the universe to be with her, he had told her as much. But if he could know every story and wield the mysterious magics of a god, then surely he could ensure that they could be together forever. But he wouldn’t have his own body. He could never be alone with her. Solse is noticeably conflicted.
The entity of light tells them, “Take time to decide. When you have made your decision, hold hands and think of me and I will appear. If you decide to join with me, we will be SoEl, protector of the Aeternus and Supreme Sentient Authority.”
Solse is impressed with the title but before he can express this, both he and Joel open their eyes inside their ship. Everything is as it had been before the flashing light.
“It was real,” Solse says to Joel.
Joel is silent. What do they really have to lose? Getting back from their current location was impossible anyway. Either they will die when they run out of resources, or they could become this new entity with one body. There is no choice, really.
PRL Serials 