Birth of a Universe.

No one can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say…

I can hear many, in fact, it seems like it is all I can hear nowadays. My name is Xenus and my universe is dying. The screams I hear are the voices of the inhabitants of the other worlds surrounding my world in the distance of the Galaxy. Their worlds are dying just like mines and as these planets collapse into oblivion the voices of the billions who live on these planets scream in agony amidst the demise of their home. Today is supposed to be the day my world ends, oh the thoughts that cloud my mind when I think about how I will surely die later on this day.

Looking out of the window of his palace room, Xenus is staring at the scenery down below of the chaotic citizenry of his collapsing home world. The view of the land in turmoil reflected off of his silver flesh. From the first floor of this amazing palace he called home, Xenus's mother, Xena ascended to his room by floating. She was a beautiful creature with silvery flesh, much like her sons. "Come, my young." she said to him in a gentle manner. "We have to ready ourselves for the valley, our time has come." "But why mother?" he asked in a melancholy tone. "Why must our world perish? For eons our universe has been one of gods and now you're telling me that all we love is near it's end." Xena put her hands on his back in comfort, attempting to ease his heartache. "My young it is not our choice. Our universe is dying so that another may be born. The elders have spoken and they have declared that this is what must be done. In the death of our universe, life will be manifested in a new one." "But I have already heard this prophecy mother!" Xenus responded in an angry tone.

"I may still be a young, but everyday since I was first conceived by you and father three millennia ago I was told that our universe would die out so that another universe would be born and that the center of this universe would be a world called Earth." "Yes my son." Xena replied with assurance. "The elders said that this world was to be better than our entire universe and that they would make better choices than we." "How can that be mother?" Xenus asked in confusion. "Their race of creatures will never be as advanced as our own and their civilization will begin in that of caverns." Floating up to Xenus from below was his father Xenophilius, who laughed at his son's remarks. "My young, the creatures of this earth will be that of infants. They will have a lot of growth that must take place before they could ever be as advanced a civilization as we have become over the past eon. The elders knew what they were doing when they allowed this, son. We must let their ways be, for they have never led us astray."

Leaving his parents side, Xenus floated down to the entrance of his palace so he could leave. On the way out he encountered his twin sister, Xenora. "Dear brother, where are you headed?" she asked with concern. "Sister I just want to view our amazing homeland one last time before it is obliterated." he said tearfully. "Maybe I will be given a better understanding on why such an incredible power such as our universe has to meet it's demise, while a lesser civilization gets born into existence. "Dear brother”, Xenora responded. "I too am saddened at the thought of our world being no more, but if the elders have spoken that this is best, then this is what must be done." "I will discuss it no more, goodbye sister." Xenus said as he angrily floated out of the grip of his saddened sister's presence.

As Xenus slowly floated around the byways of his chaotic and dying world he made note of the sights that sat before him. Riotous citizens were destroying landmarks, looting possessions that did not belong to them and crying out in sadness and anger. Xenus felt their pain and wanted to join them in their debauchery, but all he could do was observe. His sadness for his dying world had drained him of the energy to act on his emotions. As Xenus went about his way in sadness a blast of plasmic energy was shot his way. The blast had just barely missed him, but the force of energy managed to push him a short distance, something was shooting at him. As he turned around to flee in the opposite direction he was stopped by a group of warriors armed with firearms filled with plasmic energy. “You will move no further.” The leader of the group of warriors commanded. “Why if it isn’t the young of Xenophilius Xahari.” “Kylenus Montar, the descendant of Yoltarius Montar.” Xenus responded. “Yes” said the silver skinned creature covered in golden armor. “Our bloodlines have been at war for ions and before our universe is consigned to the eternal darkness of oblivion I will have my revenge.” said Kylenus with conviction.

As Xenus stood frozen with fear, a deep loud voice uttered from behind Kylenus. “You will have nothing on this day!” Said the voice in a soft tone, but loud enough to be heard from a block away. When Kylenus and his group of warriors turned around they were face to face with a mysterious creature who was wearing a long robe and his face was covered by a hood. “Kylenus I warned you before to let the past die with this world.” said the mysterious figure in the robe. “Now leave Xenus be, or there will be consequences.” Kylenus stood stone faced in anger. “You will mind your business old one or you will join the boy in death. “As you wish.” the man said. As Kylenus and his soldiers raised their weapons to fire at the man, he raised his hand and turned Kylenus’s weapons, warriors, and Kylenus himself into an instant pile of ash. Xenus stood in silence, both amazed and frightened. The man then removed his hood and revealed a face of likes that Xenus had never seen before.

“Are you alright, Xenus?” The man asked. “Yes” Xenus replied. “You saved my life, good sir, but who are?” Xenus asked with keen curiousity. “Come.” Said the man in an inviting manner. “We have a great deal to discuss in such a short amount of time.” Xenus followed him without question. As Xenus floated alongside the man he noticed the man had something he had never seen before, legs. He also saw this man doing something he had never seen another creature do before, walk. “Sir, what are those limb-like creations underneath your surface and what are you doing with them?” Xenus asked the man curiously. “Well, my young, these are legs and this is called walking. The creatures that will inhabit the coming planet known as earth in the soon to be born new universe will have these.” “So these creatures on this new coming planet won’t be able to float?” Xenus asked confused. “No, they will not.”the man replied. “Well does that not beat all!?” Xenus snarked sarcastically. “They are supposed to be the future of a better existence, yet they can’t even float like their formers, I have to slow my hovering speed just to keep up with you, good sir. The man laughed with genuine amusement at Xenus’s attitude. “Well young Xenus, maybe their slower movements mean they will allow for more time in making smarter choices than this universe did”. Xenus quietly brushed off the man’s suggestion.

As the man and Xenus arrived at their destination, Xenus stopped in confusion as to what he was looking at. “Um sir, what is this small contraption?” He asked. “It is called a house Xenus and in this new universe the inhabitants of the planet that will be known as Earth will be living inside of them.” Said the man with enthusiasm. “But sir I thought they would be living in caverns?” The man laughed in response to Xenus’s observation. “They will live in caverns for their first ions, but in due time they will live in houses such as this. “So their bodies will move slower than ours and their homes will be smaller? Yes, I can see that these creatures of this new universe are destined for real greatness.” Xenus responded sarcastically. “Come inside dear boy.” The man said. “We haven’t much time, but you have much to learn.”

When Xenus entered the house he was amazed at how small it was compared to the palace he lived in, yet was fascinated with how clean it was as well. “Wow, it’s actually rather pleasant.” Xenus said in a surprised tone. “So this is your residence sir?” “No” the man responded. “Technically this place is non-existent, dear boy. It is but a glamour of an image that I have constructed to obtain your attention. Once our meeting has concluded the glamour will collapse and I will be here no more. “Who are you, sir?” Xenus asked. “Young Xenus, my name is Taan and I am one of the elders of the universe.” Xenus took a brief silent pause of shock. “You sir are an elder? It makes perfect sense. I have never seen such a being as you before. My parentage always told me stories about you, but I never thought I’d actually see one of you for myself.” Taan put his hand on Xenus’s shoulder with a smile on his face. “Well I am joyed that you are pleased to see me Xenus, because I am here to deliver you a message.”

Taan sat down on a couch right across from where Xenus hovered. “Xenus you were not aware of my presence, but I have been watching over you from a distance in the galaxy for a millennia. “An elder was watching over me?” asked Xenus in awe. “You are a magnificent being who is destined for greatness my young friend.” Taan replied. “Xenus I know that your heart is troubled because of the ensuing end of this universe, but I am here to inform you that something beautiful will be born from this universe’s end. There are a lot of cataclysms and warring civilizations that plague this universe and they will eventually lead to this universe’s implosion.”

“But why can’t we use our powers to stop it? After all, we are a mighty galaxy.” Xenus asked. “”Well my young friend, it was the abuse of that power that led to this universe’s brink of destruction to begin with. You ran into some of it on your way here.” Xenus thought back on the confrontation with Kylenus from which Taan saved him and started understanding where Taan was coming from. “Yes Xenus.” Taan said, “there will be much worse conflict in this universe than the generational turmoil that you faced and it will have a far more destructive impact. The death of this universe is not only an aversion of future suffering for this universe, but also an early opportunity for redemption for the next, my young. There is life beyond death Xenus and it is a life that is eternal. The best part is you get to share that eternity with the people you love in an afterlife that surpasses any beauty that you previously knew.”

For the first time all day long Xenus finally felt a sense of tranquility. His heart was no longer burdened with anticipation of loss, he now felt a glimmer of hope. "So why have you sought me out, Elder Taan?" Xenus asked. "Because in the life after this Xenus, you have been offered the opportunity to watch over and guide others just as I have watched over and guided you." Xenus's heart was now warmed with shock and amazement that forced a smile on his silvery face. "Are you...are you being genuine, dear elder?" he asked Taan. "Yes.” Taan replied with a chuckle. "Once upon a time I was like you Xenus. I was not always an elder. Ions ago I came from a world of power and was resistant to its impending end, but I could not escape fate. I too was offered the opportunity to learn how to guide others by the teachings of an elder who watched over me and now it is your time, young one. The choice has to be your own Xenus. Only you can make this fate for yourself. Will you choose to teach and guide others as I am teaching and guiding you, as another taught and guided me? Remember, everyone you love will be with you in the life after this one. You can enjoy eternity with them solely, or you can enjoy eternity with them, while also helping another live their existence to it's full potential.”

All Xenus could think about was how his family tried to tell him that everything the elders were allowing was for the good of his universe and the future universe to come. He now felt bad that he had been rebellious and did not want to listen to reason before. "Dear elder." Xenus said to Taan with a smile. "I accept this mission and I am ready to confront my destiny." "I knew you had it in you, my boy." said a tearful Taan. "Now go home and join your family in the valley so that you may be together again on the other side and remember, I will be right there with you...watching over you...guiding you.” Xenus nodded to Taan and turned around to depart from the house. When he made it outside and started to head home he looked back and saw the house engulf itself in a giant ray of light before obliterating into nothing left, but open space.

With a smile on his face and joy in his heart, Xenus quickly floated home past the subsiding destruction he saw on his way to make it back to his family before time ran out. He finally made it to the entrance of his home and found his mother, father and sister all getting ready to depart to the valley. "XENUS!!!" they all exclaimed. "Mother, father, dear sister." he said with delight. "I am so glad I made it back in time, I am ready to join you all in the valley". "But I thought--" his mother started. "I know mother." he said while cutting her off. "While I was away I...I saw...Let's just say that I now understand that all will be well in the end and I am ready to confront fate with the people I love." "I am proud of you, my young." his father said with a smile. "I as well, brother." said his sister with joy. They all embraced him with a hug and were filled with joy that he found solace.

As the four hugged, atmospheric cracks began to fill what was a sunny sky and had now began to blanket the planet in shaded darkness. The ground started to quake and screams such as the ones that Xenus had been hearing for days were now starting to engulf the land. "IT IS TIME!!!" screamed Xenophilius as the four looked up to see the collapsing world around them. "Hurry everyone, lets get to the valley." Xenus commanded. The four quickly flew pass falling buildings with countless citizens screaming and running away in terror. As they finally approached the valley they found many other families there holding tight to each other. As the atmospheric cracks in the sky grew bigger, the screams of the citizenry grew louder.

As everyone around Xenus screamed in terror, Xenus and his family held on to each other tight while Xenus looked up at the disintegrating sky with an effortless smile on his face. "SON WHY ARE YOU SMILING???" Xenophilius screamed at Xenus while noticing his joyful expression. "BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT, FATHER. EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT." he screamed back with assurance. As Xenus continued to look up at the disintegrating sky, an enormous ball of light came crashing through the atmospheric cracks and down to the surface of the planet as the screams continued. The force of light then began to spread across the land and started obliterating everything it made physical contact with, reducing every object, particle and organism to ash. As the light neared Xenus and his family, Xenus closed his eyes while holding tight to all of his family. "I will not scream, I will not scream, I will not scream, I will not scream, I will not scream, I will not be a victim of the screams like the others in the galaxy before me!!!" he whispered to himself as the light finally reached him and his family. As the light made contact with Xenus and his family all he could feel was an intense heat engulfing him and his family. As the temperature rapidly rose higher Xenus and his family collapsed into what they thought was unconsciousness, but there was nothing left of them and the surrounding citizenry, but piles of ash as the light filled the entire land and obliterated the planet entirely.

From what seem like out of nowhere, Xenus finally opened his eyes and found himself floating among stars and what looked like a darkened night sky. When he acknowledged himself he noticed that he had arms and legs much like Taan's and when he felt his arms they were not of the silvery substance that he had known for thousands of years, but were now of flesh. "Welcome, Xenus." said a voice from behind him. When Xenus turned around he was warmly greeted by Taan. "Taan!" he exclaimed with a smile. "So this is it, this is the new universe?" "Yes it is." Taan responded. "Where is my family, are they safe?" Xenus asked. With a wave of his hand in front of Xenus's face, Taan showed Xenus an image of his family now in the same fleshly form that he and Taan were in as they were smiling and embracing each other in what looked like a beautiful, peaceful valley. "They look like me and you." Xenus said with a smile. "They are like me and you Xenus." Taan replied. "This form of flesh that we are in is called human and these humans will be the race of creatures that dominate the planet behind you." When Xenus turned around he saw a newborn planet unlike anything he had ever seen before, the planet was called Earth.

"So they are the future?" Xenus asked with a tone of hope. "Yes." Taan replied with a smile. "Come Xenus, so that you can be reunited with your family and later we will begin your training as an elder to this universe." "It would be my pleasure, elder Taan." said Xenus with a smile. As Xenus and Taan departed off into the universe, Xenus looked back at the newborn Earth and smiled with a heart of determination to help the planet be it's best. "My name is Elder Xenus." he said to the planet in the distance, "And this is where history begins."