Awoken (26 page)
Oa lay on the cold metal floor in pain. He was tired; and even though he considered healing himself, he did not have the strength. His laceration did not expand, but life slowly drained away through it. Oa thought about all he had been through and about everything he had seen. He thought about his vision and how he had wanted to make something better out of the world. He pondered all this as he lay at the end of all things.
Two Ones—what an odd idea. Ohm and I awoke so far apart, and yet, we grew so close. Why were we so different in the end?
Oa thought to himself.
Myself, made with no ember, and Ohm made to consume everything. What was the Creator thinking
…?
he let his thoughts drift off.
Suddenly, he realized what he had to do. With every last bit of energy Oa had, he rolled over and crawled toward Ohm’s soul ember. He reached forward and, straining to his limit each time, he pulled himself a little closer. Every fiber of his being was focused on reaching that ember. Oa stretched out his hand again to pull himself closer, and he felt the crystal. He gripped the ember feebly and rolled onto his side. With grim resolve, he set the stone in the empty cavity in his chest. He was too tired to even try to align the connections. Oa collapsed onto his back, finished. Seeker flickered and went out.
Inside Oa’s chest, the soul ember rose up and rotated around. It oriented itself correctly then dropped back down into his chest socket with a single flare of warmth. Seeker began to glow brilliantly. Tendrils of energy flowed out of Seeker and into Oa’s body. Countless rays of light shot out of the orb until the sphere had melted away completely. Oa’s body could no longer be seen. Only a being of pure light remained.
***
Oa awoke. He sensed his body sit up slowly. A sliver of his mind registered that he was encased in a small, dark room, trapped in the remnants of a dead world. This did not bother him. He finally felt unhindered, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The strange symbols no longer bombarded his inner sight. Oa looked down, only one symbol remained at his core. He looked closer. The strange glyph seemed to beckon him, calling out. Oa plunged into the singularity. He could see nothing other than the symbol. He was mesmerized by the depths of the aura within his chest. The sounds of life teamed around him. He could hear it; he could feel it.
“Hey, Oa!” Kai’s voice called out to him. Oa felt her slug him in the arm. “Took you long enough, but you did it. We’re are all here. There’s that guy and what’s her name—pretty much everybody. Cale and Jess want to meet you later,” she said unable to contain all of her excitement. “Whoa, look out! Susan wants to say hi.” Oa felt the familiar tickle of static across his face. He heard Susan’s happy bark.
A friendly voice laughed, “That can wait Kai. I’m sure Oa would like a moment to get his bearings.” Oa felt Ohm’s hands on his shoulders.
Oa heard himself speak. “I did it,” he said happily.
“Of course, you did,” Kai’s voice echoed back warmly.
“So what now, Oa? You ready to show us that vision of yours, or is this it?” Ohm asked, teasing.
“Yeah,” Oa said. He paused for a moment as he fell deeper into the light, following his friends. He laughed or smiled; he could not tell which. “Of course, I’m ready. First, we have to grow. Things are too small here. I’m thinking bigger, much bigger.” He reached toward his dream; his potential.
“Not so flat this time, though. They’re gonna want more room to soar in,” Kai said. Her voice sounded far away. The sound of cheerful laughter and music filled Oa.
“Just show us where to go,” Ohm whispered. His words carried softly through the sounds of joy around Oa. “
Your will shall be.
”
“Yes, it’s time to go,” Oa said. He sprinted faster and faster toward the symbol of light. He stretched out his hand and took hold.
***
In the center of the chamber, a shining figure sat floating in the air; legs crossed, hands resting calmly on its knees. The radiant being began to grow, filling the room. Illumination surged around the husk of death, a broken law. The empty, shrouded carcass melted away as the aura of life pushed against its confined existence. The noise of countless voices filled the space, laughing and cheering together in a song of hope. The song echoed throughout the universe as light pushed against its boundaries. All at once, the walls shattered. Rays of creation burst forth, forging ahead in pursuit of what lay concealed in the deep.
-The End.
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