《Life Compendium》 The Gods Just Want To Play Hide & Seek Dear Lifeform, This text has been translated to your comprehension thanks to numerous archivists working at the Eternal Citadel. The exert is a part of ¡®The Life Compendium¡¯ as it tells the story of creation in the prime universe. So far being the only evidence of it¡¯s existence. __________________________________________________ ¡°Hello.¡± I spoke and the first word in the universe came to be. Back then there was nothing, or rather everything; who¡¯s to say really? I remember floating aimlessly for a millennia or was it for a minute? Sometimes I get those two confused. Anyway, it was a bit after that when I came across Space, my sibling, my beautiful sibling. ¡°Let¡¯s play a game!¡± Space exclaimed. ¡°A game?¡± I asked. ¡°Yes a game!¡± They grinned. ¡°What game?¡± I said having the knowledge of every game which ever will exist or has existed. ¡°Hide and Seek!¡± Space jumped and with them the whole of creation and uncreationmoved. ¡°But Space,¡± I looked at them dejected. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere to hide.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± They looked down at the abyss, filled with sorrow. ¡°I guess this is as good of a time as any.¡± I chuckled to myself, as only I would understand the humor in that sentence. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Hold me,¡± I extended what some may call an appendage towards Space. As they took it, all of creation began to glow with colors that could and could not be described. And from them came Life. ¡°Hello?¡± Life looked a little bit surprised to be given conscious form. ¡°Life,¡± I said. ¡°We need your help.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Space added. ¡°We want to play hide and seek.¡± Life just smiled and spread out their arms. Not a millisecond later the universe was created, the first universe, and with it all the stars and planets one could wish for. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it!¡± Exclaimed Space. ¡°It is truly beautiful.¡± I said. ¡°It truly is.¡± Life nodded with a smile as they waved goodbye and vanished into the vastness. Now I bet you are wondering, if Life has been created then where is Death? Don¡¯t the two go hand in hand? Well yes, that¡¯s exactly right. You see, Death is a part of Life and Life is a part Death, those two are the same being for one could not exist without the other. Space and I argued for a minute or a millennium, regarding who would hide and who would seek, but we quickly realized that we were all encompassing and all seeing; So there was no point in playing hide and seek. Distraught, Space began to sob and from their tears the black holes came into existence. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± I smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll play one day.¡± ¡°You promise.¡± Space looked at me through hopeful eyes. ¡°I promise.¡± I said, knowing that we will play again at the end of creation. __________________________________________________ An interesting tale to be sure, unlike my co-archivists I remain optimistic that ¡®The Life Compendium¡® actually exists. Thus I have made it my life¡¯s mission to discover as much about the mythical text and the first universe as possible. However, my quest shall not hinder my duties as an archivists and I shall continue to collect information, stories and histories from the different realities. By the Progenitor it shall be so. Sincerely, 01100001 01110010 01100011 01101000 01101001 01110110 01101001 01110011 01110100 00100000 00110001 00111001 00110010 Mushy The Mushroom Knight Dear Lifeform, This short text was discovered after bug-like creatures brought about an apocalypse on a world we have dubbed ¡°Basidiomycete¡°. Although the locals have overcome this apocalypse, some thousand years past, they believe the text to be mere legend*. However, our analyses has indicated that it is in fact based on reality. The Lifeforms in this short exert actually existed. Addendum: The believe the characters in this particular story to be legend, not the apocalypse itself. __________________________________________________ In fields of green and woods unseen there lives a kingdom of a mushroom dream. In a tower so high and bright there lives a single knight. Guarding the kingdom with all his might, Mushy watches the fields day and night. ¡°Mushy, Mushy, come and eat.¡± Says the princess all so sweet. ¡°Nay.¡± Responds Mushy in a breeze. ¡°Apologies princess, but my task is hard and I need no distraction be they sweet or not.¡± The princess huffs and puffs until she climbs the tower fast. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Asks Mushy the mushroom knight. ¡°If you won¡¯t come down to eat then I shall bring the food in heat.¡± Disgruntled, but happy for this gesture so sweet Mushy smiles and eats. ¡°So what do you do here all week?¡± The princess asks mouth full of grease. ¡°I look and I observe the trees, look far and wide to see if any would dare encroach on our kingdom home. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s so brave and true, can I watch with you?¡± ¡°Like the days long past?¡± ¡°Like when we were young, oh, how fast we grow.¡± The princess leaned over the tower window and with a smile she twirled a pendant flower. ¡°Remember when you gave me this?¡± It was black and gold and it shone with a light so bright, yet invisible to the naked eye. A trinket of some renown, it was rumored to have been found by the gods of old as the world shook forth into a new whole. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°I do.¡± Mushy says with bliss. ¡°It was a rainy day, back when we were but little and zany.¡± ¡°We still are.¡± The princess laughed. ¡°That we are.¡± Mushy smiles like a wish had been fulfilled. ¡°Back then, I would always run around and you would drag me back.¡± ¡°Now the tables have turned, it seems.¡± ¡°That it does. Remember when I got lost for days, with no food or water. All I wished was to see you again, one last time.¡± ¡°Not for a trays of shewed plate of wen?¡± ¡°Not even for a blewed bread from Rushen¡¯s. That day, when I was ready to give up and forfeit my life I saw the pendant glowing in the night. I believe it showed me the way back to you. It was the best day of my life, when I say your face so surprised.¡± Mushy laughed. ¡°I always wished I would marry you.¡± As soon as the words kiss his ears, Mushy¡¯s eyes grow wide with fear. He had loved the princess too, but what is a common mushroom to do? He was a Button and she a Veiled Lady. ''Tis a tale as old as time, it¡¯s true but will Mushy be able to come through? ¡°Princess.¡± He says with a stern face. ¡°I am but a common fool, a boy who sits in a tower all day with nothing to offer you, per say. I only have my honor, a tolerance for pain and my top-notch brain. I like chess and hate carrot cake, but I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make you mine.¡± The princess cries out in laughter as Mushy steps back to the rafter. Confusion and disillusion begin to build up at the seam, as his confidence falters and his hand shakes. ¡°Oh, my sweet mushroom knight. Calm your mind.¡± The princess takes a breath as she goes closer without fret. ¡°I laugh not at your confession, well¡­I do, but not for the reasons you think. I love you too, it¡¯s true and I want to be with you.¡± ¡°Then why?¡± Mushy asks, face growing pale. ¡°Because of your earnest way and because you called yourself both a fool and a genius in the same sentence. Although I do not deny that you are both a fool and a know-it-all.¡± The princess leans forward as if to kiss his lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for laughing. Will you accept my apology, good sir?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll require more convincing.¡± Mushy says as their lips touch and his hearth drips. Not even a second later a bell is heard and Mushy runs to the window, his mind blurred. ¡°What is it?¡± The princess asks a little hurt. ¡°No.¡± Mushy whispers first. ¡°You need to go.¡± He says in distress. ¡°An attack?¡± The princess asks. ¡°And fast approaching.¡± Mushy runs to the tower bell in fret and rings it as sweat drops down his brown head. ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± The princess says as her eyes fall upon the approaching threat. They appear black in color with legs of thunder and wings so wide they could take flight. ¡°¡­Instead they run.¡± The princess says as she embraces Mushy in her arms. The tower shakes and Mushy The Mushroom Knight takes the princess to the corner. ¡°If it is to be our last days, I¡¯m glad I got to spend them with you.¡± Says Mushy. ¡°I love you too.¡± The princess¡¯s blushy smile is the last thing our Knight sees, before it all goes dark. A Dream of Time Dear Lifeform, This is a conversation recorded by two visitors to the Eternal Citadel. Due to privacy reasons, the identity of said visitors has been redacted. Thank you for your understanding. __________________________________________________ ¡°Do you remember Paris?¡± ¡°Paris¡­.Paris? No, can¡¯t say that I do.¡± ¡°Oh, come on. I know that you do. Earth, 1789.¡± ¡°Ah yes, Earth. Girl, that was a bad time for a picnic. What about it?¡± ¡°Well, I was just thinking it¡¯s weird how history repeats itself. No matter what planet you go to, no matter the species or their history the same thing happens over and over again.¡± ¡°Well you know, most of them have pretty short memories.¡± ¡°And why do you think that is?¡± ¡°Evolution I guess. Most of this universe¡¯s conscious beings came from small, insignificant lifeforms¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call them that!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Small lives and life forms are not insignificant.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m sorry. Anyways, as I was saying, they evolved in a world that was much smaller than the one they grew into. And that growth happened way too fast, evolution is like a snail, it takes its time but eventually goes where it needs to go.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a snail in their eyes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more like a pigeon in ours.¡± Stolen story; please report. ¡°I get what you mean, but why a pigeon?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Because we like pigeons.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a really underrated animal.¡± ¡°There you go.¡± ¡°So your saying that they have all these conflicts, for ideology, land, resources, history and so one because their minds can¡¯t handle the vastest of the world they grew up in?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say ¡®they can¡¯t handle it,¡® it¡¯s more like¡­When you jump into freezing water for the first time. You¡¯re body has trouble adjusting to the sudden change and goes into a state of shock.¡± ¡°How long do you think this state will last?¡± ¡°From their perceptive? I¡¯d say a good long while.¡± ¡°And from ours?¡± ¡°Eh. Not that long¡­Why do you ask anyway?¡± ¡°Oh. Because we made a friend.¡± ¡°We did?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s this cute little human from 22nd century Earth.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s nice. You know the 22nd century is when they start taking evolution into their own hands.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad thing, right?¡± ¡°Like most things, it depends on your point of view. I wouldn¡¯t say it¡¯s bad¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°But as long as you don¡¯t take it to the extreme. For example, there was this one universe where a conscious species - around the same level of intelligence as your humans - decided to transfer their minds into mechanical automatons.¡± ¡°So they became androids?¡± ¡°Basically. Technology should exist hand in hand with nature, it should help guide lifeforms to a brighter future and not replace that future entirely.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think humanity is heading in that direction.¡± ¡°Well, who¡¯s to say. The way I see it, they are at a crossroads and it all depends on what society chooses.¡± ¡°So..Ci..Ety¡­It¡¯s a funny word.¡± ¡°It is and it¡¯s a funny concept too. Like someone decided to stop halfway on the road to a hive mind.¡± ¡°Anyways, I have to go.¡± ¡°Where you off to?¡± ¡°Going to watch the birth of a new universe.¡± ¡°Oh, exciting.¡± ¡°Do you want to come?¡± ¡°Why do you feel the need to mock me?¡± ¡°Sorry, It¡¯s just too easy sometimes.¡± ¡°Well, I would love to hear all about this new universe next time you visit.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± Captain鈥檚 Log Dear Lifeform, The following video-log was recovered on the desolate wasteland of what used to be Asteres Planetai B-24.1 of the universe Astrum Peregrination F-10. The video has been transcribed and translated for your convince. Please keep in mind that by the time of recovery, part of the log had been damaged beyond repair. Thus leaving some sections untranslatable or lost. __________________________________________________ Star-Year 2653.6 ¡°¡­The last ship has finally left the planet. I would be lying if I said I¡¯m happy about it. I know it¡¯s an awful thing to admit, but luckily for me no one will ever see this. (the Lifeform then begins to laugh through rivers of tears flowing down its face.) ¡­But I am glad that humankind will live on, somehow the thought of that is the only comfort I can afford right now as I stare at the hordes of Byfluga slowly stampeding towards me. (Our archivists are yet to determine the nature of these so called ¡®Byfluga¡®. Although their appearance does resemble black insects with large wings.) ¡­I estimate that the creatures, no, rather this cruel joke of a life form would be upon me in less then a week. ¡­I was lucky. A sand storm hit just as the creatures reached the compound. It wasn¡¯t pleasant, but somehow I managed to escape. Better yet, I took a few of the bastards down as I made my way into the abyssal unknown.¡± Star-Year 2653.7 ¡°One month, for one month I have been wandering around the red sands of this forsake place, hiding from both storm and Byfluga alike. A part of me wants to hope that someone will come for me, that the survivors would launch a rescue mission and I would get to see my wife and daughter again. But another part of me, the logical part, knows that is impossible. I knew what would happen when I volunteered to stay. I don¡¯t regret it, I know I¡¯m a hero¡­¡± Star-Year 2653.10 ¡°THIS IS INCREDIBLE. Unbelievable. I have found an underground compound the architecture appears to be made sometime in the Third-Seldon-Era. The gold lining is well preserved, the intricate Nano-Pattern seems to still be functional. As if the cataclysm had no effect on this place. How, how is this possible? (At this moment the Lifeform¡¯s eyes grow wide and it begins to shake, falling down on it¡¯s knees.) ¡­I have walked around this compound for a couple of days now, and I am convinced this was build as a luxury retreat for some high standing figure during that era¡­ Although, the Nano-Patter is still depicting the intricacies of Third-Seldon-Era art the rest of the thinking machines seem to be offline. However, I am convinced with a bit of scavenging and elbow grease I can turn them back online. Judging by the fire escape map, there also seems to be an armory, food storage and entertainment center¡­all locked¡­ of course. Additional note: I seem to be running low on supplies, so maybe it¡¯s time to think about food and water¡­I wonder how a Byfluga tastes.¡± Star-Year 2653.10 ¡°I have ventured into the wasteland once again. Strangely enough the monstrous creatures are nowhere to be found. After two decades of constant war we still know nothing of the Byfluga nor where they came from, but with any luck they will all die out soon. ¡­I finally managed to access the storage room I found earlier, there¡¯s so much food and water here it would take me a couple of trips to bring it all back. What¡¯s more I haven¡¯t seen a single Byfluga ever since I left the compound. I guess that takes care of two problems, now for the parts I need.¡± Star-Year 2653.11 ¡°Time feels like it¡¯s drifting by, I find myself waking up at night in horror, confused as to where I am¡­ ¡­The compound appears small, I have circled it hundredths of times, still I find myself circling it again and again and again and again and¡­. I know the architects of the time were big on secret passageways and I¡¯m certain that once I get the place fully operational it will prove me right. It¡¯s time venture out once more¡­ ¡­The landscape seems to be changing, landmarks I once knew are long since gone, sand dunes and endless oceans of nothing stretch as far as the eye can see. I don¡¯t recognize my own planet anymore¡­ ¡­I have been wandering for a fortnight and I finally found the parts needed to reboot the compound, but something is troubling me. I have also discovered fresh Byfluga tracks, or rather a single track of a single Byfluga. In all my years of fighting the abysmal creatures I have never known them to travel alone, it could be the last one left¡­but then again¡­¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Star-Year 2653.12 ¡°I have finally made it back to the compound, just in time for the new years celebration. (The Lifeform laughs hysterically.) ¡­I have fixed the thinking machines and with a single push of a button, this place will be fully operational. But not yet, no, I plan to wait until December 31, when the clock strikes midnight. I though it would be fun to start the year with a positive attitude. (The Lifeform laughs hysterically again.) Oh and I did not run into any Byfluga or any more tracks for that matter, which is a good sign¡­I guess.¡± Star-Year 2654.1 ¡°HAPPY NEW YEAR!¡± (The Lifeform presses a button of the large-red variety and the whole establishment lights up with colors of green, yellow, blue and purple.) ¡°Th¡­this¡­ is incredible.¡± (The Lifeform once again laughs hysterically with a giant smile on its face as tears stream down its cheeks.) ¡°G-G-G-Greetings, I-I am E.D.A., here to make your stay as pleasant as a moon chair.¡± (A holographic image of a female human appears behind the Lifeform. Startling it in the process.) ¡°Incredible. An old thinking machine¡­ I wonder. Eda, do you have access to present day archived information?¡± ¡°Satellite connection offline. Accessing last transmission: 23 years, 11 months and 5 days. Reason for connection failure unknown. Running system diagnostic ¡ª Diagnostic time: 10 years, 5 months, 10 days, 12 hours, 6 minutes and 45 seconds.¡± ¡°Cancel Diagnostic.¡± ¡°Error: Administrative Privilege Required.¡± ¡°Override!¡± ¡°Error: Administrative Privilege Required.¡± ¡°Damn it. It was worth a shot. Am I still able to access Eda functions while diagnostic is running?¡± ¡°Error: Administrative Privilege Required.¡± ¡°Guess not. FUCK!¡± (The Lifefrom proceeds to punch a wall.) Star-Year 2654.1 ¡°After my outburst yesterday, for which I would like to apologize to myself, I found out that despite the¡­unfortunate lack of companionship this shelter¡¯s locked rooms have now been open. I am looking forward to exploring them¡­ ¡­Oh and I have recently gotten into poetry, which is weird, because I never liked them flowy words before. (The Lifeform laughs hysterically as if it has made a funny joke.)¡± Star-Year 2654.4 ¡°I HAVE DONE IT! I HAVE CAPTURED A LIVE BYFLUGA!!! Don¡¯t ask me how, I¡¯m not sure I know myself. But I believe, hope and pray that it is the last of its kind. My next goal will be to find out as much about this creature as possible.¡± Star-Year 2655.1 ¡°Oh my children! do they cry, Do they hear their father sigh? Now they look abroad to see, Now return and weep for me.¡± Star-Year 2655.5 ¡°I find myself waking up at night with tears in my eyes, what I dream of I know not, only that my sanity is fading and my beast is¡­foretelling? Damn. damn. damn. damn. damn. It appears that I am so lost and lonely that at times I even find myself talking to the Byfluga about my day, not that there¡¯s much to say. It usually just stands in its cage, staring through me or into me, depending on how you look at it. It¡¯s almost like, the creature doesn¡¯t even register my existence. I have named it Wilson. ¡­Yesterday I tried it again, I put the gun up to my head¡­ I tried and cried and wished but could not do it. (The Lifeform begins to sob.) Part of me keeps thinking ¡®What if they come back? What if someone, anyone comes back. I have to be here to greet them.¡¯, even though I know that they know that I am already dead and no rescue is coming.¡± Star-Year 2655.7 ¡°¡­ ¡­ ¡­ I¡­ it can¡¯t be¡­how is this possible? The Byfluga¡­they have returned en mass, they are¡­different¡­and they appear to be flying outside the atmosphere¡­or at least attempting too. I don¡¯t know how to explain it, they are the same as they have ever been¡­only bigger and they appear to be attempting naked space travel. I would laugh if it wasn¡¯t for the few who seem to be succeeding¡­ I need to stop this.¡± Star-Year 2655.9 ¡°I have spent the past two months, hiding, scavenging and scouting. For the first time in forever, I have been able to sleep soundly. It¡¯s funny really, I feel death approaching but I do not fear it instead I accept it with open arms. I no longer cry in the night, because I have found my purpose. Stopping the Byfluga from reaching the stars is why I have survived for so long and now, that mission is nearing it¡¯s end. However, I am not an idiot. I realize the chance for failure is greater than the chance of success. That is why I have spent and past few months trying to implement a secondary procedure into Eda. Using the Byfluga I captured awhile back and all available data before the cataclysm, my hope is that Eda will be able to start analyzing it once the diagnostic is over. There is still some work to be done and although I might not see the results and I might fail in my mission, I do hope that someday, somehow, someone will find Eda and use that information to end this cycle of violence.¡± Star-Year 2655.11 ¡°Prepare your hearts for Death¡¯s cold hand! prepare Your souls for flight, your bodies for the earth; Prepare your arms for glorious victory; Prepare your eyes to meet a holy God! Prepare, prepare! I am prepared! The Byfluga seemed to be buzzing around the norther hills and that is where I shall go. Armed with blasters, grenades and flamethrowers¡­why they had those in a luxury resort I will never know, but I¡¯m glad they did¡­ I will take my vengeance upon the bugs and my fury will rain down upon them like the crashing of a thousand winds!¡± Star-Year 2655.12 ¡°(The Lifeform laughs like a madman.) Earth raised up her head From the darkness dread and drear, Her light fled, Stony, dread, And her locks covered with gray despair. I have won! VICTORY! VICTORY FOR HUMANITY! VICTORY FOR ME! ¡­now I believe I can rest, the eternal sleep¡­has come for me¡­¡±(Slowly the his breathing grows fainter and fainter, until it is no more. The video-log continues recording, until a horde of Byfluga trample over the log and the body of the Captain.)