Chapter Five: Second Meeting

Above the floor of a sheer white room floated a still human body. The nude female hovered unconscious above the floor suspended only by a cushion of cool air. The invisible bed gently caressed every inch of the woman's body as it held her in mid air.

For the moment, the woman's mind was filled with emptiness, unencumbered from woes of any kind. Her body was made pristine as well. No longer was her skin scratched or irritated in any way. Every part of her body had been restored to perfection.

Floating down from above her, tickling her skin with its warmth, drifted a large globe of light. It hovered there, above the body, bathing the still woman in a sheen of glory.

Walking over beside the floating female body was her proud sponsor, Rachel. She took her place at the head of the invisible bed. She looked down at the beautiful serene face in front of her and smiled lovingly. She reached over and caressed the woman's face, marveling at her beauty.

The whispers from the great sphere invaded the silence. Rachel took her hand away and looked up at the floating orb, trying to temper her feelings of sheer joy. A somewhat feminine voice rose above the whispers to address Rachel. "You were present in the garden. You assisted her. We know, Rachel. We saw."

Rachel let the joyful glow over her face smooth away. She feared retribution. She hoped none would come. When the full weight of the matter fell upon her, she answered. "Yes Masters, it is true. I did guide her through the garden. I led her to the body."

"It was intended that she would locate the body and evaluate her actions in her own time. By forcing the test, you may have skewed the results."

"I feared for the life of the other. She was suffering so. I thought, if she wasn't discovered quickly, she might have died."

"Then we would have supplied another for the test. The Masters always provide. Your actions have jeopardized your candidate's chances for selection. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Rachel bowed her head, trying to hide her shame. "I am heartily sorry. I was eager for you to examine her performance. Oh Masters, I beg for your forgiveness." Rachel knew the consequences of disobeying the Masters, but she wasn't in fear for her own well being. Her feelings were for her prodigy.

Rachel had endured great emotional costs in order to bring her creation into fruition. But, her feelings were not merely made up of selfish futility for the effort she wasted striving for her creation. Her sadness was submitted solely for her beautiful creation. She had grown to love and admire the being lying before her. Her love had grown so strong, Rachel would not have the strength to withstand the infinite sorrow she'd feel if her precious wonder were destroyed.

The glowing ball fell closer to Rachel. There was no conference among the sea of voices. Only the same soft voice spoke. "Faithful servant to the Masters, Rachel, lift your head and feel sorrow no more. We have already debated this violation and we have come to the conclusion that your actions, although inappropriate, did not influence the results. Your crime was trivial and, therefore, requires no chastisement."

In all the universe, there existed no greater power than the Masters. Rachel knew this. To go without punishment after disobeying the Masters was considered an awesome thing. Rachel fell to her knees, overcome with relief. "On behalf of me and my creation, I thank you, Masters. Thank you for sparing our lives."

A deeper voice moved forward from inside the sphere. "Enough of that, Rachel. Stand up. It is time to address the results of the test."

Rachel rose to her feet. After smoothing her dress with her hands, she took a deep breath and focused her gaze on the Masters once again. "I am ready."

The glowing ball floated up, allowing its shimmer to wash over the resting body lying below it. The softer feminine voice spoke once again. "She seemed very comfortable in the garden."

Rachel smiled. "Yes, she most certainly did."

"She was afraid. She did run away."

Rachel's smile softened a bit. "Yes, but she did go back. She struggled with her emotions at first, then she made her decision. Even though she was initially repulsed by the creature, she went back."

"Her urge to return was not only driven by a wish to help the misfortunate one. She was also driven by guilt."

A look of confusion twisted Rachel's face. "Guilt? Please explain."

"She was overcome with the sense that, if she ran, she would be committing some sort of offense. If the creature had died, she would have considered herself responsible. The idea caused her to feel a drop in her own self-worth. No longer comfortable with leaving the creature behind, a strong feeling of obligation took control of her. She ceased fearing for her own safety. Her eagerness to help subjugated all her fears away."

Rachel's eyes grew glossy with tears. A new glowing smile stretched across her face. "Oh My. In other words…You mean…"

"Yes, Rachel. She passed the test."

Rachel was overcome once more, this time by sheer joy. She looked down at the figure lying before her, then she looked back to the Masters. "Oh my," she whispered to herself.

"You have given her a wonderful mind, Rachel. It has all the characteristics we desire for the next race. You should be commended for your work."

Rachel wanted to burst out with laughter. She wanted to sing and dance around the room. She wanted to express her overwhelming happiness. She didn't. She found the strength to control herself while in the Masters' presence.

"There is still one major problem with her. We've discussed it before."

Suddenly, Rachel's excitement sunk like a stone dropped into the deepest ocean. "What's that?" she asked.

"You made her human. The human species has already proven itself a failure. Its tendencies toward the negative expressions - such as pride, arrogance, wrath - made it a failure. That is why the species was destroyed."

"With all due respect, Masters, the human species was not given much guidance. It was left alone for too long. With more guidance, it might have evolved into something far better. Maybe with my creation's more stable design, along with your supervision, it can succeed were the earlier version didn't."

"The deeper voice once again spoke. "We hope your design is purer than its predecessor. It will be the only difference this version has over the earlier one. More guidance will not be afforded it. In fact, the next race will have even less guidance than the last. That is our decision. It will not be changed."

Rachel nodded her head respectfully. "Yes, Masters."

"In spite of our misgivings toward your design, we have decided to select it as the next prominent species for the universe. Of all the other new arrivals, yours is the most promising. Congratulations, Rachel. You have succeeded."

Rachel was overwhelmed. Unfathomable joy bubbled up from inside Rachel once again. She wanted to sing and dance around the room with joy, but again she controlled emotions. She didn't want to appear foolish or silly in front of the Masters. It simply would not be appropriate. She suppressed her glee as best she could. "That's wonderful," she giggled. "Thank you, Masters."

She took a deep breath and smiled at the globe while whipping a tear from the corner of her eye. "So, Masters, what is our next step?"

A single child-like voice spoke from inside the sphere. "She will be delivered to the garden as she is. The rest that follow her shall enter the world like this - with nothing. It shall be a statement of humility. Do you understand?"

Rachel nodded. "Yes, I understand."

"When next she wakes, she will find herself lying on a bed of flowers in the garden."

"Yes, Masters."

"Soon you will begin working on her counterpart. For now, we wish you to drop your human facade and return to us."

"Masters?" Rachel raised her voice in an inquisitive manner, "What will happen to the other candidates?"

"The will not be destroyed. Each one will be placed on a world best suited for them, but they will not reach a level of sentience that your humans will possess. Now come along, Rachel. We have much to discuss."

Again Rachel nodded. Before her transformation, she took a moment to look over her creation through human eyes for the last time. She studied her long tone legs and arms. Her eyes then traced along the smooth curves and shapes of her slender sculpted body. Finally, Rachel studied her face. It was like the rest of her, strong and beautiful. She wore a calm expression - quiet and serene with only the hint of a smile. Rachel took a step back, trying to engrave the entire image in her mind. If Rachel hadn't known the truth, she would have thought she was looking a great piece of art created by some long forgotten master. Although Rachel did know the truth, in her heart, she still considered Una the greatest work of art ever created.

Once her moment of reflection had passed, Rachel backed away from the sleeping figure. She closed her eyes and knelt on the floor. Within a moment, her body began to shrink. As she grew smaller, the outline of her body began to shrivel. Her whole frame continued to twist and wither until all that was left of her was a tiny ball. The ball turned opaque and began to glow with an orange hue. The tiny sphere of light floated up above the floor. It darted erratically around the slumbering Una, flashing with the vivid brilliance of a rainbow as it flew. Finally, the tiny globe stopped its strange dance and floated toward the great glowing sphere nearby. It hovered very close for a moment, then it slowly sank in, becoming one with the many inside.

[Chapter 1: Purfication] [Chapter 2: Examination] [Chapter 3: First Meeting] [Chapter 4: Second Test] [Chapter 5: Second Meeting] [Chapter 6: The Begining]