Chapter Six: The Beginning

Una felt something gently brushing against her face. It was soft. She didn't open her eyes immediately. She laid there, trying to figure out what it was. A cool soft shaft of air washed over her. Again, the soft brushing thing touched her face. She drew in a deep breath, filling her nose with the fragrant sent of flowers. Instantly, the image of the garden flashed in her mind.

As quick as an arrow, Una sat up and opened her yes. To her joyous surprise, she was back in the garden amid the trees and flowers. The glowing sun hung high, warming her bare skin. A cool breeze blew by Una, drying the tiny drops of sweat coating her body.

Not far from Una stood the bright gleaming structure she came from. The building rose up high into the sky, higher than the highest tree. Una then looked down at herself. She was without clothing. Feeling a bit self-conscious, Una shifted her position trying in vain to make her nakedness less noticeable. As Una turned her attention back to the great edifice, she began to wonder. She wondered why Rachel would let her out into the garden without any clothes. She wouldn't before.

Leaving her shyness behind, Una stood up and walked over to the massive structure. Squinting her eyes for protection against the bright sun, she tilted her head up and looked the building over. The strange building was quiet, like some silent sentry on eternal duty. Una still remembered the method for opening the massive doors. She placed her hand flat against the door. Una waited for the doors to open, but nothing happened. In a loud voice, Una called out. "Rachel!" she shouted, but received no reply.

Feeling rejected, Una backed away from the large doors. She turned to the flower patch where she awoke and plucked the white flower that had gently brushed her face. As she ran its soft pedals against her cheek, she became lost in her own thoughts. A moment later, Una turned her back to the structure, giving her full attention to the beautiful expanse that lay ahead of her.

***

Much time had passed since Una first awoke alone in the garden. At first, Una felt somewhat abandoned by her kind and loving assistant. Her uneasy feelings didn’t last once the loving arms of the garden welcomed her in.

Early on, Una experienced many new and wonderful things. She experienced sleeping under the stars and waking up with the dawn. She experienced the warmth of the sun as it washed over her bare skin. She also felt the exhilaration of the rain as it fell over her body. Indeed, Una learned many new and wonderful things during those young days in the garden. As she continued to learn and experience new things, she also began to learn many things about herself. One of the must important and satisfying things Una first discovered was eating.

One bright morning, Una found herself drawn to the luscious fruit dangling from the branches of a great tree. At first, Una didn't understand the strange pangs she felt in the pit of her stomach. She only sensed that the tree's delectable offerings might satisfy her. She plucked one of its most mature gifts from one of the heavy bows and rolled the red object around in her hands. Dismissing any uncertainties, Una closed her eyes and took a bite. Her teeth ripped through its thin flesh, cutting a large chunk into her mouth. Slowly she chewed the piece. Its sweet flavor made her tongue erupt with excitement. As she continued to chew, her whole mouth grew full with succulent pulp. The luscious flavors sent waves of pleasure washing over her entire body. Una then swallowed, sending it all down her throat and into her stomach. She didn't think about her diminishing pangs of hunger. She continued to chomp away at the fruit, delighting in its taste.

Not too long after, Una experienced something else. It was a discomforting sensation. It wasn't hunger. It was different. It reminded her of the pain she felt from her first experience with the yellow liquid. She needed to free herself of the odd sensation.

Una walked beneath the branches of a large tree, far away from the trees with the tasty treats. She looked around timidly, then leaned back against it. As Una gently coaxed, an odd mass slowly spilled out from her behind. Although the sensation wasn't overly unpleasant, the foul odor was. A moment after she finished being grossly offensive, a thin stream of golden water sprang from the front area. Una found this release less messy and much less offensive than the other one. Once she felt completely relieved, Una reached up and grabbed a clump of soft leaves to clean herself. She walked away from her mess, only to return when she felt the sensations return.

As time passed, loneliness became Una's constant companion. Even though Una felt quite content living in the garden, she still believed she was missing something. She wanted a companion. The garden was a wonderful place. She wished she could share in its beauty with someone else. Although Una wasn't alone in the garden, she still felt lonely. The other creatures that lived in the garden with Una spent most of their time either flying over her head or scurrying along the ground and in the trees. Una wished there were someone else more like her. Someone to share her discoveries with. Someone to talk with.

***

Every morning Una would sit in the flower patch, gazing at the place of her origin. She would twirl her long dark hair in her fingers and study the odd monolithic building. She wondered about it. She wondered who built it in the first place. She wondered if there were still others inside. She wondered if Rachel was inside somewhere still.

On most days, she would watch the great building for only a few minutes before finally leaving to continue her explorations. On other days, she'd stay there for many hours, talking to it about her adventures of the day before. But, no matter how long she stayed near, the doors never opened.

Until one day.

One day, the doors opened right before her very eyes.

***

The young man walked nervously down the long hallway, being led only by his guardian. Although he'd only known her for a short time, he had grown to love and admire her. To him, she embodied the essence of kindness and love. As she led him down the long narrow hall, he looked down at her, a blanket of concern covering his face. The small woman with the colorful dress looked up at him and smiled softly.

As their walk drew longer, a tread of uneasiness in his mind began to weave itself into something more significant. He could no longer wait patiently for his aid to lay the answers at his feet. He needed to understand. "Rachel, where are we going?" he asked. "To another test?"

Rachel looked up at her young friend and smiled. She had to look up. He was a full head taller than she was. Although he seemed somewhat intimidating, she knew he was just as gentle as her previous creation. "Unus, do you remember the place outside your window?" she asked.

The man's eyes flickered with interest. "You mean the garden? Where the other one lives? Will…"

"Her name is Una. Yes, she will be there too. She's been hoping for a companion; someone she can relate to. Heed her well. She will teach you all she has learned."

Unus listened to Rachel. As she said the words, his keen thought processes arrived at an assumption. "I will not be coming back here, will I? Will I ever see you again?"

Rachel bowed her head a little. She never ceased being amazed by his tight grasp of reason and logic. He had a mental ability that Una somewhat lacked. But, he seemed to lack the passions that Una carried with her like ribbon of honor. It was Rachel's sincere hope that the two would compliment each other's strengths while devolving each other's weaknesses.

Rachel thought about Unus' question and decided to answer truthfully. "No Unus," she answered, "you will never see me again. I am sorry. I will miss you. Please tell Una that I will miss her very much as well."

"I see," Unus said in a far away voice. His mind was already pondering the consequences of Rachel's statements. After a moment, he reached another mental impasse. He needed another answer. "Rachel, what is our ultimate purpose - Una's and mine?" he asked.

Rachel couldn't help but laugh. "You mean, why are you here? Why do you exist? Unus, why are any of us here? To live. To grow. To thrive. That is the purpose of life."

"Rachel, can we reach these goals on our own?"

The two had finally reached their destination. Rachel stopped at the great doors and looked over at Unus. With a thin smile and a worried look in her eyes, she answered, "I hope so. I sincerely do."

Unus looked up and down at the massive doors standing in front of him. "What is this? The way in or the way out?"

"That depends on your point of view, doesn't it?" said Rachel with a smile. She was about to place her palm against the wall when she remembered something. "Unus, I almost forgot. I must have your clothes. You may not enter the garden with anything other than what the Masters and I have placed inside you."

Unus pondered Rachel's statement, then nodded. "I understand." He then proceeded to take off the simple outfit and hand it to Rachel.

"Now you are ready," she said. Rachel then placed her palm flat against the wall. After a moment, the doors slid silently open.

As he stepped out, the beauty of the garden immediately struck Unus. The green grass covered lands blanketed with colorful flowers seized his senses. The awesome life enriched trees reaching up to the sky almost took his breath away. The garden was truly impressive, but not as impressive as the sight he saw standing not far in front of him.

A young woman with long dark hair stood there. She was beautiful. She was more beautiful than anything else in his view. She looked him over with ever widening eyes. Unus understood her expression. She seemed struck with shock and surprise. Her body trembled. She looked around herself, looking to escape.

When she looked like she was about to run, he called out. "Una, don't go."

Una's heart jumped. Suddenly her urge to flee melted away. She turned and looked at him with a timid flinch in her eyes. She took a deep breath and found the courage to speak. "Who are you?" she asked.

Unus looked back at her and smiled. In his smile Una could almost see the face of someone she lost some time ago. His soft and inviting face calmed her senses.

As he stood there, he contemplated the right answer to her question. He needed to come up with the words. The right words. "Una," he said. " Rachel sent me here to be with you. She wanted me to tell you how much she cares for you and misses you. My name is Unus."

Hearing the name of her lost friend sent a surge of emotions running through Una. An ocean of tears rolled from her eyes and a soft giggle escaped her lips. Overcome with joy, Una ran over to the figure standing in front of her, flinging her arms around his neck.

Startled by her reaction, Unus stood there in a stunned state. He didn't understand Una's strong expression of emotion. It confused him. It seemed Una was able to express herself in a way he could not grasp. He hoped he could learn how to express himself so passionately. Unus held up his arms and placed them around Una, trying to mimic her as best he could.

As they embraced, Rachel looked on. The fate of the universe depended on her creations. She hoped her work was sufficient for the task. In her mind, Rachel played back the struggle to bring her dream to life. She labored for nearly an eternity on her project, even breaking a few of the Masters' laws in the process. She was lucky. The Masters never learned of her worst misdeed. She hoped they never would.

Rachel slowly backed away from the door and pressed a hidden contact. The massive doors closed. She then pressed another switch.

The two humans, the only two in existence, continued encircling one another with their arms. Neither one noticed the great building ripple and then fade away behind them. When the moment felt right, Unus released Una, letting her sink back down to her feet. He looked at her with uneasiness clouding his face. As he gazed into her soft eyes he began to calm, realizing all the answers he sought were with her.

Una smiled. In her hand she held up an apple. She offered it up to him and said, "I welcome you to the garden."

END

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