Tera lowered her gaze, staring at the metal plating that covered her thighs.
“No,” he replied. “I won’t tell you anything.”
Councilman Harring took in a deep breath, despite his lack of lungs. Tera could see she was wearing on his patience and that made her a little happy, considering the circumstances.
“Then I have another offer, Ms. Alvarez,” the holographic man said. He turned to a spot in the round wall just between two bookcases. He made a wave, and a mechanism within the wall started to hum. A seam appeared, marking a doorway that slid open, revealing the darkness behind it. Tera struggled to gaze through the opening, but couldn’t make anything out.
The sound of footsteps came from the entrance, and a naked woman walked into the room. Tera’s electric eyes went wide as she looked over the human. The woman was in her early twenties — possibly even a teenager. Short blonde hair skimmed her tan shoulders as she stared lifelessly ahead. Her gaze didn’t focus on either Tera or the holographic councilman. She stopped just before the seated bodyshell and remained silent.
“What’s going on?” Tera asked. “Who is she?”
“She could be you, if you wanted,” Harring replied. He started to circle the naked woman, admiring her physique. “This body could be yours, if you’re willing to be my friend.”
Tera cast a sour frown at the councilman. “My body?” she asked. She looked back at the immaculate form before her. The muscles were so toned — the skin so smooth. Tera couldn’t help but wonder what it felt like to be in such a body. To be able to stretch and feel to gentle tug of tendons. To feel the wind over her bare skin. To enjoy the caress of a lover.
“Everything works,” the holographic man said, returning his gaze to the bodyshell. “And when the day comes that they don’t, the Council will provide you a replacement — just as attractive, too.”
“A replacement,” Tera echoed. Her voice sounded miles away.
She stared at the naked woman’s face, peering deep into her brown eyes. There was no life behind them, but there had been. Tera could tell. Who had this girl been before the Council took her mind? Who could she have been if she was allowed to live? Where is her family, and do they know what’s become of their beautiful daughter? Tera almost couldn’t bear to look any longer. The naked girl represented everything that was wrong with the Council and Harring himself — and they were trying to use her like a bribe. Like a commodity, to be given away.
Divinity
It’s still dark, the young king thought, raising his gaze to the heavens. Where am I?
He could feel a calm breeze on his face. A couple of stray grass blades tickled his ankles. It felt like he wasn’t wearing any clothes at all and he couldn’t figure out why.
As he stared through the inky darkness of night, his eyes started to adjust to the dim light. Large shapes started to take form before his eyes, the bright dots of starlight helping to differentiate them. He could make out a large mountain dominating the horizon ahead of him, blocking out the stars from the sky.
King Hum scanned his surroundings as his vision became brighter. He stood at the precipice of a steep plateau that overlooked a wild valley. Trees grew around seas of unkempt grass, teeming with small communities of birds and woodland creatures. Hum could hear the critters chatter to each other, calling out for mates. Through the middle of the valley ran a narrow stream. The low trickling of water rode the wind up to his ears, carrying with it the sweet aroma of the woods.
The young monarch turned to examine the plateau he stood upon. A lone tree with a winding and twisting trunk drew his attention — as did the robed man beside it.
King Hum couldn’t make out the stranger’s face quite yet in the dim of the night — but the sun was rising. The colors along the horizon transitioned into a rainbow gradient, lighting up the world around them. It seemed like someone put the universe on fast forward, and while King Hum watched, the sun appeared in the sky, sliding up to illuminate the valley.
The young king had to shield his eyes at the sudden sunlight. Squinting, he tried to make out the man standing beside the ancient tree. His eyes started to adjust to the brightness, the figure appearing as just a silhouette before him. Then, he saw the stranger’s face.
It was himself. At least, it appeared to be his mirror image.
The robed king smiled as recognition and shock became clear on the naked one’s face.
“Greetings,” the robed Hum said.
“What’s going on?” the naked one asked. “Where am I?”
“Where you should be, child,” the doppelganger replied. “Look into the valley. Do you see its bounty?”
The nude king squinted at the other. “Who are you?” he asked. “You look just like me.”
Warmth bled into the robed Hum’s smile. A twinkle shone in his eye.
“I am God, my child,” he said. “I look like you because I am within you. You are God as well. I am in everything. Everything is in me.”
The unclothed king stared at the other in awe, his lips parted in stunned silence. His face seemed to drain of blood, then he took a humble bow before the robed man.
“Rise, Hum,” the doppelganger said. “There’s no need to bow here. Not to anyone.”
“I don’t understand,” King Hum said. “Why have you come to me?”
The robed Hum gestured for the other to join him. He turned to face the rising sun.
“Look into the valley,” he instructed. “Do you see how pristine it is? How wild the grass grows? How free the wind blows?”
“It is remarkable,” King Hum replied. “Simply divine.”
The other
