Interlude 1: The Gods

Jack's Barn

As civilizations evolve, they learn definitions.  All kinds of definitions.  And definitions impose limits.  Definitions to the very small – Planks' constant; definitions to the very fast – the speed of light; and even, definitions to the very large – infinity.  But if infinity is denoted, well then, it has limits and therefore, is not limitless.  Is this a paradox?  Yes.  What else would you call a limitless limit?  And further, the concept of infinity has no practical value.  Infinite mass, infinite force, infinite space, all are irrational concepts and incomprehensible.  And our Universe is a rational place and, given the effort, comprehensible.  A Universe with limits, a concept my homeworld is beginning to accept.  Logic dictates that a limit to a space, any given space, large or small, implies an enclosure – an outer barrier of some kind.  In time, this logic would come to be verified via exploration.  And it is reasonable to assume that “Those Who Came First” would be the ones to travel to the edge of the Universe.  And then . . . to venture beyond.

Of course, where they went had to be safe.  Because safety is the prime concern of an immortal – a being, possibly, many millions of years old. And it would be nice if the place had some local color as well.  A locality where they could assemble and enjoy the homegrown amenities while doing what they do, which was contemplation mostly.   Reflection on matters concerning the beginnings and endings of things and their natural order.  Places like this exist beyond our Universe, past the outer edge, in what is known as the Aether.  They are called Loci.  And this is where the First-Born and their followers went.  The local amenity, in this case, was the process of creation itself.  They built a new home, an enclave where they could securely and happily experience the birth of new Universes.  A sight indescribable and, for sure, nowhere to be found in normal Space.

So, what’s in the Aether?  Manifolds.  And what are Manifolds?  They are clouds of elementary entities that move about seemingly aimlessly.  And what are they made of?   Many different things, elemental things, the stuff of Universes.  First, there are the various forms of matter: free quarks, photons, and leptons.   Then, you can find the different embodiments of Space itself, the various dimensions, and planes, which almost always are found amidst vast auroras of Time.  Also, there is something called the Aether.   This is the stuff they named the place after.  A vacuous, rarefied substance, the fabled quintessence of old; what our ancient alchemists so avidly sought.  In this place, it predominates and permeates, filling the voids between the drifting Nimbi.  And I must mention one more thing; there are substances, which our senses were not designed to detect.  Actualities almost beyond our ability to comprehend, such as the dark forms of Matter and Energy, plus others.  All these things float in the sea of Aether, propelled by forces unknown, occasionally colliding and commingling.  And, if the conditions are right, seeds are formed, which in the fullness of time, burst forth in rather Big Bangs.

 Logic dictates that someone had to come first.  The first life forms to emerge on a planet, the first life forms to emerge in a galaxy, or even – the first life forms to emerge in a Universe.  Certainly, chance and probability favored them. Though being first also rendered their path more difficult, for they were truly alone, separated by vast distances from any lessor life forms.  Eventually, through experimentation, analysis, and exploration, they overcame their solitude and prospered, for the Universe was wide open, and they were free to roam unrestricted.  Free to slake their curiosity.  And they were curious. They wanted to know things.  How it all works.  What’s out there?  What came before?  And, most importantly, what lies beyond? 

As is always the case, with freedom comes responsibility.  The First-Born, being of noble design, assumed the burden of primogeniture as they observed the younger races arise from our not so fecund Cosmos.  And like older siblings everywhere, the First-Born felt obliged to watch over the young, lend some guidance, and pass on their hand-me-downs.  But first, the newcomers had to prove their worth.  Rise to The Fourth Level, which was the standard they set.

 And the First-Born, being naturally good folk, assumed another responsibility – care for their Parent.  The entity that truly came first, The Progenitor, their home Universe.  Maintenance of its health and wellbeing – eternally, of course, as immortals naturally would.  But how?  How does one maintain and promote the health of a Universe?  This, I do not know.  But the Elders learned how.  They divined this . . . The Natural Way, as it was called.  How the Cosmos was meant to be.  And they did not abandon this task when they left.

What was the answer?  Generally, it’s what you would expect.  Promote growth to an optimal size, then maintain an eternal stasis – metastability, as they called it.  But this was not an easy task.  It was a very tricky business and required the perpetuation of a delicate equilibrium.  The ticklish balance between entities not readily discernible to the normal senses.  The aforementioned Dark Matter and Dark Energy being but two.

*A note here on life in the Aether.  It is difficult to exist there composed of the normal stuff of Universes – standard matter-energy complexes, normal matter being highly unstable.  It is better to transcend the material and assume a matrix of Space and Time.  Pure consciousness.  But there are many forms an awareness can take.  Most chose a collective manifestation; their Presence being comprised of billions of individuals.  Others chose to remain singular.  And some preferred to carry considerable baggage from their prior embodiments, though much shielding was required, free quarks being highly reactive.  It was largely a matter of individual preference, the form they chose.

And what structure did their society take?  It was hierarchical.  Not so much based on power, but rather, on Breadth of Presence.  The greater the capacity to permeate, the higher the status.  And the higher the status, the more the dominion.  Others, the lesser awarenesses, chose to engage in the more mundane endeavors – the analysis and observation of all in their domain, plus the implementation of the collective will.  They undertook the responsibilities, the duties of the gods.

  A youngish entity, taking the distinctive form of a coruscating glimmer of photonic radiation, streaked into the Locus imparting information.  Its archaic and somewhat primitive connection to traces of its material heritage revealed its youthful exuberance.  It was an Observer.  It discharged a particularly bright and disturbing flash, unsettling all with its brash interruption. 

“Imbalances within the Dark Matter-Energy complex have been observed.”

This was news of considerable import.  But barely worthy of interruption.  Variations occur and are natural.  The thought reverberated throughout. 

“Disequilibrium approaches.  The probability of metastasis modification exceeds zero.” 

The second part of the thought gained the attention of many, including some of the more ancient and dominant configurations.  It meant that bad things could happen, like false vacuums.  A base timbre and dark effulgence flooded the locus, “Random leakage is to be expected.”

Plasmas and condensates pulsed with various textures communicating . . . perturbation. 

An irresistible thought emanated from a powerful Omnipresence.  It inundated all and commanded beyond resistance. 

“Implement procedures.”

This closed the matter.  Measures would be taken.  The leakages in our Universe’s outer husk would be sealed – a routine matter.  And the impetuous young Observer was acknowledged, though many were vexed at the disruption to their eternal felicity.

Coruscations in the void diminished, and the languor of blissful contemplation resumed.