Chapter 6: You're So Arrogant!
"You really want to know?" Corinn asked. "No one except Jarith and I have known for thousands of years-and the universe, of course. But She doesn't really count. I can't remember the last time I told someone about my side of the story."
"I really would like to hear about it," Bekka said.
"It all started before the beginning of the universe. Before the universe, there was only Darkness. That was my world, my domain. Then, for some reason, Light came into existence. To this day, no one knows how that happened-not even Jarith, who is Light itself."
"What was it like? Just dark and empty and cold?" Bekka asked.
"It wasn't really like anything I could describe to you. "Darkness" isn't really a very good description, that's just how the idea translates into your language. You might as well say we represent Chaos and Order, or Stasis and Change. And anyway, I was only awareness, a sense of existence, not a person like you. But when Light came, things began to change. My world had been eternal and unchanging since time immemorial, and then he came along and started messing things up!"
"That doesn't seem very fair to Jarith," Bekka said. "After all, he didn't really ask to exist, did he?"
"He was a threat to my very existence, Bekka. That was why the universe as you know it eventually came into place. Without it, Jarith and I would have annihilated each other, canceled each other out. There would be nothing, not even darkness."
"Then, the universe was created just for you two to fight in? That seems a little silly to me. Why can't you just leave things the way they are?"
"It just doesn't work that way! One of us has to win someday. This temporary reality will have to come to an end."
"Corinn...what happens if one of you wins?" Bekka asked, suddenly frightened. "Will everything just disappear? No more Earth, no more stars, nothing?"
"I don't really know, Bekka. No one does. If I win, the universe will probably go back to the way it was before. If Jarith wins, no one can tell what would happen. Either way, I doubt any of this universe would survive."
"Why are you fighting, then? Do you want everything to be destroyed? Is your grudge against Jarith more important than the universe?"
"The universe was created so we could fight. Jarith and I are the only reason this universe is here. If it weren't for me, the universe wouldn't have ever existed anyway. I can do whatever I want with it!"
"You are so arrogant!" Bekka shouted. She stood up and started walking away. "Maybe the universe is supposed to be here because of some reason that has nothing to do with either of you!"
"Bekka? Hey, come back here! You can't leave this planet without me, you know! You'll get lost!"
"I don't care!" Bekka shouted back. She was already out of sight. "I wish I'd never met you and Jarith! This whole thing is insane!"
"Bekka! Come back-oh fine. Be that way." Corinn sat down, lost in thought. What if Bekka was right about the universe being something more than his and Jarith's personal battlefield? But if that was true, then why were they always reborn to fight again? But now, it was time for him to look for Bekka.
"Bekka," he said, and concentrated on her. He closed his eyes and formed a picture of her in his mind. Searching for her...for her spirit...for her essence...Nothing.
Nothing?
"How can that be?" Corinn said. "She can't hide from me-is there something wrong with my powers?" There was only one other person he knew well enough to find easily. He closed his eyes, concentrated again, and disappeared.
Corinn reappeared about three feet in front of Jarith. Jarith jumped. By reflex, he formed a sword out of light and was about to attack Corinn-but he couldn't. Not unless Bekka was there as the witness to the Challenge that Corinn had named.
"Wha-what are you doing here?" Jarith said, letting his sword dissolve. "And where's Bekka?" "Well, I sort of...lost her," Corinn admitted.
"You lost her," Jarith said. "How could you do something like that? How can you just lose her?!?!"
"I don't really know," Corinn admitted. "It's really strange. I can't sense her anymore. Can you?"
"I'll try," Jarith said. He closed his eyes and concentrated-"Corinn! She's on that stupid dark planet of yours!"
"You can sense her, then?"
"Only enough to know that she's on your stupid planet. Why did you bring her there of all places?"
"Stop insulting my planet. For your information, she thought it was nice."
"Well, I can't go there to get Bekka, and you could go there but you can't find her. How do you get into such ridiculous problems?"
"Me? Why is it all my fault?" Corinn asked.
"You took her off the starship. You brought her to your planet. You are the one having problems with you psychic abilities."
"There's nothing wrong with my psychic powers! She's shielding herself from me or something. If you're so worried, why don't you just go get her yourself?"
"Because she's on your stupid planet!" Jarith shouted.
"Oh, poor Jarith," Corinn said sarcastically. "His little girlfriend is lost on the eeeeeevil planet of darkness and he can't help her. Poooooor Jarith!"
"Shut up!" Jarith shouted. "She's not my girlfriend."
"Yeah, whatever," Corinn said. "Well, look. Neither one of us wants her wandering around helplessly, right?"
"Right," Jarith agreed.
"I think we're going to have to work together, then. There must be some way of-of linking our powers or something."
"Well, we'd better figure something out soon. I don't want Bekka to be on your planet any longer than she has to be."
Image Gallery: : Characters: : Theme Song: : Link "Darkness and Light"