The creature stood in the red sun light on ten segmented legs. It had many natures and for each nature it had a name. It was troubled often on who or what it was because it could not make up its mind as to what it was much less who.
Jagged cold mountains pierced a black sky. A faint red sun cast ill, evil lurking shadows across blue lit plains and valleys. Frightful ruins, built for unknown reasons, lay scattered across craggy foothills. Those who were before. The creature shuddered at the thought and feared and whimpered.
The ancients. Things unknown and unknowable. All powerful and wise they had ruled long ago. Who had they been? Why were they? Heaven and hell were theirs and now what? Dimly they were perceived by the creature and its people but could not be imagined beyond that. How could the creature hope for any better fate? Were the ancients gone or did they still rule. What would they do? What could they not do?
The ancients called. The gods called. THE GODS CALLED!
There was no choice. The gods could never be denied. They called. It chose its nature and stumbled forward, reluctant and terrified. It stepped down from a massive granite slab onto graveled plains. Zig zag structures towered all around. Bergs of dirty ice cowered and staggered. It could still retreat. It could still go. It could flee. It could change its nature. They called!
From the center of the frozen vast mountains that had been ripped from the world in some forgotten cataclysm, the dead gods demanded it to come. The ancient ones were very insistent and their strength grew with each inch forward it dragged its feet.
A lifeless vast frozen sea stretched to its left side. A cliff of frozen stuff from whence fish eyes stared and tentacle monstrosities lingered still. It cursed its fate. The wretched hills rose in front of it. It made a pathway where none existed as it struggled to do as the ancient ones required.
Ancient Gods let me go! Nothing is desired from you. Let go!
NO.
COME.
Artifacts. Odd shapes. Obscene and fascinating. Shattered and broken ages ago. Oh how the gods had fallen! Or had they? They crept inside it and tugged and tore.
Far above a twisted peak a bright red speck beckoned. It did not sparkle. There was no air except a faint trace of inert Nitrogen. Few lights showed in the sky. Very few indeed. Not much was left. The galactic core was still there but it was dim too. Straight lines of white and red could be seen as if something had sculpted the stars into patterns. To it this was the natural world and the design could not be perceived or suspected.
This was no longer the age of warm water seas or oxygen atmospheres. That had ended long ago. Green vegetation no longer existed. Other things of blue and purple but even these were scarce.
The red sun was a dwarf. It would outlast the blues and yellows of the youth of the universe. Its energy was low but sufficient for its life style. The ancients were from a time when the universe was far livelier. Now was a time of infinite slowness in comparison.
But the gods were dead!
A building, dark and hideous, rose with a dark dignity. Ghosts whispered within. Dark beings glowed. The gods were not quite gone it seemed.
No not in there! The honor is too much!
Still it was drawn. It entered the insubstantial structure seeing what could not be seen yet sensed. Something quickened. Images appeared in front of it. Horrifying objects in conversation and ceaseless constant turmoil. They moved bizarrely and quickly. Unseen light crept in and the building suddenly and abruptly blossomed in unimaginable colors and swirls of scents and tactile sensations. Warmth increased to a burning sensation. The gods were cold beings, they had to be. Yet in obscene heat they dwelled.
It screamed but failed because the gods did not wish it. The ancient gods still lived even in poverty. They called. The voices of the dead lived again in capitalized tones and extreme matter of factness. The gods spoke in a way that was not but yet was. They communicated directly and insistedly. They were quite clear but what the said or meant was another matter.
"I am the last man." Stern and authoritative.
"I am the last woman." Compassionate and forgiving.
Together. "The Viagendinium is no more. The galaxies are no longer connected. The universe is older and poorer. The Viagendinum is no more."
The woman spoke softly: "The multiverse continues. There is no loss and no change. Time does not exist. There is only experience and the kindness of growth."
A high pitched wail filled the halls. The walls rumbled and vibrated in sympathy. Infinite undying loss lingered yet it was filled with exotic and mysterious meanings. It stood and endured the assault. It had no choice. The dead gods did not care for its will or needs.
What do you want? What must be done? What is thy command?
The man nodded sadly. The woman smiled. The gods were so ugly but the power was so strong!
The woman touched it and a flow of divine love flooded it. Happiness bloomed yet tinged with sadness at what would come. "We are not real. We are not gods. We are not here. Never fear we will always be here but not here."
The man continued without a pause and its touch was so full of control and strength it threaten to overwhelm. "Mere words are inadequate. The Multiverse is too vast. We are images of what once was. A memorial to what was. We are dead."
