Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">“Long ago, right after what you call ‘The Big Bang’, eons before I was born, my father awoke to discover that he was the very last of his species. An overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair had begun to creep in upon realizing this. However, he soon discovered that he was not alone in the galaxy. Several other survivors, the last survivors of their respective species’, joined my father as his brothers and sisters. Over time, these figures would come to be known as the <span class="mu-s">‘Elders of the Universe’</span>.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“So…you’re an alien.”</span> Richard concluded.
Flint looked at the guy as if he were the dumbest man in the room. <span class="mu-g">“The blue skin didn’t tip you off, genius?”</span>
Richard’s frown deepened, but he refused to comment any further. You gestured for Va Nee to continue.
<span class="mu-b">“As a consequence of their seemingly infinite lifespans, the Elders found it increasingly difficult to stave off the constant threat of boredom. So, each one of them developed a fanatical obsession with a particular hobby. My father’s hobby was…’playing games’.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Games?”</span> you asked. <span class="mu-r">“What kind of games?”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“Any kind.”</span> Va Nee answered, scowling at something that you couldn’t see. <span class="mu-b">“The kind that could be entertaining and harmless for everyone involved, but were most often only fun for him. He and another Elder had developed a kinship over this hobby, and would often share their interests. This was highly unusual for an Elder, as most kept to themselves and would only congregate for special occasions.”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Who was this other guy? Your Uncle?”</span> Flint said.
Va Nee shook her head. <span class="mu-b">“No. He was the original ‘Grandmaster’.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“So I guess he and your dad had a falling out.”</span> you added.
Va Nee gave you a rueful smile. <span class="mu-b">“That would be putting it mildly. My father was incensed at his brother’s choice of taking the mantle, and was obsessed with taking it from him. The two of them would go on to develop a vicious rivalry over the matter, challenging each other to game after game, with the mantle of Grandmaster being used as collateral. And one day, my father decided to raise the stakes.”</span> she said, her smile faltering. <span class="mu-b">“He challenged his brother to one last game, winner take all. The loser would be banished to the Far Shore for all eternity, stripped of his name and identity.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“And he lost.”</span> you concluded.
Va Nee nodded.
Richard raised his hand. <span class="mu-b">“What’s the ‘Far Shore’?”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“It is…a realm of ‘unbeing’. A plane existence where time and space simply don’t exist as intangible concepts. It is far removed from the influence of everything that occurs in the Universe, so we refer to it as the ‘Far Shore’.”</span> she explained.
<span class="mu-g">“Damn. And he’s been there all this time?”</span> Flint asked.
<span class="mu-b">“As far as we know, yes.”</span> Va Nee answered. <span class="mu-b">“No one has seen him since then.”</span>
(Cont.)
