Visit First

Visit Last
By John Walsh

Visit first: Aaron
         Aaron's head was throbbing as he picked and plucked his ship through space. In the distance he could see the faint blue glow of his brother Riley's new gift. Moments later a pale gray moon was visible, peeking behind the planet. Soon Aaron could see the outlines of water bordered lands. Father had created this system well, Aaron thought to himself,  but it does seem to have an odd tilt to it. 
         Aaron's mind ached as he slowed the warping of space and dust. A simple trick of thought, that Father had taught both Aaron and Riley ages ago when they still lived together. Before each inherited their own gifts. Aaron's gift had prospered quickly. He nurtured it as best he could, giving his children warmth, light, and plenty of food to eat. Soon one of his children became dominant and clearly ruled the rest. He called them his Felidae. They guarded him now as he was going to visit his little Brothers planet for the first time.
         Orbiting around the planet Aaron could see a simple station. It was only a hundred or so feet wide. Nothing like Aaron's palace back home on his gift. Aaron began to land his craft throwing dust up from the floor forever. His eyes probed the landing pad until they darted toward a thin, pale skinned man standing upon the podium. Looks like a taller version of the sickly boy everyone made fun of back home. And now he has his own planet. 
         Aaron's body ached as he got up from his seat, a side effect of teleportation. But today he would have to betray no emotion of the pain he was feeling, his face a cold copy of fathers, colder than the bare stone walls of this room.
         Then he began his first visit of Riley's new planet.
         His Felidae were the first out. Arranged twenty strong to each side of the craft as Aaron made his exit. Their skin was a furry dark orange and peppered with bright spots of red. They were strong creatures originally but Aaron made them perfect. Mutating their DNA in just the right ways. Swords hung low upon their belts of leather and brass. Every soldier holding tightly onto their weapon. 
         “Brother Riley,” Aaron called wearing a thick smile, “Permission to put my soldiers at ease.”
         “Brother Aaron,” he said back, bowing in acknowledgment.
         Turning to his soldiers Aaron motioned them at ease.
         Riley moved towards him, arms opened wide, embracing him with a weak hug. Aaron was the first to let go, “Well now brother, nice to see you again.”
         “Same to you. Come I have prepared some cheese and wine for us.”
         Nodding, Riley motioned him towards the podium. Once upon it, he finally took notice of all the viewing screens his brother had arrayed around the concourse. But other than Riley the place seemed empty of life.
         “Where is everyone?” Aaron asked.
         “I am the only one who lives here. You know how I enjoy my solitude.” said Riley.
         He did. Riley would always play with himself as a child. We all made fun of him of course and Father tried to force him to be more social. Nonetheless he always stuck to himself in the end.
         There was an open bottle of wine, with cheese cooling next to it. The aroma of the wine was aggressively acidic, based only by the bitter breeze of the cheese. The brand was one of fathers, he cannot have many of these left. Riley poured the red wine into two glass goblets. Aaron's mouth and gums were tingling from the astringent aroma. The wine helped to soothe his aches. Bending that much space to carry an entire guard and ship with me was reckless. Aaron made a mental note to arrive further away next time, to ensure some time for recovery (lest I be seen as weak)
         Putting the glass and cheese down, he looked up at the first screen. A hairy creature appeared eating some exotic fruit. “What do you call that one?”
         “I have yet to give any of them names. Most of them have proved to be rather dull so far, especially the ocean dwellers.”
         “I thought that as well when I first watched my oceans at home. But they can be vicious." said Aaron taking another sip of wine, "Any signs of intelligence?”
          “There are some flying creatures that have shown some intelligence,” he stated, “One drops a nut with a shell he cannot open in front of the tracks of this huge beast, thus using that animals weight to crack the shell.” said Riley.
         I smiled, clever indeed. “Impressive. None of our brothers and sisters have any flyer's at the head of the food chain. Maybe you brother, will give father his first.”
         “No, while those flyer's are clever,” his brother said while motioning back towards the little fury creatures, “I believe these creatures will dominate one day. They are already building primitive tools to help them along.”
         “Well who would no better than you brother.” I said trying hard not to sound belittling. “If they are capable of building tools, father allows you the ability to mutate them faster then normal.”
         “I think I would like to wait and see if they indeed will grow to be the strongest. I have no intention of interfering with them for some time, possibly ever.”
        Aaron sat aghast at the idea, “But brother, surely you jest. Leaving a child alone for that long is just...” Aaron was not sure what to say but his brother did not give him the chance.
         “You will not lecture me as to how I want to run my gift brother. We are not in Fathers halls anymore where tradition stands that I must obey you. If a child of mine has grown strong enough, alone, then maybe I will teach them of life. But not a moment sooner.”
         Anger radiated through Aaron and he was almost on the verge of attacking his younger brother. But he halted and calmed himself down. A god cannot live without his children for very long. We may teach our children about life, but they have similar effects on us.
          Father always favored Riley, but such praise has made him weak. Just look at his posture and the color of his skin. Now he is taking his lazy attitude out on his gift. Black and yellow is a good color for you brother, just like a bruise.
         Aaron drank his wine while images of deserts and snowcapped mountains flooded his view. This world is barely habitable he thought. Riley could easily give them some things to make it more habitable. He is just a child playing with some toys...
         Aaron sat up, “Well, I suppose nothing interesting has happened yet. But I promise I shall be back to check up on you again shortly.”
         Both standing up the brothers embraced one last time, “Sounds good, come back whenever you like. I have plenty more of this wine waiting for you.”
         I smirked at that, “Thank you brother. I may, in that case, be sooner rather than later.” Doubtful. I waved one finale time from the same window as earlier before leaving. It would be awhile before he could actually teleport away, but Aaron would rather be anywhere than here.

Visit Second: Riley
         Aerie, he called his home flying above his beautiful planet. Named after the first cliff dwelling birds he saw. He was entranced by the way the birds looked down upon the world on a home of fragile twigs. Nurturing their young. But they would need to learn to fly on their own.
         There were times when Riley was not sure if his guiding course was correct. There was a time when he was about to save thousands of them from a brutal slaughter by their very own brothers. But moments before he intervened he received a missive about his brother Aaron. It was from his Father.  It said that Aaron's children were all wiped out from a disease while Aaron was away evaluating my status. Only the few Felidae who were with him on that voyage survived. He was granted the right to save one for eternity, but would have to let the others pass normally. Father wrote at the end to expect his brother in a few million years for another evaluation.
         It was then that Riley knew what he was doing was right. That day he watched his children rape and burn each other. From then on he watched every single war and battle and did nothing about it. The only time he intervened was to give them wine and cheese. Without it, he knew, life would be too cold.
         Off behind him Riley felt a cutting of space and knew that Aaron was coming. Riley walked over to his helipad and waited for his brother to come. Soon he saw the craft crest pass his pale moon and moments later it was beginning to descend on the landing site. In the cockpit Riley could see a pallid Aaron. His skin hung on him like a robe, dangling without work. His eyes were shrunken and black. Nothing like the man that visited last time. Riley almost felt bad for his brother. But deep inside he knew he was happy that his children had won over his.
         This time the door opens an army of one Felidae steps out from the craft. Riley almost laughs at the pathetic little army. The Felidae is naught but a weak tan furred slug, a semblance of what his race once was. Behind him flows his brother, wearing a black robe trimmed with green frills.
         His brother is about to talk but Riley interrupts him and says, “Of course you can put your soldier at ease brother.” This time you will have to bow brother.
         Aaron just stands there for a few seconds as if the wind has just tossed him from a cliff, good thing I named this place the Aerie. His bow is almost a surrender. And with a motion he puts his one soldier at ease. Riley almost felt a twang of pity for his older brother. Then he remembered how he flaunted his strength before him his whole life and the thought shattered.
         Aaron is the first to break the stretching silence, “Nice to meet you again brother.”
         “Like wise, welcome once again to my home.” the two brothers hugged briefly before Riley continued, “There will be much more for you to evaluate this time around.”
         His brother just gave a small nod, as if he was waiting to just get this embarrassment over with. Oh how far you've fallen. Riley motioned him towards the viewing concourse and the two took the same seats as a million years ago. There was wine and cheese waiting to be appreciated. And of course his children.
         “Well show me everything as usual brother.” said Aaron, “Did that animal we last talked of grow any.”
         “Oh they have indeed,” said Riley, “They have become the prize of my planet.”
         Riley flicked his screen and it showed one of the species. He was wearing a fur coat and had a stone axe strapped to his back. The camera zoomed out and more was shown. There was a whole family of them. Winter wind was beating down on them and they hugged close to their furs. Riley could feel that it was colder than normal and winter would be brutal.
         Riley was so enthralled in the screen he didn't hear his brothers words. Aaron was talking loudly now, “Why do they in so much pain brother?”
         “What”, said Riley barely listening.
         “The poor lot looks like they are freezing to death. Aren't you going to help them?”
         “Of course not.” said Riley angrily. Hes still trying to lecture me on how to run my own planet. “I told you millions of years ago that I was not going to interfere.”
         “But they are clearly intelligent creatures now. How can you just stand by and let them die.”
         “They will die if they are weak. Its the way things are, besides they might live. You have to give them a chance.”
         Riley turned back to the screens, his body leaning forward held up by his elbows on his legs. He drank a quick glass of wine and snatched a small cube of cheese. I wonder what they will do. It was clear now that the male in charge was looking at something underneath them. They were hovered over a cave and Riley changed the camera angle for a peek. Below he could see another family of starving people. Two mothers were hugging their young, trying to shelter them from the harsh winds. Riley felt their emotion for a brief instant, their fear. But they have no idea.
         Back above the cave the lead male was ordering one of the younger fighters into position. There stone axes were bare now and Riley could feel the weight of its danger in his own hands. He was immersed now. He heard the snow crunch under his fur rimmed shoes, he felt the wind that punched fear into the weak below. The other fighter and him snuck down on them and suddenly with a cry they were attacking. Riley's axe bit into one of the brothers and the man crumpled to the ground. He turned and saw a last warrior charging at him with a wooden club. Riley ducked the first swing and drove the butt of his axe into the mans stomach. The warrior was too weak to stay afoot and fell to the ground. It was a cold winter, and these times are tough. Still the man could have killed Riley, so he lay atop his enemy and pounded his skull once more with the butt of his axe. Did you really think you were better than me? He pounded again and again and...
         Riley felt a blow strike him across the face, but it was different. It was real. His brother Aaron was atop him now looking down at him with disgust.
         “What is the matter with you” he roared, pulling Riley up by his robe. “You let them kill each other.” it wasn't a question.
         Riley could feel blood flowing in his mouth while he said, “What do you know? You're children never even had a chance to live. And now they are gone, dead, by a single virus.”
         Riley heard a sword being unsheathed and saw that the lone Felidae warrior was about to stab him when Aaron stopped him. He could see that he was telling him something but he wasn't sure what they were saying. Aaron came back to him while Riley was still lying on the ground, “You are disgusting brother.”, he continued, “You are not giving them a chance to live so much as a chance to live out your own sick fetishes. Be sure that I am going to report this to father. Pray. Pray brother that he does not destroy your entire planet, corrupted so by your perversion.”
         Riley remained silent on the floor as he glimpsed his brother enter his ship. Soon he was sitting once again beside the window. Was there disappointment in his face? No. Riley saw the truth. That quick smirk of satisfaction. His children posed no more threat to him. But they wont take them from me! Could he? Could father really take them from me? Of course he could, but would he? I remained on the floor long after my brother left. Forearm ablaze with pain. Crying, as my children ate around me.

Visit: Last Aaron
         Aaron spent most of his days waiting for something to happen. He rarely talked to Jack anymore, the last of his Felidae. It was too hard for Aaron to look at him. Every part of Jack begged for death, but even after millions of years Aaron was far too selfish to give it to him.  Even sadder was that Jack still obeyed his every wish, even after he failed his family and kin. I didn't deserve such a loyal group of children.
         Every night Aaron imagined his children praying for rescue when the disease struck. They had no idea how to fight it on their own. Riley was right about that, he had pampered them too much. Why worry about diseases when your god can just flick them away without effort. Aaron could see now that they probably piled high through the doorways of his church's begging him for salvation. Probably why the disease spread so quickly.
         Aaron's robes hung low around his neck, showing his weak chest.  He was sitting at his viewing station looking at his world through a series of monitors. It was perfect. Built to provide food for all of his Felidae. Now the lesser animals found it all too easy to eat and drink, causing none of them to really evolve much in the past millions of years and Riley did not feel like speeding any of them along.
         He heard the door shift open, then he could just barely register the faint sound of Jacks footsteps. Aaron turned around and saw that his old child was holding something, “Its a missive.” said Jack.
         “From who?”
         “Your brother. Riley.”
         Aaron made no motion to move, he just sat their and continued to look upon his empty planet.  After a stretched length of time he got up and took the letter from Jack. 'I am coming to visit.', was all it said. Coming to visit here. Why? It was no secret that for years Aaron petitioned his father to steal Riley's powers over his planet. Riley openly hated him for millenia, before he vowed to never see him again. Aaron still believed that he made the right choice, Riley had perverted his gift and he didn't deserve his children. But later he did realize that Riley was still partly right, you have to let them grow on their own. But a child needs still needs to know that there is a hope that someone can save them.
         Outside behind one of his planets moons he felt the stitch of space tearing, Riley must be here. Soon Riley's craft was fluttering into view. It was surprisingly small. Aaron had expected Riley to bring a guard with him, like he did all those times before. But the ship was far too small too hold a crew. Then the door opened and out stepped Riley. His hair was wild and long, and his eyes had a weight of resignation.
         Riley moved to his elder brother and without a word he gave him a hug.
         “Forgive me Brother.” said Riley.
         “Wh-what?” was all that Aaron could say.
         “For your planet. I am sorry that such a tragedy had to have happened to you, I am sorry that for years I smiled going to bed thinking about it, and I am sorry that it took me so long to tell you this.”
         Aaron was shocked and he could see that Jack was too. Riley had never shown any emotion before except vengeance or self interest. Most of his family never showed any other emotion. Aaron could see that Jack had a stream of tears beginning to flow down his left wrinkled cheek. How long has his face been like so?
         Aaron wasn't really sure what to say back to his younger brother, “Thank you.” he said while a silent stretched between them. “Would you like some wine and cheese?”
         “Ye-yes,” said Riley, “That sounds great.”
         The two brothers moved over to Aaron's viewing station where he had some wine and cheese placed at the table. They both took a bite in silence.
         “You want to hear an odd story?” said Riley and Aaron nodded. “Not one of my children believe in me but most of them believe in something. There was a philosopher named Pascal who said that the only reason to believe in god was because if there was a hell that it wasn't worth the risk not to believe in me.”
         “It must have been terribly lonely for them, not knowing what the truth was.” said Aaron.
         “Yes.”
         The two brothers continued sitting for a bit and Jack joined them. Riley broke him off a piece of cheese and offered it to him in silence. He accepted gratefully with a warm smile.
         “What are you two doing for dinner?” asked Riley
         “Well I am not sure,” I said, “I usually don't bother. Don't you have to go back to your gift soon?”
         “No”, said Riley, “Theres nothing to go back too. They have all left.”
         “What!”
         “They've scorched the planet and those that survived left on ships to colonize some of the surrounding planets. None really suitable for life.”
         “I am so sorry to hear that brother.” said Aaron, “You must be heartbroken.”
         “I am not sure how I feel.” he said, “I knew it was inevitable.”
         I stood there not knowing what to say, Riley wearing an odd smirk. Was he happy? Relieved? What was he to do now?
         “Lets get some wine” he said.
         “Sure.”
         “I have a lot of stories to tell you about them. They really were an entertaining group.” he laughed before sighing and saying, “Its really quite pathetic. The ones who are left on the planet call themselves kings.”
         “Tell me more about them. Not just the bad but the good...”
         “I would like that.” he said, “Let me tell you more about this one philosopher name Pascal.”
         So we talked about his children for the rest of the night and drank together.
          With nowhere to go to, Riley became a permanent visitor to my planet. We always wandered what happened to Riley's children. Did they succeed? Neither really wanted to know for sure. My planet is beginning to grow again though, this time I am not so sure what to do. But I have dreams for them, though they may not know it. Jack has decided to stay around for just a bit longer.