A deep, thrumming hum pervades the small hut in the center of the valley. As the three men duck inside, the Song fills them. For it can be described as nothing else, a paean of emotion, both a deep well, and a vast shallow sea. The Song ebbs and swells, as a great tide, endless, timeless, yet as fleeting as a heartbeat.

Sam felt himself swept away in the undeniable, imperious will of the Song. He was lifted to the utter heights of joy, felt the keen stings of bitterest disappointment. He was brought to the lowest depths of despair, roasted by the ferocious heat of lust, strung along by the gentle promise of hope.

He sensed the presence of Another, a vast, intelligent wisdom. She took his hand. The stars wheeled and the galaxy span, the universe expanded on and on. The Veil of Time was ripped away, and the Doors of Perception were flung wide. The intricate, delicate clockwork of existence was laid bare before him, and in that instant, that eternity, Sam Glenn understood the entirety of the universe itself.

He fell flat on his back, gasping deeply for breath. The once clear definition of existence itself fading slowly away, slipping through his grasp like sand.

“Wh-what the blue hell?! What was that?!”

“Fookin hell. My head hurts. Too much all at once.”

“Was- was that real? Was that actually the secrets of the hidden universe? Are we, are we just a pawn in the machinations of some uncaring existence? Or are we…”

“Just dust….”

“In the wind.”

“Dude.” Says Andy.

“Dude.” Agrees Tom.

“Dude.” Summarizes Sam.

“Ahem.” Interjects…. Actually they didn’t know who she was. A luminous, floating being with gently folded, long armed, delicate fingered hands, wafted gently towards them. An elaborate crest of interlacing horns grew from the back of her head, and she spoke without seeming to make a sound. “I am the Prophet, Sur’San. I had you brought here, for your mission is of utmost importance, and without the proper guidance, you will fall and fail. Will you hear the words of the universe’s wisdom?”

“Should we not have all four of us present for this?”

“The Infant God will know his fate soon enough. I ask again; will you hear the words of the universe’s wisdom?”

“Well…”

Jim sat, existing. The rhythmic chanting and swaying carrying him off, to float among the universe. Though the body stayed behind, the mind was being led on an epic journey, along the warp and weft of reality. The strings of space and time, weaving and interconnecting, forming a tapestry of the lives of men and women.

The strings wove a tale, of a great evil. Four men rise to oppose it. One loses his way, lost among his own imaginings, trapped within his own inner mind. And yet, in this there is power. A deep, primal understanding of the universe. Alone, he will fail.

One is plagued by a terrible curse. He is cut, but does not bleed. He hungers, but does not starve. Banished from the kingdom of heaven, he lives. Alone, he will fail.

One becomes power incarnate. Hero and villain in equal measure, he loses that which makes a man a man. His flesh is stripped away, his bones are ground to dust, his mind laid bare before the stars. Driven mad, but cursed with terrible, terrible sanity. Alone, he will fail.

The last becomes as a god, power and life are at his fingertips. He is innocent, naive. Righteous in his strength, but his tragedy is all the greater for it. His innocence is stripped away, he is shown the true cruelty of reality, with no veil of softness. Yet still, he carries on. Alone, he will fail.

Only together, will the four vanquish the looming evil. Only by pooling their strengths can they hope to cover their weaknesses.

Jim is slammed back into his body as the song draws to a close.

“Dude!”

“You must come together, not just as friends, but as a team, to vanquish this evil.”

Sam shuts his gaping mouth. Prophecies, heroes, monsters. Just what had they fallen into here? They were soldiers who liked music! Not gods! Still, he had to sigh, they were Undaunted. The call for aid had been sent out, they were here. No one else was.

“Alright boys. We have our mission parameters. Let’s do this thing.”

She knew nothing, nothing except for hunger, and cold, and hatred. Another bright, warmness was nearing. Three bright warm spots in the infinite cold of the universe, three morsels to keep her alive. Around these three points of light, three snacks, spinning and spinning through the black. With but a thought, she gives birth, spewing her offspring towards the first of the snacks. She felt nothing, but there was a satisfaction to it. Her offspring would soften up the small world before her. Soon it would be time to feast.

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