The Rise to Godhood
Chapter 49: A Foreboding Vision.

Areela Kheeran was dipping her toes in the icy river, reflecting on life and fearing the future. The situation on Earth had been tranquil ever since the Neanderthals had stopped Arish and his mercenaries from stealing the Terran Zeto Crystal at Mount Sinai a decade earlier. Yet, Areela feared an invisible enemy, which, unlike Arish, was unstoppable. She feared the passage of time.

Areela had turned 220 or thereabouts just a few days earlier. It was hard to tell her exact age, as the year wasn’t the same length on Earth as on Zetani or Zetani Nova. Yet, if she was 220, 219, or 221, did not really matter, as her time away from Zetani was only a fraction of her life. She felt and looked young, whereas Gaia had started to look old. Moreover, her son, Siblex Junior, a young Zetan child who, in physical development, was still the size of a 5-year-old boy, was beginning to speak and think like an adult way beyond his years.

As Areela pondered how much they had been through, she feared what the future would bring. In the glimpse of an eye, the passage of time would end the short life of her human partner, which would leave Areela and Siblex Junior alone on this foreign planet.

“What’s the matter, love? Is something bothering you?”

Areela turned around and looked at Gaia. She recalled how many times she had fallen in love with Gaia’s beautiful face, but the magic was fading. She was too “young” to love someone that looked so old.

“No. Everything is fine,” Areela replied.

“Is that so? You usually pull up your feet from the river as you hate the cold.” Gaia replied.

Being reminded of the cold, Areela had a reality check, pulled her feet out of the river, shivered and spoke, “Brrrr... You’re right. It is so cold. How could I forget?”

Gaia smiled and replied, “Ah, so your mind was wandering? Where did it take you?”

“I was thinking about the future. You are aging much quicker than I am. What happens when….” Areela mumbled.

“When I die? As mortals, we can never know when our deaths will come. So, we can only enjoy the moment and make the best of our time.” Gaia replied.

“You know what I mean. My species can live a thousand years. What is the human lifespan? A hundred?” Areela asked.

“I know what you are talking about. I have seen how you look at me differently after I lost the beauty of my youth.” Gaia said and sighed.

“Don’t say that. I still love you.” Areela objected.

“It’s okay. I should have asked my mother to slow my aging and extend my life a long time ago.” Gaia replied.

“Why didn’t you?” Areela asked.

“Because I feared that True Maker wouldn’t extend the favour to my children. Watching Ava and Adan wither and die from old age while I remained youthful would be a terrible curse.” Gaia revealed.

“Then you understand how I feel?” Areela asked.

“Yes, I will discuss it with my mother,” Gaia said, picked up Areela’s feet and massaged them to rejuvenate her blue-skinned partner and show her some affection. If life could only last longer…

***

Areela was feverish and experienced terrible tremors. This was the first time she had been sick since she arrived on Earth. As it would seem, there were no pathogens on earth that could affect her. It made sense in a way. The only Zetans on the planet were Areela and her son, so a pathogen targeting her race was an evolutionary improbability.

Areela closed her eyes and tried to sleep. It didn’t work. Instead, she saw terrible images of her firstborn son, Thorax, who carried out savage murders to corrupt a Zeto Crystal. Seeing how her son had fallen to hatred and malevolence, Areela shivered, and her body ached. Was this how she would meet her maker, falling victim to a pathogen on a planet far away from home?

“I heard you asked Gaia to petition me for a life extension.”

As Areela opened her eyes, she faced the embodiment of the True Maker. This wasn’t the first time she saw True Maker, as the supreme deity visited her daughter Gaia in physical bodies from time to time.

“Where is Gaia?” Areela wheezed.

“I sent her on an ‘urgent’ mission to Mount Sinai,” True Maker replied.

“What is going on?” Areela asked and stared at True Maker in fear.

“You must make a choice. You have seen what has become of your son. You must choose whether to stop him or not.” True Maker stated.

Areela stared at the embodiment of the Supreme Deity. She looked like any beautiful woman in her human form, yet Areela knew that the unimpressive body was a façade that the creator put on.

“Why me?” Areela asked.

“Why anyone else? You are the only one who would struggle with the moral dilemma, and the most important choices are the hardest ones. Besides, If I leave it to Governor Podixa Sairan, she will exterminate the Xenos as a precaution. So only you can reach Thorax without causing bloodshed.” True Maker revealed.

Areela closed her eyes, and she saw visions of Thorax carrying out ritual murders to corrupt the Xenoran Zeto Crystal. She wanted to save her son from himself, as she was to blame for his dark soul. Her abandonment had caused it. But what if she couldn’t save him? Was she ready to kill her son to save her species?

“What do I need to do?” Areela asked.

“You need to convince my daughter to follow you to Xenora. Together you can save the galaxy; separated, you are doomed.” True Maker revealed.

“Why don’t you convince her yourself?” Areela asked.

“I told you already. I cannot make choices. Mortals must have the final say.” True Maker replied and turned her gaze away.

‘She is lying. I can sense the guilt in her eyes.’ Areela thought, but she pushed the thought aside. True Maker wasn’t human, so whatever her body language showed could be a physical misrepresentation.

“I will do your bidding. I feel terrible knowing that my negligence caused Thorax to become this way, but I will stop him. I caused this, and I’ll end it.” Areela said and felt surprised by the sudden determination that filled her spirit. Was this True Maker’s doing?

“I’ll cure your ailments. Prepare yourself for my daughter’s return.” True Maker said as she stroked Areela’s cheek and evaporated into thin air.

As the supreme deity left, Areela felt invigorated. Her illness was gone, and so was her fear of the slow decay of time. She had a new purpose, which was more important than her life. The future of the Milky Way Galaxy was at stake. Absorbed by her mission, Areela got out of bed and started tinkering with Arish’s old hovercraft. Time was of the essence, and as soon as Gaia returned, they had to be on their way.