In Memoriam - An Unus Annus Fanfiction

17.02. - 02/17 - Chickens teach us about Life and Death

»Be careful, that looks fragile.« Unus's warning came to late. The egg slipped out of his fingers, and his adrenaline shot upwards exponentially as fast as the egg fell downwards.
It didn't crack, or rather, it didn't have time to do so. As soon as it's underside hit the ground, it exploded with darkness. Like a tidal wave coming from underneath the ground, the blackness crashed over them, encompassing the room in mere seconds. It was as if somebody had turned off the light.
»What did you do now?« For some reason Unus's black suit was still visible against the pitch black background. It seemed as if there was light coming from somewhere, but he couldn't figure out from where.
»I don't know. But I don't think we're in the study anymore.«

Unus wanted to respond with something clever, but it slipped from his mind when as he looked up. Stars. Countless stars hung above their heads, white and blue and red and green and purple lights flickering and shimmering. A whole galaxy hanging above their heads.
A sound of wonder escaped him. He turned around, looking at the boundless sky. There seemed no end to it, no horizon, the stars simply got fewer and fewer the further down his gaze wandered.

He felt Annus bump into his back. He quickly realized why. Two massive beings had manifested in front of them. They vaguely looked like chickens, in the same way humans looked like whatever force may have formed them. One was as white as an opal, every feather glittering in all the colors imaginable. It seemed to shine from the inside, and would probably have been blinding, if it wasn't for the second being.
It's feathers were black, in the same way a blanket was black when you were tucked in as a child. Unus had never felt so comfortable than when he looked at these feathers. The light held all the secrets to the universe, the dark reassured him that even though he would never fully understand them, they would always have an answer.

»It seems like these hatchlings have wandered into our domain, sister Sugar.« The voice of the black one was soft like silk, and warm like coffee.
»I wonder how they did it, sister Pepper,« the white one said with a voice as refreshing like an autumn wind, or a cold drink on a hot day.
»Perhaps they used the egg?«
»But we gifted that to the one who visited us a long time ago. Remember, he brought us corn.«
»That is true, sister Sugar.« Their voices seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. The black one leaned it's head towards them, it's deep red eye as big as their heads.

»Do you have corn for us as well, mortals?« She asked.
Unus cleared his throat. »I am afraid we have not. We are friends of the one you talked about, and we would kindly ask for your help.«
Annus was staring at him as if he had gone mad, and he wasn't entirely whether or not he had.
»Why should we help you?« Sister Sugar asked. »You dare show up here without corn. Furthermore, that can only mean you have broken our precious egg. I'd say we eat them, sister Pepper. It's the least we can do if we get no corn.«
»Oh no, that would be a terrible idea.« Annus stepped forward. »Y'see, we taste terrible. Absolutely disgusting. It would be the worst you've ever tasted. Besides, if you help us, we can surely convince Marvin to bring you more corn.«

Sugar opened her wings, flapping them once. »Three questions. We see many things, more than you could ever comprehend. You will have your answers.«
»So you're almighty?« Unus blurted out.
»All seeing, not almighty. What is your second question.«
Annus shot him a well deserved 'you goddamn idiot' look. »Is there a way to save Marvin?«

It was Pepper who responded. »The one you call Marvin is not entirely gone. He is asleep, as his hate and hubris pilot his mortal shell. You can wake him, but you must to it before he is consumed by himself. The place of his first death holds the key.«

Annus let the answer sink for a second, before asking the last question. »How do we get out of the Machine.«
A chuckle filled the air, as soft as calm waves hitting the beach. »Hatchlings. They are always so predictable, aren't day sister Pepper?« Sugar held a wing on front of her beak. »Soon, there will open a window. It will lead you out, but not yet to freedom. Be swift and be strong, for the way is hard and difficult.« Suddenly, he knew where in the Machine the window would open, although no words were said.

Unsure if there was any proper etiquette, both men thanked the chicken more than once. They seemed to be amused by it.
»We will send you back to your own realm now,« Pepper said. »But before you go, heed my warning. The one with no soul is observing you, for he is pain, and he is fueled by despair.«

Before Annus could ask for what that meant, he found himself back on the floor in the study.
The men stared at each other for a few seconds, both nonverbally asking the other if he had any idea what just happened. Of course, neither of them had, but they both made the promise to keep their hands off Marvin's stuff without proper supervision.