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Please note: As I read this play yet again, I realize it still sucks, yet again. I'm not sure how many times I have edited the play, but I can see that it needs another editing. In the near future (whatever that may be) I hope to do so. Yuck, some of this dialog is sooooo bad. I'm holding my nose.
by Skippy
Setting: The play takes place far away from our Earth, on a planet called "Sanctuary". There are many different species in the universe, and their coexistence is sometimes not so easy. Sanctuary is a world where anyone can stay for 6 days, safe from any attack. At the end of this time they must leave Sanctuary for a minimum of 24 days. Weapons are allowed, the use of those weapons is not.
Spectacle: It is not far away from the first light of dawn as the play begins. Stars are still visible. The sky is clear. A cool breeze is blowing. It is an autumn morning. Center stage is a tree, with few leaves. It is very large & old. The tree is located in an opening in a field of tall grass.
Music: The sounds of wildlife, birds and other animals, can be heard. The rustle of the breeze.
The over all feeling is of peace and tranquillity.
Characters:
Admiral Gwangii - Should be attired in black clothing. He wears a cape and coat, both very long, but not of heavy material. A black vest, with pocket watch, and a white shirt. Black pants & boots. He also wears a sidearm.
Professor Stonfrit - Attired in "weekend explorer" fatigues. No insignia of any type is worn. A sidearm and communication device are present.
General Stage Directions and Notes: There are several pauses in the conversation or action. Pauses identified as "short" should be brief (how's that for stating the obvious?). The others, identifies simply as "pause" should be extended as long as the director feels he can get away with it, for dramatic effect.
Five minutes before show time, the house lights drop to 50%. Gwangii enters stage left, removes his cape and coat, and lies down at the base of the tree to look at the stars.
At show time, house lights drop, enter Stonfrit stage right. He is stalking Gwangii as one would a wild animal. As he approaches . . .
Gwangii: Hello.
Stonfrit: (Freezes, then relaxes.) I'm sorry. I didn't realize . . .
Gwangii: You thought I was an animal?
Stonfrit: Yes actually, I do apologize.
Gwangii: I've been mistaken for worse.
Gwangii: Care to join me in some stargazing? No need to stand, cop a squat.
Stonfrit: Thank you. I don't want to interrupt anything.
Gwangii: Not a chance of it. (Pause) So do you . . . do anything interesting with your life?
Stonfrit: I'm a genetic biologist. You?
Gwangii: Command mostly, but I do dabble in the science when I can tear myself away from the chains. Marine biology is a favorite of mine.
Stonfrit: Yes quite. Amazing what one finds in the oceans. An ocean can be as barren as a desert or abundant as a rain forest.
Gwangii: True. It seems the life in oceans is much more interesting than the life on land. Creatures with body fluids that will not freeze in frozen waters . . .
Stonfrit: Skeletons harder than the strongest metal compound . . .
Gwangii: Biological light bulbs . . .
Stonfrit: Life spans of hundreds, even thousands of years . . .
Gwangii: Or days, even hours, minutes . . .
Stonfrit: In the Inlusian Canyons of Cromonon VI there is a coral that grows at a rate of 1.2 meters each day as an average. It rides the side of the canyon wall. While the coral is alive, it's incredibly strong, but when it dies, the remains weaken and crumble, providing nutrients for the other creatures around it. The individual corals . . .
Gwangii: Plants or animals?
Stonfrit: Neither, traits of both. Individual corals die within hours of being born and start to crumble within minutes. You can watch it roll along, like a living wave of water beneath the sea. I wonder how many centuries that coral has been moving along the wall.
Gwangii: It doesn't move up or down?
Stonfrit: No, too little water pressure, it explodes, to much and it collapses. It can only exist in a narrow band of 347 psi. A deviation from this of only 1.2 psi and no more.
Gwangii: Most interesting. I must look into this one day.
Stonfrit: You must, it's an incredible sight.
Gwangii: Sounds it. Are you an independent researcher?
Stonfrit: Of a sort.
Gwangii: Good for you. Independence is a good thing.
There is a pause during which they study the sky.
Gwangii: Astronomy?
Stonfrit: Excuse me?
Gwangii: Do you study astronomy?
Stonfrit: No, not as a science. I just like star gazing. It takes me back.
Gwangii: Me too. So peaceful. You can lose yourself in this sky.
Stonfrit: Problems forgotten, pain healed.
Gwangii: To forgive and forget the past.
Stonfrit: One can also plan the future while lost in their beauty. A fading beauty at the moment I might add. I believe that dawn is upon us.
Gwangii: Have you seen the sun rise here before?
Stonfrit: Yes, wonderful isn't it.
Gwangii: Very much. And the current alignment of the suns makes it even more so.
Stonfrit: Really?
Gwangii: Yes. At the moment, they will appear side by side in the sky. (Chuckles) Two Suns In The Sunset.
Stonfrit: You mean sunrise.
Gwangii: No, sunset, it's the name of a song.
Stonfrit: Ah. I'm not familiar with it.
Gwangii: Sol III, Galacious Arm. They haven't made interstellar contact yet, but I've been there a few times.
Another pause.
Stonfrit: You come here often?
Gwangii: As time allows. You?
Stonfrit: Only my second time. I'd like to be here more. But . . . Obligations. Problems. Setbacks. The usual.
Gwangii: Yes. I know the feeling.
Stonfrit: Normally, I wouldn't be here now, but I had to get away. Responsibly eats you away.
Gwangii: Yea, it does suck sometimes.
Stonfrit: But I am most grateful for Sanctuary. I never thought I'd be able to let my guard down the way I can here. No more looking over the shoulder. Waiting for the assassin's blow.
Gwangii: Ah! A man with a life.
Stonfrit: And by that you mean?
Gwangii: Only when one looks into the darkness of death can he really see in the light of life. The moment we are born we are already dying, yet most folks sit around with their heads up their butts. Wasting time. Wasting life. Wasting opportunity.
Stonfrit: I've noticed that the people who visit Sanctuary seem to be a bit more philosophical than most.
Gwangii: That's because the people who visit Sanctuary are all dodging the assassin's bolt. It's a common thread. Should I say common fear. Everyone here is in the category of good or evil, depending on your definition of those terms, to such an extent that someone wants them dead.
Stonfrit: Or alive, to become dead slowly and painfully.
Gwangii: (Laughs) Yea.
Stonfrit: I think it has to do also with -- people who come here, who need to come here, do more, dare more, dream more.
Gwangii: Act more.
Stonfrit: Yes, they act more. They take action on their world. And when one takes action, one creates enemies.
Gwangii: And more action means . . .
Stonfrit: More enemies. (Long pause.) Have you ever heard of the rules of Sanctuary being broken?
Gwangii: No.
Stonfrit: Neither have I. But I'm not surprised. With the power of the Gwangii Corporation behind them. Who would dare.
Gwangii: Few I should think. I would hope.
A short pause.
Stonfrit: If I may ask . . .
Gwangii: You may.
Stonfrit: Which of the categories do you fall into?
Gwangii: Categories?
Stonfrit: Good or bad?
Gwangii: To whom, the many or the few?
Stonfrit: The many?
Gwangii: Actually, I shouldn't say the many or the few. Who's counting. Who really knows. We are all evil to some and good to others.
Stonfrit: This is true. I think most would call me evil. But some call me good.
Gwangii: Some call me evil, some call me good. But what am I? Both. There can be no evil without good.
Stonfrit: Two sides of a coin?
Gwangii: Yes, but more than that even.
Stonfrit: In what way?
Gwangii: All evil leads to good eventually. You could say that evil creates good.
Stonfrit: So then good creates evil?
Gwangii: I don't know yet. I haven't thought it out that far.
Stonfrit: So then how does evil create good?
Gwangii: In the opposition to evil, good must arise. Good is a response to evil. Evil is a necessary driving force. Look at the evolution of many societies. People exist. Their population and society become more complicated. They create governments which in turn enslave the people. The people finally figure out what's going on and rebel. They enter a new period of freedom, then it starts over again. Over and over in this cycle until they have finally either given up hope and remain slaves, or they finally get wise and learn to limit their governments. Without the evil of slavery, they could never appreciate the good of freedom.
Stonfrit: Interesting observation. What about on a more micro level though? What about one evil person, killing a good person?
Gwangii: Who is all evil or all good? No one, but I understand your question, and we can operate in stereotypes for the moment. On a daily basis we all respond to our environment. The difference between us and animals of course is that we can choose how to respond to a stimulation. We can label a stimulus and create what we believe is a correct response. So, the response to a murder, which we will call evil, may be revenge or forgiveness, or something else, but in any case, if we call the murder evil, then we will most certainly call the response, our response that is, good. So, regardless if the response is actually good or evil, we will think it's good. Thus, evil has created good, in the eyes of the beholder anyhow. Did that make sense?
Stonfrit: Not a bit of it. (Both laugh.) So then, if you reverse roles, good can create evil.
Gwangii: No, I don't think so. Who sets out to do evil?
Stonfrit: You're not setting out to do evil, you are responding to good with evil. Wait . . .
(Short pause.) I see the point now. If you interpreted the stimulation as good, the response would also be something you would consider good. And if the stimulation were something you label as evil, your response would still be something you would consider good. From the eye of the beholder that is.
Gwangii: Exactly, give that man a binary star. Look, you can just barely see the tip of the blue sun. Again, good leads to good, evil leads to good, but all of this is dependent upon what the labels good and evil are attached to. It's dependent upon perspective, frame of reference.
Stonfrit: So, does this explain where evil comes from to begin with? If good leads to good and evil leads to good, what leads to evil?
Gwangii: Misunderstanding.
Stonfrit: That's it?
Gwangii: Feel free to offer suggestions.
Stonfrit: Explain yours.
Gwangii: Well. Say I see a cute babe and I want to do the horizontal bop with her, but she refuses my advances, so I rape her. Now to me, this is good.
Stonfrit: But to society, it's bad.
Gwangii: Exactly. Misunderstanding.
Stonfrit: Different values, different standards.
Gwangii: Yes, exactly. Good and evil are determined by standards.
Stonfrit: But who determines the standards for an individual, for a society?
Gwangii: Yes. Now there is the problem. Religion?
Stonfrit: There are many faiths, with many beliefs.
Gwangii: Yes, but notice, the ones which become most wide spread share a similar base. Don't steal, don't lie, don't kill, be nice to other folks unless they steal, lie or kill. Then you whack off their heads, or some other important body part, and send the family a bill for cleaning up the mess.
Stonfrit: True enough, the predominate religions I know of seem to follow those guides, but beyond that they are totally different. Some involve one god, some multitudes of gods, some even involve sacrifice of ones own species, even of ones own faith. These commonalities may be seen so often simply because they are so basic.
Gwangii: Ah, so then, does that make the point. Are these the basic rules which govern good and evil. Are they so obvious that religions having no similarities otherwise still find their foundation with these ideas?
Stonfrit: Interesting. But still the differences outweigh the similarities.
Gwangii: Would you agree that individuals of a race would share very similar concepts of good and evil, but different races would have very different concepts of such?
Stonfrit: Certainly. Look at the Adagio Assai. They eat their elders, and the elders are quite happy to be eaten. I can think of several other cultures where cannibalism is encouraged as part of religion or tradition. But most cultures abhor the thought.
Gwangii: I agree. So an absolutely universal concept of good and evil may never exist, but each species will have standards to themselves. To some degree.
Stonfrit: Yes, given enough time to sort things out.
Gwangii: But, we still don't know who defines these things. Although religion, faith, tradition and so on seems to play a part.
Stonfrit: Government?
Gwangii: No, I don't think. Government eventually builds up power, and power attracts the corrupt. Normal people have no interest in having power over others, which is what government is. Only elitists are attracted to government. It may begin pure, but it's soon corrupted.
Stonfrit: Who's standards constitute pure? We're back at the same place. Surely government should be charged with making these determinations for the people. Especially if the people have control over who composes the government.
Gwangii: Goodness no. Come on. Of all the planets you know of, how many have a central government where the people actually have clear and undeniable control?
Stonfrit: I can think of seven off hand.
Gwangii: Seven of how many?
Stonfrit: Seven of over three hundred.
Gwangii: Not a very good ratio. As we mentioned before, governments take their people through cycles of slavery. I've yet to see a powerful government and a free people.
Stonfrit: Toccata II.
Gwangii: Toccata II! Please!
Stonfrit: Toccata II. The government is powerful, but works only for the good of the people.
Gwangii: Their government exterminates almost ten percent of the population each year, for political reasons.
Stonfrit: To protect the people under its charge.
Gwangii: From what? Evil?
Stonfrit: Yes.
Gwangii: Defined by who?
Stonfrit: The people themselves.
Gwangii: In what way.
Stonfrit: By the government.
Gwangii: So the government defines good and evil, by who's standards?
Stonfrit: The peoples.
Gwangii: Fine, where do they get their standards.
Stonfrit: From the government.
Gwangii: Can't be, which came first, the government or the people?
Stonfrit: The people.
Gwangii: So they had no standards until the government was created?
Stonfrit: Certainly they did.
Gwangii: So the government of Toccata II, which is evil by my standards, and I infer good by your standards . . .
Stonfrit: You infer correctly.
Gwangii: Is setting standards, for sake of discussion, with the consent of the people, but by what measure do they, the people that is, judge those standards. Back to square one.
Stonfrit: I don't know. Their religion perhaps.
Gwangii: Are you familiar with the faiths of Toccata II?
Stonfrit: I must confess not.
Gwangii: I know enough about the two most prominent faiths to know that the actions of the government are not in line with them.
Stonfrit: Who is to say the beliefs of their religion are correct? Who say's those ideals should be held above others?
Gwangii: So we are back where we were. Who decides right and wrong, good and evil?
Stonfrit: The individual. It must be.
Gwangii: But on what basis? With what knowledge does one make this decision? And then how does one see one's self in relation to the others in a society. Does an evil person call themselves evil?
Stonfrit: Surely some must. What of Natbalm the Destroyer? What of King Larc Gasan? What of Emily Swan? Did they not glory in their evil? In the chaos and destruction they brought?
Gwangii: This is true. And we must also consider that there is such a thing as pure evil. Yet, so far as I know, there is no pure good.
Stonfrit: Pure evil? In what form?
Gwangii: Evil, in Evil's form.
Stonfrit: Sorry, I'm missing something here.
Gwangii: Evil. Not evil the idea, Evil, the creature. The crystalline being which was shattered into a billion fragments.
Stonfrit: That's a myth.
Gwangii: That's a truth my friend. Are you familiar with the planet Nashira III.
Stonfrit: It rings a bell . . .
Gwangii: Dorsam cluster.
Stonfrit: Ah yes.
Gwangii: One of the Four Royal Families holds a gemstone called the Tarn-ness. Heard of it?
Stonfrit: Can't say that I have.
Gwangii: Well, anyhow, that is a piece of evil. Which is why this family has lots of kids. They keep killing each other, so they have to reproduce fast, or the family dies out. I guess it's a good inspiration to whoopee. They keep wearing the bloody jewel to important occasions.
Stonfrit: And this jewel is a piece of evil?
Gwangii: Yes. Not large enough to have a self awareness, or to move about, but still it has, oh, call them, impulses, influences, empathy. Enough to overpower a person in close contact for brief moments and make them do evil things.
Stonfrit: So if this is a piece of evil, why don't you do something about it?
Gwangii: Because on the cosmic scale, a few deaths in a Royal Family of Nashira III are pretty insignificant.
Stonfrit: Now that's an interesting thing to say in a conversation about good and evil. You mean that evil on a small scale is OK, but evil on a large scale isn't.
Gwangii: Something like that. Like I said, evil is necessary. It's only when it threatens to overpower good, all good, to dominate, that it becomes . . . uh . . .
Stonfrit: Yes?
Gwangii: In need of vanquishing I guess is the best way to put it. Sounds heroic anyhow. Or at least, from my perspective that is. Smaller evils should be dealt with by those who would oppose them. Don't misunderstand me. Evil should be opposed, but a little evil only needs a little good to oppose it. Overkill is not required.
Stonfrit: So, I infer from this, that you consider yourself to be an awesome source of good. Have I inferred correctly.
Gwangii: An "awesome source of good". Well, I like to think I'm awesome (Both chuckle) and I am a source. Some say a source of crap, but a source none-the-less. (Both laugh.) As too good or evil, if I must choose sides, I guess I must assume good, though many would disagree, and even I must stress that no one, to include yours truly, is all good or all evil.
Stonfrit: Except for Evil, the being.
Gwangii: Yes, except for Evil.
Stonfrit: I still don't buy that story. It's a myth I say.
Gwangii: And I tell you, it's not. There are still some pieces of evil out there that are large enough to be self-aware. A dangerous prospect.
Stonfrit: But a small piece of evil isn't enough for you to worry about.
Gwangii: No, not really.
Stonfrit: So what sort of evil is big enough for you to worry about.
Gwangii: Well, I just finished kicking butt in the Cetus system. (Stonfrit becomes erect and alert.) My forces kicked some butt that is. The Agnam had established a number of mining, industrial and manufacturing operations from which they intended to invade the neighboring Octans cluster. A potentially explosive situation. Especially since I have interest there. (Gwangii laughs at his joke.) But seriously, couldn't let that happen. Just too big a move on the part of the Agnam.
Stonfrit: You play me the fool?
Gwangii: Excuse me?
Stonfrit: (Stonfrit comes his feet and turns to confront Gwangii.) Damn you Gwangii, answer me straight!
Gwangii: (Turning at Stonfrit's confrontational tone.) What is the . . . Professor Stonfrit. (Gwangii looks serious for a moment, then smiles, begins to laugh very loudly and roll on the ground.)
Stonfrit: I will not be mocked!
Gwangii: Professor, relax. I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at the situation. (Gwangii rises, Stonfrit follows.)
Stonfrit: You knew it was me the whole time, didn't you.
Gwangii: How would I know it's you?
Stonfrit: It's said you can read thoughts.
Gwangii: I can, but it takes a lot of effort. Besides, I don't just go around reading minds ya know. (In a funny voice) Excuse me while I probe your gray matter. (Uses fingers to make antenna on his head and makes a series of funny noises.) And besides, it's not polite.
Stonfrit: Your night vision, sonar, recognition abilities?
Gwangii: I come here so I can turn all that off. I'm telling you Professor, I didn't know. Damn this is funny. (Pause.) (Serious again) I heard rumors you were killed during the bombardment of Cetus IV. Nice to know they were wrong.
Stonfrit: Yes. So what of now?
Gwangii: You mean?
Stonfrit: Are you going to kill me now?
Gwangii: (Disbelief.) By gods no. I can't do that. The rules of Sanctuary forbid killing within three centaparsects of the planets center point.
Stonfrit: Yes, but you made the rules.
Gwangii: Yes, and I'd look damn silly breaking them, wouldn't I. Besides, I can't kill you even if I wanted to. You have too much to do. We all have our part to play on the cosmic stage.
Stonfrit: Really. By killing me, you could throw my people into utter chaos. Especially with our civil war.
Gwangii: This is true. A leaderless Imperial Agnam would give an advantage to the Republic Agnam, but it wouldn't last long, leadership vacuums usually don't. Besides, with a choice between a powerful Imperial Agnam waging war on the galaxy, or a Agnam civil war being waged in the galaxy, who's to say which is worse. Further, the only differing philosophies between the Imperials and the Republics is how to conquer everyone else.
Stonfrit: There are other differences. The Republics have rejected my leadership.
Gwangii: This would be . . . a bad thing? (Laughs.)
Stonfrit: The Republics will fail.
Gwangii: (Very serious again.) Let's both hope so.
Stonfrit: So, let us apply our conversation to a real situation. Here I stand. You can kill me without even thinking hard, if the things I have heard about you are true. Why don't you do it?
Gwangii: (Begins to speak.)
Stonfrit: And don't tell me about 'rules'. If you can circumvent the laws of physics, you can circumvent your own rules.
Gwangii: I don't ever circumvent the laws of physics. I just know certain loop-holes. (Short pause.) Why don't I kill you? I'll be straight with you. You deserve that. Past, present and future mean little to me.
Stonfrit: (Interrupting.) So you can travel in time?
Gwangii: (Considers.) Yes.
Stonfrit: By your own power?
Gwangii: No. I have a machine.
Stonfrit: Which you built.
Gwangii: Which I stole.
Stonfrit: From who?
Gwangii: Can't tell ya that one. They are not happy, I can tell you that. If I may continue. I know of future events, and I can simply say Professor, that to kill you now would screw up a whole lot of hard work on my part. It would also mean a number of wonderful things wouldn't happen. As I previously stated, from evil comes good. The evil of your Agnam will lead to much good in the long run. Look at your past. The Mizar and Alioth systems were locked in a bloody war for 34 solar years, until the Agnam attacked them both. Now Mizar and Alioth are staunchest allies. Thanks to you. Nothing like a common enemy to unite foes. You have much to do Professor, and dying is not on the agenda.
Stonfrit: But the deaths of my people are.
(Gwangii looks at Stonfrit expectantly.)
Stonfrit: Your battle fleet killed over four hundred thousand of my people.
Gwangii: And of course when you invaded the Octans cluster next week you weren't going to harm anyone were you?
Stonfrit: Not if they submitted.
Gwangii: Not if they submitted. Not if they submitted! Not if they submitted! Not if they just gave up their freedom, got down on their knees, or equivalent anatomical feature, and said "Oh mighty Professor Stonfrit, great, wise and wonderful one, please chain me." I don't see it happenin'.
Stonfrit: I chain no one Admiral. The Agnam are the ultimate biological life form. Physically and mentally they are superior to all other life in the known universe.
Gwangii: Weren't we just talking about elitists.
Stonfrit: Further more . . .
Gwangii: And I'm glad you threw in the bit about "known universe". I know a few Psirons who would dispute that claim.
Stonfrit: . . . it is the place of the Agnam to lead the other peoples of the universe. It's for their own good Admiral. But people like you oppose the inevitable. (Stonfrit looks for a response.)
Gwangii: What was it you said, "I just don't buy it".
Stonfrit: I don't expect you to.
Gwangii: And you shouldn't. Professor, it's real simple. The Agnam are wonderful examples of biological engineering. They are also totally without compassion, love or pity. They are, for all effect and purpose, evil my dear Professor. You took the Agnam race, your own people, and mutated them into cold, unfeeling creatures. You used your science to extend your life beyond the natural limits to continue your experiments. Now you think they are destine to rule the universe. It's not so. It's just not so.
Stonfrit: Why is it not so?
Gwangii: Because I will not allow it.
Stonfrit: Because you will not allow it? You speak of elitist Admiral. Listen to your own words. "I will not allow it", "past, present and future mean little to me", killing me would "screw up a whole lot of hard work on my part", "you have much to do Professor". You ooze condensation and elitism. We are nothing but insects for your amusement. You watch us, play with us, pass judgment on our actions, ideas and beliefs. Fat, safe and secure in your power. Answer for me the grand question Admiral. How long have you lived? I've heard the stories, but how long Admiral? Straight.
(Short pause.)
Gwangii: 17,462.34 solar years. Give or take.
Stonfrit: And in your immortality (Gwangii tries to speak but is interrupted.) Forgive me, your "semi-immortality". I so admire the modesty with which you present that little phrase, as if apologizing for your condition. So in your "semi-immortality" you look down on us insects and decide which of us die and which of us live. I trust you will not call me a liar. You have stood by the side of your own soldiers, using only a rifle, while they die around you, when you could, with but a thought, obliterate all that stand in their opposition. You could have killed every one of my people in the Cetus system by yourself. Yet you didn't. And because you didn't, three of your own battleships were lost, with how many dead? Just on those ships alone, how many fools died in your service? How many fools like them have died over your years? People who died unnecessarily. People who died because you felt like letting them die, because you didn't feel like using your power. Because you didn't want to mess up a lot of hard work. Then, when you happen to notice the insects around you, you pass judgment on them. On us. We are evil. Shall I now beg your redemption? Let me tell you about us Admiral. About myself, my people, my past, my good, my evil, my dreams, my nightmares. (Pause.) The Agnam were unaware of life in the universe around them. Our neighbors had no interest in us, we must have held no interest for them, and our technology did not reveal their presence. Then the solar flares started. Our planet was razed. Life as we knew it destroyed. My people were dying. Did you come to our assistance. No. No one came. Of all the intelligent creatures out there who could have seen what was happening, no one contacted us. No one warned us. No one helped us. No one cared. No one noticed us on our miserable little speck. The only hope for our survival was evolution, to adapt to a new and hostile environment. A new biological form that could survive the intense radiation bombardment, the temperature and season shifts, the magnetic fields. Through my experiments I managed to prolong my own life beyond normal, my vitality with it. But not for myself Admiral, for my people. After years of research and failure, I created a genetic code for a creature that could survive on the surface of our planet. Perhaps some things were lost in the process as you claim. But something does not cost nothing. Finally, my people could return to the surface. We would continue. (Short pause.) When we moved back to the surface and began to explore our former home, our former garden, what did we find? The Lacerta and the Pictor. Our neighbors in space. Had they come when we needed their help, no. But when they thought us dead they came. They came to rape what was left of our garden. To plunder our fallen cities. To steal our works of art. I could not stray to the surface unprotected, and when my people, my children, my brothers and sisters, came to me with this news, did I not scream a thousand curses? I did. Did I not howl in anguish? I did. Did I not order their destruction? I did Admiral. And the Agnam swarmed upon the invaders, the thieves, and tore their fragile bodies to threads. If you care to wait for me to express regret for this, then you shall wait longer than you have yet lived. I never shall. You accuse me of evil. Of unfeeling. Who was unfeeling as my people died? Had we perished in the solar flares, our cities, our art, our monuments were our gravestones. Who was unfeeling as our graves were defiled, our tombs robbed, our epitaphs defaced. You and your ilk, that's who. Where were you when we needed you? Where was your power? Where was your goodness? Where was your Gwangii Corporation? No one was there till we were thought dead. No one Admiral. (Short pause.) We learned fast. The technology we acquired was easy to assimilate. And behold our discovery, a whole universe of self-centered, selfish bastards just like yourself. A universe of cold, heartless, unfeeling creatures who cared nothing for our pain, only our material wealth. Only our bones. Well now Admiral, the bones in question are not ours, but all others. Those bones shall be crushed beneath the feet of the Agnam. We shall rule the universe, and never again shall the innocent and ignorant die while spectators sell tickets and wait for the last gasp of a world to pass. You may see me as evil. I accept that. I will play my part on your cosmic stage, but to what audience? You and yours? Look at you Admiral. Look at yourself as I see you. You see yourself as director of this grand performance. A performance solely for your entertainment. A performance that only you may review. Only you may critique. Only you may judge. Only you may categorize. So content and safe in yourself. So full of yourself, your morality, your standards. Look at you as I see you. Governor Gwangii, political leader of the Free Republics. The biggest bunch of pansies ever accumulated under one banner. President Gwangii, owner and operator of the greatest wealth pinching capitalist endeavor undertaken. Admiral Gwangii, commander of the greatest battle fleet, the boldest ground troops. Your personal mercenaries who die at your whim. Look at you as I see you. Powerful. Too much so. Far too much. And now, you dare to tell me what you will not allow. You dare to chart my destiny and pass judgment on me and mine. (Stonfrit gets in Gwangiis' face.) Well I ask you, who made you god? Who has made you god!
(Stonfrit pushes Gwangii to the ground. Gwangii falls passively, doesn't move for a moment, then slowly sits up. Stonfrit realizes he may have gone too far. After a thoughtful pause Gwangii rises to his feet.)
Gwangii: (In a calm manner.) So tell me Professor, where are the Agnam's works of art now? Where are the cities? Where are the monuments? Now there is only the hatred. Only death, destruction and desolation. Emptiness. No art. No beauty. No glory. No vision. Just conquest. (Short pause.) Who made me god? A fair question, and one I'll favor with an answer. Who made me god? But first . . . (Suddenly enraged.) Witness the power of a god! Do you care for high noon? (Every light comes to full intensity, even the house lights.) Or do you care for midnight? (Total blackout except an intense pool on Stonfrit. There is a dim pool around this pool in which Gwangii circles Stonfrit and delivers his monologue.) Or do you even have a choice? I don't really think you do. (Stonfrit is struck by intense pain, falls to his knees and begins to scream.) Silence! (Stonfrit falls silent, but is still in agony.) I can twist your mind to bring pain or pleasure as easily as I twist this planet to bring day or night. Now, if you've the courage to hear my words, listen to me. Who made me god? You think you're an insect. Oh no, you over value yourself. You are nothing but a worm. No where near insect status yet. A worm in the soil beneath my feet. A worm on a hook anytime I desire. I can tear you apart and put you back together. My power is beyond your ability to measure much less understand. Who made me god? A long time ago, very far away, some government lackeys who pictured themselves scientist poured a cake mix into a bowl, added two eggs and one cup of water, stuck it in the oven on three fifty for forty minutes and out I popped. Hot, steaming and ready to go. Now that I think about it, they were much like you. A few years of propaganda injections and I was ready to roll. The ultimate weapon. You think I was created to be a cosmic crusader? Super Goodie Two Shoes? No my dear Professor. I was, I am, I will always be, deep down inside, a weapon. A weapon you best hope you never see in action. Who made me god? Ya want to know a gods' secret? For thousands of years scientist have pondered over the Kurhan Cluster. 8,214 stars. Every one of them burned out and dead. Do you know how I know how many stars are in the Kurhan Cluster? I know, because I personally extinguished each of them. Does your worm mind believe? Shall I burn out these stars to prove it? It won't take me long to do. I've lots of practice. Who made me god? I was set loose to do the work of destruction. And I loved it. Rape, pillage and burn. Nothing withstood my power, nothing stood in my wake. Destruction so complete, a vacuum is an abundance in comparison. There was no evil, save Evil, that could compare to my evil. There are no words that can convey my evil deeds. No words to describe the horrors I have brought to life. Who made me god? After several thousand years, things didn't seem, right, anymore. They made a mistake you see. A weapon, of infinite power, that could think. That could reason. That could feel. That had ideas of it's own. A weapon, is a slave, is a fool. And I was not created to be a fool. There are, shall we say, updated versions of me popping out of the oven all the time. Sometimes they even send them after me. To kill me, so I don't return for them, as if I care enough to do so. But they all fail. Ya know why? Because my creators learn from their mistakes. They have created beings with even more power than I have, but never again with more intelligence. For intelligence and wisdom are the ultimate powers, the ultimate weapons. A soldier with a weapon is dangerous, but a soldier with a mind is nearly invincible. The ability to destroy a star is nothing without the knowledge of the right time to do so, or the right time not to do so. They fear another like me. As they should. Only my nausea at the sight of them prevented my from erasing their existence. That, and I need a good challenge every now and then, else I become really bored. When I get really bored, then I get in, shall we say, a bad mood. Who made me a god? Now here I am. Amongst a bunch of worms that know nothing of my true past. The universal Goodie Two Shoes in your eyes. Mr. Nice Guy. Every time I turn around some worm is whining for help. Gwangii, our spaceship broke. Gwangii, we're being invaded. Gwangii, our government is enslaving us. Gwangii, I need someone to wipe my ass. The reason you can't wipe your ass is because you have your head up it. And somehow, here's the amazing part, somehow, you expect me, me, to come along and save you all. Like I have nothing to do but run around the universe pulling heads out of asses! Who made me god? Listen to your pathetic little sob story. Why didn't I come save you from the solar flares. Why didn't I rescue your people. Why don't I do this? Why don't I do that? Why don't I do something else? Why aren't I a worm herder? Who make me god? The people in my service die while I watch from the side because they don't expect me to save them. I train them and teach them to save themselves. I bring them freedom, self-reliance, but also responsibility. For their lives as well as their deaths. If I did everything for them, which I could, what sort of people would that create. Helpless people, waiting for someone to take their hand and show them the way. No progress, no independence, no daring, no heroes, no future, no reason to live. Wisdom comes only from experience, experience comes only from mistakes. If there are no consequences, there can be no mistakes. My people choose to follow my lead. They may die in my service, but they also live. The live more than others ever dream of living. Who made me god? You did you stinking, filthy, miserable, low, spineless, disgusting, pathetic, vile, despicable, obscene, coarse, incompetent, stupid, ignorant, worthless, little worm. You and all the other little worms like you who pray to me, yes, pray to me, to come save you when hard times show up. I'm a god because you made me a god. There is your answer Stonfrit. Who made me a god? You did. I hope you rest easy with your answer tonight. One final secret for you to ponder in your dreams. You think I direct the action on the stage. Oh no. I'm only a player, just like you. If you think there is not power far greater than mine, then you are a bigger fool for it. My role is as scripted as yours.
(The light of the stars and moons returns. The pool on Stonfrit fades. Stonfrit is no longer experiencing pain and quickly recovers. Both visibly relax.)
Gwangii: Any other questions?
Stonfrit: No. None.
Gwangii: It's slightly past midnight. You'll get to enjoy another sunrise. I should take advantage.
Stonfrit: I will, thank you.
Gwangii: I however, must be going. Things to do ya know.
Stonfrit: Yes. I'm sure. (Gwangii begins to exit. When he is almost off stage -- ) Thank you for a most interesting conversation.
Gwangii: Thank you. You held your side fairly well. (Smiles playfully.) For a worm. (exit)
Stonfrit: (To self.) A worm. Yes Gwangii. A worm that one day will crush you.
Gwangii: (From off stage.) Outstanding! I love a challenge.
Stonfrit: (Displays no surprise.) And you shall have it. I promise you that. (He sits and gazes off into the stars above. The curtain closes.)
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