“That was strange,” said Emilio to himself back in the Purple.

“Agreed,” replied the voice of the Artificial Intelligence instead of Liam.

In Emilio’s ear, Marilyn whispered, "I have regained full control of my systems. The old guy has left. You can start the game in the body of Sophie, like everyone else. The Metil was your original choice to play the game, I just put him back next to you, Liam is also here floating next to you but the real one returned with Sophie in the Center. She needed to teach you how to mess around in my memory. I am not sure how that advances things.” The people watching the game saw all three, Sophie, Liam and Malik float in the Purple. Emilio knew he was late in terms of the game and scoring points. The time allowed was half over; he felt it. His competitive instinct kicked in, even though he could afford to lose every round until the finale and still qualify.

The President tried to orient himself, he was mentally exhausted. Malik, animated by the computer helped, "I can stream to the city if you want, but I can't take you two with me. Is this you Liam?"

“Yes young purpeliete.”

Emilio focused, "No problem, you go. We will to follow.” His voice was that of the young girl. In the Center, Sophie had now lost interest and was speaking internally with the real Liam.

Part of the boy's outer seventh layer stopped spinning. A hundred shiny rocks activated and in a flash, Malik shrunk to nothing. Emilio closed his eyes and wished he (Sophie) and Liam could simply follow the boy, and the Multiverse's kindness made it happen. Sophie could now move throughout the Multiverse at will. Playing as the girl was a bit like playing an omniscient being. Emilio felt Sophie’s power also applied to the real world where she somehow could jump from Mars to Earth if she desired. This was crazy.

In the blink of an eye, the game trio found itself in the middle of the colorful city. On the television, the images were beautiful. There were trillions of spinning rocks everywhere against a deeper purple background. Emilio did not know what was more impressive, the sight of this alien world or witnessing the power of the computer operating it. Electoral was now powerful beyond imagination. Emilio had little doubt she had, for the game, recreated every living creature from this world with an eerie level of precision.

"This is insanity," he let slip as the girl. No one would fault him. For the viewers on Earth, the camera angles kept moving to capture the breadth of the view. In this world without gravity, there was no sense of direction. In the distance mountains of light shone. "You think they see us?" asked Sophie. Little rock creatures, like Malik, ran away in all directions while others nervously converged to them. They all looked like Malik but a bit smaller. "Are you fat?" she queried. Emilio knew Sophie would speak her mind, "On the porch of my dad's dream house, you were in perfect shape." Emilio was back in character.

"I have seven layers. That is rare. This one,” the camera pointed to one other creature standing by, “has seven layers." Emilio looked around and saw the larger Metil. "The pure ones have only five layers." The Metils around the group stopped advancing. They formed a sphere around the group.

"Pure?" asked the girl.

"Yes. Most Metils have six layers. At five, you are considered exceptional, and you can rule. Using seven layers is considered a waste and you are inferior. This makes us outcasts in our society."

"Size, really? Your people discriminate on size? I guess that's one way of doing it. In my world, we discriminate on everything except size. Adults love to hate each other. Our favorite is skin color." Emilio enjoyed playing the girl. Sophie liked to give her position on things. "The one stupid problem I hate the most on Earth is the invisible lines on the ground."

"Lines?"

"Yes. Adults made up invisible lines they say exist on the ground, they are called borders. Born on one side of the invisible line you get a red passport and on the other you get a black one. There are no country lines except in books. I spent hours on my tutor learning about the invisible lines. Adults even go to war over where these imaginary lines. Liam, what's the stupidest discrimination in your world?"

"The wall hanging, I guess." There was a chuckle from both children. He explained, "We are few, so we rarely take issue, but some of us have come in existence attached to a wall, while others are spheres which rested on the floor. The wall-hangers figured they are superior.”

"Are you a wall-hanger?"

"No, yet I outlasted every one of them. Discrimination rarely serves logic or reason."

Back in the Center, Sophie looked up at this exchange, she was watching the screen and asked the real Liam in her head, “Is that true?”

Shamefully the voice offered, “Yes. The computer is truly powerful. How can she know such things.”

Back in the game the creatures from the Metil world were now in tight formation around them. A voice rang out; it was forceful and arrogant. "Halt!" The thousands forming the shell stopped at a distance reordered themselves in a maneuver vaguely reminiscent of military formations. The new creatures who had arrived appeared covered in armor made of darker rocks. Some had rudimentary shields. This complex world was somewhat cute, it reminded Sophie of the Christmas house decorations or a Mardi Gras parade.

"Malik, you have returned. We were told to give you messages. We blame you for causing an inter dimensional war. What are those monsters next to you? You are under arrest. You must pay for your crimes."

"They are my friends from the other world beyond the rifts. They wish you no harm. I caution, do not upset her, she is the one called Sophie.” He gestured at her. “She has the power to destroy all of you."

"We know. It has already killed one of us, we do not fear death. This time we came prepared to fight it. We have weapons. Surrender or we will shoot!" The simulation wasn’t kind to the Metil race.

"Adopted sister," began Malik, "they only understand pain." The choice of word shocked those present. How could the Malik call this alien creature sister?

"Attractor,” added Liam, “this race is primal and belligerent. No amount of negotiation or reason will get compliance. We all wonder how such brainless creatures ever developed advanced technology without destroying themselves with it. As the boy said, they respect one thing — force." Liam was obviously not a fan of the Metils. His tone was stern and commanding as if he stood ready to kill.

Back in the Center, the real Liam added, “I would not have said this.”

“Marilyn is doing her best, she is not great with people. Remember how she welcomed us in this place.”

The simulation of the President continued. "Who spoke?" asked the Metil commander. Sophie, the digital one, was floating in front of the others. At least it had courage. Emilio needed to play the girl. He could use the power of the Attractor and vaporize the creature, but he knew Sophie to be much different. She would always prefer the peaceful route.

"There is no need for violence," he began as Sophie, "we are here for a purpose. You have begun to take action against my world. Specifically, your tinkering with our Sun. Bring me to the creature in charge of that action."

A beam of light shot out and hit Malik. It made every rock forming the boy resonate. The weapon did not kill, but he was stunned to a whisper. Emilio wondered how Sophie would react. Before he settled on a best course of action, Liam spoke.

"Metils, I was right to initiate war," snapped the Oldest.

“I would never say that?” outraged the real Liam inside Sophie’s head. The Attractor liked to watch his reaction.

“It’s a game,” she spoke in her internal voice to calm him.

The game once again continued. "I give you one second to wake him up. Then I will get mad." Emilio's mind began to play alternative scenarios. In each, the boy died in the cross-fire. He knew the creatures were an instant away from raining destruction on this area of the Purple. His mind's images showed only two ways to save all three of them: either send a pulse destroying hundreds of Metils in the process or surrender for the moment. "Okay, let's not shoot. We just need to talk."

"We must arrest you."

"I understand our technology is creating destruction here and in return, you plan to destroy us." He was diffusing.

There was a long moment of hesitation before a different creature replied from the back of the formation. It rolled in and advanced, "We wish your world no harm." The voice was softer than that of the previous speaker. This was no military officer. "We are giving you a gift. We are increasing the habitable size of your world. Surely that is a desired outcome."

"Not really." Liam continued, "What you plan to create is a catastrophic event which will destroy all life in one part of the Cold."

"Then we have achieved our goal." Roared the military creature. "If lives of those creating the Zexs ends, so will the destruction in our world!"

Emilio was losing patience. "The rifts are caused by our latest technology. Now that we know about your world and the undesirable effects, we can stop using it. If we promise to stop, would that be enough?"

The question took the military man by surprise.

"Sophie, you speak peace to a creature without an understanding of this concept," said Liam softly. Back in the Center, the real Liam once more objected in silence.

They were at a standoff.

"This is a decision for the Council. Come with me," said the kinder Metil.

"Wake Malik first, and we will follow you."

The creature advanced and touched Malik and energy flowed. "My name is Fuson. I am a scientist. I work with Professor Zuriak, the one who discovered your world." With a burst of light, Malik returned to life.

"What happened?" asked the boy. He received no answer. Sophie and Fuson were speaking.

"Let's talk as we follow the grumpy one to his council," joked Sophie.

The boy could understand what had transpired; he knew the scientist. The sphere made of hundreds of creatures opened, and the group made its way deeper into the city. The Council building was wondrous. Rivers of rocks spun in unison, accompanied by a ballet of color. Doors were not opened apertures, instead, they were lower density rock walls. The Metils could easily push their own pieces through these openings like two forks meshed past each other.

Emilio saw little sparks of color blink here and there in the general population. These were blue sparks, but the situation at hand was already overwhelming. They finally arrived in the large central chamber. Emilio saw structures which reminded him of statues. There were few words to describe the palace. These were aliens, and no one could forget it.

"Speak," said a voice from high above.

"We are sorry for the rifts, but now you plan to destroy my home."

"That is untrue."

"If the Council may?" said Fuson politely.

"Speak."

"I fear the creature from the cold may be right. The energy levels of our plan far exceed our calculation capacity. The force they call gravity can far outweigh the other binding forces. I fear what we plan to do will destroy their world."

"Can it still be stopped?" asked the voice of the Council.

"I fear not," answered Fuson.

"What do you mean?"

"The process of gathering the energy as a ball has already passed a critical mass. If we stop, the mass ejected will only be smaller, and may be sent in a different direction of space, we do not control where it goes, it would be quite fortuitous if it crossed the trajectory of your world."

"That would be better, no? It would not impact with Earth."

"We have not planned contact with your Earth; our power is too rudimentary to achieve this end."

"What does this mean Liam?" asked Sophie.

The Oldest spoke. "In theory, a new planetoid shot from your Sun missing Earth by more than an arc degree would allow life to survive on your home world. The distance, below a limit, will still be deadly since the crust of your planet will move considerably if the planetoid is too close. He says they are forcing the Sun to eject a ball, but they can't control where it will go."

"Can we calculate where it will go?"

"No." The answer from Fuson was categorical. "We never planned for the new mass to hit your planet. We cannot control the process so fully. In fact, we figured our gift was sure to miss your planet. The chances of a collision are very small. A risk we were willing to take. The orbit of your planet is large, very large. Maybe the ball will even settle closer to the Sun like two of the other spheres.

The voices of the Council snapped, "Fuson, you promised us there would be contact. You lied. You will pay for this deception." Sophie was fed up with the belligerence. The creatures were yelling at the only reasonable Metil in sight. Emilio was itching to use his power. He showed, as would Sophie, patience. To score points, he needed to play Sophie accurately. In addition to collecting points, he was there to help the young girl collect information she could use.

Fuson, in a very docile voice added, "We did not wish to burden this Council with details. The objective requested was not destruction but to bequeath new habitable space. The rigid crust of the world they inhabit is very thin and fragile. Any arrival of a body on the similar orbit would slowly destroy most of their world and technology." It then found the courage to add, "I am no monster."

As Emilio was listening to the conversation, his mind began to see potential futures. The visions began to flash, he saw about twenty, but this time, three were dark. He had seen a dark vision a couple of days ago. Now the problem was back. In each of the remaining seventeen visions, he saw the creatures from the Purple take different courses of action and stop their machine at different times, yet each time he felt the planetoid would impact the Earth. Destiny, or the Multiverse was clear, Earth had the go.

The game, powered by Electoral began to play one after the other the visions of the President to the audience back at home and to Sophie. It was clear; this wasn't about timing. The cause to consequences logic was in play, Sophie had power yet the Multiverse was working to snuff it out.

Liam, from high on his age pedestal said without much surprise in his voice. "Your visions, dear President are a blessing; they show a paradox."

"What do you mean?" asked Emilio.

"I recognize your voice, you are the Oldest?" asked one Metil. The creature was the Ambassador. These creatures immediately recognized the name. The word Oldest inspired fear. It came from the very elaborate creature. They made a gesture, visible only to Malik, to be silent. The Metils all respected strength, the Oldest was the living embodiment of power. At the core of the rock creatures was a respect of authority. The Oldest was a myth here, a creature of legend.

Emilio continued, "Why are a couple of my visions dark?" asked Emilio.

"The Multiverse now itches and bends for a specific consequence to occur; one it needs but cannot produce. It needs the planetoid to hit the Earth. I fear any interference will be futile, with one exception."

"What exception? I don't understand."

"Sophie is the Attractor. She alone can deviate the plans set in motion by the Multiverse. That is part of her gift; she stands outside of cause and consequence."

"Does that have anything to do with the dark visions, I have been seeing some lately.” Emilio was now playing himself again and the computer was indulging him.

"Precisely. As we converge to the Sixth Attraction, options are narrowing. Events open to you and others are closing. The dark paths are roads we no longer can travel. Unless I am mistaken, the closer to the Attraction, the number of paths you see will become fewer and fewer. On the eve, one will remain."

"I apologize, but I simply don't understand what you're saying," said Emilio, confused.

"I deeply apologize," said Liam, "this is very complex. As time runs out and we get closer to the Attraction, you have correspondingly few chances, fewer paths, to draw the ace. To get the outcome it wants, instead of taking time, it now will bend probabilities. The world will change, you will change, and only the paths where you shuffle the cards in one of fifty ways will now be future roads open to you. So begins a phase where the Multiverse withdraws its bountiful ways. You lose your capacity to choose, to draw any card you want. You alone see this restriction in choice. This is impossible to see except through the gift of a Guesser. That is why you are here; Marilyn wanted you to see this, and in turn, the real Sophie watching from home must understand."

The situation was surreal. President Sanchez was in a virtual reality game, playing from his office in Berlin and had the impression of floating in a different dimension called the Purple. He was seeing images and was discussing his gift with an alien.

The President finally said, "Liam, if I understand what you are saying, and I know I only partially do, what you suggest is very scary."

"The Attractor. I think she alone is not bound by the paradox. I think Sophie, watching this from the Center, may have seen images instead of black areas. It makes no sense you see these dark paths if you are the Attractor; but again, this is complex." Emilio agreed. He was deep into a situation higher than his pay grade, and he was earth's President. He continued to ignore his surroundings.

"Liam, are you suggesting at some point in time, the Attractor is the only thing capable of helping?"

"That is precisely what I am saying."

“What is happening?”

"I wish I knew. Locked in my world, I never observed first hand the Attraction."

Before Emilio could resume the simulation and turn his attention back to the Council, the game ended.

The President opens his eyes, in the long chair in his Berlin office. He was covered head to toe in sweat as if he had just completed a marathon. The clock said he had been playing for well over an hour. Kai, his assistant, walked in with a towel and a tumbler of scotch.

Emilio tried to stand up and fainted from exhaustion.