My entry into the ScienceFiction writing challenge for December.
Deadline: Dec. 31, 2017

"There it is, Max," said Andy. "The Heart of Ajs An'hlj."

For a moment I couldn't see anything as my eyes adjusted to the strange tint to the spaceship's windows. The light coming from the Heart didn't help matters. But finally, I saw it. It was amazing. It was majestic. "The heart of a universe," I finally said.

"Not just any universe. The one five times ten to the eighth power removed from ours. The Ajs An'hlj universe."

The swirling nebulous gas flashed with twinges of red like a heartbeat. I could almost hear the thump-thump-thumpy-thump-thump of The Heart. I placed my hand on the spaceship's window. Logic told me that it was impossible, but I could feel The Heart. I turned to Andy. "Are you sure this is all right?" I'd only just meet Andy. I ran into him not long after arriving in this strange place.

"Ajs An'hlj is a dead universe. Just as ours had been once before." Andy tried to explain to me how the universe I'd always known was actually the second in that space. The one before had been destroyed thanks to countless battles. Two opposing forces fought for eons and then finally both were destroyed. With these armies gone, a new and ancient power grew over the universe unopposed. It finally snuffed out everything and that universe was destroyed, but from its ashes rose the universe I knew.

Andy also tried to explain my sudden appearance in this strange realm. He told me that the old race had technology capable of traveling the multiverse. Some of that tech had survived the destruction of the old universe and now and then it is woken. Once this happens a ripple through the multiverse is opened. "Our universe is dying," Andy said soon after our meeting. "More and more ripples are opening. Have you not noticed an increase in missing persons? Missing pets? Missing items?" It seemed like everyday there was some news story about someone missing or some social media post about someone losing a ring or keys; I told him this. "That's because the universe is dying. The closer it gets to death, the more ripples. It is like an injured body and the ripples are the blood. Those missing people fall through the cracks, like you, and are lost. You are lucky you landed in the Nexus. There are worst things out there. Here in the Nexus we can see all realities for it is the center."

"It is the only way to restore our universe," said Andy. "We must transplant The Heart into our own universe."

I continued to watch Ajs An'hlj. It looked just like a galaxy with a great big center, except this center pulsed. "I don't know about this..."

"We have donor transplants all the time on Earth. This is no different."

"But The Heart...it still beats."

Andy put his hand on my shoulder. "Max, the death of a universe is different than the death of a person. That is just gas and fusion reactions. It isn't really beating. It's just called a heart because it is at the center. It is the life source...the fuel. We are simply taking one old and weak fusion reactor and replacing it with a new one, one fresh with hydrogen. We are simply filling the tank.

There is no grand mystical thing going on. It is science. If we fill the universe with this hydrogen, it'll continue on for another 20 billion years, give or take. If we don't, the universe could end in a few years. Or we could let a dead universe fade into nothing, wasting the resources, and let our universe perish too. One that is still full of life."

"OK," I said softly. "I'm sorry."

"That's okay, Max, you've only known this for a few days. I've known for years. Time is a great teacher. We now need you to leave the ship so that you can gather The Heart."

"Why me?"

"Your quantum frequency is the closest to Ajs An'hlj. In this instance, similarities attract. The energy of The Heart will come to you and we can trap the energy in our tanks."

"What about you?" I asked. "You said you're from Earth too."

"I've been here too long. My frequency has been altered, much like yours will be over time. I have eaten the food and drank the water of this realm and in so doing, I have changed. This is why many religions encourage fasting. Not only do you cleanse the body, but by not eating you cleanse your frequency and can become more in touch with the cosmic."

***

It didn't take them long to suit me up. This suit was nothing like the ones from Earth. This suit was like wearing a pair of clothes. Spandex clothes, but clothes nonetheless. Andy explained to me that this material wasn't spandex, just similar. "We don't have it on Earth," he said, "so it would be pointless in telling you more."

The airlock was equalized and it then opened. With a slight jump, I was out and into...I'm not sure you could call it space.

Without the strange tint of the spaceship, Ajs An'hlj was even more beautiful. It was like rainbow fire or the Northern Lights. I could see why the Norse talked about a rainbow bridge. It was a galaxy of technicolor energy and light. Like looking through a kaleidoscope, but not.

I pushed off from the ship and soon reached the end of my tether. I closed my eyes and let The Heart come to me. I soon felt warmth and the smell of my mother's cookies. I could hear the rain of a lazy afternoon and the laughter of friends. I could feel the excitement of Christmas morning and the Possibility of a birthday wish. I felt waves of nervous men and women daring to ask out the one they cared for. I felt the pain of loss and the joy of reunion. I felt the fear and worry of exams and the cool breeze of the first day of summer vacation. I heard the sounds of a park and saw the older men and women feeding the birds.

Something was wrong.

"Max," said a voice. It didn't sound like any particular person. It sounded like a parent mixed with myself. It was neither loud nor soft. It was calm and sweet.

"Who said that? How can I hear you?"

"It is I, Ajs An'hlj."

"How? You're supposed to be a dead universe. And not able to speak anyway."

"Everything vibrates. Everything speaks. You just need to listen. The universe is awash with sound. You just can't hear it with your ears. A tree in the forest still makes a sound even if no one is around. The vibrations still pass through the air."

"Are you...a god?"

"No. I am like you. And like you, I am alive. My heart beats still. As long as it does, there is hope."

"But you're a universe."

"I am your universe."

"What?"

"The one calling himself Andy has lied to you. He is not of Earth. This is why he needed you. Only someone from our universe could draw out my heart.

This Andy only wishes to bring an end to all universes. He is servant to that same force that destroyed the universe before me. All he desires is to bring Darkness and Chaos across the entire multiverse. And not just the written multiverse, which you and all of Wattpad are part of, but the multiverse of video and athletics, games and cooking, science and drawing. His only wish is to snuff out all Light. All ideas. For without ideas, mankind will lose hope and will be easier to control. And without free will, there is no life."

"What happens now?"

"Now you have a choice. You can either continue your mission and take my heart and end all life in your universe, or you can deny the beast and begin to bring Light and Hope back to all universe."

"If I deny him, he will kill me."

"That is a safe assumption. If you return to the ship without having taken my life, he will destroy you."

I let out a breath. There was no choice. "I'm not his stooge."

"Thank you, young Champion. This action will reach further than you could imagine."

"But I'll still die."

"I can send you where he can't reach you. I can send you back home. Back to Earth. If you wish."

"Yes. Yes! I do!"

"Then close your eyes."

***

"I closed my eyes and then I was back home." Max grabbed another fry and dipped it. He took a breath then finally looked up. "I thought you should know."