"Hey, you think he will do something?"
I ask Keith while staring down the intruder. Keith called him Joy, the elated. He looks insane. Keith mentioned his story briefly but I didn't get most of it.
"I don't think he can do anything." (Keith)
"But we are at a stalemate. He won't do anything and I can't think of anything either. How do we even take care of him?"
I was thinking of how to neutralize him. But Keith had other plans.
He goes near him again and touches him. Is it okay to touch him like that?
"He is out cold. He is asleep like a deadman." (Keith)
"Should we move him to somewhere else?"
"I don't think it would be wise. Let him sleep. He probably fell asleep after billions of years." (Keith)
I can't get a read on Keith. Keith is looking at Joy with pity. It's as if he is pitying the person before him. Is he that pitiable?
Because I don't seem to pity him. I just want him to take action. Whatever he does, it's his action and his decision. We have no right to control it and certainly we should not pity him.
"Don't pity that man. He deserves not pity but praise."
I solemnly tell Keith.
"Yes, you are correct. I will wait for him to return to his senses. Besides, I have a feeling that someone else is coming." (Keith)
Who else is coming again?
"So, what is his story?"
"Hmm…it's not too complicated. He is just dragging a problem. This would have been solved a while ago. He just kept dragging it on and on and in the end, he became what he is now. No one else is responsible for his downfall but him." (Keith)
Keith just summed it up like he was not interested in him.
So we can only wait.
"Don't worry too much. I myself don't know him too well. Remember, I am a fairly new creator. Joy is one of the oldest creators in existence. I know the basics but as a person, I don't know anything about him." (Keith)
Some more time passed. Joy is still standing like a statue.
I am getting bored but Keith suddenly became sharper.
"Look alive, Clive. We've got company." (Keith)
I can feel it too. Someone is entering the system. It's not malicious. Someone is forcibly passing through the barrier.
I didn't stop the intruder. Keith closed his eyes for a moment. I keep waiting for the intruder to appear.
It's a man. A typical guy you can find anywhere. Probably the same height as me and has dark hair and brown eyes.
"Indrajeet, welcome." (Keith)
Was he searching for who he was?
"Keith Harding, an upstart creator. Clive Belmont, I apologize for forcing my way through your system." (Indrajeet)
He kinda insulted Keith but politely apologized to me.
"I am not an upstart. I very much want to quit being a creator. You have become one as well, haven't you?" (Keith)
"Yes. I now have the same standing as you all. I have come to take father back." (Indrajeet)
Hmm..so this is the person coming after Joy.
"Nice to meet you, Clive Belmont. I am Indrajeet, a new creator same as you. I hope we can get along." (Indrajeet)
"Likewise. Let's have some tea. Joy is clearly not responding to us at the moment. We can wait for a bit."
I propose to which both of them agree. I guess being too tense isn't like us.
I arrange for tea and some snacks right before Joy. I even prepared some for Joy if he comes to his senses before we finish.
After taking our seats and enjoying a cup of tea in silence, Keith asked Indrajeet.
"I heard that you were hibernating for a long time." (Keith)
"Yes. I was tired of petty wars and jealousy so I decided to hide. About 10 thousand years before I was discovered in my own house by some elves." (Indrajeet)
Hearing this I sigh! I think all of the creators that I know have the same problem of hiding when in trouble.
"After being found, I decided to meet with my wife and spend our days normally. It was quite the shock for my wife when father showed up unannounced." (Indrajeet)
"So Joy did meet with you before coming here." (Keith)
"Not just me. He met with almost every acquaintance he had except nihility. Maybe he couldn't reach nihility." (Indrajeet)
Keith looked surprised.
"Kirin suddenly appeared before me and told me to take control of my system. He mentioned that Constant acknowledged my ascension. So I went to meet Constant to check with him.
He was the same as always. Laidback and lethargic. He told me to do whatever I want. I took control of my system and became a creator. Then I found out about the mess of a war that's been going on." (Indrajeet)
He looks irritated. I mean anyone would be.
"Kirin, he went to meet you before coming to my world and pick a fight with me. I didn't think he would do that. I already had my hands full with nihility. Him joining was a huge disadvantage for me. I would like to pay him back for what he did to my family but for now, he is a captive." (Keith)
I didn't speak much since I don't know what to talk about. But I felt another distortion in the system.
Someone is trying to enter the system again.
"Why is this happening?" (Indrajeet)
He held his head in regret.
"How are you doing, Indrajeet?"
The intruder this time is a woman. I won't comment on anything else. I feel like something is very wrong with this person.
"Why are you here after all these years? Haven't you tormented father enough?" (Indrajeet)
"You don't understand the situation. You don't understand our relationship. I am here to take him back. He is mine and always will be mine."
That woman threatened all of us. Not just Indrajeet but even Keith and me. Then she hugged the stupefied Joy and disappeared without a trace.
"That damn woman…"
Indrajeet could only curse her after she was gone.
"Who was that?"
I ask without expecting an answer.
"She is the reason father is this way. And she has stolen him away. I have lost." (Indrajeet)
He is dejected. Keith is intrigued. I am astounded. All of us just stood here while she stole away Joy. I guess that's it for now. I lift the alert and contact Samantha to come here.
This is getting way out of hand and we are losing sight of our goal. Does the war even matter because it seems like nothing but their personal stuff to me.
Indrajeet leaves bidding us farewell and invites me to his system.
"I'll visit your system soon enough."
Trying to establish diplomatic ties would not be so bad after all. What should I do next though?