-Thomas The Voice Beyond the Stars
Thomas stood before the glowing door. Steve called out behind him, "Hey."
Thomas turned. "Yeah?"
"Don't do nothing stupid."
Thomas smirked. "Really? Right now?" He waved him off. "I'll deal with you when I get back."
Steve cracked his knuckles, smiling. "I'll be waiting, kid."
Thomas nodded, grateful for Steve and the Bearded Man, even if they were the same person.
The Samurai stepped forward. "Ready?"
Thomas exhaled. "Yeah… I think so."
"You don't have time to think."
Thomas chuckled. "What's the worst that can happen?"
"You could die, fool."
Thomas froze. "Wait what? Will the Almighty really do that?"
The Samurai's voice was firm. "He will. Without hesitation. But remember only a handful in all of human history have ever been summoned. It's the highest honor a soul can receive."
Thomas blinked. "Guess I must be some kind of cool guy then."
The Samurai cracked a rare smile. "Yeah… I guess you are."
Thomas stepped through the door.
He felt like he was walking on glass, no floor, no walls, just endless black space dotted with stars. Two white marble pillars stood tall, carved with ancient designs like something out of Rome.
"Hello?" Thomas called out. "Is someone there?"
Silence. Not even an echo.
Then boom. His body collapsed. He couldn't move. Gravity crushed him to the ground. He clawed to his hands and knees, but couldn't lift his head.
Golden sandals appeared before him, glowing faintly.
"Who is that?" Thomas rasped. "Almighty?"
A deep, righteous voice replied, "No. I am a servant of the Almighty. I am here to introduce you to the Only Him."
Then came a voice like thunder raw, divine, and absolute.
"Hello, Thomas."
Still pinned to the ground, Thomas whispered, "Almighty… nice to meet you. Even like this."
"That is due to your imperfections."
Thomas gritted his teeth. "My imperfections… make me human."
The Almighty's voice rumbled again. "What does being human mean?"
Thomas hesitated. His mind raced. "I… I don't know how to answer that. There are billions of us. We're all different. And maybe… that's what makes us human. Our differences."
Silence.
Then "Thomas. What do you want?"
Thomas's breath caught. That question. The same one the Samurai asked when they first met.
"I… I don't know," he said, voice cracking.
"Thomas. What do you want?"
Thunder struck beside him.
Thomas flinched. Sweat dripped down his brow.
"Thomas. Answer!"
More thunder. The stars pulsed. The ground space trembled.
"Thomas. What do you want!"
A bolt of lightning surged toward him
"I WANT TO SAVE MY BROTHER!" Thomas screamed.
"I WANT TO SAVE SOPHIE! LUKE! ICE! ACE! EVE! BLAZE! I WANT TO SAVE HUMANITY!"
His voice echoed through the stars, raw and full of truth.
The thunder vanished.
Thomas trembled, tears streaming down his face. He whispered, almost to himself, "But I can't… I'm not strong enough."
He wept. Memories flooded in Edwin's smile, Blaze's sacrifice, Sophie's quiet strength, Luke's loyalty, Ice's fire. He remembered when things were normal. When they were just people trying to survive in a modernized society that light helped create.
Then the Almighty spoke once more.
"Thomas. You speak of truth. And truly care for others. Not yourself. You are now chosen."
Everything vanished.
Thomas woke up.