Free Full Vessels by Brian Blose

was
her hallmark. “No doubt you expect something profound from me.
Maybe something pretentious or esoteric. I would say that I hate to
disappoint, but in truth I'm not overly concerned with your
opinions.
    “For the majority of my existence, I
discharged my duties through intellectual studies. I have a talent
for analysis and I put it to use on every topic of study I
encountered. On occasion, I have even managed to advance beyond
what the people have discovered.
    “I always rationalized that while the Creator
almost certainly did not send me into the worlds to practice the
scientific method, my studies were useful in determining the limit
of what the people were capable of learning about the created
universe. Then Jerome revealed our semi-divine natures and I
realized that, far from being an ideal Observer, I was horribly
deficient.
    “My most profound insight is not so much
about the worlds as it is about our place in it. We were never
meant to be apathetic watchers. We entered into Our creation to
interact with it. When feeling less charitable, I liken this to
cosmic masturbation. We create, play, destroy, and start the cycle
over again.
    “Observer is the wrong title for us. We
should be called Experiencers . Because that is our purpose.
To be people for a time. All the times I followed my sense of duty
I failed at my true mission. Conversely, all the times I violated
the divine command were justified.”
    Elza drummed her fingers on the table. “And
now I suppose I must criticize the flaws of my own argument or risk
being accused of unfairness. There were no informal logical
fallacies, because I know better. However, I did make
assumptions.
    “My most questionable assumption:
generalizing from my mind to that of the Creator's. I skirt the
edges of arguing from personal incredulity, saved by the fact that
there are no viable alternative hypotheses. Some evidence that the
Creator intends us to experience rather than observe exists in the
circumstances of our incarnations. Hess has never been a woman.
Given his strict heterosexual orientation, it becomes obvious that
the Creator intended to humor that preference.
    “And Drake. Sometime after Iteration ten, he
became a perpetual outcast in the social order. Whatever group
occupied the position of most disadvantaged within the social
structure became his by default. Once I decided it could not be
coincidence, I suspected the Creator used Drake to study a
particular phenomenon. Until last Iteration, when I overheard him
telling Jerome that being a part of the out group brought with it
the advantage of community. In all the times I have heard Drake
complain about his circumstances, I never heard something as
authentic as that one off-hand admission.
    “Another piece of evidence is the existence
of the Church of the Demiurge. I am convinced that the schism among
us caused competing desires that the Creator could not resolve.
Several of you desired to punish rogue Observers. Another
questioned the inherent moral quality of the Creator. The result
was the perverse religion that Ingrid and Erik learned to
hate.”
    “The fuck,” Erik said. “Rich people got
better community than anyone. Why wouldn't Drake be sent into the
country club class if he wants friends so bad?”
    Heads turned to Drake. He shrank in on
himself.
    “I think I understand,” Jerome said. “The
upper class compete. Sometimes it is friendly; often it is only a
veneer of civility that makes it appear that way. Those on the
outside form tight-knit communities where people don't judge one
another so quickly. If any of you have been listening during these
meetings, what conversation we have tends to be combative. We, the
privileged Observers living among the people, are snobs by virtue
of our positions. The downtrodden stick together.”
    Erik rolled his eyes. “Aw, baby need a
blankie? Grow the fuck up, Drake. You're a disgrace to the rest of
us.”
    Drake slammed a fist onto the table. “I