The landscape was a vast sea of green.  Pot marked with bumps and huge clear spherical blobs that occasionally rolled across the surface.  This had been where it and many others of its kind existed.  There was nothing to their life, move a bit, consume the substances encountered, and repeat.

An endless cycle until death.

The only challenges were when it encountered others of its kind, or things similar.  A fight for life would ensue and only one would survive, the loser becoming a feast.

Again, a fight for life had been won and it once more devoured and savored the meal; but soon the life that it had absorbed caused the creature to pause.  For a spark had entered its existence, and for a moment it stopped and tried to really observe its surroundings.

Where had it come from, and where was it going?  Unnatural thoughts came to mind that it just normally didn’t have.  It had never had thoughts before, it only lived to survive…but was that really living?

All it had known was this vast landscape of green.  There were divots and lines, hills and valleys.  It all spread out for what seemed to be forever, further than what it could perceive.  But what caught in its perceived sight, were others similar and dissimilar to itself spread both far and wide.

Each had their own spark, yet not as bright as its own.  The colors of each were best described as dull or dim.  Nothing in its view shined as vivid, as did its own.

With this creature’s new found perception, its attention was drawn to massive sections of this green landscape suddenly disappearing.  If it had more knowledge, maybe it would have considered what it saw as a large mountainous cave crushing the landscape into the void.  With each occurrence, countless lives similar to itself ceased and their sparks faded.

Caught in the wonder and horror of what it now witnessed, time slipped by and soon, the destruction neared.  Whatever was coming would end its life without a second thought or consideration.  Perhaps a natural disaster beyond comprehension, or the end of time itself.  

Looking beyond trying to perceive what this was, as it instinctively knew its demise would soon come to pass…and there, it saw that faint shimmer shining brightly yet still dimmer than its own.  In that moment before its end, the creature’s perception exploded and caught sight of a being so vast it was beyond all things it could conceive.

Yet, thanks to this sight there was perception, and in that perception an awareness of itself and what it saw took hold.  What was this being, what was its purpose, and why was it here?

Questions emerged, questions that needed answers.  So in that brief moment before death claimed this insignificant life, a question was asked.

“Are you God; and if not, who or what is your god?”

Words, yet not words were transmitted.  No verbal communication was held, yet the intent and meaning was conveyed.  The tiny creature reached out with its very soul, with the spark that had illuminated its existence and awareness, to beg the question of the vast being before it.  

It knew not if the question would be answered, only that it had to ask.  What was this being it saw before itself?  And what did it view beyond the rim of existence that this tiny one couldn’t even fathom.

An understanding, where words were never exchanged; but somehow the question was presented and the participants understood none-the-less.  The spark that was granted was shared, and the previously dim spark shone brighter than anything the tiny creature had witnessed before.

And in that moment, death was held at bay and a life was momentarily spared.  Perplexed at the sudden question, the immense being paused as a different kind of awareness took hold.

Pondering the sudden question, the immense being looked down at the life that had questioned it.  Then to the similar lives squirming about the food it was eating.  It then saw the spark that was shared with it, the dimmer light from all the others and the brighter spark in the tiny creature that had questioned it.

Before that moment, everything was simple.  It had taken a break from collecting for its colony, to eat something fresh before joining the line to begin carrying and collecting once more.  However, now it also had questions.  Unnatural thoughts that it never had before came to mind.

Then turning and gazing over the landscape, the immense being saw where others like itself were spread out.  Larger, yet still dim sparks similar to the other small creatures on its food shone in the presence of the others like itself.  Yet none as bright as the tiny creature before it, nor its own now perceived spark.

Watching, a flash of intense heat flared up once again and another life vanished in a mist of flame and dust.  A brightness yes, but still not the same.  This occurrence had happened many times before, yet it was just part of the hazards the colony endured to collect food.  

Never understanding what was claiming their life, more questions emerged and the immense being glanced up further beyond what was normally seen and saw another light.  A spark that shone bright, nearly as bright as its own.  

Focusing further, an immense being finally came into view.  Realizing now, after the insignificant life had presented the question and granted it awareness, that that must be god.

Finally returning to the little life before itself, the little immense being replied.  “No, we are not arrogant enough to consider ourselves god.  For we struggle to survive and know there is something greater than ourselves that we will never overcome.”

Looking back, another wave of intense heat flared up claiming another life closer this time.  Realizing a strange distortion was closing in, the little immense being looked up at the immense being once more.  

With this newfound awareness, it realized that it controlled the oncoming death.  That it had power over life, so powerful this god must be.  So it realized that before the end, it should continue the question.  

And so it asked.

“Are you God; and if not, who or what is your god?”

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Once again, no verbal communication was provided.  The concept of language was never presented.  The spark, the little immense being held, reached out to the larger one and shared itself with the other.  Just as it had before, the shared spark fueled awareness and the previously bright spark of the immense being blazed brighter than it once would have thought possible.

Stunned that such a question would even be presented, this new immense being recoiled causing the ground to shake as hills, mountains, and others like the little immense being were crushed under the movement of the now perceived immense being.

This new immense being looked down at the little life as an awareness took hold.  Glancing through its surrounding a tear appeared in its eye realizing how foolish it had been terrorizing these tiny creatures.  Each held their own spark, dim as they may be, but those sparks were no less as important than its own.  Only the spark of that little creature that had reached out, shone brightly.  Nearly as bright as others like the immense being.

As it looked past those nearby and in the distance, others like this immense being were dying.  Being slaughtered by others like themselves, but not exactly.

These others had come from far away and sought to conquer the land for themselves.  They were powerful and nothing could be done to stop the death that was coming to put an end to all the natives.

The powers these others held were nothing like the immense being’s kind had considered possible, except in fantasy.  Like in comics…though in those, these super powered beings would have been heroes helping to make their lives better not indiscriminately ending lives.

This immense being had been awaiting death, with others hiding in crumbling structures nearby.  It had been angry and sad, so in its last moments it was taking out that anger on smaller creatures it had, at one time, considered insignificant.  

Now, it knew different.

A sad smile appeared on the being’s face as it turned back to the little life to acknowledge its question.  “No I am not god.  Maybe at one time, we could have pretended.  But now, we are pitiful creatures unable to put up a fight against others that are greater than ourselves.  Maybe we could claim that we might have been able to become gods, but that is just a dream.  At one time, we claimed we created god.  Now….now we see that it was nothing but arrogance.”

As the immense being responded to the little life, a deeper awareness awakened.  A stirring of their being, a spark that was passed to it caused this being to ponder the question and consider much, and from that a sense a power emerged.

The immense being had glanced back at others like itself, it saw how dim each of their sparks were.  Some even had dark spots making their sparks dimmer still.  Then as the immense being looked towards the invaders, it realized the spark they held was nowhere near as bright as the little creature that had questioned it.

Yet in the invader’s sparks, flashes could be seen.  Flashes of brightness and of darkness.  In the moment, strange thoughts about what it was seeing and what was a god came to mind.

Were these invaders gods?  Were they judging them for their sins?  Perhaps this was a test, and that there was an escape.  A chance to sway the hand of these harbingers of death.

And in that moment of growth, others like itself became aware and the spark was further shared.  As if a bright light had emerged in their hour of need, shouting to the heavens that their existence had become more.  Perhaps it was not too late, perhaps they too could reach out and grasp something

However, in that brief instance of enlightenment and awareness another being suddenly appeared, to their horror, seemingly out of nowhere and started the slaughter anew.  This invader knew the natives had intelligence, but this land had been claimed for their empire’s cause.  These creatures would die, and there was nothing that would change that.  

The little flash of power would cease before it had a chance to grow.  

As it claimed the lives of several others who had felt the spark and stirred while waiting for their end, it was decided that the question needed to be further asked…before it was too late.

“Are you God; and if not, who or what is your god?”

Surprised by the sudden awareness of the question, the other being paused.  No words had yet been exchanged, communication had never been established.  Yet the question had reached this being.  Had these invaders not been displaying such a disparaging difference in power moments before, the two would have been considered the same general race or species of beings.

“God?  Of course I am, worship me if you will; but it's too late for-”

Suddenly the powerful being disintegrated, sparing a life for a moment longer, as a loud voice echoed addressing the one that had just ended.

“Shut up you stupid arrogant creature.  You will never be a god!  This is a moment that has become the most important in all eternity for developing awareness in your insignificant lives!”

With the introduction of this new being, fear takes hold of all life present as the slaughter suddenly ceases as beings of varying power become aware of this new presence.  A power beyond anything they had expected.  The presence was terrifying as its power washed over all those present.

Yes, the spark that was visible was the brightest yet.  A spark so vast, shining in what must be pure divinity…This, this being must be a real god.

Gathering strength, the lesser being addresses the question once more, but now to this new power.

“Are you God; and if not, who or what is your god?”

The new being sighs as it turns to the lesser being addressing it.

“To you, yes!  I am best considered a god.  But that’s not what your question is really asking.  You should first ask what your definition of god is.  Perhaps that is what my kind is, perhaps not.  If you are simply asking if there is something more than what I am?  Something more powerful than myself?  Then the answer is yes.  If you are asking if there is consciousness, consideration, and awareness behind everything greater than myself, then the answer is no.  There are beings far greater than myself in which we could consider my existence as nothing more than that microbe that awakened to awareness moments prior.  Some of those greater beings don’t even care if they continue existing, yet if they stop existing universes will also cease to be.  Entire dimensions and eternities wiped clean.  And beyond that, there are probably even greater beings still.  So perhaps this is not a question you should even be asking.  Because when it is all said and done…what does it matter who or what god really is as long as you live fully to your last?”

As the being becomes silent, a new pressure and presence makes itself known.  Everything seems to freeze, as many collapse under such a weight as a booming voice is heard throughout the land.

“Well said, little one.”

At that one sentence, the presence disappears as the being stands looking over the havoc that was caused.  That voice may have wanted to be encouraging, even welcoming to the new awareness blossoming in the lesser beings but that is not what caused the previous powerful being to frown as it spoke once more.

“That would probably be the closest to what you can perceive and consider a true God, but that no longer matters to any of you in this life.  I pray your souls are reborn free of such turmoil and passing entities.  Perhaps in your next life, you’ll once more have a chance to feel that same spark and become more.”

Taking one last look around.  The being sighs sadly at the death and destruction.  Just showing up and speaking those words caused all life in such a large area to extinguish, perhaps even the entire planet had ceased to exist.

Some died immediately, others seemed to age and desiccate immensely with each word.  Many simply went mad and died soon thereafter.  Even the plants did not escape the presence of that passing being.  Much like a natural calamity, sometimes even showing interest can cause massive destruction.

Even the remaining being felt pain from that presence, but only it was able to survive.

Gazing sadly across the now desolate wasteland one last time, the being sighs and returns to its plain of existence leaving all the lesser mortals elsewhere behind.  It had hoped that this awakening might allow for a lesser being to evolve where they had seemingly stalled, but now…now that possibility also disappeared.