And then there was nothing

Judea frowned, not terribly happy being left without answers. She could get the whole ‘It was always and never at the same time all the time’ nonsense, she knew that, but the very concept of Charna left a million questions that she wanted answers for. Bakulu sure he might have been a fluke, but Charna?

She kept the thoughtful look on her face as she finished her food. Craiah sighed “Why do we attract such strange happenings?” he whined. It was clear he was being playful, but really!

Bakulu noticed Judea’s frown and sighed a bit. “I really can’t give more answers than I did. I’m still trying to figure a lot about myself and my existence out.”

Charna shrugged a bit. “I try not to worry too much about it.”

Judea listened intently as she ate her food. Craiah looked a little lost, but he wasnt about to interrupt what Bakulu was saying, nor was he as interested as Judea was. She was always trying to pick up as much knowledge as she could, from wherever she could. When Bakulu was at last done speaking, Judea tilted her head “Why was that your first thought?” Maybe just not many things could even come close to destroying a universe. Though that begged the question-

“I thought you were the ends of your universes“ Judea asked of both of them “Shouldnt you just-be consumed as well? What happens when more universes die than there are alive?“ She looked at Charna, her wide blue eyes intent “Or are you just a special case?“

“That was my first thought cause if you are trying to intentionally ‘destroy’ a universe, it’s the simplest and most practical solution.” Bakulu shrugged. “I mean... You could try to make enough antimatter to cancel out all matter but that’s a ridiculous amount. So good luck with that.”

Charna looked at Judea with a bit of an awkward expression. “Err... You’re kind of asking some impossible questions, there. Like ‘what happens when more universes die than there are alive?’ That errr... It doesn’t work that way? I mean... It both has always been like that but also never has been and will be like that?” She looked at Bakulu. “How do I explain this?”

Bakulu now looked at Judea. “Thinking about universes and realities in terms of amounts is kind of... Faulty fundamentally? It’s hard to describe. But we don’t end just because a universe ended and not every universe has one of us as you know it.” He looked back at Charna. “Unless you know more, I can’t really say why we even exist the way we do.”

Judea raised an eyebrow, but didnt question further. Craiah quietly ate his breakfast and sipped at his cocoa. It looked like Judea wanted to say something, but simply chose not to as they went back to what they were going.

“How does that device work?“ Judea asked Bakulu after a moment.

Charna just returned to her breakfast, eating in silence now. The knowledge of what she did clearly weighed on her.

Bakulu blinked and looked at Judea before sighing. “Err... Precise details are a bit hard to guess. I don’t know exactly how that particular universe worked. But basically it exploits the very simple fact that empty space doesn’t have zero energy and thus can get knocked down to a lower energy state. An easy way to imagine it is to visualise a staircase where a ball is on the second lowest step. In that state it still has potential energy because it can fall further but it’s stable there.” He gestured with his hands as he explained. “But if something were to give the ball a slight push, it would fall down and have less energy than before. The same can happen with empty space. Though it would behave more like water freezing in a sense as one point acts as the starting point and it steadily spreads out.” He paused to think for a bit before continuing. “The easiest way I can imagine to do that would be to actually find a fluctuation that has potential to form such a bubble and contain it. And then, when you want to use it, you give it a ‘push’ so to speak and start the chain reaction.”

Charna gave a tiny little nod as Bakulu talked about how it could have practically worked. Apparently he was in the right direction.

“Ouhh, thats a question“ Judea smiled and leaned forward towards Charna, her head resting in her hands. Craiah stayed quiet, but it was clear he was curious too, but too polite to ask.

Charna read the mood in the room and sighed like a whiny teenager. “Fiiiiine, ugh.” She hesitated briefly before finally admitting. “I... Look! When someone says that they made a universe destroying weapon, you don’t take them seriously, okay?! I mean, who even thinks that’s a good idea?! So... When someone said that they made one... I kind of... Thought I was calling their bluff...” She looked away from the others, clearly not proud of what she did.

Bakulu just stared at her for a few seconds, not in disbelief or judgement, he just looked at her. Eventually he spoke. “Spatial phase transition?”

“Yeah.. “ She nodded.

Craiah watched the two back and forth, giggling along with the quips from both. Judea on the other hand stayed silent, giving a polite bow back when Charna did. “Judea Seletrian” she introduced herself shortly before Charna continued her train of thought. The young woman sipped at her coffee quietly, waiting for the two to be done. “You act like siblings, so I would say so.” she commented once they were done. Craiah shook his head, staying quiet but looking very entertained by their shenanigans.

Charna was very slightly taken aback by how short Judea’s introduction was. Alright, short type of person, good to know. She then smiled at what Judea said and gestured at her. “See, she agrees with me! Why do you have to be so standoffish about this?” She pouted at Bakulu with a frown though it was clear that it wasn’t too serious.

Bakulu just gave her a done look and sipped his coffee before looking at the other. “So how did your universe get prematurely destroyed?” He asked with a somewhat smug look.

“Thank you! I appreciate that“ Craiah smiled at Charna as he finished setting the table up. Looked like the type that didnt like getting back up for things he forgot. He kissed Bakulu back and finally settled down.

Halfway through the coffee, Judea looked over at Charna. Then at Bakulu. Charna again. Bakulu again. “You didnt tell me you had a sister” she said in her flat, tired morning voice. Craiah suppressed a small laugh.

Charna burst out in loud laughter at Judea’s comment while Bakulu just snorted with a smirk. “Well sister isn’t quite the right word. But it was as much a surprise for you as it was for me to suddenly find her here.”

She feigned offence at Bakulu. “I am deeply hurt that you would not consider us family! After everything we’ve been through!”

“Why yes, because breakfast is such a trying ordeal!” Bakulu replied with sarcasm. “But honestly I am not sure if ‘sister’ is a correct term in this case? I mean, what do you call your alternate self?”

Charna mouthed ‘blablabla’ silently as Bakulu talked. “Figures I’d end up with another one that likes asking questions but not answering them. You should be more practical and focus on answers more.”

“You’re calling me impractical? That’s rich coming from a walking highlighter.”

“Better than a dumb pun shirt.”

Bakulu huffed slightly. “Okay, firstly, puns are clever! Second, we will withhold calling each other ‘family’ until further notice. And third, show some manners and introduce yourself properly, you are a guest here after all.” He gave the other a pointed look.

Craiah had to laugh “No I do because I like to, and I get up the earliest.” He patiently let Charna pick at the food (he had enough!) and went to set it all out on the table once it was done. “No, its for my family. Bakulu and my daughter Judea, and I think Tegan is around here somewhere, but I’m not too sure. That girl pops in and out.” He set more coffee out in another chair, and soon Judea came down. Looking quite Grumpy and bleary. “Good morning, Judea!”

“mmmm…“ The girl sipped at her coffee and put together her plate.

“Weeeell, if you ever want a break, just say it. It’s the least I can do as a thanks for letting me stay here.”, she smiled and put her plate together, which meant her trying a bit of everything. Charna made a note to pay attention as Craiah mentioned the names. Right, these names might be important.

She glanced at Judea as she came down. Aah, so that scent belonged to her then. Then the last one she could smell must have been Tegan who smelled very much like a cat. Good to know. Speaking of scents, Judea smelled like she was adopted. Charna just waved a bit at Judea with a smile, She looked like one of those people that needed their coffee before they could socialise. 

“I always cook breakfast“ Craiah settled down in the kitchen, going through his daily motions. Of all the people in all the places possible, why her here? Well thinking about it, it make perfect sense, creatures like Bakulu would naturally gravitate to more of their own, right? That made sense!

The man set out some coffee for Charna as he started to put together a breakfast out on the table near the kitchen. It was big enough for a handful of people, seeing as they always seemed to have guests.

Charna blinked a bit. “You always cook breakfast? Do you like doing it or is it a matter of nobody else wanting to do it? Cause if it’s the latter, I like cooking!” She smiled cheerfully. “There’s just something satisfying about putting effort in making something nice and reaping the rewards in the form of tasty food.”

Craiah shook his head and gently rubbed his hand. She all but crushed it. “Just one of those things” he answered. “You want some breakfast?” It really was a bit too early for all this.

Craiah took her hand to give a confused shake. “Err, sure, you can stay. Sorry about your universe.” He sure did say strange things like more and more often. “My name is Craiah”