Tick

In the times before they used to compare the universe to a wind up watch.
everything working in perfect rhythm but slowly winding down, one day it will stop ticking.
I don't know what will come after.
My home the universe has ticked and tocked and great civilizations have been born, flourished and died in a heartbeat of its life. all the while the universe expanded into dystrophy a slow, cold death.
One by one the stars faded and died and the planets grew cold.
The last few sentient beings huddled around the last power sources in the universe, its black holes and one day even they will die.

I am Casine one of the last sentient beings in an infinite universe. I am the memories of a civilization long dead.

The last tick began when the great council summoned me.
I stepped through the void of space and entered their hall. Every inch of its stone like walls was covered with symbols representing each and every civilization the had ever existed.
The hall stretched hundreds of miles into the distance and at the far end the three members of the council sat there each in the form of a different extinct sentient.
I took the form of my people and bowed before them. “you summoned me wise ones?”
The three spoke in perfect unison “it is Zunbar, we have found that he plans to destroy the universe, you must convince him not to or all history will have been pointless.”
“I can't believe this of Zunbar, he is the keenest mind we have.”
“never the less this is so, we cannot find him but we believe that he was last seen talking to Gios, talk to him find out what he knows. Do not fail us Casine all of history weighs on your shoulders.”
I considered there words carefully as I stepped through space to Gios's home.

I walked onto the planet he inhabited, long since consumed except for the thin shell of its outer layer by his vast mechanical mind.
“Gios we must speak” I called out.
After a fraction of a millennium Gios spoke “I knew you would come Casine, Zunbar also foresaw it.”
“Does Zunbar really plan on destroying the universe?”
“that is correct.”
“Why?” Gios was silent for so long I thought It wouldn't answer.
“those are his word to speak to you” Gios said at last.
“he wants to speak to me?”
“that is correct he needs a third, he doubts himself but I have no such doubts.”
"the council cannot find him. Were is he?”
“he hides were none may find him, beyond the veil.”
“don't talk in riddles, this is to serious a matter for cryptic comments and hidden meanings. Just tell me where he is.”
“I will show you where your answers are.”
A shadow of Gios left him and I stepped out and followed it.
At last we came to something that very much surprised me, a long derelict spaceship of my own people. Gios's shadow retreated and I took form on the bridge.
The ship was completely dead but it still contained power deep within its systems and with a few taps on the console I brought it to life.
A hologram flickered on in the bridge and Zunbar appeared before me.
“welcome Casine” said the hologram.
“where is the real Zunbar?”
the hologram smiled “behind the veil the only place the council could not look, he is dead Casine.”
“but how is that possible?”
“He took his own life.
He knew the council was onto him and he felt he needed someone else to endorse his actions, to agree with him and he chose what he believed to be the best mind for the job. He knew the council would send you after they couldn't find him.”
“he wanted me to agree to destroying the universe, ending everything was he insane?”
The hologram shook his head “no not destroying creating there is just enough power left to save everything.”
“what do you mean?”
“use the energy we have left to build a new universe, this one is dying, all of us are dying and for what, to preserve history? Preserve it for what? A slow death that is surely a true perversion of all. The only thing that matters is that the actions of all before us helped create something better if we do this they will, nothing will be in vane.
This new universe will not know us but we will be its parents and that is our immortality
All you need to do to create a future is ask me.”
I looked out of the ships view screen all I saw was darkness stretching out forever.
“okay do it.”
The world went white.