I could hear my own footsteps, my heels clicking against the gold flecked granite floors. The floor seemed to act as a black hole, absorbing all the light from the various ceiling bulbs with little spots denying the dark, and shinning out in resistance. My eyes adjusted to the dimmed light and it didn’t bother me. I’d been here before as a currier, but never as a House Master. With my new responsibilities resting heavy on my shoulders, I was seeing everything thing differently.

Metal doors came into view as I rounded a corner. The frames shinned and the heavily tinted glass had a star contrast with the silver. I pushed one of the double doors open, my leather gloves protecting me from the biting cold.

As I walked through the doorway, I passed from the dim world of the unknowing, into the light of secrets. I always thought that knowing things about others was more important than somehow acquiring their money. I think that is maybe what helped me rise within my House so quickly.

Hurriedly I walked towards yet another set of doors on the adjacent wall. I tried to hide myself from all the people I was sure were staring at me. This was one of the only times in my life I wish I was a midget. At least they could hide below eye level.

“Uriel.” I heard my name. I simply continued walking. Maybe they would think they had mistaken me.

“Uriel.” I nearly jumped out of my socks as my name was repeated from behind me. I turned.

“My goodness,” I managed as I tried to regain control of my breathing. “It’s only you Lucifer.”

“Only me?” he laughed, his voice booming and commanding. “Perhaps that new pin your sporting there has gone to your head.” I glanced down at the diamond in the shape of a eye and tooth, the symbol of my House. I chuckled awkwardly and raised my eyes from the pendant. I looked to his face, but his head was turned away, his attention elsewhere.

He was focused on two people who had just entered through the same door which I had a few moments ago emerged from. They were headed across the open hall to a set of ornate golden doors. They were the entrance to God’s office. I had yet to meet him, but judging by the precious stones imbedded in the polished gold, the various animal sculptures, and the over bearing plaque on the wall which read “The House of the Lord,” he was not the humblest of men.

“Who are they?” I wondered out load. I could tell that they were scientists or doctors of some sort, as they wore the long white jackets of such a profession.

“I have a feeling they a solution to a problem me and God were talking about,” he began.

“What sort of problem?” I wondered. I was already feeling like I was out of the loop.

“A problem regarding evolution. Basic questions really. Just their answer seems to either evade us or it causes so much controversy that the answer is essentially dismissed. God wants to put an end to it once and for all. You know; to get all of our minds focused on things he views as, well, more important. Well, looks like we should be making our way over to the meeting,” he suggested and set off towards the House of the Lord.

I had been looking around the room, and hadn’t realized that Lucifer had left. I was so worried that I wouldn’t be able to catch up with him. I’m not really sure why, but at the time it made total sense that if I fell behind, something bad would happen. Well, my haste to keep up resulted in a, somewhat embarrassing moment. When I turned to head after him, I tried to lift my left foot but my right foot was standing on the left foot’s shoe lace. Well I fell forward and barely managed to put my hands out in front of me to stop myself. My feet fell out from under me and I was basically in a push up position on the floor. I also might have let out a yelp in surprise. I looked back and acted like I was studying the ground, wanting people to think Oh he’s not so weird. He just stumbled over something and isn’t a total klutz. Still studying the blemish free ground, I chased after Lucifer. He opened the doors and entered.

Dipping inside the door just before it shut in Lucifer’s wake, I took a seat beside Lucifer, mainly because it was the only one available. There were six other men present. One at opposite of Lucifer, who I guessed was God. He was decked out in white, shoes to hat. Along the two long sides of the table were some others who I didn’t know, but suspected were other House Masters.

“Well,” God began as he looked up from a few leafs of paper he had been reading. “Let us begin. Today we have a new member to the Council. Allow me to present, Master Uriel of the Pack.” I began to stand. Lucifer had warned me that I would be expected to give a short speech upon my introduction. As I stood and pulled out a folded and fairly crumpled piece of paper, God interrupted.

“Moving on,” he said, waving to the two white jacketed people I had seen earlier. They came out of the shadow in the corner of the room. I hadn’t noticed them. But at that moment I felt a little acquired. I knew it was fairly obvious that I was about to talk when I was interrupted. But I pretended that it was nothing and gave a little nod of the head, as if that’s all that I intended to do from the beginning.

“This is Adam and Eve Earth. They have found a way to discover the origin of our species. They propose a simulation. They believe that, given the proper funding they could create an entire alternate reality,” he finished, gesturing towards Adam and Eve that they had the floor.

“Adam and I have decided to call our operation Simulation Earth, after our selves. Using a computer of incredible power, we will essentially create a world after our own. We will began as far back in the creation of our solar system as we can, then we will go backwards. The system will take care of the rest. Eventually it will come together. Then we will allow it to go forward, and our own history will play out before us.” The entire time Eve was talking, Adam seemed to simply agree with nods and smiles.

“How far will we allow this to go?” interjected one of the other men.

“As far as we like. I have spoken with God regarding the ethical and moral limitation on such a simulation. And he has agreed with me that while this simulation’s initial purpose would be to conquer the mysteries of evolution, the possibilities are endless. Eventually ecosystems will develop and they will be followed by species which, we suspect,” she said turning to Adam for support, “will share eerie similarities to our own. Eventually we would effectively be able to see into the future. To see various types of governments flourish and fade into history. To see military tactics put to the ultimate test. Possible ending in disaster, but it wouldn’t matter to us. Everything in the simulation is one hundred percent self contained.”

“Would the intelligences within the simulation know what is happening? Or would they think like us?” questioned the person sitting next to me.

“They would have absolutely no idea. That is the beauty. For all they know, they are individuals truly living. They’re like animals. They live on their own accord, but can be shepherded in a direction should we decide, or terminated should we need to,” she answered.

“So these are just play things for you,” Lucifer said, meeting God’s eyes, putting all the pressure on him.

“Not at all. They would serve a purely scientific purpose, like test animals for the greater good of divinity.” God was getting slightly frustrated. I supposed that he was used to calling the shots and not being questioned.

“All that we ask from all of you great Masters,” Eve continued, kissing up to us all, “is your support in the form of funding.”

“I pledge all of Heavens budget that can be spared to you,” God promised. Following his example, all of those in the room made similar pledges. All except Lucifer and myself. I wasn’t so much waiting for his approval, as I was worried about the approval of the Pack. I just didn’t feel comfortable making such a big decision on my first day as a Master. Lucifer, on the other hand, seemed to have other reservations.

“I won’t simply use others lives as a short cut to discoveries.”

“They don’t have lives,” Eve began to protest. She was cut off by Lucifer sliding his chair back and heading for the door, clearly intent on leaving.

“Lucifer, listen to me. Killing these megabytes that you call people is nothing different then butchering an animal for your evening meal. Would you deny your people that just as you would this break through?” I could tell by Gods tone that it wasn’t so much a question as an accusation. Lucifer ignored him, sticking to his guns, and left. During the confusion of Lucifer’s departure, I had managed to push my chair back and was nearly at the door. I simply didn’t want to betray Lucifer who, up to this point, was the only ally I had in the Council.

“And where do you think your going!” God practically roared at me as he spotted me attempting my escape.

“Um, well,” I stammered.

“Out with it boy!” he bellowed, calling to attention my lack of experience. I was at least twenty years younger than the others present.

“Well, I just can’t support such a, um, project, because, ah.”

“Perhaps someone as unsure as your self has no place at this table,” he said, the insult hurting my pride.

“I can’t support such butchery because,” I mumbled, borrowing from Lucifer’s excuse.

“Because?”

“I’m a vegetarian.” No sooner had that last word left my mouth then I was out the door.