Though most people probably imagined the First of the Godhead to be an enormous, imposing, powerful, frightening giant of a man, he was very average, in every way. Medium height, medium build, neither handsome nor ugly. He never smelled particularly good, but he didn’t really stink, either. Some whispered that Nicholas had Evolved so far as to read the minds of others. She highly doubted such a thing, but she’d also watched her thoughts like straying servants lately when he was around.

“Why so silent?” Nicholas asked when she didn’t respond. He always exuded so much patience that it made her want to punch a wall.

The truth, she thought. For now, the truth.

“Agitation and silence are the least of my worries,” she said. “Don’t come in here and insult my intelligence and ask your clever questions. Why did you do it?”

Nicholas pinched his lips together, forming an expression that almost implied admiration. “Good way to start. I didn’t think we’d get here for at least a half hour.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s time. You know it’s time. We have to take the next step or the worst thing that could possibly happen to us and our people and this world will happen. You know this and it’s asinine to argue about it.” He walked past her, brushing her shoulder, then entered the living room and flopped himself down on the couch. At the same time, it was both ungodly and the most condescending thing he could do to her. “Come and sit. Let’s have the requisite argument before you finally admit that I’m right as usual and we move forward.”

Alexandra closed her eyes, ran through the digits again, this time reciting them at a slower pace. She’d learned from experience with Nicholas to battle patience with patience, calm with calm, indifference with indifference—that was the way to gall him.

A minute or two passed in silence. Then Alexandra sauntered back into the kitchen, where she poured herself a glass of water. She didn’t do the same for Nicholas. Let him get his own damn drink if he’s so all-powerful. After heading into the living room with her glass, she sat on a chair as far away from her visitor as she could. She took a sip. Then another. She said nothing.

“Well?” he finally asked. “Aren’t you going to say something?”

Victory.

“No. I’m just waiting for you to explain yourself. I’m ready when you are.”

Nicholas straightened his posture a bit, crossed his legs. “It’s been over thirty years since the Evolution, Alex. We’ve accomplished all that we possibly could accomplish, and we’ve set things up exactly how we planned. It’s time to move on. It’s time to Evolve the others. You can’t possibly disagree with this. What else is the point of everything we’ve done?”