Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Alter

   by Ardin Resolute



   **Nexus I.

   "Do you believe in destiny?"

   The boy looked up.  It was the old man.  He sighed, again, the old man.
The boy tried to ignore him, tried to concentrate once more on his studies,
on his work, his all-important projects.  But the old man would not be
denied.

   "Do you believe in fate?"

   The boy looked up again this time more annoyed than frustrated.  "Isn't
that the same question?"

   The old man smiled softly and shook his head, amused at the boy's
question and glad that he was not being ignored.  "What do you think?"

   The boy's brown, youthful eyes sparkled for a second, considering all
possible answers, considering everything, and then he turned his attention
back to his labours.  "I think that I'm wasting too much time thinking." It
wasn't a statement exactly, and it wasn't a blow-off either, it was a stall
and the old man knew it.  This boy, he had been watching him for a while.
This one could go on to great things, or terrible things, or none at all,
but it was the potential greatness that had caught his attention.  He knew,
the old man did, that even as the boy appeared to be working, he was in
fact pondering the question, pondering the possibilities, pondering the
impact, he just didn't want anyone to know that he was.

   The old man smiled again and said nothing.  He simply waited.  It would
come to his young friend soon, that much he was certain of.  Everything
would come to him soon.  It was just a matter of time, and since time was
infinite, that was absolutely fine with him.
   **Close Nexus