Sky Daddy

John felt himself completely freeze up. His mind ground to a halt. The being in front of him exuded an aura of power beyond anything John had ever experienced.

The creature in front of John seemed to understand John's issue as he addressed it swiftly, "Oh, sorry, I forgot that my presence could be quite overwhelming for a mortal." And with a sudden feeling of relief in his body, John could feel the aura encapsulating him rescind like lowering tide.

No able to start putting a few thoughts in order, John began to inquire raspily, "Who-" "Am I?" The giant being finished for John, as though he knew what John would ask even before he did. "There is no simple answer to that," he smirked.

"But I guess it would be best to start from the beginning. I am from a race of beings who have always been and always will be. We are the custodians and caretakers of all that is. Some call us gods; some call us demons. Yet and the end of the day, we simply are."

"We are split into what you would most easily be able to understand as two groups. I belong to the administrators of the different worlds in the universe, each of us typically taking care of a few planets with sentient life and the surrounding worlds that have been yet to be claimed."

"Then our brethren in the other group are what would be defined, in terms you could best understand, as patron deities. They are 'Gods' that work with the administrators of worlds. These patron deities ensure that those who best exemplify their area of specialization are nurtured and protected."

"With me so far?"

"Uh-" John tried to interject.

The administrator quickly continued, "Perfect, so at last we come to my role. I am in charge of several worlds. Most relevant to you is that I am in charge of Earth. And yes, I know what you are going to say, 'So you are the bastard that is responsible!' And before you do, please let me tell you that those mortals over who we watch usually misconstrue what we are allowed to intervene in when it comes to the worlds over which we manage."

"We are not allowed to affect the free will of the beings on the planets under our gaze. They are responsible for monitoring themselves and make of our gifts what they will. Our role is about setting the circumstances for them to flourish or fail. When one of a nearly infinitesimal number of calamities is nigh and about to impact one of our realms, we can step in, beyond the knowledge of the mortals, and lend a hand."

"So what you are saying is that you are essentially the planet Jupiter, stepping in to stop an asteroid every so often?" John scathingly questioned the being. While John may have been a bit shaken at first when meeting this 'god,' he had since had the anger he had felt all his life about a lack of intervention from a greater power come boiling forth.

Surprisingly, the god in front of him chuckled and explained, "Some days, it feels like that is, unfortunately, the best comparison. And instead of thinking of me as the giant being, how about you call me Jupiter as I do not have a name for which you could call me."

John shot a glower at Jupiter over the uninspired choice.

Yet Jupiter only grinned wider as he saw the young man's irritation. However, upon reflecting, Jupiter's face quickly sank into a grimace as if he suddenly remembered a bad experience. "I know that you feel hostility towards me as the world's god. Unfortunately, I have a more direct reason to apologize to you and why you should hold me in such distaste."

"While as I stated, we do not interfere with mortals, sometimes ones as lonely as we have what most of the divine would label as indiscretions. I, however, had an encounter that changed me forever."

Jupiter then summarized the events of 30 years ago when he created a human avatar for himself and walked the Earth. He detailed how he met a woman while he was there, fell in love and sired a son. About how a council of the divine had reprimanded him, forced him to destroy the avatar and have no further contact with the woman or the boy while they walked the mortal realm. Upon threat of destruction coming to the woman and child, Jupiter was forced to follow the tribunal's decision.

As Jupiter lifted his golden eyes to look at John, who stood before him, he was able to hear John's thoughts as the pieces of his story fell into place, and the truth was being uncovered. "That's right," Jupiter whispered, "You are the son I was forced to leave." As he confirmed the truth, he could see John shaking with anger. Jupiter waited for the words of disgust and disappointment towards his unforgivable crimes to pour forth from his son's mouth. Unable to bear looking the boy in his eyes any longer, his lids closed. While awaiting the backlash, Jupiter shrank to a size comparable to his son, who stood before him. He did this so that if his son wanted to strike him in anger for his inexcusable cowardice, John would be able to land a blow easily.

Yet rather than vitriol, insults or violence landing upon him, Jupiter felt a warm hand rest upon his shoulder. And as he opened his eyes, John stood before him, not with hate on his face but rather an understanding expression. "Father, I understand what it is to be held back and controlled by those around you. I can tell from how I see you now how you wanted to be with mother and me."

"Thank you," Jupiter choked out between sobs as he felt the tears running down his face as his son told him that he was not despised by one of the few people he loved.

Once the god managed to collect himself, he suddenly remembered the most important thing he had yet to tell his son. "John, I have a letter here from your mother, and I have a gift for you."