In the beginning... the universe was a lattice stretching off in all directions into infinity. Every point in it was the intersection of four cleavage planes, in perfect periodicity. The unit cell was a rhomboid solid- a cut along the minor axes (an unthinkable thing) would reveal a perfect square, 90 and 90 and 90 and 90 degrees.

Each unit crystal oscillated at a cycle precisely an octave lower than the four constituent unit crystals precisely one-fourth of its volume, in perfect periodicity- the sound of the universe was a hum, the tone of which was unknown, as it was the only sound in the universe. Likewise, time was marked by the hum of the universe; moment to moment the universe contemplated its perfection and was pleased, in perfect periodicity.

One moment the universe was disturbed. Where before there was a portion of the lattice there was now a turbulent fluid, swirling and eddying all together non-periodically. It was disturbed again (as it would have to be until the end of time, in perfect periodicity) then pleased with itself, then disturbed that the source of its pleasure was gone, and in the spiraling complexity of reaction resolved not to be disturbed again, as any reaction it had must necessarily echo into infinity (a fact that pleased it a final time before its resolution filtered through the lattice and was confirmed).

The fluid screamed.

"Please do not scream" The universe said (and said again, echoing as it would have to forever, in perfect periodicity) "Your energy and composition is being redistributed evenly throughout the universe. You are making things very complex."

The fluid screamed again. The universe referred it to the still echoing statement it had just made.

"Please! I am only passing through here to the world of men! I will be gone immediately and never return!"

"Speaking is also anomalous. Nothing in the universe speaks when The universe is not speaking, and the universe never speaks, only hums in perfect periodicity and is pleased."

The turbulent fluid became even more turbulent.

"All parts of the universe are rhomboid unit cells infinitely divisible. No part of the universe is a turbulent fluid. You are not part of the universe. Neither are you the whole of the universe. If the universe were to allow itself to be disturbed, you would be most disturbing to it. What is the world of men? What is gone? What is return? What is speaking that is not the universe?"

"I am a demon." For a moment the fluid was turbulent in a way that was almost self-satisfied. "Gone is no longer here. Renurn is to be here once again, after being gone. The world of men is the most wonderful place in all universes."

The universe was confused, disturbed that it was confused, disturbed That it was disturbed, and almost fell back into an infinite loop before it caught itself. It was pleased with its perfect periodicity and continued with its questions.

"What is here? Why is the world of men wonderful? Is it periodic?"

The demon thought for a while.

"Here is the universe." The universe seemed to be satisfied. "The World of men is wonderful because it is the only place where men are, and desire is the treasure of all men. All men have desire. It is the most wonderful thing in all universes."

The universe decided that further questioning was fruitless- the echoes were introducing a complexity that was much less pleasing than its initial state. "You will be distributed evenly throughout the universe now. Please do not speak, and refrain from being turbulent."

"Oh universe, so pleasing in your perfect periodicity!" said the demon (since flattery is second nature to all infernal creatures) "if you allow me to pass, and maintain my turbulence, I will give you some of the desire I find on the other side!"

The universe, more to end the conversation and the echoes that it propagated than for any other reason, ceased its attempt to assimilate the demon. The fluid promptly disappeared, leaving an equally anomalous gap and sticky film where it had been.

Demons are liars as much as flatterers, but a demon's word is its bond by a law sacred to all universes in the cosmos. When the demon (who took the name Angela in the world of men) awoke she was compelled to keep her word, and one moment the universe perceived an anomaly in one of the sticky gaps that now were repeated throughout itself in semi perfect quasi-periodicity. A drop of desire.

The universe immediately resolved to assimilate this thing as perfectly as it could, and create no more unpleasant echoes. It worried for a moment about its own stability in the face of these anomalous events.

Then it stopped worrying.

Then it stopped humming.

The desire propagated through the matrix- The matrix changed. It groaned. Every point became desire, desiring more desire. The lattice shrieked with desire and collapsed on itself.

Need. Need of need. The universe exploded inward and reorganized itself.

"I NEED" said the new universe. "I AM AN ENGINE OF NEED. NEED IS THE PRINCIPAL. NEED IS THE PRIME."