Story # 5.8: Rob's Demise

 

"All angels have been deployed, Rapha," Jacob said.

"Excellent! I'm preparing to go to the surface," Rapha said.

"Rapha, Jay has defeated Britton," Enoch said.

"I knew he would. I'm going down there to assist him with Pat."

"What about the other one, in Washington, Rapha. He is still trying to stir up a revolt. He's using the statues again to communicate with the people, at least the ones that are operational," Enoch added.

"Allow the angels to pour out their wrath. Maybe then he will understand what a true prophet can do."

Enoch smiled.

Rapha left the room to go on his final journey.

"All angels, you may commence attack with extreme prejudice."

The screen showed millions of angels converging on Washington in the United States of Columbia. This destruction would be fast and complete.

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"People of the world, hear me now. We must rise up against the powers of the air. The stars in the sky have fallen to our planet to conquer us. We must not withdraw!"

These words came from Rob through statues set up around the world, as well as on television and mobile device screens, so they could be heard by all.

"Nearly two billion lives have been lost by the storms they created. They destroyed our envoy, your representatives that were meant to rendezvous with them in orbit. The shattered our world, leaving us in a pit of darkness as volcanoes and quakes plunge us into chaos. If we are to survive, we must band together to stop this assault and bring peace once again to our world."

People had stopped in shelters and other locations to avoid the lightning, if possible, and listened to what Rob was saying. The ash cloud from the volcanic eruption was growing thicker and degrading air quality. It was only a matter of time before someone died from a lightning strike or suffocation. The world was dying, and the people on the ground knew it. For this reason, Rob's words through the statue seemed hollow.

One child ran out from a shelter in plain sight of a statue located in one of the major cities. The child had seen and heard enough. He was only twelve, but he knew the nonsense had to end.

"YOU'RE A LIAR!"

The child yelled at the statue in front of him. This yelling got the statue's attention. The engraved image of Jay's face looked down at the child, eyes glowing red.

"YOU HAVE DESTROYED OUR WORLD!"

The child yelled again as his family ran out to join him. They were all scared of being struck by lightning at any moment, but the child went on.

"You brought all of this on us, with your lies, your horrible ways. You killed us all, just because you could. All I've ever seen is you causing us all harm. You steal and cheat us all the time. You take us away from our families. You make us all like slaves! WE ARE NOT YOUR SLAVES!"

As the child said all of this, others in the area came outside to join in. They believed the child and did not care for Rob's words through the statue. 

"You will be destroyed if you continue this course," Rob spoke through the statue again.

"WHAT IF WE DESTROY YOU?!" a woman yelled, standing beside the child now.

"We must have order here," the statue said.

With that, Cals began mobilizing within the city to re-establish order.

"You will do as your Supreme Imperial Chancellor decrees..." the statue uttered, but was interrupted.

"The Supreme Imperial Chancellor is dead!" another voice chimed in.

The people gasped, looking toward the voice. 

In the sky was a statue-like creation, crafted by thousands of angels. It was in the form of Enoch.

"It died, and the Fleece has collapsed to the ground. Your rule is over. Surrender or be destroyed."

The statue looked up at the figure in the sky, the eyes glowing redder. Then the statue ordered the Cals to attack the figure in the sky. But before the first shot could be fired, the angels disbanded and charged at the Cals and the statue. The force with which the angels attacked tore through the Cals like they were made of paper, and ripped the statue to pieces in an instant. At the same time, light engulfed the people in the crowd that had amassed, and they all vanished. 

The angels continued toward Washington, where they planned to attack Rob.

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Rob looked on in astonishment as he saw similar circumstances unfold in other major cities across the country. The people revolted against him. The angels destroyed the military and infrastructure, then moved on in a pattern heading directly toward Washington.

The swarm of angels could be seen on the screen, growing exponentially. Rob was in awe of what he was seeing.

"Supreme Imperial Prophet, sir, we must evacuate the city immediately," one of Rob's servant robots spoke to him.

"Can you believe how elegant this looks?" Rob said, smiling at what he saw on screen.

"Your majesty? What do you mean?"

"It's like they work as one mind, but still individuals. That's unreal."

"Your majesty, please. We must go now!"

"I'm staying. See yourself out."

"But you'll die if you stay here."

Rob looked back at the robot, "If that is meant to be, then I'll stand and fight to the end."

The robot saluted Rob and then fled. 

Rob was all alone in the control room of the Capitol building. He currently saw five million angels moving in on his position. There was nothing in this world that could save him now.

***********************************************************************************

Along the way, as the angels approached Washington, they continued picking up survivors of the storm on the ground below. The angels had to dodge and swerve through lightning bolts themselves to avoid being damaged. The angels had concentric rings rotating around a central hub, powered by a radiant energy source. Lenses were on every part of the rings and at the six corners of the central hub, providing visibility in all directions. The energy radiating outward was a power source of unbelievable strength. The rings spinning kept them airborne, with a buzz like a thousand locusts flying. 

The swarm of angels was using the energy inside of them to send a beam of energy down to teleport survivors to the ships in orbit. One was taken, another was left. Soon after one survivor was removed, a lightning bolt would dissolve their essence. Some that were left fled to shelters to protect themselves from the storm still raging. The ones left did not understand what was happening, but they quickly realized when they looked at their own bodies. The marks, the things that cost them their souls, prevented their salvation. They had accepted the J18 mark that allowed them to feel prosperous, joy-filled, and amazed. But it was all unsatisfying. Nothing ever quenched their thirst. Now the thirst would grow stronger with no salvation in sight. The person, realizing this as they lay there waiting for the inevitable, began to weep. They cried and raised up their hands, hoping for a redeemer that would never come. As they stood holding their hands toward the heavens, a lightning bolt shot down and disintegrated them in an instant. This same situation played out with others all along the path to Washington as the final judgment against Rob grew closer.

***********************************************************************************

Pat had worked his way down to the Artifact Chamber, but the door to enter had shifted positions. The Artifact Chamber is not static. It moves as the Fleece's position changes, so it always stays right-side up. That meant the door to the chamber was one hundred fifty feet lower since the Fleece was lying on its side. To adjust the orientation, Pat needed to be in the chamber. He would have to get the Fleece back up in the air, too. He climbed a ladder up, however, because bulkheads blocked entry to the door. Pat's only way in would be through the top of the chamber.

While Pat was trying to enter the chamber through the top, Linda, Dana, Allie, and Chad were entering the chamber through the bottom, unbeknownst to them. They entered the doorway that opened, but had no clue where the passageway led, aside from the very long ladders they had to climb.

Jay was making his way down to the chamber, too, but Pat had disabled the elevator systems upon his descent. Therefore, Jay had to climb down corridors very precariously. 

All three were converging on the same place, the orb still glowing in the center of the chamber. The only question was, who would get there first.

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Rob watched as the angels massed outside the Capitol Building. The swarm had grown by tens of millions, surrounding the building as they hovered above the ground. Rob looked away from the view screen and saw that he was alone. Most of the inhabitants of Washington were either taken by the angels, desentigrated by the lightning, had gone into hiding, or fled the city entirely. There was no turning back for Rob now. 

Rob looked back at the view screen, watching the angels circling, and began talking to it.

"What are you waiting for? Make your move!"

Part of the swarm of angels converged together at one point, swirling more tightly and plummeting at incredible speed toward the ground. Thousands of them impacted the ground at once, digging through concrete, dirt, and anything else in their path. The angels were burrowing underground to emerge beneath the building. Another part of the swarm shot off with incredible speed into the building itself, ripping through the stone walls and destroying offices and other spaces in an instant. The final part of the swarm rose straight up above the building and took a position directly over the domed top. With blinding speed, the swarm dove down and impacted the dome, obliterating it instantly and burrowing into the building's structure. 

Rob was in the midst of this chaos as the swarms unified and began ripping the building to pieces. Rob was screaming as the area he was in began to collapse. But the angels were making sure the structure did not collapse on him. They were saving a greater torment for him.

As the once great Capitol Building collapsed all around Rob, he put his hands on his head scream in agony at the place he loved being destroyed. But now that the walls were gone to one side, he could see the skyline of the city. From his vantage point, he witnessed the utter destruction of Washington at the hands of the angels.

The museums were collapsing into the ground. The monuments fell. The ground buckled, opening up craters in the streets. Explosions rocked the area as gas lines erupted, and fuel exploded. The once great home of the Chancellor of the United States burst into flames and sank into the ground as the angels ripped the substructure out from underneath. The city on seven hills was vanquished in less than an hour. Only a charred remnant of its former glory remained.

In the now-demolished Capitol Building, Rob stood, with millions of angels hovering over his head. He looked up at them. He admired the simplicity of their design. He smiled at them, slightly. He knew his demise was imminent.

"This was one of my favorite places to visit throughout all of human history. At least I got to rule over it for a short time."

With that, Rob held his arms out and bowed to the angels as if finishing a performance. When he stood back up, the angels let loose.

The angels attacked Rob with a fervor unimaginable. The angels ripped the clothing and flesh off his body, revealing the robotic creature he was beneath. As the flesh vanished and he was now exposed for what he was, the angels lined up laser pointers at him, millions hitting him at once. Rob's robotic eyes looked back up at them, a scowl now on his face. He screamed at them, a roar of unbridled passion in his belief of what his life had been. Utter defiance to any order of man. After letting this roar out, the angels all fired at once, and Rob was eviscerated into nothingness. No traces of fluid, limbs, or anything. Only the faint echo of his scream reverberated around the remains of the Capitol until they were no more. 

Rob was now gone, and with him the great city of Washington was too. No more lights, no more life would ever dwell within it again.

*********************************************************************************

Linda pushed up the hatch to enter the chamber and peered out into the room. As she looked around, she rolled her eyes and looked back down at Dana and her children.

"Well, we're back in that room again."

Dana smiled and said sarcastically, "Yay! That's so great."

Linda climbed up the ladder into the room as the others followed behind her. Ironically enough, they arose in the same section where "the beast" tank once sat. The very same tank they nearly all died in.

"Let's head over to the Orb," Linda said, as they made their way down the walking path.

As they walked by, the remains of the soldiers that fought Pat years ago remained, now decaying and bones. They had never been removed from their final resting place. Linda didn't know if that was a good thing or bad; she just knew it was disgusting.

"What happened to these people, Mom?" Chad asked.

"These were the soldiers who tried to keep us safe. They died trying."

"And they just left them here?" Allie asked.

"Apparently so," Dana replied.

They continued walking, rounding the corner, approaching the Orb that was glowing in the distance. But as they came into view of the Orb, something startled Linda, and she lunged backward, pushing her son against the wall. Dana and Allie ducked back down and kneeled. 

Linda motioned for Chad to be quiet, holding up her index finger to her lips.

She squatted down and moved slowly to the corner they had just ducked behind. At the Orb, she saw Pat standing there, working on the machine that controlled the device. She leaned back from the edge to quietly talk to the others.

"It's Pat," Linda whispered.

"Pat!" Dana said in a startled whisper. "How are we supposed to stop him?"

"I can stop him," Chad said confidently as he whispered.

"You'll do no such thing," Linda said, pushing her son backward.

"Well, what are we going to do then, Mom?"

"That's a very good question!" Pat replied out loud for all of them to hear.

Linda, Dana, Allie, and Chad froze and stayed silent.

"I guess you've forgotten that I can hear thoughts, haven't you, Mom?" Pat said, smiling and looking in the direction they were hiding.

Linda closed her eyes, feeling defeated.

"And I know you're thinking, where is Jay? Well, I'm sure he's on his way as we speak. He got his revenge against Britton. She'll never bother anyone again. And that young little boy, Rob, you befriended back in Anderson, Linda. He's gone too. Along with the rest of the United States of Columbia. They were wiped out by the volcano and Rapha's angels. So, all you have left..." Pat turned in their direction. "...is me."

Linda was petrified for the moment. She didn't know what to do. Dana was equally uncertain. None of them expected to face Pat alone. None of them expected to face Pat at all.

"You don't have to worry about confronting me, though. I'm not here for you. Only the Orb and the artifacts Jay brought back from his time travel escapades. Now that I have them, I'll be on my way. Good luck to you, though. You're going to need it. Even with the Fleece, you can't stop what happens next. Auf Wiedersehen."

With that final word from Pat, the light from the Orb went out, and darkness filled the room, except for the lights along the pathways. The hum of the Orb was also gone.

Linda stood up and saw that the Orb was no longer in its place. The rest followed suit as Dana pulled out a flashlight to help see better.

"Where did he go?" Allie asked.

Linda walked forward toward the device, "He left and took the Orb with him."

"What does that mean then?" Dana asked.

"It means he's preparing for battle."

Another voice said those words from the device's adjacent side. Linda recognized the voice immediately.

From the shadows, Jay emerged.

Linda looked at him, and tears began to fill her eyes, but she still asked a pertinent question.

"Jay?"

"It's me. I'm back."

Linda ran into Jay's arms as they embraced for the first time in over a decade. Chad and Allie joined in, hugging their long-lost father. Dana began to cry; seeing this pure joy, she walked closer to the family. The image was a beautiful one to witness.

Jay let go of one of his kids and motioned for Dana to come over, "Come on, Dana. You're family too."

Dana rushed over and hugged them all, crying the whole time.

It was a reunion like no other, in the same place they had last been together.

"I knew you would come, Jay. I just knew it."

"I wouldn't miss it."

"But what about Pat, Jay?"

"He's going to come at us with everything he's got. He doesn't need the Fleece now. He has his legion."

"Legion? You mean all those Cals out there?" Chad asked.

"Yes. And with the Orb, they'll be unstoppable."

Linda looked down.

Jay lifted her chin and looked into her eyes, "Unstoppable for all of us anyway. Not Rapha."

"Is Rapha going to destroy the world?"

"I think that has already been set into motion, thanks to Pat. Rapha is going to end him, once and for all, in only a way Rapha could do."

"How will he do that?" Dana asked.

"Very simply."

Another voice came from behind them. They turned to face a man walking up to them in a flowing blue robe and white tunic underneath. His hair was long and fine. He approached softly, but powerfully. He looked on at them with a peaceful warmth.

"Welcome back to the Fleece, Rapha."

Rapha looked around the chamber, "It's been a while."

Story # 5.7: Britton vs. Jay

 

With clouds all around, blanketing the sky, the Argo J1, carrying the precious cargo of Jay's life, moved quickly along the trail, with Cals attacking from the sides. Despite the damage inflicted thus far, the vehicle was handling the blows well. 

"Jim, status report!" Dana yelled as Cal H1 attacked from her side of the vehicle.

A Cal H1 looks like a horse with a rider, but its legs are wheels, giving this machine a very mechanized look. One Cal H1 was to either side of the vehicle.

"The vehicle has sustained 35% damage, mostly cosmetic."

"How much longer can it take this?" Linda asked.

"I don't know."

After Dana said this, the Cal H1s both stopped and fell behind rapidly, as did all of the other vehicles and drones in pursuit. The Argo J1 continued on down the path through the wilderness.

"They stopped! They all stopped," Chad said, looking back.

"What's happening?" Linda asked.

Dana looked up in the sky in bewilderment. "That's what is happening!"

As Dana pointed up at the sky, Linda looked in the same direction. Her eyes widened as she saw the Fleece falling to the ground from above. As the craft collided with the ground, a huge dust cloud engulfed the region, reducing visibility to zero. Additionally, because the area around the Fleece was protected from the energy being released from the activation sequence or the remnant, that protection was now gone for Jezreel. Lightning began to infuse rapidly across the area.

"Oh great! As if the army we just faced wasn't bad enough," Allie said.

Jim alerted them, "Multiple lightning strikes in the area. Over 100 detected. Use caution."

"This is our chance," Linda said.

Dana looked at her.

"Get to the Fleece."

"How will we get in?"

"We'll find a way."

***********************************************************************************

Britton stood up in the chamber, but it was more surreal than usual. She knew she was dreaming, and it would only be a matter of time before she awakened.

Inside the real chamber, Jay's body was lying amidst damaged consoles and panels. Pat was also unconscious, for the moment. All power to the Fleece was shut down, but the computer was slowly coming back online. As the emergency lighting was activated, the chamber's main screen began rebooting.

"It's only a matter of time before the Fleece resets and can become airborne again. Release the angels," Rapha said, looking at the downed craft from his vessel. Angels, in this context, are drones that can take on any form needed. The angels will help reduce the issues caused by lightning, not by stopping it, but by removing individuals from the planet. Individuals who were loyal to the SIC will not be saved. One will be taken, another left. As the angels moved out away from the larger vessels hovering over Jezreel and the downed Fleece, the sky lit up like a giant swarm of robotic locusts. Millions, if not billions, of angels flew out in all directions around the world. Already, billions of people had died from the lightning strikes. The angels were simply trying to pick up the pieces. Fortunately, there weren't as many people loyal to the SIC as the SIC claimed.

"All other vessels, proceed back into orbit. This vessel will remain to assist here," Rapha ordered.

"Won't we need the help?" Jacob asked.

"We have Jay to help with that."

***********************************************************************************

Britton looked up at Jay, standing over her a few feet away. Jay stood there, defiantly. As an intense, angry stare came across Britton's face, she motioned with her arms, making a powerful thrust forward. Instantly, Jay shot backwards into the distant part of the room.

Britton began standing up, "I guess you forgot in a dream, Jay, anything can happen."

From a distance, out of sight, Jay responded, "Oh, I'm well aware, Britton. No need to worry about that."

Britton scanned the room, looking for Jay in the growing darkness. The lights were dimming, and a haze was filling the room, like smoke smoldering. Britton waded into the ever-growing fog.

"So, you think you can control this dream? You think you'll be able to control a dream in my head?" Britton said, defiantly.

Britton believed she was more powerful than Jay could ever be. Despite knowing Jay had been killed many years earlier, she was arrogant enough to perceive a greater ability than anyone could imagine. But Britton lacked the awareness to perceive what Jay was now capable of doing.

"You underestimate my powers. I've always wanted to say that," Jay replied with a chuckle.

"Come on out then, and show yourself, you star freak."

"With pleasure..."

Just then, a hand reached out and grabbed Britton's arm from behind. She was spun around one hundred eighty degrees to come face to face with a creature like no other. This beastly creation from Jay's mind had large fangs, big eyes, and a snout that pushed the fog aside as air escaped. A long tongue protruding from between the teeth. Once Britton saw the creature, she was startled, but it grabbed her by the head and chomped down with painful, unmerciful force.

Britton let out a blood-curdling scream as she could feel the teeth sink into your head and neck. With one final push down, the head severed from her body, jets of blood shooting out, as the rest of her body collapsed to the ground.

On the ground, Britton was still screaming, her head still attached to her body. She suddenly realized that she had not been decapitated. But within seconds after this realization, another creature lunged forward from the mist, with dagger-like claws stabbing into her torso. Britton instantly felt the pain as the two claws tore her torso wide open, revealing organs and blood. The tearing moved her body forward towards the creature as she looked it in the eye. Red glowing light began coming from the creature's eyes as it once again chomped down on Britton's head. As she felt the teeth dig in again, Britton screamed, only to hear the pulverizing gnashing of teeth tearing her skull and neck to pieces.

Britton awoke, screaming. Once she got her bearings, she realized she was back in the same spot she had been when she first saw Jay standing before her. None of it had happened, but it all felt so real.

"How does it feel getting a taste of your own medicine?" Jay's voice echoed through the chamber.

Britton stood up quickly and looked around, "Where are you?"

"Despite what happens here today, it pales in comparison to what awaits you in eternity, Britton."

"SHOW YOURSELF YOU COWARD!"

"I have been, and always shall be your worst nightmare for you, for Rob, and for Pat."

"YOU CAN'T DEFEAT US! We're stronger than you. We always have been, and we always will be."

"You don't know the half of what you are saying, Britton. Because you killed me, you, Rob, and Pat, you created something much different than before. You say how I could control a dream in your head? This isn't a dream!"

Jay appeared as a shadowy figure behind Britton, who was still moving around in circular patterns in the room, looking for Jay.

"This is as real as your life will ever get."

Britton turned around the face, Jay.

"Come on then, boy. Show me what you can do, if you're so powerful."

"I know something you don't..."

An arm ripped through the floor beneath, Britton, grabbing her right leg. Another arm ripped through the floor and grabbed the back of your clothes, pulling Britton to the ground, landing on her back. As Britton lay there, more arms came up through the floor, grabbing all parts of her body, and began pulling her down into the depths below. 

Britton was pulled down into what could only be described as the pits of hell. There, she was surrounded by numerous dead people. Some were decaying like zombies. Some were on fire. Some were dripping in blood. Each one grabbed another piece of Britton's body, pulling and tugging ferociously. Jay walked up through the mayhem and stared at Britton.

Britton stopped screaming from the agony being inflicted to stare back at Jay.

"You call this fear? This is nothing," Britton said defiantly again.

Jay just stared back, no expression.

Two of the hands of the dead people surrounding Britton then grabbed both sides of Britton's mouth, reaching their fingers inside. They pulled hard and ripped Britton's head wide open, a gush of blood and fluids falling all around. The other dead people ripped her body limb from limb, leaving behind a pool of mass and mess. 

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Britton was enduring this torment, but at a cost. With each iteration, her hold on Jay's actual body weakened. In the true real world, where Jay's body lay undisturbed, Pat had finally awoken to see the damage in the room. The computer had restarted, and the Fleece was beginning to power back up. 

Pat walked over to the computer, assessing the situation. He had to go to the artifact room to make sure the central power supply of the orb was intact and not disabled in some way. From there, he could launch a retaliatory response. As he turned around, he saw Jay's body lying there and saw the body twitch.

Pat knew Jay was fighting Britton in his own mind. Pat knew this was a consequence of having Britton possess Jay's body. If Jay's spirit or essence ever returned, Britton might be powerless to fight him off. Pat knew Britton's time was limited and chose to leave her. Rapha was cunning and had tricks up his sleeve that even Pat never knew about. Pat left the control room and entered the adjacent elevator. As he turned back to see Jay's body twitch once more, all Pat said was, "Good-bye, Britton."

***********************************************************************************

Back in Jay's head, the battle continued. Now, no more demon and monster creations were involved. This time, the fight was between Jay and Britton.

Britton kicked Jay to the side of his left leg, causing it to buckle. She jumped up and punched downward on his face, pounding him into the floor below. Now that Jay lay there semi-conscious, she grabbed him by his private parts and threw him through the air over her head behind her as he came crashing down in another part of the room.

As Britton turned toward where she had just thrown Jay, she heard laughter. Jay stood up and started walking back toward her. 

"I love a girl full of energy," Jay said, while smiling.

This comment enraged Britton more, and she charged at Jay quickly.

Before she could reach him, though, Jay stopped her in her tracks with a thought. Britton was frozen in place.

"All physical stuff aside, it doesn't compare to a powerful mind," Jay said.

"LET ME GO!" Britton yelled.

"The fact that you can't break free on your own shows how weak your mind has become with this fight. I've worn you down. You have no power over me any longer."

A look of fear came across Britton's face as she realized Jay was right. In a dream like this, she should have total control, but had lost the connection to the body she was in. Jay's body.

Jay walked up to her and grabbed both sides of her head. Britton's arms fell to her sides, as he legs went limp also. She was now becoming disembodied. 

"Get out of my head!" Jay said, commanding Britton.

With that statement, Britton's body began to dissolve. She began changing form to her more robotic body, which she once had, many eons ago. That body had been destroyed by Rapha, and now her spirit was about to join it.

Finally, the final essence of Britton slipped through the fingers of Jay, and she vanished into oblivion. 

***********************************************************************************

Jay awoke in a light-filled room with debris around him. He sat up to see the chamber where the SIC once resided. He felt his chest, stomach, arms, and legs. He realized he was alive again.

He jumped up to his feet and made his way around the debris to the computer console. It showed a tactical display of the area surrounding the Fleece. The city of Jezreel could be seen, with objects approaching. A large mass of Cals was converging on the area. Directly outside the Fleece, however, was a small blip. Jay had the computer zoom in on this object and saw the reading for an Argo J18. 

"Linda!" Jay said.

Linda, Dana, Allie, and Chad had made it to the downed Fleece. But with the power returning to the ship, it was only a matter of time before the Fleece was airborne again. Jay asked the computer to locate any access points near the position of the Argo shown on screen. One access was directly in front of their location.

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"Ok, so how do we get in, before that huge arm closes in on us?" Dana asked.

Linda stood there facing the Fleece, praying a way would be shown.

Suddenly, the sounds of interlocked joints began, and soon a doorway opened in front of them, tilted to the side due to the Fleece's orientation to the ground.

Dana looked on in astonishment.

Linda looked back at her and smiled, "Ye of little faith."

Dana smirked, "I have faith. I do, really."

The four of them walked into the Fleece to join in the final battle.

Story # 5.6: Doomsday

Around the world, the ancient temples and relics of the planet were rising. Where the Great Pyramids were located, destruction ensued from the earth-shaking hydraulics of the pillars beneath. The ancient Sphinx crumbled into dust as the pyramids rose higher and higher into the sky.

The pyramids were raised nearly 2000 feet into the air, higher than the tallest buildings in the world. Many of the stones surrounding the pyramids had collapsed, leaving only the central pieces intact, with a skeletal remnant of the former structure. Light was building within the pyramid structures as the energy powering it was about to be released.

 Around the world, other structures rose higher and higher into the air, much the same. The structures were an apparatus for pure energy, the likes of which the world had never seen. At least not for the world of today. The Atlanteans knew all too well what the apparatus was and what it could be used for. Rapha knew that once the machines were activated, the end would come soon.

"So, this is the long-awaited ending?" Moses asked.

Rapha looked on as the screens displayed the apparatus's deployments around the world. Once all are in place, the energy release becomes critical and has to be distributed worldwide. However, the apparatus was always meant to have a channel for conducting energy to supply power. Unlimited power sources throughout the world, allowing cities to thrive for thousands, even millions of years. But the channel was not in place. In other words, when the energy goes critical, it will go to the nearest conductor it can find: carbon-based lifeforms.

"Yes," Rapha replied. "The energy will run its course, and millions, even billions, will die."

"And how will we rescue those you mentioned, Rapha?" Enoch said.

Rapha and Moses looked at him.

"You said those who are not deserving will be spared."

Rapha nodded in agreement. "Move the vessels into position."

The seven vessels moved from their orbital positions, with the diamond-shaped grid still surrounding the planet. Each vessel began going through the grid at different points around the planet to prepare for the rescue effort.

***********************************************************************************

"Their ships are moving into new positions around the planet. They must be trying to figure out how they can stop this process," Rob said.

"There is no stopping the process," Pat replied.

"Regardless, I'm going to take precautions. I'm going back to Washington."

"Columbia is doomed already, Rob. There's no point going back there. The destruction caused by the attack and the volcanic eruption will make that entire continent uninhabitable."

"All just the same, we may need some of the weapons there to assist with whatever they try to do next."

Pat laughed, "The weapons of this world are no use against them. You'll see, but if it makes you feel better, go ahead and go."

Rob scoffed at Pat's statement, then proceeded to a chamber to teleport to Washington.

"He's always been skittish," Britton said.

"It doesn't matter. Soon, we'll channel enough energy to destroy those vessels and much of the life on this planet. They can't stop the inevitable."

"We don't know exactly what those vessels are, Pat. I've never seen anything like them before."

"It's still made by them."

"So were we."

Pat looked at Britton. "Just wait and see."

***********************************************************************************

The towers were now in position, allowing the rumbling to stop. On the ground near the structures, people of all races, creeds, and religions stood nearby. They looked up at the gigantic towers and the ruins they left in their wake. Things were now peaceful again, for the moment. At the site of Teotihuacan, people stood in awe of the giant structure that rose from the planet, only to destroy the ancient relic. The city near the ruins was now in chaos with fires and smoke rising from different parts of it, after the shaking of the ground leveled some buildings and killed hundreds to thousands. That's when the hum began.

A low hum began coming from the tower, and electrical energy could be seen rising within the pillar structure. The tower began to glow with a white, radiant light as the hum grew louder. A ball of energy began to form at the top of the tower, growing in brightness. People nearby began shielding their eyes with their hands to reduce the light shining down. The hum turned into a buzz, then a screech. This prompted people to cover their ears now and, in some cases, to bring them to their knees.

Without a channel to coordinate the flow of energy rising from the planet's core, the energy produced had no regulation. The budding orb of now-white-hot energy was growing to critical mass and would soon unleash its fury. As one man looked up at the tower, his family close to him, the screeching subsided and the orb condensed. A silence fell for an instant. Then, as if a bomb went off, the orb expanded to a mile-wide perimeter. Anything within this mile zone was vaporized instantly. Then the orb began shooting out large lightning bolts in all directions. The lightning perturbations began generating cloud cover, providing a conduit for its fury. What was happening was that, because of the city's population distribution, the cloud was forming over the carbon-based channels below: the people. The lightning began striking people down in the streets as they ran for cover, finding none.

***********************************************************************************

Linda, Dana, Allie, and Chad were riding in an Argo J18 to Jezreel, where the Fleece orbited three thousand feet above the ground. The Argo was self-propelled, allowing the occupants to focus on each other while the vehicle took them to their destination. With headlights shining in the deeper darkness of the day, the vehicle moved forward.

"So, I do have a question," Dana began. "How exactly are we going to get into the Fleece once we get there?"

Linda looked over at her, "Jay will provide a way." 

Dana rolled her eyes and looked away, "Well, that's reassuring."

"Look, I can't explain it all, I just know we have to get there, as fast as possible. Can this thing go any faster?"

Dana looked down at the speedometer, "We're already traveling 200 kilometers per hour. I guess we could if you want to die on the way there."

Linda gave Dana a look, "Make it go faster."

"Ok, Jim," Dana asked the vehicle she nicknamed Jim.

"Yes, Dana, how can I be of assistance?" Jim responded.

"Can you increase the speed to 250 kilometers per hour?"

A red warning light came on as Jim spoke, "Dana, that speed exceeds safety limits for travel on land. We are currently at the maximum safe speed. Increasing speed is not recommended."

"I understand, but this is an emergency, Jim. We must go faster."

Another red light came on from the dashboard, illuminating the entire edge of the dashboard and the windshield. 

This display of lights caught Allie and Chad's attention as they looked up from their devices.

"What is that?" Chad asked.

"Weather Alert: A large storm is forming in the area, with severe lightning a strong possibility. Seek shelter immediately," Jim replied.

All of the passengers looked out the windows and through the top of the vehicle. The storm clouds seemed to come out of nowhere and looked intense.

"Mom!" Allie said.

"Stay calm, Allie. Take a storm pill if you need to."

Allie frantically looked through her bag next to her for one of the pills. Chad watched her do this and thought to himself, She still believes those are anti-storm pills? 

Just then, a huge bolt of lightning struck only one hundred feet from the vehicle, with a loud, roaring thunder clap. The rush of air momentarily nudged the vehicle, setting off all kinds of warning lights.

"Jim! Silence all alarms and increase speed to 250 kilometers per hour, NOW! Authorization Code: TAYSBAYB," Dana yelled out as Allie screamed, and the others held on.

Linda looked at Dana, "TAYSBAYB?"

"I really loved this boy band growing up. It's a long story."

The vehicle shot forward at greater speed, lightning striking all around. What they didn't know was that every time a lightning bolt struck, it vaporized a human being.

***********************************************************************************

Jay approached Rapha and the others on the vessel.

"Where are we now?"

"We're over one of the major cities, attempting to begin the rescue efforts from the remnants. They are unleashing pure energy everywhere on the planet."

Jay looked at the screen, watching the lightning bolts impacting every second in different locations. Rapha's vessel was currently over one city, trying to rescue survivors aboard.

Jay saw numbers appear in the upper-right corner. "What do those numbers mean?"

"Those numbers tell us the number of bolts per second, speed of the bolts, intensity, strength..."

"What about the bigger number, Rapha, that just keeps going up?"

"Those are deaths, Jay."

Jay looked at the number; it was now crossing 300 million human beings. All of these deaths had happened in only an hour, and were still going on.

"There's got to be something else we can do; this doesn't seem fast enough, Rapha."

"Agreed, we need to go to the source."

The vessel began moving away from the city. The dome of protection the vessel had been providing was left with it, and lightning bolts began tearing through the streets, killing hundreds and thousands within minutes.

"All vessels, this is Rapha, change coordinates to the following location. Rendezvous there."

Jay looked at the coordinates provided, "You're going to Jezreel."

"Yes, we have to confront them."

"Will that stop the energy from creating the storms?"

"As I've said, Jay, there is no way to stop it once it starts. Everyone on this planet will die soon, no matter what we do now. Our goal is to stop the SIC once and for all. That begins with you."

"My confrontation with Britton."

"Yes."

"How am I supposed to do that? She is in the Fleece, in my body."

"Yes, and we are going to incapacitate the Fleece and her so you can confront her."

"You mean in a dream."

"Yes. Get ready, it won't be long before we arrive."

Jay looked at the screen and saw the vessel streaking across the ocean, with landmasses coming into view and lightning storms all around. He knew Linda and his children were on their way to the same location. This may prove to be the only way to save them and anyone else. Jay hurried back to where he had been induced to sleep to meet with Linda. This time, however, he was going to face off with a woman he had long wanted to confront.

***********************************************************************************

Linda, Dana, Allie, and Chad were driving full tilt toward Jezreel. Once they passed one part of the countryside, they saw the Fleece come into view, hovering above the city.

"There it is!" Dana yelled while pointing.

But as the vehicle crested the hill, they saw something else on the ground and in the air before them. A large legion of Cals had the road blocked, and drones above were standing by. The robots' objective was clear: no one was to get close to Jezreel or the Fleece.

"Oh no!" Linda yelled.

"Guys, we can't keep going at them. They'll start firing on us, and this car won't last a minute against it."

"What do we do?" Linda asked Dana.

"Jim, stop the car now," Dana ordered.

"Registering all stop," Jim responded.

The vehicle was now sitting in the middle of the road, with the legion of Cals just miles ahead. For the moment, the vehicle had gone down into a lower part of the road where rolling hills obscured the view.

"Jim, are there any alternate routes we can take to enter Jezreel?"

Jim calculated, "Negative. All routes are currently closed. Would you prefer another destination?"

"What about off-road?" Linda asked.

"Off-road?" Dana asked back.

"Yes, is this one set up for that, Four Wheel Drive and all?"

"Jim, ready the off-road package."

"Off-road package engaging. Tire capacity has been adjusted for all terrain. Four Wheel Drive is set. Please note the following off-road routes available."

One route got them close to Jezreel, and that might be enough. It would be up to Jay to get them the rest.

"Jim, set the following selected course. Engage at maximum safe speed to pursue."

"Understood, Dana. Route is plotted, engaging at 75 kilometers per hour."

The vehicle turned right and began moving along the dirt trail through the wilderness, heading towards Jezreel. Linda looked back toward the direction of the Cals to see if any were pursuing. She couldn't tell from her angle.

"Do you think they saw us?" Linda asked Dana.

"I really hope not."

Just then, proximity alerts showed up on the dashboard."Another vehicle is closing in. Use caution on this terrain," Jim said.

Two Cal vehicles slammed into either side of the Argo J18, warping the metallic fenders and shattering glass on the sides. Everyone inside the J18 vehicle screamed during the collision. The three vehicles pressed on down the trail towards Jezreel, but behind them, multiple other Cal robots and drones were in pursuit. It was only a matter of time before they destroyed the vehicle and all of the occupants within.

Amid her children's and her friend Dana's screams, Linda looked up at the sky and saw the bright stars closing in on Jezreel. A sense of calm came over Linda as she saw the vessels approaching.

"Help us, Jay. Please!"

***********************************************************************************

On board the Fleece, Pat and Britton watched as the seven vessels approached from the west over the sea. 

Britton gave an order, "Ready all weapons, full strength. Prepare to attack the incoming vessels."

The computer chimed off coordinates to Britton, "All vessels are in firing range, Supreme Imperial Chancellor."

"You may commence your attack."

The Fleece's weapons roared to life quickly and began opening fire on the incoming vessels. The seven vessels were taking direct hits but sustaining no damage. It was not clear whether some form of shielding was assisting with this, or whether the vessels were simply impenetrable. But the Fleece was having no effect in slowing the vessels down.

"Nothing's happening, Pat!"

"You actually thought something would?" Pat said, smiling.

Then, from the seven vessels at once, a large blast emanated. Just one shot aimed directly at the Fleece. The blast knocked the Fleece off its axis, sending it spinning and crashing into the ground. Inside, Pat and Britton were thrown about like rag dolls. Upon the crash, both Pat and Britton were unconscious.

When Britton began to arouse, she reached up and touched her head. She knew she had hit it hard and expected a gash there from the side of the object she had hit. She also expected a lot of destruction around her from the damage to the Fleece. Amazingly, though, there was no damage. She also did not have a head gash. However, she looked at herself and noticed a change. Her body was no longer Jay's; she was in her old body, looking like the woman she had been before Rapha made her vanish. Her clothing was similar, but she was no longer in the reality she knew. As she looked around, confused, someone called out to her.

"Hello, there."

Britton looked up at the voice and saw a man standing before her. The man was Jay, the body she had been in just a few moments ago.

Jay smiled at her and said, "I bet you're really confused right now, aren't you, Britton?"

Story # 5.5: Activation Sequence

4 hours earlier, before the attack...

Chad and Allie looked on as the news reported the arrival of the visitor spacecraft hovering above the planet. Chad did not go to his rendezvous, as the whole world was thrown into chaos by not only what the SIC had stated, but also what the alien beings had spoken through the image in the sky.

As Chad, Dana, and Allie watched the other smaller objects moving into positions, Linda had left the room to go lie down. All of this was overwhelming her. She wished so much that Jay was there to help them. She needed a moment to take it all in. So, as she lay there, she began to doze. As she fell asleep, she began to dream.

***********************************************************************************

In the dream Linda was in, she awoke in the same chair Jay had once occupied before everything had happened at the Fleece. She was back inside the Fleece, in the Artifact Chamber, but was completely alone, as far as she could tell.

"Hello?"

Linda yelled as the sound reverberated around the chamber. She could still see the glowing orb in the center, surrounded by the artifacts, linked by the glowing cables on the ground. She stood up, looking around the room, but saw no one. With this utter sense of loneliness creeping in, even as Linda screamed for someone to answer her, she collapsed to her knees and began to weep. She looked down at the floor, begging for someone, anyone, to help her.

As she wept, a hand laid to rest on your upper back. It startled her at first, but then a sense of calm came over her. She took a deep breath and began breathing more easily. She closed her eyes and began to turn to face whoever had come to her aid.

When she opened her eyes again, she was face-to-face with a being that looked like Rapha. The image of the being standing there shifted in and out of reality, its form rotating like disconnected molecules, with no face. As the being leaned back up, a low voice spoke, "Hello, Linda."

Linda looked at the being with astonishment. The voice was unrecognizable, but something about the way they had spoken seemed soft and warm to her. Something familiar. Something she hadn't expected.

"Jay?"

"Yes, it's me."

Linda, even more astonished, stood up, her mouth agape. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The being, identifying as Jay, reached out his shifting hand to her and placed it on her face, caressing it softly. Linda closed her eyes as her head tilted in the direction of the hand, allowing it to hold her face within it. The hand did not feel like Jay's, but she could feel the warmth of his touch. A touch she was so familiar with. A tear ran down the hand holding her right cheek as Linda opened her eyes and ran to embrace them. Despite being semi-transparent in their shifting form, Linda was able to embrace the being, as they hugged her back.

But after a few moments of embracing, Linda's eyes opened again, and she began to back up away to look at their distorted face-like structure. That's when Linda had a terrifying realization.

"This isn't real, is it? It's only a dream."

"It is a dream, Linda, but I am here. I am real. Just as much as I was before."

"But you died, Jay. The Jay I knew has long since been dead."

"I did die, way back when. But they brought me back."

"Who did?"

"Rapha, and the others like him. The Atlanteans."

"The visitors? The ones in space?"

"Yes, those are our vessels, hovering in the sky."

"But the," Linda paused. "Oh my! Jay, something terrible has happened here."

"Yes, I know. We all know."

"They used your body, Jay!"

"Yes, I know that too."

"It's been Pat, manipulating everything. Him and his 'no deception' nonsense. He's always been a liar."

"That's why we have returned, Linda. But first, how are the children?"

Linda looked up at Jay again, a softer expression on her face now, "I'm sorry. Of course. They aren't children anymore, Jay."

"I know, but are they ok?"

"Yes, as much as can be expected in this world."

"That's good. I'm glad they've had you all this time until I could return."

"You said Pat is the reason you have returned?"

"Yes, and Britton, and Rob. We're here to stop them, once and for all."

"That's wonderful news! It's been awful living in this world with them ruling over everything. I'm glad you've come to save us."

"That's just it...," Jay paused.

Linda's smile left her face.

"We haven't come to save anything. We've come to ensure everything is destroyed."

"Destroyed? I don't understand."

"Linda, you have to listen clearly now. Soon, this world will end, but a new one will be born from its ashes. You have to trust Rapha and everyone with him. They are going to help, but it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. You, the children, and everyone you love need to go to a safe place. Somewhere beyond the reach of Pat, Britton, and Rob."

Linda looked down, "There is nowhere safe from them."

"There is one."

Linda looked back up, somewhat surprised.

"The Fleece, Linda. You have to go back to the Fleece."

"That's insane, Jay. How would we ever get there, or get into that place?"

"You will. We will see to that. But there isn't much time. You have to start moving now."

The room around them began to fade now, and a low rumbling began to start. The artifacts in the room began shaking, shuddering, and falling to the ground.

Then Jay grabbed both her arms and spoke one last time, "Right NOW!"

***********************************************************************************

Linda gasped awake, only to find Chad, Allie, and Dana all huddled over her as the entire building they were in was shaking violently.

Linda was wide awake and oriented now. "What's happening?"

"The extra-terrestrials are attacking!"

Linda had been asleep for four hours, waking up just after the destructive forces had been unleashed by the seven stars. At least, that was the narrative being broadcast on the news. The shaking finally subsided, and the news reports were filtering in. The power to the building was out, but the mobile devices still worked, showing that the smaller objects had fired on parts of the planet, releasing over two teratons of energy. A massive ash cloud could be seen in the distance hanging over the horizon in the United States of Columbia. The impact triggered a massive volcanic eruption, which blanketed the entire country in sulfur, ash, and smoke. It was only a matter of time before everyone in that region was dead from the disaster. In the far east, closer to home, there in Prussia, the plate tectonics of the planet were activated, causing a mammoth 9.9 earthquake in that region, obliterating whole cities and towns from the violent disaster. After shocks would continue for some time, but the news reported that the SIC was mobilizing troops to address concerns on the planet's surface and deploying spacecraft to make contact with the visitors and negotiate a settlement.

"There won't be any settlement," Linda said.

"What do you mean?" Dana asked.

Linda looked at her, "We have to get to the Fleece."

"What? Are you crazy?"

"It's our only hope, Dana. We have to get there now."

"Tell me why," as an aftershock rattled the building again.

"I spoke with Jay."

"Jay?"

"Dad?" Chad and Allie said together.

"Yes. He's with them in the sky. He's alive, and he told me we need to go to the Fleece now."

"He spoke to you in your dreams?"

Linda nodded.

"Well, that's good enough for me," said Chad. "After all you told me about dad's dreams, I'll do anything he says in one."

Linda laughed at Chad's statement and then looked back at Dana.

"Ok, let's go to the Fleece, I guess," Dana replied reluctantly.

Despite all Dana had seen, she was still cautious. But even she knew, like Chad, you heed the warning of dreams in this world.

***********************************************************************************

"Well, this seems like a great idea," Rob barked off as he leaned against the wall to prop himself up. Pat punched some buttons, and the Fleece roared to life, lifting off the ground surrounding it. The shaking finally subsided, and the three of them could maintain their balance again.

"You fired the kinetic devices. Why?" Britton asked Pat.

"Because it would have taken too long for the activation sequence to start. By then, Rapha and his minions would be on us. At least this way, they'll focus on addressing issues arising from the attack. Believe me, Rapha's bleeding heart will want to care for these creatures despite how useless they all are."

"What will the sequence accomplish for us?" Rob asked.

"Once we activate all the ancient structures, massive amounts of energy will start building around the planet. However, we will remove the safety limits on energy, making it totally free, unbound, and out of control. That energy will produce antimatter. Once the antimatter is established, it will begin wreaking havoc on the planet's surface. Ending this species once and for all," Pat said

"But won't Rapha try to stop this?" asked Britton.

"Yes, and when he does, he and all his people will be pulled in with the humans here. Two birds, one stone. Then the planet will be ours for good. No more humans. From there, we can make this world whatever we want it to be. It will finally be all ours," finished Pat.

***********************************************************************************

"He did exactly as you said he would, Rapha," said Samuel.

"Indeed."

"What happens next?"

"He believes he has an upper hand, but this plays right into our processes. Pat has no idea exactly what the activation sequence will do."

"What will it do?" asked Enoch.

"The energy produced by the structures will completely overwhelm the planet. It will be destabilized to its core. The planet's surface will melt, along with all life on it. Then the planet will destroy itself. But before any of that happens, we have to remove those who are not deserving of this fate and ensure those who are remain."

"They are sending a ship to approach ours, Rapha," said Jacob.

"With the grid around the planet now, we can begin to prepare to remove people. What we need now is to..."

Rapha was interrupted by Jay approaching, "I've got that plan in motion now."

Rapha looked back at Jay, "Good. So they are on their way to the Fleece?"

"Yes."

"Excellent. Once they are there, we can end it once and for all. In the meantime, you need to prepare, Jay."

"Prepare?"

"Yes, for your confrontation with Britton."

Jay smirked, "I've been looking forward to seeing her again."

Rapha smiled, "I know you have. Make preparations."

Jay left again as Rapha turned his attention back to the image of the planet now engulfed in chaos.

"Let the activation sequence begin."

***********************************************************************************

Pat, Britton, and Rob started pressing buttons on the control console in the main chamber of the Fleece. The console connected them to the other sites around the globe. Ancient sites we know as Giza in Egypt, Easter Island, the Mayan civilization, the Great Wall of China, Teotihuacan, Gobekli Tepe, Petra in Jordan, Machu Picchu, the Colosseum in Italy, the Acropolis in Greece, Stone Henge in England, areas within the Grand Canyon, a pyramid in Antarctica and one in northern Siberia, Angkor Wat, and other ancient locations.

In the Saharan Savanna, where the Eye of the Sahara now rests, and covered in foliage, a structure began to emerge. The structure rose like a tower hundreds, and even thousands of feet in the air. On the site of the temple in what once was Jerusalem, a similar structure ripped through the temple rebuilt there, destroying the structure. These towers were made of copper, aluminum, gold, silver, graphene, and other rare-earth metals, as well as some unknown to the world on the surface. The structures had been residing deep in the ground for millions of years since the time of the Atlanteans. These structures were not meant to produce harm but to produce energy that everyone and everything could use. The natural processes of the world are coming together to provide humans with all the energy they will ever need. 

This was the big thing Pat wanted all for himself. The power to use that energy as he saw fit, with no rules or regulations. But Pat did not fully understand the purpose of these structures or what they could do to the planet. The free energy produced could be used, provided regulatory processes were in place to manage it, as Rapha wanted. Pat wanted to use that energy for conquest. He aspired not to stay on this lonely rock in space, but to use the energy to venture out and spread his ways of thinking and belief to all the corners of the universe. He wanted to conquer all. Everything, everywhere. He never admired Rapha's restraint. He didn't understand living a life of servitude. Not when the power to take all was right there in his grasp. That was the reason the Atlanteans had to go. Over the years, however, Pat kept having to deal with humans on the planet fighting back against him, making it nearly impossible to activate all the sites. Some would get buried and ruined, requiring rebuilding. In some cases, that rebuilding took millennia, for which the humans left behind after the Atlanteans were gone were unable to achieve the same longevity. Pat could keep a few alive, but most grew old and died, and Pat would have to start again.

Pat had seen enough of that and wanted all the humans gone for good. But he still needed them to locate the final sites and restore them, one last time. Those sites were just completed, and that meant Pat could rid the world of this nuisance for good.

As the sites rose to their positions and the sequence started to activate, a smile crept over Pat's face again. He was excited about the end of humanity. 

It was the end of the world for man. Humankind was facing its judgment day. This is it, at long last.

But then Pat noticed something in the sequence he hadn't anticipated. A code that he had missed or didn't know about. As he looked at it, he saw only the code's name. A name no one else knew in this world. Pat knew instantly it was from Rapha, and that meant Rapha was in control of the sequence. Now that the code had passed, there was nothing Pat could do. 

You see, the activation sequence can either provide energy or start a self-destruction mechanism. The code Rapha entered began the self-destruction sequence, and there was no turning back now. The code was: Alpha&Omega.

Story # 5.4: The Arrival

                                                   

Panic ensued as people around the world looked up at the seven lights in the sky. It wasn't clear what the ships were, but the powers that be at the time were creating a narrative that wasn't fostering calm.

High above the orbit of satellites and space stations, the seven vessels sat, serene and motionless. The ships were huge, but in the vastness of space, they seemed tiny. All sensors, detection systems, monitors, and any other device capable of tracking the vessels were now focused solely on them.

At the Fleece, Britton and Pat stood watching what was unfolding on a multi-screen monitor in the President's main chamber. They saw the carnage unfolding on earth. The vessels orbit motionless. News reporters were trying to discern what was happening and explaining things as best they could.

A smile came across Britton's face, the face of Jay. Pat was not smiling at all, stern-faced and focused.

"Chaos. Pure chaos, Pat."

Pat did not respond.

Britton looked at him, "What do you think they want to do?"

Pat did not answer.

Britton continued looking at Pat.

Pat finally answered after a long pause, "It's probably not going to be good."

"Not good? For whom?"

"For everyone, my dear. They've just spent millions of years getting back here, and whether they believe it or not, some vengeance will be on their minds for what happened here."

"Then I'll ask again. What will they do?"

Pat looked at Britton and smiled.

"Whatever they want."

Britton had a scowl on her face, Jay's face. She did not want to wait around for whatever happened next. Britton ordered one of her generals to mobilize the units. They took the orders, this robotic creature, and left the room quickly.

"Those things won't be enough against them, Britton."

"We can't stand here and do nothing, Pat."

"Yes, we can. We need to show the world who they really are and what they can do."

Britton looked at Pat, who had put his attention back to the screen. He then replied, "Whatever will be, let it be."

"And the people? Everywhere?"

"No consequence. Let them die if it comes to that."

"They'll turn on us if we don't act."

"Then let them turn."

"Have you lost all sense of reality, Pat?"

Pat turned fully toward Britton and approached her, "This isn't reality. We owe this world nothing. They were a means to an end. This is what we are here for now. To finish this, once and for all."

Britton looked back at Pat, a little more intimidated now, "You sound like they used to sound."

"We share similar values, the Atlanteans and I. The difference is I'm not bound by their beliefs. We will let them show what they are and then use it against them."

***********************************************************************************   "What do you think they are thinking?" Jay asked Rapha.

"They are plotting, not thinking. Pat, Britton, and Rob will do whatever they want. It's what they've been doing for years now."

Jay looked at Rapha, "We have to destroy them?"

Rapha looked at Jay, "It is a necessary process, Jay. We were abandoned by Pat. This world should have been our home, but now it's been home to other civilizations that have come and gone. Yours is the last one. There's no further recourse for the people of your world. This is the way it must be now."

Jay looked back at the image of the planet before them, "But there are so many innocent people down there who will die."

Rapha looked back at the image too, "No one is innocent. Not one. The reason civilizations have risen and fallen on this planet for so long is that they are not the ones that should have been allowed to flourish. They fight constantly for meaningless things. Selfish things. That's why they have subcombed so easily to Pat, Britton, and Rob. Those three give them what they want, not what they need. All they ever want is more."

Jay was saddened by Rapha's words. But he also knew his words were true. Throughout his life on this planet, he had witnessed humanity's capacity for both good and evil, and sometimes the evil outweighed the good. But he knew there were still those who were good, inherently good.

"Do not worry, Jay. We are not inhumane. We will save many, but it will worsen before it improves. Today is the last day of this world. We must start the process so the revelation can begin."

Rapha looked over to one of the people standing beside him and nodded. The person moved through the crowd gathered in front of the planet's image. The blue ball, which had many names throughout history, hung in the darkness surrounding it, with the moon nearby visible. Today would be the last day of the world. The revelation was about to come.

***********************************************************************************

"So, what are we waiting for now, Dad?" Rob said as he entered the chamber with Britton and Pat.

"That's what I asked him, too," replied Britton.

Pat kept focusing on the screen, unwavered by Rob's or Britton's comments.

Rob folded his arms and stared at Pat, then looked over at Britton. Britton shrugged, suggesting there was no recourse.

Rob looked back at Pat again, waiting patiently.

Pat was reflecting on memories he had of events that occurred throughout history. Everything he had ever done led to this moment. This showdown of sorts. The seven stars shine brightly in the sky, even during the day. Because there had been no response from the three leaders of this world, panic was beginning to ensue. The media was making their own presumptions about the arrival. In the wake of silence, chaos ensues. 

Pat finally spoke.

"Deploy."

"Really?" Rob asked.

Pat turned and looked at them both, "You heard me."

With that, Rob walked over to a console and pressed a button that allowed him access to speakers worldwide, enabling him to speak through a statue of Jay to the masses.

This statue was located where the Statue of Freedom once stood, which we knew as the Statue of Liberty. This statue was fully automated, featuring motion control and the ability to produce dazzling light-and-movement shows in the sky using drones. The news responded quickly, realizing the statue was beginning to move, as this had become a common task for the SIC to communicate across the planet's civilization.

That statue began to speak, "People of Terra. Do not be afraid. What you are seeing in the sky is unusual, but it is a phenomenon we can handle and have been preparing for for some time. Do you believe the SIC can protect you?"

In unison, people around the world, many of whom had stopped in their place, replied a resounding yes. The button Rob pressed allowed access to any devices with a speaker, anywhere a signal could be connected. So, people everywhere stopped whatever they were doing to listen to the statue tell them what was happening.

"Do you believe anyone or anything can harm the SIC?"

Again, in unison, everywhere, "No!"

"There are beings from another world in those stars you see before you. They have come here for reasons unknown. But we will be vigilant in our pursuits to communicate with these beings and provide you with their needs or desires. We are not alone in this world. We never have been. Now they will reveal to us that which we have pondered for so long."

After the statue said this, however, a much louder, booming voice emerged from thin air. This voice required no speakers, no devices, no statue. It was coming from the essence of the air itself. A voice from the stars.

"I am here for our world."

***********************************************************************************

"The planet is in the proper alignment with us now, Rapha," said the man Rapha had motioned toward earlier.

"Good. Prepare to broadcast."

"Rapha?"

"Yes, Jay."

"Is there any way I can contact my family?"

Rapha turned to face Jay, "Of course. However, keep in mind that we will not appear to them as they do to us. Because of our situation."

"Because we exist between dimensions."

"Correct. So, when you come face-to-face with your wife, you'll look more like I did when I first met you. Not as we do now. Until we complete this, none of us will appear human-like at all. Our price as a penance for an incredibly long journey, despite extended life, and yours because of death."

Jay looked back at the screen at his home, the blue-green planet before him. He nodded to indicate that he understood, then looked back at Rapha. "I'll go now, while you begin this mission."

"Very well, Jay."

Jay left the area where Rapha and the other people were gathered, as Rapha readied for the broadcast.

***********************************************************************************

An image appeared in the sky, well above the horizon, just as the figure Rapha had appeared at the Fleece many years ago. The human-like figure was shifting between realities in the sky. This image scared people all around the world. The statue stopped speaking as Rob, Pat, and Britton listened to what Rapha had to say.

"We are here because of a grave injustice."

People everywhere looked up at the figure in the sky as it spoke.

"We were removed from this world many years ago. The purpose being to rob from this world what it rightly deserves. A perfect civilization, where no one suffers. Where no one mourns. Where no one fights. Where no one dies. But one being took everything away from this world, leaving it a shell of what it should have become."

Britton was listening to the voice, as were Pat and Rob, and then she looked over at Pat, staring intently. Pat looked back at her, unfazed.

"So, today marks the beginning of the end for this being and their purpose. Like so many other civilizations that have come before it, this civilization will end. Not by choice, but by virtue. For I tell you the truth, this is our home...and...we have returned."

With that final statement, the image in the sky vanished, and only the stars could be seen. Suddenly, fainter objects emerged from the seven stars and began moving away from them. But as the faint objects moved out of sight, a massive earthquake ensued, shaking the very fabric of the planet. Because of this, the people began to run in a chaotic, screaming, gnashing-of-teeth mess.

***********************************************************************************

In space around the ships of Rapha, objects emerged that were vessels, piloted by other individuals from the fleet. These vessels were round, with three concentric rings, rotating around a central vessel and multiple camera-lens-like devices covering every square inch. These circular arms gave a full view in every direction possible for the pilot. Six of these vessels set out on a course to surround the planet. Two went to the north and south poles of the planet, while the other four aligned at the equator, all in orbit above. The four aligned at the equator orbited over land masses, with one over the larger ocean known to us as the Pacific Basin. Once the vessels were in position, light beams emerged from each one connecting to another ship along the orbit. Once all four ships were connected, the beams shot up towards the north pole vessel and also towards the south pole vessel. The beams encased the planet within the boundaries. 

From the beams, a dimming shield began to cover the planet, reducing the sunlight it was typically exposed to. During this process, no satellites from the homeworld or its governments were affected, leaving them fully operational. No harm was being committed to the planet, other than a reduction in sunlight for the moment. Because of the chaos unfolding on the ground, Pat saw this as the perfect time to act.

Pat went over to a console nearby where he, Rob, and Britton were standing.

"What are you doing?" Britton asked.

Pat pressed a button, "Ready the weapons."

Britton and Rob were looking at Pat now.

"Like I said, lady and gentleman, we let them show what they are, and now we'll use it against them."

In orbit, near two of the equatorial vessels, two satellite arrays were humming to life. The arrays reveal large devices with an orifice and a small collider built alongside it. From these arrays, a kinetic weapon was being deployed, but one far different from tungsten rods. This weapon was a gravitational beam weapon that generates a tiny black hole upon impact with the surface. The particles are accelerated to near the speed of light and collapse inward upon contact with the planet's surface, forming the black hole. Once a black hole impacts the surface, devastating effects can ensue in the surrounding area.

Pat saw that the weapons were now primed and ready to fire. He gave the order to pursue.

A beam shot out of the arrays, aimed at two landmasses: one in the northwestern United States of Columbia and the other in a region between the countries once known to us as India and China. The beams were aimed at highly volatile tectonic regions to allow the planet itself to assist in destroying the area and rattling the entire world. But one was focused on a site that would cause the most harm. The beam struck the Yellowstone Caldera, triggering not only a devastating earthquake but also an extinction-level event.

Story # 5.3: The Journey Home

 

1.7 light-years from home. To put that in perspective, the ships of Rapha were 10 trillion miles from the planet they call home. The ships were now within the Ort Cloud of the solar system, but had twelve years remaining on the journey. It had taken millions of years for the people of Atlantis to reach this point, and the journey was not an easy one.

When the people of Atlantis disappeared, they were essentially banished to the far reaches of the universe, without technology or any other capabilities to assist them. Pat had made sure they could never return. During the time of the Fall of Atlantis, a worldwide contaminant was infiltrating all aspects of the planet. The scientists of the time felt that evacuation from Atlantis, which was the original name of Earth at that time, would ensure their survival. So, people from all over the planet arrived at a central location to be teleported to a planet in the nearest star system until the contamination could be thwarted. This evacuation was not a massive ordeal for a Type III civilization such as Atlantis. It was the equivalent of tenting a home for pests for a few weeks in our world. The people of Atlantis would return in a few years, ready to resume their efforts.

People from Atlantis were essentially immortal. The population on the planet was not in the billions, but still, hundreds of millions were on the planet, with many billions spanning the galaxy on other worlds. The Atlanteans were the progenitor race of humans, and thrived in a utopia that allowed them to control aspects of the galaxy.

Enter Pat.

Pat had a plan for setting the Atlantean world on a new course, where humans and angels would work together. The cross-breeding of angels was condemned by the Atlantean people as a whole, but some saw potential in the union. Humans might live forever, but they have no capabilities that go beyond those of an average human. In joining with angels, humans would acquire more capabilities, something akin to superpowers. 

But the Atlanteans had rules to forbid this type of behavior, and they were enforced rigorously, much to Pat's dismay. Pat simply wanted humans and angels on the same level, but Rapha and others who led saw things differently. Formal discussions and negotiations between Pat and Rapha stalled continuously, prompting emotive responses from Pat that suggested anger and hate. This behavior was unusual for an angel, and therefore, Pat was to be sent from Atlantis to go for reconditioning on another planet in the galaxy. This planet was a rehabilitation location, but to some it was regarded as a prison. Pat became resentful of the decision and chose to plan an insurrection.

When you think of an insurrection, you might envision bloodshed, fighting, and chaos to some degree. But the insurrection didn't take long at all. After teleporting the inhabitants of the planet to a far distant corner of the universe, the link was severed. No one knew what Pat had done until it was all over. The only technology present on the planet was that used to teleport the population, which was destroyed soon after completion. Rapha and the Atlanteans were all manipulated as Pat gained control of the home world.

Quickly, humans in other parts of the galaxy learned of what occurred and mounted a counteroffensive against Pat and his followers. But their efforts were futile. Pat had them outmanned, outgunned, even outsmarted. Through violence and fear, the only humans left alive were allowed to stay on the home world, providing their undying allegiance to Pat and his people. The downfall of Atlantis took millions of years to rebound, as the humans on the home world were allowed to continue as a Type 2 civilization, but were never allowed to leave their own solar system again. All of the other worlds where humans had been throughout the galaxy fell into ruin, or new species rose up to take control, avoiding the human solar system altogether. The human solar system became known as a place to avoid for other species, simply because they saw the devastation brought on themselves. No one wanted to be like the humans.

On the far side of the universe, living forever now had a consequence. The Atlanteans had to learn to cultivate food again, after having many luxuries to assist them back on the home world. The people of Atlantis returned to their roots, guided by Rapha. Over the many centuries and eons that followed, they developed new spacefaring vessels and began to make their way back home. Finally, home was within their grasp, but the realization of what was coming had set in long ago.

"They really are amazing to see," said Jay.

"What's that?" asked Rapha.

"The rocky bodies of the Ort Cloud. The distant stars are so bright and amazing. The planet we have encountered out here at the limits of the solar system."

Rapha nodded in agreement.

Jay turned to look at Rapha, standing beside him, "Why do you call the planet home world?"

Rapha looked at Jay, "Because that is what it is. The home world of our people. Yours and mine."

"Why not a name, though? It's just always been home world?"

Rapha smirked, "The world was Atlantis to us. It's had many names since that time. The most prominent one being Earth."

"Earth? We call it Terra."

"Yes, the name Earth stuck for millions of years until your civilization arose. We're not sure why it changed then."

"I like Earth. That sounds more...homey."

Rapha did not react.

"So, what speed are we going at now?"

"We are currently traveling at 90 times the speed of light."

"Amazing. No one in my world could imagine this, except in movies.'

"We will be there soon, but a lot will have changed, Jay."

Jay looked down, "My kids will be grown now, won't they?"

"Yes, but they are both beautiful."

"My wife will be older."

"But still beautiful just the same."

"The world will be different, too."

"Yes, it will."

"Because of Pat?"

"Partly."

"Because of Rob. Who was a boy and is now a man."

"Partly."

"What else?"

"There's also Britton."

"She's gone."

"No, Jay. The form you knew, yes, but not her."

"She'll have a new form."

"She already does."

"As what, Rapha?"

Rapha motioned to the glass in front of them and showed a news clip from Terra. Jay watched as he saw the image of himself standing there in front of everyone. Jay couldn't believe what he was seeing, but at the same time, it all made sense to him instantly."

"After your death, Jay, Pat took your broken body and brought..."

"...her back to life...in me."

Rapha nodded in agreement.

"So, she's me now. Is she some sort of leader?"

"Far more than that, Jay. She's the leader."

Jay looked at Rapha, somewhat bewildered.

"The leader?" Jay replied.

Rapha nodded again.

Jay looked back at the screen, realizing immediately what Britton was, embodied in Jay.

"She's the beast. The beast of the sea."

"Yes, Jay, she is, but only for a short time."

"And then what?"

"You know what, Jay."

Jay looked back at Rapha again.

"She is the one who brings the world to the final crossroads. Where the story ends."

Jay looked back at the images going by of himself, being proclaimed as a savior. A champion. A ruler beyond all measure. Even one report saying, "King of Kings."

"I'm the final ruler of this world, through Britton in my body, and you're going to destroy them?" Jay asked.

"No, Jay. We're not going there just to destroy that person, or Pat, or Rob."

Jay stared at Rapha.

"We're going there to destroy the planet. Terra. Atlantis. Earth. Once and for all."

The ships moved quietly through the Ort Cloud, past the unknown large planet, heading for home...one last time.