Story # 5.2: Recovery

Her life was fading as she lay there, surrounded by the others trapped inside the Beast tank. Linda was buried with her children and Dana underneath the rubble where the Fleece once stood. The gaping hole left behind by the departure of the Fleece left the once giant mountain in ruins. Now, a smoldering pile of dust and rock was all that remained. But fortunately, the Beast had a homing device within it that had been activated upon the collapse of the mountain. It was a failsafe device installed in most artifacts that could carry one by the GASON group. 

The GASONs knew some of the Fleece's capabilities, one of which was teleporting objects to other locations. Just in case anything "accidentally" happened, the homing devices were installed. This beacon sounded the moment the tank was buried, alerting the GASONs to its presence.

A lone helicopter began descending toward the mountain's remains, a spotlight illuminating the frozen wasteland below. Triangulation equipment on board the helicopter pinpointed the exact location, allowing the recovery team to descend and rescue the Beast's inhabitants. Upon opening the hatch to the tank, all four occupants were unconscious but alive. After extracting the four survivors, the helicopter whisked away into the night, headed for an undisclosed location.

Linda began to awaken from her slumber. She could see faint objects around her, blurry and skewed, but quickly she was beginning to get her bearings. As the light rotated through the color spectrum, she finally began to see clearly, noticing a young woman standing over her. The woman's face was angelic-looking, soft and warm, comforting and caring. She was a nurse and acknowledged Linda.

"Mrs. Trent? I'm Abigail. Can you hear me?"

Linda was still somewhat woosy, but she could understand, "Yes...I can."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm ok. Where am I?"

"You're in a hospital."

"How long have I been here?"

"A few weeks now. Your injuries were somewhat severe. Do you remember what happened?"

"I remember...my children! Where are my children?"

"Your children are safe and fine, Mrs. Trent. So, is your companion."

"Companion," Linda thought for a minute. "Jay?"

"No, I'm sorry, ma'am. There was no one named Jay there. She said her name is Dana. Do you remember her?"

Somewhat disappointed, but also glad, "Yes. I remember her. Is she with my children?"

"Yes, she is. Would you like to see them?"

"Yes, I would."

"We'll let them in. Can you tell me your name and date of birth, ma'am, if you can remember?"

"Yes. Linda Trent. August 18, 1981."

"Thank you, ma'am. I'll go get them."

When Linda's kids ran in to see her, her eyes filled with tears. She embraced them both, so happy to see them, giving them kisses all over their heads and squeezing them tightly. Dana came walking in with a cane, as part of the tank crushed her leg during the collapse. She was fortunate not to have been killed. Dana's eyes also filled with tears.

"It's good to see you, Mrs. Trent."

Linda spoke, while still embracing her children, "Call me Linda, Dana. You helped save my children and my life. I think that puts us on a first-name basis now."

Dana smiled.

Chad was in his mommy's arms and looked up at her, "Where's daddy, mommy?"

More tears began to flow as Linda looked down at her son. Dana also looked down at him, and tears began to flood.

Dana's reaction grabbed Linda's attention. She looked up at Dana, who was crying uncontrollably now.

"What did you see, Dana?"

Dana pulled herself together, knowing she had witnessed exactly what had happened to Jay.

"I'm so sorry, Linda."

Linda's lip began to quiver as she pulled on Chad and Allie even tighter. Chad and Allie began to cry now, as they all huddled together, crying in unison over the loss of Jay. Even the nurse, Abigail, joined the embrace, empathizing with them over the events that had taken place.

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

In the months that followed, Linda, Chad, Allie, and Dana were held up in a facility near the former location of the Fleece, in what was once China in previous worlds. Now it was the Republic of Chin-Tai, a democracy presided over by a president who had brought great prosperity to this land. This president was loyal to the GASON group and offered any survivors of the Fleece Rising, which was only known to the inner circle. 

A man assisted Linda and Dana routinely as they both recovered from their injuries. His name was Alec. He was far younger than Dr. Kelley had been, but was a higher-ranking member of GASON. He made sure the four survivors had food, clothing, and resources to last as long as they needed. In a few passing glances, Dana had become smitten with Alec. The chemistry between them was palpable, as she always looked forward to his visits. Linda could see it, too, and encouraged her to pursue what she felt. 

Then one day, Alec came with a grim look on his face. Dana could see it immediately. Linda was playing with her children and helping them with a school lesson as Alec entered the room. 

"Good morning, Mrs. Trent."

"Good morning, Alec. What brings you here today?"

"Mrs. Trent, is there somewhere we can talk in private?"

"Yes, sure."

Dana guided the kids to another part of the living quarters, where a live-in maid assisted them. Then she rejoined Linda and Alec in the main living room in front of the television.

"Thanks for coming back, Dana," Alec smiled at her.

Dana smiled back, but remembered the look on his face from earlier, "Is everything ok, Alec?"

Alec's look turned grim. "I wish I could say so. I want you both to see something. The video I'm about to show you was recorded a few days ago. You'll recognize one person immediately."

The video came up on the screen, showing the recognizable image of Pat walking alongside a man whose face was obscured by the light, with the crowd around them. Then the other man came into full view. Linda's face turned pale as her eyes widened as she approached the screen. It was unmistakable who the man in the video was.

"Jay?"

Dana was astonished, too, as she had watched Jay die at the hands of the monster.

"I thought you said Jay had died, Dana?"

"He did. There was no doubt about it. He was burned beyond recognition," Dana thought for a minute. "It was Pat. He must have used the regeneration chambers in the Fleece to bring Jay back."

Alec nodded in agreement, "That was our assessment, too. There is also a third man with the two of them, who we believe is Rob."

Linda still looked shocked at Alec this time, "Rob? He was a boy!"

"Yes, to you he was, but whatever these beings are, they are not human. Except for the person who was formerly your husband."

"Formerly?" asked Linda.

"Analysts have suggested, based on Jay's prior behaviors compared to now, that he doesn't seem to be the same person. His motivations, work habits, and even basic movements seem indicative of a substantial change. He looks like Dr. Trent, but we can't be sure he is Dr. Trent."

"That's absurd! I've seen Pat revive other people, like Larry. Larry was still the same man we knew before."

Linda had turned her back to the television as she spoke and moved away to another part of the room. Alec followed slightly behind her.

"Yes, Larry was the same because Larry didn't completely die. He was near death, on the verge of death, but was brought back largely intact, his body not severely damaged. Dr. Trent, on the other hand, from the analysis of the video recovered, was burned over sixty percent of his body. Generally, that type of damage is not recoverable, even with the Fleece's advanced technology. We feel something else is in play here."

"Like what?" Linda turned to face Alec.

"We don't know."

A cold sensation ran through both Linda's and Dana's bodies in response to Alec's response.

Linda watched the video of her smiling husband speaking to the media and others around him. She listened to things being said, how he was now a tech guru, and bringing advances to society that no one had seen before. 

Linda walked back over to the television, watching Jay, "So that is not my husband?"

Alec responded, "We don't believe so."

Linda closed her eyes as tears welled up, running down her face. Not only had she lost her husband in death, but she had also lost her husband in life, now too.

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

Months turned into years as Linda watched her children become teenagers, still living in Chin-Tai. Dana had married Alec and had a family of her own now, but they still resided close by. Linda had never remarried, still wearing the wedding band and diamond her husband had given her many years earlier. She was sitting in the living room watching the television as the news broadcast the latest political trends. Jay was always on the screen, now pushing his campaign forward to become the next Chancellor of the United States of Columbia.

Linda was in a deep state of depression, one her kids could see. Allie and Chad were now old enough to understand what was happening around them. They especially knew their mother was not in a good place and would frequently discuss the problems with Dana when they could.

Linda couldn't believe the man she loved was gone, and now acting in ways that disgusted her. She could tell by the mannerisms of the character on screen that this was, in fact, not her husband. He had feminine traits in his vocalizations and ways he even moved sometimes. She believed he was somehow a female now, but another part of her wanted to believe that was not true. But as Jay's political power grew, she could see a darkness rising up in the man she once knew. Something that had never been present in her former husband.

The maid approached Linda as she stared at the screen. She leaned in to ask Linda if she needed anything. Linda said no and thanked her for checking in.

Typically, the maid would walk away after this, but this time she felt compelled to stay.

"Are you okay, Mrs. Trent?"

"I don't know, Mildred."

Mildred, the maid, pulled up a chair beside Linda and sat down. They both looked on as the media conducted a recent interview with Jay. He, or it, was all smiles.

"These are difficult to watch for you?" Mildred asked.

A tear rolled down Linda's cheek. "Very much so."

As Jay spoke more, laying out his political plans, Linda looked down, sobbing. Mildred tried to comfort her, holding on to her shoulders in an embrace.

"I just don't understand. How could my husband be taken away from me like this, leaving me here with my children alone? Yet he's right there and has never once acted like my husband would have. Jay would have searched the world for us if he were alive. He would have never stopped looking. It just doesn't make any sense. Why did he have to die so that whatever this is can live? Why would God allow this?"

Mildred looked up at the screen, seeing the interview continuing, and then looked back at Linda.

"I believe, Mrs. Trent, it's all because of free will."

Linda looked up at her, curious about her statement, "What do you mean?"

"People here have free will, and we used that to sin against God. It brought evil into this world long ago. So, God doesn't allow it as much as we live in it, and we only know one side of the story. We're cut off from God's Kingdom. That's why we can't make judgments on what occurs all around us here in this world, dear. We have to have faith that everything in this world works for our own good and His glory. There are those called to His purposes under the heavens. We have no way of knowing exactly what those purposes may be, but in time, all will be revealed to us. But it is in His timing, not our own."

The tears stopped slowly on Linda's face, and she actually began to smile a little at the words Mildred had said. Linda found that response incredibly comforting. 

"Thank you, Mildred. I appreciate that."

"You're welcome."

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

As the years rolled on, now eighteen in total, Linda's perspective of her former husband had shifted. A few years after Mildred's talk with her, there was an attack on the facility Linda and the kids were in, killing Mildred in the process. Dana also lost her family to the attack, leaving the four of them as they were the day the Fleece fled. The attack originated from an order from Supreme Imperial Chancellor (SIC) Britton Hister. The name disgusted Linda.

During those years after the talk with Mildred, the whole family began to build resentment toward the person who embodied Jay Trent. Chad hated him the most. At times, it saddened Linda to see her son, now twenty years old, lavishing hatred so easily on the man who was once his father. But the man Chad knew had been gone for a very long time. Chad was inciting a revolt against the SIC, using global networks to build a strong following. This network led to the attacks in the area where Linda and Dana lived, as they were now considered rebels to the established order.

After the attacks, Linda, Chad, Allie, and Dana fled to the Prussian area, where that government was putting up a strong fight against the COLA Regime. This was the colloquial name of the United States of Columbia Grand Regiment. When Pat ordered the deployment of the two hundred million Cals, and rising, one primary order among the thousands was to locate and terminate Linda, Chad, Allie, and Dana. Pat wanted the slate wiped clean of any remnant of Jay's life.

But just as the forces of Chad were beginning to mount and set their plans in motion to go after the SIC and the USofC, a glimmer of hope emerged in a way no one ever expected.

Linda was in her home in Prussia as she loaded weapons and began preparing gear. She was going to die trying to stop Britton, the woman who had stolen her husband's body. She didn't know how Britton had done it, and she didn't care, but she wasn't going to let her tarnish Jay's memory any longer. But as she was loading weapons, a breaking news story came on the television.

"Mom!"

"What, Chad?"

"Don't load it like that. That's how the bullets can get jammed. Don't jam it in so hard."

"I know what I'm doing, son."

"Do you? I'm not sure about that," Chad loved saying things like this to get a rise out of his mother.

"Are you saying I don't know how to handle a gun?"

"That's exactly what he's saying, Mom!"

The other voice came from behind them, from Linda's daughter, Allie. She was a twenty-one-year-old cutie, short in stature but as fiery as they come. 

"I wouldn't take it from him. I'd give him the treatment."

"Oh, that does sound like a great idea!"

Chad looked at his mom and sister, then began begging them not to. Both Allie and Linda attacked Chad, tickling him as he collapsed to the floor. He was incredibly ticklish, just like his father had been, and Linda and Allie loved making him succumb to their every want and whim by tickling him.

"STOP! STOP!!" Chad screamed.

"There, now you know I can handle a gun," Linda quipped.

"What does this really have to do with handling a gun?" Allie asked.

"I don't know, but it's fun!"

They started tickling Chad again, making him scream with laughter while he yelled for them to stop.

When they settled down, the television broke the momentary silence with a breaking news story. 

"Good evening. We are bringing you this late-breaking story as it develops: seven stars have taken a position in orbit around the planet. The stars appear to be in a geosynchronous orbit between the orbits of our closest satellites, Yoreh. Since we know stars typically do not act in this manner, and they are considerably smaller than any other stars known, only one conclusion can be made."

"Extra-terrestrials," Chad spoke up.

"You really think so, Chad?" Allie asked.

"What else could it be?"

Linda spoke up, "A sign."

Story # 5.1: Conquest

It is now 2030, nearly 20 years after "The Fleece Rising" and the events leading to Jay's death and resurrection. During that time, Pat, Rob, and Jay, now indwelled by Britton, had been hard at work reshaping the planet's landscape with their new ultimate power...The Fleece.

The Fleece easily destroyed the largest mountain on the planet, leaving a crater of debris in its wake. Upon its emergence, the Fleece secured a position on the far side of the moon while Pat and Rob revived Jay as Britton. There, they began to strategize ways to fulfill their ultimate plan: the conquest of the world. The primary goal of the plan was the Activation of the Remnants. The remnants referred to the scattered remains of the ancient Atlantean Civilization around the globe. When the Atlanteans disappeared, at Pat's doing, millions of years earlier, their technology and culture were left behind. Over the many years that followed, some remains of the civilization were buried or outright destroyed. Some have stood the test of time, like the Great Pyramids. But regardless of their positions on the planet, it would be essential to locate them with the help of people from all walks of life. This meant the plan also must entail sociopolitical means and influence. Rob did not agree, however. The immense power of the Fleece was more than enough to press down on humanity, and Rob wanted to decimate entire areas without warning. Conquer through brute strength and force, and destroy as much of humanity as possible.

Britton disagreed. Britton always believed it was necessary to make humanity submit to them, right from the start. Britton wanted humans not only to obey them, but also to treat them all as Gods. Pat agreed with Britton. In due time, humanity's fate would be sealed, and Pat knew this. The human race had reached the end. In a few millennia, humans would go extinct, no matter what Pat, Britton, and Rob decided to do, from the repercussions of climate change associated with the Sun's fuel consumption. There would be no way for humans to continue. Pat simply wanted to speed up this process over a few years.

They all agreed that it would then be necessary for one of them to gain power in this world. To be a leader of one of the more powerful countries on the planet. Since Britton was in human form in Jay's body, she had to become this new leader. Pat and Rob were not human and therefore needed to stay in the shadows, orchestrating from behind closed doors, much as Pat had when the Fleece was in hiding. But Rob questioned, "How would they enter the world's political arena?"

"That's easy, son. We'll give them something they could never achieve on their own. Some of the power of the Fleece."

Pat's move was to provide the leaders of the world with a revolutionary new fuel, the kind that powers the Fleece. Additionally, they would assist in advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence, or contrived intuition (CI), as it was sometimes called in this society. The Fleece's technology was millions of years more advanced than anything in this world. It would be easy to dazzle society into believing these three men had unlocked something important and new for the planet.

The plan began with the introduction of a fully self-propelled automobile, complete with a CI uplink to allow the vehicle to operate without a passenger, and run on the fuel cell created from the Fleece. The company producing this new vehicle was known as Argonaut. The vehicles called Argo J18s became an instant hit on the world markets within 5 years of the Fleece Rising. By that time, Britton had become a trillionaire with this new technology and commanded the respect and admiration of people around the world. As Britton's power grew, so did her connections to political figures, celebrities, resources, and clout. No one knew that Britton was not what she seemed. She corrupted and shattered Jay's body, engaging in debauchery of all kinds. Britton used her name, but took on the last name of Hister. Britton Hister was a player, an actor, a deceiver of many. Whether indulging in romantic interludes with various women or same sex relations, Britton was twisting the wills of others over to her diabolical scheme. The goal was always conquest and destruction, never coexistence. 

By the year 2022, Britton was a formidable political figure, growing in popularity among the citizens of the United States of Columbia. Columbia was the most powerful country on the planet. It only made sense for Britton to take control from there. By this year, Britton had become a senator in the government and was starting to push for a campaign run as the next Chancellor in the 2024 election. The parties, as they were, had become destabilized, some of this stemming from Pat and Rob's behind-the-scenes activities. Pat and Rob were good at stirring up trouble. Protests had become more commonplace. Citizens in a very prosperous country began to turn on one another over opinions and beliefs. At one point, Pat instigated the release of a biological weapon preserved from the previous civilization loop. The Sars-CoV-2 had never been released on the planet in the previous loop. Instead, the SARS-CoV-3 virus was released and was far more devastating to that civilization. Pat secured COVID for a later date, such as now. He also enhanced the virus's virulence, making it much more potent and deadly. When COVID hit this society, the effects were much more severe, but nothing like the Anderson Loop had been. COVID killed 243 million people and infected over 2 billion people around the world in the year 2024. The controversy over lockdowns and preventive measures stirred emotions worldwide, making Britton's entry into the election campaign later that year easy.

The one thing Britton offered, if elected, was salvation. She would be the redeemer the world had been hoping for over the ages past. Her plan was the unite the people against this plague on humanity. Britton brought a cure for COVID, since the virus had been engineered by Pat. This hope of salvation from an ever-spreading disease allowed Britton to win in a landslide victory in the Columbia election. As the new Chancellor starting at the beginning of 2025, the virus was completely eradicated. This led some to believe, with the creations and inventions Britton had become known for around the world, that she was, in fact, the long-awaited Protector, or what we refer to as the Messiah. 

Britton went so far as to unite the Central Eastern World, known to them as the Sumer Region. There, she brought peace and prosperity to a region long mired in conflict. As the warring people of the world met with her, she announced her identity as non-binary, essentially allowing herself to be called a man or woman if she pleased, and encouraged many others to follow suit. This indiscretion was meant solely to see how people would respond, with no real basis. Society erupted again, with more protests, as peace talks eventually transitioned into negotiations with world leaders on a new government. A system where one leader would oversee the rest, allowing the planet to be divided into regions under one governmental model. It was known as Unisecularism but was colloquially referred to as The Hister Empire. This one-world government began to flex its muscles against those who did not obey. Eventually, Pat and Rob deployed the latest in Bot CI technology, including automated drones and soldiers known as Argo Calvary. They were sleek, metallic, and lethal when needed. These automatons replaced human security and police forces around the world, providing a 24/7 infantry to oversee humans. In all, the Cals had over 200 million deployments worldwide by 2027. 

Pat, Rob, and Britton had an army. They had control. People obeyed them. Rob was now the ruler of Columbia, seizing the country's capital for himself. Britton and Pat had set up their ruling location in the Central Eastern World, near a place called Jezreel. To us, this place was called Megiddo. An entire city was being 3D-printed at this location, creating a grand site for the world's imperial ruler. But Pat felt it was necessary to make the world understand something. Pat wanted to be sure that, in the midst of all this new power, the original plan was not lost and ensure that not only would humans obey, but they would yield their complete devotion to all three of them.

For this reason, Pat unleashed the Fleece's power. From Jezreel, the Fleece rose into the air high above the created city, to the astonishment of people around the world. Videos reporting on the event showed images that amazed and terrified people at the same time. But in the blink of an eye, the Fleece darted toward the largest city in the world. What we referred to as Paris was a much larger, sprawling metropolis in this world. Known as New Rene, this city was 3 times the size of Paris and housed many of the world's financial, political, and technological resources. Although New Rene was thriving, assistance from Columbia had enabled this, as many of the surrounding countries were in near-poverty. But on this day, there would be no New Rene any longer. The Fleece unleashed a blast on the city that wiped it off the face of the planet, turning parts of the land into glass. 

People from around the world were horrified as Britton, the Supreme Imperial Chancellor, addressed the world, letting them know that, from this time forward, all financial, political, and technological means will flow through Jezreel and the Supreme Imperial Chancellor. They would all accept this rule or suffer the same fate as New Rene. Finally, by the beginning of 2028, the suspension of elections was mandated. Britton would continue as Supreme Imperial Chancellor for life, and she would assign whom she wanted to lead the other regions. All persons would now be mandated to use the same currency, or they would be refused any services. The currency became known as J18. With the Cals worldwide, the Fleece became the command ship controlling them all, continuing to grow in number through mass production. This world had become tyrannical, allowing for a totalitarian regime to completely dominate everyone in existence. It was all for one purpose: the complete extermination of the human race.

Now, in 2030, Britton, Pat, and Rob were preparing for the Activation of the Remnants, which would help finish off humanity once and for all. For years, scientists had been assisting with SIC-funded site excavations to locate all the remnants. Almost all of the remains of the Atlantean civilization had been found. It was now only a matter of time before the activation sequence could commence, and once it did, the genocide of humanity would begin.

"Do you think they'll ever truly understand how worthless they really are?" Rob asked Pat.

"They served a purpose to some degree, son. But their usefulness has certainly run its course."

Rob was communicating virtually from his office in Washington, D.A., to the Fleece, where Pat was stationed with Britton. Britton was being tended to by both men and women concubines, all of whom were completely unclothed, basking in the debauchery her rule had become known for. Britton placed on a robe to cover herself, pushing away the concubines to approach the screen where Pat was talking with Rob. She motioned for all the concubines to leave.

"He's right, you know, Rob. Without humans, especially me, we wouldn't have achieved as much as we have to this point. They were needed."

"Yeah, maybe to make you feel special," Rob retorted, rolling his eyes.

"Are you feeling slighted in some way, Rob?" Pat asked.

"No, it's just that our almighty ruler of late seems more interested in the latest concubine than actually accomplishing goals for our plans."

"I am focused on the plan, Rob. Pardon me if I like to indulge."

"You indulge quite a bit, Britton."

"And you don't? Wait, wasn't it you that had a harem not long ago, of women you basically molested?"

"And then burned. You forgot that part. They don't please me like they do you and the body you are in."

"Yes, be that as it may, you sure seemed to enjoy what you were doing, as I recall, prior to burning them."

"Enough, you two. We have to remember who our true adversaries are, and it's not the three of us," interrupted Pat.

Rob looked down as Britton looked away momentarily. 

"Humans have been and always shall be our enemy. Once all of this is settled, we will have a new world we can call our own with creatures we see fit to deposit here," Pat concluded.

"I can't wait for that day, Dad," Rob replied.

"In the meantime, Rob, make sure the forces in the western part of the Columbia are tightening things up. That governor out there thinks he can do and say what he wants sometimes. I think it might be time to liquidate him."

"It would be my pleasure, Pat. I'll check into that now. Keep me posted on any further round-ups in Continentals near the area of New Rene."

"We will, Rob. And I did not mean to antagonize," said Britton.

"Nor did I. Rob out."

The screen went dark for a moment, and then it displayed a painting of Paradise Lost.

Pat turned to face Britton, with no smile, no expression of any kind. Britton took notice of this.

"What?"

"These melodramas aren't necessary, Britton."

"I've told you before, Pat, I want them at their knees before we give them up. These creatures need to understand who is over them."

"Yes, but the indulgences are no different than what many people in times before wanted as well. You must still be cautious, even in this elevated state."

"Cautious of what, Pat? You were the reason those civilizations ended, as I recall. You tried all you could to wipe them out, time after time. Failing, might I add."

"It wasn't failure, it was intervention."

"Intervention from what? A group of people on the far side of the universe? You banished them for all eternity. The best they could do was to infiltrate dreams and send holographic images that didn't resemble humans. They are done for."

"Don't underestimate them, Britton. They are more powerful than you know."

"Spare me, Pat. They are as weak as these humans who have remained for millions of years. So fragile and corruptible."

"They can still create great things."

"Only to tear them apart with poor judgment and bad habits. As they have done for eons."

"Your arrogance is abundant."

"As is your belief in some so-called return. Do you really believe any of the Atlanteans will ever come back?"

"Yes, I do. Sooner than you think."

"It has been over 3 million years; surely they would have returned by now, Pat."

A man dressed in black entered the doors of the sanctuary, as it was known.

"My lord, there is something you need to see," the man in black said.

"You were not summoned," Britton replied.

"This was urgent."

The man brought up the display, removed the artwork, and showed a news broadcast. The person on the broadcast was talking about an extraordinary event taking place in the sky above. The camera filming showed seven glowing stars on the display in the sky; however, these stars were in a geosynchronous orbit with the planet, in the space between the moon and the home world.

Britton was spellbound, staring at the screen. The man in black looked at her as Pat approached her from the side.

"What is that?" Britton asked.

A smile crossed Pat's face. "That, my dear Britton, is them."

Britton, in the form of Jay, turned her head to look at Pat, as Pat slowly turned his head to face her face-to-face.

"The Atlanteans have returned."

Story # 4.10: The End

Jay woke up to darkness with only a shimmer of light. He looked around the darkened room as he began removing the electrodes and devices from his body. The light shining in was coming around the edge of a circular object. The stone that Dr. Kelly had pushed in front of the passageway. This light allowed Jay to approach the stone and feel it. He began pushing with all his might, realizing how heavy the stone was, and finally began to dislodge it sideways. A crack wide enough for Jay to fit through was finally revealed, and Jay emerged from the tomb.

Upon exiting, Jay was near where the firefight ensued, as the elite guards desperately tried to stop Rob. But their efforts were to no avail. One by one, Rob destroyed each guard. Some Rob ripped to pieces. Another Rob forced the guard to turn his own weapon against him. Rob was relentless, and Jay used that distraction of Rob to run away to another part of the Artifact Room.

Jay had no idea where anyone else was located, trying to scan the area as he ran by. After seeing what he had seen, he started assuming the worst about his family. It was clear that the young boy, Rob, had turned on everyone. Jay expressed concerns about Rob to Linda before he started this journey, but largely, there were no concerns with the boy since then. That was a smoke screen by Rob and Pat. Despite them knowing Rob was Pat's son, Rob was meant to earn all their trust. But knowing what Jay knew now, he knew Rob and Pat were entirely different.

Jay found his way over to the control console, just missing Pat walking by. Jay ran beyond the area of the console and toward the spot where the two guards had died due to the handbag and Rob. Jay saw the blood splattered. He saw the carnage that had unfolded. For a moment, he wanted to break down, believing totally that his family had been killed. But then he remembered something Rapha had said a while ago. Do not be deceived kept echoing through his mind. He was holding out hope that Linda and their children had, in fact, survived. The only question was, would he?

Jay knew now was the time to act. He would get Pat's attention and find a way to stop him. How was truly the question. Jay began thinking thoughts he believed Pat could hear. Jay closed his eyes and focused hard, and finally, Pat recognized his presence. With that, Jay ducked down behind the same carousel Linda had and waited for Pat to come.

Pat was coming, and as he approached, he began to talk to Jay out loud.

"Welcome back, Jay," Pat said with his customary smile.

"How was your trip?"

Jay did not respond because he knew Pat was being sarcastic.

"It's been a little busy here. I'm sure you picked up on that. Why don't you come out and we'll talk about things for a bit?"

Jay still did not respond. He simply looked down the path.

"So, you're not going to respond, huh, Jay? That's so juvenile, don't you think? We're grown adults here and have a lot to discuss."

Pat scanned the area, looking out across the room to see if he could locate Jay, his being, presence, anything. Jay had closed his mind for the time being, suppressing thoughts so Pat couldn't find him.

"You know, Jay, I've been here for a very long time, and I'm sure Rapha has shared that with you now," Pat said as he proceeded toward the carousel.

"What did he call me, to you? An angel, maybe? The beast, perhaps? Rapha has already been unoriginal. He's worse than a Hollywood producer, to be honest. In fact, Jay, Rapha has been so unoriginal throughout all the years I have been here; he just keeps playing the same story repeatedly with your species. With every reset, every incarnation, every twist and turn, the same result is always true."

Pat stopped progressing down the path momentarily.

"Hope," Pat continued. "Hope for every human that has ever existed, since the dawn of time. It's really sad to watch sometimes, Jay. I might add that Rapha holds hope in all of you, to a fault. He genuinely believes humanity is worthwhile and deserves a place in this world. In this universe. And for a time, I listened to him. That is, until I realized how selfish humans really are. For every good and beautiful thing you do, you produce wretched and vile things from it. You cheat each other. You bend the rules. You break the laws. Manipulate and steal. Wreak havoc just because sometimes. It's a vicious cycle, Jay. It's been going on for a very long time and has shown no ability to change. That's why every civilization on this planet, inspired by all of you, humanity, has ended. Every one of them.

"Not one has survived. They've all ended in brutal, terrifying ways, simply because of humanity's selfishness. Even the Atlanteans. They disappeared without a trace, Jay. One day here, the next day gone. It was just like that," Pat snapped his fingers.

"They truly believed their world was incorruptible. That selfishness did not abide. But I showed them what they really are, and Rapha ignored it. Complacency, Jay. The Atlanteans believed they were the best. Perfect in every way. But they had one flaw. Naivete. They trusted everything implicitly, including me. I was put there to safeguard things. I ensured that everything continued moving smoothly, for a society that went on its merry way, doing whatever suited them. Entrusted to run it all, so much so they wanted happiness for me too in the form of a 'family' of sorts. Rob is born out of me, but not in a human way. Britton is born out of me, too."

That statement stirred emotion in Jay, as so much had happened to him because of her.

"That hit a soft spot," Pat said, smiling and moving down the path again, toward the carousel. "Yes, Britton is of me, too, and has been watching you for some time. I once said Jay, you're the one who will set this whole thing free. And you have!

"Because of you, we're all free now.  Rob, Britton, and I are together for the first time in millennia, refuting Rapha's efforts to stop that reunion. And we have you to thank for it, Jay. Without you, nothing would be possible. So, I thank you for giving me my 'family' back, I suppose. It seems the least I could do is leave yours be, but unfortunately, we've just run out of hope."

Jay began moving away from the carousel toward another section that aligned him with Pat. Pat continued moving down the path, and now he was away from Jay. But when Jay looked out to see Pat, he saw Britton, in a flowing white gown, looking back at him. Jay immediately lunged away, causing a sound that grabbed Pat's attention. Jay scurried away like a rat evading a predator. Pat smiled again after realizing where Jay had been and proceeded down the path in the direction he had come from. 

"Did you see something that startled you, Jay?" Pat asked, then chuckled.

Jay was now ducking behind more artifacts, hoping not to be seen again by Pat. One thing Jay wasn't thinking about, though, Rob was somewhere in the vicinity. It was only a matter of time before one of them found him.

"As I was saying, Jay, there's no more hope for you, or any other human on this planet. It's a done deal, Jay. It took some time, millions of years, but now time is of the essence for your species. I understand Rapha probably told you what the Fleece truly is, too. The Fleece is my ship, capable of some very profound things. You see, Jay, after I finish with you, I will vacate this location with the Fleece and start the final event. You might call it a revelation of sorts. There will be a grand reveal, that much is certain. When it's done, the entire surface of this planet will be reshaped to accommodate its true purpose. To serve me! To serve Rob! To serve Britton! Just us and whatever creatures we deposit on it. Because after this event, there will be no humans again, anywhere in this universe! This is truly the end for you. For humankind. Because frankly, you're kind of a letdown, my friend."

"I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND!" Jay screamed, letting Rob and Pat know where he was in the room.

They converged quickly on Jay's position, as Jay had located an object he had read about from the manifest of the Fleece. It was a particle beam weapon that was still fully functional, long before Jay's world existed. Jay had been working on operating the device and had it ready to fire. As Rob and Pat appeared on Jay's location, Jay readied himself to attack. Rob was the first one to appear in Jay's sight. Jay took aim and fired. When he did, the beam hit Rob in the chest and burst his chest, upper torso, and head wide open. Rob's body collapsed to the ground in pieces, but without any blood. The reason is that Rob did not have blood, after all. Pat came up from the other side, behind Jay, and saw Rob's remains. Pat then focused on Jay, as Jay wielded around and fired again. This time, Jay hit Pat in the lower part of his torso, down through his legs, exploding them into pieces.

Pat collapsed to the ground, as Jay stood there in awe at what he had done with the weapon. As the top half of Pat lay motionless for a moment, Jay moved toward him. Then Pat began moving his arms. When Jay saw this, he started to fire the weapon again, this time at Pat's head, but the weapon would not fire. Jay tried futilely to fire again at Pat, but the weapon was useless now. Pat began to laugh as he looked up at Jay, smiling.

"Nice shot, Jay, but you're only prolonging the inevitable. Then Jay saw something he did not understand. The pieces of Pat's body that had been blown away took on a more liquid state and began moving around. As the pieces grew more liquid-like, they moved towards Pat. It was as if ants were carrying the pieces back to Pat. Jay then heard a rustling sound behind him, and he was still stunned by the action he was seeing. He turned to look back to see the destroyed body of Rob moving toward him, and then coming along beside him. He then heard Pat laughing some more.

"You know, Jay, now might be a good time to run."

Jay didn't hesitate. He dropped the weapon and began running away from Pat. Pat continued talking as his body and Rob's merged.

"You really had no idea what you were up against, did you, Jay. Rapha let me down on that part, I suppose. But I'm sure he told you I'm a creature of unspeakable power and ability. It's amazing what creatures like Rob, Britton, and I can become. For instance, I don't just identify as a dragon; I can become one here and now."

As Pat's body merged with Rob's, his shape began to morph into a larger creature. As Pat had said, he could become a dragon if desired. In this case, Pat was becoming a large Tyrannosaurus Rex, and only this one could breathe fire, with large horns coming out of its cranium and cold, fire-red eyes. The creature let out a tremendous roar, echoing across the Artifact Room as it charged after Jay, who was now running for his life.

Jay did not know where to go. There was no escaping this, as Rapha had warned. Jay was alone with this situation and could only hope for the best. Jay ran into the section of The Beast, where Linda, the children, and Dana hid in the tank. They had heard the dragon's roar, prompting both children to cover their ears as they trembled in fear. Caring for Dana and her wound, Linda raised up to open the tank hatch and see what was happening. When Linda stood up out of the tank, she saw Jay running down the path toward her. She yelled for him to get his attention. Jay stopped and looked up toward her. He was so happy to see her because he knew she and the kids were alive and safe. The moment was short-lived, though, as Pat, as the dragon, busted through other tanks and artillery in The Beast, causing some to explode. The shockwave from he explosion shifted the tank Linda was in, causing her to fall back into the tank, hitting the back of her head. She was rendered unconscious, as Dana leaned in to check on her. Fortunately, Linda still had a pulse, as Dana checked on her and then began to see if she could arouse her.

The explosion also knocked Jay to the ground, as smoke and ash blanketed the area, making visibility near zero. Jay stood back up, trying to catch his breath after the wind knocked him out. Once he could breathe again, he began coughing. All of this noise gave away exactly where he was to Pat. Just then, a large reptilian arm grabbed Jay around the torso and hoisted him upward. Jay was face-to-face with the dragon, its snout only inches away from Jay's face. He could smell the creature's breath, which was repulsive. There was nothing Jay could do; he was caught and at the mercy of this creature. At this moment, Jay wished he were dreaming like his encounters before. Unfortunately, Jay was not sleeping or dreaming this time.

"I've enjoyed the fun, Jay," as Pat's voice reverberated from the creature's mouth.

"But I'm afraid that all good things must come to an end."

Dana stood up out of the top of the tank hatch. She could see through the now dissipated ash and smoke that Jay was in the hands of a large creature, staring back at him. Her eyes got wide as she watched the creature open its mouth.

Jay watched as a dull light formed at the back of the creature's throat and then became intensely bright and hot. The light from it was blinding. The heat began to scorch Jay's hair and turn his skin red. Then, as the intensity grew, a large flame shot out of the creature's mouth. The plume of fire engulfed Jay's upper torso, above the creature's hand. Jay's head, shoulders, and chest were burning, and slowly his flesh began to melt. His hair singed off, his eyes dissolved, his tongue exploded, and Jay's heart and lungs finally failed. The damage to the upper half of Jay's body was mortal. Finally, the creature stopped the onslaught and dropped Jay's now deceased body to the ground. 

Lying there, the top half of Jay's body was burned to a crisp. Jay was gone, and Dana saw the whole thing. She covered her mouth to keep from screaming, collapsing back into the tank. Her eyes filled with tears over what she had just seen. Linda began to arouse at this point, but was still obtunded from what had happened. Dana tried to hold back tears and tend to her and the scared children.

Outside the tank, Pat was happy with the final product before him. The creature began walking away from Jay's body. As it did so, power began to swell in the orb at the center of the Artifact Room. The objects began to pulsate wildly, including the new items from Jay's travels through time. The creature approached the orb and placed one of its scaly, reptilian hands on it. Pat looked up at the orb and said, "It's time to go."

With that statement, the orb began to spin vigorously, with all the objects in the Artifact Room lighting up. All but one, to be exact. The tank, Dana, Linda, and the children were in. Dana and the kids could feel the vibrations all around them. They huddled together, Dana trying to protect them from whatever would happen next. Suddenly, the vibration stopped, and no more light came from outside the tank. Pure darkness was all around. Suddenly, Dana felt a bitter cold coming in through the hatch. She stood up to see what was going on. When she did, she found herself inside the crater left by the Fleece within the mountain. The tank, which had been in the Fleece, was now sitting on the ground where the Fleece once stood. The Fleece's departure created a chasm where it once resided in the mountain, bursting out of the side. It was only a matter of time before the rest of the mountain collapsed in weakened areas surrounding the Fleece. Dana did the only thing she knew to do at that moment. She closed the hatch so whatever warmth was still in the tank would remain, and then pulled a device from her pocket. Dr. Kelly had given these to each person after he arrived. It was a homing beacon alerting the GASON group to any concerns. After pressing the button, however, the mountain began to collapse.

As the rocks fell, the tank took a beating, pummelled by the mountain's collapse. Dana, Linda, and the kids were entombed within the collapsed mountain. The only question now was whether the GASON group could reach them before it was too late.

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

"Wake up."

A voice was communicating to someone who was barely awake. 

"Wake up, Jay."

A light began to fill Jay's vision, and he could see shapes and hear sounds. As more came into focus, a person stood over Jay looking down at him.

"Hello Jay, welcome."

Jay continued to lie there as he became fully aware of what was happening. He then remembered the last thing he had seen was the creature breathing fire before him.

"Did I make it?" Jay asked.

The person standing over Jay spoke, "No, Jay, you did not."

Jay was confused now. "Then where am I?"

The person standing over Jay came more into focus. The person was a man, human, just like Jay. He had long, flowing brown hair, a dark complexion, large brown eyes, and a soft look on his face.

"You're with us now, Jay."

Jay didn't know what the person meant. Am I dreaming?

"No, you're not dreaming, Jay," the man responded.

"Who are you then?"

"I'm Rapha, and you're with us in Atlantis."

Story # 4.11: The End is Only the Beginning...

 

Jay walks through a passageway, guided by Rapha. Rapha looked as human as he did. An ethereal glow surrounded everything. But Jay also saw other people walking around in his area. He couldn't make out structures very well, and his vision was still blurry after waking up.

"Atlantis? What?" Jay said.

"Keep following me, Jay. I'll show you around our vessels."

Rapha took Jay into an open area, as two large doors wooshed open in front of him. The open area was a bustling metropolis of people, plants, food, and everything the human species would ever need. The area's lighting was still ethereal, with many natural tones illuminated by the light from outside windows. Beyond the windows, Jay saw something he didn't expect. A planet sat below his position, with a nearby star visible in the distance. It appeared the relative position of this "vessel", as Rapha put it, was in space.

Jay was awestruck as he looked on at the room, turning a complete 360 very slowly to take in all the surroundings. There were shops where people were trading with one another. Kids were playing and enjoying fun times in a nearby park. There was a small pond, trees blowing in a light breeze, people laughing, enjoying each other's company, and a strong sense of happiness surrounded Jay.

"This is unbelievable," Jay said.

"It usually is to people who come here for the first time," Rapha replied.

"Are we in space?"

"Yes, Jay. As I said, this is a vessel. A spacefaring one."

"So, that planet below is my planet?"

"No, I'm afraid not. We are far away from our home world."

"How far?"

"From your perspective, about twelve hundred light years. But we are moving very quickly back to our home world."

"What? Twelve hundred light years? I must be dreaming."

"You're not dreaming this time, Jay. There's no time travel. This is not a place in this world that you've been brought to."

"Then how did I get here?"

"You died, Jay."

"WHAT?"

"As I warned you about in a dream, if you went back to confront Pat, you would surely die. And you did. There was nothing anyone could do."

Jay couldn't believe what he was hearing. His mind was reeling now. He held his hands to his head, trying to process what Rapha said. But a few moments later, Jay could sense that what he was hearing was true.

"I know. Now I know, Rapha. I've died. And this...this place is the afterlife?"

"In a manner of speaking."

"What does that mean?"

Rapha motioned for Jay to follow him to another part of the vessel. As they walked along, Jay's vision improved, and he began to realize that the material making up this vessel wasn't material. There were no genuine windows, just areas you could see through into the blackness of space. It was all particles combined together, encapsulating everyone and everything onboard. It wasn't a vessel, but almost like its own star. As Jay walked, he looked down and realized that at times the floor became translucent and he could see through it. Nothing here was uniquely solid. Somehow, their bodies were interacting with essentially nothing.

"This doesn't seem real, yet it does," Jay said.

"It's very real, Jay. It's what many of your religious leaders throughout our home world's history have tried to help humans understand."

"We're supposed to understand the unknown possibilities of existence."

"That is correct, Jay."

"So, when people die, they come here to live on, in this in-between space?"

"Not everyone. Most of the beings you refer to go to another place, where they lie in wait. But with this place, we are on a mission. A journey that has lasted a very long time."

"What mission is that?"

"To free our home world. Your world, Jay. To free us all."

"From Pat."

"Yes."

"What is he, Rapha?"

"You know now what it is."

Jay thought for a minute, and then the realization hit him. "Oh my! He's the one who deceives many. Vanity on a scale never seen before and never will be seen again. The fallen angel."

"Lucifer, but it calls itself Luci for short. Or as you know it in your world, Luki."

"The evil. Saban. Wow!"

"It has many names throughout your history. So many times it has tried to destroy what has been done. Humans were meant to live in harmony, but this creature always tries to undo everything. Starting with us, right here in Atlantis."

"So this was part of Atlantis once?"

"What remains of it. Most of Atlantis still resides beneath the surface of our home world, with the Fleece being one small piece of it. Pat saw Atlantis would stay buried for millions of years, passed down only as legend and myth, rather than the truth and fact it once was in our world. Destroying Eden. Desecrating Argatha. Eliminating Mu. So many times it destroyed the civilizations that had risen from humans, with the guidance of our knowledge and ability, but humans never failed. They kept trying to recover every time against it. It's been hard to watch over for so much time."

"And you have been trying to return to our world ever since?"

"Yes. Ever since it banished us to the farthest reaches of the universe, with no hope of returning. But our resolve is far greater than our despair. We created these vessels with the raw power of stars, energy, everything made of the universe, to set us on a home course, and we're now just a short distance away. That was why I could be there briefly in a semi-human form to converse with you. Once we were back in the confines of our home galaxy, I could matriculate into a being to offer guidance again."

"I want to thank you for that guidance, Rapha. I now understand why you had to do what you did."

"It was not easy to do, Jay. Doing what we did meant providing it with the resources it needed. There was no other way."

"Yes, I know, but hopefully we can save the people on our world. Like my family."

Jay suddenly realized that his family was not with him.

"MY FAMILY!"

Jay was bewildered for a moment, as memories and thoughts showed his mind again of Linda and their children.

"They are still there, Jay."

"I had almost forgotten them."

"It's a byproduct of being here, Jay. Our spiritual center reverberates with feelings of hope, wisdom, and love. Your family is a strong force for you, so it's natural that they come back into the equation. Forgetting about them does not mean you don't care, but the natural tendency of where you are now makes you not worry."

"They are safe."

"Yes, for now. But no one on our home world will be for long, Jay."

"Because of Pat, Luki. He's going to wipe out all of human civilization once and for all."

"Correct."

"But there's one thing I don't understand: what happens to us if that is the case? If all humans die, where do we fit in?"

"If there are no more humans, there's no more us. As I said, there is another place people reside in wait, but it is entirely separate from this world. This universe we are in now. Without our link to this world, which comes through our home world we began on, we will be wanderers. No one knows what would happen if that became our new state of existence. We could go on, or we could fade out. But the link to this universe keeps everything whole. That, more than anything, is what Pat, the creature, wants to destroy once and for all."

"To destroy the soul."

"Yes."

"And no one knows what would happen?"

"Only the Father."

"How much longer will it take to get there, Rapha?"

"We are moving as fast as we can, but it may take up to three revolutions of our home world to get back there. Maybe more."

"Three years then?"

"Yes. But as I said, we are doing our best and have journeyed far to reach this point. We will be there before you know it."

"And my family there? Will they survive long enough for us to reach them?"

"That is our hope, for all humans there."

Jay was staring off at the floor, contemplating all that was going on around him. He was in an ethereal world, separated by time and space, moving faster than the speed of light, with a being of immense power, knowledge, and capability beside him, all on a quest to save humanity for one final time. It was bittersweet to think about. But Jay knew it was the only way.

"So, what do we do during this journey home?" Jay asked.

"We prepare," Rapha replied.

"Prepare for what?"

"For the final confrontation."

Jay pondered Rapha's statement and knew what had to be done.

"Then we'd better get started. We don't have much time," Jay replied.

Rapha smiled at Jay, and they began moving to another part of the vessel. They would start preparing for the inevitable conflagration that many prophets, messengers, and other prognosticators predicted throughout history. The Battle of Armageddon.

As Jay and Rapha started their journey, the seven vessels in orbit around the nearby planet streaked across space, bypassing the star holding those worlds in place. These vessels housed the armies of Rapha, coming on a white throne to show humanity the world they had forgotten. The triumph that would be was still years away, but time was of the essence to prepare everyone on the vessels to take on the greatest threat to humanity that has ever existed.

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

"So, how is our patient doing today?"

A bald man walked into a medical bay onboard the Fleece. Rob was checking the patient's vital signs, with other robotic healthcare personnel assisting. The other controllers and staff of the Fleece had been eradicated from existence. Some dropped from great heights. Others were burned to death by fire. In their place, robotic servants entered and provided stability and conformity to the ways of Pat. There were now no other humans onboard except for one.

Pat leaned down and looked at the human sitting there in front of Rob, as they finished up some needed testing for visual acuity and hearing. All functions had to be assessed after a lengthy regeneration phase. No one had ever been brought back to life from such severe injuries, and the lapse of time since death. But this was a different situation altogether. A body and life weren't simply being reborn. An indwelling was also taking place with the essence of another creature.

Pat requested that the person in the chair be allowed to stand up. When they stood up and faced Pat, Jay was standing before him. Jay's body had been restored to perfect working order. But the person inside Jay's body was no longer him. Pat smiled with pride at what he was seeing.

"So, tell me," Pat began talking to the person within Jay. "How are you feeling, Britton?"

Jay's face began to smile quite happily. Finally, they spoke, "I feel ready to take on the world."

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear, Britton. It's good having you back."

Britton's essence consumed Jay's body, and he was now her. All three of them, Britton, Rob, and Pat, were united again. The unholy trinity, who would unleash the final apocalypse to come. They would conquer the world as Rapha, Jay, and Rapha's armies approached. The final showdown was about to begin, and the humans remaining on Earth, nearly nine billion in all, would be caught squarely in the middle, fleeing and serving Pat's cause. The time had come for the Beast to reign.

To be concluded in Season 5 of Dreams...

Story # 4.9: The Beast

Pat looked across the table at Mike. That look grabbed Mike's attention.

"You need something, Smiley?" Mike asked.

"No, not really." Pat smiled back at him.

Then suddenly, Mike felt this pressure in his chest. He was feeling intense pain. Mike stood up, clutching his chest as the pain grew worse. Inside Mike's body, his heart was being crushed by an invisible force. Mike collapsed to his knees, looking up at Pat standing above him.

"You don't look so good, Mike. Do you need some help?"

Mike's mouth was agape as his heart was squeezed to the size of a dime. Mike lurched forward and collapsed to the ground, deceased. After Mike fell down dead, Seth returned to the room, walking through the door. He saw Pat standing over what he presumed was now a dead colleague in Mike and drew his gun on Pat.

"Don't you move, buddy!" 

Pat just looked at Seth and smiled.

Suddenly, a force grabbed Seth's arm and wrenched it sideways, snapping his arm at the elbow like a twig. Seth dropped the gun, but then the force hurled him across the room head-first into the wall. The impact was so hard and quick that it caved in part of Seth's skull instantly, killing him just as fast. Pat and the Fleece had given Seth and Mike a second chance at life, but now their lives were over. Pat looked at the two dead bodies as he proceeded to the door. He looked back at them, grabbed the handle to close it, and said, "You two gentlemen, take a nice long rest now."

Pat smiled and shut the door as he left.

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

Rob was still with Larry, who was with Linda and Jay's children. Larry called Rob's name, grabbed his attention, and let him know he would go to the bathroom quickly. Rob nodded in agreement.

When Larry left, Rob persuaded the kids to come down the hall to the Artifact Room with him. The kids hadn't been there in a while, and Rob told them he would show them some cool stuff they hadn't seen yet. The kids were excited and couldn't wait to go. Rob moved them quickly to the door and headed out. As they left, Rob depressed something in the wall that triggered a device within. He then closed the door behind him.

When Larry came back out, he was now in an empty room. Larry called out the names of the kids and Rob, seeing if they went into another room. After searching the quarters and finding none, Larry decided to exit the door and check out in the hallway. But as Larry exited, something strange happened to him.

As Larry walked out, he saw Rob standing at the far end of the hall, with the kids behind a wall to his side. Before Larry could finish what he was saying, he stopped and couldn't speak any longer. Whatever Rob had done, it triggered a device in the door frame with nanofiber spikes. As Larry exited, the spikes penetrated throughout his body, slicing through everything. Larry didn't feel well now and looked down to see his arms fall off, followed by his legs, and before the rest of his body collapsed in a pile of pieces, Larry was gone. Rob stood at the far end of the hall to be sure Larry was killed, and he accompanied the children to the Artifact Room. The children were not aware that Larry had been killed by Rob and were blissfully skipping and joyful as they headed down the hallway.

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

Linda got up from behind the structure to investigate the handbag. There was no sign of the deceased guard in the room now. His essence and that of Britton were now in the handbag before her. Linda was perplexed by the object. She didn't understand what it was or what it meant. But she knew it had to be bad. However, she was afraid to touch it. Before Linda could reach for the handbag, though, the alarms of the Fleece began sounding. The elite special forces team started running from the Artifact Room to assist in another part of the Fleece. Linda looked back to see the guards running with their weapons. Linda saw Dr. Blake and Dana and yelled for them to come to her.

Dr. Blake and Dana ran over to Linda's position, as one guard, and Dr. Kelly remained at the console.

"What is it, Linda?" asked Dr. Blake.

"I followed the guard here after whatever happened, and he turned into this," Linda pointed down at the ground to the handbag.

Dr. Blake and Dana looked down at the object.

"You said he turned into this?" Dana asked.

"Yes, I can't explain it."

"Then this thing has to be important. We have to do something with it."

Dr. Blake reached down and grabbed the handbag. When he did, the object's weight was too much for him to lift, and after a few seconds of trying, energy began radiating up Dr. Blake's arm. Linda and Dana stood back as Dr. Blake yelled out. It was too late to help him, however. The energy was consuming every inch of Dr. Blake's body. From Dr. Blake's vantage point, he felt like his essence was being ripped from his body. Finally, all the fluid, blood, and any other liquids in Dr. Blake's body were absorbed, and he turned into a white, salty substance. Dr. Blake appeared like a statue for a split second, then his body collapsed into dust on the ground.

Dr. Kelly yelled at Dana and Linda, "DON'T TOUCH THAT THING! GET BACK HERE NOW!"

Linda and Dana didn't question anything after what they had just seen. They ran back to Dr. Kelly's position. Dr. Kelly was manning the controls and monitoring Jay, who was still sleeping. The guard covered the flank of the console, watching the path to the main doors of the Artifact Room. The alarm claxon was still sounding overhead.

"What is happening?" Linda asked.

"Pat is free," Dr. Kelly replied.

"What? Oh my! My children! My children are out there where he's at now!"

Dr. Kelly turned to face Linda. "We have to get Jay back awake. We need him. Then we can get your children. But you must calm down and be patient momentarily, Mrs. Trent."

Linda was in full panic mode and trying to calm down before she hyperventilated. Dana hugged her and assisted Dr. Kelly with a manual method to awaken Jay.

Linda knew Jay had to wake up; she couldn't leave him there any more than she could have left her children had the roles been reversed. But she had to get to her children. Linda didn't know that her children were on the way to her.

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

Pat strolled around a corner in the Fleece, only to be greeted by a hail of gunfire. Guards were firing automatic weapons at him and hitting his body. But the bullets were having no effect. Pat just kept on smiling at them. Pat moved slowly and purposefully toward the guards, even as they ceased fire to reload their weapons and began firing again. Pat was unstoppable. Whatever he was, it was beyond what this world could perceive. He was more than human. More than a superhuman. He was the embodiment of power. The bullets were simply passing through him, making an impact only to continue straight through, hitting the wall and structures behind Pat. At one point, guards came up on Pat's flank to fire at him from behind, but were struck by the bullets passing through before they had time to react. As the guards continued firing and exhausting their ammo, Pat moved steadily toward them and finally was only a few feet from them. Once he was, Pat stopped and looked dead at them without a smile. Instantly, all the men surrounding him dropped dead on the ground. Pat caused bleeds in their brains, killing them immediately. Pat then proceeded down the hallway to the gantry that would take him to the Artifact Room.

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

Rob and the kids entered the Artifact Room, proceeding down the path to the position where Jay was sleeping. Linda turned to look toward the path as the armed guard raised his weapon in the same direction. Linda could hear what sounded like kids and tried to get the guard to lower his gun. Then Linda's children came into sight, with Rob not far behind.

Linda ran to her children as the guard followed, rifle still in hand. Linda embraced her children, who were giddy with excitement about being back in the Artifact Room. However, Rob did not stop to check on her. He proceeded past them, headed toward Jay's position. The guard turned to Rob and held up his rifle, ordering Rob to stop. Suddenly, another shockwave shot out, this time from Rob, and knocked the guard backward into a nearby structure. Linda ducked down with the kids to protect them. She got back up after ensuring her kids were okay and checked on the guard. The guard was okay but stunned by the wave. Then Linda looked in the direction of Rob. Rob walked right past Jay's position and headed down the path the deceased guard had taken. Linda assumed he was going for the handbag.

Linda helped the guard up, and they all moved to the console where Dr. Kelly and Dana were still trying to awaken Jay. The kids were now starting to get scared. They didn't understand what had happened or why Rob wasn't with them. Linda looked at the guard and told them she thought Rob was going for the object, the handbag on the path. The guard proceeded to follow Rob to find out.

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

Pat entered the area that takes you to the Artifact Room, but an ambush awaited him. The elite special forces team from the Artifact Room set a perimeter with explosives and remote-controlled automatic weapons while the team of five men hid from sight until they could strike. They had footage of what Pat had done to the other guards and wanted to set a trap for him. When Pat opened the door, the explosives ignited. An explosive force of 250 lbs of explosives ripped through the area away from the Artifact Room, destroying the staircase, ripping out walls, and leaving nothing but a plume of billowing smoke. Those in the Artifact Room felt the vibration and shaking caused by the explosion.

The elite special forces guards got into positions and readied their weapons, none believing that Pat had been killed until they confirmed it. One guard got closest to the blast radius and started peering through the smoke, only to be greeted by Pat's hand. Pat grabbed his face and ripped the flesh and muscle clean off. As the guard screamed in pain and agony, Pat shoved his fist through the man's chest and ripped his heart completely out, killing him instantly. 

Then another guard fired a grenade launcher at Pat, exploding the round as it hit him. Another guard walked up with a minigun and began opening fire. The minigun's rate of fire was so quick that 100 rounds were fired every five seconds. More grenades were being launched, significantly damaging the area outside the Artifact Room. A risk of collapse was imminent for the structures above. But then the guards ceased fire momentarily to observe the damaged structures suddenly being fixed back in place. The weapons had no effect on anything. Even the area in the blast radius was immediately repaired. Pat used his power to fix the Fleece damage and make the guards' efforts useless. The guards saw this and decided to return to the Artifact Room to make their final stand.

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

The guard yelled for Rob to stop, but Rob did not listen. The guard stopped beside the carousel where Linda had hidden before, yelling for Rob to stop. Just then, the carousel activated and began to spin. Rob walked up to the handbag and picked it up, holding it securely in his right hand without incident. Unlike Dr. Blake, Rob was not affected as he stood on the ashes of the former scientist.

The carousel began spinning faster and faster until it was going at an unbelievable speed, totally distracting the guard. Finally, the intensity of the speed was so volatile that the force generated by the carousel pulled the guard into it. When the guard hit the ride in the carousel, a blood splatter in all directions showed his body had been destroyed.

Rob only stood there, staring at the remains of the guard that flew out into the rest of the Artifact Room. He walked back to the console where Dr. Kelly, Dana, and Linda tried to awaken Jay.

"It's no use. Nothing will awaken Jay. We have to move him now!" Dr. Kelly yelled as he and Dana ran out to lift the recliner and wheel Jay away.

The recliner allowed for portability that none hoped they would ever have to use. Moving the recliner in case something bad happened was a last-ditch effort. Something awful was happening, and they had little time to react. 

Dr. Kelly lifted the back of the recliner as Dana prepped the portable leads to continue monitoring Jay remotely. Linda looked down the pathway to see Rob approaching, the handbag still in his right hand.

"Dr. Kelly! We have to go now!" Linda yelled.

"We are going!" Dr. Kelly lifted the recliner and began rolling it forward. Dana was right behind him, and Linda pursued with her kids. Rob did not quicken his pace. He continued progressing down the path, pursuing them. As Rob passed the console's location, the elite guards ran up to find that everyone was gone. 

One guard pulled out a tracking monitor and saw their location, which had them in motion. They were going past the Orb to the other side of the Artifact Room. The guards began moving in that direction until one of them stopped in their tracks. One guard saw the other stop and yelled for the others to wait. From the look on the guard's face, who had stopped, the leader told them to continue moving. It was too late for that guard. Although the others began running, the one guard stopped to see what was happening. The guard stopped in his tracks and was lifted up into the air, dropping his gun and equipment. Then, without warning, the guard began to scream as his body was crushed inward. Soon, the guard's body erupted in blood and bodily fluid as his face, chest, and bowels smashed inward. The guard there turned and ran as fast as he could after seeing this. As the affluence that had once been the guard collapsed to the ground, on the other side of some artifacts, Pat entered the room and proceeded along the path to find them.

Dr. Kelly continued wheeling Jay's body forward on the recliner as he was still unconscious. The five of them came upon an old tomb from the Middle Eastern region of the planet. In Anderson's time, it was once a tomb in Jerusalem, Israel. Dr. Kelly and Dana put Jay inside the tomb and then proceeded to roll the stone outside of it in place to seal it. After sealing it, they darted off as Rob closed on them. 

The five ran off into a section of the Artifact Room known as The Beast. These artifacts were relics of a country known as the former Soviet Union and its weapons of war. Everything from personnel carriers to tanks to missiles was present from prior wars fought thousands of years ago. Dr. Kelly motioned for the five to enter one of the tanks to provide greater protection. After lowering both children into the tank, Linda climbed down. Before Dana could climb down, bullets began showering parts of The Beast area, one hitting Dana in the side. The guards had come upon Rob and were opening fire. But Rob was deflecting the rounds in all directions. As Dr. Kelly stood on the ground around the tank, he was hit by a ricochet in the neck. Dr. Kelly was bleeding profusely from his neck now, holding his hand over the spot of entry to try and slow the bleeding. However, Dr. Kelly's efforts were short-lived as the wound was mortal. He collapsed to the ground while still holding his neck, looking up briefly at Dana, who stopped her movement as she entered the tank. Dr. Kelly motioned for her to close the hatch. Dana made a face of empathy for Dr. Kelly, knowing his life was about to end, and then closed and sealed the hatch. Dr. Kelly was now face down on the ground, the life draining from his body rapidly. As he closed his eyes, he could no longer hear the rifles firing. He heard the men screaming in agony as the elite troops were destroyed one by one as Rob approached. Pat was not far behind.

Dana was lying beside Linda as they began to inspect her wound. The bullet had gone through her lower left abdomen. Linda started putting pressure to help the bleeding, but Dana would need medical attention. For now, they and the children tried to be as quiet and still as possible so as not to give away their hiding place.

Rob approached the area of The Beast. Dr. Kelly was lying beside the tank that Rob could see, now deceased. A puddle of blood was forming under his body. Rob looked around the area, but could not locate the other four that had been with Dr. Kelly. Pat's footsteps were approaching slowly and powerfully. Rob turned to face Pat as he approached.

"Hello, Dad." 

Pat smiled, "Hello there, son. I see you found the good doctor. Too bad he's already dead. I was looking forward to killing him myself."

Rob handed Pat the handbag.

"I'm not sure where the others have gotten to, though."

"You still haven't perfected that skill, have you, son? Not to worry, though. What you seek is directly..."

"Before Pat could finish, however, a voice called out to them both.

Pat turned to look behind him in the direction from which the voice came. It was undeniable to Pat and Rob, but especially to Pat. He had heard it a lot of late, and knew exactly who was yelling his name.

"If you want me, you're going to have to find me," yelled Jay.

Jay had awakened not long after being placed in the tomb by Dr. Kelly. He exited the tomb and proceeded to another part of the Artifact Room. Jay's plan was to lead Pat away from his family.

Pat looked back at Rob, "Stay here and keep looking. You will find them. And change your appearance to something more masculine."

With that, Pat walked away to pursue Jay. Rob's form began to alter as he grew more chiselled and muscular. He was a man now, fully grown in a three-piece suit. His form had shifted in an instant from a boy to an adult. Rob began walking around the area of The Beast to find Jay's family and Dana.

As Pat moved on, the handbag began to mold into Pat's hand, becoming one with his body. Now the power was within Pat.

Pat strolled along the path back into another part of the Artifact Room, thinking to himself, Let the games begin.

Jay responded back in Pat's mind, Let's.

Story # 4.8: Something Wicked...

Jay's body lay there in the Artifact Room as he slept away. Dana was monitoring his condition from the console, and Linda looked on patiently, waiting for her husband to arouse.

Dr. Kelly and Dr. Blake were discussing things, and the elite guards took a break as Jay had been asleep for hours during this excursion. It had been quiet, but Linda remembered what Jay said. It was too quiet.

Looking at her husband, she saw Jay's face twitch. She had been chewing on her fingernails but stopped when she saw this movement. There was no change on any of the monitors connected to Jay, and the movement could have been normal for a sleep pattern.

But Linda kept watching intently as this movement gave her pause. She had a feeling this was something different. After that thought, Jay's whole body twitched quickly, almost shaking for a second or two. This time, the monitors detected the movement, and everyone began paying attention to Jay's status.

"His whole body just twitched. His pulse and blood pressure went up momentarily but then came back down," Dana said, continuing to monitor.

The elite guards got back into their positions, having their rifles ready. Dr. Kelly and Dr. Blake were watching again. Jay's body began to move with more twitches, lasting longer each time.

"I wonder what is going on over there?" Dr. Blake asked.

"There's no telling," was all Dr. Kelly replied.

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

Pat was still sitting in the interrogation room, with Mike in the room with him. Seth had gone to the restroom briefly and would return soon. Pat had his eyes closed, something Mike noted and wondered if Pat might actually be sleeping.

Pat was doing nothing but sleeping. He was patiently waiting, too, for whatever was about to happen next.

Pat could sense the activity taking place in the Artifact Room. It didn't distress him. It excited him. He was closing his eyes to focus better on what was happening in the room. He could sense a presence and power he hadn't seen in a long time.

Rob and Larry were playing a game in their quarters down the hall from Pat's room with Linda and Jay's kids. But when the others were preoccupied, Rob could feel something, too, as if it was behind him. He momentarily looked over his shoulder while the other's attention was diverted.

Rob and Pat had a connection, and the connection was being exploited at this moment. Rob could feel the presence and the power just as Pat had. He, too, had not felt it in a long time.

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

Back in the Artifact Room, Jay's movements became consistent and continuous. The twitches were happening in intervals, all across his body. Dr. Blake was trying to monitor Jay more closely to see if something about the medication to induce sleep had caused the reaction or if something else was at work. Finally, the twitching of Jay's body stopped.

Jay lay there silently, with no activity other than the steady rates of his vital signs. He was in no distress. The guards stood around Jay's position, ready to act if needed. Linda was concerned. She wanted to know what was happening to her husband. No one had answers. But finally, a response from Jay occurred.

Without warning, Jay slowly rose out of the recliner, sitting straight up with closed eyes. His body moved to the edge of the seat, putting him in a full, upright seated position. No change occurred in his vital signs. He was simply sitting up.

The guards raised their weapons, ready to act again if needed.

Everyone looked on at Jay, holding their collective breath.

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

Rapha took Jay into another dream to explain to him about Pat. He took Jay to a distant past beyond the time Jay had seen in the Atlantean civilization. This time was hundreds if not thousands of years earlier than the latest time Jay had been to before.

"Pat is not a human."

Jay was astonished, "Then what is he?"

"The sentinels were designed to protect planets. They carried a device that allowed them unlimited power to wield against adversaries that might seek to harm the species present in individual worlds. The people of your planet referred to them as handbags in ancient texts."

"Handbags! Yes, I've heard of this. What do the handbags do?"

"They are not handbags. They are a device that contains the power of gods."

"What gods? Like the God?"

"No, but something believing itself to be close."

"Wait, you said, designed? What do you mean by design? How was Pat designed?"

"Pat is a creation like no other. This being, entity, machine is artificial in nature. It has no beating heart, no lungs, no mind. It is quite literally something from nothing. The being you call Pat is made up of the matter of the universe, and its essence can enter anything at any time and become anything it wants. It is the perfect weapon against all marauders and has wielded its power many times on your planet."

"So, he..."

"It is no he."

"The being Pat is like a spirit?"

"Even more than that."

"What's more than a spirit?"

"In your world, there have been those who referred to them as angels."

"Angels?"

"But this creature, this thing, fell from grace long ago. It has been here in your world for as long as humans have existed and keeps your world separated."

"Separated? From what?"

"From your ultimate glory."

"What is my ultimate glory?"

"To go beyond this world."

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

Jay's body continued holding in the seated position, with all eyes on him. Jay's eyes had never opened. No more twitching. But suddenly, Jay stood to his feet, eyes still closed.

Everyone in the room jumped, and Dana let out a yelp. Others looked at her as she apologized. As everyone watched, Jay's eyes clearly showed deep REM sleep, moving side to side as you would expect. So how Jay was standing was inconceivable. But finally, Jay moved toward one of the guards. The guard wasn't sure what to do or if he should use his weapon. Finally, he lowered that weapon and pulled out a tazer device to stun Jay and possibly wake him up. The lead guard insisted on his subordinate doing so. They didn't want to harm Jay.

But before the guard could get the tazer out, Jay grabbed the guard around the throat. Jay hoisted the guard up in the air, over his head as the strong grip of the guard's neck began to choke him. The other guards encircled Jay and ordered him to lower the guard, or they would be forced to shoot. Another guard was getting a stronger tazer to use on Jay.

Jay was not releasing his grip as the guard slowly lost consciousness. Finally, the other guard with the tazer aimed and fired at Jay. The electrodes began shocking him, forcing Jay's body to release its grasp. Both men fell to the ground. But the damage had already been done. One guard assessed both men and confirmed Jay was still alive and unconscious, but the other guard he had been choking was deceased. Linda held her hands over her mouth, gasping at the thought her husband had just killed another person. The guards picked up Jay's body and took him back over to the recliner, reconnecting the electrodes and devices that had ripped off when Jay stood up and moved from the seat. But as they reconnected, Jay, the deceased guard, sat up. Dana screamed when she saw the man sit up, prompting everyone to look in that direction. Then the deceased guard rose completely to his feet and opened his eyes. His eyes were no longer eyes but light filling the orifice that had been his eyes. Before anyone could react, a shockwave shot out in all directions, knocking everyone to the ground. 

Linda, stunned by the shockwave, started rising back up. She leaned up from the floor and saw the deceased guard walking off into the Artifact Room. Linda looked around her and realized everyone else was still trying to get their bearings from the shockwave. So, she jumped to her feet and followed behind the deceased guard.

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

Rapha showed Jay this other reality, the earliest reality. There, the creature Jay knew as Pat was all-powerful, all-knowing, and nearly invincible. But vanity was its flaw, and when humans came along on the planet, they began to find ways to subdue the creature.

"I don't understand, Rapha. If humans then could defeat Pat, why is he here now?

"Because it had help."

"What sort of help?"

"You have met one of them, the one like a boy."

Jay looked shocked at Rapha, "Rob! Rob is his son."

"That creature is a mere extension of the other. They are one and the same."

Jay was confused but began to connect the dots. That's when he had a realization, "But you led us to Rob? You allowed the connection with the Anderson Loop because you did away with it afterward. Does that mean you are helping, Pat?"

"No."

"Then why did you do that? Why did you allow it?"

"It was a means to an end."

"You like saying that, don't you?"

"You cannot completely understand everything I am doing, but you will later."

"What it sounds like is you are letting him do this! Have you been letting him do this all ten times? Destroying civilization, after civilization, over and over again?"

"Those civilizations made their choices. All must live with their choices."

"And some of those civilizations asked for help. They begged and pleaded for help. Is this how you help them? To be on the brink of extinction?"

There was a long pause.

"Yes," was all Rapha replied.

Jay was angry beyond belief. He wanted to attack Rapha but couldn't because Rapha wasn't there in front of him. Only people in a dream world. One particular one standing before him as he watched was a woman. A woman who embraced Pat. Ironically enough, the woman looked like Britton.

"Is that? No, it can't be! Was Britton with him, too?"

"That is no human either. That creature is the embodiment of the other. They are all one and the same. Three in one."

Jay couldn't believe what he was seeing. This whole situation had been some sort of power play and game. It had wreaked havoc on Jay's life. Destroying his career. Taking him from his family. Sending him through abuse after abuse. Ripping his very soul from his own body. Nothing Jay had experienced through this whole ordeal had ever been as it seemed. He didn't know what to believe. He didn't know where to turn. Rapha was letting him down. His friends hadn't helped him. His colleagues abandoned him. Even his family....my family! 

Jay was in full panic mode now. Whatever was going on, Jay knew his family was in jeopardy.

"Let me out of here! I WANT OUT OF HERE NOW, RAPHA!" Jay screamed at the top of his lungs.

"That creature is already there. It is too late."

"That's why I have to go back, NOW!"

"The ones you call Pat, Rob, and Britton are all there and will conquer all with their vessel."

"Vessel? What do you mean vessel, like a ship?"

"Yes."

Jay thought for a minute as it all started coming together. "The Fleece. The Fleece is their ship. That's how it moves."

"It is time to move on from that."

"It's time to move on from this. Send me back now, Rapha!"

"If you go there, you will surely die."

"I'm not going to let my family die!"

"What good will your family be if you die?"

"I can't leave them there with them! Send me back now!"

Jay kept screaming for Rapha to send him back to his world as darkness consumed all around him. Jay was alone, as alone can be. Rapha watched, waiting for the opportune time to send Jay back to his world, but it would come at a great price.

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

Linda was running up to the deceased guard as they came to a stop in front of her. Linda stopped and ducked behind a structure nearby. The nearby structure was a carousel from an amusement park. As she kneeled there watching, the deceased guard began to shake and convulse. His illuminated eyes were shown brighter and brighter until the light from them began to take over his entire body. His body was changing, too, growing older by the second as it began to decay. Finally, the light became intense, and the body it was in disappeared. The light rushed towards the ground, forming a structure on the floor. Linda looked down to observe a small bucket-like object. It had a handle and squared off base. The object Linda was seeing was none other than one of the handbags mentioned by Rapha.

Back when Rapha first appeared, he had disembodied Britton, seemingly killing her. But death was not the end result. Britton wasn't human but a variation of Pat, the Sentinel. Britton knew what Rapha would do to her and allowed it to happen. Rapha also knew it was a means to an end. Once Britton was disembodied, she waited patiently for the right pieces to be put in place to launch her true attack. While Rapha tried to show Jay the truth, Britton entered his body and released herself into our world. The handbag is a weapon that will allow Pat to complete what he needs, for the time of the Beast to reign has finally come.

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

Pat sat there, still with his eyes closed. Then, a smile came across his face. He opened his eyes.

In the room away from Pat's, Rob also smiled. Then they both said in unison.

"That's three."