Story # 5.4: The Arrival

                                                   

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

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

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

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

"Chaos. Pure chaos, Pat."

Pat did not respond.

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

Pat did not answer.

Britton continued looking at Pat.

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

"Not good? For whom?"

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

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

Pat looked at Britton and smiled.

"Whatever they want."

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

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

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

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

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

"And the people? Everywhere?"

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

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

"Then let them turn."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rob looked back at Pat again, waiting patiently.

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

Pat finally spoke.

"Deploy."

"Really?" Rob asked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Again, in unison, everywhere, "No!"

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

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

"I am here for our world."

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

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

"Good. Prepare to broadcast."

"Rapha?"

"Yes, Jay."

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

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

"Because we exist between dimensions."

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

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

"Very well, Jay."

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

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

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

"We are here because of a grave injustice."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"What are you doing?" Britton asked.

Pat pressed a button, "Ready the weapons."

Britton and Rob were looking at Pat now.

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

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

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

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

Story # 5.3: The Journey Home

 

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

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

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

Enter Pat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"What's that?" asked Rapha.

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

Rapha nodded in agreement.

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

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

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

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

"Earth? We call it Terra."

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

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

Rapha did not react.

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

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

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

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

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

"Yes, but they are both beautiful."

"My wife will be older."

"But still beautiful just the same."

"The world will be different, too."

"Yes, it will."

"Because of Pat?"

"Partly."

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

"Partly."

"What else?"

"There's also Britton."

"She's gone."

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

"She'll have a new form."

"She already does."

"As what, Rapha?"

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

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

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

Rapha nodded in agreement.

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

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

Jay looked at Rapha, somewhat bewildered.

"The leader?" Jay replied.

Rapha nodded again.

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

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

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

"And then what?"

"You know what, Jay."

Jay looked back at Rapha again.

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

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

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

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

Jay stared at Rapha.

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

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

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."