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.
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