“First, let me say I know you’re angry. You think I kept you here to help, and implicitly and falsely kept Orsin in the dark.”
“I don’t think that. I know that. Orsin did nothing wrong, and as far as deceiving him, that’s a fact. Why would you do such a thing?”
Hecate started to cry, her emotions overwhelming her anger. But her sense of betrayal was almost too sad to bear. Even for a young Immortal.
“I’d rather not discuss this, at least not now.”
“No. We talk now and that’s final. You never should have done this to Orsin and made me cooperate. I never should have gone along with this ruse, not for you, not for anyone. You made me. You are not forgiven. You can disown me, if that’s your desire, because I’m not your real daughter. I’ll go elsewhere if you can’t trust me and Orsin.”
“Is that what you think? That I’d ever disown you or treat you any differently than any of my children? I don’t think you believe that; I think you’re hurt and angry. I can tell you that this had nothing bad to do with you or Orsin, though I admit now you both probably had a right to know. Decisions were made. What was done was a ruse to smoke out the traitors and deceivers who were blocking our progress, but not by me. And it worked.”
“And you, or someone, thought Orsin was a part of that group?”
“Of course not. But Orsin is young and sometimes says things he should not; sometimes that information comes from you. Pillow talk. He shares confidences with lifelong friends even when you tell him not too. It’s a natural thing. In this case, Fionna thought it best to keep Orsin in the dark temporarily, especially since I was not around at the time. It was a precaution. Even a rumor of a big event coming up, some secret might have destroyed our one chance to find out who our enemies were. I wasn’t expecting the Lab to be the rat’s nest it was; Alana, Kendra and Fionna all thought it was the military and maybe even the Councils. Maybe some holdover scientists from the Black Shirts or other malcontents. We had a profile drawn up, most of one scenario was correct; we pounced fast and took care of the problem. I kept Orsin out of this so he would not be implicated if any of his people were involved; unfortunately, some were. I’m sorry, but that’s why I kept you with me and Orsin in the dark. I never said Orsin was involved; neither did anyone else. We still believe that.
Adam paused and took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry that I deceived you. And yes, I have been avoiding you. This needs to be behind us now, and you need to carry on. So does Orsin. I will be gone soon, then none of this will matter. I have only a short time left, and I have much to do. So, forgive me or don’t, but I don’t have any more time to deal with you being angry with me right now. You have your assignments which are not complete because you thought I was overly cruel. Maybe I was.”
“Don’t be angry with me father. I can’t stand it when you are. I’m sorry I thought your intentions were bad; but you’re right. I do have a big mouth and say too much to Orsin. I never thought, I mean he didn’t try to do anything intentionally wrong. He loves you. We made mistakes.”
“Sweetie, I know. And I’m not angry at you at all. Or Orsin. I love you and always will; but time draws short and we have much to do. You have to prepare. So do I. We cannot change our fates.”
Hecate transformed to physical form and hugged her father. “I’m so sorry.”
Adam looked at his daughter, then said, “One day you will have to make decisions like this. I just hope it’s not with someone like my daughter who scares even her own father at times.”
“I’m a kitten with you. I like to scare the others just for fun.”
“Don’t worry about Orsin. We’ve all had enough stress and anxiety for now, and I know we’re all tired and edgy. Everything will be fine.”
“I wish I knew that was true. But I’m scared. I don’t know if I can do what I’m supposed to do. I wish I could say I did.”
“We’ll face this together, you and me. Then you’ll have to be strong. Strong for both of us.”
***
A week later, all prepared and ready for the World Tour, Adam and his entourage met with Vasquez and his working group in Rome. Their first appointment was with the Pope and the College of Cardinals. Edward came along, but soon enough, he would have other duties.
He would have to go to the UK, to the Manor, and say his final goodbyes to Hecate.
Then, nothingness?
Chapter 55
The World Tour was over, and although all felt better after their months on the road, none knew whether they had convinced enough of the key stakeholders that their plan had to be followed and quickly, or even at all. The religions were not all on board; some saw it as a challenge to their beliefs and their view of the end of times; others simply saw it as a part of the natural world. The Vatican supported Adam and blessed his work; the eschatology of the Catholic end of times was not yet fulfilled; the Pope was certain all Christians, Muslims and Jews, those of the Book, would accept his interpretation, and support would be unified. His Holiness was said to believe this to actually be a sign from God that all creatures under Heaven should be united as a new era of peace and revelation would take place. He sent his Cardinals and Bishops around the world, spoke to his fellow Christians and convened a Holy council of all religions at the Vatican. Most Orthodox religious figures attended; some did not. There was insufficient time for unanimity; what they could gather and present to Adam for Liara would have to do. If Adam was right, and there was not enough concurrence to a plan for the future of mankind, nothing else would matter. They would all be dead anyway.
The Gens, and what was left of the once mighty Nobilus Magnus, were all now on board with Adam and the plan. The genetics part of combining species was still speculative, but the initial reaction of geneticists from the three species was full and total cooperation. It was also unclear what the Gens would have to do to cooperate in this fusion of genes, but now even the Gens of the Eighty-One accepted that they would have to begin the process of remaining in human form long enough to be able to procreate with compatible humans. For the humans, seeing Hana, the Princess of the Gens Wildmen in human state, the choice about dating and mating was easy. The experience of the Eighty-One living harmoniously and symbiotically, being centuries old, would help convince humans that species interdependence was not only achievable, but also a good thing and no threat to humanity. The histories and experiences of the Gens and humans of the Eighty-One were hastily compiled by historians of both species and disseminated widely around the world.
The story of the Nobilus, and the possibility that a human might be related to a Nobilus, was both scary and exciting.
Countries were gradually accepting and promoting as a fact that homo sapiens was not alone, that other intelligent species existed and had existed from before mankind stumbled out of Africa. Assurances were given that no one had to participate in the new Movement, as it was now named, but that large scale intimate contact among the species was going to happen soon. Adam warned that any “hunting” of Gens or Nobilus would receive his top priority for retribution and retaliation. He was clear by what he meant: he would hunt down and kill any individual, group, faction, religion or country that attempted to threaten the peace by attacking the other two species. If humans wanted to remain pure, that was fine. Ditto the Gens. Those who wished to receive knowledge and take the leap to discover what it meant to be either Gens or Nobilus were welcome. New cities under protective domes, outfitted with the latest technology and sustainable practices, would be set up; safe zones for the experiment to continue. Gens Preserves would also be similarly protected as would human-only cities for those fearing the revelation of other smart creatures who could now hunt them. For many humans, the thought that they did not completely dominate the world was impossible to comprehend. There had been no warning; one day humanity was on top as always, then, one day later, that was no longer the case.
Technology and knowledge would be shared, but Adam warned that certain small chan
ges in genetics and brain chemistry would be a consequence of the gifts. To many humans, this, or any other change, was not acceptable. It was merely the stuff of conspiracy theories; Adam or his real masters, probably aliens, were trying to take over the planet; they decided they would not be a part of a bloodless revolution and go gently into that good night. If they did not fight, it only meant they were content to be left alone, not that they agreed to what was going on in the world.
Universities were invited to receive knowledge quickly so that research could be carried out regarding the consequences of genetic combination. One goal was for future wars, of any sort, to cease immediately, and certain social adjustments would have to take shape in the form of a Charter of Rights and Responsibilities, drafted by the United Nations, now empowered by beings with knowledge and technology. Only those willing to join the Movement were required to do anything. All newcomers from any species could go to the domed city of their choice for safety, and were free to leave at any time. They could not, however, be allowed to take tech or knowledge with them. They would be fully restored to whatever mental state they had been in previously, before knowledge was given. Sites were chosen and the means to begin building out domed cities was planned a on a global scale. The promise of ending war, poverty and crime with domed cities impervious to attack found favor with smaller groups of the long dispossessed, or the objects of intense ethnic, racial or cultural discrimination and genocide. Countries would not be required to have domed cities, but neither could they prevent their citizens from leaving or having a domed city constructed in their territory.
Adam promised a timetable of how the world might look in five, ten or even fifty years, and that all results from all domed cities, advances in science and technology, would be shared with the world at large so long as it was not used for war, genocide or a forbidden purpose. The reduction in death due to illness, thanks to science and Gens genetics, was a major revelation and was an inducement for groups with specific genetic challenges to moved to the “Domes” for healing and treatment.
The revelation of Immortals was a little more difficult to grasp but, for those willing to be in psychic communication, Niona and Fionna opened a telepathic connection to those with the gene and with the knowledge who wanted to experiment with the marvels of the Universe.
Adam said that to participate in the experiment, humans, Gens and Nobilus had to possess the gene, but gene therapies would be developed for those who wished to be a part of the experiment, but who could not then receive the knowledge. The benefits of mind union were especially enticing to the young; they asked if they could somehow try it on before committing to it fully. As Adam had never considered “test driving” participation as an option, so he tasked his people in Paraiso, especially the Immortals, to investigate how that might be accomplished.
Niona and Fionna had some ideas and, since they could work with millions at a time, could discern real intent, they set about planning how to “teach the teachers”. Modules of learning were developed, and the gift of knowledge would initially be targeted and incremental. Over time there would be protocols, but all knowledge would be shared with everyone freely until genetics alone would provide entry level knowledge at birth and throughout life.
Not everyone was convinced; instead it was likely that by the end of the Tour, less than fifty percent of humanity was even willing to consider the experiment or believed any of it to be true. “Space Alien” theories abounded claiming this was a soft takeover of the planet by Martians. The nature of this “Liara” entity was also cause for doubt. If she had such great power, why would she not just clean house and destroy the planet, then start over again? Adam explained that that was her intent. The only way to avoid mass extinction of every species was to try to restart the process of an evolution of the three species that was meant to be dominant, but was whose evolution was interrupted. He cautioned that if they truly wanted no part of the experiment, then they should do nothing and discover for themselves what thirty thousand degrees of searing global heat felt like.
Still, even among those open to Adam, there was widespread skepticism; Adam had done what he could. When his time came, which was now only days away, he could only hope that Liara would find the effort sufficient. Without question, if she did, she would also require the world to make progress or the next time she returned, they would all go the way of the dinosaur.
The Immortals, including Hecate, would have to continue to be patient and demonstrate that Immortals existed and would help this tiny unimportant planet. But if the planet didn’t want their help, the Immortals would be content to leave them to their fate and go elsewhere.
Adam suggested privately that it might take centuries, if not millennia, to know if the experiment was to fully succeed or fail. He had never discussed this time frame with Liara; he had no idea what she would say.
Still, he had averted the all-out war of the three species, brought revelation to his people, and begun a process. He wished he could do more, but that was not his bargain with Liara. When the time came, Adam brought all his family back to Paraiso for a final goodbye. Hecate and Adam were to leave in the morning for the UK and the Manor. His time was up, and Liara had commanded his presence to seal his fate. Niona was not invited; if she was to die with Adam, that was not Liara’s business.
He had briefly considered asking Hecate not to leave with him and stay in Paraiso and the City of Light. He wanted to sneak out and leave without farewells, but she nixed that idea. Adam knew the pain he would feel at their parting; he knew this farewell would not be easy. He did not think himself a coward so much as he did not wish to look into Hecate’s eyes, nor the eyes of all those who had travelled with him on this journey, and say that he would miss them so much, each and every one of them. For those with whom he had been brusque, he apologized. For those he had hurt, he was deeply sorry. For those who had cursed his existence, he forgave them. In the end, he said, he was at peace with himself and all his decisions, both good and bad. If he had the chance to choose again, he would always choose life over death for his home and people, and look for the good in every one of God’s creatures. He reminded them that though Liara had great power, she was not God, nor even a faint glow of the Almighty. Adam had never lost his faith, nor his belief in the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope was his spiritual leader and God’s representative on Earth. Others could disagree, and most would. But they were not him, and his faith had been strengthened, not weakened, by all that had happened.
He went to Mass and Confession one last time, asking God to forgive his many sins.
For Adam, it was now time to meet his fate.
Chapter 56
Hecate and Adam arrived at the Manor, now deserted except for a single caretake who did little more than putter around the grounds, make sure the grass was cut, and assure that no one came on the property to disturb or vandalize it. They approached his small cabin to alert him they were on the grounds and would be for several hours. As a precaution, Hecate entered his mind and put him to sleep; father and daughter did not want the Brits showing up or needing to have Hecate defend Adam in the usual way.
They entered the Misti Building, now eerily deserted with white sheets and plastic covering on the furniture. The sight brought back memories of happier times; Adam was sad that Liara had chosen the Manor for his ultimate place of demise. A small cruelty, he thought, the kind of small detail in which Liara would delight.
They pulled off some covers and sat, waiting for Liara to make her grand entrance of triumph and gloat over the completion of her covenant with Adam to save humanity from destruction. Liara was never late for her small demonstrations of malice and spite. He did not understand her role in the RealVerse; her behavior was more like a cruel human who just lived longer. She was a fraud in many respects, but her power was undeniable. She was also an accomplished liar and prevaricator, so he wondered what more truth he would learn from her here at the end.
She appeared
suddenly in holographic form in the center of the room, looking New York City fashionable and absolutely stunning.
“I applaud your fashion sense, Liara, but aren’t you a bit a little too haute couture for an execution?”
“Perhaps, but I thought I’d like to show off what you’ll be missing now that you’ve taken the path that you took. I’m a dreamboat in bed and can carry out every mortal fantasy ever conceived, no questions asked. You should have taken my offer. We could have ruled Earth together with you as King and me as your Immortal God.”
“Ironic because had I done as you asked, there would have been no New York City, Paris or Milan. So, once again, your actions make no rational sense.”
“Sure they do. Just not to ignorant mortals like you.”
“Yeah, yeah, heard it all before. You’re so full of shit; you’re no wiser than every third human walking around on this planet and you have a lot worse character than most of the rest. Tell me honestly, what is this really all about? Here to gloat? We’ve done an accounting; I’ve done as you asked, and we have accomplished much. I assume you will accept my success and keep to your end of the bargain?”
“I will. Every millennium, for ten millennia, I will check on the species’ progress. If they backslide, then there will be consequences.”
“No immediate genocide or planet-o-cide?”
“Maybe. But we still have a couple of items to discuss. And I want you to know what’s on my mind before you die.”
“Why not tell Hecate? She can explain everything to the world after I’m gone.”
“When you’re dead, Hecate is coming with me. She will not be returning to that giant cave you call Paraiso.”
Hecate shouted, “No! My husband is there, and there I will remain.”
“Hecate, dear, you’re not the only Immortal who can implode heads. Or, my personal favorite, explode heads. You can come along quietly with me or your husband will be tomato splatter on a wall somewhere. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”
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