by Reilly, Jim
“What are you going to do?”
“If we’re talking Ancient Visitors, they must have got here somehow. I believe there must be a craft out there somewhere and it’s their base of operation. If we find that, at the most we might get an understanding of their plan and the scope of what they are trying to accomplish, but at the very least, we’ll have proof of their existence. That proof could then be broadcast for all to see in order to expedite our investigation.”
“We just tossed our Visors, how the hell are we going to communicate?”
“We’ll use an old terrorist trick and use an old electronic mail server and leave messages for each other in the drafts. We’ll be able to access it at any social media café or corner terminal. It’s much slower, but we’ll be able to communicate under the radar.”
At a local Italian transport terminal Leonardo’s group uses to ferry their people in and out, Johnny and Angelis along with half of Leonardo’s personnel left to investigate the location of the manufacturer of the UM ingredient on a separate transport.
Leonardo then approached Cameron, “Where to?”
“That’s a good question. In order to find that out, we’ll need to go to New York to see the only people I know who can help us.”
Outside of New York on the north shore of Long Island just off the grounds of Stony Brook University, Cameron in the cover of night walked down the street he grew up on. He went directly up to a side entrance to the fence off the backyard where he remembered playing ball. After making his way to the back door, he entered his code into the keypad hoping he remembered the correct numbers in the right order.
Once inside the modest two-story colonial it looked as if he hadn’t left so many years ago. Maybe there were new items on the mantel or hanging on the wall, but basically it was the same. This gave him a momentary reprieve from the dangerous investigation he had embarked on. The sudden feeling of the safety of home gave him a relaxed feeling, as if a ton of bricks had been taken off his shoulders.
Then a voice could be heard coming down the stairs, “Cameron, is that you?”
“Yes, I’m in the den,” he responded.
His mother then rushed to the den where she found Cameron sitting on the family couch. He rose up to meet her and her embrace.
“Mom, it’s good to see you,” he told her as he felt her tight embrace.
As his father, David Cho, entered, she expressed, “We’ve been so worried about you. Especially after seeing your initial report about what you uncovered in your investigation.”
Looking at his mother, Jennifer La Mont-Cho and his father, he told them, “I don’t have much time, but I need your help.”
David put his hand on his son’s shoulder, and told him, “It looks like you are up to your armpits in Ancient Visitors. We saw what one of those could do. So whatever you need, we’ll do.”
“That’s great because I suspect at least two possible imposters, along with other people, under their spell are involved.”
Jennifer asked, “What is it that you need from us?”
“First off, stay low. We don’t know the extent of their grip, especially in the United Nations.”
“When we got your message, we immediately resigned hoping on the outside we could investigate the United Nations folks without any internal avenues,” she told Cameron. “We gathered some trusted people and will try to root out any possible connection to the Ancient Visitors.”
“That’s good,” he told her. “But I’d like you to do me a favor and find a way to use your connections in the science community to monitor the airways for a signal, an Ancient Visitors’ signal that is. I suspect they have another craft here on Earth. It would make sense if there is one ship here. Even with the evidence, though, I still hope I’m wrong.”
“Wrong or not, you’ve stirred our interest,” David confessed. “After you sent the file, we’ve done some checking and determined that a good portion of United Nations personnel have taken the deep discounted enhancement offered by the Babylon Corporation. Every level of United Nations Personnel from low level interns to high ranking leadership positions have participated. If this UM ingredient does what you suspect it does, the ingredient is deeply rooted where we could be most vulnerable. It could give the Ancient Visitors influence over many throughout the organization. Think about it, they could get a law changed to their liking, they could put people of their choosing in leadership positions, and worse, they could make sure Earth’s defenses are not ready if the Ancient Visitors return in force. I have to tell you, I’m a bit disturbed by this.”
“I agree,” Jennifer stated. “There were some on my own team who took Babylon’s deal. Imagine, here I was looking for new ways to improve humanity, and the long fingers of the Ancient Visitors have infiltrated my team. I am beside myself just thinking about it.”
As David went into his study to contact colleagues he could trust, it gave Jennifer a chance to see how Cameron was handling his enhancement. She sat next to him on the couch as they waited, and asked, “What made you decide to make another attempt to be enhanced? It was a calculated risk you undertook. It’s a small fraction of people who are successful a second time. For the others, they must live with the consequences of malformation. Even worse, for some they experience extreme disfigurement.”
“To tell you the truth,” he told her. “I hadn’t planned on the enhancement. Something didn’t go as planned during the investigation, and to make a long story short, I was enhanced not of my choosing. Luckily, we had an enhanced technician on the inside, and she was able to make the necessary adjustments to make the successful change. I suppose I was fortunate she was there and knew my medical history. I imagine she saved me from deformity or worse.”
Cameron rarely ever spoke of anyone of the opposite sex, even when he was speaking to his parents in the past, so the mention of an enhanced woman intrigued Jennifer, “She??”
Realizing where his mother was going, he tried to stop her in her tracks, “Taylor…I mean… she’s… involved in the investigation.”
“Right,” Jennifer realized. “She’s the witness in your investigation. Wow, I guess you two got close. As your mother, I can see it in your face. You can’t hide it from me. Is she pretty?”
“Yes…but…but we’re not…Ah, let’s just drop this!”
“Okay,” she told an increasingly rattled Cameron. “But getting back to your unplanned enhancement, James Connor also was enhanced not of his original choosing. His was due to saving the human made serum from a terrorist attack by injecting it into his own blood stream. He too had to make the adjustment to the change. It wasn’t easy back then due to the lack of a support mechanism. Today, there is so much more help for you if you need it. Do you want me to arrange something?”
“I’m kind of busy at the moment,” Cameron explained to Jennifer as David re-entered the room.
To Cameron’s relief from Jennifer’s mothering, David informed them, “Multiple sources have confirmed to me a signal in the frequency band of the Ancient Visitors’ broadcast that day James Connor fell into that cavern and discovered the Ancient Visitor’s craft. It was just a strand of the frequency used that day. Up until now, it was always believed to be a residual or echo of the transmission that day in Ethiopia. Further analysis now indicates the signal is originating in Turkey. It is about sixteen miles from the Aegean Sea. The coordinates place it at the old ruins of the ancient Greek city of Pergamon in the Izmir province.”
After looking it up Jennifer thought, “This is most intriguing. It really is. This is a link to Scripture. Cameron, as you know, to defeat Bishop Terapion and the Followers of Divinity, the science and religious communities worked together to determine if Scripture could shed light on the situation. As it so happened, there were shreds of information we were able to use to make the connection. The Bible mentions 666 as the mark of the false prophet and as a connection to Scripture we found the blood of Bishop Terapion with 666 chromosomes. There were others as well.�
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“I’ll have to brush up on my Scripture before I get there,” Cameron figured.
“Nonsense,” she told him. “You’ll need to visit a small community in Central Africa. There you need to speak to an old assistant to someone who worked with us on our team to defeat Bishop Terapion. She assisted Pastor Charles Robinson at the time and was present for the assault on Jerusalem where we finally defeated Bishop Terapion. She personally went on the mission. With Pastor Charles deceased now for five years, she would be best to understand the implications that ancient city is in Scripture.”
“I don’t understand,” said a puzzled Cameron. “Why do I need to see this person?”
“Cameron, the city of Pergamon in the Book of Revelations is said to be the throne of Satan. Now, that person you must see is Sha’nay Barnwell.”
After returning to the transport, Cameron instructed a baffled Leonardo to set a course for Central Africa and a small community living there. Then without being noticed by local air traffic controllers, the stealth transport zoomed into the darkness leaving the North Shore of Long island in its wake.
Upon arriving at a dusty community consisting of a few dozen grass huts, Cameron found a place that had given up almost all technology. It was also a community diverse in every nationality. As far as he could tell, everyone wore nothing more than white robes.
A greeter met Cameron and his party, “Welcome to the Peace, Love, and Serenity movement. We are happy for your presence. Would you like to rest after your long trip? We can provide quarters for your leisure.”
“That won’t be necessary,” explained Cameron. “We would like to take a few moments to speak with Sha’nay Barnwell.”
“Very well, I’d be happy to bring you to her,” said the man in a white robe. “Please follow me.”
They were led through the grass huts heading toward a clearing where a woman sat under a tree with several children. Leonardo told Cameron and Taylor, “I’ve never been here, but I’ve heard of this place. I believe its call Nirvana. People come here to be enlightened while letting go of their personal desires and pain. In our travels we’ve heard it is a growing movement that doesn’t push any one religion or denomination. It helps people reach a state of peacefulness in their mind and soul.”
The man in the robe, summoned the woman sitting in the shade with the children. When she got up, she told the children, “Go now, and think about what I told you. Love not only one another but also love yourself. Tomorrow, we’ll have another lesson.”
Cameron instantly recognized her from the accounts of the battle for Jerusalem. Now thirty years later, the onetime youngest member of that assault team was now a mature woman. Yet, she still presented the same innocent look on her face as she did thirty years ago.
Still watching the children go off to catch up with their parents, the woman turned to Cameron and his companions, Taylor and Leonardo as she cut a piece of fruit with a knife, and said to them, “Welcome, I am told you have sought me out. How can I serve you?”
“Hi, I’m Cam--”
“Cameron Cho, I believe. You look much like your parents.”
Impressed he continued, “Yes, I’m Cameron Cho, and they are Taylor McGrath and Leonardo DeRosa.”
“I’m Sha’nay Barnwell, and please, make yourselves at home here for all are welcomed.”
“Sha’nay, we appreciate your hospitality, but we will only be here for a brief moment,” Cameron told her. “We are looking for information about the ancient City of Pergamon and the so called Throne of Satan. My parents had expressed how knowledgeable you are with religious texts and their relevance to the Ancient Visitors during the Followers of Divinity conflict. We have a situation where we may have other Ancient Visitors here on Earth.”
“Please let me know what you need.”
“To get to the point, we are investigating a possible Ancient Visitor signal being sent from the ancient ruins of Pergamon. Apparently, as you know, the city was known as the Throne of Satan. What could you tell us about this?”
“I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth,” Sha’nay articulated Scripture from the Bible to them. “Pergamon was a Hellenistic city in Turkey during the early development of Christianity. At the time of the writing of the Book of Revelations, it had been under Roman influence. The belief in the Roman Gods was prevalent. Due to the belief that he chased away the pagan gods or demons, the Christian bishop named Antipas was killed in 92 AD. He was burned alive in a belly of a carved out bull. The Christian community, especially the writer of the Book of Revelations believed that due to that action, the city was where evil or Satan had been an influence.”
Leonardo then asked, “Sha’nay, is there an actual throne of Satan there in Pergamon?”
“Historians believe this is a reference to the Altar of Zeus. However, the structure was taken away and rebuilt in a museum in Germany. Nevertheless, at the time of Antipas, not only that altar decorated Pergamon, there were countless other shrines to other gods throughout the city, thus the reason for resentment from the early Christians.”
“That’s interesting Sha’nay,” Cameron said. “But what I would like to know is how to defeat the Ancient Visitors. Is there something in Scripture that is relevant to defeating the Ancient Visitors?”
Sha’nay gave a warming smile and told them, “It is written in the Book of Revelations in regard to Pergamon: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.”
As Cameron tried to digest what Sha’nay just told him, Taylor asked her, “I am sure that this is not the case, but for arguments sake, what do we do if we run into Satan at his throne?”
“The simple answer is: be good. Satan is evil and the voice you hear in your mind. He thrives on weakness. On the contrary, he is easily defeated by good, the other voice you hear whispered to you. It is, however, not always the easiest path to take.”
Cameron then asked, “Sha’nay, what is meant by the hidden manna or, for that matter, the white stone?”
“That is what you will have to learn in your journey. Now please excuse me for I have to meditate with the others here. This time of the day we all get together, the whole community to meditate and relieve the stress of life. You are welcome to join us, if you like.”
Cameron, realizing they needed to get going, showed appreciation and let the man in the white robe lead them back to their transport.
After taking a few steps away from them heading towards the center of the small community, Sha’nay turned around, “I will offer you this blessing: Blessed are the ones who endure under the trial of life, because when one has stood the test successfully, that one will receive an eternal life filled with joy.”
Again, showing appreciation, Cameron and his companions left for the transport not before Sha’nay gave the small knife she used to cut the fruit and said, “Take this. It might be needed someday.” Confused, Cameron accepted it and left.
On the way to Pergamon, Leonardo took the transport to one of the hidden conclaves his people used for keeping their organization a secret. There the group re-supplied with weapons and food. It also offered Cameron time to check the old email server he was using to communicate with Johnny’s group, as well as his parents. While there was nothing from Johnny, there was, though, a message from his parents: In Pergamon, meet up with Dr. Ken Lewis. He’s an old friend and a well-respected anthropologist well versed in biblical text and Roman-Greco history.
*****
31st Century.
Walking along Highway 6 through the Israeli countryside, an old couple heading north saw D’Shawn walking along the road and pulled over to pick up the tall enhanced man. D’Shawn
tired from walking now for three hours accepted the invitation. When he got into the compact vehicle, he thanked them and introduced himself, “You have my appreciation. I am D’Shawn Williams.”
Even though he was enhanced, the short man with a thick mustache and long sideburns told him, “Yes, I know who you are. I am Abe Bernstein and this is my wife, Delores. Where are you heading? I hope it is to take cover, word all over the Grid says an Ancient Visitor ship is on its way.”
Staring out the window of the vehicle, D’Shawn stated, “Megiddo, I am going to Megiddo.”
Dolores said, “We are heading to Nazareth and we’ll be passing near Megiddo. It shouldn’t be a problem, and we’d be happy to get you there.”
“Again, you have my appreciation.”
Abe then wondered, “As we know the Ancient Visitors are on their way, and this might be the end for us all. Could I ask you a question?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Why are you going to the old ruins at Megiddo? It is nothing but an historical site, an outdoor museum. It would’ve been a nice place to visit if not for this alien invasion thing going on. I’m pretty sure the people running the site have deserted their posts.”
Still looking out at the countryside as the vehicle sped along, D’Shawn told them, “I’ve been told to go there and wait.”
After the husband and wife looked at each other, he told him, “Whatever your reason, we’ll be happy to take you there.”
Looking away from the window then at the passengers, he asked, “What are you going to see in Nazareth?”
Deloris answered, “We are going there to be with our son and his wife. They have three grown children, a boy and two girls. We’d like to be there with them when the world ends.”
Curious, D’Shawn asked, “I’ve been walking for hours. Have people started to prepare for what’s coming?”