All heads turned to look at Adam. He saw expressions ranging from shock, to fear, to amazement, to disdain. Adam nodded his agreement.
Mel continued, “Adam used RTP to stop the car from racing away with Maddie in it. In the process, the car flipped and crashed, killing the driver. Maddie and Paul were in the back seat of the car when it crashed, and they were unharmed, although Maddie was unconscious. Paul climbed out of the car and, impressed by Adam’s ability to quickly master RTP, he proceeded to invite Adam to join the KTP. When Adam refused, Paul pulled a gun and shot at him. Adam used RTP to block the bullet which ricocheted and found its mark by hitting Paul in the head, killing him instantly. So, in a sense, Paul shot himself with his own gun.”
There were more gasps and murmurs. Adam swallowed hard. It was tough for him to hear the story told out loud. It made it seem more incredible. He knew that the events had actually occurred, but he still secretly wished that it was all a bad dream from which he would wake up soon.
“Order,” Mel commanded.
Everyone went silent. All eyes were still on Adam. He wondered if he should say something. Just when the silence began to get unbearable the elderly man that Mel had called Albert spoke.
“Do you have any idea what you have done by killing the leader of the KTP? This is extremely bad. They will retaliate.”
Mel raised his hand and said, “Don’t jump to conclusions so quickly. The strangest thing occurred yesterday after Paul died. Instead of immediately retaliating, the other two armed men backed off and released Maddie and Adam. In fact, they had a civil conversation. One of the men claimed to be Jeremy, the KTP’s second-in-command. Adam, please tell us what Jeremy had to say.”
Adam wasn’t expecting Mel to call on him. He was glad to be offered a chance to speak for himself. This was his opportunity to plead his case, the same case he had spoken about to Mel about on the night they met. He had a feeling Mel knew what he was about to say. He gave Adam an encouraging look.
Adam sat up straighter in his chair, cleared his voice, and began. “We didn’t realize that Jeremy was the second-in-command until he identified himself. He was paired with Maddie’s former caretaker, Ian, whom we recognized right away. From the comments Paul and Jeremy made, I’m convinced that they had been spying on Maddie for some time. They knew Maddie was training me to use RTP, but they were surprised when they saw what I was capable of in person. Hell, I didn’t even know what I was capable of until I was put under the pressure of a life-or-death situation. No one was more surprised than I was.
“I told them that things didn’t have to be the way they were between the KTP and those who want peace. Jeremy agreed. He told me there are also other people in the KTP who agree with me and are willing to talk about a compromise or truce.
“He also stated that many of the KTP members were afraid of Paul and would never have spoken out against him while he was in charge. Jeremy seemed to show no remorse that Paul was dead. He’s in favor of meeting with you all to discuss a peace treaty. However, he did stress that we need to move on it quickly because he also fears that the hostile members of the KTP will try to retaliate soon. He doesn’t know how long he can hold them off. He wants to meet within the week.”
At this, people began shifting in their seats and murmuring.
A plump, middle-aged woman with tight, black curls and the name ‘Wyndolyn’ displayed at the bottom of her screen, spoke up.
“It’s probably a trap. They want to get us together so they can kill us all at the same time. They don’t have any mercy. I’ve never known a KTP member to be peaceful. It doesn’t seem right.”
Many people nodded their heads in agreement.
Adam said, “I agree it could be a trick. No one can know for sure. But I saw the look on Jeremy’s face. He seemed sincere. And the fact that he backed off and didn’t try to harm us makes me believe him even more. My gut feeling is that he is telling the truth. He let us go peacefully. Have you ever heard of that happening?”
The woman stared at Adam in disbelief. Several people shook their heads. It seemed as if some of them were beginning to believe it too. Mel nodded for Adam to continue.
“I believe that a bully effect has been going on for all these years,” said Adam. “The peaceful ones have always backed down when confronted by the KTP. Maddie and I witnessed firsthand that, if you stand up to the KTP, they will back down. This might be our chance to form an alliance, not just for the twelve of you, but for all of the peaceful ones.
“If we show up in force, like Martin Luther King Junior’s marches of peaceful resistance, at a time when the KTP is weakened from the death of their leader, I believe they will back down and listen to our pleas for peace.
“It will take them some time to mourn the loss of their leader and regroup. This might be the perfect opportunity for you all to be able to live in freedom—freedom from the oppression, freedom from having to hide and live under aliases, and freedom from having to wonder every day if and when the KTP will find you and enslave you or, even worse, kill you.
Maybe this is your chance to change things for the better so that you don’t have to live like this. And although you’ve managed to do it well for so many years, you can’t experience life to the fullest unless you are completely free.”
Adam searched the group’s faces to see if he was getting through to anyone. Some people looked down at their hands. Some had tears in their eyes. Some looked like they might be agreeing with him. Still others looked angry.
“It is against our beliefs to use Refined Transcendent Power for evil things,” chimed in a hulk of a man who was built like a professional wrestler. “It can only be used for good.”
Adam said, “Do you believe that a person who defends himself from evil is evil? Do you think that I am evil because I defended Maddie and myself and got us out of there alive? Yes, RTP was used to kill, but it was in self-defense. If people are killed in war, are the people who killed them evil? Or are they just defending their country, or their property, or their lives? If someone breaks into your house with the intent to harm you and your family, and you kill them, does that make you evil?”
Several people shook their heads.
“I’m not suggesting that we attack the KTP and try to kill them. I’m suggesting that we come out in full force and confront them and demand a peaceful agreement. We show them that we are not going to back down. We stand up to the bully. If they won’t back down and we have to defend ourselves, then so be it.”
A sinewy woman with short, spiky, rainbow-colored hair and several tattoos and piercings spoke.
“Isn’t the act of demanding a peaceful agreement in itself provoking them?”
Adam was surprised when Mel spoke in his defense and said, “Roxy, they’ve already been provoked—inadvertently—by Adam killing their leader. They are waiting on us to make a move now. I think Adam has a good point here. Maybe we have been doing it wrong all these years by allowing them to have power over us. They only have power over us because we let them. I don’t think we should take it anymore. We should prepare to defend ourselves against them in mass numbers. We have more power than we think, and more power than they think.”
A slender black woman said, “Their numbers are great. They probably have thousands among their ranks.”
She looked so young that Adam guessed she couldn’t have been a day over eighteen.
Mel gave a sly smile and said, “Think about it, Shannel. Worldwide, our numbers are greater. If we call all of the peaceful ones to action, we could have many more on our side.”
Chapter 45
Mel had everyone’s rapt attention when he said, “I agree with Adam. This might be our opportunity to finally stand up to the people who have oppressed us for so many years.”
Adam couldn’t believe Mel was actually agreeing with him. He recalled the night when he had confided in Mel his thou
ghts about standing up for the peaceful ones. On that night, based on Mel’s reaction, Adam had believed that Mel disagreed with him and was offended. He couldn’t read Mel’s reaction then. He wondered if Mel had changed his mind or if he had secretly agreed all along. Mel loved Maddie like a sister, and Adam knew he was deeply concerned about her coming so close to being the KTP’s latest victim.
Maybe that was what finally changed his mind.
A middle-aged man with smooth brown skin, glasses, and a beard interjected. “But if we decide to take a stand, it could mean bloodshed. Are we all willing to use RTP to hurt or kill others in the name of self-defense?”
Without hesitation, Mel said, “I, for one, am willing to do just that, Tarek. We will not provoke or initiate violence. I propose that we meet with the KTP in hopes of a peaceful agreement. But we must be prepared to defend ourselves if necessary. This may be our best opportunity to free ourselves. We can no longer allow the KTP to oppress us. We’ve let this drag on for far too long, and we need to stand up for ourselves.
“If Adam had not acted yesterday, he and Madeline would be dead or KTP prisoners. If the KTP had imprisoned them or killed them, would we just keep our heads in the sand and not act? That would be the wrong thing to do. We can’t wait any longer. Now is the time to act.”
For the first time, Maddie spoke up and said, “Mel’s right. We can gather our numbers and demand a peaceful resolution. Maybe, if enough of us stand up, we can reason with those in the KTP who have longed to change The Order but who have never had the courage to do so. They’ve been just like us all along, afraid to stand up for themselves. Adam said Jeremy wants to meet within the next week. We need to act before they have time to regroup and let their anger settle in.”
Roxy said, “What if we meet with the KTP and it’s a trap? What if we all end up being killed? Are we ready to ask thousands of people to possibly give their lives?”
Mel said, “We can only trust in RTP. We have to manifest positive results. We have all been taught that a single positive thought can outweigh a negative thought a thousand times over. And if thousands of people are thinking positive thoughts, there is no way the negative thoughts of the KTP could prevail. We have to believe without a doubt that there will be a positive outcome. Have we forgotten what we know about RTP? We can use it to achieve the desired outcome.”
There was silence for a moment. Adam thought that Mel was getting through to them.
The hulk spoke up. “You have a point, Mel. It is fear that holds us back. So far, no one has been willing to give their lives for this cause.”
Mel said, “Roman, have you forgotten that some have already given their lives—the ones who were captured by the KTP? They were given the choice to join or to die, and many chose to die. They were martyred for the cause.”
Roman clenched his jaw, narrowed his eyes, and said, “Of course I haven’t forgotten.”
Adam decided he would not want to be on the receiving end of Roman’s wrath.
Mel said, “Adam surprised the KTP by being the first to defend himself against them. They probably think he acted as a lone wolf and not with the consent of the group. So if we did meet with the KTP, they would not expect us to defend ourselves. We can plan this to our advantage. I believe we can do this. This is a golden opportunity we may never get again. I am ready to act upon it now. Who will join me?”
To Adam’s surprise, Maddie stood up immediately and said, “I will join you, Mel.”
Sancha and Adam stood up, almost at the same time, and said simultaneously, “I will join you.”
There was silence for a few moments, then slowly, Jonathan stood. On the monitor Roxy stood, followed by Roman and Shannel. Soon, others followed and stood. When it was all said and done and the final vote was cast, ten of the twelve council members agreed to take a stand. Two people, who hadn’t spoken so far, declined. The majority was in favor of meeting with the KTP.
Mel handed Adam a cell phone and said, “Use this burner phone to contact Jeremy. It will only be used for this one phone call, and then it will be destroyed. Tell Jeremy we will meet with them five days from now at the Hummingbird Ranch in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at 10:00 a.m. It’s a holistic and spiritual place where people go to find spiritual enlightenment, an ideal place for a peaceful meeting. We know the owners and will reserve the place for a private event.”
With everyone watching, Adam entered the number Jeremy had written on the citation form and hoped and prayed it was a valid number. It rang and rang. Just when Adam thought no one was going to answer, he heard a male voice say curtly, “Jeremy speaking.”
Adam mustered up as much authority in his voice as he could and said, “It’s me. The one you’ve been waiting to hear from.”
Jeremy was silent for a moment and then, without any pleasantries, said, “Were you able to arrange the meeting?”
“We want a peaceful meeting, Jeremy.”
“And so do I.”
“No tricks. No violence. Those are our terms.”
“Understood. You have my word.”
Adam gave him the meeting information Mel had instructed him to provide.
“I would prefer to meet at the KTP headquarters,” said Jeremy.
“Hummingbird Ranch is a neutral location,” retorted Adam. “We meet there, or we don’t meet at all.”
Jeremy was silent for a moment, considering. Adam held his breath.
“Fine. We’ll be there.”
Adam silently released his breath and gave Mel and the others a thumbs up. Without saying another word, Jeremy clicked off.
Adam laid the phone on the table. Mel touched it and, to Adam’s amazement, the phone shattered into a thousand tiny pieces that dissolved into nothingness when they hit the ground. Mel’s eyes met his again, and he said, “No one will ever be able to trace that call.”
Still amazed, Adam nodded. Mel addressed everyone else at the meeting.
“We now have exactly five days to use RTP to summon all of the peaceful practitioners from around the world. Leave no one out. We will need everyone we can get—masters, apprentices, and even newbies like Adam. Use every method available to us—our thoughts, secure phone and email messages, secure websites, and blogs, social media, and any other method that proves useful. Just be extremely careful. The KTP may be anticipating this and may try to intercept messages and obtain our locations. They’re just like the FBI in many ways. They have all the latest spying and tracking technology. We need as many peaceful practitioners of RTP as possible to stand with us. With all of the peaceful practitioners together in one location using their collective thoughts to control the outcome of the meeting, it can only be as we think it will be.
“I look forward to peace and freedom. I look forward to being able to live in this world without fear, without having to hide who we are and what we know, without having to keep RTP a secret from others who could benefit from it. For the next five days, until the meeting, summon as many people as you can. Focus your positive thoughts on the outcome of the meeting. Meditate on it as often as you can.”
One of the people who had voted against the meeting—a woman with fiery-red hair, ivory skin, and striking green eyes—said, “I’m sorry Mel, but I can’t join you on this. I can’t put my family in jeopardy.”
The other person who had voted against the meeting—a man who looked so similar to the red-headed woman that Adam thought they must be related—looked conflicted. He muttered, “I agree with Caragh. I’m sorry, too.”
Mel said, “Callum and Caragh, no pressure. It’s a lot to ask of anyone. You both have young children to consider. We will still consider you both trusted members of our council.” They solemnly nodded their understanding, then their monitors went blank as they signed off.
Everyone remaining sat in silence until Mel finally said, “I won’t keep you any longer. We will reconvene and begin
our planning sessions soon. I thank you for taking the time to meet with us on such short notice. I wish you all health and happiness.”
As the meeting adjourned, some people signed off immediately, while others remained connected. Some asked Maddie and Adam further questions about the events that occurred, particularly Adam since Maddie had been unconscious for most of the ordeal.
Adam noticed that Sancha took Maddie aside, hugged her, and comforted her. He was glad Sancha was there for her.
Mel shook Adam’s hand and said, “Thank you for giving us this opportunity. We should have taken a stand a long time ago.”
Not knowing what to say, Adam nodded. Even though he knew deep down that it was the right thing to do, he still didn’t know exactly how he felt about the whole situation. It was getting to be a bit too much for him—too heavy of a burden on his shoulders. He was still wrestling with his conscience about killing two people. The authorities would never know. There would never be a trial. He would never pay any penalty in the American legal system, but he was now probably the KTP’s most-wanted fugitive, and he imagined that the justice they would serve would be far worse than any he would encounter in the normal legal system. He feared his life would be in danger if the meeting didn’t go well with the KTP. He wondered if his relationship with Maddie could withstand this trial if it all went down wrong. He wondered if everyone would be forced to go even further into the underground and it would be his fault. He would have to leave his life as he knew it—the band, his friends, and even his family. They wouldn’t even know what happened to him. He would simply disappear, leaving them to mourn and wonder if he was alive or dead.
Then he thought about Maddie’s life and all she had been through. She had lived a life of lies and fake identities for over a hundred years. It made his heart ache for her. It also made him very angry at the KTP and Paul, who had once loved her and had probably still loved her in some strange and twisted way. Adam was angry that Paul had done this to her and all of the others. He had taken care of Paul, but it also made him want to lash out at the KTP. He was conflicted. He wanted to join the peaceful ones and be a practitioner of Refined Transcendent Power so that he and Maddie could be together forever—eternally young, eternally happy. But he couldn’t guarantee that future for them as long as the KTP existed and was still a threat. They would never be able to live their lives freely. It made him realize, even more so, that facing the KTP was the right thing to do.
After Thought Page 22