by Goodwin,Mark
“Prime Minister Alexander has completely dismissed the fallacy, citing that Japan, New Zealand, and Ukraine are all signatories of the Global Republic charter. Absolute sanctions have been enacted on China and Russia, banning all international aid, commerce, and trade by GR signatories. Alexander expressed His High and Most Prepotent Majesty, Angelo Luz’s desire for peace above all, but warned that the Global Republic had responsibilities to its signatories which could include military action if China and Russia refuse to remove their forces from those countries.
“In a statement this morning at the new GR General Assembly building, Prime Minister Alexander reiterated the Global Republic’s initiative to reorganize the militaries of the individual signatories under the guide of Global republic peacekeeping forces and the Republic’s Elite Guard. He is calling on all those with prior military service to enlist. Those applications can be made at your regional census station.
“In other news, Press Secretary Athaliah Jennings gave GRBN an interview last night. We will be re-airing the full interview tonight at eight o’clock. The highlights included her reminder to avoid pop-up markets, barter networks, and flea markets. She said that not only are all of these activities illegal, but they are also highly dangerous. Participants in such activities put themselves at risk to contract typhoid or other diseases, and there are widespread reports of theft and robbery in areas known to be hubs for illegal trade.
“Secretary Jennings pointed out that the currencies used in these markets are also illegal and possession of such currencies will carry stiff penalties after the amnesty period which expires on March 15th. Such currencies include all paper and coin issued by the former sovereign countries of the GR, including US dollars, Canadian dollars, and Mexican pesos. Gold and silver bullion are also on the list of prohibited currencies, and any jewelry which is caught being used for trade or barter will likewise be treated as contraband.
“Jennings repeated previous exhortations to operate within the confines of GR law, saying that while the GR has decriminalized prostitution and recreational drug use, those activities still must be transacted through government approved channels using the Mark for payment to prevent health risks and crime.”
Kevin shook his head. “So it’s okay to get a hooker and shoot heroine, as long as you pay for it with the Mark?”
“Well, it’s not okay for you.” Sarah gave him a stern look.
He hugged her. “That’s not what I meant.”
“As long as you pay for it with the Mark.” Courtney rolled her eyes. “Otherwise, it’s at-risk behavior.”
They turned their attention back to the radio.
The reporter continued. “In North American news, typhoid inoculations are being administered at all census centers. The small injection contains a new vaccine which can be used to kill off an existing infection or give the recipient immunity from the disease. Those who are treated at the census stations will receive their implant at the same time, which will conveniently contain all of their health records, including their recent typhoid inoculation.
“While services could be paid for using the very same Mark, it will not be necessary as this is the first service provided by the new Global Republic Health Organization at no charge. As the administrative infrastructure of the GRHO is built out, all health services will be provided without cost to the consumer. The GRHO will incorporate elements from the World Health Organization, the former American Department of Health and Human Services, as well as all other health services administrative agencies from the former sovereign countries in the GR.
“In local news, electrical power is slated to be restored to the surrounding areas of the former District of Columbia, New Atlantis. These areas will include Winchester, Harrisonburg, Culpeper, and Fredericksburg as well as the smaller towns in the region. These regions may have felt somewhat neglected in having power restored. The delay has been caused by the massive requirement of power in the former DC area to get New Atlantis up and running. If you live in one of these areas, Minister to the Americas, Richard Clay wants you to know that your sacrifice is appreciated.”
“Hold up! The news media is just releasing official statements on behalf of the government?” Kevin protested. “So much for the fourth estate.”
“The fourth estate died a long time ago.” Courtney pursed her lips.
“At least we’re getting electricity.” Sarah looked optimistic.
Everett shook his head and held up a finger. “Wait for it.”
The anchor proceeded to relay the news. “All utilities have been absorbed by the GR. Water and electric services can be applied for at your local census office. Your Mark will be used to process your account for service connection, billing, and payment. Once essential services are restored, cable, internet and satellite services will be reestablished. Your Mark will also be your credentials for accessing emergency food rations. While the occupancy capacity of most census stations are already maxed out with administrators trying to get citizens registered, vaccinated, implanted and utilities restored, emergency relief food centers are being set up at nearby locations. Often times, food distribution tents are being set up in adjacent parking lots or buildings next door. More populated areas have multiple census stations set up, usually at schools, post offices, county courthouses, police stations or firehouses. Smaller towns will typically have the census station at the facility which is most central to town out of that list. The exact location of census stations will be posted on the front door of all public buildings. If you still don’t know where your nearest census office is, just stop by the nearest public building, such as a school, post office, courthouse or police station. If it’s not there and there’s no one there to ask, a list of census locations will be posted on the door. The lines are getting longer and longer, so don’t wait until the last minute. People who do, may find themselves standing in lines for extended periods. As long as you are in line to register by March 15th, you won’t be in violation, but why wait?”
Kevin turned off the power. “That’s it. We need to hit one of those supply trucks to round out our seven years’ worth of supplies.”
Immediately, Everett’s heart began racing. His eyes widened as he looked at Courtney to see her reaction. She looked as if she were caught off guard by the comment, but not as though she objected. He glanced at Sarah who acted as if she’d already thought of the plan. “Um, can we talk about that? Is there perhaps a more sensible way to acquire goods than knocking over a GR convoy of supplies?”
Kevin nodded. “I understand your apprehension, and I probably blurted that out without thinking about how I should have phrased it.” He looked at Sarah. “I know you two don’t know us very well yet, but we haven’t survived this long by acting fast and loose. If we make a move, it will be well thought out. We’ll have as much information as possible, and the mission will have an extremely high likelihood of success. If we don’t like the odds of pulling a plan off, we absolutely won’t execute it. I’m not a cowboy.”
Everett smirked. That was funny because cowboy was exactly the term he would have used to describe Kevin. He felt somewhat easier about the situation, but Everett was in no hurry to start his career as a pirate. “So what did you have in mind?” he asked cautiously.
“I’m not sure. Can you still access the GR communication satellites?”
Everett shrugged. “It depends whether the GR is still using the old passwords for the intelligence databases. At some point, that will all end.”
Kevin stroked his beard. “The data is still going to the same hard drives right?”
Everett tilted his head from side to side. “Yes and no. The Utah data center has been on line for a while, but everything, and I mean everything is being shifted to Utah. And at some point soon, government passwords will be replaced by biometric authentication that will utilize the Mark. It tracks your specific heartbeat which is more unique than your fingerprint.”
“But there’s a way around everything, right?”
Kevin asked.
Everett shook his head slowly. “Not Utah. It houses a series of seven quantum super computers called Dragon.”
Sarah seemed to catch on first. “You mean like AI?”
Everett sighed. “I mean like self-aware.”
Sarah shivered as she hugged Kevin. Her face was wrought with concern. “Oh no. And that thing is running the whole Global Republic?”
Kevin seemed to be processing the implications. “Could we take it out? I mean theoretically, in a perfect world, if we had the right equipment.”
Everett chuckled as he thought about how far from a perfect world they lived in. “No. Dragon is plugged into every computer on the web, every store surveillance camera, every traffic light cam, every keyhole satellite, and it has its own army of drones that are always watching over the data center and it can make its own decisions on when to attack. Trust me, if the Russians and the Chinese knew what I knew, they’d give up and sign the charter right now.
“So, no, you wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.” The totality of Dragon’s ability seemed to be sinking in for Kevin.
“Well, Dragon holds a distant second place in all those things, but I think that’s what the designers were going for.” Everett sat back in his chair. “If you’d rather just sit back and try to ride it all out to the end, we have some gold and silver coins that we could use to buy more supplies if we can find a barter market that’s still operational.”
“That’s a pretty big if,” Kevin commented. “Besides, even if I can’t win, I’d like to know I’m doing my part to cause the New World Order some problems. If we can take out some of their supplies, we financially set them back by the same amount we increase our own wellbeing.”
Courtney giggled. “Kind of like double coupon day.”
Kevin smiled at her. “Exactly. Does that mean you’re on board?”
Courtney looked at Everett and smiled. “I don’t know. Are we on board?”
Everett was hesitant, but he was obviously in the minority. “Believe me, I’ve got no love for the GR, but if we’re going to make any moves, they have to be flawlessly devised.”
“Sounds like it’s unanimous!” Sarah said.
Later that evening, Everett answered the knock at the door. “Come in. Elijah, this is Kevin and Sarah.”
The old prophet wiped his feet thoroughly. “I’ve heard so much about you. It’s a pleasure.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.” Kevin shook Elijah’s hand.
Sarah squeezed around the side of a stack of plastic bins to shake hands with Elijah as well. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Sorry we’ve made sort of a mess of the place.”
Elijah smiled. “Most people in the world today would be delighted to have the problem of having too many supplies to be able to walk through the house.”
Kevin followed the rest to the kitchen. “Everett says you can take us to a cave where we might find a little more storage space.”
“I can do that.” Elijah nodded. “Once the roads clear, that is.”
Everett pulled a chair out for Elijah. “It supposed to be in the fifties tomorrow. Of course that’s down in Woodstock. Still we should at least hit the mid to high forties. If it’s sunny, that should get the snow off the roads.”
“Thank you.” Elijah sat in the chair offered to him. “I trust you had an uneventful move; no trouble from the authorities?”
“No, but we saw plenty of signs of the buildup for a total clampdown. The GR is building checkpoints and detainment areas up and down the highway.” Courtney began plating up the sweet-and-sour chicken dish she’d prepared. John Jones had stored up several buckets of premium dehydrated food pouches. Since there was a lot more beans and rice than the premium long-term-storage foods, they were reserved for special occasions such as this dinner. She’d prepared three of the Asian sweet-and-sour rice packets, and added the home-canned meat from one of Elijah’s chickens.
Sarah took a seat next to Elijah. “They’re gearing up for a complete police state, totalitarian government.”
Elijah nodded. “The enemy has always promised freedom and delivered bondage. I would expect nothing less of him.”
As he helped Courtney set the table, Everett watched Kevin’s reaction to Elijah’s statement about the enemy. He didn’t seem to think too much of it. After all, Kevin had said that they believed in God’s existence and understood why things were happening. Everett couldn’t quite understand why Sarah and Kevin wouldn’t come all the way over and place their trust in Christ. He said a silent prayer that God would not give up on them.
Once the food was served, Elijah prayed to bless it and they all ate together. Everett sat on a food-storage bucket as there were only four chairs at the small table. Nevertheless, they made do.
Elijah spread out his napkin in his lap. “Everything looks wonderful. This is quite a treat.”
Courtney smiled. “Thank you.”
Kevin glanced over at Elijah as he mixed the chicken into the rice on his plate. “Did you happen to hear the GRBN broadcast today?”
“Yes. With the snow, I had little else to do.”
“Creepy stuff, huh?” Sarah said.
Elijah finished chewing then replied, “Yes, and it’s only going to get worse. I’m sure you heard about the Temple of Baal archway that is being erected by the new Ministry of Religion.”
“I guess we missed that.” Courtney took another bite.
Elijah blotted his mouth with his napkin. “The Ministry of Religion is to be the last building, at the end of the National Mall. Between that building and the Washington Monument, the Temple of Baal archway will be set up. It is fitting, since the Washington Monument itself is a symbol of sun god worship.”
Sarah sipped her water. “Cassie, one of the women in our group who disappeared said that Baal was the same god as the Babylonian god, Marduk. She said that all occult religions and secret societies trace their beginnings back to Babylon; and that Babylon is the same as Babel which means gate of the gods. Do you think that’s all true?”
“Absolutely.” Elijah nodded. “And that is precisely what Luz is attempting to do in DC. Just as Nimrod, the founder of Babylon, attempted to open a gate to the heavens with his Tower of Babel, so is Luz trying to unlock the door to the abyss.”
“But why would he want to do such a thing?” Courtney asked.
“For the same reason as all of those who have studied the mystery religions before him. To tap into the dark power of Lucifer’s servants.”
Everett hated this line of conversation and he almost said nothing. But, he couldn’t resist one question that was eating at him. “Isn’t God all powerful? How would Satan have power?”
Elijah held a finger in the air. “Yes, indeed, God is all powerful. But Paul writes in his letter to the Church of Ephesus, ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’ So, the enemy does have power for a time. And this, my friends, is his appointed time. These are the days that have been allotted that Satan might rule upon the earth. We know the final outcome, but that is because we have faith in what the Word of God says. Those who do not share our faith will be deceived into thinking that Lucifer and his servant, Luz, will be the victors in this battle that we have just entered into.
“It is for the power to pull off this very deception, that Luz must breach the portal between this world and the next.”
Everett sighed. He wasn’t the type to be believing in black magic and interdimensional portals, but then again, it was his stubbornness that had landed him in the midst of the most devastating period of human history. He crossed his arms and reluctantly asked yet another question, that he was sure he’d regret. “So how is Luz going to open the door when this guy, Nimrod, couldn’t?”
Elijah took a deep breath. “I’m going to have to give you a little background. Gene
sis 6 tells us of the Nephilim, which means fallen. It says that the sons of God procreated with the daughters of men, creating a hybrid race. Some of this race were giants and others were endowed with demonic power. It was because of this that wickedness increased to such a level that God had to wipe the slate clean with the great flood. Additionally, he had to annihilate the genetic corruption which was coming upon the human race and destroying the species through interbreeding. This genetic corruption was part of Satan’s plan to block the coming of Messiah, as he had to be born of a virgin woman that he might be fully God and fully man.
“God destroyed the world with the flood, saving only Noah and his family. It is thought that either Ham, one of Noah’s sons, or Ham’s wife preserved the esoteric wisdom of the Nephilim, for it was their offspring, Nimrod who settled in Shinar to begin work on reopening the pathway that had been shut off by the flood. And it is Nimrod who came to be known as Marduk, Baal, and all the different manifestations of the sun god. Yet it is not the sun that the highest orders worship, but Sirius the Dog Star, which in the day is obscured by the light of the sun, that the highest order of the mystery religions worship. In Egypt, Sirius was considered to be the most evil of all the stars that were gazed upon in the night sky.”
Everett relaxed his arms and let them fall to his side. “I’m enjoying the history lesson, but what does Sirius have to do with Luz opening a demonic doorway?”
“I’ll get to that if you’ll let me.” Elijah gave him a stern look that showed his annoyance at being interrupted. “New Atlantis, or Washington DC rather, was designed by Masonic architects who had been trained in the esoteric wisdom. It was modeled after the vision of a New Atlantis which was developed by a member of the Rosicrucian Order, Francis Bacon and the founder of Enochian magic, Dr. John Dee. The streets of DC are designed to make an inverted pentagram, or upside down five-pointed star. This is the sign of the star, Sirius, and is the most powerful symbol in all of occult magic. It is within this symbol that demonic entities are summoned, and the largest single representation of this symbol is drawn out by the streets of downtown DC. It is here, that the gates of hell will be opened and all manner of evil will be released on this planet.”