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【Vision of an Alternate Future】
Arc 2: Return of the Crystal Guardians
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【VAF】Chapter║: 46 ─ Memories 4
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All Six Red Guardians stand before the Council of Elders
Cilan : “ Has the great Light been extinguished?”
Casara : “ I don’t know Ladyship; I can’t sense him.”
Canala : “ We lost him before, but he came back!”
Raole : “ Father will rise again!”
Ralen : “ They won’t kill him; at least not yet.”
Cilan : “ Why not? Why would they take the risk?”
Raole : “ Because of what they could learn from his Physiology.”
Ralen : “ The Physiology of an Ascended Crystalan! If they kill him they loose the potential knowledge gain.”
Raole : “ Circleans can never become Ascended Crystalans, but perhaps they’ll use what they learn from the Physiology of an Ascended Crystalan to change their bodies in an attempt at duplicated Ascendance.”
Cilan : “ Is it possible that there’s another path to Ascendance?”
Raole : “ Father investigated the possibility extensively, but ultimately he concluded that the path of externally induced Ascendance can only achieve a superficially Ascended Crystalan that is vastly inferior to a true Ascended Crystalan. In fact this superficial Ascendance is nothing more than an evolved stage of the Reducted Form. A Useful technique, but ultimately inferior, and a distraction as it hardens the body; thus making true Ascendance that much more difficult to achieve.”
Cilan : “ Useful?”
Casara : “ Not useful enough though! We must focus on teaching our people the path to true Ascendance.”
Cyris : “ Hold on!” A holographic image appears “We are intercepting this communication between Prime Minister Harding and the US’s President George Trent!”
They all focus on the conversation.
Pres-Trent : “ You’ve seen the Intel?”
PM-Harding : “ Yes!”
Pres-Trent : “ So this one Crystalan froze an entire valley and destroyed a mountain? They’re going to kill us all I tell you!”
PM-Harding : “ Crystalans are fundamentally okay; it’s these Circleans we have to worry about.”
Pres-Trent : “ A Crystalan by any other name is still a Crystalan.”
PM-Harding : “ I think we should be careful George; we don’t want to get on the wrong side of the Crystalans.”
Pres-Trent : “ Damn-it John; don’t let these fuckers divide us! America and Europe must stand united; don’t let them use the supposed Circlean bogyman to force our peoples to cower behind them! That’s just what they want!”
PM-Harding : “ The Circleans are real George; 4 Russian villages have vanished from the surface of the Earth.”
Pres-Trent : “ And how do we know that it’s the doing of the Circleans?”
PM-Harding : “ The Crystalans confirmed … !”
Pres-Trent : “ Exactly!” he interrupts “For all we know the Crystalans did this themselves. We don’t know how they think? And they seem to believe that they’re superior to Humans; so a human life is nothing to these Crystalans.”
PM-Harding : “ But we have independent verification now. Our teams on the ground confirm Negative Energy signatures on the sites. Hodians have also given confirmation!”
Pres-Trent : “ Oh please; the Hodians see an opportunity to make a buck.”
PM-Harding : “ Why would they agree with Crystalans?”
Pres-Trent : “ I don’t know what their angle is, but we’ll find out. For all we know the Circleans pose a threat to Crystalans and Hodians, and this war that’s brewing has nothing to do with us.”
PM-Harding : “ What? You think they’re dragging the rest of us into it?”
Pres-Trent : “ For all we know these Circleans could be like the Hodians. They may be willing to make deal.”
PM-Harding : “ You want to negotiate with the Circleans?”
Pres-Trent : “ The American people can’t just simply take the word of a Crystalan; we need to find out for ourselves. What do we really know about these Crystalans?”
PM-Harding : “ We know that … !”
A signal interrupts their conversation.
Cilan : “ Enough!” Lady Cilan chimes in “What will it take for you people to understand?”
Pres-Trent : “ Who is this? How dare you eavesdrop on us?”
Cilan : “ How dare you Mr President?”
PM-Harding : “ Who are you?”
Cilan : “ I am Cilan Lesedi of the Crystalorb Council of Elders.”
PM-Harding : “ This is no way to conduct diplomatic affairs your ladyship.”
Pres-Trent : “ It’s Outrageous! You have no right to intrude on private conversations!”
Cilan : “ You’re right; it is Outrageous! But then again these are extreme times, and they tend to require acute actions.”
Pres-Trent : “ Where do you get the nerve your Ladyship?”
Cilan : “ I’m intruding Excellencies; And for that I’m truly sorry.”
PM-Harding : “ All nations engage in espionage, and we accept this.”
Pres-Trent : “ But can Crystalorb be considered a nation?”
Cilan : “ Of-course we’re a Nation! We are a new and distinct branch of Humanity; in the history of the world there has never been a people quite like us.”
Pres-Trent : “ And that’s the problem isn’t it? You’re not really human are you? Samples of your DNA indicate that you’re only about 50% compatible with humans; the bulk of your DNA is not compatible with any DNA from Earth. For all we know you’re not even from this planet; extraterrestrial origins! How do we know that this problem with Circleans isn’t the true intent of whatever created you, the Hodians and the Hybrids?”
Cilan : “ Granted; we are more than human. Our mysterious origins do not change the fact that we’ve chosen to align ourselves with our human half. Circleans were born out of fear and anger leading to hatred that expanded to include humanity. The Circleans believe that humans are nothing more than cattle; to be sacrificed in order to give Circleans sustenance. Any nation that makes deals with Circleans will forfeit Crystalan support; It’s time to choose sides!”
PM-Harding : “ Why can’t we be neutral? This isn’t our war.”
Cilan : “ Your involvement with Hodian activities during the Hodian wars contributed to this outcome; this is your war.”
PM-Harding : “ We may be complicit in the causation, but this is a Crystalan Civil War. They’re cannibalising Crystalan armies to increase their ranks.”
Pres-Trent : “ Let me ask this your ladyship; what happens to humanity when the Circleans gain control of someone truly powerful? What happens to us when they gain control of one of your super Crystalans?”
Cilan : “ Super Crystalans? Oh you mean Ascended Crystalan.”
PM-Harding : “ After witnessing the terrifying power of your Ascended Crystalans in Spain we’re concerned about the prospect of a Circlean who’s also an Ascended Crystalan.”
Cilan : “ Fortunately Ascended Crystalans are immune to the effects of Negative Psionic Energy; They’re far too powerful.”
Pres-Trent : “ What if you can’t defeat the Circleans? What happens to the human race then? Some say that if it begins to look like Crystalorb might lose the war you might decide that the only way to destroy the Circleans is to destroy the human race!”
Cilan : “ If we can’t defeat the Circleans we will retreat and pull out.”
PM-Harding : “ What exactly do you mean by pull out?”
Cilan : “ Raise Crystalorb from the ground and into the skies above; move us as close to the sun as possible.”
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Pres-Trent : “ You can do that?”
Cilan : “ Yes! We would make sure that our Hybrid and Hodian allies come with us; returning at a later stage to liberate humanity.”
PM-Harding : “ You would abandon us?”
Cilan : “ Humans aren’t our friends or allies; you’ve made that clear. Even the Africans have turned on us! Even most Hybrids prefer to align themselves more with the Hodians than with Crystalans; this in spite of everything we’ve done for them. However there are those amongst Hybrids and Hodians who have aligned themselves with Crystalans, and they’ve taken shelter in Crystal Valley City under our protection. We can’t interbreed with the rest of Humanity; not anymore, our path is divergent, and we’re evolving in a different direction to the rest of humanity.”
Pres-Trent : “ At least you can acknowledge what you are publicly.”
Cilan : “ We’ve never been ashamed of what we are, and why would we be? We’re the most special of all special people! But heed my warning human; If you make deals with Circleans we will leave you to die!”
PM-Harding : “ We hear you; we may not like what you’re saying, but we hear you!”
Cilan : “ Good!”
The interrupting signal Ends.
Nasara : “ I hope they listen this time!”
Cyris : “ It would be tragic if they choose not to heed our warning.”
Canala : “ Would we really leave them to die?”
Cilan : “ We would have to; we can’t have Crystalans dying for people who make deals with our enemies.”
Raole : “ Father expects me to reach the highest power level possible; he expects me to win this war, and I for one will not fail him again.”
Canala : “ Nor will I brother!”
Raole : “ And I brother!”
Kalen : “ I too will join the fight for freedom!”
Nasara : “ We will stand together; all of us!”
Casara : “ Indeed we will, but not just the Red Guardians; all Guardians!”
Cilan : “ What will it take for the Red Guardians to Ascend?”
Casara : “ In their current state it would take 12 hours a day of intensive training for 2 years. Canala and Nasara are further down the road than the boys because they’ve been active in our forces, but it should not take long for the boys to catch up.”
Kalen : “ 12 hours a day?”
Cilan : “ You’re going to have to work harder young warrior.”
Cyris : “ What will it take for Clear Guardians to become Ascended Crystalans?”
Casara : “ Most Clear Guardians should be able to achieve the goal in 18 months. The path to Ascendance largely depends on the fortitude of the individual. When Father developed the probable it was determined that it would take 15 hours a day of rigorous training for12 months. The Ascended Crystalan form is a permanent powered state, and it’s irreversible. The transformation to the Ascended Crystalan is both a physical and a spiritual adaptation. Therefore the objective of the training is to bring the body to a state where it can survive the transformation. The harder you train the stronger you become, and the stronger you become the heavier you become; in simple terms you can’t attempt Ascendance until you weigh 2000kg!”
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Then there’s another blinding white light, and Savan, Peo, Hilan and Aurora find themselves two months ahead and this time they’re in the Crystalorb Training Centre 〘CTC〙.
Raole : “ Aunt Casara; Ralen and I have decided to leave Crystalorb and continue our training in the solitude of Antarctica.”
Ralen : “ Clearly over the years we’ve fallen far behind Canala, Nasara and Kalen!”
Raole : “ While we’ve been captivated by our scientific pursuits they’ve properly apportioned their time to all their responsibilities, and this means that their training is more than adequate for the task of Ascendance.”
Casara : “ I understand; you want to train away from Crystalan eyes.”
Raole : “ There is tremendous pressure here, and every time we fall short of the mark we can see the disappointment in the eyes of all Crystalans.”
Ralen : “ We can’t train like this! We’re crumbling under the weight of this expectation!”
Casara : “ I should have seen it; there is so much of your father in you. Unlike Canala, Nasara and Kalen your Chest Crystal comes mostly from only one source; the other Reds have the benefit of both parents being Chest Crystaled. There are therefore some limitations, but then there are also benefits; meaning that your bodies must have the innate raggedness and resilience of your mother combined with the powers of your father. Your training has to be different.”
Raole : “ Then you agree?”
Ralen : “ We need the space to explore the limits of our capabilities!”
Casara : “ But you can’t go alone?”
Canala : “ I will go with them.”
Nasara : “ Me too!”
Kalen : “ I can’t leave; My wife is pregnant; my place is at her side.”
Nasara : “ Our spouses understand!”
Canala : “ Yes; Duty first!”
Casara : “ Take Naole’s ship with you; Indigo will protect you. Kalen and I will check in on all of you every seven days, and I will test all of your training to make sure that you’re making the right kind of progress.”
Then there’s another blinding white light, and Savan, Peo, Hilan and Aurora find themselves 18 months ahead and this time they’re in Antarctica.
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Casara brought with her Kalen and the other Guardians working towards Ascendance. As they descend from the Intrepid they notice that Canala, Nasara, Raole and Ralen are waiting for them on the surface.
Kato : “ Wow! You two look like you’re in great shape.”
Casara : “ They are!”
Kato : “ Analysis indicates that both of you weigh just over 2205kg.”
Nasara : “ You sure have changed brother!”
Canala : “ Indeed Cousin!”
Kato : “ Kalen has been both the spear and the shield in your absence!”
Nasara : “ He has?”
Casara : “ Interesting that the absence of you and Canala forced him to come into his own and become the Crystal Guardian we always knew he could be!”
Nasara : “ Has he now?”
Kalen : “ While you four have been playing in Antarctica I’ve been taking the fight to the Circleans.”
Canala : “ And we are forever grateful Kalen.”
Kato : “ Kalen has emerged victorious from countless battles. Kalen weighs in at just over 2191kg”
Nasara : “ Always knew you had it in you brother!”
Kalen : “ Those two seem awfully relaxed!” Raole and Ralen yawn “What’s with all the yawning? Are they sleepy?”
Canala : “ They’re in a kind of rest mode.”
Nasara : “ They do that after every training stint.”
Kalen : “ How long are they going to be like that? All this yawning is making me sleepy.”
Nasara : “ There’s about 18 hours to go!”
Kalen : “ So they’ve been taking it easy this whole time?”
Casara : “ Far from it; those two have been busy. Can’t you feel their energy?”
Kato : “ Only Ascended Crystalans can sense suppressed energies. Have they become much stronger? However Analysis indicates that both of them weigh just over 3124kg.”
Casara : “ I weigh in at just over 3591kg? But that’s because I’ve Ascended, and I’ve been expanding the limits of my powers. How did they break through?”
Canala : “ The intensity of our training was maddening; We pushed ourselves to the edge of our limits and beyond!”
Nasara : “ Never had I known such effort, never had both my body and my mind been brought so close to ultimate destruction!”
Canala : “ We’ve trained for 19 hours every day for ten months; the progress we’d made was astounding!”
Nasara : “ However; the twins were dissatisfied with the enormous leap we had all made. 8 months ago they decided to change their training technique; electing to train in a depleted state.”
Canala : “ It’s father’s technique!”
Nasara : “ That’s when everything changed!”
Casara : “ It was first practised by my father! Training in a depleted state is the inverse of training at maximum power; both have about the same effect on the body, but when depleted the effect can be sustained longer than would otherwise be possible. The method is dangerous, but it does increase stamina and resilience. Unfortunately Training in a depleted state isn’t plausible for those of us in active service; it leaves us far too vulnerable in an emergency situation. As it is only Knowledge Guardians have the space to train in a depleted state; the rest of us have to be ready to react at a moments notice.”
Kato : “ Well? How powerful have they become?”
Canala : “ At some point they surpassed us.”
Nasara : “ They train for five days straight now; resting the other two days of the week. I’ve never seen such endurance.”
Canala : “ When they started to train for days without rest I knew that they would achieve the greatness they desired; surpassing the powers of a Reducted Crystalan.”
Nasara : “ The benefits of being raised by the legendary Naole are self evident! They have this focused look in their eyes that I recognize as that of uncle Naole.”
Canala : “ Perhaps; there is just too much of our father in my brothers.”
Kalen : “ Really? Training for days without rest?”
Casara : “ Is it possible? It’s not supposed to be possible; unless of course the fact that Tuo didn’t have a Chest Crystal changed the dynamic in an unforeseen dimension.”
Kato : “ What do you mean?”
Casara : “ They may have hardened!” she gestures to Raole and Ralen for them to come over “Let’s see what you can do!”
Raole : “ Right!”
Ralen : “ Ready!”
Casara : “ Don’t hold back now!”
As Raole and Ralen begin to power up the air around them becomes supercharged generating electric arcs in a spectacular display. Casara on the other hand is less flashy and she prefers soft power ups; letting the energies hidden deep within her gently rise to the surface. Casara didn’t transform because she believed that she’d be more than a match for the boys even in their transformed state.
As Raole and Ralen transform there is a burst of energy that melts most of the surrounding Ice revealing an enormous crater.
Kalen : “ What incredible power! So this is what they’ve been hiding?”
Canala : “ Oh this should be good!”
Nasara : “ Time to see how we all stack up!”
Kato : “ They don’t stand a chance!”
Turning to Casara in the distance.
Casara : “ Don’t you dare hold back!”
Raole : “ Ok!”
Ralen : “ As you wish!”
Suddenly Raole and Ralen began their assault on the enigmatic Casara; choosing to start their assault with bursts of energy encapsulated Lightning Plasma Energy Balls followed by Electrolaser Lightning Bolts. Most of the surrounding Ice explodes as a consequence of the enormous energy being released. Casara evades Raole and Ralen’s assault by using her considerable speed; taking to the sky and disappearing from the view of the other Guardians.
However the other Guardians could still keep track of the fighting by using their Chest Crystals. The fighting continued for about five minutes, and then an Electrolaser Lightning Bolt connected with Casara providing the opportunity for a combined Electrolaser Lightning Bolt from both Raole and Ralen. The 2 Electrolaser Lightning Bolts brought Casara crushing to the ground.
Kalen : “ Mom!”
Canala : “ I don’t believe it!”
Nasara : “ They can overpower an Ascended Crystalan?”
Kato : “ Not quite!”
Raole and Ralen approach as Casara staggers to her feet, and now the extent of her injuries become evident; burns to her face, burns and gashes across her body.
Raole : “ Perhaps you should transform Aunt!”
Ralen : “ We don’t want you to get seriously injured!”
Casara : “ Your not lacking in confidence! So you two think you have what it takes to go toe to toe with an Ascended Crystalan?”
Raole : “ I like our chances!”
Ralen : “ Well; we definitely want to find out!”
Casara : “ Ok! Your strong, I’ll give you that, but you have no Idea what you’re asking for!”
Casara begins to glow red and all her wounds heal instantaneously.
Raole : “ Wow!”
Ralen : “ Oh we’re in it now brother!”
Raole : “ She’s just as strong as father!”
As Casara completes her transformation and reaches full power Raole and Ralen step back a bit and prepare to defend against a power unmatched in the entire world.
Casara : “ I might as well start it big!” she raises her energy output “Red Wave!”
Raole : “ Red Wave!”
Ralen : “ Red Wave!”
Raole and Ralen use their waves to counter the single Red Wave from Casara, then they move closer to each other and harmonize their Red Waves into a single Hyper Beam.
Raole : “ Hyper Beam!”
Ralen : “ Hyper Beam!”
As the energy of the collision of the attacks increases there is a tremendous explosion that forces the observing Guardians into the air. When things settle it becomes clear that Raole and Ralen are still standing, but then again so is Casara.
Casara : “ Impressive! You two have actually come up with a new attack.”
Nasara : “ I don’t believe it!”
Kalen : “ Unreal!”
Canala : “ How did they do that?”
Kato : “They withstood the assault of an Ascended Crystalan!”
Returning to Casara in the distance.
Casara : “ I don’t know how, but you two have actually Hardened!”
Raole : “ We have?”
Ralen : “ How can that be?”
Casara : “ Now I must show all of you why Hardening is sub-optimal!”
Casara raises her energy output in preparation for an attack
Casara : “ Lightning Wave!”
When Casara released the Lightning Wave multiple Red Energy Electrolaser Lightning Bolts attack Raole and Ralen but they counter with their single Hyper Beam, but because of the increased energy of the Lightning Wave they are forced to drain more of their reserve energy. The resulting catastrophic explosion sends both Raole and Ralen hurling through the air.
Casara : “ Lightning Fist!”
There’s a flash of lightning and then Casara uses an Electrolaser Lightning Bolt rapped around her Energized body to propel her towards Raole at such incredible speed that the atmosphere began to ignite, therefore by the time her fist connected with Raole it carried with an astounding amount of energy.
Ralen : “ What?”
Casara : “ Lightning Kick!”
There’s another flash and Ralen is also knocked unconscious by a technique developed by Naole. As both Raole and Ralen fall to the ground Casara quickly grabs both of them and brings them gently to the surface.
Nasara : “ That was intense!”
Canala : “ Are they OK?”
Casara : “ Kato!”
Guardian Casara looks at her Husband Kato as she powers down.
Kato : “ They’ll be fine!” he looks at Raole and Ralen and begins to activate his Chest Crystal “Clear Heart!” An aura appears around Kato “Healing Light!”
Canala : “ Clear Heart? What’s that?”
Casara : “ As Kato gets closer to Ascendance he begins to tap into some of the abilities of an Ascended Clear Crystalan.”
Kato produces a light from his Chest Crystal that stimulates regeneration in Raole and Ralen and they begin to regain consciousness.
Kalen : “ Amazing!”
Nasara : “ Incredible!”
Canala : “ What else can Ascended Clear Crystalans do?”
Casara : “ When a Clear Crystalan Ascends it will be so momentous that the whole world will feel it.”
Nasara : “ The whole world?”
Casara : “ Clear Crystalans may not have our strengths, but they have other gifts that are far more important than any strength I can master.”
Canala : “ Aunt Casara; what are you saying?”
Casara : “ The power to destroy is also the power to create! Ascended Clear Crystalans may be able to Create Life or at the very least Restore Life.”
Guardian Dirang is unsettled by what she hears. Dirang is one of the most powerful Crystalans and she’s also Guardian of Sector 7.
Dirang : “ Are you saying we can bring people back from the dead?”
Casara : “ Naole said that it should be possible.”
Enala : “ All Ascended Clear Crystalans?”
Canala : “Yes; mother! Dad said that the destiny of Crystalorb will be defined by the abilities of Ascended Clear Crystalans.”
Raole : “ Transforming Crystalans into Gods!”
Enala : “ Gods?”
Ralen : “ His words!”
Casara : “ He meant it in the sense that it could be said that Ascended Clear Crystalans wield some power over life and death.”
Kato : “ How exactly would we bring people back from the dead?”
Casara : “ Naole said that the Life Force of an Ascended Clear Crystalan can restore life! Since the Spirit Stone can restore Life Force energy giving a portion to someone else should not have any long term side effects.”
Raole : “ Where did we go wrong?”
Ralen : “ What caused us to Harden?”
Casara : “ Your mother was the most powerful Ilesian on record! Tuo was an unprecedented genetic aberration; created by a similar anomaly to the one that created Naole.”
Enala : “ So powerful that the Council of Elders entrusted her with Naole’s safety.”
Casara : “ Tuo’s Genetic Instability combined with Naole’s Genetic Instability created the two of you; all of their strengths, and none of their weaknesses. Rugged endurance of a supreme Ilesian combined with the powers of a Red Chest Crystal; a potent combination!”
Kalen : “ Then how do we do it then? How do we Ascend?”
Casara : “ The secret of Ascendance is that Crystalans can’t generate sufficient energy necessary to Ascend.”
Enala : “ What?”
Kato : “ But everyone says that Naole achieved Ascendance through sheer force of will, and you say that we need additional energy?”
Canala : “ Additional energy from the Spirit Stone?”
Casara : “ One Energy type in particular!”
Nasara : “ What sort of Energy?”
Casara : “ Father called it Divine Energy! There is only one source of Divine energy on Earth; this is the only path to Ascendance! Naole can summon the energy of the Spirit Stone to him; provided that he’s within range! Naole can also redirect the energy of the Spirit Stone to someone in his vicinity. To Ascend you have to harness that Energy and carefully and progressively move it through every part of your body. Once the process begins it is self sustaining, and it cannot be stopped; this is why it is critical that your body is in an optimal physical condition, otherwise the process will kill you.”
The Guardians gasp in surprise over the prospect of death.
Raole : “ How does progressively moving the energy change the body?”
Casara : “ Progressively moving the energy through parts of the body activates dormant Genetic material, and that triggers a mutation that permanently transforms the body to a type of Permanent Powered State.”
Nasara : “ Permanent Powered State?”
Ralen : “ If that’s all there is to it why can’t Circleans Ascend?”
Casara : “ You need a certain level of control that Negative Psionic Energy consistently impedes! And for whatever reason only Divine Energy can activate the dormant Genetic material and Divine Energy sustains the mutative process that permanently transforms the body to a Permanent Powered State. Another factor is that Negative Psionic Energy is available in more potent forms than Positive Psionic Energy, and that means that Negative Psionic Energy dilutes Divine Energy more rapidly. That means that a body that contains Negative Psionic Energy dilutes Divine Energy far too quickly for it to be useful. However be warned while a Circlean may not be able to Ascend an Ascended Crystalan can choose to Fall!”
Nasara : “ Are you saying an Ascended Crystalan can choose to become a Circlean?”
Kato : “ That’s exactly what she’s saying.”
Nasara : “ What Ascended Crystalan would choose to join the Circle?”
Casara : “ The important aspect here is choice.”
Kato : “ Oh! It gets worse!”
Nasara : “ How so?”
Casara : “ The Spirit Stone believes that such a power could destroy it.”
The Guardians are shocked to hear for the first time that there is in fact the potential for a power that could possibly destroy the Great Spirit Stone.
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Then there’s another blinding white light, and Savan, Peo, Hilan and Aurora find themselves back in their timeline.
Hilan : “ So what do you suppose he wanted us to perceive from all that!”
Peo : “ I can’t get over how courageous our antecedents were!”
Savan : “ They certainly were brave weren’t they?”
Aurora : “ There’s so much to take in; Political Considerations, Focus, Courage, Determination, Empathy and Compassion!”
Hilan : “ All worthy of consideration! But I sense Naole may want us to see something less obvious.”
Then there’s a blinding white light, and Savan, Peo, Hilan and Aurora find themselves back in Naole’s early timeline.
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