BBC Studios Washington – 7:20 p.m. local time – December 4th
Cathy West sat quietly in her seat within the interview area of the main studio, striving desperately to ignore the hustle and bustle unfolding all around her. Breathing slowly and deeply didn’t seem to help, for the background noise soon triggered another attack of the jitters. Less than ten minutes to go until the interview that makes or breaks my career.
The familiar feeling of treading water in lead boots returned. Oh God! Why do I put myself through this?
She repeated that question to herself over and over again, in between bouts of elation at being chosen by Harold Bennett in the first place, and the anxiety his supposedly helpful pep talk that morning had caused:
Squinting at her through one eye over the top of a fat cigar, he boomed, “Golden apples like this don’t fall from trees. You have to pluck them. Get this right today, young lady, and your path to the top will become a harvest windfall.”
Oh, cheers! She thought, realizing that what he’d left unsaid was much more profound. “Screw it up and you’ll be burned . . . forever razed from the limelight.”
No pressure, then!
A prickling sensation along the back of her neck snapped Cathy free of a mounting panic. Scanning the set, she observed how everyone else was carrying on with their preparations without seeming to have noticed anything. What is that?
Without warning, a male Guardian materialized on the couch right next to her, so close he was almost touching. Aha! I should have known.
As with most other Guardians Cathy had met, he appeared youthful, about thirty-five years of age. At close to six feet tall, he was blessed with close cropped black hair and an athletic build. Even better, his eyes were a gorgeous aquamarine color that she found herself swimming in almost instantly. Yum, yum!
It wasn’t until she’d recovered from her initial astonishment and looked him up and down properly that a bolt of recognition hit her. “Oh, you were in the Oval Office . . .”
“Indeed I was,” the Deputy Conciliator declared. “Tell me, how have things been since you were snatched away on the adventure of a lifetime?”
“Fi . . . fine, really good.” Now she was flustered.
“I’ve been following your career quite closely since your item from the Olympus. That was a very complimentary broadcast by the way, despite the hairy circumstances. So thank you. You helped us build a lot of bridges there.”
He’s been following me? “You’re welcome. I can’t think of a better way to nearly die a horrible death every five minutes and entertain the public at the same time!”
Laughing throatily, he leaned forward and offered his hand. “Joseph, but I prefer Joe. Oh, and by the way, Alex sends his regards and asked me to ensure I make you look good.”
Bemused and yet pleasantly surprised that the Guardian leader of the Langley rescue team had remembered her, she accepted the invitation, discerning his grip was tactfully firm, and replied, “Thanks . . . to you both. It was nice of him to think of me. And please. Feel free to do exactly as Alex requested.”
“I’ll do my very best, okay?” Joseph retorted, still chuckling.
Overcoming the shock of his arrival, several floor personnel started to fluster about their final preparations, and tried hard not to stare.
The floor manager, Ben Glenn—BG to his friends—stepped forward and asked, “Sorry to ask the obvious, but you are the Guardian who will be talking with us today? Not to be rude, but we were kinda expecting the other grandpa guy.”
“He’s tied up with other things, so I’m standing in for him. Allow me to introduce myself properly.” He stood and shook Ben’s hand. “High Grand Master Joseph West at your service, Deputy Conciliator of the Guardians.” Glancing Cathy’s way, he winked and added, “No relation. I think?”
“Small world,” she murmured, checking him out again in open admiration and hoping with all her heart there were no familial ties hidden away somewhere. Patting the seat next to her, she motioned for him to sit back down.
No sooner had he done so than the various department representatives surged forward, offering their particular services. Accepting a button microphone, Joseph turned to his host. “How do you wish to proceed?”
Cathy mulled things over briefly. “To be honest, people have been watching footage of your activities over and over again since the New Year. They’re fully aware of the tremendous sacrifices you all made there, and of course, what you actually did for us before that in Texas, Egypt, and Spain. If you want my opinion, I think it may be best to review the events from before the exodus from your own personal perspective, and then I’ll get your feedback about what went down in January.”
“Really?” Joseph seemed amazed. “Do you think people will find that interesting?”
“Yes I do, because we never really got a chance to find out how you felt at being kicked out for—basically—doing your best. In hindsight, most of us realize we made one hell of a mistake and found it very humbling to see how quickly your remaining people responded in our darkest hour, even though it cost many of them their lives.”
Joseph looked thoughtful for a moment. “No problem, Cathy, leave it to me. I was there for both incidents, so I should be able to fill the holes in quite nicely.”
Were you now? I didn’t know that. So, he’s the quiet hero type. Outwardly, Cathy didn’t miss a beat. “Great! That’ll leave us time to mention a few details about the scientific advances we’re now enjoying and of course, the door that’s been opened up for others with gifts who seem to be coming forward in droves, and—”
BG wandered back over and stopped in front of them, “Sorry to disturb you, but it’s almost time to start. If you have to do anything, please make sure it’s done soon, okay?”
Both nodded.
“If you need to freshen up, I can show you where to go,” Cathy offered.
“I’m fine, thanks. Although I wouldn’t mind a drink.”
“Well, I’m free tomorrow night.” Cathy couldn’t suppress a giggle. Oh Jesus, I can’t believe I just said that!
Joseph stared intently at her, the faintest beginning of a smirk causing his cheeks to twitch. Unsure if she might be joking or not, he murmured, “Actually, Cathy, I meant I wouldn’t mind one now.”
Cathy held his gaze, determined not to let him get away so easily. “Okay. Follow me, but think of it as a trial run.”
His brows furrowed but the smirk grew into a full-blown smile. Trailing Cathy into the kitchen, she soon had him talking like they’d know each other all their lives.
*
The seemingly innocent tête-à-tête didn’t go unnoticed.
Busy they might have been, but the floor crew and technicians perceived just how relaxed Cathy appeared to be in the presence of their guest. A few—especially the women amongst them—recognized that her body language was suggesting she wanted to be more than just relaxed.
*
The Interview
The music faded and the opening logo disappeared, to be replaced by silhouettes illuminated by backlighting. As the studio grew brighter, the camera zoomed in on two of those profiles in particular, now transposed into a couple chatting away like good friends on a large couch positioned behind a wide coffee table.
The young woman—instantly recognizable to viewers because of her previous on-the-go exploits—eased back into her seat and announced, “Good evening and welcome to the first of what we hope will be a series of interviews with our newly returned saviors. I’m Cathy West, and you’re joining us live for the next thirty minutes here at the BBC Studios in Washington.”
Inclining her head to one side, Cathy expanded the opening spiel to include her visitor. “With me is Deputy Conciliator, High Grand Master Joseph West—no relation I’m relieved to say—who will help us reflect on the events of the past year, and consider what the future may hold now the Guardians are back.”
She paused, allowing the Deputy Conciliator time to smile and make his introductions. “Hello, it’s nice to be here.” He had a quizzical look on his face. “I hope you don’t mind me clarifying something, Cathy. Why are you relieved we’re not related?”
“Why? Because it means you’re available, Joseph. Accessible. Footloose and fancy-free. And I, along with another umpteen million single young women am absolutely delighted about that!” Smirking, Cathy flashed her eyebrows, bent forward and patted his hand where it rested between them on the couch.
The look of astonishment etched across the Deputy Conciliator’s finely chiseled features at that moment was priceless, delighting the floor crew and production team who—to a man, woman and intern—failed miserably at concealing their mirth. The mood changed in an instant as everyone realized this was going to be an interview to remember.
Clearly off balance, Joseph stammered, “Why . . . um . . . thank you? I . . . er, I really don’t know what to say to that.”
“That’s okay. You can think of something suitably witty tomorrow night, over a candlelit dinner at an amazing restaurant you think will impress the socks off me. And just so you know, don’t even think of trying to say you’re busy or washing your hair. I know people and have made a few phone calls to make certain you’re free.” This time she held his gaze without smirking. When he didn’t reply immediately, she crossed her arms and waited.
The already charged atmosphere became electric when, to the thrill of everyone watching, Joseph burst out laughing. “Wow, I walked straight into that one didn’t I? Well done!”
Suddenly businesslike, Cathy beamed, “Excellent! Now I’ve got the necessities over and have made myself unpopular with the adoring female masses, can you remind us of a few details about yourself? As Deputy Conciliator, I understand you are second-in-command of Lord Arihkin’s department, yes?”
Joseph played to the switch in tempo beautifully. “That’s . . . ahem . . . that’s right. Our working policy ensures all the Guardians are represented in council. While the Lords are the strongest, and therefore best suited to actually head our departments—or Houses as we call them—those of my rank usually fill the Deputy posts.”
“Why is that?”
“High Grand Master is the strongest you can become without triggering the transcension process, so we best represent those of the corporeal ranks.”
“Ah, transcension. Thank you for mentioning that. I’d like to ask you some questions on that subject a little later, okay?” Joseph nodded, so Cathy breezed ahead, “For now, take us back if you would, to before the exodus and the sparks that some might say set the forest ablaze.”
As she spoke, the BlackRay panels on the wall behind them activated, revealing different shots of the terrible storm and monster tornado that had ravaged Texas and Oklahoma a few years previously. After a few minutes, some of the monitors blinked and changed to depictions of the missile strikes that followed shortly thereafter.
Citing the numerous scenes of carnage, Cathy declared, “Since these events, we’ve had ample opportunity to uncover the circumstances that not only compounded the issue, but led to a devastating climax. Facts that weren’t common knowledge at the time. Now we’ve had a chance to digest their implications, we realize what a huge mistake we made in blaming you for the relatively few deaths that occurred.
“Are you able to tell us, Joseph; how did the Guardians feel about mankind’s reaction, or should I say, over-reaction, to what happened?”
Joseph pursed his lips and blew out slowly. “I think I can safely say we felt deeply hurt. Don’t get me wrong, part of us understood where you were coming from, but it was still difficult to handle.”
“Would you be prepared to expand on that?” Cathy asked, surprised by the candidness of the answer.
“I’ll try.” Another deep breath followed. “If you recall, the Lord Conciliator, Vladimir Arihkin, made it abundantly clear in his opening public address that we didn’t reveal ourselves to humanity until we could be confident of being able to respond to dire emergencies on a global scale. That’s one hell of a commitment to make. The issue being, he did stress repeatedly that we could only provide cover if the situation was urgent enough.
“The storm that sparked things off, as you say, was the strongest ever recorded. Your footage captures only too well how powerful, how mutated it became as it gathered sufficient energy to be capable of wreaking havoc and killing millions.
“That potential for loss of life is what prompted us to take action. I mean, that’s what we’re here for, after all. However, by allocating our resources to such a mammoth undertaking, it left us stretched rather thinly elsewhere.”
Raising her hand, Cathy interjected. “Why did this particular storm commit your assets so extensively?”
“Because it wasn’t confined to just one locality. Its destructive latency was spread over several states, which cover thousands of square miles, placing all the souls living in those cities and townships in peril. Obviously, we did our best to balance current needs against the risk of other crises of that magnitude arising, but. . .” he sighed, heavily, “but, as we now know, something else did happen. Something unnatural. An act so nefarious and foul that its sole purpose was to see us fail, regardless of the cost.”
Cathy made haste to add a little illumination. “You’re referring of course to the terrorist attack at Carlsbad, New Mexico, instigated by the psychic crime boss Luigi Espasito, and the offshoot arising from that scheme, the later missile strikes on targets thousands of miles apart?”
“I am. He was obviously following things on TV, or something similar, and chose the exact moment that some of my colleagues died to trigger a very cowardly chain of events.”
“Yes, we’re all grateful for the remarkable way your Overlord was able to step in and save the day at Lawton, so I would like to expand on the other incidents you just mentioned.” Joseph inclined his head, so Cathy continued. “Am I right in saying that Espasito instructed that all the safety and security systems at Carlsbad be sabotaged too, so really, there was nothing worldly resources could have done to prevent a catastrophe?”
“You are spot on, Cathy. He had engineered it so our involvement must take place. Had we not intervened, the lives of millions of residents in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma would have been endangered by radioactive fallout. Just thinking of how many people—and animals come to that—who would have been subjected to a slow and painful death from radiation poisoning had we not got there in time makes my blood boil even now.”
Following his line of thought Cathy added, “But that wasn’t the only act of sabotage and subterfuge you had to contend with, was it?”
“Right again. It wasn’t until our Alpha Teams had been forced to assist at the Waste Isolation Plant that we discovered a diabolical twist to Espasito’s strategy. It was a diversion. A very real, very deadly one, but a diversion nonetheless. We found out his goal was to keep us distracted and unable to intervene during the final phase of his plan: the detonation of highjacked tactical gravo-nuclear warheads sent against civilian, economic, as well as military objectives.”
The background frieze changed to show the various locations from around the world subsequently revealed as the intended targets of the missiles.
Pointing to the screens, Cathy stressed, “After the exodus, designated authorities took the opportunity to go over your accounts of the incident much more thoroughly than we did at the time. We were shamefaced by what we discovered. You viewers at home might especially want to listen to this.”
Selecting an A4 sized sheet of paper from the coffee table, she faced the camera directly and read aloud, “A projected death toll numbering into the hundreds of millions; damage to trade and industry from the loss of so many ports and the closing of the Suez and Panama Canals exceeding two hundred and forty-three trillion dollars; untold harm to the environment and sustainable ecology in multiple locations; and of course, the unimaginable, ongoing misery this would have generated.
“Experts are still arguing over the full implications, so we just have to know. How on earth did you manage to uncover what Espasito had worked so hard to conceal?”
Joseph shrugged and smiled grimly. “I can only say that was down to some very astute and vigilant farscanners aboard our observation stations. Though we were already heavily committed, they became so suspicious at the lengths the persons responsible for the sabotage at Carlsbad had gone to, to guarantee our attendance that they started digging. Thank God they were sharp enough to spot the needles in a world-sized haystack.”
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Then Joseph’s demeanor changed and his voice trailed away. “Regrettably, we weren’t quick enough implementing a suitable strategy.”
The back screens came to life again, spending some considerable time highlighting the rescue efforts in the aftermath of the detonations.
Eventually, the images froze. Using that as her cue, Cathy sat up straight and spoke in a sincere manner. “Not to cause offense, but I think we’ll have to dispute with your assumption that you weren’t quick enough.”
Seeing that Joseph seemed puzzled by her remark, she moved to expand on her statement. “Quite a number of law enforcement and fire and rescue agencies from more than a dozen different countries went over your reports after you’d left, their investigations being conducted under the oversight of a UN led committee. All of them agreed; you shouldn’t have had the time to find, let alone react to the final stage of Espasito’s plot. We’ve all witnessed how things played out. The missiles were impossible to predict or anticipate. And yet you did, thereby reducing what could have been a catastrophic death toll.”
The BlackRay panels commenced flicking through the various headlines from around the world, published following the release of the UN backed inquiry. Many of them included shocking estimates of what the casualty list could have been, was it not for the miraculous intervention of the Guardians.
Resuming her summary, Cathy said, “We’ve never officially expressed our thanks for all you achieved that day. You did more than could be expected and unfortunately, because of the actions of a vocal minority, we allowed ourselves to get swept along on a crusade that led to your ostracism and exclusion from Earth. We were wrong, we screwed up and we’re sorry. You should know, there’s a growing consensus that we need to make amends, and certain heads of state are pushing to publicly demonstrate our willingness to apologize this coming New Year. I hope you won’t deny us the opportunity to make reparations.”
Joseph coughed, visibly uncomfortable at the sudden change in emphasis. “Thank you, Cathy. That . . . that’s very kind of you, but we’re not here for accolades or to be told ‘well done’ or anything like that, we . . .”
Cutting back in, Cathy insisted, “I’m sorry, Joseph. I have to disagree again.”
The display monitors changed to a startling deep space backdrop showing a number of long range pictures and video feeds, their title headers revealing they were recorded by NASA back in January. In them, the planet killer, Abaddon, hurtled through the firmament toward Earth.
“As I mentioned, we didn’t fully appreciate what you did for us two years ago, before we kicked you out like petulant children throwing a tantrum. It wasn’t until after you had left that we realized our mistake, and even then, we were too proud to come to a unanimous decision to do anything about it.” She cocked a thumb at the brute on the screens. “In fact, it took this little beauty to galvanize our thinking and force us to realize just how much we need you.”
The panels switched from a long-range view of the asteroid to shots of the Guardian fleet taken from the bridge of the Flagship Olympus.
“If I may be so bold?” Cathy waved both hands in the air. “Why didn’t you just leave us in the lurch? We’d kicked you out, so why bother? How come some of you stayed behind to secretly watch over us?”
The Deputy Conciliator’s gaze took on a vacant aspect as he tried to formulate the best way of expressing his thoughts. “Because you’re too important, we couldn’t just leave you when you needed us most.”
“Nice answer, but I think it needs some explaining?”
“What’s to explain?” Joseph contended, “We are Guardians. How could we act against our very nature? It is not only our duty to protect others, but our calling too.”
“So you stayed behind?”
“Some of us did, just enough it seems to be effective against anything nasty.”
The screens now showed multiple clips as seen from the differing vantage points offered by the Guardian fleet, firing platforms and observation stations, each highlighting the many sacrifices their crews had made despite the odds stacked against them. Their determination to prevent as many shards getting through as possible was clearly evident. Time and again, a ship or station would deliberately maneuver into the path of a larger, deadlier fragment capable of causing utter devastation should it reach the surface. And time and again, those same vessels were obliterated amid a blinding flash of light.
Moving. Poignant. Brave. Horrific. Words were insufficient.
“Do you see why I interrupted you, Joseph?” Cathy stressed gently. “Do you appreciate why we feel the way we do? We made a huge mistake by forcing you to leave and this is how you answered us! Is it any wonder we feel the need to say ‘thank you’ for all you’ve done? That’s why January fifth is being earmarked as a new international holiday to commemorate the day the Earth was saved . . . and by those we treated so unfairly, no less.”
Snorting gently, Joseph admitted, “Actually, we already knew about that.”
“We guessed as much by your reticence,” Cathy countered, “which is why you still need to allow us to make amends in some way. Not only did you preserve us alive in our time of need—sacrificing more than half your numbers in the process—but you prevented a shattered world from falling into chaos. Look how quickly our basic necessities were provided; how swiftly the infrastructure was restored; and don’t forget the technical and medical advancements we’ve made since you decided to shepherd us.”
The Deputy Conciliator remained silent, ill at ease from the reverence his vocation was being subjected to. Realizing this, she changed tack. “Joseph, I just touched on the subject of guidance. How do the Guardians feel we’re progressing in the application of the new technologies we’ve recently uncovered?”
Immediately warming to the subject, he replied, “Oh, without a doubt we’re delighted. As you know, we have to be very careful not to just give dry knowledge or shed-loads of data away. That can be very dangerous, especially if the stuff you’re dealing with isn’t properly understood.”
“So what made the Guardians decide on the particular fields of science and medicine they did?”
“It was twofold. Firstly, we assessed how far you had already come by yourselves. Some of your researchers and academics were very close to discovering the path anyway, so we just prodded them in the right direction. In many instances, that push was all you needed to get you digging enough to unearth some incredible breakthroughs.
“The second reason touches on the first. By concentrating on targeted fields, like clean energy; mitigator and shielding generators; atmospheric cleansing; as well as the various remedial applications we’ve hinted at, you not only get to rebuild your damaged society all the quicker, but protect your future wellbeing too. Think about it! If what had happened a few years ago occurred twelve months from now, you wouldn’t need to be so concerned about storms, tornados or tsunamis and so on. Your mitigators would protect you from those things. In fact, as you adapt and develop them further, you’ll find they can also shield against atomic explosions and residual fallout.”
Cathy was stunned. “What? Mitigators can do that?”
“Oh yes. And it won’t be long before you’re capable of producing even stronger ones. Good news, really, as it means we’ll be free to devote our talents to other, more important issues.”
“I hadn’t thought of that!”
“That’s just it. You must consider the wider implications. Purer fuel sources remove the need for nuclear power stations or fossil refineries. The environment is cleaner; there’s no need for huge waste repositories or dangerous chemical plants; there’ll be less likelihood of pollution or harmful side effects from disasters or containment breaches, yes? And if accidents occur, your medical sophistication will be in a better position to deal with, or remove, certain hazards altogether. It’s a domino-effect. By helping you to help yourselves, we actually free ourselves of unnecessary burdens. Honestly Cathy, we look forward to the day we can at last devote our full resources to the truly epic, to defending the planet as a whole and accelerating the unification of humanity.
“Speaking of which, we still need to be mindful of the precious new breakouts that are popping up all over the place lately. After all, the more recruits we have, the safer mankind will be and the swifter the process of change.”
“A sound point,” Cathy agreed, “it’s an extension of the ‘give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day’ parable. You want us to be more self-sufficient by learning how to fish, and how to build our own rods too.”
“That’s an apt way of putting it. Though from what we’ve seen of the way you’ve taken to the advancements so far, you’re building up your own momentum now. It won’t be long until you undergo a natural growth spurt. I suggest everyone holds on, as it’s bound to be a rollercoaster ride. One that will take your breath away.”
On impulse, Cathy leaned in close to pat Joseph on the back of his hand for a second time. Huskily, she breathed, “It certainly will take your breath away. Especially when you see the dress I intend to wear tomorrow night on our date.”
Her outrageous flirting had the desired effect. His mouth hinged as wide as a pedal bin lid being stamped on by a circus elephant. It took a good few seconds before the Deputy Conciliator was able to snap it shut.
Needless to say, at that moment, millions of viewers were cackling themselves stupid.
A smile slowly spread across Joseph’s face. “You’re not going to stop until you get a definite yes are you?”
“Oh, I know you’ll say yes, Joseph. It’s just a matter of when.” Sitting back, Cathy’s expression returned to neutral. Serious once more, she said, “Something you mentioned a moment ago struck a chord with me, and I’m sure all those watching picked up on it too.”
“What’s that, Cathy?”
“You said emerging minds are popping up all over the place. Why do you think that is? And perhaps more importantly, why is it happening now?”
Joseph shook his head. “To be honest, there’s no easy way to answer that without spawning a whole load of other questions.”
“Try.”
Joseph scratched his chin. “Okay then, think of it like this. Human beings are designed in a wonderful, awe-inspiring way. We sometimes take for granted—or even forget the fact altogether—that we are the pinnacle of bio-design, although that’s understandable when you look at some of the horrendous mistakes humanity has made down through history. Nevertheless, we do stand out as special.
“Yes, some creatures are far superior in the air, in the water, under the water, in freezing or hostile conditions, and so on. But none of them have the ability to adapt to all of those conditions and environments like we do.
“Even at the molecular level, we are so complex, there’s something about Man that makes us unique, and perhaps nowhere more so can this be demonstrated, than by taking the human brain as an example.”
Captivated already, Cathy said, “What about it?”
“Well, like the rest of the human body it’s mostly water. Yet it’s not only responsible for helping us delve into the most complex issues of science, mathematics, philosophy and language, yes . . . ?”
“Yes,” she replied, following his line of thought.
“But it can also generate the processes required for the concepts of self, the imagination, dreaming, planning ahead for a rainy day. It not only ‘perceives’ its immediate environment and the way things are, but it has the capacity to ask why.”
“So you’re saying this uniqueness is linked to the emergence of psychic abilities?”
“We believe so. The average human only uses a fraction of the potential of their cerebrum. Over the centuries, there have been characters who made the intuitive leap to harness their higher functions. I suppose you could say they were among the very first Guardians to manifest. But recent years have shown us those leaps are becoming more and more commonplace. It’s as if the mind of humanity itself has also been maturing, allowing more and more individuals to reach into previously inaccessible areas of existence, to unlock the marvels of psychic functioning and the—”
“Hang on a second! Are you saying this difference has occurred because, what? The collective mind of mankind has ‘grown up’ in some way and this maturation is triggering a shift on a planetary scale?”
“I did say it wasn’t easy to explain.”
“So how much of the old gray matter does your average Guardian actually have on tap then?”
“According to our latest findings, the normal human brain uses somewhere between twenty to thirty percent of its capacity. Those who have functioning extra sensory perceptions utilize about fifty to seventy-eight percent; not including the transcended ones of course, they’re something else!”
“We know what you mean.”
This time, the monitors behind them changed to reveal a large mosaic of the bridge of the Guardian Flagship Olympus, depicting a scene from back in January. In it, the Olympus’ commander, Jade Heung, directed the armada in their fight against the incoming asteroid storm. Shimmering like a pulsar, she was a magnificent sight to behold.
The overview flickered and another brief clip began, this one showing a recording made by the last orbital station to survive the meteoroid bombardment.
A searing conflagration of immense energy appeared, now known to be the Lord Inquisitor, Victoria. Flaring like a supernova, she created a stark contrast between the backdrop of space and the bright arc of the Earth in front of her. The atmosphere glowed red as a huge fragment of Abaddon encroached on the fragile planet below. In response, the Lord Inquisitor unleashed a mind-numbing psychic assault, obliterating the intruder instantly.
The setting changed again, to show the astonishing arrival of the Overlord two years previously at the site of the black hole outside Lawton. Even though he was still in human form, his presence radiated with such incredible might, that viewers were initially unable to see anyone through the blinding glare.
Finally, the panels went still and the main studio camera focused on their host. “That was extremely revealing, Joseph. I’ve been around Guardians more than most civilians, and have seen your people in action, up close and personal. They are very, very impressive. But these guys are something else.”
Following her lead, the picture split to screen in screen, adding in the view from one of the Guardian ships that had hovered overhead during the Overlord’s manifestation live on air. They watched, spellbound, as he transformed into an entity of absolute power incarnate. Cathy found the amplified intensity of his radiance both hypnotic and terrifying.
She whispered, “Joseph, just what is a transcended being?”
“Simply put, a transcended human is a person whose psyche has become so powerful, has inflated so much, that what they are can no longer be contained within the limitations of their finite body. They grow beyond flesh and bone and are transmuted into beings of pure thought and potential, existing within the energy lattices that bind spacetime together.
“From what I’m told, their capacity becomes so expansive, that they can see the iridescent hues that sound generates as the waves bounce from atom to atom; they can feel the pulse of the universe beating along every fiber of their mind; they can smell the fragrance of each color of the spectrum; they can taste the solar winds weaving between dark matter and derive nourishment from the very essence of creation.”
Cathy seized the moment and pressed. “But as we saw, in everyday affairs they still look like normal people. How come?”
“Residual identity is a key factor. Once enlightened, their entire nexus metamorphoses into parameters that don’t conform to any known shape. However, it appears a transcended person retains a humanoid or angelic identity because it’s an echo of their previous hominoid archetype.
“Of course, it also helps that the Overlord insists all transcended Guardians wear their human persona as a matter of course.”
“He does? Why?”
“I have been told that a long, long time ago, various transcended beings became so distracted by their hypersensitized consciousnesses that they became lost among the cosmos. Some heard the call of dying stars in faraway nebulas; others were drawn to the contradiction of a black hole; a few just wanted to drift endlessly in the tranquility between galaxies, contemplating topics far beyond our ken. Whatever the reason, he felt it was too high a price to pay when younger life forms needed their guidance. Now, he ensures they retain their original characteristics, to remind them of who they are and to keep them focused on what’s more important.”
“And that is?”
Sweeping his arms wide, Joseph replied, “You are! Humanity hides a wonderful potential, and he wants to make sure you’re all given the best chance of attaining it. Remember, even now, we’re seeing the genetic catalyst for transcension increasing among our newer candidates. So what the future holds, goodness only knows. As I said earlier, this is part of the reason we stayed around in the background after the exodus. You’re too important and are heavily involved in the blossoming pattern the Overlord has espied.”
“Are you saying the Overlord has foreseen all of humanity becoming transcended?” Cathy was officially blown away.
This time, it was Joseph’s turn to waggle his eyebrows and smile. “Makes you wonder what comes next, doesn’t it?”
Cathy pondered the implications of what she had just heard and came to a spur-of-the-moment decision. I hope the big guns fly with this.
Rounding on the camera, she declared, “Well, through no fault of my own it looks as if I’ll be forced to chair another show! Stay tuned, viewers, for my next exclusive with the Overlord of the Guardians himself where I’ll find out the answer to that very question: Your future. What comes next?”
Guffawing out loud, Joseph replied, “Good luck with that. We have a hard enough time as it is trying to pin him down. I doubt you’ll do any better.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry,” Cathy retorted. “I’m very good at pinning people down. Shall we say eight o’clock for tomorrow night?”
“Eh? Oh, yes. Okay then,” he replied, realizing she was remarking on their impending date, artfully maneuvered and sealed in front of myriad witnesses with lethal finality.
But she wasn’t finished.
“And while you do look damned good in uniform, I think something less formal would be appropriate?”
Holding up his hands in surrender, the Deputy Conciliator caved completely. “I shall be more than suitably attired and arrive five minutes early.”
As Cathy reeled in her helpless prey, quite a few million envious women around the world uttered a satisfied, “Gotcha!”
“One more thing,” she added. “While we’re on the subject of being pinned down—in a nice way of course—will you confirm for us now that you will support the investiture of January fifth as Guardians Day? Please say yes. The world needs heroes now more than ever. Show that you forgive us.”
Without realizing it, Cathy had edged forward slightly and taken one of his hands in her own, as if to emphasize her plea. She noticed that faraway look in his eyes again. He’s communicating with someone!
As a joke, she started projecting into the ether: Come on hotshot. It’s not like we’re going to bite. You can even make a tentative booking for our little chat at the same time?
Ghostly applause resounded in the confines of her skull, causing a shiver to melt down her spine. Jesus Christ! Was that him?
Spooked, she missed her visitor’s response. “Huh, I’m sorry?”
“I said yes, Cathy. We would love to attend the event. Now can I have my hand back?”
Still unnerved by her encounter, Cathy only realized what Joseph was referring to when she peeked down and saw that she was stoking the back of his knuckles with her fingertips. Oh shit!
A timely reminder from BG up in the control booth saved her from further embarrassment. “The clock’s run away with us, Cathy. Wind things up in the next sixty seconds.”
Fiddling with her ear bud and wristwatch helped mask her surprise. One deep breath later and Cathy had recovered her composure. “I’m so sorry, viewers, but we have to draw things to a close to cover those other items we had planned for tonight’s news schedule.” Addressing her prospective groom, she continued, “I guess this means we’ll have to diary another interview ourselves. We still need to find out more about your new operating structure and your plans for an integrated society.”
“I suppose we will,” Joseph conceded, “although it may take a little time as we’re rather tied up finalizing the last draft of the Psychic Law and Order Bill that’s due to go live next year.”
“No problem, Joseph. I can be extremely patient. As you’ve found out, I also have surefire ways of getting the things I want.”
Without giving him an opportunity to reply, Cathy stared into the main camera. “Well, that’s about it from us here at the BBC studios in Washington. Quite a successful night all round, I think you’ll agree, and one from which I’m sure there’ll be all sorts of interesting developments.
“I’m Cathy West. I’ve enjoyed being your host. On behalf of everyone involved may I say a final ‘thank you’ to our special guest, High Grand Master Joseph West, Deputy Conciliator of the Guardians who, let’s face it, mustn’t be late as he’s got a really big engagement to prepare for tomorrow. Well, make that occasion. The engagement comes later. Good night.”
The picture faded as she grinned and squeezed the Deputy Conciliator firmly on the knee. His face—a wide-eyed picture of bemusement and helpless acceptance—was reminiscent of a lamb who had been invited to dinner by wolves, only to realize at the last second who was on the menu.
*
Old District – Tokyo
Lei Yeung studied the being sat next to him, surprised that he felt so relaxed in his company already. Pointing to the screens where the BBC interview had just finished, he inquired, “So, is that your true nature as well?”
The new and improved Simon Cooper replied, “In a fashion, yes. As part of the Primary Host, we are more akin to this Overlord than to the others. Although, to be honest, his unnatural offspring are something else entirely, something that should not exist.”
Yeung was intrigued. “What do you mean they shouldn’t exist?”
Narrowing his eyes and ruminating for a while, Simon finally replied, “They are of a somewhat different heritage. The impossible results of a union forged after the Fall. They, above all else, must be approached with caution.”
“Will they pose a threat to our long-term plans?”
“Not if we proceed with restraint as agreed. Esther has already modified and augmented two of those Energy Mirroring Units your company is producing, and we will test the rest within a few weeks . . . once you have selected a suitable target of course.”
“I already have a shortlist. We can discuss it in private following the conclave.”
“Excellent, I look forward to meeting your Apostles and testing the effectiveness of your toys, especially if they allow us to accelerate our timetable and help spoil the planned celebrations as an added bonus.”
Always cautious, Yeung couldn’t help but ask, “And if one of these transcended creatures is also there at the celebration? What then?”
Turning to him, and letting just a fraction of his potential leak from beneath his impregnable shields, Simon replied, “Then, my newfound friend, you will witness the superiority of those whose origins is of the Host, over these so called homo-superior imitations. That will be a day you will never forget.”
I’m sure I won’t, Yeung thought to himself. Aloud, he continued, “It’s about time I introduced you to the twelve. There’s only one or two we might need to worry about, but I’m sure their replacements will be more than happy to accept a promotion and commit to the program. Care to join me in the Lion’s Den?”
And with that, the two predators made their way into a meeting that would have long term consequences they had not foreseen.