I woke up to the sound of an airplane's APU, and I felt the car shift to a steep incline. Looking around, we were driving onto an airplane.

"Fort Leonardwood?" I asked aloud. The guy, I assumed, who was the leader of these guards nodded, so I continued. "Where are we headed?"

"Norfolk, Virginia; Oracle." He answered. "Is there anything we should know?" I can tell he is asking if we should change something.

"Nothing right now. I'll speak up if that changes." Then curiosity got the best of me. "Is there any way to listen to the pilot's communications?"

The driver nodded, and reached for the dash. I didn't see what he did, but I was able to listen to what was going on.

"So why Norfolk?" I asked once we were in the air.

"Its the seat of the church. Washington D.C. is the seat of the government. If we land there, it would be considered an attack by the church; you would have to be invited."

"So a military plane can be commandeered at a few hours notice, but I can't go to the nation's capitol without an invite. Politics." I express my frustration.

"Our plan is to land on the naval base, and use a military escort to the central temple. Hopefully we can arrive in time for you to rest properly."

"I'll rest properly at home." I check my watch, "which is now 21 hours away."

I then remember that I don't even know where the threat came from.

"So what was the threat in the first place?"

"Atheists." He says bluntly. The answer surprised me.

"You guys live in a world where your Highest One can talk directly to you, and there are still those who refuse to believe?"

"Pride is a fickle thing." The guard next to me says. "We six were chosen out of three thousand Templars to guard the next Oracle. Alicia and Beverly, the two who were in the room when the cops questioned you, are initiates. They alerted us."

"What about Katie, the girl who did my makeup and hair?"

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"She is not affiliated with any known organizations." The leader said to me. "I hope we aren't scaring you with all this."

I shake my head. "No, its just weird to me. My world doesn't have a god who talks directly to us. So there are hundreds of religions, and fighting between them over who is right. And here, you know your god, and there are still those who refuse to believe. It doesn't make sense to me."

"Pride." My guard speaks up again. "Atheists, at least here, believe that man should be the pinnacle of power, and we shouldn't bow to any other power. And you, now, represent the power their pride has decided shouldn't exist."

I decide to move the conversation away from the heavy topic, and start asking about mundane things, like where to get a good burger. That got all the guards involved with the conversation. And I felt like they were opening up some as I heard the plane's pilot ask for landing clearance.

The whole flight, we stayed in the car, and now I felt the urge to answer nature's call.

"Is there a bathroom I can use?" I ask as the ramp begins lowering.

"I'm sorry, Oracle. We are ten minutes from the temple. There are female Templars who will be able to assist you once we get there." I nod to him; understanding that now my guard is open, I need them to stay around.

The trip didn't feel like ten minutes, and I was able to take care of business as soon as I arrived. News reporters were taking pictures as I walked from the public to private portions of the temple. The big guy lead me to a door, and opened it for me, but didn't enter.

"Aren't you going to check it?"

"I am not permitted beyond this door, Oracle. Even if you allow it. Your body scans show you have not grown to adulthood, despite your age. No man may enter the private quarters of a minor, female, Oracle. Ever. There are four Templar Knights beyond whose sole job it is to care for this area, and you while you are there." He saw I was about to protest, so raised his voice. "Oracle Korvall, you may be 39 on your world, but here your body has not aged past 15. I will not enter your private quarters. Sleep well." He pushed me past the threshold, and closed the door behind me.

I turned around to find three women kneeling with their heads down, and one standing with her head down. All four wore black veils, and white garments.

"Jessie, I need you to say these specific words..." I heard their Highest One tell me.

"Templar Knights; you are recognized. Remove your veils, and return once more." The four removed their veils and stood tall looking straight at me. "Can you tell me why I was told to say that?" The three who had been kneeling look toward the one who had been standing.

"Oracle Knights can only be recognized by an Oracle. The four of us trained in case the next Oracle was a woman, however, if we weren't recognized, the veil becomes our funeral shroud."

"May I have your names?" I ask, realizing these four would be a bit more personal.

"Oracle Korvall, your request honors us, however, Oracle Knights are not allowed names, titles, or awards. This is the choice we made to perform this work."

Well that got thick. I then requested a shower, and received a bath instead. I was put in a satin nightgown, and lead to a bedroom where a queen sized bed filled the small-ish room. Three of the women left, leaving one behind. When I asked, she would stay throughout the night, while they slept, and she would have the next day off, and the four would cycle like that.

It didn't take me long to fall back asleep.