***** Vol.5 Chap.38 The call *****
Elijah opened the door to the conference room. Immediately, Frank noticed that the odd shaped conference table has now changed from a crescent moon shape into a triangular shape with three chairs. Clearly, it was set up only for three persons.
“Please sit anywhere.”
Frank chose the chair at the far end of the table and May-Ling took the closest one. Elijah took the remaining chair.
“Before we start, I just want to ask you to hold your questions until you have heard me out totally. Then I would be happy to answer all your questions for as long as it takes.”
“Sure.” Frank said and May-Ling nodded.
“Before I begin, there are refreshments at the end of the room and feel free to help yourselves also.” Elijah pointed to the end of the room. Frank and May-Ling turned to see where the refreshments were. But Frank and May-Ling were so anxious for the answers that they did not want to waste time to get their drinks.
“First, I want to congratulate both of you for passing the final test as the new Cosmic Guardians for the coming age. I have served as Cosmic Guardian for this planet for over five thousand years already. I realized that it is now time for me to pass on the duties to you both.”
“During the past months, I have sent out a subliminal call to the three of you. You know who the other is. You were selected according to a very stringent set of requirements.”
“To be selected, each one of you must have a good moral and upright character. You must not be encumbered with family burdens. You should have the desire to do something good for humanity. Just so that there is no misunderstanding, I have nothing to do with your circumstances.”
“Regarding Frank, your demise at the University, and May-Ling, your loss of your husband, I just wanted you both to know that I did not cause those circumstances to happen.”
“After observing the situation, I only sounded the subliminal call. Frank you remembered the call from the Sphinx.”
“Yes.”
“And May-Ling, you remembered the bidding of your father.”
“Yes.”
“Those were my gentle calls to each one of you. I am extremely pleased that you all have responded to my call, each in your own way. I am very thankful that you three answered my call and decided to forsake what you had.”
“I know at times it was frightening venturing into the unknown. But the unknown is something that we Cosmic Guardians deal with all the time. It was not easy to call you because I believe in free will. It has to be your choice to respond. I will in no way influence your decision.”
“My rule had always been this. I would call a person three times. After I called a person three times, if there was no response, then I will move on to the next candidate. The three of you was my first choice and when you responded even to my first call, you made my job much easier.”
“After calling you, I have to be certain that you were the right ones. So I put up a few roadblocks as a test. I may be overly harsh in testing you. But you all passed my tests before getting here.”
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“Frank, the puzzles in the Sphinx was a real test to be sure that you have the proper perspective about the universe. May-Ling, your experience in the mountain was a test of your resolve and courage. I am pleased that both of you passed the test with flying colors.”
“However that was not enough. I have to be sure. So I took a real situation and put you all to a final test. In order to make the test revealing, I have to put all of you in an extreme situation.”
“The impending crisis gave me the opportunity. The crisis at the Biological Warfare Laboratory in Glybiana was real. These are situations that Cosmic Guardians have to deal with. So I left the three of you alone to solve the problem together. This test allowed me to watch how the three of you work individually and together. I also wanted to see what was really inside each one of you.”
“Frank, May-Ling, I am pleased to let you know that you both have passed my test.”
“Thank you.”
They both responded, though still dumbfounded.
“You have demonstrated to me that you both worked well together as a team. You helped one another during the crisis. You respected the prime directive. And most important of all, you both were conscientious about accomplishing the mission even to the sacrifice of yourself.”
“Does that mean that Kristin did not pass the test?” Frank broke the silence.
“Let me put it this way, her performance was below my expectations. Do not worry about her. She had a wonderful ending. But to me, unfortunately she does not have what it takes to be a Cosmic Guardian.”
“I will stop here to get some refreshments and let you have a chance to ask questions regarding the events of the past few days. Then I will tell you some more about what a Cosmic Guardian is.”
Elijah stood up.
“Please help yourself.” Elijah pointed to the refreshments.
Frank and May-Ling both stood up. Frank wanted some coffee and May-Ling wanted a hot cup of ginseng tea. They went to the back. Frank noticed that there was already a pot of hot milk, a pot of hot coffee, and a pot of hot tea already on the table. He wondered how his host knew exactly what they wanted.
Besides the drinks, there were a big basket of all kinds of fruits and a large tray of pastries. May-Ling wondered what kind of kitchen facilities they have to come up with such delicious pastries. What was strange was that there were oriental pastries as well as Western pastries. It was almost as if a master chef knew exactly what each one liked and made just the ones each one liked.
After a brief recess, they all returned to their seats with their drinks and Elijah continued the briefing. “Before I start, does any one of you have any questions about the past events?”
“Yes, Elijah. Was the crisis really real?”
“Yes. Everything that I have told you about the crisis was real.”
“If we have failed, would you have to rectify the situation?”
“Yes.”
“How would you have done it?”
“The crisis could be solved by other means if you realize the power of the machine available here to a Cosmic Guardian.”
“What would you have done if we failed?”
“That is something you both can reminiscent once you get to know your power and your duties.”
“How often do these crises occur?” Frank continued.
“Very seldom in the last millennium. But within the last century, crises are occurring more and more frequently. It was getting too much for me to handle. That was the reason why I called you.”
“Why do you pick me?” May-Ling was curious.
“I selected you because you have a genuine care for humanity. I was impressed by your desire to rid humanity with violence. That was a noble goal.”
“And me?” Frank wanted to know.
“You were selected because you are technically minded and you also wanted to help humanity though from a totally different perspective. Some of your computer experiments were similar to my own experiments here.” Frank remembered Elijah’s bacteria ponds.
“What about Kristin?”
“That is my secret.”
“Fair enough.” Frank responded.
“What are we?” May-Ling asked.
“Are we alive?” Frank added.
Elijah smiled.
“You are alive and still very much human with flesh and blood.”
“I thought I was dead in the freezer.”
“And me in the vents.”
“The white pill merely disassociated your molecules back in Glybiana. Your bodies have been reconstructed back to your original condition back here at the compound.”
“Is this some kind of tele-transportation?”
“You can think of it like that.”
Frank looked at himself again. The freckles were still there. The finger nails were just as long. “What a wonderful reconstruction.” He remarked.
May-Ling also looked at herself and felt that everything seemed to be in place. The scar from a childhood fall was still there on her arm and was just as ugly as ever.
“Can you take my scar out the next time we do this?” May-Ling asked.
“Sure.” Elijah smiled.