***** Vol.5 Chap.39 Cosmic guardians *****
Elijah looked around and saw that no one had any other questions.
“If there are no more questions, then let me explain what a Cosmic Guardian is? A Cosmic Guardian is one that watches over a planet.”
“I am only one of a long line of Cosmic Guardians watching over this planet. Millions of years ago, this planet was visited by a space faring race. The alien race set up this underground station and installed all the equipment that you see in this station. The technology is so superior to the human race that there are still technological capabilities that I cannot understand or even fathom.”
“The primary purpose of the equipment is to collect data regarding the evolutionary development of all life on this planet. As far as I know, data and statistics are collected for all species of the animal kingdom and the plant kingdom. Homo sapiens and its development is also part of the catalog.”
“This equipment is an extremely efficient system and is basically functioning on its own automatically. What made the Cosmic Guardian’s job so much easier is that the machine had superior prediction capabilities. For example, the crisis that you have attended to was predicted a month ago by the machine. That was the time when I decided to bring you on board.”
“After setting up the station the alien race left one of their workers to keep watch over the equipment. The worker was called a Cosmic Guardian. While the Cosmic Guardian was superior, the worker was not immortal.”
“At the beginning, a Cosmic Guardian was replaced directly by the alien race. Eventually, as the human race progressed, the alien race decided to leave the job to humans. I know I was not the first human taking on this job because I was initiated by another human Cosmic Guardian.”
“Exactly how many human Cosmic Guardians there were before me, I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you two will now hold the reins for the next reign. My legacy is over. You two must now work things out together.”
Frank thought he detected a slight sadness in Elijah’s tone.
“The data gathered by the machine is automatically sent to the collection station periodically. When everything is quiet, a message will be sent every six months. When there is a war or natural disaster, transmission could be as frequent as once a week.”
“As nearly as I can tell, I have never received a response back from the alien race. Exactly where the alien race is now or even if they are still around, I have no idea. They may be thousands or millions of light years away.”
“Does the equipment break down at all?” Frank is the practical one.
“Yes, there are occasions that the machine detects a malfunctioning circuit. It would first fabricate a new circuit; then it would print out detail instructions on how to replace the faulty circuit. I only had to do this twice.”
“Where does the power for the machine come from?”
“I really don’t know. I suspect it is some thermonuclear power with its source directly from the magna core. So as long as the planet’s core is hot, the equipment will be powered.”
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“How do we get to know this machine?”
“You were given a Level One access, the lowest level of access to the machine up to now. At this level, your basic sustenance will be serviced by the machine. Now that both of you are Cosmic Guardians, you have been given Level Two access.”
“There is a self-tutorial that would bring you through all the different aspects of the machine. When you have mastered that level, you may progress to the next level. There are quite a number of levels and I have not exhausted all the levels yet.”
“I am afraid my brain is not cut out for this modern technology. This is another reason that I requested the machine to give me a replacement.”
“What level are you now, may I ask?” It was May-Ling’s turn.
“I am proficient at Level Three and am working on Level Four.”
“Wow.”
“Level Two where you will start is pretty basic. Level Three allows a deeper level of details. Level Four allows some degree of user programming.”
“Wow.”
“What is the primary task or directive of a Cosmic Guardian?” Frank finally popped the question.
“In a nutshell, the primary directive of a Cosmic Guardian is to see that all life on this planet continues. As a Cosmic Guardian, the principal task is to thwart any events that would potentially destroy all life on this planet.”
“For example, if Dr. Johan Schmidtiz is allowed to complete his experiments on the designer enzyme, the results would wipe out all life on this planet. Even though he did not intend to do so, but his limited knowledge failed to foresee that the mutation of his designer enzyme would be spread by water thus eliminating all life in fresh and salt water. Thus his engineered enzyme would wipe out all life in air and on land. This is not acceptable.”
“In these situations, a Cosmic Guardian must step in and correct the situation with minimal interference.”
“Now you see that it is crucial that a Cosmic Guardian is cool headed and only has the planet’s interest at heart. A Cosmic Guardian cannot have any other agenda in mind.”
Elijah paused. It is obvious that he is tired.
“I think I have passed on all the crucial points to you already. The machine will provide you with the details. According to the machine’s prediction, there is no major crisis in the next year. So that should give you both plenty of time to get acquainted with the machine. It is a very powerful machine and should serve you well as it had for me.”
“What would happen to you?”
“The alien race has prepared a midway station on a planet in this sector of the universe for all the Cosmic Guardians. I will go there and live out the rest of my natural life.”
“Can we come and visit?”
“No, this is a one way trip. In fact, I have no idea where the midway station is. But the rules are clear. I will never be allowed to come back and no one from here will be allowed to go there.”
“How do you go there?”
“By the TEVE that you just rode in.”
“I thought it only worked in water and land.”
“The version that you had was limited only for water and land transportation. The TEVE I will be using will be space worthy. In fact, my TEVE is already waiting for me. It is time for me to go.”
“Can you not stay a little longer?” May-Ling asked.
“Sorry.”
“We hardly know anything.” Frank chimed in.
“You know more than me when I first started.”
“How long have you been serving as Cosmic Guardian? Are you the Elijah mentioned in the bible that was carried away in the fiery chariots?”
Elijah smiled.
He stood up. Frank and May-Ling immediately stood up also.
“Do you really have to go?” begged May-Ling.
“According to the machine, you two are now the official Cosmic Guardians. I am now an ex-Cosmic Guardian. The best thing is for me to get out of the way so that you two can start the learning process.”
Elijah started to walk towards the door followed by Frank and May-Ling.
“Are you sad to go?” Frank finally mustered up enough courage to ask.
“Let me put it this way, I am full of emotions.” Frank thought he caught a glistening tear in his eyes.
They arrived at the dock at the end of the hallway. A TEVE was waiting for Elijah. The TEVE looks exactly the same as the ones that they have been using. Frank was speechless as he stood admiring at the engineering marvel.
“I have no doubt that the two of you will do a much better job than me. I know the future of life on this planet is in good hands.”
May-Ling was overwhelmed with emotions and was sobbing uncontrollably. Frank was at a total loss of words. They watched Elijah as he boarded the TEVE waving his hands to them.
“Frank, please take care of my fields for me.”
“Of course.”