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“There you are; I’ve been looking all around for you guys! Where the hell had you bee...“

Frank Cooper’s last word choked as he realized who surrounded Tom and Madzistrale. His children, Anton and Billie looked with big marvelled eyes at the ex-President, his wife, and Vice-President John Carrie. He smiled nervously.

“Umm... Good afternoon.“

“Where’s Abraham?“ Tom asked, worried.

Frank’s expression turned heavy.

“Well...“ he glimpsed fearfully around him, “he... well... vanished. Out of... well... thin air.“

To Frank’s relief, everyone simply nodded in understanding. Tom and Madzistrale smiled at his confused reaction.

“Don’t worry, they sort of get what happened.“

“Sort of, is the right word,“ Frances acknowledged.

Carrie looked at the hill surrounding them, overlooking the city of glass, smoke rising from it. A calm had overcome the uprising once the simulation was revealed and the population had predictably chosen to return home to rest and fill their bellies over landing in the hospital or prison cells..

“So this is your... landing point?“ Carrie asked the siblings.

“More or less,“ they smirked.

Frank’s eyes clouded.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?“

“There isn’t much else that we can do,“ Tom said.

“What about the fighting?“ Frank asked, worried.

Carrie sighed.

“It’ll pass. But the siblings are right; now the hidden hands were exposed, we need to clean our own mess.“

“And people like you need to show the way,“ Madzistrale nudged Frank.

“What happens with the Society?“ Tom asked worryingly.

“The lunatic tried to escape,“ Frances announced gloomily. “But someone else came in and took out a few guards as well; the cameras were erased, so we don’t know who exactly, but since three members are on the loose, it obviously must be one of them.“

“And they’re letting this Scott guy and the android as bait,“ Bohm said bitterly.

“Five people isn’t enough to orchestrate everything, though,“ Carrie cut in. “Our job will be considerably harder to find the underlings.“

“The android could help you,“ Madzistrale suggested.

Bohm and Carrie shifted uncomfortably.

“Its case is...“

“You meant, ’his’ case,“ Madzistrale stopped them.

“... Yes. His case is complicated.“

“Well, if you’re worried for your security, he is forbidden to inflict harm. And stopped by himself the invasion simulation once he realized the whole of humanity was targeted,“ Madzistrale heatingly said. “He’s more use to you free than dismantled or imprisoned.“

“I’m aware of it, Miss Korfmann,“ Carrie sharply replied in a way that indicated he wouldn’t be bossed around.

Tom turned to Bohm and Frances.

“What about you two?“

Bohm looked toward Carrie, who simply looked back indifferently.

“I honestly don’t know. Obviously I can’t go back to any high position after my fiasco. Frances has also lost her access and advantages by the Minister of Security. So... We’re back to square one. Back to where I used to be forty years ago... Helpless.“

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Frances held him tight, her face showing nothing but strength and comfort.

Madzistrale snickered.

“Helpless? It’s people equal to citizens who actually changes the world. You think the citizens will listen to him?“ she jerked her head toward Carrie, who stiffened, “No, they will never expect the higher-up to listen to them. But who do you think they might listen to, if that person is right beside them in their own villages and cities?“

Bohm looked at her expectantly; she smiled.

“They’ll listen to a cool mayor who stands up against the feds when the citizens’ needs are not met.“

Frances smiled knowingly at Bohm.

“You all make that mistake: thinking you must be big and stand at the top to make people follow you. The problem is, there’s too many people to try and reach at the same time,“ Madzistrale continued. “But stand beside a small group of people. Help them directly, day by day. That small group is changed, and all the other groups around them realize something great can be done. One village’s good deed spread to its neighborhood; and so on and so on. That is how you change the world.“

“Thanks,“ Bohm breathed. “That might just work, if the people let me.“

Frances hugged him in support, before leaning in and kissing Madzistrale on the cheeks, Carrie saying nothing, only looking amused.

The siblings turned to the group.

“We’ll just say a private goodbye to Frank before leaving; but good luck to the rest of you. You’ve seen what humanity nearly lost, what it was ready to do to one another. Make sure it never happens again. War and terror has never resulted in anything good up until now. So stop being such idiots, and work on a new system.“

The group shook hands and said their farewells, and Frank joined Tom and Madzistrale slightly uphill with his kids, as the rest of them made the descent back to the city.

“That was... something. But I’m glad having met you,“ Frank said.

“Keep on hoping,“ Tom simply replied. “If more people do, and try simple deeds of kindness towards one another, then you’ll be closer to your dream world than countless governmental promises.“

Frank smiled, holding his two pride and joy against him. Madzistrale leaned over to stroke their hair, then kissed Frank on the cheek.

“Good luck, Frank. Goodbye Anton, Billie!“

“Bye!“ the kids waved happily.

“Will I see you again?“ Frank asked.

The siblings looked at one another, then shrugged.

“Don’t know. Maybe, it depends. These things are kinda random.“

“If you do, will you show me, or at least explain, how this is possible?“ he asked hopefully.

“We’ll try. Until then, look at the multiverse theories, and your native’s beliefs regarding dream states. Our own discoveries sprang from there,“ Tom said. “Project Orb Weaver, we nicknamed it. The Spider who guards the web of the multi realms, and guardian of the dreamers. Once we learned that, well... The rest was practice.“

“Thanks,“ Frank said. “Will try and check it out.“

They said their farewells and gave their hugs once again, then stepped back. This time, Frank gave no signs of surprise as the siblings simply vanished, leaving no trace of their presence. The wind simply kept on caressing the grass and their hair, and moving toward the city of glass towers to blow the smoke and despair away, leaving behind a fresh start.