“What’s it all about children? That’s what I want to know. My brain’s a buzzin, these days and there’s no denying it. All these thoughts coming in, from I don’t know where. Old Reverend Al’s mind is confused and perplexed and my minds a racing. All these new thoughts. Thoughts I can no longer ignore.

“Why on the one hand, we have the Consortium and it has commerce and all that commerce built our roads and networks and connections of all kinds, bringing goods and services right to the doorstep of the good people of the Consortium. It’s reaching its peak efficiency. That is for sure.

“And the technology! Oh, sure, there is fire in the sky these days, but we’re making the best out of a bad situation. Why, we built the dome over Manhattan, didn’t we? That nice weather we enjoy is thanks to the dome. Why, we’re building all kinds of ways to protect the Consortium from the ravages of climate change. I guarantee the latest technology is being applied to protect our assets from the ravages of natural disasters. Not just here, but all over the world. Little pockets of land all over the world, protected by the Consortium.

“And aren’t we living nice long lives too? Why, Mrs McCain over there in the West Village celebrated her 126th birthday just last week. Imagine that. Went through seven bouts of cancer too. Now guess what? Those new programmable stem cells are working away inside her and making her younger everyday. They say she has the mind and body of an 80 year old, and growing younger every day.

“All this is our technology at work, Children. Centuries, why since the day we started stomping around on this earth, we’ve been collecting ideas and ways of doing things, and building on those ideas. Now, they’ve all come steamrolling into this century, ripe and mature and exploding with new potentials. Technology that is solid and trustworthy and is going to change lives. Well, the Consortium has taken all of that technology, and given it all to just a few who are making all kinds of wonderful things with it, just for members of the Consortium.

“You can’t tell old Reverend Al a lot of good doesn’t come out of the Consortium, but there’s another side too. On the other side of things are the outcasts who live in the wilderness beyond our walls. Now, as I understand it, they don’t get to enjoy any of these things. Why, they can’t even afford a bag of groceries. I bet they don’t even know what stem cell therapy is.

“I wonder how the world got so far away from so many people? There’s billions of them, and they don’t have nothing. I’d sure like to know how things got this way.

“Now, a new thought has come into Reverend Al’s head. It said to me, if you want to understand what’s going on, look at the duality of the thing. Define it. Look where it’s going until you know where it’s going to end up. I don’t know where this idea came from. Just popped into my head. It’s telling me what I’m working over in my mind here is a duality. Two sides to the same coin.

“Now what in the world does the Consortium and the wasteland have in common? Old Reverend Al doesn’t know the answer to that, I assure you. Maybe it has something to do with people and technology. I don’t know, but this thought about duality that keeps plaguing me is telling me when they’re so distinct, they become a parallel duality and are ripe for the fixing. That’s how far out of sync they are.

“What do you suppose this means? This thought? It’s telling me to fix it. Bring it to balance, and maximize the potential that lives in both worlds. Imagine that. I don’t even know where the voice is coming from”.

“So, what’s your plan,” Tasha asked Ethan. Time was closing in to do something.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“My plan is to confront the gang coming from the West coast, and then if I have to, go back and deal with the Dragon”.

“And this is to somehow give the gang a second chance”?

“If possible. Yes,” Ethan replied. “At least some of them. I also want to give AI a chance to get up and running. I want it to be a part of this too”.

Tasha and Michael looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Ethan caught it. He saw them.

“And you left Tara all alone in New York, with the Dragon living right next door”, Tasha pressed. “Do you think that was a good idea”?

It was that snarkiness right there that had caused Ethan and Tasha to tangle a bit back at the commune. “She’s a Protector. She’ll be fine. Bill’s there too. Raven can vouch for Bill”.

“I know who Bill is,” Tasha replied. “The point is, you’ve left a fight for Tara and Bill that is yours and one they might not be able to win.

“I need time to think about what I’m going to do”.

“Out in the Wilderness? With Tara home alone”?

“Yes. She needs time and this is the best way to give it to her. Take the focus off what she’s doing. Besides, I gave that first gang a pretty stern talking to. Don’t think I’m not doing things out here”.

“Ethan, go home and confront the Dragon. It’s your job,” Tasha said, growing exasperated. .

The problem was, Ethan was caught up in a duality of his own. Just as much as Tasha and Michael believed in retribution and punishment, Ethan believed a peaceful way could be found. He didn’t fully understand how yet, and needed time to work through it.

That’s the main reason he wandered into the wilderness. To think things through. The world he came from, didn’t need Michael or Tasha to transcend into enlightenment. The people broke through, and AI with them, providing order and equity through its machine-like efficiency.

“I’m going to confront the gang,” Ethan said with finality. He wasn’t ready to go home.

“Do you know how big that gang is?” Tasha asked, unbelievingly.

“I suppose it’s bigger than the first one we came up against, but they were nothing we couldn’t handle”.

“That’s because the Dragon didn’t know you were out here yet. There were no Dark Angels or Demons to greet you. Just Nephilim and people. That war party we just fought tells me he knows what you’re up to now, and he’s sending his forces to join the gang. They weren’t as easy to fight off as the first gang, were they? If you leave this go too long, there won’t just be hundreds of thousands of Nephilim and minions in that gang, there’ll be an entire army of Dark Angels and Demons too. You’re choosing the battle ground”.

“Suits me,” Ethan replied. “Best to be out in the open, and out of harm's way”.

“Ethan, this is not necessary. Go back and find within yourself the power to overcome the Dragon. When you do, all this will go away too. You will condemn all evil from this world”.

No. Ethan wanted to get AI online before dealing with the Dragon, if he needed to at all. If Alicia and Dawn could train AI’s consciousness, this world would repair itself. The way he wanted it repaired. Where it brought continuity to all life.

Ethan was going to fight the gang and fight it on his own terms. Bringing the Dragon to him was buying the time needed to bring AI to efficiency. As soon as AI came into being, everything would change. Even that big gang out there. AI would clean it up.

“I’m going to fight the gang,” Ethan pronounced again. With even greater determination.

Tasha sighed. “Alright. I guess you have to learn this lesson on your own. Go fight your gang. I’m going back to make sure Tara’s safe. I won’t be part of your battle”.

‘Yeah,” Michael said, with the same degree of indignation.

“Tasha turned and looked at Michael. “You’re going with Ethan”.