The Sin of Moloch

by Andrew Gordinier

  “I want you to say that you will talk to the others for me. That you will tell them the truth for me, that you will do something besides sitting on your ass and eating junk food while waiting for the end of the world.”

  “You forget we already know the truth, our hidden history.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  “Really?”

  John took a deep breath and unraveled the tale that he had learned at the edge of the universe. As he did so, he watched Augie's face, trying to read even the slightest change. Trying to see if it would make a difference. John couldn’t tell if it did or not.

  “I’ll tell the others, I can’t promise that even that changes things. Because, in my mind, it doesn’t.”

  “You have my number, call me.”

  Chapter 48

  Radha could hear Yvonne screaming and crying again. After being teleported back to their cells, it was clear to her that they were being kept alive only so that they could die slowly, one by one. She took no comfort in the fact that they had tried, that the three of them had dared to escape and frustrate the Censor. She wanted to live, not inconvenience her killer.

  She thought again about seeing Kali in the jungle. She had never had hallucinations before, and she had never been that religious. Her parents had raised her Christian, but she had been exposed to so many different faiths and ways. Her uncle had been an ardent follower of Kali, she wondered if that was where the hallucination had come from. If it really was a hallucination. She dreaded that it could be real, dreaded that it could have been a dream. Wasn’t a world of power-crazed mages enough, did they really need gods too?

  The screaming stopped, and Radha wondered if Yvonne was finally dead. Released from the pain that had been her life for so long. It was a horrible thought, and a cruel thought, but not so cruel as the one she hid deep down and was ashamed of. Radha wanted Yvonne to live, so she wouldn’t have to face her turn to scream and beg. After all, they had been through together, it was a selfish and cruel idea, but she couldn’t help it. She sat in the corner of her cell and wept out of fear and shame until she could no longer cry. She still had the knife she had stolen from the Censors collection, why he hadn’t searched her wasn’t a question she asked. Radha only considered how long she could hold out. Because she needed to survive long enough to get one chance to kill the Censor, no matter what.

  Chapter 49

  “So when I text you, that’s your cue to teleport in.” Eric was planing their last-ditch presentation with the precision of a military operation.

  “Right, then I give my talk about the program while you set up Finley’s video to run on the screen.” John felt that his part was actually simple and that this planning was too much.

  “And, when things go bad-“

  “Conrad, we-“

  “No!” Conrad cut John off sharply.

  “When things go bad, Eric, I want you and John to make a break for it. I’ll do what I can. Hopefully, the confusion will allow the two of you a chance to get away.”

  “Listen, old man. If you think I’ve followed you this far just to leave you at the last moment, when you need me most, then you’ve gone senile.” Eric was furious.

  “No, just practical.”

  “This isn’t like the last time. You and Owen never got the kind of support that you have now. They won’t dare turn this into a slaughter, it would be too costly and violate what few laws they hold dear. Besides, they want everyone to see you give in and beg. If they kill you, they make a martyr, one that they can never silence or really fight. Alive? They can still show how cruel they can be.”

  “Your grasp of these situations and their cruel logic is a gift, old friend.” Conrad’s voice was somber.

  “No, just practical.”

  “So, what will happen?” John asked in a low tone.

  “Most likely? We will make our peace offering, and suggest that they join us, they won’t. We will tell them we have access to knowledge and magic they don’t, they won’t believe us. You’ll give your talk, and they will think it is a ploy, no matter what proof you offer. They will call for us to surrender, and when we don’t, an official state of war will exist as soon as the conclave is convened.

  John looked nervously between Eric and Conrad. “And then…?”

  “Then a lot of people die, kid. The last time this happened, people fought with spears and swords. Now we can chuck nukes clear across the planet, I can’t think of a mage alive that can survive a couple of hundred megatons of radioactive death. I’ve always been a survivor, even when it was looking bleak, but there are limits.” Eric’s deadpan tone said as much as his words.

  “Did I start this?” John wondered aloud. “Did I put Radha and Deanna in danger? Is this war going to be my fault?”

  “I’m not going to absolve your sins, John.” Conrad said with a small smile. “You did place Deanna in harm's way by having her work on that program. And, as your girlfriend, Radha is an obvious target for a lot of people out to get you. But, you did your best trying to protect them both. The war may not happen yet, but if it does, it is just as much my fault. And, a lot of other peoples as well. No one had to follow us, even the ones we blackmailed had a choice. There is always a choice to turn to violence or look for another way. The problem is the same as it has always been; we are human. We evolved from violent creatures that lived in a violent world. Now we are stuck at a point where we must evolve away from that, and that is not easy when some still embrace it.”

  “So, you are trying to say, in a very polite and philosophical way, that I am partly to blame?” John couldn’t help but laugh a little.

  “Yes, I am. Don’t let anyone tell you that you never contributed to society. The apocalypse is quite an achievement, you should be sure to put that on your resume.” Conrad said with a chuckle.

  “All joking aside, we should get going. We have to stop and have that talk with Christine before we leave.” Eric stood up from the table and put his coffee cup in the sink.

  “What about your staff, Eric?”

  “I’ve sent word through just about every network and contact I have, people should be at home with their families. Or making arrangements for the worst. I don’t have enough people to handle this and make a real difference. Once the ball gets rolling, it will be the government-funded armies, not guys like me.”

  “I understand. Well then, let us go have one last chat with the charming Christine.” Conrad said as he stood up and took hold of his cane.

  Chapter 50

  Christine sat on the park bench, watching Conrad, Eric, and John approach. She didn’t know that John had returned, and as much as he drove her nuts, she was happy to see him.

  “John, welcome home!” She smiled warmly at him.

  “Thank you.” John smiled politely. She could see that he had lost a bit of weight, and there was something different in his attitude.

  “I trust that you have heard of the conclave, my dear.” Conrad said without formality.

  “Yes, we got word of it from some of our contacts yesterday. Everyone is assuming the worst.”

  “You should.” Eric commented as he looked around.

  “Are you on your way there now?” Christine asked.

  “Yes.” Conrad said as he sat next to her on the bench. “I don’t know how this will turn out, or if we have a chance to talk afterward, things may move quickly. I just wanted to let you know that it has been a pleasure to work with you and get to know you.” Conrad offered his hand to Christine. She took it and was surprised by the old man's iron grip.

  “Before we get to the melancholy goodbyes, my boss wants to talk to you.” Christine nodded towards a large man smoking a cigar as he walked slowly towards them.

  “My god…” Whispered Conrad.

  “You have got to be kidding me. I shot you, point, damn, blank!” Exclaimed Eric.

  “Yes, I remember it well, but I’m not going to hold a grudge about it.” Said the man with no name.

  “
You look familiar.” John commented.

  “I should.” Said the man with a chuckle. “I’m Owen’s half brother, Troy.” Conrad stood up quickly and shook the man's hand with a smile. Christine guessed that if there were any bad feelings or animosity, it was forgiven.

  “I shot you. In the chest, point-blank, with a forty-five. You fell like a ton of bricks, and I saw blood splatter!” Eric was truly shocked.

  “Yeah, and I wish I could say it was all a cheap trick or some Mission Impossible type of theatrics. But, you did shoot me. It even went through my reinforced bulletproof vest. I just got lucky, very lucky. Had you not been in such a hurry, you might have found my radio was left on. The assault team found me, and the medic restarted my heart three times.”

  “Wait, you shot him, and it’s all good?” John was confused.

  “Not all good.” Eric said grimly. “He betrayed Conrad, Owen, and I. He earned that bullet.”

  “We both got betrayed.” Troy paused to puff his cigar. “The last time you guys tried this, there was all kinds of confusion. We didn’t know who was who, or who worked for who. In the end, it turned out there was a new player, someone we later learned was a Censor. She was manipulating everyone. She told the other mages you guys were going to assassinate them. She told us that all of you were conspiring to start a civil war. And she told you-“

  “That the other regents were going to ambush us after the meeting.” Eric said as he rubbed his forehead.

  “Yep, she set up a nice little blood bath. It killed almost everyone involved, chased Conrad out of town. Weakened Owens standing, to the point where every one smelled blood in the water. And, it cleared out a few pain the butt regents that were too powerful. It also set the stage for Veronica to start offing weaker mages, later on, putting her in conflict with Owen and John eventually.”

  “Wait, a moment. This all goes back to more manipulation by Censors? Was it-“

  “No.” Troy interrupted John. “The censor who arranged this was trying to earn her stripes, so to speak. The fact that any of us survived was not part of the plan, once the conflict was over, they couldn’t just go around killing everyone.”

  “No, it would have tipped their hand and shown who was playing the game all along.” Eric was clearly seeing the bigger picture and getting frustrated.

  “So the Censors just waited for a conflict between mages, or one of them got out of line. Then they would play everyone off against each other, and kill off the survivors. But why?” Christine was upset she hadn’t realized any of this sooner.

  “Because they are the last true mages of the golden age.” Said Conrad with a quietly angry voice. “Think about it. Some of them had to survive. Old bloodlines, unwilling to give up power and control. Yet, their libraries were burned, and fortunes lost. So, they set themselves up to enforce the laws of a violent feudal society. People fought over territory and violated laws, they would come in to clean up the mess. And, while they were doing it, loot anything of value or importance.”

  “So they kept all the knowledge and power, while everyone else thought it was lost.” John said excitedly. “But, there were the Primers. They had a hard time finding those because Augie’s group was rounding up everyone who found one.”

  “Who the hell is Augie?” Asked Troy gruffly.

  “I would like to know as well.” Said Conrad sternly.

  “He’s sort of the leader for this group that’s been in hiding. It’s a long story, but the reason Primers are so rare is that whenever someone finds one, they are either recruited into this group or killed. Their end goal is to outlast everyone else and rebuild afterward.”

  “Mage survivalists? Now I know things have gotten out of hand.” commented Eric.

  “That would explain some of the disappearances we’ve noticed over the years.” Said Troy as he considered how this changed things.

  “John, will they help us?” asked Conrad.

  “I don’t know. I have to talk to Augie again, or at least a few other people in the group. He’s been lying to them.” John struggled with his anger over yet another manipulation.

  “Do what you can, but be there when we call. Too much of this depends on timing.” Conrad sounded more like a concerned father than a general directing his troops.

  “Will do.” John ran off, looking for someplace out of sight to teleport from.

  “How does this change things?” Asked Christine.

  “It does, and it doesn’t.” Conrad contemplated the reflecting pool for a moment. “Troy, how much influence do you have on things?”

  “I have a meeting with the president in an hour. And, we’ve been talking to a lot of people, let's leave it at that.”

  “No matter what happens at this meeting, keep them from going on the offensive. Encourage them to protect people, but not start anything. The world is no longer run by fanatics following false gods! These are men and women capable of rational thought that are being manipulated. Let's give them a chance to figure it out for themselves.”

  “We’ll do our best.” Troy said with a smile.

  “We’re gonna be late, Conrad.” Eric said while tapping his watch.

  “Good luck.” Christine shook hands with Eric and Conrad.

  “Thank you, my dear.” Said Conrad politely.

  “Before you go, what did John find out there?” Christine asked.

  “Here, this is what we wanted to give you.” Conrad handed her a flash drive. “There are copies of what we plan to show the mages at the conclave on there. Show it to the president.”

  “I still don’t feel bad about shooting you.” Said Eric as he offered Troy his hand.

  “I’ll try not to pay you back any time soon. But, I might send you the doctor's bill!” Troy smiled darkly. After Conrad and Eric had left, Troy puffed on his cigar for a moment. “It’s a good thing they gave us a video, this president needs a damn puppet show to understand anything.”

  Chapter 51

  Augie held the meeting in the same place in the Outback that John had hiked to during the last part of his initiation. When John teleported in there was silence, no one was surprised, but no one looked pleased either. Augie stood to one side of the bonfire and looked relaxed.

  “We just got done debating things, and we were about to vote. I’m sorry, but you won’t be allowed to vote. Part of the topic of discussion has been the mistake we made, allowing you to run so far afield.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure that’s a real concern to you. I want to address everyone. I have something say before you vote.”

  “That won't be-“

  “Screw you, Augie.” John said before turning to face the gathered crowd. “It’s over. One way or another, it’s over with. There is a real chance this war between mages will spill over to the rest of humanity. Or, things change, the old feudal system falls, and we confront the Censors who have been profiting from it all.” John paused and looked around at the gathered mages, he heard no whispers or movement. “I’ve been out there. I’ve seen alien fleets that could track a teleporting mage. I saw a world where our distant ancestors came from, where they fled from. I saw worlds that have been burned and shattered to lifeless rubble. If you think you can face them alone, you’re giving them what they want; a chance to kill you. They will find this planet someday, and it should be defended! There is no mistake in that, but to think that we have to fight and argue to the end is the thing that will doom us before they even get here. You have all given up so much, walked away from your lives, your families. It hasn’t been a wasted effort, you are some of the most powerful mages on the planet. But, sitting out here in the desert waiting for the end to come is a waste of the knowledge you have and the sacrifices you’ve made. We need you now, not later. I’ll leave you with the location of the conclave. If you decide that you want to be a part of humanity again, join us there, help stop this war before it starts. Help build a real future where we have a chance to protect our world from dangers without and within. Or, cower here around the
fire waiting for the monsters. I’ve made my choices, it’s time for you to make yours.” John wanted to say more, wondered how much more he could say, and decided not there was nothing else that could be said.

  Looking back at Augie, John felt nothing but frustration and anger. Augie had lied and manipulated him as much as the Censors had everyone else. He wanted any shred of power or knowledge John had, his reasons didn’t really make it any better. They were just weak excuses to John. “Screw you, Augie. And, your wise man in the desert act. Because all you’re doing is giving up.” John didn’t bother walking away, he just teleported away to wait for his call from Eric.

  Chapter 52

  They had chosen to hold the conclave in an old theater, a fitting choice in Conrad's mind, there would be theatrics and drama on both sides. The old guard and the rebels, such a story had been the dramatic backdrop for countless events throughout history, and Conrad was sure there would be countless more. It was the nature of revolution to eventually become the predominant school of thought, to lose its radical edge, and eventually be replaced by the next revolution. He wondered how long it would be before his own had run its course, and would it’s end be as dangerous as the moment they now face?

  As the last few regents arrived and settled in, Conrad mentally reviewed the speech he had prepared. He had chosen not to use cards or notes because he wanted to remain vigilant of his surroundings. He did not share in Eric's confidence that there would not be an ambush or some other outbreak of hostilities here in the theater.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, may we please come to order. Find your seats, and let's begin.” The chosen moderator was of Tibetan descent and was deemed the most neutral of the options available to act as the moderator during these events. Once everyone was seated, he skipped formalities and got right to the point. “This is the first global Conclave of the modern era. It has been called by the leader of the North American mages to present their case and make a peace offering. Given the level of tension that exists between all parties and the fact that this is a unique situation, I have taken the unorthodox precaution of inviting several Censors to be here.” A soft mummer rippled through the crowd, and Conrad felt the hairs on his neck stand up. He looked to Eric and saw him nod calmly. Conrad knew the odds were good that he already knew who the Censors and where they were seated. The moderator continued, “I have also allowed the presence of non-mages because of the number of people requesting assistance or students be able to attend. No matter how you look at it, this gathering is unprecedented and historic. It is for this very reason that I expect all those in attendance to follow tradition and not instigate or perform acts of violence here. Now, Conrad has asked that he be able to give a short speech and then present evidence, hence the movie screen behind me. After Conrad's presentation, Regent Lacharte will offer a counter-argument and evidence. Once both sides have been heard, the floor will be open to discussion, followed by a vote. I now formally declare this conclave in session. Conrad, the floor is yours.”