Evolution: The Revelation

by Reilly, Jim

  Glenn stepped up on one of the long, highly glossed wooden tables, and spoke to them, “I know who you are. There’s Steven with his feelings of lost love, Cynthia the lonely little dancer, and D’Shawn the rich athlete with a chip on his shoulder because his Dad left his family penniless. Yes, I know who you are. As a matter of fact, I fed on your hopelessness, feeling of ineptitude, and greed. It helped me regain some of my strength after being imprisoned for so long. I should thank you all, but I won’t. I do, however, want to thank those poor people, with all their problems, who energized me as if I had the power of a million suns.”

  It was in that moment, Glenn raised his hands and all the tables and wooden benches started to roll toward them in the back of the hall at an accelerated speed. As the tables approached, Glenn smiled, then slipped out of the virtual hall.

  D’Shawn yelled, “Where did he go? Back out of the meeting?”

  “No,” replied Hailey as the tables and benches drew nearer. “He went to another meeting room. I’ll get us there.”

  Before the tables and benches pummeled them in the back of the hall, Hailey brought them to another meeting room. This time on a mountain ledge, looking over a valley.

  “Wow, I thought we’d get pounded by those imaginary tables,” said a sarcastic D’Shawn.

  “You’re lucky you didn’t,” warned Hailey. “To access these meeting rooms, I needed to remove the filters. Meaning, just as you felt the wind and warmth of the sun, you’d feel pain as well. As a matter of fact, it could kill you. So be careful.”

  The warning didn’t stop them from circling Glenn on the ridge overlooking a deep valley filled with pine trees.

  Cynthia yelled, “Glenn, whatever you’re doing, we’re going to stop you.”

  Laughing he proclaimed, I’m not Glenn, I’m your new God!” Using his right foot, he kicked Cynthia in the stomach with his full force.

  The blow pushed Cynthia backwards as she fell off the ridge heading for the sharp rocks below. D’Shawn, wanting to save her did the only thing he could think of, he left the meeting. Once out, he grabbed Cynthia as she stood in the lower section of the New Jerusalem, and pulled off her headgear.

  At a loss for breath Cynthia let out a scream as she fell backwards into D’Shawn’s arms.

  “I felt the life about to leave my body. Thanks,” she said as she put her arms around D’Shawn. “Can we get back in?”

  “I don’t know how this shit works.”

  Looking over the ridge, Satan commented, “Looks pretty far below. I hope she’s okay.”

  Without hesitation Steven tackled Satan who was still laughing with delight. After Steven’s shoulder hit Satan’s stomach, Steven reached to grab Satan’s legs to pull them toward him just as Steven so often did in a wrestling match. As he drove into Satan, it forced them off the ridge freefalling into the valley below.

  As Steven felt the feeling of weightlessness of the fall, Satan disappeared as Steven headed alone for the sharp rocks below. It was then that he felt someone midair grab his legs.

  Before they hit the ground, Hailey changed meeting rooms with Steven in her arms. Steven then found the two of them lying on a grass field near an old dairy farm barn filled with milking cows. They got to their feet in the new meeting room and entered the barn where they found Satan standing near a watering trough.

  He had had his fun with Steven, “The smell of manure, the endless supply of flies, and the large disgusting animals, feels like you’re back home in Kansas doesn’t it Steven? However, your sweet Brenda is gone now for a thousand years. Not before falling into someone else’s arms, that is.”

  “Go to hell!”

  Again laughing, he said, “You won’t want me to go once you hear what I have to say. How would you like if I brought Brenda back to you, as well as your parents and brothers. You can start that family you wanted with Brenda. Your parents and brothers could be there to enjoy the life you wanted. You see Steven, I can make that so. All you have to do is follow me. I don’t ask for much.”

  The pain from missing the ones he loved could be seen on his face as he thought about them. Looking around the barn, he had the feeling he was home. Moments before, he had his arms up to fight and now he started to lower them slowly as a sense of loss fell over him like a heavy blanket. It was overwhelming and he began to cry.

  Slowly moving around Satan, Hailey saw that Satan was distracted with Steven, so she circled him to attack from his blind side. However, Satan moved quickly out of the way as she lunged at him, and Hailey found herself submerged in the water trough with Satan’s foot holding her under as she gasped for air.

  At first unable to move, Steven gained the strength to make his way to confront Satan when the evil one said, “So that is how you thank me for my gifts to you? Well then, punishment is what you deserve, and punishment is what you get.”

  As Satan was about to put his hands on Steven, a man partially enhanced appeared in the barn, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you evil spirit to be gone. Lord, dispense this sick manifestation.”

  At that, the clearly red faced Satan reluctantly disappeared.

  The man dressed in a black shirt and pants with a small white collar shouted to a dazed Steven, “Get the poor girl out of the trough, she’ll need CPR. Quick!”

  With that, Steven pulled her from the water and remembering the CPR class he took in college, turned Hailey over to drain the water from her lungs. He and the man then positioned the unresponsive Hailey on her back as the man pushed down on her torso. Steven then held her nose as he blew air into her lungs through her mouth. Moments later she began to breathe again while coughing up water.

  Steven was catching his breath as he cradled Hailey, and the man introduced himself, “I am Willie McDermott. Father Willie is what everyone calls me. I was alerted to your predicament by some of those who left the meeting, and I thought I’d offer my assistance.”

  “Did you say, Father?”

  “I’m a Catholic Priest who administers to the lower levels of the city. The city we should get your mind back to. Apparently Satan stirred up the masses, and you better leave the lower level while I try to calm them down. I’ve never seen them this riled up before, but I guess that’s what Satan does.”

  “Before we go, we need to find Glenn Casarona’s location.”

  “Fine, his home is block 32, 15th unit. I’ll meet you there.”

  As Steven and Hailey left the virtual meeting room, D’Shawn quickly asked, “What happened in there?”

  Before he said a word, Steven sprinted down the corridor of complexes looking for Glenn Casarona’s location with a D’Shawn, Cynthia and recovering Hailey in tow.

  When they reached block 32, 15th unit the door was open and the priest was there caring for a confused Glenn Casarona as he was lying on the floor wondering what all the fuss was about.

  Steven looked at the man on the floor, then wandered through his home looking for Satan but didn’t find the tempter. When he was done, he met the three outside the home and told them, “He’s gone. He’s left poor Glenn and is now out there gaining strength.”

  Feeling dejected, Steven, Cynthia, and D’Shawn stood outside the home in silence as Hailey communicated how things stood with her superiors.

  Chapter 4

  21st Century.

  Just like when he was a young boy and one of his friends lit a firecracker, Cameron winced and recoiled in anticipation of an explosion. His anxiety was heightened by his close proximity of a bomb-laden Ivan Mosgov. As the seemingly long seconds passed, one by one, Cameron realized firing his stun gun at Ivan didn’t cause the device to explode.

  With the street now clear of people, except for an incapacitated Ivan, Cameron bent over with his hands on his knees and finally exhaled what he thought was probably his last breath. Getting his composure, he pulled out his handheld mobile computer and used it to scan Ivan. Judging by the damaged circuitry, he was able to determine the explosive device was disarmed. What excited him
was not the thrill of being alive; it was the fact that Ivan, though unconscious, was still alive. Now he had an opportunity possibly to get some answers.

  As the first local Moscow police officer came close to the scene, Cameron displayed his badge, and said, still a little out of breath, “I’m Cameron…UN…Inspector.”

  A female officer, acknowledged him, “Sir, what’re your orders?”

  He then told her, “This man had a disabled explosive device in his stomach, please have the bomb squad remove it and get this man to a hospital. I want him under twenty-four hour guard, and I need up to the second notification of his health. Also, he’ll need to be recorded twenty-four hours a day, and I need to be notified if he so much as utters a word.”

  The next morning when Cameron got to the UN headquarters in New York, Johnny was there to greet him, “Are you nuts?! You took on a suicide bomber all by yourself? You bonehead! That could have gone real wrong, and we’d be sponging you off the sidewalk this morning.”

  “Johnny,” he started to tell him, “It couldn’t be helped. I certainly didn’t want to be in that position. I was just following up a lead.”

  “Whatever you did, it’s started a fire around here. Everyone’s up in arms. And now, I just heard from the Inspector General’s office; there’s a mandatory meeting in the main lecture hall. I even hear they’re pulling everyone in for this and making it a priority.”

  “I know. I was contacted as well. They want me to show what we found so far.”

  “Let’s hurry because it’s already started.”

  Entering the lecture hall, the two heard Inspector General Sanchez instructing the worldwide security personnel assembled in person or via 3D teleconferencing. Once the Inspector General noticed Cameron, he lightheartedly said, “Thanks for joining us. I hope we didn’t wake you too early this morning, you busy being a hero and all. Maybe later you can tell me how with all the personnel support we have, you needed to take it all on yourself. What’s worse, you were absent for our meeting yesterday.”

  Appreciating his mentor’s humor, as well as his concern, Cameron said, “I’ll keep that in mind next time. As for the meeting, it won’t happen again.”

  “Now get up here and clue everyone in on your findings so far.”

  Cameron proceeded to relieve the Inspector General as the lead speaker at the podium and began to inform the security people of his findings. He mentioned the Ancient Visitor weapon discharged at the deceased Mohammad, the link to the Peru terror attack, the St. Louis bombing, and finally the attempt to bomb the regeneration center in Moscow. What he failed to mention on purpose was his suspicion of his colleague Will Davis and his witness Taylor McGrath. He glazed over the details of his source from the remnants of the Followers of Divinity’s secret security force.

  At the conclusion of Cameron’s report, the Inspector General gave his marching orders to his subordinates for the next hour. He was intense in his manner and strategically determined a course of action to deter this terrorist conspiracy. Then when all was said, he dismissed them to perform diligently the tasks involved.

  When he was done, he called over Cameron for a private talk. “What did I tell you about being a hero?”

  “I know, don’t take unnecessary chances and take advantage of the support available. I know and I’m sorry. I’ll try to do it the next time.”

  “Good, but that’s not what I wanted to speak to you about. Tonight there is a banquet sponsored by the Babylon Corporation. A lot of the UN hierarchy will be in attendance and I think it’d be good for your career.”

  “You know I don’t do those functions. I just don’t like all the politicking. It’s not for me. If all I ever amount to is inspector then I’d be happy. To tell you the truth, I don’t care if everyone in the security group passes me by. I’m content.”

  “It’s not just for your benefit. Babylon is a big supporter of the Security Group which provides contributions that help keep our personnel with the most up to date technology. I can’t tell you the trouble I have getting the needed funds through UN channels. Having a benefactor like Babylon is a big plus for us.”

  “All right, I’ll go. But please don’t have me pander to anyone.”

  “You’re a hero. Just stand around and look pretty.”

  Fixing his tie in the reflection of the mirror lining the elevator, Cameron exhaled knowing he begrudgingly accepted the Inspector General’s invitation. When he gave up lining the tie with his collar, he put his hands on the highly polished wooden railing and closed his eyes hoping the high speed elevator would take its time getting to the banquet on the 95th floor. As the doors opened, Cameron quickly slinked as stealthily as he could and maneuvered toward the most uninhabited part of the room. A roving waiter kiosk offered its selection of beverages. Cameron made his selection, and as he bent down to reach for it, he heard a familiar voice.

  “I’m not the only one trying to be inconspicuous. Isn’t that so Inspector?”

  “I have no idea how people enjoy these types of things. Look, most people look stiff, and they stroll from one boring conversation to another. The hardest part is pretending to be interested in those conversations. How do you enjoy the babble of the snobbish, Mr. UCLA Scientist at Large?”

  “To tell you the truth, I let your mother handle hobnobbing with these folks. With every new position she is nominated for, she needs to do more socializing within the UN community and the ones who provide funds,” said the tall Super Homo sapiens towering over Cameron. “I’m a scientist who likes to get his hands dirty in the field, when you get your hands dirty doing this stuff, you don’t seem to be able to fully wash it all off.”

  “Where is mom?”

  “She’s right over there—wait, she seems to be walking this way with a few folks. It looks like Inspector General Sanchez, and with him I believe, the hostess of the party.”

  “Glad you made it,” Sanchez greeted. “This is Cassondra Romano, the CEO and Chief Scientist of the Babylon Corporation. Cassondra, this is Inspector--”

  “Richards, Cameron Richards,” he said finishing the introduction as his mother looked on with quiet dismay. “I know who you are. You are the founder of the largest chain of privately own regeneration centers. You have centers all over the world. Many of the most famous and influential people have used your centers to be enhanced.”

  “Very good Inspector,” the tall enhanced woman said. “Mr. Sanchez has told me all about you. You were the one who stopped a terrorist plot that blew up a regeneration center in Moscow. It was your bravery that saved all those people at the government run center. As someone in the enhancement community myself, I humbly thank you for your bravery.”

  “I’m just doing my job.”

  “A job well done, considering your evolution level.”

  “Considering??”

  “Oh, please forgive me. I didn’t mean to offend you. On the contrary, I meant it as a compliment. You were successfully able to stop an attack while other investigators, who were enhanced, had no idea. It goes to show that some people are enhanced even before having the procedure. You seem to be one of those people.”

  Standing there with four enhanced, along with the rest of the banquet hall filled with enhanced, which was the reason he didn’t want to be there in the first place, he said, “Forgiven, and I accept your compliment.”

  The bronze tanned beauty then said, “Thank you Inspector, but can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “Please don’t be offended, but why haven’t you gone through the procedure?”

  Not wanting to get into it, especially with his parents, unbeknownst to Cassondra, listening in, he simply replied, “I just haven’t gotten around to it. I think change is something I do slowly.”

  “I understand,” she said. “Oh, and I see you know David Cho, one of the world’s most esteemed scientists now teaching in academia.”

  “We’ve bumped into each other at the UN headquarters from time to time along w
ith his wife Jennifer La Mont-Cho,” he said nodding his head toward his parents.

  “It’s good to know people in high places.”

  “Sure is.”

  “Well then, I’ll let you continue your conversation with Dr. Cho before we interrupted you. But before I leave, I wanted to ask you if you are aware of the special discount offer we give to UN personnel?”

  “Yes, I’m aware. I think everyone knows about the discount.”

  “I’d like to improve on that offer and give you a free no-wait enhancement. Think of it as a reward for your bravery.”

  She then tapped on her super computer wristband and instantly the free offer popped up on Cameron’s Visor screen. Before he could respectfully decline, she was gone with Inspector General Sanchez in tow.

  “That was nice of her,” his mother told him with a hint of sarcasm as she took a sip out of her champagne glass.

  “Funny,” he replied with a smile. “It’s good to see you Mom and thanks for playing along.”

  “I respect you for wanting to make a name for yourself. I didn’t know you meant literally. But I understand.”

  “Thanks. Oh wait, I sent you--”

  Before he could finish she told him, “Sorry to see that you’re leaving. Maybe Dr. Cho can see you out.”

  Now very curious, he nodded his head as she left to continue to mingle at the banquet. Then he and his father left and took the high speed elevator down the 95 floors not saying a word due to listening devices and cameras everywhere. Once out of the elevator, they made their way out of the Babylon Corporation headquarters’ lobby and started to speak when they were two blocks away.

  His curiosity now boiling over, he asked, “Dad, what’s the deal?”

  “Your Mom didn’t want this to be public knowledge. The blood analysis on Edward Tanner and the terrorist in Peru, as well as the murdered man in Afghanistan you requested came back with an anomaly.”

  “What anomaly?”

  “There was a substance not originally manufactured on this planet found in the blood. Now, the thing is, it’s in the blood of the descendants of the original enhanced humans, the ones abducted by the Ancient Visitors. However, it’s found in very small amounts. So small that only recently with new technology are we aware it’s there. The reason we know it’s not of this planet is because we’ve analyzed the returned people who were abducted. After the Ancient Visitors enhanced them, there were noticeable amounts in their blood. It is the only ingredient we don’t add when we enhance humans. The reason? No one knows what it does. Some of the best minds have guessed it may be a sleeper agent, something that’s triggered when the Ancient Visitors eventually return.”