“Now this is where it really gets interesting. The Bible tells the story from the perspective of Earth. It’s accurate in every way, but like any book with historical information, not every single detail is revealed. The problems began on Earth as non-humans, Satan and non-Earthlings started meddling in God’s perfect creation. Of course you know about Satan and the fall of man, but a lot of what took place between creation and the flood that made a mess on Earth was due to people from our planet and others meddling in the normal development of Earth. You see, our society, being much older than Earth and far more advanced, had abilities like what I just demonstrated to you and used those powers to control and manipulate the people of Earth and even allowed themselves to be called gods and sons of gods. As they intermarried with Earth women their children were considered half-gods. We even played with genetics back then and created giants and other forms of mutated beings. Of course, you know the rest the story. Earth became so Godless, perverted and corrupt that God brought on the flood. God washed away the sin and corruption and gave Earth another chance. Oh, but the plot thickens. People from our planet, by the way, it’s known as Xhondar I, enjoyed the power and control they experienced on Earth so much they once again began to move in on it. You’ve probably heard the expression, “Badly recorded history becomes a myth.” Well, since there were no written records in the years after the flood our people became the legends and myths of early Earth. Zeus and his lightning bolts, Poseidon and his control of the sea, Aphrodite, Hercules, Mercury, Hermes, even Medusa and Minotaur were either from Xhondar I or genetic experiments conducted by people from Xhondar I.”
“But, it gets worse, as we would attempt to get rid of those causing trouble, others would manage to take their place. Baal, Marduk, Oden, Thor, Vulcan; well you get the picture. Then as Earth moved into the Dark Ages, they became known as sorcerers, wizards, witches and magicians; known in fables and myths as Merlin, Mandrake, Hecate and the Witches of Endor. These people from Xhondar I even brought species from other worlds that became known on Earth as dragons, trolls, ogres, and even leviathan. So, yours truly, along with the other 23 elders were selected to eliminate all involvement by our citizens in the affairs of other planets. It took us years to undo the damage done on your planet, but by the end of the Dark Ages we had pretty much succeeded in our mission. Many of the gods, wizards etc. were killed in their resistance to return to Xhondar I. Most did in fact come home only to cause so much trouble they finished out their lives in prison or were executed for crimes committed back at home. Quite a few managed to evade us and relocated on other worlds. They are still out there. We’re not certain where, but I’m sure we will soon find out.” “Wait just a minute!” Paul blurted out as he stared at Zimuel with a puzzled look and questioned, “Are you using the term we to included yourself in the group of people who came to Earth to clean it up?” Zimuel nodded. Paul shook his head and said, “No way! That would make you something like 10,000 years old.” Zimuel gave a big grin and replied, “I was not involved in the B.C. clean-up, but several of the elders were. I’m the youngest of the elders at just under 3000 years-old; 2976 to be exact. There are two or three that were around to deal with post flood problems and with the Greek gods, but only two of the pre-flood elders are still alive.” Paul jumped up from the sofa and started pacing back and forth across the living room, so exited he could hardly sit still. He looked at Zimuel and asked, “That’s not possible. No one can live that long.” Zimuel’s only reply was, “Not on Earth. We can do a lot of things your world can’t, living longer in just one of them. We digress. I have more to tell you.”
“I guess that brings us to today and why I’m here. Because of the many problems caused by Xhondar I meddling in the affairs of other worlds, we passed a law several thousand years ago that we would no longer contact or get involved in anyone’s business but our own. We eliminated the training of advanced skills, so at this point only the 24 elders can do the things I just demonstrated to you and the only ones with the longevity we’ve discussed. Before you start thinking we’re being unfair, we’re not. We still have a lot of very senior citizens; many over 5000 years-old. We have a low birth rate and people don’t retire, because just about 100% are healthy enough to work. We eliminated our advanced skills enhancement programs since having the citizens able to do what I just did was causing too many problems. Our non-involvement policy, which included the elimination of advanced skills training, is so strongly enforced that I had to come to you, an outsider, to do what our laws will not allow us to do. Due to problems developing in the universe, our world, your world, in fact virtually every inhabited planet will, in the not too distant future, be threatened with destruction. You see, technology has grown at different rates throughout the universe. Some are still where Earth was thousands of years ago; some are probably as advanced and about as old as Xhondar I. Some of the more advanced human worlds are determined to conquer and rule every inhabitable planet they can find. Some of the more advanced non-human worlds are determined to eliminate every human in the Universe. The reason why I am here is to recruit you to be that intermediary between the various worlds. I am in a position to provide you with the resources of technology, advanced skills enhancement and finances you will need to get the job done, but you will have to recruit and train the people for the job. The citizens of Xhondar I have been at peace for over 10,000 years. Even with almost 70 billion people in our world there is virtually no violence. Last year there were 4 murders and 21 assaults; all domestic. Our military defenses are completely automated; why we couldn’t put together an army of true fighters if the universe depended on it, and it does. Of the many planets that we are aware of, Earth has the longest history continuous war. There has never been a time when your world did not have at least a few wars going on. We are going to need people with a fighting spirit and with the desire to fight for the right. We need you to put together a force of deliverers, not conquerors. There needs to be as much unity as possible between as many worlds as possible or we will never be able to stand against what is to come.”
Paul shook his head and replied, “What are you some kind of a prophet? All this talk of destruction is a little depressing.” In answer to the question Zimuel states, “If I’m to be named a prophet then I am not alone. Sixteen of the 24 Elders received the same prophecy initially and the remaining eight had it revealed to them shortly afterwards. If it were just me who had this prophecy the Elders would have never voted unanimously to break Xhondar I laws by sending me to do this. And if it makes you feel any more secure in making your decision to accept what I plan to offer you, the other twenty three Elders agreed that you were the one in the prophecy. All of us doubted God’s decision to choose you, but as much as we prayed about it, God kept reminding us that He chose someone who would be completely dependent on Him to get the job done and not rely on their own strengths and abilities. The glory goes to God, not to a man. Well, you definitely are someone who could never do what needs to be done on your own. You’re going to need all the help you can get.” Paul laughed, shaking his head, “Well, I’m overwhelmed by your confidence in me.” Zimuel looked at Paul seriously and replied, “It’s not about you or confidence in you, it’s about having enough faith to believe God will do what He has set out to accomplish. You just happen to be who He chose to use to accomplish it.”
“Now, that should be enough of a history lesson for now. Let’s get down to why I’m here. The question is, are you ready to drop everything here on Earth and come with me to Xhondar I to prepare for what God has called you to do? There’s a lot of work to be done to get you ready for the challenge and we need to get started right away.”
Paul, in typical human fashion, had a first response of, “I only recently got out of prison and I’ve had two previous bankruptcies, I had to get cosigners to buy this little place I live in, just last week I bought my new GMC pick-up with my older-brother as cosigner, and after 14 years without one, I’ve got a 5 year-old paid-off Triumph
Bonneville. I can’t just take off and leave these people hanging and mess up their credit. What do you suggest I do?” Zimuel crossed his arms about his chest, took a deep breath and replied, “For some reason your response doesn’t surprise me. People have been coming up with excuses for God ever since Adam blamed God for his situation by giving him that woman.” Paul took a look around his little home and replied, “It’s not much, but it’s all I have. However, if God has managed to bring me back from nothing to this I doubt He’s run out of resources just yet. You can count me in, but I’ll never live down the guilt of leaving others stuck with my bills.” Zimuel sighed, stood up and looked around Paul’s little trailer and said, “I have no doubt that God has bigger plans than this for you and is more than capable of taking care of these financial worries of yours. Do you bank on-line?” Paul nodded. “Then let’s pay all this stuff off now and be done with it. Then call your brother and tell him he has a new truck, a nice little rental property and that you’ve been given a unique opportunity and will be out of the country for a while.”
He opened his backpack and removed a laptop that looked heavy and bulky compared Paul’s four year-old lightweight Toshiba. He turned it on and spoke into it, “Computer, find all of Paul Verron’s bills and pay them off. Have the title of the truck and the deed to the house sent to his brother.” Paul gave him the name and address for his brother Kary. Zimuel closed the laptop and said, “Well, that’s taken care of. Let’s get out of here.” Paul just looked at him with his mouth open then asked, “That’s it? My bills are all paid?” Zimuel smiled and laughed, answering, “I had forgotten just how primitive Earth still is. You’ll soon find out that our computers are so advanced they almost know what you need before you ask.” Paul looked around and replied, “Let’s get out of here before I come up with another excuse.” Zimuel reminded him to call his brother, but Paul decided to text him a short message so he wouldn’t have to spend an hour trying to explain.
As they walked out the door, Paul looked under the carport at his Triumph Bonneville and asked Zimuel, “Is there any way I could take the bike?” Zimuel smile and answered, “Do you have an extra helmet? I’ve never been on one.” Paul reached back inside and grabbed his two helmets off the hooks behind the door. He looked up at the sky and realized it had quit raining. He took his truck key and put it over the visor and his door key and placed it under the cushion of his only porch chair, looked around at his little place in Gator and said, “Ready for that motorcycle ride?” Paul cranked the bike, put on his helmet and then helped Zimuel get his helmet properly strapped. They got on the Bonneville and headed down the road through Alligator Mississippi for the last time. The freshly washed air and the smell of fertilizer on the soybean fields was enough to make Paul feel homesick before they were even a mile up the road. The sky had cleared and the stars were extra bright this far out in the Mississippi Delta. Paul could feel tears begin to form in the corner of his eyes and he knew in his heart that he would miss the simple life he lived in Mississippi and the family and friends he was leaving behind.
Chapter 3
Xhondar I - Year 746,987 / Earth - Year 2017
As they rode up Highway 278, headed north, the motorcycles bright lights formed a tunnel as they reflected off the row of trees on both sides of the road. They were moving along the road at a good and safe 60 MPH; Paul noticed the horizon in front of him shimmer a little, sort of like he was looking through steam off a hot road, then, in a flash, it was full daylight and they were moving up a long steep hill surrounded with 100 foot tall trees Paul had never seen before. Paul slammed on the brakes and came to screeching halt. Zimuel leaned over Paul’s shoulder and said, “Welcome to Xhondar I.” Paul slowly released the clutch and continued to the top of the hill where he came to a stop once again. He slowly got off the bike, removed his helmet and starred around him in complete awe. Before him and behind him he saw rows of buildings as far as the eye could; all of them taller than anything he had ever seen or even imagined. On both sides of the road were vast forests. He could see lakes and streams flowing through the wooded valleys. He turned and looked at Zimuel and asked, “So this is Xhondar I? How did we get here? Don’t you guys use spaceships?” Zimuel grinned and replied, “All in good time. Everything will be explained to you soon enough, but first we need to head to that building right over there.” As he pointed toward the tallest building in the eastern horizon Paul could make out thousands of flying vehicles buzzing around between the monstrous sky-scrapers. Zimuel added, “The top five floors belong to the Elders and it’s going to be your home for a while. Just follow this road and I’ll tell you where to turn.”
Paul shook his head in amazement and asked, “How tall is that place?” Zimuel looked at Paul as if wondering why someone would ask him such a question and replied, “Actually I’ll have to think about that one, I’ve never been very good at converting units of measure. Let’s see, I believe it’s approximately 3 kilometers tall or around 9900 feet; give or take a few feet. That would make it 500 stories. The building is the home to the 24 Elders, the majority of our government offices, some doctors, a hospital, lawyers, a couple of insurance companies, a bank and one small university; in addition the structure houses nearly 80,000 residents. It’s quite large. There are buildings that house greater numbers of people but there are none taller on Xhondar I. Each building is like a small city, complete with schools, shopping, restaurants, various places of employment, even recreation and entertainment. There are some who go for years and never leave the building.” Paul looked east then west and asks, “Are those two different cities?” Zimuel shakes his head and clarifies, “We are in the middle of what we call the River Park. The river runs between the eastern and western sections of the city. The park is 50 miles wide or about 80 kilometers and runs north and south for 500 miles, or approximately 800 kilometers. The city itself is nearly 1000 kilometers square. We build large cities in order to keep as much land as possible available for agriculture and natural forests.” Zimuel started to put his helmet back on his head and it muffled his, “Let’s get moving.” Paul put his helmet back on and fired up the Triumph.
As he got closer to the massive wall of sky-scrapers bordering the park, he realized that he was the only vehicle on the ground, but there were literally thousands of fast moving objects overhead. He could barely keep his eyes on the road in front of him as he gazed up at the massive buildings and flying cars, transports; he wasn’t sure what to call them, but he was certain that there wasn’t a Chevy or Ford in the lot. Soon they came to what looked like the entrance to an underground garage and Zimuel directed Paul to pull in. There were only a few of the flying transports parked in the garage. Zimuel pointed out that most of the parking was done at higher levels and that the ones down here were rarely used spares or second vehicles. He informed Paul, “There is plenty of public transportation and so many people rarely leave their buildings that few actually own a transport. These down here are owned by the Elders and a few other high ranking government officials. There, that empty space is mine; you can park your motorcycle in it.” As they got off the bike Zimuel continued, “Just leave the helmets and the keys with the bike, no one will bother it in this garage, besides no one will even know what it is or how to ride it.” Paul looked at Zimuel then gazed around at the high-tech flying craft and realized he was right. Zimuel pointed toward the back wall at what looked like a bank of elevators and asked; “Do you have a squeamish stomach?” Paul shook his head indicating “no”. “Then we will take the antigravity shaft instead of the conventional elevator, it’s much faster.” Paul asked, “What’s the difference?” Zimuel pointed toward the elevator door and responded by saying, “The elevators are typical boxes like on earth, with four walls, floor and ceiling. They don’t work with cables, but use a propulsion system to move them up and a dynamic braking system to slow their decent. The antigravity tubes are an express transport that goes directly from here to the 500th floor, with no stops in-between. It has
no floors or ceiling. You simply step into the tube and rise at a very high rate of speed. It’s all computer controlled and perfectly safe, but it can sort be frightening your first time, especially if you suffer from any vertigo.” Paul replied, “Let’s see how I do, no point being reluctant at this point.”
Verron: Birth of a Nation: Book One (Verron Series 1) Page 2
