"What do you mean, several hundred years?" Greg said, frowning.
"Come on now, do you really think these dreams you have been having about the UCDW are all bogus?" Leumas asked rhetorically. "Well, they aren't, and you had better start paying attention. There's a lot at stake here. More then you can possibly imagine."
"What is this, school or something?" Sarah asked angrily. "Pay attention! Listen to me! It's all important! I don't know what to believe anymore," she finished, her frustration showing clearly as she folded her arms across her chest.
Greg stood from the chair, pointing at Leumas. "One minute you tell us we're dead. Then we're back to life. Which is it? Is any of it true? Space aliens and Councils that control the destinies of planets?" he sneered. "Give me a break already!"
Leumas gently tempered his voice, and spoke to them like he was dealing with two ill-tempered children. "I understand that you're both confused at the moment. We can only move so fast." Then his voice softened further. "I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I told you too much information too quickly." He shook his head. "You should have listened and let me gradually feed you the information. It's a wonder that you haven't suffered brain damage. The sooner you both start trusting and believing me, the better off you'll both be."
"Trust you, ha!" Greg exclaimed. "I'd trust a stripper to give me change for a ten quicker than I would trust you!"
Sarah frowned at Greg, obviously not amused by his metaphor.
Suddenly feeling her gaze, he became embarrassed. "Uh, sorry, Sarah. But this guy, or whatever he is, has gone far enough with his UCDW crap, or whatever the hell it is he's been rambling on about. I've had enough and I know you feel the same way."
Greg turned back to Leumas. "Give me one good reason why we should believe you!"
Leumas exhaled deeply. "I wondered when we would get to the show-and-tell scenario," he said, shaking his head. "So now you require some kind of proof about what I say."
Sarah and Greg nodded in unison, staring at him skeptically.
Leumas stood, and pointed to himself. "Well, let's start with me. Do you believe I'm an alien?"
Before they could say anything, his appearance suddenly changed. He became tall and lanky as his shape changed into Abraham Lincoln, "Four score and seven years ago…" he said in a deep resonant voice, stroking his long dark beard.
Seconds later, he was Albert Einstein, his white hair spreading in a corona. "E is equal to M C squared."
Next, Richard Nixon, "I have done nothing wrong, I am not a crook," he said with his fingers in a "V."
Next, John F. Kennedy, in a thick Bostonian accent, "Don't ask what your country will do for you…"
Next, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in a voice filled with conviction, "I have a dream…"
Leumas continued, on and on, in a blaze of familiar Earth personages in less then a minute.
They were still shocked and speechless as they stared at what appeared to be a misshapen lump of clay where Leumas had just been standing. Suddenly, an unmistakable grin appeared in the lump, and they had no doubt that, whatever the form, this was definitely Leumas as he struggled back to his initial shape and appearance. He looked fatigued.
"Whew…that's a lot of work," he said, gasping for air as he limped over to the mirror, smoothed his displaced hair and straightened his smoking jacket. He turned to them, bowing like a master showman. "Well, how's that, kids?" he said, obviously amused. "Still have doubts? If you'd like, I could replay your deaths for you. A little gory, perhaps, but maybe it would drive the point home!"
They were still unable to speak, but they shook their heads negatively to that suggestion.
Leumas pointed at them. "You're not asleep either. You are both very much awake." He swept his hand across the room, "This is real! It is all real! What I have to tell you yet is very real! So you'd better wake up and listen to what I have to say!" Silence settled in the room, allowing them to regain their composure after seeing the strangest things they had ever seen in their lives.
"Are we clear on this alien thing now?" Leumas asked. "Do I have your full attention now? This is not a dream or a simulation, folks. This is real time…the real thing. There cannot be any doubt in your minds from this point on," he finished firmly.
"Ah, excuse me," Greg began in a somewhat befuddled voice.
"Yes, Greg, you have something you want to say?"
"I just want to make sure that I have all this now," Greg said, wanting to put some organization into what he'd just seen and what was going to happen next. "So, the deal is that you are an alien, which I must say, you have displayed quite wonderfully for us."
Leumas nodded and smiled, pleased.
Then more seriously, Greg raised his fingers and ticked off each item. "Okay, now then. So Sarah and I were killed, then somehow rejuvenated, and brought to this planet." He paused, scratching his head as Leumas nodded again. "Okay, so there's this organization called The United Council for Developing Worlds, which controls the development of planets in the galaxy. Have I got it right so far?"
"That is a very good start," Leumas said. He turned toward Sarah. "Sarah, do you agree with that summary?"
Sarah thought he sounded like a schoolteacher again, checking the comprehension of his students. "Yes, I think so."
"Good. Now we need to move on," Leumas said, gesturing as if he was inviting them along for a little stroll. "I do not wish to alarm you, but I don't think either of you have realized the seriousness of your situation yet. That's what I am here for. I'm from the Council and I'm here to help."
"I think we see that now," Greg said, and saw confirmation in Sarah's eyes.
"Good. Now, as I was saying," Leumas continued, clearing his throat. "I am here to help you and guide you along in the indoctrination process, and then to prepare you for your new assignment. I am what is called an Initial Contact Agent. I bring in new members from different planets and gradually indoctrinate them into the Council’s processes, their responsibilities and/or any assignment the subjects may be immediately tasked with."
"You mentioned an assignment. What assignment?" Sarah asked skeptically.
"We're coming to that," Leumas said quickly. "But you must trust me, or we won't get anywhere. Unfortunately, there is more going on than just getting you two on the Council. Some internal squabbles are making this process a whole lot more complicated than it would be normally. But we'll leave that out of this conversation for now."
"That sounds like Earth politics a little bit," Greg said.
"In some ways, we do have similar problems in our organization," Leumas agreed. "Now, to get back to what is expected of you. I have fed into your minds the basic principles and structure of the UCDW. It will become clearer to you as we discuss it further. Basically, you have been given the enormous honor to represent Earth as delegates within our organization." He smiled congenially. "Representatives of your entire race, even. You will be deciding on the what, where, and when regarding your planet. The fate and destiny of your species," Leumas said, ending his statement, trying to show the enormity of their responsibility with a broad sweep of his arms toward Greg and Sarah.
They stared at each other in awe. The words "fate of your species" repeated in their ears.
"Why us?" Sarah asked, perplexed.
"I don't know the answer to that question," Leumas replied. "I did not participate in the selection process. The Council did that.” He shrugged. "From the data I have been given, I assume that you both possess a broad spectrum of qualities that are indicative of your species."
"I still don't get it," Sarah said.
Leumas paused his pacing and pointed at Sarah. "For instance, take yourself, Sarah. You are dedicated, loyal, determined and you are a very work conscious individual." He turned to Greg. "You, Greg, on the other hand, are a very, uh, well, subdued individual who leans more toward the pleasure or enjoyment of things." Leumas began to pace back and forth, like a teacher explaining a math problem. "In comparison, yo
u two are opposites. However, your attitudes or outlooks will ensure the equal representation of the lifestyles of your planet's culture. That is why you are here. You will set the guiding principles for your planet."
"No…it still doesn't make sense," Greg began. "There are a lot better choices than us; we are average and common. There are leaders, statesmen, diplomats, who would all be much better suited for this kind of thing. They have been trained for years, some of them all their lives, to perform these type of duties."
Greg's voice began to show his frustration. "How are we going to set the guiding principles, as you call them? No one will listen to us. We are only small people with a small voice. We have no money or resources to attain a position of leadership." And then, bitterly, he added, "Besides all that, we're dead thanks to you and your fellow Council cronies."
Ignoring Greg's sarcasm, Leumas explained, "That is not relevant. We, the UCDW, have the ability to shape the direction of a planet's development by placing influences or suggestions into the minds of other species and races."
"But—" Sarah began.
"Shh…let me go on first," Leumas interrupted. "Then you can ask questions." He paused to ensure they understood. They reluctantly nodded their heads. He continued, "At times, we will even insert a member of the UCDW into the actual planet system to enact a specific change. However, in Earth's case, due to the majority of Council members who are non-humanoid in appearance, except for a scant few others and myself, it has been deemed too risky at this time to insert one of us. Not everyone has my kind of skills, you know."
Leumas stopped, checking his appearance in the reflection of a silver vase, then finished. "Therefore, we expedited the time frame of our meeting with you so that you could assume your new position and status as delegates. This you will do until the appointed time in which the Earth is judged to require no further influence from the UCDW. Up to this moment, the Council has been influencing events on your planet in the best interest deemed by them. Now, you two will assume that role of decision making in the UCDW. Questions?"
"Ah, excuse me Leumas," Sarah said. "Can you please explain how this influencing thing works a little more clearly?"
He sighed, then began to explain carefully. "We place ideas in the minds of life forms that are in the position to cause a certain event or outcome. It could be a leader of a country, or it might be a street urchin. It's all a matter of place and time, whatever it takes to get something to happen." Seeing the bewilderment in their eyes, he continued, "For instance, suppose Government A is voting on a proposal to go to war with Government B. Well, the UCDW may not think that this is a good idea, so we influence the proper leaders to discourage this. If that doesn't work, we go to people who could possibly influence the decision indirectly, such as other powerful lobbying groups or even spouses of government officials, for that matter." He hesitated, then said, "Or perhaps Candidate President A has qualities that we feel are better than those of Candidate President B. We could influence a small populace to swing their vote to one side or the other, for the planet's best interest, of course."
Greg could no longer hold in the frustration from what he was hearing. "Hold it a minute now, Leumas! Do you mean to tell us that through all these years somebody has been controlling the actions of what we do on Earth?"
"To a certain degree, I would have to answer yes to that question," Leumas said matter-of-factly. "However, remember that, of all the millions of people on the Earth, the number that we actually influence is minute, almost insignificant."
Sarah's voice jumped in with a cutting tone. "But the number wouldn't matter if you influenced just the right people, now would it?"
Leumas smiled. "Very good, Sarah. I'm glad to see you agree with the process."
Chapter Twelve
GREG & SARAH TAKE A STAND
Sarah quickly stood from her chair and held up her hand in protest. "Hold on just one minute, Leumas!" she shouted, her face flushed with anger. "I'm not saying that I agree with any of this, only that I understand it. The truth is I don't like it at all. ‘Big Brother is watching’ does not appeal to me. Who is to say that the UCDW knows the right way for Earth to go? It's like playing God or something with an entire planet!"
"Now, now, let's not make any hasty decisions," he said nonchalantly, ignoring her anger. "I think you are taking the extreme side of the position. I'll concede you are correct to a certain extent, but look at all the good things that have come out of it. We've probably saved your planet from chaos and destruction numerous times. Although we might not be directly influencing events, we always maintain observation of less-developed worlds such as Earth. From what I have seen in the records, without our assistance, you might not even be here today," he said proudly.
"But then again, maybe you haven't," she challenged pointedly as she sat back down. "Perhaps your intervention screws history up too. Look at all the conflicts we've had. How many people may have died because of your influence? Are these bad decisions on your part?" she finished, raising an eyebrow sarcastically.
"Some decisions have been made that have had adverse effects," Leumas conceded. "But the simple fact that the planet is still here, with living life on it, could very well be a result of our intervention. Remember your nuclear buildup? Your Cold War? Do you honestly believe that, with all those weapons, there was never an error by some careless technician? How about just an honest mistake? We intervened on several occasions, which is why you are here speaking with me right now and not a pile of glowing ashes!" he said, defensively.
"Okay, Leumas, we're going in circles now," Greg stated, trying to relieve some of the tension. "I understand how Sarah feels about this, even though the reason you said you picked us was because we were so opposite. However, even though we are different in our lifestyles, I think you will find that the people of Earth join together on issues such as this." He continued with his patriotic stand. "We have a natural resistance to being controlled against our wills. It is against all of our personal beliefs and our individual lifestyles. We have fought to retain these rights and to be free of outsiders telling us what to do. I feel very confident that the consensus will go that way. We will not be subservient to anyone."
Greg glanced over at Sarah, who gave him a quick thumbs up, and then he pointed his forefinger toward Leumas. "You will get no agreeable vote out of us." He turned back to Sarah. "Am I right, Sarah?"
"That's right, Greg!" she agreed wholeheartedly. "This cannot go on. Earth must be allowed to make its own decisions. Good or bad, it's our right to make our own choices as long as we do not screw up any other planet in the process. Maybe in a couple of hundred years or so, our answer might be different. But, judging by the way we are today, I wouldn't think so." She looked toward Greg, and he smiled at her. She smiled back and then spoke to Leumas very calmly. "If the Council were to control us without our knowing about it, obviously there is nothing we could do about it. However, if Earth did know, I think you would run into a lot of resentment and non-compliance. We need to be free!"
Silence echoed among the group.
"So now what?" Greg asked Leumas.
Leumas stared at them, carefully choosing and composing his words. "Be careful what you are saying here. You have to be sure about this, more than anything else you have ever had to make a decision about in all of your lives." He continued with sincerity. "This is a golden opportunity to bring your planet and its people forward into an alliance that promises a definite future. Your world has a long way to go. Do you want to have more conflicts, more people dying needlessly?"
"You don't know if that is true or not, and not even you can predict the future, Leumas!" Greg challenged.
"Or can you?" Sarah inserted speculatively, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Leumas. "Is there more that you have not told us about your abilities?"
"No. We cannot predict the future," Leumas said in a voice that showed his frustration. "However, we estimate that, with the UCDW's growth rate, due to the new introdu
ction of life forms, there will possibly be a blending of genetic material at some point. This, in turn, may lead to a species that will develop the type of ability you refer to. But, right now, we utilize prediction analyses based on logic triangles. They are not perfect, but they are within normal parameters of acceptance."
"Define normal parameters of acceptance regarding the Earth predictions," Greg asked warily.
Leumas began to explain, clearing his throat nervously. "Well…with Earth, the path is rather difficult to see. There are several variables that we have not dealt with before. You Earth people are such a diverse lot. We estimate a fifty/fifty ratio of success in our endeavors."
Sarah and Greg looked at each other in disbelief. They were both shocked that with such a low percentage chance of success, any meddling would still be attempted.
"You—" Greg started to speak, but Leumas held up his hand for silence.
"I know, I know," he continued. “Those are crummy odds, and yes, it could go either way. But why take the risk if you don't have to? Let us help you to ensure that the direction is the correct one."
Once again, they were about to say something, but Leumas placed his finger on his lips for silence. He moved closer and spoke in a soft voice. "Listen carefully. The Council is monitoring your progress. If you both truly agree to refuse the positions that they are offering, they will render some sort of decision immediately. They could possibly scrub the entire plan of installing delegates from Earth to the UCDW for another hundred years." Leumas paused, hoping the impact of his words would hit home.
He looked at both Greg and Sarah, and neither seemed to be swayed by his arguments. He continued, "The effects on Earth could be devastating, not to mention what would happen to my reputation. The Council will not stand by and let the Earth annihilate its entire population. If things get too bad, they might send me to Earth to directly influence and I must not go to Earth! That's exactly what they want, to get me out of the picture. There's no telling what will happen if I am not here to watch the Council’s activities. Members have been having unusual accidents lately." He chastised himself for this outburst, but secretly hoped the personal slant might have some kind of impact on them. He was mistaken.
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