For my wife and I, this few weeks has been a joyous opportunity to spend time together, reflect on changing plans and the events that led us to this point. Of course we have also been taking advantage of The Society's technology and discovered ways to phase in and out of corporal form at will, and use and enhance other of our natural traits without expending much if any energy. We have both chosen some formidable weapons we hope not to need. The flip-side of our time here with The Society is that everyone is much more comfortable with us. I might even say they are way too comfortable with us. If I hear one more person ask me how it feels to be dead, and what is life like on the other side, or hey would you say hello to my Aunt Mildred and my dog Fluffy-face...The mundane questions are not nearly as bad as the poorly disguised attempts by The Society scientists to study us like lab rats. I may forget that I have chosen a path of peace.
I am pulled from my musings when Fast Eddie enters the library and asks, "Have you heard dude"?
"Depends" I say.
Eddie says hurriedly, "The plan is almost ready. I've noticed over the last few days that The Society has actually drawn in close to 10,000 people from various local militias unless my eyes are lying to me. Some of them look totally bad ass, some look like the Ann Arbor cannibal gangs. Creepy! I swear people in Ann Arbor would eat their own arms if they didn't need them to hunt."
Life ignores the last mental image and asks, "Eddie, how ready is your team?"
Excitedly Eddie says, "They are totally ready to kick Emergency Manager butt! I swear, I thought we were pretty awesome before, but now, with what we've learned from The Society I think we'd kick Kirk and Spock's butts mano y mano!"
I calmly say to Eddie, "Do not be too eager to use violence. IF our intelligence is true and all of the Emergency managers, major religious leaders and even the Governor are going to attend this special pow-wow in Lansing then we need to gather as much information as we can. They are planning something big. I believe a small team of operatives is still the best way to be effective against whatever plans would draw them all together."
More seriously, Eddie says, "I'm pretty sure we can convince The Society to let a small group do some recon first. If we screw up, we will still be bringing a lot of firepower to the house, but if we succeed, maybe we can knock those bastards out of the game entirely."
Noticing that my wife and I look deeply lost in our thoughts, Fast Eddie says, "Well until tomorrow then. Most of us need to get some good sleep to prepare for the trip to Lansing. I can't wait to finally see you two in action!"
Most of the people have gone to bed, but my wife and I continue to absorb as much information as we can from The Society's electronic library. I am surprised to learn from The Society's intelligence system that in the days leading up to the nuclear attack in the Middle East many former US. Military veterans did try to stage a coup against Homeland Defense, briefly captured the Pentagon and did a lot of damage to the naval yards in San Diego. The reports indicate that the US lacks the expertise to maintain it's navy or air force with just the mercenaries and a handful of veteran troops who refused to go AWOL when called to duty. The US has been relying heavily on their drone fleet and local religious leaders to keep the remaining populations under control. The Society estimates that 72% of the US population has been lost to deportation, warfare, starvation, radiation sickness and plagues. I shake my head in disgust.
Joe and a middle aged member of The Society enter the library. Joe says, "This is Pablo. He does not have a last name. He is very eager to meet you two. He asked that I bring him to you so that he could talk privately with you." Joe leads us to a series of cubicles hidden behind some wall shelves. We enter one and close the door behind us, leaving Joe to slide the wall shelves close to give us more privacy. The lights inside the room come on and we are left with the mysterious Pablo.
Pablo stares at the two of us for a moment, for the living it might seem an uncomfortable amount of time to stare but we just wait him out until him seems ready to speak. Finally Pablo says in a whispering voice and an accent I do not recognize, "I am a historian, like every generation of my family going back to the time of Herodotus. Historians learn to be careful before coming to conclusions and what I am about to tell you is my theory. I cannot prove what I am about to tell you is true, but neither can I disprove it. I have learned secrets that even The Society does not know. To tell them my secrets could set about a chain of reactions that would destroy The Society and any hope I might have of seeing a future that is brighter than the future I see today".
Before either of us can interrupt Pablo with questions he continues his monologue, "Have you ever wondered how a secret society with the power and knowledge that this society has accumulated has not been able to achieve its goals of brotherhood, equality and peace? We have traitors in our midst. I do not say this to spread rumors of suspicious unsubstantiated opinions but because the facts will not allow any other conclusion. My own mentor found enough evidence that several of our scientists and at least a few of our elders have been working with the State government, giving them as much technology as they can steal without notice, explaining weaknesses in our defenses, even pointing out when several of our members were vulnerable, leading to their capture. Whenever one of the monks from my order attempted to bring together the assembly, that monk and all of his or her evidence vanished, never to be seen again. When questions surfaced concerning where those monks have gone we have been met with answers that are meant to draw suspicion against our own order."
Life says with irritation in her voice, "You keep talking about evidence. I do not see any. You have names? Someone we should at least look out for?"
Pablo says, "You spoke to one at the assembly. The old woman chosen by The Society to represent us during negotiations with the Michigan Militia is the one I speak of. Her name is Angelica Campton. She is a fourth generation member of The Society. She was the one chosen to retrieve the original US Flag. My mentor personally saw her take weapons technology plans from the library. He followed her to Lansing, taking a cloaking device to hide from her view. Angelica was arrogant and did nothing to see if she was being followed. Angelica personally met with the Governor of Michigan, handed him the weapons plans and some other items and shook hands with the man. He gave her something, but my mentor was never able to find out what it was."
Pablo gets up to leave. "I will be missed," He says. "I must get back to my studies before people start wondering if I have taken ill. There is much more I wish I could explain to you. Whatever path you take, be cautious. Take advantage of our hospitality and arm yourself with anything and everything that might help you. Trust no one. Not even me."
With that Pablo takes his leave and Life and I are left to absorb his words.