"More importantly, you are because you just are. Realize everything is because it is. Don't take anything out of it or add anything. See it for itself. Life is just for observance, for witnessing, for education and when you finish it, you can choose to go back, or choose to stay here depending on your perception. If your perception and your choice of perception cease, then Truth will be."

"Then, that's what I want."

G.o.d laughed. "Because you force, because you see it as that, because it is a goal, a desire, it cannot be within truth. Yes, all things are within Truth, but they do not lead to the ultimate. It must be, and then Truth will be; it cannot be taught, spoken, felt, forced upon; it must just be! It cannot be waited for either, it cannot be a desire; it just is!"

Alex said. "Destiny doesn't matter."

"Exactly. Just let it be."

"I understand; I must go with the flow and things will be the way they are, regardless of my thoughts, my words, my feelings, and my conditioning. I will let them be. No good, no bad, just be!"

"Let things go and see them for what they really are."

Alex nodded to G.o.d, who still looked exactly like himself.

"Now, go!"

"Wha With a jolt, he felt his body being pushed and pulled. It automatically backed away from G.o.d, the throne room and the gates of Heaven and went back to the River of the Dead. The next thing Alex knew ... he was back in his body!

"He's alive!" he heard a voice say. He opened his eyes slowly and saw people around him, looking at him from above as if he was being operated on. When his eyes adapted to the Earth light again, he could see the Rebels, as well as Nikolas and Daniel looking warmly at him as if to ensure him that his worries were over.

He shook up from his bed and gasped.

"Okay," said Daniel, "Now that you're back, get ready."

"For what?"

Daniel smiled. "The Council."

Alex felt constricted in his body once again and he didn't like it. He remembered G.o.d, took a deep breath and just let it be. He and the Garengs were seated in the helicopter, heading for London. "So, how are you feeling now?" asked Nikolas. "Is everything alright?"

Alex looked deep into his uncle's eyes. In the crimson iris, he saw a light. Alex realized that light was Nikolas's soul. He concentrated on it and without moving his lips or using his voice said, "No. But you'll soon know why." A flame glittered in the soul region of Nikolas's eyes.

He was surprised by Alex's use of telepathy. His eyes showed everything, including something quite unexpected: malice. Alex suddenly realized that malice exists in people who take the lives of others. The soul never darkens, only the ego, with or without knowing it. This was the difference between good and evil. A person who knows evil and turns away is good, and a person who knows evil but continues with pleasure is evil. But then what about someone who has no choice in anything? This was where dualities ceased to exist.

"Well, are you alright?" Daniel repeated his father's statement.

"Yes."

"Don't worry about it," said Nikolas. "Remember to say nothing about yourself. Speak as little as you can and keep to the point."

The helicopter landed on the helipad and they stepped outside.

Central Command Center 1 had been a magnificent man-made metallic island with blue, crystal-clear water everywhere. The sun shone splendidly and warmed the island. But this place, London, was frigid! Nikolas offered him a thick coat. "No," Alex said, shivering, "I don't think I'll need it."

Nikolas laughed, "Just because Daniel and I aren't wearing anything doesn't mean you can't"

"I have to learn, don't I?" he said.

"Look at you! You're shivering," Nikolas laughed, placing the jacket around Alex's shoulders. "Come on."

London was different now. Alex had come to understand a different city from the many books that he had read on its history. He looked across the helipad and saw air-cars, taxis and buses traveling to and fro in different zones of the sky. These zones started from the ground and stretched up as far as the eye could see. There was a complex network of arteries that led to different sections of the city. There were shopping areas and office areas with large skysc.r.a.pers made of gla.s.s and steel. There were also residential complexes in suburban areas where thousands of people were housed. There were large stone and marble structures, much like the Supreme Court and Headquarters of the Regnum, but bigger.

As Alex looked down, he saw a few people walking on the pavements, going about their day to day business.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" said Nikolas.

Alex nodded and his face lit up with exhilaration as the feeling that he was finally on the Earth sunk in.

They walked to the doorway, which had an elevator leading to the Main Hall. There were two guards inside, with their faces covered entirely by black helmets and wielding large plasma rifles. They came out to escort them to the Council Chambers. They entered the elevator and went down to the ground floor. The doors opened and they stepped out into a lavishly decorated lobby. Large windows brought in the sunlight all around them. To his left, Alex saw a majestic spiral staircase, with china vases filled with exotic flowers. Immediately he felt the warmth of central heating and of a large fire place, almost eight feet in height and twice as wide, near the reception desk.

The guards led them to a large hallway leading to several rooms. Before they entered, Alex noticed the receptionist was a beautiful woman. She looked like she was in her late twenties, but he somehow sensed that she was older. There was a huge man at the reception desk. He seemed to be making an important appointment. Alex registered his face, just in case it might be important; he intuited it would be.

The guards took them to the end of the dark hallway. There were rooms and offices on both sides. When they reached the end, they took a left and walked through another hallway which ended at a large double-door protected by two guards, dressed in dark suits. The guards held their palms out, stopping Daniel and Nikolas. Only Alex was allowed to enter. He turned to Nick who nodded and winked at him.

Alex entered the Chamber and sighed. He couldn't make much out in the darkness. He had the distinct feeling he was being watched. As his eyes adjusted, he saw the outlines of the Twelve Council Elders. He hadn't heard much talk of them except for what Daniel had said in the helicopter. He knew they had been chosen by Anaxagoras to deal with the overall affairs of the Earth. Fire suddenly blazed from torches hung on the walls. A chair was brought forth at will and Alex heard a cold, malevolent voice command, "Sit!" He did so reluctantly.

They sat around an oblong table about two feet apart. They were cloaked and their hands were gloved in black leather. To Alex, it looked as if they were weak, afraid of everyone and everything and he felt he could intimidate them. It was a very strange sensation.

"Truly arrogant to think so," said Julius, scanning through the boy's thoughts.

"There is great anxiety in you, I sense," said Lord Augustus. "You have fear, anger, confusion, and hate."

"You do not need any of these," continued Lord Tiberius.

"All you need is obedience," said Lord Otho.

Alex turned his head to the voices and looked at them angrily, trying to intimidate them.

"You would make a fine ally, I'm sure," said Julius slowly, putting weight behind each word, "You are powerful. Yes! I sense much strength in you, but you are on the wrong side."

"Do you know who you are?" spoke Lord Claudius.

"Yes," Alex said plainly. He added, "Your enemy." This brought about evil cackles from the Twelve.

The laughter died down. There was a long hard moment. "You have made yourself that, young Falsifier," continued Claudius, laying a heavy ruthless emphasis on the last word.

"What do you mean by that?" Alex asked.

Vitellius said with scorn, "You think such a man as you can bring down an Empire that has been standing for two hundred thousand years."

"Christ did it with the Roman Empire," Alex said.

An awkward silence arose once again, this time much longer. Alex sensed their nervousness.

The Twelve were irritated. The only way to learn the secrets of the Regnum from Alex would be through sincerity, kindness and good intentions, characteristics which none of them had.

"You may leave," Julius said quickly. The fires extinguished, leaving Alex groping around blindly in the dark. But then suddenly the double-doors opened and he saw Daniel and Nikolas waiting for him patiently.

As he stepped out of the threshold, the doors slammed shut.

"So?" Nikolas asked.

"Nothing at all." Alex shook his head, "It was pointless, I guess."

"Well, have they told us to come in?" asked Daniel.

"Nope. They just told me to leave."

The doors opened once more and Nikolas and Daniel entered, while Alex looked at the guards, and wondered what was coming next.

Out of respect for the Twelve, Nikolas and Daniel walked with their heads bowed. Then they prostrated themselves before the Twelve. The fire roared up again and the Twelve looked down at them. Domitian asked Daniel, "What is the enemy doing here?"

"He, my lords," Daniel said, smiling at Nikolas, "is no longer an enemy, as aren't the other Rebels."

"How can we be so sure?" asked Julius. "After all, even till the last day our king trusted him, but he played a double-game all along. Surely," he said, a bitter irony in his voice, "you know this."

Daniel's face flushed. "Yes, I know."

Nikolas spoke, his voice firm and steady, "My masters, I beg you to give us one last chance. Since the Last Battle we have been nothing but guinea pigs for you. But now we are fully ready, instead of being forced, to serve Lord Anaxagoras. If you allow it, I will get what information I can from the Falsifier, without any interference or surveillance. He knows of the Regnum and its plans. I will comfort him and since he is already in my trust, he will be easily manipulated into spilling the secrets of our enemies. Please, if you don't believe me, let me tell you something no one knows."

"And what that might be," asked Julius, leaning forward.

"He is the son of Aidan and the grandson of Anaxagoras," he said simply, with a blank face. "He is born of a human and has the blood of both races. That..." Nick paused for effect, "is why he is called what he is. I have earned your trust once before. I went to the Land of the Eight Kings, and didn't try to escape."

Tiberius laughed. "Escape is impossible."

"Nevertheless," Otho said, "we will look into the matter. For now, because of your son, you will remain free to do as you please as will all the other Rebels. If the blood a.n.a.lysis proves what you say, you shall be trusted. Leave us."

Nikolas backed away, bowing before turning to leave.

Daniel remained there. As the door shut, Ca.s.sius said in more relaxed tone, "Now, Daniel. What is this turn of events? Did you know of this?"

"Yes, I did. My father told me before this meeting."

"I don't sense any danger," said Tiberius.

"Nor do I," said Vespasian.

"We must be cautious, nonetheless," added Nero.

"And what about the projects? Shall we continue?"

"As promised, yes," said Julius, "And now is the time to send the ultimatum. We know now, as we have always known, that they have weapons. Send it immediately."

"How long should I give them?" Daniel asked.

"Twelve hours."

John timed himself as he planned the words of his speech. He was no longer nervous and sensed things would be in his control. He knew everything would go according to plan, provided he received the ultimatum. He had his frequency set to the vampires'. This special connection was established for diplomatic situations such as these. He knew however, this incoming message would be a cry for blood and war. He stared at the empty, black screen on his wall. He checked the clock in the office and the watch on his wrist: they both showed 8:25. Kurt would be coming in five minutes, which gave him enough time to prepare for his speech.

The office was filled with old war relics, which John loved collecting. Some he had bought at auctions and exhibitions before the Coming of the Vampires. Life was good then. Politics were sensible. There was no constantly changing government like there had been in these twenty one years. A white marble bust of Napoleon, John's favorite general, sat on the coffee table watching his every move. Two comfortable leather chairs were placed near a large fireplace opposite a library full of books about war strategies. The collection also included cla.s.sics by d.i.c.kens, Dumas, Bronte, Hugo, and Shakespearean plays, of which John was a huge reader and adorer. His desk stretched almost twelve feet long, carved out of the trunk of an oak tree and varnished with a dark reddish-brown lacquer. A pile of cluttered files lay on it along with a computer and many books bound in leather. These were John's own works on the vampire race. The vampires' vast and authentic history had always intrigued him from the very beginning. In comparison, the history of the human race seemed short, tragic, and redundant. At least ninety five percent of vampiric history was conclusive. Their history was filled with extensive facts and there were no contradictions. John's fascination grew to the point where Aidan had instructed that he be the unofficial historian for both vampires and humans alike. Aidan wanted John to convey to future generations, when the time came, the history of the War for Existence, which took place before Alex's birth and the War of Vengeance, which he named the Coming War.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in," he said and the door opened. The man standing at the threshold was of medium stature with a long thin face and whiskers for a mustache that were the fieriest of orange. He grinned like an innocent child as he saluted John. He walked to the desk and John told him to sit down. "It's good to see you, Kurt," said John, smiling.

"Same here, General," said Kurt, his grin growing double. He ruffled his hair, which was the same color as his whiskers and sighed, "It's been too long, I'd say."

"Yes," John said. "Definitely too long. You should keep in touch more often."

"Ah, you know, with the training, and the work I got at home..."

"Work?"

"Yeah, I'm actually writing a book."

"Really?" asked John. "What about?"

"I'm compiling a history of the Regnum. It's still in its initial stages, but right now, I'm interested in the latest development."

John laughed. "Brilliant! Now you sound more like a journalist."

Kurt gave a warm smile at this. "Well, you have to admit: it's a b.l.o.o.d.y good story!"

"Yes," John said. He got up and went over to the small bar where he poured some whiskey for Kurt and himself. "You know, I am very interested in this project of yours, Kurt. You have to tell me more about it," he came back with two gla.s.ses in his hands, "But," he gave Kurt one, "I want to get down to business first."

"Of course," Kurt said, sipping his gla.s.s, "Tell me what you had in mind."

"How are your boys?" John asked, meaning the pilots Kurt had trained.

"As usual, in top shape."

"Good. Can we have them ready by tomorrow?"

"Sure. So, you really are serious?"

"Of course, my friend," John said, "This is the time. With Alex on the Earth, I will negotiate with the Regent and the President for his release."

"Bit risky, isn't it?"

"Well, that's where you and your boys come in."

"How many you need?"

"About a hundred."

Kurt nodded, contemplating and beginning to make plans already. "And all of them, by the next day?"