Sentinels of the Cosmos Trilogy (19 page)

Charles had decided to have a dinner party for
Senators Lee and Bennett and Ivan was there to fill
out the table. He decided to use the large dining room
at his house. It was a hollow scene; simply medieval
in feeling; Charles at the end of a long table with
vaulted high ceilings, and only three other people
crowded down at the end of the table. Charles is
dressed like an English lord complete with a long
paisley cravat. Two Guards were acting as waiters.
On one wall is an enormous Gobelin tapestry and on
the other a collection of very old American
landscapes. The room had been designed as a banquet
hall for large, very lavish parties. Both of the Guards
were attractive blond women, dressed very formally.
Charles opens, “When my wife Doris was alive, she
made me buy this place. She loved to entertain, and
then we were only able to use this banquet hall once
before she was diagnosed with cancer. I haven’t been
in here since she passed. Generally I eat in the
servants’ quarters, but I thought we should meet
someplace more formal. I also wanted you to see a
few things. But first let me make a toast, a toast to the
future of EOJ.” Charles raises his glass and they all
drink. Senators Lee and Bennett look at each other,
but go ahead with the toast anyway.
“Where did you get those beautiful tapestries,
Charles?” Kathryn asks.
Charles is silent.

“You miss your wife don’t you?” Kathryn asks.
“You have no idea, I worshiped my Doris, and she
was everything I’m not. You know when you have
that kind of balance in your life and you lose it, it’s
very hard to right yourself again.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Kathryn offers.
Senator Lee has been listening quietly. He is
obviously still very upset, he almost appears
frightened as he says, “So, Charles, now what
is
the
future of EOJ? We seem to have lost both Sam and
Beneizen. The FBI knows of our existence. The press
could be tipped off any time by our two runaway
Guards. Do we have a future: do we have any careers
left at all?”
Charles sniffs the wine and says, “Oh most certainly,
Robert, we have a great future, we have more than a
future; Sam is alive and Chase and Ally will lead us
to Beneizen, Life is looking rosy again.”
"Really" Kathryn responds in surprise, "We saw him
shot."
"Oh, that’s just a blip, as Sam seems to have nine
lives, and he is ready to show me the latest
technology that will change all of our lives. Money,
lots of money for all; who ever heard of a senator
leaving office who isn’t rich. All joking aside we
have a responsibility.”
“What responsibility would that be, we’re killing
people, and you even tried to kill Sam,” Senator Lee
responds.
“That was one of the things I wanted to address. I’m
really sorry about that. Sam is one of my closest
friends but you can’t have someone who claims to be
part of the team keeping secrets, can you? But now
he's seen the light and is opening up his heart to
benefit us all,” Charles explains.
“Killing is murder Charles, it’s still against the law,”
Robert says.
“But should it be? I mean, don’t we have the right to
kill people who take away our future, our freedoms.
Do you know what Sam could have destroyed? The
possibility for all of us to live another 100 years or
more; the genetic advances from the work that he
discovered through the equipment and auspices of
EOJ could add 100 years or more to each of our lives,
think about that,” Charles said.
“Charles” Kathryn interrupts, “Both Robert and I
think we should shut down EOJ altogether, at least for
the time being. It’s time to shut down the Guards
program, shut down the research. Let’s wait a couple
of years and then start over with the whole project
anew, Charles it’s time, really.”
Charles sits glumly in his chair and replies, “I
suppose you may be right, but first let me show you
something. If, after showing you what I have here you
still want to shut down EOJ, I will comply with your
wishes, agreed?”
Robert and Kathryn look at each other and said, in
concert, “Agreed!”
“I was going to do this after dinner, but let’s do it
now, and have the feast later,” said Charles as he led
them through the old country kitchen down the stairs
into the basement and ultimately into his vault.
Robert and Kathryn are feeling very uncomfortable.
When they get to the vault and see Charles unlocking
it Robert protests, “Where are you taking us
Charles?”

“Oh, I suppose this looks a little strange. This is the
office I added after we bought this place. It really
helps me concentrate on my work.”
Robert and Kathryn are still very uncomfortable as
Charles opens the vault and ushers them into the
room. They look around and see the small unmade
bed, the large computer station in the middle of the
room and a stand with a flat map of the world with
various color flags placed around in various countries.
“As you can see I’ve been very busy. It’s been a sad
and lonely time but a very creative period for me. I’m
glad I can finally share my results with all of you.”
“What is this Charles?” Kathryn asks.
“It’s a map, very old fashion but it has a hands-on feel
to it, a topographical map of the world to be exact,”
Charles says.
“What do the little colored flags represent?” Kathryn
asks.
“Those are countries in which we have succeeded
placing Guards as heads of state or in important key
positions of power.”
“And who controls these Guards?” Robert asks.
“We do, I mean EOJ, actually me specifically but
only for right now. I need both of you to share the
responsibility with the rest of our committee. It’s
getting to be quite a chore coordinating world events
and I’ve always preferred working as a member of a
team,” Charles says.
“So it’s true, the president is a Guard?” Kathryn asks.
“Yes, but I think you Kathryn should take over that
one. The model I’ve created is not doing a very good
job, he’s a rich Republican who has family values,”
Charles says with a smile.
“You see, we are now able to help create a world that
has a future. We need to create efficiency in our
infrastructure, reduce the use of everything that is in
limited supply on the earth. You know my Doris was
a really great environmentalist and I’m just trying to
carry out her vision to make it a reality. It’s not my
vision; it’s a tribute to my beloved Doris.”
“Charles I think this has gotten out of hand,” Robert
says.
“It is, just a little, that’s why I need your help. I’ve
reached the point where I can’t juggle all these balls
anymore. I’ve reached my own personal Peter
Principle, I need the two of you to step up to the
plate,” Charles says with feeling.
“I see; what did you have in mind?” Robert says,
unable to mask his horror.
“That’s the spirit. I want Kathryn to head up EOJ; just
take over the research, the Guards, everything, and
you Robert I want to take care of all the programming
and management of the Guards worldwide,” Charles
informs him.
“And what are you going to do Charles?” Robert
asks.
“I’m going to contemplate the big picture. I’ve
always wanted more time alone, down here, to really
think. What I bring to the table is between my ears,”
Charles boasts.
Kathryn thinks, "And what is that, shit?" Meanwhile
Robert’s terror increases at Charles’ calm demeanor.
They glance at each other and back at Charles and
Senator Lee says, “I don’t know if I’m speaking for
Kathryn, but I think we need a little time to digest
what you’ve brought here. You know Charles, we’re
both senators with a full time work load doing the
business for own constituents, just as you are as
Speaker of the House and a congressman representing
your district and we don’t have time for this kind of
responsibility,” Roberts says.
“It’s a really wonderful offer,” says Kathryn and
continues, “But I think we both need time to absorb
what you’re offering, to think about it for a few
days.”
Robert chimes in, saying, “And we also need to
discuss bringing in someone to replace Burnside, that
would reduce the workload for us all.”

“Of course, take a week!” Charles pauses. ”I’ve been
a terrible host, come, let’s have dinner,” Charles says.
“Charles I’ve actually got to get home, it's getting
late,” Kathryn says.
“Me too,” says Robert.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I just went on and on. If Doris
were here she would have you eating out of her
hand,” Charles says sadly and leads them up the dark
stairs through the kitchen and down the long hallway
to the front door.
Charles and Ivan stand on the stairs of the front porch
watching as the limo carrying Kathryn and Robert
passes through the gates of the property. Ivan who has
been silent this entire time asks, “Do you want to kill
them or do you want me to?”
“I’ll do it; we need a touch of delicacy when dealing
with United States Senators. If it came back to you
there could be an international incident. I have to tell
you Ivan, I’m very disappointed; I had great
expectations for the two of them. I just don’t know
where I’m going to get the help I need,” Charles says.
“I can help,” Ivan says.
“I know you can, but you have to carry out the
directives you already have. How are we doing on the
Manhattan project?” replies Charles.
“Good, envelopes go out in less than week to exactly
where we wanted.”
“Excellent! And thank you Ivan, for the remarkable
job you’re doing, I know how hard it is to get good
help.”
Ivan beams with pride. He craved compliments, and
recognition from Charles is what he lived for.
Deep in his vault Charles sits in front of his computer
scanning a number of monitors. He sees what’s going
on through the eyes of the Guard driving Kathryn and
Robert home. He listens to their conversation.
“Charles is insane,” Robert says.
“I’m afraid you’re right, what are we going to do?”
Kathryn says.
“We have to go to the FBI. They know about us
anyway, they’re our only hope,” Robert says.
Charles frowns as he looks at the monitor and says to
the screen, “No Robert you’re wrong, you have no
hope, no hope at all.”
Charles changes modes and issues instructions
relating to various monitors and he watches with glee
the monitor in the limo carrying the two U.S. senators
as it shows the Guard driving effortlessly off a cliff,
sending the car 1,200 feet down to its doom. Charles
watched the limo approaching the ground in slow
motion, and the screen turns suddenly to snow. And
then he watches it again and again trying to
understand what Robert and Kathryn might have been
thinking just before they died.
“Well! That cost us a perfectly good Guard and a
limousine but I have more important things to do than
watch this.” Charles felt a slight pain in his chest. He
could never tell if it was really his heart or the
beginning of another panic attack that set off his
asthma. He looks at the framed photo of Doris next to
his computer and thinks, “Why did you have to go
and die, you bitch, look what you’ve left me with. I
have the whole world on my shoulders; it’s your fault,
my sweet Jezebel.” Charles takes the photo and
throws it against the wall breaking it into hundreds of
pieces. He starts to sob. Changing his mind he jumps
up and starts picking up the pieces. He finds the photo
and falls back into his chair clutching it to his chest.
Charles rocks back and forth in his large swivel chair.
He starts to remember a happier time. He remembers
Doris as a beautiful young woman. He remembers
them together at a retreat with Beneizen at his country
home in the Blue Mountains of North Carolina. A
group of them are all sitting on the ground crosslegged in a restful pose asking questions of Beneizen.
He remembers saying, "When I look inside myself I
see only darkness."
And Beneizen answered, saying, "Look for the light."
"Do I have a soul?" Doris asked.
"Human beings have a unique possibility. You were
given everything you need to create a soul, if you're
willing to pay the price," Beneizen answers.
"What price, how much does it cost?" Charles asked.
Suddenly Charles is awakened from his reverie and
notices a blip on one of his monitors. He immediately
looks and sees the name Chase taped on the front of
the monitor. The monitor had shown a GPS map with
a blinking red dot at the National Airport’s Days Inn.
Suddenly the red dot has disappeared. He reaches into
the flat screen with his fat little finger trying to look
directly into the room.
“What’s going on Chase?” Charles thinks to himself.
The red dot reappears immediately.
“What are you doing Chase? First you won’t let me
direct you, then you won’t let me watch and talk to
you, and now you don’t want me to follow you or let
me see where you are. Well, that’s just not going to
happen,” Charles thinks.
As the limousine speeds closer and closer to the cliff,
time stands still for Kathryn; there is a clarity of the
moment that appears as though she was in slow
motion. Kathryn swings open the limousine's back
door, pushes Robert out and jumps herself just before
the car lunges off the cliff. They both roll down an
embankment and end up sprawled out against a hedge
of rhododendrons. One could hear the roar of the
exploding car far below. Kathryn thrown like a rag
doll is pinned between branches. One branch has
pierced her cheek and sits inside her mouth. Robert
seems to be less injured. Slowly they get up from the
ground shake themselves off and assess the damage.
Katherine asks, “Robert, are you OK?”
It is obvious that Robert is in extreme pain. He
grimaces and grabs his right arm.
"I think my arm is broken," Robert says shakily. He
looks at Kathryn who has a large laceration across her
face and continues, "Kathryn you have a terrible cut
on your right cheek, that's going to need stitches"
"I guess I won't win Miss America this year. My head
is killing me and I think my ribs are broken," Kathryn
moans.
"How did you know we had to jump out of the car?”
Robert asks.
Kathryn replies, "You won’t believe this but I heard
Beneizen in my head saying, “Get out of the car
NOW!” He told me just when to jump. I don't know
how he got into my head, but listening to him saved
our lives!" We both need to get to a hospital. I may
have a concussion or maybe worse."
"Why did you listen to him, I mean it was just a voice
in your head?" Robert asks.
"He started warning me as soon as we left Charles's
house. He shut out all my other thoughts - his voice
was as clear as a bell in my head. There was no doubt
it was him.” He also said, “Charles has ordered the
driver to go over the cliff and that Charles was
listening to our conversation in the car," she replied.
"I should have known! Kathryn you're a strong girl
you pushed me right out of that car!" Robert says.
"I'm from Kentucky and I had four brothers," Kathryn
says with pride.
The sound of sirens is heard coming closer and closer.
Kathryn takes out her phone and calls Trip Wagner,
saying, "Hi Trip," how would you like a full
functioning guard complete with implant?"
"What are you doing?" Robert asks excitedly.
"I'm doing what we should have done a long time
ago. We can't go back to Charles now can we?"
Kathryn asked.
"I suppose not, how do you suppose he got so nuts?
You just never know what's going to drive someone
over the edge," Robert says.
"No! To quote Lord Acton, power corrupts, and
absolute power corrupts absolutely,’ "Kathryn says
sadly.
An ambulance pulls up in front of them. Kathryn is
placed on a gurney and Robert sits in the back of the
ambulance with Kathryn on the way to the hospital.
They both saw the black SUV's of the FBI pull up as
they were taken away. The EMS works feverishly on
Kathryn who despite all her pain struggles to talk to
Robert and map out the explanation to the FBI. It was
time to tell them everything.
Trip was sitting in his Washington FBI office when
Juan entered with a large bandage around his head,
and his arm in a sling.
“You’re going to have to look a lot worse than that
for me to buy into your story,” Trip opened.
“Believe it or not, it’s the truth.” Juan said continuing,
“Give me a break Trip, you know for the last two
years I’ve been risking my life and my family’s life to
gain information on these Guards.”
Trip smiled “That’s true, what you’re telling me is
that you decided to try and pretend to be on their side
to gain information. You decided on your own to go
undercover with these two rogue Guards. You
smashed in the heads of two of your fellow FBI
agents with a statue, and then fled with the prisoners
and here is my favorite part of this stupid story, they
tell you there is an EOJ plot to kill millions of people
in New York City and then to protect you from
knowing where they’re going Chase beats the hell out
of you, that’s your story?” Trip asks.
“Yes,” Juan responds.
Trip bursts out laughing. Picks up his phone, pushes a
button and speaks. “Come in here both of you,” Trip
says.
A few moments later Tom and Harry come into the
room. They have bandages around their heads and
both glare at Juan who also has a similar bandage
around his head.
“Sit down all of you hard-heads,” Trip snaps. “Juan
that is the most unconvincing story I have ever heard
in my twenty years at the bureau. I like it. It’s going
to cost you your career but I like it. I thought you’d
like to explain to these two clowns, why you almost
killed them; all because you wanted to go
undercover.”
“I’m sorry, but – “Tom cuts him off, yelling, “I’m
going to tear the brains out of your head!” as he starts
to get up and move threateningly towards Juan.