Renaissance
Multnomah Falls, June 12, 2160 -- 1:13 p.m.
"Robert, I am not entirely sure. I never expected them to achieve immortality nor the power of teleportation."
Unity
"Set aside your uncertainty Doctor Gould. We have learned that Althea is responsible for the unexpected outcome of your work. Robert, I have assumed the task of addressing the new people this time as I can also include those on the Alorian worlds."
"What brings the two of you back so soon Henry? I thought you and Jenny were going on a journey with Althea."
"Althea led us to another world and opened our minds to the accumulated knowledge of immortal spirits who have lived for billions of terrestrial years. We now possess the ability to traverse the continuum of time and visit the past. It was a simple matter to choose this moment in time for our return. Like Althea, your parents, the Butlers including Cindy, and Chrys, live on as incorporeal immortals and they send you their best wishes."
"Even Chrys. Henry, this is wonderful news. Death is something I will no longer view with fear."
"Nor is it something I would rush to embrace. The immortals live boring lives as incorporeal spirits and cherish their memories of a physical existence. Althea also taught us that corporeal death only offers an opportunity for eternal life.
"Most of the Alorians and Homo sapiens killed by the Z-RETS failed to achieve immortality. The terrible nature of their deaths resulted in a fear-driven dissolution of their incorporeal essence and they failed to survive the transition to eternal life.
"We now have the power to bring about the return of the old people in the full bloom of their raucous lives. To that end, we must call upon the new people to leave this world and make way for their return. In exchange, we can offer the world once known Alor II.
"Two months from now, with the guidance of Alorian immortals, we will journey back through time to demilitarize the Alorian society and prevent their discovery of the hyper spatial portal. These actions will also ensure that the Z-RETS do not appear on the scene to wreak their havoc. To accomplish these goals, we must take the corporeal lives of carefully selected Alorians at the time of their births. The immortals will then receive these fragile buds of life into their nurturing care.
"We must ask the new people to move to their new world before the Portal network of the Alorians ceases to exist. After our work on Alor is finished, we will again journey back through time to alter the past on Earth. Although our next actions will prevent the appearance of the new people on Earth, the power of the immortals can and will ensure their survival on your new world.
"Our work will forestall the founding of the Human Enhancement Program without bringing harm to either your family or friends. Although taking the corporeal lives of several carefully selected infants will be a painful task, our actions will undo the passing of the old people.
"These changes should result in three worlds that are vibrant and alive with populations that can look forward to normal lives free of fear. However, we must admit that we can only surmise the outcome of this endeavor, as only God can truly know what the future holds.
"We hope that the new people, for the sake of the billions who passed on without an opportunity to achieve immortality, will agree to make way for their return. Those opposed to this plan can now share their concerns regarding our intentions."
After several moments without response, Robert offered, "Henry, it appears that the new people all agree to make way for the return of our forebears. I am sure that you can count on our cooperation."
"We truly expected no less. When our work is done, we will all be able to say of the old people, mourn not their passing, for it never happened."
Later
"Congratulations, my children. You both can take pride in your work on the now happy worlds of Alor and Dawn. But, before you begin your work on Earth, I think you should visit Doctor Gould and his wife on Dawn and invite them to serve as our second team of agents."
"Althea, have you considered Robert? I would think that he would be a more suitable choice?"
"Robert will never take a wife now that he knows that Cynthia waits for him to join the fusion. The lonely nature of your lot would be difficult to endure without a mate. No, this work is not for Robert. He is destined to join the fusion of immortality and perhaps he will eventually agree to serve as my alter ego.
"Now, tell me about our birth world. Are you ready to complete your task?"
"We are, though we are concerned about the arrival date of the Temporal Voyager at Roswell as it lies well outside the time of our intended alterations. This event and the flurry of sightings it is responsible for are well documented and will cause a large disruption in the continuum should its flight not occur. Can you suggest a solution to this dilemma?"
"I believe I can. The rampant moral turpitude prevalent on our birth world during my last days of corporeal life still alarms me. I fear that many of our corporeal young no longer regard the historical messages of faith as credible. Therefore, we will use the Temporal Voyager to deliver anew the promise of eternal life for the worthy.
"Ensure that the Temporal Voyager keeps its appointment with disaster at Roswell after replacing Brian, the elder's message with the tale of Robert Jordan. Include the story of your rebirth and share your knowledge of immortality. Let the Voyager serve as a prophet befitting the mysticism of their times as it restates the promise of eternal life.
"However, please ensure that you do not direct attention to me or anyone else named in Robert's tale during our corporeal years on Earth. Identify me by my late husband's ancestral slave name, GoFetch, which never was a matter of public record. Let my story proclaim how compassion for others can help one rise above their humble beginnings."
Multnomah Falls, October 16, 2160
The tidal wave of change, rapidly rolling in from the past, swiftly removed the structures of the new people. A large parking lot filled with the odd little cars of a world without petroleum suddenly appeared to proclaim the success of their bold venture. Cloaked by invisibility, they watched silently as the large throng of weary travelers made their way between the falls, restrooms, and the restaurant that was once their home.
Althea broke the spell of the moment with, "You have done well my children. Nevertheless, though we have brought about the return of humanity, our work is not yet complete. Regrettably, their witless military authorities thwarted my plan to use the Temporal Voyager as our prophet by refusing to release our message after receiving it in 2016.
"Journey back to the last decades of the twentieth century and surreptitiously plant our message within the minds of all those receptive to your call. Leave them with a compulsion to share this knowledge with others in an informal fashion that will bring them to consider anew the promise of eternal life for the worthy. Also, encourage them to demand the release of the message delivered by the Temporal Voyager."
"Althea, perhaps this will give them enough information to cause the harm you mentioned earlier. Are you sure we should pursue this matter so vigorously?"
"The corporeal youth of our birth world possess an incredible level of self-conceit that confers a strong immunity to the exposure of unconventional wisdom. We must overcome this barrier of complacent arrogance before they will respond to our message. I do expect an inconsequential increase in the suicide rate among those who no longer care to meet the challenges of corporeal life. Nevertheless, should my plan divulge more information than it should, you can always return to the past and undo any harm caused by your actions. I will leave you to your work as I must continue to monitor another situation that may soon require your intervention."
Upon Althea's departure, Henry and Jenny moved to the falls and after seeing only litter where there once were graves, they embraced and departed on their new mission to our era.