Episode 092 Previous Episode	Next Episode
“That’s the way of disasters, they come without warning.” Instrumentality Committee Member, Neon Genesis Evangelion “Right now, the British and French governments are adhering to the New Orleans Contingency outlined by the UN,” Jin explained before the gathered team of Responders. Behind him, the giant screen in the meeting room showed a satellite image of a landmass just south of the Celtic Sea. Around the tables, all of the Responders’ attention was divided between Jin and his report and the olive drab folders on the table. Eliot kept rubbing his hair back, an astonished look on his face. Emma was sitting low in her chair as if shocked into submission. “Preliminary reports from the assorted geological monitoring departments,” Jin continued, “state that a landmass approximately 300 miles across lifted up from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Preliminary theories as to why hinge on the eruption of a submerged volcano, though as more evidence is gathered, that theory seems to have less and less credibility.” “The UN has ordered an international blackout of all media addressing both the rising landmass as well as the results,” Jin finalized. “Abnormal sea levels, shift in tidal rhythm, all of it is being dismissed at the moment while the Security Council awaits further information.” “What’s the next step in the investigation?” Sarah asked. “You’ve mentioned the geological and weather services. What are they doing?” “Politics are already getting involved,” Assif spoke up, sitting next to Alex and across from Jason. “Both the UK and France have claimed the landmass for themselves and both are ordering a no-fly zone over it. The geological services are monitoring all the data they can, but until it’s determined that the landmass can be safely approached, no one is going near it.” “Okay, guys,” Alex said, leaning back. “Eliot and I recently came across a news report that was buried in a Los Angeles newspaper, that a private book collector’s collection had been ransacked and numerous valuable works were taken. Now, this collector, Jim Donaldson, was by far our most likely suspect as the owner of one of the Ivers’ books in the US.” “You think whoever tried to get the books from MacLean did this?” Irene asked. “Well, we can account for the activity of three of the six books,” Eliot said. “The one we have, the one that was stolen from the knight, and this one, assuming it was an Ivers book,” he said with a glance across at Alex. “Guys, I’m hesitant to ascribe a magical origin to his event,” Jin said. “It is magic.” Everyone turned and looked at Emma. She glanced up from her withdrawn stance in her seat. “I agree,” she said. “Wait, you didn’t say that?” Isaiah asked. “No,” Amy said from the corner of the room, raising her hand. “I did.” “How do you know?” Eliot asked, instantly shaking his head. “I mean,” he repeated, less accusatory, “how do you know?” “I had a dream last night,” the girl said with a distant air to her voice. “A dream?” Til said. “So did I,” Emma concurred. “I saw this coming.” She glanced at the display of the landmass. “That thing, that island, is Atlantis.” “Wait, now hold on,” Alex said quickly. “This thing could be a lot of things, but it’s not Atlantis.” “How do you know?” Adam asked, leaning in the doorway. “Atlantis is supposed to be just beyond the Strait of Gibraltar,” Alex said, looking over the edge of his chair at Adam. “That’s what Plato said in his account. And it’s also supposed to be a lot bigger. It should be bigger than Libya.” He pointed at the display. “That thing’s not quite as big as Ireland.” “Whatever the island is,” Assif said commandingly. “I have an appointment with Dr. Howitz to address the Security Council. Before that meeting, I have to have as much information as I can. Jin,” he said, turning in his chair to the front of the room, “I want you to gather all the scientific data you can on this island and all the theories about why it rose.” He turned to Emma. “I want you to look into any and all magical explanations. Consult the Ivers book, consult whatever magical texts you need and whatever resources you have to, but I need a clear and concise explanation of each theory before I address the Council.” He turned to the others at large. “Given our proximity, it is more than likely that we will be involved as support to whatever teams are sent onto the island. Additionally, we may well be looking at a magical or spiritual event of legendary proportions connected to this. Even if this is merely the result of a geological phenomenon, we need to be prepared for any and all magical and paranormal contingencies that may result.” Assif rose from his chair, his fingertips still on the table top. He opened his mouth to speak, but paused. “When you join the Responders, you are given five notebooks, each one corresponding with the five levels of emergencies. We’re all familiar with the first four, but almost none of us have ever done anything more than glance through the green notebook, the one you all have in front of you.” He paused. “Level five emergencies are the realm of civilization-threatening events. And we may well be looking at the beginning of one of those scenarios right now.”
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