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Episode
171
“I need a catalyst,
“Okay. Let’s get started. I’d like to take this opportunity
to thank those of you who committed to the trip to Kentucky and to all of
you, for you who have given tirelessly of yourselves to the World Alliance
and it’s varied goals. Your efforts have been, will continue to be, and
always will be an inspiration to all of us.” “Without
any further ado, let’s go ahead and get down to business. It’s
recently come to my attention that there is a great deal of discontent in
the ranks of the World Alliance. It’s come to my attention that many of
you no longer hold as strongly to the beliefs set forth that you might
once have. And it’s become even clearer that at least some of you have
wished to leave the Alliance behind.”
“Tonight,
we have set aside this evening to allow you the opportunity to express
your disagreements and to offer some hope of reconciling your issues with
the way the group has been run and what our goals have been.”
“If
at the end of the evening, you are not satisfied with the state of the
Alliance and where it is going, we will allow you to leave as friends,
with the hopes that you will still endeavor to help the world in your own
way.”
“With
that said, I’m going to let you each go around the table and address
Malcolm and I, about whatever issues you feel need to be raised about the
World Alliance.”
Marilyn
sat down at the head of the circular table in the dark restaurant. Between
Malcolm and Victor, she slumped down in her seat as she hugged the cold to
her. Around the table, the standing group of the World Alliance sat in
concerned thought, none of them willing to stand up first.
“I
don’t know if this is a good sign or not.” Malcolm whispered to
Marilyn.
“One of two things are about to happen.” Orson said, as he
shuffled the cards, looking across the small hotel room at the two other
Investigator’s Clan aides. “Either the Brotherhood of the Sun is going
to launch a massive offensive against the US, UN, or other such entities.
Or there’s the outside chance that Everett and his crack team of idiots
are actually going to pull this off and they’ll topple Jericho and the
entire American branch of the Brotherhood.”
“Not
likely.” Ian said.
“Seriously.”
Errol nodded.
“The
point is,” Orson agreed as he went on, beginning to deal the cards in a
clockwise fashion to Ian first. “That either there’s going to be no
Brotherhood in America at least, which I think we all agree is damn-near
impossible. Or there’s going to be a very powerful organization that’s
probably not going to like us too terribly much.”
“Either
way, we’re out of a job.” Errol nodded sarcastically, scooping up his
cards. “I suppose there is the third option that the Brotherhood will
get taken down by one of the aforementioned entities that they’re about
to pick the fight with.”
“If
that does happen, the result will be the same as if Everett and the other
boys do it.” Orson pointed out as he considered his cards.
“No
necessarily.” Ian maintained. “It could be possible that the war with
the Brotherhood could cripple the US. Remember, the Brotherhood boasts
cells in just about every major city, if not every city period. The
numbers of that organization are into the hundreds of thousands.”
“Yeah,
but how many of them are going to follow Jericho?” Errol countered.
“Remember, most of the Brotherhood doesn’t like the Hand. And without
the Triumvirate, many won’t take orders so severe as ‘attack military
instillations’ or the like.”
“True.”
Orson said, laying down two cards and drawing out two more. “Dealer
takes two. But the point still remains that either we’re looking at
spending the rest of our lives running, or we’re going to have to
completely restart our lives.”
“Could
we join another organization?” Ian asked, looking at the two. “I mean,
there are other groups that oppose the Illuminati.”
“Yeah,
but none are as venerable or well-established as the Brotherhood of the
Sun.” Orson answered. “When the Brotherhood passes, whether humanity
knows it or not, a piece of history will pass with it.”
Ruwani stood, her words echoing like icicles within the skin.
Oliver
stood up, his stringing words cutting like the flaying cords of a broken
piano.
Brian
stood, stuttering through a half apology and slow explanation.
Alan
stood up, unable to even face his friends.
“I guess, things are just going to have to wait until next
week.” Ian said, scooping up the cards as he began to shuffle. Across
from him, Errol wrote down the score of the game as Orson poured another
round of the small glasses.
“Guess
you’re right.” Orson nodded. “Still, look on the bright side, one
way or the other, something good’s going to happen just as well as
something bad.”
“I
guess cosmically, everything works out.” Errol smiled. “It always
does, doesn’t it?”
Kim sat down, her eyes shaking as she curled up next to Alan.
Opposite the guitarist, Brian looked over at Oliver, then to Ruwani as the
group waited.
“Et
tu, Kimberly?” Malcolm grumbled to Marilyn, his hand over his face. He
glanced over at the founder of the World Alliance, but she was sitting
pale-faced and silent. Taking the initiative, he stood up and looked to
address the group. But as soon as he opened his mouth, his throat went
dry.
Malcolm
swallowed half his glass of water, then looked to the group again, already
feeling the water drying up inside his throat. “Okay. Well, since
we’ve heard from everyone, I guess that pretty much says it all.” He
looked down at Marilyn, but the founder looked like she was on the verge
of tears. Malcolm felt a swell of pity, but he fought for control as he
picked up his glass of water and held it up. “This concludes the final
meeting of the World Alliance.” |