Chapter 16: Consolations and Councils

Li Qiang and Li Na Koh sat in their small apartment in Datong, wringing their hands in worry. Earlier that day the local news broadcast had reported a shooting in the city, apparently killing a young man who was creating a public disturbance though no information about the person's identity had been given. At first the two had thought little of it, the police often being harsh on such trouble-makers but as the evening had grown longer and Ling had not called or arrived home they had begun to worry. None of his friends had spoken with him that day and his recent interest in the strange religion the authorities dubbed 'the Dragon cult' had them worried even more.

Suddenly there was a polite knock at the door. Li leaped to his feet, crossing the room in an instant and throwing open the door, expecting to see his son sheepishly standing in the doorway.

Instead what he saw was a woman.

The female figure was covered up in a long coat, pants, and hood that hid her features in the darkness but from the light behind him he could see some wisps of platinum strands peeking out from the hood's edge and a sharply defined pale chin.

"Forgive me for appearing on your doorstep at this late hour," she offered with a melodious voice in flawless Mandarin, "but I have news regarding your son. Might I come in?"

"Who are you?" Li Quang demanded.

"I would prefer to tell you inside away from prying eyes and ears." She replied. "May I?"

Eyeing the strange woman suspiciously he nodded before moving aside. Slipping out of her shoes she padded into the room with Li Quang shutting the door behind her.

"Forgive the secrecy but I did not want anyone to see my face." The woman replied as she pulled back her hood to reveal Arianasa's elven features. "As you can imagine, it would be unwise for me to be seen here."

The pair stared at the inhumanly beautiful woman before they realized just who was in their living room.

"You! You are the one the news reports spoke of weeks ago! The Dragon's Empress!" Li Quang exclaimed.

Arianasa nodded. "I am indeed."

The two quickly prostrated themselves to show respect to the royal figure that had entered their home.

"Please, stand!" Arianasa implored them earnestly. "At this moment titles and formality are the furthest thing from my mind."

The elderly couple got to their feet, gazing at her in amazement before Li Na spoke up. "You mentioned my son." She said in concern. "There was a shooting in the city today. Please...please tell me it wasn't…"

Arianasa's eyes softened in remorse.

"Gods no…!" Li Na exclaimed softly, covering her mouth in dismay.

"Please...be calm." Arianasa insisted softly, holding up her hands before her. "I have come to take you to your son so that you might speak with him."

"He lives?" Li Na asked in surprise. "But I thought…"

"Come with me and I will explain." Arianasa insisted, holding out her hands to them. "Take my hands and we will depart."

The pair gazed at each other questioningly, a silent conversation seemingly passing between the two before Li Quang nodded. They slowly stepped forward, gingerly placing their hands in Arianasa's.

Mystical words tumbled from her lips as power emerged from within her, engulfing all three of them. A moment later they vanished in a flash of light, reappearing within the foyer of Prometheus's pyramid.

The pair blinked their eyes to clear the spots before gazing about in astonishment.

"How is this possible?" Li Quang asked softly as he gazed at the opulent room.

"Please, this way." Arianasa insisted, gesturing to one of the doors nearby.

The two followed her down a long hallway done in various metals with the exterior wall covered in what appeared to be shimmering crystal that revealed the outside before they came to a recessed elevator with a sunburst motif embossed into the doors. Pressing the button the doors slid open and they entered quickly. As the doors shut Arianasa opened a hidden panel next to the normal control panel to reveal a second set of buttons. Arianasa pressed one of the buttons for several seconds, the button blinking several different colors before glowing green. The panel slid back a moment later, hiding the buttons from sight as the elevator began to move.

"Where are we going?" Li Quang asked.

"Certain areas of the temple are restricted at the moment. We are going to one of those places." Arianasa explained.

"And that's where Ling is?" Li Na asked. "Why would he be here of all places?"

"It will make sense to you when we arrive, I promise." Arianasa told her.

The elevator slowed to a stop and the doors opened revealing another similar hallway about halfway up the pyramid, the city spread out before them via the crystal wall. Moving to a nearby door Arianasa rested her hand against a flat panel next to the door before it opened silently, sliding into the wall and allowing the trio to enter.

The entire room was cathedral-like with a vaulted ceiling, smooth white stone walls and marble flooring. The ceiling and walls were filled with iconography based around science, technology, and mechanical engineering as well as several golden dragon heads. On one side of the room set into the wall was a row of tall archways done in platinum, gold, and precious stones. Within each archway was a single massive pane of fogged crystal.

Gesturing, Arianasa moved to one of the archways, placing her hand on the crystal within it. As the couple watched the crystal slowly became clearer and light began to emanate from it. When the fog and light cleared the crystal had become transparent enough that it was barely discernible. Beyond it stood a large metallic bridge of silver and white and at the end of it several meters away stood Ling. He wore a simple white shirt and pants without shoes or socks and his hands were clasped nervously at his waist.

"Ling!" His mother cried, pressing her hand against the crystal barrier.

He smiled winsomely at her as he approached until he stood before them. "Mother. Father." He said quietly, his voice carrying clearly through the crystal as if he were standing next to them.

"Son! What is this? What's happening?" Li Quang asked urgently.

"Forgive me Father, I was foolish." He said as he looked at them sadly. "I was in the city and the police came. I should have run but I stood my ground and…" He hung his head shamefully as he shook it. "I'm so sorry!"

"Son it's alright!" LI Quang said earnestly. "Whatever you have done we can fix it! You're here! I don't know how but…"

Ling shook his head again. "I can't come back." He explained morosely. "The Master said I could only see you and talk to you. He doesn't have the power."

"Master? What Master?" Li Na asked in confusion.

"That would be me." A deep, regal voice stated from everywhere before Prometheus appeared behind them in his human form, wearing a modern suit of white and gold, his hair and neatly trimmed goatee colored salt and pepper.

"What is...!" Li Quang exclaimed in shock, taking in the appearance of the Dragon Emperor before his mind recalled where he had seen him before. "You! You are the leader of that Dragon cult! The one who spoke at the UN!"

Prometheus nodded. "I am he." He replied evenly.

"Then Ling is…" He turned to look back at Ling before glaring at Prometheus. "You are his Master?! He is part of this damnable cult of yours?!"

Prometheus's face remained placid as he nodded. "Ling was briefly one of my followers yes."

"Well thank goodness he isn't any more! Come on son we're leaving!" Li Quang stated firmly with steel in his eyes as he turned back to Ling.

The young man merely shook his head. "I told you I can't leave Father. I'm sorry."

"What is this?" Li Quang demanded, beating his fist against the crystal with a thump before turning to glare at Prometheus. "Are you holding him here against his will?! I demand you release him at once!"

Prometheus shook his head. "He is not being held against his will Li Quang." He said quietly. "As your son explained a moment ago I do not have the power to return him to you. I can only allow you to commune with him."

"What are you talking about?! He's right here!" Lu Quang exclaimed angrily, slamming his fist against the crystal again. "Open this door right now or so help me…!"

"You do not know of what you speak." Prometheus explained patiently. "That is no mere door. Your hand is on the barrier between life and death itself and no being in existence be they god or man can breach it to bring the two together."

The man's face turned pale at Prometheus's words as he turned to stare at Ling, his mother staring at Ling despairingly.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Arianasa said quietly as she rested her hands on Li Na's shoulders.

Letting out a cry Li Na turned to grip Arianasa tightly, burying her face in the woman's shoulder while Li Quang appeared torn between crying and flying into a rage, his body shivering.

"This...this is all your fault!" He finally shouted at Prometheus. "If you had not appeared my son would be…"

"I will accept the responsibility for your son's death if it makes it easier for you." Prometheus replied gravely. "But you should know that it was the local police who fired upon him because he dared to speak the truth of my coming and attempted to resist them. I have done what I could to let you speak with him and you will be able to speak with him in the future as well but even I cannot return him to life. I am sorry." Prometheus finished softly.

The man leaned heavily against the wall, his legs shaking as Li Na continued to sob quietly into Arianasa's shoulder, holding her tightly while the Empress held her silently.

"Father! Mother! Please! Please don't cry!" Ling implored them from the other side, shaken by his parents' grief. "I-I can talk with you, see you, and you can see me! It's alright please! I-I'm not really gone!"

Li Na slowly pulled herself together, sniffling and wiping her face with a sleeve before pressing her hands against the crystal window, staring at him forlornly.

"We will never get to hold you again." She murmured wretchedly. "To hug you...you'll never be able to live the life we hoped you would!"

"I am sorry that his life was cut short before he could experience and accomplish all he could in this life." Prometheus said softly. "I can only offer you this. If you follow me in spirit and in truth, worshipping me as your god, you will one day experience life eternal as he does now. I say this not to force you to convert but I offer it as a way for you to be one day reunited completely with your son."

"That is no choice at all!" Li Quang retorted furiously. "You are like the rulers of ancient times! Bow down and worship me or die!"

"It is the only offer I can make to you given my limitations." Prometheus replied regretfully. "You may find it odd for a god to say he has limitations but I speak the truth to you. You may deny me and live your lives as you see fit, worshiping whatever gods you wish to believe in. But to do so will bar your entry into my realm when your time comes. A god cannot force one who does not follow him to enter his realm nor would it be right for me to do so; even if I could you would resent me for all eternity. Nor can I move your son to another god's realm where you might reunite with him for there are no other gods. The only place where you can be together again is here." He spread his hands. "What would you have me do?"

Li Quang let out an explosive sigh as the energy drained out of him as he slid down the wall to sit on the floor with a thump as he rubbed his face with his hands. Li Na slowly composed herself, gazing carefully at her son's spirit. "Are you...are you happy son? Is this...is this what you wanted?"

Ling looked regretfully at her. "I did not want to...be killed mother. I had many more plans but...I cannot undo what I did nor can I go back. I must accept the consequences of what I have done. But this is not a bad place, Mother. This is not what I expected heaven to be like but...it really is beautiful Mother. So serene...and the Master can spend forever teaching me all he knows. I think...no, I know I will be happy here. I just...need to get used to it. At the very least I am here and not sleeping forever. You don't know what a relief that is." He said earnestly.

"No doubt all who pass through into the realm of eternity will feel similarly." Arianasa said. "We have servants within the realm who help the departed ease into the harsh reality of their passing and Ling has bravely offered to help others who will one day come through as well. But I promise you, in my Lord's Utopia there are no tears of sorrow for He wipes them all away." She gestured to the crystal window. "Here there is no fear, no pain, no misery, and no true death. For those who believe in Him death is but a transition from one plane to another and it is His hope that you and others like you will at least be able to have closure as well as communication with those who pass on. No other in all your long history has been able to offer such a thing and have it be reality."

"I...I understand." Li Na said softly with a heavy heart. "It is still a tragedy but you offer us more than anyone else could. We are...grateful."

"We know this is hard for you and it will be hard for everyone who comes after you." Arianasa said gently, resting a supporting hand on the woman's shoulder as Prometheus helped Li Quang to his feet before he moved to stand next to his wife. "I offer you this in the hopes it will help ease your pain."

Arianasa stretched forth her hands as she murmured a spell. Energy flowed between them before solidifying into a simple oval mirror nearly the size of the woman's head and edged in gold.

"Speak your son's name." Arianasa instructed, handing it to her as Li Quang looked over her shoulder.

Looking at her quizzically she spoke. "Ling?"

The glass became foggy for a moment before Ling's face appeared in it, the eternal city creating a background behind him. The image smiled softly. "Hello Mother, Father." He said in a soft, clear tone that emanated from the surface.

The pair looked up quickly to see Ling still standing there at the archway, an identical smile on his face.

"He sees you through the mirror just as you see him." The Queen of Mercy explained. "Thus you will be able to speak with him whenever you wish. And so shall he be able to call you through the mirror when he wishes."

"This is very generous of you but...what if we speak his name when others are there? Or he tries to call us when we are entertaining guests?"

"When did we last entertain guests?" Li Quang asked her with a hint of dry humor.

Some of the life came back into the woman's eyes as she swatted her husband gently on the shoulder. "It is a valid question!" She insisted.

"Indeed it is." Prometheus agreed. "I had already taken such considerations into account when creating them. Speaking his name in casual conversation will not activate the mirror, you must focus your will or concentration onto the mirror itself and speak his name with intent. When he attempts to contact you through the mirror you will hear a soft chime. Again, you will need to speak his name with intention while focusing on the mirror for it to show his face. Be aware that should he attempt to contact you and you do not respond the mirror will act as a one-way; he will be able to see into the area it is placed in but on your side it will remain reflective."

"As such we recommend placing it where you have no fear of your privacy being invaded at an...awkward moment." Arianasa said with a humorous smile.

The couple smiled in mild embarrassment as Ling grimaced. "I did not need that mental picture thank you. My parents are too old for such things."

The parents smiled genuinely for the first time since they arrived, the horror of their situation slowly becoming soothed by the balm of semi-normal interaction between themselves and their son.

Li Na looked over at Arianasa. "Thank you for letting us speak with our son and for giving us this." She said gratefully. "We are both deeply honored that you would take the time to speak with us and explain all of this."

"No affairs in heaven or on Earth could keep us from such an important moment as this." Prometheus assured them. "And do not fear for the mirror, it is made of substances much stronger than normal metals. Indeed the surface of the mirror itself is made of the same crystal contained within the archways. As such it is for all intents and purposes indestructible."

Li Na smiled at this. "Perhaps if Li becomes uppity with me I shall take it down and smack him over the head with it."

Her husband winced at the idea. "You will have no need for that I assure you." He replied stiffly though Li Na could tell he still found the humor in it.

"Yes, I can just see myself activating the mirror in time to see you bash in Father's head, right in my face." Ling deadpanned.

The three laughed quietly at this with Arianasa and Prometheus sporting identical smiles before the Dragon God became more serious. "Though I do not wish to burden you further I must discuss a matter of importance to all of you. Specifically, whether you wish the news of your son's existence to remain confidential or if you wish for others to know of it. I will abide by whatever decision you make."

The husband and wife looked at each other curiously as Arianasa spoke us. "As my husband said we did not wish to burden you more but as you are here we thought this the best time to discuss it. There are positives and negatives for both choices of course. The world learning that life after death is possible will bring great joy and relief to many but the religious and scientific institutions of this world will no doubt attempt to cast doubt and even aspersions on such a claim and all of you could very well become embroiled in the frenzy that would follow. On the other hand we can keep the matter a secret and slowly let others discover this truth in the fullness of time, though in doing so many might lose the opportunity to accept Him and thus sleep forever in the void when their time comes."

"I am not suggesting, of course, that you would be to blame for any of the things that I have mentioned." Arianasa assured them. "But I merely wished to make you aware of what might happen in either case. Not even we can truly predict the consequences of either action."

"Know if that if you choose to reveal this to the world we will protect you and those you care about should the world turn its negativity towards you." Prometheus assured them firmly. "I do not abandon those who serve me and I will protect those I care for with all my power."

"We will give you space to consider it." Arianasa said, putting her hand on Prometheus's shoulder and guiding him away from the two to stand on the far side of the room.

They watched as the family quietly discussed the matter for several minutes. While Prometheus and Arianasa could have easily extended their senses to hear them clearly they permitted them to have their privacy. Finally Li Quang beckoned them to return.

"You have decided?" Arianasa asked.

"We have." Li Quang said with quiet confidence. "Let the world know that my son lives."

"We do not fear what others could do to us." Li Na stated. "We have had many good years and now there is little for us to fear at our age. Just knowing that Ling lives forever with you and that we can speak to him at any time is a blessing beyond compare."

"If you are willing," Li Quang said reservedly, "will you accept us as your servants as well?"

The pair bowed formally in respect to Prometheus.

Prometheus stepped forward and rested his hands on their shoulders. "Your hearts and minds are open to me." Prometheus said with quiet gravitas. "You feel that you both are too advanced in years to be of any useful service yet you offer yourselves hoping that one day you will be able to rest in peace with your son in my realm. I tell you there is nothing further from the truth; age is no barrier to you being able to serve for even if your working days are done all have skills and wisdom they can impart to others. You have a lifetime of experiences that would be of great help to those who have not yet walked all of life's pathways. You know me not yet you are willing to put your faith in me and serve me on the strength of the promises I have made to you alone. Such generosity is worthy indeed. Receive my blessing, both of you, that you might live out your lives to their fullest and enjoy the bounties I offer."

He breathed upon both of them and the golden cloud of nanites swiftly infused them.

"Rise, both of you, as servants of the Dragon Emperor." Prometheus finished as he removed his hands, the two of them straightening. "I do not intend the reveal the fate of your son yet but one day soon I shall. I may also ask others to speak with you about your son and your experiences in speaking with him so that they might understand the truth."

"As you say." Li Quang stated obediently.

"Spend whatever time you need with your son and enjoy my hospitality." Prometheus told them. "When you are ready, Arianasa will return you to your home."

The pair bowed low again.


Two weeks later...

United Nations General Assembly chamber

New York

Davis stood at the podium before the assembled delegates, dressed in a crisp dove gray Armani suit and blood red tie, his sharp green eyes sweeping over them as he lightly smoothed his slicked back blonde hair.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the United Nations! I come before you today to discuss with you the state of this world and our part in it. All of you are intimately familiar with the deplorable state the world has come to within the last few decades due to the radical shifts in climate, from rising sea levels inundating your coastlines to food shortages and mass migration, so I will not waste your time by expounding upon such details. What this world needs, what each and every one of you need, are solutions to the myriad of problems that have erupted as a result of these circumstances. The various corporations and governments have done their best to stem the tide of misery and prevent even more damage but many still suffer and some of this damage has grown beyond your ability to contain. I come before you today to offer hope in that regard!"

"All of you are no doubt wondering who I am. In the Imperium of Utopia I have many titles but among them is Chief Strategist and Analyst to the Emperor. I am his aide and one of his closest advisers. As such I speak with his authority and his will, just as all of you speak for your respective countries."

"Hopefully you will find my presence a bit less overwhelming than that of his Eminence or those that have spoken here before me on our behalf." He suggested with a hint of dry humor, making some in the audience smile.

"The Dragon Emperor is Lord of Technology in all its forms and as such, his knowledge is vast as is the technology he commands. As we travelled across the void from the outer planets to your world's orbit we monitored the state of the planet and what was happening upon it. We began to discuss what we might do to help repair the damage you have done and in that time we began creating many devices to aid in those endeavors. He has created machines that can clean the air and oceans, that can produce drinkable water easily and efficiently, that can build structures and help in search and rescue operations. And yes, he has also created machines and weapons to provide security where it is needed. With his help and the help of Trans-Dimensional Technologies the deserts of this world can become lush forests or farmland through water distribution and reforesting. With their help seawalls and coastal cities can be rebuilt using stronger materials and intelligent labor that does not require rest. With their help refugees who have been displaced can find security as well as new homes and communities upon this world...as well as on others. All of these things and more he can do but all of them will take time and time is a luxury this world cannot afford."

"The question is, ladies and gentlemen," he said gravely as he looked about piercingly at each of them, "will your governments cooperate with him and allow him to do what must be done to save your people or will they obstruct him and thus cause even more misery and needless suffering?"

The delegates looked about at each other before the Ambassador to China activated his microphone. "Naturally we are all concerned about the state of the world and its peoples." He said mildly. "But you are asking us to give you and your master carte blanche to do what you will within our countries. Surely a man of your stature will understand the concerns we would have with such unbridled and unregulated freedom."

Davis raised an eyebrow at this as he frowned slightly at the man. "The cities of Macau and Haikou lie in ruins from flooding. Hong Kong's harbor and parts of the city are destroyed with more riots happening there every day. Shanghai is a shadow of what it once was. The Henan and Hubei provinces provide far less the foodstuffs they did in previous decades due to the changes in global weather patterns and as a result you have been forced to buy vast amounts of grain from overseas, but even that is often not enough. Your people are starving slowly but surely and the same is happening in many other regions around the world."

"Do you truly think we can make the situation worse?" He asked pointedly.

"Be that as it may we cannot allow your people to run rampant throughout China, doing whatever they will!" The Ambassador insisted. "Order must be maintained!"

"Do you think we are some band of marauders to come and plunder you?" Davis asked with a hint of incredulousness. "We have a flying city that can travel between the stars and across dimensions! My master is a god who wants for nothing and our people live in security and happiness! What possible treasure could you have that we would want or need?! We are not alien invaders from one of your cinemas!" He insisted. "Have we not made that clear enough already?" Davis demanded, looking about at the crowd before focusing on the Chinese Ambassador once again. "What is it you really fear?"

The man merely pressed his lips together in silent defiance as he glared back at Davis.

Davis stared at him unblinking for a moment before he nodded. "You fear to lose control of your people and your power." He said in a flat tone. "You fear the spread of our faith and the erosion of control you believe it will cause. But your power is already eroding an inch at a time as your countrymen grow hungry and resources become more and more slim."

He paused for a second before continuing in his grim tone, looking about at the crowd. "This world is already in crisis, you have no more time to play at politics or try to hold on to the old ways of doing things because the old order is already crumbling around you. Survival is what matters now and with our help you will survive and even thrive...if you allow us to help you."

The delegates muttered quietly amongst themselves for a moment before the delegate from Saudi Arabia spoke.

"Something that has puzzled me since the beginning is your reasons for coming here in the first place." The swarthy man stated. "You come from another dimension far removed from our world and yet you came here, expending a great amount of time and resources to help save us. For what purpose? As you said we have nothing that you need. Why help us at all?"

Davis frowned slightly at this. "Has altruism become such a dead concept that it fails to register as a possibility in your mind? The Dragon Emperor was already aware of your world and the path it was inexorably heading towards but it was his hope that you would find a way to remedy these matters yourselves and thus emerge stronger and better for it. But when the situation continued to spiral out of control without abatement he realized he would need to take direct action if humanity was to survive. Hence the expenditure of creating this city and coming here, as well as other projects he put in motion."

"There are more things in heaven and Earth than ever dreamed of in your philosophy." He said with quiet gravitas. "The stars hold more than imagined horrors. They also hold the promise of salvation."

The American delegate spoke next. "I presume that in order for you and the Emperor to 'work these miracles' you will need unrestricted airspace to travel about freely?"

Davis nodded. "At the very least, yes. We cannot have a country or region insist on having us go the long way around them via land or air in an attempt to ensure their sovereignty. Our people must have unrestricted travel access to any region in the world."

The group looked about uneasily at the notion.

"Rest assured," Davis said with a wry smile, "our island nation is quite valuable. It would be foolish in the extreme for us to drop it on anyone's palace. Naturally we will not attempt to enter private installations such as military bases or other secure areas if we can avoid it but each nation must exercise flexibility in this matter depending on the situation at hand. As such we will also need a liason high up the chain of command for each country. Someone who has the authority to make decisions quickly and implement them without a great deal of red tape."

"Think of it this way," Davis continued, "a god is a force of nature that impacts the entire world, it is not beholden to any one country nor can it be restricted in such a way. You cannot contain 'mercy' in a box or hold a monopoly on 'justice'. As such concepts are universal and can be found everywhere, so can he."

"And the Emperor's temples?" The Russian delegate asked. "He recently stated he wishes to build them everywhere."

Davis nodded. "Allow us to build our temples so that we can help those in need more directly on a local level while our city goes about from country to country. We will use local materials and manpower for the most part in order to help shore up their economics and create trade agreements at the same time. And of course, the temples will serve as a local point of access to us should an emergency arise and the local governments need to contact us quickly. The city will go where we are needed the most but even our resources are not infinite. You and your governments must assist in triage, organizing your needs and the needs of your peoples so that when we arrive we can help in the most efficient and effective ways possible. Maddened crowds of desperate civilians will only slow the process. Naturally we expect those measures to be enacted in the most humane way possible." David stated.

"What you are asking for is-" A delegate protested.

"A gargantuan task, yes." Davis interrupted briskly. "We are well aware of what we are asking of you but you all have the resources to accomplish it, provided you are willing to use them. Given that the refugee crisis in the Middle East and India has created the greatest amount of displaced individuals we shall start there to provide temporary housing and basic services for them while a permanent solution is constructed. This should help ease the burden of the nearby countries whom they have been attempting to enter and allow the rest of you time to prepare."

"And you believe you can provide shelter and basic necessities to that many people?" The delegate from Israel asked. "You said yourself your resources are not infinite! There have been many millions that were displaced! Your city cannot handle them all!"

Davis nodded. "This is true which is why we must have the temples in place to provide local assistance wherever possible. I had also mentioned other projects my master had begun when he realized the need for direct action. Those projects will play a role as well in helping to manage these crises. Rest assured I am well aware of the logistical nightmare this will be but given the computing power we have access to we were able to run a multitude of simulations. Assuming you all do your part this crisis as well as the others can be managed."

Davis looked about at them. "Do I have your cooperation, ladies and gentlemen of the United Nations?" He asked seriously. "Is this body capable of coming to an agreement to save this world and humanity itself?"


Royal Institute of International Affairs

London

Richard Vance frowned darkly, uncaring about the lavish office lounge he sat in as he watched the machine toy with the delegates at the UN, plucking the strings that would make them dance to his tune. He was intimately familiar with such coercion, having used it himself for many centuries on those he wished to control, and as such he held a grudging respect for the machine's savvy. A twitch of the lips or a focused glance at just the right moment could speak volumes and the Terminator used his body like the weapon it was, every intonation and gesture perfectly calculated to produce the result he wanted. In another time and place the machine could have been one of his most powerful servants but it was not to be for he had thrown his lot in with the Dragon, believing that the creature's power and abilities would outstrip any who might challenge him.

He would prove to all of them just how mistaken that notion was.

The gods of Oerth were brash and arrogant fools, using the Demons of the Nine Hells to force their will upon the Prime Material plane like the alien invaders the Terminator had derided moments ago. Such crude and unsubtle tactics were doomed to fail but he...he was far more craftly than they. Subtly and secret knowledge had been his weapon of choice for countless centuries and it had always served him well. Thus would he use it here, continuing to work behind the scenes using proxies as he had been doing to delay or obstruct Trans-Dimensional Technologies various miracles from being propagated across the planet. Just as the Dragon had his own plots and projects so did he and he would unleash them when the time was right. But for the moment, he had his own council to convince.

Standing, he made his way into the next room where a group of men and women in business suits sat around a wide round table with various televisions set along the walls, most of them playing the Terminator's speech on CSPAN or other news networks. The Baron was in attendance as well as the CEO's of DuPont, Google, Apple, and Amazon. The heads of various royal families were present along with several Vice-Presidents and Prime Ministers from various nations. Other captains of industry from oil conglomerates and rare element magnates to international banks and media barons were also represented as well.

Collectively they were known to the public as the Bilderberg Group.

Baron Rothschild glanced over as Richard entered before he stood to address the group. "I believe we have seen enough of the UN for the moment." He said. "I would like to turn the meeting over to my aide Richard Vance who speaks on the family's behalf."

Richard nodded before addressing them. "I will get right to the point. All of us here can easily see the power play that is at work at the UN; the Dragon and his cronies intend to expand their reach and influence to every nation on Earth via these temples under a facade of good will and charitable works. He intends to rebuild the major port cities of the world, no doubt with his own technology and materials, that will be far superior to our own. Once the local governments realize the positive gains they will achieve by aiding the Dragon's people they will clamor to open trade details with him and reduce our domination in the markets we command, perhaps even eliminating us as competitors entirely. Free energy and a post-scarcity society sounds all well and good to the common masses who think they should desire such things but we here know better. We all know the terrible consequences that would follow such a path!"

"Rampant unemployment!" Vance exclaimed, pounding the table with his fist. "Destruction of wealth! Decentralization of power to those who would not know how to handle it properly! Society itself would have to change in drastic ways that few would be willing to accept! The Dragon thinks that people will accept his generous donations and then work hard for him in return but we all know how lazy the lower classes are! Under his rule they would be spoon-fed drones, accepting whatever he gave them and do the least amount of effort to acquire it! Humanity will become stagnant and stupefied, its pride and dignity forgotten! We would not venture out to the stars as pioneers and innovators but as blue collar workers on board ships run by machines who think they know best! And when those machines and the Dragon grows tired of their whining and impotent mewling he will cast them out or smite them like any other ancient god! No my friends, we must stand firm and oppose him at every turn! We must use the resources at our disposal to ensure this foolish creature does not hold humanity under his boot heel!"

He leaned back with a cold smile on his face. "Fortunately, I have a plan that will ensure his fall and our return to prominence. Once he is dealt with we will heal the wounds of this world ourselves and we will be hailed as humanity's saviors. Mankind has always had struggles but every time we have emerged from the ashes stronger than before and we shall do so again, by our own stubborn will and by the strength of our own hands! We need no savior to do it for us!" He concluded.

"Now that you've proven your ability to rival the Dragon's people in powerful motivational speeches why don't you tell us exactly what you have in mind." One of them suggested dryly.

Vance smiled coldly. "The main labor pool the Dragon uses are humanoid robots that are covered in false skin and hair to appear human. They are designed to act and speak like humans but they are not truly intelligent. Through various serendipitous means I was able to acquire a few of these specimens without the Dragon being aware of it. My plan is to use them to create a very specialized weapon that we can use against both him and them. Naturally I cannot reveal the entire scope of the project to you lest you fall into the hands of the enemy but rest assured it will greatly damage him and his people. Once the world sees the catastrophe in full they will turn on him and he will be forced off of this planet forever."

"Do you mean to tell me he has a human-looking army of robots at his disposal?" One of them demanded in shock.

Vance nodded. "You begin to see the truth horror of his intentions. An army of robotic machines utterly loyal to him, stronger and faster than any human. He knows better than to use it overtly as a force projector of course, such a thing would be foolish in the extreme. But the possibility for infiltration and espionage is immense. I have already foreseen his plans for they are obvious to me; he will use them to rebuild the cities, making people at ease with them before no doubt launching some grand revelation. He has already laid the seeds of it with that lizard-like knight of his at the UN. Do you remember what it said? 'What does it mean to be human?' When he reveals them he will tell the people of the world that they cannot refuse the help of his machines without being hypocrites of the highest order! He will use their pride and shame to force them to accept living alongside these...watchers! Everyone will have their own personal camera trained on them constantly and the world will become a police state under his control! We cannot allow that to happen!"

The others looked about at one another in worry.

"What do you need from us?" One asked.

"Scientists and engineers of the highest caliber." Vance replied. "The machines will no doubt have complex mechanisms and hardware beyond current technology, I must have people with genius enough to analyze and understand these systems as well as alter them to my needs once they understand them. Once that is done I will need to be able to construct the weapon and gain access to various...transmission routes in order to send the weapon anywhere in the world."

"After that," he grinned fiercely, "it will simply be a matter of waiting for the right moment to strike."