Chapter 9: The Aliens Demand

The Murphys joined the Cohens for dinner at six-thirty. They sat and enjoyed a drink together. “I’ve put the chicken and vegetables on the hot tray. I’m breaking our golden rule about no television while eating. We’ve extended the table and arranged the seats so everyone can see the TV.”

“I’m dreading this,” said Brendan.

“At least once you know what they want and intend to do, you can deal with it,” said Ashlyn. “After tonight, we can stop speculating and begin planning for the rest of our lives.”

“You can explore the wonders of advanced medicine. You are fortunate; you have new challenges ahead of you and David. I lost everything important to me,” said Brendan.

“You have yet to discover what you can do in the ‘Development Path.’ The Cardinal told us it is the basis of spiritual practice in Christianity. So far, you have concentrated on the negatives. You will be able to marry, and they don’t have issues with sexual orientation. Isn’t it strange? They are intolerant of some things but surprisingly tolerant in other areas,” said Ashlyn.

“You can marry David, but Matthew is dead. I will be an inconsequential third wheel if I accompany you guys.”

“The church will be in chaos for years. Do you want to remain in a dying institution and a planet in disarray or get a fresh start?” David asked. “You will enjoy many opportunities to meet others on the ship.”

Sarah pressed the TV controller.

A stunning young woman with short blue-black hair and striking azure eyes, dressed in a silver catsuit, smiled. The image was evident and well-defined.

“Good evening. My name is Myisa Aurmath, and I represent the Paradigm assigned to speak with you. I will explain what we have accomplished and what we plan to do over the next month. Then, I will inform you what we require you to do in the next fifty years.”

Myisa Aurmath looked directly at her audience and smiled, but the smile was not warm. Brendan was sure she would tell him how they intended to punish him.

“If you’re going to survive, you have much to do in the next fifty years. We will remove those individuals who stand in the way of the aims and objectives we give you. We will continue to destroy those who make the lives of others miserable. The Paradigm will continue to terminate those who won’t or can’t contribute to society and those we cannot heal. Tonight, all those who harm others will die.”

Myisa looked grim. “We will not tolerate the inequalities within your society. We do not care if you are heterosexual or homosexual or any other form of sexuality as long as you do not harm others. We will not tolerate discrimination against others based on sex, color, or other factors. We will not accept extremists. We do not permit rigid belief systems that embrace bigotry and discrimination. We gave commandments to Moses and educated Jesus and Buddha, amongst others. We have never identified ourselves as Gods or wished to be worshiped as Gods. We see nuns and monks as enslaved people even if they have accepted servitude. We will not permit you to practice religion as it is based on falsehoods and deviates from what we taught your ancestors.”