Chapter 2: My Angel

"Finally we shall place the Sun himself at the center of the Universe. All this is suggested by the systematic procession of events and the harmony of the whole Universe, if only we face the facts, as they say, 'with both eyes open'." - Nicolaus Copernicus.

I was lost in thought over the events of the last six months, when I notice my shadow was gone. I was sure the project agents were near by, but for now she was out of sight. I had already left the university campus and was making my way to my small studio apartment. I ascended the stairway leading to the brownstone building that had been renovated to a 6-unit apartment building and climbed the stairs to my fourth floor apartment. As I entered my apartment, I followed my usually routine. I picked up the mail, dropped my book bag on the table at the entrance, and worked my way to the kitchen in the corner. However, today I was stopped dead in my tracks. Standing in the corner of my apartment was my shadow. I recognized her only by her clothes and body, because I never actually saw her face. She was dressed in faded bell-bottom jeans with open toed sandals. Her halt top was cut exposing her slightly muscular mid section. She had rather large breasts of perfect proportion and probably was not wearing a bra. She stood with her long legs slightly crossed sipping an ice tea, clearly from my refrigerator. I almost lost my breath when I saw her face. It was floorless like something out of a vinyl covered fashion magazine. It held the innocence of a high school cheerleader and maturity of an erotic dancer. Her blue eyes radiated as she stared at me. As beautiful as she was, I was still in shock and filled with anger at her presence.

"What the hell do you think you're doing in my apartment? This is outrageous. You have been following me for six months. Tell the people at the project, they fired me. I'm through, leave me alone!" I said aghast.

"I'm not from the Project, Jack." She said with a pleasant tone.

"Then who the hell are you?" I asked, as my anger dissipated. She was so beautiful like an angel.

"I am Ariel." She immediately replied.

"Ariel, like the angel" I said in surprise and half to myself. "Well

Ariel what do you want and what are you doing in my apartment?

"Yes, Jack. Ariel like the angel. As a matter of fact, you could think of me as your guardian angel. I am here to help guide you and provide advice to you through the event that will unfold in your life, if you should accept. She softly explained.

I had no idea what she was talking about. "If you're trying to sell something, breaking into my apartment is not going to get me to buy."

I said

"No, Jack. Please let me explain. I am a creation of your imagination. My shape was selected to be pleasing to you so that I could assist you in my role as advisor. In fact I do not have a physical form. I am what you would term a holograph." She calmly explained.

Oh boy I thought. "All right miss, I think it time for you to leave" I said as I genteelly approached her to escort her out my door. Figuring she was clearly off her rocker and may be dangerous, since she did break in to my apartment, I gently eased up to her to grab her by her hand. But, my hand passed through her like air. I reeled in disbelief as a made my why back across the room. I felt panic and attempted to exit the front door.

Then I heard her voice, "please, Jack, and do not be afraid. What I have to tell you is important to your race. It is important to the survival of your species. I realize this may seem extraordinary, but I need you to keep an open mind. Suddenly I felt a calmness overtake me, and I turned and faced her beautiful face. Looking at her I sat down and said with a light tone, "Ok, Arial. I'm listening."

She smile, there was evident joy in her face, as she began her story. I understand that you were working on the project called Ancient Truth Do you have knowledge of the three relics?" I nodded with a continued sense of awe has she proceeded. I am a manifestation of the third relic "the Ring". But in order to understand what I am about to speak, I must give you a history of the ancient past and ancient truth of your species.

The ring and the other relics were created by an advanced technological space faring race, known simply as the Ancients. Fifty thousand years ago the Ancients had developed an advanced and peaceful civilization many light years from your world. Their civilization was comprised of thousands of member worlds. They were at a golden age of knowledge and society. However at their height, they were invaded by an inter-dimensional species called the Osgoth. The invasion was not a military invasion but a metaphysical invasion. The Osgoth possess no technological knowledge, however they did possess incredible psionic powers. They are an amoeba like creature that can create the illusion of many forms. An individual Osgoth seedling seeds itself to a world.

It initially remains hidden, however over time, sometimes thousands of years, it grows in power. Eventually it psionic powers become great enough to start controlling the minds of that world's inhabitants. Once it reaches a level of power, it creates hatred and pits one group against another. The results are war, death and genocide.

At first the Ancients were not even aware of the existence of an Osgoth's in their worlds. For thousand of years there had been peace among them. Then over a short period of a few years, depots rose up in many of the worlds. They spoke of salvations but it lead to war and ultimately genocide of their own people. The uninfected worlds rose up against the depots time and time again. It was at the defeat of one depot that the Osgoth seedling was discovered. The Osgoths are an evil race. Their power comes from the "Original Essence." I interrupted her speech by asking, "What's the Original Essence?"

"You are familiar with the big bang theory of the universe. Before our universe came into existence, the pre-universe was no larger than the size of a basketball. The small sphere was made up of the original essence. The primal energy, which all matter and energy in existence today is made possible. In the first moments of the creation of the universe, the ball exploded and in a few nano seconds creating a vast amount of the universe. In those first moments of creation, all the laws of physic came into existence and with it common matter and energy. The original essence was dispersed throughout the universe, and exists in infinitely small particles in all things.

The scientists were aware of the existence of the original essence and its incredible power. It was proven that the essence could not be harness or created by any technology means. However, what technology could not achieve, the Osgoth's biology did. The Osgoth possessed an external organ, called a "Fulcrum". This Fulcrum serves two purposes. First, it acts as a shortage unit for essence. Second, it converts bio-energy into pure essence. "Bio-energy?" I asked.

"Yes, bio-energy is the by-product produced when sentient beings experiences intense emotions or physical sensations. The Osgoth feed off of the bio-energy of pain and hate. As a world succumbs to the Osgoth mind manipulation, it becomes stronger in the wake of its destruction and division.

By the time, the Ancients became fully aware of the threat. Powerful Osgoths dominated countless worlds. There technology was useless against the psionic powers of the Osgoths. There only hope was to combat them was with a greater psionic power. However, the Ancients had no psionic abilities and psionic powers could only come from a natural occurring biology. The solution was to find an ally among the star. The ancients sought a race with equal or greater psionic powers than their foes.

They searched for thousands of years only to find one species capable of psionic power. That species was human beings. Nearly twenty thousand year ago the Ancients foresaw great potential in your kind. Some even thought that humans could be fabled "Quinstar race." The theory of the Quinstar was that thru biological evolution a race could evolve into a perfect being able to harness the original essence. The theory had been discarded for thousands of years, until the Osgoth's existence proved the connection between biology and the power of the essence. However, the Quinstar race, at least in theory, would be far more powerful than the Osgoth. They would be in very real sense gods whose bodies could contain a sum total of the original essence greater than the universe itself. They would possess the power to shape reality at a mere whim.

Whether the human race was the Quinstar was yet to be seen. The human race would require millions of years of evolution for such predictions to be proven. At the time of first contact, the Ancients found human possessing very limited psionic powers. Only a few people possessed the psionic ability, and of these few they were all females. It was with the aid of the Ancients; these women were brought together and formed the "Kari" sisterhood of the ancient city of Metites."

"Metites" I repeated indicating my recognition.

"The Ancients were surprised to discover that the "Kari" had reached the final stage of human evolution. If you remember, the text you studied had indicated that the Kari priestesses were chosen for their physical beauty. However, this is not entirely true. You see the genes that govern perfected sexual appearance in females also contain the genetic code that transforms the females' sexual organs from a reproductive organ to a "Fie." A "Fie" is like a "Fulcrum" in that in stores the original essence, however it cannot create essence from bio-energy like the Osgoth. The Ancients worked with these genetically superior females by teaching them how to channel randomly occurring essence. The first two relics you learned of were for that purpose. The "Book" taught the Kari females the discipline of channeling. The "Staff" function like an essence lighting rod focusing random essence directly into the females' sex organs. Because the essence is so rare in the universe, it would take years of disciplined channeling for a woman to gain psionic powers, with slightly better results with the Staff. At their best, it took the whole priestess hood of Metites to control the inhabitant of their city.