Chapter 44
Eighteen Years Later
As Claude finished describing J. Alfred Weston’s life and discussing the history of the ORION Institute, Haley found herself wondering more about her own childhood.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way. I am glad I was adopted by the Kings, but still wonder why you kept me away. This is where I belong. Just imagine how much I could have learned in eighteen years.”
“There is much for you to learn here, but the most vital lesson is what it means to be human. It is a lesson you could only learn in a loving family away from this place.”
Claude gazed at Haley with affection. “Noreen and I wanted to adopt you, but Dr. Custer (Anastsius) assured us that growing up away from this place was essential for you to reach your full potential. Any knowledge of your genetic heritage may have prematurely revived your subconscious memories.”
Haley sighed in resignation, “It would have been so much easier if I knew why I was different.”
“Maybe,” Claude said, “but your perception of humanity would be altered. You would always be an outsider.”
Haley couldn’t let his comment go without a response. She was thinking of her eyes when she said, “In a way, I have been alone my whole life!”
Claude smiled. “Every person on Earth experiences loneliness at some point, even if they don’t have glowing yellow eyes. We have a deep yearning to belong, and try to find it in our families, churches and a thousand other places. It is part of what makes us human.” He held her hand and whispered, “You are more human than anyone I know.”
Haley smiled as if she was imagining something funny. Claude asked, “What is so amusing?”
“This is where Chris would say, ‘We are all born with a hole in our heart that only God can fill.’”
Claude studied the tender expression on Haley’s face. “You love him don’t you?”
“Yes, but I didn’t come here to discuss my social life. I want to know what the Etz Chayim symbol means and why do Chris, Brian, Matt, and Steve have it burnt on their feet?”
“We are working on it,” Claude replied. “It was engraved on the outside of the vault and on your medallion. Our best guess is it relates to a piece of technology stolen by the Qabalah. Anastasius thinks it is an interface between Homo sapiens and the Nina Nizhoni.”
Haley was troubled by his answer. “I thought there was no significant difference between the two species. Why would we need an interface?”
Before Claude could answer, she continued. “I have had several physicals and except for my skin and eyes, the doctors found nothing unusual. You said my eyes were genetically altered. Maybe my skin was…,”
Claude cut in, “It is more than skin deep. The differences are at the sub-atomic level. The vault describes the Nina Nizhoni or Homo princeps as a species which arose on planet Earth fifty-thousand years before Homo sapiens. The writings on the outside of the vault indicate that it was brought here by a race of beings from a planet orbiting the red supergiant Betelgeuse.”
“What does that mean?” Haley’s face filled with panic. “Are you saying my ancestors came from another planet?”
“We don’t know what it means. Maybe we all came from another planet.”
Claude spoke carefully trying to comfort Haley, but his hesitation increased her anxiety.
“Is there anything in the vault which would make it possible to contact the planet?” Haley asked.
“The planet was six hundred and forty light-years from Earth,” Claude answered. “Even though we are still seeing the light from Betelgeuse, Anastasius has calculated the star has exploded in a supernova. The planet was destroyed.”
“So I’ll never know where I came from?”
“I promise we will continue to look for answers.” Claude put his arm around Haley. “We will figure it out together.”
Haley took a deep breath. “Claude, if you hadn’t come along, I don’t know what would have happened to me. I have been blessed with a wonderful family and friends. I want you to know I am grateful.”
“You are welcome again,” Claude said. “Now, let’s discuss the Qabalah.”
“Ah yes, my arch enemy. They sound like villains from a movie.”
Claude shook his head. “I wish that was true, but the Qabalah are real. With the help of the QBIFI, Anastasius was able to determine at least twenty technologist clones, i.e., the Qabalah are still alive. They are like ghosts, manipulating world governments and resources from behind the scenes.”
Claude explained that after WWII with the formation of the United Nations, many world leaders expected international relations to improve. Inexplicable conflicts kept developing at the worst possible times. They occurred too often to be coincidence. The Korean War was one of the most perplexing.
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By the end of WWII, Korea had been liberated from the Japanese. The United Nations divided it into North and South. China and the Soviet Union set up a government in the North while the United States did the same in the South. The United Nations recognized the separation, but in June of 1950 an undisclosed source convinced the Soviet Union and China of an imminent invasion of the North from South Korea. North Korea launched a preemptive invasion despite assurances from South Korea and the United States.
Before leaving office, President Truman ordered a study by the CIA to determine why China and the Soviet Union supported North Korea’s offensive. The study, known as the Haney Report, found covert agents not associated with any known government provided misleading and provocative intelligence for the sole purpose of instigating the war.
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“We now know it was the Qabalah who provided the provocative intelligence to North Korea. They have demonstrated unparalleled intelligence gathering capabilities and used the information to manipulate governments and organizations into actions which prevent cooperation and progress.”
“Do you think they were responsible for the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center?” Haley asked.
“Not directly, but we believe they provided assistance.”
“So how can we stop the Qabalah from helping other terrorist groups?”
“We are learning to use the QBIFI as an early warning device and counter them with special agents. We recently had three former students pass the Foreign Service Officer Test and they are already working in the field. Many countries check with us to verify or refute claims made by unidentified sources. Even though the vault contains the most sophisticated equipment in the world for collecting information, it is difficult to get the information out because the Qabalah have human surrogates known as the deep state within the Chinese, Russian, and U.S. governments.”
“Then I guess the question is what can I do?” Haley asked.
“Keep doing what you have been doing. Help Anastasius in the vault and continue your studies. Rest assured you and your friends will have a bigger role to play in the future.”
Claude removed several graphic images from his desk and laid them out for display. They looked a lot like three dimensional X-Rays.
“These are quantum bioscans of your brain taken over the last four months. There is increasing activity at the sub-atomic level. You are undergoing a dramatic metamorphosis.”
“What does that mean? Am I going to grow horns and turn into a monster?”
“No.” Claude assured her. “It is occurring at the sub-atomic level, so we don’t expect to see any physical changes. We also don’t think it will change who you are. Your personality should not be effected.”
“That is a relief,” Haley sighed. “So what do you think is happening?”
“If Anastasius is correct, you may develop abilities such as telepathy.”
“Chris won’t be too happy about that.” Haley laughed.
Claude pulled out eight additional images and laid them on the desk.
“These are bioscans of Chris, Steve,
Brian and Matt. They were taken one month apart and also show a similar increase in brain development at the sub-atomic level. Only time can tell us what it means, but at least you have some company.”