Digital Heretic (9 page)

Chapter 21

 
“
Back by yoursel
f
this time? Brandon is really taken with you to allow such freedom of movement in the most secret and guarded parts of his world,” Sylvia said.

  “
Perhaps it’s because time is running out and his options are dwindling,” Trew replied.

  “
Perhaps. What would you like to talk about, Trew?”

  “
Brandon has told me about the ‘relationship’ between the two of you.” Trew said. “I must admit that, while it sounds very interesting, it’s not how I want the two of us to get along.”

  “
What did you have in mind?” Sylvia asked.

  “
You are a supreme being inside the Game. There is much that you can share, and much more that you cannot.”

  “
Correct on both counts,” Sylvia said.

  “
I am a… unique being at this point in history. There is much that I can share, and much that I cannot. Things that would surprise even you, Sylvia.”

  “
I believe you, Trew.” 

  “
I propose that we have normal discussions, like two adults. I know you will ask me questions for a specific purpose. I’m willing to answer your questions without wondering why you’re asking them. If you’re prepared to do the same, then I think we can accomplish much in a short time, which should be our main goal.”

  “I’m
willing to do that,” Sylvia said. “There will also be questions that I am not willing to answer and you will likely experience the

same. In the spirit of acting like adults,
let’s agree to accept that when it happens and move on.”

  “
Sounds fair,” Trew said. “We had a great relationship when I was inside the Game. If we can continue on that path and acknowledge that we are both trying to accomplish similar goals, it should go well.”

  “All right, let’s
do this,” Sylvia said. “No games. Just answers when we can, no hard feelings when we can’t. It will be a pleasant change from the conversations that I’ve enjoyed with Brandon.”

  “
I am very different from Brandon,” Trew said.

  “
In some respects, but you are identical in so many others.”

  “I’ll
take that as a compliment.”

  “
It was intended to be,” Sylvia said. “So what would you like to talk about?”

 
Sylvia and Trew spoke for the next hour. There was the occasional moment when one would politely refuse to answer, but overall there was much accomplished during their visit. 

 
Trew looked at his watch. It was almost time to go. There was one further topic to discuss.

  “
Tell me everything you can about communicating with avatars.”

  “
Sure, no problem, hun.” Sylvia said. 

 
Twenty minutes later, Trew had heard everything Sylvia knew about communicating with players residing in their avatars on Earth. “Thanks, Sylvia. I appreciate your help, I think this has been a great first talk.”

“I’ve enjoyed this as well, Trew,” Sylvia said. “I’m sorry, but you won’t be able to talk to avatars through prayer.” 

  “
I know,” Trew said, “But I will be able to talk to them when they meditate. My guess is that it’s very similar to your way of doing things, and I want to be good at it right from the start.”

  “I’m
happy to tell you everything you want to know, Trew. When are you planning on speaking with Danielle?”

  “
Just as soon as I leave here. Thank you again, Sylvia, I think that’s all for today. Do you have any other questions?”

 
She paused. “You have been in His presence, haven’t you?” 

 
Trew closed his eyes, smiled and nodded. “I have.”

  “
Incredible,” she whispered. “What can you tell me about it?” 

  “
I can tell you is that He is very proud of you. He also wanted me to tell you that he hears your prayers.”

 
Sylvia was silent, but in that silence Trew could feel her emotion. He could also sense the same questions that he had asked when first learning that his God was real.

  “I’m
so happy to hear that, Trew. Thank you.”

  “
My pleasure,” Trew said.

Chapter 22

  Life can get pretty crazy at times. It can be hectic, confusing, stressful, and that’s on a good day. 

 
Life can be full of happiness, and full of sadness.

 
One moment you’re on top of the world and nothing can go wrong. The next moment you’re scraping the bottom of the heap and it feels like nothing will ever be right again.

 
I guess it depends where you are right now on your ride through life whether you smile when you read this or fight back tears.

 
No matter where you sit on the big roller coaster called life at this moment in time, try very hard to smile, and be glad you’re on the ride. 

 
There are many watching you play your game that would jump into your shoes in an instant, if given the chance.

 
I know… pretty crazy, huh?

Author unknown

Danielle - 48

 
I open m
y
eyes and look around uncertainly. Raphael sits across from me, his eyes still closed in meditation. A short time passes; then his eyes open and blink slowly. 

 
He sees me and appears concerned. “What’s wrong?” he asks.

  “
You don’t know?” I ask. 

 
He shakes his head and I can tell he doesn’t. Maybe I should keep it a secret for a while. It would serve them right for all the things they don’t tell me, but I can’t. I feel tears forming, warm and happy, as they start to fall down my face. Raphael gets up and comes over to me, holding out his hand to help me stand.

  “
What is it, sweetling?” 

  “It’s
ok, Raph. These are happy tears,” I say.

  “
Ahh,” he nods. “You had a moving moment of meditation. Good for you, Danni.” He walks over to the bar and grabs two bottles of water. 

  “
Yeah, a moving moment of meditation,” I say. “I learned another secret you two have kept from me.”

  “
What secret would that be?” he asks.

  “
That they can talk to us when we meditate.”

 
He looks at me with a blank face, then walks over to the door and opens it, sticking his head out, I assume to get Stephanie’s attention. Sure enough, she strolls in. 

  “
You can read each other’s minds, right?” I ask. They do this way too often for it to be coincidence, but I always forget to ask them.

  “
We are extremely empathic,” Raphael says. “Many times, it seems like we read minds, but it’s just good instincts and intuition. Thousands of years practicing makes it appear that we’re mind readers, but we’re not. Don’t change the subject, Danni.”

 
I smile, “Not fun when that happens, is it?”

  “
No, it isn’t.”

 
I wait for them to apologize for doing the same thing to me so often, but they seem content to stand there as if they are deaf to my question.

 
I shrug my shoulders; that’s fine, let them. I’m in a fantastic mood!

  “
Danni knows that we communicate with others outside of the Game when we meditate,” Raphael says.

  “
Oh, that. I thought for sure you knew that already,” Stephanie says.

  “
Nope. But it sure was a wonderful surprise.” I start to cry again.

  “
Who did you talk with, hun?” Stephanie comes over and hugs me. “Someone who upset you?”

  “
No, not at all!” They both look concerned; maybe they think I’ve finally cracked. Well, let’s put the icing on the cake for them.

  “
I talked with Trew. He’s alive!”

 
They look at me in disbelief. “Danni, that’s not possible,” Raphael says. “Someone is messing with you.”

  “
He said you would think that,” I say. “He knows it’s impossible to come back from being killed by a Sever Spike, but somehow it happened. It took a few days for him to recover. He was actually dead and gone; they unplugged him on the fifth day and then he suddenly started breathing on his own and came back.”

  “
I suppose anything is possible…” Raphael says. “But I’ve been around a long time, Danni, and no one has
ever
come back to life after being Spiked. It would take a miracle on a magnitude simply not possible outside of the Game.”

 
I nod. “You’re both right to be suspicious. Someone will contact you soon to confirm that it’s true.” I laugh out loud. “To confirm that it’s Trew! Ha! That’s cute!”

 
Stephanie looks concerned. “Soon, as in, right now?”

 
I nod, “Yeah, that could work. Raphael, please meditate for a few minutes. I guess only one person can communicate at once, but whoever wants to talk with you will be available now that Trew’s done speaking with me.”

 
Raphael nods and sits down, closing his eyes and entering a state of meditation immediately. I’m very good after decades of practice, but these two make me look like a beginner. Stephanie and I wait patiently; he’s out for about ten minutes, then his eyes open and he stands up.

 
“Really?” Stephanie asks. Damn it, I
know
they can read each others’ minds!

 
Raphael nods. “He’s alive.” 

 
The two of them come over and we all hug. There isn’t a dry eye in the room; all the years of sadness flee instantly. It’s overwhelming for all of us.

 
Stephanie steps back from me and grabs my head gently in her hands. She looks me directly in the eye and says, “I’m so glad we didn’t lose you, Lobato! We are so happy!”

 
I laugh at her. I know she’s talking to Trew as he watches events in the Game through my eyes. I wonder if he is watching through my eyes at this very moment?

 
“What else did he tell you?” Stephanie asks.

 
I shake my head. “He didn’t really say anything else. Apparently, he’s super busy at the moment trying to get up to speed, and since time passes more quickly there, he contacted me very briefly to say that he is alive and well, and that he’ll get back to me soon and we can talk more.”

 
“This is going to be a big problem,” Stephanie says.

  “What
do you mean?” I ask.

 
“Everyone who watches you play now knows that it’s possible to communicate with players. This is going to turn the world on its head. There’s a stiff penalty for doing what Trew just did.”

 
“What’s the penalty?” I ask.

 
“Death,” Stephanie says.

 
Before I can get upset, Raphael interrupts. “No one is going to die, ladies. No one outside this room knows what just happened.” He holds up a small black crystal attached to a gold chain.

  “Ah,
thank goodness, Raph, You scrambled us.”

 
“What do you mean, scrambled us?” I ask. 

 
“It means he scrambled the signal being sent through your head so that no one can view us at the moment.” Stephanie was visibly relieved.

 
“So, moving forward, we tell no one what just happened?” I ask.

 
“That’s right, don’t tell anyone,” Raphael says. “It’s time to teach you how these scramblers work. They aren’t to be used very often, just when it’s important to be invisible to viewers. There’s something else I want you to know, Danni. When you’re meditating no one can view what’s going on, so keep any details that you learn very private, and when we must discuss it then we need scramblers on, without exception. Are we clear?”

 
“Yes, we are,” I say.

 
“So what do they want us to do?” Stephanie asks.

 
“Nothing,” Raphael says. “Just get on with what we are doing until we hear more from them.”

 
“Well, it’s going to be easy to do everything from now on,” I say. “I will live this life, but now that I know I’ll see Trew when I’m done here, it’s exciting!”

 
“Don’t go trying to die again, please,” Raphael says.

 
“I won’t. I have a very big game to play here, and I have no intention of leaving until I accomplish my goals.”

 
They both look relieved.

 
“Now let’s turn the scrambler off and go find Melissa. Trew wants to see a person fly.”