The Light Warrior Files
Chapter 1, Part 4: Questions & Answers
By Chris Ward
Releasing me, physically as well as mentally and emotionally, she said, “You have many
questions. Ask them, and we will answer as best we can.” As she reclined in her chair, I
realized that, for the first time in many years, I had been crying. Not merely crying, but
weeping as a brokenhearted child. At a subtle signal from the Lady, Ishmael helped me to
the sofa, as the one called Builder brought me a glass of water.
After a few minutes of silence, I asked my most pressing question, the one which Ishmael
had yet to answer, “Who are you people?”
From his position beside the Dark Lady, Ishmael rumbled out an explanation. “We are, even
as you are yourself, uniquely gifted. The great genetic lottery threw something a little extra
our way. My gift is Interpretation. I can take anything, whether seen or heard, and translate
it into any language necessary. Not only is this gift a benefit as far as languages are
concerned, but it has made me a master code breaker, since my gift does not distinguish
between foreign languages and code.
“Builder, here, is something of a wizard with electronics. He can create any gadget he
desires from the simplest of components. He can also make any existing electronic
equipment do pretty much whatever he wants, and can create the new equipment in mere
moments.
“The Dark Lady is a Reader. She is uniquely gifted in that her ability works in two separate
ways. She can read minds, thoughts, emotions and memories like an open book. However,
she can also read the future, the pages of destiny.”
Somehow, I had already suspected the next information. “My ability is, coincidentally, the
perfect complement to my wife’s. When she reads the future, she does not speak of it in
what you or I would consider normal terms. I think it best if she explains it for you.” This last
was said with a wry grin.
Taking the cue, she began, “When I gaze into the future, and attempt to read that which fate
has written, fluid and unstable though it is, I do not see the names and terms which we,
time bound creatures that we are, use. Instead, I read the truth of beings and of events.
“I am the Dark Lady. I am the oracle of our age. I am the reader of the future and
mouthpiece for the fates. I see man’s mind and destiny with equal facility. The truths I see
are dark and foreboding as often, if not more so, as they are bright and joyful, for man’s
destiny is always filled with strife.” This last was said with a harshness that I would learn
was only present when the Lady was making her prophetic announcements.
“In each age there have been those with gifts similar to mine, which allowed them to see
what was yet to come. Among some peoples they were prophets, among others they were
called oracles. Still other peoples called them soothsayers. Regardless the names given
them, their purpose was the same. They came into existence, as if by some divine plan, in
times of turmoil and tumultuous change. They stood at the front of history, and told their
peoples what was to come. At times they told what needed done to prevent great tragedy
from occurring. Such is my role in this age, and that of the others who are springing into
existence.”
Not entirely certain what to make of that odd pronouncement, I decided to ask my next
question. “All right, you’ve told me who you are, sort of. Since you are the ones who
contacted me, I can only assume you know who I am. I guess what I find so confusing is
what you’re little group is actually doing, and why you want me to join.”
As I came to know them better, I learned that Builder was actually quite intelligent, certainly
more so than myself in certain areas. However, he was also extremely uncomfortable
around strangers, which led to him being so quiet that it became quite easy to forget that
he was around. Such was the case now. When he spoke from beside me, I jumped in my
seat.
“Can I show him?” When Ishmael quietly chuckled, and the Lady, also smiling, nodded, he
ran out to the pile on the table. After rummaging around for a couple minutes, he returned,
carefully carrying something that resembled a High Inquisitor’s happy dream. As he sat it
down in front of me and began to untangle all the wires and components, I was able to
identify some of the parts. There was what looked to be an old aviator’s helmet At least,
that was what it had started out as. However, it had undergone extensive modification
since then. There were wires exploding out from every conceivable port. The goggles from
the old helmet had been replaced, but I couldn’t quite decide what with. The headset had
been replaced with an indefinable, but extremely uncomfortable looking, device. The entire
contraption was connected by wires to what seemed to have started out life as the tower
unit for a personal computer, which was also connected to a laptop computer. The former
tower unit was open along one side, with wires connected seemingly at random to more
circuit boards than I had ever seen in one place before.
“Do I even want to know about this?”
Catching the worry in my voice, he laughed. “Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe.” As he
explained what the machine was going to do, he was also rapidly connecting it to me. “In
the absolutely plainest terms, this is a virtual reality set. I designed it myself. These
goggles are actually miniature projectors, and will project the image directly onto your
retina, giving you better image than standard players or even heads up displays. The ear
pieces, here, might be a bit uncomfortable, but that can’t be helped. I’ve designed them so
that the speakers are closer to the eardrums. This helps you get better sound, and you can
hear it clearly at a much lower volume than is normally the case. I’ll actually slip them in at
the last minute, because their design blocks out virtually all other sound.”
Unfortunately, I could no longer see anything, so I had to look in the general direction the
sound was coming from, “And what, exactly, am I supposed to be seeing and hearing?”
The answer came not from Builder, but from Ishmael, “The Dark Lady made a prophecy
several weeks ago. We’ve made a practice of recording them so I can listen and interpret,
even if I’m not home at the time. In this case, Builder saw a chance to do more than just
interpret the prophecy, he wanted a chance to actually see what it meant. You’ll be hearing
the Dark Lady’s prophecy, and you’ll be seeing Builder’s simulation of the events.”
Chapter 1, Part 4: Questions & Answers
By Chris Ward
Releasing me, physically as well as mentally and emotionally, she said, “You have many
questions. Ask them, and we will answer as best we can.” As she reclined in her chair, I
realized that, for the first time in many years, I had been crying. Not merely crying, but
weeping as a brokenhearted child. At a subtle signal from the Lady, Ishmael helped me to
the sofa, as the one called Builder brought me a glass of water.
After a few minutes of silence, I asked my most pressing question, the one which Ishmael
had yet to answer, “Who are you people?”
From his position beside the Dark Lady, Ishmael rumbled out an explanation. “We are, even
as you are yourself, uniquely gifted. The great genetic lottery threw something a little extra
our way. My gift is Interpretation. I can take anything, whether seen or heard, and translate
it into any language necessary. Not only is this gift a benefit as far as languages are
concerned, but it has made me a master code breaker, since my gift does not distinguish
between foreign languages and code.
“Builder, here, is something of a wizard with electronics. He can create any gadget he
desires from the simplest of components. He can also make any existing electronic
equipment do pretty much whatever he wants, and can create the new equipment in mere
moments.
“The Dark Lady is a Reader. She is uniquely gifted in that her ability works in two separate
ways. She can read minds, thoughts, emotions and memories like an open book. However,
she can also read the future, the pages of destiny.”
Somehow, I had already suspected the next information. “My ability is, coincidentally, the
perfect complement to my wife’s. When she reads the future, she does not speak of it in
what you or I would consider normal terms. I think it best if she explains it for you.” This last
was said with a wry grin.
Taking the cue, she began, “When I gaze into the future, and attempt to read that which fate
has written, fluid and unstable though it is, I do not see the names and terms which we,
time bound creatures that we are, use. Instead, I read the truth of beings and of events.
“I am the Dark Lady. I am the oracle of our age. I am the reader of the future and
mouthpiece for the fates. I see man’s mind and destiny with equal facility. The truths I see
are dark and foreboding as often, if not more so, as they are bright and joyful, for man’s
destiny is always filled with strife.” This last was said with a harshness that I would learn
was only present when the Lady was making her prophetic announcements.
“In each age there have been those with gifts similar to mine, which allowed them to see
what was yet to come. Among some peoples they were prophets, among others they were
called oracles. Still other peoples called them soothsayers. Regardless the names given
them, their purpose was the same. They came into existence, as if by some divine plan, in
times of turmoil and tumultuous change. They stood at the front of history, and told their
peoples what was to come. At times they told what needed done to prevent great tragedy
from occurring. Such is my role in this age, and that of the others who are springing into
existence.”
Not entirely certain what to make of that odd pronouncement, I decided to ask my next
question. “All right, you’ve told me who you are, sort of. Since you are the ones who
contacted me, I can only assume you know who I am. I guess what I find so confusing is
what you’re little group is actually doing, and why you want me to join.”
As I came to know them better, I learned that Builder was actually quite intelligent, certainly
more so than myself in certain areas. However, he was also extremely uncomfortable
around strangers, which led to him being so quiet that it became quite easy to forget that
he was around. Such was the case now. When he spoke from beside me, I jumped in my
seat.
“Can I show him?” When Ishmael quietly chuckled, and the Lady, also smiling, nodded, he
ran out to the pile on the table. After rummaging around for a couple minutes, he returned,
carefully carrying something that resembled a High Inquisitor’s happy dream. As he sat it
down in front of me and began to untangle all the wires and components, I was able to
identify some of the parts. There was what looked to be an old aviator’s helmet At least,
that was what it had started out as. However, it had undergone extensive modification
since then. There were wires exploding out from every conceivable port. The goggles from
the old helmet had been replaced, but I couldn’t quite decide what with. The headset had
been replaced with an indefinable, but extremely uncomfortable looking, device. The entire
contraption was connected by wires to what seemed to have started out life as the tower
unit for a personal computer, which was also connected to a laptop computer. The former
tower unit was open along one side, with wires connected seemingly at random to more
circuit boards than I had ever seen in one place before.
“Do I even want to know about this?”
Catching the worry in my voice, he laughed. “Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe.” As he
explained what the machine was going to do, he was also rapidly connecting it to me. “In
the absolutely plainest terms, this is a virtual reality set. I designed it myself. These
goggles are actually miniature projectors, and will project the image directly onto your
retina, giving you better image than standard players or even heads up displays. The ear
pieces, here, might be a bit uncomfortable, but that can’t be helped. I’ve designed them so
that the speakers are closer to the eardrums. This helps you get better sound, and you can
hear it clearly at a much lower volume than is normally the case. I’ll actually slip them in at
the last minute, because their design blocks out virtually all other sound.”
Unfortunately, I could no longer see anything, so I had to look in the general direction the
sound was coming from, “And what, exactly, am I supposed to be seeing and hearing?”
The answer came not from Builder, but from Ishmael, “The Dark Lady made a prophecy
several weeks ago. We’ve made a practice of recording them so I can listen and interpret,
even if I’m not home at the time. In this case, Builder saw a chance to do more than just
interpret the prophecy, he wanted a chance to actually see what it meant. You’ll be hearing
the Dark Lady’s prophecy, and you’ll be seeing Builder’s simulation of the events.”
