By Christopher

"I'm here to read a statement from our beloved leader," Mauly Peppers said. "I will read this statement, and then, I will return to my home in Trenton, New Jersey. I will be followed, of course, by agents from every enemy we have, and that's quite a few people." She smiled.

"But we did not choose America as our enemy," she continued, "Nor did we choose the European Union or Israel. They chose to fight us. We wanted nothing from them. We did not choose the nations of Islam as our enemy. They choose to bomb us, kill us, fly planes into our building, behead our journalists and they did this in the name of a God which our faiths share. That Gos is YHVH, the God of Abraham, the God of Moses, the God Irsrael, the God of Mohamed. If they claim there are no innocents, then so be it. All are combatants."

"The Great Leader says," she looked down to a paper, "Dear friends and adherents of all religions. The Lord Our God has declared war on all nations and peoples that..."

Jacob turned off the TV.

"Uh, was watching that," Murphy said.

"Right," Jake said, "You were. No more of it for now." Murphy pressed the button on the remote. Mauly Peppers appeared, still reading.

"...the blood of the innocent will be shed for all so that..." The television shut off again.

"Why let me have the remote if your going to do that?" Murphy barked. The remote, he noticed, disappeared.

"Better?" Jake asked.

"The illusion of control," Murphy mused, "Or the certainty of predestination?"

"There are no illusions," Jacob said, "Only lack of perception."

"Thanks, Obi Wan," Murphy said.

"More Yoda-esque I'd say," Jake replied.

"Then we're screwed," Murphy said.

"Who is 'we'," Jake said.

"My God, My God. Why have you forsaken me?" Murphy cried out. Jacob laughed.

"Okay," Jake said, "You're calling for my help?"

"Don't make me ask," Murphy said.

"Rule 1, I don't play with guns," Jake said. "Rule 2, The Primary Directive," He smiled, "We cannot directly interfere or influence. There's some wiggle room there, of course."

"Picard held pretty straight to it," Murphy stroked his goatee. "Kirk. More like Kirk?"

"A happy medium," Jake replied. "But I'm not doing all the work. You still have your robes?"

"Yeah, but..." Murphy said.

"Well, presto," Jake waved his off-hand at him, "You're a Monk again. You remember your duties. And slow up on the booze."

"So," Murphy sat forward, "What do we do first?"

"We're off to see the Wizard," Jake said and they both smiled.

Home | Part VIII | Part X

© RubberSuit Studios