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Resurrection: Rebirth of the United States

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Bast never tells Tom the whole truth. Not sure Prston can cope with the idea of a man from the future, a fallen angel and Tom's one and half angel proof. He could bring Jess back, but only before the final confrontation. He can choose to save his world or the Prestons', not both. He has to choose which and he can't be helped ... by Bast.

Their reaction to "Oh, the cat's name is Bast and she's an angel with a fondness for the shape of a cat" could be priceless.
 
It took a hundred pages and three (or has it been four?) years for that to come out...
 
So Tom's finally telling someone about his origins. He must feel quite relieved but also somewhat weird after twelve years of his current life. I might even think things are turning for the best had I not seen so many downward twists of events during the course of this story...
 
After all these years and events he may find it difficult to believe his own story. ;)


As to the creche scene with asingle wise man, I paraphrase Governor Ann Richards of Texas when told the manger scene had to be removed from the state capitol building. "That's a shame. That may be the last time we have a chance to get three wise men into that building."


Onward. Black awaits.
 
CatKnight said:
"You knew?" Tom asked softly, turning to face the orange tabby.

I'm a cat, she slurped her forearm lazily.

"You could have said something."

I didn't know until I came here, and you didn't seem up to talking.

Tom shook his head. "I hate this place."

She smiled again, eyes closed. You know how to go home. You know how to return to... what's her name: Jess?

"Jess?" He convulsed, somewhere between a snort and a snob. "My home's gone, remember? Our 'brother' killed it."

Not yet, he hasn't. Bast flicked her gaze at the Prestons. You can save your world. And their's for that matter.

He turned his back. "I feel like I'm being manipulated..."

Guided.

"Manipulated. Used. Why me? Why should I be the one to deal with him?"

How many girlfriends do you have to let die before you accept your destiny!?

He snarled and spun, but she was gone.
Click to expand...

:eek: It is still possible to save Jess?!!! WHOOHOO!! I had almost given up hope!....

And as for the manipulated theme...it reminded me of Feanor's speech to the Noldar and the Valinar after Melkor steals the Silmarils.

Anyway...still reading and hoping for the best!

TheExecuter
 
Caught up once more and this thing is crackling! It is interesting to see John and Heyward actually civil to one another. I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures. ;) I remain intrigued by Bast and how she maneuvers things as they need to be. I also appreciated the tale of White Crow. Nicely done to weave that into the narrative.

Looking forward to just how much John believes and understands of Heyward's story. Of course, he need not do either, as long as he simply assists this time without fighting back. I suspect Cassie will help him in that regard as she always has.
 
Lordling: Yep, this is pretty much John's last chance. He either completely 'turns' now, or he'll be pretty much clueless forever.

Mettermrck: Thanks. Yep, Tom and John have built up quite a little history with each other.

J. Passepartout: I'm pleased you caught up!

Judas Maccabeus: A bit more likely. Still, if I was acting strange and suddenly told you I was born in 2150, I think you'd have trouble swallowing it. :)

Chief Ragusa: I don't think Tom will mention Bast. He's not really any more sure of her than she is of him.

Fulcrumvale: Yep! And the great revelation happened in no conceivable way like I thought it would back then :)

Abraxas: Relieved and weird is about right. Awkward might be a good word for it.

Director: Precisely: Even as he revealed it, Tom had to realize how ludicrous it sounded.

alex994: I had a similar line planned for Bast when Tom came back, but thought the scene had enough off-hand humor in it. Maybe later I can use it!

TheExecuter: Well, it's still possible in that Jess won't be born for 150 years yet either, so while the timeline's been shredded nicely...get Black out of the way, and maybe it'll sort itself out.

I haven't read the Silmarillion, but I've listened to some songs based on it so I think I know the general gist. I have to agree.

coz1: Bast is a very good manipulator. (Like most cats!) She doesn't always succeed, but seems to be good at creating situations and watching people do what she wants of their own free will.

Fiftypence: They better. I think it'll be more of a coalition than an alliance, but whatever works.

J. Passepartout: You're about half right. :)
 
resurrectsmallzq1.gif


-= Interlude =-​



My name is Thomas Heyward. Only now that I have recounted everything do I really see how incredible, and unlikely, my journey has been.

I've seen and done horrible things - for what? Bast says I can still save Jess, but she died in an atomic fireball. Does she mean I can stop that from happening by defeating Black? I clearly remember a dream, or vision, where she told me our time together never happened. Black had already tore our reality apart. Is that what I'm fighting for? At what cost?

A man who saves millions is their guardian. A man who can do what I can is not far removed from their god. I tried both with the Cherokee and only made matters worse. Even if I somehow defeat Black, save Jess, and prevent a world war...what can she see in me? It's been twelve years, and I'm not the man she knew. Nor is she the woman I remember - she's nothing but a phantasm now, a pretty, idealized dream.

I can see in John's eyes that he doesn't believe me. I don't blame him. I hardly believe me either. He probably thinks I'm mad, and he's probably right. I don't think most people could come through all of this whole. I know I haven't. The nightmares don't come any more, and that terrifies me because they were the last thing I knew for sure were my own.

Yet, I know what I have to do. Even if Bast is wrong about my world, maybe I can still keep this one from the fire. I know who sent me. I know why. For whatever reason, I'm all that stands between Black and the Armageddon he craves. I can't prove any of it, but I know nonetheless and, for once, the voices are still.

If this be madness, let's make the most of it.

*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*

My name is Jonathan Preston, and I've just been told something that cannot be true.

Tom says he won't be born for one hundred fifty years yet. He says they have weapons that can destroy entire cities in an instant. He says someone or something brought him here to stop it. That the governor is not only alive, but actually a fallen angel bent on destroying the world, and he stole some of this 'Black's' divine power.

It's absurd. It has the makings of a sick fantasy: The kind where 'only you' can save everyone, the kind he should have outgrown decades ago. That, or a horrible nightmare. He has the looks of a man obsessed, and talks like someone who belongs in an asylum. Certainly his manner and bearing have changed over the years. It's entirely possible he broke under the strains of life.

And yet, I cannot dismiss him out of hand. Nothing else explains what I've seen and felt him do. I can't think of anything that would change Exeter like that, or what deformity struck the Indian he called 'Chesmu.' Any one of the three could be explained perhaps, but not all at once.

It would be easy, and safer to ask him to leave on the morrow. No one could blame me. Cassie would probably thank me. I do not need to be dragging my family into a madman's ramblings. I do need to see to their safety for the winter, and I don't get the impression that's high on Tom's priorities.

On the other hand, I remember times Tom could have left me to my fate in turn. Whether he's fighting demons in Charleston, or only in his own mind, he's in trouble. If there's anything he tried to show me, or most of my commanders for that matter, it's that you don't let your friends down when they need help.

Nor can I forgive what happened to Cassie. She still wakes in the middle of the night and cries. What kind of man lets that happen to his wife?

If the governor's alive, whatever he is, he knew about Jasen and can tell me where to find him. Then Jasen will die. Slowly. I'd always meant to go back once I had my answers and Cassie was safe.

Do I believe him?

Does it matter?
 
An interlude in first person...Interesting…
 
CatKnight said:
It's been twelve years, and I'm not the man she knew. Nor is she the woman I remember - she's nothing but a phantasm now, a pretty, idealized dream.​
Click to expand...


Now that's a painful realization isn't it. Perhaps my pessimistic side is showing through! :eek:

Are we finally ready for a confrontation?...a potential climax? Hmm....I hope so, and yet...strangely...that would mean the end of the tale! I therefore leave it up to you to weave the tapestry...be it an ending or a beginning, it has certainly been a fantastic story.

TheExecuter​
 
Where's that movie immediate acceptance of strange tales just before the heroes go off to do battle? What's Cassie make of it all? It's strange that Wasp Sting isn't providing Tom answers - perhaps he hasn't phrased it correctly or Wasp Sting no longer has the capacity to remain. Cassie's always seemed brighter than John.
 
It's been twelve years, and I'm not the man she knew. Nor is she the woman I remember - she's nothing but a phantasm now, a pretty, idealized dream.
Click to expand...

The only way this story can be resolved satisfactorally is for everything to get to the point where Heyward's success is inevitable, and then suddenly everything is as it was in the beginning with no atomic explosions and no recollection that anything peculiar happenned.
 
Yeah, but for it to be a truly great story the fate of everything really has to hang in the balance up to the very end. Actually, it should be a come-from-behind type of victory.
 
It almost seems John has the harder task here since he is now where Heyward was several months ago in terms of accepting this new reality. He'll need to speed that along, I'd think, to avoid constant questioning (as he is want to do.)
 
CatKnight: ...Nor is she the woman I remember...

hmmm. that would be a shame. i suspect that it is possible, but still a shame. :rolleyes:

CatKnight: ...I can see in John's eyes that he doesn't believe me...

i don't think that bast believes you either ! ! ;)

CatKnight: ...I know who sent me. I know why. ..the voices are still. ..If this be madness, let's make the most of it.

i must have missed something. i don't know who sent Tom... :confused:

madness or not, do make the most of it ! ! :)

CatKnight: ...My name is Jonathan Preston, and I've just been told something that cannot be true.

it certainly cannot be true from your experience, but from Toms...? ? ? :D

CatKnight: ...Do I believe him?...

what are your choices ? ? :eek:

magnificent updates ! ! :cool:
 
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