Izzy & Ishmael were tired of Monopoly. “Dont’ you have any video games, Trumbull? Trumbull said, “Video games are bad for you.” Izzy said, “And this Board game is good for us?” “Good point”, Trumbull said. Then, they heard a Sentry chime.
Trumbull said, “What’s up?” We have a Party of refugees. They say they are from Gilead.
They arrived by power gliders in the town square, the same as Israel and Ishmael. But no blackberry juice.” Izzy stuck his tongue out at that. Is everything in the Trumbull household snarky?
How many? 6, 1 female, pregnant, 5 males. They are not armed. Trumbull, meet them in back. The boys should join you too.”
“Why?” Trumbull asked, then the bot said “We are here.”
Trumbull and the boys stepped outside. The refugees all wore Monk cowls, though more likely camouflage shrouds. One pulled his hood down and it was Zed Ivory. Judith was next. “Hello Trumbull, Ishmael, Izzy, my son-” He exhaled as his son body-slammed him in a bear hug, sobbing. “Dammit Dad, I thought you were dead!”. He pat his son’s back gently, then looked him in the eye, “You weren’t the only one with an escape plan, Izzy. I love you and I am proud of you, my son.”
There were hugs and hand-shakes. Izzy was shocked at how happy his father’s dread security guys were to see him. “What? How?”, Izzy stammered.
I’ll tell you everything, soon. For now, we’re tired.
After washing up, sitting down at a table with fruit, fruit juices and the ever-present Coffee machine, Zed started talking.
“And Zeke came THIS close to taking the power no thanks to you!”, Trumbull snarled. “Hey!”, cried Izzy. “No, Izzy, that’s fair. I have much to answer for too. Trumbull, I did not intend to militarily conquer the HomePlex, or NoWhere either. That was all Zeke. I am a devout Christian, I believe it is my solemn duty to show the light and love of our lord to all Humanity-“ Trumbull cut him off, “I am sick and tired of YOU people. honestly Zed? I wanted to flush you and Zeke out an airlock”,/p> “Trumbull!”, Mother shushed him, “You are little better than Zeke if you want to eliminate people who are a problem to you. If Zed plotted to shove his religion down your throats-” This time, Zed glared at the Parrot Mother spoke through, “How dare you speak of me this way-“. She shushed him too. “You are both headstrong assholes, but I like Trumbull a lot more than I like you, so. keep. your. mouth. shut. Who are you right now, Wayne?” Zed paled at Mother’s use of his real name. Zed ignored Mother, continued, “My goal was always to show people the way to the light of the Lord by example. Before this whole Jerusalem business, did my people intimidate or hurt anyone? You assume I was plotting more than that, but it was all Zeke’s doing. Why, he tried to kill me!” “You’re full of shit, Lead Elder of Gilead.”, Marla entered. “Abomination”, Zed muttered. “You can call me whatever you want, Mr. Nobody, after you explain how a clone of an AI that murdered billions of people on Earth managed to fall into your hands?” “That was Zeke!”, Zed said. Oh. You were just an innocent bystander witha Skeleton key? Whaddaya think it was for, a box of Cigars?” Izzy turned to his father and said, “You apologize to Marla right now and never, EVER, judge anyone again. You will always be my dad, but your bullshit Church means nothing to me. If you can’t do that, head your ass to Jerusalem and never come back!” Rage contorted his face. How dare you say those things to me. If you hadn’t gone over to perversion you’d be on the path to being King!” Izzy asked “Mother, what crimes is my dad accused of?”. Mother rattled off a significant list, leading with “Crimes against humanity”. Izzy continued, “Marla is a woman and I love a man. You are accused of Crimes against Humanity. I think you are innocent of that particular crime, but I think you’re in WAY bigger trouble with God than we are. Dad, you’re no longer a judge, you’re a defendant and possibly a war criminal. Zed took a few breaths as he considered that. Then said, “Please forgive me, Marla of Family Trumbull. However I actually feel, I had no right to judge you. And you too, my son. What you say pains me, but I have to accept who you are as a parent. As for the rest of you, you have my complete cooperation. I am humbled.” Marla rolled her eyes. “Like a greased pig”, she thought.
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