Izzy & Ishmael were tired of Monopoly. “Don’t 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”. Then, they heard the Security AI chime. “What’s up, Eyegore?”
“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 everybody 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 Eyegore 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.
“…Making Zeke think we actually boarded the transport wasn’t hard. Zeke assumed he had me fooled, but I knew him as a schemer for years. We stuffed one vehicle with droids made to look like us. They boarded the craft, while we lay stilled, crammed in the escort vehicle, which took us to a warehouse where the gliders were waiting. We took the similar route you did, Izzy. Your escape was well-done and it helped us too.
Zed continued, “I’ve seen what Zeke did in Jerusalem. I am deeply shamed, thinking only of our own deliverance and nothing of the people who suffered under Zeke.”
“And Zeke came THIS close to taking the power no thanks to you!”, Trumbull snarled. “Hey!”, Izzy objected. “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 the first I met you”
Mother shushed him, “You are little better than Zeke if you want to eliminate people who are a problem to you, just because Zed schemed to shove his religion down your throats-” 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, Also, I am recording Zed’s testimony, so EX. Lead. Elder. Watch very carefully your words. Who are you right now, Wayne?” Zed paled at Mother’s use of his real name.
Zed 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 hissed. “Hiss at me all you like, 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 stand by for Judgement!”
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!”
“King of what? Maybe I wasn’t paying attention in Bible Class, so I must’ve missed the part where Jesus got crowned King!”, Izzy said.
Zed looked at his son, really looked at him for the first time and realized 4 things: Zed was more titled than wise; his son was far wiser; Zed was no longer a force to be reckoned with but a beggar in Trumbull’s home; and he was in big, big trouble with Mother.
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 Lead Elder, a Leader, or 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 for the rest of you, you have my complete cooperation. I am humbled.”
Marla rolled her eyes, thinking, “Just Like a greased pig”.
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