05-12-2014, 08:59 AM
Michael listened to Hasan's lecture with growing interest. The more the man spoke, the less mad he seemed. His arguments were certainly all too valid.
Michael subscribed to neither of the two ideals that Hasan described. Both the Custody and the so-called Americanism way was fatally flawed. History had proven that. Alexander's empire shattered and blown away like the Persian sands he conquered. The Republic rotting from the inside, corruption run rampant until society demanded another Alexander.
Such was the fate of humanity, impure as it was. The foolishness often grated him, but unlike Hasan, he would never use his power to rule. Dominate and eliminate those who crossed his path, certainly, but he was not so foolish as to become another Caesar. Any good he would manage to do would crumble to dust, just as it had done for 3000 years.
The rule of God was certainly an interesting concept, and Hasan's words struck a resonate chord in his soul, but reality forced itself upon Michael. It too was flawed. The rule of God depended on man to interpret God's will, and as Hasan himself said, men were imperfect.
He no longer doubted Hasan's intentions were pure, but his conviction was based on a lie - that he alone was chosen - which would lead him astray.
What would a man do when he found his God had deserted him?
It was not a promising thought.
None of this did Michael voice, nor did it show on his face. His interest in Hasan's words were as genuine as his doubts.
He could not avoid answering a direct question, however, even if Hasan had moved on with news of the airport confronting him. The news was troubling to say the least. Had Dr. Weston not informed them of what was to come? Did they disobey or delay?
If so, the captain would reap what he sowed in abundance. It was just unfortunate it would cost the lives of the innocent.
"Perhaps you are correct, a prostitute is not an inaccurate assessment."
The lie came easy. Tony always did say the best lie held a grain of truth. "But I do not have the power to stand against the might of the Custody. So I do what I can to minimize the suffering of its people."
"Forgive me,"
he continued in a cautious vein mingled with respect. "but do you expect to withstand the full force of the Custody with an untrained army, outnumbered 100 to 1? Perhaps there is something I do not understand in this?"
Michael subscribed to neither of the two ideals that Hasan described. Both the Custody and the so-called Americanism way was fatally flawed. History had proven that. Alexander's empire shattered and blown away like the Persian sands he conquered. The Republic rotting from the inside, corruption run rampant until society demanded another Alexander.
Such was the fate of humanity, impure as it was. The foolishness often grated him, but unlike Hasan, he would never use his power to rule. Dominate and eliminate those who crossed his path, certainly, but he was not so foolish as to become another Caesar. Any good he would manage to do would crumble to dust, just as it had done for 3000 years.
The rule of God was certainly an interesting concept, and Hasan's words struck a resonate chord in his soul, but reality forced itself upon Michael. It too was flawed. The rule of God depended on man to interpret God's will, and as Hasan himself said, men were imperfect.
He no longer doubted Hasan's intentions were pure, but his conviction was based on a lie - that he alone was chosen - which would lead him astray.
What would a man do when he found his God had deserted him?
It was not a promising thought.
None of this did Michael voice, nor did it show on his face. His interest in Hasan's words were as genuine as his doubts.
He could not avoid answering a direct question, however, even if Hasan had moved on with news of the airport confronting him. The news was troubling to say the least. Had Dr. Weston not informed them of what was to come? Did they disobey or delay?
If so, the captain would reap what he sowed in abundance. It was just unfortunate it would cost the lives of the innocent.
"Perhaps you are correct, a prostitute is not an inaccurate assessment."
The lie came easy. Tony always did say the best lie held a grain of truth. "But I do not have the power to stand against the might of the Custody. So I do what I can to minimize the suffering of its people."
"Forgive me,"
he continued in a cautious vein mingled with respect. "but do you expect to withstand the full force of the Custody with an untrained army, outnumbered 100 to 1? Perhaps there is something I do not understand in this?"
"She saw a flaring halo around his head, radiant in gold and blue. It shouted of glory and power to come"
"No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it."