T.O.R.N.: There's Only Right Now

Chapter 20 Nyrraw

Jesus had always been the catalyst in Nyrraw's journey to The Now. His father David had instilled so much faith in him and his younger sister, Joi, during his sermon's as children, that even though his father's work with The Wave would eventually take him away from his duties as a pastor. The seed in their hearts was sown. Nyrraw as a teenager similarly would step away from The Wave and start his own Christian ministry called The Souls of Zion. He would utilize Jesus' messages to demonstrate the power that lies within all of us. He understood that when Jesus said, "Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these," He was pointing man in the same direction as The Wave. If Jesus was the catalyst for his own journey he felt it could be for others. But when his father died and he realized that Joi had taken a more integral role within The Wave he knew he must return.

He had spent much of the last forty-eight hours in prayer and meditation. However, he was still battling himself on how to approach Joi's arrest, which now felt more like a kidnapping, as no one had heard from her. The Wave's informants in law enforcement couldn't seem to locate her anywhere. Michael nor Marie could sense her on a telepathic level. Nyrraw only had his faith to rely on now to quell his building anxiety, anger, and fear. However, he was clear that if she had been hurt or worse by The Sephiren, that all the meditation and prayer in the universe would be needed to thwart his vengeance. He was lost in his thoughts when he joined the others.

Everyone had gathered around the large flat screen TV in the recreational room at Canyon Ranch. The Rachel Maddow show had just begun. After Rachel's account of what happened at the Filmore, detailing the death and injured toll, she introduced Dr. Emily Farraday to give insight into the "cult," that J.StaRR apparently was acting on behalf of.

"So what differentiates this cult from other groups we've heard of in the past?" Rachel asked.

The camera zoomed in on Farraday's face, "The biggest distinction is that they can actually do what they claim." Farraday said coolly.

"Ok, what does that mean? What do they claim? Communication with God, aliens...what are we talking here?"

"They claim to have the ability to manipulate the elements that make up our known universe. Everything from electromagnetic and sound waves to very tangible elements like the earth and water." Farraday stated with the same calm resolve.

Rachel looked confused for a moment, then continued. "I'm sorry, I just want to be clear here about what you are saying. So these people, for a lack of a better word, claim to have superhuman abilities and it's true?"

"Not exactly, not superhuman, more like uber-human. They claim these abilities are accessible by all human beings. Which we don't believe to be true, but I have seen examples of it during my many years studying members of this group at Farraday Research and Laboratories." Farraday didn't so much as blink as the words left her lips.

Rachel stammered a bit, then finally collected herself and managed, "Well do you have any proof of your assertions outside of your word?"

At this, Farraday smiled broadly and said, "I thought you'd never ask. My associate Fairchild, should have just handed your producer a flash drive that contains footage that will answer your question."

Rachel nodded into the camera. "Roll tape?" Rachel said throwing her hands up.

A moment later a much younger version of Michael appeared on the screen. A title in the left-hand corner read "September 24, 1998, Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Psychiatric Ward-Farraday Research and Laboratories, Case # 0142, Experiment #9."

Michael sat at a desk with wires that had sensors placed on his head. A television was next to him facing the camera. A moment later a lab assistant came into view and turned on the television. A morning news broadcast was on the TV. Then Dr. Farraday's raspy voice could be heard though she was off-camera.

"Michael disrupt the broadcast."

Michael nodded in what seemed to be a trance-like state, closed his eyes, and a moment later the screen of the television displayed static or white noise. Off-camera again, Farraday's voice is heard.

"Re-establish transmission."

Instantly, the television was back on the news broadcast. The anchorman with his hand on his earpieceapologized for the technical difficulties and continued to report the news.

Once again off-camera, Farraday's voice is heard, "Disrupt the broadcast again but for precisely 10 seconds this time."

Again Michael closed his eyes and the screen displayed white noise. Only this time he counted out loud to ten upon which the broadcast resumed. Again, the news anchor apologized for the disruption but looked far more confused.

"Ok, Michael, one last test; disrupt all one hundred twenty-five stations that are broadcasting right now."

The television once again returned to black and white snow, the lab assistant once again stepped into view and flipped through all one hundred twenty-five channels using a remote control. All were white noise.

"Stop." Dr. Farraday ordered. A broadcast of "Live! With Regis and Kathy Lee" displayed on the TV screen, and again confusion had ensued regarding the broadcast. They were in the midst of collecting themselves and regaining control of the show when the lab assistant turned off the television.

"This concludes experiment number nine."

The television screen went black for a moment in the recreation room at Canyon Ranch, and then a close up of Rachel Maddow looking astonished. The camera panned out to reveal Farraday looking as smug as ever.

After a moment, Rachel said, "I'm not sure what to make of what we have just seen. My instinct wants to disbelieve. However, it is clear that this would be too much of an elaborate hoax. I guess my first question is, are they dangerous?"

Emily Farraday replied, "Yes, and we are now working with authorities to detain them. My understanding is that J.StaRR has been sent to Guantanamo Bay Detainment Camp for questioning and observation. But I'm sorry Rachel, this is all that we can disclose at this time. We are working with authorities who only authorized informing the public of the power they wield and the dangerous terroristic threat that they are to our way of life. In the next few hours, we will be releasing the known identities of the members that are still at large. That is all for now."

Emily Farraday then removed her mic, stood up and walked out of the studio.

Nyrraw turned off the television as Rachel began her sign-off remarks. He stood in front of the others with flames building behind his eyes.

"We've got to go get her!" He said, almost pleading.

"That's what they are expecting us to do, it will incite an all-out war. Guantanamo is a naval base. Are you prepared to attack the United States Government?" Michael asked.

With steel in his eyes, Nyrraw replied as though there was no other option, "Yes!"

"With what army? There's only two dozen of us or so that are capable of walking into that type of battle." Obadias interjected.

"Wait, let's think this thing through? What are they really after?" Aissa asked.

"To destroy our hope for humanity. To make The Wave an unviable option. That's why she's exposing us, and why they are using terms like cult to describe us and manipulate to describe our relationship to the elements around us. They want to cut us off at the pass; stop our movement before it has the possibility to offer a new way for man to exist." Michael said, giving his insight.

"How do we counter that? Expose them?" Aissa offered.

Everyone was silent for a moment or two searching each other's faces for an answer.

"Humankind is too entrenched into the fabric of what The Sephiren has created to ever believe that they are victims of their own volition, participating in the deception that masks their reality.

"No, what we must do is figure out a way to demonstrate who we really are and rescue J.StaRR in the process," Asante offered. Her words seemed to settle and calm the group. Now, all she had to do was figure out what she was talking about.