The World had been in a state of turmoil, Zao Wu Hai's appearance and then his disappearance were old news already. The Priesthood was now the hottest topic and Zao Ho was the man at the center of it all.
-"We have reports across the globe, missing persons reports as well as sightings of Zao Ho in many areas that don't make any sense. We have reports from Russia, Uganda, Brazil, Japan, the Philippines, America, Mexico and Korea. All of the reports have one thing in common, they were all either approached by or left with the Espers to the Priesthood.
-"I have a Breaking report here. We have news that several members of FROHK have been arrested along with their families.
-"Its probably for their protection, the Governments of the world will stop at nothing to gain control over the situation. Perhaps they've learned more.
-"Whatever they've learned Tom, its going to come out. I ask you in the Audience, do you believe this is the end of the World? Or is it merely a Hoax? Find out next time Live, here in Montgomery Alabama.
Jessica shut off the Television, there had been a lot of news on the Espers in the past 27 months. It was like the stations couldn't satisfy their desire to hurt their own governments. A lot of conjecture had been spread every time that Zao Ho had made a statement.
"Phenomenal" Jessica sat in her chair and listened to the patter of rain as it swept across the Valley.
The Storm had lasted for almost four days, it was all thanks to the hurricane that had passed over the Gulf. It brought the smell of Salt and cooler temperatures to a hot and humid bog. The condensation on the windows inside had turned to fog them and then drip from time to time, leaving streaks of transparency while the droplets came down across the glass.
She was staring at her mother, they had a renewed sense of life in the family. All of them had been given a second chance by Mike.
"How long do you think we will have to wait until brother comes back?" Jessica started asking while already knowing what the answer would be.
"I hope its sooner rather than later, the news is getting worse everyday. People are going missing, either someone's been abducting people or the Government has." Karen Cardelli had been in government service before, she was keenly aware of how bureaucracy conducted itself.
"We have to hold out hope. Mike said.." Jessica was going to say it again, she had said it many times but this time she stopped herself and looked out the window.
A figure flashed in the lightning, a tree had fallen in the nearby pasture.
"Mom. Get Dad. Someone's in the yard!" Jessica was startled, she turned to run for the rifle hanging on the wall.
Karen got up and walked to the window, the storm had been firing off strikes of lightning the past few days and she wasn't sure she could believe what she was seeing. It was happening in front of her eyes, a Man. No. Not a Man. An Esper had landed in their fields.
"Get your Father." Karen unlocked the door and let the rain spray into the threshold.
The door swung open and crashed against the wall. Thunder in the distance kept the sound of rain at bay but it was only for a moment before the booms continued.
"Are you Karen Cardelli?" The Esper moved closer but it didn't seem to frighten Karen, Instead she became very focused on the young man standing before her.
"How do you know my name? Its hard to imagine an Esper knows my name." Karen didn't deny it and had questions of her own.
The Esper walked closer and stopped in the doorway. Mitchell and Jessica had come running back down the steps in time to see the lightning flash once again. There they saw the silhouette of a child, a dark vapor licked off his shoulders and shed into the room.
"Don't be frightened. My name is Zao Ho. Have you heard of me?" The Prince didn't hide anything, in his mind there was no reason to withhold information.
"Of course, you're all anyone wants to talk about these days. Why are you here?" Jessica was quick to but in.
Ho raised his hand for her to stop and said "Can I come in. I have some things to discuss with you."
It was a phrase none of them had expected to hear given the circumstances.
"Hold it. Again, what brings you to our home?" Mitchell cocked the shotgun and stood in front of his family.
"Be at ease, if you know my name then you know the destructive power literally at my fingertips. If I intended harm, why bother talking. I have a message from Mike." Ho took a step inside, it wasn't like the shotgun would do any good.
"You can put the heater away, it wouldn't do any good. I'll get right to the point. I came to collect you and your family, a direct request from Mike. Would you like to hear more, or... should i just go?" Ho turned and smiled.
There were a bunch of pictures in frames on the walls, some were of Mike in his service uniform, some of Jessica in the Garden. There were hardly any pictures of them all together. "Would you like to know what Mike was up to the last time I saw him?"
They all took a seat on the couch, Ho brought a chair made of stone from his ring. It was a safe bet that his elemental abilities would affect the furniture.
"Where to begin?" Ho caressed his chin.
"The last time I saw Mike, he was learning from the best blacksmith our sect ever found. He is a direct disciple of Gefest. Mike handed me the shoes i'm wearing now, a creation of his." Ho took off a shoe and placed it on the table.
It was a bit awkward, the shoe changed color in the light. They looked sharp, like they could cleave the flesh from anything they kicked with enough force.
"So my son has become a Cobbler?" Mitchell didn't seem like he was appreciating the news from Ho.
Ho didn't want to be confusing, he quickly corrected the misunderstanding. "No. No. Nothing like that. Blacksmiths can do a lot more than just make footwear, an excellent blacksmith could be the difference between life and death. Moreover, you're missing the point. Mike is one of the Elite. He is an Elder of the Sect and when my Brother returns with the other Elders, Mike will be among them."
"Tell me, Did you enjoy the few years he's been away?? Brother Wu Hai would have given more, but it would only complicate your lives. Maybe it would have even made you unwilling to hear what I have to say today, or what I would like of you all. This house is just one of the hundreds of homes I must visit before my Clan arrives from across the Void. You, and you alone have the choice over your futures. I give you options, choose among yourselves. Will you come? I can take away everything here, including this house with me. Will that suffice?" Ho didn't look like he was giving much choice in the matter despite having preached that he would honor their decisions.
Mitchell got up and grabbed a picture off the shelf, it was one of Mike sitting at his desk playing one of his video games. "My Son was always a gifted boy. We like it here, but family is more important and a heap of sticks and stone. Karen. I don't want to have to run when the time comes, perhaps its best that we go along with this. Jessica, what do you think?"
"I don't want to think about it. I want to go." Jessica was quick to conclude the conversation, but the rain was pretty heavy outside and didn't show signs of letting up.
Ho closed his eyes for a moment and then raised his hands above his head, clasping is palms together. The Noise from outside vanished in an instant. The storm clouds were still overhead, and the rain still fell. But none of it touched the ground.
"A barrier?" Jessica walked out of the front door, the mud caked on her boots.
"Its a simple matter to erect a barrier like this one, come on. All of you come outside." Ho called out and watched them leave the house.
The neighbors had come outside to see what happened. The barrier was blocking an area that was several kilometers wide.
"No pets inside, right?" Ho wanted to make sure, Jessica nodded.
Weaving his hands about, Ho manipulated his darkness abilities and raised the house foundations from the soil. Once it was lifted slightly from the earth, it disappeared from sight and into the Princes storage ring.
"I don't understand? Our House?!" Mitchell was in a state of confusion, but Ho started channeling a jet black circle in his hands that quickly grew in size.
The Darkness ring surrounded them all. placing a lightning orb into the circle formation altered its properties turning it into a Teleportation circle. Ho's fingertips glowed with a bit of silver and with a gentle flick, they were gone.
The barriers disappearance was instantaneous, it brought a bit of a shock to the neighbors who had gathered outside.
A few minutes after the dissipation of the shield, agents arrived.
"Goddammit. This one wasn't even on the list of suspected defectors. The INA needs to step its intelligence." Throwing his hat back into the car, one agent walked up to the line of witnesses.
"Okay. Who can tell me what the hell happened here?" Agent Desota asked briefly and then ignored everyone trying to talk at once.
Pointing to a teenager who looked like he couldn't keep his nose out of the phone, Agent Desota pushed the questions one after another. "Tell me, did you see what happened? tell me exactly."
"I was sitting inside playing Gun Guru 7. The Internet's been sloppy. Anyways, thunder and rain were pounding the house then all of the sudden everything just stopped." The boy didn't look like he was hiding anything when he responded.
"Okay. Now, did you see what happened to make it stop?" Agent Desota spun his fingers for the boy to hurry and then got his face right up to the teenagers face to intimidate him.
The boys father was furious and rightfully so, even as a witness teenagers should be questioned appropriately and treated with certain rights.
"Keep your damned hands off my boy. He told you what we all saw. Its storming, and suddenly it stopped like we were in the eye. Only thing is, we weren't. I'm sure one of us has a picture on a phone, we could see the storm clouds. Its raining. If you're done.. I'm getting back the fuck inside. Leave me and my family alone." The boys father grabbed his shoulder and they ran back to their house.
"I want to know everything about this guy." Desota ordered several agents to search the surroundings.
The spot where the house had been was now just an empty lot, the rain had already started to make a mess of the scene.
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-"Good evening, I'm Jan Trensta and this is Esper Watch."
-"Tonight we have numerous callers who claim to be the Espers themselves and they've been asking to come onto the show. Even if they are real, we can't handle that type of security so we've agreed to discuss this Live and on the Air. In just Five Minutes, I have a World Wide Exclusive!"
-"That's right Ladies and Gentlemen. Tonight, we get to hear it directly from them. We have a few questions, but we'd like to hear from the audience. What would you like to ask. Best 4 questions will be added to our list. Call our studios now or comment on our social media, the deadline is ticking so get those questions out there!
-"We haven't gotten any more details about which Esper will make an appearance, but we're told that we won't be disappointed."
Jan finished talking and cut to her sponsors.
"This has gotta be a joke right? I mean, we're not even that popular a show." Jan tried to light up a cigarette but it dropped from her mouth.
A small group of people showed up on stage, it was bizarre to see their arrival and anything that wasn't bolted down seemed to shift.
Four figures appeared, each one giving off a different aura and feeling to those in the studio.
"What the actual fuck!" Jan pulled another cigarette out, looked at it and tossed it to the side.
There were only a few feet between Jan and the Espers, her heart started to pound.
"I can't believe it." Her exclaimations made it over the company sponsor messages, the reactions of those watching were comical and at the same time her ratings were soaring.
The sponsor messages ended, Jan composed herself a bit and ushered her camera crew to start monitoring.
-"Ladies and Gentlemen, Internet, Espers, and more.. We have special guests with us today. Its the Espers if you can believe it. Why don't you all say hello!"
"We didn't come to make small talk, the government is likely monitoring this conversation so when its over you have a decision to make. You will either come with us, or not." Luitian looked Jan over, she wasn't the typical reporter type.
"Speak into the Microphone" Jan tried to remind Luitian, but he wasn't impressed.
-"We require a personal liaison to this worlds internet audience, you seem fitting and disinterested in spreading lies. So we've come and sought you for your audience." Xui Qingchi grabbed the microphone.
-"I can sense you're thoughts, needless to say its nice to meet you all. I don't have much time, so lets get down to businesses shall we. My Uncle, Brother and Mother each have something to say after me." Qingchi spoke well and took a deep breath before continuing.
-"We're going to be picking people out at random, as I've already said, 'I can feel your intentions' and I intend to make use of anyone who would rally to our cause. I cannot guarantee you'll be chosen, but we want to be welcomed when we arrive. We have about 20 minutes until people arrive, tell your staff to be ready to leave with all of their equipment." Qingchi passed the Microphone over to her Mother.
-"My name is Xui Ying, My details have been thoroughly leaked to the world and I don't need much more introduction. We're going to be arriving at places all over the world, Governments be warned. Any attempt to interfere with our comings and goings will be seen as an act of war. We will not take the unwilling, or create damage where we go as a matter of course. However, If met with hostility like we have broadcast in Jungle City.. Then, all diplomacy will disappear." Ying passed the Microphone to her son.
-"I have spoken very little to the world, despite knowing so much about what is to come and where the checks and balances lay. You, and you alone have the choice.. extinction? is that what this world truly wants? mass and unforgiving extinction? Not from our hands, at least not by choice. We have come to hear that the government of China is in possession of the families of those who left when my Uncle departed from this world a few years ago. Since then, China has been rounding up its residents who bore familial ties to anyone involved or taken. We will come for China. This is a Declaration of War." Luitian passed the Microphone to Zao Ho and started typing on his computer.
There were a lot of preparations to be made, the crew were quickly gathering their jaws from the floor and scrambling to collect their equipment, Police sirens could be heard from outside of the building.
They were surrounded, it wouldn't take very long for them to cut the power.
-"I have only a few words. If you see us, be friendly. We can tell the difference without an effort, and we will not be stopped by your petty world politics. I've watched civilization rise to the occasion before, but in the last century you've all gone mad. You squander your precious lives and destroy. I'm coming for as many of you who want to be rescued as possible. I pray. Do not thing that the concept of 'God' is lost on me, Esper's are not Gods. Higher, more evolved beings, even the Gods are corruptible. We don't want to bring the problems of this world into ours, but it is a hope of the Esper Emperor that you leave this world behind." Ho waved his hands across the room and collected a lot of the equipment that was readied to be loaded into a van.
They couldn't go outside and load it without getting arrested or interrogated by the teams that were surrounding the building.
-"Jan, I know I came here for an interview. but the Interview was for you and your crew, do you accept?"
"Wait. You really mean like.. now now..?" Jan was flush, she didn't know how to respond and even missed the microphone.
-"It looks like we don't have much time, ladies and gentlemen of the audience. I don't think this is my last broadcast, but its definitely the last one here. I've been chosen by the Espers! Zao Ho, Do you have anything more to add to this before we leave?" Jan was a real trooper, she tried hard to keep a professional attitude despite being told she was about to be forced into a war zone.
-"Only that everyone around the world listen to these words. I come in piece, but we will not be stopped." Ho stored the Microphone, the chairs and everything else in the room into his ring.
The transmission cut off.
"What now?" Jan had questions, a lot of them.
The Department of Defense had set up a perimeter but heeded the warning, they stopped traffic and waited to see if there would be action.
Ho laughed the words, "no problem."
As he walked through the offices in the building, he started gathering all the contents and left nothing. There were two equipment vans in the parking lot but so were the Police, and Government Agents.
A barrier appeared over the area, no one could escape or enter.
"Wait here, I'll only be a moment." Ho flung the front door open and strode out into the front parkinglot like he owned it.
Waving his hand, vehicles started disappearing. They had been stolen and were now the contents of his storage ring. Next were the guns after they'd been ripped from their owners hands by his darkness ability.
'Don't kill them, Qingchi won't approve' Ho threw out a lightning nova and incapacitated the officers nearby.
None of them were seriously injured, just knocked unconscious. There were still backup arriving but with the barrier in place, they were only able to watch as their friends and coworkers were disarmed and disabled without so much as a fight.
"I told you all, if you stand in my way there will be no mercy. This is the last act of mercy to an arriving force. World, tell your governments that I will be visiting them soon as well. Don't piss me off." Zao Ho crushed the camera that was recording him and started looting the area without aim.
If he saw it, he took it.
Lamp Posts, street signs, vehicles.. Park benches, busses. A library was close by, its contents were very easily stored away. He was like a one man moving crew, in a flash everything was gone. The city block was barren, some houses stood in the area. Ho considered taking them too, but he could only hold so many.
Qingchi flew into the air along with her Mother, a crowd had gathered as Ho was collecting everything in sight.
"I ask you, those among me today. Who wants to come? Raise your hand and then go stand over there. If you're picked out of the group by Qingchi, you're shit out of luck." Luitian didn't care about feelings when it came to the mission.
People were starting to get furious, the gas station and even the local groceries had been cleaned out entirely. Ho quite literally took everything.
"I offer you a new world, you can choose to stay.. I'm sure your government will pay you greatly if you just tell them I robbed you." Ho sneered at a few discontents in the crowd.
One of them started yelling "You took everything!"
"Here. You think money will save you?" Ho threw a gold brick at the mans feet and caught everyone by surprise.
"Who else thinks I'm wasting my time? Tell you what." Zao Ho landed and started dumping out gold bars onto the street.
There was nothing special about Gold and the Priesthood had it in abundance.
"If you don't want to come, take a bar of gold. One for each of you. Trust me ,there is enough. But you only get one choice, the Gold or a Ticket off this lousy and frankly 'small' planet." Prince Ho donned his royal outfit that his mother had made, every stride he took only worked to impress his regal nature even more.
There was not a speck of dust on his body, Ho stood in the street surrounded by people while he stood on a small hill made of gold bricks.
"There seem to be about four thousand of you present, I sort of expected there to be more people in this area but apparently they are all at work. There are more approaching, but they are on foot. Should I guide them here?" Xui Ying got back from her recon of the area and asked a series of questions, she looked like she was having a fun time.
"What about our kids? what about our families that aren't here? What about the people we leave behind?" More questions came from the crowd, some people were having a hard time accepting the situation.
"If you don't want to go, take a gold bar and go home. One for each of you who don't want to be involved and then leave, go away from the group. That's all you have to do. If you come along, I'll make efforts to get those you've left behind. Assuming they pass the psychic evaluation by Qingchi. If you don't pass, its nothing personal.. " Zao Ho powered up a little bit, raising his darkness aura just enough to terrorize a few of those present.
It was no secret that the population of the planet was somewhat divided on their support or condemnation of the Espers. Coming to Earth, making demands, disappearing people, no matter the context it always gets mistaken for something else.
Context and Content make history, not even the internet trolls could deny it any further.
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