Travel Bug (2 page)

“All rise for our master,” said the squid.

The terrifying sounds of hundreds of aliens came into Enoch’s mind all at once. What was the scariest for him was not that his mind was getting used to future technology or the reality of the universe. It was that these creatures, a few human species and the majority who were not seemed to have a god like worship of this judge. It was disturbing considering the existence of any god had been proven negligible.

“This judge should be closely watched and scrutinized.”

“Don’t have thoughts like that, Enoch,” said the robot man.

“Thank you.”

“Submit, assimilate and things will be fine!”

“Why is technology so great?

“Because it tells the absolute truth…”

The master was almost twenty feet tall. He had six arms and an orange, lizard like skin. His eyes were bright yellow. The armor appeared to be almost roman in its design. He looked like a soldier but he wasn’t. This being was apparently the chief alien in charge of things. One could hear him breathe from fifty feet away! It was a hideous, monster-like breathing. The sounds of a dragon,” though Enoch.

“
I am the judge.
”

“All praise the great one,” said everyone but Enoch.

“
Bow before your lord, for I am the great one. I am Xenu!
”

“All praise the great Xenu for he has shown us truth and righteous light!”

The entire group of living beings all broke into a song but it was not human music by any stretch of the term. It was such an awful noise to human ears. They sounded more like insects, a terrible chirping sound.

“
I know that you are new to us… Enoch… you will learn the song in time
…”

Enoch was terrified now.

“
A private meeting between us is required, my new friend
…”

Xenu performed telepathy to Enoch while simultaneously giving his speech. It was truly amazing. It would seem that whatever meeting was going to take place, it would be a life changing experience.

“
We will meet soon, in my chambers, ancient one who dabbled in philosophy.
”

“Yes, my lord,” said Enoch in his mind.

He was stunned that he found himself in this humble position. These were not even words spoken in vain but his actual thoughts! Enoch was among the wealthiest of his entire social class. Well respected, well dressed and well advised. He had friends who were of excellent character and whose very presence in any public setting demanded respect and awe from others. Now he was humbling himself for the first time in his elitist life because he was afraid of what might occur if he did not do so. After all, this was not some refined man who might insult him with his great wit. This appeared to be a monster from mythology that might eat him.

“You must wait in the garden,” said the cyborg.

“Oh.”

At the conclusion of the meeting Enoch found himself in a lovely place, a greenhouse for the gods. This was what the monotheists’ religions would call the Garden of Eden. The difference, of course, was that this actually existed. There were beautiful, bizarre fruits and lovely space vegetables. His cyborg friend was with him in the role of guard. This humored him. A man like him never had to fight because he had others he could pay to fight for him. The sheer madness of him trying to raise hands against this dragon, this monster was absurd. He was terrified.

“You are receiving a rare honor,” said the machine.

“Oh,” Enoch answered him.

“ I could almost cry merely thinking about the great privilege. I would give up the remainder of my flesh for such an honor!”

“I thought that the purpose of this age was to prove gods don’t exist,” he thought out loud, instantly regretting it.

“What?” the cyborg asked.

“Nothing, sir, it was merely a stupid thought in my head. This will be my greatest honor. Only a great lord could design such an amazing beautiful, heavenly garden such as this one where I am honored to wait for my lord.”

“Yes!”

One thing was for certain, Enoch thought; the ability to read minds was the most dangerous thing that was ever created in the known universes. Enoch looked at the robot man. He suddenly knew that there were reasons this Xenu was worshiped so. The robot man had put the history of Xenu in his head.

“You should have known this as soon as you came aboard the ship,” said the cyborg inside Enoch’s head.

“I know but I was overwhelmed, simply overwhelmed!”

“Yes!”

“I wish that I was born a druid and that I could know the secret of Stonehenge instead of being stuck here in space,” said Enoch to the robot telepathically.

“What?”

“Humor, for God’s sake is there humor here in space utopia?”

“What?”

“You see having a great wit was part of my age, part of any age where the deepest flaws and unpredictable qualities of being human are celebrated!”

“Don’t comprehend,” said the machine.

“
Leave us, servant.
”

“Yes, my lord, it was an honor and a privilege…”

“
Yes… go now
…”

“
One who enters my sacred garden never needs to taste of death. I have only one request for you.
”

“Yes, my master,” Enoch replied.

“
All of the false, created gods such as Zeus go extinct. Can you invent a god who will live forever, an eternal god for the ages? You see, you were a true believer in your age, an age for the wise, and an age for fools. Give this to me, my servant and I will allow you to live forever here in the garden of eternity!
”

“I will do whatever you ask, my master.”

“
Yes, I would imagine that you will… former noble one
…”

Xenu smiled at the frightened Enoch.

“
Begin your work now. I am not a patient creature.
”

“I have one question, my lord.”

“
You tax my patience, my little insect, what is it?
”

“Why have I not been told the stories of your glory?”

“
Oh! I left that part of the program out so that you could be objective and make up your own mind when you invent your god.
”

“I see.”

“
Yes. Get to work right now. You have hours, not days, my most humble servant.
”

“You’re every wish is my command,” said the recently humbled elitist to his new master telepathically.

“
Oh, there is one more thing that I must share…… my slave.
”

“Yes, exalted one.”

“
I believe that you were a scribbler, a writer of philosophy during your ignorant times. Yes?
”

“Yes.”

“
Please remember that writers play God all the time. They can see what’s going to happen before it occurs.
”

“That is superb advice, my lord.”

“
Yes. We will meet one day one day from now. I expect results and I do not accept

“I will do whatever you ask, my great lord.”

“
You no longer need a guard. Write what you can here. Enjoy your time in… Eden!
”

“Yes, my lord.”

Inventing a god was no easy task. He imagined that this great lord, Xenu won many tremendous military victories and seized power. It was just as he had always feared… the victors forced their beliefs on the meek and poor. Even the ones who claimed disbelief and military victory had an agenda of brain washing for the people. Men blew themselves up in martyrdom and fought other men in a war to prove their god. It all seemed like such a terrible waste of life. The victors made themselves the gods of the next age.

What constitutes a good and believable god? Enoch did not know but was sure going to try and figure it all out. This was a serious question. The horror of it all and the joy of it all were overwhelming. Creating a new god was terribly exhausting work. Enoch wanted to make up such a being of great power that he would expose the flaws of all who refused to believe in his existence. The price of disbelief had always been high. Death and punishment often came swiftly to those who would not assimilate. But there was never a god who was so undeniably good that men would be drawn to him even without fear of punishment.

Then inspiration struck like divine lightening. His god would be called Ari. There would be no hell or eternal punishment with this brave new god. One who denied his existence or would not follow his path would simply cease to exist. No need to have a god who is a sadist. As far as original sin is concerned, Ari would have no part of it. Why make man born into a state where it would only be natural to disbelieve or rebel? This deity would allow free will and would also give man a free spirit. Fairness would be the order of the day with Ari.

“
Soon… will you be done soon, my servant?
”

“Can’t you read my mind, master?”

“
I could but I will myself not to do so. I want to be surprised by this great new god you will invent for me.
”

A god of fairness with a sense of humor would be hard not to love. This was the god that the philosopher wanted for mankind. Doubt would go the way of the dodo bird. So would pain. There would be no need for doubt and pain like before. The new author of life would not allow it. How does doubt end? Personal appearances by the almighty himself on a yearly basis for the sake of indisputable empirical evidence! Miracles needn’t not just be for holy books but also for the entire world to witness and only for fools and the insane to deny. This god would always be there.

“
How are we coming along, my most humble servant?
”

“I’m creating a god as fast as I can!”

“
I grow impatient so do not take much more time
…”

There would be no more deaths among the very young… essentially the infants who die all the time under nature’s current cruel conditions. Death itself will be proven to be a mere illusion. Animals will either be tamed to serve man, as their true purpose or we will allow them to live amongst themselves, away from man altogether. There will be no angels, fairies or jinn. This god does his own work, no need to sit back on an imaginary throne and make others do his bidding. While on the same subject, the devil himself would be out of a job! There would be no reason to invent an evil god to make up for all of the blunders of god and man. No devil made me do it excuses anymore.

“
I grow impatient
…”

“I’m nearly finished, my lord.”

“
Excellent, mortal one, I can’t wait.
”

There would be no more feeling like a fool standing over quicksand for having faith. Not anymore with Ari! This god would offer the best of everything to those who believed in his name. There would be no need for competing gods or religions. The empirical evidence would slay the competition like Saint George to the dragon! The greatest weapon in the arsenal would be the holy book of Ari itself. This book would have no contradictions and would enlighten science instead of holding it back. Faith should be healthy and should make life work instead of having to be suffered in doubt and pain.

“
How are we doing, servant?
”

“This is going to be a great god, I promise. Please be patient, master.”

“
Soon!
”

He had to finish his work. Evidence would destroy the need for any religious division. After all, there were religious divisions among people in the same faith! No more wars or divisions thanks to a holy book with no contradictions. The elimination or extinction of skepticism was at hand. There would never be a reason to cry or torture oneself over the great meaning of it all. It was no elitist’s doorway that led to the great truths now. There would be plenty of room for everyone and all would be happy. The triumphant hour had come round at last!

“
I sense you are almost finished now.
”

“Yes, my lord.”

“
I have a great feeling about you. Man will believe in this deity because it will bring out his best
……”

“Yes. That’s my goal, my lord.”

“
How close are you to finishing?
”

“I am close to finishing my task.”

“
Finish soon and disclose to me all you have to say
…”

Ari was a source of great pride for Enoch. He thought that even his great friend Erasmus would be proud! No more political divisions, disagreement among cultures and countries. No more rich and poor. No more racism. No more sexism. The world would finally be the utopia it was intended to be but this time with no catch! Those trappings in the past on the path to utopia usually included genocide of millions, systematic starvation and despots who claimed to be men of the people. Not any longer. Things were going to change thanks to this new fictional character named Ari. Fictional character invented by Enoch. All of this knowledge and overwhelming experience had clouded Enoch’s mind. His friend Erasmus was right. There was nothing and there were no gods. Ari was a work of fiction like Zeus or any of the other gods. Why fear that which did not need to be feared? This creature Xenu was as close to an all-powerful being as he would ever meet. He was a virtual Jinn who could grant wishes or trick him with his own intellectual desires. If this was a test, he was in trouble. Enoch came to truly believe in his creation… of… the god… Ari. This was a noble, great man, Enoch. He was not used to losing in any of life’s challenges.

“
Enough, my patience is out now. Tell me about your god!
”

“Very well, my master, I will do so. Please read my mind now and learn of a new god for a new age. His name is Ari!

“
That’s quite a show your god puts on, my servant.
”

“Does my god pass the test?”

Enoch was now more impatient than the alien lord. His heart was full of sheer terror, he awaited the answer.

“
No.
”

“What is to become of me?”

“
I will consult my closest advisers while you wait here in the lovely gardens.
”

“I am to die?”

“
I would never harm you. Putting living things to death is primitive and we will have no such thing here. I am a good judge.
”