Free Known Afterlife (The Provider Trilogy, Volume One) by Trey Copeland Page B

other because we all bene fit from its cathartic value but to present this monumental goal in the face of such great odds has been a waste of all our time and more importantly, an arrow to a soul that could not sustain another blow." Her rant diminished into a sorrowful plea.
    "Mean ing no disrespect Stalling," Dr. Glitus added, "but you have yet to experience the levels of subjugation as the rest of us. I think I speak for all here today when I point out the fact that our risk is much higher than yours."
    "Trust me, in the end, my risk will far exceed the rest of yours," Stalling responded, ignoring the skeptical looks. "Risk level is not the issue. Did we all not stop worrying about risks the moment our intellect told us our station in life is not preorda ined by some omnipotent, vengeful deity? Has not the systematic destruction of our ambitions over the years been enough to risk it all for what we believe to be true? Alone, our attempts to change the existing system have failed. Regardless, even if somehow realized, none of it would have made a bit of difference in the end. The mission I propose is more than just reform. For the first time in over two thousand years, the playing field will be level. Join me on this journey and I will invest the entire Alterian fortune and exhaust all its associated clout in the process."
    Stalling let his words wash over them as he met each eye. Many nodded their heads in agreement. The grounded science of his blueprint had already created a heady dose of optimism. The inclu sion of Stalling's capital resources and political might had turned the faint spark of hope into a vibrant flame of possibility. Together, forged by a shared vision, Stalling knew they could accomplish anything, but it required all of them.
    The room had fa llen silent. The moment had arrived to make a decision. Stalling knew most in the room would have joined with or without his personal endorsement but a few still balked in fear. He had pulled out all the big guns and had started to scramble for something to say that would push the rest over when to his relief, but not surprise, Janison spoke.
    "I'm in. The current system is flawed; the time for change has arrived. I trust Stalling with our future but more importantly, I trust our Savior has led us to this m oment for this very reason." The influence of Janison's accession, the one and only member of the group with any semblance of religious faith, was immediate. Stalling had found salvation and, one by one, each vowed their allegiance toward building the road.
    Leaning close to Stalling ’s ear to combat the din of excitement rising in the room, Janison said with a glint of awe in his eye, "You know, given the talent in this room, we just may be able to pull this off sooner rather than later." Stalling simply smiled as if nothing could have made him happier to hear.
     
    *****
     
    How they would solve many of the big questions at that juncture remained unclear but Stalling soon stopped being surprised when they did. Where the team assembled that fateful day built the road, Jennifer built the vehicle, absent at the time, only nineteen years old, in the process of earning her doctorate in Molecular Engineering, the first of many doctorates she would earn.
    The link visor enabled Jennifer to become dramatically more efficie nt, eliminating over night the need of a dozen technicians. Soon after its invention, it simply made more sense to have her do it all versus taking the time to bring everyone else up to speed. Outside of a few top assistants relegated to the role of understudy in case, the Universe forbid, anything happened to her, Jennifer was the entire department dedicated to the most important experiment the world had ever known.
    No one had logged more hours in this room than Jennifer, Stalling coming in a distant secon d, and the wear and tear of it all was starting to show. Now, as the climactic finale approached, Jennifer, sleeping in a cot located in the