Chapter 154: Mystery of the Eagle

The days had been relatively easy for the Carlean's. Using Jonathan's connection, they managed to enter the Americas easily. And so they immediately set forth to travel to Texas. Strangely, the Force of Americas welcomed them with open arms and even sent them with smiling faces. The Force of Americas had greatly valued these two agents who have proven to be far more terrifying. After Jake left, the Force sent another messenger and asked them to complete several missions in return for rewards.

These missions in the Rotting Lands were accomplished quickly. In fact, it was too fast that the Force would not believe them. Had it not been for the testimonies of the leaders of the drug and weapons syndicate in the country as they all confessed their loyalty to Queen Carlean.

As such, the value that the American government now had over these two, skyrocketed. Although they would not allow these two to return to Pangea, anything else was open for consideration.

As such, Chris and Grace requested to send them over to Texas to attend the seminar of a well-renowned Pastor. Strangely, the Force did not bother with this strange request and sent them off immediately.

The seminar had finally concluded. And while most of the attendees headed off to take selfies with the renowned pastor, Chris and Grace sat quietly at their seats.

"I finally have the info you asked about." Jonathan suddenly spoke to them after returning to his seat.

"Great! Just in time for this dreaded meeting. So what's the connection between the Force of America and Eagle?"

"It's complicated. But I now know why the Force didn't treat your request as something weird."

"So? Spill it!" Chris asked quickly.

"Pastor Eagle is known within the top brass of the Force. I'm assuming that all the different heads know Eagle personally. Because of Eagle's unique standing, the Force probably misinterpreted your purpose into coming here. You see, the Force have long noticed Eagle's charisma and convincing powers. We have been using him to convert spies, terrorist and other of the more troublesome members of society and convert these people into Christianity."

"Convert them?"

"This seemed to have started a few years or so after you left for Pangea. What happened was that a certain terrorist extremist group have been sending their men to attack churches all over America. Some come from radical political groups who want to eliminate religion in the Americas, while the greater majority from other religions. Anyway, Eagle's church was one of the primary targets. It is fast expanding, it is a developing church and had converted people from different religions. These people were among the high-profiled positions of either the political party of this terrorist group or a religious leader of whatever religion."

"So this church had several terrorist attacks?"

"That's the thing. In five years, eight people three coming from a political group, and the rest being a part of a major religion was converted to Christianity! Because everyone knew that Eagle spent most of his time in the office, six of the attackers tried to kill Eagle personally in his office."

"Yikes. Trying to kill an Overcomer. That's insane. What did they bring? A handgun?"

"The outcome isn't what you'd expect. Eagle converted them. On the spot!"

"Converted?!"

"Right! Three of those six attacks were witnessed by several of the staff members of the church. Of the remaining two attempts on Eagle's life, they were done during the service. Or rather they were supposed to be done. Before they even got the chance to kill anyone, they were converted as they pretended to listen to the message."

"Wow… That's amazing." Grace marveled.

"So he was discovered by the Force?"

"No. The Force had been skeptical at first. But there was a particular event to which the Force of America was in dire straits as spies from Africa and the EAA were planning a joint operation to steal several of the highly classified techs. The tech was stolen and the thieves were nowhere to be found. The only member the Force caught wouldn't squeal."

"You weren't there at that time?" Chris was stunned that such events occurred when he left the force.

"No. I was undercover. It was at the same time when you two disappeared. I guess the Force finally realized how much of an asset you were when you were gone."

"You guys made it out alright."

"That's what I'm trying to say. I didn't know of it, because I didn't have clearance for the information and I never bothered to investigate it. But it was all because of Eagle. He took care of the gap that was opened because you two left."

"How exactly?"

"It was Prickles. She was the one who introduced Eagle to the Force."

"I thought she resigned?"

"She was brought back in because you and Grace disappeared. She had attended this church recalled those events and stories and in desperation, she decided to bring Pastor Eagle in. The reason I got this information, is that Headquarters got into a lot of mess that day that the secret of that day easily spread to some of the agents. At that time, various members of the Force were furious because inviting Eagle was not within their protocol. But Prickles seemed obsessed with something. She really believed that Eagle could help them and she secretly allowed Eagle in and have him talk to that terrorist!"

"And Pastor Eagle managed to convert him?"

"Convert… is a weak way to say it. To this day, that man is a double agent and has been sent back to the EAA."

"What?!" Grace and Chris almost shouted.

"How?"

"I don't know. But what I'm sure of, is that this man became religious. Ever since that event, we had on several occasions, invited Eagle to help us. And although some of the people we make him convert spanned years, he has yet to fail any mission. Of course, we won't count the three missions he is currently handling in converting certain individuals… but he has yet to fail."

Chris and Grace were tongue-tied.

"Actually, for some of those he won over to Christ, as he would put it, few have become pastors now in this very church. And all of those he converted, who either entered the Identity Protection Program or who became our own agents or middlemen, all… and I mean all… tithe to this church." Jonathan spoke as if he remained amazed.

Chris and Grace's expression changed. The two went back to read over the files that the Force of America gave them. Of course, everything that Jonathan had said was all classified and were not among the documents sent to them.

"Of course, the files they gave you about Pastor Calvin Luther Eagle wouldn't include that. But I guess they concluded you must have found out about him one way or another. As such, they are warry of your meeting with Eagle, but not all that cautious. They must have assumed you two already knew each other."

Grace and Chris continued to read through the files in their comm devices.

Before the Third World War, various religions were declining as fewer people believed in the lore of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and generally all other religions. With the rise of atheism and the ongoing wars that continued to plague the world, America, once a bastion of the Christian protestant doctrines eventually changed into an atheistic nation.

When the Americas were officially united, it no removed any trace of religious attachments to its constitutions, laws, and many other common things.

However, things changed after the end of World War Three. The Void Years were the harshest of all periods for the Americas. Like all nations, the Void Years brought down the economy of the nation as it struggled to keep itself afloat amidst the various attacks both inside of its large borders and outside.

It was in this period that the nations which were once said to have belonged in Central America made a great revolt that divided entire America's as a whole.

Due to the after-effects of the Third World War, suicide rates were extremely high making it the leading cause of death during the Void Years.

Of the many things that were attributed to having helped the Americas recover from the downfall, those of the Christian faith point to the spiritual revival which took place during this era. Pastor Martin Westley Eagle became a prominent preacher and was called the supra-modern Charles Spurgeon. He was dubbed as the supra-modern Prince of Preachers and became critical with the revival of Christianity on a worldwide scale.

The history of Martin Westley Eagle was well-detailed in the documents that the trio was given.

"I've heard granddad talk about Pastor Martin Westley as well. To think that this man would not only inherit his father's talent but vastly improve on it." Grace muttered.

"Right. To think that he's one of the Pastors that no organization or supra-modern movements wouldn't dare touch. It's amazing how even the World Governing Powers has to adjust to this man." Chris noticed that Eagle was already leaving.

"The Paragon of Preachers… What a justly deserved title." Chris could only shake his head in amazement.

"If my Skill is a Path, I don't think I can do what he did. I can only affect a guy or a girl at the moment. Perhaps the Tyrant Empress can do greater things and make the persons she uses her Path on to be obsessed with her… But this guy… it's really mind-control!" Grace added.

"The Reformer. That's what we call him in the Force." Jonathan added.

"No wonder even that Lowengren is afraid of this guy. Lowengren deceives but this guy convinces…"

"That's why Seeker had Richie meet this guy. Seeker probably knew that Richie was a Near-Overcomer and needed a little push." Chris then stood up as he witnessed Calvin Luther Eagle retreat to his home behind the church.

"Let's go," Chris called out and Grace and gave Jonathan a nudge.

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"I'll pass. That guy gives me the creeps." Jonathan shook his head and stood up and walked off in another direction.

Chris and Grace started to move and followed Pastor Eagle from afar. Several members of the church would greet or converse with him further delaying the travel. Pastor Eagle soon reached an elevator and rode it to the ground floor. Chris and Grace used the stairs and soon reached the ground floor just in time to see the Pastor leaving.

"Let's talk in my office." Pastor Eagle smiled and started to be on his way.

Chris and Grace gave a deep breath as they followed Eagle.

The group did not interact and merely walked quietly.

Eagle led them outside of the main church building and towards a path at the back leading to a wide, yet humble home. The path soon diverged into two stone paths, one leading to the house, while another leading to a smaller house.

"This way please." Eagle smiled as he led the two towards the smaller house.

The small house was an entire office space. Eagle's collection of various post-modern books and some even from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was present and well preserved. On the far bank of the mini library, lay a large glass container displaying a long scroll slightly opened. It had several markings on the inside. The glass emitted a strange green glow catching the eyes of Grace and Chris.

"Please sit down. Looks like Seeker and his friends have been busy. I can tell that you are at least at Proficient." Eagle smiled.

Chris and Grace were distracted by the odd items they found in the room. It was full of books. From the book's case, covers, and design, some even predated the Post-Modern era!

But what attracted Chris the most, was a large glass table case situated at the back with a long ancient scroll, slightly opened, and various yellow lights continued to shine on it.

"That's one of the few remaining authentic copies of the Old Testament handwritten and penned by the ancient Jews. It is believed to be dated somewhere around 700-1400 AD. That light is one of the Preservation techs of the Americas." Eagle smiled as he answered the curious looks of the two.

"Wow. You really are a Bible freak." Chris was surprised.

"That Preservation glass… it should be worth millions and millions!"

"It's a gift from various parties that support me." Eagle laughed mysteriously.

"Oh right! Where are my manners? I'm Chris Carlean. This is my wife Grace."

"Oh? I'm sorry. I received no words of who would be my next guests. So you two are Seeker's parents? You've raised such a fine young man. You should be proud!" Eagle smiled and gave the two a beaming look.

"We are… As for the sudden visit, we were having problems with the communication process here in the Americas. We've focused our efforts in Africa after all. And the various Programmed Slave operations were quickly draining Harker's funds. So aside from me and my wife, the only other contact in the Americas which work for us would be Jonathan, a friend who has just resigned from the Force."

"I expected as such. So your forces are still concentrated in Africa? Then we still have a lot of work to do. Things are not looking good if this is the case. It looks like the Aragarians of the future were extremely careful."

"What do you mean, Pastor?"

Eagle simply smiled and shook his head.

"All in God's time, Mister Carlean."

"Oh, please, call me Chris. I know you're an Overcomer. I've met a few like them and we wouldn't dare be addressed with any titles." Chris said hurriedly.

"Overcomers and Worldly Positions are but a mist in this life. A time is coming and it will surely come when such pretense is nonsensical and all the Redeemed will stand as a Co-Inheritor in Christ. I am being formal because of that anticipation. Do I dare mistreat a future King?" Eagle smiled.

"Um… I'm sorry Pastor. Although my wife is a Baptist. I'm actually an Agnostic."

"Ah… I've always been uncomfortable with that word. Its roots come from the Greek word, Gnostic, which means knowledge. And of course, the A, which is a Greek prefix meaning without. So put them together, and you have a word which means to be without knowledge. The uncomfortable part is because I also know Latin. And Agnostic in Latin is Ignoramus. I can't help but tie the two together. So forgive me for refusing to use that term. I'd rather go with the term, Atheist. Although people will fight to the death in trying to define and divide those two words because of the differing philosophies between them, it's still the same if we base it in the original meaning. Theos which means God, and the same A prefix. And we have a word meaning, those without gods. Both the Atheist and the Agnostic share this in common anyway. Would you be more comfortable if I refer to you in that way in the future?" Eagle asked.

"Erm… I'm alright with that Pastor." Chris replied meekly.

"But of course, I have a feeling you won't remain that way soon." Eagle gave a smile, but something sinister flashed behind the innocent and calm smile of the Pastor.

"You must have seen it too, Chris. The changes in your son. Wasn't he always an atheist like you? Why the sudden change? Besides… believing in God, for people like us, will soon be necessary."

Eagle spoke pleasantly and calmly, but as soon as he finished his sentence, Chris jumped backwards as if trying to escape something that was surrounding him.

CRASH!

His jump was so sudden that he ended slamming through the door. The steel frame of the door was surprisingly made of powerful metal and it did not even bend from Chris's sudden jump.

Chris was struggling as if something was enveloping him and he continued to squirm.

"CHRIS!" Grace shouted worriedly.

She tried to calm the panicking Chris but couldn't.

"Pastor, please stop!" Grace cried in an extremely agitated voice.

Grace felt a terror that she couldn't understand. The years spent with Chris allowed her to understand the extent and strength of her husband. Seeing her husband suddenly falter, she moved in front to block Eagle's gaze.

"Pa-Pastor… Please. Don't use your Path." She spoke calmly.

Eagle raised his brow and gave both Chris and Grace a peculiar look.

"Interesting. I can't believe that you could actually sense my Path working on you. Perhaps it's with your genes that Seeker became who he is." Eagle smiled as turned around and walked towards his table.

"Pastor. We've heard from Jonathan how you have been using your Path to Brainwash others. My son has done great and good things to you and your family with the information he has been providing. Can you at least, let us, his parents, be the same person when we leave?" Grace pleaded.

Eagle simply laughed.

"I think there's some misunderstanding as to what my Path can do. Alright. It seems it's not yet time for you to be called into His Kingdom. A pity though. I offered you the easy way, but you want to choose the hard way." Eagle sat down on his chair behind his desk.

"Do sit down." Eagle offered.

Grace continued to support Chris.

"Are you alright?" Grace asked.

"I… am. It was just too much. He wasn't trying to hurt me or anything. It was just… I felt his Path approaching. It felt so real that I tried to escape it." Chris mumbled softly to his wife.

"Rest assured, I won't try to convert you anymore." Eagle started to pour the two some wine.

"You… actually drink, Pastor?" Chris couldn't help but ask.

"Only wine. But I do so only on certain occasions. The Bible tells of a great Banquet that God prepares. At that time the best choice meat and the most delicious of wine are made ready and will be served to us. And Jesus has made several allusions to this coming feast even in His lifetime. As such, I have to set an example for my kids, although I do it in moderation. To remind them, and excite them of that great Banquet that they should look forward too." Eagle poured the two a glass and offered it to them.

Chris who became thirsty from the pressure he felt earlier immediately took it and drank a mouthful and sat down on the chair before the desk.

Grace followed likewise.

"Now that you are more relaxed… Please update me as to what your forces have been doing. How have we been progressing in our attempts to take over this world?"

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