Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

investigating Dr. Scott that I began to think about the course of my life. You mustunderstand, Doctor," he turned his attention to Brian, "you've been watched for the pastseveral years, ever since your views on Christianity and ETs became public in an adultSun-day School class you were teaching.""You must be kidding.""Hardly. You mentioned the topic in passing while discussing your views on theimage of God. You of course didn't realize it, but the Group is in touch with a vastnetwork of contacts that ultimately reaches into Christian churches.""That's ridiculous," Brian scoffed."Is it? I'm sure Melissa could tell you that a good number of militia groups haveconservative Christians in them.""Why would the Group care?""Two reasons actually. One concerns assessing the threat such groups mightpresent to the idea of global government. The other is more far-reaching . . . the Grouphas a special interest in neo-Nazi ideology, but that's a connection you'll have to exploreyourself. The Group monitors all such groups, and regularly receives reports on anythingof interest said in them. One such report concerned your comments. Needless to say, theGroup took an interest, particularly given your credentials.""Why would that make any difference to you personally?" Brian contested,struggling to keep his anger under control. His words to Melissa about forgivenessechoed faintly in his mind, but he too felt a loathing for the source of her suffering."I see in you . . . what I might have been . . . what I should have been, but cannow never be. I know you feel that you have little to show for your journey, Dr. Scott, butyou have something I can never have again: integrity. You see, Doctor," he said,straightening his uniform and standing erect, "what I did to Melissa wasn't the mostheinous crime I've ever committed . . . that dishonor goes to killing your parents."Brian gawked at the officer in utter disbelief, jaw wide open. Major Sheppardmoved a step closer and looked Brian in the eye. Slowly the features of the officervisually harmonized with Brian's memories of the convenience store videotape. He wasthe gunman."As I said, the Group had been scrutinizing you for several years, Doctor," themajor informed him matter-of-factly. "The Group recognized immediately how usefulyour position on religion and extraterrestrial life would be to its aim of control.Conservative religionists are always the most unstable element when it comes to governmentalrestraint, particularly when such restraint is tied to paradigm shifts thatthreaten their belief system's very coherence. Once we had you investigated, wediscovered your relationship with Dr. Bandstra, whose position in the DOD was deemedadvantageous to the project. You became ideal, even vital, to the plan. The only problemwas that you had close relatives still alive. The Group found it essential that you beisolated for reasons you've already been informed about ...""`Found it essential?"' Brian said bitterly, his dumbfounded expression givingway to pent up rage. "The Group `found it essential' to just murder innocent people incold blood in case they decided to `recruit' me!" he bellowed at the officer."Yes," Major Sheppard answered, holding up his firearm to make sure the safetywas off. The weapon was the only thing keeping Brian where he stood.Melissa turned toward the couch, hands on her hips, trying to process the flurry of304