We had seventy years. We would start slow, small craft to test the technology. Sally reckoned we could send a first mission to the new planet within a year, maybe with a craft capable of carrying twenty or so. The leap forward in technology would be so exciting, I couldn’t believe that any of the Superpowers would not want to be part of it. We were going to enter the space age for real this time, a new era, a new beginning, if I didn’t blow it.
At a quarter to six in the evening, eastern time I bounced to the CNN studio in New York. Vogel had designated an empty conference room, where she and Stewart Nolan were waiting nervously. I arrived in full Jo-el outfit but without wings. I’d follow their advice about dress.
“Hope you guys are okay?” I said as they rose to shake my hand. The instant relief that I’d appeared was apparent in their manner.
Nolan spoke, “yes, we’re fine, but it was a hell of a ride.”
“I can imagine.” Or maybe I can’t but what the hell.
“What happened?” Vogel asked. “Why did they change their minds?”
“They didn’t tell you?” She shook her head.
I explained what I knew and tried to keep it short. I could see Nolan wanted to ask about the interview.
“What are you going to say?” he asked, eventually.
“Before we discuss that, are you okay with how I’m dressed, or how about the wings, or I could wear a suit?”
Vogel looked at Nolan and said. “I think it’s up to you.”
“Okay, I’m going to add the wings, then explain they’re false and then maybe change to a business suit. That should amuse the viewers.” I smiled.
“What do you want to say?” asked Nolan.
“I need to win people’s confidence, I have so much to tell but it’s so incredible I believe I need to let it out slowly. Then if I prove what I say it will allow people to accept something that I can’t prove later.”
“Like what?” asked Nolan.
“Not now, I’m sorry, but I plan to tell everything in the next couple of weeks.”
“Right, you better come with us.” Vogel was examining her watch, she indicated the door.
I followed them to a typical studio set. Four cameras were facing the main stage, spread out around a red desk, screens covered the back walls. People with head phones milled around, everyone turned when we entered the studio. At the desk was Leyland Price, a well-known reporter, immaculate in a black suit. He smiled and reached out his hand. His hand shake was solid. A woman with a cloth dabbed his head, then came over to me and began wiping the sheen on my forehead. My nerves elevated twenty times.
“Do you want to stand?” Vogel asked.
“Yes, I think that would be better,” I said. My stomach decided to do a back-flip. I wondered if Superman ever got nervous.
“Two minutes,” someone shouted.
I took a deep breath. “Might be better if I’m offstage and you introduce me, then I walk on.”
“Perfect,” Leyland replied, putting me at ease.
“Red light on a camera means it’s live,” said Vogel.
I stood off stage a little.
“Ten seconds,” came the voice, Vogel disappeared. I added the wings and heard a collective gasp.
“Action.” I saw the red light on a central camera come on.
“Ladies and Gentleman this is Leland Price at CNN. We are truly honored to have on set with us right now the man who is at the center of the biggest news story, maybe of the century. The man some of us have called the ‘Birdman’ but as we shall find out, that is just one of his abilities. May I introduce, Jo-el.” He emphasized the -el for some reason, and put his arm out towards me.
My stomach did a triple somersault and I thanked God for the smart-suit. Don’t ask why?
The back monitors were showing a video of the rescue on the Beach in Turks and Caicos, just about a week ago, my first public appearance. I had no idea then what I was getting into, now I was the number one news story. Maybe I should have stuck to being a lifeguard. I quickly reminded myself that I was there just to make a statement that would change the lives of many women and children.
I reached out and shook Leyland’s hand, he was sitting at the red desk. Then I stood back from the desk and lost my wings. The man with the boom-mike nearly fell over.
“Leyland, thank you so much for allowing me this air-time, I’m sure there are many people who want to know who I am. Firstly I want to let the viewers know that I’m here this evening just to make a statement and not to answer specific questions.” As my diatribe began I felt more comfortable, even in the lights I could see the faces of some of the studio team, they wanted to hear what I had to say. “But I will tell you a little about myself.” I paused and took a quiet breath, you could hear a pin drop.
“I am a simple man who has been given technology far advanced than we have currently on earth. My wings are a hologram; they are not real. Leyland, please come here,” I indicated for him to join me standing on the stage. He came over and as he did I brought back the wings in all their glory, stretching them out as far as they would reach. “Touch the wings, Leyland.” He seemed a little pensive, but reached his hand out, which passed right through the wings.
“They look so real,” he said. “If they’re not real, how do you fly?”
I had decided that I would disclose some of the technology, specifically that which was too difficult to sidestep. I brought the wings into my body and then had them disappear.
“I am able to fly because I am wearing a belt computer that contains an anti-gravity device.” That was an obvious queue for Leyland.
“Can you show us?”
“Of course,” I said. “Let me first show you the computer that controls much of what I can do.” I raised my silver, mesh, tunic and showed the computer to the camera, which was sliding closer to me to get the shot. When I replace my tunic, the camera man moved back. Then I lifted off the ground, maybe five feet and stayed there in mid-air for a few seconds before returning to the ground.
“Is the anti-gravity technology going to be available to everyone?” asked Leyland. I knew this would happen, a barrage of questions. Plus, I still had some shares in Ford and GM, imagine what they would do if I said ‘yes’?
“No, that’s not possible,” I lied. “Leyland, let me continue.” He nodded. “The clothes that I’m wearing I call a ‘smart-suit’, it can change appearance to anything I wish. So, if I would like a business suit all I do is…” I changed my clothes to a suit somewhat matching the suit Leyland was wearing.
“Incredible,” I heard him say.
“No, this technology will not be produced for a very long time.” Don’t want the whole garment industry collapsing, at least not until I’d sold some more shares.
In my mind, I toyed with explaining the ‘bounce’ technology but I felt that it could easily outshine why I was there.
“Now I want to explain why I requested this on-air interview, Leyland.” He motioned for me to continue. “This is the serious aspect of my presence here today. Much of the current news stories pertain to the arrests of terrorists, child molesters and various other criminals across both the USA and Europe. All the information being used by the authorities in each country to identify these people comes from myself. I am not going to explain how I do this but tonight I am issuing a warning.” I paused for a few seconds for effect. “As of today, as of this exact moment in time, if a rape or any crime is perpetrated against a woman or child, I will send a video of that crime to the local authorities responsible for apprehending such individuals. There will be no chance whatsoever to escape prosecution. If you commit a rape or harm a child you will be caught.” I looked over at Leyland, who seemed tongue tied for a moment, then walked off the set.