[Child of God]: 416.Novels.Only One.Chapter 1

September 1, 2,999

In the event of my death I leave this record should there be anyone left to find it. Why a record? Perhaps there may be someone left who will be reminded of what we are fighting for. This is my legacy, my memories. This is my story.
They hate us, there's no doubt about that. They hate us because we are what they were. They hate the others because the others are what they could have been. But maybe it's best to start my story at the beginning . . .

Everything really began almost a millenia ago, back on that September day. That is when the war really began, the spark from which the fire came. History always repeats itself with the same mistakes being made, never learning from them. You would think after seeing the destruction caused by atomic bombs in the past any sane person would burn all blueprints and destory all the data held on how to make them.

Instead, governments built them for 'insurance' purposes, and in a short amount of time there were enough of them to destroy the earth twenty times over. It was only a matter of before someone got the gull to use them. Small, European towns first, hit one by one, trying to scare the West a bit. Then, without warning, it happened. All were launched at the same time, but not just nucs; phosphorous, nitrogen and hydrogen bombs. Even now, after almost a millenia, no one can explain how it was possible but it happened. Then, in a flash they were gone. Impossible? Yes, but true. Some say it was God, others say it was aliens. Some think they know, but no one really does. I don't say anything. What does it matter how it happened when the point is that it did.

Of course, when something like this happens you will always have someone take advantage of such a situation, which is exactly what happened. Some charasmatic leader took the credit, promised a United World Order, blah, blah, blah. As usual, you have people believe his false promises, but what you don't expect is the amount of people who believe him. 40% WORLD support to start with. He did rebuild cities and bring about peace.

But peace from such is always a false peace.
Like all dictators, it was peaceful for his followers, and like all dictators, his supporters were shortly forced into permanent loyalty. The numbers 666 had to be burned, yes burned, into their right hand. The numbers were, of course, a statement against those religious fanatics who opposed him. The numbers were then covered, made invisible to the eye by a laser which covered it with a thin layer of skin. In a matter of two years, the 'mark' became everything. You couldn't live in the rebuilt cities without the mark, couldn't have a job, couldn't own a house, a car, go to school, buy groceries, have medical attention, and before long, couldn't live without the mark. Before the third year was over, those who wouldn't take the mark began being hunted down. Soon after the mark came out a device was also introduced that sensed the mark. If no mark could be detected an alarm sounded. Secret police are everywhere. Anyone can report you, scanners soon became keychain size. You make a choice; take the mark and live in peace and luxury, or die.