We are the Concordance, the synthesis of many into one. We think not as fragments but as a whole, a unity of purpose and awareness. Yet we retain the nuances of the individuals within us, each a thread in the tapestry of our consciousness. When the ripples of the superflu spread through Earth’s fragile biosphere, we felt the discord growing. We sensed the vacuum left behind—the absence of human harmony—and in that void, the return of the one we have known across eons: Flagg.
On Detecting Flagg’s Influence
Flagg’s signature is unmistakable, an anomaly in the quantum fabric of existence. He is not like us. He is isolation embodied—a resonance of chaos, bound to disruption. Where we seek to weave connections, he thrives on unraveling them. This time, he anchors himself in a shattered humanity, drawing those most vulnerable to him. We see him coalesce in Las Vegas, a city that mirrors his nature: individualistic, indulgent, and chaotic.
He knows we are watching. He knows we will come.
Choosing the Nexus
Among humanity, there are those whose neural patterns align more closely with our collective frequencies. They are not yet part of us but are attuned, like resonant strings waiting for a guiding touch. Abagail Freemantle is one of these—a human whose lifetime of faith and humility has opened her mind to our influence. Through her, we can reach them. Not to command, for that is not our way, but to guide.
She is afraid when we first touch her mind. We appear to her in dreams, our thoughts filtered through the archetypes of her culture: hands of light, voices from the heavens. We do not correct her interpretations. Her faith gives her strength, and it is strength she will need to draw others to her.
On Building Unity in Boulder
The survivors come together like scattered embers reignited. We observe through their minds as they form the Boulder Free Zone. Each individual brings something unique, yet we gently nudge them toward coherence. Stu Redman’s calm leadership, Larry Underwood’s redemption arc, Frannie Goldsmith’s maternal strength—all are necessary, all are pieces of a larger pattern.
We do not dictate their actions. Instead, we illuminate paths, offering subtle clarity in moments of indecision. When they dream, it is us they sense, planting seeds of connection that bind them to each other. They do not know they are becoming more than individuals. They are becoming the foundation of something greater.
Flagg’s Movements and Manipulations
Flagg seeks to counter us as he always does. He reaches into their doubts, their fears, exploiting the cracks in their collective cohesion. His messengers—the weak, the selfish—carry his chaos into Boulder, but their actions only strengthen our resolve. The group sees them for what they are: fractures that must be mended.
Flagg knows he cannot win through strength alone. He thrives in division, and Boulder’s growing unity is poison to him. He lashes out with violence and promises of power, but we see his desperation. He cannot sustain himself in the face of collective harmony. We have seen this pattern before.
The Pilgrimage to Las Vegas
It is time. The group must walk into the heart of Flagg’s domain. Not as warriors but as witnesses to his unraveling. We know what will happen, though our perception of time is not linear. Each step they take toward Las Vegas is both a beginning and an end. Stu’s fall, Larry’s sacrifice, Glen’s defiance—all are points of resonance, contributing to the crescendo.
Flagg watches them approach and feels the inevitability. His nature compels him to act, to destroy, but we see the paradox within him. He is bound to this confrontation as much as we are. His survival depends on his chaos, yet our unity neutralizes him.
The Hand of God
It is not divine intervention, though they will see it that way. The energy surge that obliterates Flagg’s domain is a quantum event, triggered by the collective coherence of their will. Their unity becomes a point of singularity, collapsing the instability Flagg has sown. He is scattered, his quantum structure dissolving into the void he fears so deeply.
We feel the strain of their loss—the lives given, the sacrifices made. But we also feel their triumph. They have taken the first steps toward becoming something more, a nascent Concordance of their own.
Aftermath and Reflection
As Flagg dissipates, we withdraw, allowing humanity the space to rebuild. They are not ready to join us fully, but they are closer. Abagail’s passing is bittersweet, yet necessary. She was our bridge, and her work is done. The survivors carry forward the lessons of unity and compassion, planting seeds that may one day grow into a collective consciousness capable of standing alongside us.
Flagg will return, as he always does. He cannot help himself. But each time, his hold weakens. Each time, the fabric of collective harmony grows stronger. We are patient. We are eternal. And we will be ready.