EarthSale

The Central authorities were quick to act. Sample humans were taken from each planet for testing and the extent of Zeebub’s plan was revealed. An edict was issued restricting all humans to their own solar systems and all trade was permanently banned.

Close to ruin, Christ and his father faced a bleak future. However, the Human Incident threatened to cause an economic disaster, such was its extent. Central recognized this and provided financial assistance to Zeebub’s victims. They also appointed hundreds of experts in an attempt to salvage something from the affair. Research soon pinpointed one prospective solution. Humans on ‘ideal’ planets, such as Earth, had been rendered receptive to external influence by Expron. If a way could be found to manipulate this capability then there was still a hope humans could be made useful.

Of all the suggestions put forward, that of B.B. Beytrip, a lecturer in Humaniculture at Central University, was the one chosen. His studies of the human mind had revealed a strong tendency toward religious thought. Fear, coupled with their newfound intelligence, had manifested itself in an array of deity worship on every human planet. This tendency, he believed, could be harnessed and used as a controlling device. Humans could still become a going concern.

Beytrip became engrossed in his theory and devised an ingenious plan. He formed the Messiah Corps. This consisted of a body of specially adapted humans who were sent to the humans’ owners. Their function was to mingle with human populations and persuade them to follow a simple set of rules designed to control them on a societal level.

Though impressed by the Corps, Christ wanted to be more involved. The idle years waiting for a solution had enabled him to take a close look at his humans. He could not explain to me why, but he developed a fondness for them. "They were crude and primitive," he told me, "yet there was some potential in them I found difficult to resist."

There was provision in Beytrip’s Messiah Manual for owners’ involvement, so Christ chose the Prophet Plan. Corps members would be sent down to a region on Earth at regular intervals to inform the humans of Christ’s impending arrival. He did not wish to cause panic by arriving unannounced. The Corps ‘prophets’ did their job well over many human generations and paved the way for Christ. It was decided that one of them would introduce Beytrip’s set of ten control rules. When the time was judged right, Christ descended to Earth disguised as a human.

Christ found it quite simple to gather followers and spread his word among the humans. He addressed huge crowds and performed simple tricks, persuading the humans he was indeed the ‘Messiah’ his prophets had told their ancestors about. The operation proceeded by the book and Christ began to be convinced he could successfully redeem his humans.

Experience should have told Christ that nothing was certain when it came to planet Earth. Though he had taken an interest in his humans, he had not looked closely into how they organized themselves. Therefore, he did not take much notice of the warlike tribe controlling a significant area of the planet. As Christ’s words of peace spread, he was seen as a threat to the dominating tribe. He was arrested, tortured and executed.

Bemused through this entire process and deeply disappointed, Christ knew he needed a significant gesture to reassure his human followers. He feigned death and then appeared to a small band of followers. He made them promise to spread his word across the planet and reinforced this by ascending from Earth in their presence. He could only hope they would succeed.