Geniuses® IV

Preparing to leave the Andromeda Galaxy, Andromalex thought: Killing the Reynolds family and Merlin and dealing with my old adversary could take months. My absence might be used by subordinates to organize a coup. I assume all my subordinates are dangerously ambitious and potential insurrectionists. As a subordinate, I certainly was. It's easier to put down a revolt if its leaders are stupid. So before I leave, I'll eliminate my intelligent subordinates. That done, Andromalex departed for Earth. ………………………………………….. Intergalactic space is dark, silent and vast. Spiraling clusters of star systems are visible in the distance. To the casual observer, space may seem empty and intimidating. To the discerning intergalactic traveler, shimmering constantly changing space is majestic and magical. In two weeks Andromalex covered almost all the space separating the Andromeda Galaxy from Earth, paying no more attention to it than if it were a concrete highway. The darkness, the vacuum, the cold -- punctuated by periods of extreme heat and other dangers -- were no problem for the powerful demon. Then Andromalex entered a small region or "window" in space where it could observe and telepathically communicate with people on Earth. Andromalex could remain in this region for only 10 minutes. While in this “window,” Andromalex sent Astrakhan a message: “My friend Arkan, I’m transmitting to you in Coordinated Universal Time my ETA at the Washington Monument. I cannot communicate with you again until I arrive.” Andromalex spent precious minutes searching for Roger Reynolds. With just a minute remaining in the window, it located him, thinking: Since communication is possible while in this window, I might be able to strike Reynolds with an evil sending. I’ll target and fire my most lethal spell at him. If it strikes him, it’ll obliterate his every cell. I doubt the sending will stay on course across trillions of miles and hit him. But if it does, I’ll have eliminated one of Astrakhan’s chief opponents before reaching Earth. If it misses, I’ll kill Reynolds when I arrive. With just seconds remaining, Andromalex aimed and fired the deadly spell. The demon exited the window and traveled on. ……………………………….. The evil sending created a series of warps in space/time, enabling it to travel much faster than the speed of light -- even faster than Andromalex was traveling. The sending could track its target, change course when necessary, lock-on and guide itself to its target. Along the sending’s journey, it encountered asteroids, comets and numerous meteor showers. None affected the sending or its course. A million miles from Earth, the sending collided with an extraordinarily powerful cosmic ray. The collision didn’t destroy the sending, or change its targeting. The two powerful forces merged, transforming the spell. It was impossible to predict what this transformed force would do to Reynolds -- if it struck him. ……………………………………… On Earth, three nights later, after a long day, Roger and Rebecca were in bed. They had fallen asleep still in each other’s arms. The transformed sending traveled unscathed through Earth’s magnetosphere and Van Allen radiation belts. Silently, invisibly passing through the roof of the Reynolds home, it entered Roger’s brain. Awakened from a sound sleep, Roger felt as if fireworks were going off in his head. At first he was dazed, then strangely energized. He gently woke Rebecca. They were up the rest of the night. Before falling back to sleep in the early morning, she thought: What’s gotten into Roger? He’s always been amazing in bed, but last night he did things he’s never done before -- many times! It was wonderful. The next day Roger sent Rebecca elegant lingerie from an exclusive shop. She thought: It’s even better than when we were newlyweds! …………………………………………………….. Roger recognized: I’m somehow different -- stronger, faster. My mind seems more agile and powerful. Changes in his behavior were soon apparent. In traffic, Roger no longer waited politely. When he was second in line as a red light turned green, he would impatiently enter the brain of the driver ahead, saying: “Are you waiting for an invitation?” At Genius Council meetings, Roger no longer waited until his colleagues finished expressing their thoughts. As soon as he understood what someone intended to say (generally after a very few words had been spoken), he interrupted -- often with a scathing response. Roger thought about these changes: When I was orphaned, Alexander Astrakhan arranged to become my guardian. No one knew then that he hated my family and had killed my parents. He whipped the mischief out of me, and beat politeness in. Now that I’ve been transformed, perhaps I’m rebelling against everything that evil man taught me. After work, Roger began hanging out in bars frequented by thugs. He didn’t drink, and the cocktail waitresses didn’t interest him. None could compare to his Rebecca. He was there to brawl. He didn’t need his Genius powers. Roger’s 6-feet-4, powerful body was enough. He thought: Having spent over 160 years as a stuffy goody-goody, I need to release pent-up aggression. Meanwhile, Roger became impatient with the boring duties of his office. He delegated them, and blew off meetings he thought unnecessary. He used this extra free time to take Rebecca on trips to Australia, where they went snorkeling and scuba diving near the Great Barrier Reef, and to Kahului, Hawaii, where they went hang-gliding off the cliffs. No need to take hypersonic planes. He could project Rebecca and himself there and back. Rebecca recognized Roger was taking more risks, was more aggressive and adventurous. She didn’t complain. She thought: He’s the same brilliant and decent man I fell in love with all those years ago. His new character is much more exciting. I love him even more. When Cecil Pasternak was asked: “What's with Roger?” He replied, “He’s got Spring fever -- in November!” Roger’s work didn't suffer. He seemed even quicker and sharper than usual -- and even more focused on defeating the sorcerer and the demon.