Humanity was in a deepening haze based the complexity of what it was learning. Since October 17, 2072, in little over two weeks, it had learned about alien life existing on two other planets of the Solar System. Then came information about life in other dimensions and explanation about a living and moving Multiverse. Pieces like the Dot, the Oldest, or even the Purple seemed of tangential relevance at this point.

Also, humanity learned about the story behind the creation of Marilyn Monroe by Georges and the purpose of the Electoral game as orchestrated by the Artificial Intelligence. Mankind's digital creation self-exodus to mars was designed to preserve the game and keep Emilio Sanchez in control of the government. The man had a unique way of thinking and somehow the computer knew to empower him for a reason. Man learned war was universal and was now under attack from a quantum reality for daring to use a new technology: the Light Drive.

As if this wasn't enough, earth was under attack from its own sun, a mutating virus was released and hundreds of other problems were now converging on the world. But central to the problem was a girl, a twelve year old acting as the Attractor of what the Oldest and Marilyn called the Sixth Attraction. This was too much, way too much for anyone.

Man also knew powers beyond any control were in play. Sophie had the ability to merge realities, travel between worlds and even rupture time. She stood, unphased by the insanity towering around her. The girl ignored everything except her handicapped father and seemed ready to doom her own species. Somehow, forces were converging on Sophie's thirteenth birthday. Humans had weeks to live.

Round 29, as the last couple of rounds did not feel like a game. Instead, the game felt informative. Viewers were drained of brain waves to help the players improve the odds of success of mankind. Now, as it turned out, man was renegade descendants of these Martians. Gerard, played by Emilio was about to walk into the main room, few even wanted to know. After Emilio, Laurent would be playing.

The future was uncertain, everyone felt confused. Emilio chuckled again.

Thousands of viewers were standing, hand on an open refrigerator door unable to decide what drink to grab. Others were unable to dress themselves. There was, to say the least confusion.

***

"Sophie, what are you looking for?" asked Doctor Shin.

"I can't find it."

"What, anything important? I may help you." Sophie was visibly troubled. She was searching through her belongings. "It's not here," she said in frustration. "I can't find it."

"What?" Sophie did not want to say but she obviously was getting frustrated.

"Tell me," snapped the Doctor with her Korean tiger mother accent.

"The magazine, the one with LO. I must have left it on the ship. It was in the pouch in front of me. He is coming here, I need him to autograph it."

Susie Shin smiled and opened her suitcase. She pulled out the crumpled pages and handed it over to the girl. "This old thing?" Susie was proud of herself for grabbing onto it. This was perfect timing.

Sophie smiled and felt much better. Her own emotions changed and as it did, so did everyone’s. Her emotions were now felt in the game.

***

In most household the feeling of uncertainty subsided as quickly as it came. Refrigerator doors closed, clothing was selected as life returned. Smiles returned all over the world and viewers turned televisions back on. There was suddenly hope where a moment ago there was none. None of this stupid story made sense and if it did, nothing could be done about it. Sophie was unaware, but her emotional state was now linked at the hips with all of mankind down on Earth. Her powerful waves merged and controlled others. Electoral, from her Command room was a witness of all of it.

"Father," whispered Marilyn in the ear of her father, "this charade cannot hold for three more weeks. The time jump was a blessing, but look at this stupidity. We will never get to the finale. Her power has growth so rapidly, she is on an exponential line of growth. A stupid magazine and the world stops."

The game was playing and Sophie’s single hesitation had warped the game for a minute.

Georges loved his creation. "I used to say the same about you, remember?"

"You did."

"At some point this power increase become imperceptible by the dominated species. I think this is as bad as she will get. I know I can’t see you getting more powerful. I am sure you are.” As a good father he just added, “We saw the future, we will be fine." Georges was typing away.

"May I ask what this was all about?" spoke the voice of Ronaldo Corvas in Georges' mind. "You saw the future?"

"I forgot. You are really hard to ignore," he spoke to his companion. "This will take some level of getting used to."

"The future, what were you talking about? You saw the future?"

Georges refused to respond and simple asked his invisible guest, "How is the game so far? You like our version of the underground tunnels, they were drawn from your memories."

"Nice job. But you are defecting, what were you talking about? You can’t know the future."

"That's for me to know and you to find out. Marilyn told me to trust you, but if you don't mind, because of this time jump, it's been minutes for me. I really don’t trust a moron who ignores her warning and goes to vaporize his ass. I am your third body and play on visiting a fourth very soon moron."

"I understand, but you are avoiding my question."

"I am, you would not like the answer."

There was silence in Georges’ head.

“Seriously?” the voice of the explorer added.

“Yes. Humans are so stupid. Can’t they see how powerful she has become?”

“Did she see herself asking Emilio for help?”

“Touché! Yes, we both saw the future, trust us, Marilyn will be just fine. All this is a massive waste of time to get to the finale. Sit down and relax. As they say enjoy the show.”