Judgment (The Alternate Earth Series, Book 3) by S.J. West

functioning satellites in the sky? Seems like all those meteorites I saw after I woke up on the dock would have destroyed them.”
    “Josh is connected to the Dragon Network. It’s Lucian’s way of controlling the media and anything else that’s transmitted over the airways. That line of communication is still functional, for now at least, and can transmit a message to every TV, radio, and computer that’s on in the world. We may not be able to connect with a lot of people, but we really don’t have any other choice. It’s pretty much now or never. I don’t think conditions will get any better here, only worse.”
    “I see you were successful,” Malcolm says, looking pointedly at the sword in Mason’s hand as he and Gabe approach us. “I’m glad to see that Jophiel left the sword here, too.”
    “JoJo was confident that Jophiel did,” Gabe tells me with a smile. His look turns to one of concern for me. “How are you feeling, Jess? Have you recovered any of your memories yet?”
    I shake my head, consumed by an odd sort of guilt because I still can’t remember any of my closest friends.
    “Not yet,” I reluctantly admit, feeling like a complete failure as a human being.
    “Everything will be all right,” Gabe says, making me want to believe him.
    “How do you know?”
    “Because I can see into the future, remember?” Gabe gently reminds me. “I’ve seen you back home, with the newest addition to the Collier family in your arms, and I know that’s a future that will definitely come true.”
    Gabe’s smile looks so self-assured that I can’t help but believe in his vision.
    “And we’re a go, people!” I hear Josh call out to everyone.
    Mason takes my hand, and we turn to watch the holographic monitor above Josh’s workstation.
    Josh turns in his chair to look at Brand. “Should I upload it now?”
    Brand looks down at the Empress of China.
    “Are you sure you’re ready for this, Jai Lin?” Brand’s worry for the empress is obvious by the strained expression on his face.
    Jai Lin holds her head up a little higher and nods. “It’s time we stood up to them,” she declares to everyone in the room. “Please, play it now, Josh.”
    Josh turns back around and hits a single button on his keyboard.
    With a single stroke, a true revolution is born.
    The screen turns black. The sweet notes of a flute invade the airwaves, and I know without having to be told that Chandler is the one who composed the music. I begin to feel a sense of loss until a single pinpoint of light ignites in the middle of the screen. The music slowly begins to change to a tune of hope. The light grows brighter as the camera zooms in on a solitary figure, Jai Lin. She’s wearing a simple, white, clean-cut dress and standing slightly off-center to the camera.
    As she looks directly into the lens, she says, “People of the Earth. It’s time for you to stop pretending the world is not coming to an end. Open your eyes and look at what has happened to us since Ravan Draeke became President of the United States. I know many of you viewed her as our savior when the world was thrown into chaos by the Great Quake. I am here to tell you that Ravan was part of the cause of that quake, and took advantage of you when you were at your most vulnerable.
    “She is not who she pretends to be, and neither are those closest to her. Deep down in your hearts, you know what I say is true. If you still doubt my words, please watch this video and see how little Ravan cares about humanity. She may be human, but she is in league with the devil himself. I implore you to keep an open mind, and consider everything that has happened since she came into power. Please, do not turn off your televisions or radios. What you are about to witness was taken by one of our operatives. I believe after you view this footage, you will see Ravan Draeke the same way I do, as an opportunist with an evil, world-ending agenda.”
    The video changes to the one I took of