Holy Trinity had several broken gates, including the wide gate that led to the double front doors. The wrought iron fencing really just needed some attention from a landscaping point of view, but the gates required welding to fix them. Luckily our group was large and someone's parent knows how to weld and we will get them fixed soon. There were huge stones set in the ground as the walk up to the front church entrance. The stained-glass windows all needed repair as kids liked to launch stones at those things. Still, there were scenes with angels doing battle and really end of days type themes on the windows. We all arrived at the same time. Everyone was so excited to discuss things that we all came right after school. I had 6 people crammed into my back seat so 9 people total got out of my truck.
We solemnly walked into the church. Eyes all flickering around to take in the sights. Most of the church pews were in good condition. It seems as if they were just too sturdy to damage and are nearly unscathed from vandalism. "These pews look great. I think this space is going to clean up well." Others nodded or mentioned the stained glass that dominated the large church. If you walked to the front of the church and turned around to address the congregation, you could see that there was an immense pipe organ in the church at one time and it was absent. It left a hole where it should have been.
We got quiet as we approached the altar. There was some kind of red stuff smeared across it that looked very much like blood and we all started at it in silence. PFFT! We all turned to the obnoxious noise to see Trent with a beer. "What?" he said looking back at us with innocence. "Did you really think I was carrying books in my backpack? C'mon. y'all supposed to be the smart ones." He tipped the can back and drained it in one go while we watched him. He belched long and loudly, slamming the empty can down on the bloody altar. "Ok. I feel better already." He rubbed his belly. "Y'all ain't brother and sister." He pointed at me and Eb with 2 fingers like a horizontal peace sign. Then he looked at Dax, "I'm right ain't I?"
Dax turned to Ebony and I and said, "I analyzed the situation and when my probability was high on an answer to each question I encountered, I sought help from AI to spur me in the new direction, looking for answers."
PFFT! "Fucking AI. Jesus. I'm using my eyes brain boy." Trent knocked back another can regarding Dax with amusement.
Dax watched Trent drain his beer for a moment and then continued, "Yes. Trent is correct. You are not brother and sister genetically. That is why you look so different. You each look like your actual parent. You have the same birthday and were raised as twins. In this day and age, we are not supposed to question racial issues so why not have you two be twins?" Dax watched another beer can get slammed down on the altar. Ebony and I turned to face one another, and everyone was watching us. We were holding each other's hands, facing and looking into each other's eyes.
Tears started rolling down Ebony's face. "I have loved this boy that I grew up with for as long as I can remember. We have held one another while we cried and while we laughed."
"Cared for each other when sick" I added with a smile, and I too started to tear.
"A year ago we kissed when we were in need." Ebony said as she took a step forward and though she had tears flowing she kissed me and said, "Then condemned myself, sobbing myself to sleep in turmoil over loving my brother so deeply." Tears flowed again as she relived her guilt. The other ladies all had tears flowing.
Ebony and I held on to one another in a tight embrace, both extremely emotional to be doing this in front of our friends for the first time. Dax decided to continue, "Here is where I started to get help from AI on the problem solving. The equation was two babies, completely different backgrounds yet born on the same day. We bring them together and keep them as close to each other as possible. Why would we do such a thing? What are my known factors influencing this now as I look?"
Dax pointed at Ebony, "You look like a strong African princes." He pointed at me, "And you look like a Viking conqueror. Opposite worlds, really. What is the connection? Why bring you two together without giving you the truth?" He paused for a moment. I released Ebony and turned sideways to gather Steph in my other arm and embraced them both as silent tears rolled down my face.
I kissed the top of Steph's head and looked to Dax as he continued, "There is some sort of spiritual connection between the two of you that could well have a supernatural aspect to it." Everyone went silent and stared and Ebony and me.
PFFT! "Are you saying that they are the wonder twins...powers activate?" Then he tilted his head back to drain his third can in 15 minutes.
"Maybe. The problem is I cannot know actually. I can only use educated guesses and reach logical conclusions about an illogical topic. The probabilities constraining the equation presented by you two being raised together greatly lean to a supernatural conclusion. It sounds odd to hear myself mention a logical conclusion being a supernatural connection. The AI doesn't have the constraints of reality to hamper the conclusions that it reaches."
"What should we do?" I asked Dax.
"You are both virgins, yes? This was part of my equation." He asked, already knowing the answer.
Ebony answered him while looking in my eyes, "For a few more hours. Yes. And now I don't need to fear our love being judged." Tears again welled in her eyes and slowly flowed down her face.
"Most primitive religions believed that there was power in sacrificing virginity. What time on this day, 19 years ago were you born?" Dax was drilling down and leading us.
I answered, "10PM."