Honestly, I don't know where I got the idea. Maybe I got inspired by a movie or a novel or something, but my subconscious wouldn't leave me alone with it. I'm crazy starting a new fic while I still got three on, but I like having different backgrounds. Hey, maybe next time some will be assassins! Have to start it first though xD
Just a precision: the GA headquarters have at their disposal (uh…what I would call:) "high-technology" and they do have kinda supernatural powers…they're some kind of angels after all (nothing to do with Red Wild by the way) :).
Disclaimer: I do not own Mentalist, I do not earn money over those fics, and I definitely don't deny having an obsession with AUs xD! warning: my English grammar isn't the best. Hope you'll enjoy the story anyway –won't blame you if you don't ;D
Prologue
"I can't do this anymore! I'm sorry boss, but I'm off this case!"
People working on desks stopped typing, reading or talking to bring their attention to the white door, on which could be read 'Ar. M. Hightower' in capital golden letters. The door flung opened, and a very upset woman dressed in a creamy and scarlet uniform stormed out furiously, not caring to close behind. For a flicker of seconds, the employees caught the glimpse of a black-skinned woman wearing a golden cape over a green and white uniform. She merely nodded, shutting the opening.
Employees got back to their work without a word, praying their boss's mood wouldn't affect them too much.
Inside, the black woman known as Madeline Hightower shook her head in resignation. Again, one of her best agent signed out of the case she started to nickname 'the black plague'. Four Guardian Angels had been trying. Four high-graded GA, and none of them had succeed in approaching their charge. Hightower closed her eyes and rested her head against the headrest of her chair. Her position was already delicate enough. She had run a lot of successful cases before being finally brought in the office, and she wasn't about to let this particular one escape her. She opened the file again and overlooked at the information inside.
A first paragraph appeared on a virtual screen in the air. Basic information on the charge she was supposed to cover. Name, age, sex, height, weight…She snapped her fingers and the words dissolved, leaving the stage to the picture of a dark-haired teenager with a neutral face. Hightower shifted in her sitting position to get a closer look.
"Zoom to the eyes" she ordered. The picture enlarged itself and emphasized the inch demanded. Sad orbs were staring aimlessly in the wild; the shadow of death floating over the beautiful green irises. A red warning appeared on the side, made up of numbers and letters only she was able to decode. Madeline Hightower froze. Something has changed in the teen's future. Her line of life had considerably diminished, and if she read the numbers right…She didn't have much time.
But who will take over the case? Who would be foolish enough to risk himself on that particular girl?
With a snap of a finger, the file closed itself and she turned towards the large mirror backing the wall. As she approached, a grey square a few inches large appeared on the upper left. Without hesitating, Hightower lifted her finger and pushed it. When the halo surrounding her new engorged finger turned green, she spoke clearly:
"Transmission code 2.002.8991, Archangel M. Hightower to Archangel V. Minelli."
The glass of the mirror flickered and a silhouette appeared in the reflection. Hightower stepped back and the chair moved from the her desk to behind her, allowing the black woman to sit down. Contrary to the classic white pants and top, Minelli was wearing a brown suit, back to her –not having noticing her yet- and was grumbling while classing some papers. Living human attire, she noted. He didn't even have a proper office for his rank.
"Archangel Minelli?" Hightower called sharply, making the man jump in surprise. When he turned towards her, she noticed he was holding papers in his hands.
"Ah, sorry Hightower. Administration is just such a mess! I just have to sign off another teacher's demission. These regulations are so complicated; I'll never understand why people love papers so much."
Hightower's eyes were caught by the green tie around his neck and his tired face. For a few seconds, she felt sympathy towards him. He didn't deserve to work in this hellhole, no pun intended.
"I need an advice and a good one" she blurted, crossing her arms. She let the man sit down to face her and went on: "I have a very sensible case on my hands. My usual Guardians signed off, and unless I can find someone else, I'll have to transfer it to another section. Now that I'm Archangel, I can't really go on field anymore."
"You, Madeline Hightower, are at a dead end?" Minelli chuckled. "Your charge must be something. So, what do you expect from and old pariah?"
"The charge is in your high school. I know there are a lot of them, but have you ever heard of a seventeen year old Teresa Lisbon?"
Minelli frowned and bit his lip in wonder. Worry clouded his eyes.
"You're talking about Lisbon?"
"Do you know her?"
"Yeah, I've seen her a few times in my office. She's a difficult girl, but good-hearted. She will go far if she has the opportunity. What's with her?"
"Minelli, this girl is going to die within the year if she hasn't a good GA to watch over her."
The half-bald man sighed.
"Damn Hightower, I would help you if I could, but you remember where I was placed? I'm in an O-zone. You know better than everyone I've got my hands tied."
Hightower sighed. Of course, how could she forget? Omega Zone, the dead end for a lot of young people angels couldn't take in charge anymore. Half of the high-school he was directing was full of potential drug dealers or future assassins and killers; great victims for their natural enemy, vice and human vanity. They needed a hell of a GA –no pun intended again- to get that poor girl out of there.
"I will not let her die Minelli" she said firmly. "The girl will be a great figure, and I won't fail her. Don't you know anyone?"
Minelli's features soften. He twisted his mouth, thinking, before nodding with himself.
"Are you willing to try anything to save her? Even if you open a Pandora box?"
Hightower's face became more rigid. She always admired Minelli for his honesty, and the man had form very good GA agents in the past. Despite him being relocated because of a sad mistake, her trust in him was absolute. If he understated she might not be able to handle the situation…the woman sighed inwardly. Damn the consequences, she made a choice and was going to stick with it.
"Positive."
A smirk grew on Minelli's face. And she knew it meant bad news.
"Search for profile number PAJA12336. He has a tooth against higher-ups like you, but he's good at his job. Remind him he owes me one if you encounter resistance" the man paused, and added softly: "I like Lisbon. She's a nice girl. Once on it I trust him to do his best."
Hightower sighed in relief. If Minelli believed the guy to be good, then it was a safe bet. She stood up and walked to the mirror, ready to cut the communication.
"Do you know where I can find him right now?" she asked before pushing the button off.
"Sealed room number 375 in the Underground" Minelli replied with the same knowing smirk. "He's considered as a Fallen one. Told you, you are about to open a Pandora Box."
The mirror flicked and went back to normal. In the reflection, Hightower could only see her own stunned face. A Fallen. A former Guardian Angel whose powers were sealed because of abuse or grave fault, only allowed to be released by an Archangel -by her.
What was she going to do?
Here are the starters. What do you think of it? (I swear next time I'll do with Assassins…or anything that pops in mind xD. MG I love AUs) You have the right to expressing your opinion by pushing the green rectangle below, and I'd like to hear them xD
Thanks for reading xD