Torchwood Nigeria; Sokoto State, Nigeria

Idrissa Oliveira entered the meditation room. He could sense Aman, but couldn't see him. He'd given up trying to call his husband Azrael. The ridiculous alias wasn't helping his state of mind. Pacing invisible in a public meditation room was more evidence of that.

"What's wrong?"

He shimmered like a mirage. "I can not materialize completely."

Idrissa took a moment. "It does not matter."

"I can not touch you."

"It is not important," Idrissa assured.

"I should not have come back."

Idrissa approached the shimmer. "I love you. For better or worse."

The air shook. "Until death do us part. I am not alive."

"You are," Idrissa stated firmly. "Sex does not matter, Aman. When I thought I lost you, all I wanted was you back home again."

"You are frustrated."

"Show yourself, please."

Aman materialized a few feet from him.

"I do not want to be with anyone else."

"You were tempted," Aman said sadly. "If I did not reveal myself, you would have found someone."

Idrissa briefly wondered how Aman found out about Matt. That had been nothing more than physical attraction. Based on something the younger version of his husband said, he suspected Matt had some type of psychic ability that helped people around him see parts of themselves.

"I did find someone." Idrissa gave it a moment. "I love you. No matter what name you chose. No matter what physical form you have. I love you. That will not change."

"I am no longer a man."

"The explosion changed your body. It did not change who you are."

Aman walked over and touched Idrissa's face with his fingertips. It tingled. "You deserve better."

"Better than a guardian angel?" Idrissa tried and could not keep a straight face.

After a moment, Aman smiled. "I do not deserve you."

Idrissa's mobile rang. He closed his eyes. Few people called. It was probably a Torchwood emergency.

"Answer it, liefde."

"Yes," Idrissa said. "What?" After listening again, he switched to speakerphone.

"Azrael?" Jack asked.

"Yes."

"John and I are at a religious retreat north of Brighton, England. It's a combination of alternative medicine healing facility for some type of psychics similar to Rift abilities. We need someone who can show something magical to assert authority. John killed one of their leaders in self-defense. Their prophet fled."

"Magical?"

"Meet us here, and we'll discuss the details."

Path of Tangled Briers Retreat; north of Brighton, England

Azrael found chaos. Scared, panicked people ran or hid. He walked across the expansive lawn focusing on Jack's quantum signature. Even with the strange energy permeating the area, Jack was unique. Azrael still remembered the man he knew and cared for, vividly. That version of was gone, or Azrael would seek his counsel. Jack knew what it was like to be different. He somehow survived being stranded in the past and forced to endure a culture that would never accept him.

Jack and John sought cover behind a maintenance shed. Seeing them together was unusual. The Jack he knew would never have forgiven John. Not after everything.

Azrael materialized crouching beside them. "Why are you here?"

Jack gave a quick summary of the Robards situation. "There are several people drugged in a basement. I found additional blackmail material."

"The blackmailers are dead?"

"Not yet. These kids are scared. Like your psychics, they came here seeking peace and a purpose. We disrupted that."

Azrael nodded. "What do you want me to do?"

"They need a religious experience. Something miraculous," John said. "A shimmering figure of light."

"An angel?"

"Not specific to Christianity," Jack said. "No halo or harp."

Azrael shook his head. "You owe me, Jack."

"There is a gate with garden stepping stones lining the walkway through the trees. You need to start there."

Creating the absurd illusion took a few minutes. Azrael rarely used any form other than what he looked like at the time of the explosion. Light required more effort than a different human image. As the glowing androgynous shape formed, he couldn't help but wondered if it was the most outlandish thing Jack ever asked him to do.

Feeling ridiculous, Azrael stepped through the gate and walked across the lawn. He stopped near the center of the large grassy area hoping to attract attention quickly. It didn't take long before the panic faded. They needed something to believe in and witnesses what they perceived as a miracle. Men and women, young and old, slowly approached him. Others farther away called to one another and jogged closer.

When people turned to a cult for answers, they didn't want to think for themselves. They were drawn to a strong, charismatic personality who promised them a better life, access to the divine, or paradise in the afterlife. Lost and broken, they didn't want to think for themselves anymore. Some were weak. Some needed hope. They needed a safe place, and potentially someone to protect them from their demons.

"I am the truth. The people who brought you here lost their way. They sought power for personal gain, and have fled from their responsibilities. I will find a prophet worthy of you. Do not fear. You have not been abandoned."

Evidence of the unfortunate impact of unethical leadership, the people dropped to their knees. Even those with physical problems struggled to bow. They were willing to worship any con artist presenting a light show. Even if his pseudo-miracle was more convincing than most.

"Who among you is prepared to stand up and manage the mundane chores of your home. You must see to your health and wellbeing. The new prophet will guide your spiritual journey. But physical needs must be met."

Unable to see their value they'd panicked at the possibility of having to make their decisions. For their leader, they could and would do things they wouldn't otherwise. The sheep volunteered to tend their flock at his prompting. A few probably participated in holding fellow members hostage and sending hideous pictures to their families because their leader said it was necessary for whatever reason. He simply needed to alter the programming.

"This is your family. Anyone telling you to hurt your family lies. The people outside this community may not understand you. That does not make them bad. They do not understand different." Azrael gave it a moment. "To find peace, you must want peace. To find love, you must love."

Azrael glowed brighter and disappeared suddenly.

From their expressions, he got through to them. They stood and helped those that needed help standing. It was not the healthiest approach to deprogramming whatever monstrosity they had been fed. But it would solve the problem for the time being. Jack needed to find a new leader.