"Testing"

The main gate of Fairmont opened wide for the rushing riders. They came to a halt once within the walls. The horses' sides heaved and froth splattered their necks. The five riders dismounted and an eight-ball hurried to them.

"Are you alright? What happened? You were riding like the Devil himself was giving chase."

"Edgar, good to see you too. You will hear our story during the council meeting," said Mayor Bell.

"The rest have already been called. They should be there by the time we arrive."

Mayor Bell handed the reins of his horse to Kenna and he followed the retreating figure to the council chamber.

"Bree, Dedrick. You should go to the meeting too. It will be a good experience. Bring your horses to the stable and then go," Kenna said. "And I still expect you at training tomorrow," she added.

The stables were at the opposite end of the city and were open to the valley. The stone wall around the city became a metal fence. It was less secure, but easier to transport the horses and other farm animals. Kenna and Johnathan brushed the horses thoroughly, wiping away sweat and dust after their long hard ride. They had made good time, cutting the week left of travel down to five days. The horses would be treated to a special blend of feed and treats and lots of time in the pasture for their hard work.

After taking care of the horses, Kenna and Johnathan joined the council meeting. The sun had nearly set when it ended. Kenna's radio buzzed with a request for her to come to the front gate immediately. She parted from the others and jogged to the gate. Her stomach grumbled. She had planned to have dinner with the council members, but it looked like this latest development would prevent that. She neared the gate and saw several soldiers surrounding two men.

"You made it. Excellent. We were beginning to worry," she said to Michael and Gabriel. "Stand down," she ordered the soldiers. "The council has been made aware of your visit. They look forward to meeting you tomorrow. I did think you would arrive before us."

"We searched for Alex on our way," said Michael.

She motioned for them to follow her. Some of the soldiers still cast wary glances at the guests. Fairmont rarely received visitors. She led them along the outskirts of the city until they came to a small but comfortable one-story house.

"This is my house. You'll be staying with me. Guest lodging isn't complete yet."

Kenna pushed open the simple wood door. She never bothered locking it. She trusted everyone in Fairmont and those who would hurt her wouldn't be deterred by a locked door. The rich aroma of chicken soup drifted from the kitchen.

"Darlene must be here," Kenna said, smiling.

As soon as she entered the kitchen, she was wrapped in an embrace. Darlene's black eyes were bright and the wrinkles of her weathered face deepened with her smile.

"I know you haven't eaten yet. Sit." She shoved Kenna into a chair. "You too, boys," Darlene said, snapping her fingers at the Archangels.

They sat with Kenna at the rectangular wood table in the center of the kitchen. Darlene placed steaming bowls of soup before them. Kenna groaned happily and dug in. The other two, however, eyed their bowls suspiciously. Michael closely watched Darlene putter around the kitchen putting things away. When she picked up a knife she had used to cut vegetables, Michael tensed. Beside him, Gabriel mimicked him. Darlene caught their glares and in a flash she was standing behind Kenna, knife pressed to the soldier's throat.

"Because I am an eight-ball, you think I will hurt people?" she hissed. She glared across the table at the rigid Archangels, daring them to make a move.

Kenna, who had already finished her soup, tilted her head back to look at Darlene. "Do you have any berry preserves left? I'm really craving some pie." She was completely unperturbed by the knife against her throat.

Darlene laughed and leaned down to kiss Kenna's forehead. "I'll see what I can do." She went back to cleaning up.

"We did tell you, back in Helena," Kenna said to the Archangels. "Are you going to eat that?"

She reached for Michael's bowl. He swatted her hand away and began eating. She leaned back with a smile. No one could resist Darlene's cooking.

"We had a surprise encounter on our return trip, a Nephilim," she said.

"Any injuries?" asked Gabriel. He surveyed what he could see of her.

Kenna squirmed under his stare and reminded herself to breathe. "We're fine. The Nephilim had a message. He said he fought in the Angel-Nephilim War and wants to meet, didn't say where though."

The morning dawned bright and cool. Michael rolled off the couch and stretched, loosening his tight muscles. In a nearby chair, Gabriel snored lightly. Michael kicked the chair.

"Get up. I know you are awake."

In front of the couch was a table. There were two stacks of neatly folded clothing and a note.

Had an early meeting. Found some fresh clothes. Darlene will be by at 9 o'clock to show you to the council chamber. Feel free to have whatever is in the kitchen.

-K

Michael dressed in the clean clothes, pleased she had found something similar to what he had, even new coats for him and Gabriel. The solid black attire and trench coats were fashion quirks the brothers shared. Uriel had often teased them about it. Even Raphael had though it was funny, though that may have been because she was happiest when Uriel was happy. Michael smiled fondly at the memories and kicked the chair again to rouse his fake-sleeping brother. If one of them was awake, so was the other.

Darlene arrived promptly at nine. She led them to the center of the city, pointing out various structures on their way. They stopped at a three-story brick building topped by a spire.

"Council meetings are held in the courthouse. The receptionist will direct you to the right room," Darlene said.

She bid them good bye. Inside the courthouse, it was simple and clean. The receptionist took them to a large room on the third floor and announced their arrival. The room had the distinctive feel of formality. A deep wood adorned the floor and paneled the walls. There was raised seating along the back wall and half of the far wall. Across from the back wall, left of the doors, was a massive stained glass window depicting biblical scenes. The window was made of three parts: two rectangular panes that could be swung open and a window arch above them. More light spilled through the windows placed around the spire, open to the room. Five elegant carved chairs formed a half-circle in the center with the opening toward the raised seating. Here the council members sat. Mayor Bell sat across from the window. To his left were Edgar and Ekatrina. On his right, Kenna and Tom.

"Welcome, Archangels. Please, sit." Mayor Bell waved toward the seats on the back wall. "I know we've already discussed the council, but perhaps a refresher."

He started with his far left, nodding in the direction of each person as he introduced them.

Ekatrina, our Education Superintendent. Edgar, our Museum Curator. He is also our, ah, spiritual advisor. You already know Kenna and I. And Tom, our City Secretary. He ensures the city remains operable day-to-day."

"Pleasure," Michael said, dipping his head in acknowledgment of each person. "Has there been any news from your contacts?" he asked Kenna.

"Not yet. Our network had been informed to report anything unusual and scouts have been sent to gather intel from some of our more difficult sources. We hope for answers soon."

Michael frowned, but otherwise didn't show his worry. He felt it though. Buzzing filled his ears and his vision was blurry. The softest hum from his brother calmed him and he focused on the meting again.

"Are the preparations complete?" asked Tom.

"The city service will begin at eight and the children's service at eleven," replied Edgar.

"Xandar and I will be near guards for Edgar and Mayor Bell. We will be with you all day," Kenna told the men. "We've set up rotations for all other guards. All security measures have passed testing."

"Good," said Tom. He began checking off items on his notepad. "We look good for the following day as well. Locations have been mapped and approved and all participants have verified their attendance."

"Excellent," Mayor Bell said. "That is everything on today's agenda. Meeting adjourned."

Edgar and Kenna came up to the Archangels.

"How about a museum tour? It is our greatest achievement," said Edgar.

The museums, there were three, were across from the courthouse. A small nature park separated the courthouse and museum system. They followed a winding path through the park, stopping occasionally to speak with the people milling about.

"This place is a utopia," Gabriel said, impressed. "Nothing like New Delphi."

"Told you so," Kenna said, nudging him with her elbow.

They reached the other side of the park and Edgar stepped forward. He swept his arms out grandly.

"Our greatest achievement, the Museums of History, Science, and Angels. We'll be touring the Angel Museum."

"Naturally," muttered Michael.

The museums were constructed of white stone and windows and were connected by glass skywalks. Unlike the other buildings in the city, these looked modern with many slanting edges and reflected brightly in the late morning sun.

As they approached the Angel Museum, they were greeted by a metal sculpture of three figures. Two were angels facing opposite directions, one with wings spread wide and the other with wings nestled against back and both with swords in hand. The third figure was a male human, features nondescript. Michael and Gabriel walked around the sculpture.

"It's us. Remarkable likeness. Though, that is not at all how Alex looks," Gabriel said.

"We didn't have a description of him at the time this was commissioned. However, some of our lower angels had seen the two of you and helped the sculptors. Read the inscription," said Edgar.

Michael knelt at the base. "Hope binds the Heart and Sword." He stood. "It is fitting," he said with a small smile to his brother.

Edgar led them inside. The interior was as spectacular as the outside.

"It took nearly all of two years to complete the museums. It was attention well-placed. When the world is rebuilt, our store of information will become the knowledge that helps us grow." Edgar's face flushed with embarrassment. "The human this body housed was a historian. I too have an appreciation for the past, coupled with a bright outlook for the future. This museum starts with the creation of the first angel and continues to the present. We still lack information, but you may still learn something."

The knowing way Edgar spoke made Michael curious. They wound through rooms dedicated to each Archangel. Although sparse, the information on each was accurate. Michael was unsettled seeing paintings and tapestries of himself. That discomfort was soon dwarfed when his violent past was described. The depictions made his skin crawl. That had not been his finest moment. He knew that beside him, Gabriel was remembering too. He felt a light touch on his arm and saw Kenna standing beside him.

"This is your past, Michael. It has shaped who you are today, which is someone pretty great, I think. Do not be ashamed."

He gave her a gentle smile and followed her and Edgar to the next room, this one dedicated to Gabriel. Michael stayed close, knowing this would be hard for his brother. Overall, Gabriel handled it well, though he said little. He purposely skirted past the description of his role in the story of David and Goliath. Michael scanned it quickly for accuracy and then joined his brother. Sensing they wanted to keep moving, Edgar continued the tour.

He stopped beside the largest painting yet. The title read, "The Apocalypse." It showed the broken seal and the dogs of Heaven raining down onto the mortal realm. It showed Michael and Gabriel at war and a baby swaddled in blankets between them. A plaque described the moment.

"I'm sure you are familiar with this," said Edgar," but perhaps not our explanation. We teach three versions of God's desire in this moment. One: Father wanted the Chosen One found and protected. Two: Father wanted humanity utterly destroyed and the Chosen One's death would be a part of that. Three, and this is what we ascribe to, Father wanted the lower angels to be released so that we may cleanse the world of the unworthy and he wanted the Chosen One to be protected so that he could be the light to guide the rest."

Michael and Gabriel both looked at Edgar in surprise.

"What are you saying?" whispered Michael.

"We believe that in this moment," Edgar pointed to the picture, "you were both right. It was Mayor Bell, Kenna, and I who came up with the theory."

"Well, we were pretty drunk at the time," Kenna said.

Edgar gave her a playful shove. "We had enough drinks to free the mind is all."

Gabriel turned to Michael. "Do you think it is really that simple?"

Michael grimaced and looked to the others. "Why is this the version you choose to believe? What makes it more plausible than the others?"

The gifts your Father gave you," Kenna answered. "Why would he give one of you the ability to save humanity and the other the ability to destroy it? You are halves of a whole, always in balance. Would not the gifts be meant for the same purpose?"

"Hmm," hummed Michael. "A novel concept."

They came to the last room on the tour. The door was barred shut by a lock. Edgar slid the key into it and it clicked open. The room was dimly lit. Soft white lights illuminated the displays.

"If we have to kill a higher angel, we keep their belongings here," Kenna said quietly. "If they are given a new body, we will return what is theirs. Some of the weapons have been gifted to Fairmont's soldiers who have demonstrated exemplary loyalty and skill."

The Archangels drifted between displays. So many of their brethren had died, and some at this city, no doubt by the hand of the woman standing at the door. At least Fairmont showed respect to the dead. When they reached the back wall, they stalled. There were scores of names carved into the wall.

A memorial for those lost since Father's disappearance," said Edgar. "There will not be enough space for all of them."

After the tour, Edgar and Kenna left the Archangels to their own devices. Edgar had museum business to attend to and Kenna had a training session. The military compound was near her house, sectioned off from the rest of the city. The shouts of officers giving commands greeted her. Her top three commanders were working groups though their forms in the training rings. Everyone in Fairmont was required to complete the first two Classes of training. Class A was for beginners and focused heavily on evasion and self-defense. It was comprised of mostly children. Class B was for basic offense and intermediate defense and was mostly teens. Those two Classes were mandatory for all citizens. Class C was reserved for soldiers. Kenna and her commanders had developed a series of tests to determine who would be allowed to become a soldier. Today was the first of three days of testing. The commanders, second Xandar, third Rodriguez, and fourth Contra, were warming up groups of people from Class B who wanted to become soldiers. There were about thirty, but only a handful, if any, would advance. Most were in their early twenties, but two were teenagers, 17 year old Raina and 18 year old Justin. He was Rodriguez's son. Despite their age, they were the frontrunners. Kenna called the groups to gather.

"Today we begin testing to determine if you have what it takes to be a soldier of Fairmont. We will begin by assessing your knowledge of basic and intermediate forms. This will be a mix of questions and demonstrations. If you make a mistake, you are eliminated. Come forward when you hear your name."

Four names were called, one per commander, and the testing began. Some were eliminated quickly, the stress proving too much. Others made it through several questions before faltering. After an hour and forty-five minutes, eighteen had passed the test, including the two teens.

The second test occurred in the evening and was conducted in a classroom. Since Rodriguez and Contra were both on duty that night, Kenna and Xandar split the exams to grade them. Results would be posted in the morning. Again, missing one question would result in elimination.

Kenna was sitting at her kitchen table, grading exams, when Michael and Gabriel walked in. They had spent the day checking out the city.

"What have you got there?" asked Michael.

"Exams. Want to help me grade?"

"What subject?" asked Gabriel. He was rummaging through the pantry and refrigerator.

Michael grabbed Kenna's pen and threw it at him. "How can you possibly be hungry? We just ate."

"Why don't you have anything sweet in here?"

"Darlene won't let me." Kenna sounded quite put out.

"What is she, your mother?" teased Gabriel.

"The closest I have to one," she said quietly.

"Sorry." He gave her back the pen.

She tapped the exam in front of her. "Military history."

"We know a thing or two about that," Michael said, trying to lighten the mood. He pulled a stack to him while Kenna found more pens.

The next morning, the sun rose upon a silent city. Gabriel was up before Michael and was just about to tip him onto the floor in repayment for yesterday's kicking when he heard the sound of scraping metal. Instead of tipping his snickering brother onto the floor, he punched him in the stomach and left him be. Gabriel followed the sound to a room he hadn't been in before. It was an office, neatly organized and designed for efficiency. There was a large cabinet without shelves against a wall, and that is where Kenna was.

Gabriel leaned against the doorframe. "Not that you don't look great like that, but why are you wearing armor?"

The dark silver metal gleamed in the early dawn light filtering through the lone window.

"Do you know what day it is?" Kenna asked.

Gabriel shrugged. Time meant little to an immortal.

"Today makes 26 years. It is the anniversary of your Father's disappearance."
Gabriel turned away and pressed his back against the hallway wall. Ten seconds later, Kenna was by his side. She thumbed away his tears.

"We are having a service at eight. You and Michael are welcome to join us if you like. Just follow everyone else."

She kept her hand on his cheek a moment longer before leaving. Gabriel didn't move until he heard the front door close behind her. In the living room, Michael sat at the edge of his seat, staring blankly. With his superior hearing, he had heard their conversation. Gabriel sat beside him and they each wrapped an arm around the other, their sorrow mingling until it was no longer the sorrow of two, but of one.

The stone church was packed. The pews were full and there were still rows of people standing. Michael and Gabriel had decided to attend. They stood near the doors, hidden in shadow. Precisely at eight o'clock, the bell in the tower above rang and the doors swung open to admit four people. In walked Mayor Bell, flanked by his guard Xandar. A few steps behind came Edgar in pressed black dress pants and a crisp dress shirt. There was no flowing white robe to signify purity. A false sense of piety had caused Father's disappearance in the first place. His guard was Kenna. She and Xandar were both dressed in full regalia, with shining armor, swords, and a deep blue cape adorned with the silver Fairmont insignia, a leafless tree with a sword as the trunk and a single feather at the base. Mayor Bell took the seat that had been saved for him and Edgar went behind the altar. Kenna and Xandar took up positions across from each other and against the walls. They could see all of the room but wouldn't block anyone's view of Edgar, who had begun to speak.

"Twenty-six years ago we were thrown into chaos. Angels were cast down upon the Earthy Plane and humans learned the truth of their existence. We fought and we hated. That is not our Heavenly Father's legacy. Look about you. Turn to your neighbor. What do you see? Peace and love. That is His legacy."

The service continued for an hour and a half. Edgar ended it with a reminder to live honestly. He mentioned the children's service at eleven, which would be over at noon, and said he would be available the rest of the day for confessions, though no one was required to do so.

Because Edgar did not rest, neither did Kenna. She knew Xandar was in a similar position with Mayor Bell. They were visiting with families to simply offer company and hear their stories. Kenna stayed in the church with Edgar, but far enough away to not make people uncomfortable during their confessional. The sun had set and the last few stragglers were leaving the church. Edgar would stay until midnight, but he didn't expect many more. A lone figure entered. It was Michael. He looked questioningly at Kenna. She pointed to the confessional where he would find Edgar. He gave her a warning glare to stay before shutting himself in the small space. Michael was in there longer than anyone else, but that was to be expected. Even in the span of a human's lifetime, he had experienced much. He left with his head down and brow furrowed. Gabriel came next. His was much like Michael's. He didn't leave though. Instead, he sat in a pew with his head tilted back and eyes closed. The hours ticked by quietly. At midnight, Kenna nudged Gabriel. She narrowly avoided getting whacked.

Scowling, she said, "Edgar and I are leaving. Stay as long as you like. The church is always open."

Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut again and sighed. "I can't hear him," he said softly.

Kenna sat beside him. "That doesn't mean he can't hear you. Rest. Tomorrow is another big day."

Gabriel smiled as he listened to her footsteps echo into silence.


Dan wrung his hands. This was not good. Once you joined, you could never really get out. The Mob would always come back for him.

"No one knew his real name. We called him Bookie because he kept the books."

"Is he a threat?" asked General Riesen.

"Book keepers were generally kept out of the action. They needed to be protected from those who would bribe them. Bookie though, well, he wasn't a typical keeper. There seemed to be something off about him. He was smarter than everyone and could almost always persuade others without resorting to violence. But, I think he could have busted some kneecaps in his time."

"So we need to keep an eye on him," said Riesen.

"Definitely. Him as a politician can only mean trouble."

In House Whele, David Whele was deep in a bottle of whiskey. He hiccupped and took another swig. He was in William's room, slouched on the bed. Whele rubbed his face and stared around the room. There wasn't much to see. William's room was sparsely decorated. There was a single tattered picture of him and Claire in the corner on the floor. A couple tall white candles were on a desk. Wax had dripped down the candles and hardened, leaving the candles with ridged sides. A pool of wax had collected at the base of the glass holders.

Whele set down the bottle and stood. He swayed and put a hand on the bed to steady himself. Tottering drunkenly, he made his way to the closet. When he opened the door, the smell of clean linen washed over him. He reached out a shaky hand to touch the hanging shirts. He ran his fingers along a sleeve and then tugged it to him. Whele fell to the floor, hugging the shirt close. He bowed his head and let loose the tears he had been holding back since the funeral. He began to pull down more shirts, burying himself in the clothes his son had worn. A thick black marker outline drew his attention to the back of the closet. He moved the stuff blocking the wall until he could see all of it. There were the outlines of four people. On the right were two small figures. One was clearly a girl with long hair and the other a boy. On the left were the two others. One was a full-grown person with curled hair. The other was a small child in the adult's lap. Each figure was labelled. From left to right: "Mom," "Me," "Peggy," and "Charles." Then Whele saw another outline drawn on the inside of the closet door. "Dad." Whele wailed. He really had failed all of his family. He had never seen the depth of William's despair. His son's broken psyche was his fault. Whele crawled into the closet and stayed there until the following day.


"Emotions. They are spectacular, aren't they?"

Lucifer's voice drifted through Alex's and Noma's minds.

"A gift or a curse? Only those made in Father's image can experience them in all their glory. A curse, I think," mused Lucifer. "If they weren't, then why do they cause so much suffering? Even pleasant emotions end in pain. Take love, for example. Tell me. What has love done for you, Alex?"

Alex thought hard. What had love done for him? He had loved Claire and he had loved the life growing inside her, but just like Lucifer said, it had ended in pain. He had loved Michael, but had witnessed him kill in a senseless rage. And now, when Alex needed him more than ever, he hadn't come. Alex had loved Noma, and she had betrayed him more than anyone else. Alex was just about to concede when he thought of one other thing he loved.

"I love humanity's potential, and that has given me purpose."

"Yes, Alex. Yes. Humanity's potential. I love it too. Upon my return, I will do what Father did not. I will nurture humankind. Soon, humans and angels alike will see me not as a vengeful God, but as a father and brother. We will walk hand-in-hand to a bright future. Their love will give me strength, and once all love me, all traces of the wraith of Heaven will be gone. Already my dear little Noma loves me, and I know just the humans to start with. We are not so different, you and I. We want the same thing. Won't you help me?"

Noma watched Alex carefully. Oh, how she wished her mission was complete. She was ready, right now, to finish it. She hadn't been sure at first if this was meant to be her path. But, the more she saw Alex and Lucifer interact, the more intent she was on seeing her mission through successfully. The end was so close. It all hung on Alex's next words.

"I want to help you," said Alex.

Noma tensed.

"But I don't think my sacrifice is the best way to do so."

Noma eased. She wouldn't be finishing her mission today.

"Alex. Alex," chided Lucifer. "Don't you know? Father knows best."

Alex cried out in pain. He felt like his head was exploding. Images of Claire, Noma, and Michael flashed through his mind.

"I have seen your desires, Alex."

The images of Claire became few and then none. The same happened with the images of Michael. In his mind's eye, he could only see Noma with her black hair in a high ponytail and her bright smile.

"Love, Alex. A curse and a gift. It is your curse and my gift."

Noma screamed. She folded in on herself, clutching her head. She felt her right hand move and grab the Empyrean steel dagger strapped to her leg. The pressure felt insurmountable. She fought through it and locked down the parts of her mind she didn't want Lucifer to see. He might possess her, but he couldn't have all of her. She felt her hand bring the dagger to her throat. Her mouth formed words in tandem with Lucifer's.

"If you won't die for me, will you die for her?"


Uh-oh, Lucifer is out of patience. What's worse, he knows that Alex might be mad at Noma, but his heart still loves her. I thought if Gabriel can figure out how to possess others, then Luc probably has figured that out too. He has had a lot of time to practice, after all.

So the events in the movie Legion take place in late December. I forgot that when I was writing, so I have Father disappearing in Spring (in northern hemisphere, since this takes place in the U.S.). I've tried to keep everything canon as much as possible, but I messed up on that one. But, I like the idea of God disappearing at the start of the season that brings new life. Hope that's ok with you guys.