Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 6

Chapter 10: The Heavy Crown

(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)

It had been four days since I saw Chuck fading away as I was in the laundromat washing the clothes that he once had on. The sight of them in the small load setting of the frontloader was on the spin cycle as I couldn't get the image of Chuck fading away out of my mind so readily. Even after I watched Gabriel and Abiasaph bowing in front of me, I still didn't have the strength to carry on the torch that their fallen Father gave me. By the time that the load was done, I took out the clothes as I shoved them into the dryer while putting some coins to operate it with. Turning it on, I watched the clothes spinning slowly as all I saw was the striped housecoat covering the sweater and sweatpants that Chuck wore with his underclothes cleaned the same way. I continued to wait for Chuck's clothes to get done as I spotted Abiasaph coming into the laundromat, for he was concerned about how I was feeling.

"So, you're still blue or are you more depressed since Dad fade away?" he told me as he sat down next to me. "You can't let His fading away get to you because He's made his point since you were foretold to be a god for this galaxy."

"It's never easy since Chuck faded away," I said. "Still, I can't be a god and replace him and that's not right with anyone who worshiped Him for centuries."

"He wouldn't like it if you run away from your duties, Sam. Therefore, you've got too much on your hands, but those asshats that tried to do away with you are still at large."

"I can't replace Chuck, alright?!" I was getting more emotional than normal as I was about to lose it from all the anguish that I suffered from. "He was your Father, not mine!"

"He's your Father just as much as John Winchester was, so I suggest that you show him some respect. Even though Dad faded away and left his clothes behind, his spirit is up there in the heavens somewhere probably wanting to have a threesome with a two people of different genders. As for your predicament into becoming the next god, you can't back down on it, no matter what gets thrown at you, is that clear?"

"I don't like people bowing down to me as if I'm some sort of dictator in which I won't act like one."

"You're a hell of a lot more different than a certain group of asshats that abused what they had by the public, only to be executed by it. Take Caligula, for example. He took over as Emperor of Rome on Earth after the death of his uncle, Tiberius, but his reign lasted four years. He had style to improve the public, only to be wasteful up to the point that he turned the main palace into a brothel. His orgies and sadistic antics were the last straw that caused his advisors to take him towards a secluded area and kill him on the spot like what Brutus did to Julius Caesar. It's all the same, if one rules like a despot, one will die being a despot. And what about Marie Antoinette, the Austrian princess who married the French king, Louis XVI, and gained notoriety when she used her popularity to have more exquisite things for herself rather than the French public and heads surely rolled after that. No wonder it declined after a list of scandals, including a diamond necklace to boot. Last, but not least, Donald Trump, who won as president while courting the white middle-class with his core slogan, 'Make America great again,' but his victory became an outcry for the millennials who relished in the power of change, only to have their rights get pushed back and that was when a surrogate president got possessed by Lucifer while the real deal sat on his ass in his tower. And do you know what surrogate presidents are? They were stand-ins that were hired by the Isoldati after the Kennedy assassination in which they had power over the rest of America while the real deal was kept protected from harm. As for The Donald, however, he was picking his members of the hate machine while your past self and others were busy trying to hold off against the Old Guard and Lucifer respectively, but the demagogue who 'grabbed women by the pussy' ended up getting his due for being too focused on his ego after he lost the popular vote and won the college vote. Therefore, real presidents are known to take responsibility for their actions, but the once revered real estate mogul and reality star only focused on his own ego than his people."

"I'm not like the demagogue that you talk about, but that doesn't change anything of my position as god of this galaxy."

"That's not all, Sam. After the victory over a certain former first lady, Trump was more than ready to 'drain the swamp' as putting up a middle finger to the establishment, only to bring back the corporate lobbyists who tried to bankrupt America in the first place. After that, the voters who supported him later realized that he up and pulled the big con by enticing them for jobs and other stuff, only to swindle them in the end. After that, he was itching to cause fear in the women and minorities by attempting to take their rights away, only to be stopped by those who were against him. He even went too far into jailing reporters and journalists that reported on his bad habits, only to silence them at every turn. It wasn't long until his habits that involved child rape a few years earlier and the numerous dirty deals that he had with Russian oligarchs was the last straw that broke the camel's back in which everyone was on board to impeach his ass. Hell, he even traded with Cuba during the embargo, but he believed himself to be untouchable until his habits caught up to him. During the midterms, Trump's party of choice got trounced in a sea of blue as the scandals of his 'get rich quick' university scheme and the numerous reports of sexual assault of women in the past caught up to him in which after the 2018 elections, he got impeached by both parties, Democrat and Republican respectively, but that wasn't all. After his impeachment, his wife filed for divorce, his kids got sued, and tons of looters stripped Trump Tower bare in which enough was enough. Still, anyone who votes for a despot who strives to 'live in the past' by taking certain freedoms away will end up paying the price for the actions that are sown. As for you, you have a kinder agenda that involves inclusiveness instead of divisiveness because you also bestow compassion, even when you try to hide it, for it is clear that you will succeed where our Father didn't. You've got the balls to even blow up General Wetzel of all people and everyone revered you to be a Messiah for good, not for those who would take advantage of you and abuse your raw power."

I heard the clarity in Abiasaph's voice as I vowed never to become the despot that I fear myself to be, but there were seeds of doubt that were sown about my position since Chuck's passing. All I did was just stare with tears in my eyes as I saw the Chuck's clothes tumbling in the dryer after getting washed earlier. What was I supposed to do now since I ended up achieving a status as a god? How could I explain to Reiko about all of this when Chuck's passing was not enough to pass the torch like that? All I did was just stare into nothingness other than the clothes that were tumbling in the dryer in front of me. Just as I was about to endure yet another doldrum of my misery, I heard footsteps approaching as I noticed Ryosuke entering into the laundromat with Minara following him. Both members of the Order were most likely to be briefing me on the situation in the war that was started in the first place, for they had to let me know.

"The lounge area is the other way," I said.

"We decided to have our conference in here, Sam," said Ryosuke.

"It's about the Red Inquisition raining on my parade, isn't it?"

"It's not about them right now," said Minara. "The Executive Division has made their mark towards Drakonus and it doesn't stop there. They're hell-bent on making a deal with those who want you dead."

"I know what they do because they'll stop at nothing to see my head on top of a spear if they don't get their way."

"Julilla is still out there since Dean returned back to Claudius to help with the his squad in the Hunter Corps to push back against our enemies. As for your involvement into becoming the next god, you should be careful when it comes to some of the angels who swore loyalty to the Terran God and that includes those who were fiercely loyal to Him."

"Hey, we bowed in shock and awe in front of Sam, didn't we?" said Abiasaph.

"That's not the point here," said Ryosuke. "The angels that have loyalty towards God follow only Him and no others. If the Knights of Heaven find out about their Maker's death, they will be left out of control and up to their own devices in the Elder Days, but there's only one archangel that stands in the way of Sam's transition into becoming a god and that is Abel."

"Abel… He's the guy who became the first Knight of Heaven, but he's also a staunch successor to Heaven's throne just in case Dad bit it. As for Sam's predicament, he's in for some competition when it comes to dealing with the second son of Adam and Eve. He also delved into Lucifer's bad habits in which he even goes too far into keeping other angels on a short leash when it comes to honoring Dad's memory. If Sam ever crosses him, he's in for a rude awakening in which Abel himself is poised to take Heaven for himself, but he wants no other gods before our Father."

"I had a feeling that you would say that…," I said. "Being the new god is a very heavy burden, but there will always be drawbacks that will be in the form of those who want me to remain in the background for the rest of my days."

I was concerned about the dangers of what Abel could do as I had to watch my back for a very long time. As for the status of being the new god, I had competition as I was most likely to be thrown into further danger if I wasn't careful, for this wasn't the end of it anytime soon…

Later on in the afternoon, everyone was busy cleaning up the Golden Tiger Resort as the snow from outside was getting intense due to an upcoming winter that was here to stay. With Gabriel overseeing the cleanup while looking at his vidphone to file his taxes, he saw someone approaching as it was someone familiar that was not too happy with what happened four days ago. He saw the familiar figure to be none other than Abel as he was in the vessel of a human he possessed in the Elder Days, who was a black man dressed up in a grey suit with a white shirt. He meant business as he was also in mourning of Chuck's passing, for he wasn't about to lose to my advances anytime soon.

"You have some nerve coming here, Abel," said Gabriel.

"It's a shame since Dad died, but nothing can keep me from being top dog," he said in a Liverpool accent. "Let's make this clear because me reputation is crystal clear and nothing can keep me from what God gave me as you and the others will obey my commands."

"That's what happened to Castiel when he once became top dog, only to have the Leviathans hitch a ride in his vessel out of Purgatory."

"You were killed once by Lucifer during the Apocalypse, Gabriel, so don't get killed by me own hand. As for what I heard after God's passing, there's a new savior trying to encroach on us angels. Therefore, I stand with me angelic brothers and sisters and not the trash that comes and goes, you got that? This is me only warning to Sam: don't take over one's position or else you will be turned to dust. That is what you will tell him or else…," Abel stares at one of the bellboys as he snaps his fingers to blow up his body into chunks of blood and bone. "your fate will be splattered all over the place, is that clear…, Trickster?" Gabriel nods as he is shaking fearfully. "Excellent… As soon as Sam gets this warning, the better he steers clear of Heaven and the gateway that leads towards the central part of the Ashizoka System. God may have passed on, but I'm a much more suitable pick to run his business; not Castiel, not Metatron, and not even the archangels who took over just to let the Apocalypse happen in the first place. You see, brother, I'm the one true successor and I will make it that way in which I will destroy my critics who prove me wrong the whole time, for I am the new god and you will soon fear me instead of showing me love."

Gabriel was left reeling as he saw Abel vanish without a trace. When he saw the cleanup crew arriving to pick up the bloody mess that the archangel left, he was worried for my safety as he had to warn me about Abel's involvement in the shift of power among the ethereal masses. He was in a bit of a pickle as he feared Abel's influence to the core, but like Abiasaph and the others, he was a Knight of Heaven and will stop at nothing to keep me out of the limelight. Still, he had to warn me as he had no other choice but to do so, for he feared the presence of the archangel that appeared to challenge me as god to everyone else above others…

I was back at my hotel room as I saw Reiko sitting in the bed enjoying a cup of hot cocoa and some cookies that were baked earlier. Still, we were there until the month was up as our situation with the castle back on Alecrast was knee-deep with the Medical Corps running things after the destruction of the Order's main headquarters almost five months ago. With the fresh snow falling down from outside, I was noticing some of the outdoor décor being set up in the streets as the time for Christmas was coming, but for us, it was our second from far away. Luckily for me, I didn't mind being far away from home as I had Reiko and the children with me, for we were here until the start of the New Year anyway. Just as I was about to relax, I heard a knock on the door as I went towards it to answer who was there, only to see Gabriel dressed up as a waiter while trying to hide his shaken feelings.

"Room service!" he yelled as he entered into the room.

"There's something wrong, isn't there?" I said as I sensed fear coming from Gabriel directly. "You got a glimpse of Abel, didn't you? You saw him, but I have a gut feeling that he has a territorial streak while keeping Heaven for himself."

"Abel came here earlier and he says that you need to back off from becoming the new god of the Ashizoka System, which was Dad's idea since he faded away."

"Something's wrong, isn't there, Mr. Gabriel?" said Reiko.

"Abel said that you're a threat to his plans, but I won't back down and take it. He may be the first Knight of Heaven, but he can't just kick you off. He even killed one of my employees at the front, which is a pain in the ass to pay respects to him and giving him his final resting rights by salting and burning what's left of him."

"This Abel person isn't great for you, is he?"

"In life, he got shafted by Cain, who was the Father of Murder and the first Knight of Hell. In Heaven, Abel launched the Knights of Heaven just to combat any threat that is considered to be dangerous, but he's overstepping his lines just to snuff you guys out."

Reiko was stunned to hear Gabriel's words as she clutched at the baby bump that she carried. She was scared for what was yet to come as she stared at me with concern. Even though I remained in my super-charged form and hadn't reverted back, I was a walking target as I had to be on my guard or else I would soon bring out the wrath of those who once served God in the first place. In the end, I couldn't let fear and fearmongering get in the way of what was put in front of me, for I had to be vigilant in times of danger. Still, it was hell for me as I had competition and my opponent wasn't ready to concede towards me yet, for this was just more fuel to my worries…

Abiasaph was in the lobby as he saw members of the Order arriving to clean up what was left of Abel's mess in the form of a dead bellboy. He never saw so many members coming here as they were also ready to meet me as the new god of the Ashizoka System, for it was a beginning of both progress and pain on the horizon. By the time he was ready to call it a day, he saw a familiar Draaza coming towards him as she was most likely to give him words of warning. It was Azeri as she was there to see a smooth transition of me ascending to new heights in my position as a god, but there was trouble lurking behind the scenes. Like most of everyone, they were ready to welcome me as their savior, but it would all come crashing down as the danger of Abel being territorial would soon shake things in an uncertain favor.

"Chuck Shurley is dead," said Azeri as she was standing in front of Abiasaph.

"We knew that he didn't last long, but Abel's surely gumming up the works in our plans to propel Sam as the god of the Ashizoka System," he said. "He already issued Gabriel a warning with a side order of splattered bellboy on the side."

"Abel is afraid of change, but his actions will end with death to your fellow angelic brothers and sisters. Therefore, his crusade to be the new god of Heaven is ongoing, but you must also watch your back against your former superior."

"Abel was also the first Knight of Heaven after he got killed by his brother, Cain. When he was sacrificed at his brother's expense to be an angel, it was slowly shifting in his favor in which he even answered to Father Himself who made him create the angels who were there to both keep the peace and prevent the Knights of Hell from causing chaos. After all that has happened when humans started to colonize other planets in the Solar System, they reached even further in which they were finally going towards the Ashizoka System where most of humanity thrived with other races and species and even had to have balance for all, but Abel didn't see it that way. All he wanted was to get rid of humanity after he heard the talk of the archangels who revered Lucifer as a person who stood for all angels that were put down for questioning Father's plan."

"Abel is on the same level as the one who enticed him to become his pet, only to be cut down by his older brother, Cain. When the younger brother ascended towards Heaven, he became the first Knight of Hell for a reason, but after a while over the centuries, Lucifer's influence finally took hold over him in which he rounded up the four archangels to hatch a plan to start a plan to bring the Earth to those who were deemed fit in his favor. Therefore, it wasn't just that rogue Shinigami, Kurotowa, who started to mess with things, for Abel planned everything under God's nose. He even took pity on Azazel in which he wanted him to raise an army of demons to show the humans who was boss, but it was foiled at the end when a lone bullet from the Colt killed the one with yellow eyes. With his plan soured, Abel thought up of another one that ended with the Apocalypse starting up, only to end by putting Lucifer back in his cage. Your superior is dangerous and he'll end up going after Sam."

"If Abel does this, then he's offending the rest of us. He should abide by Father's decision to see Sam as the god of the Ashizoka System, not some outsider that has to sit alone at an empty table in the school cafeteria all the live long. He knows that this prophecy can't be ignored, for it will be beneficial at the end."

Abiasaph made his point clear as he feared for my safety if I ever came across Abel in the near future. Even though he was his superior, the latter had questionable motives that shook his subordinates as this wasn't the further end of it anytime soon. Still, there was competition between me and the first Knight of Heaven as it was most likely to get ugly if I wasn't careful, for this was personal for those who feared him the most…

I was back in the laundromat as I was busy washing clothes while writing in my journal. With most of our clothes stuffed in the frontloaders on wash cycle, I was keeping watch over them as I was also on point into doing my part in my chores until I heard the sound of two frontloaders going off balance. Turning around, I saw the ones behind me going into full motion with a full load until the doors of them blew open with something unpleasant inside. Instead of washing water that had laundry detergent and fabric softener in it, I saw it to be blood as it was splattering everywhere until I blinked and found the two frontloaders to be empty and unused. I was relieved that nothing bad happened until I noticed Abel coming in here. He was on the warpath as he had a warning to deliver, for he didn't like me that much due to the perceived danger that I was rumored to have.

"Hello, Sam," he said to me as he didn't move under pressure. "It's a nice place to do laundry, but you've worn out your welcome to all of us angels since God faded away."

"You're Abel, aren't you?" I said. "Gabriel told me about you in which you want me to back off as the new god of this galaxy."

"You can't just encroach on one's territory and just sit there doing laundry. You may be meant by me brothers and sisters that you're the best candidate as a god, but you will never be one." I see Abel snap his fingers as he shows me a bleak future that was yet to come. "This is a future that will end up being devoid if you ever decide to take power. This is what will become of the so-called 'golden age' that everyone talked about like what I saw from that crazy religion from the Dead Space games. It'll fail and you know it. You were never made to be a god in the first place, so I suggest that you return to a normal life while you still can."

"I can't do that, for I made a promise to Chuck that-"

"So, God was under Chuck this whole time, but it seems that he picked the wrong successor instead of me! Very soon, I will craft this galaxy in God's image and I'll be a much bigger presence in Heaven and all the planets than that of Castiel and Metatron! I rule all and I will be all, for you will spake praise of me and rejoice!"

I saw Abel snap his fingers as he returned me to the present. I was worried for everyone as I was doing more harm than good, but the damage was already done in the first place. When I resumed my work into doing the clothes, I stared at them as I saw nothing but the clothes mixed with the soapy sloshing of the water that was inside of the frontloaders. With Abel not budging, he was waiting for an answer from me, for he wasn't the type that can take no for an answer.

"Well, what is your choice, Sam?" he told me. "Will you relinquish your status as a god or do you risk having people suffer in your wake? Time's short, buttercup, so I suggest that you give me your word of resignation or else I'll turn everyone and every loved one that you hold dearly into chunks of blood and bone. With the missus pregnant, who's up for some baby back ribs? I know I am."

"You won't do a fucking thing to him, so I suggest that you back off!"

I noticed Nimi standing at the entrance of the laundromat as he was not too happy with Abel causing havoc in his wake. The familiar Arrancar wasn't too thrilled to see the Knight of Heaven itching to cause chaos towards me as he was ready to put an end to it and give him a warning that he would never forget. He couldn't see me go through the misery of what Abel could sow as he was also one of God's prophets that were picked, for he wasn't about to let me fall victim to the illusory memories that the latter brought up earlier.

"You sure picked the wrong fucking time to jerk Sam around, haven't you, Abel?" he said. "All of a sudden, you wanna act like Lucifer in which you wanna get rid of humanity and support your angelic brethren instead of honoring what God made!"

"I won't be silenced by the prophets that God selected to carry out His word so readily, including the words of a pathetic Arrancar," he said. "I will make me motive grow and I won't stop until I have this galaxy at me fingertips!"

"Oh, bite me, Lister! I heard about how God faded away in which he left Sam the keys to the galaxy of the Ashizoka System, not Heaven! You can rule that as much as you want, but don't tow this galaxy down with you! By rights, Sam is the rightful god of the Ashizoka System in which his prophecy into bringing this nest of planets into a golden age is still on the table, you got that?!"

Abel was ready to attack as he got our a strange blade and was ready to attack Nimi for no reason at all. Just as he was about to do so, I got in the way as I was stabbed at the right shoulder while shielding Nimi from his attack. I was in pain as it was beginning to be more intolerable than what I was used to in which it was from a much higher angel than what I know of. Just as Abel was about to finish me off, he was subdued by Iriniel, who appeared out of nowhere to tie him up in hithlain rope, which was very strong and useful at times. It wasn't long until Kazuo ran in here as he saw what was going on, only to see me wounded and crying out in intense pain.

"What the hell's going on here?!" he yelled as he saw me clutching at my shoulder.

"Kazuo Mitani," said Abel as he was struggling to get free. "You have some nerve to come here when I nearly wanted to do away that foul-mouthed Arrancar, but Sam got in the way to take an Angmar Knife in his stead."

"Is this true?" I nodded as Kazuo spotted only the hilt of the blade on the floor that struck me. "This isn't good here! What you got struck from was an Angmar Knife in which once the target is struck, the blade vanishes and goes inward towards the heart by either turning its victim into a Ringwraith, or killing him or her with ice. It's the worst way to go, even for you, Sam, but there's no way that a Terran can get it out without dying on the spot."

"He tried to do away with Nimi!" I cried as I was suffering from the pain from my wound.

"He's right," he said. "Luckily, he took a blade for me and as for the Lister wannabe over there, his ass is grass!"

"Don't be too quick to judge, Nimi," said Iriniel as he got out a pouch with an angelic sigil from his hip holster. "Abel overstepped the lines, but he knows that he can't go against our Father's will, no matter what he does."

"You'll regret this, Iriniel!" he yelled. "Sooner or later, I will get what's mine and don't you forget it!"

At that moment, Abel disappeared without a trace as only the hithlain rope remained. As for me, however, I felt the pain in my shoulder beginning to intensify even worse as I had a gut feeling that the blade I took in Nimi's stead was something that I once remembered during my training with Ippei two years ago. With proper precaution, I began to incite an Elven incantation as I felt something protruding from the wound I suffered from. With the strength I had, I got out the blade that pierced me, it emerged out of my shoulder as it flew into a tackboard that was above a row of toploader washers. The pain was too much for me as I fainted onto the floor, for I overcame the odds to protect those who were with me till the bitter end…

I found myself in Lucifer's cage once again as I was hanging above the ground with the usual meathooks and chains keeping me shackled. I was scared out of my mind as I saw the ceiling being set ablaze in which I was burning all over until I woke up in a hospital room. I was panting harshly as I found myself in a hospital bed that had me pressed with electrodes and an i.v. drip inserted into my arm. Sitting up, I noticed my right shoulder bandaged up as I had the rest of my arm in a sling. I was also worried about the retaliation that I would receive as I was shaking with fear. I wanted to leave as I had to go back and make sure that Reiko and the children were safe, for there were those who would target them just as much as me. When I removed the electrodes and was ready to yank out the needle in my arm, I was stopped as I noticed Kazuo approaching in which he was most likely to be giving me a stern lecture for my actions.

"Don't even think about leaving this hospital room, Sam," he said.

"I have to go back to check up on Reiko and the children," I said. "There's no telling what those like Abel would do next!"

"Taking an Angmar Knife in Nimi's stead took a lot of guts, but this isn't the first time that this ability to remove it in which Ippei once removed one after he got stabbed by a Gladiator on Claudius during his early years. He was lucky that he lived, but if he hadn't removed it, he would've been dead by now back then."

"And what about the blade that hit at the tackboard in the laundromat? Is it still there?"

"The blade was removed, but it is being taken as evidence towards the Order's main headquarters on Drakonus. As for your family, they're safe and that's all that counts in which the Knights of Heaven stand by your side for a reason. As for their superior, Abel, he's a loose cannon in the vessel of a Terran cab driver that got dealt a terrible hand, only to suffer from his injuries before saying yes to him in the end. Still, his resentment towards humanity and how it kept destroying itself was the last straw altogether, but when he found out that a future prophecy was unfolding in front of him, he took up the bad habits of Lucifer in which his subordinates from the Knights of Heaven turned against him, only to have him sealed up in a cage of his own until he was let out by a Knight of Hell who is ready to take out Cain."

"I guess that too much power can do that to you in one fell swoop… Still, if Abel forces me to step down, then I have no other choice but to do so. He nearly tried to kill Nimi in the laundromat and earlier, he told Gabriel to issue a warning for me not to intervene in taking the top spot in the Ashizoka System's own version of Heaven. Therefore, power can be harnessed, but it can also be corrupted as well… I'm not worthy of being a god and I can't afford to put my friends and family at risk again."

"Not all of it…, but with you and Reiko in the mix, the struggle for power as gods of the Ashizoka System have intensified in which there are warring factions in the Second Galvanic Uprising that will end up taking you down if you're not careful. The Knights of Heaven not only followed their former superior, but God Himself in which He told them all to honor His successor in the form of a man with a jeweled sigil on his forehead."

It wasn't long until I began to hear loud chiming coming from outside as I covered my ears from all the noise. I was swamped by what I heard as I tried desperately to keep myself from hearing it until I saw Abiasaph, Gabriel, and Iriniel arriving out of nowhere. All three were there for a reason as they were not about to take any more of Abel's deception much longer, for they only obeyed the fallen god who faded away, but I was becoming more like a new deity every day in this time of uncertainty. The three angels were also there to make sure that I didn't fall under the cracks as they had their reasons to keep me on the straight and narrow for the rest of my days.

"I knew that you would come and give me hell," I said.

"Abel's on lockdown, but his antics have crossed the line," said Iriniel.

"He was aiming for Nimi, but I took the blade in his stead..."

"Abel does not like prophets," said Abiasaph. "He even took a page from Metatron's playbook to eradicate them in the process, but have been thwarted at the last minute."

"We should also keep an eye on other prophets who were chosen by God, including Kazuo. I can't put his life at risk right now and it's all because-"

"Hey, no gloomy thoughts, bucko," said Gabriel as he snapped his finger to reveal a disco ball on top of the ceiling while playing "Boogie Child," by the Bee Gees. "It's about time that you revel in the balance, Sammy! Even though this ain't the dance floor, but it's better than having the gloomy crap hitting the fan."

I saw Gabriel dancing all over the place as he was having the time of his life in my hospital room. Still, he was the most unusual of all archangels as he was busy grooving while dressed up in a burgundy disco suit complete with a pair of leather shoes that were brand new. He was itching to get his groove on as he was also wanting to get me out of the depression that I was under, for he was doing his best to dance all over. By the time the music ended, I was not depressed anymore as I was wanting to get out of bed and check up on Reiko and the children. I had to get up, but I was stopped by Kazuo as he wasn't about to let me wander off anytime soon, for he was on top of things, even for me in particular.

"You're not going anywhere, Sam," he said as he as was determined to keep me confined in bed.

"I'm all better now, alright?" I said as I was feeling the pain in my shoulder beginning to increase.

"If you're all better, then why is your shoulder trying to chafe in that sling?" said Iriniel. "You nearly bit a bullet when you saved Nimi from getting killed, but the blade that the Medical Corps took out of the wall has been put under close surveillance. You're lucky that you lived, but let us do the legwork instead of you carting all the excess baggage for a while. You do have a baby on the way, don't you…, or perhaps two to play with your boys?"

"I have another boy coming, but I also have a girl on the way..."

"Mr. Sam!"

It wasn't long until Carly ran into my hospital room as she was carrying a basket full of dango that was made from scratch. I never expected her to come here with it before, but I had a feeling that I would end up trying one of them in the basket in which I saw Carly set it on the bed. By the time I tried one, I saw it to be different as it was also the same usual green tea flavored stack on a stick, but it wasn't made by Reiko this time. With Kazuo and the others leaving to give me some space, I was alone, but not without family as I saw Carly sitting next to the bed while making sure that I was alright.

"Do you like the dango?" she asked me. "Kanna made it for you because Reiko's all laid up in bed with the babies."

"It's different, but at least Kanna knows what she was doing," I answered. "Still, in a few weeks, it will be Christmas and you have a birthday three days before it, fusspot. Still, we're here in the Golden Tiger Resort for the month, but after that, we have to go back home to the castle."

"But the castle's too crowded right now."

"The castle may be too crowded, but it's also a temporary home for the Medical Corps after the Order's main headquarters was destroyed almost five months ago. Luckily, they're here, but they won't be homeless forever."

"Kazuo said that you were hurt in your shoulder, weren't you?" Carly spots the wound that I sustained as I had my arm in a sling. "Did one of those Executive Division meanies get you?"

"No, but the one who tried to hurt me was like the manager of this place, but he was not too happy with me for becoming more like a god."

"Reiko said that you blew up that meanie general, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but-"

Without warning, I heard commotion coming from outside as I had my calm time interrupted for no reason. Whoever it was outside my room, he or she sounded angry as I got up while removing the needle from my arm and the other electrodes that were attached to my body. Getting out of bed completely, I grabbed the blanket I had as I wrapped it around me while leaving the hospital room in which I noticed an argument between Kazuo and someone else as I saw the latter to be a familiar face that has encroached into my own personal sanctuary. It was Braddock herself as she was not too thrilled to hear about me and my family staying at the Golden Tiger Resort for the rest of the month, for she was trying very hard to put a stop to it once and for all.

"You're in direct violation of interrupting the convalescence of one of my patients, Braddock," said Kazuo. "If the Alecrian Embassy or Ryosuke hears of this, you can kiss your military career goodbye for your insubordination."

"You have no idea what's going on here, do you?!" she yelled as she was getting more angrier by the seconds. "The Executive Division has laid waste on the town of Oenomaus on Claudius and your superiors haven't lifted a finger into bringing Sam out there when we all needed him the most! Have you no shame in your actions or do you not care for the innocent people that have been mowed down by those things that once belonged to the late Darbus Toller?!"

"The Medical Corps and Dean's squad in the Hunter Corps went there this morning and what they found was not just the handiwork of Julilla and those soulless leftovers in gold armor. There was a sulphur trail in which a demon was at work, but on our enemies." Kazuo shows Braddock a picture of the damage as there were also words written in blood in Enochian on the wall. "The language that is written says this: 'The Executive Division and their puppeteers will fall flat. Only Sam will be the new god of this galaxy and no one will oppose him.'"

"There is only one true God and Sam's not one of them!"

"The one true God, who went by Chuck Shurley, is dead, but his successor is part of the Destiny of Worlds to lead us into a golden age and don't you forget it. You can't fight this destiny by hiding him and my grandniece away for months under house arrest and you can't just throw them out to the wolves, either. And another thing, Sam's privacy must be respected by everyone, including you or else you will face the consequences for your actions, is that clear?"

"You have no authority over me, you stooge!"

"A stooge, am I?" Kazuo reveals the Brandings of God on his arms as he was sure to put Braddock in her place. "Do these markings make me look like a stooge to you? What you're seeing in front of you is that I'm also a prophet of the Lord and the marks on my arms are proof that I shirked the responsibility of carrying out His word, only to accept it in the end. You can't fight fate on this one, for there will be a time when the Gospel will tell of the god of the Ashizoka System who will carry out the wisdom that he has, not waste it."

It was at that moment that I crept out into the open as I was concerned about what was going on so far. With the recent news about what happened on Claudius was something that I couldn't ignore as I had no other choice but to act or else more will die at the hands of the Executive Division. When I saw Braddock getting ready to strike at Kazuo, I stopped her as I used a different technique to subdue her in which the blood in her body reacted to my commands while pinning her down to her knees. Still, I may have averted a confrontation, but I also had a bad feeling that I would be entangled with the retaliation that I would suffer from afterwards.

"Damn it all to Hell!" yelled Braddock as she felt pain all over her body. "Make it stop, damn it! Make it stop!"

"You shouldn't be using your bullying tactics on those who are telling you that I have a better chance to succeed Chuck of all people," I said as I released my grip.

"How dare you?! How dare you assault an officer of the Alecrian Army and get away with-"

"Do not preach to me about your petty attacks towards me!" I was glaring at Braddock as she was shaking with fear. "I know that you speak about what happened in Oenomaus on Claudius, but that's not in my control right now. I could've gone, but I am forbidden to do so due to Kazuo's orders not to do anything until I recovered from the constant misery that you, your slimy son, and the rest of the squatters put me through in the last few months after the fall of General Wetzel. I may go there to Claudius, but now's not the time right now. All we need to do now is to rely on our allied forces to the fullest, is that understood?"

"You'll regret those words, Sam Winchester…, mark my words…!"

"You'll end up regretting your own if you're not careful, so I suggest that you back off while you still can."

I saw Braddock getting up on her feet as she left the hallway without any further incident. With a glimmer of confidence starting to grow, I was beginning to like the status as the new god as I was most likely to be ready to face what was put in front of me, for the current war still raged on against the wishes of others who never wanted it in the first place…

To be continued...