BASED ON ERIC KRIPKE'S "SUPERNATURAL". ALL COPYRIGHTED CHARACTERS AND STORYLINES BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS.


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(2)

The fire in storage hall 3 has been successfully extinguished. However the core continues to be unstable so the technicians have built a force field to contain the flammable sparks. Meanwhile, Cas has ordered Emergency Code 5, which compels the angels who lack their full power to act with extreme caution during the time of repair. He then goes to Hain's office, the principality in charge with the Power Storage Department, to question Brestow, Pyriam and Ianisa. Selaphiel told him he found them there, determining him to suspect that they might know something about the malfunction.

Alone in the room, the three appear as waiting the end of the world.

"We are in so big trouble" Ianisa says.

"What do you mean we?" Pyriam snaps. "He's the one who tampered with the core" points to Brestow.

"Oh no" Brestow fights back. "You were there too. We're all in this whether you like it or not. You think they're going to rule you out just because you say so?"

"I didn't want this. I don't want to be banished" Ianisa starts crying.

"We're all going to be banished now, thanks to him" Pyriam accuses.

"Hey, you chose to come on your own. No one forced you to. If you didn't want to you should have just refused."

"I'm going to kill you" Pyriam lunges at Brestow but he stops when the door opens. Cas, Selaphiel, Adriel and Hain walk in. The principality places himself at his desk while the general and the board members stand in front of the other three.

"Selaphiel told me you were already there when the malfunction occurred," Cas questions them "do you know what happened to the core?"

"No" Pyriam answers after a short silence.

"The register says that you were off duty" Selaphiel intervenes. "What were you doing there in the first place?"

The three look into each other's eyes as if agreeing altogether to cook up a fake story. Brestow goes first: "We came here because I had to … pick up a few things from my cubicle."

Ianisa continues: "We heard noises from storage hall 3 and we decided to check it out. We found the core shining abnormally."

Brestow finishes: "When we approached to give it a closer inspection, the core went orange and started spitting fireballs. You know the rest."

"So, in other words, you have no idea what caused the malfunction" Cas repeats the obvious.

"No" all three answer at the same time.

The general turns to Hain: "What do the techs report?"

"Unfortunately they can't fix the core unless they know what broke it. It's like a human disease: you don't know how to cure it if you don't know what caused it."

"ETA on the firewall collapse" Cas inquires.

"Approximately 10 Earth hours" Hain answers. "If the core is not fixed until then, we're going to have our plates full."

Brestow, Pyriam and Ianisa look at each other terrified.

"All right. Adriel" Cas steps in "set a wide chronometer. I want every angel to be aware on how much time is left. Also I want you to personally overlook and assure that this whole ordeal goes without incident on Earth … any kind of incident. Selaphiel, supervise the repairs … use all resources and give me status updates every half an hour. Keep all the angels working here safe should the force field come off."

The two board members leave. "Hain" Cas addresses the principality.

"Have all tech angels work on core 3?" he correctly guesses. "Way ahead of you."

After exiting Hain's office, Castiel heads to the core to look at it one more time. The now orange sphere frequently lets out sparks that violently smash against the transparent force field. Technicians roam the catwalks, trying to find a solution.


Cas steps out of the elevator into the small hallway that leads to his office. To his surprise, he finds Raphael and Noria right outside, arguing.

"What is the meaning of this?" the general interrupts them.

The two stop and take deep breaths to calm down. Noria begins: "The malfunction of the core has disrupted communications between the garrisons of the north region of South America. Now Raphael and I have devised an alternative solution for an improvised telepathic system that should work until core 3 is repaired."

"So what's the problem" Cas is curious.

"It would take about a day" she continues "to link all the garrisons together to this system. However, with Michael's help, we could have it up and running in about 3 Earth minutes … maybe even one."

"We don't know that for sure" the archangel contradicts her.

"That region is highly unstable and we can't afford anymore loss of human lives. You have my permission to enlist Michael's help" Cas tells them.

"We don't need his help" Raphael brutally interferes. "Noria and I can handle ourselves just fine."

"It would take too long" Noria supports her idea. "With Michael's powerful abilities, it would be faster and we might save some extra lives in the process."

"You're wrong" the archangel disagrees.

"No, she's not. It's quite cut-and-dried actually" Castiel says to Raphael. "What I don't understand is why are you refusing it in this manner."

Noria answers in his place: "Because his anger with his older brother is clouding his judgment. Makes him totally unreasonable."

Raphael throws an annoyed glance at his partner. Castiel addresses Raphael in a commanding tone: "Take Michael."

"No."

Raphael's uncooperativeness infuriates Cas. He approaches the board member: "Excuse me? I don't think the humans or the angels in that region have time for your personal feelings. This is not a debate. Get Michael … that's an order!"

The archangel stares displeased in his leader's eyes and after accepting, he leaves. Noria, on the other hand is frozen, shocked by Cas's cold attitude. "Castiel honey, are you all right?" she asks him with a worried expression.

Grabbing the door knob of his office door, Cas rhetorically inquires: "Don't you have work to do?" She gazes at him with sadness and heads to the elevator.

Cas enters his office. But he sees that on his desk are sitting one over the other, a beautiful pair of legs covered in black pantyhose. They belong to a blond haired woman with stunning brown eyes and incredibly gorgeous face characteristics, wearing a black dress and skirt with high heeled shoes. Lying on the desk chair, she smiles upon noticing the general's entering the room.

"Kestine" Cas says while closing the door. "Why am I not surprised that I didn't know you were here?"

Kestine is a regular dominion but is also in charge with the Angelic Union Department. She sets her eyes on Cas and studies him from top to bottom: "Wow, Castiel. I guess a personal visit to the general's office is really worth it … even if unannounced."

"Well you better make it short because I am very busy" he firmly states while approaching the desk. Kestine gets up in order to allow him to sit. After he places himself on the chair, she adds: "Well you know what they say: all work and no play makes for a really bad day."

Kestine reaches the center of the room and admires it. "This place is amazing. It's huge, sophisticated. I mean to me it screams: general…" she walks her hand on the desk "…power, complete control over everything…"

Cas boringly listens to her as she approaches him. She places her hands on the chair handles, leaving only a few inches between her and Cas. "So much responsibility" she softly says "in the hands of one angel." She fixes up his trench coat, "one incredibly, handsome, good looking…" She stops, focusing on his lips.

"Why are you here Kestine?" he abruptly inquires, ruining her tender moment.

She sighs. "Straight to busyness … I like that." She heads to a small table where a bottle and a few glasses lie. She fills one and confesses the reason of her visit: "I … talked to several leaders from the garrisons affected by the falling of core 3. They are somewhat displeased that you haven't called emergency withdrawal during the time of repairs. I'm here, on their behalf, to discover the motives on why haven't you saw to that."

"We still need them down there."

"Yes but don't you think that without their full powers, they're exposed to much greater threats? In case you forgot, the demons are still trying to kill us and I think your former girlfriend proved how sneaky and dangerous they are. You know it's…"

Ellen's mentioning angers Castiel. "Enough" he roars. "I said no. Those angels will remain there and continue their day to day operations which are very important. I will not call emergency withdrawal! Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal."

"Good. This discussion is over. Dismissed" Cas orders as he begins to type on the keyboard.

"As you wish, General" Kestine complies and leaves. In her mind, this is not over.


Next chapter, Thursday!