A/N: I really don't pity a single one of you. I've updated this faster than
anything I've ever written while NOT sitting down to write all the parts
out at once. Granted it took me a year to get back to this idea. but no one
but Jessie and a select few Questors knew about it back then, and I think
the wait made it gain a plot, anticipation, and writing skill in general.
So you all know you love me. At this point I would ALSO like to state the
story is going to turn violent and angsty soon, so I suggest you get out
now if you don't like that stuff. but being that this SAYS Angst in the
category, I doubt that's the case.
Disclaimer from part one still applies. The only brands I own are the clothes on my back, and we all know I don't own Victoria Secret. even if my initials are close.
Ok. NOW BACK TO THE SHOW!
***
***Dusty Airport in New Mexico, 4:30 AM Central Time***
Benton stormed off of the plane as the docking stairs lowered from the automated doors. "God damn it Doug, you've gone too far this time- You KNOW that, don't you?"
Doug snarled, very tempted to follow the man 20 years his younger into battle. He quickly turned his face into a stoic expression. "Benton, we need to put this aside, my GRANDSON is in the hands of a mad-man." He smirked darkly, "But once that's resolved, I have NO problem taking the gloves off and having it all out with you. You cocky, sycophantic little weasel."
Benton's eyes grew in surprise then shrank in anger, "That's IT Doug, I am THIS close to making sure my son stops the yearly visits. If you weren't Judith's* father."
"You leave my daughter out of this, and you know DAMN RIGHT that Jonny hasn't visited the ranch for three years now! I have just as much a right as anyone ELSE in this family to see him, and you know that."
Race and Jessie walked, unintentionally, into the line of fire as they came down the plane's boarding steps, lugging a week's worth of luggage for the each of them as well as a laptop and some computer- surveillance equipment. Jessie just grimaced, sighing as she walked through the gory battlefield. She was dumbfound that her hero, her intellectual mentor would stoop so low as to argue and bicker with his father-in-law. She rolled her eyes and placed the luggage down at the doorway into the terminal, or what you could call a terminal, it really resembled a train depot with a very small café- diner. Race came only steps behind her, setting the equipment and luggage he carted next to Jessie's packages. He went back into the war-zone.
"Now, listen to yourselves, you two. You aught to be ASHAMED! Jonny can speak for himself, both of you try to prove who he likes better, Doug, you have EVERY RIGHT to be in Jonny's life, but that doesn't mean you can contradict Benton, or MY requirements in order for him to visit. And Benton, yes, it was wrong that he took Jonny into town for a movie, but that doesn't mean you were in the right for just dropping him here to PUNISH him either. Now both of you collect yourselves or at LEAST so long as you are in earshot of Jessie, Hadji or Jonny. None of them deserve to be thrown into the middle of your feud. Hell, I don't even deserve it, but at least I'm adult enough to know why you two adults are acting SO immature." He paused, his lecture leaving his face slightly red.
They paused a moment. Both looked to agree with Race's wisdom, or until Benton added, "We're staying at the Plaza 9 Hotel."
"You mean you aren't staying in my ranch?"
"I thought that would be inconvenient."
"To you maybe, see, this is what I'm talking about, you NEVER come to visit."
Race screamed an incomprehensible strand of vowels followed almost immediately by the sound of muttered swearing in alphabetical order from z to a. Both of them surprised that their was a swear that started with a 'z' let alone that Race knew it.
***Four Hours Later, and Countless Bits of Red Tape Gone***
"So, what you're saying here is." Benton asked the FBI officer for the fourth time, "That you KNOW where Ezekiel Rage's base of operations is, but you DON'T THINK you can go in. and this is because.?"
The FBI Agent rolled her eyes, 'Damn it Phil, you owe me big time.' Taking a deep, calming breath she restated what she had just explained five times once more, from the top. "We do not know if Ezekiel Rage is still in this area any longer. The evidence from the other cases."
Benton's ears perked, "Other cases? Other kidnappings?"
She sighed, "I'll explain momentarily, but the evidence from the other CASES establishes a pattern that the group arranging these, rituals, kidnap the boys and move them to a different location where they were retrieved, though it looked they were moved twice in four of the six cases."
"Why wasn't I informed about these serial kidnappings?" Benton swore angrily.
The FBI Agent took a deep breath, "Because there is no serial kidnapping that we are aware of. As I said, the other cases, the boys were retrieved. I did not say they were recovered alive. Dr. Quest, this may be particularly difficult for you to hear, but your son has been taken by what the Agency has dubbed 'The Angel Killers' a group that believes that by killing these boys they are freeing archangels that will lead to the destruction of the world. There does not seem to be any links between the victims except that they are all male, blond haired and blue eyed, anywhere from 12 to 17 years of age, and all disappeared around a Nirvana resort though none of them seem to be members of the cult." She thought it over, making sure she had given him all the information, "Even the angel names seem to be random, though they claim they are going to release one angel for every hour in a day in order to condemn the time of man."
Benton's face grew pale, "You must be mistaken, Ezekiel Rage. the Nirvana Resorts, I've dealt with this man before. granted he is disturbed and religiously motivated but he would never target just one group of seemingly innocent people, by his one standards, to kill them, he often opts for plans that lead to mass destruction, if not global upheaval through his cult members."
"You just said it yourself though, he is religiously motivated, his aims are ambiguous and he wishes to eradicate the world through means of either chaos or over-all destruction."
He fell back into a chair, muttering over and over, "Doug. what have you done?"
***Intelligence 1, Phil Korvin's Office***
Phil spread the photos across his desk, each photo having a file and identification photo of the victim, from forms like school pictures and family photographs. He rubbed his eyes, "We need to create a profile, to find out his pattern they move in. Peter, carved into the back of his neck 'Qafsiel' the first body found, the approximate time of death 2 weeks and 6 days ago. He was the first body found, but far from the last, the second body appeared a day later, appearing to have died 11 days ago, 'Israfel' according to his carved identification, also in the back of the neck, apparently the wound was post mortem, though from all the blood loss, it was possible to be either or. Third came the body of a boy named Gabriel, the name 'Cali' appeared in his wrists and the back of his neck. They just found that body yesterday, seemingly a fresh kill. That same day they found three other bodies, fourth victim Adam, 'Logos' according to his neck wound, his body was badly decayed and seemed to be pecked at by crows from where he was placed, next came Steven 'Phul' to whomever these bastards were, he also died more than two weeks ago, probably around the same time as the first body and the fourth body they found, someone seemed to be keeping themselves busy, all of these children had only been missing a day up to three days before their bodies were found mutilated. The last body they stumbled across was found at almost midnight, Chris, 'Eiael' died less than six days ago. Their names, something seemed familiar. 'Adam, Peter, Steven, Manny, Chris, Gabriel. Those are all Biblical Names.' He thought to himself, "Jonathon- John-- Jonny. damn." He swore under his breath, why hadn't he thought of this a DAY earlier? Hell, why couldn't he have thought of that with the first or second victim when they were kidnapped?
The phone ringed. He sighed, more bad news he was sure. "A new body. A GIRL? Are you sure this is one of ours. what did they carve into her neck?"
"Wrists, not the neck? It doesn't fit the pattern." He sighed, "Contact the parents, we'll need to start a file on her immediately. What did they carve, what's her name?"
"Mary, 'Lilith'? I believe she's an angel, perhaps a demon. she was found tied into a praying position. with wings? WHAT KIND?"
"Arrows. and cause of death?"
"I see. --A belt of nails 4 inches long. You were right, this does match the profile, I guess the profile just expanded. Contact me once you learn her estimated time of death."
"Seven. This isn't a good start at all."
***Nirvana Resort, Somewhere Unknown***
Jonny dangled from a wooden board, his arms fastened to the board hanging them at 130° angles leaving his arms slightly above his head.
Jonny began to flicker his eyes open, consciousness just eluding him.
An inner voice, his Id he presumed, screamed at him, "STAY ASLEEP! DON'T WAKE UP!"
Yet another voice, perhaps his Super Ego demanded, "get up and ESCAPE! You have to get out of here." Jonny debated the thought for a moment. His body seemed to lag, his arms and neck tired, perhaps he had fallen asleep on his arms, his neck tired from drooping. He decided to answer to his super ego, wants never really got him very far, Jonny recalled, thinking to himself of the 'Cobalt Incident' the entire time.
(Status _ Part Four: And They Became _ Completed.)
*I call Jonny's mother Judith in this, and Rachel in other parts, simply because my theory is: Rachel was Jonny's mother, she was killed to affect Benton in a horrible way. To prevent people from learning about this potential openness, this vulnerability, the government along with Dr. Quest and his family created Judith, a wife that duplicated Rachel in life but not death, who died of natural causes directly relating to a random encounter with a disease. By fabricating this lie and acting upon it as if it was their belief of the events, the Quests protect themselves from another catastrophe. Just thought I'd explain so you weren't all sorts of confused!
Disclaimer from part one still applies. The only brands I own are the clothes on my back, and we all know I don't own Victoria Secret. even if my initials are close.
Ok. NOW BACK TO THE SHOW!
***
***Dusty Airport in New Mexico, 4:30 AM Central Time***
Benton stormed off of the plane as the docking stairs lowered from the automated doors. "God damn it Doug, you've gone too far this time- You KNOW that, don't you?"
Doug snarled, very tempted to follow the man 20 years his younger into battle. He quickly turned his face into a stoic expression. "Benton, we need to put this aside, my GRANDSON is in the hands of a mad-man." He smirked darkly, "But once that's resolved, I have NO problem taking the gloves off and having it all out with you. You cocky, sycophantic little weasel."
Benton's eyes grew in surprise then shrank in anger, "That's IT Doug, I am THIS close to making sure my son stops the yearly visits. If you weren't Judith's* father."
"You leave my daughter out of this, and you know DAMN RIGHT that Jonny hasn't visited the ranch for three years now! I have just as much a right as anyone ELSE in this family to see him, and you know that."
Race and Jessie walked, unintentionally, into the line of fire as they came down the plane's boarding steps, lugging a week's worth of luggage for the each of them as well as a laptop and some computer- surveillance equipment. Jessie just grimaced, sighing as she walked through the gory battlefield. She was dumbfound that her hero, her intellectual mentor would stoop so low as to argue and bicker with his father-in-law. She rolled her eyes and placed the luggage down at the doorway into the terminal, or what you could call a terminal, it really resembled a train depot with a very small café- diner. Race came only steps behind her, setting the equipment and luggage he carted next to Jessie's packages. He went back into the war-zone.
"Now, listen to yourselves, you two. You aught to be ASHAMED! Jonny can speak for himself, both of you try to prove who he likes better, Doug, you have EVERY RIGHT to be in Jonny's life, but that doesn't mean you can contradict Benton, or MY requirements in order for him to visit. And Benton, yes, it was wrong that he took Jonny into town for a movie, but that doesn't mean you were in the right for just dropping him here to PUNISH him either. Now both of you collect yourselves or at LEAST so long as you are in earshot of Jessie, Hadji or Jonny. None of them deserve to be thrown into the middle of your feud. Hell, I don't even deserve it, but at least I'm adult enough to know why you two adults are acting SO immature." He paused, his lecture leaving his face slightly red.
They paused a moment. Both looked to agree with Race's wisdom, or until Benton added, "We're staying at the Plaza 9 Hotel."
"You mean you aren't staying in my ranch?"
"I thought that would be inconvenient."
"To you maybe, see, this is what I'm talking about, you NEVER come to visit."
Race screamed an incomprehensible strand of vowels followed almost immediately by the sound of muttered swearing in alphabetical order from z to a. Both of them surprised that their was a swear that started with a 'z' let alone that Race knew it.
***Four Hours Later, and Countless Bits of Red Tape Gone***
"So, what you're saying here is." Benton asked the FBI officer for the fourth time, "That you KNOW where Ezekiel Rage's base of operations is, but you DON'T THINK you can go in. and this is because.?"
The FBI Agent rolled her eyes, 'Damn it Phil, you owe me big time.' Taking a deep, calming breath she restated what she had just explained five times once more, from the top. "We do not know if Ezekiel Rage is still in this area any longer. The evidence from the other cases."
Benton's ears perked, "Other cases? Other kidnappings?"
She sighed, "I'll explain momentarily, but the evidence from the other CASES establishes a pattern that the group arranging these, rituals, kidnap the boys and move them to a different location where they were retrieved, though it looked they were moved twice in four of the six cases."
"Why wasn't I informed about these serial kidnappings?" Benton swore angrily.
The FBI Agent took a deep breath, "Because there is no serial kidnapping that we are aware of. As I said, the other cases, the boys were retrieved. I did not say they were recovered alive. Dr. Quest, this may be particularly difficult for you to hear, but your son has been taken by what the Agency has dubbed 'The Angel Killers' a group that believes that by killing these boys they are freeing archangels that will lead to the destruction of the world. There does not seem to be any links between the victims except that they are all male, blond haired and blue eyed, anywhere from 12 to 17 years of age, and all disappeared around a Nirvana resort though none of them seem to be members of the cult." She thought it over, making sure she had given him all the information, "Even the angel names seem to be random, though they claim they are going to release one angel for every hour in a day in order to condemn the time of man."
Benton's face grew pale, "You must be mistaken, Ezekiel Rage. the Nirvana Resorts, I've dealt with this man before. granted he is disturbed and religiously motivated but he would never target just one group of seemingly innocent people, by his one standards, to kill them, he often opts for plans that lead to mass destruction, if not global upheaval through his cult members."
"You just said it yourself though, he is religiously motivated, his aims are ambiguous and he wishes to eradicate the world through means of either chaos or over-all destruction."
He fell back into a chair, muttering over and over, "Doug. what have you done?"
***Intelligence 1, Phil Korvin's Office***
Phil spread the photos across his desk, each photo having a file and identification photo of the victim, from forms like school pictures and family photographs. He rubbed his eyes, "We need to create a profile, to find out his pattern they move in. Peter, carved into the back of his neck 'Qafsiel' the first body found, the approximate time of death 2 weeks and 6 days ago. He was the first body found, but far from the last, the second body appeared a day later, appearing to have died 11 days ago, 'Israfel' according to his carved identification, also in the back of the neck, apparently the wound was post mortem, though from all the blood loss, it was possible to be either or. Third came the body of a boy named Gabriel, the name 'Cali' appeared in his wrists and the back of his neck. They just found that body yesterday, seemingly a fresh kill. That same day they found three other bodies, fourth victim Adam, 'Logos' according to his neck wound, his body was badly decayed and seemed to be pecked at by crows from where he was placed, next came Steven 'Phul' to whomever these bastards were, he also died more than two weeks ago, probably around the same time as the first body and the fourth body they found, someone seemed to be keeping themselves busy, all of these children had only been missing a day up to three days before their bodies were found mutilated. The last body they stumbled across was found at almost midnight, Chris, 'Eiael' died less than six days ago. Their names, something seemed familiar. 'Adam, Peter, Steven, Manny, Chris, Gabriel. Those are all Biblical Names.' He thought to himself, "Jonathon- John-- Jonny. damn." He swore under his breath, why hadn't he thought of this a DAY earlier? Hell, why couldn't he have thought of that with the first or second victim when they were kidnapped?
The phone ringed. He sighed, more bad news he was sure. "A new body. A GIRL? Are you sure this is one of ours. what did they carve into her neck?"
"Wrists, not the neck? It doesn't fit the pattern." He sighed, "Contact the parents, we'll need to start a file on her immediately. What did they carve, what's her name?"
"Mary, 'Lilith'? I believe she's an angel, perhaps a demon. she was found tied into a praying position. with wings? WHAT KIND?"
"Arrows. and cause of death?"
"I see. --A belt of nails 4 inches long. You were right, this does match the profile, I guess the profile just expanded. Contact me once you learn her estimated time of death."
"Seven. This isn't a good start at all."
***Nirvana Resort, Somewhere Unknown***
Jonny dangled from a wooden board, his arms fastened to the board hanging them at 130° angles leaving his arms slightly above his head.
Jonny began to flicker his eyes open, consciousness just eluding him.
An inner voice, his Id he presumed, screamed at him, "STAY ASLEEP! DON'T WAKE UP!"
Yet another voice, perhaps his Super Ego demanded, "get up and ESCAPE! You have to get out of here." Jonny debated the thought for a moment. His body seemed to lag, his arms and neck tired, perhaps he had fallen asleep on his arms, his neck tired from drooping. He decided to answer to his super ego, wants never really got him very far, Jonny recalled, thinking to himself of the 'Cobalt Incident' the entire time.
(Status _ Part Four: And They Became _ Completed.)
*I call Jonny's mother Judith in this, and Rachel in other parts, simply because my theory is: Rachel was Jonny's mother, she was killed to affect Benton in a horrible way. To prevent people from learning about this potential openness, this vulnerability, the government along with Dr. Quest and his family created Judith, a wife that duplicated Rachel in life but not death, who died of natural causes directly relating to a random encounter with a disease. By fabricating this lie and acting upon it as if it was their belief of the events, the Quests protect themselves from another catastrophe. Just thought I'd explain so you weren't all sorts of confused!