Disclaimer:
None of these characters are mine. All characters from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Charmed are the property of Joss Whedon and Aaron Spelling, respectively.
Summary:
Crossover between the Charmed and Buffy universes. This is an interlude in my story. The criminals are revealed.
Author's Note:
Any political overtones that are implied in this chapter are purely used as a plot device and are not meant to offend any religious, ethnic, or social group. Remember, this is just fiction – don't worry, be happy!
Chapter Eight – In The Name of God?
An office building on the corner of Market Street & Fourth Street, downtown San Francisco
The short, stocky man in the San Francisco 49ers jacket walked down Market Street like a man on a mission, which is just what it was to him. This wasn't about money, revenge, or even some cock-eyed ideology (a word he couldn't even spell) to him. This was about faith and being one of God's soldiers. He waited on the corner of Market and Fourth for the light to change. He moved back suddenly when someone passed him in the other direction. The other man greeted him pleasantly but the man on a mission was disgusted. The other man was obviously one of those things. Those fags, those deviants. He coughed as if breathing the same air had made him prone to some filthy contagion.
He started as he noticed the light had changed. He walked across the street to a nondescript office building. The building was across the street from the San Francisco Shopping Center and was a key tactical location for their plan. He slipped silently into the building and walked quietly into the back of the building until he found the freight elevator. It looked disused and quite decrepit, but that was just window dressing. He rode the elevator up to the 12th floor, whistling the tune from "Onward Christian Soldiers" as the doors opened. He grinned to himself, that's what we are – we're latter-day Christian Soldiers. As he stepped out, he started to sing.
"Onward Christian Soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before."
Others looked up as he strode into the main bay area. There had been desks and cubicles before, but they had been ripped out and replaced with the much more utilitarian tables. Men and women were working at each table on their assigned tasks. He took a deep breath and caught the distinctive smell of explosives. Soon, he thought to himself, soon, we will strike a blow for honor of God and the holy United States of America. Soon.
"Hello, brother." The man turned and saw a younger man. He was a clean shaven, young blond man, about 22 years of age. He had just returned from a mission to Puerto Rico or El Salvador or some other dirt poor backwards country. He was a Mormon boy from some small farming town in Utah. He suppressed a shudder. Cult, that's all that was. But, the boy had his heart in the right place. He, too, wanted to return our god-given country back to the righteous path. They were all here: Catholics, Lutherans, Protestants, Episcopalians, Evangelicals, as well as those who called themselves Christian: Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses. We were all Christian Soldiers. "Beautiful voice, brother. Have you ever been in a choir?"
"Thank you brother, I was when I was younger before I joined the service. We had a wonderful choir. Do you sing?" He asked pleasantly.
"Oh, no, sir." He laughed. "Not unless I want to scare the children."
They both laughed good-naturedly at the joke. Then, the older man became serious and motioned at the room. "Are we on schedule then?"
"Oh, yes, sir. Unless..." he hesitated before continuing.
"Unless what!" The older man exploded. They could not afford any snags.
"Sorry, sir. I was just wondering if the seizure by the feds at Prescott Street could cause a problem. That's the only snag I can foresee. Everything else is right on schedule. We've got the proper permits lined up. All the electronic equipment will be here by Friday, and another week to assemble the device. All personnel have been ordered to close up their personal affairs by noon, Friday. Sir." The younger man smiled nervously. He had been raised in a much more peaceful world and he really wanted it back. "Sir, permission to speak freely?"
The older man smiled. "Of course, what is it?"
"I just wanted to thank you for having faith in me. I know I'm young, and I know that you have no respect for the Prophet. I, well, I just wanted to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve my God and my country."
God, the older man thought, we need more like him. So ardent, so passionate about his faith, so grateful. It's too bad he wasn't a true Christian. Perhaps when this is all over, I can bring him back to the true faith. "No thanks necessary, son, we need more like you. Our Lord needs more like you. I'll bet you did a bang-up job on your mission."
"Oh, yes, sir." Now you could see the boy in the young man. He was so proud of his service on his mission. "And not just baptisms, sir. I really enjoyed the people, sir. Such God-fearing people in El Salvador, sir. All that violence and natural disasters, yet they never miss praising and thanking their God. We did a lot of work helping people – helping out on the farm, rebuilding after natural disasters, that kind of thing. So very rewarding."
"That's the one thing I DO like about your church. They instill such a sense of service and responsibility in their young. Service to their God and their fellow man. We need more of that!" He slapped his hand against his thigh and then turned serious again. "We shouldn't have a problem with the Prescott Street seizure. Brother Isaiah and Brother Elias are good soldiers. They know what to do."
"Have they been arraigned yet, sir?"
"No, damn it!" He exploded, and then saw the younger man's face. "Forgive me, brother. Sometimes I get so frustrated it slips out. It's just that they used that Patriot Act's provisions to hold them without charges for thirty days! It's unforgivable. That act's provisions are meant for the heathen, the Godless savages who are threat to our country and our Christian way of life. It's not meant for the faithful."
"I'll pray for them, sir." The young man solemnly intoned. "And, I'll pray for our leaders who have been led astray by the enemy."
"That's an excellent idea, Brother. We'll all pray with you." He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled bringing the entire room to attention. "Brother Joseph here has had the fine idea to pray for our lost comrades and to pray for the souls of our country's leaders. Let's all kneel and pray with him, and pray for the success of our mission!"
"Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" The entire room exploded in righteous exultation as they all went to their knees. Brother Joseph began to pray and the room was as silent as a tomb.
Our most gracious and heavenly Father,
we bow our heads before you this day in praise and gratitude,
we ask you to place your blessings on your servants Isaiah and Elias,
who are great servants in this Your work.
We ask you to place your blessings on the leaders of this Blessed Land,
Please help the to see the Light,
and to place this country once again in the hands of Your Divine Providence.
We ask for your blessing in this great and glorious mission before us,
Bless us with success in your name,
As Joshua was blessed at Jericho.
We thank you for the opportunity to serve,
and we say these things in the Holy Name of
Your Son, Jesus Christ.
AMEN.
"Amen." The room erupted and people came up to Joseph and thanked him for his prayer. Everyone had tears in their eyes, the young and old, the male and female. Even the older brethren who led them all.
"Now, listen all." The older brother started. "I know you can feel what I feel, the love of Christ and the Father. We are serving our Lord and we shall not fail. For after all, we have "the cross of Jesus going on before."
A bunch of amens and amen brothers could be heard through the room.
"Excellent, excellent, now let's get back to work." He turned to Brother Joseph. "Now, Brother Joseph, let's not worry about anything the feds are doing. I'm sure Brother Barrabas will let us know whatever they are up to. Now, no more worries, God's work will be done!" He patted the young man on the back and turned back to the office.
"Thank you, Brother Peter, thank you." Brother Joseph happily returned to his righteous work. Happy in the knowledge that he was once again serving the Lord. There was nothing better than to die in the service of the Lord.