Flight of the Archangel

Disclaimer: "Is that why you sold out your own people? For a monument?" – Captain Sisko to Gul Dukat, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Chapter 2: The Offer

Selene's chamber

"Hello there." Selene smiled at the spirit that was once Jay Guthrie.

"Y-you…" Jay stammered. "You can see me? Ah've tried to get people to see me, but people couldn't see me or hear me. How-?"

"Easy, little spirit." Selene smirked. "I have much knowledge of the arcane and mystical. Only those who are able to wield magic are able to find ways to converse with the dead."

"Ah don't want to be dead!" Jay exclaimed. "Ah was murdered!"

"I know." Selene smiled. "As a fellow mutant, I can sympathize with your plight. You were killed because you were blessed by your X-Gene, correct?"

"Yeah." Jay sighed. "By mah own sister."

"You are a mutant, young man. You should not be surprised that your own family would betray you." Selene told him. "Humans fear us because they see their end coming. They see us and they realize that they, for once, are the inferior creatures. And it's a blow to their collective ego that they cannot take."

"But mah mother was human, and she had no problem with several of her kids being mutants. She still loved us." Jay countered. "A couple of mah siblings are human, but they still loved us." He sighed. "Joelle always did have a problem with people being better than her at things. One time, when she was six, a kid beat her in a foot race. She lost her temper and kicked him right in the shin. It was like she needed to be the best."

"Perhaps." Selene shrugged. "But those humans are rare. But of course, rare is the person who possesses wisdom."

"Ah guess so." Jay shrugged, not quite getting exactly what Selene meant. "So, you're a mutant?"

"Yes, and a sorceress. Which is how we are conversing now." Selene explained.

"Why'd Ah come here? Where am Ah?" Jay blinked as he looked around.

"I summoned you." Selene smiled.

"…Why?" Jay blinked. "What could Ah have that you want?" Selene only looked at her crystal ball. "Hey! Ah'm talking to you!"

"Do not worry, I hear you." Selene reassured. "I was only using my ball to learn about you." She saw an image of Jay playing his guitar on stage. "You are a musician?"

"Ah sing." Jay crossed his arms. "And ah play guitar. Why?"

"You must've had a beautiful voice." Selene complimented. "And you looked like you really enjoyed performing for the crowd."

"Yeah, Ah did." Jay sighed. "Ah can't do that anymore now. And it's all Ah wanted to do. Ah was going to be famous. Ah was going to achieve mah dreams, and then Ah got murdered. It's not fair."

"I agree with you. It is not." Selene nodded. "You were not a criminal. You did not use your powers to commit evil. All you wanted to do was sing. What's the harm in singing? But you got killed by people who believed that you were a menace to society. You were killed because your killers believed that your mutation made you evil."

"Yeah." Jay sighed sadly. "And mah sister was one of them."

"Sadly, betrayal is par for the course when you're a mutant." Selene told Jay soothingly.

"You actually understand." Jay's face formed a small smile. "Death didn't."

"Death has no empathy." Selene explained. "She doesn't care about anyone."

"She has been defied, though." Jay told her.

"Indeed." Selene smiled. "I have defied Death many times over the millennia." The black-clad woman flipped back her long dark shiny hair. "Thank my External status."

"External?" Jay blinked. "Ah have heard of them." Selene's face formed an expression of pleasant surprise.

"Oh, you have?" Selene's red lips formed a warm smile.

"Yeah, mah older brother Sam is one of 'em." Jay remembered. "Got killed by a werewolf, but got better."

"Really?" Selene chuckled. "And here I was, thinking I knew all the other Externals. I must introduce myself to him sometime. I think he would like to know there are other immortal mutants out there."

"Yeah, Ah'd think he'd appreciate that." Jay agreed. "He gets depressed about the fact he'll outlive his family and that he never ages." He then remembered something. "Why'd you bring me here?"

"Well, I am a collector." Selene explained. "I need someone to obtain a certain artifact for me." She conjured up an image of a small golden wand with two crystalline devil-like horned heads at each end.

"What is that?" Jay blinked.

"This is the Wand of Watoomb." Selene explained. "It is a powerful relic that allows the absorption of the energy in mystical attacks. The wielder can then use the energy the wand absorbs to erect barriers, fire energy blasts, or heal the wielder when injured."

"Huh." Jay blinked. "Sounds like one heck of a magic thing. But why in the world do you need me to get it? Why can't you get it yourself?" Selene sighed.

"Because I am trapped here." Selene explained. "And I have many enemies. People like myself often do. I was trapped here by one of them, and I need the wand to help me get out."

"…What does that have to do with me?" Jay blinked.

"Well…" Selene smirked. "I figured we can help each other. I can help you live again."

"You…you can?" Jay grinned.

"Yes." Selene smiled. "I can use my magic to create a new body for you. One with much stronger powers than the one you once had. Then, you can help me get the Wand. Once I have it, you're free to get the vengeance you desire against those who ended your life and destroyed your dreams." She chuckled. "Think about it, Jay. You can make your sister pay for what she did to you. Thanks to her, you lost your dreams." Jay blinked.

"You will?" Jay asked hopefully.

"Yes." Selene nodded. Jay couldn't believe his luck.

Alright! He mentally whooped. Ah can't believe it! All Ah have to do is go find a wand, and Ah can make the Friends of Humanity pay for killing me! "…Alright. Ah'll do it." Jay agreed.

"Splendid." Selene smiled. Perfect! The fool actually believes he's going to get his desire for vengeance. Oh, is he in for a surprise. After I am done with him, he will have wished I never gave him life again.

Next: The Rebirth Jay gets a new body, with incredible new powers.