Flight of the Archangel
Disclaimer: "It's always that wa-wa-wa crap!" -Charlie Brown, Robot Chicken
Chapter 12: The Quest Continues
The Voodoo Lounge
The "mutant" Archangel sat on the roof of the Voodoo Lounge. It had become Jay's "perch" as of late...so to speak. It was a bright day, but Jay Guthrie didn't really notice. He didn't even notice the wind blowing his black hair in his face. He found himself preferring the nighttime lately, anyway. Right now, the dark-haired warrior was in a place he was in a lot: his thoughts.
No luck. No freakin' luck. Jay scowled to himself. I've been searching for the past couple of months, and still no blasted luck! He got up and kicked the ground in frustration. What the hell did I agree to? The old witch could've given me a starting point at least.
"Let me guess, encountering frustration, Archangel?" Dracor smirked as he magically appeared. Jay scowled. "And I highly doubt that Selene would appreciate you calling her an 'old witch', pal."
"Believe me, I'm thinking of a lot worse things to call her." Jay growled at the demon. "I've been looking up and down for that stupid Wand, and I haven't found it anywhere! It's been months already!"
"Well, as I have said, Selene can't find it herself. If she could, then..." Dracor tried to explain.
"She should go find it herself!" Jay snapped. "I'm tired of constantly finding nothing!" He unsheathed his red metallic wings, his ebon hair and ice blue eyes turning a bright fiery red. "I'm going out for a flight! And you had better not follow me!" Jay snapped. He took to the air with a whoosh. Dracor sighed.
"Obviously, you haven't learned the virtue of patience, in either your first or second lives." The demon smirked. Jay flew up high in the sky. He didn't need to be seen. When he took the opportunity, he dove as fast as he safely could into a dark alley. Once there, he sheathed his wings, his eyes and hair changing from red to respectively black and ice blue. The reborn warrior started to walk out onto the street, not really knowing where he was going. Jay stopped when he noticed a newspaper sticking out of a garbage can. Curious, he took it and looked at it.
"Huh." He read the headline. "Legacy Virus rampages through District X." Jay frowned. I remember that. Joelle, just before she killed me, said that mutantkind's end was coming. That their virus would destroy us. Jay grunted and threw the newspaper back in the garbage. After I get done with helping Selene...I gotta remember to tear Joelle in half. It's not like anyone would miss her...well I won't...I hope the others are alright...
Topaz's Apartment
The young empathic sorceress known only as Topaz was making some tea in her apartment, located up above the Voodoo Lounge. Her apartment was hardly sparse. It was a friendly-looking apartment, the furniture and walls in warm colors of orange and brown. The apartment was also decorated with Indian-style accoutrements, and it also had some good luck charms hanging around the place.
The pretty woman sat down in the couch and turned on her television, sipping some of her tea.
"And in other news, police are still extremely baffled over the mysterious and brutal attacks on criminals over the last couple of months. The only known clues are strange metallic red feathers found at the scene, composition unknown." The newscaster announced. "The majority of those attacked claim that the aggressor called himself "Archangel"." Topaz shook her head.
"Oh, Jay..." She sighed. "I know you've had it rough, but did you need to do that?" The Indian woman looked out the window.
"Something troubles you, my dear?" A kindly elder voice inquired. Topaz turned and saw Doctor Strange...his astral form at least, hovering above her coffee table.
"Oh, hello Doctor." Topaz greeted warmly. "I'd offer you some tea, but you're not here in person." Doctor Strange chuckled.
"I wish I could be there, Topaz. But I had to deal with Dormammu."
"Dormammu again?" The Indian woman frowned. "Man, it just seems that he's the only guy you fight. Well, him and Baron Mordo."
"Well, there was Umar, Dormammu's sister." Doctor Strange reminded.
"Your mother-in-law now." Topaz snickered.
"Well, huh huh..." Doctor Strange scratched the back of his head and chuckled nervously. "It wasn't easy when Clea and I started dating."
"From what I heard, Umar was furious." Topaz laughed.
"Umar was more angry with Dormammu for holding her captive." Doctor Strange countered. "It ended up allowing Clea and I to meet up though." He then shook his head. "What were we talking about again?"
"Getting forgetful in your old age, Doctor?" Topaz teased. Doctor Strange frowned and crossed his arms.
"I may have been born in the 1930s, but I am not surrendering to senility just yet." The Sorcerer Supreme frowned. Topaz started to laugh. (1)
"Oh come on, Doctor!" Topaz waved. "I was only teasing you."
"I am very sensitive about my age, Topaz." Doctor Strange sniffed. "You know that."
"Doesn't stop Clea. I never heard her complain once." Topaz laughed.
"Please stop." Doctor Strange groaned.
"Clea wouldn't." Topaz giggled. Doctor Strange sighed.
"Never mind. Anyway, I noticed something about you."
"What?" Topaz blinked.
"Well..." Doctor Strange started. "I noticed over the past couple of months that you and Jay have been growing...closer."
"Closer?" Topaz blushed. "Well, I've given him a job in my bar, helping out here and there...and he's become a good friend..."
"Really?" Strange chuckled.
The skies over New York City
Jay Guthrie streaked through the skies. He had, as usual, a lot on his mind. Several months have gone by, and he hadn't made much progress in finding the Wand of Watoomb. However, it wasn't really his fault. He looked and followed leads, but he was no detective, and he didn't really know where to start.
"Well, Jay. Looks like you've been having it rough." Dracor remarked as he appeared next to Jay.
"Don't start with me, iguana." Jay grumbled, flapping his metal wings. "I know you need me to find that damned Wand of Watoomb, but-!" He then scowled. "Wait a minute...!" He stopped. "Shouldn't Selene be getting pretty impatient by now? She didn't seem the type to enjoy waiting."
"Then you do not know her, Archangel." Dracor chuckled. "Selene is immortal. Time and patience are her best friends. She has created plots that have taken decades to fruition."
"I doubt that." Jay rolled his eyes. "I really doubt that. Selene's smart, but nobody can pull that off!"
"You'd be surprised, Archangel. Anyway, she knows that you have your mind on your task..." He narrowed his eyes.
"Unless...what?" Jay grunted, glaring at the lizard-like demon.
"...You have been in the presence of that...woman a lot."
"Topaz." Jay told the demon. "Her name is Topaz. So? You said I've kept my mind on the task so far. Why do you care?"
"You have been in her presence a lot." Dracor frowned.
"Again, so?" Jay sighed. He really was in no mood to talk to this demon again. "Topaz is harmless. She's a nice woman. I figured she could use a friend. Somebody to talk to. New York City can be a lonely place without friends."
"Jay, do you remember when you and her first met?" Dracor scowled. "She used magic!"
"So does Selene! And why do you care?!" Jay grumbled.
"She uses magic, you twit! Did Selene give you a metal brain as well as metal wings?! Where do you think she learned to use magic?" Dracor exclaimed.
"Probably from the back of a Cracker Jacks box. I don't care!" Jay snapped. "Why the hell are you going on about this?"
"There's someone else here you should worry about." Dracor grunted. "Doctor Strange."
"Doctor who?" Jay blinked.
"No, not Doctor Who. Doctor Who is a television character. I'm talking about Doctor Strange." Dracor corrected. Jay rolled his eyes.
"And you called me stupid." Jay cracked.
"Doctor Strange is a very powerful sorcerer! In fact, he is the Sorcerer Supreme!" Dracor exclaimed, waving his arms.
"Sorcerer Supreme?" Jay blinked. "What, he's king of the magicians or something?"
"No, you-...Guh!" Dracor groaned. "Basically, Strange's job is to make sure that mystical threats are neutralized."
"...what does that have to do with me?" Jay crossed his arms.
"Archangel, Doctor Strange knows of the Wand of Watoomb." Dracor explained. "He may be monitoring you."
"...You're paranoid. Buzz off." Jay grumbled. "I'm in no mood to put up with your stupidity. I never told Topaz much. She told me she was a magician, and she claimed to have seen worse." He flew off.
"Jay, wait! Jay! You don't understand!" Dracor yelled. "Topaz knows Strange! You don't-! Blast it!" Jay continued on his way, oblivious to Dracor's yelling. He never liked the lizard-like demon much, so he learned to tune him out.
Man, that iguana is insane! Jay grumbled. Going on about this Doctor Strange guy, and talking about Topaz like that...after all she's done for me. So what if she knows a few magic tricks. That doesn't mean anything. Besides...she's been very kind to me. She didn't have to do that. She could've just left me to my own devices... "Man, what is wrong with me?" Jay grumbled, shaking his head. He turned his head in a random direction, and he happened to notice a billboard. "Hello..." For the first time in several months, Jay grinned. I think I may have found the Wand...
Next: FoundJay finds the Wand of Watoomb, and Doctor Strange makes plans to save the Archangel's life and soul!
(1) – This is true! Doctor Strange was born in the 1930s. His aging was slowed by the magics he uses as Sorcerer Supreme.
