Chapter 7

Getting into the next Senate session had been easier than Alex thought. Of course it was hard to arrest someone when the Lady of the City was announcing that you were under her protection.

There were audible gasps among the Senate members when the twin doors opened and Lady Riesen stepped in with two deserters of a very different kind.

Both Michael and Alex took center stage while Claire sat down in her high seat. Alex didn't waste time and addressed the Senate members.

"Most of you may know me, my name is Alex Lannon. Not too long ago, I was standing in this exact spot, accusing Michael of being a liar, of deliberately deceiving us. Today I'm standing here to shape the future of Vega and to make you see that Michael is still very much a part of that future.

"Why, you might ask, should you believe a simple soldier like me? The truth is, I'm not a simple soldier, not anymore. You are all aware of the rumors of The Chosen One—they've been floating around ever since I can remember. I daresay every one of you has heard one version or another. But I can now tell you that the rumors are true and I will prove it to you."

Alex started stripping off his shirt and low murmurs spread through the ranks of the Senate when he exposed his torso, spreading his arms wide to show the tattoos off in the bright spotlight that shone on him from above.

"These tattoos that you see here were passed on to me from my father, Jeep, when he died at the hands of one of Gabriel's angels. I have accepted my duty to decipher them and fulfill whatever destiny has been set for me. But in order to do that, I need Michael's help, and I need your help."

He turned to Michael, indicating him as he continued, "Michael has been helping me, has been training me for the past few months. Events have been set in motion that I could not have accomplished without him. His actions may not have always seemed straightforward, but he's been an invaluable teacher, and I firmly believe he will be important in shaping my and our future.

"As for recent events, you may have noticed a dip in Eight-ball attacks. I can offer an explanation for that. Gabriel has been wounded in a recent fight, wounded to the point where no one knows if he will survive. This will be our chance to regroup and rebuild our forces, gather our strength. We need to pull the city back together and I hope I can count on your support in accomplishing that goal."

A young man's voice piped up from the seat that used to be occupied by Becca Thorn. Alex could only surmise he was the successor to represent House Thorn. "The archangel murdered Consul Thorn. Are we supposed to just ignore that?"

Michael spoke up for the first time. "I will not pretend to deny my actions or their consequences. I very much regret my lapse of self-control that resulted in the unnecessary death of the consul but I urge you to also consider her crimes against my people.

"I had left Vega because I knew I would not be welcome here after killing a member of the Senate, a person valued by many, including myself. It was the Chosen One who demonstrated to me the importance of my presence in Vega, which ultimately persuaded me to come back."

Senator Romero cut in, "You make a point, Archangel, although one of questionable merit. Do you expect us to welcome you back without any kind of punishment, when murder is humanity's gravest crime of all?"

"Expect? No. In fact, I would not oppose a vote in the Senate as to how to handle the situation. I also wish to add that a punishment for my actions has already been exacted by my kind."

"And what kind of punishment would that be?" David Whele asked.

"A power has been taken from me that I have heavily relied on in the past—a power that will require continuous effort on my part to counterbalance. The outcome will ultimately benefit humanity, which I can only presume was the objective of my punishment."

Subdued mumbling caused disquiet in the room until Claire reached for the golden orb and banged it on its wooden plate three times. "Senators, please. This is a chance we can use to our advantage. This is how we steer Vega back on course. I propose that we take a twenty minute recess and then reconvene for a vote."

In the end, the vote was seven yea to four nay. Many of the details were still to be worked out, reservations to be assuaged, plans to be made. But the first foundation was laid and Alex was sure that, with the Senate's support, the rest would fall into place.

The one thing that everyone agreed upon, however, was that Alex's true identity would not be revealed to the general public just yet. The time for that would come. But Vega was not ready and there was work to be done that would ultimately be hindered by the revelation.

It was hard to believe after these past few weeks, but Alex finally had hope that there was a certain sense of normalcy returning to his life. He and Noma would be reinstated in the Archangel Corps, Michael would be back in the Stratosphere tower, and he might just live to see his child grow up.

The vision of his destiny was getting just a little bit less foggy, the way paved for the next steps. For the first time since the tattoos had transferred to his body, he felt ready to take on whatever was necessary.

It rarely rained in Vega, but today dark clouds swirled above, their wrath letting heavy droplets pour down in rapid succession.

Michael hardly noticed them as they soaked his clothes, his hair, his every fiber. He was kneeling on the now muddy terrain, his gaze fixed on the ornately carved marble structure in front of him that bore the inscription, "Becca Thorn," in golden letters.

Her ashes were now housed in the opulent family tomb, a tribute to the ruling class' wealth and status. He knew she had liked the convenience that being a V6 brought, but he also knew she had never cared about the prestige.

He found he knew a great many things about Becca Thorn and it drove the point home even more gravely. His weakness had eventually become his downfall. Nevertheless, he could not help the bone-deep sadness within him at the thought that he'd lost her forever, that he'd taken her life.

A faint rumble of thunder clapped somewhere in the far distance and Michael tried to remember the last time they'd made love, the last time she'd run her slender fingers across his body, the last time her lips had sought out his. He'd sworn off sexual relationships with humans decades ago, but she'd captured his heart like few others ever had.

He let his chin drop to his chest, tears threatening and stinging behind his eyes. He abhorred his own lapse of control, his inability to keep his mind focused. He deserved every bit of his punishment.

There was still little that could fill the void of losing his connection to the humans and he constantly struggled with navigating his way through the city and the maelstrom of emotions and sensitivities without it. He found that he had to rely on verbal communication more than ever before—something he was not used to, but also something that came with unexpected rewards in the most unpredictable ways.

Even Uriel had noticed the change and he felt there was progress there too. He knew she still blamed him but her hostility was becoming less with every meeting. News of his brother was scarce but encouraging. They said that progress was hardly detectable but the wound was starting to heal ever so slightly. There was hope yet that Gabriel could recover.

Michael took this news with mixed feelings. Gabriel was still his twin brother and he couldn't bear the thought of losing him. He also knew that if Gabriel fully recovered, he would come back, driven by unrivaled vengeance that he would unleash unto humanity.

Michael feared the worst. An archangel's rage was a thing fierce and fearsome. The millennia he'd lived through had taught him that and the fact that he was currently staring at the gravestone of someone he had both loved and killed was an apt reminder.

Another low peal of thunder sounded over the patter of rain and he suddenly felt a hand softly touching his shoulder. His head whipped around to recognize someone he would not have expected to see.

"Michael," Claire softly said, immediately withdrawing her hand.

"I apologize, I should not be here," he said, bowing his head.

"You cared for her."

The rain relented slightly and Michael hesitated a moment before he said, "I loved her."

"I know it's not my place to ask, but… why?"

"It wasn't something I did willfully or intentionally. Your mind may not work the same way that ours does. I'm not sure how I can ever put it into terms that will be comprehensible to a human being."

"There is so much mystery shrouding you and your kind. You've always been the untouchable—so aloof, always keeping a respectful distance. Sometimes it's hard to imagine you could have feelings like we do. Perhaps we're not so different, you and I."

"In many ways, we're not," he conceded, getting up from his kneeling position.

She fixed him with a determined gaze. "I won't pretend that it's going to be easy to rebuild the trust we've had in you, but I'd be leading with a bad example if I didn't grant second chances. I believe you've never had anything but our best interests at heart, despite what happened before you left. You have my full support in the Senate and I hope you have learned something from this tragedy."

"Thank you, Lady Riesen."

She gave him a small smile. "Oh, please. Call me Claire."

He gave her a curt nod. "Very well."

"My father always believed in you, we all did. And because of some small miracle, or perhaps because of what the markings told him, Alex still does. You do realize that, don't you?"

"Yes, very much so."

"The people of Vega need you. We need you to help us rebuild. Don't let us down, Michael."

"Nothing could be further from my intentions."

Her expression softened into a degree of benevolence. "And as far as I'm concerned, you're always welcome here."

She gave him a last look, then left, the wet gravel crunching beneath her feet.

He looked at the Thorn tomb one last time, the resolution forming clearly in his mind: never again. Becca's death would not be in vain. Humanity was something to fight for and not something to carelessly destroy.

Now was the time to rebuild and rebuild he would, with all the power vested in him.

THE END.