Osiris's spindly fingers worked the keys. The data he was receiving was most satisfactory. The Hands were proceeding with their programmed function quite effectively. Soon, the virus would be contained.
And just in time. In the wake of the destruction of the river's guardian, the disease's presence had spiked. But then, there had been the incident with the intruders….
Abruptly, another rumble rocked through the lair. Osiris straightened up. His tall frame slipped between the draped cords and monitors as he ducked through a doorframe.
He gazed out into the pit beyond. Another sound rushed past him, a bone-wrenching roar, screamed from below.
Osiris heard the thrashing of chains as he gazed below him. Abruptly, the sound ceased. Two piercing, yellow coals burned up at him, and Osiris glimpsed the flash of teeth.
"Patience, my friend," the servant called softly. "I will not allow our master's world to be so defiled. The virus will be stamped out. Our creator will be satisfied."
Mike stared, stricken, at the figure in front of him.
Emily lay flat in the hospital bed, eyes shut. Exhibiting a surprisingly strong stomach, Julie had replaced her gore-stained uniform with a nightgown.
The Battlefront was crowded around their enemy's bed. Luke chewed his pinky nail nervously. Elly's penetrating gaze bore into Angel's prone form. Richie slurped his noodles.
"Ok, what the hell happened?" Emmanuel said finally, crouched on the bed next to Angel. "Fred, care to explain just who that chick is?" he jerked his thumb at the figure splayed out on Angel's other side."And, what were you and Hannah were doing down in the Guild?"
Winnie inclined her head. "I'm sorry that I didn't inform you all of our movement. I just thought we could handle it alone. Obviously, I was wrong.
"Hannah and I just went down to look around. Yesterday, I sent Hannah to investigate the tunnels on a hunch. She heard this kind off rumble-"
"It wasn't a rumble. Something roared, deep below us."
They looked up at Hannah in unconcealed shock. She stood among them; her cheeks were flushed, but beside that she seemed fine.
"Hannah…" Luke whispered in awe. "How are you…"
She paused. "I've trained my regeneration. It was just a matter of prioritizing the order of reformation. My lungs and heart reform first, allowing my return to consciousness and basic functioning. My bowels are healing as we speak."
Richie put down his noodles.
Winnie eventually managed to nod. "Uh, yes. Anyways, we were investigating in the Guild to try and find whatever, or whoever, had supplied Albert with his cannon. Hannah had, well, "sensed" some roaring by the southern end of the tunnels, and we were headed over there, when… we were ambushed."
"She took us by surprise," Hannah said, shamed. "Angel usually never attacks unless we strike first."
Winnie agreed. "But, this other Angel just came at us, flying out of the dark. Thankfully, I knew a shortcut out, and you guys showed up to help. Thank you all, by the way. And Hannah, you… well, you know."
Hannah clutched her side with a wince, and nodded.
"Okay, that's all very well and good," Albert broke in, his tone sick with tension. "But just what is that girl? She attacks without provocation. It was almost like she enjoyed it!"
"Wait; is there more than one big, scary angel in with world? Because I'm scared enough as it is," Julie whimpered.
"Everybody calm down," Winnie interrupted. "I know where she came from. Do you recall our venture to Angel's computer, and the program known as Angel Player?" One of it's applications was called Harmonics. Its function is to directly create a double of Angel. However, Angel seems to have rarely used it, I suppose she saves it for extreme situations.
Mike started. That moment, hurtling toward the fish's mouth.
Leonard pushed his way forward. "The problem is, the harmonics capability is only meant to function temporarily, before the clone is assimilated by another Guardskill, absorb."
"But this wasn't a copy!" Harry protested, running a hand through is hair. "I mean, it was bloodthirsty. And besides, Angel couldn't use absorb on it. Otherwise, she wouldn't of, you know…"
Winnie nodded, her face dark. "I know. I'm still not sure what caused them to fight. It would seem something has gone very wrong with Angel."
For a moment, they stared at the sleeping angel in silence.
"If God has control over his Angel, then how could this happen to her?" Harry asked silently.
Winnie grit her teeth. 'I don't know. Though I suppose... it is possible, that the creation of this new, violent servant was part of his plan. Perhaps, he intends to make a replacement."
Harry glanced at the new Angel solemnly. "What should we call her? Thing number two?"
"I've got one," Ely replied coldly. "How about Fallen Angel?"
Luke swallowed. "But… don't fallen angels work for the Devil? As, you know… Demons?"
"I think we know by now there is no devil. There's no need for one. But a demon… I think that fits her perfectly."
Julie sat down forcibly.
"Winnie, what do we do?" Emm asked wearily. "This 'Fallen Angel' is going to be waking up soon and it looks like she's fully inherited Angel's desire to make us 'follow the rules'. We could all…"
They look so worried, Winnie thought. And they're all looking at me, like I have the answer; like I'm not just as scared.
"Just give me some time. Leonard, come with me, I've got a job for you."
"Affirmative. But please, call me Chr-"
"How can we give you time?" Harry protested.
She turned toward her old friend. "Just got to classes. Don't actually pay attention, or you risk obliteration. However, look like you are. All right guys, I trust you. We'll meet up tonight."
"You all right man," Harry whispered, bumping Mike as the others filed out. "You haven't said anything."
Mike just stared down at Emily, eyes wide. He had promised her.
The teachers at Elihu the Young Acadamy had a very pleasant surprise that day. For once, those lamentable hooligans seemed tamed, actually peaceably attending classes.
The Battlefront let the teachers have their moment.
Emmanuel's pencil was hard at work-through the course of History he soon managed to doodle a Yankee uniform on each and every portrait in his textbook. In English, Bridget completed a complex and detailed scenario map of what would occur if overweight Italians invaded New York City. Luke made paper airplanes. Mike tried to launch Luke's paper airplanes, only to have each missile shot down by a precision paper-clip strike from Hannah.
Julie smiled and nodded whenever the teacher glanced her way. Richie the fifth had donned some sunglasses, and snored peacefully. Jess's hands worked away under her desk, making a guitar out of rubber bands and a tissue box.
Out of the blue, Harry did something unprecedented. He raised his hand.
Mrs. Spicer raised her eyebrow as she recognized him. "Yes, sir?" she asked reluctantly.
"When do we get to the part with Abraham Lincoln beating up vampires?"
She reached into her desk, and withdrew a tall cone. "Get up here."
Miserably, Harry trailed to the front, and donned the dunce cap. At her direction, he slumped over to the corner.
"Okay, look. Here's the app, Absorb. Why isn't it working?"
Leonard glanced around the dorm room nervously. "You know, Mrs. Fred, I'm still not quite, comfortable, with intruding in this domain. I mean, it is a girls' room."
"No, it's not. Angel is an it, remember that. Now come and look at this."
Leonard hesitantly leaned over the desk, gazing into the program's code. His eyes suddenly narrowed as something caught his attention.
"Wait. Look at that-beneath that integer, the source of that portion has been tampered. And after that… It's all been…
"This application is corrupted! Someone has altered it…"
Winnie's fingers rapped the desk. "What does that even mean?"
"I am not entirely sure. This program is exceptionally detailed. Maybe… aha!"
With trembling fingertips, Leonard withdrew an item from behind the computer. He flipped the massive book open. "The manual! Now, if could just examine-"
Winnie slapped it out of his hands. 'Moron, don't you know that no one reads manuals! Besides, we don't have enough time. We have to hurry.
"If the program's been mixed up, we'll just fix it so it makes sense. Can you put in a trigger, so that when Angel uses Harmonics, Absorb will activate right after?"
Furious typing was the reply. Leonard quickly finished.
"There you are, Mrs. Fred. Application Absorb is now triggered to resolves after ten seconds, trigged by Harmonics. And, now!"
A timer opened. 10. 9. 8.
They watched in silence. Winnie fidgeted impatiently. Ten seconds is really a long time when you're busy. Grr, wish he'd just set it 3.
1. 0. Abruptly, between the blue boxes of the Harmonics and Absorb applications a third box formed… Inside it, the words "Time Lag" flashed.
"Finished," Leonard sighed, massively relieved. "Now the next time our divine associate uses Harmonics, it will be good-bye Fallen Angel. Now, we-'
He paused, and frowned. He scrolled up the list of applications.
"Hand sonic, Harmonics, Time lag, Absorb, Return, Delay, Distortion, Overdrive… Howling?" she read. What the heck is that?" They read the description, and two pairs of eyes widened.
"That doesn't match the defensive nature of Angels other guardskills," Leonard muttered. "Possibly, the Fallen Angel added it. Should I delete it?"
Winnie bit her thumbnail. Honestly, she didn't want to mess with this crazy program any more then she had to. "No, leave it. Come on, let's get out of here."