After a long moment, Harry cleared his throat, his face flushed. "Mike. Something's up, isn't it?"
Mike turned to him hesitantly. Uh-oh.
"And, you know what it is. So buddy, it's time to spill the beans."
"Look, it's complicated. I don't know if, well…" Mike swallowed. This was dangerous. If Harry told-
Harry crossed his arms. "Dude, I know you well enough to trust you. Please, trust me. I'll believe what you have to say; at this point, nothing could surprise me."
Harry kneaded his temples. "Could you repeat that last part? I think one of my screws came loose for a moment."
Mike glanced around the patio. He couldn't see anyone, but it was vital that they weren't overheard. "Look, we were wrong about this world. We're not here to be forced into submission."
"We've been brought here to find peace," Harry finished. He was silent for a moment. "It seems so incredible, but… it fits. It all kinda makes sense now, you know? In a way, I think I've known for a long time."
He chuckled. "Man, Fred's going to have a fit when she finds out. Wow. Yikes. Say, how does all of this fit in with the Battlefront's mission?"
Mike shook his head. "Beats me. I don't know how God fits into this at all; I certainly haven't seen him. It's just, I don't think that spending all of our time trying to get back at him isn't going to help anybody. Instead, I, I want to help people. And I'm not alone."
He swallowed, and nodded at the figure that was making its way through the door.
"I arrived as soon as I could, Mr. Carter. I had to find a way of departing the meeting, through-" Emily's eyes went wide as she saw their company. She stayed stock still as Harry shot up.
Harry stormed up to her, and… stopped. He blinked. "So. You've been helping my friend, Ang… Miss Robinson?"
She nodded firmly, craning her neck to look up at him. "Indeed. Mr. Carter possesses some very creative ideas. He is very clever, if rather silly at times."
Mike beamed at her. "Is that so? Well then, you're going to have a field day with this one, Emily."
Harry glanced between them, his color rising. "Hold on, that's hardly…. Uh…" He glanced at the President sheepishly. "So… you're not possessed by a horde of demons?"
"No. I will not allow it."
Harry coughed. "Well… that's good. It's, uh, a nice day, right?" he snuck a glance at her. "Uh, no hard feelings for all the times I shot at you?"
Emily shook her head.
Harry's shoulder's untensed. He clapped his hands, his toothy smile breaking out in a flash of radiance. "Right! In that case, looks like you guys will be needing my help. No offence, but neither of you really seem to be the best at socializing. You're going to need my effortless popularity, my common-sense know-how. I want to help you guys."
"As do I," a voice rang out. They jumped, swinging around in alarm.
Albert finished disentangling himself from the flowerbed. He straightened up, brushing dirt off his uniform. "I happened to be walking by, when I coincidentally over heard your remarks. I too wish to assist you, Michael."
Mike cast him an incredulous glance. Albert shrunk under the look. "All right, I followed Angel from the meeting… I was suspicious, you see. Several days she has held power, but she still hadn't killed anyone. Now, it makes sense. Many things make sense."
Alfred strolled up to them. Harry rolled his eyes."I owe you a considerable debt, Michael Carter. If it wasn't for you, I hesitate to think at the state I would still be in. I, well, that is to say…
"Thank you so much, Mike. Thank you for acknowledging me. I want to do what I can to return this gift to others." He proffered his hand.
Mike glanced at Emily. As the others had crowded up to him, she had moved back. She was currently trying to replant the flowers that Albert had uprooted in his exit. Mike smiled at her.
"What's up, Emily? How do you feel about all this?"
She regarded the newcomers gravely. "If you trust them, then I will reciprocate."
Considering what happened this afternoon, Mike thought, I guess we can use all the help we can get. He shook Albert's hand firmly. "All right. The truth is, I'm really glad that you're both with me. But we can't tell anyone else yet, all right?"
Albert nodded eagerly. Harry sighed, shaking his head ruefully. "Aw, man. The situations I get myself into. This is going to be difficult, you guys know that?"
"I can handle anything," Albert declared haughtily.
"Right. Thought as much." Harry turned to Mike. "But, you realize that the technique you were using wasn't working, right? Working together, we tried to fulfill all of Julie's dreams. We tried to let her realize all of the desires she had in life. But it didn't work, she still isn't at peace."
Mike nodded sheepishly. Come to think of it, just giving someone whatever they wanted was a pretty silly idea. Just from his experience in life, he should have known that wouldn't have worked.
"-But with us all working on it, I'm sure we can figure something out." Harry continued. "Mike, I love everyone here just as much as you do. I want to help my friends. Starting now, things are going to change."
Osiris's eyes narrowed. Things had to change. Now.
All around him, hundreds of monitors all sent him the same message. Each visual monitor relayed direct feed of the upper world; each view fed directly from the eyes of an NPC. Each visual monitor and data readout screamed at him the same verdict; the virus was everywhere. He could see it in the columns of data, scrolling before him in pillars of red.
Despite the servant's best efforts, the virus had taken root. He had taken direct action, and created Hands of the creator, sent out to eradicate it. But the Hands had been routed, and then, instead of destroying one of his oldest inconveniences, the being known as Angel had defeated them: using the virus!
Osiris descended the steps of the control room, his cloak sweeping behind him like a mist. More drastic steps would be taken. As much as he was loathe to interfere in the workings of his master's world, he simply had no choice.
With quiet steps, he reached the bottom of the pit. He heard a strange noise around him, a steady gust of wind. The beast was asleep.
An event is needed, Osiris reflected. Some drastic event to shake the members of the Battlefront, and shake the virus right out of them. Those hot-blooded juveniles would do all of the work for him, if given the proper push.
A suitable event is indeed approaching, he remembered suddenly. And perhaps, they should receive an invitation? He could use his control over the programming to influence the student council, and direct their actions.
He carefully removed an instrument from a rack near the floor. He smiled at it, his thin lips stretched as he stroked its surface. And then, this creation would do so nicely to provide the push.
Osiris paused. The wind had stopped.
Suddenly, a burning iris opened in front of him. The scarlet eye fixed upon him in the darkness, and then widened.
The wall shook as the being roared. Claws the size of a man raking the sides of the pit as the monster rose up, back arching, its spine prominent and knobbed. An elongated snout tore open, revealing rows and rows of flashing fangs, waiting patiently.
Osiris gazed at it calmly. He did not flinch as it began to step toward him, only to halt with an agonizing roar. Chains of fire burst to life, leaping from the pit walls to capture the beast's neck.
Osiris smiled. "Do not worry yourself, Ammit. As surely as the sun will rise, so our enemies shall fall."
A/N End of Mission Nine. So, I'm pretty sure you've all noticed something's up. This is the point of divergence. From here on out, I'm going to be taking the story in a slightly different direction. I just think the ending needs a bit more to it then the show had time for. I hope you like it, especially those who have following this effort since the beginning. Thanks for the support, everyone. How this divergence is going to work… well.