Protect and Follow
By: MusketeerAdventure
Summary: This takes place during the episode A Bitter Truth. Alex finds he has an unexpected gift to add to his arsenal as the "chosen one" – Noma fears it; Pete is the grateful one; Michael searches for his faith in Mallory – the journey to and in New Delphi is fraught with unexpected revelations; and hope is plentiful – for the moment – until it isn't.
Well, for this chapter, I have definitely gone over into the realm of AU. Please review and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading everyone!
Chapter Six: Reunited
Noma found herself in a precarious position – sweating profusely – her hands bound and a filthy cloth stretched thin in her mouth; tearing the skin at the corners of her lips. She groaned in frustration as she was pushed down to her knees; giving into the mercy of this maniacal thug; and his entourage of eight balls, and brainwashed humans – who at this moment threatened their lives.
She looked beside her and there was Alex kneeling next to her in the same predicament – gagged and bound – his eyes wide open; pupils blown with fear as he watched Pete being led to what – torture?
They locked eyes and she searched his – looking for his permission; a sign – anything, to unfurl her power – take control of this situation and save them all. But instead of permission, she saw him shake his head no – his body language directing her to stand down.
Noma deflated with uncertainty – sinking further to the ground – not sure she would be able to follow his lead this time.
After all this was Pete, and he was in danger; his face stunned, his skin ashen – as Julian rubbed his shoulders sensually. She tensed in rage as he pushed Pete down into the ragged dentist's chair and then strapped him in, first his arms; then his legs – all the while smiling, and petting his hair.
Pete was a lamb to the slaughter; and she could see that he was too frightened to even resist. Noma cringed right along with Pete as she watched him shudder beneath Julian's touch– his eyes wet with unshed tears and his chin trembling. She screamed out obscenities behind her gag as Julian caressed Pete's back – his neck, then arms; feigning intimacy.
At her side, Alex struggled to loosen his bonds – but all the struggling seemed to achieve were bloody wrists and a kick to his ribs by obedient eight balls – knocking him to the floor; causing his breathing to hitch and sputter.
Noma screamed out Alex's name through the effective muzzle jammed in her mouth and down her throat. Alex struggled back to his knees – breathing hard through his nose – trying not to vomit and choke on his own bile; nodding to Noma to let her know that he was okay.
As he righted himself, Alex pierced Julian with eyes cold as metal – halfway listening to his lecture on New Delphi history and his secret weapon – an amphora made of empyrean steel. He held the jar up for them to see; and stroked it almost lovingly.
Then, Julian held up the round golden key – the one he had risked his life for - and expounded on how that key could open the amphora, summon angels to possess human bodies and create his army. His laugh sent a shiver down his spine, and he knew Noma could feel his sense of dread. Julian was truly insane.
But right now, watching Pete shake with fear, Alex wondered what was to happen next; what he should do next. Should he unleash his own weapon – Noma – and risk all his plans; or should he wait – be patient; and see what was to come. Insane or not, Julian and New Delphi was what he needed to protect Vega and bring down Gabriel.
He didn't have to look at Noma to know what she wanted to do; and he understood. Pete was their friend – newly brought back to humanity; and his responsibility. He had promised to look after him – gave his friendship and offered him a home.
But it wasn't that simple – was it? He lowered his head and tried to think; hoping Pete could forgive him.
Julian looked to these three children – two on their knees and one waiting to join his army – snorted with disdain and turned the key on the amphora. Within moments the summons had found a lower angel in the ether and lured it down; swimming languidly to the source of its existence – a remnant of God, calling out to it.
Pete stared in horror as the angel circled the amphora and with Julian's coaxing, soothing words slid its way toward him – just like in his dreams.
He pulled at his restraints to get away, but it was useless – he couldn't move. Fear welled up in his throat, and blocked his airway so that he could not even scream.
So, this was to be his fate. His dreams had been a premonition after all. He would be leaving this harsh world today – for certainly possession was equal to death. He closed his eyes to block out the slithering light; and instead of praying for it to take another and pass him by – he thought of the one regret he would have in departing the life he knew – leaving Alex and Noma.
He bravely opened his eyes then; took one last look at his friends; and attempted to sear their faces into his memory so that he would not forget them – not forget their kindness to him or the brief sense of family he had found in their circle. Alex's blue aura still showed bright to him and he was glad.
When he squeezed his eyes shut again – he could still see their faces – hoping their image and goodness would follow him into possession. Tears streamed from his eyes; the deceiving light of the angel entered, burned in is body and Menathas screamed in his brain, "I am home."
Julian beamed down at his new soldier Menathas; released him from his bonds – helped him to his feet with care and embraced him. "Welcome home", he cooed; taking delight in Alex's rage and Noma's disbelief. Now who would be next - he thought to himself? Perhaps the girl. Julian turned then to choose; a half smile gracing his lips - amused at their reactions.
Alex made to rise from his knees and charge Julian – thinking to wipe that smug grin from his face – but could not find purchase. The eight balls reached for him and held him down at his shoulders – keeping him from moving forward. He struggled in their grasp; his vision gone red, and his ears buzzing with outrage.
This could not be happening – not again - not to Pete.
Decision made – he looked to Noma; his eyes pleading with her to reveal herself now; cursing himself for waiting. Noma read his message loud and clear – unfurled her seven foot wingspan – stood to her feet and knocked the eight balls holding Alex down, out and away against the far wall.
Her fury was great, and she would not be denied.
Julian stood stunned with the revelation of this angel before him, unable to react quickly enough to Noma's onslaught. Menathas observed the chaos, unmoving beside him, only just united with his host – unsure what was taking place.
Julian laughed out loud amid the noise. This was a surprise, one he had not foreseen. Alex had held this weapon close to the vest – as he had the amphora. Perhaps he had underestimated the chosen one. Maybe, instead of turning him – he might consider using him.
Suddenly eight balls let out a flurry of gun fire attempting to bring down the angel – but Noma brought her wings in to surround and protect herself as the bullets deflected away from her and fell harmlessly to the ground.
Alex swiftly got to his feet – moved toward his Pete to grab him and bring him away; but Menathas resisted, pulled away – and hauled back his fist, ready to throw a punch. Alex feigned easily and brought up his bound hands, giving a two fisted punch to his temple – then to his face. And before his Pete could hit the ground, leaned over and placed him over his shoulder in one smooth motion.
Julian watched as bedlam reined all around him, and reached for the amphora sitting on the ground. But Noma anticipated his move and struck out with her wings felling him with one strike – watching as he fell unconscious at her feet. The remaining eight balls and humans grabbed for them, but she swung around in a precise circle and let her power bring them down.
Alex seeing her triumph – headed for the door with Pete over his shoulder and yelled, "Get the amphora". Noma retracted her wings; scooped up the jar and followed them out the door.
Noma held the amphora close to her body and led Alex – with their Pete still unconscious over his shoulder – to the out of the way alcove where the eight ball army lay in stasis. She hoped strategically that Julian would not think to look for them here.
When they reached their destination, Noma closed the steel door behind them; threw the lock and then rushed to help Alex slowly lower Pete to the ground, his body limp; limbs loose and uncoordinated. He looked dead to her, and she clamped down on that thought refusing to let the idea take hold.
Alex removed his gag, and held out his arms as Noma tore the rope in two with her bare hands. He nodded his thanks to her and looked down at his changed friend with trepidation.
He had hit him pretty hard and saw the forming bruise at his temple; his cheek beginning to swell, and a cut below his right eye bleeding from the force of his blow. But he was breathing – alive still.
Alex growled and hit his fist against the wall. Pain radiated through his knuckles and up his arm. He shook out the tingling sensation; and grabbed his now bloody hand with his other. "Shit!" he cursed loudly. He did this. This was his fault. He should have kept Pete by his side – not left him alone – vulnerable to capture. What had he been thinking? Pete was just a kid.
He should have listened to Noma – should have let her reveal herself sooner. Now Pete was no longer himself – possessed again. He would do the eviction, but would it work a second time? He was afraid. What if attempting the eviction again did something to him – made things worse?
Noma fell to her knees and gripped Alex's shoulder hard. "We have no time for this", she urged; hoping the tone of her voice would pull him from this moment of self-pity.
"Pete needs you - so get started", she insisted; adding a hardness to her plea to get him moving.
Alex nodded and sat down next to Pete; lifted him up into his arms and held him tight. His head lolled in the crook of his arm – his body heavy and loose. Anger seethed through him as he took in the blue tinged veins crisscrossing on Pete's face and neck. He shifted Pete further up onto his chest – put his mouth close to his ear and began the incantation – waiting to feel the markings on his arm move – shift – and send its power of eviction down into Pete.
"Sanctify this vessel. Come into the light. Protect us body and soul" he whispered. When he finished reciting the verse, there was no change. Pete lay unmoving – unresponsive; still possessed.
So he began again, "Sanctify this vessel. Come into the light. Protect us body and soul" – speaking a little louder; anxiety creeping in with the words. This time when he finished reciting, he felt his friend move about – but this was Menathas, not his Pete trying to resurface – the body tensing, fighting to leave his embrace.
So he tried again, this time shouting the words as he pulled Pete in and held him tighter still. When he finished, he felt the markings shift and Pete go limp – a dead weight in his arms; with no rise and fall of his chest.
He put his fingers to Pete's neck; felt no pulse and was afraid. If this didn't work what was he going to do? He looked to Noma – who stared back at him; biting her lower lip and holding on to Pete's hand like a vice. He looked back down at the boy in his arms. Had he just killed his friend?
But then he inexplicably felt concentrated warmth leave his body and enter the cool feel of his friend – and there it was, the flush of pink returned to Pete's cheeks; his skin losing the blue hue, with the crisscross veins receding. He touched Pete's chest and could feel him breathing even, slow and steady. He then relaxed deeper into his body and let out a sigh, as if succumbing to slumber.
Alex lifted Pete's eye lids and with relief saw the clear true color of his eyes instead of the black ink of an eight ball. He looked again to Noma and smiled, "I think he's back", he voiced in a whisper – afraid if he spoke too loud it wouldn't be true.
Noma moved to sit next to him and leaned her shoulder into his – "You did it", she breathed out, and glanced down at the amphora in her hands; then back to Pete – remembering the moment that thing slithered into his body.
"Let me open this Alex", she pleaded with a hint of rage. "Let's make them pay – make Julian pay for what he did to Pete."
Alex brushed the blood from Pete's cheek with his thumb and then turned to her. "What the hell is that Noma?" he asked.
She stared hard at him and swallowed the lump of fear in her throat. "It's death", she answered.
Thank you for reading. Please review and let me know what you think. I could not stand seeing Pete as an eight ball/possessed person another second! I guess this means this story of missing moments has taken a turn into AU territory; but I think (hope) I can work with this. Thanks again to everyone who has favorited and have decided to follow this story.