Protect and Follow
By: MusketeerAdventure
Summary: This takes place during the episode Reap the Whirlwind. Alex, Noma and Pete escape New Delphi. Michael and Gabriel remain captive; and Lyrae appears on the verge of exacting revenge.
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Chapter Seven: Capture and Escape
Alex slammed the manhole cover down hard – letting gravity help pull its weight back to earth with a heavy thud. He held on tight to the handle – unable to let go, breathing hard – his heart racing; panicked with adrenaline.
He had left him behind. His father; his friend and protector – who had vowed to die for him if need be. Michael was trapped now, below ground in New Delphi – undergoing what horror by Julian's hand, he could not imagine.
Michael had practically pushed him up the ladder – sacrificed himself so that he might live to fight another day; to save Vega and give mankind a chance. He had wanted to stay. He should have stayed – dismissed Michael's pleas for his safety; fought at his side and have them come away together. His life meant nothing if the archangel was not at his side.
Alex pulled on the handle – ready to lift – ready to go back; retrieve his friend. They would then go on to Vega as a team, together; unstoppable. His mind raced with differing scenarios. He would leave Noma and Pete here at the opening to watch for eight balls; then head back down the ladder – get Michael and force him to come – go on with them to Vega. He would convince him that his life meant just as much, no more than his.
He couldn't leave him. Not now. Not now that they had found one another again.
They had just reunited – spoken words of forgiveness. They were back on the same page – save Vega; save humanity. Together they would decipher the markings. Together they would warn Vega of the impending onslaught of the eight ball army.
He couldn't go on without him. He needed him. There was no more denying it any longer. Michael was an integral part of his life and part of God's plan for him. One without the other was useless.
He had to go back.
"We have to go Alex", Noma hissed at his side; and his hand stayed. He looked up into her pleading countenance, and indecision warred in his heart. He could tell she was hurting badly – barely able to stand.
Pete was doing his best to hold her up on his own; her blood already saturating his hands; arm and the front of his clothes – her back a bloody mess; her wings gone.
Noma's sacrifice weighed heavy on him; and he turned from her – guilt a boiling pressure in his stomach. How could he ever look her in the eye again?
Alex pressed his eyes shut and swallowed down the lump forming in his throat. Why must he choose – he thought? Why couldn't they all be saved?
When he opened his eyes he found Pete staring at him with anticipation. His face pale and frightened; looking from side to side for hidden enemies in the trees flanking them. Noma hung onto Pete's shoulder and to the front of his shirt weakly, her eyes squinting with pain – her jaw set firmly.
These two – his loyal friends were counting on him to get them out of here.
He looked down again to the manhole and sent up a prayer that he would see Michael again; that he would forgive him – please forgive him for leaving him behind. He closed his eyes tight and asked God to look out for Michael – to save him – to reunite them soon. He had witnessed the power of the markings. Surely God was with him and would listen to his pleas.
When he opened them, Noma reached down to him – he let the handle go and grabbed her arm; placed it around his neck and led them away into the growing night.
He held onto her securely and steered them away from the unspeakable torture they had endured within the inner sanctum; away from General Riesen who was still down there, held captive; away from Gabriel – who deserved everything Julian could dish out and away from Michael.
"Which way?" Pete whispered – holding tight to Noma on the other side; fear rising in his throat – causing his voice to lift an octave. His knees shook from their near death flight from the underground compound; the only thing keeping him on his feet – the feel of Noma plastered to his side; and Alex's strength of will.
"Follow me", Alex whispered back; and proceeded into the tree line.
Noma groaned in pain between them; unable to coordinate her feet – content to let them drag her away – her ripped and torn back on fire. Her mind reeled with the fact that she was no longer a protector. She was now a burden – her strength ebbing slowly away; along with her identity.
She could hardly comprehend her new reality – one that had her weak, without God's gift of flight. If she survived the trauma – how was she to live like this? What was she now? Who was she?
When they reached the tress, Alex could hear in the distance, the manhole crash open and hit the earth. The hiss and growl of the eight balls erupted from underground – filing out like ants. He picked up the pace. He had to get them away.
He pulled Noma and Pete through the brush, feeling every burn on his body – his mind's eye reliving Noma pinned to the wall; ripping the wings from her back as she pulled away from the sanctum wall – to save him. In the corner of the inner sanctum, Pete lying crumpled and beaten on the floor – refusing to take part in Julian's cruel game of torture – his lips pressed tight to keep from talking; and Gabriel between all the horror – promising to kill Claire and destroy Vega if anything happened to Michael.
Alex shook the sickening images from his mind. He had to concentrate. He had to get them all to safety – find shelter; get a good look at Noma's back; and check on Pete.
If they didn't survive – it would have all been in vain. Michael would have been captured and tortured for nothing. They needed to get away, regroup and go back for him.
Once in the thickest part of the forest – he dropped down behind a fallen tree, dragging Noma and Pete down with him. He placed his finger to his lips – they nodded in understanding and lay still – trying to control their breathing so as not to be heard.
Alex's heart pounded so hard in his chest, he thought for sure the eight balls would hear and hone in on them. But they crashed around them – undisciplined; hurried and moved past them quickly – retreating further into the woods.
After some moments of relative quiet, Alex laid his head back on the dry bark, sighed deeply with relief and squeezed Noma's hand. It was clammy and wet; but she squeezed back – the pressure light and faint. Nothing like the strength she exhibited after crawling to his rescue and snapping away the chains from his wrist with intense power.
When he caught her eye, he could see she needed rest; but her jaw clenched firmly and her eyes blazed with determination. Without words, she was telling him that they could not stay here in this place much longer.
He leaned over and watched as Pete tried to regulate his breathing – his face swollen; blood trickling from his mouth; his eyes red from exhaustion – his lip split and the cut he had inflicted himself on his cheek was bleeding once again.
He leaned back and tried to think. Soon it would be pitch black. Maybe then they would go – try and find a place to hold up. If he remembered right – a town was nearby. A town meant homes; abandoned stores – maybe even supplies.
"We rest here", he croaked out to his friends; his mouth dry – his body aching for water.
Pete nodded and relaxed to the ground – curling up into a ball on his side; grabbing at his ribs – clearly in pain and in shock. Noma rubbed his shoulder and shuddered as her abused back reminded her that she had lost her distinctiveness – herself and was bleeding to death.
She would die soon if her wounds were not closed. She steeled herself and bit her lip to keep from crying. Her gift of flight from Father was gone. She turned and studied Alex's profile and reassured herself that it was worth it. He was worth it.
Alex was alive. It was her job to keep him safe; and here he was – still here to save humanity and lead mankind into the light.
She peered at him through the growing darkness and saw the worry and weariness etched on his face. He turned to her; and kissed her temple with tenderness. She could feel the warmth of him and her heart swelled.
There was so much to say. She did not want to die out here, not having declared her feelings for him.
Under her hand, she could feel Pete shivering and remembered with pride how he had held his tongue and kept secret the whereabouts of the amphora. They had hidden it together and swore to each other to not give away the hiding place.
She stroked his hair fondly and smiled. A warrior he was; and if he stuck with Alex – would survive this. She on the other hand….
She leaned against Alex; placed her ear at his chest and listened to the pounding of his heartbeat; and was resolved to speak her mind now – before it was too late.
Alex pulled her in closer and whispered down into her ear, "I will get us out of this mess Nomes. Please don't give up. Please don't leave."
She heard the desperation in his voice, so held her tongue and pressed closer – hoping to gain strength from his optimistic spirit. There was no give up in Alex. If there was a will – there was a way; and she knew no other person with the courage and fight of this man – the chosen one.
"Just rest for now", he urged, and fell silent, holding her tight.
Lyrae stood over his unconscious captive and enjoyed the rage emanating from Gabriel. The archangel practically howled at him; pulling at his restraints with little effect, and he laughed aloud at the absurdity of it. The once powerful Gabriel was now a puppet on a string.
He crossed his arms and looked down his nose; snorting for good effect – how far the mighty had fallen. Who was in charge now, he thought to himself.
Looking down at his feet, Michael lay crumpled and unresponsive. The archangel who had condemned him to complete darkness was now at his mercy. How powerful he felt; overwhelmed with a wicked kind of joy. This unexpected gift – after centuries of plotting; patience; and contained restraint was most welcomed. Good things come to those who wait, he surmised. And he had waited.
All those hundreds of years – damned to the outer sphere would soon be rectified.
His revenge was near at hand; so close to fruition he could taste it. Julian had come through as he had promised all those years ago; kept his side of the bargain – built him an army; and imprisoned his enemies. Now it was his turn.
He kicked Michael for good measure and watched the hatred transform Gabriel into a protective lion.
He would break the archangel – for before him was the Achilles heel – the twin. He would break Gabriel – take his body; kill Michael; rule this world and Father's imperfect treasures.
All he needed now was the amphora and perhaps the markings of the chosen one as well; the power there unlike anything he had ever witnessed.
Lyare sneered down at Michael and remembered that precise moment when he was demoted; sent down into the ether world to roam in darkness without form. The humiliation never left him; the betrayal of it still stung – and after all this time, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He had loved Michael. Worshiped the ground he walked on. He had followed Michael through hell and back without complaint. Followed his every order, and basked in his glory. He had loved him more than he loved Father.
He looked over to Gabriel chained to the wall; and let his smile spread slowly to his eyes. Michael would suffer for what he had done; and it would be at the hands of his own brother.
He snarled at Gabriel; languidly crouched low over his lifeless prisoner; caressed his neck and chuckled from deep in his throat – "Whose in control now archangel?" he cooed, and stood to his feet.
Lyare turned on his heels and walked away, imploring Julian to ready his army, and find the amphora.
Gabriel screamed at Lyare's retreating form, "We'll see Lyare!" - And when the door closed – yelled for his brother.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you are enjoying the story so far; and would love to hear what your thoughts are. I have tried to write the hidden thoughts of the characters and to bring to light some of the hidden moments in the episode. I hope it has been successful so far. Thanks!