Protect and Follow

By: MusketeerAdventure

Summary: Alex, Noma and Pete continue on their journey toward Vega with Michael close behind. And touched with the darkness, Gabriel plots his ascension.

Chapter Fifteen: Together

Pete sat behind the wheel of the truck and veered off on exit seven to the small town of Ely. The ride so far had been uneventful and the road stretched on ahead, deceptively quiet. So much so that after all of the turmoil they had experienced – this peace felt unnatural.

He looked down at the gauge and saw that a quarter of gas was all they had left in the tank. Supplies needed to be found soon – from somewhere before they had to abandon this vehicle and start walking.

He stole a glance to his right and noticed that while Noma leaned heavily against Alex's shoulder and appeared asleep – Alex sat straight and on guard. His eyes riveted out the passenger window – looking for trouble; or to the sky – waiting for Michael.

Pete looked up too and saw nothing worthy of mention. For Alex' sake, he hoped the archangel would make an appearance soon. While he trusted Alex with his life – he wasn't so sure about Michael.

He focused his gaze back to the open road and adjusted his body to lean a little more forward. His butt was killing him – along with a host of other aches; pains and bruises. And the excessive heat of the day wasn't helping matters – only serving to drag him down; drain his energy and cause his eyes to droop at unexpected moments.

He slapped his cheeks to keep from nodding off and spread his eyes wide open. This heat, he thought, was becoming unbearable. The sweat rolled off him in torrents; along the sides of his face, into his eyes; down his back and soaked his arm pits.

The open windows only pushed more heat into the cabin and gave no real relief. Alex looked just as miserable as he felt; but he didn't complain – so he wouldn't either.

When they hit the outskirts of Ely, he slowed down and eyed the desolate surroundings of abandoned cars – schools – homes and buildings. He wondered what things must have been like in this town, before the extermination wars. He imagined neighbors waving hello, kids riding bikes, horns blaring in backed up traffic. What he wouldn't give for things to be as they once were.

He stole another glance in Alex's direction. This would be his purpose – to follow the chosen one and restore balance to this world. Alex would set things right again. He had no doubts.

When they reached the center of town, Alex reached over; touched his arm and pointed out the window to the grocery store at the end of Main Street – toward the empty parking lot.

Pete pulled in, parked and turned off the engine. They both looked at each other and surveyed the area. Without the engine running, the silence that greeted them was eerie and uncomfortable. The arid breeze blew debris across their path – but they could sense no other movement – no eight balls – no rouge humans – nothing.

Alex considered the store and drummed his fingers on the dashboard. He was eager to see what could still be inside the abandoned establishment. Perhaps it held what they so desperately needed.

He peered down at Noma, pushed the sweat from her forehead, and looked over at Pete – who smiled back at him – expecting to have action and head for the store.

Noma felt the tender touch to her brow; groaned, sat up slowly and peered up at Alex through blurry vision. She rubbed at her eyes and when they cleared could see they had come to a stop outside a grocery store. When she looked at her two companions – she could see they were chomping at the bit to leave the truck – their attention glued to the large building.

"Why are we stopping here?" she asked – coughed, and then cleared the exhaustion from her voice.

Alex continued to stare out at the store and looked for any sign of wayward eight balls. "We're here to get what we need" he answered. "And what we need is a first aid kit – some food; and water if we can find it."

Noma shook her head in disbelief, "There is no way anything is left here. Everything would have been looted by now."

Alex looked to her and shrugged, "There better be something here – or you bleed to death; we starve and never make it to Vega."

Pete opened his door and grabbed for his trusty tire iron. "That settles it then" he said with enthusiasm, "we go in." He stepped out of the cabin, placed the impromptu weapon at the back of his pants and led the way to the entrance.

Michael woke with a start, the remnants of his dream – Alex calling out to him – echoing in his mind.

He squeezed his eyes tight, took a deep cleansing breath and reached out with his senses to that plea for help. There it was – intertwined admits all the other noise and chaos of this world – the thread that would lead him to the chosen one.

Alex was alive.

He exhaled with relief and slowly got to his feet. His legs felt strong beneath him, and though his head still ached – he was no longer dizzy or trembling with electrical currents. Michael unfurled his power and spread them out at their full, magnificent length. He stretched himself experimentally and felt no twinges or pain.

He was regaining his strength and now had his connection with Alex restored.

He turned in the direction of New Delphi and thought on his brother – how he fared – if he had garnered his revenge – or was he now the puppet of Lyrae. Apprehension lay heavy on his heart.

Michael frowned and focused. This was no time for indecision. The fate of Vega, of mankind was at hand.

Michael looked to the sky and put the uncertainty behind him – bent his knees and took flight – the comfort of pressing air pushed all his worries aside. Soon he would see Alex again.

Once inside the sliding glass doors – the heat of the day gave way to coolness; clean floors, pristine aisles of merchandise and a teenage eight ball at the cash register smiling their way – his wayward hair falling over the blue veins popping from his forehead.

Over the loud speaker, holiday themed music blared something about a white Christmas and a disemboweled voice interrupted with "clean up needed on aisle three". The hissing voice only served to make the request sound sinister and deadly.

Pete reached for his weapon at his back – but Alex held his arm to stay – and looked about with a curious expression on his face.

An elderly white haired, eight ball – her uniform immaculate – a smile plastered on her lips across serrated teeth – approached them; her manner polite as she inquired if they needed any help. Alex shook his head no, and watched as she walked away on some errand to "help" others.

Another eight ball breezed by with a broom, muttering about messes on aisle three and moaned, "Why me?"

Alex looked to Noma and could not hide his astonishment, "What are they doing here?" he asked.

Noma let her gaze wander about the store, "Lower angels aren't that different from humans. Some are smart, evolved and some dumber than door nails. But they all obsess over the lives they have stolen."

"They must really like it here", Pete chuckled nervously – ready to find what they needed and leave this place.

Noma turned to her friends, "We should not stay here. They could turn on us at any moment."

"No", Alex countered. "We find what we need – then we get out of here."

Pete nodded in agreement; held his tire iron in a firm grip and followed close – Noma bringing up the rear.

Gabriel surveyed Julian's living quarters and planted himself in the large, plush leather chair where once the leader of New Delphi sat omnipotent.

Now this world was his – the underground installation; the flourishing trade; the eight ball army dormant beneath his feet; and the many merchants who inhabited this place – were now under his rule.

He caressed the amphora and felt its power leech out to him – his own darkness growing within him by the hour. He had sent scouts out to find Lyrae – still hidden among them somewhere – but cared little if he found the little worm at all. Lyrae was no match for him – now more so than ever.

Lyrae's entourage of body guards – now his - entered the room with the dyad General Reisen between them. He had found the man's weakness – removed the threat – and now before him was Duma; loyal servant and soldier.

Here before him, was his ticket to invading and taking control of Vega.

He would unleash his army – the darkness – bring Vega to her knees, and crush Michael along with her; Michael, his beloved brother, who chose Alex above him – above Father – above loyalty.

He shared a knowing smile with Duma and their eyes shown black in unison. It was time to take over the world - if not Father; then why not him?

The trek through the store, with cart in tow – found the trio throwing in beef jerky; bottled water – back packs – sleeping bags – flash lights and batteries. The eight balls working the floor paid them no heed and went about their duties as if on remote control. When they finally found the wilderness first aid kit among the camping gear, they collapsed on the floor in relief.

Alex ripped the package open and Pete helped lift Noma's shirt. With bottled water and wash cloths – they cleaned her wounds and went about the task of sewing together her torn flesh. Alex gently squeezed her shoulder and pressed his lips to the back of her neck. "It will be over soon", he whispered. Noma grit her teeth, nodded and bore the pain without a sound.

The shuffling footfalls of eight balls roaming about the aisles had Pete on edge – so he held onto his tire iron and stood guard until the stitching was complete.

Once done – Noma lay gasping in Alex's arms – sweat causing her hair to stick to her forehead and cheeks. When she gathered her wits, she pet Alex on the chest with reassurance and sat up. It was definite now – her life as a higher angel was lost to her forever. She would never be able to go home. The doors of heaven were now closed to her.

Over the P.A. system, a hissing, gravelly voice announced, "Attention shoppers – the store is now closing."

Pete looked to Alex, "What do we do?" he wondered aloud – anxiety creeping into his voice.

Alex stood to his feet and pulled Noma up with him, "We go to the register and get the hell out of here."

Michael circled the town of Ely two, three, and then four times. His senses told him that Alex was here somewhere, but he saw no evidence of it.

Suddenly, a commotion by the grocery store entrance caught his attention. There at the door stood Alex with a chainsaw bearing down on an eight ball determined to attack – the weapon hacking away limbs. Noma brandished a hammer - and smashed in the skull of an eight ball at her feet; and the boy Pete swung a tire iron over and over again down on the body of an eight ball whose face was now only a bloody mass - unrecognizable.

They were covered in blood, their faces grim and he could see their strength was waning. More eight balls joined the fray and encircled the trio who were fighting for their lives.

Michael descended fast – assessed the situation and flung out his wings. He downed the threat in one fell swoop of grace and power before he even touched the ground. When he retracted his strength the three stood before him out of breath, weary – but relieved to see him. He had turned the tide, and saved their lives.

Pete promptly fell to the ground and sat with his head in his hands; exhausted, Noma joined him there – unable to even acknowledge the archangel's presence. They sat together – spent.

Alex looked to Michael, moved to him swiftly and wrapped his arms about his neck and held on tight. "Where were you?" he choked out – overcome with emotion. The harrowing fight to leave the store still etched in his mind had him shivering uncontrollably. They had made it out alive, and the relief of it was overwhelming.

Alex felt Michael hesitate, except his embrace, and then hold him about the shoulders. He breathed in Michael's essence and felt safe again. Nothing could hurt him – everything was going to be alright. Michael was here, and all would be well. He felt tears well up in his eyes and burrowed his face into Michael's neck and openly wept.

"I'm here", Michael whispered to his friend, and held him closer still. "I'm here."

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you think. Your reviews are like presents and are much appreciated. I know I have strayed very far from the original intent of the writers for Dominion– but hope this version is okay! (Some of the paraphrased dialogue here is from the series itself.) Merry Christmas everyone!