Protect and Follow
By: MusketeerAdventure
Summary: Michael, Alex, Noma and Pete finally make it to the outskirts of Vega – only to find their destination under the influence of the darkness.
Chapter 20: Almost Home
After a while, the truck had run only on gaseous fumes and fevered prayer. For a few miles it sputtered along, then rolled a couple of feet until it finally petered out with a clunk. So the four gathered their meager belongings, slammed the doors shut and took off on foot.
Now, determined, they walked solemnly along the desolate highway leading into Vega. Weathered signs pointed them in the direction of the gambling haven, for fun in the desert; and the chance at a million dollar jackpot. The crumbling asphalt crunched beneath their feet – the steady yellow divider a beacon leading the way home.
Alex studied the cracked road and wondered step for step what they would find back inside the gates of home. He worried that Lyrae might have already unleashed his feral army of eight balls. Would they find the city overrun – already dismantled and controlled by a madman? Or would they be just in time to save her?
His thoughts fell to Claire and hoped against hope that she was well, and had found a way to keep the city protected. She was the Lady now – and he was sure she would do whatever it took to protect the citizens of Vega and herself.
If nothing else – Claire was a strong, proud woman and would not let the city fall without a fight. Possibility and anticipation swelled in his heart at seeing her again, and he prayed she and the child – his child that she carried within her were thriving.
His child – he thought incredulously. Of all things – beyond being the chosen one – to be a father would bring him much pride. He frowned and tried to conjure up the image of what fatherhood meant. His own father had left him; alone and defenseless – a child in the streets of Vega to fend for himself. That was his only model – a sad one at that – and he vowed not to repeat his own father's mistakes.
He would do differently. He would be there – teach his child the ways of this hard world; how to survive; to fight – be fearless in the face of this disintegrating expanse. He would do this and have his child be proud of him – love him even.
He shifted the weight of the pack on his back and stole a glance in Michael's direction.
Michael was the one he should emulate - the one who stared straight ahead; who bounced back from adversity – and gave his loyalty free of debt, and asked for nothing in return. Michael was the one who taught him how to defend himself – find food and shelter on the dark corners of Vega.
It was he who turned him into a soldier – showed him how to use a weapon and gave him a place in the Angel Core. It was Michael – in the end – who believed in him, and was sure beyond any doubt that he was the one to bring peace to this earth. It was Michael who had gifted him with the markings from God with a message, once revealed, would surely push mankind to rise from these ashes of despair.
This would be his compass. He would follow Michael's example. He would train, guide and love his child as Michael loved him. He would make it his mission to be a good father as Michael had been good to him.
He looked to his right and there Noma walked stoically beside him – stride for stride. She had regained most of her energy and appeared to be in no pain and on the mend. He could see that she was anxious – worry lines etched on her forehead with her lips pressed tight.
He wanted to reach over and taker her hand – press his lips to her knuckles and tell her that everything would be okay.
But he held back; not sure his words would be believed or if they were even really true. She was a soldier like him – the worst case scenario always there in the forefront. But that wasn't the only thing that stayed his advance. He also wondered what being back in Vega would mean for them.
Would seeing Claire change what he felt here and now for Noma? He rubbed at his temples and forced himself to think on other things.
He peered up at the sky and saw that soon the sun would set – and darkness would be upon them. This was good. Better to enter Vega under the cover of night than be spotted by the enemy in broad daylight.
He quickened his step. They needed to get into Vega – find Claire – the Angel Core and fight for everything that kept them human – their homes, families, their way of life.
Maybe if they could save Vega – it could be a stepping stone to more – more of what he was chosen to be; chosen to do.
He let these thoughts swirl around him and kept going - one foot in front of the other – hoping to reach Vega in time.
Pete stumbled a few paces behind the trio in front of him – struggling to keep up with their relentless pace. He felt the comfortable weight of his tire iron at his waist – tucked where a belt should be – and was glad for the sense of security it gave him.
He sensed no danger to the right, left or behind him on this long stretch of highway – but knew ahead of them lay hazards and perils of the like he wasn't sure he was prepared for. He felt the better having his weapon close at hand.
He watched Alex shift the pack at his back and wondered what he might be thinking. If it was anything like what he was thinking – then the man must be scared shitless.
In his mind – they were walking toward a war zone – and there were only four of them. Granted – one of them was a full blown archangel; the other a former higher angel still with the strength of ten men; and Alex – who could evict angels possessing humans – offering back their humanity.
And, of course, there was he – who had his faith in Alex and his trusty tire iron. He shook his head. The four of them against a well-armed force of controlled eight balls with no fear of death or uncertainty.
Just weeks ago, he had been one of them – a mindless, relentless creature – hell bent on destroying humanity on the word of a crazed dyad. He looked deep within himself and conceded that he had no memory of being possessed. No memory of what it entailed to be an eight ball.
He wished he had some inclining of that time. Maybe it would give them some insight on how to fight them – if he could just remember something.
But maybe, on the other hand, it was a good thing he didn't remember. The atrocities he must have committed in the name of Julian and Lyrae must have been many. Things he must have done – that he probably couldn't live with. It was best he didn't know.
He caught the archangel looking his way – his gaze a piercing laser right into his heart. He stared back with just as much intensity; and hoped Michael could sense his loyalty to Alex and their cause. He had a feeling Michael wanted to ask him something – gauge his worth perhaps.
They had not had an opportunity to speak; or feel each other out. His own doubts about Michael; how he had left Alex to fight on his own – not making things any easier.
The flight from New Delphi – the fight for their lives at the store; the vigil in the woods and now this trek to Vega – had left no time really for any of them to speak of anything but getting home. Now to learn that Lucifer was among them gave everything a heightened sense of urgency.
From what he could gather, based on everyone's reaction – Lucifer would prove to be more dangerous than Gabriel and Lyrae put together.
Pete broke eye contact first and hurried to walk close to Alex and let the man's pace pull him along.
Noma could feel the tension in everyone, so kept her back straight and walked alongside Alex with a sense of purpose and false confidence. She would not let him sense the complete and utter fear she felt since the moment Michael proclaimed Lucifer alive.
To contend with Lyrae, Gabriel, the eight ball army and the amphora was enough – but this – this only added a horror that soon would rain down on them all in a terrifying hail of damnation.
How was it that Lucifer – the fallen rebel – was here on Earth among them?
She looked to Alex and read the set of his jaw as determination to get to Vega – to Claire and start his own revolution. Her heart was set to help him. She loved him and would do anything for him. But something within her questioned – doubted; and she couldn't fathom why she felt this way.
The echo of the stranger's words haunted her and bombarded her resolve. His order to bring Alex and Pete east – drummed in time with her steps toward Vega. His soft promises, the phantom flutter at her back, chipped at her loyalty – her belief in Alex, her love and made her heart ache.
She turned from Alex and stared straight ahead into the waning light. She would remain true – block out the voice from her mind and keep her word given twenty-five years ago in complete solidarity with Michael and Father.
The chosen one would be victorious.
There – on the edges of his consciousness – the sensation grew stronger and he instantly knew who it was. Gabriel was here – not so far from Vega – waiting.
He stopped in his tracks and opened himself to it. Yes – his brother was here – but something was wrong, different and changed.
What was he to make of this? Was it Gabriel or not? He opened his eyes and extricated himself from the void that was now his brother, and sensed right away the danger they were in. His brother, who before had been intent on finding Father by any means necessary – was now also something malevolent; foul to the core.
What could have caused so deep a change in such a short span of time? What had happened to his brother?
He looked to Alex – who stood now at his side with a worried expression on his face – his eyes asking him to explain why they had stopped here in the middle of the road.
"Gabriel is near", he offered and silently requested permission to take flight and survey the area.
Alex nodded his assent and added, "We'll wait here."
Without hesitation, Michael unfurled his wings and took flight into the setting sun.
Within moments he could see below him the gates of Vega – unguarded with an unnatural blackness enveloping the city. Beneath the haze of it, he could hear the screams of torture, and bleak hopelessness. And out there – was Gabriel, watching.
Suddenly the tendrils of darkness reached out and took a brief hold of his mind. Dread permeated his soul and he knew the amphora had been released. Terrible sounds from below garnered his attention; and sent a wave of tremors through his body.
Fires erupted, explosions sounded – Vega was under siege – under mental anguish and torment. The city would destroy itself; implode with violence – and be ripe for take over. Had Gabriel done this thing? And if so – why would he do it? Why would he release the weapon of darkness on these people when he could have easily overcome them with brute strength?
He reached out his senses to ask, "Is this your doing brother?" But he received no response.
He reversed his momentum in flight, and hovered above the melee – uncertain how they could rescue the city from this. A dark thought of his Alex – dead in his arms flashed before his eyes and he quickly retreated – to move further away from the horror induced smoke that crept up to engulf him.
He must leave this place – get back to the others and warn them. The darkness had been unleashed.
Gabriel looked down from his perch, atop the rise just outside the city gates and studied his masterpiece. Soon Vega would be his for the taking. The howls echoed to him over the stillness outside the gates and gave him pleasure. Everything was going just as he had planned.
Father would see just who was in charge now; Michael would know his wrath; and the chosen one would never get the chance to fulfill divine prophesy or his destiny. Just as his David – his beloved David had never lived to see his.
His eyes shifted to black and he unfurled his power to send Duma the order to attack – but then, there it was – the tingling sense of his brother, his twin – pulling at his rib. Somewhere – close by was Michael. And where there was Michael – the chosen one was near. So he retracted his strength and rethought his plan for revenge.
Michael reached out and asked if this was his doing. He laughed out loud and tutted with glee. "What a fool you are brother!" he yelled out into the coming evening – but refused to reach out answer his brother's query.
"How perfect is this?" he asked himself. Yes – he would wait.
Michael would not be able to resist the temptation to try and save Vega. Yes – he would stay his hand – keep back his army and watch as his brother entered the city and succumb to the darkness; and go mad with his demons. Yes – this would be sweet!
Claire Reisen – the chosen one – Michael – all would fall today, in one fell swoop.
He chuckled softly, pleased with his coup and set his feet wide with arms held fast behind his back. He would wait and behold a new chapter to be written.
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