Protect and Follow
By MusketeerAdventure
Summary: With the darkness dissipated; Michael, Noma, and Pete along with the remaining residents of Vega begin a long awaited battle. Gabriel unleashes his army; and Lucifer waits patiently in the wings.
Chapter 24: The Beginning
Gabriel screamed with an anger filled rage that erupted like a volcano from his belly. The hate; disappointment and contempt for his brother and humanity burned his insides like hot molten lava. Sweat popped off his forehead – the heat of such anger boiling to the point of a crazed, frenzied wrath. The sound of his torment reverberated through the Nevada desert and reached the ears of his dormant army.
His black eyes bulged; and the veins at his neck strained taunt. Duma flinched minutely at the unexpected show of emotion from his leader; but recovered quickly and stood at his side calm, restrained and ready to enter Vega at Gabriel's word.
The amphora had failed him.
Vega still stood. Against insurmountable odds; against the darkness of mad insanity Vega had survived. What was it that he must do to gain God's pleasure? He had broken the seal to bring mankind down and Father home, but here they remained. He had waged war and done his best to exterminate them all from the face of the earth. But they were as entrenched as ever; their resilience mocking him at every turn.
He had stolen the chosen one; attempted to learn the meaning behind God's markings, but somehow Alex Lannon had slipped through his fingers in a moment of weakness. He had unleashed fear; but humanity still clung to life.
This was all Michael's doing. If he hadn't turned his back on family; chosen Alex over him – things would be different. Father would be among them; heaven's gate would be open and his children could go home. Instead he was forced into war – to pit himself against his own brother to bring the world back into balance.
Was it possible the chosen one had such power to thwart his plans? That he truly was the one, where as his David had been denied. He shook his head and refused to believe.
No matter - the eight ball army was ready to march in his name and destroy what was left of the crumbling city.
Gabriel turned to his lieutenant, smiled with deadly intent; and then hissed, "Do not fail me." His eyes smoldered black as if a storm raged in their depths. Duma nodded, understanding Gabriel's message loud and clear. He turned away to gather his troops, knowing that his life depended on his success of this campaign. Within the hour, Vega must fall so that Gabriel's reign over them would begin.
Morning Star placed his hands behind his head; and leaned languidly back in his pew at the back of the church. Candles flickered among the religious icons of past and present, giving off a sense of peace he did not feel.
His little brothers had made a right mess of things. Their mishandling of Father's orders to deal with him a millennium ago was the start of it. Earth was going to hell in a hand basket – this earth that was rightfully meant for him. Soon, this small corner of the globe – this Mallory Alabama would be the only place left as sanctuary.
Right now, being here among these souls who believed in his word – his code of sacrifice – afforded him some semblance of protection. Father must know of his whereabouts, but had not come for him. His brothers – too absorbed in fighting each other – had no clue he still lived.
He needed the chosen one with him – on his side. He needed his presence; aura; gift of expulsion and Father's message etched on his body to help him take his rightful place. With that he would destroy Gabriel; Michael; any and all false prophets who thought they could take Father's place. It was all meant for him – none other.
He leaned forward, and placed his elbows at his knees; looked to the altar and spoke with a hint of malice, "You should have killed me when you had the chance Father, and not left it to those imbeciles."
Coming to a decision, Morning Star relented.
He would wait and see how things unfolded in Vega. He would see if this chosen one truly had what he needed to make this world bow down to him; to heal him and make him whole. If not – he could wait another millennium for the next one touched by grace. For there was always another one chosen by God; waiting in the wings to save humanity from his influence.
He sat up, sighed and looked to the cross with a smirk on his face, as bells rang pure and clear to gather the town of Mallory to worship. When the doors to the church opened, Laurel stepped in and smiled a greeting his way, as the others followed in like sheep.
When they made their way down from the Stratosphere to the street, a multitude of people had gathered and instinctively followed them along Las Vegas Blvd. toward the armory. Stunned men, women, children; young and old - filed out from behind dark alley ways; their homes; and from hidden places where they had endured madness.
Some hefted hand guns; semi-automatic weapons they already had locked away in closets from the start of the extermination wars. Others carried shovels; broom sticks; barbells – broken off legs of tables and chairs. Some harbored kitchen knives or like Pete a tool like a wrench, tire iron or hammer. No hand showed empty – anything and everything that looked like a weapon, became one.
Alex looked into their faces as they took up the march and saw fear etched with the horror of their encounter with the darkness. Everyone here was wounded with grief, guilt – shame of waking up to the devastation they had wrought on their homes, their families, themselves and Vega.
He recognized their anguish; for he felt it keenly. Soon, there may be nothing left of their way of life. So not only did he know their fear, he also saw their determination to survive. None of them had anything left to lose.
That these people blindly followed him through the streets humbled him. The weight of their faith threatened to break his resolve, but when he looked to his right – Michael's back was straight and his eyes spoke of loyalty and pride. He wouldn't let Michael down, these people or himself but…...
Now that he stood here before them on the steps of the armory – he could see the faces of some people he recognized. On his left, what remained of the military were the men and women in uniforms of the Angle Corp and regular army. They stood tall with expectation of battle and death – ready to engage in what many had spent years training for – the possibility of invasion.
They were a haunted bunch – still plagued with whatever demons clung to them during the insanity. But they knew how to follow orders and waited. Behind him, Pete and Noma stood shoulder to shoulder, their jaws set; and stood like rocks against a storm. He was grateful. They had stood with him through everything; come out of the darkness together bruised and battered; but not broken.
Out among the frightened citizens, who heroically wielded a courage he admired, he saw some council men and women still in their suits, ties, heels and pencil skirts – weapons at the ready; their eyes fixed on him. He briefly wondered about David Whele; if he lived somehow – had survived and perhaps stood among these people he once claimed to serve.
Orphaned children who had joined the march – weeping; looking for their parents had been pulled aside, and were now inside the Angel Corp barracks huddled down in place with what was left of their teachers, doctors and nurses – willing to stay behind and protect their future – the last defense against what was to come.
Alex shifted his weapon in his arms and took a breath to fortify himself. The weight of leadership felt heavy beyond measure and he was uncertain he could really do this. As he scanned the crowd of hundreds – he knew many would die today – like his Claire, his unborn child; and it would be his fault. They all stood here – expectant; ready to follow – but what if…..?
A hand fell to his shoulder and he gazed into the calm face of Michael – whose love for him shown like a beacon. He nodded and breathed in a shuddered breath. This was it – the moment of truth – what he was born to do – what Michael had raised him up to become.
Beneath his coat, he could feel the markings shift against his skin, letting him know he was not alone in this. Alex bowed his head and thought – surely God was here somewhere. He just had to be.
Lifting his head, he peered over the expanse of bodies standing in the wake of the east gate. In the distance, he could swear he heard the eight balls advancing. When he began to speak, the air around them was still; hushed. He didn't need to raise his voice to be heard.
"The eight ball army will hit the east wall first. Michael has seen them on foot and they should be here within the hour."
He paused, looked into each face then continued. "We don't have a lot of time. I know that some of you are thinking – I am not a fighter; I've never fired a weapon but…." He lifted his weapon to demonstrate, and called out, "we point, aim and shoot."
Pete continued, lifting his tire iron over his head, "We strike for the head – and rain down blow after blow until they are dead!"
Noma stepped forward, "And we do not hesitate!"
Heads nodded in unison at their words, and the makeshift army shifted from foot to foot anxious but unwavering.
"Noma, Pete and I will cover the wall with you here near the gate, along with the Corp. Michael will take the army and some of you council members already handpicked to the War Room. The wall cannons must be on line. It's our only chance to hold them off."
Alex paused and studied their faces. "Remember, everyone here now is a soldier of Vega. We have survived the darkness. Now we fight for our lives."
Spontaneously the people of Vega bowed their heads. Only the remnants of crackling fires still burning; shifting feet and harsh breathing could be heard. After a moment, Alex raised his head; peered out onto his brave army and yelled out, "Let's do this!"
Michael nodded; clapped his back and led half of their fighting force toward the War Room. He turned to Noma who touched his cheek with the palm of her hand and in her gaze spoke of love, loyalty and behind the determination of a soldier's steel, saw sorrow.
He grasped her hand and kissed the inside of her palm. "I love you Noma", he whispered and tried to impart just how much with the deep pressure of his lips to her skin. A lone tear escaped to caress her cheek and he wonder how he would survive if he were to lose her too.
Pete reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "We've got your back Alex", he promised. And in that moment snarling, frenzied eight balls swarmed from the side streets – right for them -some with weapons; some with hands free - only their teeth bared for action.
Pete, Noma and Alex turned to face the onslaught – standing shoulder to shoulder – their army flanked at their backs or running to take cover and engage the enemy from behind cars; benches and abandoned kiosks. As if released from Pandora's Box – Alex could hear shouts; grunts; curses and howls filling the Blvd.
So he lifted his weapon, took aim and fired the shot that made the first kill.
They would make their stand and hope the wall cannon would come on line sooner than later. It had begun.
Morning Star listened with arrogant pleasure as his congregation of followers sang to his glory and prayed for his continued protection to envelop this community and keep the statue of flame burning. They thought it God they sang to; but it was he who received the praise in his stead.
In the recesses of his mind, he heard the first shot fired in the war beginning in Vega; felt Gabriel's anticipation of victory; and Michael's devotion to the chosen one and mankind. He could not sense Alex Lannon at all and briefly wondered as to why that could be.
His thoughts drifted, filtered out over the earth, into the hearts and minds of those humans huddled in small pockets of protective communities – praying and hoping for the chosen one to deliver them from their oppressive states. He reached out even further, and with a smirk felt no reciprocation from Father.
Yes – he chuckled inwardly – this was the beginning.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter; and hope you leave a review to let me know what you think! As always – reviews are most welcome and help to keep me going!