Protect and Follow
By: MusketeerAdventure
Summary: Events come to a head in Vega as the epic battle between Michael and Gabriel concludes. Julian takes over where Lyrae leaves off; and Noma makes a choice that leaves Alex shattered.
Chapter 29: The Beginning Part Six
Michael watched in abject horror as his brother – ferocious in battle; eyes black with absolute hatred, drew back his sword for the kill…. then fell rapidly from his sight.
It all happened so suddenly – giving him little time to process events as they swiftly unfolded.
In that moment, he had let go, dropped his arms to his sides in defeat; was prepared, almost resigned for his own life to end – and hoped his sacrifice in some way would save Alex and in turn humanity. He was ready; and knowing he could not find it within himself to kill his brother – his beloved twin, he had waited for the blow. But instead of the expected pain and then void of death; he was stunned to see Gabriel plunge from view.
As he fell away, descending and picking up speed through the atmosphere – a ball of flame seemed to encase him and he hurtled at mock speed toward the earth. The night sky lit up as if day, so he reeled back and covered his eyes.
When the flaming ball of light hit solid ground– the explosion mushroomed up toward the starless expanse and resounded like an atomic bomb; vibrating the air around him, and pushed him back with force. Folding his wings to embrace himself, he attempted to ride out the blast – but found the release of energy overwhelming.
The potent shockwave of power had him losing control of his body in space, and he spun, twirled; tumbled about, his limbs and mind uncoordinated….disbelieving.
"No…." he gasped; and when he finally gained some command of his faculties; pinned back his wings and followed the meteor down in haste. The trail of fiery ash leading him away from Vega's borders and out toward the desert toward the blast zone had him coughing and tearing up in its wake.
When he reached the ground, the crater he encountered had gouged the earth – pulling up trees; highway pavement and thin desert dirt. The fire descending from the heavens trailed for miles; the hole created by the impact; at least as wide and as long as two football fields; and as bottomless as The Challenger Deep.
Picking his way over molten rock – the heat; an unbearable furnace – he wondered if his brother could have even survived such a fall. A fall caused by what? He had only witnessed one other such descent centuries ago – when Father, in his outrage - cast Morning Star from the heavens. Was this the same? Had somehow Father intervened? Or was this Alex's doing….the blue tidal wave of eviction still glowing strong in Vega.
Whispering a solemn prayer – he hoped that perhaps Gabriel survived.
Reaching the lip of the cavernous hole he dropped to his knees and peered over the edge. Looking down into the fiery depths he called out tremulously "Gabriel?" – but was met with an ominous silence with only the popping, crackling sound of flames and molten heat as an answer.
His heart skipped a beat. Surely, Gabriel must live. Wouldn't he know if his brother perished? Wouldn't he feel it in his heart? His twin would not die, and he not sense it. No – Gabriel was not dead he thought and called out again, this time louder, "Gabriel!"
The echo of his anguish bounced back and drifted up toward him.
Then, miraculously, out of the pit; ascending from the heat and flame was his brother – rising up with mighty wings fully expanded; floating there to face him. Serene, unhurried – a phoenix rising, Michael swallowed down dread; along with his relief at seeing Gabriel alive.
Always this love and hate he felt for his brother; but cherished him just the same.
Forcing himself to meet his gaze, he could see that Gabriel's eyes were clear; focused and devoid of the black hue that indicated the darkness still resided within him. Replaced within those depths was indeed his brother. But how could this be? Was it even so?
"Here I am brother." Gabriel answered; then landed gracefully atop the mouth of the pit; the backdrop of smoke, ash and orange fire surrounding him. Michael gasped in awe. Was this truly a miracle?
Sensing his brother's uncertainty, Gabriel grabbed him about the shoulders and then pulled him effortlessly to his feet; now standing before him – whole….his Gabriel. Wary, Michael reached for his swords hanging about his hips. Was this some trick? Would Gabriel now strike him down?
And as he touched the hilt of his swords; he found his action interrupted with a firm grip of his brother's hand. "It is me Michael. Me."
Pointing with emphasis at his own eyes, he reiterated with purpose, "See here"; and stared deep into those of Michael's to convince him.
"Look here and see the truth."
"Your chosen one has banished from me the darkness; a most miraculous feat." As his true darkness had begun long before Lyrae's vengeful assault….its beginnings rooted in the loss of his most treasured son – his beautiful David; adored poppet.
Sagging with relief, Michael grabbed Gabriel about the face – brought him so close that their breath intermingled; and peered deep into the depths of his being; down into his soul. And there, into the core of his heart saw the truth of it.
His brother did live; was himself again and gladly kissed his cheek.
Lyrae removed his blade from Duma's back and would have crooned out in victory if not for the blue wave that hit him full force.
A terrible pain ripped through this body and knocked him off his feet. In the recesses of his mind, he could hear Julian screaming – begging him not to go; to stay with him – fight to live. But he didn't understand. Go where?
He had just executed the first part of his plan – and it had been so very straightforward – easy really. There had been nothing too difficult about penetrating Riesen Tower. "I'm not going anywhere", he soothed to placate his other half and then abruptly knew no more…
…..Julian awoke from unconsciousness on the floor of the communications room in Riesen Tower. Pain lanced through his skull; his mouth was dry and his heart felt inexplicably broken. Beside him lay Duma in a pool of blood; the clear, dead eyes of General Riesen staring out into nothing; with Lyrae's blade next to him. Frowning in confusion, not understanding the scene unfolding around him, he immediately felt empty inside – hollow…..lost.
Bereft and in grief, he moaned with the pain of loss, and then sat up to weep without fruition. The cornerstone of his life for the past twenty-five years was gone. The abyss of it was deep and incredibly wide. Something he had thought impossible had taken place; he was ….alone. The only explanation was that somehow the chosen one had perfected his ability to evict – even a dyad.
Screaming with rage and sorrow, he got to his feet; stumbled his way past bewildered reborn humans and made his way to the balcony. Down on the street, just below him, stood Alex Lannon in the arms of his protector – amidst hundreds of milling, bewildered people.
In the distance, fire burned out beyond Vega's borders, as the sun began to rise; with hues of gold, purple and pink making an appearance.
Clutching at his heart he searched within – hoping to feel; sense his other half. He waited, but there was nothing. Where was his brother, the other half of him who made life worth living, who had saved his life from starvation; abuse and loneliness? What was he to do? Where was he to go?
"Come back", he whispered. But Lyrae did not answer his summons. Only silence met his pleas and the voiceless cavern within was deafening.
Drawing himself up to his full height, he recalled Lyrae's wish for revenge. Michael and Gabriel had tormented him, dismissed him from their ranks and humiliated him. They had driven him mad.
Making his way back into the communications room, Julian lifted Lyrae's blade and studied it closely. He would take up arms for Lyrae, as he always did and with a determined stride, made way to exact his own form of revenge.
Alex untangled himself from Noma's hold, smiled down at her; and then kissed her firmly on the lips. Beaming, she kissed him back and held tight to his shoulders. As she leaned in close; Alex could feel slight tremors rack her slight frame – and so held her closer still.
They had done it – taken back Vega. And he wished only to stand here and share this joy with her; profess his love for all to hear.
Out of the corner of his eye – moving swiftly on foot toward them, Alex could see Michael and close behind Gabriel at his back. In unison, he and Noma reached for and raised their weapons aiming for Gabriel's heart. But Michael spread his wings to protect him, and with hands held out in supplication, yelled out in deference to his brother, "The darkness no longer possesses him Alex; there is nothing to fear from him – you have seen to that."
And with amazement, Alex watched as the archangel….his protector; fall to one knee before him – head bowed, back straight – his meaning clear; that he would no longer lead, but would now follow.
Stunned for the briefest of moments – Alex lowered his weapon, and raced to kneel in front of his friend; his mentor – his father. "Do not kneel before me Michael", he implored; and reached out to embrace him – to hold him close; for they had all survived.
Left behind were the horrors and torture in New Delphi; the fight for their lives to make it back to Vega; the heartbreak of losing Claire and the baby. Instead, now they could look to the future; he, Michael, Noma – Pete; all here together – his family.
Michael embraced him back; and together they stood – Alex unable to help the grin spreading across his face; or the pride swelling in his chest. Around them people pointed; laughed; praised God for their victory; and wondered aloud what was to be done with Gabriel; why the enemy of Vega stood in their midst?
Sensing that he was neither wanted nor needed – Gabriel squeezed his brother's shoulder with care and took flight – hovering above them; to go where, Alex neither knew nor cared. All that mattered was that they had won this battle; and the start of something new for mankind began today at this hour.
In that instant, a shrieking mad man parted the crowed, his bloodied blade raised above his head, moving with strength and purpose toward Alex – his eyes empty of life; on his lips the mantra of "kill the chosen one."
On the edges of the crowd, Pete cried out in warning, "Alex!" having seen Julian approach with speed; unable to move fast enough to intercept.
Alex turned; Michael unsheathed his sword ready to protect; Noma pulled Alex into her arms and closed her eyes in resignation to wait for the killing blow; her ear planted firmly against his chest to hear the beat of his heart.
Time stood agonizingly still as Noma's weight pulled him roughly to the ground. When they hit the pavement; arms, legs entangled with one another, Alex gazed perplexed down into her face. Strangely, as if she knew some secret, Noma smiled around the blood bubbling up from her throat. Alex watched mesmerized as it spilled down the side of her mouth – a red river pooling into the hollow of her neck. He felt warmth at her back and stared uncomprehending as a sword protruded, waving and whining a death song in the wind.
With his hands covered in her blood, his mind screamed with denial. He wondered what was happening; why was it that Noma choked on her own blood in his arms….leaving him bit by bit – the light in her eyes; her love for him fading moment by moment.
How was this so? Just seconds ago, they had kissed; celebrated joy – victory in each other's arms. Now she was…..?
Turning to Michael, to Pete, to the heavens he hoped to find an answer but what he saw instead was Gabriel, in midair – hovering above him throwing down his sword – impaling Julian to the earth; who in his last breath murmured, "Lyrae."
Noma lay still in the arms of her love, her life… her penance. She could feel the last of her breath leaving her, and hoped Alex knew how much she loved him, as words would not come to her lips. She could feel Alex rocking her; Pete holding her hand and was thankful they were with her here in the end.
As she relaxed into the soothing strength of his embrace, when there was nothing else to fear; knowing that Alex was safe and unharmed – all that was left to her was the beating of his heart; lulling her to be at peace. That he lived was all that truly mattered.
And as she let herself go to fall contentedly down into death, she heard Alex beg her to "stay"; and then her Father softly whisper "come home".
Thank you so much for reading. One more chapter and this tale will conclude. Thanks again for taking time to read; and I hope you take a moment to leave a review and let me know what you think.