The Gifts

By: Brad Townsend
(© 2021-2022 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Townsend@tickiestories.us

Chapter 11

* Heaven –Millennia After Luke’s Rebellion *

Malachiel, the mightiest of Heaven’s smiths, forged armor and weapons for the High Hosts.  His immensely powerful yet ornately fashioned armor and weapons suited each bearer perfectly.  Crafted into each item were Enochian runes of the first language to empower them against the Dark One’s minions.

Before the rebellion when Malachiel became a smith, he was the most esteemed artisan in Heaven. Especially while forging artifacts of war, his heart forever longed to create objects of beauty. Endlessly seeking inspiration within creation, Malachiel one day crossed paths with Thomin.  The newly formed earth was still volatile, and Thomin, known for his eccentricity, seemed focused on searching for something and didn’t notice Malachiel.

He wondered at Thomin’s purpose and hid himself to observe the archangel, and as he watched, Thomin withdrew an exquisitely beautiful orb from his sleeve. The sphere contained a swirling light that mesmerized Malachiel and compelled him to obtain it to create something even more beautiful from it.

Thomin hid the orb, and then the strangest thing happened.  Once the orb was safely hidden, Thomin looked confused and doddering.  As Malachiel approached to ensure his brother was alright, Thomin vanished, so Malachiel approached the orb’s hiding place.

Curious, Malachiel looked through the arc of time and saw how the orb would move about and eventually rest in a distant location far more challenging to uncover.  Not knowing Thomin’s intent or the purpose of the object he hid, Malachiel wished to see the carefully concealed object.

Reaching beneath the stones that covered it, Malachiel gripped the orb and sensed its power immediately.  As mighty as Malachiel was, there was a power within the orb that he could not discern; however, as he gazed at the swirling light, he sensed purity and truth.  The orb was the most beautiful object he had ever seen, and he took it.  Returning to his forge, Malachiel used it to craft one of the mightiest objects of power in Heaven – the Oathstone.

Malachiel quickly realized the Oathstone’s potent ability to bind even archangels.  The subtleties and nuances of its power could wreak havoc on both sides of the war. Afraid of his own creation, Malachiel approached Raphael who deemed the Oathstone too powerful to leave unprotected.  Raphael bid Malachiel to create a container to keep it safe and then to take it to Thomin for storage in his vault.

***

A separate arc of time exists across all realms of creation; however, each realm moves differently within it.  Time moved differently for Henry at the temple doors; the humans and nephilim in Orophir’s cave in the Pale; and Adam, Zack, and the children in the Atlanta lab.  Ken, Brad, and the guys were within the arc of the first creation, which was completely separate. Because the first and second creations were utterly different and apart, the time differentials in traveling between the two were in some cases extreme, while in others they were barely noticeable.  However, as in all things, there was a pattern.  Pat, perhaps, could see it if his Gift were fully functional and uncorrupted, although he would face exposure to the curse if he backed out that far.

As scattered about as everyone was, vortices and ripples within the pattern of God’s plan pulled them back towards one another without their knowledge, moving on a trajectory that only He knew.

***

Maintaining their daily routine was essential for Adam and Zack’s training and the security and wellbeing of Shan and the children.  The two men went through their mental disciplines each morning, and in the afternoons, they worked their bodies to hone their fighting skills.  With Sally gone, Shan stepped up to teach the children.

Since Lane was gone, Adam created a construct for the boys to practice their music in the evenings.  Drew chose the guitar, Brett the flute, and Tommy the keyboard.  Zack played the guitar and was able to help Drew when he had trouble with chords.  Shan played wind instruments in high school and remembered enough to help Brett gain his “lip.”  Tommy they couldn’t help, but he didn’t seem to need it.

Teesha expressed no interest in playing an instrument and preferred streaming music from her tablet.  While the boys practiced, she listened to her music and played games.  Watching the kids practice while Teesha kept them company made Adam miss his son AJ. He so badly wanted AJ to be a more immediate part of his life.  The last few times AJ came to stay in the lab, Adam knew his son wasn’t happy with his mother Julie or his sister Maggie. Andrés kept AJ in the shop, and because most of the employees let him help, he was turning into quite a little grease monkey.

Sensitive to Adam’s emotions, Zack did his best to engage his brother and keep his mind off his son.  The two men kept their concern over the absence of the primary team from the boys.  Drew especially needed distraction and wanted Henry to be proud of him for learning while his dad was away.

None of them expected that playing music would affect Tommy.  Through the construct, the boys stayed linked with Adam and Zack, who monitored the boys’ thoughts.  Tommy’s fear of Bill and Kevin not returning and thus forcing them back to the orphanage, while irrational, was extreme, and Adam encouraged Tommy to channel his emotions into the music which seemed to help him.

During school breaks, Zack and Adam created constructs for Shan and the kids to fish, hike in the mountains, or swim in the ocean.  The two men did their best to occupy everyone and distract them while they waited for some word about the primary team returning from the first creation, or for Sally and the RL’s to come out of hiding.

* The Pale *

Raph lay dying, and there was nothing they could do about it.  After Orophir withdrew the void energy that ravaged Raph’s existence, the cellular damage to his mortal body was severe and, without some form of intervention, lethal. Even though he was unconscious, Sally cried holding his hand. Rich maintained a link between the humans, the nephilim, and Eleneth so that they could talk without disturbing Raph.

Jake: We have to do something fast or he won’t make it.  We need Lane or one of the other guys who can heal.  Istariel, do you know anyone who can help?

Orophir interjected before Istariel could reply: We must not leave the cave.  Elegroth focuses his full attention on locating us.  If any of us suddenly appears, he will know and his demons will attack.  We do not have the strength to resist what he would send.

Istariel: Apart from what Orophir says, yes.  Any angel or archangel can heal Raph, but we cannot contact them without risking everyone here.

Rich: What about your father, Istariel?

Istariel paused and looked long and hard at Rich before slowly answering: My Father knows what is happening.  He is everywhere and with us now. If you wish him to intervene, prayer is your best option. However, do not expect an answer.

Frustrated, Orophir scanned multiple empty spirit jars on the shelves in his cave.  He could empower a major healing rune if they were full, but it was wishful thinking.  A major rune would require the essence of many lesser dark nephilim, and he would have to leave the cave to harvest them.  The runes he used to shield his cave were potent, and he created rings and amulets with the same effect for himself and his cousins, but they were still unempowered.

Painful coughing brought Raph to consciousness.  His eyes fluttered open to see Sally crying at his side, and he feebly squeezed her hand. His skin held a sickly grey tint, and his eyes were bruised and dark.

Raph mumbled, “This sucks. I feel horrible.”

As soon as he spoke, the RL’s surrounded him, and he saw their expressions. His eyes filled with tears, and he said, “I’m sorry, fellas.  Tell that to Loy and the others too.”

Swallowing a few times before he could continue, he averted his eyes and whispered, “I’m afraid.”

Istariel forced himself between Guy and Nathan to tightly grip Raph’s hand.  He placed his other hand on Raph’s sweaty forehead.  “I am sorry we cannot heal you, but you have no need to fear.  You have rested in the golden light of Loy Barton’s soul and the souls of his brothers and thus know what the light of Heaven feels like. You know what awaits you.”

Raphael coughed violently and couldn’t help the moan of pain that escaped.

Istariel’s and the other nephilim’s eyes turned white, and the humans felt the power emanating from them. Entering Raphael’s mind, Istariel pushed back his pain and discomfort.

Tears dripped down Istariel’s face as he said, “If you wish, I can send you peacefully to my Father.  As His son, I have some sway and can assure your place in Heaven.  You are welcome there without my interference, but I wish to reassure you.  You have nothing to be sorry for, and Loy Barton and our cousins will be proud of your actions. Their sorrow over your loss will run deep, and they will blame themselves.”

Raph’s face relaxed as Istariel pushed back the pain wracking his body.  The fire inside him as his cells degenerated stopped, and he breathed easier.  Looking directly at Istariel, Raph’s voice cracked, “Thank you.”

All of them saw the fear in Raph’s expression vanish.  Glancing at Alariel, he said, “Thank Loy again for me.  He changed my life.  I’m not much of a hero – I think he picked the wrong guy for all this, but I’m still grateful.  He believed in me, and he’s an awesome friend. All of you are. Tell him goodbye, and the other guys too.  And the kids.”

A wan smile crossed his face, and he said, “Tell Loy I do taste good.”

As Raph spoke, his voice trailed off until his last words were barely discernable, and he breathed his last breath.  Sally sobbed and lowered her head, and Rich and the other humans cried.  Merging to share their pain, they supported each other.  Jacob was the only one among them who had lost a friend in combat and relived that feeling of loss.

The nephilim lowered their heads to honor Raph’s passing.  Because everyone was linked, their mind's eye saw Raph’s soul rise from his chest.  The beautiful orb shone with a soft blue light.  The nephilim saw in it everything that was Raph, and he was even more beautiful to them now that he was no longer under the curse.

The time for Uriel to appear came and went, and silence hung over the cave like a shroud.  Orophir’s protections that prevented Elegroth from finding them also prevented Uriel from sensing Raph’s soul, so it remained with them in the cave.

* The Void *

Elegroth’s painful cry echoed in the darkness, and Luke and Michael smiled grimly.  There weren’t many beings that could cause such a sound from the archon, and Michael was sure Ken and his brothers were responsible.

Elegroth moved to the black rock and drew from its power.  The stump where his clawed hand used to be throbbed with sickly green energy and slowly and painfully started to regrow.

Elegroth thought: I will have what is mine.

In the back of his mind, an unknown voice whispered: I can help you.

Elegroth spun around to seek the source of the voice.  He sensed no one and no power, but a tiny form of darkness, blacker than the void itself, hovered close.  It shifted like smoke, vacillating between the form of an imp and nothing.

Its voice was deep, guttural, and quiet.  We seek the same thing. An end to all. You are not strong enough, but together we can achieve our desire.

Elegroth: Who are you?

An ally.

Elegroth: I do not wish an end to all.  I wish my own creation.

Yesss…, and I will be part of it.  Under it.  Beneath it.  In darkness.

Elegroth’s pain vanished, and looking down he saw his arm had reformed.

You need me.

Elegroth started awake.  He had never slept and, therefore, had never dreamed.  Glancing around, whoever or whatever spoke to him was gone, but its words repeated in his mind.

**

Drew shot up in bed.  Breathing hard, he looked around, terrified.  Granny Wolf and Cavall were at his side instantly.  His movement woke Zack, who asked him, “Are you alright?  Bad dream?”

Drew seemed confused, and his eyes glazed over as if he looked elsewhere.  He saw darkness, and the pressure of the curse against the doors sent a shiver down his spine. Mr. Buckles whined and licked Drew’s face.

Cavall and Granny Wolf saw the imp in the furthest corner of Drew’s awareness.  Howling, Granny Wolf summoned her pack to chase it away. She had seen it once before, within Brad when he put his presence into all of mankind simultaneously.  It was the curse manifesting and showing an intelligence it should not have.

The imp fled, and Drew slumped against Zack in relief.  Zack pulled Drew snuggly against him, enfolding the young boy to make him feel safe.  His hands rubbed Drew’s back, and while not Henry’s, they helped soothe his fears.

Zack whispered, “You’re safe, Tiger.  Nothing can hurt you here.  Go back to sleep.”

Cavall and Mr. Buckles curled against them and Granny Wolf moved to the foot of the bed to stay close to Drew and hold a tighter vigil over him than usual.  Granny Wolf’s worry showed in her eyes and sounded in the low growl in her throat. Recalling her pack, she commanded them to encircle Drew in the realm of dreams. Their distant howls were a comfort to his soul and a warning to any entities that might approach while he slept.

She did not take him into a dream to play catch with Henry that night.  Her instincts told her it would be dangerous.

***

In the Atlanta base gym, Henry appeared wearing his “World’s Greatest Dad” t-shirt, cargo shorts, and flip-flops.  He hadn’t looked ahead from the doors because he assumed everyone would be there.  The lights were off, and there was no link to connect too – the familiar presence of his brothers was absent.  His brow furrowed as his eyes sparkled, and he looked through the facility all at once.

No one was present, the lab was in “sleep mode,” and Henry yearned to see Drew and his brothers.  He wanted their hugs, and even more so, the touch of their souls and minds.  With Eleleth gone, Henry was himself again, although he was now the last archon.  The corner of his mouth rose at that thought; he couldn’t wait for his brothers’ reactions and Lane’s Tolkien reference when they realized his change.

Scanning through the arc of time, he saw them leave the previous week.  He heard the fear and worry in Drew’s voice about Henry not being able to find him if they moved and Ken’s reassurance that Henry would find them.  Ken was right, and Henry smiled again, knowing the bragging rights Ken would get in his ongoing joke with Brad.

God, I miss you guys. I’m coming home, Drew.

Inadvertently, when Henry looked back in time, he saw Drew, Tommy, and Brett playing various instruments, and he realized Drew’s surprise for him. Henry couldn’t wait and would act surprised.

**

Sally, Raph, Eleneth, the nephilim, and the RL’s were still missing.  To burn off anxiety among the guys, Ken continued their training for half days and spent the afternoons in the conference room reviewing strategies to recon the void and rescue Michael. They were all disappointed when Aaron and Albrecht informed them that they could not access the information about their Gifts embedded within Allenor’s forge. To protect the information, perhaps from the two other beings of his race, Allenor secured the information so only he could access it.

Each man dealt with the disappointing news in his own way.  The ones with Gifts, particularly Lane and Loy, wanted to know their full abilities.  Ken, Kevin, Rick, and Bill just wanted to know what their Gifts were.

Brad: In the end it doesn’t matter, guys.  Maybe knowing would make it worse.  Understanding what they are won’t help us find them and will only make us focus on what we don’t have versus what we do.  That’s pretty basic psychology, but it applies even to us.

Ken sat on a bench in the gym off the current sparring rotation and watched Brad, Darren, Loy, Kevin, Rick, and Bryan in their respective rings.  The men grappled, punched, and fought each other with their utmost skills and abilities.  The gym lights shone brightly overhead and accentuated their muscled physiques, and through Ken’s enhanced vision, he could see the sweat flying off their bodies with each impact. He admired their manly forms and fighting skills and saw no room for improvement.  They were the perfect weapons he forged them to be, and he was proud of them. Behind him, Lane, Bill, Pat, Adam, and Zack toweled off while re-hydrating.

A familiar shoulder nudged Ken’s, and a voice asked, “Do you think I could try that?  It looks hella fun.”

Ken started, not from the physical contact but from the presence of his brother, Henry.  Grinning from ear to ear, Henry chuckled at Ken’s expression. With blinding speed, Ken’s arms enfolded his brother as tears filled his eyes.

Ken: Fuck! 

More tightly than his arms, Ken’s soul engulfed Henry.  Brad kept everyone linked, and Ken’s emotional spike ran through them.  All motion stopped, even mid-punch, as Henry became a part of them once again.  Darren’s Avatar ignited, and the eleven of them appeared around Henry.

The heat of their bodies, the sweat, the hair ruffles, the hugs, the kisses – Henry immersed himself in all of it, relishing their love for him and returning it in full measure.  Their reaction brought his own tears, and he thought: Man, I’ve missed you guys.  It’s good to be home.

The “holy shits” and “fuck me’s” resounded among the tears as their embrace continued for minutes.  Tears thickened as Brad merged them, and each man held Henry in his soul.  The impact of his absence had emptied them, but his return illuminated all of them, bringing back a light they had missed terribly.

Henry: I love you guys.  You’re the best.

They all smiled at Henry's use of Drew’s catchphrase, reiterating he was back and one with them. The place where he should reside was whole again, and they felt complete.

Ken: Does Drew know you’re back?

Henry: Not yet.  I see him in the classroom with Shan and the other kids.  I want you guys close when he sees me.

Brad: What do you mean you see him? How…?

Each man looked at Henry’s handsome face as his eyes sparkled with both creations. 

Henry: I’ve had some changes of my own.  I’m the last archon.  Eleleth is gone.  God took him…, He took all the archons.  I’m not sure if they’re in Heaven or someplace else, but they’re gone, and I’m here. The last Seal in the door is mine.

With raised eyebrows, Ken thought: Jesus, Henry.

Henry: I’m still me, Ken, just a little upgraded.  It’s actually cool as hell. I’m still adjusting.

They were so profoundly merged time wasn’t moving, but Henry’s need to see Drew was evident.

Brad: Welcome home, Henry.  We’ll have more adult time in a bit, but right now I know a little boy who needs his dad.

*

Drew worked on his math problems, but in the back of his mind he practiced the song he had learned.  When Lane and the rest of his uncles returned from the first creation, he asked Drew if he knew a song that Henry liked. Lane’s question backfired and Drew became upset, just as he did at Christmas many years ago when he didn’t know what “special” present to get his dad.  It made him miss his mom because she was so good at finding the perfect gifts for people.

As usual, Drew’s uncles came to his rescue and shared some of their favorite songs.  Also, as usual, when it came to music, Lane was the winner and found the perfect song.  It had an extra-long guitar lead with easy chords and lyrics.  It also had Tolkien references which made it even better!

Drew had trouble singing and playing to his satisfaction and begged Lane to sing the vocals.  Tommy and Brett knew their parts too, and Lane coached them all in a construct for hours until they had it down pat.  Adam, Shan, and Zack had all done an excellent job working with the boys while Lane was gone, but Lane’s manner of teaching them was most effective through his Avatar.

Drew’s mental training and discipline allowed him to multitask nearly as well as his uncles, but he was so focused that he didn’t hear Shan call his name, “Drew?  Honey, your uncle Ken needs to see you.”

Ken’s handsome face was in the doorframe, and Drew saw how sweaty he was from working out.  Putting down his pencil, Drew got up and asked, “What is it, Uncle Ken?”

Ken fought to keep his expression normal and said, “We need ‘ya in the gym for a minute.  We have a problem, and you’re the only one who can help us.”

Drew glanced at Shan for permission, and she said, “Hurry back so you don’t get behind.”

Ken: Shan, Henry’s back, so this will be a while.

Shan: Oh, my!  That’s wonderful!

Drew moved with Ken into the hallway, and Ken put a hand on his back.  The Congo base was much larger than Atlanta, and the gym was on a different level.

Looking up at Ken, Drew asked, “What’s the matter?”

Ken stopped and knelt to be at eye level.  Drew noticed Ken’s eyes were red like he had been crying.  Drew felt the heat coming off his uncle and looked at his sweaty form.  He had been fighting, his muscles were swollen, and his Avatar glowed softly on his shoulder.  Drew knew that Ken, and all his uncles, got that way when they were filled with power.  Putting a hand on Drew’s shoulder, Ken gently squeezed him and said, “You’ll see soon enough, but it’s a big deal.  Come on, let’s go.”

Drew was doubly curious.  His emotional sensitivity told him Ken’s emotions were high, but he was shielded.  However, his concern and protectiveness for Drew bled through, making Drew feel safe. Ken stopped them outside the doors, leaned over to kiss Drew on top of his head, and said, “Get ready, Tiger.”

As Ken pushed the doors open and Drew saw Henry surrounded by the rest of his uncles, he froze.  His reaction was so extreme he couldn’t move, and he started to hunch over with one hand on his stomach.  His breath caught, and he started sobbing, but he still couldn’t move. Henry waited, and his own reaction was nearly as extreme.  He got on his knees, held out his arms, and managed to say, “Hey, Tiger.  I’m home.”

Ken’s warm hand, still on Drew’s shoulder, nudged him forward. Drew stumbled the first few steps, then took off and leapt into Henry’s arms.  Henry merged with his son privately while they were surrounded by everyone. The emotional intimacy between them and the power of the father and son when merged was staggering.  Henry couldn’t talk, but he held his son, rubbing his hands up and down Drew’s back.  Drew’s arms shook with the strength of his grip around Henry’s neck.

All the men cried at the reunion taking place before them.  Hiding nothing from his son, Henry shared everything that happened with Eleleth.  To him, only a few minutes had passed since Tag and Olive stood over his prone form, but for Drew it had been a month.

Drew’s uncles surrounded him and his dad, and like Ken, the warmth radiating from their bodies and the musky scent of their sweat was like a shield.  Their hands touched Henry and their nephew, pushing their love into them.

After a minute, Henry stood while still holding Drew, and he translocated them to their apartment.  Henry’s bed was made, but his things weren’t unpacked, and Drew’s room looked as expected – a mess. The familiar sight welcomed him, and he hugged Drew again. God, I missed you.

Rubbing his check against the top of Drew’s head, he held his son until they both stopped crying.

Drew: Are you really back?

Henry: You betcha.

Cavall lumbered over and put his paws on Henry’s shoulders, nearly smothering Drew while Bullet ran zoomies, barking his excitement.

Henry: Hey, Cav!  It’s good to see you too, buddy. I missed you.

Glancing around, he saw Granny Wolf on the bed and thought:  And you.  Thank you for watching over him.  You’ll never know how grateful I am for your presence.

Granny Wolf lowered her head regally in acknowledgment of his thanks.

Henry looked at his room and the boxes on the floor.  Do you want to help your old man unpack?  This room looks too bare.

Swiping his eyes, Drew smiled and nodded his head vigorously.

As they unpacked, Henry watched his son.  In the few months Henry had been gone, Drew had grown and he saw signs of Drew filling out.  Ken made sure Drew still practiced his gymnastics, and it showed.  The smooth stomach he used to have now exhibited some ab development, and his facial features were maturing.  He wasn’t showing any hair under his arms yet, but Henry was sure Drew would soon hit puberty.  He had no idea how everyone would handle that, but they would figure it out together. He saw more signs of Doug in Drew’s facial features.  Doug was a handsome man underneath the exterior issues he always presented, and Drew seemed like a perfect blend of Liz and Doug. 

Henry to Shan: If it’s alright, I’ll keep Drew with me the rest of the day.  We have a lot of catching up to do.  I’ll help him with any homework if he has to catch up.

Shan: I figured that was gonna happen.  I’m so happy to have you back!  He’s missed you so much! We all have. I doubt you’ll have to help him at all… he’s smart as a whip, that boy.  He doesn’t brag about it, but he runs circles around the rest of this mob.

Henry: I’m proud of him.  I know he still has his moments, but I’m proud of him. Thank God he doesn’t take after his birth father except for his looks.

Shan laughed: I know what you mean. Lord, if Teesha took after her deadbeat dad, I’d be in a world ‘a hurt.  Living here has been good for her.  She feels safe, and the guys love her.

A pause followed, and Shan quietly thought: She’d be dead now if it wasn’t for Lane and Bry.  I think about that every day.

Henry: Don’t dwell on that.  Accept it, move forward, and be happy she’s with you – whole, healthy, and happy.

Shan: It’s time for a break here.  Since Drew’s with you, I’m gonna ask Ken if I can take the kids outside for a bit.  It’s a beautiful day out.

**

A few hours later the entire team minus Henry and Drew sat at the conference room table.  As part of the new standing protocol, they donned their new assault suits when they finished working out and showering.  They had to be as ready as possible to react, and Ken didn’t want to waste precious seconds of reaction time to change should an emergency arise. At the same time, Lane and Brad felt a sudden surge of extreme anxiousness as their Avatars ignited. 

Brad: Fuck!

Lane: Raph!

Lane’s eyes flashed white, and from the ether a vision filled his mind of Raph lying on a table with his soul hovering over his chest. His suit was in tatters and his torso exposed.  His skin was grey and pallid, and his eyes, which seemed to stare at Lane through the vision, were blackened and bruised. As Sally sobbed holding his hand, he was surrounded by Istariel, the other nephilim, and the RL’s, all of whom shed their own tears.

The image of Raph tore at their hearts, but Loy groaned: No.  Oh, God, not you too, man.

They were deeply linked for their meeting, but Bill merged them to appear in their special place, naked and one.  Loy curled on his side, sobbing, and Rick and each of his brothers held him as they cried.

Brad: Wait.  I know that cave.  Fuck!  They’ve been hiding in plain sight!  Orophir must have rebuilt his cave in the pale and put wards up to hide it from Elegroth! And those wards are keeping Raph’s soul from Uriel’s awareness.  We can save him!

Darren: Ken, what about Henry?  Do you want him with us?

Ken: No, let him stay with Drew.  If Elegroth shows up, we’ll hightail it back here with Eleneth. Adam, Zack, you know the drill; you’re here with Henry ‘ta protect Drew while we’re gone.

Pat’s Gift ignited and his eyes sparkled as he looked at the connection between the physical realm and the pale.  He perceived the vector arcs and understood the path between dimensions that Dar would need to get them there. Darren’s Avatar synchronized with the other mentalists, and he translocated them to the pale a few miles outside the ruins of the Eschphene temple.

**

The cave was silent while everyone but Orophir sat with Raph.  Orophir paced about with one arm across his chest and one hand on his chin.  Istariel knew his cousin well and let him be.  It was Orophir’s way of processing issues. After a moment, he stopped, stood rigid, and faced the shelves with the empty spirit jars.

Istariel, in a private link among the nephilim, asked: What is it?

Orophir seemed hesitant to respond and, after a pause, thought: There might be a way to preserve Raphael Martinez.

Telcharan: Why do you hesitate?  If there is a chance, we must take it.  This mortal means much to our cousins and their human friends.

Orophir: Because it reminds me of before, when I followed the instructions of my father and imprisoned you.  I do not like to remember those times. It also breaks a mandate for nephilim never to interfere with humans when it comes to their souls.

Alariel: That time of your existence does not define you.  You were young and caught in the web of the Dark One.  None of your acts during that time were evil.

Orophir: Yet they were not all good, either.

Ruviel: You have proven yourself to us and are no longer who you were.  You never truly were that being.  Once free of your father, just as we, you became yourself.

Istariel: The mandate does not implicitly cover situations like this. Many of our mandates should no longer apply when dealing with Elegroth and his minions.

Orophir: I can modify one of these spirit jars to hold Raphael Martinez’s soul and preserve it. We can also preserve his physical body to prevent decay, but we risk Elegroth’s attention if we raise that much power.

**

As soon as the ten men appeared in the pale, tiny floating pebbles like gnats gravitated around them, drawn to the mass of their bodies.  Darren created a barrier in his unconscious mind and set it to push them away and keep the area immediately around them clear.

With the enhanced vision of the bodies, the ruins of the Eschphene city nearly two miles away were visible. The temple still stood, but most buildings were rubble, destroyed by Elegroth’s demons.  A strange feeling came over them as they looked at the scene.  Pat’s Gift had resided in that temple for millennia, and their current journey started there.

They also missed Németh, the ancient leader of the strange race of beings that started out as enemies but became powerful allies. Németh was much like Aaron and Albrecht to them – a fount of ancient wisdom and power – exuding a peace that was difficult to fathom.

Ken: Alright, ladies.  Let’s hightail it ‘ta Orophir’s cave.  I can still feel B and Lane reactin’ ‘ta whatever’s happenin’ there.  Dar, you’re up again.

Darren: We need to start the beer kitty again, and you fat asses need to lose some weight.

Pat’s eyes sparkled, and he winked at his husband as his Gift lit up.  Altering the laws of physics, he reformed the mass of the bodies and the law of gravity around them to make them lighter.

Darren: Fuck, Pat, you need to do that more often!

Ken: No, he doesn’t. You’d get fat and lazy, and I doubt Pat would like that.

Darren chuckled, and his eyes flashed white as they disappeared.  He had to maintain a visual point of reference, but it didn’t take many jumps for them to reach the cave. When their Avatars were merged, translocating them was nearly effortless, especially with Leroy’s hide magnifying their inherent strength, but by Pat altering gravity around them and making them lighter, Darren expended virtually no power.

As soon as they stood before the entrance, the men knew Orophir and everyone else were inside.  The entryway wasn’t obvious, but they had been there before; it was hidden by a natural fold between two slabs of slate.  Empty Iktomi shells littered the area, and the acrid smell of their refuse lingered in the air.  They could see the entrance, but it was undetectable to their senses, even their Avatars, and they wondered at Orophir’s skill with runes.

Loy couldn’t wait to get to Raph and heal him so he was first through the opening.  He was still careful; all of them were too well trained to rush into any place, even a familiar place, without precaution.

*

Orophir: Beware!

Orophir spun around in a defensive stance. Someone or something had breached his wards. The RL’s formed a wall in front of Sally and Raph’s body, and the nephilim drew weapons sheathed beneath their robes. Eleneth stayed by Sally, ready to defend her.

Silently, Ken and the team appeared at the mouth of the cave, and relief and recognition filled the expressions of both groups.  Loy rushed to Raph’s side, barely able to talk from seeing his friend's condition.  Cupping Raph’s soul in his trembling hands, Loy whispered, “Hang on, buddy.  We’re here.”

Lane moved behind his brother and put a hand on Loy’s shoulder in comfort.  The main team’s eyes flashed white as their Avatars, bright enough to illuminate the cave, ignited under their suits. Lane looked at Raph’s ravaged cellular structure through his Avatar and then glanced at Bryan.

Under the sleeves of his assault suit, Bryan’s raven wing tattoos fluttered softly, and Raph’s body remembered its life and soul that so recently inhabited it.  While Lane healed him, Bryan simultaneously pushed new life into Raph’s damaged cells.  The two men drew power from their brothers while Kevin masked them with his Avatar to keep them undetectable.

The gray pallor of Raph’s skin reverted to his natural complexion, and the bruising around his eyes cleared.  When his body was ready, Loy, who still cupped Raph’s soul in his hands, pushed it back down and into his friend. Collectively they healed the severed ties between his body and soul and brought him back to life.  It took a few seconds for Raph’s eyes to flutter open before he bolted upright, sucking air into his lungs.

Seeing Loy’s face, now smiling but wet with tears, Raph flung his arms around his friend.  Terror still resided in him, and he trembled.

Holding Raph tightly, Loy said, “It’s okay, buddy.  You’re safe.  I have you.  We all do.”

It took a moment for Raph to take everything in and come to grips with the fact that he was alive and healthy.  Loy choked on his words as he said, “I’m sorry, Raph. I promised we’d keep you safe, but we didn’t.”

Raph realized his shirt and jacket were open, and he pulled the remnants together to cover his chest. Brad prevented himself from cringing as his Avatar showed Raph’s emotional and spiritual state, and instinctively he pulled Raph into a merge with the ten of them.

Just as they did with Drew, each man held Raph’s mind, heart, and soul in his own to bring him comfort. His embarrassment at being naked eased as he saw himself through the lens of their Avatars.  The warm strength of their arms held him, and he accepted their embrace, letting himself be comforted while hugging them back.

Time wasn’t moving, but it took a while for Raph to assimilate everything.  When he was calmer, Loy asked him: Where do we go from here?  We’ve let you down, and we can’t promise it won’t happen again.  If we have to defend Drew at the doors, or the egg in the first creation, we won’t be able to protect you all the time.  Jacob and the RL’s can do a lot, but without Avatars their ability to help you is limited.  I won’t blame you – none of us will – if you want to walk away from us for your safety.

Brad: You don’t have to decide at this moment, Raph.  You know we love you, and you see how upset we are that this happened.  We want you in our lives – I think you belong with us.  But free will is paramount to our mission, and you need to choose what’s best for you and understand that there will be no judgment regardless of your decision.

Raph spoke for the first time: I’m sorry I let you guys down.  I’m not sure I’m the right guy for this. I’m not a hero like you.

Loy burst into tears: Fuck that! You are!  Don’t you see it?

Raph saw it because he was merged with them, but he still hadn’t accepted it.

Ken: Raph, you’re a fuckin’ studly hero, just like Bry and the rest of these yahoos.  You proved yourself by how you reacted.  You were in an impossible situation, and you kept your head.  Hell, you asked Michael for a weapon and were ready ‘ta fight demons ‘ta keep him safe!  Those aren’t the actions of a coward.

The glimmer in Raph’s eyes that had been missing slowly rekindled, and he thought: Fuck, you’re right.  What the hell was I thinking?

Loy: That’s our point, Raph.  You didn’t think – you acted.  You did what was necessary at the moment.  The moment just happened to be beyond your capability.  Thank God Michael sent you to safety, or you’d really be gone.

Raph: But they used me as bait, and I couldn’t do shit about it.  I feel responsible for Michael’s capture.

Darren: You sacrificed yourself to keep Orophir and the dagger out of Tidwell’s hands.

Raph grinned: Momma always said I was stupid.

Rick: She wouldn’t say that if she could see you now.

Raph: Yeah, she would. She’d grab my ear and walk me to the backyard and make me pull my own switch from the tree.

Their eyes still bright with tears, all of them chuckled at his comment and the imagery in his memory.

Brad: The first time we met Michael, he was an asshole.  My husband here confronted him about it. He even grabbed Michael’s balls, which, as you can imagine, didn’t go over very well.  But he also said something to Michael which is true – there are no little people, Raph.  You are just as important as we are.  In all of this mess, we’re blessed to have your friendship.  Even if you decide to walk away, we still count ourselves lucky to know you.

Raph knew Brad spoke the truth because they were communicating mind to mind, and he was awed at the truth and sincerity of his words.  Each man reflected Brad’s words in their hearts and minds, and Raph finally accepted them and himself.

Ken’s little kid grin appeared, and he asked: Did I say that?  That sounds badass.

Reaching over, Kevin smacked Ken lightly on the back of his head. You need to eat your own dogfood, shithead.

Bill: It was probably Brad who said it, and you just repeated it.

Ken: Fuck you, Bill.  I’m right sometimes.

Bryan: Sometimes being the operative word.  The rest of the time, you’re a complete dumbass.

Raph started laughing, which was what Ken wanted.

Cupping Raph’s head in one hand, Ken turned Raph to look at him: Think over everythin’, Raph. Take whatever time ‘ya need.  While you’re thinkin’ though, you’re comin’ ‘ta the Congo base with us where you’ll be safe.

Brad took them back to their bodies and said aloud, “Thank you, everyone, for what you did.  Thanks to you, a part of Elegroth’s plan was thwarted.  He has Michael but doesn’t have Orophir or the dagger.”

The nephilim nodded, acknowledging his words, and the RL’s fist pumped.  Sally looked relieved, took Eleneth’s hand, kissed his cheek, and said, “You played an important part in all this too.  Thank you for helping.”

Eleneth blushed and looked uncomfortable at her praise, but he also smiled.  Still immature in many ways, he sought Sally’s approval, and when he received it, it warmed him.  He didn’t know yet that Eleleth was gone, and in their private link, Ken told the team not to mention that until they were back at the base.

Istariel said, “I have a thought.  Elegroth wishes to destroy the dagger and Orophir so another cannot be made. Yet another exists in Thomin’s Vault, a duplicate of this one though unempowered, in its original, inactive state.  If we convince Thomin to give it to us, Orophir could modify it to match the one we have, and two weapons would exist that can harm or destroy the archon.”

“Fuck me’s” and “holy shits” echoed in the cave, and Ken exclaimed, “What the fuck?! There’s a second dagger?”

Istariel nodded and held out his hand, producing a memory sphere.  Splitting it into ten smaller orbs, each shot out and entered the foreheads of the primary team.  The memory contained Istariel’s account of how he used an artifact called Elohim’s Wyrd from Thomin’s Vault to create the other dagger and how he breached Luke’s stronghold to achieve it and save Orophir.  They knew part of the story, but Istariel filled in details they were unaware of, and they were even more impressed with their nephilim cousin.

Lane said, “Fuck me. You know Thomin won’t give it up without anything in return.  We don’t have time to play his games.”

Istariel nodded and replied, “You speak truly. I do not know how he could be persuaded, but a second dagger will aid you in stopping Elegroth.  I simply want to make you aware of its existence.”

Raising his eyebrows, Ken exhaled and said, “Well, now we have another card on the table.  Let’s head back ‘ta the base and get everyone rested and cleaned up.  I gotta say one more time how great you all did.”

Ken nodded to Darren, whose eyes and Avatar lit up as he carried them across realms back to the Congo base on Earth.

**

Adam and Zack’s relief at their return was evident, and each man, along with the kids, hugged Raph, which surprised him.  His eyes watered at their show of affection and drove home in his heart that he was a part of their family.

Loy translocated himself and Raph to Raph’s house to pack some clothes and personal effects, and a few minutes later Raph was dressed in his usual t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops.

Bryan went straight to the kitchen to start working on another feast.  Henry and Drew were still behind closed doors in their room spending time with one another.  With all the excitement, even after their trip outside the base, Shan let the kids off lessons for the rest of the day.

Once Sally was showered and dressed, she told Shan, “You did a great job with the kids.  Thanks for filling in.”

Shan said, “I enjoyed it.  It breaks the boredom.  Don’t get me wrong, I love it here, but I’m not a ‘sit on my butt and watch TV all day kinda girl.’”

Lane overheard her comment and frowned, saying, “I’m sorry, Shan.  We get so wrapped up in our shit that sometimes the obvious escapes us.  Olive did needlepoint to pass the time, and Tag sat in his recliner and watched gameshows.  You aren’t them.  When Aaron and Albrecht get back, I’m sure the doc can use some help. He’ll be great at finding something to suit your skill sets. Hell, you can train with us if you want.  Sally does when she has time.  She’s a mean fighter.  I’m afraid to get in the ring with her now.”

Sally rolled her eyes and said, “I wish I was that good! We’ll help you find your place here, Shan.  Teesha fits in so well with the other kids; you need to fit in with the adults.  Aaron is great at helping with that kind of thing.”

While they spoke, Sally suddenly realized Eleneth was gone.  She had no idea where he went or spent most of his time.  He could go anywhere in either creation or the void, so the possibilities were almost limitless.  She worried about his being lonely and wanted to talk to Aaron about it once he returned.

*

Ken wandered into the gym to think.  He needed a quiet space to process everything.  Sitting on a workout bench, he lowered his face into his hands and rested his elbows on his knees.

The main link was active but Ken remained at its periphery; however, his private link with Brad made them very aware of each other.  Brad followed, moved behind his husband, and started kneading his traps and shoulders.

Brad: What’cha thinking?

Ken: Just goin’ over everythin’.

Brad: Look up.

Ken did as instructed and craned his neck to look straight into his husband’s blue eyes.  Brad kissed him.

Brad: Ok, you can put your head back down now.

Ken: What if I don’t wanna?  What if I want a few more of those?

Brad: Do you?

Ken grinned: Yeah.  I mean, yes, please.

Brad grinned back: Good boy.

Brad continued running his soothing hands over Ken while they kissed.  Merging to be as close as possible, Ken’s thoughts became his and they processed everything together. The comfort they found in each other was as profound as ever, from the warmth of touching one another to their minds and souls being one.

Ken felt better once he got a grip on what they had learned about everything that transpired.  He still had to devise a plan to recon the void, rescue Michael, and convince Thomin to give them the second dagger.

A small light caught their attention as a memory sphere shot into the gym and moved over to bob gently in the air before them.  Brad recognized it as being from Albrecht. Reaching out, he absorbed it through his hand and Albrecht’s voice filled his mind: I hope this message finds you well, Brad.  Aaron and I are ready to come home, at least for a time.  We have reached an impasse on gathering information from the companion, and Aaron wishes to translate and store on his computers at the lab everything we have learned. At your earliest convenience, would you have Darren bring us home?

Ken mused: How did he know ‘ta send the memory sphere here and not Atlanta?

Brad: You can ask him when they’re back.  Nothing he or Aaron does surprises me anymore. I’ll let Bry know we have two more for dinner.

*

A few hours later, everyone was together eating.  Henry sat with the adults and Drew with his cousins.  The RL’s were there, and Rich helped Bryan produce another gastronomic feast.  With the short notice, Bryan opted for a large garden salad, lasagna, and toasted garlic bread and knots.  The meal, as usual, was exceptional.

Boisterous laughter filled the room while they relaxed and enjoyed their comradery.  After dinner, Sally made plenty of coffee, and Rich produced two amazing cobblers – one apple and one peach – and homemade ice cream.

Shan was still dumbfounded by the food consumption and lack of leftovers after the nineteen men with hyper-metabolisms, five nephilim in human form, five normal adults, and four kids ate with abandon. They still didn’t know how to categorize Eleneth who enjoyed himself sitting beside Sally. With Henry, Aaron, and Albrecht back, the night was joyous.

*

After dinner, Henry asked Eleneth, “Can we talk privately?”

Eleneth nodded and followed Henry to his room. Henry shut the door, sat on the bed, patted the spot beside him, and said, “Have a seat.”

Taking a breath, Henry turned to face Eleneth who was now essentially his other son.  “I have news about Eleleth, but I wanted to wait until after dinner.  You were having such a good time; it was nice to see you smile and laugh.”

Eleneth, oblivious to Henry’s apprehension, asked, “What news?”

Henry caught Eleneth’s eyes, and his own eyes sparkled.  Eleneth looked surprised and asked, “How?”

Henry said, “There’s no easy way to tell you this.  Eleleth, your father, is gone.  God took him and the other archons away.  I’m not sure where.  Eleleth asked me to take you as my son and look after you.”

Eleneth went silent, and his eyes brightened as a tear leaked down his cheek.

Putting an arm around Eleneth, Henry pulled him into a hug. “It’s okay.  You’re going to be okay.  We’re going to be okay. I want you to stay with me and be Drew’s brother. I want you to be my son.”

After a short pause, Henry continued, “Eleleth told me he didn’t do a very good job with you and to tell you how sorry he was about that.  Archons were never meant to have children, and he didn’t know how to handle being a father.  You’re less than a year old, but you have the body of a man.  You’re something altogether new and especially wonderful.”

Eleneth’s voice trembled as he whispered, “If I am so wonderful, why did he leave?”

Henry cupped Eleneth’s face in his hands and said, “He didn’t abandon you!  Don’t think that.  God took him away with the other archons.  We may see him again…, I don’t know.  But until then, I want to be your father.  Will you let me? Sally is here, so you’ll have a mom and a dad.”

Eleneth looked lost, and Henry hugged him tighter, rubbing Eleneth’s back as he did to Drew when soothing him.  Eleneth’s arms tightened around Henry, and he started sobbing.  When he calmed, his question made Henry ache with emotion. “Do you really want me?”

The white lock of Henry’s hair brightened, and he said, “Yes, I do.  Of course, I do!  I’m not doing this out of obligation; I’m doing it because I want to.  You need a father who can love you.  I mean no disrespect to Eleleth, but he wasn’t wired to be a father. He didn’t know how to love you like you need.  Half of you is human, through your mom.  Maybe even more than half because of how you came to be. You need love and to learn to love.”

Something changed in Eleneth’s expression.  Henry saw it in his eyes, and through his wisdom, he took it for acceptance.  Eleneth stammered, “I would like that … Father.”

Henry ruffled Eleneth’s hair and grinned, saying, “That sounded nice.”

Eleneth smiled back and nodded.

Henry said, “I’ll fill everyone in tomorrow, and we’ll get you a room next to mine.”

Eleneth said, “I don’t need a room.  I don’t sleep, and I have no possessions.”

Henry stood and pulled Eleneth to his feet, saying, “No, but you need a place of your own, close to me and the people who love you.  You can’t just be a vagabond and roam around both creations forever.  Well, I guess you can, if that’s what you really want, but you should have your own space here.  I’ll teach you how it all works, and we’ll find your place with us.”

With his arm around his new son, Henry said, “Let’s go spend time with our extended family.”

**

There was no question that Drew would sleep with Henry that night.  Father and son needed the reinforcement that they were together again.  With Henry on his side, Drew snuggled back against him, relishing the warm, solid feel of his dad’s love and protection.

Henry teared up again and chuckled, “I can’t stop saying it.  I missed you so much.  I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I did.  In the back of my mind, deep down, you were always there.”

Drew said, “I know.  Uncle Ken explained it to me.  It’s like when Uncle Darren was in the cave.  He wasn’t awake, but he still heard me.”

Kissing the back of Drew’s head, Henry said, “Your uncle Ken is one smart cookie.  So are you.”

Drew blurted out, “Uncle Bryan says he’s a dumbass.”

Henry burst out laughing at Drew’s cheeky audacity.  “Yeah, but it’s because he loves your Uncle Ken. Brothers tease each other.  Speaking of brothers, I have to talk to you about Eleneth.”

Henry was shocked when Drew said, “It’s okay, Dad. I like him.  He’ll make a good brother. I never got to know my first one, and this will be cool.”

Henry hugged Drew tighter and said, “I wasn’t sure if that would make you upset.  You know I love you, and me loving Eleneth doesn’t take anything away from you.  I love you both.”

Drew giggled and asked, “How much?”

Smiling, Henry stretched out his arm that had been around Drew and said, “This much!”

Resettling themselves, Henry said, “Goodnight, Tiger.  Sweet dreams, buddy.”

After a minute, Drew whispered, “Dad?”

Henry knew what Drew was going to ask and said, “Sure.”

Drew smiled and called out, “Cav!  Bullet!”

Cavall leapt on the bed and plopped down so that Drew was sandwiched between his dad and the dog.  Bullet curled up between Drew’s legs.  Granny Wolf’s eyes gleamed in the darkness, expressing her caring love for Drew.

*

Like Eleneth, Henry no longer had to sleep, yet he lay still and stopped fighting the urge. Instead, his eyes sparkled behind his closed eyelids, and he went to the Seal to meditate while he held his son in their room. 

Drew slept better than he had in months.  Granny Wolf did not take him to the dream realm that night.  She was still leery of the imp, so she maintained a high level of caution and commanded her pack to encircle Drew.

***

Ken called off training the following day, except for their PT run.  With Aaron, Albrecht, and Henry back, there was much to discuss.

Another nicety about the Congo base was the rooms having private bathrooms and showers.  While they missed the communal shower in the Atlanta lab, the privacy offered more opportunities for intimacy.  Ken wore only a towel in the steam-filled bathroom while he brushed his teeth, knowing Brad would perv on his ass.

Naked, Brad moved behind Ken and wrapped his arms around Ken’s torso while Ken brushed his teeth. Resting his head on Ken’s solid shoulder, he thought: Thanks for the towel.

Brad watched Ken in the mirror, observing the sheen on his body from the steam and watching the muscles dance under his skin as he brushed his teeth.  Ken caught his eye with a grinning wink.

Ken: I feel like we’re back firin’ on all cylinders, B.

Brad: It’s nice to have everyone back.

Ken: I’m gonna ask Raph ‘ta join our meetin’ this mornin’.

Brad: I have some ideas for Raph if he wants to stay. On how to protect him. If he’s our representative to the world, he can’t stay cooped up with us here, at least most of the time.

Ken: Are you holdin’ out on me?  Why am I just hearin’ about this?  We were merged all night.

Brad grinned: Well, my mad seduction skills were in full effect, distracting Ken Jr., for starters.  Secondly, I was incubating the idea, so it wasn’t in my conscious thoughts.  That little egg cracked a few minutes ago.  Take a look.

Ken’s eyes widened as he spit the toothpaste into the sink, rinsed his mouth, and checked his teeth.

Ken: Holy shit, B.

Brad: I want to run it by the doc first and see if he has any objections or maybe reservations about side effects to Raph.  It’s a moot point if Raph doesn’t want to help us.

Ken: He’s rattled, and I can’t blame him.  We let him down.  There was nothin’ we could’ve done about it given the circumstances, so I get his apprehension. I’m also worried about Loy.  He feels personally responsible for Raph.  I get that too, and it’s one more burden on his back, along with everythin’ he carries.

Brad sighed: I know.

Ken rubbed one hand along his cheeks to feel the stubble, decided not to shave, and checked his teeth again.

Brad: Is something wrong?  Your teeth are perfect, just like the rest of you.

Ken: Just makin’ sure there are no little B short and curlies stuck and showin’.  That’s the last thing I need ‘ta start off a meetin’. I’m not givin’ those yahoos any ammunition if I can help it.

Brad spit his toothpaste out, rinsed, and laughed, shaking his head.  Then he thought: Kiss, please.

It started out as a quick peck, but Ken got a warm tingle that went straight to his dick because of Brad’s comment about his being perfect.  The kiss turned passionate, and Ken flexed his erection to make his towel drop to the floor.

Ken: We gotta make this quick.

***

Ken stood on the podium, gripping the lectern with both hands.  Leroy’s hide was thinner than Kevlar and molded to their bodies like a second skin, and the muscles in his forearms and triceps moved from the strength of his grip.

The conference room was packed.  The primary team, Henry, Adam, Zack, Aaron, Albrecht, and Raph, sat around the main table.  The RL’s sat in chairs lined up against the walls. Drew wasn’t needed, and Henry preferred he stay with the other kids as much as possible.

Ken gazed around the room at the faces staring back at him.  Squaring his shoulders, he said, “It’s amazin’ ‘ta see everyone in one place.  Not long ago, it was just me’n B, these ladies, and the Doc and Albrecht.  Our enemy and purpose have grown, and so have we.

“B, take us deep.  For the first time ever, I want all of us ‘ta be one. We’re brothers and a sister, but we’ve never done it with all of us.”

Ken waved his arm, indicating everyone sitting in the room. “This is The Order.  We’re the defense against Elegroth and the end of everythin’.  I want everyone ‘ta know what the Order feels like and take that feelin’ with us wherever we go.”

The constellations of their souls brightened in the heavens to the point that they became visible in the daytime sky.  Brad included Sally from the classroom as she taught the children, and Drew, who brought the power of the incarnations with him. Henry’s new archonian strength bolstered them more than ever, and paradoxically they held each other, naked in all aspects, knowing and unconditionally loving and supporting each other.

The pain caused by the Avatars of the primary team was clear to everyone without an Avatar, and they held the ten men tighter.  The original team's strength, humility, and perseverance were apparent, driving everyone else to be the same. The history, the bonds, the comradery, the love, the emotions … each experience, from the highs to the lows, were present as the depth of being one overtook them.

Raph felt enveloped by it, and he cried.  Tears filled all of their eyes, but his were different.  Raph’s were tears of relief as the dam of emotions and the turmoil and fear within him shattered. He cried over his brothers' remorse for not being able to protect him and how responsible they felt for what happened to him.  He didn’t need to forgive them because, deep down, he never blamed them.  The unworthiness he felt burned out of him. The light of their unconditional love wrapped around Raph’s soul, and his brightened as well.  He also saw the pain within them and was humbled.  It wasn’t a competition, but if they could endure everything that rested on their shoulders, so could he.

Brad kept them down until everyone settled, and then they simply rested in one another.  Their Avatars were bright, Brad’s in particular as his compassion filled them. A few present had not merged with all of the others, but all of them had merged with someone and were familiar with the exquisitely painful bliss.  However, with the entire Order as one, it was even more profound.

Only a few seconds passed in the physical realm, and everyone’s eyes were bright when Brad brought them back to themselves.  He maintained a deep link to continue the euphoric bond, but their perception of time normalized.  Most reached for the hand of whoever was beside them, or arms went around shoulders, seeking the physical touch to follow the intimacy of their minds and souls touching.

Ken grinned, but before he could talk he had to swallow to force down the thickness in his throat. Once he was ready, he said, “When times get tough, come back ‘ta this.  Henry taught us how ‘ta be a wall.  He’s a wall between Drew and everythin’ that wants ‘ta hurt him.  We’re a wall, too, and if you ever feel that wall crack or strain, come back ‘ta what we have and draw strength from it. Draw strength from each other.

“Now, the other part of all this.  You now know everythin’ about the situation with Elegroth and the egg.  We’re startin’ ‘ta get a picture of his end game, but there’s a ton ‘a details missin’.  I’m still not sure why he wants Michael since he has Luke. It might be a trap for us, but it could be anythin’.

“We need ‘ta recon the void, get Michael outta there, and find the remainin’ Gifts. Those are my top priorities. But, while we do that, we need ‘ta make sure Drew remains safe and that we can respond ‘ta threats that come up when Elegroth decides ‘ta send his demons through.”

Bill said, “We need to figure out a way to get the RL’s around.  We need another Dar, basically.”

With a pensive look, Aaron said, “A thought just occurred to me.  We might devise a solution between Orophir’s mastery of Enochian runes and Allenor’s forge.  Darren will have to be involved, but I will work towards discovering an answer.”

Darren replied, “In the short term there’s an easy solution.  While we’re on Earth, or anywhere in our creation, between Brad and me, we can stay connected to the RL’s.  Distance won’t matter with the veil; it will only be a problem if I push my awareness too far out.  The RL’s just need to give me a visual, and I can translocate them to where they need to be.  As their range grows, they can scan minds like we do to acquire images.”

Ken said, “That sounds pretty badass. Let’s work out the kinks after our meetin’.”

Kevin asked, “Did you just say kinks?”

Rick nodded and said, “He did.  I heard him.”

Pat grinned and glanced at the RL’s, saying, “You guys have no idea what you’re getting into. Just be sure to use plenty of lube.  It always hurts the first time.”

Ken sighed and shook his head, “Okay, ladies.  Can the pervy shit.”

The RL’s were a bit wide-eyed, unsure about how much the innuendo was a joke and how much might be real.

Ken cleared his throat and tried not to grin at the looks on their faces. “Reconnin’ the void.  How do we get there?”

Brad said, “Eleneth can take us there, but we need to find a way to get there on our own and not rely on him in case something happens to him.”

Darren’s dimples appeared, and he said, “Once again, Dar to the rescue.  Well, sort of.  If Eleneth takes me there, I can imprint a location and we can go as we please.”

Pat said, “I’m sure I can get us there too, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.  I’d have to open a portal through the fabric of our creation, and with the anomalies already happening, opening more rifts is a bad idea.  But in an emergency, it’s an option.”

Ken looked at Henry, “Can you go there?”

Henry said, “I haven’t tried.  Eleleth couldn’t.  Elegroth was banished there, and God must have changed him so he would survive his imprisonment.  But, since Eleneth can, I think I can too … he’s part of both creations just like I am now.”

Henry’s eyes sparkled as he cast his perception out.  The darkness of the void filled his vision, and he shuddered as he appeared in the void.  Similar to the place within them where their souls resided, he saw himself in the darkness.  The void felt cold – not physically but in every other aspect.  The nullness fought against his nature, and he didn’t like being there. Before Elegroth sensed his presence, Henry’s eyes sparkled, and he returned to his body.

Ken saw Henry’s nipples harden and the hair on his arms and the back of his neck rise, and he knew something happened.  “Henry? What’s goin’ on?”

Henry answered, “That answers that.  Yes, I can.  It’s not fun or pleasant, but I can put myself there.  I was there and here.”

Lane asked, “What was it like? Did Elegroth sense you? We don’t know if Kev’s ability to mask us will work on Elegroth.  Kev might have to have his Gift before that works.”

Henry said, “Elegroth didn’t know I was there, and I left before he sensed me. I’m sure I can take you with me, but I don’t know how long I could stay.  Remember what Eleleth originally said when Drew asked him to help me?  He could come to our creation, but he wasn’t meant to be here, and his presence would cause more chaos than his aid.  He had to blend with me to be here, even for a short while.  I’m now a part of both, so I can go to either and the void between, but it feels so unnatural I don’t want to be there.”

Sighing heavily, Loy continued, “Masking ourselves from Elegroth brings us back to the Gifts.  There are four left.  We’ve talked about finding them, but like Bry said at the start of all this, the ones we have found us.  In pursuing our purpose, the Gifts have revealed themselves, so I say we stop actively looking but keep our eyes open for when they make themselves known.”

Albrecht said, “Although we didn’t discover information about your remaining Gifts, we learned enough to form a hypothesis.  Aaron and I believe that once all the Gifts are discovered and in your possession, the forge can purify them and return them to their original, untainted state.”

Bryan asked, “Could we do that with the Gifts we have now?”

Aaron replied, “I do not think so, Bryan.  We can make an attempt, but Allenor stored his data collectively, which leads me to believe the Gifts are more interconnected than we realize. You have already experienced them communicating with one another and even merging on a few occasions.”

***

The next morning, the primary team, filled with as much power as they could hold, stood in the gym.  With Leroy’s hide magnifying their inherent strength, even they were surprised at how much power they held. Henry, Eleneth, Drew, the RL’s, Adam, Zack, Aaron and Albrecht, and the nephilim stood with them.

Ken: Henry, you’ll stay here with Drew.  Eleneth can take us.  I wanna find Dar a spot ‘ta imprint.

Eleneth: I will take you, but I cannot stay.  Being there is painful.  Before, I stayed with Orophir inside the dagger’s gem where we were protected.  I can tolerate it for a short time, but the pain builds quickly.  Drew used the stone to make a dome to protect us when we were outside the gem.

Orophir: I wish to come with you and bring the dagger.  I promised my father I would return to save or destroy him, and I intend to fulfill that promise.

Ken: We aren’t lookin’ for a confrontation.  This is a recon mission.

Orophir: Nevertheless, I wish to join you in hope that we will find my father and Michael while there.  I know best how to wield the dagger and can aid you if Elegroth perceives us.

Brad: But you can’t be there.  Without one of our suits or being inside the gem, you’ll be torn apart.

Orophir: I have my own protection.  As I told Sally Bisel, I have not been idle.  I crafted amulets for myself and my cousins that will allow us to survive within the void.  We cannot reach that place on our own, but we can be there. After Raphael Martinez’s rescue, I empowered one set for myself and will finish the others after our return.

Henry firmly gripped Eleneth’s shoulders and shook him slightly: Take them quickly and come right back.

A smile crossed Eleneth’s handsome face.  Eleleth never touched him, and Henry’s caring physical affection warmed him.

Cupping Eleneth’s cheek, Henry said: Do you understand?  I don’t want you there a second longer than you need to be.  If anything happens, let me know and we’ll take care of it together.

Brad’s Avatar softly glowed under his suit while he observed Henry’s interaction with Eleneth.  Pat and the bodies understood his reaction, and while it warmed their hearts to see, it also emphasized Eleneth’s emotional immaturity.  Clearly, Henry understood that even though Eleneth had a physically mature body, he was a child.

Eleneth: Yes, Father.

Leaning forward, Henry kissed Eleneth’s forehead and then quickly hugged him before backing away.

Ken ruffled Henry’s hair and winked, acknowledging what he did and how he handled the situation.  He also noted the white lock in Henry’s hair reflecting the light more strongly than usual.

Ken: Okay, ladies.  That includes you, too, Orophir.

Eleneth: Me as well?

Ken grinned: Yup, you too, kiddo.

Eleneth: Kiddo?

Henry: I’ll explain when you get back.  It’s a good thing.

Drew had been silent but moved forward and hugged Eleneth around his waist and then went to Henry and did the same but remained there.

Lane to Henry: If you had a chubby butler named Mr. French, the ‘Family Affair’ picture would be complete!

Henry burst out laughing and flipped Lane off: Bry?

Bryan lightly smacked Lane on the back of his head for the old TV show reference.

Ken: If you’re all done, we need ‘ta focus.  Eleneth, you’re up. 

**

With no sense of transition or movement, they appeared in the darkness of the void.  They could see one other, but they started to fade the further they moved away from each other.

Ken: Stay tight.  All chatter in our heads. Kev, keep us masked.

Kevin didn’t have a Gift, but Bryan and Pat did and shared that part of his Avatar, and the five bodies focused on making them imperceptible to any power.

Ken: B, do your thing, too.  It may not work on the new demons, but it can’t hurt ‘ta try.

Brad synchronized with the other mentalists, and an inverted external construct covered them, making them invisible to the physical perceptions of sight, smell, and hearing.

Ken: Head back, Eleneth.  You did great.  We’ll see you soon.

In the seconds they had been in the void, Eleneth’s discomfort was apparent though his body language, and he vanished.

Darren: I imprinted this spot, Ken, but if we find a better one, I’ll move it.  This could be Elegroth’s bathroom for all we know.  I’d hate to bring us here while he’s on the shitter.

Lane: I wonder if he shits.  Maybe that black rock is actually a big banished archon turd.

Loy: That’s pretty fucked up, even for you.

Under their face covering, all the men grinned and shook their heads but quieted quickly. They decided not to come to the void merged, but Brad had them tightly and deeply linked.  Bill’s Avatar remained silent, unable to perceive any impressions within the void, and Ken’s, Ricky’s, and Kevin’s were the same.

Pat, with effort, exerted his will, and his Gift created the laws of the second creation in a space only a few centimeters from his body.  Darren was the embodiment of the second creation, and those laws were part of him.  The void was the antithesis of his existence.  There was no veil for Brad to affect, nor an arc of time for Lane to see into or hear music.  No natural creatures existed for Loy to sense. There was no thought or memory of life for Bryan to feel, so his raven wing tattoos remained silent on his forearms.  However, each Gift brought its respective nature and power to the void and became a conduit for them between the first and second creations.  The void, like a vacuum, wanted to be filled, and without Leroy’s hide protecting them, it would rip them apart and absorb their powers, Gifts, and Avatars.

Brad slowed their perception of time to a standstill within their minds and hearts, allowing their perceptions to adjust.  Orophir was awed by how their Gifts reacted.  Born with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he observed everything but remained quiet.

As Luke had already discerned, there was no arc of time in the void, yet it was eternal. The paradox of the void having no time yet being everlasting flowed over and through Lane, giving him slight vertigo.  Embracing his Gift, he stopped the flow immediately around them.

Once they acclimated and were ready to move, Ken said:  B, you take the lead.  I’m guessin’ travelin’ in the spiritual plane is gonna be the closest thing ‘ta here.  See if you can find Michael and Luke.

Before they moved, a cold tingle in their guts warned them of a demon.  Their Avatars still reacted to the fallen nature of the demons that existed before Elegroth altered them.

Brad: Heads up! Let’s see if our shit works here.  If not, we’ll have to take this thing out as fast and silently as possible.

Crouched and ready to react, they watched as a demon lumbered only a few feet from them.  It loomed into their sight from the outer darkness, and they observed it.  Its gaze shifted from side to side, and they knew it was patrolling.  If Elegroth set guards, he was expecting the Order’s foray into his domain.

They quieted their breath and remained perfectly still, but Lane inverted the sound in the air within an inch of their bodies to cancel any chance noise.  The demon didn’t perceive them and moved out of sight in only a few seconds.

Bill: That was close.

Ken: Let’s keep movin’.

Ken’s anxiousness to find Michael was evident through the link, so they refrained from their usual shit-talking. Brad kept the runes for Michael’s name foremost in his mind and let his intuition guide their direction.  Before long, the cold tingle of the Enemy gripped their spines significantly enough to indicate a large number of them.

Skirting the periphery of where they felt the presence of the Enemy, a mass of demons formed a large circle.  Twice they ventured close enough to see the creatures facing outward with their drawn blades dripping green energy. Standing perfectly still with wings poised for flight, they seemed like stone gargoyles; however, they were very much alive, and their auras pulsed with power.

Pat’s Avatar and Gift understood the vector lines and arcs between the demons, but there was something further in that he couldn’t see. Thankfully, he viewed no connections to them.

Pat: They don’t know we’re here.  They’re guarding something.  Want to flip a coin as to whether it’s Elegroth or Michael?

Ken: Michael.

Orophir: Father.

Ken and Orophir spoke simultaneously.  The bond between a nephilim and his angelic ancestor is potent and unquestionable, and each detected his kin’s presence.  In the void, the feeling was more pronounced than ever, and they wondered at it.

Pat: The demons’ auras are linked, blanketing the area. I don’t think we can get through without them sensing us.

Ken: Fuck.

Darren: Then it’s a good thing I’m here.

Pat: If you use enough power to take us all they’ll sense it.

Darren: Then I go alone and bring you through one at a time.

Kevin: We’re fucked if the shit hits the fan while we’re split up.

Darren: If that happens, how much power I use won’t matter and I’ll pull us together.  The issue is I need to see where I’m going.  Any ideas?

Orophir: I can move through them.  The amulet I wear draws power from the void itself and will mask me in a manner your Avatars and Gifts do not.  Once I am through, you can use my eyes to see.

Ken: Okay.  If you’re sure, just go in far enough ‘ta be outta their sight.  I want us all together again as soon as possible.

Orophir nodded: As you wish.

Ken placed a hand on Orophir’s shoulder and squeezed firmly. Be careful and be smart.  After everythin’ we’ve been through, you’re one of us and family.  I don’t wanna lose you.

Their faces were covered, but Orophir sensed their eyes on him and their emotions through the link. Ken’s Avatar pushed his will, conviction, confidence, and emotions into Orophir, which warmed him. Nodding his affirmation, he silently moved forward and was gone from their sight in seconds.

Bryan: It still shits me what Orophir does with runes.  We can do that shit too, but we don’t think about it.  Even the doc hasn’t come up with what that fucker has managed to do.

Brad: When Lane and I were in the alternate reality, and I saw the look on the face of his counterpart just before Luke destroyed him … that look told me everything I needed to know about Orophir and what he’s like deep down.  I’m glad I was right.

An image from Orophir began to form in Brad’s mind, but his touch was so light and he used so little power that the visual took nearly a minute to form.

Darren: He’s good.

Brad: I have it, Dar. Head on over.

Darren vanished, and no alarm or reaction sounded in the anxious seconds that followed. Keeping his efforts slow and steady, Dar pulled Lane, Loy, Bill, and then Brad to him one by one.  Once together, he drew from them to translocate the denser bodies.  Ken went last to make sure everyone else was together and safe.

As soon as Ken appeared, his connection to Michael strengthened, and Orophir thought: Do not step into the circles on the ground.

Not far from where they stood, large circular areas of the floor were slightly raised.  Even the bodies had difficultly seeing them, but they were darker than the surrounding area. Pat’s Avatar, driven by his Gift, lit up under his suit, and he understood what they were. They’re cages.

Ken put a hand on Orophir’s back: Good job.

Orophir: My father is close.

Ken: Yeah, I feel Michael too. Fuck, I hope he’s alright.

Highly alert and utterly silent, they continued around the cages, which formed a larger circular pattern, until the bodies saw a dim light.  Ken held up his fist to indicate something was ahead, so they crept forward more cautiously.

As soldiers they controlled their emotions during the mission and stifled any outburst at what they saw.  The light was Luke, the Morning Star, the Bright One, illuminating the small area around him.  The aura of his wings fought against the darkness and extended slightly outside his cage. As if Luke’s image wasn’t confounding enough, he cradled a wingless Michael covered in blood, wrapped in Luke’s wings. To comfort Michael, Luke whispered to his existence and blended with him as archangels do.

Ken went coldly rigid at the sight of Michael’s brutal condition.  Luke seemed unaware of them, and Brad surmised that the connection Orophir and Ken felt must be suppressed by the cage.

Pat’s Avatar brightened even more, and he understood Luke’s redemption.  They did not yet comprehend how it came to be, but Luke sat before them, not the Dark One.  When the light of Pat’s Gift touched Luke’s aura outside the cage, Luke’s head shot up.

Orophir stared at his father, unable to believe the sight before him. Making eye contact, Luke whispered, “My son.  You returned.”

Orophir drew his dagger and quietly said, “I told you I would return, Father, either to save or destroy you.”

Inclining his head, Luke said, “Then you have a choice.”

Luke saw the anguish on Ken’s face over Michael’s condition.  Michael was unconscious and if not for Luke’s aura, would be dead.  After Elegroth severed Michael’s wings, the archangel continually grew weaker, and Luke feared for his brother.

Looking at the men before him, Luke smiled and said, “What you see is true.  I will explain everything once we are free if you can accomplish that … and if my son spares me.  Elegroth has us bound to the cage so that if we move beyond the circle, it will alert him, and his guards will descend upon us.  We are also bound to him – because of us, he is able to breach through the void into our creation.  Without us, he will not be able to do so.”

In a private link to Brad, Ken thought: B, it’s killin’ me seein’ Michael like this? That fuckin’ asshole cut off his wings!

Brad: I know. When we get him out of here, we’ll heal him, Ken.  Between us and the archangels, we’ll restore him.

While they spoke, Brad put a hand on Ken’s shoulder and felt the tension in his husband.  Ken’s body had become granite under his suit.

Pat observed the cages with his Avatar’s and Gift’s full understanding.  The connection between Luke, Michael, and Elegroth that gave the fallen archon the ability to enter the second creation was apparent to him.  The cages themselves were perfectly made.  There was no way to circumvent them without a reaction.

Brad’s mind searched for a solution, and his unconscious mind pulled forth a memory.

*

Lane brought them together as One, their eyes watered, and their breath caught in their chests from the extreme emotional intimacy as they settled into one another.

Even with the seriousness of the situation, Lane’s mischievous grin appeared.

Are you ladies ready?

Everyone sent their affirmation through the link, and Lane was aware of their confidence. They were soldiers on a mission to rescue one of their own.

I’ll be right back.

Lane’s eyes turned white, and his tattoo glowed brightly as he cast his mind and soul beyond Earth, traveling further out than usual to find what he needed. He listened to the music of the cosmos, filling himself, shaping it, and making all new music in his soul. It carried him, and he drank it in until he was about to burst.

With his energy centers open, he shone with the light of a small star. Wind whipped his hair, and his handsome face expressed serene confidence. The joy of being linked with Bryan and his brothers while utilizing his Avatar was fulfilling beyond words. The darkness of the ceiling altered, similar to the night of their first awakening, filled with distant stars and the vastness of space. Utilizing his new knowledge, Lane wove the energy with precise control, channeling it into Bryan and Loy.

On his shoulder, Bryan’s Avatar glowed emerald green, matching the canopy of the Tree of Life. His eyes, sparkling with pride for Lane, turned white, and his handsome, stoic face broke into a smile. Ethereal branches and leaves appeared around him, and in seconds a ghostly image of the Tree filled the gym, its highest limbs among the stars. Bryan’s perceptions branched out, sensing the life energy of all living organisms, not just of Earth but all creation. Tapping into that power, he added it to Lane’s.

Lane’s voice resonated, echoing with power through the Link.

Okay, Loy. You’re the new kid on the block; show us what you got, stud.

In response, Loy’s handsome face broke into a smile, and his eyes turned white. His tattoo came to life on the ball of his muscled shoulder as he lifted his arms, sending out his thoughts.

Come, my friends, I need your strength. Our brother needs our help.

Immediately, animal spirits appeared in the air around Loy. Whales and dolphins swam among the branches of the Tree; wolves, horses, deer, and countless other animals, in the air and on the ground, moved slowly around Loy, lending him a portion of their strength.

The energy from the three sources was massive, and being the most experienced at channeling so much raw power, Lane wove what coursed through them into strong but delicate ropes, sending them to Pat, Rick, and Kevin.

Within seconds the gym transformed into a spiritual landscape as they collectively invoked the might of their nephilim heritage for the first time, and everyone was in awe at what they witnessed. The magnitude of their actions hit them, filling them with confidence and purpose and expanding their hearts all the more. Their energy centers were bright, connecting them; they were one and more than the sum of their individual selves. Their eyes watered from their intimate bonds and what they were accomplishing for Bill. The only parts missing were Ken, Brad, and Bill.

*

The power they wielded even then was considerable, but they had grown beyond that early time in their journey.  Now they had ten Avatars, fully awakened, and six Gifts.  Whatever they were becoming wasn’t yet complete, but they were potent and meant to oppose Elegroth. They were a paradox that would allow them to succeed. Their thoughts one, Brad’s plan became a part of them, and under their suits they smiled.

Ken: Fuck, I love you.

Bryan: Yeah, yeah, we know.  And we know what smart talk does to you.  These skin-tight suits don’t hide much boss man, so get your dick under control.  No need to give the demons a show.

Lane: Yeah, we wouldn’t want to scar a demon for life, would we?  That would be inhumane.

Darren: Well, when you put it like that … Ken, take off your pants. Show them your little pride and joy.

Ken: Little, my ass.

Kevin: Henry’s bigger.

Ken: Fuck.  He’s bigger ‘n all of us.

Bill: So, is everyone hard now?

Lane: Is that our plan?  Flash our dicks at the demons and hope they run away screaming like little girls?

Glancing down, they snickered like little boys because they were hard, and as Bryan said, there was no hiding their engorgement in the form-fitting snugness of their new suits. Soaking in the bonds and comradery of his brothers, Ken nearly cried.  Their humor wrapped around him just like their love and support, uplifting him and letting him know their willingness to do whatever it took to free Michael.

Orophir didn’t fully grasp the humor and looked baffled.  A groan from Michael snapped their attention back to the moment, and Ken knelt as close to the cage as he could.

His throat thick, Ken whispered, “Grandfather?  I’m here.  All of us are.  We’re gonna get you outta here.”

Michael reached for Ken, but Luke pulled his hand back.  “Not yet, my brother.  Soon.”

Looking at Orophir, Luke said, “I love you and am proud of you.”

Orophir’s confusion deepened.  He never expected to find Luke restored to his original glory and wondered if it was a ruse by Elegroth to entrap them, but Pat’s Avatar and Gift said otherwise. He also heard the words he never thought to hear - love and acceptance from his father. The ache Orophir carried in his heart since realizing the Dark One only sired him to be a tool in his plans broke apart.

Luke asked, “Do you wish to kill me?”

Luke’s question shocked Orophir out of his confusion.  “No, Father. I do not. But I am unsure what to think.  This is … unexpected. Welcome, but unexpected.”

During their various interchanges, Brad’s mind formed a memory sphere explicating his plan, and when it was complete, he sent it to the second creation.

*

Shirtless and sweaty, Henry sparred against Adam and Zack together.  Mr. Buckles, currently a small orb of light, wanted to stay near Zack and hovered outside the ring. Utilizing the elements of the Quintessential Dance, Zack and Adam did their best but could not land any strikes against Henry. Even Henry was surprised.  Everything that had been Eleleth was now a part of him, including his inherent fighting style.

Adam landed hard on his back before kicking his legs to spring back up. “What the hell kind of move was that, Henry?  I’ve never seen it before.”

Holding up his hand, Henry halted their match, and the three men hopped down to towel off and hydrate. After gulping down a sports drink, Henry said, “I’m not sure.  I have these … well, memories isn’t the right word.  It’s more like experiences of Eleleth’s that are now a part of me. His fighting ability seems natural to me.  It doesn’t have a name; it just is.”

With his hair plastered to his head from sweat, the white lock in Henry’s hair brightened under the gym lights.  Grinning at his buddies, he winked, “I can’t wait to try that on Ken.”

Adam, in particular, noted a difference in Henry after his return.  Henry held a special place in Adam’s heart as his rescuer, but as a bi-man the feeling was more powerful.  He loved Henry not only as a brother but as a man; his affections ran deeper after discovering himself.  He kept a lid on it, but Henry knew.  They merged often, and there were no secrets, but after Henry’s return, the barrier between them no longer seemed present.

Watching Henry, Adam got hard and blushed.  Standing close enough to feel the heat and humid sweat from one another pushed a button, catching him off guard.  To Adam, Henry was the most attractive man he had ever encountered, even among the guys. Henry knew what was happening.  He expected it.

Wiping his face, Henry said, “We have no secrets, Adam.  While I was with Eleleth, nothing else mattered.  Being blended with an archon was so overpowering I was lost in him.  It was as much physical as emotional.  It’s hard to describe because I didn’t have a body during that time.  We became something else, but it was like making love and unimaginably intense.  The entire time was like an unending, continuous orgasm, but in every aspect of my being.  It was mind-boggling for both of us.  The pain I felt when the other archons forced us apart was devastating.  I don’t know what I would have done if God hadn't been there.”

Gripping Adam’s shoulder, wanting to touch his flesh, Henry squeezed.  It wasn’t in comfort but in desire. “I do love you, Adam.  You too, Zack, but I know you’re straight and have half of Renee’s soul in you.  I’m willing to take things up a notch Adam.  Maybe not emotionally at first, but physically.  I love Sally, too.  Maybe the three of us can be together if you’d like to try that?  I’ll talk to her.”

Adam didn’t know how to respond.  His chest tightened at everything he heard, and Henry’s hand on his shoulder made him even harder.

To break up the intensity of the moment, Zack chuckled and asked, “Do you two need to get a room now?  I can hit the showers if you need some alone time.”

Henry pulled Zack against him in a hug, but it wasn’t sexual like touching Adam.  “Thanks, but we have to keep on schedule, or Ken will have our asses. We’ll have to channel this energy into the ring.  You ready to continue?”

Before either man responded, a memory sphere appeared, floated over to Henry, and entered his forehead.  His expression changed immediately, and his gut wrenched.  Through their link, Adam and Zack shared the thoughts Brad sent to Henry from the void.

Henry shouted, “Fuck!”

Adam and Zack simultaneously said, “Go!”

*

Ken: We gotta be precise.  I only wanna hold off the demons and Elegroth if he shows up long enough ‘ta free Michael and Luke.  We aren’t here ‘ta fight him.

Memories played in their minds of their first face-to-face encounter with The Master when Bill touched The Master’s face, and they discovered who and what he was.  The memory brought out another pang of frustration in Bill about not having his Gift.  There was no way to know, but if he had it, he might also discover something about Elegroth that would hasten his defeat.

Minor shit-talk ensued about Bill “what if’ing” himself, and, laughing with them, he let the negative thoughts go. Anyone standing near him patted his arm or shoulder in support. Kevin increased his presence within his husband and held him tightly.

Ken: Alright, ladies.  You know the drill.  Ten, five, one.

Sinking into themselves, Ken locked their Avatars together, and the six Gifts merged.  Kevin continued his synchronization of the bodies’ Avatar’s to mask them.

Brad: I hope this works.

Pat: It will.

Ken: Dar, you’re up.

Darren’s Gift ignited and he expanded the area around himself to form a bubble of the second creation.  Through Darren, Bryan’s Gift ignited, and the thought and memory of Yggdrasil and all their sources of power flowed into them. 

Never had anything existed in the void like what they accomplished.  The ghostly form of the Tree of Life appeared, its mighty branches filled with wraithlike orbs, animal spirits, lending them their strength.  Brad lifted the veil in the second creation to further embolden their power as their dual natures became fully realized.

Their white eyes shone like a beacon in the darkness, and Luke looked at them in awe.  Lane listened to the music underlying the second creation and wielded it to create his own song with chorus to add to the anthems of their souls.  Never had they been so mighty, yet they were not a match for Elegroth without the four remaining Gifts.

Altering physical laws in a small area around them, Pat formed an opening through the cage, which resisted, but Pat strained against it, and their Avatars brightened to become equal to the task.  The hole was not visible, but Luke sensed it.  Holding Michael in his arms, Luke stepped through the breach.

Shrieks of alarm sounded as the demons surrounding the cages rushed forth. Just as their forms became visible in the void’s darkness, Henry, Drew, and Eleneth appeared.  Drew held the stone aloft, and the dome of protection formed around him and the others from the second creation.

Still shirtless and sweaty, Henry, with eyes sparkling, knelt beside Drew with his arm protectively around his son. Kissing Drew’s cheek, Henry whispered, “Good boy.  You’re awesome, Tiger.”

When Luke and Michael exited the cage, Elegroth’s connection to them did not sever as Pat expected.  Elegroth appeared: You should not have come for them, but I welcome you.  You have brought the boy within my realm.  You can have the archangels, and I will take him in their stead.

Henry’s visage flashed blindingly white, and he stood in Eleleth’s armor, wielding his sword.  “You aren’t laying a finger on my son, you green-glowing bastard.”

Elegroth knew the source of Henry’s power.  Surprise showed on the fallen archon's face as he demanded: What did Father do!  Where is Eleleth?

Henry’s voice echoed with power from beneath his helm, “God took Eleleth and the other archons away.  They are with him in peace. You could have been with them, but to quote my brothers, you’re a dripping green douche.  Now I’m the last archon.  You gave up that title when you rejected Father and threw everything away.”

As Elegroth stared, Henry said, “Eleleth still loved you, you know.”

Remnants of the love of which Henry spoke resounded in his heart, but Elegroth wanted Drew dead, and the wall within Henry solidified as he blocked Eleleth’s feelings towards the creature before him.

Glancing at Luke, Henry realized the changes in him.  He also saw Elegroth’s connection to Luke and severed it by swinging his sword.  He was about to do the same for Michael when the dome protecting them flickered and Drew cried out, “Dad!”

High in the mountains of Heaven, at the temple, the doors shook as pressure from the curse rocked its foundations, and it was a physical blow to Drew. Swaying after he called out, Drew fell unconscious and dropped the stone.  The dome and its protection vanished.

Looking around, Brad felt the same chill in his soul as the day he simultaneously put his mind into all humans on Earth.  The imp, the manifestation of the curse, obscured itself in the darkness.

Brad: It’s the curse!  How can it do this?

Ken: Fall back!  Henry, you gotta cut his tie ‘ta Michael so we can get outta here!

Elegroth held out his newly reformed talon, and Michael’s broken form flew from Luke’s grasp to land at his feet. Crying out in agony, Michael’s hand reached towards Ken, and his deep voice entered Ken's mind: I bequeath my sword and armor to you, my grandson.  You are my only existing descendant, and they are now yours.  If I cannot escape, I must die.  I cannot be the reason this creature overruns our creation.  I would die by my own hand, or yours, rather than see that happen.  You must save everyone and everything you love.

Ken’s heart wrenched when he saw Michael at Elegroth’s feet, screaming in agony and reaching toward him.  Michael’s sword appeared in Ken’s hand and his grandfather’s armor over his suit. Not only the sword and armor but the part of Michael that came with them.

Desperation clear in his voice, Ken yelled: No!  That’s not happenin’.  We’re gettin’ you outta here.  We don’t leave anyone behind!

Henry: I’ll hold him as long as I can, Ken.  Eleneth, protect your brother!

Advancing, Henry’s blade whirled so fast it was nearly invisible.  The team watched, stunned, as they encircled Drew and Eleneth and focused their power on Henry to feed him their amassed might.

Lightning from Henry’s sword pushed the demons back, destroying most of them in his initial assault.  Elegroth’s sword appeared, and the two beings clashed.  Henry was the superior swordsman by far, but Elegroth had the power of the black stone, and the imp was present, influencing the fight.  Henry’s light began to dim, and Elegroth thrust him back.

Even as he flew back, Henry tried to sever Elegroth’s connection to Michael, but it was out of the reach of his blade.  Ken rushed forward and gripped Michael’s hand but could not move him.  Elegroth held the archangel, and even the team’s combined power couldn’t move him.

Orophir darted forward, driving the dagger into Elegroth’s shoulder which elicited a horrific scream.  The dagger’s gem flashed sickly green, and a viscous ichor spurted from Elegroth’s shoulder.  Exploding with power, Elegroth shoved Orophir back, but Darren caught the nephilim with his mind.  The power flowing between Elegroth and Henry arched and crackled as Brad sent white talons against Elegroth while the rest of the team fended off the remaining demons.

Michael: Ken, there is no time.  You must destroy me and flee.  There is no alternative, no time to think.  I love you, my grandson.  I owe you far more than I ever imagined. You changed my very existence.  Wherever I go after this, if I go anywhere, I will look upon you and bless you with my utmost ability.

Ken: I can’t do it!

Michael: You must!  You are a warrior! My grandchild!  Their leader!  Cast your feelings aside and strike me down with my own sword.  It is the only way!

Michael gripped Ken’s forearm so forcefully it nearly broke.  Through his touch, Michael blended with his grandson, breaking one of Heaven's first mandates.  None of the men had ever connected in such a way to their angelic relatives – they didn’t know it was possible.  Angels don’t have souls as humans do.  Their existence is entirely different in the same way Eleleth and Henry blended; such a connection was never meant to be.

In a unique place within Ken’s heart, Michael appeared to him.  They were naked, and Michael’s full glory was manifest.  His wings shone with exquisite brightness, and his aura washed over Ken.  They both cried, and Michael pulled Ken against him in a powerful embrace.

Michael: I will miss sparring with you.  I have taught you everything I know and have nothing left to give you.

Ken: That’s not true!  I learn from you all the time. Please! Fuck, I can’t lose you.

Michael: Be strong, Ken.  You are the last of my lineage.  Carry my legacy within you, and do what must be done.  Save our creation.  Luke must lead the hosts now.  He will not wish to, but share this memory and tell him he must. Share this with Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel, and the others so they will believe in him and follow his leadership. If they follow him, so will the hosts.

Ken’s throat closed as he rested his head on Michael’s shoulder and squeezed every iota of his love into his grandfather.

Michael:  You saved me once, Ken, from myself. Only a moment ago, you saved me from Elegroth’s imprisonment.  Now save me from being the instrument to destroy our creation.  There is power in threes.

Ken: Fuck!  I hate that sayin’.  Why can’t it be two, or four, or….

Michael laughed at Ken’s impertinence, loving his grandson’s nature.

Michael: There is no time.  Do what must be done.  I wish it to be by your hand, with my sword. There, is honor.

With Michael’s last words, Ken’s anguish raged within his brothers, and they wrapped him in their unconditional love.  Whatever his decision, they would never judge him.  Their collective intellect knew Michael was right; without him, Elegroth could no longer breach the second creation.  But after losing his brother and his mother, losing his grandfather was unthinkable, yet it had to be done.  His own Avatar of will and conviction brightened, blinding even Elegroth, and Ken keened his pain.

With Ken’s cry, the six Gifts merged in reaction to his exclamation, and their power struck Michael and Ken, who wielded Michael’s sword.  An explosion of lightning filled the area, and Elegroth and his few remaining demons cried out as they covered their eyes.

When the lightning dimmed, Ken, Henry, Drew, Orophir, Eleneth, Luke, and the rest of the team were gone.  Nothing remained of Michael, and the quiet darkness of the void once again stilled.  The imp hissed into the nothing and vanished, and Elegroth could not pursue the Order.

**

The clang of Michael’s sword hitting the floor after falling from Ken’s grip echoed loudly in the gym.  Michael’s sword and armor disappeared, leaving Ken in his assault suit.  Ken fell to his knees and sobbed as he pulled off his head covering, and Brad wrapped his husband in his arms.

Henry held the still-unconscious Drew and looked into his son to see what had happened.  Eleneth lent Henry his strength but didn’t know what else to do, so he stood awkwardly by his father.

Aaron and Albrecht heard them and rushed to the gym but stopped short when they saw Ken’s condition and the expressions on the faces of their sons.  They could not have fathomed seeing Luke with them, shining magnificently, with tear trails of light flowing down his cheeks.  Lowering himself to both knees, Luke poured out to God his devastation and misery over Michael’s death.

Luke was not on the rune matrix, so he vanished, sent away by the Order’s defenses. The fact that their defenses against the dark were not activated did not go unnoticed by Aaron and Albrecht; the archangel was sent away as a creature of light.

Having removed their face coverings, their sweaty and disheveled hair stood on end, and their eyes were wet with tears.  They bore Ken’s pain and held him with the very essence of their being. Surrounding him, each of them lay a hand on him.

Bryan pulled Henry against him, kissed his temple, and asked, “Is Drew alright? What the fuck happened?”

Hearing Drew’s name snapped Ken out of his grief, and he looked soulfully at Henry and Drew.  Ken reached out to put a hand on Drew’s chest.  He felt Drew’s heartbeat, and with all his senses he understood Drew was physically fine but unconscious. A spiritual trauma had knocked him out.

Henry sniffed and said, “He’s going to be fine, Ken.  God, I’m so sorry about Michael. I….”

Ken could only nod as his throat closed up, and Brad pulled everyone but the children at the base into a merge.  The RL’s were shocked at what happened, and through the merge they knew how deep Ken’s relationship with his grandfather ran.  Often it seemed superficial, but it never was.  Ken found his way into Michael’s heart years ago, and the archangel truly loved his grandson.  They didn’t always see eye to eye, but they loved and respected one another on a level no human could comprehend.

Each of his brothers spoke to Ken as they held him, and Brad’s arms never left him. The warm comfort of their naked bodies helped him feel their support as men.

While each of them held Ken, they also held Henry and Drew.  In the back of their minds, they knew they had to discuss what happened but now was not the time.  The imp had shown itself only once before, and they hadn’t counted on its presence in their rescue attempt in the void. Somehow the curse was evolving, and they didn’t know why or how, but it aided Elegroth.  Whether it acted on its own to cause mischief or was a willing ally remained to be seen.

**

Dinner was somber.  Bryan made Ken his famous chicken crescent rolls with extra sauce.  He also made a large bowl of Velveeta queso accompanied by an unopened family-sized bag of Tostadas, with a post-it note that read “property of Ken and only Ken.  Violators will be fed to Leroy.”

Bill and Kevin explained what happened with Ken and Michael to Tommy and Brett, and the two boys were especially attentive to their uncle.  Drew seemed pale and withdrawn, but he was front and center on Ken’s lap.  Ken shared the queso with the boys and Teesha but no one else.

Brad to Bryan: Thanks, Bry.

Bryan: No problem, Brad, you know that.

Brad: Thank God he never gets gas, or I’d be up all night.

Bryan winked and thought: You’ll be up all night anyway.

Brad chuckled: Yeah, you’re right.  I need to get the worst of this out of his system the good old-fashioned way, but please tell Lane no porn music in the link, at least for tonight.

Grinning, Bryan thought: You got it.  I’ll keep him too occupied to even think about that.  Maybe I’ll make him sing a few high notes.  These soundproofed rooms rock for privacy.

Brad: Yes!  Especially with Loy and Ricky.  I see it when we merge, but the animal noises….

Bryan: Yeah.  I think Loy does that just to fuck with us.

Brad laughed: Well, it works. Hey, do you happen to have any of those white powdered donuts?

Bryan: You’re in luck.  I knew you’d want some, so I asked Dar to skip out and get some.  There’s a dozen bags in the left cupboard, second shelf.  There’s also a few twelve-packs of Dr. Pepper in there too, which Dar chilled.  It’s fucking crazy … he keeps them cold even in the cupboard. 

On his way to get the donuts and Dr. Pepper for Ken, Brad tightly hugged Bryan for nearly a minute, resting his head on his brother’s solid shoulder.

Brad: I love you.

Bryan’s arm wrapped around his brother, holding him snuggly: I love you too, fucker.

*

When Brad set the donuts and Dr. Pepper on the coffee table, a hint of Ken’s grin appeared along with a tear.  The bag of chips and bowl of queso were empty.  Their conversation from years ago, shortly after Tony’s death, came to their minds.

*

Popping one of the small donuts in his mouth, Brad chuckled as the sugar dissolved on his tongue. “Oh my God… these are so good.  If we weren’t already immortal, I bet we’d have enough preservatives in our bodies from these to last a few extra decades.  There’s nothing healthy about them, but damn, they taste amazing.  Good call.”

Grinning, Ken asked, “Does that fall under the category of ‘I’m right’?”

Brad retorted, “No, it just means you like shitty food that tastes good.”

Holding his hand over his heart, Ken affected a hurt tone. “Oh man, B, that hurts.  No dick for you tonight.”

Keeping up the banter, Brad retorted, “Yeah, like that’s going to happen.  You know you’ll cave before I do.  Ken Junior will be in full control by bedtime.”

With an assumed look of shock, Ken asked, “Am I really that shallow?”

Smiling, Brad answered, “You aren’t, but Ken Junior is.  Well, he’s not shallow…. He’s nice, thick, long, and hard, with a bit of a curve and a perfect head… just like I like.”

*

The memory warmed both of them on multiple levels.  It reaffirmed their love and how they cared for one another.  Sex was often involved, and Brad knew Ken was hard.  Even if he didn’t know it through their connection, the empty bowl of queso was moving as Ken’s dick flexed involuntarily at the memory.

Ken: Fuck, I can’t stand up for a minute.  I don’t want the kids ‘ta see me hard.

Brad: Hey, Dar, little help?

Dar: You’d better make this a quickie.  Dinner’s ready in half an hour.

Ken and Brad vanished, appearing in their bedroom.  Before Brad could move, the lock on the door clicked and the seals activated, leaving them in complete privacy.

Ken: Time ‘ta break our record.

Brad: Lane, I might need your help too when we’re done.  Or a seat cushion.

Their mirth ran through the link, and in their hearts, they smiled at seeing a semblance of Ken’s normal self.  His grief ran deep, and sex was one way he dealt with things.  They all did and understood the dynamic of what was happening.  They also tucked it away for some major shit hanging in the future…, just not yet.

*

Brad quickly got Ken off to receive his boost in strength which allowed him to take things up a notch.  They didn’t have much time, but he planned on continuing his ministrations after they ate.

Alone with his husband, Ken made himself physically and emotionally vulnerable.  Brad knew how to take care of him; he had taken care of Ken’s body for decades before their changes and knew every inch of Ken’s physique, and since their first awakening, they knew each other more intimately than ever.  Brad’s Avatar ignited, and he knew what Ken needed, perhaps even more than Ken knew himself.

After Brad got Ken off the second time, Ken started crying, and the last vestiges of any bottled-up emotions came out.

Ken: Fuck, B, he’s gone.  I killed him.  Maybe we could’ve gone back for him.

Brad: Shhhh.  Don’t “What if” this.  You know Michael was right.  You also know you saved him like he said.  If we left him to come back later, there’s no telling what Elegroth would have done to him, and our creation would be more vulnerable.

Ken sighed as he sobbed, and his mental voice was barely a whisper: I know.  But I killed him.  With his sword.  I’ll never see him again.  I’ll never get ‘ta tease him about lookin’ at everythin’ the way he did and remindin’ me of who’s grandson I am.

Brad:  You know Michael was brilliant.  Just like you, he was smarter than any of us realized.  I think he did it at first because he really looked at it that way, but later, after the changes in him and all our other grandparents because of our Avatars, I think he did it to fuck with you.  He loved you so much, Ken, in his way.  It was easy to see with my Avatar, but the way he treated you spoke volumes.

Ken cried harder at Brad’s words, and Brad held him, soothing Ken and drawing his emotions out as only he could do.  Climbing on top of his husband, Brad sank down on Ken’s erection, connecting their bodies.  Before their minds, hearts, and souls opened, they always had that, and his action took Ken back, reinforcing the love he held for his husband.

With only a few minutes left before dinner, Brad bought his full power to bear.  The light of his eyes, his Avatar, and his Gift filled the room, and he poured that light into Ken.  What Brad did was similar to Kevin’s Avatar, or when Ken pushed his will and conviction into someone, and in his own way, Brad burned out Ken’s sadness through his physical pleasure.

Bearing down and squeezing Ken’s length, he took everything Ken gave to him.  His eyes wet, Brad looked down on Ken’s sweaty, muscular body and handsome face.  He brushed Ken’s hair back off his forehead and leaned forward to kiss his husband.

Brad: Consider this foreplay.

The smile on Ken’s face, even as his eyes were red and tears spilled down his rough cheeks, showed Brad his plan was working.  Ken raised his eyebrows in the way he often did and thought: Well, fuck, let’s eat fast!

*

Aaron: I do not know what to say to Kenneth, Albrecht.  Losing Michael, after his mother and brother….

Albrecht: If his losses are divine in nature, he has suffered three severe losses, which may be enough.

Aaron: Perhaps, but there is no way to know, and that does not lessen his loss.  His pain runs so deep.  Michael passed his sword and armor to Ken, and a part of Michael came with them.  I do not know if that will make it better for Kenneth or worse.

Albrecht: Our sons must let the other archangels know of Michaels's death.  If Luke returned to Heaven they may know already, but the news should come from Ken or one of our other sons. 

Aaron: I will talk to Bradford immediately.  There is another issue we must address.  While we were at Allenor’s forge, many messages from the prophet’s caretakers arrived.  We could not respond, but we need to contact them and check on Ryan Atkins.  The prophet was at the doors with Henry when God separated him from Eleleth, and I believe he will have changed even more.

Albrecht: Yes, most likely.  The old prophets were vessels, as Ryan Atkins is; however, none of them that we are aware of went to a place such as the temple in Heaven.

Merged with his lover, Albrecht was aware of Aaron’s deepest concerns.  Along with Ken’s loss, the changing nature of the curse was foremost in Aaron’s thoughts.

Albrecht: Yes, love. It is frightening and the largest unknown we face.  As if Elegroth isn’t enough, how the curse has gained intellect is a mystery we must delve into.  It seemed to aid Elegroth…, although its interference may be coincidental.

Aaron: Drew must not return to the doors for any reason until we know more. I will inform Henry, and he can share the news with the others.

A long pause followed as the two men sat quietly together, holding hands with their foreheads touching.

Aaron: What is happening, Albrecht? Are we truly in the end times?

Albrecht: We are.  But I trust our sons.  Even more than God’s plan, though that sounds paradoxical.  Their free and unfettered nature removes them from God’s will, and He will not force their hand or interfere by His own providence.

Aaron: Yes.  For the first time in all my years, I begin to wonder if the cost is worth it all.  Our sons feel so deeply and painfully.  They are deeper than you or I because of their angelic nature coupled with their Avatars and Gifts.  They suffer, yet that suffering makes them stronger.  I know this, but they are my sons. It makes me wish to violate God’s plan for their sake and bring an end to their hurt.  I always wished for them to grow peacefully and enjoy their lives.

Albrecht had no answer other than loving Aaron unconditionally and holding his soulmate in his heart.  He felt equally out of his depth, but for the sake of their sons, he would continue to do everything possible to support them and ease their suffering.

***

The following day, before training started, Ken called everyone into the large conference room. His brothers continued holding him tightly in their hearts and souls, and his eyes were glassy from their emotions toward him.

Brad wanted Ken to take a few days to relax on ZEUS, but Ken refused. I can’t this time, B.  There’s too much shit goin’ on.

The children were in lessons with Sally, Raph was in his new office, and Aaron and Albrecht met with Shan, which left the eighteen men in the conference room. They cramped the room even though they sat shoulder to shoulder.  The men wore their workout clothes and were ready to hit the gym.

With no preamble, Ken said, “The doc and Albrecht talked with me briefly this mornin’.  We have ‘ta let the other archangels know what happened, and it has ‘ta be now. Henry, I’d like you ‘ta come with us.  Adam, Zack, you’ll stay here to guard Drew and to get the RL’s started.”

A hint of his usual grin appeared, and he added, “Don’t hurt ‘em too bad before we get back.”

He knew the RL’s would take the bait even though they all knew what he was doing, especially Rich, and a round of bravado and shit-talk briefly ensued before Ken held up his hand for quiet.

Taking a deep breath, he said, “Dar, take us ‘ta the parkin’ lot of the Atlanta base.  We have ‘ta be outside the runes so they can come to talk ‘ta us.  Everyone knows their roles this mornin’, so hop to it.”

Adam, Zack, and the RL’s filed out, heading to the gym. The time difference between the Congo base and Atlanta is five hours, so it was 1300 there.  Darren looked within himself and knew the weather in Atlanta was sunny and clear. 

Like all of them, Darren wore a tank top, and his Avatar lit up on the ball of his muscled shoulder as it synchronized with the other mentalists. Brad looked through the veil for a clear visual image of the parking lot, and Darren took them there.

*

It had been days since they had been outside, and the warm sun and gentle breeze on their faces felt exquisite.  A powerful surge of emotions ran through Ken, a mixture of sadness, regret, and loss as his nine brothers intoned their angelic grandfathers' names in the first language.  Ken would never call Michael again, and he swiped at his eyes.

In the bright sunlight, the sound of fluttering wings approached, and nine shining orbs appeared around them, expanding into the forms of the nine archangels whose names were called.  The archangels saw the expressions on the faces awaiting them and knew there was no good news.

The nine archangels made eye contact with their descendants, nodded their recognition, and turned their eyes to Ken, whose deep voice cracked when he said, “Michael’s gone. We … I … couldn’t save him.”

Brad drew the collective memory from each man’s perspective of the last minutes of their fight in the void, and his memory sphere split into nine smaller orbs that darted out and were absorbed by the archangels. Tear trails of light already dripped down their somber countenance, and a collective intake of breath followed at seeing Luke restored and at hearing Michael’s words:

Be strong, Ken.  You are the last of my lineage.  Carry my legacy within you, and do what must be done.  Save our creation.  Luke must lead the hosts now.  He will not wish to, but share this memory and tell him he must. Share this with Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel, and the others so they will believe in him and follow his leadership. If they follow him, the hosts will as well.

There is no time.  Do what must be done.  I wish it to be by your hand, with my sword. There, is honor.

As one, the archangels dropped to their knees, enfolding one another in their wings.  Their brother and leader was gone forever.  The impossibility of that act struck them hard, and the pain in their hearts was profound.  The emotional changes in the archangels after their grandchildren’s Avatars awakened were extreme, and the eternal beings struggled with the reality they faced.

Another ball of light appeared, and Luke stood among them with no preamble.  A few of the archangels reacted defensively, and Luke held his hands up placatingly.  His eyes brightened blindingly as he forced a blending among them in the manner of the angels, sharing his conversation with God and his time spent with Michael, keeping his brother alive in the void after his wings had been severed.

Lane felt it most strongly when Luke moved all of them outside the arc of time to allow the heavenly beings to process their grief.  Brad moved forward and put his arms around Raphael, holding his grandfather in comfort.  Each man did the same, leaving Ken alone, which did not go unnoticed by any of them.  The Avatars and Gifts of Ken’s brothers ignited, matching the light of their grandsires, and they brought him into their souls so he would not, and could not, be alone.

The archangels’ wings embraced their grandchildren as well as each other.  Their tears were as thick as their emotions, and their pain felt unending.  After a time, Luke finally spoke, “I will follow Michael’s wish and lead you if you will have me.  Nothing can erase my past and what I have done.  I am reborn, but not in the sense of the dragon’s fire or Kevin’s Avatar.  I remember everything and will carry it all until my end.

“I implore you to call Thomin to bring the Oathstone.  I will swear before Father, you. and on the stone to lead you and do my utmost to save our creation.”

Uriel spoke, “There is no need, Bright One.  We see everything within you, and the hosts will as well.”

Luke responded, “There will be doubts among the hierarchies.  Rather than force their obedience, it must be of their own free will.  I also will gather as many of our fallen brothers that I can, those that Elegroth has not altered, and bring them home to join our ranks.”

A new hope sparked in the eyes of the archangels.  Returning a third of the infinite hosts would be a great boon and a worthy act to honor Michael’s memory.

In unison, the nine archangels’ eyes brightened and they intoned Thomin’s name and their desire: Thomin! We beseech thee…, come to us with the Oathstone of Heaven.  Our need is great.

Thomin appeared almost instantly, standing tall and stately in their midst.  He did not react to seeing Luke, as Luke was still bound to never interfere or attack Thomin or try to attain any of his vault’s treasures.  He did look surprised at Luke’s transformation, and a childlike smile appeared on his face.

Facing Raphael, Thomin asked, “Why do you require one of my treasures?”

Luke responded, “I desire to make another oath.  It is Michael’s last wish that I lead the hosts, and there must be no doubt as to my motives.”

Thomin noticed Michael wasn’t present and asked, “Where is Michael?”

Gently, Raphael replied, “Michael has fallen, Thomin, fighting our new enemy.  He is no longer with us.”

Thomin’s smile faltered, and he softly cried, “I liked Michael.  He was stern but ever a friend to me.  I shall miss him.”

In an unexpected show of compassion, Thomin turned to Ken and said, “I am sorry.  I know you loved him.”

As soon as Thomin appeared, the six Gifts among the team began to pulse softly, and a mild sense of … something … touched Brad, Lane, Loy, Darren, Pat, and Bryan.  Bryan’s raven wing tattoos fluttered on his brawny forearms, and he struggled to identify what he felt.

Raphael asked, “Have you the Oathstone?”

Thomin reached into the sleeve of his robe and pulled out a box they had seen before, and the Gifts further brightened.

Ken’s head snapped up, and he asked through their link: What’s happenin’?

Brad: Whatever our Gifts are reacting to must involve either another Gift or something dealing with the first creation.

They were merged, but Ken, Kevin, and Bill felt no reaction within themselves, only the reaction of their brothers with Gifts. Ricky, however, felt a strong sense of longing. When Thomin opened the container, Ricky doubled over, holding his stomach as waves of debilitating anxiety hit him.

On its own, the Oathstone became blindingly bright.  The box that contained it shuddered and burst apart, leaving the stone to hover in the air.  A Gift resided inside, just as Allenor forged it.  The swirling light within it spun faster, and the archangels and the men threw their arms up to cover their eyes from the brightness of it.  The light didn’t just affect their eyes; truth and purity washed over them, so powerful that no untruth or deception could stand against it.

The containment orb dissolved, and the Gift entered Rick’s Avatar in an arch of light.  His eyes glowed with the same light as it briefly consumed his form before dimming, leaving him breathing hard and sweating.  Shaking his head, he was stunned by the transfer.

Elation surged through their merge as another Gift, one totally unexpected, became part of them.  They now had seven Gifts and were a step closer to stopping Elegroth, saving Drew, and preserving the second creation. Their grief, especially Ken’s, over losing Michael did not lessen, but it was balanced by what just happened. Loy was the first to embrace his husband, but Ken quickly followed to touch his friend and make sure he was alright.

Ricky: Fuck, this is intense! Everything is different. I see everything as it’s supposed to be.

Rick’s awareness expanded beyond earth.  Like Darren, Pat, Bryan, and Brad, when their Gifts awoke and became part of them, Rick’s Gift expanded until it touched the entirety of the second creation, seeing the truth of everything and how it should be, untainted by the curse.

Brad knew what would happen, and his thoughts became theirs through the merge. As dangerous as it was, Ken felt they had no choice and shouted: Dar!  Get Drew here now!

When Rick touched the second creation through his Gift, the curse attacked him.  As their Gifts merged, Rick fought back, and his brothers poured themselves into him.

Rick screamed as the nature of the curse burned him.  Touching everything, tainting everything, from the smallest microscopic particle to the largest singularity.  He was unprepared for what hit him, and the pain was unlike anything he had ever felt.

Drew appeared in Henry’s arms and jumped when Rick screamed. Knowing immediately what he had to do, the stone appeared in Drew’s hand and he squeezed it.  The dome appeared over them, encapsulating everyone, including the archangels, who marveled at what they witnessed.  As powerful as they were, the forces their grandchildren dealt with were beyond them because they still could not perceive anything pertaining to the first creation.

Rick went silent and collapsed in relief, held by Loy and Ken as they lowered him to the ground. Brad was in Rick’s mind immediately, helping him to acclimate to what happened. Taking them deep so time stood still, Brad gave Rick time to focus and pull his Gift back into himself.  It all happened instantly, and it needed to, as Brad sent a warning among them: Drew, remove the dome quickly.

Drew already felt the pressure against the doors in the back of his mind.  Henry braced his son with his body and all his power. Eleneth appeared, called by Henry, and the father and two sons pooled their strength to reinforce the doors against the imp. With the dome gone and the stone quiet, the pressure relinquished.

Thomin looked surprised and hurt.  Bending over, he picked up the remnants of the box that had contained the Oathstone. Wriggling out of Henry’s arms, Drew ran to Thomin and helped him.

Thomin muttered, “Malachiel is going to be angry with me.”

Drew said, “It wasn’t your fault, Mr. Thomin.  He won’t be mad.”

Somberly shaking his head, Thomin said, “You do not know him.”

Luke said, “I shall speak to Malachiel about how the Oathstone came to be.”

Brad said, “Whoever Malachiel is, he didn’t create the stone.  Allenor created the Gifts.  Malachiel must have found it and altered it and crafted the box to contain it.”

After a second, Brad’s brow furrowed, and he mused, “Rick was there when we forced Luke to make his first oath.  Why didn’t the Oathstone react then?”

Bryan answered, and his brothers turned to face him when he spoke.  His tattoos fluttered, and the memory of what happened came to him. “The Gift wasn’t needed yet, so it didn’t reveal itself.  That’s a mind fuck.”

Pat added, “The vortices and ripples flying around right now weren’t happening back then.  Not to the extent they are now, and, those that were, dealt with Drew and The Master’s confrontation, not the clash of the two creations.  There’s a pattern in how the Gifts are revealing themselves – it’s not random.  Somehow Allenor put triggers in them that react to events.”

Lane grumbled, “Free and unfettered my ass. All of this was planned.”

Brad followed, “God must have shared a significant part of his plan with Allenor for him to achieve that.”

Brad’s statement unsettled them. They had discussed the concepts before and would have to revisit them.

Luke approached Rick and knelt beside him, “May I make my oath?  Will your Gift bind me as it would have before?”

Closing his eyes, Rick concentrated as his Avatar pulsed steadily.  His Gift ignited, brightening his tattoo, and he understood that he could fulfill Luke’s request.

Loy and Ken helped Rick stand, and he made eye contact with Luke, emphatically stating, “Yes.”

Luke’s wings appeared and his arms spread out.  Looking heavenward, his voice projected throughout the second creation.  “I, Lucifer, firstborn of the archangels, The Morning Star, The Bright One, take this oath.  I swear to lead the infinite Hosts, fulfilling Michael’s wish, and I will do my utmost to save our creation from Elegroth or any other threat.”

Rick heard Luke’s words, especially the truth in them, and white rings emerged from the Gift on his muscled shoulder to wrap around Luke.  In a burst of white, the rings vanished, leaving Luke shaken.

Staring at Rick, Luke stammered, “This binding is more powerful than before.”

Rick flexed his bicep and grinned at his brothers, who all groaned in their private link. Minor shit-talk ensued with multiple “Oh God’s” and “Loy, you’re in for it now.” Lane’s comment about Rick having ‘Big G energy’ cracked them up.

Raphael put a hand on Ken’s shoulder and said, “Our grief is deep, as is yours; however, I am glad you were with Michael at the last and that his end came by your hand.  Ever noble, his concern for us and our creation overrode any personal cost to himself.  Know that we share your loss, Ken.”

Raphael’s words brought fresh tears to Ken, and he covered Raphael’s hand, gripping it firmly.  Unable to speak, he nodded his acknowledgment.

Luke said, “We must go.  There is much to be done.  Elegroth cannot currently breach the void to enter our creation, but his minions can, and they will attempt to take more of us to regain his ability to do so.  That must not happen.”

Turning to Ken, he said, “I leave the mystery of the curse and the doors to you for now.  If you need our assistance, call to us.”

The ten archangels transformed into orbs of light and shot into the heavens, leaving Thomin standing with the team.  Drew took Thomin’s hand and placed the stone in it, saying, “Here you go, Mister Thomin.”

Drew unexpectedly hugged the archangel around his waist.  Thomin, looking awkward, did not know how to accept the show of physical affection.

Drew said, “Maybe, if you want, you can visit me on ZEUS, and we can play some games.  I bet you’d like Trouble.  It’s the best.”

Before he vanished, Thomin smiled and said, “Thank you, young Drew.  I may do that.”

***

Darren translocated them back to the Congo base.  Aaron and Albrecht had finished their meeting with Shan, so Ken asked their mentors and everyone who went to Atlanta to meet him in the conference room.

While everyone filed in, Sally came down the hall and stopped when she saw Henry.  Smiling, she put a hand on his arm, saying, “We haven’t really had a chance to catch up since you’ve been back.”

Henry’s smile melted her, and he said, “I know, and I’m sorry. Things have just been a little crazy.”

Leaning forward, he whispered in her ear, “I’d like to get reacquainted if you’d be up for it.  I also have something I want to talk to you about.”

The guys in the hall grinned when she blushed because they realized why.

Sally replied, “I’d really like that.  I mean, REALLY.”

The two of them laughed, and Henry pulled her into a brief hug.  Smelling her reminded him how much he missed her, and he put a cap on his libido before he got hard.

Henry said, “Let’s talk after dinner.  Hey, are you headed to the gym?”

Nodding, she said, “Yes.  Adam has a semi-urgent call from Javier.  He’ll probably get you involved.  Looks like a few protectors showed up at the soup kitchen.”

Henry replied, “I won’t keep you, then.  See you later.”

Brad overheard Sally say she was on her way to find Adam in the gym, and it reminded him to bring up the custody issue with Adam’s son AJ.  As busy as they were, Brad and everybody wanted AJ to be with Adam as much as Adam did.

**

Raph sat at his desk working on the website for people to contact the Order.  He had a basic site with an email address, but it was crude and, in his mind, not worthy of representing their cause. While he was gone – and dead, he reminded himself – the number of messages that built up was insane.  Most of the emails were frivolous, with people asking for money or support for whatever cause they were promoting.

Aaron had a filter that separated and prioritized the messages.  Raph had no idea the criteria the doctor used to sort emails, but it saved him a tremendous amount of time.  After being in Allenor’s forge, the doctor asked Raph if he would also be the front-line contact for emails from the prophet’s caretakers to ensure no messages were overlooked.

After hours of clearing his inbox, there were a few dozen emails he thought worthy of attention.  One particular message struck his interest.  A man named Marshall Vickery was being held in a hospital psychiatric ward in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department sent the email asking for help, saying Mr. Vickery claims he is “in the wrong place.” Reading further, Raph discovered “in the wrong place” meant not of our world.

As soon as Raph read the email, Lane experienced a powerful twinge in his stomach.  He was in the ring sparring with Loy and slowed his perception of time to a standstill. Scanning the base to see what everyone was doing, everything seemed normal, but his intuition told him otherwise.  Raph was lightly linked, and Lane pulled Raph tighter and thought privately: Raph?

Raph started and exclaimed: Jesus, Mary, and St. Louis!  I still have to get used to this.

Lane: Sorry, man. What are you doing?

Raph: I’m going over emails from while I was out.  There’s one here that the doctor’s software flagged as critical.  I was just reading it – it’s a request for me to contact a Deputy Sherriff in Arkansas.

Lane: Please look into it.  It’s important.

Raph: You got it.  I’ll call them now and let you know.

Loy’s fist, which was on its way to connect with Lane’s face, started slowly moving as Lane increased his perception of time.

Lane: Not today, beastie boy!

Lane blocked the punch and spun around in a roundhouse kick, but Loy was already out of reach.

*

Fifteen minutes later, a perplexed Raph hung up the phone.  The story Deputy Sherriff Troy Higgins shared with him certainly seemed odd, but he wasn’t sure if it was worth bringing to the guys' attention.  He promised Lane he would, though, but decided to run it by Aaron first.

Knocking on the doctor’s office door, he asked, “Hey Doc, you got a minute?”

Aaron appeared engrossed in his computer screen but smiled and said, “Of course, my boy.  Come in.  What may I help you with?”

Trying to boil his phone call down to the basics, Raph said, “Well, sir, there’s a man in Arkansas whose name and identity don’t match his face or records.  He says he isn’t from our world; he has incredibly detailed knowledge of the life of the man he claims to be and also his father here.  He has no other family alive.  His father here doesn’t recognize him but says the man knows things only his son would know.  He’s under psychiatric observation.  The deputy-sherriff took a long shot, thinking we might be able to help.  Lane got a weird vibe when I read the email, and while it seems crazy, I don’t know if it’s worth looking into in the big picture.  Your email filter flagged it as important, although I don’t see why.”

Aaron said, after a moment of typing quickly on his computer, “It was flagged because multiple reports have shown up about Mr. Vickery.  Social media posts from a restaurant and the local news match your email.  Any incident that has three points of contact gets flagged.”

Scratching his head, Raph said, “Wow.  Okay then.  I’ll bring it up to Lane as soon as the guys break for dinner.”

Aaron said, “Raphael, your position here is important, and your assistance invaluable. If you feel the need, go to the gym and talk with Lane now or speak through the link.  Do not feel awkward or hesitant about doing so.  Be confident.”

Raph said, “Alright.  I’m off to the gym.”

Aaron said, “One more thing, my boy.  Very soon, perhaps tonight or tomorrow, I wish to have a discussion with you about your safety.  You are too important to us to risk another incident like what happened.  I believe Bradford has a solution, but we must explain everything to you before making any decisions.

Raph’s eyes brightened, “Do I get an Avatar?”

Aaron chuckled warmly and said, “No, my boy; however, once you understand, it is something similar and very powerful.”

Before Raph said anything else, Aaron turned back to his computer, leaving Raph to wonder what the doctor meant.

*

Albrecht: You are concerned.

Aaron: Yes. Lane’s reaction to the email is enough, but the change in appearance is another flag.  If he is from another reality, it must be from one far away for his physical form to be so different.  That tells me that whatever might be occurring is on a large scale and worth investigating.

***

Invisible to humans, the primary team appeared in the parking lot of the Pulaski County Sherriff’s Department.  Henry remained in the base with Adam and Zack to stay close to Drew and to work with the RL’s.

Brad created an external construct of black suits and ties over their assault suits to look official. The lobby wasn’t large, especially with the ten big men and the few residents seated and waiting their turn.  Lane and Bryan became visible and approached the counter.

The Deputy behind the counter, whose nametag read “Cox,” did a double take and asked, “May I help you?”

Lane said, “We’re here to talk to Deputy Sherriff Higgins if he’s available.”

Tipping his head up slightly, the Deputy asked, “Your names?”

Lane’s mischievous grin appeared, and he said, “Tell Deputy Higgin the Order is here responding to his request.  I’m Lane, and this is Bryan.  No last names.”

The Deputy paled and asked, “Are you the guys on TV?”

Bryan grunted, “Uh-huh.”

Not taking his eyes off Lane and Bryan, the Deputy called over his shoulder, “Trey! They’re here!”

A very fit, handsome, middle-aged man rushed out of a side office and stopped when he saw Lane and Bryan.  Lane held out his hand and read Trey Higgins when their flesh touched, and everything about the deputy became known to them.  He was a good man, a marine veteran, but most notably, they knew everything about this current case.

With a firm handshake, he said, “Deputy Trey Higgins.  Pleasure to meet you.  I only spoke to Mr. Martinez a few hours ago, so thanks for coming so quickly.  Is it just the two of you?”

Dropping the external construct, the other eight men appeared, and the deputies jumped.  A few in the back office put their hands on their weapons.

Lane chuckled and said, “No, just ten of us.  Sorry for the surprise. We need to visit Mr. Vickery.  Can you come with us?”

Digging into his pocket, Trey pulled out the keys to his squad car, “You can follow me to the hospital if you like.”

Looking at the desk officer, he said, “Trip, I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”

By reading Trey, Lane and the team knew the name of the doctor assigned to Marshall Vickery.  Brad scanned minds to find the Arkansas State Hospital Psychiatric Ward, grabbed an image from one of the nurses at the central station on the floor they needed, and Darren translocated the ten of them plus the deputy.

No one was aware of them due to Brad’s external construct when they appeared.  Trey blanched, and Lane put a hand on his shoulder, “You’re fine.  We wanted to get here as soon as possible.  We’ll get you back to your office when we’re done.”

Before they appeared, Brad tightened their shields.  Hospitals were the worst environment for Lane, Bryan, and Brad.  Their Avatars reacted to the concentration of sick and emotionally distraught people by wanting to heal everyone. Within their hearts, naked, raw, and exposed to one another, they clung tighter together physically and emotionally.  Resting in their warm strength allowed them to be present and focused on their purpose.

Lane appeared by himself but made the nurse think he was there all along.  Smiling, he asked her, “Is Dr. Yarbrough available?”

The most handsome man she had ever seen stood smiling in front of her.  Lane cringed at her stray thoughts, and snickers resounded through the link.  Brad created the illusion of Lane’s teeth being so white they nearly gleamed like he just stepped out of a Mentos commercial, and he made Lane’s wedding ring invisible so she would think he was single.

Lane had done the same thing to Brad in the alternate reality they visited the first time they encountered Orophir, and Brad had been waiting years for just the right moment to get his buddy back.

Brad: I told you payback would be a bitch.

Not taking her eyes off Lane, the nurse gushed, “She finished her rounds a little while ago and should be in her office. Would you like me to call her?”

Lane saw a slight rise in her breathing and blood pressure through her energy centers.  Brad did as well and removed the illusion of Lane’s tie and opened his collar to reveal his neck and a hint of his sparse chest hair.  The nurse’s pupils dilated as her eyes raked over God’s gift to women standing in front of her.

Bryan, in particular, thought Lane’s dilemma hilarious, but he also took pity on the woman and dropped out of Brad’s construct.  Putting his arm around his husband, he said, “My husband and I would appreciate that.”

The crestfallen look on her face made Brad feel guilty for his joke at her expense.  She called Dr. Yarbrough’s office but stared at Lane and Bryan, gripped by their angelic charisma.

Lane: Damn, Brad, that was payback with interest.  Still invisible to the nurse, Brad moved to Lane’s other side and kissed his cheek.  Sorry man, I’ve been waiting forever, and it was too good to pass up.

Setting the phone down, the nurse said, “Her office is just down the hall on the right.”  Her eyes widened as she became aware of the rest of the team and the deputy sheriff.  Confused, she couldn’t imagine where they came from but quickly got lost in staring at each of them.  Every nurse on the floor craned their neck to see the tall, handsome men walking down the hall.

Deputy Sheriff Higgins had no idea what happened and was still in shock from being translocated to the hospital from the sheriff’s office.  He asked the Order for help after having seen the footage of the war over Atlanta between the angels and Elegroth’s demonic army, but he knew very little about these men.  In addition to that, their auras and bearings told him he could trust them. Instinct told him they were former military.  He knew they were good men, yet he still had no idea what he was getting into.

Dr. Yarbrough looked confused when she saw the eleven men approaching.  The nurse had said a “couple of men” were asking to see her.  Holding out her hand, she said, “I’m Dr. Yarbrough.”

Deputy Sheriff Higgins said, “Doc, these men are with the Order.  The folks we saw on TV.  Something isn’t sitting right with me on the Vickery case, so I contacted them, and they want to see him.”

Frowning, she said, “This is highly unusual.  Mr. Vickery is very agitated and currently sedated.  I don’t want to feed his delusion.”

Ken’s Avatar lit up under his suit, and he addressed her directly in his captain’s voice, “Ma’am, we believe he’s tellin’ the truth and is not delusional. I respect your concern, but we have ‘ta see him.”

Ken rarely used that tone of voice, but he was still in a somber mood.  He also trusted Lane’s intuition and knew something was happening. He was angry that the doctor sedated a man who was most likely completely innocent and a victim of cosmic circumstances beyond his control.

To maintain a semblance of authority, Dr. Yarbrough said, “Well, he just finished eating and will be awake a few more minutes.  You can see him, but no more than two at a time to start.  If he agitates, you’ll have to leave.”

Ken held his arm out to indicate for her to lead the way, and Dr. Yarbrough took them down the hall to a closed door with two orderlies standing outside.  The situation gave off a bad vibe, and irritation ran through the link.

Ken: Lane, you‘n B are up.

Brad tightened their merge and started to open the door, but one of the orderlies grabbed his hand. With the skin contact Brad paled slightly as he inadvertently read the orderly, who wasn’t a good person. Darren tightened their shield over Brad and released an intense static shock which caused the orderly’s hand to jerk back.

Dr. Yarbrough said, “It’s alright.  Let them in.”

The imposing orderly stood back but gave Brad a glowering look that said, “I want you to try something, so I can beat the shit out of you.”

Taking a quick breath to calm his initial reaction, Brad ignored the orderly and opened the door.  Lane gave the orderly a quick glance and an eye roll.  He loved the man unconditionally, as he did all humans, but the orderly was an asshole who deserved to have his ass kicked.

Lane and Brad could barely see Marshall Vickery due to the vortices swirling around him.  He was the focal point of an extreme anomaly, and the rest of the men immediately rushed into the room behind them.

Bill held the minds of Dr. Yarbrough and the orderlies but kept the deputy sheriff free as a witness, although he calmed the man’s reaction. The men’s Avatars and Gifts reacted in various manners once they stepped into the room.  Pat saw the broken pattern and how the man’s presence sparked constant ripples around him.  Rick’s new Gift saw the truth that Marshall Vickery did not belong to their reality.

Lane sent a gentle healing flow into Marshall to remove the sedatives and other drugs from his system, and as his mental fog lifted, he looked in awe at the men in his room.

Moving to the bed, Lane gripped Marshall’s hand and earnestly said, “It’s okay, Marshall, we’re here to help.  You’re going to be okay.”

The relief in Marshall’s eyes brought tears to their own, and he whispered, “You believe me?”

Smiling, Lane said, “You bet your sweet ass we do.”

Ken: How do we wanna handle this, guys?

Pat: It will take significant power to get him back where he belongs.  It’s not just him.  My guess is when Dar had that reaction to the ripples opening, that’s when Marshall swapped places.  I also think it wasn’t just the two versions of him.

Brad: You think a number of his incarnations shifted?

Pat: I do.  That’s why Lane’s gut reacted so strongly once Raph brought this to our attention.  We’ll need to look through the multiverse, find all the versions of this guy, and make sure each one gets back to his proper reality.

Another presence flickered into their perceptions and then vanished - one they had felt recently: Tag and Olive. 

Darren: The ripples around Marshall … if we can make them intersect, it will allow Tag and Olive to talk to us.

Loy: Why would they be here?  Could they be involved in some way?

Bill: It looks like they want to be here or are trying to contact us.

Brad: My intuition says all this is somehow related; I just don’t see how yet.

Ken: That’s good enough for me.

Lane: We can do this, fellas.  We have the technology.

A few eyes rolled at the old TV show referencing The Six Million Dollar Man.

Defensively, Lane said: Hey, Lee Majors was hot.  You’ll thank me for the image later.

Ricky: The only image in my brain now is little Lane polishing his knob to Col. Steve Austin.

Even Bryan cracked up at Ricky’s comment.

Ken: Okay, ladies, more focus on our goal here and less on Lane’s dick.

Lane: If it was your dick, you’d love it.

Ken’s grin appeared, and he winked at Lane: You’re right, but I’m in charge, so I’m pullin’ rank, not my pud.

Brad: That’s my job.

Kevin: Fuck, here we go.  There’s a Motel 6 nearby.  Go get a room while the grownups carry the load.

Bill: Did you just say load?

Because they were so deeply merged, the mental shit-talking took a nanosecond in the physical realm.

Marshall’s eyes turned glassy, and he whispered, “I want to go home.”

The plea in Marshall’s voice and his emotions touched them profoundly and brought them back to seriousness. Lane said, “We know, buddy.  We’ll figure this out and have you back home in a jiffy.”

As the embodiment of the second creation, Darren expanded himself to encapsulate the room.  Pat focused on the laws around them and the vortices and ripples generated by Marshall’s presence. 

Brad lifted the veil to realize their dual nature, and their eyes blazed with power.  Bryan brought the thought and memory of Yggdrasil to their hearts, and the life energy of the tree blossomed within them, filling them with even more power.  Loy called on animal spirits, and their wraithlike forms appeared around them.  Within the room, the spiritual landscape transformed, and Marshall and Deputy Higgins were in awe.  Brad monitored their thoughts to keep them calm.

Pat altered the laws within the room.  The ripples stabilized into Pat’s chosen pattern, intersecting every third wave, which then spawned more.  He kept the pattern of threes, and immediately Tag and Olive became visible in the room with them.

When the old couple became corporeal, tears filled their eyes.  They were present, actually present, and not ghosts.  Olive held her hands out, cupped Bryan’s cheeks, and then hugged him with all the might in her frail arms.  Tag dove for Ken, who was closest to him, and he and Olive went around the group until they had touched everyone.

Swiping at his eyes, Tag muttered, “We’ze here!  How kin you do dis?”

Olive smiled and said, “It don’t matter, Pappa.  We’re home! Our boys brought us home!”

When Tag and Olive sacrificed their souls to allow Aaron and Albrecht to fight The Master and save the team while Ken lay dead, their bodies were atomized.  But the angel that sent them on their journey to help their friends had been touched by energy from the first creation after he encountered Allenor and the doors.  Inadvertently, when he placed his protection over Tag and Olive, they absorbed some of that energy which allowed their souls to exist as anomalies between creations. They were within everything but a part of nothing.

Tag and Olive could move about freely at will, seeing and listening to everything, but they were unable to interact.  The night Lane and Bryan met Shan and Teesha was the first time the elderly couple were able to communicate with anyone.

In the hospital room, the seven Gifts merged to cleanse the old couple of the residual energy of the first creation, and Tag and Olive’s existence settled in the creation of their birth.

Olive saw Marshall’s tears, went to him, took his hand, and said, “I know where you is from.  Your pappy’s worried sick ‘bout you.  All your pappies are, in every world.  We watched when you moved, and we followed you.”

Tag nodded and glanced back at Lane, “You gots ‘ta send him home.  There’s a power buildin’ ‘cause ‘a what happened.  You need ‘ta get all of him back ‘ta where they is supposed ‘ta be.

Olive’s expression darkened, and her voice quivered with rage, “It’s that blasted imp!  It’s a creature of darkness.  It did this, ‘ta try and open the doors and destroy my baby, Drew.”

Shock ran through the merge at her words, but it made sense.  They still didn’t understand how the curse gained intellect or form or how it attacked Drew through the doors.  The energy it utilized was the buildup Tag and Olive spoke of.  It was an unnatural pressure underlying creation, and now they understood the need to release that pressure before it exploded.

Brad: Fuck, this is big.  Much bigger than we thought.  We need everyone in on this, especially Henry, Drew, and Eleneth, but also Adam, Zack, and the RL’s.  Even without Avatars or Gifts, we need their power.

Kevin: Where can we do this?  It’s not safe here.

Bryan: The forge.  The shield there contains Allenor’s forge.  If it can do that, it can contain what we need to do. The doc and Albrecht can get the companion to help.

Now that he knew what to look for, Lane peered through his Gift into the multiverse.  As the other Gifts merged, he heard the discordant sound of what was happening.

Brad said to Dr. Yarbrough and Deputy Higgins, “We have to leave, and we’re taking Marshall with us.”

There was no time to explain, so Darren sent Deputy Higgins back to the sheriff’s office and Dr. Yarbrough to her office down the hall.  She was already indignantly sputtering her outrage, and the sound of her voice cut off as she vanished.

Brad pulled every awakened member of the Order across the planet into a merge.  He shared with Shan, Sally, and Raph what was happening so they would be aware. Brad withheld the presence of Tag and Olive from Shan for the time being.

**

Darren expanded to encapsulate the entirety of Earth and felt everything happening within himself. It was still an odd feeling he wasn’t used to, but his Gift made it natural.  Everything was a part of him, and his Avatar touched everyone he needed to draw from for their collective power.

Darren took the hospital bed with them to keep Marshall comfortable.  He would return it later.  Aaron and Albrecht merged and connected with the companion who brought the forge to life and empowered the shields protecting the facility.

Ken’s pride in how everyone came together so quickly and seamlessly flowed within them, and his hands were on everyone’s back or shoulder, driving his will and conviction into them.  Locking their Avatars, they became more than the sum of their individual selves, and power filled them to be equal to the task ahead.

Drew’s eyes lit up at seeing Tag and Olive, and he burst into tears as he flung himself into their arms. “Auntie Olive!  Grandpa Tag!  You’re here!” 

The strength of his hug expressed his love, and the old couple cried their own tears.  Tag whispered to him, “That we is, son.  That we is.”

Holding him, Olive said, “My, how you’ve grown! You’re gonna be taller than Henry soon.”

Henry had his arms around the old couple and his son and held one arm out, inviting Eleneth into their reunion. “Tag, Olive, this is Eleneth.  He’s my new son.”

The old couple’s accepting warmth ran through Eleneth, and Tag said, “We watched you too.  You is a brave young man, just like your daddy.  We been proud ‘a you from the get go.”

With their thoughts one, Pat’s understanding of where everyone needed to position themselves was evident.  Three circles, starting with Henry, Drew, Eleneth, Tag, Olive, and Marshall, in the center.  The RL’s formed a ring around them, along with Aaron and Albrecht, and the primary team encircled everyone.

Pat: Drew, call the stone and form the dome as soon as we start.  The shield around the forge should protect you when the imp reacts.  This is going to be tough.  We’ll need every bit of power we can raise to do this.  Marshall, stay calm.

Lane: You’re going to see some major weirdness, but you’re safe.

Ken pushed his conviction into Marshall separately to make him aware of his safety and to have confidence in what they were doing to return him to where he belonged.

Ken winked: You’ll be home soon.  Next time you eat at that restaurant, have an extra plate for us.

Marshall didn’t know what to say or how to respond other than nod acknowledgment at Ken’s words.

Ken: Okay, ladies.  Pat, on your mark.

Drawing on their sources of power, the ten Avatars and seven Gifts brightened.  Surprisingly, Tag and Olive’s eyes turned white along with everyone else’s, and a strength they weren’t aware of added to the flows.

Lane cast his perceptions into Darren in a burst.  Marshall was beside Lane who heard the sound of Marshall’s soul. He then listened for that sound in every incarnation within the infinite multiverse.

Each of the primary team in his own way, through their Avatars and Gifts, felt how wrong the situation was.  How and why they didn’t perceive the danger was still a mystery.  The magnitude of what would happen if the energy opened the temple doors was catastrophic and every bit as bad as Elegroth’s plan.  Worse, because everything would be destroyed with nothing left to replace it.

Drew formed the dome as instructed, and the corner of Ken’s mouth rose.

Ken: That little fucker is gonna fall right into our plan.  Drew, he’s gonna focus on you, and we’ll protect you.

The strain was incredible, and their effort nearly incomprehensible.  Within the special place in their hearts where they were naked, their positions mirrored where they were in the physical realm.  Their naked forms were magnificent as their muscled frames shone with sweat.  Striations and veins showed across their bodies as red fire from their cores channeled oxygen into them to support their monumental effort.

Henry’s eyes sparked with the power of both creations, and he, Eleneth, and Drew put their power into the dome to protect them all.

Loy: Here it comes.  Get ready!

The pressure pounded against the doors like a sledgehammer, but they were prepared and held firm. The seven Gifts grew brighter and linked together as did the thought and memory of each version of Marshall.  Lane tied the music of Marshall’s souls, Ricky enforced the truth of where each version of Marshall should be, and Pat understood the pattern they needed to attain.  Brad used the veil from each reality to perfectly see and view each version of Marshall.  All of their efforts played out within Darren. At this point, Loy’s Gift simply lent his power to the other Gifts.

Exerting his will, Pat generated the same ripples that first intersected and touched Marshall to shift his existence between realities.  The initial ripples were random, caused by weakened areas in the fabric of reality, but Pat’s ripples were intentional and designed with purpose. He understood which reality each version of Marshall belonged to and shifted them back to where they were supposed to be. 

Within the merge, time didn’t move, so his efforts seemed simultaneous.  The Marshall sitting on the hospital bed was now the version that belonged to their reality.

The pressure against the doors increased, yet Drew withstood it.  It touched his existence and was excruciatingly painful.  His hand shook as he gripped the stone, and Henry held him tight, whispering, “You got this, Tiger.  Hold on. I’m with you.”

Eleneth placed his hand on Drew’s head and said, “I am with you, as well, brother.”

Tag said, “You’re doin’ great, sonny. Hold on just a bit longer.”

Olive placed a hand over Drew’s – the one holding the stone – and said, “You got this, my sweet boy.  You’re strong!  Stronger than that imp!”

Their love and words, in addition to the love of his uncles and friends, built a wall around Drew, and his determination never wavered; it solidified.

Ken: Okay, ladies.  Vent that shit, and let’s take the wind outta that little fuckers sails.

Ken winced as soon as his “f-bomb” escaped: Sorry, Olive.

Olive simply smiled at him and responded: Darlin’, I was dead.  Dat’s the least a’ my worries and yours.

Using the openings in each reality where they had shifted the incarnations of Marshall, Pat opened a large portal at the doors, and the pent-up energy the imp was channeling siphoned off across the infinite openings they had created.  The pressure against Drew vanished almost instantly.

They were near the end of their endurance, but they had to completely seal all the opened rifts to prevent the same thing from happening again.  In one final push, their collective might closed the tiny rifts and re-wove the fabric of reality across the multiverse.

In the physical realm, all of them dropped to their knees, shaking in the aftermath of their exertions.  Channeling so much power took its toll, especially for the RL’s who weren’t used to that level of effort.  Albrecht and Aaron moved to immediately check on them and found them exhausted but elated.

***

The evening was quiet.  Lane healed the RL’s of any residual strain, then did the same for all of his brothers. Shan, Sally, and Raph sat speechless over what everyone had done. Shan was linked, but Brad was filtering the excitement over the reunion about to take place.

Once everyone was fed and the kitchen was cleaned and orderly, Ken said, “Shan, I have somethin’ ‘ta tell you.”

Ken’s deep voice sounded serious, and she asked, “Should I send Teesha to her room?”

Ken said, “Naw.  It’s nothin’ bad.”

Lane’s mischievous grin appeared, and he chimed in, “Grab your socks – they’re about to get blown off.”

Shan looked dubious but said, “Okay. So what’s goin’ on?”

Ken couldn’t help his grin and said, “In the middle of everythin’ that happened today, we ran into a couple of old friends.  We didn’t expect it, and it blew us away.  Somethin’ tells me you’re gonna be surprised too.”

Shan said, “The suspense is killin’ me.  Who’d you run into?”

Tag and Olive came into the room behind Shan.  She didn’t see them, but Teesha’s face lit up, and she shouted, “Grammy!  Grampy!”

Shan spun around, her hand flew to her mouth, and her eyes immediately reddened with tears.

She stammered, “Momma? Pappa?  How…?”

Crying, Olive said, “Never you mind, baby girl.  Come give your momma a hug.”

In her haste, Shan stepped over the back of the couch, and the guys chuckled.  The warmth of Shan’s reaction was a balm to their souls.

Tag’s arms went around Olive and Shan, and he kissed the top of his daughter’s head, saying, “I love you, baby.  We’s back. The boyz done brought us back.”

The comfort of her parent’s arms was too much, and Shan sobbed so hard she couldn’t talk.  After learning about her mom and dad, especially their sacrifice to save her new friends from The Master, she realized she had misjudged them terribly and was hobbled by guilt.

An understanding Olive gently stroked Shan’s hair, whispering, “Ain’t no need ‘ta feel that way, sugar. We understand.  All that matters is what we got right here, right now.”

Ken’s throat was tight, but he said, “They’re stayin’ in the apartment next ‘ta yours, at least for now.”

Tag, Olive, Shan, and Teesha went to Shan’s room to get reacquainted.  Ken joined Brad on the couch and quickly kissed his husband before taking his hand.

Ken: Fuck, that was nice ‘ta see.  I missed Tag and Olive so much.

Brad: We all did.

Lane: Yeah, you don’t have the monopoly on that, boss.  You think we didn’t miss them too?

Ken’s eyebrows raised, and he thought: What the fuck?

Loy: It’s not about you or your dick all the time.  Well, okay, maybe it is with Brad, but not the rest of us.

Bryan got up to go to the kitchen but bent over and kissed the top of Ken’s head.

Bryan: I think it’s time for some Velveeta queso.  But this time, you have to share.

Ken: I have to?

Bryan: I’ll make a lot.

Kevin plopped down on the couch and put his feet on Ken’s lap.  He was barefoot, and Ken started rubbing his feet. On the opposite end of the couch, Kevin had his head in Bill's lap, and Bill started massaging his husband's scalp.

Brad rested his head on Ken’s shoulder, snuggling into his body as their banter continued.  The shit talk escalated, then de-escalated, and the pattern continued through the evening.  Resting in each other while they hung shit on one another recharged their souls like little else could.

The boys were still not finished with Dragon Ball-Z and watched a few episodes until bed.  After brushing their teeth, Tommy, Brett, and Drew ran back to give out hugs and kisses.

Brad: Bill?  Kev?  Tommy seems better.  Has something changed?

Bill: Yeah!  I’ve kept it under wraps when we merge because I don’t want to spoil Henry’s surprise.  That needs to happen soon, or the kids are going to bust.

Henry: Damn!  I forgot … when I talked to Drew in that dream, he said he has a surprise for me.

Henry hid from them the fact he knew the surprise because he didn’t want to spoil it for them.

Lane: It’s gonna blow you away, bud.  I can’t wait, either.  Maybe we can do it tomorrow.  I’ll drop a hint to Drew, and we’ll make it happen.

Henry teared up, and his emotional spike alerted everyone in the link:  You know, guys … I haven’t properly thanked you all for how you took care of Drew while I was away.  He told me you made him an official team member and ordered him to sleep with whoever was on duty.  That was huge for him.

Ken teared up and thought: You know we think of Drew as our own.  Tommy and Brett too.  Me and B think of all the kids as “ours” now.  That includes Teesha and AJ.  Hell, even the RL’s, although they’re more like pesky younger brothers.

Brad: Our family just got bigger.  It’s unique because we’re unique.

Darren: Don’t blow your own horn there. Well, you can blow mine if you Pat won’t mind.

Rick: Hey, did any of you ever do that? Give yourself a blowjob?  I try not to look when we merge.

Loy: Oh, God. No, you don’t, you perv.  You share that shit with me all the time to get us going.

Lane: How can you lie like that?  Your Gift is all about truth, and you flat-out lied!

Ricky: Honestly, it hurt.  It hurt so bad Loy needs to make me feel better.  Let’s go look through their memories of who gave themselves the best blowjob to get in the mood.

The shit talk started again, and in less than a minute everyone was crying from laughing so hard.

***

Hours later, in the middle of the night, Drew dreamed.  Granny Wolf was protecting him as always.  While Drew practiced with Tommy and Brett in his dream, her hackles rose, and she sniffed the air.

A scent she could never forget lingered in the area around Drew, and she called her pack.  The imp appeared and hissed at her.

Granny Wolf: Leave this place, vile one.  How you returned, I do not know, but you will not touch him!

Boldly, the imp moved forward and stared at her.  It had no eyes, but two spots, blacker than black, gazed back, sending a chill through her.

The imp: I remember you.  I remember him.  I told him I would kill him as many times as it takes for him never to return.  I have a new ally, more powerful than before.  This time I will not be stopped. I cannot be stopped.

Her pack descended, howling their savage rage to drive him off. The imp fled, but his scent lingered.  She noted he did not flee out of fear but by choice.  Now that she understood the source of its intellect, fear ran through her heart for her young charge.

To be continued...

Posted: 11/11/2022