by Greg Ballan
◆◆◆
Erik was working with a student, helping the young boy execute a side kick, when the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He looked up. A tall, powerful man with sandy blond hair entered the dojo. A shiver went down his spine—the angel. They locked eyes briefly and Erik nodded. He then turned to one of his brown belts. "Kevin, can you take over for me? Timmy needs to work on his side kick, then run the class through some punch and block drills." He pointed toward a young girl on the mat. "Ginny has a test in two weeks. Run her through the first three katas. She missed it the last time, and I'm not going to let her mess up again. I've got some business I need to deal with."
Kevin bowed. Erik returned the gesture. He stepped off the mat and motioned the guest toward him. The closer the man came, the more powerful his non-human presence became. Erik was amazed that none of the parents watching felt or sensed anything as the ethereal soldier walked by them.
"Hybrid, I am here as promised." The visitor’s voice was barely a whisper not the trumpeting baritone blaring in his head last evening. He appeared perfectly human.
Erik nodded, pointing toward a hallway leading back to his office. "Through there. We can talk privately in my office area."
Erik escorted the being into his office where Martin, Shanda, and Alissa were all sitting. EJ was happily playing with his Lego set. The boy looked up and smiled.
"Mommy! It's the flying man! The angel is back!" The boy stood and walked over, impulsively hugging the ethereal being.
The being looked down and gave the boy a warm smile. "It is good to see you safe, young one." He knelt down and seemed to produce a chocolate bar from thin air. He glanced over at Shanda. "May I?"
The stunned mother nodded slightly and the divine being handed EJ the candy. "Young one, I need to speak with your mother and father. Would you allow us to speak privately?"
EJ wrinkled his nose as he opened his candy. "Okay, I guess."
"EJ, why don't you go into Alissa's office and she can read you Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel." Erik looked over at Alissa. "I'm sorry. Do you mind? I'll bring you up to speed after, I promise."
Alissa stood, staring at the visitor in awe. She sensed the divine nature of their guest and nervously ushered EJ out the door. The being nodded at her and she winced, moving quickly.
He looked over at Erik in confusion. "Am I so frightening?"
Erik shrugged. "I'm sorry. It's not every day we're hosting a divine visitor. Alissa has some Esper genetics and is very sensitive to natural and supernatural disturbances." Erik pointed toward the parents of his students. "Not like the other people you walked by, obviously."
Martin stood up, walked over to the office door, closed it, and flipped the lock. He looked over at the divine being. "Okay, EJ and Alissa are gone. Now, if you'll pardon the expression, what the Hell is going on?"
The angelic being's face soured. "I wish I had better news. We have discovered Molec has a soul bounty on your son's life. Lucifer, in discovering this, has done the same and increased the price. Upon learning this, Molec has offered the child's weight in gold to any demon able to kill the boy."
Silence dominated the room. Shanda's mouth hung open in shock. Martin shook his head in disbelief, whispering curses while Erik simply clenched his fist, sighing heavily.
"So, it's open season on my son and every demonic bounty hunter on Earth is looking for the prize." Erik's fist burned fiery blue. "Surely they must know I'm not going to let them have my son. The ugly scene last night must have made that clear."
The ethereal being shook his head sadly. "Lucifer wants the child alive as leverage in our war in hopes of gaining some advantage or possibly as a bargaining chip. Molec, on the other hand, wants the child dead so the second age of man can never happen and the will of Light can never be fulfilled. The boy's death will mean there is no second coming, Mankind will expire after Armageddon and evil will have free reign on this planet."
Martin stood up. "I don't get it." He looked down at Shanda and placed a comforting arm on her shoulder. "If the lad is in danger, why not have your forces protect the boy? You have agents in the government and entities floating around everywhere." He gestured around the room. "How hard can it be to reallocate some forces to protect EJ? If the boy is a divine profit, Armageddon's Son as your prophecy claims, why don't you guys come down from your heavenly cloud bank and do something?"
"It isn't that simple. We cannot interfere directly but we can work through others. Molec has no regard for the rules, hence he can issue a soul bounty. Lucifer is more like a politician. He is smarter and more patient. He planned very well for the acquisition of Earth and executed his strategy of domination for this planet like a master tactician. Molec is more impatient, a blunt instrument of destruction seeking the quick path and instant solution. Molec's goal is to thwart Lucifer and catapult the war for his own end. Molec wants Earth for his prize and killing the child of Light will assure that nothing will ever threaten evil's presence on this world."
Martin shook his head, frustrated. "So you can stand by and do nothing while this Molec character unleashes mayhem on the entire planet and launches an army of demons to kill an innocent boy?"
"What Molec lacks in brilliance he makes up for in cunning and tenacity. The archdemon hides like a slug in the bowels of dark places where our forces on Earth cannot find him. Believe me, we would be well rid of Molec as would Lucifer. As your species says, he is a pain in the ass. Both sides would be pleased to eliminate him."
Erik walked behind Shanda. "I don't understand your rules of engagement, but nothing's going to harm my son."
Shanda reached up and held his hand.
The angel shook his head sadly. "Hybrid, I don't mean to diminish your ability, but the forces of Molec and even Lucifer will keep coming in more and more overwhelming numbers until you are eliminated and the child either killed or taken. Your life is of no consequence to these beings. You are merely an impediment to be overcome." He gestured toward the Sentient Staff concealed beneath Erik's shirt. "Even the power of your Esper weapon combined with your myriad might cannot prevail against such overwhelming odds." The ethereal being folded his arms. "Eventually you will falter."
Erik rubbed the remnants of the bruise on his face and then the scar tissue on his shoulder.
The angel's voice softened. "I get no joy from saying this. Eventually you will lose, whether it be from a massive ambush or a lucky blow, or blast of demonic fire."
Shanda let out a cry and forced her tears back. "There has to be something we can do. I can't just sit around and wait for your doom-filled scenario to play out."
"So the only way to end this is to take out Molec permanently." Erik's eyes began to burn. "If I keep killing his soldiers, he'll have to come face me himself, and then I can end this." He turned toward the angel. "You said I'd be beaten. You must know the truth about me, about my power."
The angel nodded. "I have been informed."
"Then you know what I'm capable of doing. You know there are NO limits to my power, no end. That's the curse I'm carrying. I may not be ethereal, but the powers I do have are beyond my ability to measure. I can't fly across the galaxy or pop in and out like your kind but I can more than defend my son. I won't leave EJ to hunt this demonic prick down. I'll make him come to me. I'll make him rue the day he ever decided to put a price on my son's head."
Shanda gasped. "What! What do you mean no limits?"
Erik looked down at her. "That's my cross to bear, hun. I can harness the energy around me and control the very elements of this world by sheer force of will. When I fully change, the potential is limitless. I've tried to find an end point, but I've been afraid to go beyond a certain threshold for fear of causing irreparable damage. If these demonic beings are looking for a war, I'm more than willing to shake the gates of Hell apart and rain down the corpses of their dead."
Shanda's face went pale. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry, but what could you
have done? I didn't want you worrying. You had enough on your plate with your business and EJ. When I realized what I could do after the Observer Incident at Groom Lake, I did some experiments. The results were nearly catastrophic. After that I decided not to play with fire. I knew there was more power to be harnessed, but the consequences of unleashing it were too risky. I just wanted to be normal. I wanted us to have a normal life, for you and for our son."
"We are aware of your power, hybrid. As strong as you are, the beings you will be fighting also have great power. Use your power, unleashed and unfettered, and hundreds, maybe thousands of lives will be lost during your battles." The angel pointed toward the ruined parking lot. "What if people were in the building last night, or the parking area when you rained down lightning upon your foes? How many would have died? The beings that will come will not hesitate to use their power and you will respond in kind to protect yourself and the child. In your zeal to draw out Molec and destroy his forces, you will endanger and likely kill hundreds of innocent human souls. You believe your power to be without end. I assure you, all power has limits. Even ethereal beings are not all powerful. Only the Father has such might. We too understand the responsibility and the weight of wielding such force, which is why we must tread lightly upon this and other worlds. A full blown Ethereal War would reduce this planet to rubble." The angel paused. "There was another world in this system that had life before mankind or even the Espers were alive. Earth was still in its infancy when we battled for control of that species. Our war erupted into a full scale confrontation between Lucifer's army and the powers of Light. Lucifer was defeated in that first unfettered Ethereal War but the planet was turned to rubble and even to this day the debris serves as a reminder to all what can happen when power goes unchecked."
Martin gasped. "The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter? Good lord, you're saying it was once a planet full of sentient life?"
The angel looked toward Martin, his face solemn. "Billions of souls lost in a war between forces humans could not comprehend. The planet split apart and we still battled over it. The screams of billions of souls crying out at once were drowned in a tidal wave of violence and war." The being placed a hand on Erik's shoulder. "Hybrid, that cannot happen here. That is why we cannot get directly involved. That is why you cannot engage Lucifer and Molec in a war of attrition. The cost of wielding such arcane power will be measured in the lives and blood of the innocent. There is another way. Take your child to Vatican City. The city has God's blessing and protection. The dark ethereal forces cannot violate the holy ground."
"Unless they're wearing black garments." Erik frowned as he considered the angel's words. The divine being was right, though. How many people would have died if the battle he'd fought last night was during peak business hours? What kind of damage would he cause if he unleashed a blow like the one that destroyed the bedrock at Groom Lake? Or if he unleashed a lightning bolt with the power to vaporize a city like he'd done battling during that crisis? The angel made a valid point, a point he should have considered if he wasn't so wrapped up in protection mode.
"We are aware of the Talithum garments and have now taken precautions against such unearthly magics. Your child and your bride will be safe there."
Erik nodded. "Yes, safe, right where the church wants him. Right under their thumb. I don't trust their motives."
"You can guarantee our son's safety?" Shanda stood and approached the tall lean being, her own eyes burning with intensity.
"Shanda…"
"Let him answer!" Her voice cracked like a whip.
"I cannot guarantee there will be no danger. As your husband already knows, there are human forces in the employ of Molec, but demonic entities will not be able to enter and we have more of a presence in the holy city now. Your son will be safer there than anywhere else on this planet."
Shanda looked over at her shocked husband. "Erik, what do you think? Will he be safer there than here with you?"
Erik was dumbfounded, trying to accept the possibility that his son would be safer somewhere other than by his side.
Shanda put her hands on his shoulders and looked up into his eyes. "I know you don't like it. I can read the vibe you're giving off, but this isn't an ego thing. You can't blast this town to ashes." She paused. "Well you can, but you shouldn't. I don't like this any more than you do babe, but if we can hide there and give you a chance to hunt this thing down without having to fight every ghoul that comes out of the woodwork, it's certainly worth talking about." She put her arms around him and lay her head against his shoulder. "It's the only way, Erik. You can't spend the rest of your life fighting and we certainly can't hide from the devil or from God or from this other ghoulish creature."
Erik sighed as he wrapped his arms around her, wishing he could protect his family from the storm beset upon them. "You and EJ will be safer there. We can't live like this. If I can find Molec and recover the cross, this ugliness will be over." Erik gently kissed his wife's cheek. He turned toward the ethereal being. "You're right. Vatican City is the safest place for them right now. I'm trusting you, trusting that your motives are genuine and there's no politics involved." Erik extended his hand and the angel reached forward. They clasped hands. "One other detail, I have a daughter away at school in Paris, she needs protection as well. Can you do that?"
The angel nodded as he shook Erik's hand. "You have my solemn word. It shall be done." The ethereal being reached over and gently touched Shanda's cheek wiping away a tear. "I am sorry for the pain this causes you, Mother. We will protect you and your child. You must be strong for his sake." The being leaned over and gently kissed the top of her head. He stood back and nodded one last time, then simply vanished.
Erik heard a gasp. He looked over. Martin was pale. His jaw dropped open in astonishment. Erik held his wife tight as she wept. Silence hung over the small office as each one struggled with what they'd all witnessed. The phone broke the sullen quiet, ringing endlessly. Erik ignored it, grateful when the ringing ceased.
"We'll survive this, I promise." Erik kissed the top of Shanda's head and inhaled her perfume.
Martin shook his head. "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up from this nightmare."
A knock on the door caused Erik to turn.
"Erik!" Alissa's voice cut through the thin door. "I have a Bishop O'Malley on the phone. He's asking about travel plans to Rome for you, Shanda, and EJ. Are you planning on another trip?"
Erik looked over at the counselor. "Well, they didn't waste any time, did they?"
Martin nodded. "Obviously not. They have as much to lose as you." He frowned. "Don't take this the wrong way, Erik. They actually have more to lose—like an entire planet and every soul inhabiting it."
"I know, Counselor, I know. Hopefully God will forgive me if I just focus on my son, my wife and my daughter for a while. I've saved the world from genetically engineered monsters and from an alien invasion. I think I can be forgiven for just worrying about my family this time around and leave the heavy lifting to someone else."
Shanda sat back in a chair, her face bone white.
"Are you okay, babe?"
"Honestly, no. No I'm not. I feel like my head's going to explode. I was just kissed on the head by an angel and he called me 'Mother'. That feeling, that presence was overwhelming."
Another knock ended their discussion. "Erik, do you want to take this call?"
"I'm sorry, Alissa. Transfer it back over, please then bring EJ here. We need to talk."
◆◆◆
Erik swung the Sentient Staff in a lethal figure eight pattern, whipping the sleek weapon in front of his body as he advanced, cat like, on the dojo mat. He changed his stance and swung the weapon with a blinding quick overhead strike followed by a sweeping semi-circular slice. The air hissed as the staff sliced through empty space. The alien weapon purred with each attack and Erik felt the bond between him and the staff increase. It sensed his moves and at times seemed to guide his hands and arms rather
than be directed. A second set of lights activated, stopping the impromptu training.
"Why on Earth are you still here?" Alissa looked over at EJ sleeping with his stuffed bear on a small couch. "And why is he not home resting in his own bed?" She glanced at her watch. "Good lord, you have to be on a plane in less than nine hours."
The staff returned to its dormant state and Erik sheathed the weapon. "Yeah, I know, Shanda's been pinging telepathically for the last hour. I just needed to get through a few things."
Alissa tilted her head. "What's wrong? I know that doom-filled tone of voice you have right now."
Erik chuckled. "You know me too well. I find being that predictable to somebody annoying as all hell."
The young woman gestured toward the empty observation area. "You'll get over it."
Erik walked over and pulled the blanket up over EJ's shoulders and then sat in a nearby chair. Alissa flopped down heavily next to him.
"I have a bad feeling—that feeling I get when I know something's going to go terribly wrong. I don't know if it's just because I'm overwhelmed with all this and it's a false warning about things I'm already aware of or there's something bigger I'm not seeing and I'll get blindsided as soon as my back is turned."
Alissa nodded. "I honestly don't know what to tell you." She shrugged, wrapping her arms around her torso, trembling. "I've never encountered beings like this. I never really believed in religion, angels, God or even the devil. The sense of power is overwhelming." She looked up at Erik. "You give off a power and a psychic echo like no one on this planet. But through it all I can sense your humanity. What was in here earlier may have looked human but there was nothing human about it, nothing natural. Even the Seelak had a sense of 'physical being' about them. This entity didn't." She looked toward her friend. "I don't know what to say about your premonition. I don't have any insight to give you, Erik. There's no baseline for me to measure against."
