Celestial Crisis

by Leo E. Ndelle

  “You also made mention that this project will also serve as a preventive measure, if it is successful. Am I correct?” Mulok asked.

  “Yes you are, father,” Lunok replied. “And I strongly believe that the solution for any of our Shemsu comrades who may have become polarized at various degrees lies in whatever I will discover when I fall.”

  There was a moment of silence before The Council members started discussing amongst themselves. Lunok waited patiently for them to finish their discussion. He was unsure if he had succeeded in convincing them about Project Falling. Finally, The Council members leaned back in their seats and it was Salok who spoke.

  “What are you asking of us then, child?” she asked.

  “Your blessing,” Lunok replied.

  He saw Collok nod visibly and Mulok smile slightly, but Salok remained expressionless. Lunok’s heart sank.

  “You ask for our blessing as you journey into an unknown that promises so little, with nothing but hope and an unwavering faith, child,” Salok said. “I am most inclined to deny your request but at the same time, I cannot overlook your courage, sacrifice and selflessness. Even if you do not succeed, your endeavors will be brandished on the public database for every Shemsu to see. And so, in the name of all the Shemsus in the Realm of Atlantia and beyond, we of The Council grant you our blessing!”

  Lunok could barely contain his happiness and thanked The Council.

  “Please let us know when you are ready to ‘fall’, as you are so inclined to describe the process, child,” Salok added, smiling. “I, for one, would certainly not want to miss the opportunity to witness such a great event in our existential moment!”

  Collok and Mulok chimed in their agreement.

  “Of course,” Lunok promised. “I would fall now, but I have to take care of something.”

  “Take care of something?” Collok was curious.

  “Yes, father,” Lunok replied. “A quick stop by a lower realm, first.”

  “Oh,” Collok remarked. “As you wish child. After all, it is your project and initiative?”

  “Thank you, father,” Lunok replied. “Now, if it pleases The Council.”

  “You are dismissed, child,” Salok agreed. “And go with our blessing.”

  “Thank you, mother,” Lunok replied. “I hope I am successful because I will really need a guardian angel when I fall.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  PIT STOP: CELESTIA

  URIEL RETIRED EARLIER than planned. She had some things to take care of; things which eluded her for the moment. Repeated combat training was becoming boring. There had to be more to an angel, well archangel, than combat training alone. Some archangels and newly-spawned angels had already been given assignments in lower realms as a test run. For now, Michael was the only overseer of this test run.

  Uriel threw herself face first on the bed she summoned from the floor. What a great feeling it was! She lay there for a moment, unmoving and uncaring about everything. But as Uriel relaxed on the bed, her mind was loaded with thoughts of Michael. They were thoughts of foreboding and she was not unsure yet why she had these thoughts about Michael. The same feeling extended to Luciel. But why? Why these feelings for these two? She was neither jealous nor resentful of these two and their relationship.

  “I knew my instincts about you were on point,” Lunok said calmly.

  Uriel bolted upright from her bed, startled but not afraid of the unexpected visitor. When she saw that it was Lunok, she relaxed her shoulders and slumped back on her bed.

  “Nice way to make an entrance,” Uriel said staring blankly at the ceiling.

  “Forgive my manners, but I had to be discreet,” Lunok apologized.

  Uriel sat up and studied Lunok. This is not a friendly visit, she thought. Uriel nodded and gestured towards the space in front of Lunok. Lunok summoned two chairs and Uriel slid off her bed to join him.

  “I’m here because I’m about to start working on something very important and I need your help,” Lunok began.

  “As you wish, Lunok,” Uriel replied with excitement.

  “But I did not even tell you what I am working on,” Lunok said.

  “You’ll tell me eventually, won’t you?” Uriel asked. “Besides, I’m dying for some action. Constant combat training can be exciting for only so long.”

  “Of course, I will,” Lunok said. “But I’m afraid I must ask, is there anything else that, uh, motivates you to want to work with me so badly?”

  Uriel understood Lunok’s concern. The Shemsus spawned them and though the Shemsus had already given them their independence, the Shemsus still felt responsible for their welfare and wellbeing, until further notice.

  “Nothing, Lunok,” Uriel replied. “I feel like I could be doing a lot more than just training and sparring. That’s all. Besides, you’re our makers and I trust you.”

  She flashed a grin that was as genuine as it was cute. Lunok smiled.

  “Very well,” Lunok said. “I must say I am impressed with your attitude, Uriel. You are one fascinating angel.”

  “Archangel,” Uriel corrected.

  “My apologies. Archangel,” Lunok said with a slight smile.

  “Apology accepted,” Uriel smiled and rolled her eyes. “Speaking of makers, how’s Emok faring? There’s something… off about him.”

  “How do you mean?” Lunok asked, faking ignorance.

  “I don’t know,” Uriel replied. ‘It was more like the way his persona felt. He was different from the rest of you.”

  Lunok nodded slowly.

  “As perceptive as you are wise, child,” Lunok said. “Emok is the reason I’m here to see you. I will share certain details with you for now, but eventually I may need more than just your help, please. I may need your counsel as well.”

  “Lunok…” Uriel stammered. “I… I uh… I don’t know what to say!”

  “No need to say anything, child,” Lunok said.

  “I must ask, though,” Uriel said, her excitement returning. “Why me and not Michael? I mean, he’s out leader, right?”

  “Because Michael is part of the project-” Lunok said.

  “And so is Luciel,” Uriel completed Lunok’s sentence.

  Now it was Lunok’s turn to be surprised, pleasantly.

  “How did you know?” Lunok asked.

  “Just a gut feeling, Lunok,” Uriel replied innocently. “Something about them keeps gnawing in the pit of my core. I don’t know what it is and I wanted to do some investigating, privately of course. But I didn’t know what to look for and how to look for it.”

  “I will fill you in later,” Lunok said. “Here is what I would like you to do for me. I would like you to be my guardian angel.”

  Uriel’s jaw dropped. What in the name of Celestia was Lunok asking of her? This must be either a mistake or a test. How could Lunok ask this of her? He was a being from a dimension much higher than hers was. She was an archangel, designed for protection, designed to be a guardian to certain creatures in lower realms. But why would a Shemsu need protection from an angel, or archangel? Nothing made sense. So this must be a test. But a test for what? Or was Lunok also… off-center… like Emok was? Was this a new trend with the Shemsus? She banished those last thoughts from her mind. Lunok did not radiate the same kind of aura that Emok radiated. Besides, her gut feeling indicated Lunok was still Lunok. Lunok observed Uriel patiently.

  Lunok listened to her thoughts and read the changes in her aura. It was an invasion of her privacy, but her privacy was the least of Lunok’s concerns. There were much bigger things at stake here and if he was going to entrust his future being in the hands of an angel, then he had better exercise every bit of due diligence there was to exercise.

  Uriel jerked her head and met Lunok’s gaze as it hit her.

  “You’re going to live in a lower realm, aren’t you?” Uriel asked.

  Lunok nodded.

  “By Celestia!” Uriel exclaimed at the sheer possibility of the situation. “Are you rea
lly? But how, Lunok? How will you live in a lower realm as a Shemsu? I mean, the only way I can see you now is because you want me to. You resonate with our frequency. Still, you’re a Shemsu because your essence is unchanged!”

  Uriel stood up and began pacing. Lunok watched with patience and pride.

  “But you’re not just going to be resonating with these creatures,” Uriel said to herself. “If you did, you wouldn’t be asking me to be your guardian because you wouldn’t need one. You’re actually going to live among them as one of them!”

  Uriel’s eyes bulged with raw excitement. She rushed towards Lunok and knelt in front of him.

  “You’re going to BECOME one of these creatures!” Uriel exclaimed with a level of excitement that Lunok had never seen before. “You’re going to forget who you are! That’s why you’re going to need me to watch over you!”

  Uriel leaped and clapped her hands in excitement. Lunok grinned.

  “By Celestia!” Uriel beamed. “This is going to be so much fun! I can’t wait!”

  And then she paused and became pensive.

  “But… how?” she asked. “How will you accomplish this… feat?”

  “And you are far wiser than you believe you are,” Lunok complimented. “It is called ‘falling’; the act of existing in a dimension lower than yours while you forget who you really are. Amnesia about who one originally is will most likely be a side-effect of falling.”

  Lunok leaned forward in his chair and waved at Uriel’s empty chair. Uriel sat down. She noticed the change in Lunok’s demeanor. It was the moment to get serious about something as serious as falling.

  “I will tell you more about falling later,” Lunok said. “For now, falling is a theory I am about to experiment on. I will also tell you more about my mission later. But you must not, and I mean MUST NOT, under any circumstance share this with anyone. And I mean ANYONE. Is that understood?”

  “I understand, and I swear to you, upon my existence, that I will not share with anyone,” Uriel promised.

  Lunok gave Uriel a compendium of Emok’s situation, including the stunt Emok almost pulled in Celestia, to Emok facing The Council and subsequent incarceration. The darkness… it terrified Uriel and Uriel feared for Michael and Luciel. They too were infected, albeit with a much milder aspect of this entity. Still, there was no telling what this entity could do to them, and to Celestia as a whole, if either or both Michael or Luciel became taken over by this entity. This piece of information about this entity was as enlightening as it was frightening.

  “For now, there is nothing you can do,” Lunok said. “Michael and Luciel are only tainted. They’re nowhere near as infected as Emok was. My hope is that, if I can find a way to beat this darkness, then I can find a solution for polarization that would be both curative and preventative.”

  “It’s really risky, Lunok,” Uriel said weakly.

  “I know, child,” Lunok said and took Uriel’s hand.

  He could sense her concern and fear for him. Falling was uncharted terrain.

  “Do not burden your mind about me,” Lunok said.

  “But how can’t I?” Uriel asked. “You’re my maker and I like you a lot.”

  “And I love you too, my child,” Lunok said and patted Uriel on the cheek.

  Uriel summoned her wings and flapped them twice. She still had to get used to this new aspect of hers. Apparently, it was a trait shared by every archangel. The younglings still had their wings at every moment.

  “I need you to keep that sharp mind of yours focused on the task” Lunok continued. “When I fall, I will need you to keep an eye on Michael and Luciel.”

  Uriel nodded and met his gaze. Lunok saw the sadness in her eyes and gave her an encouraging smile.

  “You are only to observe and remember, no one else must know about your special assignment,” Lunok added. “Do not, I repeat do NOT, engage either of them regarding anything related to Project Falling. I will expect a full report when I return from my fall.”

  “You’re so confident,” Uriel interjected.

  “Because I will have the best angel, sorry archangel, watching over me.”

  Uriel smiled.

  “Speaking of watching over you, I’ll have to find a way to hide that from our supreme leader,” Uriel said. “Anyway, I’ll worry about that later.”

  Lunok nodded and shifted forward in his seat.

  “Give me your palm,” Lunok said and Uriel obliged with her right palm.

  Lunok opened his right palm and many threads of white light began forming a sphere over his palm. Then, the sphere shrank into a very tiny sphere on his right palm. He then reached out and took Uriel’s hand in his. Uriel felt energy surge through her and beams of light shot out from her eyes, ears, nose and mouth as she arched her head backwards. The surge in energy was over as quickly as it began, but Uriel felt different after that.

  “I just gave you a part of my Shemsu essence,” Lunok explained. “You can use it to track me wherever I am when I fall.”

  Uriel nodded and swayed under the Shemsu energy surge through her being.

  “So that means if anyone wants to look for Emok, they just have to tap into his essence through Michael or Luciel,” Uriel said.

  “All the more reason why this stays between you and me,” Lunok reiterated. “I must go now, my child,” Lunok said standing up. “I will let you know when I am about to fall.”

  Uriel wanted to say something but the words died in her mouth. She was as excited as she was worried for Lunok. So instead, she held Lunok in a very tight hug. Lunok kissed the crown of her head and returned her hug.

  “Good bye, child,” Lunok said. “I will see you around.”

  And then, Lunok teleported away.

  ***

  Lunok returned to Atlantia and informed his team and The Council he was ready for his fall. However, he did not reveal the realm to which he would fall ‘to preserve the integrity of his research’. At least, that was his excuse. His team and The Council gathered to witness this momentous occasion. This was history in the making. If Lunok succeeded, he would be the first Shemsu and maybe even the very first creature in Creation to ever have ‘fallen’, at least voluntarily.

  “How do you feel, brother?” Izok asked.

  “Not sure,” Lunok replied in earnest.

  “Look at you! Making waves!” Hikok exclaimed.

  “I’ve never seen The Council this excited before,” Obok teased.

  “I’ve never seen The Council! Period!” Mashok said.

  The rest of the team turned towards her in surprise. Mashok shrugged.

  “Just saying,” Mashok added.

  “See? You all even got them to smile,” Lunok said.

  The Council tried to maintain a poker face but failed woefully. The team was even more excited now that they had achieved something that few Shemsus had ever achieved.

  “Go with our blessings, child” Salok said.

  “And be successful,” Collok said.

  “We would love to assist you in every way, but we will respect your wishes and not interfere,” Mulok added.

  “And the same goes for you all,” Salok issued a stern warning to the team. “I believe Lunok has already made this wish known to you all?”

  “Yes, mother,” Team LOHIM chorused.

  Lunok bid everyone farewell and walked toward the edge of the dimension. It was not a physical edge per se; more like the edge of the vibrational frequency of the dimension. When Lunok reached the edge, he stopped. He could feel the eyes of The Council and his team on his back as they burned with excitement and anticipation of the unknown. This is it! Lunok thought.

  Lunok heaved his shoulders and waited. He wanted to turn around and say he had changed his mind but the thought disappeared as quickly as it formed in his head. Lunok closed his eyes and was ready to fall. But nothing happened! He tried again but nothing happened. Panic set in and he felt trapped between the possibility of failure and the mounting anticipation of his Shemsu co
mpatriots. Lunok did not know what to do. Panic morphed into desperation. And in that moment of desperation, he did the last thing he ever expected.

  “Mother,” Lunok pleaded silently. “Please, I beg of you, help me!”

  He closed his eyes and waited, knowing that the chances of Mother coming to his rescue was slim to none. Mother had more important things to do. Lunok waited and waited. Nothing happened. I have failed, he thought. There was only one thing left to do; Lunok had to face his fellow Shemsu compatriots and give them the very disappointing news. He had been so hopeful and yet, that hope had turned out to be utterly false.

  “Fall…” a voice said to him.

  Lunok paused in mid-turn and dared not move. Was his mind playing tricks on him or did he hear a voice?

  “Fall…” the voice said again.

  Lunok could barely contain himself. He continued to turn around till he faced The Council and his teammates, grinning from uncontrollable elation and a sense of victory. It was his first encounter with Mother. Mother had heard him and Mother had come to his aide! This was an indication that even Mother had bestowed her blessings upon his endeavors. There was no way he was going to fail; for Emok’s sake and for the rest of Creation’s sake, he, Lunok, would not fail in this mission!

  “Fall…” the voice said for the third time.

  Lunok waved at The Council and his teammates, closed his eyes, spread his arms outwards and fell.

  ***

  The baby squealed as it inhaled its first gulp of air after exiting his mother’s womb. The midwife took hold of the fragile, squealing infant and handed him to his mother. His mother kissed and cradled her baby against her bosom as the baby’s father kissed both his wife’s and newborn son’s head many times. The baby’s cries were the best music his parents had ever heard. The doctor cut the boy’s umbilical cord and the house was full of joy for the arrival of the child. A moment later, the midwife took the baby from the mother to give him a bath as the baby’s father made countless promises he might never keep to his wife for doing such a magnificent job. Not that it mattered, anyway. Mother and father were the happiest people in the realm.