by Mary Andrews
All three Oracles looked toward where Tristen and Ira stood. “She is Chosen. She lives or dies by our command, and now so will he."
Rael glanced over behind the force field where Laynald and Mallory watched intently. He knew that Laynald could read lips and that Mallory's telepathy would help him keep up.
Laynald signaled, “Can't get through to help you. Can you take them?"
Rael looked the Triad over anew. “You know, I'm pretty sure that I could kill all three of you myself,” he told them, “so what's to stop me from doing that?"
The closest stepped forward and smiled. “Try."
Rael's fist shot forward but could not find its mark. A layer of air shimmered between them, stopping him cold.
“You can not even touch us,” the Oracle stated.
“That doesn't really surprise me,” Rael muttered. “So, what do I have to do to get my people out of here alive?"
All three of the Oracles closed their eyes and stood, unmoving, long enough to make Rael nervous. Then their eyes snapped open, and the force fields dropped. “You are free to go."
“That's it? Nothing more?"
“No, you will do what you must, and the future is as it should be. When you need us, remember that anyone of our blood can reach us through this temple. When you return to the command ship you will find all the preparations taken care of. There will be no contention, and the Chosen One is relinquished to your command if you will have her."
“Good, then she is mine now, and you will leave her to me."
“It is done,” the spokesman said, and the Triad turned, stepping quickly up to the altar. With a flash of light, they were gone.
Rael stood staring at where the Oracles had been a moment before. “It is done."
Laynald startled him from his reverie. “Rael, are you all right?"
“I don't know,” Rael answered softly. “I don't know anything, any more. Did you follow what they said?"
Laynald scanned the captain's medical signs with his hand unit. “Maybe we should get back to the Nemesis before dark sets in. Mountaintops do strange things with weather at night here."
Rael looked around for the first time. “Mountain top, huh?” He turned to Ira, who held Tristen in his arms. “Is she all right?"
“Yes,” Ira answered softly.
“And what about you, Ira?"
Ira frowned and shook his head. “I ... could stand some down time. Everything happened so fast, we'll need some time. How ‘bout you?"
“Don't know yet; everything's still spinning in my head too. Why don't all of you get back to the Nemesis?” His temple plates glimmered. “She'll be here in a minute.” As he spoke, the approaching whine of the ship's engines announced the ship's arrival. Rael brought her down not too far from the Cherubim. Her docking bay doors slid open and awaited them. They were a pitiful parade of casualties as they trudged their way back home.
In the shadow of Nemesis, Rael motioned to Tristen and Ira, “Laynald, double check both of them, make sure there are no hidden damages.” He turned to stare at the Cherubim, its sleek silver surface aglow in the twilight.
Laynald paused before entering the ship and looked back to the captain. “This may not be the right time to test your immortality Rael. Why don't you rest up a bit first?"
“You take care of your business, and I'll take care of mine."
Laynald turned away and spoke quietly to Mallory as he passed. “Stay here at the door and watch. Call me if I'm needed.” He frowned and shaking his head, followed Ira into the ship to take care of Tristen.
“So what now, Commander Pointe?” Mallory asked from the gangplank. He followed Rael's gaze to the Cherubim's still open bay door. “What do you think Harbringer's scary guards are doing in there?"
“Well, according to the little guys in the temple, they're waiting for my orders, so let's just check that out.” His temple plates flickered. “Nemesis com: Hail the ship."
Mallory watched Rael's temples flickering again to the ship's inaudible response; he wondered if he should call Laynald back yet. The commander was obviously upset and being reckless.
“All hands off ship. Report outside for my inspection. Commander Pointe, Nemesis out."
Mallory watched in amazement as the ship's complement filed out of the other vessel and fell into line before Rael. He hit the internal com switch by the door. “Laynald you might want to be here just now, and if you have a spare weapon, I'd appreciate it."
Rael waited until they all seemed to be there. “Who is in command here?"
You are, Overlord.
Their telepathic response almost bowled him over. He stepped back at its onslaught. “You are all telepathic?"
Yes, Overlord.
“All right, give me one man to speak for you. Who is your ranking officer?"
From their midst, a familiar young man stepped forth. Ira recognized him immediately. It was Gabriel.
He spoke with a golden tenor voice and a kind disarming smile. “I am Gabriel, Overlord, I speak for the Archangels."
“Hmm.” Rael looked down the line of Harbringer's elite guard. They dressed in the same executive fashion with their long, fine. platinum hair tied back at their necks. They had strong features, tall and muscular builds and steel blue eyes. Given wings, any of these guys could've passed for an Archangel or any other such contrivance they chose. That Harbringer had delusions of godhood did not seem so strange, all things considered, but that he had fostered the illusion to such an extent bothered Rael. “Well Gabriel, what do we do now?"
“We are in transition, Overlord. We have been assigned to your service. All doors are now open to you. As your corporate protectorates, we await your orders."
Rael sighed and shook his head, “Of course.” He stepped away from Gabriel and looked back to the Nemesis where Laynald had joined Mallory watching from the ramp.
“Laynald!” he shouted. “Did you hear, I've inherited my very own guardian angels?” He turned back again to the others. “Where did he get you guys from, Gabriel?"
“We were engineered to his specifications. We serve you now, Overlord."
Rael shook his head and walked away toward the Nemesis, “This day just gets longer and longer,” he mumbled. “I'm leaving now,” he called back over his shoulder to them.
Laynald met him half way. “Rael, are you all right? You don't look well."
“No. This stuff is making me crazy, and my head is killing me.” He waved back at the Archangels. “They're calling me ‘Overlord’ now. Could you handle that for me?"
He headed straight for the Nemesis, past Mallory and into the ship without so much as a backward glance.
Gabriel stepped forward to follow. Laynald blocked his path. “You heard him; he needs some time."
“No, he needs my help. His mind is unbalanced, his emotions rupturing; he does not understand what is happening."
“We will help him now. He has ordered it.” Laynald squared off against him.
Gabriel paused, looking beyond him to the Nemesis, where Mallory stood with a weapon at ready. He needs my help, he broadcasted to Mallory.
Not yet, Mallory thought back to him. You will cause irreparable damage if you press him. These are his people; be patient.
“Why don't you attend to your dead and leave Rael to us for now?” Laynald suggested.
Gabriel nodded and turned back to the Cherubim. The others silently fell in with him, and they left Laynald standing alone on the tarmac.
“Well, that went pretty well, all things considered,” Laynald finally said. “Guess I better get back to sickbay and see how everybody is holding up.” He paused when he reached Mallory. “That's a nasty looking cut on your head. Care to join me and the walking wounded?"
“Won't someone need to stand guard or something?"
Laynald smiled. “We have our own way of handling these things, don't worry. Come on, let's go. The sooner I can get everyone back into shape the better I'll feel."
* * *<
br />
CHAPTER 16
Rael sat in the darkness, totally mesmerized by the visage of Harbringer's ship looming on the main view screen. Ira, stepping up beside him, stared at the screen as well but silently exuded a soft, soothing calm to quiet each erratic upheaval of the captain's emotions. He'd never seen Rael so out of control.
In the falling twilight, they watched as the ship's cargo bay doors opened. A procession of Harbringer's seven Archangels, this time dressed in flowing white robes, ceremoniously carried his body from the ship toward the Oracle's Temple.
Laynald spoke up from the doorway. “Shouldn't we stop them Rael? The Oracles are dangerous."
Rael shook his head. “No, leave them to their business. It will keep them out of mine ... at least for the moment."
They placed Harbringer's body upon the raised dais where the Oracles had appeared earlier, then stepped away and respectfully genuflected. With a sudden flash of light, it disappeared. The elite guard rose and filed from the temple. At the foot of its steps, they fell into line and in unison turned in all their splendor to face the Nemesis.
“Now, what the hell am I suppose to do with them?” Rael moaned.
Gabriel stepped forward, away from the group, looking directly at him on the view screen.
Rael felt a chill run through him.
Tristen joined them on the darkened bridge and leaned heavily against Ira beside the captain's chair. He's calling to you, sir. I can hear him.
“Oh yeah? Hope it's giving him a head ache."
It is, sir. You're broadcasting an enormous amount of discord, despite Ira's dampening.
“I could help you more with that, if you want me to,” Ira added.
Rael grimaced. “Guess nobody likes an unruly puppet, huh, not even his friends?"
No one answered.
In the silence, Rael calmed down. Finally, he turned to Laynald. “What am I going to do?” he asked, motioning to the screen. He started to pace as he spoke. “You know, that bastard Harbringer gave me life, then interfered in every aspect of it. He admitted to killing both Mahata and my birth mother ... no apologies ... we were all irrelevant to him.” He stopped and glared at the screen and then again at everybody watching him. “I'm sorry. Maybe I just need to be alone to sort this all out. Everything's such a jumble now."
No.
“No?” He turned toward Tristen in surprise.
No. You are not informed yet. You cannot make a decision like this. You must meet with Gabriel. He needs to flash transfer his corporate memory to you. So that you can know all detailed data as if you had been there from the start. She paused to gauge his reaction. As he started to shake his head, she pleaded, Neither of you will be at peace until this is done. He has been compelled by Harbringer to do this at all cost. This is your inheritance, and you will not rest until you choose a path to or from it.
“I have a choice?"
Rael's anger flared through her from Ira. Of course you do.
“Ha, some choice, my freedom is a death sentence for you and Ira!"
And the Archangels—they are bound to your command now. They cannot be reprogrammed. If you do not want their service, you have but to order them to terminate. So you do have options, but not until you accept the transfer.
Rael looked back to the screen where Gabriel still stood, unmoving, with his team, frozen, statue-like, in the evening light. The mountain breeze whipping their hair and robes in an eerie fashion as they awaited his commands, oblivious to all else.
Rael's temple plates flickered. The screen zoomed in on the images of the Archangels. One by one, he examined each man up close. Their faces were strong, flawless, unflinching, each with cold steel gray eyes and long, untethered platinum hair. Only Gabriel with his slender build, fine features, and gentle, sad expression betrayed any sign of humanity.
Rael smiled. “He is the keeper of my cosmic conscience, isn't he? All right, send him in.” Gabriel was already moving away from the others toward the Nemesis. Rael turned to face Tristen. “You look tired. Are you all right?"
It's been a hard day. She attempted a smile for him.
“That it has.” He looked past her to Ira. “Escort Gabriel to the bridge. I doubt he needs any help, but I'd like to resume the illusion of control over my life."
“You better hurry,” Laynald added from his station. “He's already approaching the bay door."
Ira left the room.
“Ah, my old friend ... and my new one,” he smiled at Tristen, “Harbringer has turned out to be one hell of an architect after all, hasn't he? Do you know that, I guess as part of his great plan, he saw to it that I could not even experience emotions normally? My feelings, whenever I have any, surge and dissipate instantaneously. I mourn in minutes ... then nothing. I suppose I've been driving poor Ira crazy these last few days.” He looked away toward the screen again and retook his seat. “I always assumed that it was a side effect of the link, but now I'm thinking it was intentional. And lo and behold, right at the top of my corporate staff, as my protectorate, my right hand man, he places an extraordinary empath ... someone to feel for me, to be aware of the things I cannot fathom. How very ... efficient."
Laynald did not like what he was hearing in Rael's voice: an impending panic rising. It just might take two empaths to reel him back.
Tristen stood intently listening. He is so ... lost.
“Don't you see,” he was saying, “everything in my life has been orchestrated. Was it really coincidental that I found Ira on that planet and that most normal telepaths cannot abide my presence? Tristen, does this still seem like such an honor to you?"
She answered without pause. Yes. It keeps my world safe and prosperous, and perhaps the universal good is best served by the likes of us. It is what we were all born to do. To have such a noble purpose, how could we not be honored?
Rael stared over at her for a long while, then turned to Laynald. “You know, I'm willing to bet that you are the only unplanned piece in this whole puzzle. When I found you, I had been sent to enlist a sorcerer from your world."
Laynald smiled sadly. “Folata would have served you well. He was an extraordinary man. However, I am what you got. Rael, we are friends, and I think that perhaps you should now consider, that despite all the manipulations, it is you who will soon be calling the shots. You have just inherited a corporate empire as large and as powerful as the Universal Government itself. So logically Harbringer's attention would next focus on a means to merge the two together. It's not a coincidence that you have been so well groomed to do this. It is you who will now control the destinies of others ... even if you choose to walk away."
Rael dropped into the command seat, this time focusing on the night sky on the view screen. It was a beautiful mountaintop panorama, icy blue structures, the ship and a sky full of stars. “I feel strange, Laynald ... unsettled. I wish Ira would hurry up and return. Maybe he could identify this ... this feeling."
“How do you know that Gabriel is an empath?” Laynald asked suddenly.
Rael paused to think and then turned to Tristen. “How did I know?"
Tristen did not answer, but Gabriel spoke up from the doorway. “I can answer that for you, Overlord.” He crossed the room, oblivious to the stares of the others, until he stood before the captain. “I am genetically designed to serve you. On some unconscious level, you recognize this.” He paused to allow for Rael's response. When none came, he continued. “I am your corporate commander-in-chief. I am in continuous contact with all of the Angels, Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim. I am your intercom, your sword and your servant. To the corners of the universe, wherever any one of us is, we can converse instantaneously. So large is your domain that normal communications are not enough. I am a nexus point to your heralds.” Gabriel looked deeply into Rael's eyes. “Overlord, unless you permit me to link you to us, you can no longer be complete. That is what you are feeling now—the need to join. Like-unto-like. Please, permit the bond, and you will know all immediately.
Then, and only then, can you choose how to proceed. We live and die by your will, but to be so severed from you is painful to us all. Show mercy, Overlord.” He extended his hand as if to offer a handshake.
Rael hesitated, then reached out and took it. Both men stiffened, remaining motionless for what seemed an eternity.
Ira gasped as he felt the room fill with invisible presences. He sensed a great order snap into place and then a brief chorus of contentment. He stepped back in awe.
Tristen smiled.
Gabriel backed away and dropped to one knee before Rael. “What are your orders, Overlord?"
Rael, more composed now, looked around the room from person to person and then turned to face Laynald. “Where is Mallory?"
Laynald felt a moment of relief.
“I locked him in the commons room,” Ira answered flatly from the doorway.
“Good choice,” Laynald laughed. “So what's next on the agenda?"
“Well,” Rael motioned for Gabriel to stand. “The way I see it, I have just become embarrassingly wealthy ... and powerful. You all wanna come along? Looks like I may be forming a new Gov agency too. I haven't decided yet, but Laynald, I could use your help. In fact, I'd like to keep the whole team together, but I want each of you to give this some thought. I'm going to declare this team freelancers in service of the Gov. That will allow us the right to accept or refuse assignments. We've served long enough to do this, anyway, but now it will give me time to get us established. Oh, by the way, you are all already on my payroll.” He glanced at Gabriel, who nodded. “Gabriel will provide you with the necessary documentation for access to your new accounts. I expect you to want for nothing. You've already earned it, and besides, you are the only family I have left. But nobody has to stay."
He assessed each of their bewildered faces, stopping at Tristen's. “I mean that. No matter where you go, you will always be accessible to me now, so your duty is still served no matter where you choose to be. You are a free agent."
Laynald laughed and looked over to Ira. “Got anywhere to go, kid?"
Ira shook his head. “Nope."
“How about you, Tristen?"
