Part 4: The Trial
Michael was escorted back to the Council chambers, and told to rest. He
did not comment on not being permitted back into the Groves to his own tent,
and his escort did not comment on his withdrawn manner.
If the guards at the door heard the sounds of the Archangel weeping some
time later, they did not acknowledge it.
Some hours later, a knock sounded on the door, although it opened without
waiting for an acknowledgment. Dominic stepped in, cloak rustling behind him.
"The Council is meeting, your presence is required."
Michael sighed. "So you can decide what is to be done to me?"
"That is the primary reason, yes."
The two Seraphim made their way to the central chamber, Michael
straightening up on the way. He was not defeated, not yet.
On the way, they passed a pair of Elohim apparently arguing.
"It is logical, if we work together to finish this project, we can do it.
Alone, neither of us could," said the first.
"This is true, however, I do not feel that I can turn you loose in that
lab yet. Now come along, we have a meeting to attend." The second nodded to
the Seraphim as they passed. "Michael."
"Jean," he answered, keeping up with Dominic. His senses itched for his
axe, but he knew better than to come armed into the Council chambers after what
he had done. He still wanted it, regardless of the consequences. Perhaps, he
thought, that is part of the problem.
The chamber was packed quite full, although Michael's eyes were drawn to
the empty spaces usually occupied by Gabriel and Soldekai, Litheroy, Marc, and
Jordi. He settled in next to Doxas, leaned over to her.
"Where are Soldekai and Jordi?" he murmured.
"Soldekai is grieving, Jordi has gone to Earth to try to save what's
left."
Michael was puzzled. "What's left?"
"When Gabriel and Belial fought, they did it on Earth. It set off all of
the active volcanoes there, and some thought dormant. A significant amount was
destroyed, the rest in danger from the aftereffects. You'll notice how
distracted Novalis is, she's divided herself and is attending to Earth as
well. They had to nearly drag Eli back here for this gathering."
Michael heaved a deep sigh. "I suppose asking why they're bothering with
this while the battles still exist is pointless?"
"We have. Repeatedly. The majority assure that everything is in hand."
"And why are you here, instead of out fighting?"
Doxas cracked a smile at him. "Because you need allies right now, the
battles can wait."
Dominic took his place at the central podium, his since he had called the
gathering. His gaze silenced the many hushed conversations rippling around the
chambers. "By now, you all know what happened to Michael and his servitors
after the destruction of Baal," he began. "This gathering has been called so
that we may decide what action to take to answer for this tragedy."
Laurence was the first on his feet to speak. "We may have won the day,
but the War continues. My are holding for now, but we cannot press forward
without the aid of the angels of War. The Word must continue."
David rose as well. "I agree," he said simply.
Jean rose after the two Malakim had retaken their seats. "The Word must
continue, yes. However, we must consider whom shall hold it. The possibility
exists that its current bearer is no longer fit."
Michael's breath caught in his throat. He knew the possibility was indeed
there. It was one of his greatest fears.
The arguments raged back and forth for hours, his supporters against those
who wished the Word stripped from him. Dominic offered no opinion, simply
presiding over the debate and calming it down when words became to heated.
Then they started bringing forward witnesses. Laurence and David, the
angels he had wounded. Those who wanted Michael stripped tried to warp the
words in their favor. The argument drifted away, to the topic of who would
replace him if the Word was stripped.
"No," Doxas said emphatically when her name was brought up. "I already
have a Word, I will not replace Michael if it comes to that."
Someone pointed out that if the Council decided to choose her, she would
be unable to refuse. "You only say that because no-one has ever refused a Word
before. I will not make the exchange."
The chambers erupted in shouts. Doxas calmly sat down. Michael tuned the
sounds out, sunk into his own thoughts, analyzing. Matters seemed to be out of
his hands, the Council would eventually reach their decision, and he knew he
could not sway them with his own arguments for keeping his Word. He was
beginning to doubt them himself. He considered several possibilities, let the
Symphony tell him which were most likely, which were True. Several items stuck
in his mind, pushing him closer to his own decision.
He looked across the hall, searching out Yves. That enigmatic being
looked the same as ever, a small smile on his lips as he heard things no others
could. His eyes were on Michael already. 'The choice is yours,' Yves' voice
echoed in his mind, answering a question Michael hadn't realized he was asking.
He knew that there was still one chance, something he could do. A final
chance for victory.
Part 5: The Choice
Michael rose to address the Council, waiting patiently for the
arguments to quiet down. As he waited, he scanned to knot of his loyal
servitors who had been called in, mostly Masters, including those he had
wounded.
The voices fell silent as every eye in the chamber fell on him. He
felt the weight, especially from Dominic's surplus eyes. The battle was
at its peak.
"This has gone on long enough," he stated, his voice echoing in the
suddenly silent room. "There is something else you have all forgotten."
The gathered beings waited silently for him to continue. "The Word
of War must be always ready to stride into battle with our enemies, no
matter what they be. This requires confidence, the unfaltering belief
that what one does is the right thing, is the will of God." His eyes
locked onto Dominic. "You once accused me of Pride and Hubris, when you
saw this confidence. God pardoned me then, and I forgive you now."
The phrase rang from the walls with the Truth of his words.
Dominic seemed to shrink, just a tiny bit.
"However, I have seen the results of my own rage. I have seen the
dead, the wounded, and the ones in Trauma. The ones who shrink back
from my presence in fear. I realize now that I no longer have that
necessary confidence. I realize now that I..."
He paused, steeling himself to finish what he had started. "I
realize that I am no longer fit or worthy to bear the Word of War."
The chamber erupted in shouts, both support and dismay. Michael
remained standing, regarding it all with the calmness of a warrior at
peace with himself. Dominic nearly put his gavel through the podium
trying to restore order.
When things finally calmed down, Michael looked around the chambers
again. Most of his servitors and supporters were watching him with mute
shock.
"I also do not feel it is fitting for me to choose the one who must
now bear that burden. Some would accuse that one of being my puppet, my
figurehead. However, my servitors and I would suspect the same of
anyone the Council chooses.
"Therefore, I will let the Symphony choose. I relinquish my Word
and my status as Archangel, I release the power to the Symphony, that
another may be chosen. Let the will of God be known."
As he finished the words, a pure white light seemed to seep from
his body. The Symphony rang out, joy and agony at once as the Word and
its Forces bled from his form, flowing into a gleaming ball of energy
floating over his head. "Let it be so," he whispered, echoed by Eli
across the room.
The ball of light paused, rotated, then dove down into the mass of
Warriors gathered in the chambers. The crowd parted, angels bending
knee to the one the Symphony had chosen. Doxas caught Michael as he
swayed from the sudden loss of himself, held him upright long enough to
see the coppery auburn Seraph now surrounded by the light and looking
more shocked than the rest. The Seraph he had healed, the one who had
done her best to stop his rage, Áinel.
And Eli spoke, saying, "Let it be so."
Immediately after her surprising ascension, Áinel gained and
granted the same attunements and distinctions as Michael had. However,
as she grows and learns, and develops her own interpretation of the
Word, she starts to modify what she grants.
She has learned from what happened to Michael, and after a rumoured
session with Novalis, created a new attunement similar to the Master of
Peace ability.
Warrior's Peace: Allows the angel, or a target within line of
sight, to burn through any distractions, dissonance, discord, or hostile
attunements or Songs, to see Truly who is an enemy and who a friend.
While it is not often used on an enemy, any who wish to resist must do
so at half their Will. Effects last for number of rounds equal to the
angel's Will plus any Essence used.
Much to the dismay of some, Áinel is molding her Word somewhat away
from the relentless hostility toward the enemy that Michael showed.
From his actions relinquishing his Word, she has learned that sometimes
a final victory can be accomplished through a partial surrender. While
it is still dissonant for her servitors to fully surrender to an enemy,
they can now perform a strategic retreat IF- that retreat will lead to
a later victory. An angel so retreating without a direct order, or the
one taking charge and giving that order, has a number of hours equal to
their Forces to re-join the conflict. This also allows angels to
retreat and come back with reinforcements. If the conflict does not
resume within the required hours, the angel will suffer the dissonance.
She has also taken an interest in the effects of the War on those
not directly involved in the conflict. Her Cherubim and Mercurians can
now find and help the friends and families of those slain in combat.
This can affect Celestial friends of fighters, however the concentration
is for the humans, those the angels often forget. She remembers that
she was once human. (ref. http://home.earthlink.net/~aekilgore/Ainel.html) She is also quite
willing to grant these to servitors of other words, although she is so
caught up in her new position that it takes quite a lot to get her
attention.
Cherubim: The Cherub can attune to a dying warrior, and after he
or she passes on, use the attunement to find the sentient being who the
deceased most wants to know what has happened. Normally this would
involve fast-talking to avoid telling non-Aware humans about the War, by
the time Áinel develops this attunement, the few humans surviving
already know.
Mercurians: These are the bringers of comfort, both to soldiers
and bereaved. A new fighter, human or Celestial, who has doubts about
what they are about to do, is quickly sent to a Mercurian of War, who
eases the nerves and gives the support necessary to get the fighter
ready. They also know just what to say to a shocked friend or family
member to help ease the pain and reassure.
Part 6: The Archangel
War continues until the bitter end.
Áinel was as shocked as the rest of the Council when the Symphony
chose her new position. She is adapting well, treating her servitors
fairly. One of her first actions was to choose a personal advisory
council, including Michael, Doxas, and her closest companions Raniel,
Lanus, and Ahrionel, among others. She listens to their advice, but is
definitely not their puppet, making her own decisions sometimes against
theirs.
Relations: Many Archangels are reserving judgement until she gains
some experience. Generally she is seen much as Michael was, with some
noted exceptions.
Allied: David, Janus
Associated: Laurence, Eli
Neutral: All others except
Hostile: Vapula (not an Archangel)
On Blandine (MIA): (The loss of any Archangel is a loss to Heaven. I
hope to soon send a joint party into the Marches for some sign of her,
or evidence that she either survives or is gone.)
Christopher (weakened): "She is concerned for the children of the
fighters, and she teaches strength in the right path. She also seems
less eager to get her servants killed than her predecessor. It is too
early to tell, but I think she will work out." (I hope that he grows
strong enough to be restored. If humanity is to survive, they will need
his help.)
David: "She is new to the mantle of Archangel, but is bearing up
well under the pressure. She is concerned for families and groups, not
just the individual warrior, and this I can support. I look forward to
working with her." (He was one of Michael's staunchest supporters,
and I hope I can prove myself worthy of his support as well.)
Dominic: "She is War, and she shows its pride. Yet she is young
enough to listen and learn. She was once human, and is closer to them
than most of our Choir. It is too early to Judge her." (He is still
the Hyena, and he is strong. I do not trust him, and while I do not
wish a conflict with him, I will defend my servitors and myself if
necessary. That cat of his, I do not understand.)
Eli: "She is near the pinnacle of evolution, growing from simple
human, to Soldier, to Reliever, to Angel, and now this. Y'know, I
almost snagged her as one of my own Soldiers back then... It will be
wonderful to see how she makes War her own." (He helped me learn how to
create and grant new attunements. His focus is on humanity instead of
the battles ahead, but he has some very useful insight.)
On Gabriel (deceased): (Heaven is diminished from the loss of the
mighty Gabriel. I hope her replacement will assist us in the war
efforts.)
Janus: "She is a changed War, and she is changing still. Michael
is still a dear friend, but she is shaping up to be a valuable ally."
(Janus was one of the first to openly support my new title. I believe
we work well together toward a common goal.)
Jean (diminished): "She shows some concern for humanity, which is
admirable, but not enough. They need our help more than ever now, and
the continuing ravages of war make things worse." (He does not like me,
and I am not comfortable around him. Perhaps someday our relationship
will improve, certainly we could be of mutual benefit. For now, I have
a war to attend to.)
Jordi: "She worries about the war, about the humans, and forgets
that there is other life struggling to survive on earth. We cannot
support her, not now." (I regret that Jordi does not assist more. They
insist I need to show more concern for the creatures of earth, when I
try to convince them that a coordinated effort would help humans and
animals alike. We are at an impasse now.)
Laurence: "She is War, and as Commander we must work closely
together. At least she uses a sword as her weapon of choice." (He is
uncertain whether or not I am suitable for this job, but accepts the
will of God. We work together as we must, that is all.)
Kobal (redeemed): "She actually has a sense of humour. It's dry,
but it's there, and for a Seraph that says a lot. I wish she would show
more joy though." (His Redemption is genuine, but I do not yet trust
him. At least he can occasionally make me smile.)
On Marc (deceased): (His loss is felt, perhaps he could have helped
to get the others of the Council to work together.)
Novalis: "She's learning that you don't always have to fight to
the death to meet your goal. Still too violent for my tastes, but at
least she listens." (She is a valuable asset to our efforts, and speaks
wisely. Still, I often wish she would work with our faction more.)
Vapula (redeemed, weakened): "She does not trust me. I can
understand her feelings, even if they are not objective. She generally
leaves me alone." (As long as Jean keeps a close eye on him, fine. I
do not think he is to be trusted away from Jean.)
Yves: "I read her destiny when her soul first came to Heaven. She
was a rare case, one that had two possible, equally bright destinies
ahead of her. This was one of them. She is more willing to ask my
advice than her predecessor." (I am not comfortable around him, but he
is wise. He refuses to tell me what my other Destiny was.) (Author's note: To become a true Trisagionist, singing the praises
of God at His throne.)
Her stance on the remaining Demon Princes is simple: Seek and
destroy. She is currently sending out teams on "feeler" missions,
finding out Hell's strengths and weaknesses, and preparing for a larger
assault.
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