The Gifts

The Order: The Gifts Chapter 9

The Gifts

Copyright © 2022 by Brad A. Townsend

All rights reserved. This story or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author (Brad A. Townsend).

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental, or also used fictitiously.

Content warning: This story contains adult situations, language, and consensual sex between adult men. If said content is illegal in your state or country, please leave now and do not continue.

Introduction

Chapter Nine! I'm working on Chapter 10 even as I write this (I'm `multi-taskin' as Ken would say). I hope you are enjoying The Gifts. I know a few of you are, and I thank every one of you that has emailed me to let me know. Writing The Gifts is completely different than The Order. It's actually quite a bit harder haha. To some degree the story continues to write itself, and I feel like a conduit for it, but at the same time there are so many details to keep track of. I check and double check for continuity, but my helpers still manage to find things I need to correct.

This chapter makes some changes in a few of the returning characters, and opens a whole new can of worms. However, the situation with Elegroth continues to escalate and things need to change to counter him. One of those things is finding another Gift! Read on to find out which one and who it belongs to...

My email is at the end of the chapter if anyone decides they want to write.

Try and stay safe in this crazy world!

Enough from me ... on to Chapter Nine picks up after the big battle where Henry had to blend with Eleleth and is now gone. 

Hope you enjoy! 😊

-   Brad

<>< Chapter Nine ><>

Luke's consciousness remained imprisoned within the deepest recess of Elegroth's mind. Elegroth needed Luke's power, knowledge, and most importantly, his primal essence as part of the second creation to allow him to breach the void.

Elegroth didn't need Luke's mind but confined it ruthlessly. Luke had never been so completely overmatched. At first it chaffed him and he constantly fought to free himself but stopped once he realized he had no hope of escape. Only once before had he been imprisoned against his will, when the nephilim half-breeds tricked and trapped him in the four corners ritual on earth. The humiliation and pain of that still ran deep because he hadn't accounted for Lane's Avatar coupled with his Gift.

The paradoxical aspect of Lane's Avatar, and the rest of the nephilim abominations, affected Luke just as much as it did Michael, Raphael, Uriel, and Gabriel. Before the nephilim were born Luke realized, after looking back and scrutinizing every detail of his existence, just how much influence they exerted – not only on him but on all of the second creation. His words to Brad in the valley of Yggdrasil when they first met were just as true about himself as they were to Michael and the others. Luke's arrogance, coupled with his underestimating the men's Avatars, blinded him and made him even angrier at himself.

While Luke had observed the lives of the nephilim half-breeds before they received the book of Loagaeth, he perceived how their Avatars generated ripples of change upon the second creation. Yet, ironically, the abominations were utterly unaware of how their existence changed everything.

Luke, like his Father, never did anything without reason, and he wondered at his Father's plan. His thoughts led him back to when Lane Weaver sang that paltry song from a human movie, and through his Gift and Avatar forced Luke and the four corners to relive their creation as God's first children.

To relive a lie! I wasn't first as you said ... there were others, like Elegroth, who existed before!

Yet through Lane's efforts, Luke remembered his blissful time in Heaven when he had been at peace with himself and his brothers, laughing and practicing sword fighting while flying through the infinite cosmos of their playground.

Unconsciously he smiled at the memory, but his expression turned bitter when he came back to himself. What Lane did to him that day was the same as what the nephilim half-breeds did to Greg Rawlins at Waffle House. Lane, and the other abominations through him, crawled into Luke's mind and took him back to when he was the Morning Star, brightest of all God's children, and forced him to remember who he used to be...

...And after seeing and remembering himself from that time, he saw parallels between himself and Elegroth. When Elegroth consumed him, Luke saw everything about the archon, and looking deeply within the being, he saw similarities. It took some time before Luke's ego allowed him to see how alike he and Elegroth were, but once he realized the same flaws within the archon, he wondered again about his Father's plan.

<><><> 

Billions of years ago, after the earth had cooled and plant and animal life abounded, Thomin hid the Gifts. Except for the Gift of the veil, which remained in his vault, Thomin searched long and hard for the perfect hiding place for each Gift.

One of them he placed far under the ocean in a cave. The water was cool, and the Gift glowed brightly in the dark, frigid water. The continents were still one, as was the ocean, and as Thomin looked forward in time he saw their separation. It was a game to him to see where the Gift would eventually rest as the tectonic plates shifted and turned in upon themselves. The earth was still volatile, and over time, like a marble, the Gift rolled and tumbled before coming to its final resting place.

After Thomin decided and placed this Gift, another piece of his intellect vanished, and all memory of the Gift's location, current and future, left his Mind. He wondered for a moment why he was deep within the ocean but quickly remembered his mandate to hide the Gifts at Father's behest. He reached into his robe for another one and began searching for the perfect spot to hide it.

<>< The Present ><>

Each time Elegroth's Demons tore a rift into the second creation, Mauna Loa expressed a minor eruption that sent tremors throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Lava bubbled and spilled from its peak, forming new trails down to the water. Local geologists from the University of Hawaii studied these events, because they feared a major eruption.

The first eruption occurred when Eleleth blended with Henry in the parking lot at the Atlanta lab. The second, more substantial than the first, occurred after Eleneth returned from the void with the fragment of the black rock. The third coincided with Elegroth's voice shouting across the earth and the thousands of claws tearing the massive rift when his demons poured forth over the skies above Atlanta.

Coupled with each eruption, far below the earth's surface, a bright light shone deep within the lava. Mauna Loa's submarine flanks stretched three miles below the surface, and its fiery, sinister peak reached two and a half miles above sea level. Its activity made it the largest active volcano on earth at the present time.

Buried in the lava, the light wasn't initially visible in the physical realm, but in the spiritual realm it shone like a star, and each time Elegroth breached the void into the second creation, the light intensified.

I come for the second redeemer and the child of Eleleth. Give them to me along with what was taken, and you will perish quickly with no pain. Defy me and there will be no end to your torment and suffering, and whatever concept of hell you hold will be a thousandfold worse.

In tune with the largest rift yet, Mauna Loa violently reacted in a massive expulsion, spewing lava and ash into the atmosphere as tremors shook the region within hundreds of miles. Tsunami alerts throughout the Pacific Ocean sounded, and vacationers in the Hawaiian Islands were terrified.

This time, the light was so powerful it became visible, and lightning arced from the depths of the volcano into the skies. Many people who witnessed the event were terrified of Elegroth's voice in their minds and the volcano's reaction, and thought the end of the world was upon them.

<><> 

Ken waited a few hours while everyone performed their tasks of monitoring worldwide news outlets and social media platforms to gauge the world's reaction to Elegroth's opening the rift for the massive battle between angels and demons.

During their years as SEALs and then owning and operating a private security firm, each of the men learned highly specialized skills which they put to use. On top of their initial training, working with the doctor further elevated their knowledge and expertise.

While he waited, Ken's mind and emotions churned. He missed Henry. They all did because the place within them that Henry should occupy was vacant. Ken tried to compartmentalize his hurt, but just when he thought he was successful, it came back stronger. He knew the hurt was worse for Drew, and he was worried and fearful for his nephew. Everything depended on Drew's survival. Everything. He was so much more than just a ten-year-old boy; but he was still a boy who had lost his mother and now his father.

Ken and Brad leaned on each other, their presence a boon to one another. The rest of the men acted similarly, and even more so as one. Within their hearts, naked to one another in all aspects, they held each other, their warm bodies pressed together in comfort, seeking and giving strength.

There were no lessons for the boys at the moment, and Sally had Tommy, Brett, AJ, Teesha, and Chloe watching TV. Drew had just joined them with flour on his face from making pasta, which Bryan's hoped would keep him distracted, and Ken noted the blank expression on his face. His eyes were still red, but he wasn't crying. Ken's heart ached for Drew; all the men's hearts did. They were one, and Drew was in the center of all of them, as they held each other as tightly as ever.

As soon as Drew sat down, Chloe moved beside him to hold his hand. Ken saw and understood the connection Chloe shared with Drew as she comforted him. Just as Drew was older than his age, Chloe was far more than a four-year-old girl. Awakened before birth, she already showed signs of being a powerful empath.

In addition to Henry, Ken also missed Aaron and Albrecht terribly. The doctor, in particular, handled so many issues on a daily basis that the crisis with Elegroth made him realize how much he did, and Albrecht no less.

Ken's head snapped around at Brad's, "Holy shit!"

Brad didn't sound panicked, more incredulous, and Ken quickly moved into the conference room where the Ops board displayed a local Hawaiian news channel.

Brad: Guys, everyone needs to see this!

Scattered about the lab using desktop terminals or tablets to perform their tasks, the guys stopped their actions immediately upon Brad's outburst. As they entered the room, they saw the scene of Mauna Loa erupting across the screen. Among the images replaying was lightning arcing out of the volcano.

Lane's eyes flashed white, and through his Gift and the temporal aspect of his Avatar, he knew the eruption coincided with the opening of Elegroth's latest rift. Looking back in time, he realized the other two eruptions occurred when Elegroth breached the second creation from the void.

The five Gifts among them lit up and were communicating without any prompt from their wielders. The light coming from the volcano called to them, through the TV screen, but Darren felt commanded.

Darren whispered, "Oh, shit!" at the sight of the lightning that wasn't natural - he was witnessing his Gift's reaction to Elegroth's rift. His Gift was fighting against the nature of the void, and halfway around the world Darren's stomach clenched in response. His awareness heightened as his Gift called to him.

Pat moved behind Darren in a flash and put his arms around his husband in support. Ken's voice rang through their Link: B, help Dar get us there asap!

Casting his mind across the planet to Hawaii, Brad found the mind of a geologist monitoring equipment near the volcano's summit and sent the image to Darren.

Excitement ran through them at the sudden and immediate shift in their focus. Another Gift would be a huge boon in their fight and plans to take the fight to Elegroth in the void. Bryan's statement about the Gifts finding them as events worsened seemed true, but the dread behind them... how bad would things be by the time they acquired all ten, even if they could?

As soon as Brad gave Darren a clear visual, the twelve men who were still suited up quickly put on their head gear before appearing on the crest of Mauna Loa. Before they materialized, Brad slipped the geologists' minds into neutral and the humans stood still. The scientists consisted of a professor and graduate students studying seismology at the University of Hawaii.

As soon as the team appeared, the pull of Darren's Gift vastly increased, becoming intensely uncomfortable. They arrived in the field of view of the geologist's recording equipment, some of which captured video of the volcanic activity, and Bill erased all recordings, data, and visuals before turning everything off. Their faces were covered regardless, but their personal anonymity remained paramount.

The properties of their new suits were apparent through their understanding, just as Albrecht explained them. Bryan moved to the edge of the lava and lowered his leg up to mid-calf in the molten pool.

Grinning under his face covering, Bryan thought: I barely feel it.

Behind his headset, Pat's eyes sparkled as he backed his Avatar out to view the larger area. With their collective mind's eye coupled with Pat's perceptions, they knew Darren's Gift was more than a mile down almost directly below them.

Ken: Fuck! Idea's, guys? We can't just swim down in lava!

Brad: You're right. The suits can definitely take the heat but there's no oxygen to draw from and no buoyancy. We'd sink like rocks. None of our scuba gear could stand the heat.

Darren: I'm so close...

Lane thought: You're so hair-triggered, Dar. Learn some control buddy; it makes things a lot more fun.

Darren laughed and flipped Lane off.

Bill: I wish the doc and Albrecht were here.

Kevin made the Debbie Downer sound at his comment which brought another round of laughter and shit-talk while they wracked their brains to come up with a solution.

Brad: If we could get the volcano to erupt it might spew the Gift out.

Ricky: You want to jack off an active volcano? Damn, isn't Ken good enough?

Loy glanced at one of the scientists standing nearby. We should talk to these guys. Maybe they can help.

Taking off his head gear, Loy's disheveled hair looked cute as hell to Rick. They all followed and tucked their head coverings into small waist pouches designed to hold them.

Ken: Wake `em up.

Brad's eyes flashed white, and the scientists nearly fell over in surprise. To them, suddenly, they were surrounded by a dozen large, muscular men wearing black body suits.

Loy said, "Don't be alarmed, guys. I know this is sudden, and we'll explain."

An older man in his fifties, the wide-eyed professor pointed at Loy while his gaze took in all of them. "You're them! On TV! I didn't believe it..."

With a heavy sigh, Ken mumbled, "Fuck! What's it's gonna take `ta wake up the world?"

Brad sounded stern, almost chastising, when he said, "You're a man of science. You of all people should approach things with an open and inquisitive mind."

Lane said, "Well, we're real, and yeah, we're those guys. We need your help. There's an object we need that's trapped in the lava about a mile down. That's what's causing the activity. Do you know of some way to get to it?"

Before the discussion went any further, Ken said, "I'm Ken, by the way. It's nice `ta meet you, and we appreciate any help you can give us."

One by one, the men said their first names out loud. Ken held his hand out, and the professor shook it firmly. "I'm Abe. Pleasure to meet you. These youngsters are Karen, Li, and Patel, my graduate students. "So, you're telling me this activity isn't natural? Are you sure?"

Darren said, "The last three eruptions coincided with openings like you saw yesterday when you heard that voice."

Karen sniffed loudly and asked in a trembling voice, "Are we doing to die? Is that voice... that thing... really coming to kill us all?"

Ken's Avatar ignited under his suit, and when he spoke, his conviction pushed into the mortals. Squaring his shoulders, Ken said, "Not if we can help it. That's why we're here. What's under the volcano will help us fight him."

Bryan said, "You'll be doing the world a huge favor by helping us."

Brad pulled his brothers tighter and amped up their auras to shine their light on the humans. As much as their cooperation, Brad wanted them to believe everything and to know unconditional love.

Immediately the four scientists' eyes watered. What they felt wasn't something they were accustomed to, and this reinforced their brokenness. Nearly every time the men performed that action, the results were the same which made them sad. In addition to Henry's absence, this added to their burden.

Embarrassed, Abe sniffed and pulled out his tablet. When it woke up, he exclaimed, "What the hell? My data's gone!"

Bill said, "Sorry about that, but our identities have to remain protected. I shut down your recording equipment and erased what you had so there are no images of us."

Abe sighed, "Thank God for backups. Unfortunately, there's no cell reception here, so I'll have to head back to my office to get what you need. I have the volcano mapped extensively to show the major flows and outlets with the greatest potential to cause the most devastation. If you know approximately where this object is, maybe we can get a better idea based on my diagrams."

Ken: Dar?

Removing his glove, Darren said, "Take my hand, Abe, and don't be alarmed."

As soon as their flesh touched, everything about the professor became known to Darren. Abe was a decent man but still under the curse and filled with everything that entailed. Darren paled, and his brothers increased their presence within him to help fend off the ill effects.

Darren drew from Abe's memory to visualize the Seismology Lab which was locked and empty. Suddenly everyone stood in Abe's research lab at the University. Again, the humans were shocked and didn't know what to make of what was happening.

Brad's Avatar softly glowed as he dampened their reaction. "We're sorry. I know this is abrupt, but you're safe. We'll get you back to the summit and your equipment when we're done here."

Abe sat at his desk and connected to the university network while plugging his tablet into a projector. His last backups were only a few hours old and included the entire reaction of the volcano during the battle with Elegroth. Multiple CAD images similar to an MRI appeared on the screen, showing slices of the volcano from different vantage points. After visiting the volcano in person, Pat's understanding helped them make the connections, and he walked up to the screen and put his finger on the exact location of Darren's Gift. "It's right there."

Abe raised his eyebrows and asked, "How do you know that?"

Smiling, Brad answered, "That's complicated, and we don't have time to explain everything now. It's crucial we discover a way to either get to that object or find a way to move it to a place that's more accessible."

Frustrated, Abe blurted out, "If I don't know what you can do, it's difficult to come up with a solution! You're asking for my help but not giving me anything to work with!"

Sighing heavily, Ken thought: He's right, but it would put him at risk if he knows too much. Dar, you read him. Huddle up, fellas.

Abe's eyes widened again as tears flowed from the his graduate students and him as eleven of the men in his lab became one. Zack still hadn't merged with everyone so Brad kept him in their hearts as deeply as possible. Brad brought Abe, Karen, Li, and Patel into a light link so they could see the men as they appeared in the spiritual realm – shining pillars of light and strength, the defenders of humankind.

As deeply as they were merged, Darren's anxiety from the pull of his Gift was more apparent to them, so they held him tighter and whispered in his soul that it was only a matter of time. Scanning through Abe's knowledge, Brad mused aloud, "So the flows are primarily dictated by pressure and viscosity."

Bryan asked, "Are we overthinking this? Dar, when you started the Uluru base, you just grabbed chunks of rock with your Avatar. We know where the Gift is thanks to Abe ... can you just grab as big an area as you can with us backing you up, then dump it in the ocean to cool? Pat will know if you got it."

Ken grinned and slapped Bryan on his back. "Welcome to `the babe' club, Bry!"

Brad rolled his eyes as he remembered Raphael's comment "from the mouth of babes" when Ken came up with the idea of using a cell phone number to reach them when they were behind the runes in the lab. "He meant baby, Ken."

Ken waved off his comment, saying, "I choose `ta believe otherwise. Anyway, Bry's idea is worth tryin'. Does anyone disagree?"

There were many other options to try but Aaron consistently applied the idea of Occam's Razor, which seemed applicable in this case. More often than not, the simplest solution is best.

No one said anything, so Ken said, "Dar, take us back."

Darren said, "I didn't imprint that spot, so it'll take me a second to get back there. Hold tight."

Darren vanished, startling Abe and his students again.

Li spoke for the first time, asking, "Who are you? How can you do these things?"

Lane's mischievous grin appeared. "We're the good guys. That's all you need to know. I don't mean to scare you, but the less you know, the better. We don't want anyone coming after you trying to find out more about us."

Kevin said, "It's up to you whether you tell anyone about meeting us. You won't remember our faces, but you'll remember everything else. If you decide to talk and then experience any negative repercussions, contact Raphael Martinez. We'll leave his contact information in your minds."

Darren: I'm here. You all ready?

Loy addressed Abe and his students, "Darren's at the summit. Get ready."

The transition from the quiet airconditioned lab to the noise and heat of the volcano's summit was jarring. Brad could tell Karen, Li, and Patel were having a difficult time so he eased their minds enough to relieve their anxiety and fear, while Rick's Avatar untied their emotional knots caused by the strangeness of their encounter. Abe seemed to be handling everything well, which was a pleasant surprise.

Ken: You ready, Dar?

Darren: You bet your sweet ass I am.

Lane was about to crack a joke about Ken's ass when Brad lightly smacked him on the back of his head, which brought about a round of chuckles. They also remembered Tag saying the same thing when they asked him if he wanted them to regenerate his leg.

Turning to Abe and his graduate students, Ken said, "What we're about `ta do could be dangerous. We aren't a hundred percent sure what's gonna happen. We won't force you `ta leave, but we'd recommend you head out."

Addressing his students, Abe said, "Karen, Li, Patel – go back to the lab and wait for me. Take the equipment with you."

Karen asked, "You aren't coming with us?"

Abe said, "No. You three are my responsibility, and I don't want you anywhere close to this, but I'm willing to take the risk myself."

The students seemed relieved for themselves but unsure about Abe staying. Noting their concern, he said, "I have my reasons. Now, hurry. We're holding these men up."

They quickly packed up their gear and left, and Abe turned to see the twelve men staring at him with questioning looks.

Abe's expression hardened, and he said, "What's happening in the world is insane. That voice and what I felt behind it changed everything I believe. You showing up proves it's real, and I want to witness what's happening with my own eyes."

Their Avatars saw his nervousness but also his staunch inquisitiveness and need to stay. Ken nodded and said, "Alright. We'll do our best `ta protect you if things go sideways."

Lane's eyes flashed white, and because everyone was still deeply linked, they experienced his brief vision. Abe needed to see what was about to happen - the physical and spiritual - a human witness to what was about to transpire.

Seeing Abe's life through his Avatar, an intense sadness welled in Lane. His Avatar, augmented by his Gift, showed him the most probable echoes of Abe's future. Because of their free and unfettered nature and Abe's involvement with them, his future was not set in stone, but he would suffer from being there. His spiritual life would change, and not for the better. Abe's potential burden weighed on them. Their emotions were already thin due to Henry's absence, and what they saw with Abe added to the weight on their shoulders.

Brad's eyes watered as he sniffed at the thought that came to mind. If Henry were with them, his white lock of hair would have brightened, and he would have wisely told them they weren't responsible for Abe. Their actions were a catalyst, but Abe's decision to stay was his own, and any results were not their fault.

Pat said, "We need to be closer to the water where it's deep enough to submerge what Dar pulls out."

Abe interjected, "The northern bank would be best. The waves are heavier there and the rocks treacherous, but if you want deep, that's the closest area to here. There's a trail that leads down there if you want to follow me."

Darren saw the trail in Abe's memory and translocated himself high into the air over that area. In three jumps almost too fast to see, he appeared a few inches over the rocks and dropped down in a crouch.

With synchronizing Avatars, the rest of the team plus Abe appeared around him. Darren erected a mental barrier to keep the ocean spray away from where everyone appeared so no water would materialize inside their bodies, and Abe looked in wonder at the water dripping down the invisible wall.

The crashing waves were so loud that they had to mind speak. Abe was included in their link and his mind was open enough to see everything about to transpire.

Loy: Don't be afraid. You're safe, and nothing you see will harm you.

Ken: Power up, fellas.

Under their suits, their Avatars ignited, and the spiritual landscape around them transformed into a sight Abe never in a million years could have imagined. The clouds vanished as the sky darkened and split open to reveal millions of stars and colored nebula. Yggdrasil appeared with its highest branches among the stars while wraithlike animal spirits danced among its emerald canopy. Brad lifted the veil in the area around them to fulfill their dual nature, while Lane pulled from the harmonic symphony that played among the stars.

Power filled them, and their light became blinding. Leroy's hide magnified their light and white arcs thicker and more potent than ever crackled around them.

Abe trembled, gasped, and fell over from what he saw, yet the comforting presence of the strangers surrounded him, and when his eyes closed in fear, he swam in the liquid, golden light of their souls. Their comfort and unconditional love wrapped around him and he bawled like a baby yet smiled in wonder at the same time.

Kevin, who was closest to him, reached down and helped Abe stand, then squeezed his shoulder gently: Don't be afraid. You're one of the few humans that has ever seen this.

With his mental strength increased by Leroy's hide, Darren lifted himself off the ground. He could do it before but now it was effortless, and he went high to hover above the massive pool of lava that filled Mauna Loa's summit.

Pat's eyes sparkled as he backed his Avatar out so that the vector arcs and colored lines filled his vision with understanding of where Darren's Gift was. Darren saw through Pat, and grabbed his Gift with his mind. A massive, perfect sphere of molten lava and rock appeared in the air beside Darren.

As soon as the sphere appeared, Darren knew that his Gift was inside it. The orb was beautiful and awe-inspiring, floating beside Darren as he moved out over the water. Its closer proximity increased everything he felt, and the sting of its call became intensely powerful. Sending it out a few hundred feet to prevent the expulsion of steam from hurting Abe, Darren submerged it.

Pat: Just another minute, Dar. Hang tight, Bud.

The cooling lava quickly hardened into obsidian glass. Even with his strength augmented by the suit, the heavy orb made Darren sweat. Red fire licked his form as he channeled oxygen through his core energy center to fuel his effort.

Lane: Dar, I'm going to shatter it. Keep the shards contained.

Lane instinctively produced a perfect note with a frequency to shatter the volcanic glass. The giant orb exploded but struck the barrier Darren formed with his mind. In only a few seconds, the shards, now black powder, fell to the ground to reveal Darren's brightly glowing Gift.

After translocating it into his hands, the casing dissolved and the Gift arced into Darren's waiting Avatar. For a brief second he showed no reaction, and then his eyes sparkled, and he rose into the air. His back arched and his arms thrust out to his sides as he was overwhelmed by the sudden jarring awareness and beauty of becoming one with the physical realm.

As with Bryan, Pat, and Brad, Darren's consciousness exponentially expanded to encompass the infinite creation of all physical existence. He felt the lava of Mauna Loa as if it ran in his veins. The oceans swelled within his body and the quiet of the mountains became a part of him. The utter joy and complexity of all physical existence, from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest massive singularity billions of light-years from where he stood, was him. Not a part of him, but him.

As he became one with the second creation, excruciating pain wracked his existence. Luke's chains draining the light of his soul paled in comparison – the curse touched everything in the physical realm, and it attacked Darren mercilessly. The same eerie intelligence the curse exhibited months prior, when Brad put himself into all the humans on the planet, revealed itself as it attacked Darren.

Darren's pain spread through the link, and they collectively cried out, but Darren's scream pierced loudest and the ocean around him reacted. Abe watched the entire ocean push back to create a tsunami miles high in a matter of seconds. Lightning raged around them, the winds howled, and a massive hurricane formed an outward expression of Darren's pain.

Darren was in so much agony he acted on instinct. His unconscious mind knew only the stone could buffer him from the curse. Brad pushed through his pain to reach halfway round the planet for Drew.

Drew!

<><><> 

Drew was trying to focus on his reading lesson but couldn't concentrate. He called his centering flame, but the emptiness from Henry's absence blew it out. Miss Sally gave him extra lessons to distract him, but with his mind detached, he held no interest.

Sadness overwhelmed Drew, and despite the love of his uncles and everyone in his life..., it wasn't the same without his dad. He had stopped crying the night before and now wondered why.

Putting his tablet to sleep, he rested his head on one hand and said quietly, "I'm sorry, Ms. Sally."

Without knowing what to do, Sally hugged him. She missed Henry too but knew that Drew's longing wasn't the same as hers. From merging with Henry, Sally knew that Henry and Drew practically lived in one another - with the weight of everything on their shoulders, it was the only way they survived.

Sally said, "It's okay, honey. Is there anything you want to do?"

Her question made Drew cry, and his voice cracked as he whispered, "Play catch with my dad."

Sally missed Aaron and Albrecht as much as the guys and now felt very much out of her depth. She jumped when Eleneth appeared and said, "I'm sorry, I know you told me not to appear during lessons, but I want to help."

Looking at Drew, he continued, "My father is gone as well. When our fathers blended, all else for them ceased to matter. My father will not, or cannot, talk with me, and I don't know what to do. Perhaps if we try together, they will hear us?"

Sally said, "I don't think that's a good idea, at least until the guys get back. It's just too dangerous. Drew, promise me you'll wait."

Exhaling heavily, Drew said, "Okay."

She continued, "Orophir, Istariel, and the other nephilim are on ZEUS. Maybe Eleneth can take you there? I need to stay here, but you'll be safe with them. Eleneth can bring you back here immediately if anything happens."

Drew seemed to perk up slightly at her suggestion. He loved spending time with his nephilim friends. Suddenly in Drew's mind, Brad's voice shouted: Drew!

Drew's head shot up. Uncle Brad sounded desperate.

Uncle Brad?

We need you!

Drew wasn't shielded, and Brad's powerful mental voice echoed in his mind. With Darren incapacitated, and before Brad could translocate Drew, Eleneth took Drew's hand and the two of them vanished.

<><> 

As soon as Drew appeared with Eleneth, his soul became one with his uncles. The wind, lightning, and Darren floating in the air and screaming in pain scared Drew, because he didn't understand what was happening. As the crux of the curse, it didn't affect Drew as it did his uncles so he felt no pain. Brad took them so far down in their hearts that time stood still, and Drew appeared naked with Ken and the others.

Drew cried out in his heart: Uncle Darren? What's wrong?

Darren was incoherent, present but caught up in what was happening. Brad walled off Darren's experience from the rest of them, but he couldn't separate Darren from his Gift's reaction.

Brad: Call the stone! Make the dome around us! The curse is hurting Darren, but you can protect him!

As soon as Drew appeared, his conversation with Sally and the sadness in him became a part of everyone in the merge. Time wasn't moving and they wrapped themselves around him, holding him tightly in the midst of Darren's turmoil. Ken physically picked Drew up, cradled him against his warm strength and wrapped his arms around his nephew.

The stone appeared in Drew's hand from Thomin's vault, and within his soul, each of his incarnations gripped it tightly. Glowing brighter than ever, Drew formed the barrier he had learned to call, to buffer everyone within it from the curse.

Darren's reprieve was instant and the wall of water, the lightning, the wind, and the rain stopped as Darren exerted his will. The physical realm, now an extension like another limb, obeyed him. Everything normalized instantly and the sun shone brightly in the blue sky.

Outside their hearts, in their bodies, Darren still hovered above them with his Gift blindingly bright as the sun. Darren pulled his awareness back to his body, and quieted his Gift. The need for the dome vanished, but Darren knew if he put himself into everything the same thing would happen. He would have to test his limits.

Brad returned them to their bodies, and Ken moved to Drew, kneeling to be at eye level. Gently gripping Drew's shoulders, he asked: Are you alright?

Drew: I'm fine, Uncle Ken. Uncle Darren? Are you better?

Darren floated down to land beside them and pulled Drew into a hug. I am now, Tiger. You pulled my ass out of the fire again. That's two I owe you now!

Darren looked pale and sweaty as he breathed hard, but through the merge Drew knew he was better. White healing arced from Lane to restore Darren completely, and Darren breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He grinned at Drew and ruffled his nephew's hair.

Abe stood, dumbfounded at what he witnessed. For a moment he thought his home and everyone he knew were going to be destroyed when the tsunami formed. This fear was still in him, and he trembled. Ricky put a hand on Abe's shoulder and used his Avatar to untie the knots in Abe. "It's alright, Abe. It was a scare for us too, but everything's good now."

Abe whispered, "But what if it wasn't? What if that tidal wave destroyed the islands? Hundreds of thousands of people would be dead now. Was whatever you got worth that?"

Ken spoke up, "Yes. I know that's a hard pill `ta swallow, but nothin' bad happened. The situation was contained, and we're stronger now and better able `ta defend the world."

Ken's Avatar softly glowed under his suit as he spoke, and he pushed his will and conviction into Abe. Glancing at Brad, Ken asked: Is he gonna be okay? I don't wanna erase his memory if we can help it.

Delving deeper into Abe's unconscious mind, Brad paled. However, through Abe's brokenness, Brad watched Abe's mind already putting pieces together, and his academic, logical training enforced itself. Brad sighed in relief, along with the rest of the guys, as they observed everything through Brad.

Compassionately, Brad said, "This has been a day for you, Abe. It's hard to take in what you've seen and experienced. You're a good man, and we appreciate your help."

Abe asked, "So has the danger passed? I mean the volcano, not all this other stuff."

Showing his dimples, Darren replied, "I'm sorry, Abe. Without my Gift present, Mauna Loa will go quiet. It's still active, but there's no danger of an eruption for a very long time."

Abe's forehead creased, asking, "How do you know this? Are you absolutely sure?"

Darren's eyes sparkled as his awareness spread out. His Gift and Avatar brightened as he became the physical realm for hundreds of miles around where they stood. The currents in the ocean, the wind, the lava flows and everything else was him.

Darren's voice echoed with power as he replied, "I'm sure. I am the volcano."

The magnitude of Darren's Gift astounded all of the guys. Darren's Avatar had always been unique – the only one among them tied to the physical realm. What his Gift did made sense; it did augment his Avatar, but more than that, it "plugged" him into the physical existence of the second creation. All matter, from the tiniest Higgs boson "God Particle" coming into existence to the vast structures throughout the infinite universe were one with him. He felt it all but was careful not to exert his awareness so far out again. Without Drew and the stone, he might destroy himself and possibly all creation.

Getting ahold of himself, Abe seemed incredibly excited to be a part of and witness what was happening but felt sad for his graduate students. He was a tenured professor and his career secure, but his students attended the university specifically because Mauna Loa was close and active.

Abe said, "My grad students will be crushed over this."

Darren's grin never faltered, and he said, "Well, since I'm to blame, maybe I can solve your problem. There's an area on the ocean floor within a few hundred miles of here where lava will break through in the next few years. Those flows aren't part of the Mauna Loa system and aren't nearly as large, but they will form a new small island chain. Would that work? You and your students will have an exclusive on the new development."

Darren knew Abe's answer from the look on his face, and he implanted the knowledge and location in Abe's mind. Abe's gratitude was overwhelming, almost bringing tears to their eyes – his emotions hit Darren, and they resounded into everyone merged. To study the pre-formation of an island chain and follow the process would be a lifetime achievement, and Darren simply handed it to Abe.

Brad: You just made Abe one happy camper, Dar. That was a nice thing to do.

Lane: This is so friggin cool! Captain Planet is on our team! I need to put more work into coming up with names. We have Beastmaster, Odin, Captain Planet...,

Rick: Who the fuck is Odin?

Lane: Bry! Don't you see it? He has the ravens now, and he's the protector of Yggdrasil and Leroy – it's perfect!

A collective groan ran through the link, and a few guys, including Bryan, facepalmed themselves.

Bryan: God, I love my nerd.

Lane's goofy excitement was clear as he ran with the idea, and before he said anything else, Bryan stopped him. No eyepatch, Little Buddy

Lane looked crestfallen and asked: Not even on Wednesdays?

Drew didn't understand the reference, and Ken picked him up, thinking: It's okay Tiger. It's just your Uncle Lane bein' weirder than usual.

Winking at Darren, Ken thought: Take us home, Captain Planet.

Effortlessly, Darren's Avatar synched with the other mentalists, and they vanished, leaving Abe alone on the summit of Mauna Loa.

<><><> 

Kent and Margie Peterson walked into the lobby of the Cancer Research Center in Jamestown, PA. The building was bright with glass, marble floors and brass trim.

Margie immediately spotted Julie Hampton sitting by herself. She looked tired and ragged. Julie asked Kent and Margie to meet her there but didn't go into any detail. They hadn't spoken since the Master's death and the families of the young soldiers returned to their lives. None of the Goon Squad spoke to Kent or Margie after they left the Uluru base – on top of returning from death, Kent's change of outlook and being twenty-five years younger was too much for them.

Julie didn't see them until they were in front of her, and Margie held her arms out. "Julie! It's wonderful to see you. We've missed you and Glenn so much."

Kent gave Julie a hug and kissed her cheek. It was obvious Julie had been crying, but she also seemed timid, even embarrassed. "Thank you for coming. I didn't know if you'd want to see me after the way we all treated you. I'm still sorry about that, but you know Glenn."

Kent said, "So what's wrong? Is Glenn sick?"

Julie teared up again but managed to say, "Yes. He has terminal cancer and doesn't have much time. Maybe only a few days. Last night was bad, and he looked so weak this morning..."

Pulling her back into a hug, Margie said, "We're so sorry, dear."

Kent waited for Julie to stop crying before asking, "So, Julie, why did you call us? Does Glenn want to see us?"

"He doesn't know I called you."

Kent's expression didn't change, and he said, "I see. You want me to talk to him?"

Instead of answering his question, Julie said, "After everything that happened, especially when Mr. Ross showed Glenn and the rest of the guys the truth that everything that happened to us was real, Glenn's been angry. He's always had a temper. You know that better than anyone. But this was different, and I didn't understand why until he got sick. He was only diagnosed with cancer a few months ago. He'd been having stomach problems, and after a lot of tests they discovered Stage IV pancreatic cancer. It's inoperable, and even with the most aggressive treatments his chance of survival is less than one percent."

Kent didn't respond but looked at Julie, waiting for her to continue. Margie took her hand.

"He's scared, Kent. Terrified. But he's stubborn. He won't let anything go. I started going back to church when Dr. Thomas and Albrecht arranged for us to return to our homes. I'm not sure how they did it, but no one remembered us being gone for more than a week. It was like we went on vacation. Even our bank statements and mortgage payments were all caught up. There was no evidence that we had been gone for over a year.

"For some reason that made Glenn even madder. He started drinking again and stopped talking to Guy, Eldon, and Elliott. He barely speaks to me. He's locked away inside himself, and it's eating him. He's mad at himself but too stubborn to admit he was wrong, and he's afraid of dying."

Memories flooded Kent's mind of the hundreds of years he spent in his personal hell, separated from God and anything meaningful. It took that long for him to admit what a horrible person he had been. It also took his son Craig sacrificing himself to save another young boy in the middle of an Eschphene attack to reach Kent and rescue him.

Kent asked, "What about Rich? Why isn't he here?"

Julie sniffed and said, "He doesn't know. Glenn made me promise not to tell him. I'm going to call him anyways. He deserves to be here, but I wanted you to try talking to Glenn first. I don't know what happened to you, Kent. You were dead. We saw your body, and you came back changed, looking like you do now. You're a wonderful man now. Something changed in you, and I want you to share that with Glenn and help him forgive himself. You're the only person I know to ask."

With his brow furrowed, Kent said, "He won't talk to me. You know that."

Julie smiled wanly and said, "He won't have a choice. He's too weak to get out of bed or do anything about it. He'll have to listen to whatever you have to say. I cleared it with his doctor. It might even push him over the edge if he gets too upset, but I have to try something. I want to see him again, in Heaven. If he dies the way he is now, that won't happen."

"Julie... I... I don't know."

"Please try, Kent. For the sake of your old friendship. I understand the decision is his. I'm not putting any responsibility on you for his reaction. I just want you to try. Please?"

Her voice cracked at the end, and tears came to Kent. Margie started crying too, but Kent was more reserved. He had his own issues with Glenn and the Goon Squad, as Ken and Brad used to call them. He had forgiven his old friends because he used to be just like them and knew how far they had to go, but he never forgot who and what they were.

He also remembered Ken and Brad asking him to try reaching Glenn and his former buddies, but he never followed through with his promise. Kent felt guilty over that and made his decision immediately. "I'll talk with him. No promises, though. You know how he is, but I'll do my best."

<> 

So full of painkillers he was barely lucid, Glenn slipped in and out of a hazy fog but he knew someone was in his room. He thought it was Julie, but as his vision cleared he saw a thick and muscular man's arm and shoulder of someone sitting in the chair beside his bed, but he couldn't see a face.

When Kent knew Glenn was awake, he stood and said, "Hey, old friend."

Kent kept a lid on his emotions, because Glenn was painful to look at. The nurse told him they had drained twenty-five pounds of fluid out of Glenn that morning, and his skin held a yellow tint of jaundice.

Glenn felt a hand cover his and squeeze with a firm grip. He remembered that grip from all those years ago.

"What the hell are you doing here? Leave me alone, you goddamn freak."

"No. You're going to lie there and listen. I'm going to share something with you, and you aren't going to like any of it, but it's for your own good."

"Don't try any of that freak shit on me. Fuck off."

Unbeknownst to the two men, Raphael stood listening in the room, his heart breaking over Glenn Hampton's condition. Raphael was there as a favor to his grandson, although Brad had no knowledge of it. He would make sure Glenn Hampton lived long enough to hear everything he needed to hear. Glenn's decision would be his own, but Raphael would make sure he had the chance to make it.

Glenn heard the crinkling paper as Kent set a Chic-Fil-A bag on the bedstand. "You might not be hungry now, but this may take a while. I know you hate gays, so I figured you'd like this. The waffle fries are amazing. They have great sweet iced tea too. Let me know if you need any help opening the ketchup packets."

Glenn stared at the bag and said nothing. Although tired and groggy, he fumed inside. Eventually, he said, "Julie called you, didn't she?"

"Yes, she did. She's trying to save you, old friend. Me too. I promised Ken and Brad I'd try, but I never did, so I'm making up for that now. You should know what happened to me while I was dead. I know you're afraid of dying, Glenn. Everyone is, even the people who say they aren't. The unknown of what happens next is terrifying to think about. I will say this..., in your current state of mind, you should be sacred."

Kent moved closer, leaning over Glenn to make eye contact.

"At first, Glenn, I didn't know I was dead. I went to bed with Margie like I always did, but I found myself dressed and in the kitchen in the Uluru base, looking for a snack. I ranted and raved in my head about wanting Cheetos and a Dr. Pepper or some warm Krispy Kreme donuts. I was pissed off at your boy Rich because he was responsible for ordering food and only ordered healthy shit. I found a Coke Zero in the fridge and hated every gulp. I remember thinking anything with zero carbs and zero sugars has to taste like shit. I squeezed the empty can, trying to crush it, but couldn't. I looked down at my fat fingers that had no strength in them. Remember how we used to crush beer cans in our fists and toss `em in the trash across the room and shout, `Score!?" Yeah, well, those days are long gone, or they were.

"Those were good times, though, or so we thought. We were cocky sons of bitches back then, and you were the worst. You were our ring leader, strutting around, impetuous beyond belief. I still can't believe you weren't court-martialed or didn't spend more time in the brig.

"Anyway, I went back to my room to get some sleep. I didn't want to wake Margie, so I scooted along the edge of the bed in the dark, but when I sat down, I sat on my body. At first, I thought it was Margie, so I turned on the light, but it was me - dead. My mouth was open and my face purple from a massive heart attack. Needless to say, it freaked me out, and I took off running as fast as my fat legs would carry me. I bounced down the hallway but stopped when I heard a voice.

"It was Uriel, Glenn. The Angel of Death waited for me. He told me quite a few things, which I'm going to repeat to you. Of course, I didn't believe him. I was convinced I was dreaming until I looked into his eyes. I'll never forget his eyes. I saw everything in them, Glenn..., stars, patience, love, and sadness. I didn't realize he was sad for me.

"He told me my life was filled with hate that permeated my entire being. He said I was a shallow, hateful, bigoted, self-centered, egotistical man and that I didn't care for anyone outside of what they could do for me or how they could make my life easier. He said I used people and put them down to make myself feel better.

"Does any of this ring a bell, Glenn? He wasn't just talking to me; I think he was talking to you too, for this very moment. You need to hear all this now just as much as I did then. You aren't ready for it any more than I was, but you're hearing it now, whether you want to or not.

"Your hate runs deep, Glenn. Just as deep as mine did. Maybe deeper. You hate your life, your career, everything..., and three years ago you hated Ken and Brad and the other men who kept us safe. You hated them most for being gay. I still remember when you said they were fucking faggots in front of the Ross boy. That's when Henry came and kicked our sorry asses and showed us the truth of everything. But even then we hardened our hearts, making us hate even more. Fuck we were idiots!

"We hated so long, Glenn, we forgot how to love. Uriel told me I was given a dispensation that allowed me a second chance, but in my stubborn pride I refused. Let me tell you, Glenn, to this day, I've still never been more terrified than when Uriel's wings turned black and he took my soul to my own personal hell.

"I'm sure it will be a different place for you, but the separation will be the same. You have no idea what it feels like to be separated from love, God, and anything that matters. At first you think you can take it, but it won't be long before you'll be begging, groveling, and screaming for someone to talk to... any connection to anyone or anything. You'll beg for forgiveness but your voice won't be heard. Your decision will stand.

"Uriel said I was given a dispensation, but I think it was for you as well. I didn't realize that until now, but I think it's true. Time moves differently there, Glenn. I was there almost two hundred years, and it took that long to figure out what an asshole I had been my entire life; what a horrible husband to Margie and father to Jacob and Craig. Just like you are now with Julie and Rich. It took Craig dying and coming to save me to bring me back. My son sacrificed himself to save me, and he convinced Uriel to bring me back. If not for the dispensation it would have been impossible, so it's really God I have to thank, and I do thank Him, Glenn. Every fucking day I thank him for Margie, Jacob, and Craig. You know that Craig changed his MOS and is a SEAL now? Jacob's a RECON Sniper in the Marines. Your kid, Rich, is a Ranger. He went from being a cook to a fucking Army Ranger! How fucking proud of him are you? Have you told him? Oh, that's right, you haven't talked to anyone since you got back. All our kids turned out awesome. Caleb, Guy, and Nathan are Rangers too. They went to Ranger school together and aced it. Highest scores ever in the history of the Army. You know why? Because of Albrecht, Ken, Brad, and the other guys who protected us.

"You hated our kids working with Albrecht, but he taught them things we could never imagine. Things about creation, existence, the Order, and the enemy..., all that shit you turn your nose up at. You know Rich would be here in a heartbeat. He'd get leave and be here as soon as he could for you and Julie, but he has to know and you made Julie promise not to tell him. I think it's because you're embarrassed. On top of being pissed off at yourself and the world, you're embarrassed you turned out the way you are – miserable and afraid.

"I'm sorry to be so harsh, old friend, but I have to get through that thick damn skull of yours. If you have any chance of Uriel's wings being white instead of black, you have to do some major soul searching in the next few days and admit you've fucked up your own life and, at least early on, your wife and kid. The rest of the guys have their own reconning, and maybe I need to have this same conversation with them. You aren't responsible for them, though; they're responsible for themselves. I tried to make you responsible for how I turned out, but Uriel shut me down on that thought."

Kent stared at his old buddy and finally let his own tears fall. Glenn was so miserable he was hard to look at - physically in pain and an emotional wreck. After a minute of silence, he continued, "I've had my say. I promised Julie I'd try. Think about everything I said, Glenn. Ask forgiveness. You have to mean it. Just mouthing the words is useless. Put everything in that mental microwave you call a brain and thaw it out. Unfreeze your heart, so you can be in Heaven with Julie once it's her time to go too. Don't be so damn stubborn and obstinate."

Releasing Glenn's hand, Kent moved towards the door. "Margie and I are staying in a hotel just down the road. Julie has our phone number. If you need me for anything, Glenn, I'm here. I'll be here until you die, however long that takes. I'm going to fight for you, buddy, and I won't give up."

Kent exhaled as he left the room, and in his heart, he prayed: Fuck! Let him hear me!

Heading to the small food court, he found Margie and Julie waiting. Julie looked up questioningly and he said, "I gave him an earful, but I don't know if it did any good. I know where he's at, and it takes time... I just hope he has enough."

Julie stood up, put her arms around Kent, and said, "Thank you for trying. I'm so sorry about all of this."

<> 

On the drive back to their hotel room, Margie asked, "Did you talk to him about the voice?"

Kent shook his head negative. "No. I know he heard it, just like the rest of the world, but I didn't bring it up. I'm hoping it's another thing that will make him rethink his life. I laid into him pretty hard, but it had to be done."

Rubbing his back, Margie said, "I'm proud of you, honey. Let's hope for the best."

<> 

Raphael heard everything and marveled at Kent Peterson's insight about the dispensation. Raphael couldn't see it because of the nature of his grandchildren and their influence on Glenn Hampton's life, but he felt sure the mortal was right.

Raphael walked a fine line, but with one wing, he gently fanned Glenn Hampton, soothing him and giving his mind a reprieve. Stilling Glenn Hampton's thoughts allowed him to process everything Kent Peterson said, and Raphael prayed Kent's words were heard.

<><><> 

Two days later, Rich Hampton got a call from his mother. He was shocked at the news of his father and didn't know how to react. After Albrecht and Bryan's tutelage, Rich was wise beyond his years. He still loved his father but hated him at the same time. He had to try to intervene even though it would break the no contact protocol with Ken, Brad, and the others.

He also felt, as a group, he and his buddies needed to talk about the voice that was heard all over the world. It bothered him that he hadn't heard anything from Albrecht, Bryan, or any of the other guys from the Atlanta lab. It actually worried him more than bothered him. He also had seen the footage of the church being destroyed and knew it was his friends in the video. So much was happening..., and he felt an odd pull to be a part of it.

Before, when he, Jacob, Guy, Caleb, and Nathan were captives in Syria, he had been a cook. He passed out in fear at the sight of the angel Azaziel laid out in the town square, his wings so wide they reached all the way across the marketplace. He remembered Lane shouting to put the hoods back on their heads or their minds would be destroyed. Back then, Rich was only a cook and out of his depth. All the guys were, but Rich more than the others.

However, they all grew under Albrecht's mentorship. Rich was now an Army Ranger and a badass. His body was thick with lean muscle, and like all of them, he was extremely fit, agile, and strong. Per Albrecht's teaching, he still read every day and practiced his meditation. Acing the Ranger training with Nathan, Caleb, and Guy was so much fun. They dominated everything the instructors threw at them and set records in all the physical tests, setting records in all of them. They had come so far, and now he knew there was a reason. After hearing that voice, and learning of his father's sickness..., he felt like he was being pulled back in, yet at the same time, he wanted to run towards the fire.

Knowing he needed approval from the rest of his buddies, he emailed Craig, Jacob, Guy, Nathan, and Caleb, and asked them to meet him at their mountain cabin. Once they were reinserted into their old lives, they all chipped in and bought a place together, calling it their Fortress of Solitude. Any of them could use it at any time, and they often got together to hike, fish, or just hang out. The quiet of the place allowed them to meditate and continue practicing everything Albrecht taught them.

All of the guys responded to Rich's email immediately. Since it was Friday and none of them had duty on the weekends, gathering some clothes and heading out was no issue. Rich said he'd take care of the meals if everyone else would bring beer, drinks, ice, and snacks.

Rich lived closest to the cabin and got permission from his CO to leave early. He was so bothered by the news of his father that he had difficulty holding his centering flame, but once he was up the mountain, the peacefulness helped him regain equilibrium.

After unpacking, he put on his waders and went to the large creek about half a mile from the cabin. Using only his hands, he caught a dozen large mountain trout for the dinner he had already planned – baked trout lightly breaded and cooked in butter with a zesty cheese sauce, fresh asparagus, roasted potatoes, salad, and a lemon cake.

Guy was the next to arrive that afternoon. The five soldiers were tighter than their fathers ever were, especially Jacob and Craig. Ken and Brad had linked the brothers after the rescue in Syria. All of the soldiers had linked with whoever healed their injuries, but they hadn't linked with each other except when Albrecht linked them lightly during their training. At the time, he said they weren't ready to go deeper.

Guy swept Rich up into a bear hug, lifting his buddy off the ground.

"Damn, it's good to see you, Rich."

Laughing, Rich said, "It's only been a few months!"

"I know, I know, but I miss you. I miss seeing everyone every day. Sometimes I wish we could go back and live together in Australia. So, is there a particular reason you called everybody in? Or was it just time for a visit?"

Rich replied, "There actually is, Guy, but I want to wait until we're all here so I don't have to keep going over it."

"It sounds big. Are you alright?"

"Not exactly, but I know together we'll figure everything out. Hey, I came up early and caught some trout. Everyone else will be here soon. Let's get the beer on ice, and you can help me in the kitchen."

Guy knew his buddy well and saw he was troubled. Guy also knew how much Rich had grown as a man. Except for Jacob, Rich was the best among them. He understood Rich wanting to wait, but Guy was curious and already had his suspicions.

<><> 

The night was chilly but Nathan had a cord of wood in his pickup, so as they ate Rich's incredible meal, a roaring fire heated the cabin. The men quickly fell back into their banter as if no time had passed. Craig shooed Rich out of the kitchen while the rest of them cleaned up, and in no time they all sat around the fire sipping beer.

When a short pause fell, Rich cleared his throat and said, "Guys, we need to talk about a few things. Before we get to that voice and what it might mean and what we saw on TV with that Raphael guy, there's something important I need to bring up."

He hesitated a moment, and his eyes brightened in the firelight. Calling on his military discipline and centering flame, he pulled himself together and continued, "My mom called me two days ago. My dad has cancer and only has a few days, maybe a week, to live."

A smattering of "Oh fuck's" ran around the room.

"Stage IV pancreatic cancer, and there's less than a one percent chance he'll live, even with the most aggressive treatments. I want to ask you... we all have to agree if we do this, but I want to contact Ken and the guys in Atlanta to see if they'll step in and help my dad. They're his only chance at this point.

"Aside from that, after hearing that voice, I think we need to break protocol and contact them. I'm surprised we haven't already heard from them. We need to see if they need us. I don't know what we can do, but I feel we need to make the gesture. We'd be dead if it wasn't for them, and they got us our careers back. Albrecht taught us to become what we are. I'm damn proud of us, but I feel like we're wasted here with everything they face.

"I'm not sure what that will mean to our careers if it becomes known we're connected to them. After they came out on national television and Ken made his statement directed at the military..., I don't know, maybe we could become ambassadors or some shit. That would be cool."

Craig spoke up, "Rich..., about your dad. Did your mom say anything about my dad being there? I've tried to call my parents a few times, but they aren't picking up. I wonder if they're there."

Rich answered, "Yeah. My mom asked them to come. She specifically asked your dad to talk to him."

Craig got up, went outside, and pulled his phone out of his pocket.

<> 

Craig touched his father's number and put the phone to his ear. On the second ring, Kent picked up. "Hey, Craig."

"Dad... Jake and I are at the cabin with the guys. Rich just told us about his dad. Any update?"

Letting out a heavy sigh, Kent said, "Not yet. I lit into him pretty hard, son. He isn't talking to anyone right now, not even Julie. I definitely pissed him off, but I know how scared he is. I just don't know if it was enough."

"Dad, we're about to take a vote to break the no contact protocol and call Ken in Atlanta. Rich wants to ask him if the guys will heal Mr. Hampton."

"I see."

"I'll call you back in a few minutes after we decide. Give mom my love, and we'll talk in a few."

<> 

When Craig went back in, all eyes were on him. "My dad talked with him, Rich. Dad said he hit your dad pretty hard, and he's not talking to anyone, even your mom. You're dad's scared, Rich."

Rich exclaimed, "Fuck! That son of a bitch..., he's scared shitless, embarrassed, and too fucking stubborn to ask for help!"

Jake said, "He's just like my dad was, Rich. All our dads were like that. Hell, they still are."

After a slight pause, Jake said, "Show of hands. Who's for contacting Ken?"

With no hesitation all hands went into the air, and Rich breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I know it's not a given they'll help. There might be reasons we aren't aware of that will keep them from helping my dad, but I have to try."

Jacob said, "We all have our laptops, right? Let's all send the message at the same time from here. You know they'll track where we are. Hell, Brad will probably be in our heads in seconds, but it will show them how important it is we talk to them."

Each man retrieved his laptop and sat at the table. Rich reminded them, "Be sure to have Dr. Thomas' VPN active. Just a precaution in case work is keeping tabs on us."

Each of them had the emergency email address Aaron gave them. Aaron also gave them a phrase that didn't make sense until Rich read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Each of them typed only one short line of text... "So long, and thanks for all the fish!"

Rich said, "All together now, on three. One... two... three!"

None of them were nervous, but a hint of anxiety ran through them. They were stepping back into a world they had not been a part of for three years. That world was dangerous, but after hearing Elegroth's voice in their minds, it felt right. Their friends needed them, and Mr. Hampton's only hope of survival was in the healing ability that only their nephilim friends wielded.

<><> 

Lane slept in Bryan's arms. The two men were pressed so tightly together that Lane, even asleep, could feel and hear Bryan's strong, steady heartbeat. Listening to it calmed Lane like little else could. Amid Lane's comfort his Avatar started glowing softly, and as vivid colors sparked off his shoulder, he began to dream.

<> 

Ryan Atkins, The Prophet, moved about his apartment and seemed agitated. He didn't speak, and his caretakers seemed distraught for not knowing how to settle him.

Suddenly Orophir's dagger, softly glowing and beautifully simplistic, stared at Lane from the conference room table. Through his Gift, Lane perceived the void's green energy as it swirled in the gem along with the white energy of the second creation; the energy originally sourced by Orophir's essence to invoke a blood curse on Luke, The Dark One.

Orophir's words to Elegroth echoed in Lane's Dream.

"If there is anything left of my father in you, know that I will return to save or destroy him."

Shifting again, Lane saw Glenn Hampton in a hospital bed. His energy centers were weak, and Lane perceived the cancer that consumed him. Glenn had a few days left to live at most. Kent Peterson stood with Glenn, holding his hand. A battle raged within Glenn, and Kent valiantly fought to save his old friend. Raphael stood in the room, veiled, but he looked at Lane and nodded.

Lane smiled at the sight of the young soldiers they rescued in Syria. They were older; more mature. They looked amazing, and Lane knew they had continued Albrecht's teaching. Their bodies and minds were in tune with one another, and their auras shone brightly..., brighter than they should, especially Craig's.

They wore civilian clothes and were in a cabin talking. Lane knew Jacob was now a RECON Sniper. Craig switched his MOS to become a Navy SEAL. Guy, Caleb, Nathan, and Rich were all Army Rangers. Pride swelled in Lane as his Avatar made him aware of the changes in their lives.

They sat with laptops around a large table, and Rich said, "All together now, on three. One... two... three!"

Lane's eyes opened as soon as they all hit the enter key.

One last image shocked Lane fully awake - Glenn Hampton sitting in Waffle House talking with the dove.

<><> 

Lane: Brad?

Brad and Ken were on lab duty, asleep with Drew between them. Granny Wolf lay curled up on the foot of the bed and looked at Lane as though he were present.

Lane's voice activated a trigger in Brad's unconscious mind, and Brad instantly awoke.

Brad: What's up?

Lane: The Doc's about to get an email from Craig, Jake, and the rest of the gang. Something's going on. Glenn Hampton is dying and is in the cosmic Waffle House with the dove!

Merging their souls, Brad became aware of Lane's dream. Their eyes watered, and the slight sound and movement of Brad's breath catching woke Ken.

Ken: Everythin' okay?

Lane pulled Ken into the merge, and after seeing everything, Ken thought: I should'a contacted them before now, and we need `ta find out what's goin' on with Glenn Hampton. Maybe Frank's hashbrowns will win that fucker over.

The temporal aspect of Lane's Gift indicated the soldiers hadn't sent their message yet, but would in the next few minutes.

Ken put a hand on Drew, gently shaking him awake. "Hey, Tiger. Me and your Uncle B have a little work `ta do. Stay here and keep the bed warm for us, okay? We won't be long."

A heavy sleeper, Drew rolled over onto the warm spot Ken vacated and fell back asleep. He breathed deeply, smelling his uncle's scent. It wasn't Henry's, but it was a comfort and just as powerful. Granny Wolf sent Drew back into a peaceful slumber to play a game of catch with Henry in the park.

<> 

It was late and Brad didn't want to wake Darren, so between lifting the veil, listening to the music of creation, calling on animal spirits, and Ken drawing from Yggdrasil, Brad had enough power to translocate Ken and himself to the cabin.

Craig, Jacob, Rich, Nathan, Guy, and Caleb jumped when Ken and Brad appeared less than a second after having sent their emails.

Ken's smile was genuine as he said, "Hey, fellas. It's awesome `ta see you."

Brad's smile was just as wide, and the men seated around the table jumped up to hug and greet their old friends.

As he pulled back from hugging Brad, Jacob said, "I lost my bet. I said you'd be in our heads a few seconds after sending the messages, but you showed up in person!"

After the hugs, the guys pulled extra chairs up to the table, and Craig asked, "You guys want a beer?"

Ken replied, "Naw. We're good. It's late in Atlanta and we were in bed. Lane woke us up. He had a dream about a few things, one of which is your dad, Rich. We didn't know he was sick."

Rich said, "I didn't know either until two days ago. My dad didn't want me or anyone else to know, so Mom kept it under wraps. Craig and Jake's mom and dad are with him, and Mr. Peterson had a serious talk with my dad. Sounds like it was more of a lecture than a talk. Dad shut up after that and isn't even talking to my mom.

Rich hung his head, rubbing the back of his neck before he looked up and continued, "I know this is a lot to ask. I know you're busy – we heard that voice, which is another reason we wanted to reach out to you..., but I'm asking you to heal my dad. He's on his last leg and only has a few days ... well, it sounds like you already know what's wrong with him."

Brad's Avatar glowed softly and his compassion filled the room, wrapping around everyone. "I can't promise we'll do that, Rich. We'll go see him, but there's more going on than you know. We only learned a few minutes ago, but your dad might be more important in everything going on than we realize. We need to assess what's happening."

Everyone saw the disappointment on Rich's face, but Ken put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't `what if' yourself on this. I promise we'll go see him. Even if we decide `ta heal him, he has `ta want `ta get better. You know we operate on the pretext of free will. Hopefully, Kent givin' him a swift kick in the ass will make him see reason, but we just won't know `til we get there."

Jacob said, "Ken's right, Rich. You know we're all with you. All of us have leave saved up, and we don't have to report back until 0700 on Monday. Let's scuttle to Pennsylvania and make a surprise visit to your dad. All of us can give him an earful if we need to."

Brad said, "We'll take you with us. Are you ready?"

Caleb replied, "Give us five minutes to shut down the cabin, lock up, and grab our bags."

Ken: Fuck, I hope things work out. I didn't wanna tell `em yet that Glenn's actually talkin' `ta God. That would freak `em out.

Brad: I agree. Too much too soon. Damn, Ken, look at these guys. I'm seriously proud of them. They were lost puppies when we rescued them. Now they're total military studs. Albrecht brought out the best in each of them and planted seeds that grew into what we see.

Ken: I wanna get things settled with Glenn Hampton before we broach anything else about them helpin' us.

Brad: I didn't want to wake Dar to get us here, but we need him to get us all to Pennsylvania. I've found the hospital where Glenn is.

Ken: You're amazin'.

Brad winked. Just multitasking like my stud husband.

Ken chuckled. Flattery'll get you everywhere, Mr. Wilson.

Brad: I'm counting on it. I love having Drew sleep with us, but we can't fool around, and I need a little Ken Jr. time.

Ken: Is my dick all you ever think about?

Brad: How many times have you asked me that?

Ken: You're the one with the perfect memory, you tell me.

Brad: As of this moment, a hundred and fifty-seven times in the last five years.

Ken's grin appeared. Damn. Well, in my defense, you've said yes every time, so does that count as "I'm right?"

While Ken and Brad bantered, the soldiers got ready in less than five minutes and stood ready.

Brad: Dar? Sorry to wake you, bud, but we need a ride to Pennsylvania.

Brad's voice activated one of Darren's triggers, and he was instantly awake. Brad gave him a mental hug and sent the memory of Lane's dream and everything that happened in the last half hour.

Darren: Oh shit! Glenn Hampton's at the cosmic Waffle House?

Brad: He either is, or he's about to be.

Darren: Why don't I ever get to go?

After a short pause, Darren thought: Scratch that thought. If I did it would mean something really bad is happening either to me or one of you guys, and as good as Frank's hashbrowns apparently are, they aren't worth that much. Bry's are good enough. Plus, what would happen if I got pissed off and punched God?

Brad sent his brother a crystal-clear image of the large foyer on the first floor of the hospital as he watched through the eyes of the lady working at the reception desk.

<> 

Regular visiting hours were over, but the cancer center stayed open later than most hospitals. Terminal patients were allowed family members at all hours of the night.

They appeared with no flash or fanfare as Brad emitted a compulsion for no one to see or hear them. Rich's mother, still crying after attempting to talk to Glenn, was stepping off an elevator.

Rich ran to her, and as soon as he touched her, Brad's compulsion lifted. Startled, she threw her arms around her son. Julie hadn't seen Rich in the last three years and was shocked at how muscular and mature he had become, looking uncannily like Glenn at the same age.

"Mom!" The tears he held back rushed out when Julie's arms went around him. After holding their embrace for nearly a minute, Rich kept an arm around her shoulders when they parted and led her over to everyone.

Julie was embarrassed and sheepish after not speaking to any of them for the last three years. The young men she lived with in the Australian base were now men and no longer seemed young. Mature and radiating confidence, their faces showed compassion for her and sorrow for Glenn's situation.

She saw Ken and Brad and knowing that's how everyone got there, she offered both of her hands to them which they warmly accepted in theirs.

Rich asked, "Any updates?"

Dabbing her eyes with a Kleenex, Julie said, "Your father had a rough day. They drained more fluid out of him. They're keeping him alive and as comfortable as possible, but he's not doing well. He still won't talk to me. He turns his head away when I hold his hand and won't look at me."

Rich choked at her words and pulled her against him. "I'm so sorry, Mom. You don't deserve that. You've stuck with him all this time. I get why he hates me, but I can't believe he's treating you like this."

Looking at Ken and Brad, Julie asked, "Are you here to help him?"

Brad was honest and said, "We don't know yet, Julie. There's more going on with this situation than we know. We need to see him to discern whatever that is."

Julie's eyes widened and she stammered, "What? What do you mean?"

Brad glanced at Ken, and Ken's look told him he was in agreement to reveal part of Lane's dream. "All we know at this point is that God has taken a personal interest in Glenn, but we don't know why or what it means. We need to find out before we interfere."

<><> 

As soon as Julie left his room, Glenn pushed the morphine button so many times the alarm went off. His nurse ran to the room, but he was already asleep with the button in his hand before she got there.

She checked him, resettled his pillows as best she could, and dimmed the lights. As mean as he was to his wife, the other man who came to see him, and to her, she was compassionate and dedicated to easing his suffering as much as possible.

Raphael smiled on her and kissed her soul for being so kind. He rarely saw her level of compassion in a human under the curse, and she was a shining beacon in a dark place. Suddenly, Raphael's expression changed, not in alarm but in surprise. The dove approached, and Raphael dropped to one knee, bowing his head and spreading his wings.

Father.

I am pleased you are here, Raphael. Brad will be happy to know you are watching over Glenn Hampton.

It seems right.

Pray for him, Raphael. He needs it more than most humans. Await our return. Call your brothers; the four corners must be present.

To Raphael, the dove and Glenn Hampton's soul vanished.

<><><> 

Glenn looked around in a panic. He wasn't in the hospital bed, and he realized immediately that he not only felt good but great. He was sitting in a booth at a Waffle House, and a woman's voice hollered out, "Be right with `ya darlin'!"

A cook with his back to the counter stood scrubbing and cleaning the greasy surface of the grill. Frank took a wet cloth, squeezed water onto the hot surface, and then used a spatula to scrape up the grease and move the water around as it bubbled and steamed until it was gone. Glenn watched, fascinated, and felt even better as Frank worked, sensing a connection to cleaning the grill that he didn't understand.

A grinning woman missing most of her front teeth with a nametag that read "Lula" came from the back room, straightening her apron as she approached his table. He watched her, dumbfounded, as she efficiently set a napkin and silverware on the table.

She pulled out a bright yellow ticket book from an apron pocket and opened it to a blank page. After digging in the same pocket for a pen, she dabbed its end on her tongue and asked, "What would `ya like `ta drink, darlin'?"

Glenn hadn't had an appetite or eaten anything solid in weeks. Picking up the menu to look at the drink options, his jaw dropped. His hands... his arms... looking at himself, his hands flew to his chest, feeling a hard, solid body. In the reflection of the laminated menu, his face was young and handsome. He looked like he did in the early nineties when he was in the Navy and in the best shape of his life.

Unsure if his reaction was fear, anger, or both, he blurted out, "What is this freak shit!? What have you done to me!?"

Taken aback, Miss Lula asked, "Don't you like it, baby? We thought you'd feel better this way."

Glenn jumped again when a man across the table from him he hadn't noticed said, "If you wish to return to your cancer-ridden body, We can do that, Glenn. We did this, to make talking easier."

Frank turned to stare at him, and Glenn trembled. The cook's eyes... they sparkled. Glenn's gaze darted to Lula and then to the man across from him, and their eyes were the same. Not like the faggot nephilim... but filled with infinite, unconditional love, patience, and all creation. He knew beyond any doubt that these beings loved him. Steeped in his brokenness, instead of being comforted, Their gaze hurt him.

In anger, all the pent-up knots of his life, irrational though they were, surfaced, and he practically screamed at them, "Don't start any freak shit with me! What do you want?"

Lula ignored his outburst and said, "You need some decaf, sugar. Look over the menu, darlin', and I'll be back `ta take your order."

Calmly, the dove stared at Glenn, which made him uncomfortable. After a moment, He asked, "Why are you so filled with rage, Glenn? Do you know? You push away everyone who loves or cares about you."

Somehow, Glenn comprehended that the being across the table from him knew him. Every detail of his life, every second of his existence... the dove knew how many hairs were on Glenn's head, how many pores were in his skin, how many cells were in his body... everything. Glenn also knew, despite everything, the man loved him unconditionally, which made him angrier and more terrified. "What do you want from me! Leave me alone!"

"You say that, Glenn, but that is not what you want. I find that most people who wish to be left alone really want to be found. Under the curse, there are many wretched people. Starvation, disease, homelessness..., these conditions are rampant across the earth. Humans treat each other so horribly..., but you, Glenn, while not the worst, are one of the worst among them. Everything Kent Peterson said to you is true."

"What do you mean?"

Lula returned to set coffee and water on the table. "You made up yer mind, darlin?"

Angry and agitated, Glenn picked up the menu and pointed to a picture of a T-bone steak, eggs, hashbrowns, toast, and a salad.

"Okay... How do you want your steak?"

"Rare!"

"Eggs?"

"Over medium!"

"Toast?"

"White!"

Anything in your hashbrowns?"

"Onions and cheese!"

"Dressing?"

"Thousand Island!"

Glenn shouted his answer to each question, but Lula was unflappable, and her toothless smile never faltered.

"Alright, darlin', if you need anythin' just holler, but maybe not quite as loud. I'm old, but my hearin' isn't gone yet. I'll bring your food out shortly."

The dove said, "I'll have my usual. I don't want Glenn to eat alone."

<><> 

Rich and the others didn't know what to make of Brad's comment.

Julie started crying, and Rich hugged her tighter. "It's going to be alright, Mom, one way or another. This has to be good news, right?"

Brad's eyes flashed white, and his Avatar glowed softly. One with his husband, Ken saw Brad's brief vision, and his brow creased slightly as he said, "Fellas, I think the rest of you should call your dads. I know Glenn doesn't want anyone knowin' what's goin' on, but somethin's happenin' here. Kent and Margie are already in a hotel just down the road, but the rest of Glenn's buddies should be here."

Brad: This is going to be interesting. I'm going to put the rest of our guys on standby. Something tells me we'll all need to be here soon.

<><> 

In his younger body, Glenn had a full head of hair, cut to regulation length as he always kept it. He couldn't see himself, but now like Henry, a white spot appeared in his hair, over his forehead above his left eye - evidence of God's touch.

"I will tell you, Glenn, that the curse lies heavier in you than most humans."

Before Glenn spewed another retort, Miss Lula returned, balancing all their plates on one arm. She repeated each item as she set it down, and suddenly Glenn felt ravenous. He hadn't felt hungry in months, and the sensation was euphoric. It was such a simple thing, but he missed being hungry and enjoying food.

"Do you need any steak sauce, darlin'?"

Glancing at the table, Glenn saw a ketchup bottle beside the napkin holder and the salt and pepper shakers. For the first time since he arrived, he spoke in a normal tone of voice, "No, ketchup's fine."

"We have fresh pie today, so save room. I'll warm up your coffee. Don't talk too much, or your food'll go cold."

The dove didn't say anything and started cutting up his steak, quietly observing Glenn. The nexus they sat in, like when Ken and Henry visited on a few occasions, was a reprieve from the curse. The curse didn't exist in the restaurant, and in the short time Glenn had been there, his mind and soul unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

God brought Glenn there specifically for that reason and coupled with the white lock in his hair, They hoped Glenn now had enough wisdom to see his life and pierce the cloud of his brokenness to remember what happened to him as a child. Events had been blocked from his consciousness, but Glenn's heart remembered the root of his suffering, and when his life became twisted.

As Glenn's hunger dissipated, so did his anger. Aside from being in his younger body, he had no idea why he felt so much better. Looking at his arms, he flexed one to remember what it felt like to be strong. He missed it. He actually felt a pang of remorse for how he had been treating Kent after he returned from death twenty-five years younger. Having the same thing happen to him gave him a new perspective. The white lock in his hair seemed brighter with his revelation.

Looking down at his empty plate, Glenn noticed that it was so clean it could almost go back on the rack. The food, especially the hash browns, tasted better than anything he had eaten in his entire life.

Miss Lula cleared the plates and said, "I'll be right back with a big slice `a apple pie. Do you like it warm or cold?"

"Warm, please, with butter."

When Glenn arrived at the restaurant, the sun shone through the windows, but he noticed the dark outside and wondered how long he had been there. Before he thought too much about it, Miss Lula set a large slice of apple pie with fresh melted butter in front of him, and said, "Careful, it's hot." She refilled his coffee and went back behind the counter. The aroma of the steaming pie and fresh coffee affected him profoundly, and again he didn't understand why.

The dove asked him, "Did you enjoy your meal?"

Glenn hadn't felt so light-hearted in... well, since he could remember. Trying to crack a joke, he said, "No, but I didn't want to hurt the cook's feelings."

Frank's back was to them, but he smiled at Glenn's response. The dove's smile mirrored Franks, and even though they couldn't see her, Miss Lula's did as well. Glenn's humor showed the first crack in the darkness blanketing him.

"You've asked a few times why you are here. Now that you have settled some and enjoyed Frank's hashbrowns, we must talk. How much do you remember of your father?"

"Not much. He died when I was a teenager, but he wasn't around much when I was younger. He was mean and not afraid to whoop my ass at the drop of a hat. Is that what this is about? You think I'm messed up because my old man hit me when I was a kid?"

The dove's smile left his face, and he replied, "It's nothing so simple. Your father wasn't simply mean, Glenn; he was evil. He belonged to the enemy that Ken, Brad, and the others you call `faggots' and `freaks' fight against. Your father's evil touched you as a child so that you never could have a chance at a normal life. Your free will was compromised at that point, and his touch perverted and twisted everything within you, leaving you open and vulnerable to the curse."

The dove's words sinking into Glenn, rekindled long forgotten or suppressed memories and emotions. Growing up, he stopped wondering why everything made him angry or frustrated him to the point of rage. He tried to control it..., and his mother sent him to a therapist who taught him coping mechanisms after his father died. Those mechanisms made his life bearable and allowed him to function better in society. His mother urged him to join the military to help him learn discipline, which also helped..., but everything continued to boil and seethe just below the surface, ready to explode in a moment.

Glenn didn't realize he was crying until he blinked and his vision blurred from the tears. Looking down, he saw the front of his shirt was wet. There, in the presence of God and away from the curse, his soul breathed naturally for the first time since his childhood, and his mind was free from rage. The lingering anger he felt when he arrived was residual and from habit, but the longer he sat in the diner, the calmer he felt.

However, his scars ran deep. Glenn's soul was so marred and scabbed that he didn't know how to react other than to cry. Lowering his head, Glenn blubbered like a baby, and the dove's wings wrapped around him. Glenn's pain was difficult for God because free will and the curse caused it. In His plan, this had to happen, yet God grieved.

Few humans were touched by the curse so severely. God rarely intervened other than allowing such people a place in Heaven; however, he made an exception for Glenn Hampton because he was close to death and had a connection to His third children, the hybrid-nephilim.

While Glenn's tears poured out a lifetime of misery, the sun rose and set many times as his body continued to decline in the physical realm.

<><> 

The prophet bolted upright, startling his caretakers. One of them immediately hit "record" on the camera as Ryan began to speak.

"A wicked man wrought with sickness stands on the brink of damnation. Steeped in the curse of Eden, he is blind to the truth of the world, yet hope shines. One who has returned from hell, once his brother, fights for him to hear the dove and find salvation. The gates of heaven open for him, and though his body dies, his soul shall pass, and the choir will sing his honor."

Phil, Roger, and the other men looked blankly at one another. They had no idea of whom the prophet spoke, but his words made their hearts light and their eyes tearful.

<><> 

Outside the arc of time, Glenn continued to cry. The equivalent of years passed to expunge everything within him. Wrapped in the comfort of the Triune God, he drifted and let himself be held.

When Glenn could finally speak, he stammered, "What... what's happening to me?"

"I am allowing your mind and soul a reprieve from your earthly suffering, and I am restoring your free will so you can choose your path. You have the wisdom to decide. Julie and Rich are at your bedside. Others who care about you are with them."

Fearing what would happen when he left God's loving presence and went back to his body, Glenn didn't want to leave. The extreme respite from the curse and his suffering made him think that he didn't have the strength to go back.

Knowing Glenn's thoughts, the dove said, "I am with you, Glenn. I always have been, through everything. All of your life's pain has been mine. What your father did to you is now gone, and I will hold the curse at bay long enough for you to talk with those at your bedside."

"What do I have to decide?"

"Your fate. Either come with me to Heaven or allow my third children to heal and restore your body. That path allows you to live out the remainder of your life with Julie and Rich. Perhaps you might convince Elliot, Eldon, and Guy to change their ways. They are not touched by the curse as you were, but they followed your old path and are miserable as a result."

<><> 

The scene was devastating. Rich and Julie stood on either side of Glenn's bed and held his hands. The small room was packed with medical equipment. Guy, Elliot, and Eldon, the other members of The Goon Squad stood silent and awkward at the foot of the bed. Kent and Margie were just inside the door. Unseen by the humans, Uriel, Raphael, Michael, and Gabriel stood at the room's north, east, south, and west corners, prepared to invoke the four corners ritual.

Darren translocated everyone except Zack and Adam to the hospital. Aside from not knowing or understanding the history between their brothers and the young soldiers and their families, Ken wanted Zack and Adam to stay in the lab as protection during their absence. Drew couldn't be left alone.

Ken, Brad, and their brothers remained as one, with their collective aura bright and powerful. Guy, Caleb, Nathan, Craig, and Jacob stood with Ken and the others in a waiting area, just around the corner from Glenn's room.

Julie, Rich, Elliot, Eldon, and Guy gasped when a man appeared in the room. As he opened his eyes, Genn's grip tightened on the hands of his wife and son.

When the dove appeared, as He promised, the curse ceased to exist for the humans in the room, and their souls gained a reprieve. None understood what they felt, but the subtle lack of pressure and corruption that had always pushed against them became absent. A lightness of heart they had never experienced lifted their souls, and along with the dove's aura, they felt how all humans should feel without the blanket of the curse. Rich instinctively knew the man in the room was God, or a part of God, as Brad had explained.

For the first time Julie or Rich could remember, Glenn smiled at them, and it transformed his face. With tears he said, "I love you both. Thank you for being with me. I know I don't deserve you."

Glancing at his buddies, Glenn said, "You too. I appreciate you coming."

Rich asked, "Dad?"

Glenn let out a weary sigh and said, "So much is clear now; I don't know where to start. `I'm sorry' can't undo the years I mistreated you and your mom."

Realizing the profound change in his father, Rich looked directly into the dove's eyes holding all creation and said, "Thank you."

Looking back at his father, Rich said, "Dad..., Ken, Brad, and their buddies are here too. They're going to heal you and make you better."

Rich was shocked when his dad said, "I don't think so, Son. There are a lot of reasons, and I wish I had time to explain them, but that's not going to happen."

Julie's hands went to her face as she burst into tears. Rich choked up, asking, "Why? I don't understand!"

Brad listened to their minds and all of his brothers heard through him. They were shocked by the absence of the curse. Pat's eyes sparkled and he saw the effect on the humans in the other room and he understood how humans would exist without the curse.

Brad created a private link between Glenn, Rich, and Julie: There is time, Glenn. We can give you that. They need to understand.

With his words, Brad merged the husband, wife, and son. In an instant that took a small eternity, everything about what happened to Glenn became known to the other two. The cause of the pain he brought them during their lives was clear, but with the knowledge of why and how Glenn became the way he was, forgiveness was easy. The love he should have had for his wife and son all along filled them. His pride in Rich for being a Ranger and breaking all the army records in his physical and written tests flooded into Rich. The intensity was nearly excrutiating, but without the curse and Brad's compassion surrounding them, they loved each other, accepted each other, and forgave one another unconditionally.

Through Brad, the rest of the team saw the dove and the archangels in the room and wondered about their purpose. They were thrilled at Glenn Hampton's redemption but still pondered why.

When Glenn, Julie, and Rich came back to themselves with tears in their eyes, Glenn said, "I hope you understand my decision now. There's no way I can make up for the shit show of my life. I damaged everyone and everything I touched, and there's no way for me to rectify any of that at my age. It's best for everyone if I'm not around anymore. I have a chance to go to Heaven and finally rest... be happy. My only regret is leaving Julie. Rich, you need to stay here and fight what's happening, but I wish Julie could come with me."

The dove spoke, "She shall if she wishes. Her love for you, despite everything you have done to her, is all that is necessary."

Glenn's eyes squeezed shut, and more tears dripped down his cheeks. He squeezed Julie's hand tighter and choked out, "Please come with me, honey. You deserve this more than I do for dealing with me all these years."

With joyous tears, Julie told the dove, "He's not going without me."

Seeing Rich cry, his stud Army Ranger son, hurt Glenn. He did a double-take when he saw the white lock of hair on Rich's head. Julie's hair was frosted, the way she always kept it, so it was difficult to see, but Glenn knew she had the same mark.

"Come closer, son. I have to touch your face."

Rich leaned over the bed, and Glenn cupped Rich's face with both his hands and felt the strength in his son. One hand went up and brushed through Rich's short hair and came to rest against his jaw. "I love you, Rich. I could never say that before, or how proud I am of you. Despite me, you turned out better than I could ever have hoped."

Rich couldn't articulate. The words his heart had longed to hear his entire life passed his father's lips, and a light burst forth in Rich's heart and soul. Gripping Glenn's hand, Rich brought it up, kissed it, and managed to say, "Thanks, Dad. I love you too. I didn't always like you, but I never stopped loving you. Albrecht taught me that."

"Tell him I'm sorry, too. Tell him and the rest of your buddies I'm sorry."

"They're here, Dad, just outside."

"Good. I don't want you to be alone when we're gone. Don't be sad. I know you will be. You'll miss your mom way more than you'll miss me, and I get that, but I want to make sure you're taken care of. As God is my witness, I leave everything to you. You're my only heir, but I don't have a will."

Glancing at his old friends, he said, "You hear that? You're witness to this too. I want no contention about it – everything of mine and Julie's goes to Rich."

Julie went to Rich and kissed his forehead and said, "You gave me all of the happiness I had in this life, and now you know how much I've always loved you." With that, she looked at Glenn and nodded.

To the dove, Glenn said, "We're ready."

The dove nodded to Michael, and the invocation of the Four Corners ritual began. Despite everything they had already witnessed, the humans were overawed at the sight of the four archangels in their bright armor wielding their weapons, invoking their authority of protection. The hospital disappeared around them and as their wings stretched out they encompassed Ken, Brad, the rest of the team, and the soldiers.

Glenn and Julie were young again, the way Rich remembered them as a child. He threw his arms around his parents, sobbing so hard he couldn't form words, but they knew his emotions through Brad. Rich's sadness ran deep, but he was joyous knowing his parents would be safe in heaven where they couldn't be touched by Elegroth or any other evil in the world.

The dove said, "Uriel is busy, so I shall take you." Holding out his hands, Glenn and Julie each took one, and he led them away. After only a few steps, the light around the dove became too bright for human eyes, and when it dimmed, the hospital room returned, and Glenn, Julie, the archangels, and the dove were gone. The dove had taken Glenn and Julie bodily into heaven.

The emotions in Ken, Brad, and the rest of the team were intense. Miracles happened around them more frequently as events progressed towards a final confrontation they still knew nothing about, but these miracles profoundly touched their hearts and souls. Tears ran down their cheeks from the joy of Glenn Hampton's redemption and being taken to Heaven by God.

Brad: Holy shit.

Ken: You can say that again.

Brad winked at Ken and thought: Holy Shit.

Ken couldn't help but grin as he and Bad entered the room and went to Rich. Ken put his hands on Rich's shoulders and asked, "Are you alright?"

Through his tears, Rich sniffed and nodded, "Yeah. I'll miss them, especially mom, but I get all this."

Brad touched Rich's white lock of hair and said, "I bet you do. We'll talk about everything when you're ready. There's a lot to discuss."

Ken turned to Elliot, Eldon, and Guy, "You okay? This is some heavy stuff."

Ken: They don't have the same mark in their hair.

Bryan: The dove chose not to touch them. Their lives are fucked up enough without that. I shouldn't sound so harsh, but they're probably too dumb to handle it. Hell, He had his reasons, and they always seem fucked up to us, so who knows.

Ken said aloud, "If you wanna talk about this, or need `ta talk, call us. I know there's a history between us, but the door's always open."

Kent, standing at the doorway, said, "My door too, guys. It might be easier for you to talk to me. Glenn and I did talk before all this happened. It's up to you, but you know how to reach Margie and me."

Elliot, Eldon, and Guy still had tears in their eyes and didn't say anything but nodded their affirmation of Ken and Kent's offer, and the three of them walked heavily from the room.

Darren: Well, if everything they just saw doesn't knock some sense into them, I don't know what will. I hope they get in touch with Kent or us.

Loy: It's worse for them. Glenn was touched by the curse. They weren't. They're just weak-willed, not so bright dumbasses who followed Glenn's lead.

Rich walked out and was immediately surrounded by his buddies, holding him and pulling him into a group hug. As they embraced, the equipment alarms in Glenn's room went off, and Brad shut them off with his mind.

Brad: What about the staff?

Ken: Let `em think whatever they want. We'll let Raph know what happened in case anyone makes a connection to us. Captain Planet, pretty please, take us `ta the lab.

Rick's Avatar represented truth and freedom, and he, more than any of them, felt better about not hiding their presence. They all wondered if they should have come out to the world sooner.

Rick: It's nice not having to cover everything up.

Darren synchronized their Avatars, and with a white flash of his eyes, the team, the soldiers, and Kent and Margie appeared in the Atlanta lab.

When they appeared, Ken said in everyone's mind: Everyone meet in the conference room in fifteen. We need a debriefin'. I know it's late, so we'll keep it short and get everyone back where they need `ta be.

<><> 

As soon as they arrived in the lab, the team quickly changed out of their suits. Brad shared everything with Sally, and she noted Rich's expression. With a genuine smile, she greeted the soldiers she hadn't seen in three years. The soldiers were happy to see her and hugs ensued. She couldn't help herself, and much to his chagrin, but to the humor of his buddies, she pinched Craig's cheeks.

When she got to Rich, she said, "I'm so sorry, Rich."

Rich didn't say anything for a few seconds and then sniffed. "Thanks, Miss Bisel. They aren't dead, and I know they're in Heaven. I can hardly believe what happened with my dad... I'm happy for him and Mom, but I already miss them. I can't just pick up the phone and call them. That's so weird because I haven't talked to them in three years, but now they're gone, and I miss them more than ever. I wish we had spoken more often... at least Mom. I feel like I let her down."

Sally said, "It's a lot to take in. And you didn't let Julie down at all. She supported your dad, and it was her decision, but I bet she feels the same way you do. Do you feel like she let you down?"

Rich's forehead creased at Sally's question, and he quickly responded, "No! I don't think that at all."

"Then why do you think she would feel that way towards you?"

The white lock in Rich's hair brightened under the kitchen lights. As the wisdom of Sally's question soaked into him, Rich hugged Sally. She patted his back and said, "I know."

Smiling warmly, Sally said, "I'm going to order some food. I know all of you guys are bottomless pits. I still have your preferences saved from the Uluru base, but have there been any changes? You all look like you take care of yourselves, so I don't want to get anything that's not on your diet."

With a slight grin, Rich said, "Yeah, we eat healthy for the most part, but we'll eat whatever's put in front of us. The old list will work fine. Maybe later I'll help you update it, but for now it's all good."

With so many people, Ken decided to gather in the gym. Loy and a few of the guys went in ahead of everyone to pull the mats together. Before Kevin and Bill went in, Sally called out, "Bill? Kevin? Can I have a minute?"

Bill's stomach twigged slightly, letting him know whatever she wanted to talk about was serious. Sally tapped her temple, indicating they should talk in their minds for privacy.

Kevin: What's up? Is something wrong with Tommy or Brett?

Sally: I managed to get them to bed, but Tommy's upset. He had a breakdown right after you all left for Hawaii. He thought you weren't coming back – like Henry. He's terrified that one or both of you will be hurt or killed, and he's terrified of going back to the orphanage. I did my best, but you really need to talk with him.

Bill: Fuck! I should have seen this coming!

Sally: Don't go there, Bill. Look what you guys are dealing with. If anyone should have seen the signs, it's me. I teach the kids and am with them most of the day. He's acted a little off lately, and I've been meaning to talk to you, but things keep coming up. Big ones. With Aaron and Albrecht gone my workload is over the top. I'm not saying that as an excuse; I just...

Kevin: It's not your fault, Sal. Bill's right. We should have anticipated this and talked with the boys about Henry being gone. We'll speak to them first thing tomorrow after breakfast.

Ken's voice entered everyone's minds. Everyone into the gym.

<> 

As they filed in and found their seats, Craig realized he hadn't seen Henry, Aaron, or Albrecht. "Where's Mr. Ross, Dr. Thomas, and Albrecht? We figured they'd be here."

Ken said, "That's not an easy answer."

Drew ran in and stopped as soon as he saw his old friends. After only a second he launched himself at Jacob, who stood to pick him up. They hugged each other tightly and Jacob ruffled his hair, saying "Hey there, Drewmeister! Man have you grown!"

Jake passed Drew off to Craig, who passed him off to Nathan, then Guy, Rich, and finally Caleb. Ken and the guys weren't sure who was happier to see who, and it took a minute for everyone to settle and retake their seats. Drew sat beside Ken, who kept a hand on his back.

<> 

Brad quickly merged the twelve members of the team and pulled Zack into their hearts for a private conversation. They were deep enough that time stopped moving, and Brad asked: How much do we want to disclose? It's not that we don't trust them, but I don't want to put them at risk by knowing too much.

Loy: It depends on how far in we want to bring them. They broke protocol and contacted us, and it wasn't only on account of Glenn's illness. They want to be involved again and help. We were going to approach them about assisting in finding lost protectors, so it can't be a coincidence. They beat us to the punch.

Ricky: Tell them everything. We can't expect them to make a decision to help us if we hold information back. Look at them! They've grown into men! They were soldiers before, but now they're men. Following Albrecht's mentorship and ideology brought out what was dormant in all of them, especially Rich.

Bryan: I'm so fucking proud of that fucker. From a cook to a Ranger! And top of his class.

Pat: They've grown into what we need. What the balance needs. We need them with us. When I look through my Avatar and Gift – it's hard to say it any other way than they `fit' into everything like we do, only on a slightly smaller scale.

Ken sighed: I know, guys. I see all this too. It's just... I wanna protect them from what's comin'. I'm tired of losin' people.

Brad: It's their choice. It's their free will. We can't and don't have any right to keep them from helping. What we do need to decide, with their input, is what role.

Ken: I know. I'm thinkin' about Albrecht and what's botherin' him. It bothers me too, but I can't imagine livin' thousands of years of losin' people and seein' the world roll by. Our efforts haven't made any difference. If anythin', the world feels worse off than when we started all this.

After a slight pause, he continued: I'm sorry, guys. Let's get back on track. I agree with Ricky. Full disclosure has `ta happen, and we'll go from there.

Worry and concern for Ken kept them from going back up right away. Drew scooted close to Ken and put his arm around his uncle, pressing against him. They stayed with Ken until his thoughts and attitude settled before they went back up.

<> 

Brad said, "It will be easiest if we link and share our memories to bring you up to speed."

Brad brought the minds of the soldiers, Kent, and Margie, into a separate link with the team. Taking them deep enough for time to stop, he waited until the humans were comfortable. The soldiers settled almost immediately. They meditated every day, and Brad and the guys were highly impressed at how well-centered their minds and thoughts were. Kent wasn't far behind them, but Margie never studied under Albrecht, and Kent never pushed her to, so she was slower to settle.

Lane took everyone back in time to when the first of Luke's new demons breached the second creation to kill Drew. Drew's excitement and fun at playing ball in his new uniform just before he moved through the stone and traveled to the doors for the first time to see Eleleth inundated the link.

Even with time not moving, sharing everything took hours. To their credit, the soldiers didn't say anything, although their eyes were wide. They took in everything, piecing events together and gaining a better understanding of what their friends faced.

It reinforced how great Ken, Brad, and the rest of their friends were. In addition to watching Uriel take Glenn and Julie Hampton to heaven, Brad shared the time when Tanner Rawlins was taken to heaven with his wife and two sons and also when Ken's mother, Gladys, and brother, Rich, were taken by Uriel.

As humans, walking with archangels and communicating with God seemed beyond them, so Brad pointed out the white lock of hair now displayed by Rich and how Henry's wisdom enriched their lives which made such a huge difference in their fight against the Enemy.

Once the memories ran their course, Brad kept them linked but took them up so time began moving normally again. Only seconds had passed for their bodies.

Ken said, "Now that you know everythin', we need `ta give you time for it all `ta soak in. We're runnin' short on beds here, so Dar can send you back `ta your cabin for the night. Kent, you and Margie can stay here if you like, or we can send you back `ta your hotel. We'll get everyone back here in the mornin' and pick this discussion up on how we wanna proceed."

<><> 

Lane and Bryan were on duty and curtailed their usual lovemaking since Drew was between them. After reliving the memories Lane invoked, Drew was upset and missed Henry more than ever. He longed for Henry's arms around him, rubbing his back and making him giggle.

Bryan and Lane saw it, not only through the link they maintained between the three of them, but also in Drew's eyes. Drew could hold back his tears, but not his sadness.

Drew sat between his uncles who reclined on the bed, and asked off handedly, "Do you think Dad misses me?"

His question caught both men off guard. Lane spoke first, "That's a tough one, kiddo. The short answer is yes, I think he misses you terribly, but it's complicated because of Eleleth."

The tattoos on Bryan's forearms fluttered as the thought and memory of Henry's life came to him. "Don't think because your dad loves Eleleth, he doesn't love you too, or any less. Eleleth shouldn't be able to merge with anyone from our creation, so it's different. It's only because..."

Drew cut him off, saying, "It's my fault."

Lane's brow furrowed at Drew's comment. "Why do you think that?"

"Because of my brother. When the birdman talked to me at the castle about my brother, he made my dad special. I mean, even more special than he already was... to me anyway. That's why Mr. Eleleth can merge with him. If I wasn't so scared, the birdman wouldn't have needed to talk with him, and he never would have touched my dad."

Bryan's eyes brightened, and a single tear leaked out of the corner of his eye as he pulled Drew snuggly against him. "Don't think that! None of this is your fault! Your dad was already chosen. When God touched him, He did it for a lot of reasons, and that was only one of them. It wasn't because of you. It would have happened anyway."

Lane said, "You need to stop `what if'ing' this Tiger. None of this is your fault. Your dad loves you. Just before he went back to the doors, I saw him trying to reach for you. Your dad's overwhelmed right now. Except for God, Eleleth is the most powerful being we know of, and your dad is lost in him. You know how hard it is for you to separate from your dad when you merge, and with Eleleth, it's a thousand times harder. It's not that he doesn't want to come back to you..., he can't. At least not right now."

Bryan sighed, "I know this is hard to hear, kiddo, but your dad has to stay where he is to protect you. Until we find the rest of the Gifts, your dad is the only one strong enough to stop Elegroth. Even if he wants to come back to you and us, he can't until he knows you'll be safe. So don't think he doesn't love you..., he loves you so much he's doing this to protect you."

Drew's expression changed, and he sucked in breath as hot tears finally let loose to spill down his cheeks. Through his understanding, Bryan knew they were tears of relief. His words resonated with Drew and gave him the perspective he needed. He was still sad and missed Henry more than anything, but the idea that Henry didn't want to come back to him vanished.

Lane and Bryan embraced each other, squishing Drew in between them. They were already in bed and naked, and the warmth of their bodies pressing against him, the heat of their presence and love, created a wall around Drew that took his worries away.

Now that Bryan understood Drew had figured out Henry's dilemma, he tickled Drew. Lane got in on it, and Drew was breathless after only a few seconds. Both men kissed him on his cheeks and hugged him, once again proving his uncles were infallible and knew the answers to everything.

Once they quieted, Lane said, "Hey, Drew, I have an idea."

"What's that, Uncle Lane?"

"Well, I know you're already a way better chef than Gordon Ramsey thanks to Bry. What do you think about me teaching you to play the guitar? It will help take your mind off things, and you can surprise your dad when he comes back! Besides, your dad sings really great, and you can form a little two-man band to entertain all of us and give me a rest!"

"Wow! Really?! That will be so cool!"

Lane's eyebrows raised as he said, "I might be setting myself up here. Of course, if I teach you, I'll have to teach any of the other kids if they want, too. But... expanding your musical education will be worth it. It might cut into your Dragon Ball Z time, though!"

Bryan smiled, "Between helping me cook, learning to play, lessons with Ms. Sally, and watching cartoons, you'll be one busy bee!"

"I want to learn more gymnastics too. Uncle Ken says I still can't lift the big weights, but I want to be ready when he says it's okay."

Lane chuckled, "There won't be enough hours in the day, Tiger. It's a good thing you have super cool uncles with super cool powers. I can teach you kids in a construct so it won't take as much time out of your day. We'll make time!"

Drew looked at his uncles and his face assumed his adult expression. "I love you guys. Thanks for loving me back so much."

His comment teared them up. Drew stretched out with his back to Bryan, snuggling against him, and Lane got on his side facing them. Drew pulled Lane's hand against his chest so that he was touching his two uncles simultaneously. He let out a contented sigh and said, "You're the best. Goodnight."

Lane leaned forward and kissed Drew's forehead, whispering, "Don't let the bedbugs bite."

Lane and Bryan stayed awake talking in their minds about what happened. Their auras shone on Drew while he slept, and Granny Wolf made sure his dreams were good.

She gave no indication of what she saw coming for Lane, though. The ether in the realm of dreams was thick that night, forming a vortex that breached many realms to touch Lane's Avatar and Gift. She alerted Cavall, who also saw what was building, and he growled low in his throat.

<><><> 

Allenor's forge remained warm and humid, and while Aaron and Albrecht didn't stay naked as Lane suggested, they wore only shorts. It had been hundreds of years since they shared such solitude, and it struck them both how disconnected they had become. Even merging as often as they did, the pressures of supporting their sons, Drew, Henry, the other children, and all the minute responsibilities had stretched them apart.

They spent the first day setting up their camp, stilling their minds and hearts, meditating together, and practicing their preferred tantric ritual. Albrecht took them back in their thoughts to when they first met and the century of fishing in a pond with no fish when he taught Aaron patience.

Aaron: I'm sorry, love. I feel this is my fault.

Albrecht: Nonsense. We are still human, even though our minds are awake. We are not above the nature of the human psyche. Even as original men and out from under the auspices of the curse, God still created us to be in relationships with everything that entails. We need this and need to make more time to do so in the future.

Aaron: Assuming there is a future. I fear for our sons, Albrecht. Elegroth is so far above the Master...

Albrecht: Yes, but again God's intervention in our son's creation was to face this situation. As with the Master, I believe they will prevail. What remains to be seen is the cost.

After the first day, Albrecht noted how often Aaron smiled, and it lifted his heart. He nurtured Aaron's emotions, and Aaron nurtured his, and with no cares for the moment except for each other, their accumulated stress, especially in Albrecht, began to fade.

Aaron couldn't help himself and began to explore, taking meticulous notes and pictures of every facet of Allenor's forge. Because Allenor was so large, they often had to climb on what appeared to be furniture to get high enough to actually see.

Everything in the forge was alien to them, yet Aaron insisted that there had to be some base similarities between the creations. The structures that seemed like tables or furniture housed what appeared to be tools and yet unidentifiable objects. The main difficulty was the proportions.

Allenor's appearance in Lane's illustrations showed that the immense creature had opposable thumbs on his feet and his hands, and his joints had incredible range of motion because they were multi-directional.

After mapping the forge, the chamber that housed Bryan's Gift, and the receptacles for the others, Aaron thought: I feel as though we are missing something.

Teasingly, Albrecht thought: You mean a button that will blow up everything?

Aaron actually chuckled. Yes, among other things. Possibly Allenor did not need to eat or sleep, but I doubt it. As alien as his physiology was, the basic principles of organic life require nutrients to survive. If he lived here, where did he prepare food and sleep if he had need? There is no evidence of such a space so far... perhaps there are other chambers?

Closing his eyes, Aaron imagined Allenor moving about the cave. With the structures placement, there were not many options for the direction of other chambers. Not knowing the perceptions of Allenor's race or if he saw his surroundings in any way close to how human vision and senses operated, Aaron and Albrecht did their best to unbind their minds from human acuities.

Frustrated at first, Aaron soon laughed at himself. He always instructed his sons to break down problems and use the principle of Occam's Razor. The forge was immaculate having no rocks or debris, so they used the pommels of their knives to tap on walls, and they called out to listen for echoes.

Aaron: Patrick's understanding would be helpful.

Albrecht: Yes, but where would be the fun in that? We have come to rely on our son's Avatars too much.

Aaron sighed. Yes. We have become quite lazy.

Albrecht: You are many things, my love, but lazy is not one of them. I think you need more coffee. I wonder if Allenor's race had something similar? I wonder what their civilization was like. Allenor seems a genius, yet this place is far from technological as we perceive it.

Aaron: I wish we could have spoken with him, even briefly.

Taking a break to make coffee, the two men chattered in their minds, laughing and remembering happy times in their lives. Albrecht burst out laughing when Aaron produced a miniature espresso machine. How did you survive all these years without one of those?

Aaron actually grinned. I believe I know every source of caffeine on earth and how to incorporate each into a beverage.

Chiding his lover in fun, Albrecht thought: Ken and the men think you have modified your physiology to stay thin, but I know your secret!

Aaron rapidly imbibed a double espresso caramel macchiato, and it was so good he made another. Albrecht lovingly watched him while sipping his own straight black. After coffee, Albrecht opened the food cooler.

Bryan, as a surprise, had changed out some of their processed food with fresh fruits, cheeses, and breads. A soft nimbus of power lingered over the food to keep it fresh. Bryan's touching gesture included small note.

This is basic provision, but I thought you might enjoy it. Maybe it will remind you of better times when the world wasn't so complicated. All our love.

Both men teared up and merged deeply to share their love for each other and their sons. Bryan's act was simple yet profound, just like their son himself.

Aaron began to feel the effects of the caffeine. Albrecht noted how alert Aaron suddenly became and shook his head. As they returned to their explorations, Aaron suddenly stood bolt upright, and his mind practically shrieked with his revelation.

Albrecht!

One with his partner, Aaron's thoughts became his. This place was of both creations! God created it for Allenor to forge the Gifts, so it was partly of the first, but it existed in the second! God made unique paradoxical compatibilities to keep the two creations from imploding.

Aaron: We are trying to decipher everything as though it is only of Allenor's creation, but it is not! I wish Lane were here to listen with his Avatar. We can do it but not with his sensitivity. Let us quiet our minds.

Sitting to face one another, Albrecht called their joint centering flame which burned brightly in their minds and hearts. Delving deep within themselves so that time barely moved, they listened.

It took time for their senses to still to the point they needed. Just as their eyes needed to adjust at night to see the Milky Way, their minds and perceptions needed to acclimate. Resting in the quiet of their souls, their breathing and heartbeats became loud, and together they filtered out those sounds.

After what seemed like hours, whispers became apparent. Whispers of the frequency of matter..., the underlying music that Lane's Avatar tapped into. They could not shape it or draw power from it as he did, but they heard it, and casting their senses out, they perceived another two chambers.

Albrecht squeezed Aaron's hand and brought it up to kiss. I don't say this often enough, love, but you are brilliant. I will no longer fuss about your caffeine addiction.

With affected indignation, Aaron thought: Caffeine is not an addiction. Nor is Long John Silvers. They are choices.

His expression turned into a grin when he admitted: Just ones I make frequently.

When their eyes opened, the twinkle in them matched their smiles, and they stood. Moving towards the first chamber, ready to start tapping the walls, they nearly fell when they passed through what appeared to be a solid rock wall. As they stumbled into the room, globes of soft light appeared in the darkness of the room, bobbing gently in the air.

Aaron thought: This must be Allenor's workroom, and I am sure the next chamber is where he slept. A large rectangular structure sat in the center of the room, but it was so tall they could see only the edges.

Albrecht cupped his hands for Aaron's foot to lift him up, and as soon as Aaron's skin came in contact with the structure, his entire body went rigid, and he fell over unconscious. Albrecht caught him before he landed and hurt himself. Aaron!

Aaron seemed paralyzed, and terror filled Albrecht. Every muscle in Aaron's body, including his autonomous nervous system, was in full contraction. He wasn't breathing, his heart stopped beating, and his blood pressure soared as every vein and artery in his body contracted fully.

Too well trained to panic, Albrecht laid Aaron on the floor and started chest compressions to maintain oxygen perfusion in his brain. His other option was to leave Aaron, rush to their camp, and break the emergency memory sphere to alert Brad.

Thankfully, Aaron's body relaxed within seconds, and Albrecht slumped in relief, grabbed his lover and held him. Aaron! Are you alright?

Aaron trembled slightly for a few seconds before beginning to return to normal. Every nerve receptor tingled, and his motor functions were slow to return. Still unable to speak orally, he thought: How fascinating!

Albrecht: What happened?

Aaron's hands still held a tremor as he cupped Albrecht's face to merge their minds.

Aaron: I feel everything here. This place is alive and has been waiting for someone to be a part of it since Allenor perished. It is lonely.

Aaron shuddered at the entity's sadness. It has connected itself to me and is learning from my mind.

Albrecht: Is it dangerous? Will it hurt you?

Aaron: No! It holds no ill intentions... of that, I am certain.

Albrecht: I do not feel it, Aaron. This frightens me.

Aaron's eyes closed as he tried to communicate with the forge, asking it to make itself known to Albrecht.

Aaron: It cannot. It is designed as a companion to whoever is bonded to it. It wants to teach me but is having difficulty. It was created by Allenor or his people... this is part of their technology, a combination of many things, primarily organic and ether. Our language and physiology are so vastly different from Allenor's that it will take time, but I can sense its intellect. I am confident that once it has finished, it will communicate in the first language of our creation, as did Allenor. Help me onto the table.

Again, Albrecht cupped his hands to boost Aaron, who made it up with ease this time. Aaron reached down and pulled Albrecht up. The closest realization Aaron could fathom is that they stood on Allenor's drafting table where he designed the Gifts. His "notes" were embedded within the forge itself, and although Aaron didn't yet comprehend the language, he knew the information he sought was now available to him. With time, he could decipher the remaining Gifts.

<><><> 

Lane was conscious, yet realized he was still asleep with his hand on Drew's chest. Closing his eyes, he felt Bryan's warmth beside him and the sheets against his skin, but when he opened his eyes, he was far out in creation among the stars.

His Avatar, augmented by his Gift, shone brightly, and his eyes turned white. One by one, the souls of the other mentalists appeared around him, and their Avatars ignited as well.

Instinctively, each of them summoned the other half of his soul, and the bodies appeared with them. Lane's Gift dictated the pattern they arrived in, and Pat saw the constellation of their souls in the heavens. The scale of their presence dwarfed galaxies, and paradoxically, far away on Earth, the lights of their souls shone in its night sky. At the speed of light billions of years were needed for their light to reach Earth, but at that moment, through Pat's Gift bending the laws of the physical realm, their light reached Earth. Darren felt Pat exert his Gift to cause the paradox and smiled.

Darren: I feel that, Pat. It almost tickles.

Ken: Why are we here?

Lane: I'm not sure yet.

Around them, six new stars came into being, brightening the heavens. Time advanced, and what would have taken millions of years condensed into less than a minute. The new stars moved, another impossibility, and within the pattern of their constellation an image of a hexagram appeared, like the Seal of Solomon. The six new suns each lit a point of the seal. In unison, the six stars pulsed, and one-sixth of each split off and was absorbed into the one to its right.

The men watched fascinated as this repeated six more times until each star held a piece of the others, a culmination of the six. Within each star, three runes from the Book of Loagaeth formed – body, mind, and soul. The symbology of what they witnessed, the stars representing the six parsed souls of the young soldiers was evident, and their reaction mixed. Wonder at what they were shown was foremost, but also sadness; however, they were at war, and sacrifices had to be made.

<><><> 

Brad contacted the six soldiers, Kent, and Margie, saying they would translocate them to the lab at 1000. That gave the soldiers time to do their morning PT runs and meditations.

Similarly, the guys did their PT runs, but Ken asked them to gather in the hot yoga room after to discuss their collective vision. Even though Ken's stomach complained, on instinct, they fasted to help with clarity. Sitting close and naked in a circle, each rested his arm over the shoulders of whoever sat next to him.

Red fire flowed from their core energy centers, oxygenating their muscles, and they looked magnificent as their bodies shone with a thick coat of sweat as the heat relaxed them. The yoga room had become their favorite add-on to the lab when they renovated and enlarged the layout.

Ken: I don't see a choice here, but I want everyone's input. B, merge us, and let's go over the pros and cons.

The room brightened in the spiritual realm as their souls left their bodies, melding into a single golden orb that gently bobbed in the center of their circle. Lane inverted all ambient noise around them, creating utter silence, and filtered the sound of their bodily functions.

Resting in one another as Ken directed, their thoughts blended as they discussed Lane's vision, but ultimately none of them saw what needed to happen as a choice. Yes, they could refuse to move forward, but the consequences to their creation didn't allow for that.

Brad's compassion sustained them, and before he separated them, Kevin thought: Guys, in light of this, Bill and I are going to merge with Zack. We should have before now. Also, I think we should open Adam's and Zack's minds. We've debated if they're ready or not and if they have the wisdom and restraint to handle the power they'll gain. I say they are.

Rick: Me too. I see nothing but truth in them about their dedication to our cause. They're as ready as we were before the doc changed us.

Ken knew everyone was in agreement, and his little kid grin appeared. This is gonna be a busy day! Let's shower and get some food.

In agreement with his last statement, Ken's stomach rumbled loudly.

<><> 

Freshly showered, Bryan went into one of their two walk-in freezers. Based on what was going to happen in the next few hours, there would be eighteen starving men, five kids, plus Shan and Sally. Pulling out three twenty-pound rib roasts, he asked Darren: Hey Dar, can you thaw these for me? I'm going to fire up the smoker.

Darren: Hot damn, yes! To quote our nephew, "your prime rib is the best!"

Bryan: I'm going to make a quick trip to the valley and grow everything else for dinner.

Darren: No problem, bro. Head over and let me know when you're ready to come back. I'll be pulling the youngsters here in a few minutes.

Lane: We need to come up with a better name than `the youngsters,' like the `Reserve Legion of Super Heros.' We can call them RL's for short.

Ken: For once, that's not a bad idea.

Lane fist pumped the air, feeling validated by Ken's comment.

Smiles and laughter followed Ken's comment through their link; however, Ken became acutely aware of the conflict within his husband. Not only could he see it on Brad's face, but with his Ph.D. in Brad Wilson in full effect, he felt it in Brad's heart and soul.

In a private thought to his husband, Ken said: Hey B. Come with me.

Taking Brad's hand, Ken led them back to their apartment and closed the door. I'm pretty sure I know what's goin' on in that adorable head'a yours, but I want you `ta tell me. Spill it.

Brad: What we're about to do to these amazing young men... they think they know what we face, but they really don't understand. There's no way they can yet, but when we explain our vision and what we want to do they're going to jump on it. They have no concept of eternity, Ken. Hell, we don't even have a grip on that yet. They aren't gay, and we'll be binding their souls together. They'll love each other in a completely new way, one they aren't prepared for, and we'll have to help them through that. They'll probably never marry because of the change, and I don't think we can undo it without destroying them. The only option would be to reset them. Just as much as them, I'm worried about Zack and Adam. Zack's alone and still struggles with Renee's absence, and we're setting him up to be another Taliesin. Adam, too, for that matter. It doesn't look like he and Julie are getting back together, and frankly, after seeing inside her, opening her mind would be a disaster.

As Brad shared his thoughts, his emotions elevated. Ken knew the way Brad's mind and emotions worked. Ken's eyes brightened as he saw everything through Brad's Avatar, but his own will and conviction kicked in. Both of their Avatars lit up, not in conflict, but to bring out the tension, consequences, and concerns of both men.

Ken: Fuck. I see everythin' B. God I love you, and I understand your issues, but I don't see any other way. Even with Henry on our side, Elegroth still has Luke and the black rock backin' him up. Yeah, we have Drew and Eleneth, but we need more, and Lane's vision is a puppet string we can't ignore. Look at it this way. I don't think you're givin' them enough credit. When the doc explained everythin' `ta us, we jumped on board. They're the same way, but they still have `ta agree `ta all this. If even one of `em doesn't, it won't work.

Brad let out a heavy sigh. I know. I can't help feeling this way, though. We're gay and they aren't. That's the crux of my concern.

Ken: Again, I don't think you're giving' `em enough credit. Under Albrecht's guidance, they've grown. Yeah, there'll be bumps, but I bet they embrace it. They're men, and you know men understand men better than women. I think they'll surprise the hell outta us.

Ken's grin appeared, and with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he added: And in a good, hot way!

Ken's grin brought a smile to Brad's face. Putting a finger under Brad's chin, Ken raised Brad's face and got lost in what he saw. He kissed his husband softly on his lips, then on his forehead, and then pulled Brad into a tight embrace, nuzzling his face against Brad's neck.

Hugging Ken back, Brad let Ken's strength lift him up. Holding the hug for nearly a minute, Ken finally asked: Better?

Brad: I felt better right away; now I'm just copping a feel.

Reaching down, Brad cupped Ken's solid ass cheeks and squeezed, and Ken burst out laughing.

Brad: Thanks, Ken. You always say you can't do any of this without me, but I can't without you either.

Ken pulled back enough for them to look into each other's eyes, and they smiled.

Ken: Now that the mushy part's over, you wanna have a quickie? You got me all hot'n bothered with the hug.

Brad: So it's my fault?

Ken: Yeah.

Taking Ken by his shoulders, Brad pushed him back on the bed and started undoing Ken's belt.

Brad grinned as he thought: I swear the things I do for you.

Ken: Actually, Mr. Wilson, it's what I'm about `ta do for you.

<><> 

Zack lay on his bed reading with Mr. Buckles curled up on his shoulder. Zack was a very intelligent man, and he was burning through the books on Albrecht's list. A light knock on his door pulled his attention from the current page, and he said, "Come in!"

The door opened, and Kevin and Bill came in.

Zack asked, "What's up?"

By the look on their faces, Zack knew why they were there and his stomach tingled in anxiety. "You want to do it now?"

Kevin nodded and said, "Yeah. Things have accelerated. I'm sorry if it seems sudden, but we need to merge with you. As soon as we do that, you'll see why."

Zack set his book down and sat up on the edge of his bed. "You want to do it here or in the gym?"

Bill said, "It's more private in here. A lot is going on out there."

Zack looked concerned and asked, "Is everything alright?"

Kevin raised his eyebrows and exhaled, saying, "Yes and no... sort of... it's complicated." Kevin paused a second and then smiled, "But it's nothing you need to worry about just yet. Let's stretch out on your bed."

Zack scooted over allowing Bill and Kevin to get on either side of him. Mr. Buckles wasn't happy about being shooed off the bed, and Zack wagged a finger at him, "No attitude. It's only for a minute."

Grinning to cover his nervousness, Zack said, "I know that look. If he could poop, there would be a present waiting for us when we're done."

Bill and Kevin laughed and turned on their sides to face Zack. They each took one of Zack's hands, and Bill said, "Ok, Zack, relax. Let's spend a minute to find your center. When you're ready, squeeze my hand and we'll start."

Kevin and Bill were pleasantly surprised that Zack squeezed Bill's hand in only a few seconds.

Bill: Okay... here we go!

<> 

Seconds later, their tearful eyes opened. Zack was as amazing to Kevin and Bill as they were to him. Through Kevin and Bill, Zack saw everything about the rest of the team. He would still have to merge with everyone, but he now knew everything about them. The difficult part would be opening up and accepting their unconditional love, but he managed it with Kevin and Bill. That part was more challenging than he thought, but Kevin and Bill were patient, and Zack now unconditionally loved himself, his uncle Kevin, and his uncle Bill.

As scary as the next step would be, Zack couldn't wait. Through the merge, he knew and understood that Ken wants his and Adam's minds opened and what the plan was for the soldiers. The scale of everything was almost too much to take in, but as Ken taught everyone to do, Zack broke it down into manageable pieces.

Zack's last words to Archie echoed in his thoughts, and he knew he had made the right decision.

Dad..., I think I have to stay. I want both, like I said, but I can make a difference if I stay. If I go with you, there's no doubt I'll be happy, but I'd be sad to learn of anyone killed by the enemy that I might have prevented.

As Kevin predicted, Zack was one hundred percent amenable to everything that needed to happen.

<><> 

Even with their aura's toned down, the rest of the guys in the lab knew what was happening between Ken and Brad. Loy and Ricky did the same. Bill and Kevin asked to join Zack in his apartment, and shortly after the rest of the men felt them merge with Zack. Regardless of where the men were, smiles broke out on their faces. Darren was on "translocate duty" for Bryan and Lane who were in the valley growing vegetables for dinner.

By 1000, everyone was finished making out and merging, all were back in the lab, and they were ready to call the soldiers to start their discussion. Bryan had the wood box loaded so the smoker would run for a few hours before needing any attention.

<><> 

Bill, Kevin, and Zack went into the gym and pulled most of the mats together to make a large sitting area. Once everyone involved was present, there would be twenty adults present.

Kevin: Guys, before Dar pulls the soldiers here, can we all come into the gym first? Bill and I just merged with Zack, and he should take that step with us before everything else starts. We always seem to say this, but get ready to have your socks knocked off. My nephew is one amazing young man.

Ken: You heard the man, ladies. Everyone hop to it! Adam, you're in on this too.

As they filed into the gym, each man gave Zack a tight hug, and many ruffled his hair. They were aware of his nervousness, but their sincere, caring affections and comments put him at ease.

When everyone was seated, Kevin thought: Okay. Zack, you'll merge with Bill and me first, and then Brad will bring us all together.

Repeating the process of just a few minutes ago, Zack found his center and delved into his Uncle and Bill, resting in the warmth of their souls. Time wasn't moving, and he spent a while floating in their new connection. Tears hadn't yet formed in his body when the presence of the other nine men began to surround him. Brad added himself and Ken, and then one couple at a time and then finally Adam. Zack's soul brightened each time as the men joined the merge and he immersed himself in their light and love.

His only surprise was how unique each man was, even as they were one, and he felt the bonds between them. He was flattered by how attractive they all thought he was, and he knew none of them would approach him sexually while still loving him as a man and brother. The emptiness from Henry's absence resounded through them, and Zack realized how painful Henry's absence was to them.

<><> 

Ken decided Drew shouldn't be involved in what was about to happen with the soldiers. He would merge with Zack and the soldiers soon enough after their changes, but as a group they didn't need his power for the transformation. All the guys concurred that it would be best for Drew to stay with Sally for his lessons.

Nodding to Darren, Ken indicated it was time. Darren's eyes flashed white, and their Avatars synchronized. Reaching for the minds of the six soldiers, Kent, and Margie, he thought: I'm bringing you to us now.

Their eight friends materialized in front of them with no fanfare, but hugs and fist bumps ensued. Brad and the others spent extra time with Rich in support of his parents' ascendance to heaven. Looking into Rich's mind, Brad was impressed again at how ordered Rich was, and while he was sad, he knew his mom and dad were in a better place, safe from Elegroth, the curse, and living in a broken world.

Ken: Everybody take a seat. Before we get into the thick of things, do any of you have any questions or concerns after yesterday? That was a lot of information `ta digest.

The general consensus was no; while seeing the truth about Elegroth and the first and second creations was surprising, it didn't change their desire to be more involved. Nodding to Brad, Ken gave him the go-ahead to start the conversation, and immediately a deep link connected the eight humans and the twelve team members.

Brad: Get comfortable and rest in each other a moment. Quiet your minds. Empty your thoughts. Still your bodies. Breathe deep and relax.

Brad deepened the link further and pulled everyone into their hearts. He particularly held Margie close because she wasn't used to this way of communicating, and he put the illusion of clothing on her. His voice was hypnotic as they listened to him, letting his words guide them as Albrecht used to do.

Brad: Very good. You guys are amazing. Something happened last night. Lane had a vision of changes that need to happen, but we have some reservations. First, it involves the six of you. Kent, you and Margie were not a part of the vision, but we want to include you in everything.

Lane: What I saw is you six becoming more like us. We want to alter your bodies and open your minds. We need warriors in this fight who are more than human, like Zack and Adam. We will be opening their minds as well.

The emotional surge in the soldiers was just as Brad expected. Their immediate reaction was akin to them yelling "hell yeah!" in their minds.

Loy: Before we do this, we need your full consent, and we need to discuss the serious ramifications of how your lives will change forever. When I say forever, I mean that. The changes will make you immortal, and while you can die, barring that, you will live forever.

Bill: The human psyche under the curse isn't meant for immortality. Aaron and Albrecht discovered a means around this by joining souls together. The unconditional love this brings about between humans counters the toll of longevity.

Brad: My concern is this: as you know, all of us are gay. Adam is bi-sexual, and Zack, like you guys, is straight. It made sense for the doctor to split our souls because we're into guys. Jake and Craig had a glimpse of what Ken and I share, and the rest of you saw through whoever helped heal you after bringing you back from Syria.

Lane: My vision showed us splitting all six of your souls. You each would carry part of the other five within you. You're already tight, and we see how much you love each other, but this will be different. It will be a force of attraction you can't ignore or resist. It's doubtful any of you will ever marry because of this. Trying to have a relationship with an unawakened person who isn't part of your collective soul would be a disaster.

Ken: You'll have `ta learn to love each other in a completely new way. Not only emotionally but physically, and by that I mean sexually.

Not surprisingly, it was Rich who interrupted. In everything we've learned from Albrecht, well, everything I've learned anyway, is how to look beyond our bodies. Yes, I'm attracted to women, but I've already found it hard to date after knowing everything I do. I don't mean we're better, but after learning from Albrecht regular people seem so shallow that I don't want to be around most of them. I know that sounds egotistical, but it's not.

A smattering of similar comments from the other soldiers followed.

Rick's Avatar glowed softly, emphasizing the truth of their words and emotions. It wasn't like a merge, but the element of truth his Avatar added prevented any self-delusion about their decision. It also drove home his next words. If we change your bodies to be like Henry, Adam, and Zack and then open your minds, you can use a technique that Albrecht taught Henry on how to increase your powers to equal us. It's deeply personal, and you can do it on your own or with help. If you decide to move forward with this, we'll share the details of how to do that.

Looking deeply into the minds and hearts of the soldiers, a strong feeling of nostalgia surfaced in Ken and his brothers. The feelings they experienced by splitting their souls were the same as day the doctor revealed the truth of what he did to them and revealing The Order and The Enemy and the age-old battle between the forces of light and dark.

Jake scooted close to Craig and put his arm over his younger brother's shoulder. His other hand gripped Craig's and he thought: I'm in. Craig and I were in each other's minds once, and it changed us. Even when I loved Kelly and thought things would work out between us, I worried about how I could handle being away from Craig if I got married. The bond we have... I don't know, but it's powerful. I used to fight it until I learned from Albrecht not to. Since then, I've nurtured it, and I love Craig more than a brother. I love him as a man and a person. I think it's even more profound than that because we're blood brothers. I feel that way towards these guys, too, if I'm honest. I don't know how I could exist without them in my life.

Rick's Avatar allowed Jake to express himself truthfully, without barriers or petty jealousies. All their eyes brightened, and many tears flowed at the utter truth and honesty between them. Each of the soldiers took his brother's hand next to him or put an arm around his shoulder.

Rich: I think we have to do this. We have a glimpse of what it will be like, but if the real thing is stronger, it's something I want. We'll just have to be kind and gentle with one another and learn to live with the changes.

Brad: Kent and Margie, you weren't part of Lane's vision, and we don't plan to change you. We can, but its not something to take on lightly.

Kent took Margie's hand and kissed the back of it. I love my wife. I can say that now. Thanks to you, I know she loves me back. My own changes helped get us this far, but I think that's enough for us. I want to live the rest of my life with her. I want to grow old with her. I'll still help you any way I can, but it will be as a normal human.

Jacob and Craig hadn't considered their parents in what was happening and felt a mix of pride and deep sadness at their father's words. Kent thought: It's the way of the world, boys. You'll outlive us and bury us when it's our time to go. The role you're taking on is too important to hold back because of us. We'll go back to our room now so you can continue.

Guy, Nathan, Caleb, and Rich all put their hands on Jacob and Craig, to show their support. Swiping the tears from their eyes, Jacob and Craig straightened their shoulders as soldiers do, ready to move forward.

Lane: This won't hurt, but it will feel strange. Having your soul touched by someone else is an odd feeling because you've never experienced it. Once you're all together, though, you won't believe the intense intimacy between you.

When dealing with souls, Lane and Bryan took the lead because their Avatars were best suited. Bryan was even more so now with his Gift. His raven wing tattoos fluttered softly, and his eyes sparkled as he brought his power to bear. Once again, the spiritual landscape in the gym transformed into a scene unimaginable to humans. As Brad lifted the veil, Yggdrasil, tall and mighty, appeared with its canopy among the stars that now showed overhead. Wraithlike animal spirits appearing as small orbs of light flitted about its branches.

The humans looked in awe and wonder, smiling and embracing everything. Lane's mischievous grin appeared, and his powerful mental voice echoed in their minds: Get ready, guys, stay still and don't lift your skirts and run screaming like little girls.

The shit-talk retorts that would typically happen were quelled, but the smiles on the soldiers' faces widened at Lane's humor. Suddenly their heart energy centers opened, and within their powerful chests the beautiful orbs of their human souls became visible. It was as if their torsos were transparent, allowing them to see into their physical forms.

The orbs floated out to bob gently in front of them, and in a small flash, one-sixth of each separated. They jumped at the unfamiliar sensation, but it wasn't painful, just oddly intense as Lane said. Bryan's tattoos fluttered again, and a soft breeze in the spiritual realm carried the small piece of their souls to join with the man next to him.

Another flash occurred as another sixth separated, and the pattern repeated six times, two times three. Bryan tied the thought and memory of the pieces of their souls into one, and Lane melded the six pieces back into six single souls.

The tears started with the first piece as the brother who sat beside him became a part of him. They thought they were prepared but they weren't, and as their souls touched, the loving bonds, already strong between them, took on a depth and intensity beyond what they imagined. With the addition of each partial soul, their breath caught in their chests, and their arms tightened around each other. Their muscular forms, naked in their hearts, shone with a light sheen of sweat, making them look even more magnificent. The light of their souls reflected off their damp skin, accentuating their physiques, and the physical touch between them became more than just a touch. They became aroused by what they felt, and Brad quickly said: Don't be embarrassed, guys. This is going to happen. It's one of the things we spoke of, so you'll need to get past any awkwardness. You're all men, and your sexual urges will be vastly increased by these changes. You'll have to decide between you how you want to handle that.

Time wasn't moving, and the soldiers held each other for what seemed like days as they acclimated to the new feelings. Ken and the others were patient and supportive by wrapping their unconditional love in a net of comfort around the soldiers.

Lane's Avatar became focal for the physical changes. Altering the physical bodies of the soldiers to increase their strength was another form of healing, and he altered their genetic patterns. The soldiers were already in exemplary health, fit and strong, but the increase in their physical strength felt euphoric. Their bodies felt powerful, and from what Ken told them, once they learned and practied Henry's tantric ritual, they would get even stronger.

When Brad felt they were ready, he continued: Okay, for the next part, Adam and Zack will participate. Our Avatars give us the ability to lift the curse from individuals. We're going to open your minds and revert you to a pre-fallen state of existence. You will become immortal, and you'll see once we merge what that entails.

Ken: As soon as we're done, we'll immediately start trainin' you on how `ta shield yourself.

Loy: With your minds open in a pre-fallen state, the world will become painful if you don't learn to block peoples' thoughts, emotions, and brokenness. All of that becomes physically painful, and you'll learn to rely on one another even more as a refuge from the fucked-upness of the world under the curse.

Brad: Here we go.

Brilliant azure threads came out of Adam, Zack, and the soldiers' foreheads as Brad opened their mental energy centers. Once again, the soldiers weren't prepared for the clarity of thought and increased perceptions of the world around them. Adam and Zack had merged and been deeply linked so were better prepared for the new perceptions.

As he called on his brothers, Brad's Avatar brightened to a blinding state as he simultaneously and permanently opened the minds of all eight men. Darren remembered how hard it was for him to open Kelly's mind in Australia by himself, and Loy teased: That's because you're a wuss.

Darren flipped Loy off in his mind, and they all laughed as mild shit-talking ensued in a private link Brad maintained between the nephilim.

When Brad's light quieted, the soldiers sat wide-eyed, coming to grips with the sudden, overwhelming changes. Each of them felt the other five within him, now a part of each other, and it was euphoric. They hugged as a group and ruffled each other's hair, smiling, laughing, and crying. The moment was uplifting, not just between the soldiers but for Ken and his own brothers.

Ricky: It isn't every day we get to create a unique race of humans.

A powerful sense of rightness filled the guys, and they knew this was another fulfillment of their purpose. Each of them had that special feeling when they exerted their Avatars to perform a task they were born to fill. There were still many unknowns that would follow their actions, but what they did felt right.

Brad was about to take them back to their bodies when a small burst of light in the heavens caught their attention. In the vast cosmos above Yggdrasil's canopy, a light began to move, rapidly accelerating as it descended towards them.

The sound of Uriel's wings filled their minds, and the soldiers seemed uncertain.

Bryan: It's okay, guys. It's my grandpop.

As Uriel came closer, his form became visible through his light, and his wings fluttered as he alit before them. Immediately they saw that he held a human soul in one hand.

Uriel smiled at Bryan, his eyes sparkling with all creation. Hello, Bryan. Greetings to you all.

Bryan: Grandpop? Why are you here?

Uriel: I bring a gift to ease the burden of one of your new brethren.

Holding out his hand, the human soul, a beautiful blue orb, grew into a pretty young woman, and Zack's breath caught as his eyes filled with tears at the sight of his wife.

"Renee?"

Rushing over, Zack fell to his knees before his wife, sobbing hysterically. He hugged her tightly, pressing his face against her while Renee embraced him, cradling his head and stroking him in comfort while he cried.

Uriel: Zackary's suffering, as extreme as it was during his forced servitude under the Master, was made worse by seeing his wife and family killed in such a brutal manner. To ease his loneliness, I requested a dispensation to bring Renee so a part of her can be with him forever. Even in heaven, they will feel each other until they reunite for eternity.

Profound ripples stirred around them at Uriel's graceousness, and they knew the archangel's actions were of his free will. Such an occurrence would never have been allowed before, but now they witnessed another effect without their knowledge of their Avatars touching and altering events around them.

Reaching into Zack's chest, Uriel's hand emerged with half of his soul. With his other hand, he reached into Renee, withdrawing half of hers. Zack nearly collapsed when Uriel's hand went into him, and he cried out at the euphoric sensation. Renee did, too, and the couple cleaved to one another.

Uriel: Let the two become one, just as my grandson shares his soul with Lane. You will no longer be alone young Zackary. You are relieved of that burden.

Renee's form solidified as Uriel put the combined soul into her, and she gasped, "Zack... Honey! I... I feel you!"

Zack was so overwhelmed he couldn't speak, and with tears running down his face, he turned to Kevin, Bill, and all the guys. A brightness in his eyes they had never seen was present, and their own joy over what they witnessed ran through them. What Uriel did was miraculous.

One of Brad's concerns was allayed, which left Adam as the focal point of his worry. Ken's optimism drove into Brad, and in a private thought, he said: We can't `what if' this B. We were scared for both of `em, and now Zack's happier than we've ever seen him. Findin' out Adam likes guys was a shock, and maybe that'll be why he'll find happiness down the road. It'll be years before we need `ta worry about it, so let's take Zack as a huge win and go with that.

Brad: You're right. You know I'm supposed to be the smart one, right?

Ken's little kid grin appeared as he gave his usual response: You are, and you know what smart talk does `ta Ken Jr., right?

Brad: You want to show Jacob, Craig, and their lot how sex is done right?

Ken burst out laughing and thought: I don't think they're quite ready for that. Maybe tomorrow or next week, but I don't wanna push them over the edge just yet.

Brad hugged his husband tightly, sinking into the feel of his warm, solid body. Ken's arms wrapped around Brad, holding him, and he kissed Brad's cheek. I love you, B. You rock my world.

Uriel's expression showed his pleasure at the outcome of his actions. Now that Lane knew him better, just like Bryan, he could read Uriel.

Bryan: You mean like a cheap romance novel?

Lane: Well, kind of, but that doesn't seem like a very good analogy for an archangel.

Bryan: But it works for me? Damn, Little Buddy, that hurts.

Bryan's grin proved he was joking, but Lane still felt badly. Bryan's arms wrapped around him, and he kissed the back of Lane's head. I'm a man whore, like all of us, Lane. Well, maybe not as bad as some of these yahoos, but I get what you mean.

Lane: I like that you're a manwhore. It's one of the reasons I fell for you before we even knew about sharing our souls.

With Zack's, Adam's, and the soldier's minds open and the soldier's souls combined, everything they set out to do was accomplished. Zack carrying part of Renee within him was a bonus they never expected.

Uriel: Farewell for now, Bryan and all of you. Walk in the light.

They all watched as Uriel's form shifted into an orb of light as he flew back to heaven. As Ken and the team stopped drawing power, the spiritual landscape faded, and Brad recalled the veil. In a few seconds, the gym became normal once again.

The emotional high was starting to diminish, and Ken thought: B, take us up.

Brad returned them to their bodies, and the transition was harsh for the soldiers who weren't used to it. They still felt each other, but not quite as intensely, yet the affections Brad spoke to them about were apparent.

Ken said, "Let's chill out for the rest of the day. Bry's got some serious meat smokin' `ta feed us all in a bit."

Ken's gaze moved over Adam, Zack, and the soldiers as he said, "Your changes are extreme, and me, B, and all of us are here for `ya. Come `ta any of us with any questions or concerns. After we eat, I want everybody back in the gym so we can teach you how `ta shield yourselves, and tomorrow we'll dig into everythin' deeper. You all have a lot `ta learn."

In the private link with just the ten nephilim, Darren thought: The doc and Albrecht are going to be floored by all of this.

Brad: We haven't heard from them in a few days. Tomorrow I'll contact them and see how they're doing. None of us have had any twinges of anything wrong, so I'm sure they're fine.

Loy: Well, they haven't blown up the planet yet.

Kevin: Give them time.

Lane: They're in immortal nerd heaven.

The rest of the evening went well as the soldiers learned basic mental disciplines. After training, Ken was surprised when the soldiers all went into one apartment. With his enhanced hearing, he detected the sounds of beds being pushed together. His eyebrows raised, and he wondered if there would be any sex. He was sure it would happen, but he wanted to give them privacy. As he learned from Aaron, letting the soldiers grow into their new selves was the best path, and he was as excited for them as he was nervous for their future.

Brad and the mentalists planned to accelerate their training through constructs and help them adjust to their new physical strength. Without Aaron, Albrecht, or Henry, Ken would take it upon himself to tutor the young soldiers, Adam, and Zack on the tantric ritual to increase their powers.

Brad, hearing Ken's thoughts, said: You just want to get your hands on them. You don't fool me.

Ken burst out laughing and retorted: You're the only man for me, B, and occasionally some of these ladies. I might have `ta get a little hands-on like Albrecht did with Henry, but I want you `ta be with me, so you can see that you're the only one for me.

Brad: Smooth talker. Hey, we aren't on duty tonight, and I need me some Ken time.

Ken: You mean Ken Jr., right? Even though you reacquainted yourself with him like an hour ago.

Brad: Both, you come as a package. One that I want to unwrap, so move your ass. And don't bring facts into this.

Ken: Yessir!

Email: Brad Townsend - bookofloagaeth@gmail.com

Twitter: BATownsend_Author @BookofLoagaeth (this is my official `author' Twitter, but the one I use every day is Brad A. Townsend (@Southguy49).  It's an 18+ NSFW Account as you can imagine, but that's where I hang out.  It's my only social media presence at this time other than TikTok, but I only watch videos there and don't post anything.)

(I'm no longer on Facebook)

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