Discussing the natures of angels, and some investigations
Jason called American Airlines and reserved a pair of first class tickets on Flight 3 to LA (noon) returning on Wednesday. He pre-paid and put Lynne and Josh's names on them for pickup at the airport.
Jason then called Lynne.
"Hey Orli, I just got off the phone with Karen, she said that Melanie didn't even hear the disturbance this morning, which she thought was odd, as Melanie has been pretty perceptive of these things in the past. Maybe it was the Shield. Anyway, she said that Uriel was the one who caused the destruction. She worked for Uriel once, so I guess she would know. Apparently Uriel does not tolerate dissonance, seeking always to purify the world. Karen thought that if an ArchAngel had gotten dissonance maybe Uriel tried to purge Him/Her. Anyway, I got you guys tickets, just pick them up at JFK. Karen and I are going to hang out here, but let us know if you find out anything about Nat or anything else."
There was a moments pause, and when she spoke Jason could make out a carefully suppressed anxiety in her calm voice. The tone also indicated that she could not talk properly now, since she was in hearing of someone else.
"OK, thanks, I see." There was a brief pause, then she added, "Thanks for everything, I do appreciate it and for what its worth, I wish you the best of luck. I'll be in touch, but if there is anything I can do, feel free to call. I'm .. still planning to go and see for myself."
Jason and her both said careful good-byes, and then hung up.
Josh was beginning to stir in the background as Jason hangs up the phone, and the sunlight outside seeped into the neat apartment. He opened his eyes and blinked a few times, then half sat up as if not sure where he was, but not nervous enough to bring himself fully awake. Jason guessed he was used to waking up in new and different places.
Joshua stares at Jason for a few moments in that early morning way, and then smiled. "'lo. What's going on?"
Jason smiled warmly "Hey there sleepy. Hope I didn't wake you with all of the talking. Lynne said you like bacon and scrambled eggs with an English muffin and fresh orange juice, so I took the liberty of picking some up for you. I would have had it all ready, but I didn't want the smell to wake you. I figured you could use the sleep more than the food."
As Josh got up Jason brought over a hot cup of coffee and the sugar "Two scoops, yes?" While Josh washed up, Jason cooked up the promised breakfast and filled Josh in on what they had found out/what had happened since last they spoke.
When Josh was finished eating Jason took care of the dishes and outlined his plans for the day. "If you wouldn't mind I would like to get in a couple of hours of philosophical discussion, as I could really use the Essence. Then I plan to try to check some things out until my CPR class at 5 PM. After I finish that, assuming no emergencies, I'll have 4 Essence, and will not be nearly as worried as I am currently. I can take you over to the airport around 11:00 AM. Good?"
Josh blinked at Jason as he sipped his coffee. He was given pause by that for a few moments, with the warm sleepy grin of a true coffee addict. "Mmm." was about all he can manage for a bit.
Finally pulling himself together, he said, "All right, Lynne has told me a little bit about other angels... but, er, regaining essence from conversation? Is that... normal? Don't you have to, like stop demons or punish the guilty or something? Or have I missed the point somewhere?" He shook his head for a minute, watching Jason put his breakfast together and smiling appreciatively.
Breakfast was laid out, and Josh attacked it with the kind of abandon one would expect from someone who knows they are likely to miss meals.
Then he frowned suddenly. "Maybe this is a bad question... but you and Karen don't strike me as the same as Lynne. Are you and her different kinds of angel? I mean, that is, if I am not asking about things I shouldn't know or something... You see, Lynne is pretty hush hush about what her job involves most of the time, and I get the impression like it is not terribly pleasant sometimes... but you work as an ambulance guy and Karen is in the police, and both of you have got really different attitudes to stuff. And of course there is this whole other side thing..."
He got dressed quickly from his suitcase. Jason then stored his and Lynne�s bags in a hall closet. They travel light, but were clearly used to being on the move, and had carefully chosen belongings.
"We are different, in the same way that you are different from every other human. Angels are just as individual. For humans things like race/culture, religion, and education tend to differentiate people. For Angels, who you what choir you are, who you serve and what forces you have differentiate you." Jason paused to make sure that he was not completely losing Josh.
"There are seven different choirs, with Seraphim being the most divine and Mercurians being the most human. In between, from most divine to most human, are the Cherubim, Ofanim, Elohim, Malakim, and Kyriotates. Each choir has a different focus. A different part to play in the struggle against Evil, or a different role to play in the grand plan if you like.�
"The Seraphim are the wardens of truth, they cannot lie or be lied to. The Cherubim are the guardians of things held dear, they can attune themselves to things and always know their location and status. The Ofanim are the movers and shakers, they can always find the fastest route. The Elohim are in the middle between divinity and humanity, they seek balance and don't take sides. The Malakim are the honor-bound, they never surrender or back down from a fight with Evil, and they never fall. The Kyriotates are able to borrow human vessels. The Mercurians are the negotiators, they thrive on human contact and abhor violence." Jason gave Josh a questioning look to make sure he was still following.
"Lynne is a Mercurian, while Karen and I are Cherubs. To some extent that explains some of the differences between us. But in our cases, who we work for is more of a factor, I think, than which choir we belong to. As you might already know, there are a number of ArchAngels, 13 or so, who the vast majority of Angels report to, directly or indirectly. Lynne reports to, or at least did, Dominic. Dominic is the ArchAngel of Judgement, the Internal Affairs of the Angelic community. It is his job, and that of his Angels, to ferret out corruption among the other Angels. Karen works for Jean, the ArchAngel of lightning. It is Jean's job to control energy and technology. I work for Yves the ArchAngel of Destiny, and more directly for Raphael the Angel of Healing. Yves is in charge of making sure that people achieve their Destiny, and avoid their Fate. He is most closely linked with the Symphony and is the Guardian of Knowledge and the Name Giver. Raphael's job is pretty self-explanatory."
Jason re-filled Josh's coffee cup before sitting back down. "If you think about it, Lynne's job basically stinks. She is most like a human, and her job is to judge other Angels. So most Angels are going to be wary of contact with her for fear of being judged, and she is not all that close to other Angels to begin with. Obviously most humans have no idea that she is an Angel. So she really never has anyone to talk to who really understands her. She has no Angelic friends... except me, now. That is a tough way to ride out the millennia." Jason looked a little sad.
Perking up again he continued "And then there is me. I have the best job around. I get to help people and Angels every day. I help them achieve their greatest triumphs and avoid their lowest failures. I make them feel better, and do the little things that make life more pleasant. Always remember that, if you take care of the little things, the big stuff takes care of itself. When do you get the most upset? When your car gets stolen, or when you are late for work, you spill coffee on your trousers, you don't have a clean shirt to wear, you drop a bunch of papers on the floor, and then bump your head when you go to pick them up? Sure, having you car get stolen stinks, and any one of the other things are pretty trivial, but when you put a bunch of bad things together is when you better watch out. It is the guy who had all of the little stuff go wrong who cuts off the mother bringing her kids to school."
"Does that clarify stuff a bit?"
Josh frowned with concentration a few times in the exposition, but he seemed to follow rather well. Jason could tell he was a good listener.
"I think so! Goodness, it is more complicated than it first appears, isn't it. I guess I can kind of understand Lynne a bit better now. And why she doesn't talk about all this stuff too much." He grinned warmly at Jason.
Then, with a look that may have had some element of guile, he continued. "There is of course the whole other side issue... OK, here is the big question. I know how I have felt about this whole thing when Lynne came out of the closet and told me about her real job. I mean, with the proof of the existence of ... you know ... all of it, right there in front of you, I mean, how can you not help but just try to do the right thing." He shrugged. "I mean, what about the rebels? Why are they the way they are... I have never encountered anything like what I saw last night, and I can not say I ever want to again," a twinge of something that may have been fear flashed past his honest features, quickly suppressed, "But how can they possibly be like that? Don't they have a choice?" he paused again, worried. "I guess I am concerned about the whole Justice vs Destiny thing. If you are destined to do something, how can it be Just that you get punished, or the flip side, how can what anyone, angel or ... other thing ... does really be wrong? I only ask because you said the Yves handled Destiny, and you are probably the most informed person I am ever likely to meet on the subject..." His eyes went a bit distant. "At least in the flesh..."
Jason chuckled, "That is more than one question, it is more like three!�
Suitably abashed, Josh smiled wryly.
�OK, 'How could someone choose *evil* over *good* when they know that God exists?' Look around you, don't you see people everyday doing things they know are wrong? Smoking, drinking too much, drugs, driving to fast, eating too much. In addition to people not always doing what they know to be right, you have to look at different perspectives on things. Everything can be seen from more than one angle. There is more than one way to solve any problem. Many of the fallen felt that Lucifer's plan was better than God's. Lucifer is charming and persuasive. If you ever met him you would probably end up doing whatever he wanted you to. It was easy for him to convince others that they would get more from him than from God. His 'personal' symphony was said to be a beautiful, if tainted, thing."
This statement seemed to affect Josh quite a bit. He was obviously surprised to hear even this much sympathy for the opposition from an angel.
Jason became quiet for a little while and his eyes got a little moist, and his voice a little thick. "You did not really meet my friend Ashikel under the best of circumstances, but I knew her for a very long time. She believed that she was fighting the good fight, in the same way the Protestants believed that they were right and the Catholics wrong, or vice versa - even though they both believe in the same God. She did a lot of things she was not necessarily proud of to accomplish something that she felt was in everyone's best interests. I have done a lot of things I am not so proud of for the same reason...."
Josh was perhaps going to say something, to clarify, but remembering the events of the night before, and seeing how deeply Jason was feeling the topic, decided against it, merely nodding quietly.
After a little pause Jason moved on "as to Justice and Destiny, they are not really related. I believe that we all have free will. We are a product of the choices we make and the things we do. Destiny and Fate are measurements on a scale, not a set course we follow. Your Destiny and Fate are the high and low points on that scale. Your Destiny could be mediocre and your Fate horrible, or your Destiny fabulous and your Fate so-so. Some people both achieve their Destiny and succumb to their fate. People, and Angels, are judged on how selfish they are, and how true to their nature they act. We all have a part to play, and the better you play your part, the more the reward. Don't get too bogged down in doing everything exactly perfect. Sometimes you have to take a chance to do what you feel inside is right. I went against all of the rules for Ashikel. I should have reported her presence years ago. I should not have talked to her, I should not have told her some of the things I did, I should not have brought her to our tether, especially after the other events that had occurred. I was certainly aware of the possibility that she would betray me, or was lying to me from the start. I like to think that I did the right thing. But you saw Lynne when I mentioned it. If Dominic was still in power, Lynne would have swift in her judgement of me."
Josh nodded quickly, eyes distant.
Jason shrugged "But some things are worth the risk. If you don't stand behind your friends, don't look around for them when you are in trouble."
Deep in thought at Jason's words, he was silent for a few moments, only nodding slowly. Finally, when he spoke again, it was in a low voice. "Sometimes Lynne is pretty scary... but I am in no position to judge her or her actions. I /know/ what she does is right, and necessary." Then he shrugged. "But I guess I am too far removed from this whole thing in some ways. I could never be like her, have her definitive reaction to what is right and wrong... Only support her whenever I can." The quiet assurity in his voice was perfect. Jason knew without doubt that he loved Lynne very much, and would walk through fire if she asked.
Jason patted Josh on the back "You're a good man Josh. Lynne is lucky to have you around."
He shrugged again, perhaps blushing a little, and dispelling part of his mood. He changed the topic again. "But, from what you have said, free will is essential, right? But, in order for free will to exist, then Fate must exist in opposition to Destiny. Doesn't following that logic through mean that the Enemy is essential to existence? And yet, Judgement would still completely eliminate evil if it could..." He threw up his hands with a light hearted laugh which brightened his features. "What a mess! Thank God I'm not God! I would never be able to figure this all out..."
"You would make a good lawyer" Jason smiled. "No offense intended." Sitting down for a moment Jason continued. "You are looking at Fate and Destiny as opposing forces, while I see them as limits on a scale. The scale is the potential for good or evil in all of us. The forces of Fate strive to move a person toward their Fate, toward the 'low' end of the scale, while the Forces of Destiny strive to help people achieve their Destiny, toward the 'high' end of the scale. At least servitors of Destiny attempt to give people the opportunity or create situations where a person can achieve their Destiny. We do not attempt to 'force' them to do anything."
Jason gave Josh a questioning glance. "Judgement is based on people going against their nature and against God's plan. For me, that would mean failure to protect someone in my charge."
Josh nodded, still frowning a fraction as though weighing the words Jason had spoken, then, like the sun clearing from the clouds, he smiled at Jason warmly. He appeared to feel that he has taken the topic as far as he could manage himself, at least for now.
Jason's smile seems to make the morning a bit brighter as new Essence flowed into him. "Thank you for the conversation, I think I should checkup on Hablashim's secretary, and maybe send a note to Hablashim to see if they have found out anything interesting in Paris." Jason grabbed a light coat from the closet and puts some medical supplies and some mace in the outside pockets.
While Jason got ready Josh called Hertz and set up a rental car at the airport and made reservations at the LA Airport Hilton just in case. Sorting through a drawer he pulled out a map of LA and wrote some quick notes on it.
When Josh was ready Jason led the way out, and down to the Subway. While they rode the N/R downtown Jason wrote a quick note and put it in an envelope.
Josh seemed to be absorbed in people watching, fascinated by the myriad throng surrounding him. "Habit I picked up from Lynne." he muttered, as one large gentleman seemed to take issue with being looked at, and stared back angrily. However, Josh's pleasant smile seemed to disarm even the most easily offendible sensibility, and the large gentleman, refusing to give up his aggression, merely ended up looking away.
The trek downtown passed, and in short order the two found themselves at the foot of the large commercial building. An elevator ride later, and they walked out onto the floor of Hablasham's office.
Abruptly Jason's mobile phone rang. He answered it quickly, not at all out of place in this bustling office.
"Hi Jason, this is Karen... Just a quick call to ask where you're going to be this evening. I think I have a little problem, because the cuts I got last night haven't even started to heal. They're still bleeding, and I think you'd better take a look at them fairly soon. I'm going to be away from the city all day I�m afraid, but should be back by about 7 tonight."
"I'll take a look at it, I plan to be in the city until dawn unless something weird happens...and what is the chance of that?" He said with a chuckle.
"Look...I�ve got to go now...we're at the airport. I'll call you when we get back tonight"
She hung up quickly, cutting the conversation short.
Across the hall, Jason spotted the secretary, who was head down, focused on some pile of papers.
Jason walked up with Josh in tow. "Fredrick, good to see you again. I brought the note for Hablashim, I hope you can send it to him for me." Jason handed the envelope to Fredrick, making sure that there was some physical contact.
There was no sensation on contact with the man, whatever warning yesterday brought having been given all ready. Fredrick smiled vaguely, obviously trying to remember Jason. There was a guarded. "Certainly, sir. It will probably be some time before he gets it..."
"So how are things going? Looks pretty busy. Oh, I forgot to introduce my friend Josh. Josh, this is Fredrick, Hablashim's secretary."
Josh held out his hand and gave his warmest smile. "Pleasure." He said, sounding very English.
Fredrick shook his hand, and nodded. He had obviously placed Jason now. "Yes... Actually I am only temporarily in this office. Mr. Hablashim took his personal assistant with him on his business trip, and I was called in at the last minute. How do you do?"
"Just fine thanks. I understand that Mr. Hablasham has gone to Paris?" Josh asked politely.
Fredrick nodded. "Yes, rather unexpectedly. A convention there has arisen out of what was apparently to be an informal meeting, and now it appears as though he will be gone for quite some time. But you may rest assured, this will be going to him by the first post." He said, holding the note.
Josh tried to find out more, giving the impression of knowledge. "Really. I am just in from Europe myself. Pity I didn't hear about the conference. I might have saved myself a trip."
Fredrick smiled under Josh's attention. "It was rather sudden." he repeated, obviously not entirely certain where this conversation was going. Then, he looked at the two of them, as if to ask, 'was there anything else?' without being so impolite as to actually say that...
The note read:
Hablashim,
As you are aware, all is not well with the world. Nat has gone missing and
a Shedim was looking for him, Raphael has been spirited off to Hell by Baal,
Michael was in town, as was Gabriel. The demons tried to construct a tether,
but Gabriel apparently put a stop to that. Your temp. secretary seems to
be in danger of dying within the next week by Celestial means. Let me know
if you learn anything interesting in Paris, or have heard anything from
Nat.
Jason
Home Phone
Mobile Phone
Pager
"I appreciate your assistance." Jason said as he made for the elevator.
Once downstairs he commented to Josh "I did not get any feeling from him as I did last time, and nothing obviously unusual seemed to be going on. I think I would like to take a look at the church were Nathaniel used to preach. Maybe we can find some clues as to his whereabouts."
With that he headed back to the church... or what was left of it.
The trek to the church took only a short while, and at the end of it, the two found themselves outside the ruined shell of the building. The fire department and police had left, leaving behind a line of tape with "Danger... Do not cross" on it surrounding the entire block. Josh mentioned quietly that the line had been pulled in to the size of the block since yesterday it had extended much further out, but they must have cleared the way because of the road. There were a few cars that pass now and again, and the odd person from the neighborhood that walked along the road.
The church itself was nothing more than a skeleton. It was blackened in the windows and doors, and the roof has apparently collapsed inwards overnight.
Jason and Josh began to canvas the neighborhood for witnesses or anyone with information. They did not have too much time, but they did their best.
Josh mentioned to Jason that there were one or two people who he got the addresses of yesterday, when he and Lynne were following up on what happened here. In particular, one old lady had been rather helpful. He headed to a phone box and spoke for a little while into the receiver.
Meanwhile, Jason was lucky enough to spot one person, a late middle aged man, moving up to the edge of the cordoned off area, and frowning at the church itself. He stood there for a few moments, staring at the ruins quietly. Brown pants, shirt, clean-shaven, he seemed poor but concerned with his appearance. He had a vaguely eastern European look to him, and quite possibly would have been a congregation member, since the church was Russian Orthodox.
Jason was considering how to approach the man, when Josh came over to him. "Well, I spoke with her. Her name is Katerina Donovich. She was a member of the congregation and was there the night that Nathaniel collapsed. She said that she did not know what she could tell us that we did not all ready know, but she was willing to meet for lunch at her house. I told her that you were one of the EMT on the scene and might be coming to speak with her, and said you would give her a call regardless. I am going to have to get to the airport soonish..."
"Fortunately we are pretty close to the airport. I'd like to ask this man a couple of questions, if you can spare a minute I'd appreciate it." He handed Josh a small packet (including the map of LA, Flight number, Hotel and confirmation number, and Rental Car and confirmation number). "This should be all the info you need for your flight." Jason wrote down Katerina's address and number and walked (with Josh in tow) to talk to the man.
"Oh, of course!" Josh said, grinning. "I still have not got the geography down pat. I forgot how close the airport is from here. And I even drove here from the airport yesterday..." He chuckled. "Loose my own head next."
Josh smiled. "Normally I do the organizing... Lynne can be a bit distracted at times. Nice to have someone else doing it for a change." He grinned at all the neatly organized papers.
"Excuse me Sir, were you a member of the congregation?" The man turned and gave Jason a serious look. "Young man, I helped to build this Church. Who are you? I don't remember you." His accent was thick, but he was quite articulate.
"My name is Jason, I am an EMT. I was one of the first to arrive on the scene yesterday when the church burned."
"EMT? What is this EMT?" He frowned, face becoming a wealth of wrinkles.
Josh piped up. "Emergency Medical Technician. Ambulance guy." he offered the man his hand, which the fellow ignored, and smiles. "I'm Josh. From England."
A brief snort was the only response. Jason tried again.
"I had heard that Nathaniel had taken ill, did you know anything about it, or his where-abouts?"
"Nathaniel? FATHER Nathaniel, you mean. You young people these days, you have not got any respect. The man is a priest. Besides, why do You want to know about Father Nathaniel?"
"I was a friend of his and was coming to see him yesterday. That is why I was in the area at the time of the fire."
The man, who had not introduced himself yet, continued to frown. "So did you come in the ambulance or not?" He said abruptly.
Josh spoke up again. "No, he was just lucky to be nearby and came to help the ambulance. I don't suppose you would know anything about what happened to Father Nathaniel, Mr. ..."
"Only that he was sick on Saturday night. I saw him when he collapsed. Then that Doctor came and helped him. Hadn't seen her about the church either." He frowned deeper. "So if you know Father Nathaniel, have you been to his house? Is her there? It was very strange him not having service on Sunday."
"I have not been over to his house, but I have tried calling. I am sorry, I meant no disrespect, it is just that I have known Father Nathaniel for a long time and think of him as only Nathaniel now. I was wondering if you could describe the Doctor for me. Perhaps I know her. If so I could find out how he is doing and let you know."
The man looked at Jason and snorted. "She was business like. Young woman. Spoke like foreigner. Like learned English but learned good. I don't know." He stared at Jason with a peculiar eye. "And she walked like she was not sure what she was doing. I look at people. I know things. She had not been in church before. Why she was there, I do not know. Said she was doctor when the Father fell down. She spoke with him, leaned over him, and I heard her say for him to look at her. He did and went quiet, then she helped him up, and he began singing sermon again. Then she was gone. She did not wait for end of sermon. Just like that, gone."
Jason got a little more of a description of her, but it was not really enough for an identification. He thought through all the young female doctors he knew, and formed a list in his mind. Remembering that he left Lynne with just such a list, except longer, he briefly wondered how she was doing.
�Did he seem to be himself during the rest of the sermon and afterwards?" Asked Jason. "Did he seem to be affected by the collapse, or did he just go on as if nothing had happened? Sometimes you feel OK after an injury, but then relapse afterwards when the adrenaline runs out. I was just wondering if he seemed or acted differently, or did anything unusual."
The man snorted again. "He was fine, then like he was hit, and he collapsed. Just like that. Then she ran up to help him, and he looked at her funny, then, she helped him up, then he went on with the sermon. That's it."
"If you speak with the Father, give him my best." The man said in dismissive tone, then turned away from the somewhat taken aback Josh, and marched off down the road, muttering to himself.
"Well... that was strange." Said Josh, then looked to Jason for the next move.
"Hmmmm. Well I guess that is about all he had to say." Jason said with a smile. "We should probably get going to the airport. If we have time I can get caught up with Lynne and see if she found anything out."
With that Jason hailed a cab and he and Josh prepared to head off to the airport.
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