As Ted went about his day, the system didn't interfere. He expected, based on the morning he had, for the day to continue with hectic, fast-paced craziness. His Wednesday after he finally got to the office was noticeable only because it was so mundane. He went to fifteen different offices and 'fixed their computer' by turning it off and back on again. He repaired and rebooted two servers that were being problematic, but they had already been moved to auxiliary function, so they were not high priority. He even wrote some code and documentation for some of his app design projects, but they weren't even due as first drafts to his boss for another two months. All in all, Ted was starting to imagine that the most frantic part of his Wednesday was over by 8:30 am. Noon rolled around, and he headed out to lunch quite pleased with the last three and a half hours. Ted even decided to go to the pizza shop down the street where, since he was such a regular, he could walk in and without ordering, they'd bring him three slices of his favorite, and put it on his tab. He was pleased.
As Ted entered Sal's Pizza, he waved to Sal, who was always in the back kitchen with one eye on the door. Ted winked at Sal's wife, who was always working the front counter, and would always give Shirls a discount. Ted even smiled pleasantly at Sal's daughter as she brought out his three slices of pizza, topped with beef meatballs, extra cheese, and light sauce. This was how lunch was supposed to go. He even stopped Maria, Sal's daughter, and asked for a beer as she dropped the slices at his table.
Maria brought him the coldest glass they had, covered in ice, with a perfect pour of beer with just the right level of froth. "That's some great head, Maria... On the beer." Maria was used to Ted's jokes, just playful enough to be funny, just close enough to the line of inappropriate to make her blush, and just friendly enough to not make Shirls jealous or give Maria the wrong impression.
She laughed the joke off, "I always give the best head to the customers I care the most about." How was she so fast on the draw with a response? If Ted was anybody else, or if this wasn't his version of Cheers, that response would've made him blush deep red, and he'd be incredibly shy for weeks to recover. Because it was par for the course for Maria and Ted's normal banter, though, he laughed a hearty laugh.
Sal came out around 1 pm, just as Ted was finishing off his lunch and scrolling through Facebook. Sal was the father that Ted had always wanted. Approachable, funny, loving, and just strict enough to let you know he cared. "You make me so happy, that you come by today. I want you to know, I see the way my wife and daughter feel comfortable when you're here, and it makes my heart glad that they've got family who look out for them like you do."
Truth be told, Ted hadn't done all that much for Sal's family. He had taken Sal and his wife to the shooting range, to help them buy a firearm for defending their home and the pizzeria. He had trained Sal's wife and daughter how to shoot the 20 gauge with enough precision if the time ever came. He tipped reasonably well, and they had his cell number, with an assurance that he'd be there for them if they needed him. Ted hadn't ever been asked to do anything that much though. He was, however, accepted as a part of the family, and Shirls by proxy. Ted was sure that Shirls' mother, who had outlived her father, and Ted's parents, who were still together after 37 years, would both be excited when(and if) they ever announced that they had conceived. Sal, on the other hand, would probably either shut down the shop that day to celebrate a new grandson(adopted though he might be), or he'd give away free pizza to every customer, just for the excuse to tell them that he was celebrating his adopted son's good news. This was the good news that Sal was eagerly waiting for every time he and Ted talked.
Ted looked up at Sal, and noticed a rosary around Sal's neck that he had never noticed before. "Sal, are you catholic?"
"Only enough to keep my mother in Florence from having a coronary if she thought I'd given up her faith."
"Have you ever wondered if any of it is real?" This is uncharted territory for either of them. They had talked about football, soccer(what Sal insisted was real football), and other mundane topics. They'd even verged into talking about politics once every four years. But religion? No, sir!
"It was for my father, G-d rest his soul, and mother Mary watch over him."
"Yeah, my parents dragged us to Sunday School, Youth Wednesday, and church events, but I always had a doubt in the back of my mind that First Wesleyan really had any clue what they were talking about."
Sal didn't push the conversation, and normally, Ted would've dropped it. This, however, stuck out to him. "I always remember my mother talking about Salvation as if it was some great thing. Why would I need it if I was a decent person, though?"
Sal drew on many years of experience, and deep theological understanding to offer the words of insight, "Meh, guess we'll all find out one day, right?"
Ted wondered. Here was a man who generally had the answers. He was a fixture in Ted's days, not for any remarkable memory, but for a stable presence through many different memories. Sal could always be relied upon to provide a sense of grounding. Why did it matter? If Ted was really going crazy, it'd be ok. If this thing was real, it'd be ok, too. We'll all find out one day. Words to rest on.
" ** Don't pass up the opportunity ** "
" || What opportunity, system? || "
"Do y'all mind if I ask a question?" said the patron at the next table over from Sal and Ted.
Sal never minded much of anything. "Go ahead, I'm dispensing wisdom to my son. I've got more to give to you." Sal's response echoed an Italian bravado to the T.
"I've never really understood the whole Jesus thing, or a relationship with G-d. Y'all consider yourselves men of faith and are still able to be frankly ambivalent towards faith. Is that enough?"
Normally, Ted would've been on his way out the door from a conversation like this. The words that came out of his mouth surprised him just as much as they did Sal or this young man. "The only thing required for the whole Jesus thing, or a relationship with G-d, is to know the Lord Jesus was both Man and God, promised from the Father before time eternal, given to men as a suffering servant who took our sins at His Death, brought us life through His resurrection, and intercedes for us in Heaven. Submit to His Lordship over Creation, and everything else works out from there." Ted wasn't sure he'd even spoken the words, although they came from his mouth and sounded like his voice.
// Mission Progress: Mark 4 Sower 1/3
"Huh, oh cool." "What my wise son said, indeed." Sal and the man both replied at the same time.
Ted and Sal exchanged a few pleasantries after that, but nothing of significance. Ten minutes later, Ted was walking back to work, and wondering what surprises were in store for the rest of his day...
As he walked into the lobby of RoweTown Financial, he saw something that was beyond belief. There stood a nine foot tall lion, with the wings of an eagle coming out of its back. Not only was this sight strange, but it seemed that Ted was the only one to think so. Everyone else was going about their business and completely ignoring the presence of the majestic beast.
As Ted took in a deep breath, the Lion looked around. It saw Ted staring, and locked eyes with him.
// Holiness Aura being detected
" ** That is what should appropriately be referred to as an angel. ** "
" || What is that thing? Why did I get a notification about Holiness Aura? || "
" ** That is one of the Erelim. Specifically, I do believe that is Ari Me'ofef. The notification was to inform you that Ari is checking to see whether you are holy or infernal. ** "
" || Why is he checking me? || "
" ** First, you shouldn't refer to an angel as he. Either use its name, or reference 'that angel.' Gender does not exist amongst the angelic, only the flesh and infernals. Second, since you've been staring directly at him for the last 45 seconds, he's checking to make sure you're not why he's assigned. ** "
" || He's assigned? || "
" ** Yes, Ari comes down to the Earth Realm only when he's on assignment. ** "
" || What kind of assignments does he get? I'm assuming these assignments come from G-d? || "
" ** He is assigned to protect important individuals during a Kingdom-specific mission, and to head off infernal interference in the plans of the Holy. ** "
Just as Ted was about to ask what infernal interference meant, he got his answer displayed in front of him. A clawed talon reached up through the floor, and moved to grab someone. Ted recognized Jim from External Consulting. The talon raked towards Jim. The system explained everything as he watched it unfold.
" **That is an infernal. Most likely, that is one of the depression demons, trying to be very sly while attacking your coworker Jim. Jim just had a client ask for him to explain the Gospel, another client admit to being a pedophile without knowing that Jim understood his admission, and his wife filed for divorce yesterday. If Jim finishes out his week according to the Plan, he will lead the first client to Christ, and that man will end up being a world-renowned missionary, who will save millions of lives and thousands of souls. Jim will turn evidence over against the second client, even though it will cost him about $150,000 in reported earnings this quarter due to the lost profit for RoweTown from losing a high profile client. His wife will see the error of her ways, come back to him asking for reconciliation, and they will reconcile by conceiving a child who will saves thousands of lives as an ICU surgeon. This is an important week for Jim. ** "
As the infernal talon moved ever closer to Jim, Ari did not see it. "Ari, talon on the ground at 8 o'clock," bellowed Ted. Just as every human head turned towards the sudden noise from Ted yelling, Ari looked at the talon, with Ted's words to guide. Ari struck the talon with his mouth and pulled a demon up out of the ground. Ted watched slack-jawed as this majestic lion/eagle/angel fought with what could only be described as the ugliest 6 foot tall half-decaying vulture you could ever imagine. Ted thought that this must be what happened to all the vultures that get killed in road collisions. It looked like roadkill that had sat for 6 days, and then been reanimated and grown to an absurd height. Ari was apparently quite the match as a fighter, as the depression demon was dispatched quickly and efficiently. As Ari walked over, a conversation started up between Ted and Ari.
""" Ari Me'ofef, servant of the Erelim, warrior of the Most High, and I owe you a deep debt. I would not have seen that talon had you not told me. Had I failed to protect my charge, many souls would have been lost. You have greatly enhanced the Kingdom today. I see you are holy, but I do not know of you..."""
Ari's words seemed to echo in the lobby with a power Ted could feel in his bones, but no one else seemed to respond. Ted tried to think-speak towards Ari just as he did with the system.
" || I am Ted. I think I'm a paladin. This is my first day, and first conversation with an angel... || "
" ** He meets Ari, and suddenly I no longer count as an angel... ** "
"""Many thanks Paladin. You have earned a favor from me. Speak my name when you are in need, and I will be at your service. You have made Adonai very proud today!"""
" || What's Adonai? || " Ted asked.
As Ari had disappeared, just before Ted could ask, the system responded.
" ** Adonai is one of the names of G-d. Some angelic beings use one name, while some use others. You will come to understand what rank and assignment an angels has by how they refer to G-d, if you pay attention. ** "
Well, this day was not going like Ted had thought.