DreamWorld- Inferno Bar
Michel and Lucifer have nearly finished with bottles as Lucifer is regaling Michael with an old story.
Lucifer: ...So AZRAEL comes through and looks at me and Gabriel and says " I will not let you leave!" Gabriel, the little shit, he pushes me right into Azrael and goes running to Raph and tells him that I'm being falsely accused of something and of course that's what led to Raph and Azrael fighting in the foyer when you and the others came back from the fight with the underverse demons.
Michael: Hahaha after all this time I simply thought it too strange that Azrael would start fights for no reason. Now. Now that makes a lot more sense.
Lucifer: Haha, so there you have it.
Lucifer smiles as Michael looks more solemn.
Michael: Do you believe it...that we were destined to fight that right...to wage this never ending war between heaven and hell.
Lucifer: I did. But the post convergence has me wandering about a lot of things. Fathers absence in that definitely made me believe that maybe everything wasn't and isn't as black and white as he would want us to think.
Michael: Father is infallible. To render that pointless would have by now simply undone it all.
Lucifer: Perhaps you have yet to think that what we're going through is the undoing. Think about it. An earth where the tethering between humans and godly ability fluctuate...building to a cataclysmic event we are yet to truly be part of. Perhaps this is the end of the world...the world we knew...the one we've been locked into an eternal dispute over. Even now, ask yourself ..do you feel that burning never ending hatred for me that you always have? That I always have?
Michael doesn't say a word.
Lucifer: We've been sitting here for how long...never once taking a hard hitting dig at the other. Either we've both grown soft...or something has completely changed. You don't have to admit it. But we both know we can feel it.
Michael finishes his drink as Lucifer stands.
Lucifer: Time to get another bottle.
Lucifer goes to do just that as Michael takes a deep breath and closes his eyes as he thinks.
Reality
Alex and Tobias drive in silence before Tobias checks the scanner.
Tobias: Seventh and tenth street are being patrolled.
Alex: Won't need to take it to get there, thankfully.
Tobias: Helluva day. You wake me up to help you out with a gig and we both end up by the end of it hunted and nearly murdered. Gotta say...
Alex: Don't even have to say...
Tobias: I'm glad you're okay.
Alex: I'm glad you are too.
Tobias smirks as Alex focuses back in the road as Charles follows close behind still as Esmeray turns around to face Vade.
Esmeray: All these years you've carried around this burden that you killed me brother...even when...
Vade: I'm sorry about that. I should've told you beforehand.
Esmeray: It wouldn't have mattered. It would have been a false memory.
Vade: But even then I knew nothing of that lie. And I still carried it around knowing it would come to light and hurt you. I just hoped that you would understand. And maybe could find it in yourself to forgive me.
Esmeray reaches out and touches Vade's hand as she smiles.
Esmeray: Me and you are in this till the end.
Vade pushes his glasses up and musters a smile.
Vade: Thank you, Ray.
Charles clears his throat as Esmeray and Vade look at him as the two raise an eyebrow.
Charles: Just saying you know...just...
Vade: Not the right time, Charles.
Charles: Yeah, yeah...yeah you're right. Sorry. Sorry.
Esmeray shakes her head and laughs as Vade folds his arms and checks his phone as Charles focuses back on the road.
Elsewhere
Tegan paces about as she ties her hair back and checks her apartment before she she sits down at the edge of her bed and begins to snap her fingers as she hums and closes her eyes, feeling the still and frozen calmness as she opens her eyes and looks about as she then spots Xander who was standing off not to far from her.
Xander: I had a feeling you would be back sooner rather than later.
Tegan: I got my rest... my release. I'm ready.
Xander looks at her and nods.
Xander: I can see that. Very well.
Xander steps forward and touches her forehead as there is a rush of light before the two appear by the campfire as Artur is asleep as Xander goes and takes a seat as Tegan joins him.
Tegan: Echo's sleep?
Xander: They have their own consciousness here. They themselves are part of the dream share and even he needs rest.
Tegan: And you?
Xander smirks
Xander: No rest for the wicked.
Tegan: You know you're the bad guy...right?
Xander: Perhaps. But what does that make you?
Tegan: Someone who doesn't give a shit about what good or evil is. I just wanna be me and do what I want. And I want to see this to its conclusion.
Xander: You will be a Queen of the new existence.
Tegan smirks as Xander nods.
Xander: Once Leon arrives... we'll make our move.
Tegan and Xander look towards the conclave as Tegan takes a deep breath and smiles as she is ready for whatever was coming next.
Elsewhere
The shore line has receded back as the camp has been torn down as Speeder tracks are leading away from the Rim as the three who had been there are now ready themselves for the fight ahead.
Reality
Alex gets out as Tobias helps Charles and Vade get some of the gear out as Esmeray looks about and comes up behind Alex as he opens the door to the building and steps inside with Esmeray as she looks about as the entire building is empty.
Esmeray: Uhh..
Alex: Give me a moment.
Esmeray watches as Alex goes and opens a panel on the floor as Esmeray watches as he types a code into floor panel, the floor a few feet ahead shuddering before lowering down into a subbasement as Alex smirks as and goes and helps Tobias bring in some gear as Esmeray descends down the stairs and looks about as she sees a large living space as kitchen, a restroom, and a large living area with screens and tech is strew about as couches and chairs are placed all about as Esmeray marvel's at it before she stood cold as she hears the bathroom flush and she freezes as the door to the restroom open as a beautiful, smaller young asian woman steps out and stops cold as the two stared each other down as Tobias, Alex, Charles and Vade come down as the four look at Esmeray then at the woman.
Alex: Oh my...Hazel. I'm sorry. I should've warned you. Ummm, surprise?
The woman known as Hazel looks about as she blushes and waves.
Hazel: Umm hey.
Charles: Hazel, good to see ya.
Hazel: Hiya, Charles.
Esmeray: Who is this?
Hazel: Oh, I'm Hazel.
Esmeray: Esmeray.
Alex: Hazel is my partner. The true Ghost.
Hazel: I basically take all the algorithms and information that Alex can give me and I feed it to those who need it. Mostly Charles.
Charles: Well you've been doing an awesome job.
Hazel smirks as she looks about as the others begin to set up their equipment.
Hazel: What's...?
Alex: I was made. And We've got to stop Orion and these zealots before they get their way.
Hazel: Oh, well...okay then.
Hazel goes to Charles and helps him set up his equipment as Alex and Tobias stand by each other.
Alex: She was an orphan from a raid I was a part of a few years back. Her brother had been siphoning power from a hun and was boosting his personal sever where he was making a lot of money for his off the grid parties. The guy I was with today, Chris... didn't even bother to tell him what was happening. A single shot, right to the temple. Sickened me...but D.R.C always looked away when Orion wanted something handled. Hazel saw it all...didn't utter a word when they took her in. I snuck her out later that night and have been keeping her safe since.
Tobias: That's... incredible.
Alex: I watched her brother die and didn't so a damn thing about it. I doubt that warrants an incredible.
Tobias: You saved her from something far worse I imagine.
Alex nods as he lights a cigarette.
Alex: We got any idea where we need to be?
Charles: I do. Once I've got the connections stable and I'm sure we're not being traced we'll be good to go.
Hazel: Who's all going in?
Alex: All of us.
Hazel: M-Me included?
Alex: We've been training for this. You're going to be fine.
Hazel: Oh yes!
Hazel dances about as Esmeray rolls her eyes as Vade smirks.
Hazel: I'm ready I'm so ready! I've been waiting forever to kick some Orion Industrial ass!
Alex: Settle down. Don't get ahead of yourself. It's going to be very dangerous.
Hazel does some air karate as she was tuning him out as Tobias smirks and pats Alex as Alex sighs.
Alex: This is going to be something.
Alex goes over and talks with Hazel as the group get themselves prepared for what lies ahead.
End of chapter