Muno tore through the wind currents at supersonic speed. In full celestial form, he could travel at twice the speed of sound...
He wished he could travel faster, because the 'Fallen' had a head start over him. It would hurt him greatly if he lost such gallant and loyal Watchers, to the grievously evil ambitions of the Beguiler.
In this enhanced quasi-solid celestial form, Muno's navigational system kicked into gear; employing some sort of otherworldly technology, his wind goggles communicated with Earthian Global Positioning System satellites and regional map software, rather unobtrusively: And same was communicated to his optics seamlessly, so locating Basra, Iraq, was a walk in the park.
As he descended into Iraqi airspace, within range of Iraqi Air Defense radars; two fighter jets were scrambled to confront his intrusion.
'You are within Iraqi Air Defense Identification Zone. You have no clearance for flight within this airspace: You are advised to turn your aircraft around and exit Iraqi airspace, or you will be shot down.' A stark warning in English and Arabic was issued Muno from the Iraqi Air Defense ground station.
Muno instinctively knew his heat signature had been locked in and further dithering on his part, would compel the deployment of heat-seeking projectiles against him.
He knew this because his celestial-tech wind goggles, had run quick analytics on the bogeys bearing down on him and subsequently appraised the threat they posed to Muno's mission.
Although, they could do minimal damage to Muno in his quasi-solid celestial form; he however reckoned, that he could do without the sting of hostile fire. More importantly, he could not risk such an early discovery by the 'Fallen'...
A dogfight in Iraqi airspace would attract hostile curiosity to his covert arrival.
'Now go to sleep!' Muno muttered, as he deployed an electronic countermeasure from his weapons arsenal, to actively jam and interfere with Iraqi defence radar systems and avionics aboard the fighter jets, deployed against him.
'Where did it go?' The officer commanding the Iraqi Air Defense ground crew queried.
'Our weapons system is jammed and we have lost visibility of the hostile.' The lead fighter jet pilot gave a grim report in Arabic.
'Return to base!' The Air Defense ground crew ordered a retreat.
Shortly, the skyline of the ancient city of Basra came within range of Muno's optics. From his elevated view, he could tell the city was a mix of the old and the new.
The real estate on this huge acreage of desert, depicted an array of ancient Persian architecture amidst a cluster of Western-styled building designs.
'I'll find shelter in those mountain ranges', Muno spoke aloud. He knew he quickly had to send an encrypted signal peculiar to his platoon, to his besieged troops. He hoped he wasn't out of time...
Sat by a lake in a vast canyon, embedded within one of many mountain ranges in Basra; Hophenea longed to be among the stars again, but he had long given up on that dream.
He and members of his ill-fated platoon were doomed; for they were 'Fallen' and condemned to live in the shadows among men, until the judgement ordained by the CREATOR against them was executed.
Nonetheless, as penance for their nonfeasance, Hophenea and his four Watcher Angel companions; Darius, Errott, Chang and Tuzman, along with ten brave Watchers, who fell that day:
Fought through hostile 'Fallen' ranks, in a bloody battle of the 'Fallen' mighty on the hill ranges of the Himalayas; to recover the Ark of Recompense; abandoned in the lair of the Beguiler, in the heat of erotic passion with the daughters of men.
Succeed they did, with a price of ten dead Watcher Angels. Still, it was not enough to grant them absolution from the wrath of the CREATOR.
Too scared and ashamed to ask for mercy and redemption, Hophenea and his company of four, committed the remainder of their lives, to keeping safe the Ark of Recompense and its sacred content.
Until such a time, the CREATOR would send a salvage team to recover it and most likely deliver their recompense.
As Watcher Angels who served on the fringes of the heavenlies, they knew little of the CREATOR's inexhaustible penchant for compassion and mercy...
And so, they journeyed without a single prayer for mercy uttered, until they made a cavernous mountain in Basra, Iraq, home.
'Hmmm... Finally caught something', Hophenea remarked, as he felt a huge pull on his fishing line.
Hunting for big game had become his favourite pastime in the drudgery of his mundane surround, but this day, he felt a craving for some fish stew.
There was a slightly strange feeling to the day and so, he thought to make an unusual meal for his brother Watchers.
Suddenly, he heard a majestic roar; more like the battle summons to a pride of lions by an alpha male. The roar was distinctly familiar and with it came angelic energy, which coursed through Hophenea's body and restored his long-lost celestial glow.
'Commander Muno!' Hophenea cried out in disbelief.
'Could this be true? This is undoubtedly the encrypted summons of Commander Muno... How can this be? Only a Watcher Angel Commander can issue such summons.
'Has Muno being absolved and restored? Perhaps, the CREATOR has sent a salvage and demolition team with Muno at the helm, to recover the Ark and deliver the judgement ordained for their failure.' Hophenea's confused thoughts were almost audible.
'I couldn't care less, if I am to die, I'd rather die at the hands of a servant of the CREATOR!' Hophenea's voice echoed in the vast canyon.
Darius, Tuzman, Errott and Chang, were huddled around a table, fixated on a game of Stone Castles. They heard the roar... Muno's distinct summons was unmistakable.
The cave of their habitation was illuminated with a bluish celestial glow, emitted by their bodies.
They quickly fitted into their battle gear and entered into battle formation.
'Where's Hophenea?' Darius asked apprehensively.
'Out hunting...' Tuzman replied.
'Get his bow and fill his quiver with demon-killing darts.' Darius instructed.
'This definitely is Muno's summons, but only a Watcher Angel Commander can make such an issue: I saw Muno rent his wings, I watched him abandon the Ark of Recompense and his platoon. How in the CREATOR's name did he secure mercy?
'I fear it's a snare, a bait to lure us into revealing the location of the Ark of Recompense...' Darius said pensively.
'I think not Darius. None but the CREATOR could have restored Muno to angelic grandeur. I fear our recompense is upon us and Muno is here to execute the judgement ordained. Remember brothers, the CREATOR will show mercy to whomever he chooses.' Chang emphatically declared.
'If it be, then I'd gladly die at the hands of Commander Muno; for his blade will surely grant mercy and passage into the Halls of Reverence and Acclaim. Who's with me?' Darius asked?
'Aye!!' Errott, Chang, Tuzman chorused. 'We are with you!!'
'I shall release our coordinates.' Darius said... He gave off a roar, which only Muno could hear and locate.
'They are holed up in that cave!' Warthog huskily said, pointing in the direction of the habitation of Darius and his Watcher brothers.
Warthog an unusually huge 'Fallen', stood at least nine feet tall, he was monstrous in every sense of the word. His weapon, a giant hammer hung on his shoulder like a farmer tilling the Earth... He was a vicious killer of men and angels.
Warthog had for company Jurais, Sphinx, Thorn and twenty murderous 'Fallen', under the command of Elexis; a gruesomely vengeful female 'Fallen'.
On account of her relentless hatred for the CREATOR and all who served him; manifested by her macabre murder of Believers and unalloyed 'Offsprings of the Fallen', on a genocidal scale... She quickly rose through the ranks of the 'Fallen'.
Elexis, in an audacious attempt to assassinate the CREATOR, infiltrated the Throne Room while the Battle of Sundown raged on the streets of Heaven.
Armed with her infamous and lethal Whip of Souls, she struck at the CREATOR, whose luminance, apparently underestimated by Elexis, blinded her left eye before her whip found its target.
The explosive glare from the Throne Room blasted her straight to Earth, where she lay lifeless for several moons: Until the worship of locals, mystified by the strange being that appeared from nowhere and hung on their sacred tree, awakened her to great wrath.
She slaughtered an entire community of two thousand worshippers in Manaus, Brazil, with a horrific plague and consequently inspired dread in all the temples of worship set up in her honour.
'A kiss for whoever brings me the head of Darius, he rejected my love overtures even in his 'Fallen' state!' Elexis stated blandly.
'I will bring you his crushed skull. I don't do it for a kiss... I do it for the sheer pleasure of it!' Warthog boastfully retorted.
Unbeknownst to Darius and his brave companions, the 'Fallen' had besieged their habitation...
Muno sighed heavily, having received the coordinates of the remnants of his platoon, he set out for their rescue. He willed his wings and his entire being to travel at a speed never before negotiated by a celestial.
Danger lurked on the mountain ranges of Basra, he knew his troops were besieged... He could smell Warthog from miles away.
For Warthog carried about a notoriously horrid smell because he had a reputation of stringing around his neck, the severed heads of the most recent victims of his slaughter; which occurred daily since a manhunt was launched for Dike.
'Should I fail to save my brave Watchers? I will never forgive myself.' Muno grimaced at the thought of failure.
A flicker of blistering bright light, like a stun grenade, paralyzed Darius, Errott, Tuzman and Chang. They expected an angelic visitation from Muno, perhaps to execute them; but nothing prepared them for this...
Momentarily blinded by Sphinx's weaponry, they found themselves surrounded and greatly outnumbered by the 'Fallen' sworn to the Beguiler.
'Look what we have here...' Jurais cynically yaps, 'I told you I was going to make you pay, Chang. You took my wrist, now I'm going to take your head!'
'Silence!' Warthog knocked Jurais down with a heavy punch. 'I get to choose whose head you take. Bind them up!' He commanded.
Darius cut open with his sword, the closest 'Fallen' to his blade; but was quickly struck down by a spear, driven through his leg. He cried out in pain as he fell to the ground.
'Darius!' Chang screamed.
All five brave Watcher Angels stared a miserable death in the face. With grievous weapons of death impressed on their necks from all angles; they resigned themselves to a cruel ending.
'Where is the Shikrit; the Horn of Summons to the War Host of Heaven? Speak up and I might yet grant you a quick death!' Warthog threatened.
'There is no greater glory than to die in the service of the CREATOR. Better get on with your cruel machinations... You will not lay your filthy fingers on whatever it is you seek!' Chang defiantly spoke.
'You shall die first! Hazard! We shall be needing your rusty chain-saw of a hand shortly. Take them outside, Elexis awaits.' Warthog commanded.
With chains around their wrists and weapons confiscated by Hazard, the weapons collector; the four brave Watcher Angels marched to their doom.
Hophenea was horrified by what he had just witnessed. He had raced excitedly towards the cave he called home, to inform his Watcher brothers of Muno's summons. Only by whiskers did he evade capture by the 'Fallen'.
He watched helplessly from a rock opening on the roof of the cave; if he could reach for his bow and his demon-killing darts, he would die with some pride, having taken out as many 'Fallen' as fate would allow.
As he tried to burrow down the hole on the roof of the cave, to seek out his bow and darts in his invaded home. He felt a firm hand grip his right shoulder.
Terrified, but not one to give up without a fight; he spun around with his dagger aimed at the torso of his assailant.
However, his dagger was swatted off his hand with relative ease by his assailant, who lovingly called out his name.
'Hophenea, brave Watcher. I am here for your rescue.' Muno assuredly spoke.
'Oh Commander, how good it is to see you!' Hophenea locked Muno in a tight embrace. 'We can die happy knowing you came looking for us. Perhaps, there's still a chance we can save the others.' Hophenea looked into Muno's eyes as he hoped for a positive answer.
'I will not see another Watcher die on my watch!! I am Muno, Commander of Perfectux, the elite legion of the Watcher Angel Corps, sworn to the service of the CREATOR of the Heaven and Earth: And empowered to execute the judgement ordained for the cruel and treacherous!'
Hophenea was amazed at the glorious sight before him; for as Muno spoke, flashes of lightning swirled around him and bluish flames engulfed him, as he began to walk on air. Angels were empowered to fly, but walking on air was a privilege reserved for the mightiest of angels.
Hophenea dared to hope again...