Children of the Archangels

CHAPTER 33: THE DEPARTURE

According to the calendar, the group had a week to find the entrance to the Garden of Eden. After retrieving their supplies and clothing from the secretary, all SGA logo stamped approved, they went through it on their way to the armory. Most of it was packaged meals, some survival materials like Swiss-Army knives, matches, and medical supplies, and a tent for each person.

In the armory, Luke went for his usual whip. He stowed it at his side and knew he'd be carrying dead weight if he loaded himself up with anything else. Sure, he could bring a bow and arrow for long range encounters, and maybe even a small sword for close-quarters-combat, but he knew he could rely on his abilities for the rest. He has been honing his skills over the past two months and was confident he had gained better control over his powers, although he would still admit he has a lot more to learn.

Victor went for a slingshot and a simple dagger with the tip coated in rust. Why he would want a rusty-tipped blade was beyond Luke's comprehension. Wouldn't the tip just crack under pressure?

Sirius opted for nothing. The way he summons his sword Absorber as if from thin air was good enough. Luke at first thought that was amazing, but after training to shape lightning into his own weapons, he was more confident in his ability to come close to matching Sirius's skills.

The walk to the base of the mountain was quiet. Sirius looked lost in thought, Nil was staring at the clouds, and Victor was loading pellets into a mechanism on his wrist that would allow easy access to load his slingshot. When they reached the base, they met the Dean who was standing in the cold temperatures with his sleeves rolled up.

"I've been at brighter funerals," the Dean commented on the quiet somber look of the group. "Follow me."

Luke didn't know rock/ice climbing was going to be part of the adventure. Although he was trained for it both during survival training and during morning exercises, he always hated the climb. One slip and boom—instant death. Luke could do many amazing things but flying wasn't one of them—at least not yet anyway.

They reached a ridge that was lit up with lights one would fine on an airport runway. The Dean led them through the lights and past the brisk wind that cut straight through to Luke's bones. Luke welcomed the cold wind after the sweaty hike. The Dean even did them a favor and carried Nil on his back for the hike. Luke couldn't imagine what it would've been like if he had to hike with an extra body attached to him—as if the twenty-pound bag on his back wasn't enough.

Dean Ammon went to a doorway and placed his hand on a keypad. The pad glowed red and steam rose from the Dean's hand. Then the wall against the ridge started to part open. On the inside were two Tempest soldiers sitting on chairs.

One of them was Tejero, and the other was Kevin.

"You forgot your bow," Tejero pointed at Luke. "You were doing so well with it."

Tejero had been training Luke for the past two months to perfect his archery skills. At times, Luke even surprised Tejero.

"I don't need one, I can make one."

Everyone started to snicker as if Luke had said he could fart through his eyes. He might as well have, because they all thought he was being ridiculous. Luke simply shrugged his shoulders. There was no need to prove anything to them. As far as he knew, they weren't the enemy.

Out of all the people laughing, including the Dean who chuckled, Kevin was the only one who took him seriously. He walked up to Luke and extended his hand. They grabbed each other's forearms and Kevin didn't need to say anything in order for Luke to know that this was Kevin's way of wishing him good luck.

"Don't die out there," Kevin said. "And don't let the run change you. My brother, he was never the same when he came back." Kevin then turned his attention to Victor and scowled as if he spotted a human covered in soiled diapers.

Luke knew a couple of things. First, Kevin hated Victor. That much was a fact. Kevin had hated Victor even when Luke first saw him as Victor came to the rescue in the snowmobiles when they were battling their way up the mountain to SGA. Kevin didn't trust Victor, and clearly shared that message with Luke as if to say, "Keep an eye on that one."

Second, the bit about his brother, Luke also knew about. Kevin had told him about his brother Michael before they both left for SGA from CUA. Michael had risked his life for Luke. Luke remembered the flashbacks he had at CUA and knew that Michael was one of the escorts that led Luke into the Garden of Eden. Kevin knew this too. Luke was lost and now he was found, but apparently when Michael returned, he wasn't the same.

Luke guessed that had to do with seeing his comrade Jurgen kill his partner Xyi in cold blood inside the Garden of Eden. That would be the equivalent of Luke seeing Victor kill Sirius in the Garden of Eden.

Luke never knew what happened to the both of them, but he believed the dreams he had at CUA were real. Michael had escorted Luke to the Garden of Eden as a child with two other people accompanying him: Jurgen and Xyi. Luke only saw flashes, and although he didn't see the murderous deed itself, he saw Jurgen carry a knife into the Garden of Eden, and he argued constantly with Xyi, wishing he could put an end to him.

Next thing he knew, Xyi was lying on the floor of the garden clutching a mortal wound as Michael carried Luke out of the Garden, only to drop him as they were leaving. If Luke descended from angels—fallen or watchers, then that means he was a forgotten angel left abandoned in the Garden of Eden.

Meanwhile, Michael must've returned back to SGA without Luke—but was he forced to confront his teammate Jurgen for the murder of Xyi?

If Kevin knew anything, he clearly wasn't letting on. All Luke could hope for was that such a terrible tragedy wouldn't happen again.

Kevin didn't say anything to Sirius, but he studied him as if he was a challenging physics problem that kept a rocket scientist up all night. For the first time, Luke thought that Kevin didn't have an accurate read on somebody's life.

"This is as far as I'll go," the Dean said stopping just at the mouth of the cave. Beyond where Kevin and Tejero sat was complete darkness like an unlit metro tunnel. "This Transport Cave will get you to Antarctica relatively fast by foot. However, there are two things you need to keep in mind. First, time works different deep inside the cave. It tends to accelerate, so a couple of hours here could mean a couple of days in the real world. I advise you to move through this cave as quickly as possible since the equinox is in a week. But that all depends on how you handle the second thing."

As if on cue, a loud throaty rumble rocked the cave as if the cave itself had yawned. Luke had his hand on his whip, Sirius made a fist and was seconds away from unleashing Absorber. Victor didn't flinch at all.

The Dean rubbed his hairy arms and pointed down the dark tunnel. "You need to get passed whatever it is guarding this cave. For some reason, this particular Transport Cave always has a new Iumenti guarding it no matter how many expeditions we send through. The faster you get through that thing, the faster you'll be in the seventh continent. Then use the map I gave you to find the entrance to the Garden of Eden. Always stay vigilant. Throughout this journey, no matter how short or simple it may appear, you'll always be a target by free-spirited demons, Iumenti, and Lord knows what else."

The Dean reached his hand out and shook Victor's hand with the firmness of a wretch tightening a bolt. "Bring my kids back safe Victor. I'm counting on you."

Victor nodded, and Luke never thought Victor could be so serious. It was as if this was his chance to prove his worth as well. Luke was also touched that the Dean viewed them all as his own children.

Then the Dean went to Sirius and shook his hand. "You make it back from this with a good report from Victor, and maybe you'll be accelerated a year."

Sirius smiled. "Sure thing sir."

Then the Dean went to Luke. He clutched Luke's hand, and Luke felt like he was gripping the handle of an old iron door that opened up to an ancient cathedral of history. "Don't get lost again son."

At that point, Luke knew the Dean was aware of Luke's past and probably knew things about Luke that he didn't even know himself; or maybe the Dean was warning Luke not to lose out to his anger like he did in the sim.

Victor turned towards the cave and started walking, his footsteps echoing across the cavern. It was a silent call for Luke, Sirius, and Nil to join him. They faced the darkness and forged forward to save a child from the debilitating light of God.