Archangel 2099UG #3

.... This is the second death.

Revelations 20:14

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Hmmm, who is shaking the bed? There had better be a damn good reason for bothering me. I gave strict instructions not to be disturbed until we reach Falos IV... in a month.

Damn, I 've got a headache! Maybe it is from all that yelling I hear. The echo tones give the voices a nearly ethereal quality. Somebody is getting fired over this.

" I'm trying! This is not a walk through the holo suite ya know!"

" Just carry out your orders Lieutenant Jona... without the rambling."

These voices don't sound familiar. Who the Hell is in my room? Where is security? Why can't I seem to open my eyes?

" Watch out! That flight on the left is trying to funnel us into the heavier ships!"

" I can see it Lieutenant! Maybe you should lord over the Ensign for a few minutes!"

" Grroowwwwwlllrrr."

" Uh... sorry Rock."

My head begins to clear, but my bed is still rocking. Damn this is odd. I usually can't get drunk. I begin to suspect I am missing something. I feel like a submerged swimmer racing to the surface. Faster and faster I swim toward consciousness. Then just as my psionic lungs begin to burst...

...My eyes open! I immediately try to blink away the light blindness. I shake my head to clear the cobwebs and begin to rub my temples. I squeeze my eyes shut and build up the courage to try again.

Slowly this time, I open my eyes. As my eyes focus I see a humanoid form standing over me, that looks the entire universe like a walking puddle of water, swirling from within with silvery silt.

It gurgles at me, " AH! Good, you are awake."

Now I admit, 72 years ago the sight of a totally unheard of alien would have made me uncomfortable to say the least, but I left that frightened girl behind two lifetimes ago. Unsure of what I've gotten myself into, I put on my best smile and purr in my most persuasive voice, "Mmmmn, I can't recall ever seeing a more impressive creature in all my travels. Should I call you savior, or captor?"

I hear a gurgle giggle, " Hmn Hmn, Oh...ah yes I suppose in part I am to thank for the daring rescue you received, but currently neither description truly fits. I suppose if you must use a title, I would be content if you called me your doctor. I can only apologize, in that capacity, that we seem to be putting you right back into the precarious situation we took you from."

I try to sit up. My foggy mind fights me as I try to remember what exactly this being may have saved me from. The room suddenly lurches and I loose myself in vertigo. As I begin to fall off the bed, my "benefactor" helps me retain my balance. I am understandably suprised to find its body dry to the touch.

" My gods, Jona!"

" I know! I know!"

" What's going on here? Where am I?" I ask my questions while leaning on the strange alien.

" Come with me. You might as well see for yourself."

I am helped out of what I assume is a medical monitoring section and lean upon the creature as he leads me to the exit from the cabin. We pass a containment field on the way and a black mass inside throws itself against the field and screams," To Me You Belong! Suffer By My Hand You Shall!" Again and again it flings itself at me only to be repelled. I am about to ask what that is about when we exit the cabin.

I immediately realize the craft we are on is a small one... a shuttle in fact. In the forward cabin I see four beings. The first, like me is a female and sits in a position of authority. The second is a very attractive roguish male with a thin goatee and dark hair that appears to be the pilot. Next is a large hairy beast at the operations console working furiously with the ship's feeble weapons. The last creature catches me off guard, and after entertaining at over 300 worlds that is hard to do. He is tall, nearly seven feet, and is an honest hunk with all of those dreamy muscles. I see long ebony hair tied up in a topknot and falling down between two wings of purest white. Even with the ship rocking violently, his simple gracefulness makes him seem unaffected by it all. I think I am in love!

That is until I look past the foursome to the spacescape beyond. Out the viewport I see a HUGE ship looming before our shuttle with a swarm of small ships joining the larger in trying to blast us out of the universe the hard way! I have to admit the pilot is the best I have ever seen as only one out of every fifty shots score against the failing shields. I however begin to doubt his sanity as I see him at full impulse heading toward the open ship bays of our enemy! Then in a heartbeat it all comes back to me, my mind clears, and all the terrible events of the last month are relived! What are these fools doing?

" We will impact with the defense shield in 8.6 seconds!"

" We need to begin entering the calculations Archangel did into the shield matrix Jona! If the shield modulation is correct we may be able to pass through their shields before being destroyed."

These people are insane! I have to say something! "Excuse me. I know you are all probably the most competent of combatants, but only fools would take on the flagship of the Dark Fleet in a shuttle!"

What happens next really annoys me... I am ignored! " Impact in 7.2 seconds! Modulation entered and running."

" Good! Ensign Rock! It is time to give our other guest an option, death or confinement. Take a type D bio-containment capsule with you."

The hairy creature stands and pushes past me and the liquid being I lean on. I'll be damned if I'll be ignored any more! "Hey! Aren't you listening to me!?! That ship you are about to ram is the Perdition's Flame! You maniacs are heading the wrong direction!"

The woman in command barely turns her head. " Doctor... If you can't keep your patient from being disruptive then sedate her."

" Why you little wi..." I begin to move forward as the liquid creature tries to hold me. I am about to work loose when the muzzle of a very large energy weapon is placed near my head. I turn to see the hairy creature that looks much more menacing now. I now see that the creature may be female. She holds up a container for the female leader to see, while keeping her gun focused on me.

" 5.1 seconds to the shield's edge!" The roguish male begins.

The woman nods in response. "Computer!" she starts, " Initiate shield modulation on my mark. Teleport all personnel to designated coordinates at .3 seconds inside shield barrier."

The computer chimes..." ACKNOWLEDGED!" Then the world around me grows very bright... as the shuttle feels as if it hits a pool of molasses... and then nothingness.

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We materialize inside a dark chamber and I am disoriented for a moment. When I begin to get my bearings I hear that witch's voice again. " Alright! Let's get organized people! Jona! Light please. Rock! Set up a perimeter. Collective! Find out if we have a detectable enemy and were they are. Omen. I need you brief me on what we are facing here."

The group begins their individual duties as light flares into our hiding place. We are all in a storage area of some sort. The roguish male has the light so I assume his name is Jona. The hairy female thing is doing a security sweep of the perimeter so I assume also that she is Rock. I can now deduce my doctor is the one called the Collective. That leaves the winged dreamboat to be Omen. I still don't know what the witch goes by.

I see an opening and I take it. " I can answer your questions."

The female officer turns to me with a look of annoyance. " Excuse me miss?"

" You wanted a briefing of what you face... well I should know as I recently escaped here and you have delivered me right back again. I tried to tell you what you faced in the shuttle but you chose to suggest I be sedated instead. Now if you can stop playing soldier girl, check your pride, and listen for a change we might get out of here alive."

I could see the struggle in her eyes and for a moment I think she is gonna blow but then somehow she regains control. " I thank you for your offer to help, but this is a mission under my command and I need to first compile the opinions and facts from those I trust before I open the door to a discussion with an unknown variable... I'll let you know when I'm ready for you."

Then just like that she turns here back and walks over to the winged dreamboat a few meters off. I get really riled and begin walking toward her at a fierce pace. Her back is to me but the angelic Omen can see me clearly. I can see I have his attention as I bear down on her and he moves around her to intercept me.

"That be far enough, fair one."

Like Hell it is! I continue my momentum and decide if the angel boy wants to play with the big girl... so be it. With a speed that I doubt he could follow I lash out with a blow I have in the past punched through bulk heads with, I connect solidly fully expecting the impertinent man to fall dying, then I yelp in pain as I realize my hand is broken! I actually got hurt!

The chamber grows deathly quiet as the angelic creature spins and falls to his knees. It is obvious from the responses of the others that they have never seen this awesome being knocked down before. Then in a flurry of movement the three uniformed crewmen swing energy weapons to bear on me. I worry only about the one held by the hairy Rock woman. Also about this time the liquid creature releases it's humanoid shape and lowers itself as if ready to strike. I can see the look in the commander's eyes that she is about to give an order that will cost my life and most of theirs.

" No B' Tel."

Those words come as if music and baritone. It is the angel Omen from the ground still holding his jaw. " She is surely more than we hadst originally perceived. Me thinks the time is at hand were we shouldst consider her more a threat if she remain silent."

I must admit I am pleased to hear the voice of reason... and even more pleased when that witch B' Tel concedes. She apparently has great respect for Omen... a feeling I am beginning to share. At her orders the crewmen stand down and the female officer B' Tel speaks to me civilly for the first time. " Please, you have our undivided attention."

Good. In my line of work I would accept nothing less. However before my pride can reassert itself the one called Omen gently takes my arm in one mighty hand. " But let us establish this one truth fair one. I am a servant of he who knows all and I will suffer no deceit. And when next you would do battle with me consider this... I have no foe who still breathes this day, you are mighty in strength but I assure you I would triumph." He then releases me and takes a step back to listen.

I swallow hard at the threat and for some reason I believe him. I begin my tale. " My name at birth was Holly Williams... I was born on earth the illegitimate daughter of some super star and lovesick groupie. I never knew my father, I think he died when I was very young, but I grew up wanting to be like him... a star! The only problem was that the world began to fall down around us. I became a star all right! But they called me Holly Wood, thinking it would help my career. It did... until the heroes began dying."

" I remember thinking how horrible the world had become without heroes, so I decided to leave it. I had made arrangements with an old friend of my father who said he would allow me to purchase a vehicle capable of starflight. I left the planet of my home and soon... the solar system as well. In the years following I heard that I was the last starship to leave the system before the Barrier was erected (For information see the SPACE 2099 UG mini series by Adam Efrey)

The male called Jona interrupts me. " HA! Lady I don't know where ya got this story but the Barriers in the SOL system was erected over 72 years ago."

" I know. And for that 72 years I have become one of the premiere performers in every galaxy I have visited. I am famous dears. I am the biggest thing since Lila Cheney!"

The B' Tel witch has to second-guess my story. " That still doesn't explain how you managed to punch out an Archangel."

This takes me aback... I had kidded about him being an angel boy, but B' Tel seems to be claiming that Omen is really a mystical angel, and a powerful one to boot. This catholic girl is gonna have to say some major penance for punching the Lord's servant.

" I seem to be a meta human for some reason. I never discovered how, but I am nearly indestructible, and quite strong." I reply.

" What does all of this have to do with the Dark Fleet?"

B' Tel's question catches me off guard. I was not aware they even had the foggiest idea what the current threat was. But I answer anyway. " The Dark Fleet is a primal force in the universe. They travel the spaceways relying on their own legends to give them the cover they need. They are walking dead who can rob from you your appearance, abilities, and even your very soul! They are led by the Admiral of this ship... the monster Lord Kahl. He is on an unholy crusade to take into the fleet the mightiest warriors of every time, every world. Whenever he meets another in battle he is judging if the Warrior Spirit within is worthy to be added to the Fleet. If you are found unworthy you are destroyed, but if you are worthy you are made undead like Lord Kahl!"

I take a deep cleansing breath before I can continue. " I was once captured by Lord Kahl. He has decided that I will be the Dark Queen, his undying mate forever! I was able to escape but now you have brought me back to his doorstep!"

B' Tel snorts. " We plan to disable the Tractor beam and be out of here before they even realize we are here."

" You don't understand! He has already tasted of my essence."

B' Tel looks disgusted. " That is not a problem I need concern myself with."

I spin her around. " Oh yes it is soldier girl... because he can sense my soul, he knows that I am back on board!"

It finally sinks in that we are doomed. We all stand there for a moment when Omen pipes in. " Then hurry we must!" We all grab our gear and run for the door.

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We all exit the room in battle formation. We are indeed a motley crew and we stand out like a sore thumb. " Come on!" I call and run the direction opposite the way they begin walking.

They all turn to look at me suspiciously. I sigh. " Don't you action types ever listen? I told you I was Lord Kahl's prisoner. When I escaped I spent about a week hidden in the ducts of this massive ship. You can go anyway ya want... but if you want to live you should follow me.

" I'll not hide from my enemy. He dost deserve my wrath!" That was the angelic guy. I have to roll my eyes. " Fine! You go fight your no win war and I'll find a way to deactivate the tractor beam... maybe that ship out there will be thankful enough to take me out of here."

He draws himself up to his full height and it is obvious he is not accustomed to be spoken to thusly but he speaks quietly and evenly. " Your manner leaves much to be desired fair one, but I cannot truthfully dispute the wisdom of your words. Please lead on."

" Rock! You take point with Hollywood."

I reluctantly accept the company without comment and try to remember the layout of this Hell I have tried so hard to forget. We enter the realm of repair ducts and access ways. After a few false starts, I begin to again get the hang of the maze and within a few hours of nearly silent travel we begin to reach the guts of the Perdition's Flame. We stop for a break.

I point ahead. " This tube T's up ahead and if we take the right branch it will exit in the main chamber for the tractor beam. I am getting worried that we have not seen any patrols. I suggest we send a pair ahead and circle around to the aft side of the room."

B' Tel nods to Jona and Rock and they crawl off. She then addresses the rest of us. " When the team gives us the ok we move in."

The next 4 minutes are the longest of my life. Then over the in-suit com link of B' Tel rings out with Jona's voice. " I don't understand it Lieutenant, but there is no activity at all in the room except for a single guard near the beam projector. I'd say it is a go."

" Acknowledged."

We move out. Within seconds we are up to the access port of the Beam generator chamber and it takes Omen only a moment to remove it. Quickly we enter the room with Omen in the lead followed by B' Tel, the Collective, and myself. Inside is the pair that entered ahead of us standing over the form of the guard they mentioned.

B' Tel speaks first. " You guys run into any trouble?"

Jona looks down at the fallen guard. " Not any thing a man couldn't handle."

Omen cuts off the pending exchange. " We have a need for haste... where, I pray thee, is the generator?"

" Near as we can tell it is in the next chamber." growls Rock.

Reunited, the six of us... or seven if you count the evil looking glob creature, enter the next chamber and find the generator. It is large, weighing over 100 tons by my estimation, with a large obvious control panel very near us. The panel has a view screen and I see a ship outside that is graceful and sleek.

" Is that your ship?" I ask.

The rest of them pause in an emotion I mistook as pride but soon amended to ... respect? The woman B' Tel answers, " Yes that's her... the Phoenix."

" Well excuse me for asking, but if you have that ship, what fool notion possessed you to take on the Dark Fleet with a shuttle?"

B' Tel gives me a stare of sudden hatred... " We'd still be with her had we not left to save your sorry ass."

I don't like her tone. " Oh! And save me you did sister! I'm much better off now!"

Omen walks between us and begins to examine the control panel to the beam generator. Jona, Rock, and the Collective begin scans of the area. The Angel's hands are a blur then he calmly says, " We hast a problem. The system doth resist my access."

He turns I assume to elaborate then seems to look past me in horror and begins to move quicker than I can follow, then I hear the screams behind me... I turn to see the Collective lash out with its liquid arms and lance through both Rock and Jona in a fatal attack!

Archangel's wings unfurl and he takes flight screaming " Foul Betrayer!" at the top of his lungs. I watch in fascination as a battle is joined between the holy warrior and the collective being. The first second is a flurry of motion as the liquid murderer retracts his arms and calls out... " Omen! Stop!" but is met with only action as he splashes through the creature in the very instant that the bodies of his victims hit the floor.

The attack seems to have had little effect on the liquid creature and it forsakes its humanoid form as the Archangel cuts sharply in the air to turn for another pass. By the time the angel closes with the collective it has taken on the form of a massive waterspout and again gurgles " Archangel! Stop this..."

" Why, so you canst kill again?"

" No! So we can find our friends."

" I know where they be! Dead by your hand!"

" Not quite yet Proxy." That last voice was neither combatant and I feel a chill come over my soul. Then laughter fills the chamber from every conceivable angle. Omen and the Collective freeze and look around... I do to and see that this has indeed been a ruse. The 'dead' guard rises and the pallor of both Jona and Rock begins to become grayish and decayed. The two crewmen's doppelgangers turn their weapons on us as an eerie light enters the chamber. Through the walls the incorporeal dead enter the chamber first... then the doors open and the walking kin shamble in. We are trapped.

I know the only chance for that ship outside is right now. I run for the massive beam generator and bring my clasped hands down on the control console. It sparks and shudders but I continue to pound mercilessly until I feel the metal warp under my assault. The last sight I see of the view screen is the Phoenix breaking free. Then with my massive strength I put my hands under the large generator and strain to tilt it over on it's side... disabling it.

The chamber grows quiet as the last few seconds sink into everyone's minds. Then from the end of the chamber I hear a clapping, a single pair of hands striking in echoed rhythm. Then HE enters the room.... Lord Kahl!

He is just as I remember him, nearly as tall as Omen and equally massive. His red eyes burn with an inner fire and his body firm but a sickening brownish color with splotches of gray. On his hip is a sword that gives off an eerie blue glow. He walks only so far and ceases his clapping.

" A very impressive display my dear Holly. I have told you these heroic tendencies would one day prove your downfall. So why do you not introduce your future and eternal mate to your new friends?"

I growl back... " I will once I meet him."

He smiles a smile like a cat about to devour a mouse he has played with too long. " My servants! Reclaim my bride, and kill the rest!"

There is a massive howl from the undead and I know that finally the end is near. The incorporeal dead fly about the chamber in a whirlwind of motion and the others advance slowly... grinning to themselves.

"NAY!"

Suddenly the chamber is flooded with light of the purest white I have ever seen as a sword replaces Omen's right hand. He begins to give off light so intense I can barely look his direction. The undead around me begin to howl in pain and anguish and burn as they scramble out of the light's radius. I feel an indescribable peace comes over me as he speaks. " Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

As I sit there in the light for the first time I really feel that we may stand a chance here. The crewmen of the Dark Fleet cannot pass the shield Omen has erected! We could just walk right out. But I had forgotten the cunning of my foe, Lord Kahl. He begins to laugh.

" Impressive Proxy... but hardly sufficient. You see I know your weakness."

" I have none where the likes of you be concerned Kahl."

" Ah! You know me... that am good. For if you know me you would know that I have survived the rise and fall of a thousand worlds and no holy boy scout is going to keep me from my prize. I give you a choice." He then turns and nods to the undead mass behind him and they bring out a pair of humans... in Phoenix armor. " These are you two missing crewmen. Granted, they are a little shy on soul as my minions had to drain quite a bit to emulate them, but they still live."

" This helps you not! Now that I know they live, I will just destroy you and takest them to safety." replies Archangel.

" Oh but I have so much more to offer! Is there nothing you desire?"

" I hast but two desires, your destruction and my mission to the Covenanthome."

Lord Kahl furrows his brow..." Computer, define Covenanthome."

The computer pipes back, " Theoretical based on conflicting text...Sol Prime."

Lord Kahl smiles, " Earth? You don't want to go there, proxy! It will soon be destroyed!"

" You dost lie!"

Lord Kahl laughs. " I have no need to lie when I can be as hurtful with the truth. Several months ago I had discovered the World Devourer had again gained a taste for that insignificant mud ball. So now that you see the futility of that duty I will make this counter offer. In exchange for leaving Hollywood to be my eternal bride, I offer you your fallen crewmen, AND I will lower the shields so you may Teleport back to the Phoenix, and I will allow you to leave unmolested. After all I have now conflict with the legendary Phoenix or her crew. And if you run off to Earth you will surely die so I don't need to waste the energy. Leave me with what is rightfully mine and I will let you leave with yours."

" I can just destroy you and claim all of those things."

" Indeed! But at what cost. I will surely add the souls of your friends here to the fleet before I fall, and my minions are also aboard Phoenix! If you do not concede I will kill them all... innocents you would allow die for one life." He grins. " It is time for a tough decision Proxy."

The light around us grows dimmer as Omen's arm comes down. " I cannot make a choice for any save myself. I cannot make the choice you require of me."

Lord Kahl smiles... " That is the beauty of it... YOU don't have to choose Proxy. She will make the choice... you have only to respect her decision."

I like this less and less. Omen says nothing. That is not good for me. I pick up on the unspoken decision. " Well my dear?" Lord Kahl asks.

I realize it is in my court. " I'll stay if you do as you have said."

Omen protests but I put him in his place. " You by your silence agreed to respect my decision. Now hush." I turn back to Lord Kahl. " Have the other crewmen brought into the light."

Lord Kahl nods and the two are thrown into the radiance. B' Tel takes charge. " Doctor, find out if they are OK." Then she kneels over Jona as the Collective begins his scans on the man and young hairy Ensign. I look up and say. " Now allow them to communicate with their ship." Lord Kahl smiles and nods.

" You may now contact your ship."

Unbelieving, B' Tel taps her com-link. " Lt. B' Tel to Phoenix. Please respond."

A feminine voice rings out. " This is your Captain B' Tel. Good work on the tractor beam. I am standing by for emergency retrieval of your shuttle."

" The shuttle was destroyed Captain. We will have to teleport to get home."

There is a long silence... " I am sorry B' Tel but the shield surrounding the mothership prevents us from using the Teleporter."

I get angry. " You agreed to drop the shields Lord Kahl!"

" IF they leave you... you must move over here with me before I will drop the shields." He smiles evilly. I am nearly at the brink of tears, I was so close. But my attempt to escape already cost the lives of one crew... I won't risk this one. I quickly walk out of the light. The undead swarm in and practically carries me to Kahl. He speaks again. " Now, you may leave."

" Phoenix to B' Tel. The shields have just dropped... prepare for emergency teleport."

" Aye Captain."

I look on as the brave crew of the Phoenix stand within the light surrounded by hundreds of enemies unscathed. Again the feminine voice rings out as Kahl puts his arm around me... ick! " Initiating Teleport on my mark..."

Then I see a sight catches my breath. Omen unfurls his wings and leaps. The world seems to be going in slow motion as he takes flight... as bright as a star-heading strait for me. His right hand remains a blade but with his left he grabs the Phoenix comlink off his person and reaches out toward me. He slams into Kahl knocking him away from me but drops the com link. The undead around us swarm in after the crew a few feet away and after the fallen comlink. I strike the first to grab it and its dried husk of a body breaks into dust. I lay my hand on the comlink just as the Captain's voice calls out. " MARK!" and for the second time today... the world around me vanishes..."

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We materialize in what I assume is the Phoenix. As we appear on the teleport platforms I see three beings on the room. A technician and two security officers with weapons. They quickly fire at the few undead stragglers that cling to the crewmen and a young ensign approaches and salutes. " I am Ensign C Partin! I have orders to escort you all to the bridge! Follow me please."

As we exit the collective taps his Com link. " Collective to Captain."

" Phoenix here."

" Lt. Jona and Ensign Rock need immediate medical attention. I need to get them to the infirmary."

" We don't have that luxury Doctor. I need them Jona on the bridge... have Omen help them..."

They all get silent and pause. B' Tel hits her com-link. " Captain... Omen did not teleport over with us. He is still over there. He gave his com- link to our guest."

For long seconds she says nothing... then. " I see. This does however not change my need. Doctor, do whatever you have to get that man functioning on this bridge."

He seems shocked. " Yes, Captain."

I watch in horror as the liquid creature looses cohesive shape and splits... diving into the open mouths of his patients. This is getting really weird. The rest of us follow Ensign Partin.

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The lift doors open to the bridge and I enter with the others. I quickly take in my surroundings and spot a few races I recognize, like the Pegassusian. What really suprises me is that the Arachni in the command chair seems to be barely able to hold its guts in. in fact all of the bridge crew seems worse for the wear. A computer's voice in a familiar female tone calls. " Good to have you all back. Assume your duty posts... we are a little short handed here."

We step into the bridge and I have to agree. Only about 2/3 of the available stations are manned. The door behind us closes as I see the forward viewer. Out side is a maelstrom of small ships... all piloted by beings that can no longer fear death? Beams of energy lance both directions but it seems clear to me our boys are loosing. The door behind me opens again... and the roguish male Jona and the Ensign Rock enter! They look as if nothing had happened to them.

" Lt. Jona reporting for duty Captain."

" As is Ensign Rock."

" Good. You know what to do."

They take their seats and the voice rings out again. " Can't we get through those interceptors?"

Jona pipes up. " Not without a snow plow."

" Then get me one. Lt. Talis... bring Stargate engines to threshold!"

" Aye Captain."

" Place the gate at bearing 285 mark 6!"

The Pegassusian hesitates but a moment then replies... " Aye Captain."

" When the time comes Jona... get me to that gate."

" How will I know when it is time?"

That is when the ship rocks. Not from being hit, but from being to close to an explosion on the Perdition's Flame. From it pours white light and a mote races from it.

" That's Omen! Open gate now Talis!" The captain calls.

I see an artificial stargate open before my very eyes! What level of technology they must posses! Then the phoenix begins a dance as Jona's hands give it direction. He is an amazing pilot and I am impressed. He makes slow progress but steady toward the gate. Then I hear a disturbing phrase.

" 8 seconds till gate collapse."

I come to realize that at our current speed we are more than 8 seconds from the gate. We continue to weave through the enemy forces but way too slowly.

" 5 seconds to gate collapse."

I look out the forward viewscreen and see an angelic creature pause before the gate and look back.

" Captain! Archangel is heading back to help us!"

" B' Tel... fire 2 missles at Archangel."

She spins, as do we all. " Repeat orders please Captain."

" You heard them correctly Lt. B' Tel. If he comes back our crewmen have died for nothing... I have promised him we will get him to earth and I will. The missles will push him in now fire!"

She hesitates so I run up and hit the firing control.... I'll take her guilt.

" 1 second to gate collapse."

The missles hit and the Archangel Omen is thrown back into the Stargate. It flashes then collapses only seconds before the Phoenix reaches it. I am strangely proud to be here in the final moments of this crew. They are alone against a superior foe... but foiled him this day. We have accomplished our mission and the Angel is going wherever angels go.

The Captain's voice is low and reverent..." Good luck old friend. I hope our sacrifice was worth it." Then her voice changes. " Ok, Jona! I DARE you to get my rear out of here in one piece."

He grins and says " What's in it for me...sir?"

As Jona takes the ship into a steep dive I notice that they can smile in the face of death... but what of the Archangel? I wonder what happened to him... I wonder.

Well you don't have to Wonder cause you will find to next issue! In issue four Omen finally reaches earth but what will he find? Be here next time to visit Israel 2099, and see the Sisters of the Howling Commandments as you've never seen them before! Omen gains a companion to guide him through the world of 2099!



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