The Order

Three hours into the flight to Sydney, Darren and Pat dozed in the dimly lit first-class cabin.  They had already seen the in-flight movie, so they chatted in their minds, content to be together. To the other passengers, they didn’t look like the muscular, handsome men they were.  No, to the outside world they appeared as an elderly Asian couple traveling to Sydney on vacation.

I’m still stoked about this, Pat.  I’ve always wanted to visit Australia but never had the chance.  This is going to be awesome!  We need to hit Balmoral; I hear the guys on the beach there are over the top hot.

What?  I’m not hot enough for you? 

Laughing, Darren retorted: You know you are, so don’t even go there.

I’m with you, Dar, and seeing how much hotter you are than all those guys combined will make me feel special.  It’ll be fun watching them drool over you.

Even though they were joking around, Pat’s comment brought a smile to Darren’s face.  Not wholly merged, they were deep enough for Darren to sense the all-encompassing love he and Pat shared.  Sharing your soul with another man is like that.

Okay, if just being in Australia wasn’t enough to make me horny, that statement just got you laid tonight.

But I get laid every night.  Usually two or three times a night.

Darren laughed again:  Fucker.

You got that right!

Reaching over, Darren took Pat’s big, warm hand, squeezing it tightly, and brought it up to kiss the back of it.  Pat’s strong hands, his touch, could send Darren into orbit with the gentlest of caresses. Pat, like Ken, was physically affectionate, often touching Darren and the other guys, squeezing a shoulder, arm, or thigh when close.  Darren loved nothing more than his lover’s hands on him even when they weren’t making out; it was just comforting.

Their mental chatter slowed as they became drowsy.  In the dark cabin, holding hands while quietly resting in each other, they were content to be silent as the plane continued its path over the ocean.

Darren’s thoughts drifted back a few weeks to right after they returned from their camping trip at the tree...

<><> 

Ken called a group meeting the morning after they got back.  He wanted the doctor and Albrecht brought up to speed on everything that happened on their trip, especially their encounter with the mysterious stranger named Luke and the song Lane dreamt.  He wanted their input on who Luke might be, and also on interpreting the parts of Lane’s song they weren’t sure about.

Their mentors paled at Raphael’s words about the man named Luke.  The doctor was always serious-minded, but they rarely saw him as forceful as he was in his statement. 

“Mind what Raphael said!  Never speak his name!  I cannot stress this enough.  When we must discuss him openly, I will show you how to ward yourselves properly… it is not easily or casually done.”

Ken replied, “Alright, doc, as always, you know best. Meetin’ him was an eye-opener and no mistake, but it certainly wasn’t the only one… Bill, I’ll let you review what you read from the dark nephilim Istariel’n the others destroyed.”

Brad passed control of their link to Bill, who masterfully took them deeper into a construct of the operations room.  Everyone appeared around the conference table in full assault gear, with Bill standing in front of the Ops board.

“Okay, guys, we now know the names and locations of two key Enemy agents. Pat and Dar loaded the info into the new computers and database earlier this morning, so it’s available on your tablets once you’ve synced up.” 

Holding up a hand, Ken interjected, “Sorry, Bill, just a sec.  I know this is important, but I wanna say somethin’ quick.  I’ve wanted ‘ta say this for a while, and what you said illustrates my point even more.  Pat and Dar, you guys have more than pulled your weight lately with all the hard work and extra hours.  The new computers are amazin’, and I want you ‘ta know it hasn’t gone unnoticed.  I know it’ll happen ‘ta all of us eventually as we find tasks suited to our primary avatars, but right now yours are helpin’ us get this fight back up and runnin’ and on the offensive in a major way.  Never think we’re takin’ you for granted, okay?”

Darren and Pat flushed at the praise, and Lane, sitting beside Darren, ruffled his hair.  As closely merged as they were Ken’s sincerity was apparent, as well as their teammates.  Over time they learned that even though they knew how each other felt, there was still value in expressing things verbally, affirming and reinforcing the bonds between them and how they supported one another.

Pat said, “Just doing our part guys, but thanks for saying it.  You know we appreciate it.”

With a grin, Ken indicated for Bill to continue, and an image of two men appeared on the board.

Bill continued, “Okay…The dark nephilim’s name was Ulariel.  We acquired the names of two major players from him. He took direct instruction from a human agent based in Sydney, Australia, named Trenton Ashmore.  Ulariel didn’t know much about him but was terrified of him, which tells us he must be pretty powerful if a nephilim, even a minor one, was afraid of him.

“The other agent is Gerald Laurent.  Ulariel knew of Laurent but never had direct contact with him and was uncertain if Laurent was a peer of Ashmore’s, taking direction from him, or a superior. Laurent is located in British Columbia, Canada.  Ulariel was also scared of him, so he’s definitely a player of some kind.”

The doctor interjected, “Both of those locations are former strongholds of The Order.  Nearly two centuries ago, The Enemy eradicated all existence of The Order in those areas.  There is no telling what you will find if you go to either location, but you will need to be extremely careful and on your guard at all times.”

Darren spoke up, “Ken, doc…. I’ve wanted to bring something up for a while, and it might be coincidental, but those two areas are significant to me.”

Smirking, Ken looked at Darren, saying, “If I’ve learned anythin’ livin’ with B, it’s there’s very little coincidence anymore.   If you have a gut feelin’, Dar, let’s hear it.”

“Well, you know I have my imprinted safe spot to jump to here in the lab, right?  I’ve wanted to expand on that to several new locations.  The idea of safe houses or bunkers in other parts of the world has been on my mind, places inaccessible except by teleportation.  Sydney is one of those areas, and British Columbia, Canada, too.  There are a few other locations, but since those two came up today, somehow I don’t think it's random chance. In light of what happened recently, I think it would be prudent to have several places we can jump to quickly, not just for safety but for quickly getting to other parts of the world when we need to.”

Ken noticed a gleam in the doctor’s eyes when Darren mentioned his idea and grinned.

“I think the doc already thought about this and was waitin’ for us ‘ta come up with it on our own.”

The doctor looked innocent, but Albrecht’s wink told Ken he was right. 

Ken continued, “Okay, Dar, great idea. We’ll get started on the implementation a.s.a.p.  You’re the financial guru, so why don’t you get with the doc and start drawin’ up a budget and we can get things rollin’.”

Darren replied, “Why not kill two birds with one stone?  Pat and I can head to Sydney next week to start on a bunker, and we can gather Intel on Ashmore while we’re there.”

Ken scowled, “I’m not sure about that, Dar. It’s not that I don’t trust you two, but you heard what the doc said.  We aren’t sure what we’ll find in Sydney, and this Ashmore guy must be pretty badass if Ulariel was scared shitless of him. I’d rather you take at least a few other guys with you.”

Kevin said, “Bill and I can head to Canada, and Dar and Pat can hit Sydney.  That leaves you six here as backup for either of us.  We need to act fast on these guys, Ken. There’s no telling how quickly word will spread that Ulariel is dead or missing, and they might disappear on us.”

Brad interjected, “I don’t like it either, Ken, but we do need to act fast.  We can stay in touch regularly and gather within seconds if it comes down to it.”

Still looking apprehensive, Ken said, “Okay, guys, but light Intel only and no unnecessary risks.  If you even have a twitch in your gut that somethin’s up, report in.”

The next few hours were spent discussing details and ironing out a plan for the two teams to leave and do recon to find suitable locations for bunkers.

Darren had already drawn up an elaborate CAD diagram of how he thought the bunkers should be laid out. The facilities would be self-contained below ground with enough room for all of them to stay comfortably, supplied with MREs for food, and generators with enough fuel to run for weeks if necessary.  The only obstacle he hadn’t overcome, other than air tanks, was maintaining fresh water and oxygen in a closed environment and circulating carbon dioxide and waste out of the facility. The doctor assured Darren neither issue would be a problem, and the design could be modified to take those factors into account.

When Bill brought them out of his construct, only a few seconds had passed, and they each started on their respective tasks in getting the plans rolling.  All of them felt a pang of excitement in their gut; they were on the offensive and feeling proactive in the fight.  It felt good.

<><>  

Even before their plane touched down, an odd sensation tickled the edge of their shields.  It wasn’t overtly oppressive, but a strong aura of something seemed to be everywhere.  The sun shone bright, the weather clear and hot, but a chill ran down their spines.  Shifting their sight, a murky haze covered the landscape as far as they could see.

No one could see their true forms, but they felt exposed and vulnerable and were extra cautious going through customs. Once at their hotel, Darren found a secluded corner and dropped their illusions.

Checking in under their normal appearance but using false I.D.s provided by the doctor, they breathed a collective sigh of relief once they were in their room with the door locked. 

After setting wards for additional protections, Pat sat on the bed watching Darren unpack. Even if they weren’t linked, he could see how tired Darren was.  Pat’s physiology didn’t make him immune to jetlag, but it didn’t affect him nearly so much. Any of the bodies could go for days without sleep if necessary. 

Dar said, “I think I’ll take a shower to wake myself up.  I’d rather stay up and push through to get used to the time change.”

As Pat watched, Darren undressed, revealing his muscular body.  Cute and ruggedly handsome at the same time, Darren’s short brown hair and green eyes framed a square face and strong jawline.  In Pat’s opinion, and most everyone else’s, Darren’s dimples pushed his looks over the top. They certainly melted Pat’s heart, and once Darren learned to weaponize them, Pat was lost. 

In addition to his handsome features, Darren’s physique was mouthwatering.  His body was perfect and stunning to look at, the light dusting of hair on his chest and the treasure trail running down his sculpted abs had Pat hard before Darren finished taking his pants off.

God, Dar. Every time I look at you, I can’t believe what a lucky man I am.  You are so fucking handsome. What did I ever do to deserve you?

Looking up, Darren noted the mix of love and lust in Pat’s eyes. Getting off the bed, Pat moved forward and started running his hands lightly over Darren’s muscles. The feather-light touch, coupled with his adoration, caused Darren to get hard in seconds. Trembling at Pat’s touch, Darren’s body flushed and warmed as Pat moved them to the bed, and they grinned at the noise the bed made from their combined weight. Darren’s dimples deepened at the thought that crossed his mind.   

Hot hotel sex in Australia!  This is one checkbox off my bucket list for sure. 

Cupping Pat’s cheek, Darren gently rubbed his thumb over Pat’s five o’clock shadow and his face turned serious. 

Just for the record, Pat, it’s me who’s the lucky one.

After a slight pause, his dimples reappeared and he thought: Okay, so we both won the lotto.

Holding Darren’s face with one hand, Pat starting a passionate kiss, while his other hand snaked down, rubbing firmly over Darren’s bare chest and shoulders.  Darren’s belt and pants unbuckled on their own, and as he raised his hips, they slid down and off, dropping to the floor, leaving him completely naked and cradled in the arms of his lover.

Outside the bedroom, Darren was a confident man, a soldier, but he had a submissive streak in the bedroom with Pat.  He wasn’t into domination or humiliation; he just liked Pat to take control. When Pat took over, it had an effect on Darren. Pat continued their kiss, his arms encircling Darren, who was breathing heavily and moaning.  On top of knowing Darren so well, with his Understanding, Pat knew all the right places to touch his lover.  He knew precisely how and where to hold him, how firm or how gentle, and without ever touching his erection directly, in a few minutes with a whimper, Darren came in a powerful orgasm.

Not breaking the kiss, Pat’s hands and arms continued holding Darren through his orgasm.  Being held by Pat while in the throes of ecstasy sent Darren to a place of pure physical and emotional contentment.  Sex for Darren was deep and profound and similar to Ken, it took him a while to come back to himself.

Not letting go, Pat caressed Darren while he recovered, riding out the pleasure of his orgasm, and once his breathing returned to normal, Pat pulled back far enough to make eye contact.  Running the back of a finger over Darren’s face, Pat traced his jawline and chin in tender intimacy. They smiled at one another.

Holy shit, Dar.  It still amazes me I can do that to you. 

While looking into each other’s eyes, Pat used his other hand to lightly run his fingers up and down Darren’s still-rigid erection. A single tear leaked out, falling down Darren’s cheek.  Placing a hand on Pat’s chest, a bright yellow light engulfed them as he opened the gateway to their souls.

Their Love for one another was a hot fire, the most dominant force in their lives.  They got over questioning how the doctor managed to combine their souls, or how they could be one being and yet two separate men who loved each other beyond reason.

Suddenly Pat was naked too, his clothes teleported off his body, and he heard them drop to the floor at the foot of the bed.  Now naked, Pat moved on top of Darren, pressing their bodies together. Shifting his sight, Darren saw Pat’s dark brown eyes rimmed with his own green, further proof of the bond between them.

Let me take care of you now, Pat.

Switching positions, Darren crawled on top and straddled his waist.  Red fire oozed from Darren’s hands as he caressed and touched Pat in the special places and ways he knew drove Pat wild.  Already hard after seeing Darren shoot hands free, the red energy added to the fire running through Pat, and Darren’s touch was like throwing a match on gasoline.

Positioning Pat at his opening with his mind, Darren slowly sank down, filling himself with Pat’s thickness.  There was no better feeling to Darren than Pat inside him, another aspect of the perfection between them.

Ohhhh, fuck Dar…

Darren’s face reddened, his eyes watering, but he never broke eye contact.  Moving up enough to hold Pat’s face in his hands, he used his fingers to brush the hair off his forehead or palm and knead his tight chest, shoulders, and arms.

Pat kept it up until Darren’s body involuntarily squirmed and spasmed in an impending orgasm. Once again, Darren reacted to his lover, and at the pinnacle moment, throwing back his head, every muscle in Darren’s body tightened as he covered Pat’s abs and chest with another load.  The onset of Darren’s second orgasm pushed Pat over the edge, and renewed strength filled Darren’s body.

Pat stared at Darren muscles, now covered in a light sheen of sweat and pumped from his efforts.  Darren was a very physical lover, and veins in his arms, shoulders, and chest clearly showed his exertions.  Pat couldn’t help staring, enraptured by the sight.  Like Ken, Pat appreciated Darren pushing his body to look as he did, and always made sure Darren knew he didn’t take it for granted.

Deeply merged, Darren knew Pat got off from looking at him, and it warmed his heart, making his efforts worthwhile, and his dimples once again melted Pat.

Scooping up the results of his orgasm splattered across Pat’s body, Darren fed it to him, opening Pat’s mind even more.  Pulling their souls tighter, the two men lost themselves in one another, resting their warm, damp bodies together, holding and caressing one another with their hands, minds, and hearts.

Merging so deeply after sex allowed them to match the physical and emotional intimacy with their souls, and like all the guys they found it difficult to separate.  Their contentment in being one was so consuming they didn’t want it to end.

In the spiritual realm, they shone like a small star, and Pat made the conscious effort of masking their auras.  If he hadn’t, their actions would set off a beacon to The Enemy.  Being extra cautious, Darren scanned nearby rooms to see if anyone might have felt anything. Darren smiled and felt Pat’s question in his mind.

I just scanned the rooms around us to make sure no one felt anything.  The lady in the room next to us is pregnant, and her baby felt us. She’s too young to have thoughts, but her innocence and emotions are breathtakingly pure.  It’s so refreshing to know we all start that way.

With his mind open, Pat reached out, seeing the child’s emotional happiness from their lovemaking.  It made him happy as well, to inadvertently bring joy to such a small being.

Jumping in the shower, they enjoyed soaping each other up and washing each other’s hair.  The shower wasn’t designed for two big men, so they squeezed together, loving the closeness.  Both of them got hard again, but other than mild groping they didn’t push it any further.  With the burst of energy Darren received from their lovemaking he no longer felt the need to take a nap, and ravenously hungry, they decided to venture out for food.

The hotel restaurant looked good, but Darren wanted to try some local cuisines, preferring not to eat at food chains.  Mild guilt followed after scanning the Concierge’s mind to find a good restaurant.  As he suspected, she was instructed to direct customers to a few specific restaurants with financial ties to the Hotel, but her favorite local place was Fishmongers.  

He also knew far more about her than he ever wanted, and it was a painful and uncomfortable experience. He had to remind himself that he and Pat used to be just like her.  Well, not that bad. She was a piece of work!

The young Concierge couldn’t interpret the look Darren gave her as he and Pat left the hotel.  It was a mix of pity and compassion, but her mind chose to believe Darren was checking her out.  She let the thoughts go, preferring to remember Darren’s handsome dimpled face and remarkable body.  In reality, just from touching the surface of her mind, she made him nauseous.

The food better be worth that!

Giving Darren a tight mental hug and squeezing his shoulder, Pat briefly brought the two of them together to wash out the negative residual emotions. 

Sighing, Darren smiled, thinking: I knew you were here for a reason.

Grinning, Pat kissed his forehead, and the dimples let Pat know his actions worked.

The restaurant wasn’t far so they walked, and again Darren was only mildly guilty about bumping their name up on the list to get a table.  After two appetizers each, three entrées each, and a mammoth shared dessert, the two men were temporarily sated.

After lunch, Darren wanted to walk around and see the city.  It was almost time for their check-in with Brad, so they wandered down to the harbor to watch boats and find a spot to sit.

Right on time, Brad’s comforting presence entered their minds.

Hey, guys!  You make it alright?

Darren:  Yeah, the flight was easy; no screaming babies or anything!

Laughing, Brad thought:  That’s good.  So, have you seen or felt anything odd yet?

Pat: Yeah, we have.  As soon as we touched down, we felt pressure against our shields.  It’s subtle but everywhere.  We aren’t sure what it is yet… if it’s runes all over the place or something more powerful.

Ken:  Okay, you guys know ‘ta stay on your toes.  You’re in uncharted territory, and we still don’t know anythin’ about this Ashmore guy.

Darren:  I’m going to start work on the bunker plans first thing tomorrow.  Today we’re out on the town.  We just ate a fantastic lunch and are out for a walk along the harbor.  I want to hit one of the bars before we head back to the room.  All in the name of recon, of course.

Darren sounded like he was joking, but gathering Intel was precisely what they were doing.  Darren and Pat were two of the best on the team at recon, and Ken trusted them implicitly to get the job done and stay safe.

Ken:  Alright, fellas.  You know who you are and why you’re there. Be careful and stick ‘ta the plan and watch each other’s backs… and I don’t mean your asses!

Darren and Pat chuckled at Ken’s comment.

Pat:  We’re good, Ken.  We’ll check in tomorrow morning and let you know how much the Australian nightlife sucks ass.  Any word from Kevin and Bill?

Brad:  They’re good.  They arrived on schedule and are getting set up.

Darren:  Okay, folks.  Good thing we don’t get charged international rates for this.  We’ll talk with you ladies tomorrow.

Ken and Brad:  Goodnight, guys. Love ‘ya.

<><><>  

Asking around, Pat and Darren discovered one of the premier gay clubs in Sydney.  Out of all the guys they loved to dance and socialize the most.  With their hyper metabolisms, neither of them got drunk easily, or if they did they sobered up in a matter of minutes, but they still held drinks to a minimum.

Most of the men in Sydney were everything they read about, and the eye candy over the top.  The two of them garnered more than their fair share of attention, getting approached with numerous offers of a good time.

Keeping their sight shifted, they kept a lookout for any sign of The Enemy.  Pat masked their auras, and Darren noted a few well-dressed men, escorted by large, muscular protectors.   

<><> 

That night Pat woke to Darren moaning.  Generally they cuddled, staying together the entire night, but Darren was on his back at the edge of the bed, drenched in sweat and trembling.  His Avatar was so bright it lit the room, spitting arcs of color.

Immediately Pat realized Darren was dreaming, his reaction mirroring how Bryan described Lane when he was having one of his.  Darren hadn't yet experienced a dream so intense, and as much as Pat hated it, he had to wait for the event to run its course.

<> 

Finished making love with Pat, he scanned the area to make sure no one felt their aura.  A pregnant woman slept in the room next to theirs… her fetus felt the Love he and Pat emitted, but the mother was oblivious.

The innocence of the unborn child was refreshing.  On instinct, Darren looked more in-depth at the child and saw immediately something was horribly wrong!  Delving deeper, scanning her energy centers, the child’s body was riddled with congenital disabilities and deformities.  He knew she would not survive to term as she was, or if she did, not long and very uncomfortably.

His eyes filled with tears; to have such perfect innocence lost from the world before it had a chance at life was heartbreaking.

Darren couldn’t see as far or as accurately into timelines as Lane, but he knew the child was special, and a powerful desire to intervene came over him.  Something in him wanted to correct the genetic abnormalities and restore the child to what she should be.  In her tiny energy centers, he saw how everything wanted to be, making it apparent her condition wasn’t natural.

Unexpected terror came from the child, and Darren felt an overwhelming need to comfort and protect her.

Another presence, not the mother!  It was evil, and every time the child sensed it, pain soon followed.  Within seconds, unbearable agony wracked her tiny body, and Darren, linked with the child, experienced her pain as his own...

<>  

Jolting awake, Darren sat up in bed, covered in sweat, his chest heaving.  His eyes white and tattoo glowing, tears of fear and pain spilled from his eyes.  Every cell in his body was on fire as the child's genetic structure was shifted around mercilessly.

As soon as Darren shot up in bed Pat embraced him, pulling him into a tight hug.  He knew something traumatic happened, and the first thing he wanted Dar to feel was the comfort and safety of his arms and mind around him.

It’s alright, Dar.  I’m here!  You’re safe!

The emotional aftershocks were severe and intense and it took a few moments for Darren to come back to himself.  Darren clutched Pat with all his strength, and as amped up as he was, Pat had trouble breathing.  Holding Darren firmly against him, Pat filled his mind with comforting thoughts while rubbing his body with his other hand.

Fuck Pat.  We have to help.  We have too.

Tell me, Dar.  Share it so I can help.

Immersing himself in the liquid golden light of Pat’s soul, Darren’s pain lessened as everything about Pat enveloped him, buffering the harshness. 

Open up and let me see, Dar. I’m with you.  You never have to go through this alone.  I’ve talked with Bry, knowing eventually you’d have dreams like Lane.  I know how disturbing and painful they can be; I really do Understand it.

Okay, Pat, I’ll show you.  Fuck, we need to talk to the doc and Albrecht about this right away. 

Removing his block over the dream, Pat tensed, his breath catching when the fear and pain gripped him.  The assault on the child’s genetic structure was excruciating, and even experiencing it secondhand was nearly unbearable.  They continued holding one another until the emotional after-effects and discomfort subsided.

Dar, how can that be?  She’s an unborn child, barely developed.  Her brain shouldn’t be advanced enough yet to feel any of that.

I know!  But it is, and she’s terrified! 

Yeah, I agree we need to talk to the doc.  I’ll have to be careful and mask that much of a buildup from both of us. 

Relaxing, their eyes turned white. Darren listened but noticed for the first time how quiet it was. There was virtually no music in the area around them, so he traveled further out into the Milky Way to get what he needed.

In the spiritual realm the Hotel filled with animal spirits, and nearby pets stopped, standing still to lend their support.  Roots and branches of the tree filled the hallways, intertwining through the rooms.  Oblivious, their minds closed, maids and guests scattered about the building walked through the ghostly images.

Masking their auras as their strength increased, fully merged, they filled one another up, and Darren cast his thoughts to the other side of the planet. 

Doc!  Albrecht!  Can you hear me?

Darren, my boy!  What is wrong?

Brad:  Dar?  I can hear you loud and clear.  What’s happening?!

Darren shared his dream, and as with so many times recently, the doctor’s first reply was, “Oh my!”

Darren:  What do you think we should do, doc?  I don’t think I can sit by and let whatever’s happening continue. The child can’t survive much more of whatever’s being done to it.  I know we aren’t supposed to interfere with things like that, but this is different; the child is awake, scared shitless, and defenseless.  She doesn’t have the capacity to understand any of what’s happening other than feeling the pain she’s being subjected to.

Albrecht:  If the child's condition is a direct result of some scheme of The Enemy, they will be aware if you intervene. 

Brad:  This can’t be a coincidence, guys.  I have a feeling someone orchestrated this situation.  Ken, do you want to call the mission?

Ken:  My gut reaction is to say yes.  Get the hell outta there and come home.  I’m not takin’ risks with you guys.  There’s too much at stake.

Brad:  I’m sensing a but…

Ken:  B, what’s your intuition tellin’ you?

Brad:  That it’s a dangerous fucking situation, but Dar and Pat are highly trained SEALS and hybrid nephilim badasses.  I don’t like them being at risk any more than you do, but we’re at war.  If we ran from The Master in that basement, we wouldn’t have figured out who he is or how to stop him.  They’re big boys and can look after themselves.  It’s what we’ve trained for.

Darren’s intuition kicked in, and he realized Ken’s hesitancy.

Darren:  Ken, you can’t protect us all the time, brother.  Pat and I love you like you’re our own flesh and blood, but you have to trust us.  Trust we can do this or get home safe if things go sour.

Ken’s sigh spoke volumes about how much he cared and how worried he was for them, but he was their leader, and they were in a war, and tough decisions had to be made. Years ago, in Syria, he would never have hesitated to keep Dar and Pat right where they were.  But after all their changes and living in each other’s souls they were now a part of him, and his love for them, for all his brothers, was so deep it scared him. 

Steeling himself, Ken thought:  I do trust you guys, you know that, and I know out of all of us you two are the best suited ‘ta be there.  I’m trustin’ that in this cosmic chess game we’re in, you have a purpose there, but be ready to evac at a moment’s notice.  I know it’ll be hard, Dar, but do whatever’s necessary ‘ta get you both outta there if things go south.

Darren:  You got it, boss.  We’ll stay sharp, Ken, never fear. 

Aaron:  Trust your instincts with the unborn child. If you do have a purpose there, listen to your hearts.

Darren:  There’s one more thing, guys.  This could wait until our next check-in, but I'll mention it since we’re all together.  When I powered up to reach you, there’s virtually no music here to tap into.  There’s some, but it’s weak and faint, more like static.  Any idea what could cause that, doc?

Aaron:  Curious.  My first hypothesis would be the presence of The Enemy is the cause.  They slowly bleed the will and life energy out of an area as they take control.  It could be they have been there long enough that the quiet you are experiencing in the spiritual realm is a long term side effect of their tenure.  I will continue to think about it and perhaps come up with an experiment or two to test my theory.  Just be aware that aspect will not be available to draw on if you need to generate power quickly.

Pat:  Alright, guys.  We’re on it.  Love you all and big hugs around.  We’ll check in later as planned and keep you apprised. 

<><> 

As the presence of the doctor and their brothers faded Darren chuckled, shaking his head.

So, it’s up to us after all.   I was hoping for more than a Yoda-like vagueness as to what we should do. 

Take it as a compliment, Dar.  It means we’re all grown up and get to make our own decisions.  It proves they trust us to do what we think is best and that what we think is best might actually be best.  Did that make sense?

Probably not to anybody but me, but yeah.

Fucker.

Both laughing, Darren punched Pat in the chest at his retort.

<><> 

All the guys referred to Darren as a workaholic.  While he and Pat waited for the husband to come back to the room next door, he searched for a piece of real estate suitable for the bunker. 

After a group consensus, Darren’s initial design was altered, making the facility much larger and more self-contained.  The structure would contain multiple rooms and more equipment, turning into a larger version of the lab in Atlanta with a fully expanded gym.  It was evident the doctor had given thought to the idea and modified Darren’s plans accordingly.  No longer a bunker, it was now a full-fledged base.

While Darren worked on his task, Pat contacted several construction companies, setting up appointments and interviews. 

Not only was Darren a workaholic, he was also hypersexual.  Once the ball was rolling and at the stage of waiting for people to get back to him, he glanced at Pat.  Pat saw the look in his peripheral vision and smiled, knowing what it meant.  Glancing over, he raised an eyebrow while cupping the growing bulge in his shorts.

We missed making out this morning because of my dream.  We both need to be charged up while we’re here, don’t you think?

Pat chuckled.

Dar, you don’t need to come up with a lame excuse to get my dick.

Grinning, Darren’s dimples were in full force. 

Okay then, let’s get naked!

<> 

Afterwards, for the next hour they napped, with Pat spooning Darren until the ding of an incoming email on Darren’s notebook got them up and moving. 

Mid-morning, Pat heard the door to the room next to them unlock, and a short time later the sound of the woman crying.  The next thing he sensed shocked and surprised him; a cold, black aura coming from the room!

Darren shielded them immediately, and Pat still masked their auras, confident whoever was in the room was unaware of their presence. Waves of fear radiated from the child accompanied by horrifying pain, and her tiny body writhed while she screamed in her mind.  Unable to form thoughts, her response was pure emotion as someone wreaked havoc on her genetic code.  In their minds, that made what was happening even worse.  The thought of an innocent, unborn child, defenseless and being tortured enraged them, and they would not stand for it.

Instinctively, Darren delved into Pat, his eyes turning white as he pulled strength from their collective souls.  Then, breathing in their light from being one, filled with power, he brought the full force of his formidable mind to bear on the man brutally harming the child.

His attack, powerful, swift, and unexpected, shattered the Enemy agent’s shield.  Taking control of the man’s mind, Darren painfully locked him down, and looking deeper sent a chill down his spine. Intentionally altering the fetus's energy flows, the agent's intent was to re-arrange its genetic code to suit a pattern imprinted in his mind.  The man had a very rudimentary ability to heal, which none of them had ever seen in a human before.  Not nearly as skilled or powerful as Darren or any of the guys, his attempts were chaotic, random, and torturous to the child, but he didn’t care.  He relished the pain and terror inflicted on the fetus, and it made Darren and Pat sick to their stomachs.

Somehow, it made it worse he didn’t know the reason behind the pattern he strived for; he merely knew he needed to recreate what Ashmore implanted in his mind. Evil to his core and a lifelong servant of The Enemy, they couldn’t let him loose to tell Ashmore they were in Australia.

As one, Pat saw everything through Darren, and he Understood the death trap in the man’s mind just before it went off. 

Dar!

Even before Darren could draw strength from him, Pat poured his own power into Darren, giving him what he needed to stop the trigger that would have killed the agent, wiped his mind, and alerted Ashmore. Destroying the trigger must have been painful because the agent passed out with a groan loud enough to hear through the wall.

With the man and woman unconscious, Darren couldn’t piggyback off either of them to get a visual to teleport into the room, so throwing on their underwear so they wouldn’t be naked, they rushed into the hallway to the door.

Understanding the mechanism's electronic intricacies, Pat fed the knowledge to Darren, and the light on the lock turned green, clicking open. Opening the door, the man lay sprawled on the floor unconscious.  The mother seemed comatose, her face wet with tears from the pain inflicted on her and her unborn child.  Covered by an oxygen tent, an IV pole stood beside the bed with multiple bags, and a feeding tube was visible along with an ultrasound machine. 

Reading her energy patterns, Darren realized she had been in her current condition for years, with her vital signs maintained chemically.  Kept in a coma so long, her body suffered acute muscle atrophy from inactivity.  Essentially, she was nothing more than an incubator, used to grow children for unknown reasons.

Darren placed a compulsion in the Enemy servant’s mind to stay asleep until he or Pat woke him up.

Fuck me, Pat!  This isn’t how I wanted any of this to go down.  What the hell are we going to do with this guy?

Sorry, Dar, but it looks like we only have a few options and none of them are pretty.  We can’t just kill him.  I say we reset him and send a message.  It might not be the wisest thing to do, but I’m tired of tip-toeing around these assholes.  At least that way he lives, and we get rid of another agent and send a message at the same time.

I can’t say I disagree.  I just hope we can weather the storm we’re about to stir up.  I feel like we need to be here and get this base up and running along with the other locations.  There’s a pattern in what we’re starting with the bases; I’m sure of it now, and I’m hoping you’ll see it once we get things moving.

Scanning the mother more deeply, Darren doubted she would survive the birth or if she did, not long after.  There was enough scarring to tell she had given birth multiple times; she wasn’t even thirty, and her body was nearly worn out. 

Let’s take care of the mother and the baby first, and then we’ll deal with douchebag here.  Let’s power up.

Moving behind Darren, Pat put his arms around his lover pulling them close, and they settled into the warm strength of one another.  Burying his face in the crook of Darren’s shoulder, Darren leaned his head back, pressing their cheeks together.  Darren gripped Pat’s powerful forearms, squeezing them in affection. In the middle of everything, Darren once again lost himself in their connection as their breath caught, and their eyes watered from the painfully exquisite intimacy. 

Fuck, I love you, Pat.

As one, their Avatars came to life, spitting arcs of color as the runes combined.  Animal spirits appeared, swimming around them and through the ghostly branches of Yggdrasil that once again filled the building.  After their trip to the valley, with their capacity so vastly increased, they shone piercingly bright in the spiritual realm, holding more power than ever.

Focusing on the child, Darren opened her tiny energy centers.  Her life fragile, he kept the flows delicate, briefly wishing Lane was there as the primary healer of the team, but Darren learned well and had a perfect memory.  Taking a small breath to steady himself, he opened the child’s heart, bringing her into their link to feel the comfort of their presence.

She appeared with them in the place where their souls were one.  Knowing it was dangerous, Darren didn’t merge with her, but he pulled her heart in with theirs.  In that place, her tiny, ill-formed body rested in the palm of one hand.  His warm touch calmed her, as their hearts and souls surrounded her.  Her pain was gone, and all she felt was the warm, protective strength of their light.

Both men sent soothing thoughts her way. 

It's okay, sweet pea.  They aren’t going to hurt you ever again.

Altering her delicate energy flows, he carefully corrected the damage wrought on her tiny body, and rather than excruciating pain, she felt a warm, tingling sensation.  The genetic defects and imperfections faded, and she became as originally intended.  The only thing he didn’t chance was closing her heart and mind.  Now that she was awake, his intuition told him it would be dangerous to close her mind. 

You’re going to grow up to be an exceptional young lady.

Her contentment and peace were apparent, no longer in pain and once again healthy and whole.  Her tiny mind reached out to him for comfort just as her little hands would one day wrap around his finger.  Darren couldn’t help but smile, and he pulled her closer as he would any of his brothers in need of comfort. 

Changing his focus to the mother, Darren restored life to her atrophied muscles, tendons, ligaments, damaged organs, tissues, blood vessels, and cells in her body.  Her pale complexion flushed as health returned, and Darren corrected any natural imperfections in her genetic makeup, wanting her to be as healthy as possible to take care of the child.

Looking at the mother and child, Pat’s Avatar flared again.  A web of lines and arcs connected the two, and he Understood the gaping hole between the mother and child that needed to be filled.

Dar, you need to open the mother’s mind and heart.  There’s no way she can raise an awakened child if her mind is closed.

Pat was right; for the mother to care and comfort her daughter, she needed to be awake.  If she wasn’t, it would turn into a disaster for both of them, but they would have to send her to the doctor and Albrecht, to teach her about the new part of herself. Her life, whether she wanted it to or not, was about to become vastly different, more than she could ever have imagined. 

The decision weighed on both men, but they saw no alternative.  It wasn’t just opening her mind, they were reverting her to a pre-fallen state, and no longer under the Curse, she would be immortal.  Free will was front and center in their fight, and they were making the choice for her based on the needs of the unborn child.

It was a challenge without Brad and the other mentalists, but Darren pushed through, removing the block in her mind. Once finished, he compelled her to remain asleep, and taking her hand, he read her through the part of his Avatar that came from Bill. Darren flinched at what he saw. 

Kelly was not a pleasant person.  A runaway, she came from a broken home.  The Enemy found her, playing on her fears and weaknesses until she ended up as he saw her.  After nearly a decade of imprisonment, severe emotional scars ran deep, and Darren’s stomach knotted.  With her issues, he didn’t have any confidence that Kelly could rise to the challenge of raising an aware child. 

Mindful of Darren’s unease, Pat increased his presence around him. 

Dar, we can’t fix everything today.  The doc can help her.  If anyone can, he can.  There are a lot of options for her, and no decision needs to be made today.  We’ll make sure the baby is safe one way or another.  I promise.

Knowing his partner so well, Pat said what Darren needed to hear, and his words settled Darren.

Okay, Pat, you’re up.  Reset this bastard, and let’s take another agent out of the playing field.

His forehead furrowing in concentration, Pat pulled Darren tighter against him, squeezing his eyes shut and breathing in Darren’s essence.  Love was the primary fuel for what he was about to do, and the light they emitted so strongly in the spiritual realm took on a liquid quality, pouring into the man.  His body and dark soul filled until their light leaked from his eyes and mouth. 

Even unconscious, he writhed in pain as evil burned out of him.  Every crack and crevice in his dry, arid soul filled, and in a silent explosion of light, the darkness was not just incinerated but eradicated as though it had never been.  It was a physically excruciating process, and once finished, he lay breathing heavily and drenched in sweat. Still powered up, Darren sent his thoughts across the globe once more, calling out to their mentors.

Doc?  Albrecht?

It took a moment before he got a sleepy reply. 

Yes, Darren?  What is it, my boy?

I’m sorry to wake you, doc, but we have another guest we need to send you; the woman and her unborn child.

Darren shared what transpired with the woman and The Enemy agent, and his high level of concern about the woman.

We’re keeping the agent with us, at least for now.  I’m sorry for the short notice, but everything happened so fast, we didn’t have time to think. 

We will need to expand our facilities if this continues.

I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t know what else to do.

You did the right thing, Darren.  I am not complaining; it is early, and I am grumpy.  I will assess the woman and consult you before making any decisions concerning her welfare or that of the child.

Relieved, Darren was also surprised the doctor would include him in such decisions.

Thanks, doc.  Incoming!

Placing one hand gently on her head and another over her heart, Kelly vanished, appearing halfway around the world to his safe spot in the lab.

<><>  

Resting the remainder of the day, Darren and Pat made love again to comfort, refresh, and restore each other.  While lying naked, arms and legs intertwined, they discussed their plan for that night.  If they were going to make a statement, they would make it boldly and in public, deciding to go back to the gay bar they visited the previous night.

They also decided to take Danny, The Enemy agent, with them.  Now passive, he did whatever they told him with no clue who he was or any memory of his previous life.  He was a new being and completely innocent.  Sitting him at a table with a drink, they told him to stay put while they danced, and he docilely obeyed.

The club was loud, busy, and full of some of the hottest gay men in Sydney.  As the evening wore on and the dance floor filled, Darren and Pat drew a lot of attention.  As it got late shirts came off, and they got even more attention, which was precisely what they wanted.  Pat stopped masking their auras as soon as they arrived, knowing they would shine like a beacon and get Ashmore’s attention.

While the DJ took a break, they went back to their table to sit with Danny and cool down.  Between dancing and the heat of so many bodies on the dance floor, they were sweaty.  While finishing their drinks, a chill aura touched the edge of their minds.  Both of them had been alert the entire evening and immediately noted the small entourage filing into the club.

Laying eyes on Ashmore confirmed him as the source of the dark aura; he was damn powerful!  A large, muscular man, he appeared to be in his mid-thirties.  Devilishly handsome, he sported a goatee and wore ass-hugging jeans and a collared shirt half unbuttoned, revealing a defined, tanned, hairy chest.

He had the body of a protector, and the speed and strength to go with it.  Also, quite visible was an amulet around his neck.  Seeing it, Pat Understood that was the source of Ashmore’s incredible strength.  Powerful in his own right, with his mind and body enhanced, the amulet was a battery, siphoning ambient music in creation to augment him and store it for his use. Ashmore’s darkness pushed against them as soon as he entered the bar, and taking no precautions, Darren merged them while strengthening their shields.  Making directly for them, Ashmore’s posse fanned out around him as he approached their table.

Pat deliberately gave Ashmore one of those head to toe glances he knew was insulting, the kind guys at the gym use when they sum another guy up quickly and dismiss him as if saying to themselves ‘I can take him.’

Pat irreverently said in a perfect Australian accent, “Hey Trent, how are ‘ya, mate?”

Trenton smiled, showing his perfect white teeth.

“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage.”

Darren replied, “I’m surprised The Master didn’t fill you in.”

“You flatter yourselves.  He must not think you worth the effort, or I’m sure he would have.”

Glancing at Danny, he frowned.

“I wish you hadn’t done that.”

Grinning, Pat said, “Yeah, sorry about that.  The woman and her child are out of your reach, too. Forever.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Ashmore said, “Pity! I have a few dozen more just like her, so I’m sure I won’t miss her that much.  She was near the end of her usefulness anyway.  However, I won’t allow you to take any more away from me. 

“I’m in a generous mood tonight.  I’ll give you two days to book a flight and leave, never to return.  If you defy me, I will destroy you both and send you back to your precious doctor in body bags.”

Darren laughed, saying, “That’s a bit melodramatic, don’t you think?  What?  Are we going to have a gunfight at high noon in front of the sheriff’s office?”

“Nothing so quaint.  No, we will simply hunt you down and kill you.  You are in my territory and no match for me.  We’ve held this place over a hundred years, and there are more of us here than you can imagine.”

He sure is full of himself, Pat.  I guess we shouldn’t have expected anything less.

Yeah, he’s a pompous ass alright.

Ashmore continued, “Stay and enjoy your last night here; drinks are on me.  I will track you to make sure you leave as planned.  If you disobey me, your lives are forfeit.”

Arrogant and expecting obedience, Ashmore turned and left, his posse filing out behind him.  Pat and Darren were well aware of the three protectors who remained, blending into the crowd. Neither Darren nor Pat believed a word Ashmore said.  They knew he would try to take them out, probably soon and before they left the club.

Keeping their guard up, they continued dancing until the bar was about to close, fully prepared for and expecting an attack. With the dance floor packed and taking full advantage of the cover of bodies, Darren waited until the strobe lights started and shifted their appearance. 

As soon as they seemingly disappeared, the protectors trailing them started running around, pushing people out of the way and causing a ruckus.  Taking their time, Darren and Pat made their way out of the bar onto the street while watching the agents panic trying to find them. 

Unable to take Danny with them or risk blowing their cover, they left him sitting docilely at their table, and one of the protectors knocked him out, carrying him out as though he were drunk.

Pat thought:  I’d love to see the look on Ashmore’s face when he realizes he can’t undo what we did.  It’d be nice to go ahead and get the confrontation out of the way.  We both know it’s coming.

Darren: I know what you mean, but we need to stay undercover.  The base is our primary concern, and we need to stay here long enough to get that project finished.  We’ll be extra careful and stay off their radar.  Let Ashmore think we put our tails between our legs and ran home to the states.

Pat: As much as it rubs me the wrong way I agree.  Hey!  Speaking of rubbing… let’s get back to the room.  I feel like rubbing my hands all over you.

Darren: Hot damn… I never thought you were going to get there.  I know how horny you get on SpecOps.  I thought you were slowing down on me.

Pat: That comment is going to cost you, mister.

Smiling, Darren’s dimples were in full force. 

I’m counting on it! 

<><>  

Watching Darren and Pat change their appearance, Luke left the bar.  Ashmore’s underlings were in a panic, no doubt terrified of his reaction when he discovered they lost their targets.

Smiling to himself, his thoughts formulated into a plan.  Yes, he would push a few buttons and see how these two young members of The Order would react in an extreme situation.  Just how far would they go to save lives, and how many lives would they be willing to take given the right circumstances?  Smelling Remiel in Darren and Saraqael in Pat, Luke wondered how the archangels managed that.  Even so, he was sure these new warriors of The Order would be no different, even with their nephilim bloodlines. 

It had been a while since he spent so much time on Earth in the physical realm.  He always found incredible joy at how easily the creatures of Earth were to manipulate for his pleasure. 

<><> 

Once in their room with the door securely locked, Darren dropped their illusions.  Flicking on the light switch for the main room, Pat saw a package sitting on the bed and nearly knocked the wind out of Darren as he swept his partner behind him, shouting in his mind. 

Dar!  Get behind me!

The moment Pat laid eyes on the package his Avatar responded, and bright images filled his vision.  Whatever was inside the wrappings was immensely powerful with significant ties to Darren.  The scariest part was that his Avatar wasn’t telling him what the connection was. 

Taking a tentative look over Pat’s shoulder, when nothing happened after a few seconds, Darren thought: It might be okay, Pat; neither of us is picking up any danger. 

Sorry, Dar, but where you’re concerned, I’m not taking any chances.

Hold on; let me unwrap it.

With his mind, Darren gently pulled the cords binding the wrappings.  The material looked like silk but heavily yellowed with age.   It seemed ancient and fragile, and Darren used a light mental touch, afraid of pulling the fabric apart. Unfolding the cloth revealed a large leather-bound book.  Faded symbols adorned the cover, and they were shocked to see marks resembling characters from their Avatars!  

Specific pages had silk ribbons marking them, and Darren attempted to open the book but was unable to do so.  Some force too strong for him to break held it shut and he didn’t want to risk damaging the ancient tome.

Shifting their sight, the book blinded them in the spiritual realm.  Neither Pat’s instincts nor Darren’s intuition told them anything one way or the other.

Darren: Well, here goes nothing. 

Ancient and worn, the symbols on the cover were so faded they were barely visible.  On closer inspection, with Pat’s exceptional eyesight and Avatar, he realized the characters were the combination of their tattoos that only appeared when all ten of them were one and locked by Ken’s Avatar.

Pat’s recognition of the Avatars gave Darren confidence it was alright for him to touch it, and the book lifted off the bed, floating over to rest on Darren’s outstretched hands.  As soon as the leather touched his skin, the seal and his Avatar flared in unison for a brief moment, spitting bright colors of energy.

With a slight pop, the book unlocked.  Darren had an odd sensation; the part of his Avatar that came from Bill should tell him everything about an object once he touched it.  He knew it was meant for him, but other than that everything about the Book was blank, cleansed of any psychic or spiritual imprint prior to that point in time.  Whoever left it wanted to remain anonymous.

Fuck, Pat, I don’t know what to make of this.

Me either.  It worries me that my Avatar isn’t telling me what it is.  It’s got to be damn powerful if that’s the case.  Even Ken’s Avatar worked against Michael.

Hey, Pat, I remember that sound.  At our first awakening, the doc had a small crystal he used to unlock the box holding the harnesses we wore.

It must be the same type of warding.

Alright, Pat, moment of truth here.  Let’s see what this is all about. 

Opening the book, writing in a language neither of them recognized filled the pages.  Darren moved to the page marked by the first silk ribbon.  A large elaborate rune filled most of the thick vellum with more of the script below the rune and around the borders, possibly notes or instructions.

Pat’s eyes flared white as Understanding of the rune came to his mind.  It was a rune of light and immensely powerful, far more potent than the runes the doctor taught them or anything The Enemy used so far.  This rune would take a significant amount of power to create and would be nearly invulnerable once placed.

Darren read everything through Pat, and they each came to the same conclusion.  Someone left the book as a gift and a huge boon in their fight!  Who it might be they didn’t know, at least not yet.  Runes filled the pages, each as powerful as the first, and many other pages contained the flowing script they couldn’t read.  Somehow the scripted language prevented Pat’s Understanding from translating it, and that had never happened before.

When Pat and Darren were so deeply linked, their Avatars complemented one another, expanding their minds and abilities.  The synergistic aspect of their Avatars had something to do with the fact they were both oriented to the physical realm - Darren’s ability to interact with it, and Pat’s ability to Understand almost anything that existed.  When together, it was like they were an overclocked CPU, and the part of Darren’s Avatar that came from Bill made the two of them even more potent together. Grinning at one another, they had the same thought.

Darren:  Yeah, buddy! Pat, do you know what this means?  If we incorporate these runes into the base's construction, it will make the place impenetrable to The Enemy!

Pat:  This is awesome!  Who in the world could have left this for us, and why did it have to be anonymous?

Darren:  Whoever it was probably broke a rule.  I can’t imagine anyone wanting us to have this knowledge.  Remember what Raphael said about ‘that guy’ we met at the tree?  He said there was a Mandate against humans receiving certain knowledge.  ‘That guy’ was breaking the rules; they just can’t catch him doing it.  The amulets that imprisoned Istariel and his cousins - I bet those runes are in this book.

Pat:  The book is keyed to you, Dar.  I wonder why, or even how?  I think it might be better if we don’t know, although I’m sure the doc will ask and want to look into it.  It could even be from that guy, but I’m not sure why he would want us to have this kind of power.

Darren:  Do you think we should call Remiel or Saraqael?  If there’s a chance this could be from you-know-who, they need to know.  I’m not picking up any bad vibes when I think about that, so I don’t think it has anything to do with him.  But, as powerful as he is, he might have found a way around our Avatars.  Brad and Ken didn’t sense anything from him at the tree either.

Pat:  Let’s talk to the doc first.  We need everybody in on this. 

Grinning, Pat thought:  You ready to set up a conference call?

Looking into each other’s eyes, Darren brought their souls together.  Their eyes turned white, and a hot wind blew around them.  Linked as they were they had the same thought, and it made them smile; each of them loved how handsome the other looked when the wind blew through their hair, and the warmth of their souls shone through.  Drawing power from the tree and nearby animal spirits, their auras masked by Pat, Darren cast his thoughts across the world.

Brad?  Doc?  We need to talk!

Usually, a response came almost immediately, but there was nothing on the other end.

Hmmmm.  I think communications are down.  Same as with Loy and Rick, when they found that Amalgam near Augusta. 

Yeah, but we’re prepared, and they were caught off guard.  We figured this might happen.  That amulet of Ashmore’s gives him the strength to block us.  If we see him again, grab it off him as soon as you see it.  He’ll be a fucking pansy without it.

We still aren’t sure how much he knows about our powers individually.  The Master may not have shared everything about us with him, but he knows who the doc is.  I didn’t sense he was lying when he made those comments.

That’s utterly idiotic of them if it’s true.  There might be some friction or rivalry going on we don’t know about.  I’m sure Ashmore likes his autonomy here, and that amulet makes him pretty darn powerful.

Good thing we have a backup plan.  Our normal check-in time is in an hour, so we’ll just have to wait.  We have enough time to change our appearance and switch hotels.  Now that we have this book, we need to keep it safe at all costs.  It’s way too powerful to fall into Their hands, and we can’t be too careful.

Over the next hour they checked out of the hotel under their natural appearance.  Neither of them detected anyone following them, but Darren changed their appearance regardless, following established mission protocol.  This time Darren chose to make them appear as a wealthy African couple, and they checked in at the Sydney Intercontinental Hotel on Macquarie Street.  Their room was beautiful, overlooking the harbor. 

<><> 

Taking extra time, they warded the suite before unpacking their bags.  At the designated time they powered up, and Darren called out to Brad but got no response. 

Darren:  Well, it was worth a shot.  I’m not sure how long Ashmore can keep that shield up. 

Pat:  I say let him keep it up as long as he wants.  It’s got to be a significant drain no matter how strong he is.  The more energy he wastes on it, the less he’ll have for us if it comes to a showdown.  Personally, I can’t wait to get my hands on him and kick his ass.

Reading Pat like a book, Darren’s dimples made an appearance. Pat’s protective nature was asserting itself, and he was acting studly. 

With a side glance towards Pat, Darren smirked. 

What if I want to kick his ass?

Pat’s response was to pull Darren into a quick hug and kiss him. 

I’m not letting him near you, Dar.  Him, or any of his goons.

I love it when you get this way.  It turns me on.

With a knowing grin Pat kissed him again, cupping his face gently with his hands as he did so, and Darren had to snap himself out of it before things got out of control. 

Okay, Pat, let’s hold onto these feelings.  We need to take care of business first. 

Darren laughed, knowing Pat would purposefully twist his words.  Pat got the dimples he wanted and lowered his hands.

<><> 

Holding hands, Pat and Darren got on the bed next to one another.  Taking a deep breath, each looked at the other, falling into one another’s soul.  A sharp intake of breath and watery eyes accompanied the exquisite intimacy, and a ball of light rose from their chests, bobbing gently in the air before merging into one larger sphere.  A slight breeze blew through the suite, ruffling the fresh flowers on the table and billowing the curtains.

After a brief moment, the orb vanished, slipping across the veil into the spiritual realm.

<><> 

As Brad learned more about traversing the veil and the laws of the spiritual realm, they practiced finding each other quickly. To Pat, just like Ken, it made no sense that distance didn’t matter, only direction. 

Darren took to it like a fish in water just as Brad did; it was a part of his Avatar, and he was wired for it.  Pat’s Avatar still functioned, but the laws of the spiritual realm were vastly different, and he wasn’t acclimated to them yet and felt a twinge of unease not having a body. 

A few moments after they crossed, the presence of their brothers surrounded them.  Five balls of light and ten minds and hearts floated together in a circle.

Ken:  Hey, guys!  We’re glad you’re here and safe.  We were worried.

Pat:  We appreciate the concern, fellas.  Things are happening just like we predicted.  We’re making progress on finding a site for the base.  Dar should be making an offer on some real estate in the next few days.  We sure wish the doc and Albrecht could be here.  We had a surprise tonight, and need to have a serious discussion and could use their input.

Darren: When we got back to our room, there was a package on the bed.  We warded our room, so no one should have been able to get in or out without our knowing.  When we unwrapped the package, it was an old book with a powerful binding keeping it shut.  It’s keyed to my Avatar, and as soon as I touched it, it opened right up.  Guys, it’s filled with runes like the language of our Avatars.  We can’t read the text, but Pat can get an Understanding of each rune's purpose.  They’re immensely powerful.

Darren and Pat shared what they had seen of the book so far. 

A smattering of ‘holy shits! and ‘fuck me’s!’ followed.

Linked, and with their thought processes intimately bound together, the same idea occurred to most of the guys that had already come to Darren and Pat.  Incorporating the runes permanently into the structure of the bases, they would be impregnable against The Enemy.  It would be just like having the trees at their houses.

Brad:  That’s some serious mojo.  You have no idea who left it for you?  You would think it had to be someone looking out for us but who?  And why did they do it anonymously? 

Darren:  No clue, Brad.  The thought occurred to us that it might even be that guy from the valley.  Neither Pat nor I had any sense of foul play or danger though.  But, then again, you and Ken didn’t either when he showed up. 

Lane:  Should we call in the archangels?  You heard Michael; if we have the slightest inclination it might be related to ‘you know who’ he said to call out.

Ken:  I’m not ready ‘ta do that, Lane, at least not ‘til we’ve had a chance ‘ta talk to the doc and Albrecht.  B has an idea on how ‘ta break through that barrier, and if it works, we can include the doc and Albrecht directly.

Brad:  Yeah, guys, I’m not sure you can reach us, but I think we can contact you.  Let’s try in an hour, and if it works, we’ll bring the doc and Albrecht in on it.  If it doesn’t, we can meet back here.

Bryan:  Okay, fuckers.  Be safe.  You know we love you.  We’ll talk to you in a bit.

Closing in for the equivalent of a group hug, the white rope of power binding their souls tightened, and the support and love they had become so accustomed to filled each of them.

Realizing the potential danger Pat and Darren were in and how quickly the situation could change, they felt the need to express their affections for one another.  If the mission went south and either Pat or Darren were killed, it would devastate them.  

A powerful wave of conviction and strength came from Ken, reinforcing their support for one another and boosting their confidence and well-being. 

Stay strong, fellas.  Remember who and what you are; just don’t get cocky.

Darren’s dimples ran through the link at Ken’s comment.

I’m depending on Pat for the cocky part!

Amidst their laughter, the balls of light disappeared, crossing back to the physical realm and returning to their bodies.

<><>  

An hour later, Brad’s presence entered their minds.

Hey, again, fellas.  This seems to be working.  Kev, show Pat what you’re doing so it will make things easier.

Pat absorbed the information from Kevin on the workaround to Ashmore’s shield.  Kevin focused his Avatar like a laser against a specific point on Ashmore’s barrier rather than trying to dampen the entire block.  Essentially, they made a needle-sized hole to communicate through and masked their auras so it wouldn’t be detected.  By masking themselves on either end of the connection, Ashmore wouldn’t sense what was happening.

Darren: Pure genius, guys.  I always knew you fellas would be good for something.

Kevin:  Yeah, we do our best, but it’s not hard with you two sissies.

They kept the banter to a minimum, knowing the doctor was in the link. 

As if on cue, the doctor’s voice entered their minds.

Darren, Patrick, I am proud of you both.  From what Kenneth tells me, you are doing an excellent job.  What is this book you discovered in your hotel room?

Holding the book, Darren’s eyes turned white as the doctor used his vision to examine it, running his hand over and tracing the runic symbols on the cover. The emotional shock from the doctor and Albrecht was unexpected and extreme.

Aaron: Oh, my!  This cannot be!  Albrecht!  It’s…

Albrecht’s voice sounded grim as he finished: The Book of Loagaeth!  Aaron, that’s not possible! 

Ken interjected:  So, you know what it is?  Is it dangerous or helpful?  Any idea who left it for us, and why?

Aaron:  Oh, my!  This is disturbing.  The Book of Loagaeth is written in the first language, the language of creation.  It is the language of your Avatars.

Albrecht:  The book has been hidden for thousands of years in a sacred place along with many other powerful artifacts and relics.  If it was taken, there’s no telling what else might be missing.  The thought of those objects in the wrong hands and in the world again is unthinkable.

Ken:  Where is this place?  Should we go and find out what’s happened there?

Aaron:  It might be possible.  It should have been impossible for anyone to get into the vault.  Other than yourselves, I cannot think of anyone who could reach it, let alone enter.  An Archangel protects the vault.  I cannot fathom anyone bypassing the wards or the vault’s guardian.

Lane:  Doc, Albrecht, the song I dreamt in the valley.  ‘What was stolen must be returned,’… could it be the book or something else from that place?

Aaron:  It is entirely possible, my boy. 

Ken:  Doc… as long as we have the book, can it be of use ‘ta us?  If the knowledge in it and the runes are so powerful, wouldn’t it give us a huge advantage?

Albrecht:  It would, Ken.   Darren, you should memorize the book and share it with your brothers.  Aaron and I will help you translate as much as we are able, but no one on Earth can thoroughly read or comprehend the contents of that book without the help of your Avatars or an archangel.

Brad:  Should we call in Raphael or one of the others to help?

Aaron:  I am fearful of doing so, Bradford.  They might help, but the knowledge is so powerful I am not sure what their reaction would be, and we still do not know who put the book in our possession.  It seems to be keyed to Darren, and until we discover the implications of that and how it works, I am not sure it is safe to return it.  It may return to Darren regardless of our attempts.

Brad:  Should we destroy it once we have it memorized?

Albrecht:  I’m not sure that’s possible or wise to try.  Yes, the book is dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands, but such a powerful artifact cannot be easily destroyed.  As far as we know, it’s the only tome in existence that records the first language.  Everything I’ve learned has been from notes of Order scholars who caught glimpses of the book ages ago.  I’ve never laid eyes on it myself.

Ken:  Guys, it looks like your mission just got a bit more complicated.  You have ‘ta keep the book safe and out of the Enemy's hands.  If you have ‘ta bail to keep it safe, then so be it.  We can always go back later ‘ta finish the base.  Ashmore can’t know about it or get his hands on it.

Pat:  We got it covered, boss man.  We’re laying low right now.  We met Ashmore face to face earlier tonight.  He showed up at a bar we were at; he took the bait and had a bunch of goons with him. 

Sharing their memory, everyone became aware of the amulet Ashmore used to siphon off ambient music and store it.

Darren:  We’re going to let him think we’ve left while we finish the base.  In our downtime, we’ll try to track down his center of operations.  Doc, if you and Albrecht can translate any of the more powerful runes, we can plan to incorporate them into the base construction.  Pat’s interviewing construction companies now, so best-case scenario, we should start in a few weeks.

Ken:  Alright, guys, keep up the good work.  Be careful and keep ‘ta the schedule for stayin’ in touch.  If you have an emergency and need ‘ta reach us shoot a 711 text, and we’ll group up and get with you a.s.a.p.

Darren and Pat:  Love you, fellas.  Talk soon. 

<><><> 

The next few weeks went quickly.  Per protocol, Darren and Pat changed their appearance and switched hotels every other day.  As surveillance experts, they were confident they gave Ashmore’s goons the slip, and after a few days, the barrier blocking their communications disappeared.  Either Ashmore assumed they left or was laying a trap for them.

Darren found a perfect location for the base near Uluru in the surrounding rocky countryside, acquiring it dirt cheap because it was in the middle of nowhere.  Additionally, he purchased a small plot of land on Sydney's outskirts as a cover, where the construction workers would think they were working. Darren had his work cut out for him, teleporting building materials to the site and the workers back and forth, plus modifying their day-to-day memories.

Creating the initial starting space was the most difficult.  Darren required a visual of some sort to teleport, so they experimented with sonar equipment similar to what archaeologists used to discover the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

At first he grabbed chunks of rock, and once the area was large enough to view on sonar, he felt comfortable teleporting into that space.  Rather than try to teleport air, he opened an oxygen tank and sent it ahead of him, waiting a while before he made his attempt.

Once he had a starting area, he slowly enlarged it, continually drawing strength from Pat and their sources of power.  Channeling massive amounts of energy, after a few days the area was large enough for a generator.  Pat stayed busy filling oxygen tanks, recycling them as they filled the slowly enlarging space. 

When needing the help of Brad and the other mentalists for heavy equipment like the generator, Darren synchronized their Avatars from across the planet.  They learned that their Avatars, like traveling across the veil, ignored distance and only direction or positioning mattered.

In the first few days, Darren cleared an area large enough to bring in construction workers and begin mining the site to match the floor plan.  The doctor and Albrecht, with the help of Ken, Bryan, and Rick, began deciphering runes that would not only make the entire facility invisible to The Enemy but also impregnable to scrying and dark spells.  Anything evil would not be able to enter and if it somehow managed, would be obliterated almost instantly.

Pat expressed concern over how hard Darren pushed himself.  The only thing that kept him going day to day was making love to Pat and receiving the extra energy boost.  On the upside, the extreme mental workout from exercising his powers made him stronger.  With Darren’s Avatar tied to his physical strength, Pat saw the effects on Darren’s body as if he had been working out more strenuously than usual in the gym. 

Doing everything he could to help, Pat took extra care of his partner, giving him back rubs and foot rubs and holding him tight.  Taking showers together daily, Pat washed every inch of Darren’s body.  Using his dimples, Darren milked the attention for all it was worth, and exhausted but loving the attention, he was always happy with the lovemaking that ensued. 

After a month, the facility started taking shape.  Darren coordinated with the guys at the lab to send equipment and furniture through, and with Pat’s strength moving everything into place was easy.  Once the doctor’s new equipment arrived, the original generators were no longer needed. 

Darren was blown away by the device the doctor sent.  A wizard at physics, once he looked at the machine through Pat’s Avatar, Darren realized the doctor created a perpetual energy device capable of powering the entire facility. 

Similar devices were purposed for creating fresh air and water, recycling both as needed, as well as waste and sewage.  The science behind the equipment was beyond brilliant, incorporating physical and metaphysical principles. They were impressed again at the doctor's genius and how humble he was for such a brilliant man.

The final and most challenging stage of the base construction would be empowering the runes deciphered from the book.  The energy required to embed them would take the entire team over several days.  Bill and Kevin were in Canada and not readily available for a few more weeks, so the runes would have to wait.

With the base nearly finished, Pat and Darren moved out of hotels and into the new facility.  Much larger than Darren had ever envisioned, and far more sophisticated, he and Pat looked with pride at their accomplishment.

Pat: Fuck, Dar, when we get more of these places around the world, it’s going to be incredible.  With the new computers and technology, we’ll have a presence wherever we need to be.

Darren: It wouldn’t surprise me if the doc asks us to send up a satellite soon.  I wouldn’t put anything past him these days.  When he and Albrecht were forced to stay apart before we were awake, he had to hold back on anything metaphysical, but now he can cut loose. 

If we don’t need the construction guys anymore, I’ll do a full modification of their memory tomorrow. The day-to-day mods have worked in the short term, but I’m going to make it seem as though they never met us and were building another facility in the city the entire time. 

Winking at Darren, with a grin, Pat thought: This place already feels like home.  I’m up for christening it tonight if you are. 

Returning the grin, Darren moved into Pat’s arms. 

I’m all for that, Pat.  I’m ready for a vacation after this.  I wanted to come to Australia, but we haven’t gotten to do much of anything while we’ve been here.  Once the runes are powered up, I’m going to ask Ken and the doc for a few weeks to ourselves.

Fuck yeah, Dar.  I’m sure no one will have a problem with that.

How about this afternoon we kick off early and go to the beach?  I want to get some sun. 

Sounds good to me.  Let’s hit Balmoral; I know you wanted to go there.  It’s going to be a hot, sunny day, and it’ll be perfect.

I love you, Pat.  It’ll be perfect because I get to spend it with you, just the two of us.

Awwww, Dar.  Why are you being so sweet?

Pat’s heart melted at the dimples that appeared.

 Just tired, I guess. 

Grinning back, Pat thought: Fucker.

No, that’s your job.

<><><> 

Earlier that morning, Trenton Ashmore sat eating breakfast on the balcony of his estate overlooking Sydney Harbor.  The house he called home was a small palace in Sydney, with breathtaking views of the water. 

Trenton prided himself on never being surprised. As powerful as he was, especially with his amulet, he didn’t fear anyone, yet he barely kept his composure when a man appeared in his breakfast room. As soon as he appeared, Ashmore’s protectors drew their guns with lightning speed, but the man didn’t flinch or look at all concerned. 

“G’ day, mate!” 

Ashmore didn’t reply. Staring intently, he assessed the stranger.  Whoever the man was, he must be powerful to show up as he did, and either supremely confident or an idiot.

Raising his eyebrows, the man asked, “Mind if I join?  I’m famished!”

“You have balls coming here unannounced.  I’m not sure how you pulled that off.  Eat, and I’ll decide if you get to leave or not.”

“Yeah, thanks, mate.  You won’t regret it.  Got some news for ‘ya.”

Waving off his protectors, they put their guns away but stood vigilant, ready to react at a moment’s notice.

“What could you possibly tell me that I don’t already know.”

“Those two blokes from The Order?  Yeah, well, they never left.  They’ve been right under yer nose this entire time.”

“You’re certain of this?”

“Spot on, mate.  Saw ‘em myself just yesterday.  Rumor has it they’ll be catching some sun up at Balmoral later today.”

“How do you know this?  Why should I believe anything you say?”

“I reckon you don’t have a reason.  Just bein’ a mate.  Sorry, we’ve never met.  Name’s Luke.” 

Reaching out, Ashmore took Luke’s proffered hand, also touching his mind, and while his face didn’t reflect the fear running down his spine, his black soul shivered at the evil sitting across the table from him.

Smiling, with a wink, Luke tucked into his eggs. 

“Great grub!  Hat’s off to your chef.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I thought you’d want ‘ta know.  Your diggers aren’t doin’ a very good job keepin’ an eye out for ‘em, so I thought I’d help pick up the slack a bit.”

“Did The Master send you?”

“Naw, but I’m mates with him too.  Drop by now and then to keep him straight.”

Trenton suppressed a gulp at that news, and a tiny trickle of sweat ran down his temple.

“I see.  I’ll make sure those two won’t make it back home alive.”

Luke raised his glass of orange juice and said, “Good on ‘ya, mate!  Half yer luck!”

Ashmore bowed his head.  He was an incredibly arrogant man but knew the being in front of him could snuff him out of existence with a thought.  That brought temporary humility, forced of course, but necessary to survive.

“Don’t underestimate ‘em, Trent.  I’d take a lotta blokes to make sure they don’t give ‘ya the slip.  They’re crafty buggers.  Cheeky too.”

“Consider them gone.”

“Cheers then, mate.” 

Luke stood, ready to leave.  As an afterthought, he said, “Oh yeah… one small piece of advice.  That pretty little trinket around your neck, make sure it’s not visible when you confront them.”

With no sound or motion, Luke vanished.

Sitting quietly for a few minutes, he took in the encounter.  He had a vague idea of who Luke was.  Rumors existed that The Master reported to someone.  No one believed them, but now… the power and darkness his mind brushed against were like nothing he ever imagined.  He must succeed.

Finished with his breakfast, he put down his napkin.  A frown covered his face, which his followers knew was a bad sign.  His current expression usually meant someone was going to die.

“Chip.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Round up everyone from Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.  Get them here now.”

“Everyone, sir?”

“Something wrong with your ears?”

“No, sir.”

There was no way he was going to botch this.  It might be overkill, but he couldn’t take chances.  Three hundred men ought to be more than enough to squash two blokes from The Order who were on their own.

His eyes turned black, and lowering his head briefly in concentration, the shield he took down went back up.

“Dougie.”

Another protector stepped forward, saying, “Yes, Mr. Ashmore?”

“All the cell towers around Sydney need to be out of commission for a few hours once I give the word.  Get things ready.”

Dougie looked hesitant; that was a tall order and would bring a lot of unwanted attention to their operation.

“Is that a problem, Dougie?”

“No, sir.  I’ll have things in order when you give the word.”

“See that you do.”

He was going to corner those two blokes from The Order like rats and cut off their heads, then send the pieces to The Master as a gift.  Trent heard the rumors from the States about how powerful the new warriors of The Order were.  But three hundred men augmented by his amulet should be more than enough.  He expected casualties but that was acceptable, especially to further his position with The Master and more importantly, the being named Luke.

<><><> 

Balmoral was everything Darren expected.  The beach was fantastic, and the guys were generally hot and fit.  Pat and Darren, as handsome and well-built as they were, garnered a lot of looks, and several guys stopped to chat them up.

A few hours of bright sun in the mid-day heat had their bodies glistening with sweat.  Pat tanned more easily than Darren because of his hyper physiology; his skin healed quickly and never burned.  Darren’s shoulders were red even with sunblock, so gathering their towels and cooler they headed back to their rental car.

Even after a relaxing afternoon, as highly trained soldiers they were alert and observant, never letting their guard down.  Both men noticed they were being followed at the same time.  Darren’s intuition kicked in, and an uneasy feeling twinged in his gut.

Pat, we have trouble.  Something else is going on here.

I feel it too, Dar.  Let’s head out.  We can lose them on the way back.

Slipping on t-shirts and shorts over their speedos, they hopped in the car, acting as though nothing was wrong.  As soon as they pulled onto the main road, several vehicles started following them.

With their auras masked by Pat, Darren channeled a small amount of energy to heal his sunburned shoulders, which instantly tanned.  If they were going to fight, he didn’t want to deal with the sting of a sunburn.

Darren: How the hell did they find us?

Pat: It doesn’t matter now.  We’ll have to try and ditch them. 

As skilled a driver as Pat was, there were too many vehicles following to lose them.   Darren tried texting the team in case they needed back up but had no cell reception.  His intuition told him it wasn’t a coincidence.

Calling out with his mind to Brad or the doctor met with silence.  The barrier was back, so even fully powered he couldn’t reach them unannounced.

Fuck!  The barrier is back, and there’s no cell reception; they planned this.

Well, as much as I hate it, we can take them on directly.  There aren’t that many of them, but remember, Dar, we can’t hold back.  I know you don’t like hurting them any more than I do, but we need to make it out of this in one piece.

Pat hesitated before continuing, his face masked with concern. 

Dar, maybe you should go back to the bunker.  You can reach the doc from there.  You can contact the guys and pull me out. 

There’s no way I’m leaving you, Pat.  No way in hell.  With that barrier, we might not be able to pull you out, and I’m not leaving you alone.

Sighing, Pat knew he wouldn’t leave Darren either, so it wasn’t worth arguing over unless things got out of hand.  He wasn’t worried yet.  The Enemy didn’t know how strong they were, and he was confident their training would see them through.

Pat:  They have the home-field advantage of knowing the area.  I’m not going to lose them with so many following.  I’ll find someplace secluded and pull off the road.

The pressure against Darren’s shield told him the ‘suits’ in the area were joining the fight.

After a few minutes, Pat came across a large construction area in the process of being cleared and leveled, with no workers currently around.  Skidding to a halt, they hopped out of the car.

Taking off their sunglasses they took each other’s hand, becoming one, and in the spiritual realm they shone like a small star.  Immediately their breath caught and their eyes watered as their unconditional love for each other filled them up.  Pat stopped suppressing their auras so The Enemy would feel them without question. The closest protectors held their arms up, trying to fend off the white light burning their black souls.

Darren’s intuition warned him, and he slowed his perception of time.  A bullet rushing towards them blinked, reversing its trajectory, and the protector who fired on them fell dead. Word spread quickly, and there was no more gunfire.

Darren drew from local animal spirits, and Pat from the tree of life.  They weren’t sure if The Enemy saw the ghostly images around them, but they felt the aura of light and strength increase, pushing back against their black shields.

Within minutes, dozens more cars showed up, and well-dressed men joined the ranks, shielding the protectors.  Pat and Darren were shocked at how many there were. Something was very wrong; they were too careful for this to happen. Ashmore stepped out of the last car, and Darren noticed immediately that his amulet remained hidden beneath his clothes.

Pat quickly summed up that he and Darren were surrounded by Ashmore and roughly 300 agents. Approximately one-third were suits and the rest protectors, all augmented by Ashmore’s amulet. 

Attempting to teleport Ashmore directly to him, Darren wasn’t surprised it didn’t work, so he ripped Ashmore's shirt open with his mind, exposing his hairy, tanned, well-muscled torso.  However, with the enhanced speed of a protector, Ashmore twisted his body to keep the amulet out of Darren’s direct line of sight, gripping it in his hand and breaking the chain around his neck. 

As strong as Darren was telekinetically, he couldn’t match Ashmore’s physical strength to pry his hand open and teleport the amulet out of his grasp.

During their camping trip in the valley, something changed in Darren, Pat, and their brothers.  Every aspect of their nature had increased, and the power Darren and Pat wielded was greater than ever before; however, even as powerful as they were, Pat Understood what they were up against.  The protectors and ‘Suits,’ augmented by Ashmore’s amulet, would overwhelm them.  Darren realized it at the same time. 

This is fucked up, Dar.  This didn’t just happen; there’s another hand at play here.  I think I know whose, but there’s no proof, so we can’t call for help.

Ashmore’s face showed anger as he moved forward.  His shields clashed with theirs, vilest black against purest white.  Sparks flew in the spiritual realm and thunder cracked across the skies of Sydney reflecting the confrontation, and a hot wind gusted, blowing the hats off the closest well-dressed men. Holding firm, Darren and Pat kept their expressions neutral, not showing the strain.

“I told you to leave.  You will now suffer the consequences for disobeying me.”

Pat replied, “Yeah, whatever, douchebag.  We saw the men you left that night.  You aren’t fooling anyone.  You never intended to let us go.”

Ashmore smiled, showing his perfect white teeth.  Cocking his head, he shrugged, with an ‘oh well you can’t blame a guy for trying’ look on his face. The pressure against their shields increased as Ashmore motioned for the assault to begin.

As one, Darren felt Pat steel himself for the fight.  Pat’s fear was evident, not of the fight but of Darren getting hurt, and Darren knew Pat would sacrifice himself to protect him.  He couldn’t bear to let that happen and desperately wracked his mind to find a solution to their predicament. Suddenly, a gut-wrenching thought occurred to him.

But this was war. 

The Order didn’t start it, but Darren, Pat, and their brothers were born to finish it. 

The fact Darren was capable of such a feat frightened him as much as the thought of executing it.  With only seconds to act, his face hardened, and he hid his intent from Pat behind a wall in his mind.  He would face any consequences, emotional or otherwise once things settled. 

His dilemma lasted the barest fraction of a second.  Ashmore had his ability to teleport blocked, and he couldn’t fight nearly a hundred augmented ‘suits’ by himself.  If only he could get that damned amulet away from Ashmore! 

Bracing himself, Darren’s hair blew in the wind, his angelic charisma fully evident.

I’m sorry, Pat.

Darren’s voice held a resignation that frightened Pat.

Dar? What are you going to do?!

What I have to.  Please don’t hate me.

The emotional undercurrent in Darren’s plea nearly broke Pat’s heart.

His eyes turning white, Darren’s Avatar shone brightly on his muscled shoulder.  Looking at the small army approaching through his lover’s Avatar, his perception of reality changed.  Lines and vector arcs filled his vision with the Understanding of it all, and Darren knew precisely what he needed, realizing what he was going to do was even easier than he thought.

Darren’s Avatar was unique; in the long history of The Order, no one ever had an Avatar that affected the physical realm.  His accomplishments were already astounding, and he was young, newly immortal. The advanced technology he created with the doctor’s guidance put them light years ahead of even the most sophisticated government computers. He was proud of what he and Pat accomplished. The Enemy had died by his hands before, but he always reflected their bullets or used his hands and physical strength.  This time he was on the offensive, and his Avatar was the weapon. 

A wave of sound like small static pops started at the forefront of The Enemy bearing down on them, and just as the protectors in front started to fall, the popping noise made its way to the rear of the mob.  With each pop, Darren’s soul flinched, as all three hundred men fell to the ground dead, their necks snapped clean.

Dumbfounded for a brief second, Ashmore’s face darkened with rage.   Darren felt it against their shields as the power Ashmore used to augment his army returned to the amulet, and he and Pat became its focal point.

Throwing all their power to their defense, it was a stalemate in the short term.  Ashmore’s assault pushed Darren and Pat to their limits, but somehow they were enough.  White and black power clashed while thunder and lightning raged through the sky.

The ghostly image of the tree solidified as Pat drew deeper from its life Energy.  Animal spirits grew in number, swimming around and through the branches, lending Darren their strength. A pack of ghostly Wild Dingo’s savagely attacked Ashmore’s shield, to no effect. 

The amulet made him too damn powerful!

Unexpectedly a light brushed against Darren’s mind, and the pressure against their shields lessened.  A giant ball of light, an ancient and powerful spirit appeared, hovering in front of him.

The spirit coalesced into the form of a massive sea turtle, floating in the air as if swimming in the ocean.  Through his Avatar, Darren knew it had been through the cycle of life countless times and carried much wisdom. Her strength bolstered them, empowering their shield, but Darren knew even if she depleted herself it would not be enough.  After all the death he caused and witnessed, Darren couldn’t let such a bright light leave the world.

NO!  I won’t let you sacrifice yourself!

Her soothing, peaceful voice entered his mind.

Shaman, you have returned to free this land from the bondage of the dark.  The talisman their shaman wields is too powerful, and you will not win this fight without aid.  I freely give you my essence to power your spells. Chaos and entropy have ruled here too long; restore balance to this place.

No! Go get help!  Find our friends and guide them here!  I swear we’ll hold long enough for you to reach them!  Fly!

Very well.  I will be swift.

Her gentle voice resonating in their minds, she slipped through the veil.  As soon as she left the pressure increased, and fresh sweat poured down their bodies from the strain.

Aware of Darren’s emotional pain over his actions, Pat held him tight.  Even in the middle of the battle, he wrapped his heart around Darren, shielding him and trying to ease his suffering.

<><> 

Loy and Rick slept, spooned together with Loy to the inside.  With one arm under Loy's head and a hand against Loy’s chest, Rick held them together even in slumber.

A soft light suddenly filling the room woke Rick at the same time Loy’s Avatar came to life, and a loud voice filled their minds.

Shaman!  Awake! Make haste!  Your brethren cannot hold much longer!

Both men shot up in bed, startled, amazed to see the ghostly image of a giant sea turtle floating in their bedroom.  Its fins gently swaying as though swimming in the air, it was so large most of its body passed through the walls.  

Hurry!  They fight the dark shaman, but his talisman is too strong!  Even now it might be too late!

Loy cried out: Fuck me!  Brad! Lane! Bill! Pat and Dar are in trouble, and they need our help yesterday!

Loy’s cry entered their unconscious minds, activating triggers and waking them immediately.  At the speed of thought, they resided in Loy’s mind, ready to do whatever was necessary. 

Turning, the ancient spirit vanished, slipping across the veil and racing back to Darren and Pat.

No time to gather fellas, we need to do this remote.  We’ll have to punch through that barrier.  Pat and Dar are fighting Ashmore and won’t be listening for us!

Looking to the heavens, Lane cast his soul out into the Milky Way.  Plucking the string of a comet's tail, he took the sound reverberating through the cosmos, soaking in the music and transferring the power to Bryan and his brothers.  Loy called on animal spirits, and Bryan drew from the tree. 

In bed, each man embraced his partner, holding their naked bodies tightly together.  White power filled them, and Brad merged them into one, carrying them to the far side of the planet and the defense of their brothers.

<><> 

In their minds, the dome of darkness and its power were clear.  With the eight of them one, even as large as the dome was, Brad knew they could break through.  If Ashmore had concentrated his strength only over the area where he fought Darren and Pat, they might not have been able to breach it.

Focusing their collective strength for the initial attack, Brad struck the dome with a white arc of light, shattering it.  Lightning flared across the skies as the loudest crack of thunder in the history of Australia ripped through the air.

<><>  

Brad’s attack struck Trenton’s mind a blow such as he had never felt before, and he realized help had arrived for the two wretched warriors before him.  It infuriated him that he hadn’t been able to destroy them yet.  Pat and Darren were weakening, but they were far tougher than he thought possible.  Somehow, they found the strength to resist him even with the amulet.

With the barrier gone, the energy to maintain it returned to the amulet.   Overconfident, the thought of fleeing never occurred to him.  In his anger, he wanted to kill them one by one until they rested dead at his feet.  He wanted to see the decimation on their faces as they lost their lives and realized The Order was vanquished once and for all.

The being named Luke would be pleased, and Ashmore would rise higher in the ranks.  If he was the one who decimated The Order, something The Master had yet to accomplish, he might even become his replacement.

<><> 

Shrouded, Luke watched, enjoying the confrontation he instigated.  A thrill ran through him when Darren single-handedly killed Ashmore's army, reacting precisely as he hoped.  Luke felt confident that Ashmore was about to die, but Luke's plan moved forward regardless.

<><> 

Darren and Pat were entirely on the defensive as Ashmore continued wearing them down.  Black smoky tendrils like whips came out of the amulet, relentlessly striking their shields.  Standing shirtless, holding the amulet over his head, his thickly muscled body dripped sweat in the Australian heat and from channeling so much power.

Each impact against their shield affected Darren as if it were a physical blow.  Pat held Darren tight, filling him with every ounce of strength he could muster while doing his best to absorb what he could to spare his lover. 

Using his Avatar to dampen as much of Ashmore’s power as he could, the amulet replenished the bastard faster than Pat neutralized it, negating his efforts.  Even if Kevin were present and their Avatars synchronized, he wasn’t sure they could counter the amulet.

His eyes narrowing, Ashmore’s handsome brow furrowed in concentration as he built his final attack to destroy Pat and Darren before the others could join the fight.

Hot wind whipped around him as he drew on the amulet for the final blow.  At his direction, the clouds in the sky belched forth a black funnel directed at Pat and Darren.  It was more than enough to destroy their failing defenses and kill them.

His evil grin faltered as a high-pitched scream covered the area.  The ancient spirit interposed herself, taking the full force of his attack.  She knew it was powerful enough to destroy Darren and Pat, and she couldn’t let that happen.  She was ancient and powerful but no match for the force of Ashmore's attack, and her essence shredded as she writhed in the air, her cry fading as she dissipated into nothing. The wind stilled and a brief silence followed as if nature paused to honor her sacrifice.

As the spirit faded, Brad and the others poured themselves into Pat and Darren.  The ten of them were one again, filling and bolstering their shields. Each of them, especially Loy, grieved at the sacrifice of the ancient spirit, but her actions saved Pat and Darren, giving them time to come together.

Being one, no words were necessary as they fought together, with Pat and Darren vessels for the power of the entire team.  In their minds and bodies, their Avatars flared as Ken locked them together, and the co-joined runes formed the new complex rune, the one on the cover of the Book of Loagaeth. 

<><> 

Ashmore's disbelief faded, quickly changing to frustration and then anger.  His shoulders bunched, and the bicep of the arm holding the amulet bulged.  Black smoke dripped from his fist, his arm shaking with the effort to squeeze power out of the charm. 

Tears filled Darren’s eyes, now white and radiating the power of his brothers.  The sacrifice of the ancient spirit heartbreaking, her removal from the cycle of life forever added to his self-loathing over his actions.  He prayed none of the agents were coerced innocents like Henry.

Pat was with Darren as the storm raged within him, and the wrath of his brothers added to his anger at The Enemy for creating this situation and bringing him to the point where he had to make such decisions.

Pat’s heart broke over everything going on in Darren.  Darren wasn’t a violent man and hated taking life, even in the Navy as a SEAL.  Killing affected him deeply, even when there was need.

Darren braced himself to kill Ashmore too, and Pat couldn’t allow that.  They were one, and each of them felt it.  Pat would do anything necessary to prevent Darren from hurting himself any further.

Catching Darren off guard, Pat drew all their shared power into himself, crying out in pain from the sheer amount of it. White fire licked his body, and his eyes shone brighter than ever before.

The bright ribbon flowing between them became a whip in Pat’s hands, hurling towards Ashmore and shattering his black shield.  Simultaneously Pat launched his body, putting all his physical strength, training, and Understanding to bear, knowing precisely where to strike and how hard, doing precisely what Darren had done earlier. Conviction from Ken’s Avatar and his own filled him as he fulfilled his purpose in fighting The Enemy. 

Pat flew towards his Enemy, and fear gripped Ashmore for the first time in hundreds of years.  Even with the speed and agility of his modified physique, he couldn’t avoid Pat’s attack. 

Screaming as his shields shattered, white fire struck him a second time in the fight, burning his black soul.  His scream cut short as Pat’s momentum simultaneously severed his head and the hand holding the amulet.  Separated from Ashmore’s touch, the amulet went inert and its sustaining power left his body.

The last thing he saw, and it caused him more pain than the physical attack, was the pity in Pat’s eyes.  Ashmore’s dark soul screamed in anger and hatred at what he saw in Pat as it left his body.

Nimbly rolling to his feet in a defensive posture, Pat was ready and alert, but silence fell except for their harsh breathing.  The image of the tree faded, and the spirits dissipated.  A few animals nuzzled Darren before fading away, trying to comfort him. 

Breathing hard and drenched in sweat, their chests heaved.  Over three hundred bodies littered the ground around them, and their leader, Trenton Ashmore, lay among them with his severed head and hand nearby.

Pat and Darren looked at each other as their power faded and their eyes returned to normal.  Darren’s were bloodshot from the tears running down his face.  Moving over, Pat knelt, pulling Darren against him.  Darren shook with emotions, and now that things were quiet, his grief surfaced as the strongest.

Pat:  Shhhh. I love you, Dar.  It’s okay, man; I’m here.

Brad: We’re with you guys.  Lean on us.  We’re here to carry the burden.  It’s the only way we’re going to make it.

In the place where their souls were one, eight souls and pairs of arms wrapped Pat and Darren.  As soldiers, each of them understood the cost of war and its effect on them as men.

Ken:  You did what needed ‘ta be done, and your trainin’ kept you alive.  I know you’re hurtin’ right now, but you two need ‘ta get outta there before anyone else shows up. 

Brad:  I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but you did good.  You know we love you guys.  We’re here and with you both.

Each of their brothers expressed words of comfort and encouragement to their hurting souls.  Brad pulled back slightly, but their support and comfort remained, ready to be brought back to the surface with a thought. 

Pat continued running his hands over Darren in comfort, kissing the top of his head, stroking his cheek, and rubbing his back and shoulders.  He Understood what Darren needed and held him close, reinforcing his unconditional love.

Darren:  It hurts, Pat.  I just… killed them.  It was so easy.  God, what am I?  Don’t hate me.

Pat:  I could never hate you, Dar.  You’re the same incredible, brave man I fell in love with.  I’m sorry things went down the way they did, but you saved us both.

Darren:  I’m a monster. 

Pat:  No, you’re not!  You’re a soldier and the man I love!  The man I can’t imagine being without the rest of my life.  You’re everything to me, Dar.  That you care so much is one of the things I’ve always loved about you.  I know it hurts, but you are NOT a monster… except in bed.

Cracking a smile at Pat’s comment, after a short pause he thought: Thanks for finishing Ashmore. 

Pat:  I wasn’t going to let you hurt yourself anymore if I could help it.  We both did what we had to do.  You were amazing.  It’s part of what we do now.  I know it’ll take time to get over today, but don’t let it eat you up.  Even if there were a few innocents, think of the good we did by taking out Ashmore and clearing so many of his followers. They pushed it and escalated it… and we finished it.  We’re soldiers.  We took a stand and let them know who they’re dealing with.

Hugging Pat so tightly his knuckles were white, Darren’s chest was so tight with emotion it was difficult to breathe.  Pat continued holding him, stroking his face and hair, and trying to calm him down.  The hurt in Darren was deep, shocking him to his core.  The realization of taking so many lives so easily terrified him.

Darren:  I’m scared, Pat.

Pat: I know, but you don’t need to be.  I’m with you.  All of us are.

Darren:  It scares the shit out of me, you know, what I can do now.

Pat:  I’ll never let you go, Dar.  Ever.  You’re the same man I’ve always loved.  Just like the soldier you are, you did what needed to be done regardless of the consequences to yourself.  I hate that part of it, but we knew there would be burdens.  It just hasn’t been the burdens we thought.  But you did good today; believe me.  You know I Understand this shit.

Burying his face against Pat’s chest and shoulder, Darren inhaled the scent of his lover.  The simple act, along with Pat’s arms around him, gave him strength.  Still deeply merged, Darren immersed himself in Pat’s soul and the souls of his brothers.  Holding onto one another, he took them so deep that time stood still.

Together, they rested in their bond, with Brad and the others present but giving them privacy.  In that dark space, naked together, they held one another just as they did in the world.

They were shocked when a voice said, “You did well, Darren.  Both of you did.”

It was Remiel, Darren’s angelic grandfather.  His presence physically stunning like all the archangels; his body was powerful, thick with muscle, not a bodybuilder but solid from hard work.  He had brown hair and green eyes and was dressed in shorts and a tank top with tennis shoes, looking like he was ready for a stroll on the beach.

Smiling and nodding his greeting, he continued, “Hello again.  I know what you did was difficult, Darren.  I see the hurt in you.  I watched and was with you even though you were unaware.  It saddens me to see you so distraught.”

Looking up in relief, Pat said, “Thank you for coming.  I’m not sure how you can be here, but I’m glad you came.”

Still smiling, Remiel replied, “This is the place where your souls are one.  Any of us can find a kindred soul.  You are a beacon of light to me, Darren.

“Even though we only met recently, I’ve been watching you for some time.  If you weren’t so deeply in one another, I would not be able to talk to you.  Since you visited the tree, my brothers and I have increased our vigilance to keep outside involvement in this war at bay.  We cannot permit it to escalate to the point where it will destroy your world.  I have no proof but sensed another hand at play in the events you just experienced, so I remained close.”

Pat snarled, “That fucker… we knew something wasn’t right.  He set us up.”

Remiel nodded, “Indeed.  He is that, and I suspect he did.”

Darren sniffed, wiping his eyes, and said, “Thanks for coming.  I know it’s difficult, and it means a lot to me.”

Remiel continued, saying, “You might find this concept difficult because you are still naturally bound within time.  Time for you is linear.  Eventually, when your bodies perish, your souls will no longer be bound as such.  To me, we have already known each other for eternity.  You have come to mean a great deal to me over the years you have not yet lived.”

Smirking, Pat said, “That’s a mind fuck.”

Chuckling, Remiel replied, “Indeed, it is.  It is another paradox between the spiritual and the physical realms.  You will learn more over time and eventually come to Understand it.”

Through his Avatar, Pat perceived a profound sadness in Remiel. With the two of them so tightly merged, Darren picked up on Pat’s awareness. 

With a concerned look on his face, he asked, “Grandfather, are you alright?”

His smile fading, Remiel lowered his head, his voice quiet.

“The spirit who sacrificed herself for you was a dear friend of mine.  I have known her through many of her lifetimes.  She was a gentle, kind spirit, and very wise.”

Darren said, “We’re sorry.  Her help turned the tide.  We were shocked when she showed up, and even more when she spoke.  I never knew animal spirits could speak.”

Remiel responded, “Her speech was my doing.  Ages ago, I gifted her with speech to communicate as a spirit guide to the shaman of this land.  One of my provinces is a bringer of visions.”

Surprise showed on both their faces, and Pat started to ask, “So you’ve been responsible for …?”

“Yes, Patrick.  Some, but not all, of Lane’s dreams come from me.”

“What about the dream Dar had regarding the woman with the unborn child?”

Remiel said, “That was not my doing.  Your Avatars have the ability to ascertain information through the ether and bestow dreams as well.  Those are dreams and not visions.  A subtle difference, but significant.”

Pat had an epiphany about how interconnected their lives were with their angelic ancestors.  His Avatar glowed briefly, and he Understood something that just came into his mind.

His eyes wide with wonder, Pat said, “You guided the doctor when he spliced our DNA with yours and the other archangels.”

Remiel nodded, “Yes, that was me.  The doctor’s memory is excellent, and he is a gifted man.  His theories on creating hybrid nephilim were correct. However, we did not allow random chance when it came to your lineage.  That choice was made before time existed, precisely for what is happening today.  The doctor is unaware of our interference.”

His comment and the ramifications behind it stunned them.

Darren commented, “I’m glad you shared that, but I’m surprised it didn’t break some rule.”

Remiel replied, “That information has no bearing on your fate and in no way unbalances the conflict.  There is much I cannot tell you, but I wanted to share that.”

Aware of Darren’s thought about the book, before he could phrase the question, Pat gave him an almost imperceptible nod indicating not to ask. 

Remiel continued, “Even though time is nearly standing still here, I must return to my tasks.  Remember, either myself or one of my brothers is watching over you nearly all the time.

“Both of you did well today.  I know it hurts to take the lives of so many, Darren, but the ache within you speaks highly of your character and humility.  I will risk one minor transgression and tell you none of those men were held against their will or coerced into servitude.”

Darren and Pat both felt a small sense of relief at his words.

As Remiel prepared to leave, Darren looked hesitant, and seeing the look on his face, Remiel held out his arms giving Darren and Pat a firm hug of farewell.  As a gift to his grandson, he wrapped them in his wings.  They weren’t visible but his light surrounded them for a brief moment, and when he released them he vanished.

Smiling, Pat pulled Darren back into a tight embrace.

“You know it still knocks me on my ass we have archangels as relatives.  I’m glad you got to see him.  I want to see Saraqael again.”

Darren replied, “I’m sorry he didn’t show up too.”

“I’ll admit it would have been great, but I have everything I need right here in my arms.”

 Taking Darren’s face in his hands, Pat wiped his remaining tears away with his thumbs.  Not saying anything, Pat stared into Darren’s eyes, the eyes he could sink into forever, emerald green ringed with his dark brown, loving how Darren’s eyes glimmered when he was happy.  The look in his eye, coupled with his dimples, melted Pat’s heart.

I do love you, Dar, more than anything.  You know it.  I know you know it, but I can’t stop saying it.  What we did today had to be done.  I know how much you’re hurting because I’m in you right now, but let me wash the hurt away.  The memory will be there, but for now, let me love you and focus on that.

Darren teared up again, this time from the depth of his emotions for Pat, and how lucky he was to share his soul with such a man.

Thanks, Pat, for everything; for loving me, and knowing what I need.  You’re the most perfect man in the world to me.  I don’t know what I’d do without you.

Smirking, Pat thought: Yeah, me either.

His comment got the dimples he wanted, and he pulled Darren’s head against his chest.  Darren loved drifting off to sleep with his head on Pat’s chest, and he stayed still, feeling their skin touching and taking comfort in the closeness. 

After a few minutes, they became aroused by the closeness and caresses.  Pat shifted their positions, bridging himself over Darren and making love to him.  Even though they were in a spiritual place, their bodies a manifestation of their minds, they made love.

Once sated, Pat stayed on top, with Darren’s legs locked around his waist, enjoying the weight of his body.  He loved running his hands over Pat’s muscled shoulders and back, especially when he was sweaty. 

Finally, Darren broke the silence. 

You know one of the best things about making love here?

What’s that?

We don’t need to shower or clean up.

Pat chuckled at Darren’s comment. 

Yeah, technically you’re right, but as soon as we get back to the base and call in to debrief the others, we’re going to take a long hot shower together.  I want one more serving of your hot ass before we crash for the night.

Let’s pick up some food on the way back.  I’m already starving, and I know you are too.  The MREs in the base are for emergencies, and I’ve always hated them, at least without Bryan to doctor them up.

<><> 

Once back in their bodies, only a few seconds had passed.  For a moment, seeing the corpses brought everything back to the surface.  The brush of Uriel’s wings was another gift of comfort, as the Archangel of Death harvested the black souls of The Enemy.  Uriel didn’t manifest visibly and his presence quickly vanished.

Putting an arm around Darren’s shoulder, Pat walked him to the car.  Hopping in they started to pull out, leaving the bodies for either The Enemy to clean up or the police to find.  As they drove away, Ashmore’s amulet, covered in blood, appeared in Darren’s palm.

As soon as it touched his skin, he read it, instantly knowing how it worked, who made it, and everything about it.  A nephilim named Orophir crafted the amulet.  The amulet itself was evil and needed to be destroyed, but he didn’t get a feeling one way or another about its creator.  Wrapping it in a towel, Darren tossed it in his gym bag.  Simply touching it made his skin crawl, and it reaffirmed how badly Ashmore needed to be stopped. 

They got food and made their way back to the parking garage where they housed their rental car.  Grabbing their bags, they powered up, and Darren teleported them to the base.

<> 

As soon as Pat and Darren drove off, Luke appeared, cautious because Remiel was still close. Uriel had already collected the souls of the dead in his raven wings and left.

Looking at Ashmore’s body, bereft of his head and hand, and the three hundred corpses scattered about, Luke smiled.  

Yes, they will be as easy to mold as I thought.

<>  

The already familiar surroundings of the base made it seem like a second home, and they breathed easier once there.  Neither of them could wait to get the final runes in place and activated, making the base impregnable and safe.  Until then, they were still vulnerable to a spiritual or psychic attack if The Enemy discovered their location.  At least there was no way for anyone to reach them physically.

One pleasant surprise in the doctor’s modifications were large ultra-high-resolution LED screens placed around the walls.  When not used as Ops boards, they looked like windows to the outside world.  Darren set surveillance cameras around the area above the base, and the screens showed the beautiful sunny area of Uluru and the surrounding rocky landscape.

As the intense emotions of the day wore off, Pat and Darren were exhausted.  With food in their stomachs, they were ready to crash but still had to check in for a quick debriefing.  There might be immediate repercussions to deal with, and it couldn’t wait. 

Pulling out the amulet, Darren set it on the table in the main conference room.  Pat looked at it, Understanding how it worked and everything about it.  Their Avatars, each in their own way, saw the evil in it.  

They also noticed a subtle difference once they brought the amulet back.  It was passively soaking up the music around them, and there didn’t seem to be a way to turn it off.  Perhaps the doctor would know of a way to shield it until they could destroy it.

Right on schedule, Brad’s voice and presence entered their minds.

Hey, guys!

The presence of the rest of the guys were with him, surrounding them.  Brad’s mental strength never ceased to amaze them as he so easily included them from halfway around the world like they were in the same room with him in Atlanta.

The debriefing commenced and merging deeper, all the events became known among them.  As close as they were, Pat and Darren's unease was still apparent, and their brothers tightened their hearts around them.

Each of their buddies was special, and the individual strengths and traits among them brought something different to the table, from Bryan’s stoic, solid presence and Lane’s humor to Loy’s emotional support. Rick’s Avatar unraveled the hurt and pain in them, and the relief and caring touch of their collective souls was so powerful they didn’t know what they would do without it. 

Darren’s remorse over killing three hundred agents became their own, and his fear of the devastation he so easily inflicted and could again. 

Ken:  Dar, listen ‘ta me, buddy.  You’re not a monster.  I can tell how you see yourself now, but it’s not true.  You were strong and did what needed to be done.  Don’t be afraid of the power you have now; embrace it.  You’re a soldier, and it’s another weapon in your arsenal.  You’re such an important part of us; none of us would know what ‘ta do without you.  Not for your ability, which is apparently off the chart powerful, but you. 

Back in the lab Ken and Brad’s Avatars came to life, and one by one the rest of their Avatars did as well, emitting arcs of color adding to and further empowering the bright white rope running through them.

Again, the doctor sensed the intangible difference when their Avatars were joined together.  It wasn’t only a feeling of completeness; it was something far more profound and subtle.  It was the supernatural force that would allow them to restore mankind and remove the Curse once they defeated The Master.

Ken’s conviction, combined with Brad’s compassion, backed by their brothers, healed the deepest part of Darren and Pat's hurt.  The song inside Lane, especially powerful with the amulet next to them, made them smile.

Ken:  I’m sorry you guys had ‘ta go through that by yourselves. 

Pat:  We still aren’t sure how Ashmore found out where we’d be.  We were beyond careful.  Remiel said he felt another hand at play, so we’re pretty sure someone tipped Ashmore off.  There’s pretty much only one person we can think of who could be responsible, but again there was no proof.  As if The Master wasn’t bad enough, now we have this guy breathing down our necks too.

Darren:  Bill, you might want to take a look at this and see if you can pick up anything I missed.  A nephilim named Orophir made it.  It absorbs ambient music and stores it like a battery for whoever wears it.  Ashmore augmented himself and all his goons with it. 

Bill’s presence intensified in Darren, and their Avatars synchronized as Bill read the amulet through Darren.  He picked up minor additional details but nothing significant, mostly hazy images of a cave and a work area where the amulet was crafted.

Bill:  Doc, Darren’s right.  This thing is evil and needs to be destroyed.

Aaron:  We will all be at the base tomorrow for the rune placement and activation.  Albrecht and I can instruct you on how to destroy it safely.  Darren and Patrick, I wish to say again how well you have done, and how proud we are of what you have accomplished.  Before we continue with additional facilities, you both need to take some time to yourselves and relax in one another.

Pat: Thanks, doc, we were going to ask.  Putting the base together took its toll on Dar.  He won’t admit it, but you can see as well as I do he bore the brunt of it.

Aaron:  I entirely agree, Patrick.  I consider this a highly successful experiment and prototype facility for the others.  Moving forward, I believe all of you should be present to share the load in the construction.  If circumstances with Trenton Ashmore and Gerald Laurent had not dictated otherwise, I would have insisted in this case as well.

Darren:  Speaking of Laurent, how did things go in Canada?

Kevin:  We made significant progress in finding a spot for the base, but The Master showed up, so we had to lay low.  We’ll need to be careful moving forward there.  The doc had us come back home until you guys finished so we can all head back together.

Darren:  If that’s the case, we’ll shit-can the vacation and head there a.s.a.p. after we finish this place.

Ken:  No way, Dar.  You guys need the time and deserve it. Consider it an order.  There’s no hurry on the base there.  Besides, you said you had other locations in mind, so we can start someplace safer.

Pat and Darren smiled.

Brad:  Alright, ladies, you two relax and go christen the facility.  I know you want to!  We’ll check in mid-morning your time and head over to finalize empowering and placing the runes.

Pat: Thanks again for the support, fellas.  You guys mean the world to us, and we couldn’t make it without you fu… sorry, doc!...guys.  We’ll see you all tomorrow.

<> 

True to their word Pat and Darren christened the base again, and again, and again, until finally exhausted, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

<><> 

The next morning, Darren teleported them back to the car park to shop for groceries.  With everyone coming to help with the rune activation they needed mass quantities of food, and based on the time difference, they would want a late dinner. 

The kitchen boasted extensive cabinetry and multiple walk-in pantries for dry goods. The new appliances were oversized and state-of-the-art, and the two industrial-sized double refrigerators were enormous.  With the food requirements of the hyper-metabolized men, the facility even included a walk-in freezer.  

Pat and Darren bought enough food to last a few days, not knowing how long it would take to complete everything.

Darren teleported them, along with the food, back to the base.  After breakfast, with everything cleaned, Brad’s voice entered their minds.

You fellas ready for some company?

We just got all the food sorted; we knew you yahoos would be showing up any minute.  Bryan’s going to get a serious hard-on when he sees the new kitchen setup.

Darren trotted back to the platform dedicated as the ‘safe’ spot all of them would imprint for that very purpose.

Synchronizing their Avatars he pulled everyone, including the doctor and Albrecht, across the planet.

<><> 

As soon as they appeared, everybody dropped their bags, sweeping Pat and Darren into a massive group hug.

Brad kept the link up, including the doctor and Albrecht, taking them deep, and their love and support for Pat and Darren were as profound as ever.  Teary-eyed, their eyes smiled, and Darren’s dimples were in full force.  Even though they communicated daily, they hadn’t seen each other in person for months.  It was the longest any of them had been apart since awakening, and to everyone’s surprise they were unsettled by it. Their bonds profound and intense, there was a need to physically touch one another, and their hugs were long and tight.

Pat and Darren played host, to the amusement of everyone.  The doctor seemed exceptionally excited, especially for him.  Pat found him at the central operations console while everyone else was still with Darren going through their quarters and settling in.

Doc, I have to tell you, you outdid yourself on all this.  This place is more state of the art than the lab back home!

Yes, Patrick, it is, and I plan to correct that soon enough.  I wished to see how the new systems performed here first, and they have run the last few weeks flawlessly.  Remote diagnostics have been running non-stop since you installed them.

I was a little dubious at first, but those LED panels you sent are fantastic.  It helps to see outside and makes it not quite so claustrophobic.  When the air system kicks in, it smells so clean and fresh, you almost feel like you’re outside.

Pat interpreted the doctor’s smirk as “yes I know,” and Pat grinned back.  It felt nice being around everyone again, and he and Darren couldn’t keep the smiles off their faces.

<><> 

It didn’t take Bryan long to discover the kitchen.  Darren found him with his head in the refrigerator and could practically see the wheels turning in his mind coming up with a menu for dinner.

Slapping Bryan on his back, he laughingly thought:  Knock yourself out, Bry.

Grinning back, Bryan stood and grabbed Darren in a side headlock, giving him a noogie. 

I missed you, fucker. 

Ditto, Bry.  It’s not the same checking in once or twice a day through the link.  That’s great, but it’s no substitute for having your fat ass in front of me.

Fat ass hell!  You fucker!  You mean these rock-solid globes of granite?

Darren couldn’t help but laugh. 

Yeah, those.  It’s a good thing you’re a top!  You’d grind Lane’s dick to powder!

Yeah, that’s what he said!  Now help me get dinner started.  You did great with the groceries, by the way.  We weren’t looking forward to MREs.

Yeah, we weren’t either.  Tomorrow Pat and I want to take you guys to a seafood place we found.  It’s fantastic.  If you can learn to make crumbled calamari like they do, I might have to convince you to ditch Lane and move in with me!

<><>  

The night continued with a great meal and time spent with one another.  Darren sent the doctor and Albrecht back to Atlanta for the night, so Sally and the other guests wouldn’t be alone.  They would return for the rune activation once everyone was ready.

<><> 

Each couple had their own soundproofed private quarters, but that didn’t shield the auras they generated when making love to one another that night.  Pat and Darren, busy themselves, relished the presence of their brothers around them, not realizing how badly they missed it.

As friends they rarely participated in group sex; they had in the past, as couples, and even as a full group on a few select occasions, but decided early on it would not be the norm.  That night Brad pulled their souls together, and in the special place where they were emotionally and intimately naked to one another, they made love together.  They were still in their beds and bodies with their partners, but at the same time with one another.  The pleasure and fulfillment were indescribable and reinforced how much they loved one another as men and brothers, and how unconditionally open they were with one another.

The next morning after Bryan cooked breakfast for everyone, they were ready to start.  Everyone laughed when the doctor and Albrecht showed up with Long John Silver’s bags for their dinner.  Apparently, the doc had Albrecht hooked, too. 

<><> 

Standing at the lectern in the conference room with the Book of Loagaeth in front of him, the doctor’s expression turned serious.

“With Patrick’s help, Albrecht and I have chosen runes we believe will be the most beneficial for this facility.   However, there is a question I must ask, and I hope it does not make you uncomfortable.”

A few eyebrows raised at his comment.

Pausing a moment, he stared at the book before continuing.

“There are runes in the book that affect the light as well as the dark.  I wish to know your thoughts about protecting this facility against both.”

Even though they knew those runes were in the book, the thought of using them never occurred to them, and a ripple of surprise went through the link.  There were many thoughts of ‘holy shit!’ or similar exclamations amongst them.

Unexpectedly, a ball of light appeared in front of the operations board, growing into the form of Raphael, looking impeccable as always in his customary brown leather jacket, tight white t-shirt, and jeans.

Smiling, he looked directly at Brad first, saying, “Hello Brad.  It’s good to see you again.”

His gaze continuing around the room, he said, “It’s good to see all of you.”

The doctor did not look pleased with the interruption.

“Remiel informed me of his suspicions, and I’ve been close since Darren and Patrick’s encounter with Trenton Ashmore.”

Raphael raised his hand in a strange gesture, and a wave of power came off him.

“I’ve warded the room so we may speak freely.  I believe it was Luke who betrayed your presence to Trenton Ashmore.”

Darren spoke up, asking, “Do you think it was Luke who left the book?”

“I do not know who left you the Book of Loagaeth, Darren.  The Keeper of the Vault has been silent on the matter.  Many are concerned it is in your possession, but it is not in our province to interfere.  Personally, I am thankful it has come into your hands.  It presents a unique opportunity for you at this juncture.”

Raphael grinned at the doctor.

“I know you have reservations about my brethren and I, Aaron, and I believe I interrupted your meeting as you were about to suggest the idea of protecting this facility from us as well.”

The doctor didn’t bat an eye and replied, “Yes.  I was proposing the idea that we might consider making this base safe from both sides, the light and the dark.”

“I think that is an excellent idea.”

Raising an eyebrow, the doctor invited Raphael to elaborate.

“If you protect this facility from the dark, Luke will not be able to see or hear anything that occurs here or in any place you similarly ward. I would suggest similar precautions at your primary lab as well, as soon as possible.  If you leave your facilities open to others of my kind, I believe you are putting yourself at risk.  You know we are your protectors and would do nothing intentionally to harm you; however, I fear you might be betrayed by someone with good intentions.  Luke is a master of subtlety, and he might trick others of my kind into betraying you inadvertently.”

Brad spoke up, “Aren’t you breaking a rule by telling us this? I don’t want you getting into trouble on our account.”

“Thank you, Brad, but I’m not breaking any rule.  I am simply sharing my opinion and filling my role, as I see it, as your protector.  I cannot say Michael or some of my brethren would agree with my reasoning, but you would be prudent to follow my advice.”

Raphael glanced at the Ops board, and it came to life with a series of images showing more runes than the doctor had on his diagram. 

“These are the runes I suggest.  The number and placement are indicated for maximum effect. You should also incorporate a special matrix that will allow anyone you specifically wish an exemption from the runes' effects.

“I know my presence upsets the good doctor, so I will leave you to decide how to proceed.”

Looking at Brad, Raphael spoke in his mind: I’m sorry I haven’t spent more time getting to know you, Brad.  I wish to rectify that.

Brad smiled, replying: Of course!  I’ve wanted the same thing since I first realized who you are.  I think it would be great!

Raphael’s face broke into a beatific smile, and he transformed into a ball of light. 

Keep the light, my children. 

With that, he was gone.

<><>  

Silence fell after Raphael’s departure, as everyone pondered his suggestion.  Brad still had a smile on his face.

Ken: What are you smilin’ about?

Brad: Raphael said he wants to get to know me better and spend more time with me. 

Ken: Hell yeah, B!  That’s awesome. 

Brad:  I’ll want you with me, you know that, right?

Ken:  If you want me there, B, I’ll be right by your side.  But if you need some private time with him it’s cool with me.  I can totally see where you get your looks from, you know.  You‘re just about as good looking as your grandfather!

Laughing, Brad retorted: You’re so full of shit!  You’re just trying to get laid tonight.

Ken’s devilish, little kid grin appeared.   

Oh hell, there go your mad seduction skills again.

Damn straight, mister.  Don’t you forget who’s running this show.

Under the table, Ken grabbed Brad’s hand, squeezing it tight. 

Winking, he then cleared his throat, continuing, “Alright, ladies.  I wanna hear any and all opinions about what just happened, and then we’ll make a decision.  Doc, if you don’t mind, you and Albrecht go last so you don’t influence any of these yahoos.”

<><> 

For the next hour, they discussed the pros and cons of making the facility impregnable to both the light and the dark.  In the end, the decision was unanimous to follow Raphael’s advice. 

The doctor agreed with Raphael for different reasons, mainly his mistrust of the archangels where his adoptive sons were concerned.  As difficult as it was to admit, there was an element of truth to the words Luke spoke in the valley.  The archangels had an agenda, and he feared they would hold that agenda above the interest of the men he cared for so much.  Even though his reasons were different, it was still a unanimous vote.

It was an exhausting week placing and empowering the runes Raphael suggested.  Once finished, everyone spent one last night in the Australian base before putting the facility into ‘sleep’ mode as they headed back to the lab in Atlanta. 

<><> 

Sitting in a small café in Paris, enjoying a cup of coffee, Luke’s head snapped up.  A frown crossed his inhumanly handsome face, and thunder rumbled in the clear blue sky.  The new warriors of The Order just vanished from his perceptions. 

Few things could prevent his awareness, and he guessed immediately what had happened. An intense wave of anxiety spread through Paris that day.  The following day newspapers reported an unusual number of deaths in the city; freak accidents, murders, elderly people dying in their sleep; all ripples of Luke’s anger.

Feeling better the next morning when he could sense them again, he knew it was only a matter of time before it happened again.  With the knowledge of the runes in their hands, it escalated matters. 

After giving the matter some thought, a smile spread across his face.  He had his nephilim child Orophir to craft items and pass forbidden knowledge to The Master.  He knew he was breaking the Mandate, but the fact that someone of the light broke the same rule to counteract his actions thrilled him, making him almost giddy. They were usually so timid and restricted, placing limitations on themselves. The fact that one of them grew a pair of balls delighted him; he might finally have a worthy adversary.

<><><> 

Pat and Darren spent the next three weeks in Australia relaxing.  It was a great time together, and Darren visited all the places he had ever heard or read about.

Even though everyone stayed in their own homes in the evenings, most of them ate together with Sally and the other ‘guests’ at the lab.  Their training continued daily, and they spent most of their free time around the lab.  It was time well spent with their friends, and they did everything they could to make their stay as comfortable as possible.

Drew loved having the guys around to play with, and Henry and Liz seemed happy together.  Sally assumed the role of assistant to the doctor, at first out of boredom, but once he realized how skilled she was at keeping things organized and running smoothly, he appreciated her help.  The Keenans were low-key and seemed happy to be together.

The doctor and Albrecht continued their search to find suitable places for everyone to live.  With the new runes from the book, their safe houses would be impregnable. 

The first night Pat and Darren spent back in the lab, after a gastronomic feast put on by Bryan in celebration of their return, they shared pictures of their vacation with everyone. 

<><><> 

That night Bryan woke up to Lane twitching.  Rolling over, he knew immediately Lane was dreaming, but this time his eyes were open and glowing with a light bright enough to illuminate the room.  His tattoo flared, spitting sparks, and his muscular body was tense and sweaty. 

In some sort of trance, Lane threw off the covers, standing up.  His behavior, different from previous dreams, alarmed Bryan.

In each house, Ken, Rick, Kevin, and Pat witnessed the same behavior in their partners.  Brad, Loy, Bill, and Darren got out of bed as one, their Avatars bright and synchronized with Lane’s.  Some major event was occurring that affected all of them. Unaware he was even doing it, Darren reached out, synchronizing their Avatars and teleporting everyone to his safe spot in the lab. 

Ken and the other bodies appeared in a circle around their partners with Lane and the mentalists at the vector points of Lane’s primary Avatar.  As soon as they appeared, their hands reached out to one another.  Their energy centers opened, and a powerful white rope arced and flowed between them.  The power swirled faster and faster, causing a hot wind to blow around them.

An image formed in the air before them.   Ken and the bodies were charged up mentally, so Ken brought them all together.  Pat’s Avatar synchronized with theirs and they Understood what they saw wasn’t an image; it was a view into a different reality. 

Through the window, Ken and Bryan stood talking.  Something was wrong… the scene was vastly different from what it should have been. 

It hit them immediately Ken and Bryan weren’t awake.  Ken wore a t-shirt that pulled high on his bicep, and he had no tattoo.  They were younger, unawakened, their faces haggard, worn out physically and emotionally.

The window stayed open a few more seconds when suddenly, Lane and the others woke up in a bright flash.  The window closed, and they all exclaimed, “holy shit!” before falling to their knees, exhausted.

Grabbing Brad, Ken pulled him close, as did the others, and brought the mentalists into his link, refreshing their partners from their own strength.

“B!  Talk ‘ta me!  What just happened?!”

“Fuck Ken, we have to help them!”