by Chuck Black
“The Spirit of Elohim resides within these sojourners of men and women. The Messiah has been given to the Gentiles even more so than to Israel—Gentiles that are called the sons and daughters of God! Surely you can see that we must protect them!”
“But Elohim is not through with His people.”
“The Messiah has come, Danick. What more of the lineage must we protect? It is time to retake the world through the power of Elohim’s Spirit. Ben Elohim is leading us to the four corners of the world through the saints! The guardians must have our help if they are to preserve the message of Messiah within the families that are traveling to the outer regions.”
Danick looked over his elaborate map of the lineage of the people of Israel. He had led well and with singular purpose—to see this day come. Now he looked a little lost.
He gazed first at Validus, then back to Brandt. “You are right, Commander Brandt. Now is the time to divide our forces and go forth. We will do so for every man, woman, and child who belongs to Elohim … no matter our cost. It is a new era.”
Brandt closed his eyes and took a deep, slow breath. “What are your orders, sir?” he asked resolutely.
“Our headquarters will remain here, in Jerusalem, but I want you to establish a command outpost headquarters to the north. Put one captain in charge of every church that is established, and give each a detachment of warriors based on your perceived threat level. As the churches are the backbone of God’s plan to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, so will they be the backbone of our strategy as warriors. Between our two headquarters we will respond to each attack that Desgard makes.”
Brandt nodded. Both men were looking at a map of the Middle Realm. “What of the western hemisphere? Do we send men there?”
“No. We will spread ourselves only as far as Ruach Elohim goes. If we are to retake the world, then we can only do so under the power of Elohim. Without Him, we have seen how Apollyon can influence humanity. I will not risk any of my warriors until the time is right.” Danick wore the seasoned look of a battle commander, the look that brought Validus great hope and courage. “I don’t think Apollyon even saw this coming, my friends. As the Spirit of Elohim goes forth in the saints, the day will come when they will go west … and we will go with them!”
Brandt smiled a rare smile. “Which commanders may I have?”
“Take the east sector commanders, and we will redeploy to cover for them.”
Brandt looked at Danick, his smile still lingering. “Five commanders and twenty-five thousand warriors is not enough, but it’s a start.”
The corner of Danick’s mouth turned up. “I’ll send more as needed. Let me know when you are operational.”
“Very well.”
Brandt left Danick’s office with more enthusiasm than Validus had ever seen.
Danick turned to Validus. “What do you think, Validus? What’s your opinion?”
“My opinion is irrelevant, sir. I will follow your orders whatever they are.”
Danick frowned. “The day I quit valuing the opinions of my commanders is the day I will step down from this position. Good leaders listen to their men.”
Validus felt the sting of his rebuke. “Yes sir.”
“Now, what’s your opinion?”
“I agree with your decision. We must protect the saints no matter where they go.”
“And what of the lineage of Israel?” Danick asked.
“I don’t know, sir. I guess I can’t see why it’s needed anymore, especially in regard to us as warriors. Your protection of the lineage from Noah to Yeshua was remarkable, but now the Messiah has come, and the Gentiles have been grafted into the royal line. Whom would we watch and for what reason? Where is the need?”
“You’re right, of course. With Ruach Elohim dwelling within everyone who believes, anyone could become a powerful vessel through which God will work.” Danick smiled. “I think Apollyon is terrified. Imagine a world of saints, all being transformed into the likeness of Christ. Apollyon thought he killed the one Christ the world had, and now the world is filling with Christlike saints.”
Validus had never thought of it that way. He became excited thinking about the possibilities. It would change everything—their strategies, tactics, and their ability to take the battle right into the heart of Apollyon’s greatest strongholds. It was time to retake the Middle Realm!
“Our new priority is the saints,” Danick continued, “but we will not abandon the lineage of the Israelites that Elohim watches. Throughout the ages Elohim has set apart a man or a woman through which to fulfill prophecy and do great works in His name. We will watch whom He watches, and you will be my eyes. You must help me hear the whispers of Elohim.”
“But where do we start, sir?”
Danick seemed lost in thought. He turned and walked out of the temple. Standing at the top of the steps, he looked out into the courtyard. “When is the last time you saw it?”
Validus remembered how powerful “it” was when he looked at the ten-year-old girl playing in the streets of Nazareth. There were times in their lineage search when Validus had wondered if they were protecting the right people, but not so with Mary. It was deeply gratifying and affirming when he had heard that Gabriel had appeared to the virgin. And then when Joseph took her to be his wife, Validus marveled how their tracing of two of the lineages had intersected by their marriage. The ways of Elohim were profound!
In contrast to the brightness of the birth of the Messiah, all else seemed as a shadow. But there was one moment in the recent past when Validus’s heart stirred with something deeper.
He looked at Danick. “Simeon.”
Danick slowly nodded. “Yes … Simeon.”
31
TOO GREAT A SACRIFICE
Present Day
“He’s trying to recover Berg’s computer and notes,” Tren said as Validus and Ral joined up with him.
They were looking through the front window of an auto repair shop across the street from Benjamin Berg’s former apartment building. They watched as Drew Carter and Sydney Carlyle circled the building in her car for the third time.
“Bad idea,” Validus said. “His apartment has been crawling with Fallen since Carter extracted Berg from their watch, and Captain Linari made a special trip to see me yesterday.” Validus looked at Tren and Ral. “When Carter pulled Berg out, it seems to have drawn the attention of Durgank. He’s here in Chicago.”
“I’ve been out of the country. Who’s Durgank?” Ral asked.
“He’s Apollyon’s regional commander for the Midwest,” Tren replied. “Are you sure he’s here for Carter?”
“Hard to say, but Linari seems to think so. If he’s right, we’ll be up against one of the worst there is.”
Anger boiled up inside Validus as he remembered the havoc this enemy had brought to the people of the Midwest while he was in command. Abortion, drugs, suicide, sexual perversion of every kind, violence, apathy. Validus felt Niturni zeroing in on him—Durgank was evidence of it.
“Whatever happens here, we can’t let the Fallen see Carter or track him back to Berg.”
The car pulled into a parking lot a few hundred yards away.
“What did you find out about the FBI?” Tren asked Ral. “How close are they?”
“They’ve figured out Chicago, and they’re back to watching Carlyle. I was able to divert them a couple of times when she was going to meet with Carter, but it won’t be long.” Ral looked back down the street to the waiting car. “What’s so important about Berg’s computer and notes?”
“We’re not sure, but it may be the missing piece to this puzzle,” Validus said.
Tren pursed his lips. “Actually it is the missing piece to this puzzle, and I think I know why he’s here to get it.”
Validus and Ral turned to look at Tren.
“And it’s why the Fallen were trying to take Berg out a few days ago. Before you arrived, the Fallen disappeared for a few minutes, and I was able to gain access to Berg�
��s room to see what he was working on.”
Ral looked up at the ceiling in frustration. “You’re killing us, Tren. Tell us what you found.”
Tren waited a couple more seconds. Validus smirked.
“Berg was helping his professor at Drayle University work on a light-acceleration device. His theory is impressive and quite sound. Do you know what it means if it actually works?”
“No, what?” Ral prompted.
“Yes,” Validus cut in. He looked back outside to see Carter making his way to the apartment building.
“It means they will be able to see us … and the Fallen.”
The three angels stood in silence, shocked by the implications.
Ral finally broke the silence. “Whoa. Is that how Carter can see us? Do you suppose that lab accident permanently pushed his eyes into our world?”
Validus was lost in thought as he watched Carter.
“It seems the only logical conclusion,” Tren said.
Ral shook his head, still stunned by what such a discovery would mean. “I can’t believe Elohim would allow such a thing.”
“Well, considering Carter, He’s allowed it at least once,” Tren said.
“True enough,” Ral replied. “Why hasn’t Michael assigned the entire continental force to this mission?”
Tren looked at Validus and then at Ral. “He’s here.” He motioned with his head toward Validus.
Ral smiled, but Validus heard none of it—he was drawing his sword.
“It’s fight time, men. Ready yourselves.” Validus motioned to the apartment building.
Carter had entered through the southern door, and a moment later three of the Fallen came in from the north. One was Durgank.
“I want Durgank,” Validus said. “I’ll draw him away from the apartment, and you two make sure Carter gets out safely.”
Validus sprinted to the opposite side of the building from where the Fallen had entered and materialized through the wall of the first floor into an apartment. An older couple was watching television. The volume was so loud it was distracting.
Berg’s apartment was on the third floor at the opposite end of the building. He planned to come down on top of Durgank from above. That way he would have high ground and surprise working for him.
Validus jumped up through each floor until he was on the fifth floor. When he stepped through into the hallway, however, all mayhem broke loose. Four Fallen warriors were waiting, and two more dropped in from above behind the first three. The odds weren’t good, and in cramped hallways, a Fallen could materialize right behind him without him knowing. He needed space, and quick.
Validus launched himself upward to the sixth floor and then to the flat roof above. Five of the Fallen followed. As soon as they appeared on the roof, he took the fight to them, very aware that more could come from anywhere at any time.
He berated himself for being too eager to take the fight to Durgank. He should have realized the Fallen commander would have more than two warriors with him. He worried for Tren and Ral, wondering if they were facing similar odds.
Validus’s sword flew like lightning as he maneuvered to the edge of the building, hoping to minimize the angles of the attack from the enemy. He put down two Fallen quickly, but the others were more cautious and more strategic. The advantage was theirs, and he would not be able to hold them off forever. All he could do was hope that Tren and Ral had avoided Durgank’s warriors in their effort to protect Carter. He needed to buy them time and keep as many warriors distracted and away from Berg’s apartment as possible so they could get Carter out of there. But where was Durgank?
Two more Fallen materialized up through the roof.
“Tell Durgank we have Validus,” one of the Fallen yelled over his shoulder to the two approaching warriors. One of the newcomers disappeared back through the floor.
Validus could imagine more Fallen below him, waiting for him to materialize through to the floor below. The four on the roof closed in inch by inch, pushing Validus closer to the south edge of the roof.
Options: morph wings—too slow, too vulnerable. Jump—too far.
When he was at his end, hope appeared as Tren materialized through the roof at the far end of the building. He gave Validus the signal—Carter was out. He looked as if he would join the fight, but Validus shook his head. It was time to run. He didn’t want to lose Tren or Ral in a fight that wasn’t winnable.
Validus made a wide arcing slice to set the four approaching Fallen back on their heels, then jumped into a backflip over the edge of the building. As he careened down the side of the building, he thrust his sword into the brick and translated fragments of the wall to slow his fall. At twenty feet he withdrew his sword and free fell to the ground.
He dashed around to the back of the building, taking a moment to glance upward to see if any Fallen had followed. They had not.
A second later, Tren appeared through the back wall. Validus caught just a glimpse of Carter moving down the alley back toward Sydney’s car.
“Where’s Ral?” Validus asked.
“He should be out. We’re supposed to meet at the auto shop.”
Validus shook his head in frustration. This had gone bad fast. They flew down the alley opposite the way Carter had gone, then flashed across the street and back into the auto shop—but no Ral.
“He’s supposed to be here!” Tren clenched his teeth.
Validus readied himself and ran to the storefront window, but Tren grabbed his arm.
“You can’t. There are Fallen on every floor. Maybe he went out a diff—”
“No!” Validus screamed.
Ral fell backward out from the wall of Ben’s apartment. Durgank burst through the wall after him, a two-handed grip on the handle of his sword, which was raised above his head, its razor-edged tip plummeting down toward Ral. The next few microseconds froze in Validus’s mind as he watched Ral smash into the pavement below. Just fractions of a second later, Durgank’s blade, with all of his weight and the force of a three-story fall, pierced him through, clear to the hilt.
Durgank landed on one foot and one knee beside Ral’s body. He seemed to relish the few seconds of agonizing pain Ral felt before his body dissolved into a vapor and floated upward.
Ten Fallen warriors jumped down from the second and third stories of the apartment building to land next to Durgank, eager for more death.
Tren tried to hold Validus back as he screamed through clenched teeth at the foul demon who had just killed his friend.
“Remember why we’re here!” Tren shouted as he pulled Validus back into the shadows of the shop, away from the line of sight of the Fallen. “Do this now and our mission is over … and Ral’s death will count for nothing!”
Validus fought to get control of his emotions.
“Commanders are not afforded the luxury of mourning … at least not in battle.” General Danick’s words echoed from his past. There were times when Validus consoled himself with the fact that he would one day rejoice with his fellow warriors who had fallen in battle, but this was worse than even the humans endured. Their separation was a mere eighty years or so; his was thousands. It hurt, and his anger stirred deep in his soul.
He quit fighting against Tren. The guardian slowly relaxed his grip.
“I’m sorry, Validus. I should have stayed with him. We had a plan … I …”
Validus clenched his teeth and his fists. In that moment, he swore an oath to destroy Durgank before his mission with Carter was over. He tried to let loose his rage so he could think.
“It’s not your fault. Ral chose to stay and fight. He was trying to buy Carter time. Let’s get out of here before they discover us.”
32
THE LINEAGE LEGION
AD 300
All twelve primus commanders and their executives were present for the command meeting at headquarters in Ephesus. Since the destruction of the temple and the siege at Jerusalem, command meetings now happened more often in Ephesus. One o
f its wealthy citizens had converted to Christianity, and his home was an ideal location for the northern command post for Brandt.
After the status reports were given, Danick asked if any of his commanders had any questions. Eleven of the commanders looked at Brandt.
“General Danick, I need more legions.” Brandt was at one end of the long table and Danick at the other. “The churches are expanding, and the saints are spreading faster than we can provide protection.”
Danick looked weary. Validus saw his shoulders sink just a little as he prepared his response. “I understand that, Commander Brandt, but so are the people of Israel. They are being dispersed as quickly as the saints. We must still track and protect them as well.” Danick shook his head. “You have over half of the legions already, and I can’t spare any more.”
Brandt glared across the table as tension filled the room. Validus could see the great commander trying hard to quell his mounting anger. His neck and jaw were taut with restraint. “I must protest! Now is the time to retake the world. As the power of Elohim goes forth with the saints, we must go with them. The people of Israel are rejecting Ben Elohim as the Son of God—this is the age of the Gentiles. Apollyon has had his way with humanity far too long, and if the world is going to be retaken, it will be through the testimony and the work of the saints, not the Jewish people!”
Validus swallowed hard and dared not even look at the general. Brandt’s words were too strong, too true, and yet felt disloyal. Silence hung like a cloud. No one moved. Validus could feel the angst in General Danick standing beside him.
“You are all dismissed.” Danick’s voice was thick with frustration. He turned immediately about and walked toward the doorway. “Reconvene tomorrow at the same time.” Then he disappeared.
Validus was torn. He looked at the sober faces of the commanders. They were torn too—torn between their allegiance to honor General Danick and their own opinions about what was best.
Validus turned and left the room to find Danick. As was always the case before, he would want to talk with Validus, his confidant, but Validus could not find him.