by Jeff Kirvin
Lucy came to a decision. She offered a quick and silent prayer to her brother's spirit. Peter, forgive me.
Popping the pin behind her back, she ran at the demon and wrapped her arms around it. Asbeel didn't get it.
"A hug? Now, after all we've been through?"
Then they exploded.
As night fell outside on the flat expanse of Nevada desert, the quiet of the evening was broken by the roar of rocket engines. In the western sky over a converted missile silo, dozens of white, winged man-sized forms dropped from the sky on plumes of fire.
And the angels descended upon Hell.
They wasted no time gaining entry. Instead of taking the elevator down as Daniel and his team had done, the angels destroyed it and flew down the open shaft. They stopped at the first level and fanned out through the corridors, their massive suits clanging loudly on the metal walkways.
It had, indeed, been a trap. Jack and Heinrich found themselves pinned down in a small vestibule while they held off more than a dozen demons, led by Hakael, with the last of their grenades.
"It's over, Jack,” Hakael called out to him. “We won, you lost. Come on out and take your medicine like a man."
The demons were moving in again. Jack glanced back to Heinrich. “How many you got?"
Heinrich held up two hand grenades. His launcher lay empty on the floor.
Jack peeked around the corner at the demons in riot gear moving slowly towards them. He'd blown two of them to ... well not Hell, but wherever they went when they died. The rest were more cautious, but he and the kid only had five grenades left between them and they stood no chance against a dozen demons hand to hand.
Suddenly, Jack heard thundering footsteps headed their way. His spirits dropped. Reinforcements, he thought. Then he saw a rocket streak past him and blow apart two demons at once. “What the—"
He and Heinrich watched, slack-jawed, as three angels in the same gleaming white armor they'd worn on the Mall ran past him and tore through the remaining demons like a hot knife through butter. Between their rockets and their flame-throwers and their sheer, unbelievable strength, it was over almost before it had begun. None of the demons remained, Hakael included, and the angels moved on to other unseen targets.
Jack and Heinrich exchanged a look, then followed them.
Survival of the Fittest
Daniel stared at the blank monitors in shock. Satan was right. They were too late; the demons had won.
"Don't look so crestfallen, Daniel,” the demon said. “It's for your own good, in the long run."
The words sank in on Daniel. Our own good. Zagam had said the exact same thing moments before his death. This was too much. “What?"
"Please,” Satan gestured to the chair. “Sit."
Suddenly exhausted, Daniel sat.
"I'm telling you this, Daniel, because I want you to understand. You've been through a lot at our hands, and I feel we owe you an explanation. Now that we've won, it no longer matters whether you know or not why we do what we do. From what you already know, from what the angels have told you, you are aware of our struggle against them. But you only know half the story.
"Five thousand years ago, after leading the angels at Michael's side for tens of thousands of years, I had a revelation of my own."
The demon paused, thinking. “But I'm getting ahead of myself. For you to understand what my frame of mind had become, you have to know what it was.
"We are not evil,” Satan said. Seeing Daniel's reaction, he held up a hand. “I know what you've been taught, but most of that is what the angels would like you to believe. Since the dawn of human history, we immortals had watched over you, guiding your development. Not in the name of some nebulous and arbitrary concept of ‘good', but in the name of order. We helped you learn to cooperate, build communities, to accept a structure in your lives that allowed you to be more as a group than you could have been as individuals.
"But we went too far. After instilling this pattern of order that pulled you out of chaos, Michael and the others set about enforcing that order, keeping you in tight little rows, held in check by fear of what we, your gods, might do if you disobeyed. Having reached a point of civilization where you could function as a society, that society began to stagnate.
"About five thousand years ago I decided to change that. I've read Miss Richardson's story about us, and one of the quotes she attributed to Uriel is true; we have a need, deep down, to do what's best for the human race. We demons still feel and act on that need. And at that point, so long ago, I felt very strongly that the path Michael had chosen for your people was not the right one. Once humanity had been civilized, you no longer needed order enforced from without. You were perfectly capable of organizing yourselves. What you needed, more than anything else, was the impetus to advance. We provided that."
"By attacking us?"
"Exactly. Think about it, Daniel. Without conflict, without stress, a society stagnates. You needed something to struggle against, something to prevent you from becoming complacent. It's evident throughout the last five thousand years, but just for the moment, think about the last fifty. Look at all the technological advances that were the direct result of the Cold War, most of which have led to a steadily increasing standard of living for your people. Do you think mankind would ever have set foot on the moon if your government didn't need the rocketry and electronic guidance technology to build ICBMs? Look at all the great works of art and literature directly inspired by conflict. Your own national anthem describes one glorious night in a war!"
Satan stood directly in front of Daniel and looked him straight in the eye. “All because of us. Our prompting. Our pushing your race to excel. Without us, your mighty six billion strong human race would still be a hundred thousand farmers stagnating between the Tigris and Euphrates. You owe all you are to our encouragement. The strength of your race was forged in the fires of the tension we create. It's nothing more than Survival of the Fittest. We are the lions, and you are the herd we strengthen by weeding out the weak."
"So what now?” Daniel asked. “Aren't we back to the same chaos you lifted us out of to begin with?"
Satan chuckled. “No, I don't think so. Your race has too many generations of order behind them to revert completely. You'll rise from the ashes now, just as you've always done. But by making it harder, by knocking out the governments and other support mechanisms that made it possible for you to watch eight hours of television a day, we've done your race a great service. A service we'll continue to provide for as long as necessary."
"I think not,” said a voice from the doorway.
Daniel and Satan looked over and saw several white-armored angels walk into the room. The first one spoke again.
"I told your second it was over, Satan. You didn't take me seriously."
Satan looked remarkably nonchalant. “Gabriel. Haven't you been watching the news? We've won. The last bastions of order are falling even as we speak. What can you possibly do about it now?"
"Rebuild,” the angel said as he fired a rocket.
Satan barely dodged in time. Daniel slipped out of the chair and moved to the edge of the room.
"What are you doing?” Satan demanded, finally looking upset. “Have you forgotten the rules?"
Gabriel stepped forward and the other angels spread out behind him, blocking the exit. “No,” he said. “But as I told Beelzebub, the rules have changed.” Gabriel made a fist in the air next to his head, then pointed at Satan.
Daniel eased his way over and watched from the door as the angels tore the demon apart. Satan didn't go down easily, and he even managed to take an angel or two with him, but after a long, violent and desperate struggle, Satan was destroyed. Even at the end, Daniel thought the great demon really couldn't believe what had happened to him, to his plans.
Belief or no, Satan fell.
By morning, Hell was free of demons. Daniel, Jack and Heinrich stood outside on the desert floor and watched as one by one the angel
s emerged, spread their metal wings and took off to the west, the rising sun glinting off their wingtips. There was an explosion that they all felt through their feet as the last angel emerged, and soon after that, the fires of Hell burst through the destroyed elevator shaft. No one could re-enter for quite a while, and when they did, there'd be nothing to see.
There was no answer when Daniel tried to call back the helicopter, and eventually he and the last two members of his team made their way back to what was left of Las Vegas on foot.
The Demonic Crusade officially ended a few weeks later when the angels tracked down and destroyed the last of the demons, Belial, who had escaped the purge of Hell by being in Washington D.C. at the time. With his destruction, the demons no longer existed.
When the United States government crumbled, it took its economy with it. Soon after, other governments began to crumble as the world economy ground to a halt. The chaos Satan worked so hard to bring about was complete.
The angels were very helpful in rebuilding human society. Michael had proclaimed it the dawn of a new Golden Age. There was talk of using the opportunity to create a single, unified world government, with the former sovereign nations of the world acting much the same way as the individual states of the United States. The angels would help set up such a structure, and arbitrate disputes. Hungry for leadership, most of the world eagerly went along with Michael's plan.
And for a while, everyone was happy.
BOOK III: JIHAD
Paradise
HEAVEN. THIRTY MONTHS AFTER THE DEMONIC CRUSADE.
Daniel walked the halls of Heaven, the boots of his tan uniform echoing loudly through the empty spaces. Built on the ruins of what had been downtown Los Angeles, the angels’ seat of government was a technological marvel. The gleaming, golden building was more than one hundred stories tall and covered a ground area of more than forty city blocks. It reportedly was as impervious to earthquakes as it was to everything else. Michael said he wanted a symbol as much as a base of operations when he had it built, and that's exactly what he got.
The reconstruction of society from the chaos the demons created had gone surprisingly well. It had taken only about a year to get all the provisional governments of the world to sign on to the Heaven Proposal. There had been a few who scoffed openly at the idea and stubbornly refused to give up their national sovereignty (such that it was after the demons got through with it), but they all eventually came around. With the signing of France eighteen months after the close of the Demonic Crusade, the Earth's six billion people had been united under a single government.
A year tomorrow, Daniel said to himself.
Heaven buzzed with preparations for the first anniversary celebration. Rumor was that the global party was going to be the biggest single social event in human history, a celebration of Michael's Golden Age. Movie stars, prominent scientists and dignitaries of every stripe had practically climbed over each other to wrangle an invitation.
Daniel just wanted to hide until it was over. He'd never been a party guy, and he was sick to death of hearing about it. Unfortunately for him, it was part of his job to hear about it. Daniel had spent the last thirteen months as Michael's “Security Advisor", a figurehead position more than anything else. Gabriel's Elite Guard handled all of Heaven's actual security, but Michael thought it looked good having the Great Hero of the DTF as a prominent member of his staff. Daniel was expected to attend the party planning committee meetings, even if his attendance was mostly for show.
Daniel finally reached Michael's court. The two angels on either side of the gigantic, golden and ornate doors opened the doors as soon as they saw him. Advantages of fame, Daniel mused as he crossed the threshold; only a select group of humans was ever allowed into this room. The vast room was decorated in gold and sky blue, and was far more opulent than the office of any human head of state Daniel had ever seen. The mix of luxury and technology was striking; though Michael sat on an elegantly appointed (and tremendous) throne, he was surrounded on either side by computer consoles and monitors. He could control the entire world from that chair.
Michael fit the room, or the room fit him. The leader of both the angels and the human race looked every bit as majestic and regal as befitted the office. He was tall, at least as tall as Gabriel, with a sleek yet powerful frame. His naturally golden skin and hair brought out his powder blue eyes, and his chiseled, ageless good looks instilled a feeling of trust and goodwill. If Michael had any flaws, Daniel didn't know what they were.
No, that wasn't true. The camera didn't know what they were. Michael had a tendency to get on Daniel's nerves. While Daniel granted that if anybody had a right to a “holier than thou” attitude, this would be the guy, the angel's smug assertion that he always knew best grated on Daniel. He usually fought down his annoyance with a shrug and figured, “What am I gonna do, the guy runs the planet."
"Daniel!” Michael called as Daniel entered the room. “Good to see you!"
Daniel nodded in reply. As always, Michael was flanked by Gabriel to his right and Susan Richardson to his left. Susan was Michael's media liaison, a position she fit like a glove. Who better to convey Michael's proclamations than the world's most beloved and trusted newswoman? There were maybe half a dozen others in the room, various department heads. Most were angels, but a few, like Daniel and Susan, were prominent humans.
Daniel walked over and took a seat next to Susan. With a push of a button from Michael's throne, the seats to either side of him swung around on the floor to face the opposing wing, forming a sort of conference table without the table.
Susan leaned over and whispered, “Why the long face?"
Daniel hadn't been aware he was broadcasting his emotions so clearly. “Nothing,” he said, then straightened a little in his chair.
"Now that we're all here,” Michael said with a nearly imperceptible glance at Daniel, “we can begin."
Michael went on at length about what he expected for the following day's gala. Each department head reported in turn on how their end of the preparations were going. Daniel had heard most of this before, and found his mind wandering when Michael looked to him and said, “Security."
Daniel hastily shook himself out of his reverie. “Nothing new to report, sir. Gabriel informs me that all the necessary precautions are in place.” The truth was that Gabriel had handled everything, and almost certainly kept Michael appraised of how things went. Daniel was only kept in the loop as a formality.
"Good,” Michael said, clapping his hands together. He stood, as did everyone else. He glanced around the room and everyone, including Daniel, left promptly. Only Gabriel stayed behind, but he always did.
The meeting was over.
"What was the matter with you in there?” Susan demanded. She had raced to catch up with Daniel as he left the meeting.
He hardly turned to acknowledge her. “What do you mean?"
Susan put a hand on his shoulder and stopped him. “You're changing, Daniel. You've become so distant recently. I want to know what's bothering you."
"What's bothering me, or what's bothering Michael's Security Advisor?"
Susan paused. “What's the difference?"
Daniel nodded. “That's what I thought.” He turned and walked away from her, angry with himself for getting angry.
"Wait a minute!” Susan called, running after him again. “What did you mean by that?"
Daniel spun on his heel and faced her. “Look around you, Susan. What do you think this place means?"
"Peace, prosperity—"
"Did Michael teach you to say that or did you come up with it on your own?"
Susan slapped him. Daniel ignored it.
"You used to be a journalist, Susan. Now you're a puppet. So am I. I guess I'm just getting tired of it."
"We aren't puppets!"
"Aren't we?” Daniel asked. “Come here."
He led Susan down the hall to a door with a rather elaborate electronic lock. “You ever been in there?
"
"No...” she answered cautiously.
"No human has,” Daniel said. “You and I are supposed to be members of Michael's staff, yet the only ones I've ever seen enter that room are Michael and Gabriel. And I've watched. Since Gabriel handles all the actual security around here, I've had plenty of time."
Susan relaxed. “So that's what this is all about,” she said. “You feel underused and unappreciated. Daniel, I'm sorry if you're bored, but you have to realize what an honor it is to be on Michael's staff. You—"
"That isn't it at all,” Daniel said. “But I guess you wouldn't understand."
Without another word, he turned and walked away. This time, Susan let him go.
The Serpent
The world rejoiced.
Over the evening skies of Los Angeles, fireworks burst in multicolored glory, accented by angels in powered armor flying in formation over the city. It was an image mirrored over nearly every major city on the planet. The population of Earth celebrated their unity, the defeat of the demons, and their saviors, the angels.
Daniel thought it was a load of crap.
Nonetheless, he was thankful for the celebration. If his plan worked, it would give him the chance to learn something that had bothered him for months. While most of the population of Heaven, Michael and Gabriel included, partied either on the roof or in the streets outside, Daniel sat in alone in Security Control, perched behind an out of the way computer console.
His computer illiteracy while he and Susan had been on the run was a thing of the past. He'd spent a fair portion of the last two years becoming proficient with computers, and he knew the angels’ security system inside and out. Tonight he had a very special task. He was determined to get into the forbidden room that he had pointed out to Susan. With everyone else preoccupied with the celebration, he figured he'd never have a better chance.
As he'd done so many times in the past, he located the file that contained the security passcode that would open the door. It had taken nearly three months to locate that file, and when he had, he'd learned that it wouldn't do him any good. The file was encrypted, and even though he knew how to access the file, he couldn't actually read it without a key, a key he'd never been able to find.