Post by The Circle Television Network on Jan 30, 2017 22:42:10 GMT -5
Chapter XXI: Faithless… (Part 1)
Madison Chapel
Empire City
Father Brandon Knight approached the pulpit of the newly restored church and he felt his collar tighten around his neck. It had been a wonderful blessing to see the outpouring of support for the One God Faith, but now as tensions rose in the city, people were flocking in droves looking for something, anything that they could latch on to for hope. His church had reached max capacity and now video cameras had been added to project the word of God throughout the whole of Empire City. That was a lot of pressure…and he hoped that he would be equal to the task.
As the people traversed back and forth through the sprawling metropolis, they all turned their attention towards the massive video screen overlooking the downtown area as Brandon appeared there. Throughout the city, the image of the “One God Church” spiritual leader appeared inside the homes of people who believed in his religion and those who didn’t believe as well.
Down in the streets, people who hated him and people who adored him all stood together…transfixed by what he would say. His words cut to the heart of the issue that was now tearing Empire City apart…
“Ladies and gentlemen…humans and metas…good people of Empire City. Right now, we are in the midst of would could amount to a civil war, pitting brother against brother…daughter against mother…and father against son. Senseless hate…senseless violence…senseless killing…and all for what? Because of foolish differences? Look at the person next to you…GO AHEAD! LOOK AT THEM!”
Everywhere, people turned to look at one another. Loved ones…relatives…complete strangers.
“Ask yourself…why do I hate this person? Why do I fear that person? Why do I accept this person? Why do I love that person? Is it because they are or aren’t like you? Is it because they care or do not care about you? Is it because they were or weren’t born different from you? There are a million questions that I can ask to each and every one of you…be you human…be you meta, it makes no difference! In the end we must all find a way to get along and exist together…as one!”
The people looked at each other, then back to the screen as Brandon continued.
“I’m a human…a norm…whatever you want to call me. I don’t have special powers…secret abilities…anything like that. I live my life as best I can, one day at a time. I came into this world and I soon learned that my days upon it would be numbered…just like each and every one of you. I had a choice to make…spend that time wallowing in hate, fear, and mistrust, or holding my head up high and embracing my fellow man, celebrating our differences, reveling in our similarities. Life is short people…it’s too damn short to waste like that…far too precious a gift to throw away.”
He shook his head in disgust.
“I know that a lot of you fear the metas among us…you mistrust them, but ask yourself…do they not have cause to fear us as well? Why do many feel they need to hide their abilities, hide themselves from us? The answer is simple…it’s just human nature. Why do we live in an age of plastic surgery? Because we want to change or hide what we don’t like…or worse…what others don’t like about ourselves. IT’S WRONG AND IT’S AMORAL!! I don’t care if you believe in One God…many gods…or NO god! We were all made special…all made unique…and all made from the very same primordial ooze that birthed the very first of us!”
The congregation and hundreds in the streets and at home nodded and cried out in agreement with his wise words.
“I’m made from the very same flesh as the rest of you…and we are made from the very same flesh as people such as the great General Superius! Why should we hate that which is ourselves?”
He paused, looking out at the masses.
“Yes…some metas have hurt us…some have killed us…”
A voice rose up from the back…
“LIKE THAT BITCH FROM THE FUNERAL SERVICE!!! DIRTY FILTHY META BITCH!!!”
Some murmured in agreement and other gasped in shock. Out on the streets, the very same woman the masses railed about walked among the masses, her face hidden under a hoodie as she listened to the words of the priest. Athena smiled...knowing the part she had played in all of this...and the part she still had left to play.
Back inside Madison Chapel, Brandon looked out over the flock and continued to speak, but more directly now to the militant portion of his listeners…
“…have we not done the same to them? Have we not killed their kind as well?” He opened his collar and revealed a nasty scar across the side of his neck. “…have we not done the same to each other?”
He replaced his collar and more mummers came from he multitudes…
“We must end this strife between us before it ends us all! I’m calling for a citywide stop to the violence and hate. I’m asking each and every one of you to come together in peace…so that we can work out our differences, once and for all! I want no more division between us, no more distinction between what is normal and what is not! We are all the same…brothers and sisters…citizens of Empire City…”
As he finished, he walked to the back of the church and was stopped by a uniformed officer.
He nodded towards the priest, “Brandon Knight, sir…would you please come with me?”
Though it was phrased as a question, there was no questioning the intent. Brandon stared at the officer, “What is this all about?”
The officer responded, Detective Jordan has directed that you be placed in protective custody…she believes that…that you are in danger.”
Brandon sighed and threw up his hands. “Son, right now, we are all in danger…so, let’s go.”
Brandon was loath to leave the chapel, but Stacey had sent a unit for him, so she obviously thought that it was serious…he just didn’t know how serious…
Black Ops Site
Undisclosed Location
Daria Knight tapped her foot impatiently.
“Well? Can you tell me what it is or how it works?”
The young woman looked up from behind the monitor, revealing the familiar face of Agent Maya from the Agency.
She shrugged, “I can tell you that it is old…really old!”
Daria sighed, “Wow…I’m pretty sure I could have guessed that part myself.”
She shrugged, “Okay! How about this…the thing is totally lousy with gulons…like I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Daria stared blankly at her, “What is that?”
Maya grinned, “Gluons are particles which transmit the strong force between quarks, binding them together into baryons and mesons. Some of theorized that gravitons…”
“What language are you even speaking right now?” Daria interjected. She waved off Maya’s convoluted explanation. “So, it’s creating an attraction…for what?”
Maya shrugged, “Can’t rightly say Ms. Knight.”
Daria sighed, “Well…if I’m not mistaken, there is an expert here in gravity. Why don’t we have her to look at it?”
Maya’s expression grew more serious, “You’re talking about Valentine, aren’t you?”
Before she could respond, Agent Sloan walked in, “No one is doing anything with Gaia without my express permission! She is dangerous and I won’t have you or anyone else tinkering or playing games with her!”
She glared at Daria, “I know you dangle the purse strings around here with the Mayor Ms. Knight, but a lot of people were hurt and killed by that little red haired monster, I’ll be damned if I’m going to give that genie a chance to get out of the bottle!”
Daria considered threatening the Director to get access to Gaia, but it was apparent that it would take intervention on behalf of the Mayor to get any access to what she wanted. She would get it, in time. She plucked the ring off the table and stuck it in her pocket. “Well, I guess I’ll have to revisit this later.” Daria walked past Agent Sloan, remarking; “You’ll be hearing from the Mayor very shortly…Grace, I assure you. Have a fine day!”
As Daria walked out, Agent Sloan stood there, staring after her. “I’d give anything to be that rich and utterly unlikable…”
Maya chimed up, “One out of two aint bad!”
Agent Sloan cowed her down with a stern look, “Just be ready to incapacitate Gaia when the wicked witch comes back with her executive order from the Mayor. I don’t want that bitch getting out of here, okay?” She didn’t wait for an answer as she headed for the exit…
Madison District Police Station
Empire City
Michelle Andretti and Spike Staggs walked into Stacey’s office, greeting the Detective with a pair of warm handshakes, but she could already tell that this was not a social visit. She gestured for them to take a seat as she did the same. “So, how can I help you guys?”
Michelle looked at Spike and he nodded for her to go on and speak.
She turned to Stacey, wringing her hands nervously. “First off…I want to thank you for everything you did to help me. Spike told be how you believed in him and you risked your life to save me. I will never be able to repay that.”
Stacey held up her hand to wave off the thanks. “Ms. Andretti, I was just doing my job. Spike is the hero here. He kept bugging me until I finally brought in.” She chuckled, “You don’t owe me a thing.”
Michelle forced a smile and then looked nervously at Spike then back to Stacey. “I’m glad you feel that way…truly glad. You see, Spike told me that you have something…something of mines…something I need to ask you to give back.”
For a moment, Stacey was confused, but then she noticed the woman looking at her hands…looking for… “The ring? It was yours?” Stacey frowned as confusion took hold of her. “I thought that it came from…the Angel?” The last word in that sentence nearly made her vomit.
Spike shook his head, “I gave it to her…the night Hexx saved you in Gateway Park…”
Stacey spoke up quickly, “Correction! YOU saved me that night…not her! Not ‘the Angel of Empire City’ and not ‘the One God!’ It was YOU Spike!”
Spike blushed a bit as he slid down in his seat, trying to play it off. Michelle put her hand on his shoulder, speaking more urgently to Stacey. “Thank you for that Detective…but, I really need it back!”
Stacey ran her fingers through her hair as she sat back, “I would…if I could, but I don’t have it. It was stolen from me in the hospital…a pair of metas…they nearly killed me to get it!”
Michelle’s mouth fell open, but no words came. She stared at Spike, then looked back at Stacey. “Who…do you know who?!”
She could only shake her head in response to Michelle’s question. “No…but I am following up on a lead. I’ll find it Michelle…I will find it!” Stacey sat forward, “I’d like to know…what is it? How does the ring work?”
Michelle shook her head and started to get up, but Spike grabbed her arm to stop her. “Michelle…you have to tell her…it might help her find it.”
Michelle stood there for a moment, wrestling with the thought until she finally sat down heavily, letting out a heavy sigh. “Okay…I’ll tell you…but this information is not for public consumption!” She waited until Stacey nodded before she continued, “First off…it’s not really a ring at all…it’s a seal.” Michelle reached inside her jacket pocket and pulled out a museum brochure. She opened it and pointed to one of the artifacts. “Do you know what that is?”
Stacey looked at the picture she was pointing to, then shook her head. “I don’t know…it looks like a knife…a really old one.”
Michelle shook her head, “After hearing you talk about the One God religion, I should have known you wouldn’t recognize that.” Michelle sat back in her seat, “That is the Spear of Destiny…the Lance of Longinus…” When Stacey still showed no sign of knowing what she was saying, she rolled her eyes, “That is the spear head which pierced the side of Jesus Christ as he hung on the cross.”
Stacey stared blankly at her, “So…more One God stuff.”
Michelle arched her eyebrow, “One God stuff that saved you from two point blank slugs in your back.”
Stacey folded her arms, unable to argue with that logic. “Okay, so this rin…I mean, this seal…it’s connected to this knife or spear thing somehow. It has the power to heal people?”
Michelle shook her head, “The seal…it has curative powers, but I believe that it is just fortunate coincidence that it does. The seal, when brought into contact with shaft and the spearhead binds the two and completes the Lance…but the Lance does not heal…it obliterates, utterly.” Michelle wrung her hands, “That is why the three were separated and why now…the seal must be found.”
Stacey sighed, finding it hard to swallow all of this as fact. Yes, the seal or whatever it was had healed her, but to say that it was just part of some ancient One God mumbo jumbo was crazy…wasn’t it? “How many people believe this?” Michelle smirked and Stacey held up her hand defensively, “I didn’t mean it like that! I mean, how many people know about this and how many would try to get their hands on it to put it all back together?”
Michelle answered, “Very few…no more than 10…most of them are my family. The pieces were divided up hundreds of years ago, to keep it out of the hands of the enemy.”
“The people NOT in your family?” Stacey asked.
Michelle’s answer was simple and direct, “Demons…like the one that possessed me. They are attracted to its power…like moths drawn to a flame that would consume them.”
Stacey ran her hand over her face as she tried her best to not look like she thought Michelle was ready for the nuthouse, but she couldn’t help it. “Michelle…come on…demons?! They aren’t real!”
Michelle smirked, “Real enough to put two bullets in you!” She stood up, “And if that seal is not found…the will be real enough to do a hell of a lot more than that!”
Stacey started to respond, but her intercom buzzed and she answered it, “Jordan…”
“Brandon Knight has been brought in like you asked. Shall I have them bring him to your office?”
Stacey answered, “Where is his sister?”
“Couldn’t get her without a warrant. Did you want to call the Magistrate?”
Stacey gnashed her teeth. “No…just see if you can get a rook to keep an eye on her and report directly to me, off the books Bradski.” She knew that Daria was likely behind the rin…seal being stolen. She didn’t want to believe that she would actually send metahuman mercenaries after her, but without hard proof, the Magistrate would order her to get her head examined. She’d find another way to get to Daria.
Spike and Michelle were already on their feet and heading to the door. Michelle eyed her firmly, “Detective…the seal must be found.”
Stacey nodded, “I’ll find it.”
She nodded and walked out as Spike shrugged and gave an awkward wave. Stacey sighed as she waited for Brandon to be brought in. Stacey still felt as if she had been run over by a truck after her second encounter with Vixxxen and Reaver, which had concluded with a spectacular fall from the window of her hospital room. It was a…miracle!
…she loathed to use the word…
All the same, divine intervention or not, she had survived yet another tussle with meta-humans and though she had come through it battered, bruised, and slightly broken, she wasn’t about to let that stop her. In fact, she was now more determined than ever to make a difference in Empire City…her city!
There was a war going on and people were choosing up sides. Stacey’s experiences over the past few weeks had made her choice particularly easy. As far as she was concerned Empire City was better off meta-free…and she’d do whatever she could to make that happen!
Of course there were exceptions; Spike Staggs in particular, but to be perfectly honest she didn’t completely trust him either…not after all that she had been through, and the rather odd visit a few moments ago. She hated that she felt that way, but why should she feel differently? The news was filled with stories of metas killing humans left and right. Certainly that went the other way, with humans killing metas in return…but there was a difference either way you looked at it. If she walked down the street brandishing her gun, everyone could see what a danger she was. Metas were living weapons in most cases, and they looked as normal as anyone. Able to kill with a thought, if the inclination so took them. That wasn’t merely unsettling…that was absolutely terrifying!
The people of Empire City needed protection…and that put her, and others like her, on the frontlines of a war in which they were outnumbered and outgunned. Metas were a menace to Empire City…and no matter what happened from this moment on, Stacey would make damn sure that the line was drawn here and no further! This was war…there would be no quarter asked…and none given.
Stacey adjusted her shoulder sling as she heard a knock at her door. “Come!” She stared at Brandon as he was escorted into her office. She nodded to the two uniformed patrolman and they quickly excused themselves.
Brandon walked into the room, seeming very annoyed at first. “STACEY!! I DON’T KNOW WHAT THIS IS ALL ABO…” He paused in mid-sentence as he looked at her. Her face was scratched and bruised, her left arm in a sling. “My God! What happened to you?!!”
She extended her right hand as she gestured to the empty chair across from her. “Have a seat Brandon, you and I need to have a talk.”
The fact that she hadn’t answered his question wasn’t lost of him, but Brandon knew when to leave well-enough alone. She obviously had more pressing business on her mind, and she meant to get that part out of the way first. Stacey had been a good student and she now she was reeducating the teacher is seemed.
“Brandon…” she began, “…what do you know about Anka?”
He was struck dumb by the question. “Anka? Stacey…what is this all about? I mean…you send three units to my church and drag me down here so you can ask me about Anka?” He shook his head in complete wonderment. “What do any of us really need to know about her, besides the fact that she has been sent to us by the Almighty as a sign that he hasn’t forgotten about his children!”
Stacey began to feel nauseated as Brandon turned to what she believed to be religious rhetoric. She glared at him and for an instant she thought she might actually slap his face. “DON’T YOU DARE GIVE ME THAT ONE GOD CRAP!!"
"I asked you what you knew…not what you fucking thought! You tell me what you know about that woman, and you tell me now!”
This time, it was Brandon’s turn to become angry. He pounded his fist on her desk. “HOW CAN YOU QUESTION ME ABOUT HER…WHEN YOU HAVE SEEN AND FELT GOD’S POWER…THE SAME AS ME?!!”
Stacey burst out laughing, but it was a laugh that was tainted with nothing but sarcasm in the absolute extreme. “Brandon…you’re a godsdamned idiot who’s so completely blinded by his own bullshit that you can’t see the damn forest for the fucking trees!” She leaned in close to Brandon, just to ensure that he didn’t mistake her words for something they weren’t…something FAR from speculation. “Anka…or whatever she wants to call herself isn’t an angel…she’s a filthy META! That’s all she is!!”
Brandon jumped to his feet. “GOOD GOD!! What in the hell is wrong with you? Didn’t you hear anything that I said?!!”
She flared her brow. “Your speech about us all coming together? Yeah…I heard that. It was a great speech, too bad it’s all a damn pipedream! Hey! I have no doubt that there are some good Metas out there…but believe me…the bad far outweighs the good! You going on television and telling everyone that they are all brothers and sisters isn’t going to undo all of the bad shit that has gone on in this town over the last few weeks! You and I have both lost very good friends because of this terrorist insurgency!”
“Stacey…you can’t paint the world in two different shades! Human here…Meta there…good here…bad there! It’s doesn’t work that way! God intended for us to all be different…yet we STILL have to find a way to live together!” He was sorely disappointed in her reaction. “You sound like a racist to me! An intolerant racist!!”
“RACIST?!!” She pointed to her face. “LOOK AT ME!! You want tolerance? Don’t tell me about it…tell the two super-powered assholes that tried to roast me alive, then blasted me out a damn window about togetherness! I was almost killed last week because of your precious little Anka…all over some damn ring or seal…whatever it is!!”
Brandon shook his head, doing a double take, “WHAT?! Someone came after you to get the ring?!”
Stacey chucked, “Yeah…imagine that! By the way, that reminds me, I need to talk to Daria! She’s the only other person besides you that even knew I had the ring!”
Brandon was shocked by her accusation, Stacey…that’s my sister! You can’t be suggesting that I, my sister, or even Anka had anything to do with that?!”
She looked back at Brandon, giving a shrug. “Maybe not you…but that sister of yours!” She paused, “And that reminds me! Don’t you go suggesting to me that I don’t have cause to question little Ms. Angel of Empire City because if you are…you’re wrong! I have EVERY reason to think that Little Miss Innocent…is anything but!” She pulled out her numerous files on the ‘One God Church’ burnings and spread them out in front of Brandon. “Take a look at these surveillance pictures Brandon… you take a real good look at them…” She pulled out the pictures of ‘The Angel of Empire City’ and slapped them down next to the other pictures. “…do you see anything interesting? I do…”
Brandon looked at the pictures of the blurry winged entity…and then at the similar blur within the other pictures of the church burnings around the city from several months ago. Brandon pushed the pictures away from himself. “Stacey…this doesn’t mean anything! This isn’t proof…”
“No…it isn’t proof of anything…” She glared at him. “…it’s probable cause. Enough for me to have her brought in and questioned!”
Brandon’s mouth fell open in shock and surprise. “STACEY!! You can’t be suggesting what I think you are? Not now…not when Empire City needs its faith!! How can you think to do such a thing?!!”
Stacey sighed. “Look…I know you want to maintain your little One God fantasy for the multitudes, but it’s just that…A FANTASY!! Anka Jarius is a fraud…A DANGEROUS FRAUD!!”
Brando stood up, “DANGEROUS? DANGEROUS TO WHO?!!”
She pointed calmly. “To you Brandon…to you.” She gathered up the pictures on her desk. “As of this moment, I am placing you into protective custody until Ms. Jarius is brought in and questioned.”
Brandon fell back into his chair and looked at her in disbelief. “Stacey…this is madness…absolute madness! Do you have any idea what you’re suggesting? Do you have any idea what will happen to the believers if you do this?! This entire city will go to hell…”
“I’ve got news for you Brandon…” She stared at him intently for a moment, then her eyes dropped down to the brochure that had been left on her desk by Michelle, “…hell and all it’s demons is already here!”
EPISODE CREDITS
CAST (In order of appearance)
Father Brandon Knight … Trace VanReardon
Athena ... Cass Baumer
Uniformed Officer … Eric Weaver
Daria Knight … Missy
Agent Maya … Maria Salvatore
Agent Grace Sloan … Amy Jo Smyth
Detective Stacey Jordan … Nina Stokes
Spike Staggs … R.C. Tucker
Michelle Andretti … Delia Darling
Directed by … DubbleFC
Screenplay by … Ron B.
Produced by … CTN Television Studios
Casting by … Maleek Raheem
Music by … Guilty Pleasure
Madison Chapel
Empire City
Father Brandon Knight approached the pulpit of the newly restored church and he felt his collar tighten around his neck. It had been a wonderful blessing to see the outpouring of support for the One God Faith, but now as tensions rose in the city, people were flocking in droves looking for something, anything that they could latch on to for hope. His church had reached max capacity and now video cameras had been added to project the word of God throughout the whole of Empire City. That was a lot of pressure…and he hoped that he would be equal to the task.
As the people traversed back and forth through the sprawling metropolis, they all turned their attention towards the massive video screen overlooking the downtown area as Brandon appeared there. Throughout the city, the image of the “One God Church” spiritual leader appeared inside the homes of people who believed in his religion and those who didn’t believe as well.
Down in the streets, people who hated him and people who adored him all stood together…transfixed by what he would say. His words cut to the heart of the issue that was now tearing Empire City apart…
“Ladies and gentlemen…humans and metas…good people of Empire City. Right now, we are in the midst of would could amount to a civil war, pitting brother against brother…daughter against mother…and father against son. Senseless hate…senseless violence…senseless killing…and all for what? Because of foolish differences? Look at the person next to you…GO AHEAD! LOOK AT THEM!”
Everywhere, people turned to look at one another. Loved ones…relatives…complete strangers.
“Ask yourself…why do I hate this person? Why do I fear that person? Why do I accept this person? Why do I love that person? Is it because they are or aren’t like you? Is it because they care or do not care about you? Is it because they were or weren’t born different from you? There are a million questions that I can ask to each and every one of you…be you human…be you meta, it makes no difference! In the end we must all find a way to get along and exist together…as one!”
The people looked at each other, then back to the screen as Brandon continued.
“I’m a human…a norm…whatever you want to call me. I don’t have special powers…secret abilities…anything like that. I live my life as best I can, one day at a time. I came into this world and I soon learned that my days upon it would be numbered…just like each and every one of you. I had a choice to make…spend that time wallowing in hate, fear, and mistrust, or holding my head up high and embracing my fellow man, celebrating our differences, reveling in our similarities. Life is short people…it’s too damn short to waste like that…far too precious a gift to throw away.”
He shook his head in disgust.
“I know that a lot of you fear the metas among us…you mistrust them, but ask yourself…do they not have cause to fear us as well? Why do many feel they need to hide their abilities, hide themselves from us? The answer is simple…it’s just human nature. Why do we live in an age of plastic surgery? Because we want to change or hide what we don’t like…or worse…what others don’t like about ourselves. IT’S WRONG AND IT’S AMORAL!! I don’t care if you believe in One God…many gods…or NO god! We were all made special…all made unique…and all made from the very same primordial ooze that birthed the very first of us!”
The congregation and hundreds in the streets and at home nodded and cried out in agreement with his wise words.
“I’m made from the very same flesh as the rest of you…and we are made from the very same flesh as people such as the great General Superius! Why should we hate that which is ourselves?”
He paused, looking out at the masses.
“Yes…some metas have hurt us…some have killed us…”
A voice rose up from the back…
“LIKE THAT BITCH FROM THE FUNERAL SERVICE!!! DIRTY FILTHY META BITCH!!!”
Some murmured in agreement and other gasped in shock. Out on the streets, the very same woman the masses railed about walked among the masses, her face hidden under a hoodie as she listened to the words of the priest. Athena smiled...knowing the part she had played in all of this...and the part she still had left to play.
Back inside Madison Chapel, Brandon looked out over the flock and continued to speak, but more directly now to the militant portion of his listeners…
“…have we not done the same to them? Have we not killed their kind as well?” He opened his collar and revealed a nasty scar across the side of his neck. “…have we not done the same to each other?”
He replaced his collar and more mummers came from he multitudes…
“We must end this strife between us before it ends us all! I’m calling for a citywide stop to the violence and hate. I’m asking each and every one of you to come together in peace…so that we can work out our differences, once and for all! I want no more division between us, no more distinction between what is normal and what is not! We are all the same…brothers and sisters…citizens of Empire City…”
As he finished, he walked to the back of the church and was stopped by a uniformed officer.
He nodded towards the priest, “Brandon Knight, sir…would you please come with me?”
Though it was phrased as a question, there was no questioning the intent. Brandon stared at the officer, “What is this all about?”
The officer responded, Detective Jordan has directed that you be placed in protective custody…she believes that…that you are in danger.”
Brandon sighed and threw up his hands. “Son, right now, we are all in danger…so, let’s go.”
Brandon was loath to leave the chapel, but Stacey had sent a unit for him, so she obviously thought that it was serious…he just didn’t know how serious…
Black Ops Site
Undisclosed Location
Daria Knight tapped her foot impatiently.
“Well? Can you tell me what it is or how it works?”
The young woman looked up from behind the monitor, revealing the familiar face of Agent Maya from the Agency.
She shrugged, “I can tell you that it is old…really old!”
Daria sighed, “Wow…I’m pretty sure I could have guessed that part myself.”
She shrugged, “Okay! How about this…the thing is totally lousy with gulons…like I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Daria stared blankly at her, “What is that?”
Maya grinned, “Gluons are particles which transmit the strong force between quarks, binding them together into baryons and mesons. Some of theorized that gravitons…”
“What language are you even speaking right now?” Daria interjected. She waved off Maya’s convoluted explanation. “So, it’s creating an attraction…for what?”
Maya shrugged, “Can’t rightly say Ms. Knight.”
Daria sighed, “Well…if I’m not mistaken, there is an expert here in gravity. Why don’t we have her to look at it?”
Maya’s expression grew more serious, “You’re talking about Valentine, aren’t you?”
Before she could respond, Agent Sloan walked in, “No one is doing anything with Gaia without my express permission! She is dangerous and I won’t have you or anyone else tinkering or playing games with her!”
She glared at Daria, “I know you dangle the purse strings around here with the Mayor Ms. Knight, but a lot of people were hurt and killed by that little red haired monster, I’ll be damned if I’m going to give that genie a chance to get out of the bottle!”
Daria considered threatening the Director to get access to Gaia, but it was apparent that it would take intervention on behalf of the Mayor to get any access to what she wanted. She would get it, in time. She plucked the ring off the table and stuck it in her pocket. “Well, I guess I’ll have to revisit this later.” Daria walked past Agent Sloan, remarking; “You’ll be hearing from the Mayor very shortly…Grace, I assure you. Have a fine day!”
As Daria walked out, Agent Sloan stood there, staring after her. “I’d give anything to be that rich and utterly unlikable…”
Maya chimed up, “One out of two aint bad!”
Agent Sloan cowed her down with a stern look, “Just be ready to incapacitate Gaia when the wicked witch comes back with her executive order from the Mayor. I don’t want that bitch getting out of here, okay?” She didn’t wait for an answer as she headed for the exit…
Madison District Police Station
Empire City
Michelle Andretti and Spike Staggs walked into Stacey’s office, greeting the Detective with a pair of warm handshakes, but she could already tell that this was not a social visit. She gestured for them to take a seat as she did the same. “So, how can I help you guys?”
Michelle looked at Spike and he nodded for her to go on and speak.
She turned to Stacey, wringing her hands nervously. “First off…I want to thank you for everything you did to help me. Spike told be how you believed in him and you risked your life to save me. I will never be able to repay that.”
Stacey held up her hand to wave off the thanks. “Ms. Andretti, I was just doing my job. Spike is the hero here. He kept bugging me until I finally brought in.” She chuckled, “You don’t owe me a thing.”
Michelle forced a smile and then looked nervously at Spike then back to Stacey. “I’m glad you feel that way…truly glad. You see, Spike told me that you have something…something of mines…something I need to ask you to give back.”
For a moment, Stacey was confused, but then she noticed the woman looking at her hands…looking for… “The ring? It was yours?” Stacey frowned as confusion took hold of her. “I thought that it came from…the Angel?” The last word in that sentence nearly made her vomit.
Spike shook his head, “I gave it to her…the night Hexx saved you in Gateway Park…”
Stacey spoke up quickly, “Correction! YOU saved me that night…not her! Not ‘the Angel of Empire City’ and not ‘the One God!’ It was YOU Spike!”
Spike blushed a bit as he slid down in his seat, trying to play it off. Michelle put her hand on his shoulder, speaking more urgently to Stacey. “Thank you for that Detective…but, I really need it back!”
Stacey ran her fingers through her hair as she sat back, “I would…if I could, but I don’t have it. It was stolen from me in the hospital…a pair of metas…they nearly killed me to get it!”
Michelle’s mouth fell open, but no words came. She stared at Spike, then looked back at Stacey. “Who…do you know who?!”
She could only shake her head in response to Michelle’s question. “No…but I am following up on a lead. I’ll find it Michelle…I will find it!” Stacey sat forward, “I’d like to know…what is it? How does the ring work?”
Michelle shook her head and started to get up, but Spike grabbed her arm to stop her. “Michelle…you have to tell her…it might help her find it.”
Michelle stood there for a moment, wrestling with the thought until she finally sat down heavily, letting out a heavy sigh. “Okay…I’ll tell you…but this information is not for public consumption!” She waited until Stacey nodded before she continued, “First off…it’s not really a ring at all…it’s a seal.” Michelle reached inside her jacket pocket and pulled out a museum brochure. She opened it and pointed to one of the artifacts. “Do you know what that is?”
Stacey looked at the picture she was pointing to, then shook her head. “I don’t know…it looks like a knife…a really old one.”
Michelle shook her head, “After hearing you talk about the One God religion, I should have known you wouldn’t recognize that.” Michelle sat back in her seat, “That is the Spear of Destiny…the Lance of Longinus…” When Stacey still showed no sign of knowing what she was saying, she rolled her eyes, “That is the spear head which pierced the side of Jesus Christ as he hung on the cross.”
Stacey stared blankly at her, “So…more One God stuff.”
Michelle arched her eyebrow, “One God stuff that saved you from two point blank slugs in your back.”
Stacey folded her arms, unable to argue with that logic. “Okay, so this rin…I mean, this seal…it’s connected to this knife or spear thing somehow. It has the power to heal people?”
Michelle shook her head, “The seal…it has curative powers, but I believe that it is just fortunate coincidence that it does. The seal, when brought into contact with shaft and the spearhead binds the two and completes the Lance…but the Lance does not heal…it obliterates, utterly.” Michelle wrung her hands, “That is why the three were separated and why now…the seal must be found.”
Stacey sighed, finding it hard to swallow all of this as fact. Yes, the seal or whatever it was had healed her, but to say that it was just part of some ancient One God mumbo jumbo was crazy…wasn’t it? “How many people believe this?” Michelle smirked and Stacey held up her hand defensively, “I didn’t mean it like that! I mean, how many people know about this and how many would try to get their hands on it to put it all back together?”
Michelle answered, “Very few…no more than 10…most of them are my family. The pieces were divided up hundreds of years ago, to keep it out of the hands of the enemy.”
“The people NOT in your family?” Stacey asked.
Michelle’s answer was simple and direct, “Demons…like the one that possessed me. They are attracted to its power…like moths drawn to a flame that would consume them.”
Stacey ran her hand over her face as she tried her best to not look like she thought Michelle was ready for the nuthouse, but she couldn’t help it. “Michelle…come on…demons?! They aren’t real!”
Michelle smirked, “Real enough to put two bullets in you!” She stood up, “And if that seal is not found…the will be real enough to do a hell of a lot more than that!”
Stacey started to respond, but her intercom buzzed and she answered it, “Jordan…”
“Brandon Knight has been brought in like you asked. Shall I have them bring him to your office?”
Stacey answered, “Where is his sister?”
“Couldn’t get her without a warrant. Did you want to call the Magistrate?”
Stacey gnashed her teeth. “No…just see if you can get a rook to keep an eye on her and report directly to me, off the books Bradski.” She knew that Daria was likely behind the rin…seal being stolen. She didn’t want to believe that she would actually send metahuman mercenaries after her, but without hard proof, the Magistrate would order her to get her head examined. She’d find another way to get to Daria.
Spike and Michelle were already on their feet and heading to the door. Michelle eyed her firmly, “Detective…the seal must be found.”
Stacey nodded, “I’ll find it.”
She nodded and walked out as Spike shrugged and gave an awkward wave. Stacey sighed as she waited for Brandon to be brought in. Stacey still felt as if she had been run over by a truck after her second encounter with Vixxxen and Reaver, which had concluded with a spectacular fall from the window of her hospital room. It was a…miracle!
…she loathed to use the word…
All the same, divine intervention or not, she had survived yet another tussle with meta-humans and though she had come through it battered, bruised, and slightly broken, she wasn’t about to let that stop her. In fact, she was now more determined than ever to make a difference in Empire City…her city!
There was a war going on and people were choosing up sides. Stacey’s experiences over the past few weeks had made her choice particularly easy. As far as she was concerned Empire City was better off meta-free…and she’d do whatever she could to make that happen!
Of course there were exceptions; Spike Staggs in particular, but to be perfectly honest she didn’t completely trust him either…not after all that she had been through, and the rather odd visit a few moments ago. She hated that she felt that way, but why should she feel differently? The news was filled with stories of metas killing humans left and right. Certainly that went the other way, with humans killing metas in return…but there was a difference either way you looked at it. If she walked down the street brandishing her gun, everyone could see what a danger she was. Metas were living weapons in most cases, and they looked as normal as anyone. Able to kill with a thought, if the inclination so took them. That wasn’t merely unsettling…that was absolutely terrifying!
The people of Empire City needed protection…and that put her, and others like her, on the frontlines of a war in which they were outnumbered and outgunned. Metas were a menace to Empire City…and no matter what happened from this moment on, Stacey would make damn sure that the line was drawn here and no further! This was war…there would be no quarter asked…and none given.
Stacey adjusted her shoulder sling as she heard a knock at her door. “Come!” She stared at Brandon as he was escorted into her office. She nodded to the two uniformed patrolman and they quickly excused themselves.
Brandon walked into the room, seeming very annoyed at first. “STACEY!! I DON’T KNOW WHAT THIS IS ALL ABO…” He paused in mid-sentence as he looked at her. Her face was scratched and bruised, her left arm in a sling. “My God! What happened to you?!!”
She extended her right hand as she gestured to the empty chair across from her. “Have a seat Brandon, you and I need to have a talk.”
The fact that she hadn’t answered his question wasn’t lost of him, but Brandon knew when to leave well-enough alone. She obviously had more pressing business on her mind, and she meant to get that part out of the way first. Stacey had been a good student and she now she was reeducating the teacher is seemed.
“Brandon…” she began, “…what do you know about Anka?”
He was struck dumb by the question. “Anka? Stacey…what is this all about? I mean…you send three units to my church and drag me down here so you can ask me about Anka?” He shook his head in complete wonderment. “What do any of us really need to know about her, besides the fact that she has been sent to us by the Almighty as a sign that he hasn’t forgotten about his children!”
Stacey began to feel nauseated as Brandon turned to what she believed to be religious rhetoric. She glared at him and for an instant she thought she might actually slap his face. “DON’T YOU DARE GIVE ME THAT ONE GOD CRAP!!"
"I asked you what you knew…not what you fucking thought! You tell me what you know about that woman, and you tell me now!”
This time, it was Brandon’s turn to become angry. He pounded his fist on her desk. “HOW CAN YOU QUESTION ME ABOUT HER…WHEN YOU HAVE SEEN AND FELT GOD’S POWER…THE SAME AS ME?!!”
Stacey burst out laughing, but it was a laugh that was tainted with nothing but sarcasm in the absolute extreme. “Brandon…you’re a godsdamned idiot who’s so completely blinded by his own bullshit that you can’t see the damn forest for the fucking trees!” She leaned in close to Brandon, just to ensure that he didn’t mistake her words for something they weren’t…something FAR from speculation. “Anka…or whatever she wants to call herself isn’t an angel…she’s a filthy META! That’s all she is!!”
Brandon jumped to his feet. “GOOD GOD!! What in the hell is wrong with you? Didn’t you hear anything that I said?!!”
She flared her brow. “Your speech about us all coming together? Yeah…I heard that. It was a great speech, too bad it’s all a damn pipedream! Hey! I have no doubt that there are some good Metas out there…but believe me…the bad far outweighs the good! You going on television and telling everyone that they are all brothers and sisters isn’t going to undo all of the bad shit that has gone on in this town over the last few weeks! You and I have both lost very good friends because of this terrorist insurgency!”
“Stacey…you can’t paint the world in two different shades! Human here…Meta there…good here…bad there! It’s doesn’t work that way! God intended for us to all be different…yet we STILL have to find a way to live together!” He was sorely disappointed in her reaction. “You sound like a racist to me! An intolerant racist!!”
“RACIST?!!” She pointed to her face. “LOOK AT ME!! You want tolerance? Don’t tell me about it…tell the two super-powered assholes that tried to roast me alive, then blasted me out a damn window about togetherness! I was almost killed last week because of your precious little Anka…all over some damn ring or seal…whatever it is!!”
Brandon shook his head, doing a double take, “WHAT?! Someone came after you to get the ring?!”
Stacey chucked, “Yeah…imagine that! By the way, that reminds me, I need to talk to Daria! She’s the only other person besides you that even knew I had the ring!”
Brandon was shocked by her accusation, Stacey…that’s my sister! You can’t be suggesting that I, my sister, or even Anka had anything to do with that?!”
She looked back at Brandon, giving a shrug. “Maybe not you…but that sister of yours!” She paused, “And that reminds me! Don’t you go suggesting to me that I don’t have cause to question little Ms. Angel of Empire City because if you are…you’re wrong! I have EVERY reason to think that Little Miss Innocent…is anything but!” She pulled out her numerous files on the ‘One God Church’ burnings and spread them out in front of Brandon. “Take a look at these surveillance pictures Brandon… you take a real good look at them…” She pulled out the pictures of ‘The Angel of Empire City’ and slapped them down next to the other pictures. “…do you see anything interesting? I do…”
Brandon looked at the pictures of the blurry winged entity…and then at the similar blur within the other pictures of the church burnings around the city from several months ago. Brandon pushed the pictures away from himself. “Stacey…this doesn’t mean anything! This isn’t proof…”
“No…it isn’t proof of anything…” She glared at him. “…it’s probable cause. Enough for me to have her brought in and questioned!”
Brandon’s mouth fell open in shock and surprise. “STACEY!! You can’t be suggesting what I think you are? Not now…not when Empire City needs its faith!! How can you think to do such a thing?!!”
Stacey sighed. “Look…I know you want to maintain your little One God fantasy for the multitudes, but it’s just that…A FANTASY!! Anka Jarius is a fraud…A DANGEROUS FRAUD!!”
Brando stood up, “DANGEROUS? DANGEROUS TO WHO?!!”
She pointed calmly. “To you Brandon…to you.” She gathered up the pictures on her desk. “As of this moment, I am placing you into protective custody until Ms. Jarius is brought in and questioned.”
Brandon fell back into his chair and looked at her in disbelief. “Stacey…this is madness…absolute madness! Do you have any idea what you’re suggesting? Do you have any idea what will happen to the believers if you do this?! This entire city will go to hell…”
“I’ve got news for you Brandon…” She stared at him intently for a moment, then her eyes dropped down to the brochure that had been left on her desk by Michelle, “…hell and all it’s demons is already here!”
EPISODE CREDITS
CAST (In order of appearance)
Father Brandon Knight … Trace VanReardon
Athena ... Cass Baumer
Uniformed Officer … Eric Weaver
Daria Knight … Missy
Agent Maya … Maria Salvatore
Agent Grace Sloan … Amy Jo Smyth
Detective Stacey Jordan … Nina Stokes
Spike Staggs … R.C. Tucker
Michelle Andretti … Delia Darling
Directed by … DubbleFC
Screenplay by … Ron B.
Produced by … CTN Television Studios
Casting by … Maleek Raheem
Music by … Guilty Pleasure