It's Like Living in a Movie

Cassia thinks quietly. "What's the hard way to Limbo?"

Beneberak winds towards the Lindel House, precisely at the speed limit.

Jewel says "Dying, pretty much."

Akriel thinks, at least to all appearances.

Cassia sighs quietly. "So it's kinda the place folks go in Trauma? Or when they don't have a Vessel? Or... uhm..."

The Earth shudders in a proper California minor earthquake. Beneberak actually skews nearly an eighth-inch away from the center of the road, compensating.

Akriel blinks. "What was that?"

There was no obvious disturbance associated with the quake.

Cassia meeps.

Jewel says "Earthquake. They have them all the time around here."

Cassia nods and frowns quietly.

Jewel says "So what do we do now?"

Then, apparently disconnected, disturbance does hit, as well as a strange ringing in the air -- as if all of Heaven had quietly sung, oddly enough, the Celestial Song of Light. (This Song is, basically, used to blind someone with a spear of bright light.) It seems to come from everywhere.

Akriel says "What was *that*?"

Jewel sits up straight!

Jewel scans the horizon for bright lights.

There is no obvious bright light, save for the faint glow over the hills where the sun set not all that long ago.

Akriel asks "Does this sort of thing happen often around here?"

Jewel says "No, that's new!"

Akriel says "Oh, good."

Jewel checks the Heart again.

Cassia blinks quietly. "I really don't think so..."

Cassia says "Where would it be, though?"

Jewel says "Where would what be?"

Cassia says "The singing of that?"

Cassia says "Heaven?"

Eli is still amidst nothingness, although, peering into the Heart, Jewel can almost hear a low, faint, note of pure music. That isn't common with Hearts, hearing anything -- and it seems out of place there as well.

Jewel says "I guess! It came from everywhere..."

Cassia blinks quietly.

The note in Eli's Heart does not much resemble the Song just heard.

Jewel says "I don't understand *any* of this!"

Akriel looks, perhaps, nervous.

Beneberak glides past an electronics store; a television is showing scenes of what appears to be a much bigger earthquake than the one you just experienced. On the corner ahead, police are hustling a teen into their car. The teen would look innocent anywhere but in L.A., where such a look is impossible.

The police car seems to be the only other car on the road. At that, the teen seems to be the only person out and about. Odd, for Los Angeles.

Akriel looks around. Does there seem to be people in stores?

Jewel senses ...
The teen is upset and confused, with resentment the primary emotion (because he's not getting to enjoy the night when -- something's apparently going to be keeping him busy for a while.)
The cops are just doing their jobs.

Most of the stores are closed up, with (since L.A. has a lot of crime) lattices and bars and such. There are not people moving around in the few that could be open.

Akriel says "This looks ... deserted."

Cassia blinks quietly. "Far quieter than normal."

Jewel says "It does. Turn on the radio?"

Jewel says "Maybe there's something on the news."

Akriel fiddles with the controls and, providing that Beneberak has a radio, sees about turning it on.

Beneberak has a small console capable of accepting videotapes, CDs, tapes, DVDs, and diskettes. Traditional radio controls are available nearby. A few moments later, Akriel gets the radio on. Music on the first two channels, commercial on the third, and on the fourth -- "-gency. Citizens are advised: the mayor has declared a 7 o'clock curfew for the remainder of the crisis. Continuing minor quakes indicate that there might be a repetition of the big one -- what some sources are calling the disaster of '98. We'll be right back after these words with an in-depth report from the scene." A few moments later, two chickens, one from Burger King and the other from Wendy's, begin arguing violently over who is fresher.

Akriel listens with a certain amount of bogglement. Mostly, it appears, at the talking chickens.

Cassia blinks.

Cassia says "Did it say where the epicenter was?"

Cassia says "Of the big one?"

Jewel says "No, try another station."

Akriel obediently switches stations.

Cassia listens quietly.

"-defining moment, I think, was seeing the sign for Hollywood, one of the best-known landmarks in our country, collapse violently as the shocks poured through. What people are asking is, 'why L.A.? Why was the city tearing itself apart, when the nearby fault lines seem eerily silent?'"

Akriel frowns.

Cassia blinks quietly.

Beneberak, reaching the Lindel House, pulls neatly into its parking spot.

Akriel says "Thank you, Beneberak."

Beneberak honks musically.

Jewel consults her psychedelic pocketwatch. Is it curfew yet?

Cassia grins quietly. "Thanks," and follows where Jewel or Akriel lead.

Akriel follows wherever Jewel or Cassia leads, which likely devolves the lead to Jewel.

Cassia grins.

"That is, indeed, the question," another voice breaks in. "Scientists at the local Geological and Geothermal Sciences Center have been working hard to understand precisely what went on ..." He goes on to talk about looters, and a human interest story, and so forth, before that also cuts to commercial. Jewel notices that it is, in fact, noticeably past curfew -- perhaps why no people were around. On the other hand, how did they all find out so quickly?

Jewel says "Do we want to go check this out, or do we want to stick to our previous plan of hiring on at the movie production as spies and saboteurs?"

Akriel says "I think that we should attempt to find out what is going on."

Akriel says "But only if it does not interefere with our Roles at the movie production."

Beneberak's headlights and internal lights switch off. A few moments later, a police car glides by on the main street. When it is gone, the lights click back on.

Jewel says "We don't really have anything to do on the movie project until tomorrow morning, but getting thrown in jail or captured by demons or whatever would probably interfere with that."

Akriel says "I believe we should avoid trouble with the authorities."

Jewel looks to see if it's one of Kronos' precinct cars.

It does, indeed, seem to have the numeric code indicating local precinct -- although it's a bit grimy and hard to read.

Cassia wows quietly, "Smart car."

Cassia nods at Akriel. "Probably good idea."

Jewel pats the back of the front seat. "Good car. Okay, so does anyone have any ideas other than going to the Hollywood sign and looking for trouble?"

Akriel says "No. Perhaps we should obtain more information from the media."

Cassia nods quietly.

Cassia hrms.

Cassia says "I wonder if Beneberak can be invisible, with us?"

Akriel says "I think it would be better to acquire the easy information first."

"-This is an update," a voice cuts in. "Los Angeles is still recovering from yesterday's major earthquake, which utterly destroyed the area between Green and Main on 42nd and 43rd streets and shook most of the city. Power has been restored, but aftershocks and apparently new tremors have been striking every few hours; the mayor has imposed a 7 o'clock curfew. Residents are advised to stay in their homes unless vital services have been curtailed. The Geologic and Geothermal Sciences Center is working to discover the cause of these tremors. Please contact the nearest police station if you have lost contact with a loved one." It goes back to commercials.

Akriel asks Jewel "Is anything important in the destroyed location?"

Shephi winds a piece of her hair around a finger and nibbles on it thoughtfully.

Jewel stares at the radio, until distracted by Shephi being cute. "There wasn't an earthquake yesterday!"

Jewel says "Nybbas. But why?"

Akriel says "Was that where Nybbas was?"

Jewel says "Wait. Michael said that Nybbas' and Jean's plan was to make a movie that rewrote history."

Jewel says "Maybe this is a pilot project."

Cassia says "Zow."

Cassia says "That would actually fit."

Akriel says "That would be unsettling."

Cassia frowns quietly, "But those giggling goons in the apartment of the murdered lady said that Nybbas wanted to destroy the script..."

Jewel says "But *which* script?"

Shephi says, around her hair, "Her name was Thummim."

Cassia nods, "sorry, yes, Thummim."

Cassia blinks at Jewel, "There are two?"

Jewel says "This is LA. There are a million scripts around."

Jewel says "There's one we know is very important, but I don't know that those goons knew it."

Akriel says "Presumably the real script."

Cassia holds her head in her hands.

Jewel says "Probably, but they might have a completely different angle."

Jewel says "Well, now we know the basic principle is sound, so we *have* to stop the movie."

Akriel says "I do not think I understand this city."

Cassia looks up, "It's not just the city, Akriel. I think some of it is this situation, too."

Cassia says "It used to make sense to me."

Cassia nods at Jewel's final statement, though.

Jewel says "Well, hm. We could go to the alleged site of the quake and look around."

Cassia says "Yeah. Okay. So rather than chasing after the Earthquake, we should be studying to get into the movie?"

Cassia blinks at Jewel and chuckles quietly.

Akriel says "I don't know. Perhaps we should rest."

Jewel says "We should check if there's actually earthquake damage, or if it's only the people he has convinced."

Cassia hrms. "Okay. That makes some sense."

Jewel looks to Akriel and Shephi.

Akriel says "I don't know. I'm lost and confused."

Shephi says, "If it is a choice between more information and less, I prefer more."

Jewel squeezes Akriel's shoulder. "Me too. But we can't let that stop us."

Cassia grins, "Besides, it's better to be doing something than just sitting around."

Jewel says "If Nybbas or Jean or whoever figures out how to rewrite history... I don't know what would happen, but it would be bad."

Jewel says "Suppose someone rewrote the First War so Lucifer won?"

Cassia meeps.

Shephi murmurs, "Or did not fight at all."

Cassia nods quietly at that.

Jewel says "That might be better, but it might not."

Jewel says "Depending on your feelings on the question of "Why does God allow evil?""

Disturbance in the distance ... a mortal being killed by a celestial.

Jewel says "Over there."

Jewel points.

Jewel says "I suppose we should go investigate. I'm just worried that we'll get pulled away from our main mission."

Akriel says "Someone is getting killed by a Celestial."

Akriel says "A mortal."

Cassia blinks.

Jewel says "Okay, let's go."

Jewel checks her gun.

Akriel says "Okay."

Akriel occupies the rear, most likely.

Cassia nods at the Let's go and takes a seat by a door...

Jewel says "Bennie here is bulletproof, right?"

Akriel says "Beneberak, are you bulletproof?"

Beneberak writes, in holographic letters, "98.62% resistant to gunfire."

Jewel says "That's more bulletproof than my skin. Let's drive."

A faint, all-around Singing, as before, only this time it seems more like Ethereal Entropy -- the Song that attacks the mind.

None of them take mental damage, however.

Akriel says "Uh. Beneberak, please take us in that direction. There is a mortal being killed by a Celestial that way."

Cassia blinks again at the all-over Song, "I wonder if those all-over songs are what changes everything?"

Akriel says "Perhaps. Possibly that one is intended to change people's memories."

Jewel says "But what would the first one have done? Celestial Light just blinds people."

Jewel says "Literally, not figuratively."

Beneberak shutters its headlights. What seem to be an infinite network of very tiny tiny metal plates rotate, transforming its surface color from a deep red to an even deeper black. Then it slips out onto the road.

Akriel says "Perhaps it was to blind them to the truth?"

Jewel says "Like I said, it's literal, not figurative."

Akriel says "We saw no blinding light, so ..."

Akriel shrugs.

Cassia hrms quietly.

Beneberak zigs through the streets of Los Angeles, finally (two minutes later) turning into an alley. Its shuttered headlights show two men in dark clothing, with knives, back to back in a struggle against a handful of disorderly-looking and ugly goons. Ohab is slumped in the far end of the alley, eyes closed, bleeding from the head onto the brick of a building wall.

Akriel says "Oh. It's good we went to investigate."

Akriel eyes some of the buttons on Beneberak's control panel.

A few bodies can be seen on the ground, although it's hard to say anything about which one (if any) was the mortal.

Cassia bounces out of the car and tackles the nearest goon!

Jewel says "Bennie, unshutter your- Cassia! Burn it!"

Jewel says "Headlights!"

The goon mutters something unpleasant and presses back against the alley wall as Cassia leaps for him; with the added support, he doesn't actually go down when hit.

There is a sudden, burning pain in Cassia's right hand.

Beneberak's headlights come on, shining brilliantly!

Cassia growls and hits him hard with the left hand.

Akriel's hand hovers uncertainly over a button cryptically labeled 'Offensive Applications'.

Two goons turn to look at the lights, giving a knifeman the opportunity to neatly slit one of the two throats.

Jewel springs out of the car, gun aimed at the now-blinded combatants! "That's enough! Everyone drop it!"

The goon's head, propelled by Cassia's fist, slams back into the wall and he looks a little dizzy.

Akriel lifts his hand a bit and asks "Beneberak, how does this button work?"

Cassia slams his head into the wall again...

Holographic letters scroll in front of Akriel. "Offensive Applications provides secondary menu of attack options. Warning! Starred options are extreme measures."

Akriel taps the button. "Thank you."

Several of the goons hesitate, as does one of the knifemen. A goon curses and swings his hand to point at Ohab's throat.

Jewel shoots the goon who's going for Ohab.

Jewel rolls the dice and gets Divine Intervention.

A holographic menu springs up in the air before Akriel. It lists such things as rockets, electrifying the frame, mounted guns, and several offensive Songs. Two options, denoted only by Greek symbols, phi and rho, are starred.

Jewel comments, OOC: Jewel's gun is a Colt. John Browning was clearly inspired by Eli. Therefore, her gun is a holy weapon. QED. :)

The bullet, and two more (Jewel's finger must have been heavy on the trigger just then. How strange) slam into the goon, spinning him around. His hand ends up pointing at another of the goon's, whose head explodes even as the shot goon falls onto Ohab and the life in his eyes fades.

Jewel says "I said, drop it!"

Akriel calls out "They're Infernal!"

Cassia blinks at the shot, "Good one, Jewel!"

Cassia says "Thanks, Akriel!"

A holographic tactical display springs up, behind the menu, partially obscuring Akriel's view.

Cassia happily goes to roundhouse kick another goon!

Cassia doesn't do it if they actually drop their weapons, though...

Akriel starts working rapidly to tag all of the presumably hostile goons with tactical markers.

Akriel thereby exhibits great confidence in Beneberak's protective abilities.

The goon Cassia hit slumps to the ground. The other goons, impressed by Jewel's shot, lift their hands into the air. They have no obvious weapons to drop -- all except for one, who snarls and begins to use a Song.

Jewel shoots him too.

The bullet slams into his chest.

Akriel makes an eep noise and taps rapidly twice on the tactical display; perhaps once to select a target, and the second time to engage a weapon system.

The goon whispers out the last snatch of Song, pained. A wall of sound pours from his hands towards Jewel.

Beneberak makes a coughing noise. A jagged, whirling disc of lightning flashes out towards the goon.

Jewel dives behind Bennie!

The two forces collide, the lightning wheel shearing the wall of sound into fragments that pepper the walls and the bystanders; when it is over, the goon is bisected by the wheel and Jewel's side is bleeding from a dagger-edged shard of the sound of the Song of Shattering. The rest of the goons make no move.

Cassia dives forward to cover Ohab completely, staying out of the line of fire between Beneberak and the goon.

Akriel blinks repeatedly, and then eyes where his finger landed the second time around; perhaps to see if it has a star.

Akriel says "Are you all right, Beneberak?"

The option is not, interestingly enough, starred. It reads, simply, "Taser."

Jewel peers around the rear bumper to see if that's ended the fighting. "Ow. Ow! Asmodeus, see him!"

Jewel's jacket is not damaged, but blood trickles from beneath it, down her hip.

The Song-shards do minimal damage to the guarding Cassia; it was, after all, not meant for her, and was heading the other way. Still, she has saved Ohab a little more trauma.

Beneberak makes a happy honk. Like the opening gates sound at a horse race.

Akriel asks the goons, in his best attempt at sounding like a tough guy, "Does anyone else want to help me test these weapon systems?"

Jewel stands up and goes over to sort things out, if everyone seems to have calmed down.

The goons look properly subdued.

Jewel says "How's Ohab?"

Cassia nods quietly and pulls Ohab out from under the bodies and checks him.

Jewel counts up living, dead, and those in need of medical help to remain the former and not the latter.

A knifeman brushes a fragment of brick off his black button-down shirt. "Thank you," he says, calmly. "Your assistance is appreciated."

Akriel asks the knifeman, "Who are you?"

The knifeman smiles crookedly. "Bichri. Malakite of Destiny."

Bichri adds, "You would be of Lightning?"

Jewel says "Not exactly. What's going on here?"

Cassia studies poor Ohab to see what his wounds are and how severe, in case she has to try and heal him.

Akriel says "Akriel, Cherubim of Novalis."

Ohab is mostly battered -- it looks like he was being beaten physically at some recent point. There are four dead; everyone injured save Ohab and the Cassia-stunned goon is still standing.

Cassia says "Ohab's okay, Jewel, mostly just beaten up, it seems."

Jewel says "That's good. Now, what's going on here?"

Bichri considers. "We were told," he said, "to wait here. So we wait. Then the Calabim chased the Dominican into this alley, and we ceased to wait."

Cassia frowns quietly and then cradles Ohab's Vessel and croons a quiet Song of Healing, putting an essense into it.

Ohab's wounds slowly fade away.

Cassia sighs quietly and just holds him as the others talk.

Jewel says "Told by whom?"

Ohab slowly opens his eyes. Seeing Cassia, he smiles. At roughly that moment, the world Sings with a soft Corporeal Harmony -- as if all the Earth were joined in the Song. However, you don't feel particularly incapable of violence, as that Song would usually make someone.

Akriel pays close attention to the song.

Cassia's eyes narrow a bit at the Song, but she hugs Ohab as he smiles.

Bichri says, "My lord Yves, King of Days, Keeper of Destiny, Archangel and Brightness Manifest."

The other knifeman leans against the wall, eyes slitted.

Jewel says "Right. Did he tell you directly?"

Cassia says quietly, "So they were in the right place at the right time."

Cassia says "That's what they're for, Jewel."

Bichri inclines his head. "We were honored with his presence, yes. And it is unmistakeable."

Jewel senses ...
Bichri is happy. Mostly because he assumes he's going to get to kill the demons, or his partner will.

Cassia says "And they saved Ohab, that's good enough for me."

Cassia says "hey, Ohab. What happened to you?"

Ohab says, quietly, "Coal." He straightens slightly. "This is bad. This is very bad."

Cassia says "Coal?"

Akriel says "What should we do?"

Cassia says "What's bad?"

Ohab says, "Something a friend says. Short for 'Feeding coal to Hell's furnaces.' --" He sighs. "Not with them around. Get rid of them."

Akriel eyes Ohab and the Malakim.

Akriel asks the Malakim "Were you told to do anything after waiting?"

Jewel picks a demon who still seems able to talk. "Okay, what's your story?"

Bichri nods to Akriel. "We have a message. We were told it would be obvious who to offer it to --" He considers. "By which I assume that it can be any of you. Perhaps -- Dalphon, join the Cherub in the car, perhaps?"

Akriel has indeed remained in the car.

The Calabite shrugs. "We only got one story, lady. 'Kill this guy.' 'Kill that guy.' 'Destroy this.' 'Destroy that.' If it weren't kind of fun, I'd be sort of upset about the lack of career options."

The other knifeman slips into the car.

Jewel says "Who told you to destroy exactly who in this case?"

Bichri says, "I can offer you a painless death," towards the Calabim. "It's, really, the best I can do."

Akriel says, in the Calabite's direction, "You have a career option." Then he closes the window to talk to the other Malakite.

The Calabite says, "In this particular case, it was the Hollywood Coordinator, and we were supposed to kill *that* guy." He points at Ohab. "He's supposed to be a threat. Didn't act like one, whimpering and crying and begging us to stop. But hey. That's life."

Jewel senses ...
The Calabite is feeling resigned. He's been beaten, but he can't be soul-killed as long as he doesn't get out of the Vessel, and if you try and haul him to the Tether he'll destroy his Vessel himself. That's the general attitude, anyway.

Ohab is very concerned. He's also afraid, because he did not predict these events.

Dalphon explains to Akriel, "We were supposed to say, 'Michael has always worn blinders. It is what makes him so effective.'"

Akriel thinks. "I will remember that, although I'm not sure I understand it. This came from Yves?"

Jewel performs her regular Heart-check. (Things are unchanged.)

Dalphon inclines his head. "It is."

Akriel nods. "I will pass it on to the others. I expect we'll leave the Calabim for you to deal with, once Jewel is done asking them questions."

Jewel says to the Calabim, "Who do you serve? And where can we find the Hollywood Coordinator?"

Dalphon nods, and glances thoughtfully towards Jewel. "Be careful with the demon," he says. "She is not -- evil. But they have a tendency to lapse."

Akriel says, with his best simulation of puzzlement, "Demon?"

Jewel glares nastily at Dalphon, sideways.

Cassia sighs quietly and nods at Ohab and lets him get up first, or helps him up if he still needs it.

The Calabite shrugs. "We serve the Media. And the Hollywood Coordinator is," and there's the *oddest* feeling for a second, "Fortunatus, at the Geologic and Geothermal Sciences Center. Her Role is Marilyn Black."

Ohab manages to get up, with some help.

Cassia gives Ohab support over to where Jewel is doing the questioning.

Jewel is good at overhearing conversations she's not supposed to.

(Everyone has the odd feeling, and it is unrelated to resonances. It's a little like -- you would feel if you were eating dinner and suddenly noticed that you'd bought a roast beef sandwich instead of the turkey you'd been planning to buy when you went to the store.)

Cassia's eyes narrow at the feeling. "What was that?"

Akriel frowns; he looks at Beneberak's displays for a moment.

Jewel says "I think that was a lead being cleaned up."

Jewel says "Anyone have any more questions?"

Akriel says "None that they can answer."

Dalphon gestures towards Jewel. "I'm not certain what kind," he says. "But trust me; I recognize demons. The Symphony --" He shrugs. "It is not entirely useful to me; it does not distinguish between demons going down and those coming up. As it were."

Akriel says "Ah."

Dalphon smiles. "In any case. The message has been delivered." He slips out of the car.

Akriel nods to Dalphon.

Bichri turns to the Calabim. His smile is bright.

The Calabim look resigned.

Bichri says, to the demons, "Turn around."

Jewel gestures to the Calabim. "They're all yours, if you think that will help anything."

The Calabim slowly turn around. The knifework begins. At one point, there is a Symphonic jangle, a violent protest, and Bichri smiles sheepishly. "Soldier."

Jewel winces.

Akriel winces too.

Cassia frowns.

Cassia sighs and helps Ohab to the car while the Malakim do their thing.

Akriel says "We felt a mortal die, earlier; another Soldier?"

Jewel reloads her gun and gets back into the car. What was Shephi doing during all this?

Dalphon kneels by the Soldier's body as the last of the demons fall, and carefully administers last rites.

Shephi was zoning, to all appearances.

Ohab waits until in the car, before he says, with vehemence, "Only one person saw me leave Heaven. I could swear it."

Cassia says "Well, Yves doesn't have to see to know. But who saw?"

Jewel puts her hand on Shephi's shoulder. "Stephie? You okay?"

Akriel tells Beneberak "Let's go back to the House."

Jewel then winces and puts her hand to her side. "Ow! Blood and Brimstone!"

Cassia lets Ohab gently into the car and then checks out her own right hand.

Shephi murmurs, softly, "Give me time, good Jewel. Give me time."

The right hand appears to have a few smashed bones in it. Typical Calabite stuff.

Cassia grumphs and peers at it to see how best to set it...

Jewel pulls up her jacket, exposing a considerable mess. "Anyone have a band-aid?"

Cassia peers at Jewel, "Ow."

Akriel peers at the side. "Oh dear. If you were a plant..."

Jewel applies direct pressure to the wound until it stops bleeding, meanwhile looking sideways at Shephi.

Jewel says "I don't think it's that bad. Just messy."

Akriel says "Unfortunately, mortals and Vessels are not my field."

Jewel pulls off her jacket and uses it as a makeshift bandage to avoid messing up Bennie's upholstery.

Ohab sighs.

Cassia says "Bennie, you wouldn't happen to have a first aid kit, would you?"

Cassia says it somewhat distracted by all the blood and her hand...

Jewel appears mostly unconcerned by being half-naked, although she does watch reactions from the corner of her eye, almost absently.

Ohab, ignoring Jewel's bleeding side -- which does improve somewhat under pressure -- says, hoarsely, "It was my Bright Lord." Then he hides his head in his hands.

Cassia blinks at Ohab. "Ow."

Akriel blinks.

Akriel says "Oh."

Jewel says "The plot, as we say in Hollywood, thickens."

A holographic light drifts under the right front seat, settling around a black case and glowing there.

Akriel says "I should tell you all the message the Malakim was told to pass on: 'Michael has always worn blinders. It is what makes him so effective.'"

Cassia says "Thank you, Beneberak."

Jewel says "Okay. What is Michael not seeing?"

Cassia dives for the black case and opens it and then blinks at Akriel.

Cassia says "Blinders? He has?"

Cassia hrms quietly, "From Yves even."

Ohab explains, "I waited until Jean emerged from Laurence's Cathedral."

Cassia absentmindedly peers into the open case.

Ohab says, "I rolled casually away through the streets of Heaven."

The open case seems to contain basic first aid supplies.

Jewel says "Treason in Heaven, apparently. Michael sees only the Enemy, so he's good at fighting them, but doesn't see his allies going behind his back."

Jewel says "Or maybe it's something else entirely. Yves."

Cassia blinks quietly at Jewel and nods and then pulls out gauze and bandage to hand them to Jewel with a questioning look.

Ohab says, "Jean followed me, as I had known he would -- more precisely, one of Jean's angels led the way, and Jean followed, but every turn I took, he followed. This is not unexpected."

Jewel says "Thanks, Cass."

Jewel switches the absorbant gauze for her jacket, which although it soaked up a lot of blood seems perfectly fine, and gets dressed again.

Ohab says, "I sensed my Bright Lord coming, and I was concerned -- I thought, perhaps I am in more danger than I thought?" But he drifted past me, and spoke to Jean.

Cassia nods at Jewel and listens to Ohab as she pokes through the box for a hand splint... and then goes through some odd motions to get the splint taped on with one hand, softly growling as she sets the crushed bones straight against the splint.

Jewel gives Cassia a hand if she needs it.

Ohab says, "I thought that I should descend, then, while I was still in Jean's sight -- before something happened that would cause him to lose the trail. So I ducked around a building and waited there, alone, for the three to stroll past. But Jean never came. When Dominic went by, I assumed that he had -- gone over my head. So I descended. Ten minutes later, there were half a dozen Calabim in the room."

Cassia thanks Jewel quietly and takes the lended hand to get the thing on right.

Cassia sighs at Ohab.

Cassia says "That does look bad."

Ohab says, bitterly, "Rising straight from the depths of Hell."

Jewel says "Wait, they arrived right where you were?"

Ohab says, "I can come to only two conclusions."

Akriel says "That would suggest someone foretelling the future."

Ohab stops, and looks at Jewel, and nods. "They did."

Jewel says "Where did you arrive? Right there in that alley?"

Cassia says "Beneberak, could you search Ohab for any electronic homing devices?"

Akriel eyes Cassia and then Ohab, thoughtfully.

Jewel says "I point out again that we are sitting in Jean's personal car."

Cassia grins. "Who's actually doing pretty well by us."

Jewel says "How does this stack up against Ohab's story?"

Ohab shakes his head. "I came down about eight blocks away."

Cassia says "Ah."

Jewel says "In a Tether?"

Cassia thinks quietly, "I wonder why Beneberak isn't with Jean."

Beneberak displays, in front of Cassia's seat, "Negative. Homing devices operate in different ways. No radio transmissions are noted."

Ohab says, quietly, "In a sense."

Cassia nods quietly at the display, "Thank you, Beneberak. There doesn't seem to be any radio transmitters on you, Ohab."

Ohab says, "I do not mean to say that my Bright Lord betrayed me. -- he had no need to place me in Los Angeles at all, if he were going to do so, nor does he doubt my loyalty."

Jewel looks at Ohab. "In what sense?"

Jewel says "The thing that worries me is, we've already seen Superiors looking like others."

Cassia nodnods a lot at that.

Ohab says, "But either someone could *watch* the transport from Heaven to Earth, somehow -- or someone my Bright Lord *trusted* *ask--*" He blinks.

Jewel says "Everyone says, 'Oh, I couldn't possibly be mistaken about those orders having come from *my* Superior' but is that true?"

Ohab admits, "That hadn't occurred to me."

Jewel says "Just because we're celestial doesn't mean we're infallible."

Jewel says "Not even me."

Cassia peers at Ohab's blink. "What?"

Cassia grins at Jewel.

Jewel says "I'm certain as I can be that this is Eli's Heart, but nevertheless we all saw Andrealphas materialize at it."

Ohab blinks again.

Jewel says "Except Ohab, who was busy being sold out somewhere else."

Ohab squeaks.

Cassia says "Hey, I *know* I'm not infallable. Had to ask Michael who was really whom, when he appeared like Baal at the station... makes sense that Kronos twisted his image..."

Cassia peers at Ohab again.

Jewel says "But what if it that was Baal who assured you it was Michael there?"

Akriel says "Perhaps ... perhaps Yves's message means that Michael does not fully understand Jean's purpose here."

Jewel says "That he sees everything in terms of side? Maybe?"

Cassia says "In a Michaelite Tether?"

Jewel shrugs to Cassia.

Cassia nods at Akriel. "That's possible"

Ohab leans back. "Eli's Heart. Andrealphus. Someone masquerading as Archangels ..."

Jewel says "I don't know Michael well. What would you say his focus is, Cassia?"

Cassia says "And who *killed* Andrealphus with one swing of the axe?"

Jewel says "I'd say that would be as much within Baal's power as Michael's."

Cassia says "I think I trust that that was Michael. Our focus usually is one-on-one battles, I guess. Fighting lies, guarding the truth."

Cassia says "Well, yeah, but isn't Andre supposed to be on Baal's side?"

Akriel says "Did you summon Michael, Cassia?"

Jewel says "The other interesting question is, who put Andrealphus into Trauma?"

Shephi says, tonelessly, "I do not believe that Jean could impersonate Dominic."

Jewel says "Why not, Shephi?"

Cassia says "Twice, Akriel, it turns out. Once at the station, the second time at a Tether of War."

Shephi says, tonelessly, "But -- we have seen what Fate can do. Or Light."

Cassia nods at Shephi and blinks, "Light? Lucifer?"

Shephi says, "I do not believe this, or wish to. But I have said it."

Jewel says "'Same side' means a lot different thing in the Basement than you're probably used to, Cassia."

Cassia blinks at Jewel. "oh. Okay.

Shephi thinks. "Understand, Jewel, that there is a *reason* that we are confident when we say our Superior has spoken. They are very -- *specific* beings. Could you not recognize Eli, if you saw him? Lightning has nothing in its -- definitions -- that would let it resemble Judgment. But a Liar --" She shrugs.

Cassia says "First time because you looked like you were in real trouble, second time so that I could find out what was going on."

The ground begins to tremble. This time, it does not stop.

Cassia nods at what Shephi says, "And besides, I was made from him..." and blinks in alarm at the ground.

Jewel says "I believe I could recognize Eli. But, Andre was Eli's reflection below. Just as Michael and Baal are images of each other."

Akriel looks nervous.

Sometime during this conversation, incidentally, the Malakim have departed.

Jewel says "Bennie! Out of the alley!"

Akriel says "Drive us to the House, Beneberak."

Akriel says "If you summoned Michael, I think that you should be confidant that you got him."

Cassia nods at Akriel.

Akriel says "And he is your Superior. Do you really think anyone could fool you about him?"

Cassia says "Not close up. But at a distance, I certainly was fooled."

Akriel says "In Heaven, I don't think anyone could impersonate a Superior."

Akriel says "It is easier to hide something than to pretend to be something, Cassia."

Jewel says "Except, perhaps, another archangel."

Beneberak skates backwards out of the alley. Immediately to the right, the street crumbles as what looks to be a tentacle lashes up from the sewers beneath. Beneberak scurries backwards along the street, dodging as three more explode upwards from the ground.

Cassia nods at Akriel and then wheee's at the ride Beneberak is giving us...

Jewel stares at the tentacles! "What are *those*?"

What looks like a *beak* shoves itself upwards through the ground right under Beneberak, which shoots ten feet straight up like a cat after a thunderbolt. The beak snaps closed in frustration as Beneberak's wheels screech on the air and the car takes off above the rooftops for the Lindel House.

Cassia says "Wow."

Jewel says "yeek!"

Jewel clutches at Shephi as Bennie does his leap thing.

Akriel blinks and peers back. "Is it chasing us?" he asks worriedly. "And does anyone recognize it?"

Jewel says "Giant land octopus?"

Jewel says "Was there anything like this in the script?"

Akriel says "It's probably a demon. When the Calabim were killed, I suspect they decided to send something bigger to get Ohab."

Another tentacle, bursting upwards, lashes at Beneberak and actually manages to catch a wheel! Below, on the almost-empty streets, a Z3 roars *towards* the octopus and skids to a halt.

Jewel says "I don't know of any demons with Vessels like *that*!"

Jewel yeeks again as Bennie gets snagged!

Cassia Meeps and peers at the Z3 on the street. "Zow."

The doors slam open and two figures with enormous guns and not enough clothing step out of the car at Ofanite speeds.

Akriel pushes the 'Offensive Abilities' button, pulls up the tactical targeting system, makes an eeping noise, and starts tapping.

Akriel says "Do your best, Beneberak!"

The brunette pinup girl levels her gun at the tentacle that's got Beneberak and yells, "Let them go or suck plasma!"

As Beneberak readies itself for war, the redhead below yells, "Yah! Hey, Octopus brain, that car's probably pretty nasty -- eat *this*." She pulls the trigger on a rocket launcher. The Dirty Triad is here to save the day!

OOC: Jewel says "We're so doomed. :)"