Chapter Six: The Reluctant Doctor

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Chapter Six: The Reluctant Doctor

            Dean groaned. “We just came from that bankrupt, morally and financially, state! Why do we have to go back?”

            Abby rolled her eyes. “That is where our next Keeper is living. So behave or I will make us drive the way across the United States. You are lucky my soul almost wanted someone in Japan, but they failed their test. Seriously greed runs rampant in this world of sins.”

            Dean would deny the pout but he huffed and sat back. “Private jet?”

            “Yes. We are going out of JFK though.” Abby stated. “Now just behave, I have some testing to do and though my body is here doesn’t mean I am.” Abby stated and closed her eyes again. She wanted to get the lists longer. More potentials. It was the only way to stay on top of Lilith. This time she wouldn’t let the Keepers, Protectors, or Guides see the list until they proved their loyalty. Damn Jesse for making her doubt her people. She had almost gotten over her trust issues as long as they were here people. She took a deep breath and opened her souls to the souls of the world.

            Sakura sighed as she sat down in front of the mound of paperwork. When her mother got sick she quit her job and lived off her savings to take care of her. After all, what daughter wouldn’t drop everything for the woman who escaped China so she wouldn’t have to kill her daughter, upon her husband’s orders? Nobody who was decent that is who. Sakura sighed. Her mother passed just a couple of weeks ago and she still was buried in paperwork. She also knew she had to find a job soon. It wasn’t like one was just going to come to her and fall in her lap. But she didn’t want to go back to being a doctor. She only become a doctor because that was her mother’s dream. And her mother ‘risked almost certain death and starvation bringing you to America so you could live in the land of the free!’ Sakura shook her head. She could hear her mother’s voice telling her a good daughter would do what their mother wanted. To better themselves and be a doctor. Sakura loved math and science and had not only her medical degree but doctorates in Biology and Chemistry. She was a genius and a good doctor. The only thing that didn’t make her great was that she had no love for the job. Her college friends used to call her the ‘Reluctant Doctor’ mostly because she became one but she would rather be in a lab or on an adventure discovering and exploring.

            Sakura put the paperwork down. She had to get away. She grabbed the keys to her car and took off; after all, San Francisco was the home of so many fabulous shoe shops, thus shoes that she needed to buy. She smiled as she thought of hours of shopping for shoes. She loved shoes. It was the one thing that she and her mother could agree on; the shoe made the woman.

            Sakura hummed as she took her sacks and put them in her car an hour later. She looked around and then at her watch. She had time for a few more shops before they closed. She walked over to the one that had the most wonder stiletto heeled shoes. She smiled as she walked in, she was sure heaven was a shoe store.

            Alice watched the woman she was sure would be a Keeper. She had been sent by Leslie to watch her. She had good taste in shoes that much could be said for her. But Alice wanted her nowhere near Leslie. But she watched as ordered. After all Alice followed orders for so long now that is all she knew. Her mind had been broken because of Leslie. Sometimes though, just sometimes, the girl that was Alice showed through, but it was rare. Alice watched and remembered herself before she was recruited by Leslie. She almost was recruited by Abby. She still wondered how life would be if she hadn’t given into Leslie and Abby found her first.

            Alice Burnt was looking through her new case files. She had gone to the Army to get her degree and now she worked as a parole officer. She was bored with the job to be honest. It wasn’t exciting, it wasn’t glamourous, and it wasn’t what she wanted out of life. She looked up when her new parolee came in. “Miss Leslie McKinnon.” She stated in greeting. “I am Alice Burnt.”

            “Hello Madam Burnt.” Leslie practically purred. “Tell me Alice…” she paused to look at the woman in front of her. “Do you believe in magic?”

            Alice raised an eyebrow; “are you going to tell me that magic made you break into the Washington Monument?”

            Leslie took a seat, her body full of cocky confidence. “Of course, you see, I needed a piece of the monument. It holds a lot of magic after all; as the people of this great nation gave it meaning and as more and more people visit the magic builds. And it is key into giving the people of this world magic. After all it is being kept from us.” Leslie stated.

            Alice looked at Leslie. “Kept from us?” She asked, even though her mind was screaming to run. Run from this predator; for she was going to take her life and soul. Alice wished she would have listened.

            Alice shook her head to get rid of the past. Leslie had broken her mind with her words and promises. She had broken her soul and heart with her false love. Sometimes she wondered if she would have been picked as Protector if she hadn’t fallen for Leslie’s lies. She doubts it. Alice was sure Leslie was her test and she had failed it. After all a couple of days listening to Leslie she had given her heart and soul to her. She had killed three people for Leslie to try to be the Protector Abby choose. But Abby knew. Abby is always knows. How Leslie was able to block her from seeing the murders of the list and Jesse’s betrayal she didn’t know. She was sure it was something Jesse did, something he removed from Abby. What it was she wasn’t exactly sure, but it had to be something vital. But Leslie wouldn’t tell her. Leslie would use her, tell her what to do, send her out to kill, but wouldn’t truly share anything with anybody. To be honest it was a bad move in Alice’s book. What if Abby finally snapped and actually killed her. Abby avoids being the cause of mortal deaths but she had taken lives before; she had to have, she was God. And Alice made the choice to side against God and side with Lilith and those of her ilk. Oh, Alice knew what awaited her when Abby got tired of letting her go. Alice thought that maybe Abby still saw the Alice she used to be, before she was driven into this insanity of lust and need by Leslie.

            Alice looked back at her target. She was to either recruit or kill. And right now she was leaning towards killing. This Sakura was just exotic enough to catch Leslie’s attention for a bit of time. She took her rifle out and had it trained on the woman as she was admiring a really high pair of stilettos. ‘Takes guts to wear them.’ Alice thought as she pulled the trigger. She looked up as the dust settled from the wall and swore. She wasn’t about to risk another shot. She packed up and left.

            Abby had an itch at the back of her neck. She had finally gotten into town and was following the list to… “The shoe district.” She let out a moan. She hated shoes. She knew they were a necessity but for her Father’s sake they were just shoes and not to be fawned over and worshiped like a god! They got to the store and Abby saw a glint. She turned the boys. “Get everybody down now! Tackle them if needed!”

            The boys didn’t wait and ran into the store running into the women and tackling the four women that were shopping. They all looked pissed and about to scream when someone noticed the bullet hole and the dust settling and screamed as she pointed to the wall.

            Abby winced and held a hand over her ears. “Goodness, woman! Shut up!” She yelled and went and looked at the whole. “Damn it! It is Alice. She is in town.” She turned to the women. “Which one of you is Sakura Hoshi?”

            Sakura held up a hand. “I am ma’am. Why?”

            “Great! We will explain later. You all call the cops and report this of course but I and Doctor Hoshi are going for a ride.” She then waved her hand allowing her magic to flow through her putting a different string of events into their head. That there was only the three of them, they had heard a shot and saw the bullet hit the wall and they all hit the ground. Sakura Hoshi was never there.

            “But my shoes!” Sakura yelled.

            Abby rolled her eyes and grabbed the pair of shoes throwing down the five hundred they were on the counter. “Stupid bloody shoes. They aren’t worth dying over.” She mumbled as she lead them all back to the car. She got them all in and took off.

            Dean looked at the woman clutching the pair of shoes. “What is she, cannon fodder?” Dean already did not like her. She seemed way to shallow to be of use.

            Sakura hissed. “Who are you? A redneck hick? What the ever loving hell is going on?” She was confused, frightened and she was sure someone just tried to put a damn bullet in her head, and this man was judging her!

            Dean sneered. “If I wasn’t raised to not hit a woman I would teach you to call me a hick, bimbo!”

            “Bimbo?” She screeched. “I am a damn doctor! What are you? A burger flipper?”

            Dean opened his mouth to respond, just to be cut off by a loud whistle. “What the hell Abs?” He rubbed his ears. “That hurt!”

            Abby parked the SUV and rubbed her temples. Even being all powerful and immortal did not mean she did not get migraines. In fact with so much floating through her head she almost had a constant migraine. “Will you all stop fighting?” She yelled. “We don’t have time for this petty bullshit!” She turned in her seat. “The realms I created are in jeopardy. I will destroy the mortal realm before I allow the sisters too!” She screamed at them. “Now stop fucking fighting! Somehow Leslie has gotten my list again. That means Jesse did more than I thought in his betrayal. And that means we will have to get what he stole back. This is a get in, get the item, get out mission. This isn’t about fighting them yet.” Abby stated as she started the SUV once more. “someone explained to the reluctant doc what is going on and who I am.” Abby turned onto the highway. She had to get to a place to plan. She also had to connect to the McKinnon line to see where Leslie was hiding out before Leslie figured out exactly what she had upon her hand. If she was even wearing it. As Abby hadn’t seen the stone when she had fought Leslie when she went to go get August. Did she have it hidden? Having the stone would be the only way Leslie would know where possible Keepers were at and from there she could research the people in the area.  Abby had to get that stone back. She had stopped wearing it about a thousand years ago when it became almost unbearable to wear, the pain in her heart missing her brother, especially Lucifer. Abby finally saw a hotel and pulled in. Rest and planning had to be done before she went to gain back what was stolen. And the next on her list would have to wait. She needed the stone back. Right now before she could retrieve the next Protector she had protect the others. Getting back that stone was the most important issue at hand. Of course she hadn’t planned on literally running into her next Protector. She slammed the brakes and threw the SUV into park and she jumped out of the door. “I am so sorry!” She bent down to check the man. “Are you alright?”

            The man looked up at the woman. “Yeah, lady I am just fine, being hit by a damn monster of a car!”

            “Abby. My name is Abby. You should let us check you out. We have a doctor in the party and I used to be a nurse at one time.” Abby was looking him over and making sure she hadn’t done any damage. She released a bit of magic to help the bruising her mind found.

            “No need, seriously lady. No need. I am fine. I am just here on vacation and I don’t want it cut short because I was hit by a car, and was uninjured. “By the way my name is…”

            Abby didn’t let him finish as he met her eyes and her eyes went white as his test appeared before her. “Martin Nunez, 27: Normally of Miami Florida.”

Chapter Five: The Speaker of Tongues

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Chapter Five: The Speaker of Tongues

            “Wait! We are going to go get a kid?” George asked, as they drove down the road.

            “The kid is a genius. You will see.” Abby stated.

            “But are you sure this is wise? I mean he is a kid! It sounds like this is a dangerous job!”

            “Everybody has the right to say no. I don’t force anybody into this position. To do so would be an opening of discord and with discord I risk a repeat of betrayal.” Abby gritted out.

            “Is this the first time you have been betrayed?” Dean asked.

            “No. I make mistakes as well. I am not perfect. Yes, you are all tested. Yes, even you were George. The tests show your heart, your soul, your loyalty, and you pass or your fail.” She shrugged. “But people can be corrupted. Even the purest of hearts can be.” Abby stated. “And normally it is the one you least expect to betray you that does.” Abby blinked her eyes to dispel the tears forming.”

            The men stayed silent for a while. “Wait! Are we driving to Cambridge?” Joseph asked.

            Abby laughed. “No. I am just going to make a quick stop in Los Angeles and then we will fly out.”

            “Oh thank God!” George exclaimed.

            Abby smirked. “You are very welcome.” Causing Dean to start laughing and holding is sides, dispelling the depressing tension in the SUV. 

August sighed as he sat down in the library again. He had no friends. He after all just got his doctorate in linguistics and psychology. He was only nineteen and most people didn’t want to socialize with the geek or the ones in his classes didn’t want to hang with a kid. He pulled out his most recent obsession, Eteocypriot, and worked on understanding this long dead language. Before he could really get started he heard a commotion and looked up to see a group of women coming in with guns. The leader had the greenest eyes he had ever seen. He didn’t know why he noticed them but it was the first thing he noticed. She was dressed in leather pants and boots. Her top was skin tight and she had on a leather jacket. He moved and hid under his desk.

Leslie found out there were new potentials. Lilith help her, but why couldn’t the potentials be all women, at least then she could try to corrupt them instead of just having male patsies like Jesse was; she sort of missed Jesse. He was a good puppy. She didn’t have the list of names but had a list of locations. “Spread out, I want that potential if it is a woman, corrupt her…” Leslie smirked. “If it is a man kill him. GO!” She yelled as she walked down the aisles.

August didn’t know what was going on, but he knew he had to get out of there. He looked for the exits. He bit his lip. He didn’t know how to get out. He closed his eyes trying to think of something. But his mind worked with languages and body language and these women all were serious about hunting down and killing or corrupting people. And that did not set well with him. He couldn’t go at them alone and that scared him the most. If he went at them alone, he knew he would die.

Abby pulled up in front of the library she got out to freeze. She looked at the three with her. “Damn it, the sisters are here. I want you to all stay here.”

            “No way!” Dean and George yelled.

            Abby looked at them and knew they wouldn’t let her go alone. “Fine damn it! Joseph, keep the car running, if you need to you take the others and get the hell out of here. Leave me.” She held up her hand before they could protest. “I can’t die! God, remember?” She raised an eyebrow at them. “George, Dean, you find August and you get out. Got it? Don’t argue with me!” She yelled as they went to argue. “I am going to keep the Sisters busy and you are going to get my potential Keeper, who is but more than a kid, out of here got it?”

            Dean was not happy with the plan but he knew right now he had no clue how the Sisters fought and would be better to get the kid out. He looked at George who had the same grim face. “Fine, I and the Squid will get the kid out.”

            Abby nodded. “Thank you.” Abby moved quickly to stay in the shadows as she moved towards and into the building. She saw a window opened on the side and moved to slide in landing on a table with an ancient book. It was in Eteocypriot. Damn, was August near here? She could see Alice and Leslie whispering not fifteen feet away. She slid down the table and onto the ground and under the table. She ran into a young teen.

            August was shocked when a woman slid down and entered his space. She had short dark hair that was cut asymmetrical, and her eyes were golden brown. “Are you with them?” He whispered.

            “Nope, don’t worry kid they won’t get to hurt anybody. What’s your name?”

            “August. August Shepherd.” August stated, as he stared at the woman.

            Abby smiled. “Okay, kid, you are going to see a Seal and a Marine. They are talk and ripped, one has a typical Jarhead cut, the other short but not Jarhead short hair, both are brown, and one has eyes of ice and the other eyes of the sea. Find them. Stay with them.”

            “Why?”

            “They are here to kill you kid.” She stated and then disappeared from under the table and ran down the aisle before leaping over a table and onto another before jumping onto a shelf.

            August watched her. He didn’t know why he trusted her but hem moved from under the table and looked toward the door and sure enough two men entered that fit her description. He looked around. He could make it to them. He moved slowly from under the table, he stayed low and inched his way towards the two men. He looked over to see the woman hit one of the women that came in with a gun out with a huge book. Was that the jeweled bible the university had under glass? He blinked but focused back on the task at hand, getting to the two military men.

            Dean and George moved in through the main doors. Dean looked at George and shrugged when he lifted an eyebrow. “You go right, I go left?”

            George was about to nod when he saw someone move out the corner of his eye. “Or we can wait for the kid to come to us.” George pointed out the kid moving slowly towards them.

            Dean nodded. “You wait for that kid. I will go recon…”

            George grabbed him by the back of his jacket as he moved to leave. “You heard Abby.” George glared.

            Dean sighed. “Don’t grab me again if you don’t want a black eye.” Dean stated as he leaned back against the wall. “I don’t see why Abby gets to have all the fun.”

            George rolled his eyes. “And now I see why you are a Keeper and not a Protector.”

            Dean gave a chuckle. He moved and grabbed the kid when he got close. “You August Shepherd?”

            August finally made it close and the one with icy blue eyes grabbed him and hulled him up. “Yes.”

            Dean nodded. “Good, let’s go.” He pushed the kid out the door and put him in the back of the SUV that was idling by the door. “Drive my good sir. We will wait for Abs across the street.”

            Abby looked at the book behind the broken glass. It was thick enough, she picked it up and rose an eyebrow to see it was The Holy Bible. She chuckled as she brought it down on one of the head of one of the sisters. She smirked. The word of God came and actually smacked down the bitch. She gave a soundless laugh as she moved across the aisles in search of Leslie and Alice. After all they were the ones that would call a retreat. She moved to see Leslie talking with Alice. It seemed that none of these people they were finding where fit for more than cannon fodder. Alice wanted to rip them apart for that. Her humans were not cannon fodder for Lilith’s war.

            Leslie felt something was off. “Alice. Check the others. Something just feels wrong.”

            Alice of course being the good puppy she was to Leslie nodded. “Yes ma’am!” She took off to go check the others.

            Abby smirked and did a flip up onto of the bookshelf over Leslie. She followed her for a bit as Leslie walked the aisles hoping for a clue to who Abby’s new Keeper was, but Abby already had her Keeper safe. She had seen Dean and George take him out of this place. She waited until Leslie was distracted for a moment and she jumped down and smirked as she put Leslie on her back with a kick to the back of her legs. “Well, if it isn’t greed personified?”

            Leslie sneered as she moved to get up but Abby had a boot to her throat. “What is it you want Abigail? We both know you won’t actually kill me. You don’t have it in you.”

            “I have killed plenty of humans Leslie.” Abby stated.

            “Please, you won’t kill me or you would have by now.” Leslie sneered.

            “Your whole line is corrupted by greed and insanity. I only kill as a last resort. Didn’t your mother teach you anything?”

            “She taught me all know knew about you. And how you hate to kill your precious mortals, how you don’t get involved, how you don’t feel.” Leslie sneered. “After all I just killed your whole line almost of Keepers, Protectors and Guides and you just went out to find more. Didn’t even wait until the bodies were cold.”

            Abby sneered. “You know nothing Daughter of McKinnon! You know nothing about me. What I was before I even created this realm. I was an Angel of my Father, and you seem to think there are no other beings besides my Father? Do you not think there are things that can kill an angel? Do you not think that we were created for his protection as he played with his creations? THERE ARE REAMS YOU CAN’T EVEN FATHOM!” Abby screamed at her. “I am not always on this Earth. You know from the stories passed down that the Realms I and my brother created was based upon our home realm. You think you are the only beings I created? I may care for Earth the most as they were my first creations, but they are not my only. Do not tempt me Daughter of McKinnon to show you my true self.” Abby stated. “Now you will leave here. You will take your goons and you will do it now.” Abby sneered.

            Leslie spat up at her. “Fuck you, Abigail.”

            Abby ground her boot into her throat. “I will kill you.”

            Leslie moved to stab her with a knife but Abby moved and kicked it away allowing Leslie to get loose. But instead of charging Abby, Leslie called out. “Retreat!” And she ran to join the others outside of the building. Abby waited to make sure all were gone, and then she too walked outside. She threw her magic out to sense them. Gone. She nodded and walked across the street to the SUV and got in the passenger seat. “Drive.” She stated.

            They were driving for a while before August had to ask. “Okay, look, I am thankful and all you got me out of there. But who the hell are you guys? And why did they want to kill me?”

            Abby raised an eyebrow. “You are a genius kid. And you have heart. All that bullying you had to go through, that loneliness and you didn’t break? You weren’t tempted to use your talents for evil deeds?”  Abby made a tsk in the back of her throat. “That kid is tough. I have seen a lot give up. I have seen a lot end it all because of the shit you had to endure. Because of that you have been chosen as a Keeper to protect the magic and the Earth. Mostly because I will destroy the Earth before I let the sisters get ahold of it.” Abby stated. “Dean, explain to him will ya.” Abby stated as she closed her eyes with her list out in front of her.

            Dean looked at the kid. “So you got Keepers, you, the thief and me, and Protectors, the Squid here.”

            “My name is George, kid don’t listen to the Jarhead.” George stated.

            “And my name is Joseph, not thief. I did want I had to do to live. I didn’t get an education. I didn’t have people who cared. I used what I had and used it well.” Joseph explained.

            Dean waved them off. “Any ways we also got Guides, we don’t have any of them yet. We protect the world and magic. I mean there is a lot more to it. But that is the basics. You want in or out?”

            August thought about it. There was a lot missing, but his life was dull and predictable. He nodded. “I am in.”

            Dean slapped his back. “Good man!”

            Joseph looked over to Abby. “Angel, where are we going?”

            Abby opened her eyes. “Sakura Hoshi, 29: San Francisco, CA.”

Chapter Four: The Chief

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Chapter Four: The Chief

            George Noble was on desk and training duty. He sighed as he laid his head down on his desk. He had been injured in his last mission. It got him thinking that maybe it was time to leave the Navy. He wasn’t getting younger and the life was becoming monotonous. He always figured he would go down in a glorious ball of fire as he defended his nation. But it seemed that was not going to happen. Once one is put on training duty, they tend to stay on training duty. To tell the truth he was bored and his life had become so routine that he was just going through the motions and generally was in a spaced out daze as he went through his day. Could he continue to do this until retirement? He was starting to think he couldn’t. But all he knew was the Navy since he blew out his knee at the start of his freshman year in college. He had quit school ad joined the Navy, getting a BA degree through the years, but he had stayed in the Navy. They trained him and he was highly skilled. He was a technical expert; he actually was a knives and sword expert as well. There wasn’t a knife or sword out there that he couldn’t figure out how to use, and use well. Not that people used swords in this day and age, but knives were still very important. There was a section in his training about knives. The newbies moaned about it until a damn knife saved their lives. He remembered the first time he held a knife. His father had given him a pocket knife and told him someday it would save his life. Someday that knife would be all that stood between his last breath and meeting his maker. George took that to heart. He learned everything he could about knives, and moved into swords. And his father was right. Many times in the course of his career one of his knives had been the difference between going to his final judgment and taking his next breath. But now wasn’t the time to get caught in his memories, he had a whole new set of trainees and he had to go test them. If only he had something he could go into if he left the Navy. But, again the Navy and being a military man was all he knew since he was eighteen years old. George lifted his head and groaned as he looked down at his schedule. Today was going to be a helluva day. He stood and grabbed his jacket and walked out of the office and towards the trainees.

            Abby was frowning. The best choice for a Protector was on a protected base. She sighed. She hadn’t known he was a lifer. They tend to stay and decline a spot. She hoped that with Joseph and Dean she could convince George to come. She flipped her hand and showed the guard a badge that would get her into the place. She smiled sweetly when Dean glared at her and Joseph was interested in how she made the fake. It didn’t take them long to get to George’s office. They were advised to sit and wait. George would be back shortly. Abby got up and went to the corner to start making some calls.

            George came back to the office to find a few people waiting for him. One was on the phone and she did not seem very happy. The other two looked bored. One was flipping through a book the other was on his phone. “May I help you?”

            Dean stood up. “Finally! Always waiting on the damn sailor boys!”

            George raised an eyebrow. “A Jarhead?”

            “And proud to be one Squid.” Dean smirked.

            “What does a Jarhead and his group want with me?”

            “Abs!” Dean yelled. “The Squid is here!”

            Abby turned and glared and held up one finger. She mouthed “Important!” She turned back around ignoring the three men.

            Joseph flicked his eyes around. “So where are you from originally?”

            George raised an eyebrow. “Little Rock, Arkansas. You?”

            “New York City.” Joseph answered.

            “Right outside of Central Point, Iowa myself.” Dean stated looking proud.

            “Iowa, huh? Idiots Out Wondering Around?”

            Dean shrugged and without missing a beat he came back at George. “Well, at least we have evolved beyond cow tipping and marrying our cousins.”

            Joseph stared wide eyed. Damn, the Marine and the Seal are going to kill each other; and they were going to take him out in the cross fire. He moved closer to Abby; fearing the end was near.

            George looked at Dean and then started laughing. “Oh God, that was great! Nice to meet you; I am Chief Warrant Officer George Noble.” He held out his hand.

            Dean took his hand and smiled. “Nice to meet ya Chief. I am Corporal Dean Cooper. That is Joseph McKinley, and the woman yelling curse words into her phone is Abigail Elyondottir.”

            “Okay, how can I help you all?”

            “Well, you see we are on a mission from God.” Dean smirked.

            Abby came back then and slapped him upside his head. “Behave Dean! You are going to make us sound like a bunch of crazy people.”

            “Well, you did admit to my brother you were not quite all there.” Dean smirked.

            Abby sighed. “May we speak to you privately Chief Noble?”

            “Sure.” George was curious after all, a smart-aleck Marine and New Yorker that seemed a bit off, and a woman who, well to be honest had this aura around her of adventure. After they were in his office and seated he looked to Abby. She seemed to be the leader after all. “Well, what is all this about?”

            Abby gave a weak smile. “Okay, so there is magic in the world. Ley lines, and because of this many items throughout the world have been imbued with magic, but in the wrong hands it can cause the end of the world. Mostly because I will end it before I see it destroyed.”

            George looked at her. “Okay, magic is real, and how does this affect me?”

            “Well, you see…” Abby explained Keepers and then she went on to Protectors. “You see, though some of the Keepers, like Dean here, can more than take care of themselves, we still need Protectors. Not only to protect the Keepers and Guides but to protect the catacombs and mines themselves. And no they are not just hired muscle. Protectors are just as important as the Keepers and Guides. Perhaps more so; yes generally speaking the Keepers are the ones that follow the clues to the item that is being retrieved or working towards something and the Protectors are there to make sure they aren’t shot or stabbed or well, killed. The reason for that is very simple, most of the time a Keepers mind goes a billion miles a minute. They are sorting good information from bad information to find the next step. Because of that they are vulnerable and not aware of their surroundings. So I need the Protectors, whose minds are very detailed oriented on the surroundings to make sure the Keepers and the Protectors make it out of the mission alive.”

            George nodded. “Makes sense. But again why me?”

            “You see, as the creator I see every life force; because of that I can make a list of those who have the abilities to be a Keeper, Protector or Guide. You would make a very good Protector. And I am here to offer you that spot as a Protector. Save the World; protect it, and have a grand adventure while you are doing so.” Abby smiled.

            “What do you mean save the world?” George asked.

            Dean smirked and Joseph gave a grin. “Told you to start with the reason why you need to get newbies!” Dean stated and hi-fived Joseph. They were right.

            Abby turned and glared at them. “Okay, so all my other Keepers, Protectors and Guides were murdered. We were betrayed. To prevent The Sisters of Lilith from getting control over the catacombs and mines I shut them down. The issue is if they aren’t opened soon they will implode and destroy the Earth. But I can’t open them until I have a new time.”

            “And who are The Sisters of Lilith?” George asked.

            “Lilith, if you know anything in the bible, was Adam’s first wife. We created that first woman who would become the first demon. She was wanted magic into the world to enslave the mortals. What many don’t know is that Lilith and Adam had a daughter. Lilith took the daughter and trained her. Lilith was the first enemy of my first Keepers; mostly because she was a demon by that point. My brothers had abandoned our creation; I was alone, but for my mortals, and I had just given Earth magic. The leadership has been passed down mother to daughter since and always female. They only have males for breeding purposes to be honest. They generally kill them after they have a daughter. If they have a son they raise him to be a husband to a sister. They are a very radical group hell bent on giving mortals magic. But we, meaning my brothers and I, didn’t create mortals to be able to withstand the power of pure magic flowing through their bodies. Magic would kill all the mortals.  Basically their goal is to enslave humanity.” Abby explained.

            George looked at Abby. “Okay…” He took a breath. He sat back.  “So this is basically a job offer? You come poaching from the Military?”

            Abby chuckled. “No, I don’t poach only from the military. It is all based upon your soul Chief. And you, contrary to your beliefs, have a good soul.”

            “No matter the red dripping from my ledger?”

            “Everybody has red Chief. Think of the amount of red in my own? I can’t interfere with Death. When we created this realm for our father’s approval, there were three brothers full of goodness, life, kindness, all that is light in the world. There were also three brothers full of evil, death, hate and all that is dark in the world. So each created an entity that would not, could not, be interfered with; Life and Death. Life and Death are cousins so to say. I can heal someone; I can even bring someone back from the brink of death if it is not their time. But if it is there time…” She shrugged before continuing. “There is nothing I can do. The same life. Though I helped create the souls in realm, I have no control over which are brought to life. That is life’s choice. And some are reincarnated many, many times, and others are sent right to their punishment or reward. There is not only heaven and hell, but purgatory. Purgatory is where your soul sits and waits its judgment. Their souls are held in limbo and frozen until their life is viewed by Life and Death. They make the choice then of punishment, reward, or a do over. That is all reincarnation really is, is a do-over.” Abby explained.

            George nodded. “So we get paid and benefits?”

            Abby nodded. “Of course, I wouldn’t just rip you from your life like that; money and benefits are included as well as accommodations while traveling. You would mostly live at base.”

            George sat back and pondered this for a moment. It would get him out of the Navy. It was similar enough that it wouldn’t cause that much havoc upon his life. “How much?”

            Abby raised an eyebrow. “A special bank account is set up in each name, at the beginning of each month one hundred thousand dollars is deposited into that account. There is also another account set up and credit cards given for all expenses while on duty, so to say. Travel expenses for business or food while on business, etcetera would come from this joint account.” Abby explained. “As well as all doctor, dental, vision expenses; also each person has a hundred million dollar life insurance policy where they will need to name a benefactor.” She finished.

            Dean and Joseph looked floored and George looked at them. “You didn’t ask?”

            “Honestly saving the world sounded a lot more fun than tending the farm.” Dean stated.

            Joseph shrugged. “She saved my kid. She could have asked for my soul and I would have willingly given it to her.”

            George nodded. “Well, I got those answers for us. So when do I start?”

            Abby smirked. She picked up the phone. “I need a transfer of one Chief Warrant Officer George Noble to my unit.” There was a pause and George’s fax machine came to life.

            George picked up. ‘Effective immediately you have been reassigned and shall answer to only to the President. Your orders are to go with Miss Abigail and your new title is Protector.’ George looked up and held the paper. “Explain.”

            “You see I couldn’t get away with a lot of the things I have to get away if the governments didn’t know about me. The President, Dictator, Prime Minster, Emperor, etcetera, they all know about me. They are bound by oaths not to say anything. The magic of that oath would kill them if broke it. I mean a lot of my Keepers and Protectors and even Guides have been in the military. Of course, I don’t get a lot of lifers, most inactive. So, a call, a reassignment, and poof!”

            George nodded. “Thank you.” He stated.

            Dean smirked. “Go pack! And we get to go on the next step! As soon as we have everybody we are opening the catacombs and mines! I can’t wait! All that knowledge!”

            George laughed. “Give me a half hour and I will meet you out front.”

            Abby nodded. “Let’s go boys!” She pushed Dean and Joseph out the door, leaving George to pack up.

            George sat there for a moment. He blinked a few times. Had that just happened? Had that really just happened? His creator he had been avoiding like the plague since he joined the Navy just came to him to help save the Earth? To save this realm? He swallowed. Could he do it without failing? But it was the adventure he craved. And if he was going to go down… well, he would just have to go down in a fiery blaze of glory! George stood and went to his barracks. He had everything packed within those thirty minutes. Being a lifer he learned to not be attached to material items, especially when he was often deployed overseas. He walked out of the barracks and saw them standing next to an SUV. “I am so driving!” He yelled.

            Dean looked put out! “What? No! Your Squid ass is going to kill us all!”

            “Oh and a Jarhead behind the wheel is so safe isn’t it?” George stated.

            Joseph looked wide-eyed. “Oh, no!” He took a dive into the SUV and opened he wasn’t hit in the cross fire.

            Abby rolled her eyes and got in the SUV. “I am driving. Now get your asses in the vehicle!”

            Dean and George both looked at each other and shrugged. They both got in the vehicle and waited. “Well? Where are we going?” George asked.

            Abby smirked. “Time to get another Keeper. August Shepherd, 19: Cambridge, Massachusetts.”