Protect and Follow

By: MusketeerAdventure

Summary: This takes place during the episode Heir of Salvation. Alex finds he has an unexpected gift to add to his arsenal as the "chosen one" – Noma fears it; but Pete is the grateful one.

The escape from the school left Alex drained. Running from and then running down eight balls was exhausting business. He could still feel the thumps of their bodies as they rolled off the hood; fell to the ground; and then succumbed to death under the wheels of the jeep. Their raspy screams echoed in his head, drowning out the sputtering drone of the engine. His arms on the steering wheel felt heavy; his eyes gritty with dirt and his mouth dry from lack of water – the little he had stored in the jeep long gone now.

Alex hunched his shoulders and tried to loosen the muscles in his neck and back. He could still feel the torture of Gabriel all over his body and in his mind; and wished he could rest just for a moment. But that was out of the question. Vega did not have the luxury of a moment – Claire and his child did not have that luxury either.

He shook his head and slapped the side of his face to keep himself awake. For tape - he and Noma had almost died at the hands of a small pack of eight ballers – for a roll of tape. The school had been literately crawling with them – waiting to pounce and tear their flesh apart. But Noma had covered his ass like she always did and by hook or by crook they were able to make it out alive – barely.

He didn't know how long the tape would last; but hopefully it would last long enough to get them to New Delphi. New Delphi was where all his hopes lay. If he could just convince the people there that an alliance with Vega was what mankind needed to defeat Gabriel – then all his months of torture would have been worth it. This was the only way he knew to protect Claire and his child.

If there was one thing he learned, while under the thumb of Gabriel, it was that the angel needed him. He needed the markings – whether he could decipher them for him or not. He would use that to his advantage and lure the angel out – just long enough to kill him. Without Gabriel, the higher angels and the eight balls would give up the fight – they just had to.

Using his obsession against him was the way to go. Gabriel's relentless – bloody pursuit of bringing his Father back through the destruction of the human race would be his downfall.

Alex rubbed the back of his neck and tried to massage away lingering pain that radiated at the base of his skull; and down into his shoulders. He was tired and hungry, but the sense of urgency to get to New Delphi permeated through every pour in his body. And though he knew Noma must be feeling weary too – he would not stop.

He stole a glance over in her direction and could see that she was worn out – lines of exhaustion etched on her face. But to her credit – she did not complain; and sat perched on the edge of the seat next to him – eyes peeled out the window – on alert for any dangers that may lurk on the road.

He was grateful for her loyalty; and knew going into New Delphi was going against Michael's orders; and her need to protect him. Alex bit his lip, and thought on the archangel who had raised him to the man he was today. Michael – who he loved and resented at the same time. Michael – who was more his father than Jeep ever was. Michael – who had watched out for him his whole life; was gone.

He pressed his hand over his eye lids to try and clear the grit away – but succeeded in only making them sting and tear up. He swiped the tears away and tried not to think of how Michael had lied to him; betrayed him; and left him.

But that was okay. He didn't need Michael. He could do this on his own. He could be the "chosen one" and help forge an army against Gabriel. He would use every skill Michael had taught him; get this done – end this war; and bring about peace.

Then perhaps he could live a life with Claire and his child – and be the father that Jeep couldn't be.

On that thought; the jeep spewed white smoke, slowed down and came to an untimely stop. He hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand and jumped from the vehicle agitated and angry for the delay this would cause – Noma looking to him to fix it.

As soon as he looked under the hood, he knew – the jeep was going no further – and then unexpectedly his feet were pulled out from under him; and he landed flat on his back with an eight ball crawling on top of him; screaming in his face.

It took him only seconds to recover from the attack; having been trained day in and day out by the best to combat such tactics. He could hear Michael in his ear now – yelling for him to "think fast; and quickly get the upper hand."

So, Alex put a move on the creature that Michael taught him years ago – pressed his legs about his neck and held on tight. The eight ball was slight; a boy really – most of his strength coming from the reserves of being possessed by a lower angel. So he held on to him about the head and neck and let him buck and thrash in his arms.

And then something came over him, the incantation of eviction released from the recesses of his memory and fell from his lips measured; unhurried - much easier than before – and the markings moved about his arm on their own accord – flowing energy down into the baller's body – causing him to quit his onslaught; relax and fall unconscious.

Noma stood over them, transfixed; in awe and frightened at the same time – looking down on him uncertain as to what was happening. Well, he didn't understand it either – this burning flow of life pouring out of him into this eight ball – a possessed human – who moments before was ready to kill him.

Now that he was lax, he untangled their limbs; pushed away and scurried to his feet. He leaned over with his hands on his knees; and pulled in much needed air. Noma glanced his way – her eyes wide and mouth slightly open in amazement. For a moment he thought she was afraid of him. He couldn't blame her – he was afraid of himself.

He looked down at the boy and sighed. "They always die afterward", he told her. Alex shook his head and scanned the sky. The Book of Apocrypha never explained what was next – how to return the hosts to who they were. He looked back down at the body – what was the point of the eviction if they died?

He studied the boy's face – young; barely out of adolescents- peaceful now – whereas before, there was only blue tinged skin; black eyed rage and on his lips the eight ball mantra – "kill all humans".

Noma touched his neck and felt for a life pulse, "He's dead alright", she confirmed – but looked to him incredulous, "In the world of eight balls, you just became the most dangerous man alive."

Alex chuckled at her words. Yes – eviction meant death to the eight balls; but to him it was a hollow gift to have. It meant death to the host instead of rebirth.

So they gathered their weapons and walked away – left the host where he lay; and headed on to New Delphi – determined to bargain as the "chosen one"; align them with Vega and bring down Gabriel.

Noma stared hard at Alex and could not believe what she had just witnessed – a lower angel evicted from a human host. What power was this?

That Alex was the "chosen one" – that he wore the markings on his body that would one day bring peace to this earth – was one thing. But this casting out of possessed humans was another thing altogether. This was the hallmark of a miracle. But when she reached down to check for life signs of the previous eight ball, and now human – the boy was dead.

But still – this made Alex a very dangerous man. This gift he learned from the Book of Apocrypha – to drive the angel possession out was an advantage. The ability to take Gabriel's army away from him was huge.

The need to contact Michael was strong in her; as was her duty to protect Alex. This information – Michael would want to know. If he knew – maybe he would come back. But that's not what Alex wanted – she knew that. He had not wanted her to contact Michael for help earlier – but this news was perhaps a game changer in the fight against Gabriel.

She didn't understand the dynamic between Michael and Alex; and was not privy to what had transpired between them that now kept them apart. She only knew that they stood a better chance in this war if they all stuck together- fought side by side; and worked as a team.

Alex was well trained; trained well beyond their shared duties as part of the archangel corps – she could see that. His mind worked quickly and he had no give up in him. But he was impulsive; and in love. These two things could eventually become a hindrance if not tempered.

But as she had witnessed this miracle; she had also been witness to his strength of will. They had spent months imprisoned in the aerie with Gabriel and his minions - months, where they had been deprived of such basic necessities as consistent food; water; and rest. She watched them torture Alex day in and day out; wearing his body down – in the hopes he would break and read the markings imprinted on his skin. But that moment never came.

Even she could tell that Alex could not read them; let alone interpret them. But somehow he could wield their power. Alex was indeed strong; and now she could see, even stronger than she had imagined. To have kept this talent away from Gabriel after such torture was impressive.

What more gifts did the markings hold? When and how soon would they reveal themselves to Alex?

The "chosen one" was indeed a formidable ally and perhaps a fearsome enemy – one Vega and New Delphi could rally behind.

Noma resolved anew to protect Alex with her life; and together they left the miracle behind and headed on their way to New Delphi.

Peter woke up, and came back to his life with a strange sensation. The all-consuming; burning, tingling, feverish awareness – swept through his brain; pierced his heart and spread down his limbs. Everything hurt like hell.

As he breathed in the hot, humid air – it choked his lungs and caught in his throat – making him cough and expel dredged up bile and meat. Tears welled up in his eyes and flowed freely down his cheeks. He wheezed out tepid air and swiped at the tears on his face; trying to get a handle on his breathing.

When he looked up from his position on the ground, all he could make out was a blue cloudless sky and the tips of swaying limbs of large trees. He sat up slowly – coughing; spitting the foulness from his mouth – and grabbing at the pain in his chest.

Right in front of him, sat a vehicle; and miles of nothing – but undergrowth; dirt and trees. What was he doing out here? Where was he?

The last he remembered – he was sitting in Wendy's eating the bacon cheeseburger meal – wondering how long he should put up with his crap job; and his even crappier boss – who treated him like dirt, and hated him.

Peter gathered himself and stood carefully to his feet; and instantly felt a rush of heat explode through his body – blood ran from his head down to his toes; his legs buckled and he fell hard, back down in the dirt – trying to compose himself; and not lose his mind.

He put his face in his hands and took a deep breath. What he needed to do was to stand up; get the hell out of here; and find a way to get help as soon as possible and make it home. He lifted his face from his hands scanned his surroundings; and decided to start with the jeep right in front of him.

He took another stab at getting to his feet; and this time locked his knees to keep from falling over. He brushed dirt from his hands onto his shirt and took a look under the hood of the abandoned vehicle in front of him. Right away he could see – there was nothing to be done to fix it. He knew cars – and the white hot smoke that hissed out at him was a clue that the radiator was shot.

Someone had just left this behind. Who were they, and where could they be? He staggered over to the passenger door and then searched the jeep for food – water – anything that would help him on his journey. There was nothing here.

Peter was just about to sit down and weep with frustration when he suddenly felt buzzing – tingling warmth engulf him; and just like that he knew which way to go. He would follow that warmth east. The pull was strong; and he could feel it was the right thing to do.

So he put his tears aside and headed east.

For hours Pete walked in the searing heat; the dust and dirt rising up to clog his throat and sting his eyes – but he kept going, undaunted; sure he was going in the right direction.

And there up ahead, was his destination – rushing toward him with a weapon aimed at him ready to kill him for sure. But the man running toward him, yelling at him to get on his knees and put his hands up, was so full of wonderful light – he could see it.

As he got closer he could feel the warmth of him, reach out and envelope his body and mind. There was such peace emanating from him – surely he wouldn't kill him. He looked up from his knees and peered up at the fierce young man and woman bearing down on him. This was who he followed to the east. This was the person who was going to help him get home.

"He's alive!" they yelled at him, and he was confused. Of course he was alive; and he wanted to get home.

Then the man was yelling at him; and demanded to know who he was – what did he remember – but all he could see was the aura of light – everything else he said meant nothing to him. His talk of war; angels; eight balls; death and resurrection – all went over his head until the woman said she meant to leave him out here.

But he knew this man of light would not leave him here alone; unarmed and unprotected in this wilderness. The man lowered his weapon – looked down at him; told him that he was "lucky"; and pulled him to his feet.

When the man placed his arm around his shoulders – he felt protected; loved – safe. Pete felt totally confused and disorientated. Everything around him was a puzzle – but not this man. As he guided him away and they walked side by side to their destination – this New Delphi – he knew he would follow this man anywhere.

The warmth of him buoyed his spirits; and made him feel capable of anything. He was tired; hungry; thirsty and afraid – but this one would be his savior and maybe get him home.

Noma watched mystified as Alex and Pete seemed to have bonded almost instantaneously. As they walked over the rise; with Alex's arm around Pete's shoulders in a protective stance – she suddenly felt frightened.

What was Pete really? Would he revert back to an eight ball before their eyes? Was he successfully free from the possession? Or was this a trick of some sort – a skill of the lower angels she wasn't aware of?

What was she to make of this?

It was her job to protect Alex – even from himself.

So she unfurled her wings; spread them out to the heavens and called out to Michael – hoping he would hear her and come.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this. Please review and let me know what you think. I watched the first three episodes of season two of Dominion and was hooked. I'm not sure if I have the characters down exactly, so would like to hear how you think I did with this.