Watching Hearts

Phineas heads off to Michael, to give him the full and complete report. Cause that's what I'm supposed to do.

It is a pleasant flight across Heaven to the Groves, here in the *true* Heaven, where angels are angels, the sky is bright and clear, and the truth is plain to all.

Phineas sighs, feeling much better on familiar ground, as it were. He greets the few angels he knows, here and there.

The angels return greetings - and then, in one case, get hit by their sparring partner, but that was their own stupid fault for looking away.

Phineas winces, hoping he doesn't get blamed for that. He hunts around, looking for the big guy. He occationally asks passing Angels if they've seen him.

There is no immediately obvious sign of Michael around the Groves. Eventually, Doxas, the Angel of Glory (who is taking a break and having a drink) is able to tell Phineas that Michael is organising some sort of operation in the Marches.

Phineas oh .. well .. um. He looks around for someone appropriate to give a full unadulterated report to.

Doxas settles her bright wings. She, like Phineas, is a Mercurian. "I'll take a report and hand it on, if you like."

Phineas nods, "That'd be great." He then goes into all the details of the whole March adventure, leaving nothing out .. at least nothing intentionally.

Doxas listens with great and flattering interest.

Phineas does his absolute best not to ham up his parts, he even tries to downplay them. The big guy knows what he did, that's all that matters.

Doxas says, "This is a heck of a story. That explains why Michael's out there. He must be doing mopping-up ops and trying to trace anyone who was left out there."

Phineas nods, "I just have no idea what I'm to do now."

Doxas nods, thoughtfully.

Phineas hrms, "Maybe I just go corporeal and relax."

Doxas nods. "I can't think of anything else that you can do. It's not as if you can try and reach anybody still stuck out there."

Phineas nods, "I'm not overly fond of the dream realms, anyway."

Doxas says, "Unless you want to speak to anybody up here, or try looking in Hearts, or whatever."

Phineas rubs his chin and tries to think if he needs to find anyone, or do anything.

Phineas snaps his fingers, "Thanks Doxas. You just reminded me of something _very_ important to do."

Doxas nods. "My pleasure. Walk in courage, Phineas."

Phineas zips off to the Halls of Progress, flying as fast as his wings will carry him.

The Halls of Progress are a poem to applied modernity and science, high and gleaming and elegantly efficient.

Phineas goes to the front door, if there is one.

The front gate is free for all to enter, wide open. Angels and souls stream in busy currents from place to place, and items are exhibited in places of honour.

Phineas swoops down to the ground and goes in the front gate. He looks around for an information desk, or something of that nature.

There is, indeed, an obvious Information Desk, manned by a Seraph whose wings glisten gold and copper.

Phineas walks over to the desk, "Hi. I'm Phineas, Vassal of War. I need to see the Heart of another angel, by the name of Sephar."

<> Pat says "Oh sure. Go swingin' that Distinction around. :)"

<> Phineas says "Yep :)"

The Seraph nods, and bends the lowest pair of eyes to regard a computer screen. "Can you give your reasons for examining the Heart, please?"

<> Phineas says "If it helps cut through paperwork, so much the better."

Phineas nods, "I think she may be in trouble. She is my friend and I have a duty to help protect her."

The Seraph nods. "We already have one of our Cherubim watching the Heart, but you are welcome to join him." It reels off a set of directions, and a passcode for the door.

Phineas nods his thanks and heads to appropriate spot, wondering who the Cherub might be.

It is necessary for Phineas to pass through several halls that exhibit various technological items - including some rather splendid hand-held lasers and monofilament weaponry that haven't got to Earth yet - before he reaches the lift going down.

<> Jo says "Commandeer one of those on the way out!"

The lift sinks noiselessly to a basement, layers of circuitry rippling past as it goes down, and opens to a small room with a access box and numberpad on the wall.

Phineas oggles at the neat tech. He does so love that stuff. He pushes the down button, still marvelling at the ingenuity of it all.

<> Phineas says "Heh. Monofil axe! :)"

<> Sephar hides from Phineas.

<> Sephar had a GM that hated Monofil, so it *always* did the wrong thing...

The door responds to the passcode, and swings open on a climate-controlled vault, the walls and ceiling and floor all spotless porcelain and steel. A Cherub is loosely curled in front of one of the small crystal globes, leopard-body and dark wings.

The Cherub looks up. "Grrreetings."

Phineas smiles, "Hi. Phineas. I'm a friend of Sephar. I was told that you might be able to help me."

The Cherub growls, "I am Carlos. This is the Heart of Sephar. It has only recently become visible in it again."

Phineas nods, "Do you know where she is? I fear she may be in trouble."

The Cherub growls, "And boy, does she look... ahem. Well, she seems to have a human body now and be trapped in Shal-Mari. But at least the Lilim with her knows how to act."

<> Sephar falls over laughing.

<> Pat says "Go back to your newsgroups, Carlos. :)"

Phineas frowns, "Shal-Mari?"

<> Sephar just dies laughing.

<> Daimon bluffs and bullshits, baby.

Carlos growls, "Indeed. Hell. She's with the Lilim and the Cherub. They're buying bondage gear."

<> Liz says "Jeez, is Carlos the Angel of Tasteful net.porn or something?"

<> arcangel falls in love with Carlos!

<> Sephar too!

Phineas says "That'd be Daimonique and .. Chephirah, I think."

<> Demiurge says "You lot fall in love with half my NPCs."

<> arcangel nod!

<> Pat says "And we want to kill the other half."

Carlos nods. "That would agree with the inforrmation I have been given. I am keeping contact with Judgement and Destiny, who are watching their Hearts."

Phineas says "How do I get to this place?"

Carlos says, "I have been told that Trade is trying to negotiate with a few ... bribable ... people down there..."

Carlos bristles.

Carlos says, "You're joking? Right?"

Phineas says "Not at all. They're my friends. I can't rightly leave them there."

Carlos says, "It's *Hell*."

Phineas says "Yes, and we have some demons up here. I just brought em in."

Phineas sighs, "Anyway, I see your point. Do you know who I should talk to, in Trade?"

Carlos bristles a little more. "Phineas, you can't go down to Hell, short of Falling, following someone, or armed invasion. We're doing what we can."

Carlos pauses, peering into the Heart. "Wow. Now they're in some sort of housing district."

Phineas shakes his head, "Careful with what you watch. Don't enjoy it too much." He heads out, leaving Carlos to his thrills. Next stop .. Eduardo's heart .. joy.

Carlos calls, after Phineas, "Ask at the main desk in Trade! They'll be able to tell you who to talk to. But it may be a top-level thing."

Phineas tells the front-desk angel, "You may want to rotate watchers on Sephar's heart. I think Carlos is getting a little too .. attached." And with that, he wings out of the hall and looks for the Gabrielites.

Gabriel's Volcano is outside Heaven, on the edges of the Marches. However, for the enthusiastic Mercurian who is a Vassal of War, this is only a short flight.

<> Demiurge says "Okay. At the moment Phineas is heading towards the Volcano. At the same time, where we left them last time, Aron and Azalea are simultaneously winging for the Volcano."

The Citadel of Fire is visible in the distance, a great fortress of shining bronze, high with strong towers and walls, rising from the centre of a lake of lava in the crater of a titanic volcano.

<> Demiurge says "Okay, you spot each other in the distance."

<> Demiurge says "As you're both approaching it, though from different directions."

Aron moves apace with Azalea - assuming she is not zooming ahead - on the way to the Volcano.

Phineas wings towards Aron and Azalea, "Hey! Taroniel! Azalea!"

Aron turns at the call and nods. "Phineas. Your path crosses ours, it seems."

Phineas nods, "I'm here looking for Eduardo's heart. I just got back from Sephar's."

Azalea says "And what of Sephar's?"

Phineas says "Well, she, Daimon and Chephirah are in Hell. Shal-Mari. Trade is supposedly trying to bribe the bribables down there, and make some sort of deal."

Aron's brows knit. "In Hell."

Phineas nods, saying nothing more. "Michael is off picking up the pieces out there." He sweeps his arm off towards the distance.

Aron nods. "Did Trade imply that assistance would be unwanted?"

Phineas shrugs, "I haven't been there yet. I was coming here first. Wanted to see what all the situations were."

Aron nods. "We were seeking Eduardo as well. Shall we assay together?"

Phineas shrugs, "Sure, why not. I could use the company."

Aron imagines the intrepid trio then makes for the Citadel of Fire.

On the lip of the Volcano, an Ofanite raises a spear, limmed in green and scarlet fires. "Hold! State your name and purpose!"

Aron says "Taroniel. We seek the Heart of the Virtue, Edward."

Phineas says after Aron, "Phineas. I'm with Taroniel."

Azalea says "Alia."

The Ofanite spins in a quick flux of fire. "Enter, then, and the guards at the gate will direct you." It points across the sea of lava, towards the high gates of the bronze Citadel at the heart of the Volcano.

Phineas flies _carefully_ to said gates.

Aron pushes into the air and makes for the entrance, after a polite nod.

Azalea follows.

The lava ripples beneath them, fire flickering across it, and the waves of heat are constant, though never actually painful.

Phineas sighs, "Sometimes .. this place gives me the creeps."

Azalea says "I like it."

Phineas says "You would."

Shifting light dances across the hammered metal of the citadel, seeming to clothe it in flames.

At the gate stand two Malakim, burning swords drawn. They raise the blades in salute, before the first calls, "Name and Lord, and purpose?"

Phineas says "Phinehas. Michael. Here to see Edward's heart."

Azalea says "Alia, Blandine. Here to see Edward's heart."

<> Liz says "Zebina, Marc. Here with the double pepperoni pizza, extra jalapenos, for Gabriel."

Aron says "Taroniel, Eli."

The Malakim nod, and stand back from the gates. "Enter freely, and may you find what you seek."

Phineas says "Actually, we were hoping you could point us in the right direction."

<> Liz falls over giggling.

<> Eduardo smirks.

The first Malakite looks a little taken aback. "Ah. Edward, you say? Is this the Virtue, likes swords, got an oath about courtesy?"

<> Pat says "The terminally psychotic one? Yeah, that's him,"

<> arcangel thinks. "I dunno, Pat, they may all qualify for that. They're Gabriel's, after all."

<> Eduardo blinks innocently.

<> Pat says "Good point."

Phineas uh, "Dunno about the last part. But the first two are right."

Phineas says "He really, really likes his job."

Azalea says "It's a good job."

Aron smiles.

The second Malakite nods, grounding his sword. "Okay, go through into the main hall here, and ask one of the Seraphim there tending the candles if they can point you to it. You may need to clear it with Soldekai, but I wouldn't have thought so."

Phineas nods to the second Malakite, "Thank you." He then goes through the gate, and looks for a convenient candle-watching Seraph.

Aron follows.

A passageway of bronze inlaid with gold and copper leads into what is clearly a central gathering hall of darker stone. Candles are set throughout this arching stone room, ranked in holders of metals that range from dark steel to hammered gold, twisted copper to pale silver: their flames dance against the walls, forming patterns like strange illuminations or exotic art. The scent of incense hangs in the air in drifts, and the floor is set in different shades of marble and bronze, scrolled in a great mandala. Seraphim move throughout the room, replacing candles: the sound of song swells and fades in constant patterns.

Phineas waves to a Seraphim, "Hello, can you help us? The Malakite at the door said you could point us towards Edward's heart."

The Seraphim coils down from where he was adjusting a gold stand, the light flickering on his sapphire scales and feathers.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 5.

The Seraph says, "Yes, certainly. It will be my honour. If you would follow me?"

Phineas nods and follows the Seraph.

The Seraph leads the way down a side-passage of obsidian that is laced with gold, passing a swarm of relievers and some human souls.

The Seraph says, "I believe there is already somebody watching it. Our Mistress commanded it."

Aron nods, approvingly.

Phineas nods, "Seems the norm in our group."

The Seraph tilts its head. "Dangerous situation?"

Phineas nods, "From time to time."

The Seraph sings a fluting note. "Yes, understandable."

<> Phineas says "I am the master of saying nothing!"

The Seraph leads the angels down a further set of corridors, and the heat increases. From time to time, lights move behind the obsidian walls, and there is a pulse of lava, deep earth heartsfire.

After perhaps ten minutes, the Seraph pauses in front of an archway of beaten copper, liquid and rainbow-shaded. "Through here. Vingilis is with the Heart. I wish you well."

Phineas nods his silent thanks to the Seraph and heads into the archway.

Through the archway is a single room of obsidian, with a latticed window carved out of the living rock that looks onto the shimmering lava beyond. A Heart burns in a niche in the wall, and an Elohite sits before it, light playing on its pale skin.

The Elohite turns, and rises from its cross-legged position. It gives a neat half-bow.

Phineas greets the Elohite, "Greetings. I'm Phineas. This is Taroniel and Alia. We're friends of Edward's. We come seeking his .. status."

The Elohite says, precisely, "Currently moving through Shal-Mari, having set light to a chunk of the Archives. Two Dominicans with him, presumed Mazpatiel and Maasiai."

Phineas frowns, "Well, at least they're all together." He nods to Vingilis, "Makes sense." He turns to Aron, "Well .. off to Trade now?"

Aron says "Also in Shal Mari."

Aron nods. "And then to our own Superiors, I think."

The Elohite turns, as the Heart flickers.

The Elohite says, "A moment. I think that something is happening."

Phineas turns his head to the heart and the Elohite.

Eduardo flickers, suddenly, apearing from nowhere in a -- mercifully brief -- burst of flame. His form is celestial, his expression somewhat sour.

Azalea watches carefully.

Aron takes a breath, relaxes.

The Elohite turns, and bows its head to Eduardo. "Edward. You are returned to us."

You paged Eduardo with 'You'd recognise the Elohite as Samuel, not someone you really know.'.

Eduardo breathes out, slowly. "Samuel." He pauses. "I am." He pauses again. "It was not pleasant."

The Elohite nods. "I will inform others, if you wish privacy with your friends?" He nods towards the others.

Eduardo glances aside, then nods. "I am glad to see you again." There is warmth in his voice, a sense of unvoiced relief.

The Elohite quietly moves to the archway of the room, and out.

Azalea says "We came to - well, in truth, I'm not at all certain what we came to do."

Aron says, "One nurtures - hopes. That one can do something."

Eduardo nods, then glances at Aron. "To see."

Aron nods.

Eduardo says "I understand. That was why I went ... there."

Eduardo's voice flickers bright. "That and the conversation with my Lady. We could not let Dominic's out do us."

Phineas chuckles.

Eduardo looks around the three of you. "What happened?"

Azalea says "When?"

Eduardo says "After we left you to chase the figure, in the Marches."

Aron says, "What happened then?"

Azalea says "May I abbreviate?"

Aron says, "Yes."

Azalea says "We went to a false heaven, commandeered some false Redeemed, and then Michael came and blew the place apart."

Eduardo says "That would be the brief version. I wasn't sure who destroyed the place."

Azalea says "Very well."

---

Fiat Justitia