The clear air of the genuine Heaven blows around Sephar as the Kyriotate speeds towards the gleaming, elegant, efficient Halls of Progres.
Sephar breathes deeply of it after the noise and smell of Hell, spreading wings to catch it.
Other angels and souls pass beneath, or above, as the doors to the Halls of Progress come in sight. Instead of the *throb* of Shal-Mari, here is a constant harmony.
Sephar listens to it quietly, slowly letting muscles relax, letting go of tension and reflexive suspicion.
Sephar sighs softly, on the edge of tears again as it realizes how it was holding itself and glad it doens't have to anymore.
A passing Elohite glances towards Sephar, dark green eyes widening. "Something troubles you, Domination?"
Sephar whirls and laughs a silver laugh, "No longer, Power, but I thank you for your concern."
The Elohite nods, and turns back to the superconductor display that it is helping to arrange.
Sephar murmurs softly, "It is good to be home."
Sephar speeds on.
The Halls of Progress are as busy and purposeful as ever. A dark-winged leopard Cherub comes stalking through the crowds, heading towards Sephar.
Sephar is moving mostly towards Jean's front offices, to find a terminal to report fully before going to actually see the Archangel; but notices the Cherub coming at it, so slows and goes halfway to greet the Cherub.
The Cherub ripples its wings. "Sephar, Domination of Lightning? I'm Carlos. I was watching your Heart. Good to see you safely out."
Sephar rolls a bow, blinks a few eyes in surprise at the news and then smiles, "I am glad we got safely out as well. Thank you for your vigilance." Then it suddenly blushes silver, "Uhm... I take it you saw everything?"
The Cherub rolls a shoulder. "You looked *very* efficient."
Sephar laughs suddenly, "I felt lost, but I'm glad I could do what I could do."
The Cherub growls, "Just wanted to check you were okay now you were up this end."
Sephar sighs softly at the confirmation of its actions, and bobs its cloud quietly at the words.
Sephar says "I think I'm okay. No one got badly hurt. There were a few things that confused me down there, but... I'm not sure what would help with those."
The Cherub growls, "Perhaps you should check the encyclopaedias?"
Sephar thinks a bit. "I'm not sure if it would tell me if I actually... uhm... need sex when I really haven't thought it even as an activity I wished to pursue, before."
The Cherub puts its wings back a trifle. "I believe it's one of those things like coffee. Not so much a need, really."
The Cherub says, "Not that you looked _bad_ in that body, mind you."
Sephar blinks many eyes at that for a moment and then bobs its cloud in a nod, "That would align with my beliefs. I think I shall have to ask the Lilim what the other Lilim meant..."
Sephar . o ( You mean Lightning Servitors don't *need* coffee? )
The Cherub says, "Not that you looked _bad_ in that body, mind you."
Sephar looks at the Cherub and then chuckles softly. "Thank you. It felt very interesting."
Sephar says "Though you might want to compliment Daimonique of Creation in service to Judgement as well, as it's her Vessel I copied in the Marches."
The Cherub says, "Mm? Okay. Nice taste, both of you."
Sephar blushes just a bit and bobs another nod.
The Cherub says, "Thanks for talking, anyhow. Walk in illumination."
Sephar says "Thanks for watching out for me. Walk in Illumination."
The Cherub folds his wings, turns, and moves away.
Sephar smiles quietly and then moves back on its course towards the common terminals.
There are several common terminals free.
Sephar sets up by two of them and using four hands/arms, writes in its report, one terminal starting from the beginning, the other starting with the internment in the Tower and both moving forward at... well... lightning speed.
The computers can handle this, being JeanTech. They click and beep reassuringly.
Sephar purrrrrrumbles softly under its breath at the smoothness of the tech, and it writes down everything that it saw from its points of views and adds the conjecture and proofs that this was, indeed, the place where all the dreamers were being taken.
Sephar then submits the report.
The computer beeps twice, then Sephar's email account abruptly flashes up an "Email received" message.
Sephar brings up the new email to read.
The email box has a number of small notes, but the most recent is flagged with red priority tags.
Sephar bring up the high priority one.
The email reads, "Sephar. See me in eight minutes. J."
Sephar links all its eyes, sends an acknowledement of an appointment back, logs out and then speeds over to Jean's office.
The Seraph coiled in the office outside twitches a wing at Sephar. It is unfamiliar. "You would be Sephar, Domination of Lightning?"
Sephar rolls a bow, "Yes, Most Holy. I have an appointment in a few minutes, I think."
The Seraph checks its computer. "Two minutes. Please take a seat or whatever position is most efficient."
Sephar just hovers by the desk, out of the traffic lane into and out of the office.
Two minutes later, the Seraph's computer chimes. The Seraph looks up, riffling its pale orange wings. "Please go in."
Sephar rolls another bow and goes for the door.
Inside, Jean is sitting by his computer. The wall behind him has changed to a complicated multi-layer forcefield projection with an intricate wiring design or architectural plan unfolded in it. The room gleams with pristine cleanliness.
Jean says, precisely, "Sephar."
Sephar says "Sir."
Sephar studies the wiring a little curiously, with some eyes, but the rest are focused on his Boss.
Jean says, the crackle of suppressed electricity in his voice, "I have received reports on recent events from Judgement, Trade, Fire, War, Destiny, Dream, Flowers, and yourself. Of them, yours was by far the most detailed."
<
Sephar rolls a quiet bow, "I would serve. And it seemed important to study what I could see."
Jean says, "What comprehension do you have of the place where you were captive?"
Sephar says "Some little actual data, some conjecture points to it being a long-established
development of lies, of a false Heaven that would trap both dreams and demons that wished to
truly redeem."
Sephar frowns quietly, "Though the data field I had was small, it seemed convincing."
<
Jean says, "That is the considered hypothesis, yes."
Sephar bobs a quiet nod with its cloud.
Jean says, "You are permitted to mention the nature of this place to anybody that you wish.
However, mentioning it to demons is liable to render you a higher priority target than you already
are."
Jean reaches across, and taps a key on his computer. "Which is uncomfortably high. You are
aware of this?"
Jean's voice is brisk and precise, not swayed by emotion or sympathies.
Sephar blinks mildly. "I was not quite aware of the extent."
Jean says, "It will be dependent on the degree to which you are recognised as being involved, but
you have been instrumental in destroying a project that was a result of inter-Prince cooperation,
which has been functioning for centuries at least."
<
Jean says, "You are, by the way, to be commended for your behaviour under stress."
Sephar blinks all its eyes this time.
Sephar says "Thank you, sir."
Sephar says "My nature seems to be such that I'm slightly harder to be recognized, and since I was
in a copy of Daimonique's Vessel... if anything I'm a bit more worried about Daimonique's safety
than my own."
Jean says, "Comprehensible and appropriate."
Jean says, "Are there any areas in which you feel that your functioning could be improved?"
Sephar takes a slow breath at that.
Jean waits, unmoving.
Sephar says "Yes. Two, likely. The first is in the area of actively defending myself or others,
perhaps some small training in either Celestial combat or something like that. The second is a bit
more sensitive in nature... I think I'm susceptible to sexual advances, more than I'd like to be."
Sephar does blush on saying the last, yes.
Jean says, "An interesting set of points. For the first, I can arrange training with Servitors of War
or the Sword. For the second, I would suggest that you expose yourself to a limited degree in
order to gain understanding of your weakness."
Jean says, "Contact a Servitor of Creation or Flowers. I believe that certain names are available
on the bulletin boards."
Sephar smiles.
Sephar says "Thank you, Sir."
Jean says, "In the meantime, I note that you have found the Song of Tongues to be useful."
Sephar says "Very, sir."
Jean reaches out a pale, flawless hand. Lightning crackles out to briefly sear around Sephar in a
moment of white illumination.
<
Sephar gasps very softly and bathes in the light...
<
Jean lowers his hand, and the lightning dies away.
Jean says, "Well done."
Jean says, "I have an appointment in one point five minutes. Is there anything else, Sephar?"
Sephar rolls a deep bow, "Thank you. I do not believe that there is anything else."
Jean nods. "Walk in illumination."
Sephar bobs the nod and heads out the door, a much more cheerful cloud.
The Seraph is busy inputting some data, but glances up curiously as Sephar passes.
Sephar smiles at the Seraph.
Sephar contemplates War or Creation.
The Seraph gives a casual tail-flick-salute.
Sephar pauses by the desk, "May I make a training appointment with the War on efficient Celestial
defense?"
The Mercurian on duty at the desk says, "Certainly. When would you like to book it for?"
Sephar says "Uhm. Later this afternoon? I have to meet up with a few people, but I think I'll have
the time, then. Or how long will it take?"
The Mercurian says, "Basic assessment usually takes half an hour to an hour, then whoever you're
working with will sort out classes with you personally."
Sephar says "Great, then please set up the assessment appointment for later today."
The Mercurian taps some instructions into the computer. "Certainly. Please report to Merab,
Cherub of War, in the Groves, in five hours time."
Sephar rolls a bow happily, "Thank you."
Sephar says "Walk in efficiency."
The Mercurian dips her head. "And you."
Sephar floats out, humming happily to itself and heads for the Halls of Worship.
---