Archangel Crusader (31 page)

"I'm dreaming," Michael muttered to himself, expecting to wake up any moment. "But I saw you dead!" Who was he trying to convince?

"Not anymore... Do I feel dead to you?"

She wrapped her arms around him, and the warm smell of her skin threatened his self-control. Michael found his body responding with prodigious vitality as he held her. They read each other's mind in the same instant. Veronica's green eyes filled with infinite love. Her head tilted back, soft lips opening slightly. Michael had never been able to resist her call, but this time, despite the violence of his own attraction, exerting a restraint he had never shown before, he carried her to the airbed and laid her gently down.

The colors in the room changed to brighter shades of oranges, reds, bright blues, and purple. The humming became a soft harmony of musical tones. Although he felt about to explode with desire, Michael took his time peeling off her veils one at a time, caressing her apricot skin, running his fingers through her auburn hair. How wonderful to be able to read her most secret yearnings! Michael covered her with soft and hard kisses, hands working up and down the beloved body, overwhelming her.

"Please," she begged in ragged breaths, "I've been waiting for so long."

"So have I." He covered her lips in a long, passionate kiss.

Cupping her small breasts, Michael teased her hard nipples with his teeth, tantalizing her while Veronica squirmed under his weight, emitting little cries that became more frantic. Soon, at the edge of insanity, neither of them could take anymore temptation.

Even then, Michael refused to succumb to his need. Enjoying her pleasure more than his own, he kept on teasing her, this time kissing her most private place, softly, insistently, holding her down with strong hands while she moaned and shuddered in ecstasy. Michael shared Veronica's delight in her mind, shaken by the intensity of his own feelings and physical sensations. Never had he felt so attuned to anyone, so sensitive, so vulnerable and yet so strong.

"Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" he whispered in her ear, nibbling it, preparing to enter her as he knew she wanted him to.

She seized his manhood and pulled him inside her. The contact almost caused Michael to faint with exhilaration. His heart beat hard, colors flashed in front of his eyes. Veronica's perfume, the sound of her cries, the softness of her skin, the love in her mind overwhelmed him.

Finally, unleashing the wildest instincts he never knew he had, he rode her with surprising fierceness. To his amazement, Veronica shared in his violent assault, enjoying it, urging him on. When the intensity reached the paroxysm, they both released their energy at the same time, in great tremors of shuddering sounds, colors and vibrations, followed by a great peace.

"Wow!" Michael couldn't help exclaim.

Veronica smiled. "I know... I hope we never get used to it." She kissed him gently. "It took me a while to understand my new body. You remember when I met you in the cave, before the fight with Krastinios?"

Fragments of memories flowed back slowly. "But it was a dream, wasn't it?"

"No, it wasn't. My body felt so vibrant, even my enhanced brain could barely control it."

"New body? Enhanced brain? What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the two replicas in the embryonic tanks. Don’t you remember, the future Adam and Eve?" Veronica seemed amused at his surprise.

"What? The improved specimens of you and me, built to last for millions of years?" Michael's mind reeled with the possibilities.

"Exactly. Made for each other, unable to think a negative thought... Well, they've been put to a better use."

"I'll be damned! This dad of mine is full of surprises."

"Wait till you see your mom... She's magnificent. They make such a handsome couple."

"Oh Lord, where does it stop?" Michael still didn’t dare to believe. "What's the catch?"

"What do you mean?"

"When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. So what's the catch?"

"I guess you could consider being stuck together for all eternity some kind of a catch."

Michael laughed, for this was the part he liked best.

But Veronica went on. "Another thing is, Amrah has plans for you. I think he needs you to travel with him. This means you'll have to leave Jennifer behind, at least for a while."

"I see..." A shadow passed over Michael's mind. This would be the hardest part. "Better be important, but coming from Amrah, I'm sure it is..." Michael reflected in silence then shook his head to dispel the uncomfortable thoughts. "Still sounds better than death." Suddenly remembering, he asked, "Is the battle over?”

At that moment, the door slid open. Amrah entered, answering the question meant for Veronica. "Over for now. Upon the death of their Warlord, the lead vessel exploded mysteriously. Our shields deflected their blows long enough. We destroyed many of their fighters. Losing their leader shattered their fighting spirit. They did not put up much of a fight after that. When the mother ship exploded, they turned back." The Blue Angel smiled.

Michael wondered how the gentle soul had coped with warfare but didn’t ask.

Suddenly grave, Amrah added, "Lucky for us. We sustained severe damage during the battle and could not have held on much longer. It will take weeks to get the ship spaceworthy."

"They ran when they could have won?"

Amrah winked. "They didn’t know that. But they will come back, believe me, Son. And next time they will be prepared. I need you to help hunt them down, find where they hide before they plan a new attack. With your wild instincts you could figure them out. I need an Archangel on my side. What do you say?"

"An Archangel?"

"Yes, Michael. Do you think this name was given to you by chance?"

"God damn you, old blue goat! Not anymore I don't. Do I have a choice?"

"You are absolutely free, Michael. You can go back down there if you choose."

"And do what? Help Dave build his house, dodge the police, struggle in the hell I created for myself? I wouldn't enjoy it anymore. Jennifer's my only reason to stay, but she doesn't seem to need me as much, now that she found her mother. Soon she'll grow-up and make her own life... It'll be hard to watch over her from afar, but you win, old man. I'm game."

"In about forty days, we will be ready to leave orbit. Is it enough time to settle your affairs on the planet?"

"It'll have to do, I guess."

*****

Michael's first visit took him to a green hospital room in Washington D.C. In the middle of the night the hallways remained relatively quiet. The air smelled of rubbing alcohol and disinfectant. Looking with compassion over Debbie's emaciated body lying between the white sheets, Michael remembered how she had labored for his cause with selfless abandon. He smiled, letting his heart go out to her.

The monitors attested to a faint heartbeat. Under the oxygen mask, Michael could see the bruises around the eyes. Probing Debbie's mind he realized that she was unconscious and heavily sedated. She did acknowledge him, though, in a dream. Her spirit embraced him with enthusiasm when he told her what he had come to do.

A nurse poked her head through the doorway. Michael waved, smiling, then closed the door as soon as she had passed. Approaching Debbie's bed, he disconnected the network of tubes and intravenous lines, took off the oxygen mask and admired his handiwork. Debbie slept peacefully.

Satisfied, he dimmed the lights before vanishing into thin air.

*****

When Debbie opened her eyes, she felt weak, but the pain was gone. She could see the white sheets of the bed. She knew she was in the hospital, but she did not remember getting there. How long had it been?

She only remembered a dream. She saw Michael who told her that she was cured. Soon Debbie would go home and lead a normal life. And he had wished her happiness with Walter. Now, the pain was gone... She was hungry.

As her eyes adjusted to the faint morning light, she saw Walter enter the room in a blue suit, staring in disbelief.

"Good morning, darling,” Walter exclaimed. “You look much better today... Your color has returned. The bruises are gone. How do you feel? The nurse told me you had a visitor late last night, after I left. A handsome guy too. Should I be jealous?" Ever solicitous, Walter sounded especially cheerful.

After days of numbness, pain, and silence, Debbie felt like talking again. "I'm hungry," she enunciated through a dry mouth.

"Nurse!" Walter called out in his excitement, beaming with hope. "She's awake... She talked... And she's hungry!"

The heavyset nurse came in and gawked, incredulous.

"What's the matter?" Debbie’s speech improved by the second, "I'm hungry, that's all. Could I have some breakfast? I'm starved."

"Sure, I'll get you something." The nurse disappeared through the door.

"You'd think I came back from the dead or something," Debbie joked, but Walter's expression made her wonder.

"Well, to tell the truth, your physician didn't think you'd wake up this time."

"Really? I don't understand, I feel great. Ever since I saw Michael..."

"Michael? My God, you don't know about that either."

"About Michael? What about him? You know what, I thought I had a dream, but when I think of it, he was the visitor I had last night."

"Debbie, I don't know how to tell you this, but Michael..."

The nurse came in with a tray, helped Debbie to sit up with great care, and lifted the lid off the plate.

Debbie smelled the food then stopped and looked at the nurse. "Were you here all night?"

The nurse nodded. "Yes, I was. My shift ends in half an hour."

"Did you see my visitor?" Debbie turned to Walter. “In your wallet there's a picture of us with Michael at the studio. Show it to her..."

"But, darling, I'm trying to tell you that..."

"Please, Walter..."

Walter shrugged, searched his wallet and found the picture. He gazed at it for a second then handed it to the nurse.

She took it and after one glance said, "Yes, that's him, that's the young man I saw last night. I wish all visitors were as nice as him. You've got good friends, Miss. God knows you deserve them. Do you need anything else?"

"No, thanks." Debbie attacked her breakfast.

"But that's impossible..." Walter mumbled, scratching his head. "Becky told me he was..."

"He was what?"

"Nothing... If he was here last night, then he's alive." Walter stared at Debbie, who ate with a healthy appetite. "It's a pleasure to see you so energetic. I was scared. I thought I'd lost you these past three days."

"It's a comfort to know you're watching over me. I love you, Walter. Get me out of here and I'll prove it. I feel fine today." She stretched and smiled, pushing away the tray with the empty plate.

"I don't know if this is the right time, Debbie, I but can't think of leaving you without asking."

"What?" she asked, alarmed by his seriousness.

"Since it looks like you made it this time..." He looked at her with tears in his eyes. "Debbie..." He hesitated. "Will you marry me? Please say yes."

She gaped at him then felt her face blush with excitement. "Walter," she stumbled on the words. "Yes, of course I want to marry you, especially now..."

Walter held her hand, but she pulled him into a healthy hug. He laughed in her ear. "I see your strength is back too," he humored. "I wish I could stay longer, but I have to be on the set."

"All right, but come back as soon as you can. I miss you already."

Walter kissed her lips softly, and Debbie kissed him back with wild fire.

After Walter left, Debbie sank into the pillows. She could not stop smiling. Somehow, she believed that Michael had done it. She was cured. She felt regenerated, as if the cancer had died in her, and only healthy cells remained.

Grateful, she watched the sun rise above the city. She wondered if the purity of the air was due to her state of mind or to the enforcement of the new, clean-gasoline regulations. Could there be a better time to be alive and well?

*****

In a convalescent home in Little Rock, Arkansas, an old man, paralyzed by a stroke, had a vision. The name on his bed said Robert Tanner. In his dream, he had a visitor, a young man who looked like Maria's boy. Robert had never liked that boy, a smart ass, too proud for his own good. The kid was scared of him but would never admit it, no matter what. In the dream, however, the boy offered apologies, peace, and forgiveness. He offered something else, health, that's what he said. The boy could give him his health back, if he promised never to hurt a living soul again.

Robert Tanner was too proud to accept any favors or make any such promises. So, he refused. He still didn't like the boy and did not want anything from him anyway. Curiously, the young man had looked sad as he wiped the drool off the corner of Robert's mouth and said he'd be back. Robert hoped he wouldn't. Maria's boy made him uncomfortable.