Ragnarok: The Fate of Gods (29 page)

             
“Pssst!  Over here!  In the alley!”  In between the run-down buildings was a weasely-looking man hiding behind a modest heap of trash.  He waved for Jae-Hoon to come closer.

             
“Uh, yes?” the priest asked as he stepped carefully around the trash. 

             
“I got somethin’ for ya.”  The man was energetic, bobbing quickly up and down in place.  His neck craned, searching the streets for signs of people. 

             
“You do?” 

             
“Yeah, but not here.  Back this way.”  He took a step farther into the alley.

             
“Look, I’m sorry.  I don’t have a lot of money.  I’m not worth your time.” 

             
The weasely man stopped.  “What?  Oh, not.  I’m not robbing you.  I really do got somethin’.” 

             
“Well, then what is it?”  Jae-Hoon stood adamant, refusing to follow him into the alley.  He wasn’t afraid of the strange, greasy-haired little man, but he had harmed enough humans in his life.  He refused to add another to that list. 

             
“Uh,” he hesitated, still twisting his head to search the streets.  “Actually, I don’t know.” 

             
“You don’t know?”

             
“Look, look.  I know how this sounds.  But it’s the truth.  Swear on my mother’s grave.  Some guy ‘bout five minutes ago dropped in on me and said that some Armageddonist preacher was headin’ this way and that he wanted me to get him something.  Didn’t stick around long enough for questions.” 

             
“I don’t get it.  If you don’t know what it is, why are you so nervous?” 

             
“Look, this was a mean-lookin’ guy we’re talking ‘bout.  I figure anything what scares a guy like that, I oughtta stay out of its way.  I don’t want no part in this.” 

             
Jae-Hoon was bombarded with a lot of information.  Someone had been following him.  A mean-looking guy.  One of the Karellan’s men?  It couldn’t be.  Why would a spy would be scared?  What could they want to give him?  

             
He was curious.  “All right.  Give it to me.”  He held out his hand, waiting for the mysterious parcel. 

             
“Uh-uh.  No way.  Not here.  You think this trash is a good hiding place?” 

             
“Look, it’s all right.  I’m a Slayer.  I can protect you.” 

             
The man examined Jae-Hoon closely.  He saw the robes.  At once he seemed more relaxed, although he still bobbed up and down energetically.  “Whoa, didn’t see that there.  Guess you are.”  He reached down to his pant leg and pulled a tube out of his sock.  “Slayers are good people.  Never met one I couldn’t trust.”

Jae-Hoon was shocked that the man changed his mind so quickly.  And he cringed at the thought of the tube, hiding out by this man
’s greasy ankle, but he took it politely.  It was a container of some sort.  He pulled the end off and found a small stack of rolled up documents inside.  Schedules, plans, military requisitions, a blue print of Nifelheim’s central power reactor. 

All of them taken from the Karellan
’s office. 

He suddenly understood the need for secrecy.  There was enough information to plan the entire assassination.  Anyone found with this would be executed on the spot. He gaped at it in awe, flipping through the pages. 

The weasely man kept talking.  “I tell ya, you Slayers are wicked cool.”  He threw a few weak punches into the air.  “Bam!  Bam!  A Slayer pulled me outta a tight spot a few years back.  Came burstin’ in, stabbin’ up the draugr.  I thoughta joinin’ them once or twice, but I ain’t got the moves.”

“
Look, I really don’t like talking about this,” Jae-Hoon interrupted, rolling the documents together and stuffing them into the tube. 

“
Oh, but you should.  Look, you do the world a favor.”

Jae-Hoon snorted. 
“Death is no favor.” 

“
You kiddin’?  Before comin’ to Nifelheim, my village was attacked by them creeps.  Ate my sister.  She didn’t have no one around to save her.  Look, guy, everyone oughtta be thankin’ you.  Those monsters don’t belong here.  I’m all for environmentalism and stuff, but those things ain’t natural.  They shouldn’t be here.” 

“
Yeah,” Jae-Hoon said softly.  “I guess you’re right.”

The Karellan’s chair was turned away from his desk.  He stared out the picture window in the back of his office.  It was dusk.  He sat, watching the last traces of red vanish from the sky.  Hugin was amazed.  From dawn to dusk, it seemed that the overlord spent every moment in front of this window. 

“
My lord, I have just received confirmation that Dumah has sent a messenger to Rome.”  He spoke with urgency.  Although his master seemed relaxed at the thought, Hugin did not wish to underestimate the threat.

“
Perfect,” he laughed.  “Lilith is wonderful.  Smart enough to get the job done, but still dumb enough not to understand what she’s doing.  Although I mustn’t rule out Dumah’s dependence on our good Raven of Memory.” 

“
My lord,” urged the ninja, “we believe the intent of this message is to request assistance for an assassination. 
Your
assassination.”

“
What did you expect?  An invitation to his birthday party?” 

Hugin was frustrated. 
“No. Of course not.  I just wish you’d use more caution.” 

The Karellan spun his chair around.  His gaze burned through his cheerful face.  It was the only sign Hugin was given.  It told him he had crossed a line. 

The overlord ignored the request.  “Did you make the delivery I requested?” 

“
Yes sir.  Through a third party, so as not to be recognized.” 

“
Then everything is
exactly
as I want it to be.  Thank you for your loyalty, but I’ve not grown soft sitting behind this desk.”  White light flashed in the room.  “Ah, Metatron.  Are you here to report as well?” 

The malak spoke with intense anger.  Quiet, but strong. 
“You are not speaking to one of your slithering lackeys.  You will not question me as such and you will stand when you face me.”  Hugin shivered at the sound of the demon’s voice. 

The Karellan did not. 

He dropped his cheerful tone.  “Malak or not, you are merely a servant.  A slave.  Give your report,” he demanded flatly.

“
Your
mouse
has made contact with Sandalphon.  He has spent some time already studying the arts of the book,” Metatron growled.  He did not enjoy reporting to this man.  This
human
. 

“
Perfect!”  The Karellan’s cheerful tone returned, although there was an edge to his voice.  “Raven Hugin here has just informed me that Branderlief will soon be returning to us.  Now that he is powerful enough to command his own soul, we can begin the revival of Samael.  From then, the resurrection will be imminent.” 

“
Are you sure that is wise?” questioned the malak. 

The Karellan
’s glare would have melted a normal man, forced him to run in fear.  It was a powerful, fiery gaze. 

But the malak was immune. 

“You have a grievance with my plan?” the Karellan said with a hushed intensity. 

“
You have made too many alterations.  The resurrection will not be proper with the soul of your
mouse
in command.” 

“
An artist must leave his mark.”  He turned away and stared out the window again.  The sky was dark.  The dim lamplight from the Karellan’s desk was enough to cast a reflection on the window. 

In it, he saw Metatron draw his sword. 

The Karellan was calm.  “Do you challenge me?  A mere slave of the divine, with no will of your own?  That was stolen from you when you
failed
to read Razael’s book.  Only
I
can complete the resurrection.  You can not destroy me, nor can you absorb me.  Your plans will be useless if I am dead or assimilated into God’s body.  The will which commands you will not allow my destruction.” 

The Karellan was indeed the malak
’s master.  His knowledge had forged restraints Metatron could not hope to break.  He lowered the sword.  “So be it.  But know that there are worse fates than death or assimilation.”  He spun with inhuman speed.  His sword ran through Hugin in an instant.  The malak lifted the ninja high into the air, still impaled on the blade.  With his free hand, he grabbed the man’s face.  The skin he touched turned black.  This darkness soon spread to cover the entire face. 

Hugin shook violently, cold and tortured.  The darkness spread through his entire body. He felt his soul torn out of him.  His last sight was a gentle mist rising from his skin.  Injured and without a soul, the body turned to dust and fell into a small pile at the malak
’s feet. 

But Metatron hadn
’t finished.  Before the mist vanished, he shot a bolt of ethereal flame into the air.  The mist sparked, flashed, and disappeared. 

“
You will not always be protected by your necessity.  Defy me again and I will destroy your soul.” 

The Karellan was unimpressed. 
“If that is all, you may take your leave now.”

Chapter Nineteen: Knowledge and Power

              Zeke was alone.  Sandalphon had cleared a large room in his complex for training.  This is where he had spent the better part of the last three weeks. 

             
He blew out the candles.  The pre-dawn light was enough.  He had developed the habit of rising with the monks, well before the sun.  His usual training routine was now his warm-up.  It was completed by dawn.

The Book of Razael rested on a table by the window.  He was careful, almost fearful, not to touch it.  He could make no sense of the language it was written in.  Digging through Elijah
’s notes was the only way to advance his training. 

Turning back to the center of the room, he swung his sword in a familiar pattern.  A simple form.  One he could do in his sleep.  Then he held out one hand, running it down the blade.  A soft, red glow emanated from the sword.  It emanated out of the blade as if it were both smoke and fire.  At first glance, it didn
’t appear to be more than a trick of the lights.  It gave off no heat, nor did it make the blade sharper. 

But he felt it.  Merely holding the glowing sword strained him in ways he had never felt.  It was difficult.  His effort was phenomenal, although it did not make his body tired or his mind confused. 

Repeating the same form from moments ago, he found it far more challenging.  He knew it was because of the sword’s aura, but he didn’t understand why.

“
You have made progress these past few weeks.” 

The sage
’s voice startled him.  His concentration lost, the red glow faded from his sword. “I still don’t know what I’m doing.  What is happening to my sword?” 

Elijah moved toward the center of the room.  He carried a small bundle, and a pole used for cutting practice. 
“The book has taught you to summon the power of your soul.  You are no longer fighting merely with steel and skill, but with your very being.” 

“
It’s hard.”

“
Most people never tap into this sort of power.  Right now you are similar to a child learning to walk.  Don’t worry.  Soon it will come naturally to you.” 

“
And then what?  Why am I learning this?  It’s not doing anything but making simple attacks harder.” 

Elijah set the bundle down and began setting up the cutting pole. 
“It is a subtle power, similar to the weapons in my commons.  No one has ever understood its true extent.  But no one has ever needed the strength to pierce the ethereal before.” 

“
Ethereal?  You mean the malak?” 

“
Among other things,” answered the sage as he unwrapped the bundle. 

Zeke recognized the contents at once.  The thick green roll was all too familiar.  His shoulder, although fully healed, felt a prick of remembrance. 
“A dragon?” 

“
Dragon scales are the strongest of all living armors,” he explained, rolling the hide around a bamboo pole.  “You have fought them.  With your blade, skill, and strength, you barely marred its surface.”  He put the hide on the cutting pole. 

“
No kidding.  Daniel hit one with a shotgun and all it did was piss it off.”

Elijah stood back. 
“Now summon your soul into your weapon.”

Zeke looked at him doubtfully for a moment.  Then he raised his hand to his blade, summoning the red aura.  He stepped up to the rolled up dragon hide and raised his sword above his head, preparing for a tough cut.

He brought the sword down. 

What happened next confused him momentarily.  He saw the dragon hide split, a clean, diagonal cut.  He knew the top fell to the ground.  But he felt no resistance at all.  His powerful stroke continued unhindered, the tip of his blade cutting through the mat on the floor. 

It stopped when it hit the tile beneath, but not before gouging that as well. 

Elijah smiled. 
“Now do you understand?  Like the malak, the dragon is a creature of the ether.  Its hide is imbued with divine power.  You need the strength of the ether to harm them.  That is the power of your soul.” 

Zeke turned on the sage. 
“But why is it
my
power?  Why am
I
the one who has to do this?  Can’t your magical mythical weapons do the same thing?  Why is the fate of the world resting on
my
shoulders?”  He found his own tantrum unexpected. 

Elijah, however, didn
’t seem phased.  “That, I’m afraid, is something I cannot answer.  The ancient weapons are strong, but your soul is far stronger.  I’m afraid you may face enemies more powerful than the malak.”  He could see this explanation had no effect.  “Let me put ask you, why did you choose to fight?” 

“
I’m not sure.  I suppose it was for Charlie and Emily,” Zeke answered.

“
Then you fight for vengeance?” 

“
Well, no.  I mean, yeah, but . . .” He struggled.  Elijah, although peaceful, had his own unique intimidation.  Someone who had lived for aeons was undoubtedly wiser than any normal man.  Zeke didn’t know how to answer to please the sage. 

“
So there are other reasons you fight.  Ariel, perhaps?” 

“
Of course.  I have to protect her.”

“
Because of Micah.  You honor his memory, right?” 

“
Yes.” 

“
And Daniel?” 

Zeke thought for a moment. 
“I don’t know.  I guess he’s all right.  Sure.” 

“
We could find someone else.  Not as powerful, not chosen by the Karellan, but we could find someone.  We may even win.  But the world is a lousy place with tyrants and slums and monsters.  What good is it?  Why should you stick out your neck to protect it?” 

The old man seemed to be making a very convincing argument against fighting, but Zeke knew that must be a trick. 
“I’m not.  I’m not fighting to protect the world.  I’m protecting the people in it.” 

Elijah smiled. 

“But how do we even know the Karellan is trying to destroy the world?  Why would anyone want that?” 

“
I don’t think he does.  But I believe that is what the book, or rather God’s wisdom, will do.  Perhaps he believes he can alter the nature of God.  Control him.  Pacify him somehow.  But he may not succeed, and I am certain that, if restored to life, God will immediately destroy everything.”

“
Or you could be wrong,” Zeke countered hopefully.

“
In which case our worries are over and we can live our lives happily under the world’s tyrannical dictator.”  He smiled again. 

Zeke understood. 
“He needs to be stopped, doesn’t he?”

“
Please understand.  There are many people who need your help, and you are the only one with the power to do it, even if you don’t fully understand why.”

“
And if I fight him, it will all be over, right?  The oppression, the malak, the draugr, and everything?” He looked to Elijah to strengthen his resolve.

“
That is what we believe.” 

The door to the room burst open. Daniel rushed in, out of breath. 
“A message from the Supervisor.  He wants to assassinate the Karellan.  He needs our help.” 

Elijah laughed. 
“Well, it looks like we now have an opportunity.” 

Zeke didn
’t argue.  “I guess I have no choice.”

An hour later, Quetzalcoatl lifted off and the tiny island quickly disappeared behind them.  “Our course is set.  Barring the unforeseen malak attack, we should arrive in Nifelheim just before sunrise,” Jack announced in his usual irreverent manner. 

Zeke sat in the back of the cockpit near Ariel.  He fingered his sword casually. 
“We’re really going to do this, aren’t we?” he said to himself. 

It was loud enough that Ariel heard him. 
“Are you nervous?” 

“
About the Karellan?  No.  He’s just a man.  I’ve fought men before.” 

“
And Metatron?” 

Zeke paused.  His fingering stopped.  He gripped the sword gently. 
“I don’t know.  Elijah seems to think I’ve learned enough to fight him.” 

Daniel turned back to face them. 
“Please, have faith in his wisdom.  If he thinks you have the power, I would trust him.” 

“
And what about you?” 

“
Excuse me?”  Daniel asked, not understanding the question.

“
Can we trust you, or do your loyalties lie with the Karellan?”  The boy hadn’t done anything suspicious since the night in the laboratory.  He didn’t seem to be pursuing the overlord’s goals, but if Zeke had learned anything in the last two months it was that the Karellan’s motives would always be a mystery to him. 

Daniel hesitated. 
“You have my word.  I will follow you to the end.” 

“
Thank you.” 

The meeting was in a bar in the upper city.  Although it was intended for first-class citizens, the place looked like it belonged in the slums.  It was dirty, and the pre-dawn clientele didn’t improve the atmosphere.  One of the rougher bars that ignored laws concerning last call.

Zeke instinctively reached for his sword. 

“Wretched place,” observed Ariel, following him in. 

“
I don’t know,” said Jack, “A few curtains, a sofa with some throw pillows, a barrel of saw dust to cover the vomit . . . we might just be able to clean this place up.”

“
Daniel assured us it was the safest way to meet without being spied on.”

“
I don’t know.  Seems like a pretty sleazy place,” Ariel countered. 

“
Maybe a few doilies on the tables . . .” 

“
How many of these people do you think even know where they are, let alone are capable of reporting what they hear to anyone?”  Zeke motioned around.  Most of the patrons were slumped over in their chairs.  The rest were passed out, lying in puddles of various fluids.

“
We could just throw a sheet over them.  Pass them off as bean bag chairs.” 

Ariel suddenly realized they
’d been ignoring Jack.  “You know, you’re very kind to help us this much, but you’ve taken us to Rome and back already.  You know you’re not under contract, right?  You don’t have to stay with us.” 

Jack looked offended, but didn
’t lose his cheerful demeanor.  “Hey, I know you guys see me as just some hair-brained pilot, but I’m just like all of you.  I want to see the Karellan fall as much as anyone.  I have to do my part to help.” 

Zeke listened to his resolve.  Even the pilot, as inept a fighter as he was a comedian, was going to fight. 
“Thank you.  Your help would be welcome.”

“
I think I see them,” interrupted Ariel. 

Careful not to draw attention, she subtly motioned towards a table in the far corner of the room.  The Supervisor sat quietly with Daniel, backs to the door.  There was a third person with them. 

Jae-Hoon.

They made their way over and slid into the empty chairs around the table. 
“Oh God,” cried Jack quietly.  He took his hand off the chair and immediately began wiping it on a small cocktail napkin. 

“
I’m glad you could make it, Mr. Branderlief,” Dumah began.  “Thank you for your help.” 

Zeke looked at the man calmly for the first time in his life. 
“Well, I guess I just realized I had to do something.”

“
You remember Jae-Hoon, right?” 

He turned to the Slayer. 
“Spend two weeks in jail with someone, it’s kind of hard to forget them.  I’m glad to see you’re doing well.” 

“
Thank you.  It’s good to be fighting at your side again,” he said, extending his hand. 

They shook.

Zeke turned back to Dumah.  “What did you learn?” 

Dumah began his briefing. 
“Trying to attack the Karellan in his office would be suicide.  The place has flawless security.  Elite guards are posted everywhere, and if we could get past them, the man himself is not to be trifled with, which is why Daniel can’t do it alone.

“
Jae-Hoon has obtained a tip that the Karellan will be making a personal inspection of the city’s central power reactor later this week.  He’ll only have a small division of guards with him.  Daniel has validated this tip as accurate.”  He pulled a series of documents out of a tube.  Rolling a blue print out on the table, he continued.  “These are the plans for the reactor.  Most of the facilities are off-limits for safety purposes.  He will probably spend most of his time here.”  He pointed at a large room in the center of the building.  “This room is the main service area for controls and maintenance.