Category Archives: Book Three ~ Assassin

“Won’t you look down upon me, Jesus
You’ve got to help me make a stand
You’ve just got to see me through another day
My body’s aching and my time is at hand
And I won’t make it any other way ”

~ James Taylor ~

* * * * *

The blindfold was a bit much, I considered in a haze of discord. I was so out of it, though, that I wouldn’t have know the difference between a wake and a wedding – but even this consideration was fleeting at best.

I was in too much pain, naturally, to give a rat’s ass about anything for more than a nanosecond.

My escort was not big on words, but I was aware that it was the Elite-Assassin team of Bryan and Quade – my tormentors, in other words. Perhaps that wasn’t a fair assessment, though. Theirs was to put me through the grueling Reconditioning in preparation for my taking the Trials, which was the Rite of Initiation to become a Member of The Brotherhood. This was the Censure that had been levied against me for Renouncement of my Oath not only to The Brotherhood, but to The Order as well.

The Waiver of Trial, which had long ago been bestowed upon me and was instrumental in snagging Reaffirmation of my Oath in this Time After, seemed, in retrospect, like a bad deal after all. Aidan had neglected to reveal that, upon acceptance of this Waiver and thus Reaffirming my Oath, should I at some point Renounce said Oath? Well, then the Waiver would be forfeit and I would be required to submit to Reconditioning, thus being required to undergo the Trials upon completion.

Just a small detail there in the fine print of the Waiver – a detail which must have slipped my brother’s mind, or such was my dismal summation, at any rate. One bloody detail that will be the death of you, Collin O’Reilly – or so I was convinced. I was no spring chicken, after all, and the Trials were the province of the young.

And I was prepared to die should it come to that. Principle was more important than persistence – at least it was to me at this juncture in my life. I refused to be party to a fraternity of men who were hellbent on damning the souls of all those who walked upon God’s Earth. That they should use the most Sacred of Relics, the Cup of Christ, to carry out their quest to extend the lives of men, women and children – this I could not suffer. This would, in essence, damn us to Hell Eternal.

And in my eyes, Eternity was one damnedlong road trip.

It was one thing should a man knowingly and willingly accept such a Fate – but to foist the same upon unwitting thousands? That’s where this Irish Catholic boy drew the frigging line in the sand.

Lot of good it had done me, though, I glumly considered.

My thoughts these days, when not preoccupied with pain, were primarily consumed by Sierra – but oddly enough, not out of concern for her welfare. My brother Aidan worshiped the ground upon which the woman walked so therefore I could take some comfort in knowing that she would have a good life with him. Would she be pissed off at him about my circumstances? You bet – but as in all else when it came to Aidan, Sierra would, in the end, forgive him.

As would I.

After all, it was the bane of all us Christians, that of forgiveness.

Quite unceremoniously I now found myself being shoved into a vehicle, pain exploding in my brain as I was hustled into its interior. Injuries which had just begun to simmer were again quickly brought to a boil. Once seated with the door shut, a groan escaped me. Hard I had tried to take it like a man, or rather like a Member, but the abuse had most certainly taken its toll. Although, the degree of the suffering was of my own making, this much I was able to admit. Instead of working with Bryan and Quade on my Lessons, I fought them tooth and claw – from the least to the greatest and all points in-between I resisted them every millimeter along the way. Just like mule backing up a ladder.

At one point, I recalled Bryan having made a singular beseech – one which stood out in my mind because the tall, imposing IT geek come Elite-Assassin rarely spoke. Too much like my brother he was, or so was my dreary assessment. Aidan’s silence was more intimidating than any other facade he could present. It would just plain scare the crap out of you.

Don’t do this to your brother – these were the words which Bryan had spoken in my ear after one particularly painful Training session. I was certain that my jaw must have hit the ground upon auditioning them once spoken. What the hell was that supposed to mean? And why should Bryan give that much of a shit about Aidan? I mean, aside from Aidan being his Lord and Master.

And besides, who was doing what to whom here?

Fazing in and out while the deadly duo spirited me off to God only knew where, I finally gave up and passed out, into the realm of sweet darkness.

By the time we had reached our destination, and thus being shaken awake, I could discern that nightfall was soon to overtake us. After getting dragged out of the vehicle, the two Elite-Assassins now guided me along some goat path which led up a steep incline. And what torturous lesson would they now impose upon my person? I wondered in dismay. Well, again – I wasn’t really being fair to my tormentors. These Members had teaching to do, and their pupil was unwilling to say the least. In me their schooling had stirred memories of my early childhood. Ones of the nuns in the parochial school which Aidan and I had attended, before getting shipped off to military school, that was. Bryan and Quade were like those nuns – educators from hell, and to the umpteenth degree, no less. When I did not apply myself, which admittedly was not at all, Bryan and Quade, as had those nuns, would level reprimand.

Painful reprimand.

It was like a freak-fest, I now glumly considered, the whole process of Reconditioning. When I complied with their Lessons, then praise was given, and genuine it was in its nature. However, in that proverbial bat of an eye, I could find myself on my knees, doubled over in exquisite pain for not having performed up to their expectations. Often times for no other reason than my having tripped up on some trivial nuance of the Ways.

It was a brutal roller coaster ride of emotions, and that was no lie – a ride with a specific purpose of design, which was to break a man ‘s spirit. And if not his spirit, then at least the man himself.

And in oder to end said ride, all I need do, I understood, was to comply and work with Bryan and Quade, instead of against them.

Regardless if I worked with or against my Training Masters, the Training itself was going to eventually kill me. And if not? Well, then the Trials most certainly would.

Stumbling along the path at the hands of my escort, I suddenly picked up on an eerily familiar sensation.

Aidan!

I could sense that my brother was close at hand, and so could physically feel my heart lift up. Notably absent he had been during the whole process of my Transformation, which was how The Order referred to the process undergone during the Time of Training. Not once during this hell-ride had I seen my brother, felt the presence of my brother – and this had left me feeling abandoned. Wholly and utterly abandoned – but then again, hadn’t Aidan pleaded with me not to Renounce? On his knees with tears in his eyes, heart pounding wildly in his chest to the point that it was visible? His had been a supplication, brother-to-brother, regardless his Station as Head of Assassins for The Order.

And me, being the consummate prick that I had always been, the one who would stand on principle no matter what, I had Renounced, regardless my brother’s impassioned petition.

Within moments of sensing that my brother was nearby, we now made entry of a structure – some safe house in the middle of nowhere was my guess. Once having crossed the threshold, the two devil’s minions released their grasp on me, at which point I was certain I would go crashing to my knees. I wasn’t about to give them the pleasure, I thought in a haze of anger, but after a heartbeat or two standing on my own, I then, of my own accord, knelt down, greatly aided by the pull of gravity. I could tell that Aidan was in the room, and naturally with him being a lofty Lord of The Brotherhood and Shogun of The Order that he was, I thus knew that I should be extremely mindful of my p’s and q’s. Not unless I wanted to court more pain, that was, of which I was fairly certain I could not endure and yet remain conscious.

Without a sound, Bryan and Quade now made their exit. I knew it was they who had departed even if I was still blindfolded. I could no longer scent them, I chuckled to myself. My keen sense of smell had told me this, as it had also told me that Aidan was indeed present, as well as one other Member with whom I was already acquainted.

The next thing I felt were hands removing my blindfold – no swift or rough movements, this was done with care fostered by love and remorse. Once my eyes were free of the cloth, I at first blinked like an owl, but after a moment I was able to focus them. By the dim light of lanterns, I could see that it was, as I had predicted, my fraternal twin brother and he was kneeling before me.

And Aidan wasn’t dressed in uniform, or fatigues. He was wearing that all American look from Pre-Time – white t-shirt and blue jeans. What the? I thought but then suddenly got it. The man did not want to be viewed by me as a threat.

Casting a glance past his shoulder, I now saw my son-in-law, Ryan, standing several paces behind my brother and to his left. The doctor was attired in khakis and a chambray shirt, appearing no more a threat than my brother.

Biting my tongue was the only means by which to prevent myself from breaking into a raucous of laughter – that and the pain such merriment would have visited upon my battered body in its wake. The two were Elite-Assassins – so obviously attire mattered little when it came to fearing these deadly men, or not.

However, I understood that this was my brother’s way of saying it was not Brotherhood business which had brought him there.

It was Family.

And as with the last time I had seen my brother, there were tears brimming in his eyes, eyes the color of darkly-hued malachite.

With a gesture of his hand, Aidan signaled to Ryan who now came over – and pronto. No time did they waste in removing my outer clothing. When it came down to my shirt, Aidan began to unbutton it, but of course I flinched. I could not help myself – it was a gut reaction, one born from my being manhandled during the past many months. This prompted my brother to press the palm of his hand to my neck in an attempt to comfort me, but damned if his hand was not trembling!

“Ours is to help” Aidan spoke in that unforgettable, ethereal voice of his. “Please, Collin – be calm.” Be calm? That was easy for him to say, but having little will to resist, much less fight, I just nodded and so he resumed his efforts to strip off my shirt so that the doctor could take stock of my injuries. Slowly, as not to cause me any further pain, he did so with help from Ryan, and once removed, Aidan now hung his head.

And tears which had previously only brimmed now freely flowed. I wasn’t sure which disturbed me more – the fact that Aidan was so distraught over my state of being, or the fact that I had never seen him so unraveled. After all, he was my big brother, if even by three minutes – and I had always looked to him to make things right, to be the strength that could offset my weakness.

“Milord, your brother is too old for the Transformation!” Ryan finally gave voice, the doctor now taking a healthy interest in my numerous injuries. With that determination, Aidan raised his head, forcing himself to look me square in the eye.

However, he held his tongue, instead reaching out take my left arm, which had received more than its share of bruises and contusions. After all, this was the arm I most often used when making the attempt to fend of the blows when I failed to perform.

And yet my brother still had nothing to say, but his hands clearly spoke for him, though, as they took inventory of my injuries. They were none too steady – a far cry from the rock-solid ones I had always remembered. Meanwhile, the doctor retreated, disappearing into another other room and after a few moments returned with a cup of water and a packet of white powder.

Offering both to me I just glared at Ryan, and so instead my brother took them from him. Quickly he mixed the powder in the water – not the preferred method of delivery, for I knew that the doctor’s homemade pain killer worked best when left to melt on one’s tongue. However, that wasn’t about to happen because I was going to be a prick about it, and Aidan knew this.

Though he would force me to drink the concoction, I predicted.

“Don’t fight me on this, brother,” Aidan implored, and then actually added, “please,” but in reality I was in no position to refuse his charity. Not that I wanted to, mind you – for in some twisted and warped fashion, I was still looking to him, as always, to make everything right.

This was the obligation of all big brothers, wasn’t it?

With his assistance, my brother saw to it that I got the majority of the mixture into me, and surprisingly I greedily accepted it. Ryan’s potions were the best, and worked fast. Once I had gotten it down, and without making too much of a mess, I then at least found my manners.

“I thank you, both” I managed to express but then briefly ran an hand over my eyes as another wave of pain and dizziness rolled on through, and rather unannounced. The doctor nodded to me, and then bowed before leaving Aidan and me to ourselves.

“A hot bath with mineral salts will do you a world of good” my brother decided as he now touched my cheek, but I looked at him like he was nuts. Oh yeah, solar hot water tank, I figured. Every safe house of The Order was decked out with devices that ran on green energy. Although I was of a mind that this place was no safe house. Furtively glancing about, I took note that the dwelling was far too nice to be a safe house. Granted, the interior was Spartan, but that was just how Members were – however, upon closer inspection, I could see that this was an abode where someone lived. Not all the time, perhaps, but with enough regularity to call it a home-away-from-home.

“I am… where?” my curiosity now spoke out but my brother only grinned.

“Safe” he finally answered after a few protracted moments of silence, notably being non-specific in his response. “You will be safe, my brother, while you are here, in my home” and these words made me want to hurl and laugh all in the same instant.

“You’re mad” was my only response, one that came out as a grumble of dissent as I suddenly began to shiver. Getting up off his knees, Aidan now moved around behind me and damned if I did not cringe. After all, my assessment of his mental state had been less than polite. No harm would he inflict, though – his word was his bond and this was a constant in God’s universe, if nothing else. Or at least, in my universe. Regardless, I was gun shy these days when it came to Members being close to my person – even if the Member was my own brother.

With sureness Aidan ran his hands over my battered body, gaging the depth of my injuries, and with accuracy. As with all Elite-Assassins, he was intimately familiar with anatomy – and not just for the benefit of his own body, of course. To effectively kill one’s opponent, and with the least amount of bloodshed and effort, knowledge of human anatomy was a must.

With practiced skill he now kneaded the knots that were my neck and shoulder muscles, and almost immediately came the sensation of relief.

“I can’t imagine how you Members must treat your slaves” I now mumbled as I released a sigh. His hands knew just where to press and to what degree – relieving the stress without causing more pain.

“As family members” was my brother’s surprising response, and now I did laugh. It hurt like hell but was worth it. Aidan took my meaning, though.

“Our slaves are also Members,” he clarified, “and are treated accordingly, Collin. Oaths they Took, Oaths they Keep” was my brother’s solemn reminder. “I… I pleaded with you, Collin – to not take this path. As Head of Assassins, in the Matter of your Censure, my hands are tied.” This assertion merely served to flare my temper and so now I turned round to confront him, even as painful as it was – both physically and mentally.

“And what do you call this?!” was my indignant demand. “No power and yet here I am, in your – what? Vacation home?” I scoffed but the exertion made my brain swirl in its skull, like water flushing down a lu.

“I needed to see you” was his simple explanation. “Because you are Family, Law forbids me from interaction with you, during this… time.” Odd way of putting it but I was not about to call him out on his choice of words. “Bryan felt it important that I take the risk.” Again, why should the killer IT geek give a shit about me or my relationship with Aidan? “There are those who would see you perish, Collin,” he now went on, “on both sides of the fence. I refuse to suffer your removal from this world.”

“Well, come what may” I whipped at him in anger. “I can’t suffer what The Order intends with the Cup!” I snapped, fighting to keep my wits about me, as well as struggling to maintain consciousness for alarmingly my sight had suddenly grown dim. “So if you think I am going to cave – then think again” I now found enough strength to growl at him, but there was no reaction.

“I know, Collin – yet mine is to Protect” he spoke in a low voice. “You’ve put me in the worst possible position, brother. Don’t think this has not been hard on me as well” was his stern reminder and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was indeed in pain, albeit pain of a different flavor than my own.

Loosing battle with my muscles, I now collapsed, with my brother’s arms quickly encircling me so I would at least not slam into the hardwood floor. The room was humming harder as the ceiling flew away – these lyrics from an old song came to mind as I fought for control but lost the battle.

I was gone, gone, gone.

And a long time gone indeed it was for when I finally rejoined the world of the living, it was to dawn’s light streaming in through the windows. A dream within a dream, I considered, afraid to look about me, or even just open my eyes wider than a crack. I was in a bed, snuggled down deep beneath the sheets and blankets, warm and toasty despite the chill in which crept in from a window that stood ajar. As if in some work of fiction, I could hear the early birds tweeting away in their greeting of the day. I was almost able to share their enthusiasm, I thought – for I was not in nearly as much pain as I had been. I was clean as well, and so apparently Aidan’s promise of a hot soak had transpired – and had also gone a long way to easing my distressed muscles.

“Hungry?” I heard a voice ask, and in alarm I knew it was neither my brother nor Ryan. Quickly now I turned my head to see sitting in a chair pulled up next to the bed none other than the leader of the Blackguard – Antonio Abruzzi. “Easy, son – your brother is still here, as is Ryan” he told me, but that didn’t explain squat. “Aidan is cooking up some quail for breakfast – should be finished soon so I hope your appetite has returned?” he tested with hope and yeah – I had rather been on a hunger strike from day one of my Censure. “You want to know why I am here” the leader of the Blackguard now hit that proverbial nail square on the head. “All in due time. We have a lot to talk about, Collin O’Reilly, you and I” the man told me as he now got to his feet. With a bow of respect he then turned and was gone.

And so was I, feeling powerless to keep open my eyes, and thus drifted back off to sleep, or at least until I was aroused by hands gently shaking me awake. As a knee-jerk response, though, I awoke with a jolt, my heart pounding.

“Hey, its ok” Aidan assured me as he stroked my hair. Focusing my eyes on his face I managed to let my fear wash over me and then flow away. That’s right – I was in his house in, where? Oh, yeah – some place safe, he had told me, and apparently I wasn’t his only house guest.

Or had I dreamed Antonio’s presence?

“Why is Abruzzi here?” I croaked, throat feeling rather parched. Coming to my rescue, Aidan proceeded to pour me a glass of water from the pitcher which sat on the nightstand. Helping me to sit up, he then offered me the glass and amazingly enough, I was able to drink without spilling it on me. Well, at least not most of it.

My brother did not answer my question, however, and instead just set the empty glass down on the nightstand. Bowing his head, Aidan now released a weighted sigh – and this more than anything had me worried.

“Aidan?” I prodded and so he finally looked me in the eye, and I was disturbed to take note that it was a haunted look which greeted me.

“I’m not accustomed to playing both sides of the fence, Collin,” was his unexpected confession, “but I need Antonio’s help.” This was enough to make me laugh, and this day it did not hurt as much to laugh as it had the previous one.

Lying down once again, I covered my eyes with one arm, shaking my head.

“Is this why you brought me back from the land of the living dead?” was my rather terse inquiry. “So your brother can give you advice on the questionable art of fence sitting?” Since he did not deign to answer, I knew that was all the answer I was going to get.

“Family” he then asserted, implying that this was first and foremost. Peeking out from under my arm, I grinned at him – a shit eating grin no less and so now he was ready to deck me.

Just like old times, I thought with a pang of nostalgia.

“Forgive me if my brain has been in a stew as of late” I mumbled as I let my arm fall away from my face so I could now hold his eyes.

“Well, lets leave the stew simmer for now” he returned with a straight face. “Breakfast is ready, if you are up for it?” my brother posed with hope and, well, my stomach was hungry but my heart was still on a hunger strike. “Please say yes, brother – else wise Ryan will shove a tube down your throat and force feed you.”

And the look on his face rather loudly pronounced that he wasn’t joking.

Naturally, because my brother never made jokes.

“Well, since you put it that way” I grumbled as I now decided to try my hand at getting vertical, but I wasn’t able to pull it off and so with a bit of help from my brother was able. The aroma of the cooked quail had wafted in through the open door and smelled completely orgasmic. How could a boy say no to that? Not this one, I realized. The impending breakfast would be a far cry from Brotherhood field rations that was no lie. “I think I can choke some down” I supposed and this made my brother laugh, and heartily, no less.

“As hard as that may be…” he began but let the thought languish – Aidan knew well my penchant for good food. “You’re looking better” my brother now offered as he helped me out of bed to then aid me in getting dressed.

“Won’t someone notice that I am… missing?” I just had to go and ask and so Aidan then grew dark – or darker than usual.

“We have been afforded some time, but not a lot” he revealed, which meant afterwards it would be back to the salt mines for me. What a fucking tease! “You are supposed to be high elevation endurance training with Quade and Bryan. C’mon – let’s just break bread together and… talk.”

“Again, why is Abruzzi here?” I pecked away as Aidan finished getting me dressed. Clean, comfortable clothes and it felt like sheer heaven to wear a pair of jeans for a change. Snugging socks up over my feet, Aidan glanced up at me – undecided what he should say about Antonio, if anything at all.

“He needed personal assurance that you still drew breath” he decided to clue me in, but Antonio treating with Aidan was like something from Ripley’sBelieve it or Not. Hell would pretty much have to first freeze over and besides, Antonio wasn’t exactly fond of me. After all, I had failed him in our bid to protect the Cup. The Cup of Christ was now being held by the Hand of The Order and so it was my hands that were tied. There was nothing I could do except make moral objection regarding the intent of The Order when it came to the use of the Cup.

And my fighting tooth and claw against the Reconditioning was about all the protest I had been able to thus far muster.

“Can you stand?” he now asked and so I nodded. I was still a little woozy, and so surmised that this was the result of whatever drug had been administered to me the night before. It had certainly knocked me for a loop – but I knew that I would be better for it.

“Yeah, yeah – I’ll be ok, thanks” I mumbled. “You go ahead, gotta drain the lizard and brush my teeth – if there’s a toothbrush for me?” I ask and so he nodded. Of course, my brother thought of everything – just like the boy scout who was always prepared.

“My home is your home” Aidan told me and then initiated an embrace, one which I returned in kind. Long he held me and through his embrace I could feel his indecision.

“It might be easier if you just tell me what’s going down here, what you intend to do with me” I spoke in a soft voice as I broke our embrace. “I’m a big boy, Aidan – I can take it.”

“That’s the problem, Collin – I know you can” was his complaint as he kissed my forehead. Now turning on his heel, he left me to my task of getting refreshed – and getting my mind in order as well. Something of magnitude was about to transpire and they needed to pick my brains. That was the only thing that made sense.

Well, all things in due time, I told myself – trying to get on my game face before I emerged from hiding. I wasn’t sure I had accomplished this, but feeling ready I now sought out the others, who I found gathered round the table in the kitchen.

Present were not only Aidan, Ryan and Antonio, but Antonio’s IT geek, Matt. This was a major curiosity to me, and thus intrigue quickly began to set in – which was a temptation I had always found completely irresistible.

Doing my best to appear more like a human and less like a whipped cur, I made my round of good mornings as I sat down to breakfast. Aidan had prepared the meal and it never failed to amaze me how numerous were his talents. Killer assassin and one hell of a good cook all bundled into one.

While my brother dished up the meal, I sat there in silence, not sure what to say, if anything at all.

“How is Sierra?” I now abruptly inquired of Aidan.

“Sure took you long enough” Aidan grunted with a lopsided grin. “She frets about you, brother – daily, but puts on a brave front for the sake of Kaden and Kiran” he told me. “Your niece and nephew are adjusting well to life at The Order – Kaden already has a best friend in Brennan Dunne’s son, Liam.” This was all well and fine, but really did not tell me how Sierra was.

“She still wants to scratch out your eyes over my present circumstances, huh?” was my bold determination and so pausing, Aidan glanced at me and then he actually shrugged.

“Pretty much” was his conditional admission as he finished serving the food. Now sitting down he looked to me – and like, what? Did he expect me to say Grace?

He did.

Gathering my words, I did just that.

“Thank you Lord, for Your Bounty,” I recited a very simple grace, but then added, “and for the air that I breathe. Amen.” I was supposed to be grateful that I was alive, after all – and I was.

Barely.

Although, after eating my fill, I found myself being a bit more grateful to God for my still being counted among the living. And even more so after the meal when Aidan spoke the magic word.

“Coffee?” he asked us all and just like one of Pavlov’s dogs I started to salivate. It had been so long I had almost forgotten what the beverage tasted like.

“I know you do, Collin – Antonio? Matt?” he offered and both men said yes – good thing, since I didn’t want to drink alone. Members didn’t drink coffee – or at least, not Elite-Assassins.

“I should help clean up” I now offered. It was only proper given that Aidan had done the hunting and cooking, but he just gave me an ugly look. So it was my turn to shrug – at least I had not forgotten my manners, anyway.

“Would anyone care to tell me why we are all here?” I decided to get down to business – if merely for the reason of wanting to get beyond whatever trauma next lay in wait for me. No one was offering up any words of enlightenment, though – at least not until after the java had been served.

“The Furtherance” my brother now began and so I almost choked on my coffee. “It has to be put down” was his odd way of expressing this. “It’s taking on a life of its own, brother.”

“No kidding” I grumbled and then trained my attention on the coffee, warming my hands by wrapping them around the mug. One of the last things I had done before my life had shattered like a champagne glass slamming into a concrete slab was to read the Alternative Faith as Subscribed to by The Ascendancy. A gift from the Grand Head of The Way, passed along to me in the wild, and under the most unusual of circumstances. This translation of an ancient text was downright spooky in that the central character was a dead ringer for yours truly. And the yarn also walked hand-in-hand with The Furtherance – one freaky revelation indeed this had been.

“You’ve become the stuff of legends, Commander O’Reilly” Antonio now addressed me, and here we go again, I thought. This poppycock notion that I was the focus of The Furtherance. Either by design or by convenience, it mattered not to me. There was no way to conclusively prove out The Furtherance, or the Plan which had given rise to it – nor to prove if I was the Second Son, or not.

“Yeah, well – what can I say” I complained of my reputation as I took another sip of my coffee, desperately wishing that it was instead tequila.

“Some feel it would be best to remove you from God’s World, brother” Aidan now told me, harking back to his earlier assessment about those who would see me perish.

And now I understood why he had spoken those words.

“The Order’s been doing a good job so far – won’t be much longer before your thugs snuff me out” I grunted but Aidan did not find this amusing, however.

“Your charisma trapped you in this prophecy” Antonio now offered explanation as to why the populace had cast me into the role of the foretold Second Son. “And your Censure at the Hands of The Order has only served to perpetuate it – as a martyr you are being perceived.”

“Uh-huh” was my only response, and it was then that I noticed a tenseness blossoming in the air. “Lemme guess – data files have gotten loose? Ones which detail the Plan and Its Furtherance?” I took a shot and now Matt nodded.

“Infestation,” the IT geek confirmed, “but not the data files that Kevin and Sierra had stumbled across during their raid on the old DoD database” was his clarification. “Rather instead what’s been loosed is a file with the text of the Alternative Faith and this has propagated with lightning speed. We were all worried about this eventuality – and so now the damage has been done.”

“Well, then – just who set this file free?” I put to them, and it seemed the only one with an answer was Matt.

“The AFA” he declared, and knowing Matt by reputation, he would most certainly have data to back that up. “Kevin verified my findings” the geek now tacked on for insurance and although it had been less than a year since having begun my Censure, my AFA days seemed a lifetime ago.

“Gentlemen – what do you expect me to do? About any of this?” I wanted to know and now a palpable unease encroached upon our little coffee-clutch. “Look, if you are all suggesting that I die in order to nip the Furtherance in the bud, then by all means – just slit my throat, please” I encouraged them. “That is, if any of you have the guts to do it” was the goad I tacked on. “The Furtherance, although scripted by authors of our pre-apocalyptic generation, does have its basis in that ancient text. Once it gets round that there was a Plan and a continuing Furtherance based on the Alternative Faith, then this madness about a true Second Son will blow over. Or at least, men will no longer view me as the Second Son of Divinity.” My assessment did not garner any backers, however, and so my feeling of ill ease grew.

“You more than anyone, little brother, should understand such… beliefs… are not so easily assuaged” Aidan put in his two cents. “And if it were as easy as slitting your throat to put down the Furtherance, then I would have already done that – personally” my brother assured me and knowing that he did not lie, as gospel I now took this. “It is… complicated, Collin. Our new world is being ushered along by those who saw to the end of our old one, and there is little we can do to divert from this Path” he added and now that unease swiftly transmuted into the cold sweat of fear. “The power of myth, after all, and the masses who subscribe to it.”

I took his meaning, of course – implicitly.

“They would just find another being to fill those boots, so your death would serve little purpose” Antonio took it further. I must have been blinking like an idiot. Here we go again, I thought – talk of clones and engineered beings and I was ready to hurl no two ways about it. And mostly because I was unable to conclusively deny the probability of their conjecture.

“Just say what is on your mind, Antonio – all of you, for that matter” I dared them. “Are you implying that I am, what? Some contrived being? Created by genetic engineers? For the purpose of being this Second Son who is the focus of The Furtherance? That is just nonsense, and I could not care less what the Plan or Its Furtherance otherwise infers!” I now found strength enough to bark in anger while slamming my fist down on the tabletop. “It would bear much greater credence to presume that I have been maneuvered to fit the bill of this supposedly contrived blasphemy.”

“Regardless, Collin, the matter of your well-being has become a topic of great debate in certain circles” my brother now informed me. “Both The Legion and The Way have formally Petitioned for your Release from Censure” the man practically knocked me off my chair.

“And the AFA?” I just had to go and ask, but silence was my answer.

“They acknowledge that your Oath to The Brotherhood and Its Order were both Sworn prior to your AFA Oath” my brother explained, and that just summed it up in a nutshell right there. My AFA superiors didn’t recognize my Oath to the United States Army, which I had Sworn in Pre-Time long before I had ever joined The Brotherhood. How fucking convenient, I considered in a haze of anger. The Staff of Generals had me right where they wanted me – after all, hadn’t they continually pressed me to foster a closer alliance with The Brotherhood via my brother and The Order?

Now I just plain started to shake.

“On the surface it is what it appears, but underneath another current flows” Antonio stated but went no further so I looked to my brother for clarification.

“Should The Order fail to release you within the alloted span of time, then The Legion will remove my children” my brother calmly revealed and I knew he didn’t mean they would just kidnap them, either. “I would prefer it not come to that.”

“And what does Dmitri think of all this?” I inquired, wondering where the Grand Head of The Order stood on the matter. Since Aidan didn’t answer, however, I understood that it was off the record, this threat – or rather promise, to do grave harm to my niece and nephew. Members never made threats, after all.

“Ok, so – let me get this straight” I slowly began, “The Grand Head of The Order doesn’t have a clue about The Legion’s threat against my brother’s children, but is well aware of Petitions from The Legion and The Way for my Release?” I put to him and so he nodded. “And the AFA has cast me to the sharks by default, so this leaves me, where, then, exactly?”

“Sitting here drinking coffee” Aidan stated the obvious.

“There’s a division among The Order” Ryan now tossed his own hat into the arena. “Those who Believe you have been Touched by the Hand of God, their conviction based on your Healing of Aidan, Then there are those who Doubt” he revealed. “This will eventually tear Us apart, Collin – and not just The Order, but The Brotherhood as well” was his bleak assessment. “Confirmation is needed.”

“Are you people out of your frigging minds?” I snapped. “I am as normal as the next guy – any moron can see that for himself.”

“Are you so sure, Commander?” Antonio now asked in a quiet voice and so I just gaped at him. “How do you know for certain that you are not the Second Son? Aaron Gallagher believes without doubt that you are, and he is a Jesuit Priest.”

“And just where is my friend Aaron?” I asked in a tempered tone. “Why is he not present? And don’t tell me that you couldn’t find him, either.”

“He left these shores a while back” Aidan told me matter-of-fact.

“Let me guess, Aaron knows how to sail?” I laughed with unease. “Well, at least the man had enough sense to split” I grumbled, feeling even more abandoned than I previously had.

“I think you understand that Aaron is more than just a mortal man” was my brother’s challenge and again, that eerie silence crept over us. “He’ll be back, Collin – and he charged me with a message for you, brother. Your friend instructed me to tell you to travel the road not taken.” To this I just gaped at the man.

“A Robert Frost poem? This is the advice he left me?” I asked, incredulously, once I found my voice. Granted, it was a favorite of mine, the poem by the twentieth century New England poet, but what Aaron was trying to impress or imply, however? That wholly eluded me. My whole life I had traveled less trodden paths and where they had led, these past many years, had bought me little reward. “Ok, so, everyone I know is officially insane” was my determination. “Got any tequila? Sure could use a drink about now.” My request, as expected, was met with silence.

Looking around at everyone, I made an attempt to gauge what it was they really wanted from me, or what topic it was that they were continuing to avoid.

“Sierra is ok, right?” I now probed as my thoughts turned to the woman whom I greatly loved.

“She is as well as can be expected, brother – she misses you” he told me but little else was he willing to offer up.

“Look, you gentlemen really have me at a disadvantage here” I spoke in a low voice, looking round the table to each man. “Perhaps you should just come clean with me? I mean, can’t we just put aside this crap about my being touched by the Hand of God or whatever? You guys are totally weirding me out.”

“What if it could be… proven?” Antonio now thoughtfully posed.

“And how would you propose we do that?” I was quick to retort. “While I’ve been having fun getting the tar beaten out of me, has everyone taken leave of their senses? Granted, I am a Christian, but what you men propose is blasphemous. Aaron himself said the text which contains the Alternate Faith cannot be proven authentic! And even if it could be, who is to say the original wasn’t written way back when by some monk tripping on opium? C’mon now, get real, people” I scoffed as I now pushed my chair back from the table, feeling a real need to head for them thar hills.

And then it blindsided me – the headache. What shitty timing! I thought in utter dismay.

“Collin?” Aidan called my name, reaching over to lay a hand to my arm. Pinching the bridge of my nose as I shut my eyes, I waited for the pain to pass.

And so it did – but only because I had passed out right along with it.

“Antonio, he’s had these headaches his whole life, even as a child” Collin’s brother told me, but that didn’t rule in or rule out the generally accepted theory of the nano technology that purportedly were in control of us. At least, when it came to Collin. I held my tongue, though, instead concentrating on the task at hand, which was to get Commander O’Reilly back to bed. Once in bed and slumbering away, I now turned to his Aidan and Ryan.

“A lot of humans suffer recurring headaches” I pointed out what should have been apparent. “I’m sure the doctor here can back me up on this clinical reality. This doesn’t mean, however, that their brains are under control of the Unspoken!” I snapped and then pushing my way past the two assassins, I abruptly made my exit from the room. Aidan had a theory – one that walked hand-in-hand with the Plan and Its Furtherance, but of which there was no hint in the documents that outlined the crime of the millennium – and its perpetuation into the future. I was of the mind that Aidan knew far more about both than he would ever let on – but that was merely a hunch. Just as was my hunch that Collin was the real deal and not just some puppet upon whom the moniker of Second Son had been thrust.

Making my way back to the kitchen, I strove to collect my scattered thoughts. Granted, Collin was as unlikely a candidate as there could ever be for sainthood, but God did work in mysterious ways. This was something that we all best keep in mind, I understood.

Retaking my seat at the table, I was trouble by the fact that we had now been joined by Aidan’s pet wolves, the Elite-Assassin pair of Quade McBride and Bryan Smith. The deadly duo made me fel rather uneasy, but then again, all Elite-Assassins induced the same affect. Dangerous and lethal they were – they could snap a man’s neck and not give it a second thought, or even a first, truth be known.

After several minutes, Aidan and Ryan rejoined us. Ryan sat down while Aidan took up repose at the counter, leaning with his back up against it.

“So pretty boy winked out again, eh?” Quade grunted which won him a look of disapproval from Aidan.

“Every time he wages war against his heart, my brother loses” was Aidan’s simple assertion. “When he strays too far from the design of The Furtherance, he will develop a head throbber” he stated, which was the term of endearment Collin had given to these headaches of great magnitude.

“That can work both ways, however” I made note. “It could be God’s way of letting Collin know that he’s straying from the path He intends for him, eh?”

“I believe we can all testify that there is something other-worldly about Collin” Ryan thoughtfully remarked. “It often is the smallest things that confound us. However, I believe that we’ve each been witness to at least one major event in which Collin had been involved that made us question just what it was that had taken place” he hit the nail right on the head. “And afterwards, Collin would always concoct some rather mundane line of reasoning to explain it all away, like brushing off so much trail dust.”

“Mostly because he feels uncomfortable with the alternative” Aidan made comment. “We’ve all made jokes about the Guardian Angels which my brother seems to sport, one on each shoulder – but time after time he comes up smelling like a rose from situations that I am not certain even I would survive. And yet, he does – and then writes it off to reverse luck of the Irish” he chuckled, and this was truth enough. After all, the luck of the Irish was supposed to be bad.

“Given the time and the equipment, would you be able to discern the Truth?” Aidan now inquired of Ryan who, releasing a long, low breath, now looked down in contemplation.

“I’m not sure, milord – there’s a good probability, though” the finally doctor gave his answer. “That is, providing that the agent, the nanos, is in his blood. If grafted into his brain tissue…” he began but then trailed off with a shrug.

“Not likely” Bryan now spoke up, the quiet assassin. “Collin has had no major surgery his whole life – he’s never even been ill. Chances are nanos were introduced somewhere along the line, in some subtle fashion. This would have been easy enough to do – a simple injection under the guise of inoculation, say.”

“Then why the need for genetic engineering?” I put out there for some much needed dissection.

“The nanos could alter, or persuade, his actions,” Quade put forth, “but that alone would not result in a man whom the masses would follow, and blindly” he posed. “Take one look at Collin O’Reilly – and then get near the man. His pull on people is rather disconcerting – its like he has his own gravitational field.”

“You loath Collin, Master Quade” I offered commentary delivered along with a chuckle.

“For that very reason, I suppose” the man offered with a shrug. “It’s not natural, that charisma of his – and that being a given, well, then Collin should have charmed his AFA Masters long ago, but we all know this is not the case. They seem to go to extremes to give appearance otherwise, Generals Karloff and Hastings. They bestow upon him little favor.”

“It is odd to listen to others making note of something against which I have myself always warred” Aidan said in a low voice. “However, Collin is my twin – my blood brother, and that is a close bond to be shared.”

“Well, if he’s a genetic creation, then odds are in favor of your being one as well, Andy” Quade supposed.

“We don’t know that, and probably never will” Aidan gave opinion in return. “However, if Ryan can develop a screening technique for those who possesses resident nanos, then we will then at least be able to determine if I am afflicted with nanos as is my brother” the Assassin stated, sounding fearless in his delivery, but I had to wonder about that.

“What if everyone is?” Ryan now piped in and so we all gave him our undivided attention. “It is odd , really, if you look at those of us who survived – not what you would call a good cross section of humanity.”

“Its the Noah’s Ark story,” Bryan offered, “except in this version, people with certain skills were chosen to survive – although granted, it didn’t go as planned since women took a big hit. What we should be asking ourselves is, by whose hand was sabotage of the Plan committed?”

“It is too bad we cannot get your brother’s braniac friend on board” Quade said to Aidan and in this I was in agreement. Captain-Major Gregory Raimius MacNamara was an invaluable resource – one which I had envied of Collin time and again.

And not to mention that Brains, as the Captain was known, was also a most honorable man.

“Rest assured, Greg won’t have given up his own inquest” Aidan opined.

“Nor Kevin” Matt now spoke. “Once Kevin latches onto something, he won’t let got – he’ll follow the string no matter where it leads. That’s how we found out it was none other than AFA High Command itself that leaked the file containing the Alternative Faith.”

“Even if I am able to rule in that Collin is a man made creation, or at least has been infected with nanos – this doesn’t rule out the other possibility” Ryan made known. “Who is to say that such a creation can’t be Touched by the Hand of God?”

“Well, I’ve always maintained that God has an appreciable sense of humor” I grunted, even though it would be difficult for me to reconcile such reality, that of our Great Maker choosing a blasphemous creation of man to embody His next Son. And yet, I was inclined to believe this was the case with Collin O’Reilly.

“We are also overlooking something else” Ryan continued. “If Collin has been seeded with nanos, and they are indeed active – who is to say that his programming doesn’t include credulous reactions when he lays hands on first class Relics?”

There. The words had been spoken and so the consideration was now made public.

And in the face of so many possibilities, at the end of the day it would have to boil down to a matter of Faith.

The question was, knowing this – would we be able to Believe, unconditionally, any of us who were seated there around that table?

“Greater Good” Aidan now concluded. “The Unspoken have our world by the short hairs and the populace at large doesn’t even know it” was his take.

“Why is Collin so unwilling?” Bryan suddenly asked, looking round. “I know of no man who has more concern for humanity, for the souls of all who live, than Collin. He can do great good by becoming a spiritual leader, a guidepost for all mankind, to help unite us. As a Commander-General in the AFA, his men would willingly walk off a cliff should he asked it of them – that kind of persuasion is rare.”

“But only because he himself would first walk off that cliff, and so afterwards his men willingly would follow in his wake” Aidan grunted. “My brother always refused to put his men in harm’s way – he would place himself squarely in the line of fire if it meant saving one of his own men. Word of mouth has built his reputation, one man at a time.” I had to agree with him there – for as many occasions when Collin had angered me, I still was inclined to follow his lead, even after all these years. His was a Great Vision, I had decided – as opposed to the Greater Good to which The Brotherhood adhered. Collin had a grand design in his head, even if he didn’t acknowledge it as such.

After all, Commander O’Reilly ran on pure Faith, and thus put to shame many of those who claimed to be devout.

“And so what are we to do?” I tossed on the table. We had all been in one serious rut – but with the advent of The Legion forcing Aidan’s hand, threatening the lives of his children, we needed to make a move.

Of course, unless Aidan could suffer his children being in harm’s way.

Blackmail was a fact of life in The Brotherhood, though – and it was not illegal, either. Although it was heavily discouraged, and generally, in addition, looked upon as less than honorable.

“The Petitions for Release, although not to be taken lightly, are no immediate threat to The Order itself” Aidan stated. “Each Arm needs to go on Record as having Petitioned, but time is not infinite. I can’t just set my brother free, and since the AFA is not inclined to come to his rescue…” he began but let the thought languish.

“We of the Blackguard can’t risk implication either, but we owe it to Commander O’Reilly” I made clear. “I personally owe it to your brother. And although AFA High Command has seemingly turned blind eye and will take no official action, this doesn’t mean that Collin’s men won’t want to partake in an unsanctioned recovery.”

“Its impossible to gauge what AFA High Command will do” Bryan now tossed out. “Nothing they have ever decided regarding Collin has followed any one course of logic. So, playing devil’s advocate, let’s just suppose that the AFA would accept Collin back into their fold should others liberate him. Would we want Collin to once again take up his AFA command?” the normally quiet assassin wondered aloud something I had not considered. “And would Collin want to resume his commission? I think Aidan needs to ask the latter of his brother.”

“In order to liberate Collin, there may be little choice” Quade posed. “A Refusal of Release from The Order will eventually lead to jihad in some form – it could become the justification that The Legion or The Way will use somewhere further down the road in a Crusade against The Order. Should Collin return to the AFA, though, it is likely that the entire Brotherhood would Petition the AFA for his release.”

“Quade is right” Aidan concurred to a degree. “Collin provided the High Council of The Order with proof of AFA plans to eradicate The Brotherhood – with divide and conquer being the first phase. Should the Arms come to their senses, however, and Aontacht becomes reality, We would demand the AFA turn over Collin. This would bring about a truly bloody jihad – one of The Brotherhood against the AFA, and I think we all know how that would end.”

“Providing that the AFA would even take back Collin, of course – they might assume the same and thus be reluctant to risk the casualties” I suggested. “Let’s face it, gentlemen – it is much more desirable to the AFA for The Brotherhood and its Arms of off one another than for the AFA to get involved. A jihad between AFA and Brotherhood is likely a final course of action. This could be the reason why they have stood down where Commander O’Reilly is concerned” I offered. “AFA High Command has already acknowledged that Collin’s Oath to The Order comes first – for the AFA to receive him now would be political suicide.”

“If he were to take up his old command, most certainly” Aidan agreed. “There is another way. Look at the facts. Neither The Legion nor The Way have entered into their Petitions that Collin be handed over to them. They have merely Petitioned for his Release, with condition for Review of his Case by the Combined Brotherhood High Council – and if Release should be tendered, then where would my brother go? He would be a man without a country, so to speak – and too hot a property to be welcomes with open arms. To be Brotherhood and Transition to another Arm, Collin would have to Swear Oath – and Collin is stubborn as a mule. My brother won’t do it – he’ll stand on principle until it kills him. Order he would have to remain – and his buddy Aaron appeared to feel that this was extremely important for some undisclosed reason.

“The AFA won’t take him, at least not directly, being unwilling to set themselves up as a target for Jihad. And the Blackguard?” Aidan now posed and unfortunately, we would – if only because I owed the Assassin’s brother a heavy debt. However, this would make us a target as well, and thus placing my people in harm’s way.

“We would accept Collin” I began but then looked down for a moment. “If only there was no other option.”

“It may seem as such, given that the other choices are the Native Peoples, or the Unspoken” Aidan pointed out and then releasing a long, low breath he looked around the table. “There is another possibility – one which would serve the interests of all concerned, and one which I believe my brother would embrace. However, We Members cannot be implicated.

“My brother’s deliverance would need be… contrived,” Aidan continued but then paused. “I believe, Antonio, that if you speak with Colonel Jones then you should be able to talk Jonesy into crafting a sanctuary for my brother. Somewhere on neutral ground, where he can recuperate – he will be free of the Censure levied by The Order, which will satisfy the Petitions for Release from The Legion and The Way. He will not be AFA proper, but rather on pension. The Legion and The Way should not take issue with this, and neither should the AFA – the shelter and supplies for Collin’s maintenance would be deducted from his AFA pension. The Brotherhood well understands finance, and this would be deemed fair and acceptable by all Arms. There will be no outright claim being laid to Collin, and so no one will have cause to get ugly” he chuckled under his breath and I had to admit, his scheme had merit.

“What if the AFA won’t play along?” I inquired, since it wouldn’t be wise to predict their participation. They often did the opposite of what they would promise. Aidan looked to Bryan, nodding once at his IT Head, and so Bryan withdrew a flashdrive from his pocket and slid it across the table.

“You will personally place this in the hand of Colonel Jones” Aidan told me with a grin, and so I knew right off the bat that the storage device contained blackmail. “Properly motivated, Jonesy can move Heaven and Earth” was his determination. “Especially where my brother is concerned.”

“And his deliverance?” I pressed but he didn’t answer, and so understood that was up to me to arrange.

And quickly.

“Agreed” I grumbled and then got to my feet, with Matt following suit. “If we have concluded our business?” I asked round the table, lastly looking to Aidan who slowly nodded. “Arrangements will be made. I will send word with the details of the agreement – prepare” I told them.

“Have Matt pass the details along to Bryan” was Aidan’s final instruction. With a bow I acknowledged this, thus turning on my heel to now take my leave of the Members.

Exiting Aidan’s home, Matt and I waited until we were in our vehicle before speaking.

“How much time do we have?” was Matt’s inquiry as he now whipped out his Palm and started tapping away.

“Our best opportunity is in the next several days” I told the young IT tech. “Collin is supposed to be high elevation training with Quade and Bryan – I have already been provided by Bryan with a map of their course.”

“Where do you want to meet Colonel Jones?” he now asked and so I laughed.

“On his doorstep, of course” I returned with a grin and so Matt just blinked. “He won’t dare turn away the leader of the Blackguard, now would he? That would be very bad form indeed. Not exactly good diplomacy, after all.”

“Wouldn’t that be like a tip off that something is going to go down?” he inquired and so I just shrugged. It didn’t matter. The Order was what I was worried about – however, Aidan would keep them distracted, I suspected. As well as find a way to remove himself from suspicion or participation.

“Colonel Jones knows how to skew data” I reminded him. “At any rate, we know where Members will be posted, and where Collin will be – so we need to get everything in place, and fast. We cannot count on Colonel Jones to lend aid, even if Aidan is of the mind that Eric most certainly will. The Colonel might be able to arrange for Collin’s pension to be paid out – but I am not so certain about partaking in the liberation.”

“We’ll be taking on considerable risk if we have to go it alone” was his reminder, and so I nodded in return. “There will be many more Members to contend with out there besides just Quade and Bryan.”

“I know, Matt – however, Collin holds a rather sizable marker on me” was my own reminder in return.

“He didn’t call it in, Antonio” he pointed out the inescapable.

“No – but his brother did that for him” I stated, releasing a long, low breath.

“The Ways of The Brotherhood, for as much as I think I understand them, its stuff like this that makes me realize I don’t know squat” Matt complained and so I patted him on the shoulder.

“I know what you mean, my young friend – but it goes even deeper” I told him. “The relationship between Aidan and Collin, it defies logic most days. At any rate, I don’t think we will have to go it alone – there is another AFA officer whom we can solicit. Colonel-Major Wasserman, AFA WardenOps” I told him and so he nodded in agreement. This AFA officer and Collin were fast friends, and I’d be willing to wager that the Colonel-Major would willingly stick his neck out for Commander O’Reilly.

I gave dictation to Matt as we drove along, back down the old BLM road to where we had left our light aircraft. Aidan had provided the ground transportation for us, having seen to all the details of our visit. I still did not like Collin’s brother – however, Aidan was part of the package deal when it came to Collin O’Reilly.

By the time we reached the plane, Matt already had a response regarding Colonel-Major Wasserman, by way of TechStaff Captain Kevin Wong. Matt had employed Kevin as a relay, and the Colonel’s response was a single word – absolutely, and forwarded a set of coordinates where we should meet.

Smiling at this good fortune, I knew that it would now only be a matter of time. And the sooner the better, Collin could no longer suffer the Reconditioning. He appeared more like a ghost than a man – the fire which used to brightly blaze from behind his intensely green eyes was now nothing more than smoldering ashen embers. If we didn’t act fast, his fire, his spirit, would soon be extinguished altogether.

And what was a man without spirit?

“Have you anything else, Antonio?” Matt asked, looking up from his Palm. “Beam is fading fast, we passed the last one not long ago.” Just as I was about to say no, Matt’s Palm chirped and so looking at the screen he shook his head. “Unbelievable timing” he breathed, now looking up at me. “Its from Aaron Gallagher.”

Father Aaron Michael Gallagher – I had a standing relationship with this Member, long before Aaron had even made Collin’s acquaintance.

“That is rather unbelievable” I mumbled, stopping the vehicle so Matt could send a response before we were out of communications range. “Especially given this is not his preferred method of contact” I made note as I accepted the Palm from Matt so I could read the communique. We must speak, this was all it said. The timing alone of the Member was enough to make one suspect, for coincidence alone could not explain away the uncanniness of it.

To get a sense that Aaron Gallagher was not of this world, one would need to spend time with him, and converse at great length. Which I had had the pleasure, lighting on diverse topics, but talk would mostly revolve around Christianity and its history, antiquities, Relics – this is where the journalist from the Time Before transformed.

No one could know that much, with such intimacy, and not have personally been there.

And if conversation should lead us towards the life and times of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, then Aaron would curiosuly become solemn in his demeanor. At times he would appear greatly moved, tears brimming in his eyes. It was as if he still grieved a long deceased, dear friend, and his displays of emotion in these moments did nothing short of send chills up my spine. Typically, and then almost in the same breath, talk would turn to that of Commander O’Reilly and the corner into which Collin had been slowly but surely painting himself. It was clear that the Jesuit Priest felt a need to protect the flashy, brazen AFA Commander, a man who, at the time, he had yet to make acquaintance.

It was during these conversations when I had eventually come to trust this mysterious Member-Elite of The Brotherhood who was also an Elite-Assassin. A warrior-priest, as it were – but then again, that was fairly much of what The Brotherhood was comprised. They were the Crusaders come again, Knights Templar in disguise, Illuminati on the sly. Take your pick of monikers, they were numerous and diverse.

And The Brotherhood was very much one group of men with whom you just plain did not want to fuck. They made the Sicilian mafia and the Japanese Yakuza look like a bunch of brawling schoolboys.

“That’s risky” Matt opined, given that Aaron had used The Order’s network to send the communique.

“Perhaps not” I began in consideration of his supposition. “Father Gallagher does, after all, sit the Council of Priests for The Order – his capacity in that regard hasn’t change, even if he has made formal Protest regarding the Censure of Collin O’Reilly. Half of the Council of Priests have done the very same” I reminded him. The Order was by no means united when it came to the brother of their Head of Assassins. “Request of him to head for Monument Valley – tell him I will meet him at the IntelliCore base” I now decided. It would look less damning for Aaron to get their first, and so I would use this to my advantage.

After my meeting with Colonel-Major Wasserman, WardenOps.

Wrapping up communications, we were again on our way back to the plane. I had been a pilot all my life, it seemed – a hobby which had endeared my father had quickly become the same for me. In this Time After it had paid off, and handsomely, needless to say. As long as one could procure the fuel, then flight was possible, and so a great advantage. Even Collin understood this, and thus the reason he had asked me to teach him to pilot a plane. I just stared at him upon such request, and then inquired why he didn’t just ask one of his own pilots. To my question he had no answer, and so in this Collin could be just like his brother – ever the man of mystery.

In the end, I did give flight instruction to Collin – he was an apt pupil who quickly learned. And it was during our lessons that he had let slip the interesting detail that his brother was terrified of flying. The Assassin was afraid to take to the air? This I could not believe. It was interesting, however, since Collin was terrified of ocean travel. I could not imagine the discussion they would have should they need to leave these shores together – with Aidan refusing to fly, and Collin refusing to sail.

And in this I found more than just idle, and amusing, curiosity.

Once in the air, we wasted no time in meeting with the WardenOps officer – and it was an intriguing discussion in which we enganged. There was much more going on on within the AFA in the wake of Collin’s Censure by The Order than we of the Blackguard had been able to ascertain. The best dirt, so to speak, always came from officers who were closest to AFA High Command, as was Colonel-Major Wasserman. The insight of men such as he was invaluable. Even if they did not betray their masters with the gossip they would pass along, these face-to-face interactions were coveted none the less.

We were not afforded much time to meet, the Colonel and I, but he made firm commitment to lend aid. I would leave the details to others, however, since I needed to be on my way, and so contacted my Second. I instructed him to work with the WardenOps officer and fill me in once arrangements for Collin’s deliverance had been solidified.

This was one dance in which I would participate – personally. I was just hoping it would not be my last – however, should we succeed? Commander O’Reilly would benefit from knowing he had the support of a neutral party, such as the Blackguard.

Taking our leave of the AFA WardenOps officer, we then headed straight to Monument Valley. We’d have just enough fuel to get there, and so was hopeful Colonel Jones’ hospitality would extend to a refill. If not, then the information contained on the disk Aidan had provided most certainly would. The disk was not protected – this seemed to be a penchant of The Brotherhood these days. In failing to encrypt these disks, Members were demonstrating how freely this data flowed – and they didn’t exactly care who got their hands on it.

Such had been the disk delivered to me by one of my men upon return from a mission. Out of nowhere popped up a small band of female assassins from The Way. Such was the shock of my men that they were clearly in awe to have seen that many women together in one place in this Time After.

Quickly returning to Copper Canyon, the mission Marshal handed me the nondescript disk. He had said, as far as he could tell, it was not a tracking device. Well, it would matter little if it was. So ensconced we were in the twisted maze of canyons that no one would have been able to reach our head quarters without being caught, or meeting with an untimely end in the attempt.

After auditioning the contents of that disk, I could only blink. It was a translation of an ancient text, the one known as the Alternative Faith of The Ascendancy. It was a personal message to me, I understood – but the meaning of which I had been uncertain. That was, until recent events opened my eyes.

Considering the information on the disk which I now possessed, however, the one handed my by Collin’s brother, I was deeply disturbed. Colonel Jones had good reason to sweat it, I thought in amusement. His relationship with a certain AFA Elite-General was curious indeed – and damning as hell.

Both in this Time After as well as the Time Before.

Secrets abounded in our world, but this was a doozie, however, I thought with an inward laugh. And I was certain Colonel Jones, supposed best friend to Commander O’Reilly, would turn white upon auditioning it.

And even more so when he realized the disk was not protected.

Leave it to an ex-CIA agent to drag up the juiciest dirt – but when you got right down to it? Most of The Brotherhood Members in this Time After had been attached to some form of intelligence service before mankind had all but winked out. However, Aidan had the benefit of decades of observation when it came to the relationship Collin and Eric shared, and so the seeds of suspicion had long ago been sewn, I was certain.

Before entering the airspace of the AFA IntelliCore base in Monument Valley, we radioed ahead and requested permission of an audience with Colonel Jones. Notably it took longer than it should have for us to receive a response – but we did, and the green light was given.

Upon landing, we were greeted by Wardens – no surprise there, but also Captain Wong was in attendance, who was Matt’s counterpart.

After formal greetings had been exchanged, the TechStaff Captain then rather informally addressed Matt.

“Hey, Matt – sorry, dude, gotta ask for your Palms” he told him and even though Matt understood the precaution, he wasn’t too happy about the mandate. “Mr. Abruzzi, you will go on to your meeting with the Colonel” Kevin instructed, again waxing formal. “Your IT Head will be detained elsewhere until you are ready to leave – by order of Colonel Jones” and after imparting upon us the wishes of his CO, he swallowed hard.

“It was a pleasure seeing you again, Captain Wong – I’m afraid Matt and I are a package deal. Please tell Colonel Jones we’ll now be on our way” I bluffed and then bowed out of respect, after which I turned on my heel so I could head back towards our plane.

“Mr. Abruzzi, wait” Kevin called out to me and so I stopped, waiting a moment before turning back around. “Look, I don’t like this any more than you do” was his frank admission, and dangerous given that there were Wardens close at hand, and who knew where their loyalty lay. If they were suck-ups to Jonesy, well – then that would be unfortunate for Kevin. “Perhaps if you could inform Colonel Jones as to why you are here? He said you were rather vague on that point.”

“Tell him it is in regards to Commander O’Reilly” I tossed out and now Kevin stiffened. “I’m sure Eric cannot have so quickly forgotten his best friend? I mean, I know he’s been very busy commanding this base in his Commander’s absence, however…” I began but then trailed off with a shrug.

“Have you seen Collin?” the IT guru now asked, a reflex reaction, his concern shining through for the man he truly considered to be his commanding officer – regardless the fact that man was now Colonel Jones.

Whose rank, incidentally, was just shy of being awarded the privilege of a base command, and so I knew that Eric was only commander-in-absentia and that was it. The AFA had yet to replace Commander O’Reilly, which was another interesting consideration. Officers from across the AFA would have been lining up for command of this installation – and here it was, almost a year since Commander O’Reilly had been gone and yet no replacement. And notably AFA High Command had not promoted Eric, either.

The inner workings of AFA’s Staff of Generals was impossible to gauge. At times they seemed more like The Brotherhood – which should not have been surprising, since I had a hunch there were Members deeply entrenched in the depths of AFA High Command.

I did not answer the TechStaff Captain’s inquiry, though, about my having seen Commander O’Reilly. With no response in the offing, Kevin now pulled out his Palm and started tapping away. And his tapping was more than required to inform Colonel Jones of my reason for this uncalled visit.

After a few moments, the Captain’s Palm chirped and so a response.

“Uh, ok – Colonel Jones still wants Matt detained elsewhere” he told me, apologetically. “And he still wants me to take custody of your Palms” Kevin added, and so he had covered all his bases in one communication.

“Well then, Captain – tell the Colonel that he can either acquiesce or the data on this disk just might start making the rounds” I said in a low voice and then nodded to Matt who then handed Kevin the disk. Being the bright boy that he was – Kevin got it, and right away. However, he was struggling with whether or not to audition its contents before passing along my words to Colonel Jones. Deciding to not, he again tapped away a message and this one was sort and sweet. Something to the effect of Abruzzi has dirt on you, I would wager, inwardly chuckling to myself. Kevin would have said dirt in time – nothing that touched his network or its attached clients went unscented by his keen sniffer.

A reply was received, and much more quickly this time, interestingly enough.

“Colonel Jones will see you both in his ready room” Kevin informed us, with a mental sigh of relief, I could tell. “If you would?” he then prompted Matt and me to follow him and so we did. It would be interesting to say the least, or so was my summation. The swiftness of the Colonel’s last response signaled to me that he was a man with secrets to keep, ones he desperately sought to keep to himself.

For how long though? Well, that would be a question of need, I understood – and as long as the sleaze bag AFA IntelliCore Colonel capitulated to our arm twisting, then I would keep his secrets.

For now.

“Your timing is of interest” I remarked to the Member who was sitting in a chair on the other side of my desk. “You pop up after a lengthy absence, and in seemingly the same heartbeat Antonio Abruzzi arrives on my doorstep” I made note, but Aaron Gallagher just held his silence as he continued his observation of me.

And admittedly in this he was making me feel downright unnerved. The Priest brought to mind the look Aidan would proffer when in contemplation of snapping my neck – like a twig.

“You are a popular man, Colonel Jones – what can I say?” was his cool observation, one which I was sure was a slam, even if it didn’t really come out sounding like one. Leaning back in my chair, I held my tongue, unsure what to say, if anything. “Comfortable?” the Elite-Assassin now inquired and so I offered a curious look in response. “It doesn’t fit you” he then tacked on, as if this should add clarification.

Then I understood – it was his way of conveying to me that I did not belong there, in the office of the base Commander, which, notably, had been Collin’s office.

Or rather still was in the eyes of Father Aaron Michael Gallagher, Member-Elite, Elite-Assassin, Jesuit Priest and Member of the Council of Priests of The Order. That the man was above me in status was more than apparent, but that didn’t mean I was about to be cowed by him.

Even if I that was how I was beginning to feel.

However, never let ‘em see you sweat, as Collin had been fond of saying. And I had learned from the best, after all, and now my heart went out to my old friend and comrade. His Censure at the Hands of The Order had been unavoidable – although, this didn’t mean that Elite-General Hastings hadn’t reamed my ass over it. His threats had been diverse and deeply complicated such to the point where I considered slitting my own throat.

“In the absence of Commander O’Reilly, someone needs to command this base – and that someone is me” was my flatly delivered assertion. “If this should displease you, then I suggest you take your protest to AFA High Command” I dared, now leaning forward across my desktop.

“In absentia,” he pointed out in reminder, “which might warrant your use of Commander O’Reilly’s office – but to have taken up residence in his quarters as well? What do you know that the rest of us do not, Colonel Jones?” was his cutting assessment and so my throat constricted. Was his just an educated guess? Collin would never again hold an AFA command – not at this base, not anywhere. However, this was far removed from public knowledge, and only known to the inner circle of AFA High Command.

And myself, of course, given my subrosa relationship with a certain Elite-General.

This reality, however, of Collin never again embracing a command, it did not mean that the AFA had released my friend from his commission. Even though this was the nature of his final communication, one that had been hand-delivered to AFA High Command by a Messenger of The Order. This was in the form of papers which Aidan had forced Collin to sign that day of his abduction, documents which stated that he was resigning his AFA commission. effective immediately. Signed not only by Collin, but also signed by four Witnesses from The Order.

It was an iron-clad contract in the Eyes of The Brotherhood, binding until Death.

Again, though, this was not the reason why AFA High Command would never again grant Collin a command.

“I know enough to keep my mouth shut and take action only after I have auditioned all the facts, Father Gallagher” was my arid retort, a subtle reminder to him that he was supposed to be a Man of God and not a soldier. Neither was Collin for that matter, I was forced to sadly admit, since he tended to let his heart rule his world – and which was why he’d gotten his ass in to one serious sling in the first place.

For some reason, though, my words brought forth a slanted grin in the Jesuit Priest, and eerily, the Member again reminded me of Aidan. Aaron, like Aidan, was also an Elite-Assassin, and to me, those lethal killing machines all appeared to come from the same mold, so perhaps it was only that.

And yet, the familiarity continued to persist.

“Indeed” was his only response and so feeling a need for more space and less confined quarters, I now got to my feet and headed for the door.

“To my ready room – after you” I offered, and it wasn’t out of politeness. Rather instead I just did not want to turn my back on this Member. Holding my eyes for a moment, Aaron then got to his feet, offering a slight bow of thanks after which he then preceded me out the door.

Just down the hall was my ready room – Collin’s ready room, I was certain Aaron was thinking but I didn’t give a shit. I ran that base and did so with much greater efficiency now that the Commander’s heart wasn’t around to get in the way. On one hand I loved Collin as a friend and comrade. On the other, though, he had frustrated me to no end – and that list was every bit as long as was the list of reasons I loved and respected him. His style of command, however, had driven me straight out of my mind.

Even within my own heart, I was forced to concede, diametrically opposed I was when it came to my long time CO, Collin Tristan O’Reilly. Although, he was no longer my CO – and I needed to keep this in the forefront of my mind. There would be no more of him sheltering his men at every turn – which had, in the past, been a godsend, truth be told. Always Collin had acted as a buffer between those under him and AFA High Command, and that Collin always went to bat for his men had won him their loyalty in droves.

So was it any wonder they would jump off a cliff if he should so command it?

Once seated in the conference room, it was moments afterwards that came a knock on the door.

“Come!” I barked and so quickly the door opened and there appeared Kevin with our unlikely guests.

“Colonel Jones – Antonio Abruzzi and Matt Dayfield, Blackguard” was the geek’s formal announcement and so now Aaron and I were on our feet. The leader of the Blackguard lit up when he saw Aaron – going as far as to shockingly share a heartfelt embrace.

“Father Gallagher – what a pleasure to see you again!” Antonio exclaimed, leaving me feeling decidedly out of the loop. Since when had these two men become so chummy? I wasn’t even aware that Aaron and Antonio knew each other beyond rumor.

And so beyond interesting this was, at least to me.

“The pleasure is all mine, Antonio” the Jesuit informally returned as the two men finally broke their embrace.

“Yes, it is good to see you again, Mr. Abruzzi” I waxed more formal, however. The Blackguard did not have rank titles, curiously enough, unless one was commanding a troop of men – and even then whoever led would be referred to only as the Marshal of that exercise or mission. I did know that Antonio had a man he called his Second, but that was all the title his Second possessed. Antonio’s men referred to their leader as the old man, a term of endearment for Antonio was indeed the oldest member of the Blackguard, he being older than Collin by a good ten years. The leader of the Blackguard was, in essence, like a father figure to those men he led, sheltered and protected, being looked upon as the patriarch of the Blackguard, as it were.

“Please – take a seat, gentlemen. You too, Captain Wong” I instructed Kevin before he could slip away. The TechStaff Captain and I had reached an uneasy agreement in the wake of Commander O’Reilly’s departure. Kevin agreed to obey my orders without question and in return I would not ride his ass. This had the desired result – the geek pretty much jumped at my every request, often dropping tasks midstream to cater to me. In this, however, he spoke loud and clear – the TechStaff Captain didn’t give a rat’s ass any more and would just do as he was told. A dangerous proposition for us if this was indeed Truth – however, it was only an assumption on my part, but one which bore continued observation.

“What brings the leader of the Blackguard to Monument Valley?” I began, leaning back in my chair. Elbows to armrests and hands raised to the level of my chin with fingertips pressed together, I began my wait.

“A matter which concerns our mutual friend – Collin O’Reilly” Antonio eventually began the parlay. “An opportunity has arisen for his liberation” the man now floored me. What good would this do?

And so I asked.

“What would be accomplished by such deliverance?” I wanted to know. “Who would liberate him, and then where would he go?” I inquired.

“You make it sound as if coming to the aid of your comrade would be a bad thing” Aaron made comment and so I could only blink.

“That’s not my intent, but facts are facts, gentlemen” I reminded them all while leveling a glare around the table.

“Perhaps you are not in possession of them all?” Aaron again provoked with subtle aggression, alluding to my earlier assessment, and he was right. Apparently I had just spoken before getting my facts straight.

“If that is the case, then would someone care to… enlighten me?” I put to them, waiting for an answer.

“I have not come here seeking aid for a rescue mission” Antonio apprised me as he leaned forward across the conference table. “Rather instead my intent is to make arrangements for Collin’s keep after the fact. We of the Blackguard can ill afford to harbor him. However, if his comrades won’t stand by him, then we, at least, will – regardless the consequences we would likely incur. However, I believe there are arrangements which can be made, with the blessing of AFA High Command. Ones which should satisfy all concerned, Brotherhood and AFA alike, without one stepping on the toes of the other.” I was intrigued, to say the least and so would audition his conjecture – which very much had a Brotherhood flavor to it.

And indeed it was economical and reasonable down to the very last detail. Brotherhood to the nth degree, no less.

The thing was – how did he expect me to talk AFA High Command into doling out a pension to Collin, one which would pay for his safe harbor and upkeep in the middle of nowhere? And in neutral territory?

“Apparently, Mr. Abruzzi, you have underestimated my influence where AFA High Command is concerned” I told him. He didn’t respond right away, instead looking to Kevin for a moment before speaking.

“I haven’t, Colonel Jones – but I believe Captain Wong has something to give you which should provide the proper motivation” he explained and so then I watched as Kevin then reached in his breast pocket to pull out a small flash drive.

“Have you reviewed the contents, Captain?” I asked – and so here was the dirt Kevin had suspected was in the offing.

“No, sir” he said, sliding the media across the table. Hesitating at first, I scooped up the disk and then pulled out my Palm. Inserting the card, I then perused its contents without hindrance of password and that was the first indication that therein was contained bad news. Unencrypted media smacked of Brotherhood and in a big way. I understood the statement the Brotherhood sought to make when sensitive information was left wide open.

Scanning the files, I could only hope that I had not turned completely white during the process.

Proper motivation indeed.

Once finished, I removed the disk from my Palm and secreted both away in my pocket. I would burn the damned thing later. What had me worried beyond the obvious was how the leader of the Blackguard had come by this information – an answer I would never receive, I understood, and so didn’t bother wasting the breath to ask.

All I knew was that I needed to be looking over my shoulder a lot more than I already had been.

“I’m confident that I can persuade the Staff of Generals to listen to reason” I assured the man, although in reality I held no such confidence, but sure was going to try like hell, and then some. Otherwise I was clearly fucked. “Is there anything you require from me of which I am able to freely provide?”

“Well, now that you ask” the leader of the Blackguard began with a grin. “A refill on fuel for our plane would be greatly appreciated – I can have my people discuss with your Supply Master terms of compensation.” If it only cost me fuel for his plane to get him out of there and off my back, then it would be an expense well worth executed.

“Its on the house, Mr. Abrizzi – the least I can do for the leader of the Blackguard” I told him, getting to my feet after which I delivered a respectful bow. “If you are in no hurry, then you and Matt are welcome to stay for refreshments – the mess hall is always open.”

“Well, that is certainly gracious, Colonel Jones, thank you – I believe we’ll take you up on that” Antonio returned with a burgeoning smile. Sure, he loved good food as much as Collin did, and I was certain he wanted to find out if there was any truth to Collin’s incessant brags regarding the quality of meals on our base.

“Fine, then – Captain Wong will be your guide” I volunteered the geek who looked as if he could ill afford the time, being as over burdened with work as he was, but again would do my bidding.

With a round of bows the men turned to leave, and then Antonio suddenly asked Aaron, “Will you join us, Father Gallagher?” and so the Priest nodded in return.

“Yes, thank you – I’ll catch up in a few moments” Aaron accepted, and with that the others then took their leave. The Member then closed the door to my ready room, slowly, quietly, and then just as slowly turned round to face me.

“I don’t care what it takes” he began in a quiet tone, deadly calm, disconcertingly deliberate. “You will make it happen. Do I make myself understood, Colonel Jones?” the warrior-priest required affirmation and I had had just about enough of people pushing my buttons that day. However, I understood that, given the contents of the data disk in my possession, I had no choice. Should I seem resistant, then Aaron would rat me out to Antonio, and in a heartbeat, I would predict.

“Look, Aaron – I want to help Collin, even if you suspect otherwise” I defended myself. “Regardless, there is just so much I can do, given my rank, but this doesn’t mean that I won’t go above and beyond. I owe my life to Collin for his having saved mine – a debt I will never forget, and can never repay him. Although, it would be to his detriment should I push AFA High Command too far and as result they decided to slam me in the brig. Marching into Elite-General Hastings’ office barking demands is not going to garner desirable results” I made clear. Surprisingly with a nod he agreed.

“You’re right – but there’s more than one way to skin a cat and I am certain that you will discover each and every one of them during the process” was his parched assessment and then with a bow he turned and left, off to join our guests.

Sitting down once more, I now whipped out my Palm and messaged Greg – and so after a few minutes of waiting he was soon standing in front of me with the door closed behind him.

“Sit” I grumbled with a wave of my hand and so Greg took a seat across from me. “Know any nice, cozy houses in the neutral zone? Someplace peaceful with a complete absence of booze” I now added. Obviously he got the picture, and fast – and so I filled him in on the details, at least as far as I was aware. Collin would be liberated in the near future and so we need prepare, in advance.

And luck favors the prepared, after all.

“And you suppose you’ll be able to maneuver the Generals?” he voiced concern but I just shrugged.

“I’ll die trying, I suppose – I owe it to Collin” was my reasoning. “Just start looking for a place, one well off the beaten path. I have every confidence that Collin will be liberated – that’s not a question. I also am of like mind with Antonio Abruzzi – this… solution… for the Collin problem will satisfy the demands of Release from The Legion and The Way. The Order will be off the hook as a result, AFA High Command won’t have to officially take back Collin, and Collin won’t have to worry about taking charity for his upkeep since it will come out of his pension and he can work off the excess by doing consulting work. He’s more than earned whatever High Command will choose to dole out.”

Greg listened to all of this rather quietly and then ventured, “You don’t appeared overly thrilled at the prospect of Collin’s pending deliverance,” eerily echoing Aaron’s earlier assessment.

“I don’t mean for it to come across like that, Greg” I was quick to cover. “There’s a lot more at play here, I think we both understand that. Aaron cropping up out of nowhere and right before Antonio’s arrival? I smell collusion.”

“Collusion or no, if it results in the premature termination of Collin’s Reconditioning, then who cares?” he put in his heartfelt two cents, those of a true and loyal friend, no less. “Collin is going to need a lot more than just a place to crash once liberated – you know how the Commander gets when he feels he’s been wronged.” Yeah – Collin would brood. This he had in common with his brother for Aidan would do much the same. Except in the end, with Aidan, he would get his revenge and men would die.

Collin, on the other hand, would turn his anger inward and thus chart a hazardous course towards self-destruction. Or would, that was, without intervention of his comrades.

“Well, first I have to see what I can arrange with AFA High Command – but not until this liberation comes to pass, of course” I told him. I wasn’t going to stick my neck out until the deed was done, after all. “If that pans out, then AHC will decide if we are to get involved with Collin post facto – or not. I can’t predict how the Generals will swing on this one. At any rate, I’m sure Aaron will babysit Collin. That should be of some comfort, at least.” To this Greg had no comment. I wasn’t any happier about the circumstances either, but it was what is was, as Collin would have said.

“You seem to be forgetting one small detail – Aaron is Order” Greg reminded me. “Granted, the Council of Priests sits apart from the Law, for the most part – however, these Priests cannot interfere in Censure of another Member” he spelled out for me. “This is expressly forbidden and carries with it one hell of a Censure all its own.” Now I blinked – and also understood where Greg was coming from. “Don’t interpret Aaron’s collusion with Antonio as participation. Aaron will have to walk some extremely fine lines after Collin’s deliverance if he wants to interact with his friend.”

No shit.

“Ok, then – I understand your concern” I mumbled. “So Collin is going to feel passed off, so to speak – and that’s not going to do a thing for him either.”

“Well, its still better than the Reconditioning, but that being said…” he trailed off as he now got to his feet. “First things first, as you said – this isn’t a done deal, not yet. Let me think on it, though. At least I can scope out a place in the neutral zone that won’t be a logistical nightmare to bring in infrastructure – that will be a start. And I’ll put together a proposal for Collin’s upkeep, what he’ll need and the compensation to cover it – a proposal that you can try to sell to General Hastings.”

“Good, good” I said, having every confidence that Greg would put together a package which AFA High Command would find more than fair. There was a lot to ponder between then and Collin’s deliverance.

A deliverance which surprisingly came much sooner than later.

Scant days after being visited by the leader of the Blackguard, I was notified of Collin’s liberation via Kevin, who had received one rather nondescript email from the Blackguard’s IT Head, which simply read check mate. I could only stare at the screen on Kevin’s Palm when he showed me the communication. The time had now come to haul my tail to AFA High Command and try to peddle Greg’s proposal to General Hastings. This would be fairly easy, I surmised – but would he be able to, in turn, sell it to Supreme-General Karloff? And the Staff of Generals? Good question, no answer.

“Well, that’s that then” I grumbled with a weighted sigh. Getting to my feet, I was about to dismiss Kevin when a knock came at the door. “Come!” I barked in agitation and so then entered Greg, carrying an envelope in his hand.

“This is for you” Greg informed me as he handed off the envelope. Looking at it with curiosity, as well as apprehension, it was decidedly Brotherhood in its nature. Turning over said envelope I was met with a seal of wax, a seal I knew all too well – it was that of the O’Reilly Clan, and the initials were not unfamiliar to me, either. SFO – Seamus-Patrick Finnegan O’Reilly. Glancing up I questioned Greg with my eyes. “Finney asked that I deliver this to you once I had word of Collin’s deliverance being a success” he explained.

“And he didn’t have the balls to hand this to me himself?” I asked but then quickly got the picture when Greg and Kevin exchange a brief glance. “Lemme guess – the Irishman left without my leave?!” I snapped. Granted, Finney was Brotherhood, Legion, to be exact, but he was also an AFA officer and Chief Medical Officer and at my command. Breaking the seal on the envelope, and upon auditioning the contents, I now understood why Finney had vaporized, as was the penchant of all Elite-Assassins.

Finney had resigned his AFA commission.

“No one has seen him since yesterday morning” Greg told me. “He told his staff he was taking time off to attend a matter of great import.” Brotherhood Finney was, just like the rest of the O’Reillys. He hadn’t lied to his staff, but no one would have suspected that he meant take off time, as in permanently.

“Well – since he’s resigned his commission, I suppose we know who is going to babysit Collin” I made comment, releasing a long low breath. “Membership before all else, naturally. So now we are minus one very talented doctor and I have to add this to my laundry list as well when meet with General Hastings. He will ream my ass over it, no doubt.”

“Did he state his reason for resignation?” Greg asked but I just shook my head.

“No – but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out his motive” I pointed out. “I am pleased for Collin’s sake – he will be a basket-case and Family is what he’ll require. He and Finney have always been close friends, and not just cousins. Do you gentlemen have any other news? Or can I go pack my bag now?” I complained, not wanting to make the trip to AFA High Command as it was, and even less now that I had additional bad news to bear with me.

“No, but I’d like to request permission to tag along” Greg tossed out and so I raised an eyebrow to this. “Often times face-to-face is the only way to get critical information” was his reasoning, and he was right. A fishing trip was most certainly in order given the circumstances.

“Granted” I accepted and then headed off to my quarters to pack, feeling, though, as if I was being kept in the dark about more than just a few things. However, I didn’t interrogate my Captains – it would have been pointless since both were extremely skilled at playing dodge-ball and I just wasn’t to be afforded the time. Nor was I inclined just then for a battle of wits.

Once Greg and I had boarded the plane which was to bear us to AFA High Command, we both settled in to finish up some work. Otherwise, there was not a whole lot of conversation going on. Greg, I could tell, was running through in his mind all the details he had thus far collected regarding Collin’s liberation. Piecing together a jumble of puzzle pieces was a specialty of his, often drawing conclusions that no one else would ever have drawn – and ones which were almost always right.

Actually, I could not think of a time when the Captain-Major had been wrong.

“Why would anyone stick out his neck to rescue Collin?” I wondered aloud, and so having roused Greg from his preponderance, I had his attention. “I mean, its one hell of risk, and on a number of fronts, to go up against The Order.”

“We should have done it, and from the get-go” was his heartfelt opinion. “To Collin, the old Ranger code wasn’t just a motto, Eric – and it shouldn’t have been to us, either. Had the tables been turned? Collin would have wasted no time in drafting a plan to come to our aid. He would have worked outside the box, and in a big way – whatever it would take to see any of his men safely returned. Not just you or me.” What could I say to that?

He was right.

However, we weren’t Collin. We didn’t live large, think large, nor did we have the charisma to sway men into doing our bidding – at least, not without a whole lot of threats.

And so came to mind the premise of the Furtherance and its central character, the Second Son. A man whom people would follow without question. The thought was unsettling, to say the least.

“You know that AFA High Command ordered us to stand down” I refreshed his memory and so he laughed.

“You think a small detail like that would have stopped Collin?” he wanted to know and, nope – it would not have. Again, however, we weren’t Collin and would never be Collin. The excuse was weak at best, I understood.

“You know, he could have prevented the Censure – but the man was too damned stubborn” I made another point. “He who runs away lives to fight another day” was my take on it.

“Collin has never run away from a fight” Greg was quick to counter.

“Yeah, well – not unless it involved Aidan” I grumbled for this was truth. Collin never went toe-to-toe with his brother. He might have circumvented his brother on occasion, but tended to swallow Aidan’s mandates without thought. And why? For some twisted reason Collin trusted his brother – even when he would claim the opposite. The relationship that the two siblings shared was a web of intricate design, so much so that one could not easily discern its pattern. Admittedly, even all these years down the road, I still could not get my head wrapped around it. It defied logic most days.

“Aidan is the one who made possible Collin’s rescue” Greg now offered up and so I just blinked at him. “I’m one hundred and ten percent certain, Eric – and when I get more details, I’ll have the data to back up my theory. If you care to check it, Aidan did not want Collin to Reaffirm – not until the Cup had been recovered. Circumstances saw to it, however, that at a critical juncture, Aidan wasn’t able to be with his brother when Collin decided to get foolish and accept The Order’s Reaffirmation Proposal, and out of hand, no less.

“Aidan looks out for his brother, even if you don’t think he does – he always has, always will, and I’d stake my life that he was instrumental in the plan to liberate Collin” he now concluded and so I let out a long low breath.

“If that can be proven, then Aidan’s ass would be in one serious sling” I remarked and so Greg nodded.

“Aidan gave those involved something rather sizable to hold over his head” was his assessment. “If it should come to light that The Order’s own Head of Assassins interfered with Collin’s Censure? Death would be the result – the High Council would have little choice, I bet. I’d also wager that Aidan broke more than just one Law of The Order during the past few weeks, but to save his brother? He would do so without question – its as if this has been programmed into Aidan, to protect Collin and vice verse, since Collin has demonstrated the very same. Its freaky – you know it, I know it, but there it is.”

And there it was indeed – and so falling to silence I pondered his words, putting together several puzzle pieces on my own as we awaited our landing at AFA High Command.

“Does Sierra like it here?” Collin asked over his shoulder as I approached. “I’ll bet she loves this place.”

Deja vu, I thought, experiencing the eerie sensation of having already had this conversation with my brother, sometime in the past.

Although I knew that I most certainly had not.

And how could he know that I had brought Sierra to this retreat of mine in the Colorado wilderness?

Leaning against the railing of the deck out behind the master bedroom, Collin looked out over the mountain vale below where it basked in the warmth of the new morning sun. Now joining him, I drew an arm around his shoulders – for his comfort as well as for my own.

“Time to go, huh?” he put to me in a low voice, and unfortunately, yes. And I wasn’t sure when I would again see my brother.

If ever.

“Do you have faith in God above?” Collin suddenly decided to ask, turning his head so to look me in the eye. That was an ignorant question, I thought, and so didn’t bother to answer. “Well, he no longer has any faith in me, I am certain.” I only continued to hold his eyes, waiting for him to get to the point.

Oh, yeah – this was Collin, after all, and often times my brother didn’t have a point.

“I love you, brother” I told him, not knowing what else to say. “Things will get better – trust me” I implored but this only served to bring out in Collin guffaws of laughter. Ok, note to self – don’t bother talking to your brother, he’s still an asshole.

Sure, Collin might have been an asshole, but he was my brother and I loved him, regardless. It mattered not to me what he was or wasn’t, he and I had spent nine months in the same womb, so as far as I was concerned, he was my brother.

“Never trust an ex-CIA cutthroat who says trust me,” was his advice, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes, “or New Yorkers, for that matter.” At least he still had his sense of humor – but as quickly as the laughter had begun, it now terminally ceased. “I’m fucked, aren’t I?” he then wanted to know the Truth, although I could only shrug in return. That was not my intent, to let him die – but his salvation at present depended on a lot of other people.

And none of them Members.

“Do you really believe all that crap about the Plan and Its Furtherance?” was the next question in his string of queries, but what he really wanted to ask was whether or not I held belief that he was the one scripted to play the part of the Second Son.

“Yes, I’m afraid I do” I told him. “What does this mean for you and me, personally? Not much, even if you are the one referred to as the Second Son. You are still my brother, Collin – regardless. I’ve got a lot of foot work to do, though – there are huge gaps in our knowledge, ones which I intend to span.”

“I’m not sure I want to learn any more details, to be honest” he now mumbled, looking away for several heartbeats.

“Me either, brother – but ignorance is not bliss” was my dour reminder and to this he just grunted in return.

“Have they… used It?” Collin now navigated into far more treacherous waters – he was asking about the Cup of Christ, I understood. The Council of Priests had barely gotten beyond agreement that we had in our possession an object from Christian antiquity. There were no photographs of the Cup, of course, nor any renderings, for that matter – to make an image of the most Holy of Relics would have been pure blasphemy. Those who could have authenticated the object in our possession were no longer living – of which we were aware, at any rate. Collin could have been instrumental in our determination, but upon Renouncing, this had meant that all matters regarding the Cup were strictly off limits to him. His friend Aaron could have most certainly lent us crucial aid as well – however, he had chosen to make himself scarce after Collin had Renounced. As a Member of The Order we could not force the Jesuit to stick around, either, for he sat the Council of Priests and they were untouchable, fairly much sitting above the Reach of the Law.

This left only one option to ferret out the Truth of the Cup – someone must drink of It, but whom? And so it was this matter which was presently up for lengthy debate.

“Aidan?” Collin prompted me since I hadn’t answered his inquiry. “Ok, let me guess – neither confirm nor deny, right?”

“It’s… complicated, Collin – this much I can tell you” I offered, feeling a need to tell him something without really telling him anything.

“You don’t have to say a word for me to understand how troubled you are” my brother then made discerning observation. “Is there anything I can do?” he wanted to know, genuine in his offering, no less. His concern for others knew no bounds, I disconcertingly considered, supposing just who he might, in all reality, be. “I… would it help if I just withdrew my Renouncement?” Collin abruptly decided to shock me, willing to sacrifice his own convictions if it meant easing my distress. Unfortunately, however, his suggestion was impossible.

“Not really – I think we both understand that you will not pass the Trials,” was my solemn determination, “even if you this very day began to take seriously your Training.” My brother though, and quite predictably, just gaped at me.

“And just what happened to that a Waiver which I had received and which was deducted from my Ledger Balance?” he made inquiry in a low voice, about ready to accuse me of being an Indian-giver, or some other colorful moniker.

“It was made null and void the instant you Renounced” I stated matter-of-fact. “It doesn’t miraculously get reinstated should you decided to withdraw your Renouncement.” I had known that Collin wasn’t exactly up-to-snuff on Brotherhood Protocol. However, I had assumed that he would have at least researched Waivers and all they entailed. In other words, the fine print.

Apparently not – or if he had, then Collin had thought this did not apply to him, all because his brother was Head of Assassins for The Order. Time and again Collin would blow my mind when it came to his perception of me and my power within The Order. I was Brotherhood, and to the core – my Oath made demand that I follow its Laws and Doctrines, if for no other reason than I was The Order’s Chief Enforcer of The Laws.

With a weighted sigh, Collin then gave his attention back to the beauty of God’s natural world, leaning over the railing of the deck as he once more looked out over the valley.

“I really am fucked, then, aren’t I?” he grumbled, now running a hand over his face to then let it linger there a moment.

“I am not a fortune teller, Collin” I stated the obvious. “However, you have always stood apart, even when a member of the pack. I think perhaps, should you survive this, that you need to perpetuate this strategy of being an individual – that of keeping your distance.” This piece of advice won me a black look. Quickly, however, I changed the subject. “Sierra is with child” I pressed on, since time was waning, and thus the black look he had leveled me now transmuted to one of dismay. “If the newborn is male, he will be at risk.”

“And you expect me to do what, exactly, about that?” was his testy inquisition, but silence was my answer. Mine was only to sow subtle seeds of persuasion. “I know that you people believe history repeats again and again, ad infinitum no less – but this is a little premature, don’t you think? And besides, you seem to have forgotten that there is no longer an AFA base under my command!” my brother then got downright ugly. Actually, I found it purely amazing that it had taken him this long to do so. The man had good reason to be enraged, after all.

“If you care about preserving what is left of this world, then you will never again hold a command, anywhere” I told him, but obviously it came out sounding like a threat and so now, in confusion, he left the railing to back up a step. “Look, Collin – death is a dancer, and this dance is far from over. When the time comes, let your heart tell you what to do, and not your head, ok? Or the whisperings of others” was my cryptic advice and so Collin now furrowed his brow in thought.

“Should I stop resisting the Reconditioning?” he asked of me – and at least he was posing intelligent questions based on what I had said.

“What do you think?” I returned, finding it a painful task to choose my words for later, should it be required that I face a formal Inquisition levied by the High Council, then I would need to be able to speak Truth. Care need be taken. “Know one thing, Collin – I love you. My biggest regret is that it is my own brother who appears to be the main focus of something that reads like a work of fiction – and that I am powerless at present to do one fucking thing to thwart it.”

“You cursed” my brother the moron chuckled after blinking at me for a moment. He knew that for me to us foul language I was pretty much at my wit’s end.

“No shit” I laughed in return but then was quick to turn somber as I moved in to initiate a parting embrace. Collin accepted with open arms, fiercely embracing me as I did him. I did not want to release him, but it was time for him to go. If all went as planned, then I would not see my brother again for one very long time, and perhaps not at all.

To me this thought was as if a jagged knife had been driven straight up into my chest, piercing my heart.

Finally parting from my brother, I took Collin’s face in my hands, holding his eyes which, in anticipation, had turned a troubled and stormy sea-green.

“Don’t worry about me, brother. After all – I’ve got tenacity on my side” Collin tried to ease my mind, but this was exactly what had me most worried. His ability to hang in there, aided by a couple of unseen Guardian Angels, as well as one who seemed to walk upon God’s Earth – this would greatly increase the level of his suffering come the end. There could be no easy way out for him.

Then again, if he truly was God’s Second Son to walk His Earth, then Collin was destined to suffer for all of Mankind.

Just as had Jesus.

This consideration made me feel ill – which wasn’t anything new. When I was unable to protect him, when his safety was out of my hands, I would feel it – physically.

“Uh, congratulations are in order, I suppose” my brother now mumbled, looking about as ill at ease as I felt about Sierra’s being with child. “Give Sierra my best… and… uh, please tell her that I love her” he tacked on, making me feel like the biggest scumbag to have ever walked the surface of this planet.

And notably, through all our discussions regarding the Plan and Its Furtherance, past and present alike, Collin had not lit upon the woman who was originally supposed to have been the Eve to the Adam of the Second Son.

Not one single syllable.

Admittedly, it was a topic we had all been avoiding like the plague – especially since that Eve was suspected to have been Collin’s one time fiancée from the Time Before. The woman whom I had eventually married and who was long deceased.

The consideration that a clone of this Eve, of whom Miranda had been the embodiment, had been created, quasi or otherwise, would speak to direct involvement of the Unspoken in this post-apocalyptic arena. And Sierra heavily weighed in as candidate for this replacement version of Eve. However, our collective blind eyes could perhaps be forgiven. Any woman of child bearing age was a godsend – even if she would be considered an Abomination given the process which had given rise to her. At least, by Brotherhood Standards. And should it be conclusively proven that Sierra was a creation of man rather than that of God? It would perhaps be for the best, given the nature of her latest pregnancy.

“Aidan?” Collin prompted me and so it was with a heavy heart that I now said my good-byes.

“Godspeed, brother” I said to him. “It’s time for you to go.” I motioned towards the house with one hand, prompting him to walk with me. Taking several deep breaths, Collin then nodded in resignation as we both entered the house and made our way to the front door. Outside Quade and Bryan would be waiting to resume Collin’s Reconditioning.

Ryan was sitting in the great room and upon seeing us was quick to his feet. Many words he had to say, but most of them were for me, I knew.

The doctor had protested, adamantly, about the return of my brother to the custody of his Training Masters. Regardless the fallout his protest would incite, political or otherwise.

“May Fortune find you, always” was the doctor’s formal farewell, but this only won him a flat look from Collin. However, quick my brother was to understand that Ryan’s words were wholeheartedly meant and so in thanks bowed to the doctor.

Reaching the door, Collin laid hand to the lever but then he looked over his shoulder at me.

“I love you too, brother” he told me, rending a huge gash in the fabric of my heart. Then he went for the kill. Turning round to face me, he placed a kiss on my cheek before engaging in one final embrace.

And that was that – without further hesitation Collin then made his exit, closing the door behind him.

At which point I literally fell to my knees, brought down by pain born of despair. In a heartbeat Ryan was kneeling down beside me, eying me with grave concern. Covering my face with my hands I tightly shut my eyes. This had been one of the hardest things I had ever had to do, letting go of Collin.

When it came to anyone else in this world, I could make brutal decisions without conscience or regret – all in the name of Greater Good. However, when it came to my brother? A fierce battle within myself I would be forced to wage – to the point of which I felt as if would perish of the effort.

And across the years, this had me wondering if perhaps Collin wasn’t the only one who had been genetically engineered. However, nowhere in the Plan or Its Furtherance was there any mention of an Attendant created for the Second Son. Not one solid word, not even a single hint – and yet, when it came to matters involving my brother? My will was hardly my own.

“Milord?” Ryan called to me and so dropping my hands away from my face, I now looked to him. I knew what he was thinking – his thoughts were the same as mine. I wasn’t a normal human being – not by a long shot.

“I need to leave for a while” I told him of the decision I had made days ago.

“Is that wise, Aidan?” was his bold questioning. “It would look most suspicious for you to be away right now” he pointed out the obvious.

“Yes, and so it probably will – but I will be heading out to sea” I now revealed. “There is something the Council of Priests has made request I retrieve – and so the perfect cover during this time of turmoil.” It troubled me to no end to be elsewhere given what would soon come to pass, and the uncertainty of it – however, I needed to make sure I was in a position where I could not be implicated, not one iota.

“We’ll leave at day’s end” I decided as I now got to my feet, distressingly taking note that my knees were none too steady. “I need time alone, to think, so I’ll go hunting. We can have a decent meal before we leave” I decided and so he nodded.

“I’ll go with you” the doctor said but I shook my head in refusal. “Travel in pairs” he dared remind me the edict laid down by our Grand Head, which won him a rather dark look on my part. Elite-Assassins had been commanded to travel in pairs, after all. “You will do what you will, as always” was his criticism, but we knew each other extremely well.

“Come what may” I grunted, using a favorite phrase of my brother’s when his own resolve would harden. “I won’t go far, Ryan – there are plenty of rabbits everywhere this spring. I just need to get my mind in order before we head home.” With a nod he accepted, but still wasn’t pleased by my decision.

Grabbing my bow and quiver, I set off in search of quarry. It was early spring and still rather cold, but the rabbits were out and about, fat and happy. At least until they would find themselves impaled by my arrowheads. It was short work for me to down a couple of plump coneys, and so afterwards slinging them over my shoulder, I set out for a walk. I did not go far, as I had made promise – however, trouble came looking for me. An eerie sensation crept up on me, one that made me stop dead in my tracks.

Slipping the rabbits off my shoulder, I set them aside along with my bow and quiver. There I stood, still as stone, waiting, listening – and then I was totally blindsided. On my knees, brought down by one well placed blow, and as I was about to respond like-in-kind, I then froze solid. The hand which abruptly pinned my neck to the ground was oh so cold. Once it had release me, though, I was quick to scramble backwards, desperately seeking distance. Looking up as I did so, I saw that it was, as I had suspected, Aaron. His timing was impeccable, as always – disappears without a trace only to pop up, literally, at the most opportune moments.

“A fine day for the hunt” the Jesuit menace made conversation, a slanted grin donning his lips. “Aren’t you breaking an edict, though? Travel in pairs, after all” was his observation, one made with a chuckle, and if I had before felt chilled to the bone – then I now experienced that, and tenfold.

Ever so slowly I got to my knees to then crouch in waiting, uncertain of his intent. Cocking his head to one side Aaron regarded me at length.

“It eludes me why everyone should think you oh so deadly” was his overt slam – an unfair assessment, that. After all, before me stood no mere mortal – of this I was absolutely certain. The question was, on which side of the divide did he fall? Light or dark?

Good question, one I intended to possess the answer – someday, if not just then.

“Listen to me, and listen to me good, assassin” the Warrior-Priest began as he slowly encroached on my airspace – but I was not about to retreat.

Not yet, anyway.

“You are to give your brother one very wide berth after his liberation” was his caution, his threat. How had he known that here was a plan underway to liberate my brother? And that I was part of it? The consideration of how he may have come by such knowledge ended in a very short list of men. None of whom I could conceive of revealing my name to him.

And thus a little divine providence on his part, I’d wager.

“You are to have no contact with Collin” he spelled out, greatly angering me and so now I went into protect mode, as Collin would call it. He was my brother and needed my protection – from everyone, at least in my eyes.

“Collin is my brother!” I heard myself hiss at the specter. No one was going to tell me otherwise – regardless the truth of Collin’s creation.

“That he might or might not be,” was Aaron’s cool return – however, there there was still one angry fire blazing behind his eyes, “but in Heaven Collin is my brother. You are to keep your distance from him, Aidan O’Reilly – do I make myself understood?” he demanded and what was I to do? To say? If he laid hands on me again I knew without a doubt that I would surely lose my mind. “I’m waiting” he now prodded with an evil grin as he edged closer to my person.

 “I will do as you say – unless my brother should send for me” was my conditional agreement and so certain was Aaron that Collin would shun me, the devil’s minion nodded in acceptance. This had not been my intent, to abandon Collin to others, not altogether. However, I could live with this mandate of Aaron’s – if Collin wanted to see me again, it would perhaps be best if it was at his behest, and on his own terms. To rush my brother into anything would be to have him work against one’s self.

 “Agreed” the Jesuit surprisingly accepted with a nod, and then bowing to me he concluded our business. “Good-day, Head of Assassins O’Reilly” and with that, he was gone as quickly as he had arrived. Leaving me to crouch there, staring after him – and I wasn’t sure if my mind was playing tricks on me, but I was certain that the man had just vanished.

 Finally allowing myself to take a deep breath, and then one after another in slow succession, I now pondered his words. What had he meant? He told me that in Heaven Collin was his brother – but what did this mean? The Archangel Michael was said to be brother to Jesus – but it was also said that Michael was the name held in Heaven by Jesus. Either consideration left me feeling unsettled, and down to my very core. Aaron’s middle name was Michael, but that could be said for many men – and after all, God’s world was filled with coincidence.

 However, the power I had felt, and on more than one occasion, issuing forth from Aaron Michael Gallagher was that of no mortal man. Not by a long shot. And yet? Aaron sought to protect my brother, just the same I had always done. Apparently, though, we each had a different cant on protection.

 Releasing a protracted sigh, I now gather up the coneys, along with my bow and quiver, and then set off at a brisk pace. The sooner we left this place, the better. I needed to get back to The Order, back to Sierra so I could say good-bye to her. It was my intent for her to go to Collin once he was settled somewhere in the neutral territories. I had yet to work out the details of Sierra’s transfer, but would have it arranged before I set sail. I would need to call in a few favors as well before I made my departure – and one where I would call upon a Bond of Family to lend support to my brother.

 So much to do, so little time.

 When I returned to the house, Ryan could immediately sense that all was not right with me. Reluctantly I filled him in regarding my encounter with one very uninvited guest and news of this troubled him, and deeply. However, we both knew it was futile to waste energy on things beyond our control. We ate a decent meal and then relaxed on the back patio, in silence watching the westering sun until it had set – at which point we then just as quietly took our leave.

 We headed to a location where was hidden a small aircraft, one which would take us back to The Order. Ryan had been a pilot in the Time Before, it was a hobby of his which had become quite a valuable skill in this Time After. Myself, on the other hand, dreaded the thought of being airborne, but it was a necessary evil and so I would just suck it up, as my brother would say. Collin loved to fly, though – the man just could not get enough of it.

 I often wondered if this was for no other reason than to be the exact opposite of me. Then again, he always refused to go sailing with me, turning as green as the sea itself just at the mere thought.

 Once having arrived back at The Order I wasted no time, getting up to speed with my Captain of Assassins being my first priority. After this task had been completed, I then wrapped us any loose ends before heading home to pack – and to say good-bye to Sierra.

 The woman wasn’t on speaking terms with me as of late, and I could not say that I blamed her. She would join my brother, eventually – I just needed to remind the woman that her will was her own.

 Even if our children weren’t.

 When I had finished packing my gear, I then sought her out. It wasn’t hard to find her or our children – typically they were down at the stables. My young son Kaden had a major attraction to equines – so much so that he could hardly be separated from the beasts. If Kaden was a disappointment in all other regards, then in this he was not. He was just like his old man and had an affinity for horses. His twin sister Kiran wasn’t so interested, however, which made me sad – but it was what it was.

 Upon arriving at the stables it was as I expected – Sierra was there with our children and their nanny, Brian’s wife, Kelly. Offering Sierra a smile as I entered, she only glanced at me, but that was about it.

 “Kelly, please take the children back to the house” I issued command, and so without hesitation the young wife of our IT Head did as she was told. Once she and the twins were out of earshot, it was then that I addressed Sierra.

 “I will be gone for quite a while” I told her as I got down to one knee. She was leaning up against the stall of one of the mares who had taken a shine to her, as she to it. Sierra had no comment, still giving me the silent treatment. “I want you to remember something – your will is your own” I told her and apparently I discovered just the right buttons to push.

 “You’ve got to be shitting me” was her less than polite affront, but I would let it slide – this time.

 “You do not have to stay here, and you don’t need my permission to return to the AFA” I told her, and it was obvious she had no idea what I was getting at. No matter, when the time came, she would.

 “Is there any word about Collin?” Sierra now decided to get civil, asking in a rather polite tone and appearing very demure. The woman wasn’t fooling me, however – she knew it, I knew it. How I just wanted to kiss her! I thought in despair but no – not appropriate given our circumstances as of late.

 “I will be out to sea” I skated right on by her query. “It will be several months before I return. I love you, Sierra – and I am sorry for what I had done, although I do not ask your forgiveness. Be happy” I told her as I not got to my feet. Before she could say a single syllable, I turned on my heel and headed back to the house. Quickly I said good-bye to my children and then collecting my gear I was then gone.

 And as with my brother, I did not know when, or if, I would ever again see the woman I loved, Heaven and Earth.

Greater Good was going to be the death of me, or such was my glum consideration. My brother was Head of Assassins for The Order – so what did I expect? Leniency? Not, I knew, and yet – how many times had Aidan told me that I was his first priority?

More times than I could count and I wasn’t sure what weirded me out more. This assertion of his or the fact that it was in direct conflict with the Brotherhood philosophy of Greater Good.

After all – Aidan was Brotherhood to the very core of his soul.

Shivering with cold as the sun slowly sank behind the next ridge, I trudged along with the deadly-duo, Bryan and Quade. They sure didn’t have a whole lot to say after we had left Aidan’s vacation home. Even assassins had a need to get away from it all, I supposed – including my brother, Mr. Brotherhood himself.

“Its not going to help, is it?” I decided to break the silence with a question. Not that I expected an answer, mind you – but it was a death march if there ever was one and so was looking for something, anything, to divert my mind from its preponderance.

“Speaking in riddles? No – most certainly not” was Quade’s smarmy response; he knew damned well to what I was referring, though. “You could have given it your all since day one and it would have made little difference” he told me after several moments – something of which I already knew anyway so wasn’t sure why I had even bothered to ask. “You are too old, Collin” the assassin now tacked on, as if this was supposed to make me feel any better. Training for the Trials was the providence of youth, after all – and in this Post-Time world, I was considered an old geezer, even if I was only on the slippery downside slope of middle age.

The majority of those who survived the Apocalypse had been veritable youngsters when what The Brotherhood was now referring to as The Culling had come to pass. Those who had not perished were mere kids – at least by my standards. In their late teens and early twenties for the most part. However, it was us old farts running the show, though. Which was an interesting consideration when one examined who was in power now – as they had been back then, in the Pre-Time world. Or at least, these men had all held high ranks and lofty stations before the world nearly winked out.

Pushing these thoughts aside, I was determined not to indulge them. The Plan and Its Furtherance were just plain insane – regardless should evidence be unearthed which would offer conclusive proof thereof. Insanity by any other name was still insanity.

Once we had reached the top of the ridge, my tormentors put on the brakes and so time to take a break, I hoped – but knew better than that. No rest for the weary, after all – or the soon to be deceased, for that matter. All day I had felt a burgeoning tenseness, on the verge of exploding but just never quite bursting forth.

Something was going to happen – of this I was certain. What that might be, however, I found maddeningly evasive to speculate.

“Mercy killing?” I prompted with a weak laugh, one born of my growing unease but neither assassin appeared overly amused. Then again, I really hadn’t been joking, either.

“Whom among your familiars can you truly trust, O’Reilly?” Quade now put to me and so I just blinked. Trick question?

“No one?” was my simple response, hearkening back to that old CIA credo. One with which Quade should have been intimately familiar, his being ex-CIA, as was my brother.

“Not necessarily so,” the shark surprised me, “least ways, not those who you think you can and vice versa.”

“Then I reiterate – no one” I grumbled, glaring at the Elite-Assassin, and probably courting a good back-handing in the process but I was not in the mood for word games. I was exhausted and sore, and ached in places I hadn’t even known I had prior to undertaking the Reconditioning. It all came with such ease to these Members, though, Elite-Assassins that they were. They never tired, never struggled, barely broke a sweat and seemingly could go on forever.

And Quade was no spring chicken – the man was at least as old as myself, if not older.

No so with this old fart, however, and that was the sad truth of it. My best days were now far behind me, a reality I kept trying to evade. However, my Reconditioning for the Trials made this a dogged reminder.

“Aaron Gallagher is one such man you can implicitly trust” was Quade’s shocking announcement and so it was with narrowed eyes I regarded him.

“Uh, yeah – ok” I slowly began, wondering what on earth this was – mind games now? “Your buddy Andy loathes him, though” was my reminder. My brother, whom Quade affectionately referred to by the nickname Andy, detested Aaron and that was no lie. However, my declaration made Quade laugh.

“And so? All because Aidan wants to slit Father Gallagher’s throat, this doesn’t mean that all Members of The Order are of like mind.” What was this shit? I wondered in dismay – Quade not siding with my brother? Mind games, that had to be it. “Trust to Aaron – he will guide you” was his advice and then without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me there with Aidan’s deadly protégé, Bryan.

“What’s he been smoking?” I made jest, but just like his mentor, who was my brother Aidan, Bryan was painfully sparing of words. “Uh… what’s going on?” I tried taking the direct approach as I wrapped my arms about me. The temperature was quickly tanking along with the daylight, and thus my body temperature was in unison plummeting with it. I had long gone beyond trying to conceal my discomfort, since I was shaking like a leaf by this point – teeth chattering and the whole nine yards. However, I wasn’t sure just how much of it was from the cold and how much could flat out be attributed to fear.

With sea-gray eyes that shone as cold as the depths of the northern seas in winter, the young assassin-come-IT-geek regarded me at length. After a moment I finally got it and so then got down on my knees – one knee, notably. If he wanted me down on two then the prick was going to have to make me, and thus I now resurrected my streak of defiance. Even if it had been my intent to play nice, my pride continually got in my way.

“Some things are and some things aren’t” was his mystic offering as he now got down on his knees – both of them, no less. Returning the gesture like-in-kind, I now did the same, mirroring him so that I was on both of my knees as well. Worked for me, at any rate – I was so cold and weak that stability had become an issue, and being on two knees was far less taxing than balancing on one.

“I Believe, because You Are” the assassin now went on and I could hear the capital letters in his intonation. I was about ready to ask him what he’d been smoking but then deep-sixed the idea. “Many others Believe as I” he tacked on, and if I had previously considered that Members were a bunch of zealots, then I had just plain been wrong. To consider that Aidan’s IT geek had bought into the Prophecy of the Second Son was one thing, but to hold belief that I was this Second Son of God?

Out of their frigging minds each and every last one of them.

And knowing Members as well as I did, I understood that this was no jest on Bryan’s part. If the assassin said he Believed, then he damn well Believed.

“Well, then – your kicking my tail up, down and around isn’t exactly an example of reverence, now is it?” I shot back, trying not to let my teeth chatter but it was near impossible. The wind on the ridge combined with the cold was doing a fair job of freezing off my ass, and in addition every other appendage.

“You have yet to be Confirmed” was his plain and simple answer, so neatly cleaving the matter in two. After all, Belief was a private matter, unless the Council of Priests officially made it a public one. Until such time Bryan must first attend to Duty as a Member – and so the clean division between the Private and the Professional. He was bound to his Station and orders given him, regardless if he Believed or no.

“Look, Bryan – you are a very bright young man,” I tried to reason with him, “so put aside this nonsense of my being the Second Son, ok? Sometimes it is alright to go your own way, you know. You don’t always have to follow the flock.”

“I am Order” was his prompt response, a reminder that his Brethren came first and foremost. After all, they were his pack.

Looking down as I knelt there with my palms resting on my thighs, I just shook my head. What was the point of trying to talk sense to a zealot?

“You sound like my damned brother” I grumbled as I now looked up at him.

“My Master is Order” he reminded me and now I just plain got aggravated.

“If my brother was to slit his own throat, would you follow suit?!” I barked at him and in his response he was cool as a cucumber.

“It would be expected” the assassin stated matter-of-fact, but moved beyond it before I could blow my cork. “I want to help you” Bryan now knocked me off track. “We want to help you” was his clarification.

“Uh, who is we?” I quickly inquired, knowing damned well that he could not possibly mean him and his shark-partner Quade. I did get an answer, though – but not right away.

“Master Quade and I” he eventually responded to my inquiry and I was certain that my eyes must have grown wide. “We are of the mind it would be more… believable… should one of us fall.” With these words spoken, the assassin now drew out his knife and for a moment I thought he intended to do me in. Not so, however – instead he lay the knife on the ground between us. “I have been Chosen.”

Chosen? Was this supposed to be an honor? Dying so I could – what? Escape? Two sharks or one it would matter little, I could not elude an Elite-Assassin such as one on the level with Quade, nor on level with any Elite-Assassin, for that matter. Any Member would down me in a New York minute and have me drawn and quartered in not much more than that.

“Master Quade will – look the other way” Bryan told me and so I just blinked like an idiot. Even this was fairly pointless, allowing me to wander off unfettered by immediate pursuit. I was in no condition to brave the Colorado mountain wilderness, which is where I had finally figured out I was. Very scenic, nice place to die, I thought – at least in the summer, which it was not.

“Salvation comes in many guises” the young Elite-Assassin pressed on and it didn’t take a genius like me to figure that something was about to go down. And it involved more than just this pair of wolves.

“If my salvation means your demise, then fuck that shit” I grumbled, teeth continuing to chatter away with cold. “You are far too dear to my brother” I pointed out.

“And if I was not?” he put to me with a completely straight face and so the irreverent young man I had always known him to be underneath now rose to the surface. A hint of a slanted grin now presented itself and all I could think of was lunatic.

“Is this another… test?” I asked up front but the assassin had returned to the time honored Brotherhood Way of holding one’s tongue. And so now I just looked down at the knife where it lay on the ground. “I have no intent of using that to do you harm” I made clear.

“I can do the deed” he stated. “However, Quade’s account of events will appear much more credible if I were to die by your own hand.”

“Have Quade do the deed, then” I muttered, finding this whole conversation completely absurd. Bryan only held my eyes which told me there was an unspoken pact between these Members. “Look, Bryan – you are an extremely intelligent guy, I know this for fact since Kevin always complained about your raids – daily” I praised my brother’s IT geek, and I spoke Truth. Captain Wong’s network was tested in new and different ways on a continual basis by his counterpart here. “Why would you buy into this madness? You have a wife for the love of God! And children, twins, if you need reminding?”

“So does Master Quade” he made note, basically telling me that Quade had rank on his side, since his station was much loftier than that of this assassin who knelt before me. There was something painfully familiar about Bryan as I regarded him – something that had always nipped at my heels, begging attention. However, I could never put my finger on it. I would always just attribute it to the fact that he was my brother’s protégé and so the apprentice emulates the master. Not so unusual.

Unsure what to say, I now drew in a deep breath and then tried a new tact.

“Well, then – as Second Son I forbid you to sacrifice of your life for mine” I made command – effectively forcing the zealot assassin to put his money where his mouth was, so to speak. Nothing did he say, and so I could sense the conflict in him. To Protect his Master, my brother, from scandal and inquisition, or to take the orders of a man who was purportedly the Second Son of God.

The struggle I could see going on behind his sea-gray eyes was interesting – and frightening. Frightening because this man truly did Believe.

“Tell them I slipped away while you were fending off a mountain lion” I put to him in suggestion. “We’ve seen more than our fair share of big cats out here” I tacked on, which again was Truth. They seemed to be around every boulder and bush.

“That would be an Untruth” was his plainly put response and so now we found ourselves right back at the beginning.

“Why not just play it fair?” was my next suggestion. “If there is a pending rescue mission, as I surmise, then just play it fair. Get down and dirty with my liberators and let the chips fall where they may.”

“We cannot risk the loss of Master Quade” he was quick to return and so I got it. These two Members held knowledge of an impending rescue, but not so the rescuers! They didn’t have a clue that my captors had advance notice, as it were. Their lives would be at risk, and gravely so, Bryan’s and Quade’s.

“Well, trust me – The Order cannot afford to lose you either, Master Bryan” I reminded him. “Not to mention that my brother would be devastated. And that I won’t suffer – you are as a son to him. Have you any other bright ideas?” was my impatient goad. “Ones which do not result in any of our deaths?” Since there was no response I assumed the assassin had conveniently run short on ideas. “If you are looking for a miracle, then I’m sorry – clean out of those” I grumbled, teeth still chattering away. “Why don’t you just put me out of my misery, I’d be cool with that – honestly” I offered.

“You are too dear to my Master” was his rather arid return, basically throwing my own words right back in my face.

“Well, Mexican standoff, then” was my complaint as I now got to my feet, intent on finding Quade. Bryan was quick to follow, but taking firm hold of my arm he stopped me in my tracks.

“If we play it fair, many of your liberators will die” Bryan stated with confidence.

“Then fudge it!” I snapped in return, reclaiming my arm as I abruptly jerked it free of his hold.

“If we fudge it, then that would be admission of foreknowledge” he pointed out and yeah – it would look odd if two Elite-Assassins went down easy. Especially those of the caliber of Quade and Bryan.

“Then start coughing up options, Member – because if you don’t then you can rest assured that I will fight to protect my Brothers” I told him in no uncertain terms. “And how will that look? I can’t believe you guys couldn’t come up with anything better than what you have – are braincells in short supply among you Elite-Assassins?”

“The arrangements require a… sacrifice” were the next disturbing words to depart his lips.

“And… what? My brother chose to make you that sacrifice?!” I barked, enraged by the notion. Bryan was a father after all – how could I be more important than Bryan? Granted, I was Aidan’s brother, but since when did Aidan make decisions which went against the Greater Good?

Because I was his brother and Aidan must have also been convinced that I was this prophesied Second Son – it was crystal clear to me now.

Had the entire Brotherhood taken leave of its senses? I now wondered in dismay.

“Well, then we meet them head on – all three of us Members” I decided. The expression on Bryan’s face was interesting, and I knew what he was thinking. “No release, isn’t that correct? An Oath Sworn is an Oath Eternal and all that jazz – I am a Member regardless the fact that I have Renounced. There – that being said, we’ll just have to take a rather unexpected tact, eh?” I put to him, but before I could continue, a sudden headache hit, sending me to my knees. Great timing, O’Reilly, I thought in a panic as I felt Bryan lay hands on me, easing my descent. After several shaky breaths I opened my eyes and looked to the assassin.

And the young man was looking back with the gravest of concern, no less.

“Uh, does Quade Believe?” I now inquired of him but Bryan was reluctant to answer. No surprise, Quade and I had a long standing mutual loathing of one another. However, hadn’t Quade just cautioned me about those whom I presumed trustworthy and those whom I thought not? Then Bryan shocked the shit out of me and nodded in answer.

Now I was certain the world of The Brotherhood had gotten turned upside down. The rumors had been right, those regarding a good chunk of Members Believing in me as the Second Son of God. I had admittedly turned deaf ear to the unsettling chatter, as if by not acknowledging it, then these rumors would just disseminate, like smoke on the wind from a distant fire.

Which is what The Brotherhood and its Arms had been to me – a distant fire in some far off quadrant of the globe. Was I a Member? Sure. However, this hadn’t mean that I lived and breathed all things Brotherhood. All I had been interested in was access to their book repository which was brimming with ancient texts and maps and much, much, more. When I had Reaffirmed my Oath, thus accepting the Offer made by The Order’s Council of Priests, the doors to this amazing repository had swung wide open. So entrenched I had become in this collection that little else had mattered to me – even that of finding the Cup, I was ashamed to confess.

“Head on, then” I suddenly decided, the words coming out in a slur since I was feeling damned ill and numbe with cold by that point. “There’s no need for this to end in any bloodshed, Member. And as an honorary Member of the Council of Priests, I intend to see to this – personally. After all, this is a Matter of Faith” I dredged up the words, the very ones which my brother would use when circumventing the Law. They had become a blanket pardon he had invoked one too many times, however.

I figured, though, that I should at least be able to use it once in order to bend Quade and Bryan to my will. At the end of the day, I was a tried-and-true opportunist. I would work with what was available to get the job done, and with the least amount of collateral damage.

Too bad I hadn’t earlier known what I now did, I considered – it would have saved my tail from a lot of ass-kicking.

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my side and doubling over I waited for it to pass.

“Collin?” Bryan called to me, clearly concerned but I just shook my head. “What is it?” he pressed and so catching my breath I now looked up at him.

“Nothing, must have gotten a stitch in my side from climbing up this frigging ridge” I reasoned, but it felt a lot worse than one of those – and I should know. I used to get them all the time when I would work out too hard, typically when running.

“Give me your pack” Bryan now ordered me, and then my pride once again kicked in. It was a light pack and so to surrender it would be to admit that I was a woos. “Do not argue” was his caution as he now relieved me of it, and then taking off his jacket he handed it to me. “Here – either you put this on or I’ll put it on for you” the assassin dictated and not being in the mood to fight I did as I was told, grateful for the extra warmth. With a slanted grin Bryan now handed me back the pack – ok, no free ride, after all. Just like my damned brother he was – Bryan could have passed for a blood son of Aidan’s no joke.

“Thanks, but you’re gonna freeze your your balls off” I tried to make jest but he just shrugged. We both knew it would take a lot more than a little cold to do him in. He’d be fine once we got moving, which I intended to be now because otherwise I was going to freeze to death. “Let’s get going – where did Quade get to?”

“How should I know?” was his frank response and so I just blinked at him. “I am supposed to be dead, after all – by your hand or my own, it was intended that I meet my Maker so you could slip away. And trust me, you would make enough noise out here for anyone to find you. You wouldn’t go unnoticed for long.

“They are going to kill me anyway, you know this, right?” the assassin now put to me as we made our way along through the dimming dusk.

“Not if I can help it” I mumbled. “Surely the rescuee must have some say in this” but he didn’t have a response. “Well, I command you to continue drawing breath, or something along those lines. When you return to your Master, you will tell my brother that it was a Matter of Faith which changed the way things played out. Not a lot he can say to that” I chuckled, knowing how many times Aidan had used the same dodge himself.

“Aidan isn’t privy to any details regarding your impending rescue, or even if there will actually be one” Bryan now revealed, just about flooring me. If my brother wasn’t the impetus for my salvation, then what did that say about my place in his world? In the end, The Order and his Station were right at the top of my brother’s list. I now presumed his aid had been putting Antonio onto my scent via proximity. This was likely all he could offer so in the event should he later be faced with Inquisition, then he would be able to answer without technically lying. All conjecture on my part, of course. To presume to know the mind of my brother was a dangerous thing, after all.

“Well, let’s get moving” I prompted, about ready to freeze solid right where I knelt and so now got to my feet. “We’ll just walk and chat and come what may” I decided, having no clear idea what to do to save this young man’s life but knew I had better think of something. “Just let me know when they close in – you’ll be aware of them long before they become aware of us.”

“And you know this, how?” he asked with a look of curiosity and in all honesty, I didn’t. I just knew he could – he was like my brother who could sense a tick on a deer’s ass from a mile away.

I only shrugged in return as we now made our way down the other side of the ridge line. We didn’t chat, as I had suggested – I was in too much discomfort and with a head-throbber on the rise was soon to be in a world of hurt.

Abruptly, Brian stopped, taking hold of my arm. Turning towards me now, he signed, which was barely readable by the moon light which had been playing hide-and-seek between the clouds.

They are just up ahead, he indicated and then paused, thinking. If we draw on our hoods, they won’t immediately know who is who, but if I do that then I can’t hear as well, was his hope, one dashed in the very same breath.

I don’t think it matters if they are that close, I signed in return, hands trembling not only from the cold, but from the headache bursting forth in my brain. The hearing part, I mean, I clarified and then slipped off my pack so I could give Bryan back his jacket. I then slipped on my hood – the wid had been kicking up and so was glad to now block it out. Bryan did the same, following suit, but then I changed my mind and pulled mine off. Instead I stood there, looking about the darkness.

“Show yourselves!” I called out and now Bryan glared at me as if I was insane. “Harm either me or this man under my protection, and there will be hell to pay!” was my threat to those unseen specters whom even I was now able to feel encroaching on our airspace, for all the good my treat would do. “Bryan, get down on your knees” I now commanded him but his reluctance was obvious. That would put him in a position of disadvantage should he need to come to my aid. “Please, son – just… get down, on both knees. Trust me on this, ok?” I implored in a hushed voice and so with a nod did as he had been told, and thus we waited.

And in short order, figures could be seen emerging from the brush which surrounded us. One man led the pack of about ten men – he was tall and as the moon broke from behind the clouds, I recognized his face.

Eli! What good fortune! I thought but then backed up a step, away from the AFA WardenOps officer as another consideration took me. There was no way I could return to the AFA – I had signed away my command, resigned my commission, in a Contract that was Legal and Binding under the Law of The Brotherhood and Its Order.

“Move away from that Member, Collin O’Reilly” Eli spoke in a low voice but I refused, instead crouching down next to Bryan as I drew my arm around the young Elite-Assassin. “There can be no witnesses” he clarified and fuck that shit, I thought in a haze of anger.

“Fine – then remove us both, Colonel” I growled in challenge. “This Member is under my protection – you will not harm him in any way nor will you extinguish his life. Last I checked, I outranked your ass” I reminded my friend who was only doing his job – but as I looked around at the others, I had a sense these were not AFA Wardens, nor were they AFA – period.

Blackguard, then.

Waiting for him to respond, I had a sense that he was mulling over his options.

“You resigned your commission, old friend” Eli now refreshed my memory, as if it could possibly be lacking.

“Fine. If you take the life of this Member, then you will have to take my life as well,” I challenged, “and if you don’t, then at first opportunity I will slit my own throat I Swear to you Before God and The Brotherhood” I made Oath, one which was Binding I well understood.

“You Renounced your last Oath, if I recall” he now knocked me for a loop.

“You know, Eli – that’s just plain hitting below the belt” was my angry protest as I tightly embraced Bryan. The Blackguard marshals were beginning to close in and I wasn’t certain how much longer I could keep Bryan in the world of the living.

“I Believe” the young assassin now spoke up. “Willingly would I die for you, Collin” he told me and I felt like slapping the shit out of him.

“See? Your fellow Member makes it easy” Eli made note.

“Yeah, well – it is my desire that he continue to draw breath” I made known my wishes. “It… it doesn’t have to end like this, Eli. If the pact of which you are a part requires a sacrifice, then make me that sacrifice! This man has a wife, children, who need him – I’m just a washed up old war horse, no one needs me, Eli. Please instead take my life, it being of little value, but let this young Member go free.” Oddly enough, I could now feel Bryan quaking as I clung to him. What the fuck was wrong with everybody?

No one was inclined to say anything, however.

“Who demands this sacrifice?” I now tried a different angle. “A man who is being thrown to the wolves has a right to know by whom” I tried to shame Eli but oddly enough, he was bringing to mind the essence of True Members. Sparing of words, unswerving the commands given them – no negotiation, in other words. If we two had been any other men, then I was of a mind the deed would have already been done. However, we were long time friends, he and I.

Eli would not answer my demand, though I could hear the wheels turning in his head. He’d been given instructions which were in conflict – in conflict with other orders I would bet! And so the plot thickened. The question was, how could I now work this to my advantage?

“Playing both sides of the fence serves no man” I reminded him. “Take it from me, my friend – no good ever comes of it.” No response, although I really had not expected any. No matter – I was berating myself for not having before seen what was now exactingly clear.

Colonel-Major Elijah Robert Wasserman was Brotherhood.

“You might want to get your men to back off, Eli – out of earshot” I apprised in a low voice and if he did not quickly capitulate, then I would start freely flapping my jaw. With a nod to me, he then signaled the Blackguard marshals to retreat – which they did. Just far enough to make it hard to hear, but close enough to come to his aid.

“How long have you been a Member?” I asked in a low voice as he now closed the distance between us, but as was the Way with Members, he wasn’t exactly being chatty.

“I believe we know each other’s secret” Bryan now addressed my old comrade who slowly nodded in response. Looking back and forth between the two men, it was now I who felt wholly out of the loop. However, I didn’t give a shit about who had what on whom – mine was only to save Bryan’s hide.

“You two, know each other?” I decided to venture.

“In a roundabout fashion” Eli answered, as if this explained anything. “During the Time Before” my friend tacked on in quasi-clarification.

“Very nice” I grumbled as the headache began to seriously eclipse my consciousness. “You can’t just go around off’ing other Members – that’s a Brotherhood Law, you know” I reminded Eli. “Unless he’s personally done something to you which would warrant it?” I tested, hoping that this was not the case.

“No” was Eli’s answer, keeping it short and sweet oh how that would drive me right out of my mind when Members did that!

“Ok, so you can’t legally whack the guy, Eli” I pointed out. “Uh, what Arm did you belong to?” I asked, but his well of words went totally dry and so I looked to Bryan.

And he knew.

“He still Belongs” Bryan offered, and sure – once Brotherhood, always Brotherhood. However, that’s not what he meant.

“If I remove you, then both our secrets will be safe, eh?” Eli taunted the young assassin and that was just a way bad idea.

“To keep safe my secret, I would gladly die – but that is not His wish” was Bryan’s reply, and I heard the capital H in the word His. I was getting pretty darned good at that, or so was my disjointed muse.

“Since my old friend won’t tell me to which Arm he Belongs,” I began, looking to Bryan, “then you tell me” was my demand, wondering if he would obey or no – or was his assertion that he Believed in me just a whole lot of bunk?

“Legion” Bryan was prompt to answer and so in a heartbeat I whipped my head up to look at Eli. Same Arm as my cousin Seamus and so did Seamus know about Eli? I would wager he sure the hell did, and just why did everyone feel such an intense need to keep secrets from me? Feeling as if I would pass out any moment, I drew in a shaky breath, collecting my words as a dragged a hand across my eyes.

“Well, we would not want to add any fuel to the fire between The Order and The Legion,” was my take on things, “and since this Member has done nothing to warrant death, then you are to set him free, Eli, and see to it that he returns to The Order and his Master unhindered and in good health” I spelled it out, leaving no room for interpretation. “Do I make myself clear, Colonel? Otherwise, like I said, first opportunity and I’ll slit my own throat” I reminded him.

“I might see my way clear to this… arrangement… but turnabout is fair play. I require compensation” Eli now decided, sounding very much Brotherhood indeed. the Brotherhood was all about cvommerce, after all. “Go on, assassin, tell Collin who you are.” What was this horse shit? Bryan could not possibly be a double-agent or anything along those unsavory lines. He was Order to the core, Brotherhood to the core, he was too much like my brother to be a traitor. “Tell him your real name, your name, the one you were known by during the Time Before” he prodded the young Member, who clearly wasn’t going to say a word unless I commanded it of him.

“It’s ok, son – just tell me” was my gentle prod. “It doesn’t matter to me who you were, what you were, back then” I tried to reassure him, hoping he’d hurry the hell up because I was seriously on the verge of hypothermia. Swallowing hard, he now made his decision.

“William Bryan Smith” he told me and like, well – that didn’t ring any bells since that was his damned name. Ok, so he went by his middle name – lots of people did, and so apparently I was just too numb with cold to get it. “Smith was my Mother’s maiden name,” he clarified, but then flat out leveled me by tacking on, “but my Father’s name was O’Reilly.” Another O’Reilly had survived the Apocalypse? I thought, blinking like an idiot. How many more were running around in the world and just what was it about our genetic makeup that had enabled so many of us to pull through? Before I could ask Bryan just how we were related, he told me.

“Aidan is my Father – and you, Collin, you are my Uncle” Bryan came clean and I was certain I must have been staring at him like a frigging owl. Before I could voice even one syllable of all the questions I felt compelled to ask, I was out – just like that proverbial light switch.

I could not afford to be implicated.

However, neither could I afford to leave so important a task wholly to others.

That infamous rock and a hard place, as Collin would have grumbled in complaint had he found himself standing in my boots.

“My men know their jobs, Father Gallagher” Antonio tried to assure me, but there would be no comfort for me this night. There was something gravely wrong with Collin O’Reilly. I could feel it in my soul, and it had little to do with my friend’s physical suffering. His Reconditioning by The Order to face the Trials would naturally involve pain, hence suffering. Suffering he could have avoided had he not done the unthinkable – had his conscience not demanded he Renounce his Oath to The Order. A tragic misstep which could have been avoided had I been with him at the time to tender my counsel. Counsel I knew in my heart that he would have accepted. However, I was a day late and a dollar short, having arrived after he had spoken aloud the words in the presence of those who were qualified to Witness.

I was out of reach when my friend had needed me most, and so my overwhelming guilt. A guilt which now threatened to consume me as I tuned into Collin’s frequency.

The sensation I was picking up from him, however, was wholly different than suffering born of pain. What I was zoning in on was, rather instead, something born of kindred souls – an experience that among all of God’s creatures only Collin and I could share.

Absently rubbing my wrist, I released a long low breath and so nodded. The leader of the Blackguard was right – his men knew their jobs. They were as close to being Members as one could get without actually being Brotherhood Assassins. Regardless, it was a great risk they would undertake to liberate Collin from The Hand of Order. One AFA officer, at least, I suspected, was involved in the deliverance – Colonel-Major Wasserman of the Warden Patrol. Whether this man, who was not just a comrade of Collin’s but a friend as well, had clearance from AFA High Command to participate in this unsanctioned rescue mission? That was a question mark. However, I was of the mind not. This Colonel-Major, like Commander O’Reilly, tended to color outside the lines – a lot.

No one had any desire to be openly implicated in rescuing Collin – other than the Blackguard. Even then they were somewhat reluctant participants for fear of reprisal by the The Order. Although, I had a hunch that Antonio Abruzzi might have something to hold over the head of The Order, thus not being as concerned with possible retribution as one should think him to be.

“You have yet to tell me how I can repay you, Mr. Abruzzi” I said to the leader of the Blackguard. Now leaving my spot where I leaned up against the vehicle, in anticipation I began to pace. Time was drawing on, after all, and even angels weren’t immune from an occasional case of the nerves. To my query Antonio at first grunted in return.

“We have yet to succeed, Aaron Gallagher” was his realistic reminder, but that mattered little. Even should they not find success I would still owe him for the effort, at the very least. Regardless the outcome, the risk was great – not so much the recovery itself, but rather harboring a fugitive Member of The Order. For abducted or not, this was how Collin would now be classified and so great was the possibility that wolves of The Order would swiftly issue forth from Zion.

Or not – it was impossible to say in this high stakes game known as politics.

The reality was, an Oath to The Brotherhood was an Oath Eternal. Collin’s tail belonged to the The Brotherhood like as not, and at present Its Arm known as The Order. Although, there were negotiations underway for Release of his Oath to The Order. Offers of Transition, known as Crossings, quickly came in once the knowledge of Collin’s predicament had reached the Ears of The Legion and The Way.

However, The Order wasn’t interested in negotiation, even though they had engaged themselves in such.

The full moon of this night would aid those partaking in his liberation, and would also help light our way to a safe haven once deliverance had been made. As time wore on, however, so grew my concern, but just about the time it was ready to go up a few more notches, we heard horses galloping down the old BLM road. In a heartbeat Antonio and I rushed roadside, peering into the moonlit night. After a tense moment, the leader of the Blackguard gave signal that we were in the clear – these were indeed his men. Two horses there were, and one rider was clutching a man who sat before him on the back of his mount. Flopping like a rag doll as they rode along, I knew this had to be Collin, and so the panic which had only formerly threatened now came bursting to the forefront.

Once the rider pulled his horse to a stop, I quickly rushed in to help ease Collin’s descent from the the back of the beast, at which point he promptly slumped to the ground.

“Nothing outwardly visible but for some bruising – I could find no grave injuries” the man said as he slipped down off his mount, supposing my mind it was clear. It was then as he leaned forward I could see a pendant on a chain – it was a caduceus, so he was a doctor. However, in ancient times this emblem was also known as a symbol of merchants and messengers – and in the case of this man, all three would have been appropriate.

“Did you give him a sedative?” I asked the next logical question but the man only shook his head – no. Then what was wrong with Collin? “Collin” I prompted, stroking his cheek with the back of my hand but his eyes did not flutter open and so I looked to the doctor for answers.

“I can do no more for him” he told me, sounding truly regretful. “At least, not out here” he furthered his assessment, and so it was that we wasted no time in getting Collin into the waiting vehicle. The doctor accompanied us, leaving his companion behind with the two horses. I ducked into the back seat with the doctor and Collin. My friend lay against me with his head on my chest and so stroking his hair in comfort I began a litany of prayers in an unending stream. After several minutes of travel down the old BLM road, Collin finally stirred, his eyes fluttering open and looking up he tried to focus them on me. There I saw recognition and so grew my hope.

“Be at peace, my friend – you are safe” I tried to reassure him as I smiled, but my friend did not give appearance of being reassured. Closing his eyes, as if in great pain, he now groaned and so the doctor moved in for a look.

“Where does it hurt?” he inquired of Collin but in a flash grave concern was to be seen in the doctor’s eyes. Reaching out he touched Collin’s forehead, quickly drawing his hand away once he had done so. And even for the dimness of the vehicle’s interior, I saw that his hand glistened wet – and it was not sweat which was upon his palm. It was dark, and so blood. As I looked down on Collin, I could now see blood trickling from his brow. Having felt the flow, Collin reached up a hand to touch his brow and alarmingly I could see that blood was also seeping from his wrist.

“Everything alright back there?” Antonio called to us from the driver’s seat, but what was there to say? I was still in shock, as was the doctor.

“He had no wounds? Open or otherwise?” I questioned the doctor who was now examining Collin at length.

“None whatsoever” was the doctor’s adamant answer, delivered in a hushed voice. Once again Collin groaned, this time clutching his side as he did so, and with God as my Witness I could not believe what was taking place.

Stigmata was the only explanation.

The doctor went to work, grabbing his medkit out of his pack. As he began to clean and bind the wound on Collin’s wrist, my friend decided it was a good time to wake up just a bit more. Looking about, seeming every bit as confused as were we, he now snatched his hand away from the doctor so he could examine his own wrist.

“What the hell happened?!” Collin made weak demand, but Hell had nothing to do with it – of this I was most certain.

“Nothing, Collin – please, let the doctor tend your wounds” I pressed, but Collin now decided the time have come for Inquisition.

“And where the hell did I get this?” he wanted to know and then quickly looked at his other wrist, which was bleeding as well. “And this?!” Collin snapped but then with a moan he abruptly clutched his side, doubling over. The doctor and I exchanged a glance – we understood one another. Now was time for a sedative, else wise Collin would fret himself into a panic.

Quickly the doctor reached into his pack and drew out a small packet of powder.

“Here, Collin – this will help with the pain” he stretched the truth, and although he was resistant we both managed to get the powder into him and get it washed down with some water from my canteen. The medicine was quick to do its work, and almost immediately Collin relaxed, giving the doctor opportunity to cleanse and bind his wounds. Silence pervaded the vehicle for none of us were inclined to speculate on the origin of Collin’s injuries.

Once his wrists were bound and his head bandaged, I looked to the doctor.

“His ankles” I said, afraid to check suspecting what we’d find, but it had to be done. Nodding in agreement, the doctor set about the task and sucked in his breath when he saw that indeed his ankles as well were slick with blood. Now the doctor was openly uttering prayers while he worked, and when finally done he drew in a deep breath in preparation before opening Collin’s shirt.

And there in Collin’s side was a wound, running with blood and now I could see tears in the doctor’s eyes.

“There were no wounds – I Testify before God!” he mumbled, reiterating his earlier assertion while he tended the awful looking puncture wound in Collin’s side. My eyes had gone beyond brimming with tears and so they freely flowed down my cheeks as Collin’s pain now became my own.

And so I joined the doctor in his litany of prayers – ones which did not cease until Antonio had navigated the vehicle to safe haven. By this point the sun was already breaching the horizon as we carried Collin inside the safe house.

Not a word had Antonio uttered once he realized what was seemingly taking place with our charge. It was one thing to read about stigmata, to even hold belief in its existence – but to see with one’s own eyes and so label it as stigmata? That was a whole other thing – entirely.

Once inside we were greeted by Collin’s cousin, Finney – and so immediately up went a red flag, if only because Finney was Legion. And oddly enough, stakes were now very high indeed when it came to Brotherhood Member and AFA Commander-General Collin Tristan O’Reilly. He was already a legend in this Time After, but since his purportedly healing his brother Aidan, rumors had begun to swarm like bees in spring to a flowering meadow. Rapidly these rumors had spread and by the present had taken on a life all their own.

A cursory look was all Finney and I exchanged before he started questioning the doctor. Away the two healers took Collin, but before I could follow I felt a hand grab hold of my arm to stop me. Swiftly I turned to face Antonio who was looking at me with something akin to wonder.

“How can that possibly be?” he asked of me in a low voice. “Evan would not make such a mistake in his initial examination of Collin” Antonio told me, referring to his doctor and his diagnosis. “Can this truly be… stigmata?” the man now asked in disbelief and so holding his gaze I tried to decide what best to say.

“It appears that way, Mr. Abruzzi – yes” I concurred. “I think we both understand, though, that we need to keep this under wraps? At least for the time being” I put to the leader of the Blackguard and so he nodded. “I’ll talk to his cousin, Finney should be of like mind.” Of this I was not so certain but there was yet time to discuss with the Irishman at length this Miracle. After all, Finney was a blood relative and had at heart Collin’s best interests.

With Antonio on my heels, we made our way to the bathroom where Collin had been taken. A tub was slowly filling with warm water while the doctors disrobed my friend. Evan had been right – there were bruises on Collin, ones in keeping with injuries inflicted during Reconditioning. His left arm was most battered, the result of warding off blows from his Training Masters, it was clear.

However, the wounds which freely bled stuck out like a sore thumb and thus had immersed us all into a void of great disquiet.

Collin’s cousin looked to me with questions in his eyes but would wisely save them for later – in private.

Once his cousin was immersed in the warming waters of the bath, Finney took me by the arm and hauled me outside. After walking some distance from the safe house, he then spun round to grill me.

“How did you get messed up in this?” the angry Irishman began – or should I say angry Elite-Assassin of The Legion. He may have in this Time After held himself apart from his Arm of The Brotherhood, claiming allegiance with the AFA. However, but this did not mean that he was any less Brotherhood – he still was, and to the core.

However, he did have Collin’s best interests at heart. At least, as far as Finney’s true Master would indulge him, or so I suspected.

“I could ask you the same thing” was my cool return, and after a moment of holding each other’s eyes, we then both grinned. We now understood that neither had foreknowledge of the other’s involvement.

“Aye, well – where would Collin be without his support system, eh?” he posed with a shrug and a slanted grin. “I cannot believe my eyes, however. And Evan swears Collin had no such wounds when they retrieved him. I can only believe the man, but the consideration of what has caused my cousin’s injuries? This I am not so certain I can accept.” Perhaps not for him, but I most certainly could. Collin had been touched by the Hand of God, and long ago. He was the Chosen One, like as not, even if he did not know it and would fight tooth and nail against any allusion that he was. And the task appointed to me by God was to help ease Collin along the Path intended for him.

Come what may.

“I have been Witness to stigmata, in the past” I proffered. “It is often brought on during times of great emotional duress in the extremely devout” was my pat answer.

“Given the rumors of who Collin might be, I think you can dispense with the gloss-over, priest” was his acrid determination. “This is me you are talking to, Aaron. The man is my cousin, my family, my blood – I won’t stand by and watch him get torn apart by controversy and speculation.”

“Fine, then – let’s get all the facts,” I agreed, “before this rumor escapes into the general populace. I am with you on that point – Collin can’t accept the notion that he is someone special as it is. He won’t be able to reconcile this incident, not without our help. The man will find a million reasons if one to explain it away, all except the one that we both know to fit” I laid out for him. “Think what you may, but your cousin has been Touched. Now, you can either choose to ignore that or embrace it. The choice is yours, Seamus O’Reilly.”

“I refuse to allow my cousin to become a side-show freak, either” was his staunch warning, which sounded more like a threat.

“If he were to resume his command with the AFA, then this might be the case” was my postulate. “AFA personnel do not daily battle with Prophecy of the Second Coming, as do We who are Brotherhood. We more readily Believe such Miracles when faced with them. However, I think we both understand that Collin is not going back to the AFA, however – nor is he going to Transition to another Arm of The Brotherhood.”

“You got that right, lad” Finney confirmed, almost with a growl. “I have resigned my commission with the AFA. My place is with my cousin – to Protect” he made clear and I could only stare at him. Having resigned his AFA commission meant that there would now be nothing to stop the Irishman from reuniting with his long lost Brethren of The Legion.

And he could very well spirit away Collin, for Collin was extremely prone to the suggestions of those who held his trust. He trusted his cousin, implicitly, and so would likely take the Irishman’s counsel to heart.

“To Protect” I now echoed in return, for Mine was to do the very same. “However, right now I think we have a lot more to worry about in the present than in the future, agreed?” Thinking a moment, Finney then nodded. Collin’s well-being came first, after all.

With a lingering look I then brusquely turned on my heel, heading back towards the house with Finney being quick to follow. We both needed to protect Collin – however, we were diametrically opposed. The miracles of Collin did need to be publicized, but must be done so with subtlety and finesse. I now understood that Collin’s cousin would prefer them to be buried, curiously enough. I was of the mind that in order to save Collin, in the end, his own uniqueness required revelation of the masses. His cousin’s view, though, was the exact opposite. However, Protection took many forms, I understood.

Time would tell, but right then my place was with Collin.

Rejoining the doctor and Antonio, who were still with Collin, it was clear they had had a conversation of their own. My friend, however, was slumbering away in warm water – thanks to the sedative Evan had given him during the drive.

We all looked at one another but didn’t say a word. Antonio motioned towards the door, that we should go have our discussion elsewhere. As we were about to leave, however, Collin began to stir. Quick I was to kneel beside the tub, taking hold of his hand as he came round. Focusing his eyes on me, and then the others, he became aware of the depth of our concern.

“Are you ok, cousin?” Finney asked and so at first Collin nodded, but then shrugged.

“May I have a moment, with Aaron?” he mumbled in request. The others nodded their agreement and so retreated, albeit reluctantly, to the other room but left open the door. With a look in his eyes that ripped my heart in two, Collin pleaded, “Help me, Aaron,” and then he began to shiver and quake. Casting a look over my shoulder to see just how far everyone had gone, I then gave Collin my complete attention.

“Be calm, Collin – you are among friends, you are safe” I soothed, squeezing his hand.

“Safe from whatever did… this… to me?” he wanted to know as he offered up the underside of his wrists. “What is happening to me, Aaron?” How could I sum that up in twenty-five words or less? “Are… are Quade and Bryan ok?” Collin now made inquiry, and why he should give a flip about his Training Masters from The Order I had no idea. “They… they are dear to my brother” the man tacked on and there he was – worrying about everyone except himself.

“I honestly don’t know, Collin – but don’t you worry about that right now” I told him, trying to smile but it fell flat. “I… I can make those go away, if they trouble you” I suddenly offered with a nod towards his wounds, but he just held my eyes. “You and I, we are one” I told him, but would go no further. After all, if a simple thing such as stigmata had him panicked, then the Truth of his heritage would scare the man half to death.

“What about Sierra?” Collin now asked, gliding right by my declaration. What about the little harlot? I wanted to ask but bit my tongue so I would not. “And my brother?” That was it – I was about ready to deck my friend, be he ill or no.

“I can arrange for you to go back to The Order so you can find out” was my parched suggestion and now Collin snapped out of it.

“No, thank you” he declined, slipping down further into the water of the tub. “What… am I?” my friend suddenly asked in a hushed voice a question which I didn’t rightfully know how to answer. Not without gravely perturbing him.

“You are secret and no myth” was all I could think to say – this wasn’t the time or the place to fill him in on a hundred year plan, after all, much less one two thousand years in the making.

“Didn’t know you liked the songs of Michael Penn” Collin mumbled but I could only blink at him – then I got it. Lyrics.

“Not knowingly, no” I chuckled with ill ease. “Collin, you are one of God’s children and therefore greatly loved” I told him, being very generic yet truthful. He was a son of God – literally. Regardless how he had come into the world, or what man had intended him to be – Collin was of the Divine.

“Did… He… do this to me?” was his careful inquiry and no, most certainly not – but the Truth of this, as well, would also terrify Collin.

“It is but an echo” I fudged my answer yet again as I stroked his hair in comfort. “I ache for you, Collin – I feel what you feel. Let me ease your pain – I can do this much” I told him but surprisingly enough, he shook his head in refusal.

“I need these, as a… reminder” was his answer, one that made no sense to me. “Bryan said he Believes” Collin now rocked me. “He said he would die for me because he Believes that I Am. What is that supposed to mean?” was his query and in this I could hear the capital letters, and so a chill went up my spine. And so it had begun – Aidan’s precious protégé Believed in Collin as the Second Son. And if he did, being so far up the food chain in The Order as Bryan was, then I would venture that he was not alone in his Belief.

“I think you know the answer to that, Collin” I told my friend.

“What if I don’t Believe? In myself?” was his terse retort as he now decided to get argumentative. At least he had not lost his desire to fight.

“You do, my friend – it is rather instead that you are afraid to make admission” I reasoned. “We have Time” I said, though, and then again tried to smile.

“Easy for you to say – you’re an angel” Collin complained and so I held my breath. This I had never admitted, nor divulged to anyone – and yet he had figured me out and wholeheartedly Believed in what I was, no less.

And so in Time, I knew, would he come to Believe in himself as the Second Son of God to walk upon His Earth.

I could only pray, however, that the leagues of road between here and there would not take its toll on Collin’s immortal soul.

“Can you negotiate Sierra’s release?” my friend now muttered. I might have been an angel, but I was still required to work within the confines and context of a mortal world. Sierra was still a ward of the AFA, even though she had received leave to reside at The Order with the children she had born Collin’s brother.

“Collin, you are asking questions which are impossible for me to answer” I told him but he didn’t respond. Taking hold of his wrist I turned it over, pressing my lips to the wound as I kissed it, shedding a tear.

“You don’t like Sierra” was his cutting assessment – an accurate one, though.

“I will see what I can do” I told him, just to appease but notably not confirming his suspicion about my dislike of the woman.

“Thank you, Aaron” my friend then murmured as he drifted back off to sleep. Releasing his hand I now went to get to my feet but he grabbed onto my wrist. “Don’t leave me” was his request and ever being his servant I did as I was bade. I knelt back down, holding his hand in mine, until he was fast asleep. By then the water had begun to quickly cool and so it was time to get him out of the tub and into a bed.

Calling over my shoulder I summoned the others, but upon trying to get to my feet, I alarmingly found myself feeling drained and weak. Abandoning my efforts as the others now joined me, I remained on my knees, feeling an abrupt necessity to pray. Finney now crouched down next to me, laying a hand to my arm.

“Lad?” he prompted and it was then that I realized I had remained there, motionless, longer than I had thought.

“Uh… let’s get Collin out of the tub, the water is getting cold” I mumbled, reaching out to touch Collin’s cheek. “Collin? C’mon – lets get you dry and into a warm bed, hmm?” I prompted and then to my dismay as I stroked his cheek, I saw several drops of blood splashing into the clear water of the tub. Trying to determine their origin, I was taken aback when I realized from whence they came. Turning over my own wrist it was clear the blood was mine, and when the others took notice a collective gasp issued forth form one and all. The next moment I felt a trickle of warm liquid coursing down my brow and cheek.

And that was it – my companions would have to get Collin to bed by themselves. I would be of no help. Darkness had overtaken me and so I was drawn under its tow, deep into the realm of eternal night where all was to be abandoned.

Right down to the last flickering flame of Hope.

I loathed the man and that’s all there was to it. Colonel Jones was a Grade-A prick and brown-nose and if I never had to see his smug face ever again then it would be too soon, in my estimation. It had been the only positive thing about living at The Order, not having to look at the creep on a daily basis. Even if they guy was easy on the eyes.

“You’re in an awfully dour mood, Sierra” the asshole taunted me, glancing my way, and all I wanted to do was scratch the man’s eyes out. I was forced to bite my tongue, though, and so instead looked out the window at the passing scenery. We were driving through the deserts of what had once been known as southern Arizona, and I could only assume who Eric was taking me to see.

But I’d learned long ago to never assume – even if it seemed like a sure deal.

I was in a pissy mood – and what woman wouldn’t be who had been forced to leave behind her children? At this thought, tears predictably rose in my eyes. What a shit choice, I considered. While living in Zion at the City State of The Order, I had received a personal communique from Colonel Jones. It was short and sweet without much room for interpretation. It had simply read, He needs you.

I could only assume that the Colonel had meant Collin – but what would going to Collin mean for me? My children Belonged to The Order and I could not take them with me! Yet, what mother in her right mind would leave her children behind?

Apparently me, since that’s just what I had done. Bryan’s wife Kelly was their second mom anyway, being their nanny, and Amanda and Sienna, they were both like mothers to them as well – but that didn’t mean it was any less hard on me to walk away from the twins! Especially from Kaden for my son seriously tugged at my heart.

However, I had been worried to death about Aidan’s brother. Collin could never survive the Reconditioning, everyone knew this. The Training was for youngsters and that was the truth of it – and Collin was no spring chicken.

Watching the world fly by outside my window, I somehow managed to calm my heart. I just needed to concentrate on Collin since I was certain that’s where we were going. I refused to talk to Eric – any words with him would be wasted breath. Soon enough we stopped along side of the road, but apparently only to take a lunch break. The guy was seriously busting my balls! If I had any, that was.

The scumbag parked the Jeep in the shade of a huge Palo Verde tree which was laden with yellow flowers. How I loved spring in the desert! I thought as I got out of the vehicle. Eric popped the rear hatch and then went around back to rummage in the cooler.

“Hungry?” he called out but I didn’t answer. Sure I was, but I was on a hunger strike. “I had Steve pack your favorite” Eric tempted me and like, that was dirty pool! Steve was the head cook at the AFA base in Monument Valley, one of the best chefs he had been in the Time Before, and certainly was now in this Time After. Grumbling under my breath I caved in and went to see what delectables awaited me. After all, I supposed I should keep up my strength. I would need every ounce of it when dealing with Collin, who assuredly would be a basket case.

Otherwise my presence would not have been required, I’d bet.

Ignoring Eric, I peered into the cooler. Wrapped in paper and marked with an S there it sat – but not for long. Snatching it I then hurried away, out of reach of Colonel Jones. I did not trust him, not one iota, and being alone with him in the middle of nowhere just plain scared the shit out of me.

Walking round the vehicle, I found a nice boulder to sit on in the shade. Unwrapping the paper, I saw inside one killer submarine sandwich in miniature! Oh, the idea alone of having real bread made my mouth water. At The Order, though the food was good for what it was, they were all health nuts and gluten was a big no-no. Along with dairy and a million other things that were considered bad for the body. Granted, they did have food that would make your mouth water, but it was only for special occasions, or for visitors. Not everyone could adjust to the daily Brotherhood fare, after all, me being a fine example. Their sustenance was on the bland side and just didn’t do a thing for me. No wonder all Members were so thin, I laughed to myself.

Munching away on his own lunch, Eric now came over to join me. I had been trying to play nice with the man, but it had been a major challenge.

“Please thank Steve for me” I said to Eric, trying to be personable as possible and so he nodded in return.

“He misses you” was his unexpected remark. “Steve and his staff were at their finest while you and the other women were on base” he told me and so I offered him a curious look. “Don’t give me that look – you know darn well they bent over backwards to impress.” Yeah, I supposed he was right on that account.

“He and his cooks and bakers are really talented” I reciprocated, trying to have a civil conversation even if it killed me.

“Why are you so afraid of me?” the man now shocked me – was I that transparent, I wondered? Apparently, I was. “Collin is my best friend – I would never do anything which would reflect poorly on myself where the Commander is concerned” was his rather frank and candid assertion but I really had to wonder about that.

More likely it was the threat of Collin’s brother that stayed Eric’s hand from committing the unthinkable.

“So that is where we are going?” I prompted and so this time he nodded. “Why all the frigging secrecy then?” I wanted to know but now he just shrugged. Ok, so he was going to just toss me a tidbit here and there. “How much longer?” I asked, wanting nothing more than to get this journey from hell over and done with.

“Another couple hours – we’ll be leaving the main road very soon” Eric flung another tidbit at me. “Thirsty?” he asked as he polished off his sandwich and so I shyly nodded. I sure was and had drank the last of my water ages ago. Grinning, he now go up and went back to the vehicle. Upon his return he had a thermos in his hand and I just looked at it.

“Isn’t it a little hot for coffee?” I asked, accepting the container but then noticed it was cool to the touch. Quickly now I opened the cap and took a sniff. Ice chai tea! Wasting no time I poured some into the cup, and it was better than just iced tea, it was latte! Oh my God, I thought as I gulped the first cup – it was better than an orgasm.

“I take it you like?” the evil Colonel chuckled. At first I narrowed my eyes at him, but then nodded. It was like manna from Heaven. Once more he went back to the vehicle and this time he returned with a little container. Again sitting down on the boulder across from me, he popped open the lid and then offered me the contents. “Food won’t be so glamorous from here on out, I’m afraid” he told me as I eyed the contents – chocolate éclairs! You could have knocked me over with a feather. Snatching one of them I took a bite and oh, how good it was. Now I forced myself to slowly enjoy and relish the treat, along with my tea. Once I had downed every crumb and drop, I looked at Eric.

“Is this like a bribe or something?” I wondered aloud but he just shook his head.

“No – Collin would have wanted me to do this for you” was his answer, and I believed him. After all, it was in keeping with Eric being the brown-noser that he was. Although – Collin was no longer his commanding officer, and never would be again, if rumor was correct. Collin had signed away his right to retake his AFA commission, having resigned it. Which again brought to mind why Eric was involved at all, given that Collin was no longer AFA.

“You can cook, right?” the weasel now inquired and so I just blinked. “You know how Collin loves to eat. Hopefully you haven’t assumed you will be living somewhere with lots of slaves around to do your bidding?” Now grew my concern. I was pregnant, after all, and wondered if I should clue him in. Not, I decided – but what about a doctor? I couldn’t deliver a child all by myself!

Taking a deep breath, I just pushed the thought aside. Once we had reached our destination, then I would scope out the situation, after which I would make the world’s biggest stink. Any bitter complaints I would raise out here alone with Collin’s scary Colonel would likely be met with the back of Eric’s hand.

“I don’t hunt” I muttered and got to my feet, ready to leave but needed to piss like a race horse. Going over to the vehicle, I tossed the thermos in the back and then stood there with my arms wrapped about me. After several moments Eric joined me.

“I need to pee” I told him and so he grinned.

“And you want me to do, what, about that? Hold a cup for you?” he asked, clearly suppressing a grin, and the laugh which threatened to follow.

“Look the other way” I snapped, stomping my foot, and now he did grin, and so the laugh.

“I am more of a gentleman than that, Sierra” was his assurance but I just had to wonder about that. Knowing it was all I had, I now marched off to try and find a place to squat. I chose a shielded location and did my thing, keeping my eyes on Eric the whole time.

To his credit, the man didn’t peek – not even once. Probably because he was too busy taking a leak himself.

With having taken care of business, I now rejoined the Colonel and in no time were back on the road. I felt much better for having had some real food, but was still hungry. I was eating for two, after all, and the sandwich and éclair were just a tease.

Succumbing to fatigue, I finally dozed off, unable to help myself. I’d been feeling tired a lot since I had gotten pregnant, and although during the whole road trip I had tried to stave it off, it overcame me none the less.

The next thing I knew I was being jostled awake by the creepy Colonel, and so sitting up I looked around. I must have been flat out exhausted in order to have slept for the final leg of our journey. Getting out of the vehicle I could see that it was little more than a goat path that led to this place.

We were parked out front of a little adobe house in the middle of literally nowhere. There were aged trees giving shade to the quaint dwelling which had a thoroughly homey look about it. Eric had been right, though – there wouldn’t be any servants because there flat out wasn’t the room for them! You could probably fit two, three people tops living in such a small abode.

Fuck slaves, I thought – who was going to protect us from Members? I wondered in distress. Images I had of Aidan materializing out of the brush to snatch our son from me. And I knew without a doubt that the child would be a boy, which when Aidan eventually found out would seriously pique his interest, I knew. After all, he was gravely disappointed in our son Kaden, having little faith that the boy would grow up to be a warrior, a strong leader of men.

As if that was the only true worth of a man.

“You guys left Collin all alone way out here?” was my harsh accusation, one to which Eric seemed to take offense.

“Although you may not see them, there are Wardens patrolling the vicinity” he informed me, and although that did make me feel better – I had to wonder why would the AFA be providing resources for Collin’s benefit? Then my throat constricted – if Collin had accepted back his command with the AFA, and should Aidan Find out? Man oh man then Collin would be a dead man. However, the communique Eric had sent me wasn’t via his AFA account, it had been his personal one, and he had signed it just plain old Eric.

There were tales to be told, I was certain, but wasn’t so sure that I wanted to hear them. Sometimes being well-informed was a bad thing.

With a nod, I motioned to Eric to lead on. He took me into the house which was Spartan – and disconcertingly neat as a pin. Well, Collin was a neat-nick after all, but something told me the man hadn’t felt up to housekeeping these past months since his liberation by the Blackguard.

Out back we went, exiting onto a cleanly swept flagstone patio, but I still didn’t see anyone around. Looking to Eric I now shrugged.

“This way” he prompted, now leading me down a narrow path which wound its way towards a wash. “Collin’s not big on confined spaces these days” was his disturbing commentary, one which did nothing short of alarm me.

Once we hit the wash, we then started walking down the middle of it in the soft, loose sand until we came upon some boulders shaded by cottonwood trees – and there Collin was. He was perched on one of the boulders with his back to us.

“I brought you a present” Eric called out to him but Collin wasn’t inclined to turn around.

“Fuck off, Jonesy” he grunted, apparently not the least bit interested in any peace offerings.

“Ok, well – that’s that, then” the Colonel decided and then changed directions. “C’mon, Sierra – its back to The Order for you” he said and this had the desired affect. Collin at first stiffened, but then he was quick to twist round to have a look.

And I didn’t know who was more shocked to see whom – Collin looked awful, like a hunted man, or rather a haunted man. He was up off the boulder in a heartbeat, though, and seeing him full on only served to raise further questions. It had to be damned near ninety degrees but the man was wearing a long sleeve cambric shirt and the sleeves were down, not even rolled up. He was wearing blue jeans, but they were long too, not cut-offs like you’d expect in this weather.

His hair was still long, Brotherhood fashion, and he had a beard as was also Brotherhood dress-code.

Not knowing what to say, I decided to just say, “Hi,” because otherwise the silence was going to smother me. I could see a million and one emotions playing out behind Collin’s eyes, and somewhere in that jumbled up mess was joy.

“How is my brother?” he asked, and so now I got cranky. I was hot and pregnant and tired and hungry and this is the first thing the guy says to me?

“How the fuck should I know?” I snapped, still being angry with Aidan and it showed. “The dude set sail weeks ago haven’t heard a peep out of him since” I was happy to inform Collin.

“Well, better Aidan than me,” Collin grunted, “the sailing thing, I mean” he clarified with a sheepish grin and so my heart melted. The little boy who would be king still lurked in there somewhere and so there was hope. “How was the trip?” the man now decided to get polite – too polite for my liking. Did I look like a stranger to him?

“I’ll leave you two alone for a bit” Eric got courteous, bowing to me and then to Collin before he turned and headed back to the house. After Jonesy was out of earshot, I began my inquisition.

“What happened?” I asked, closing the distance between us. “And why are you dressed like a monk?” I wanted to know. “It’s hot you know!” I pointed out the obvious in case it had eluded him. The man seemed unsure what to say, do – but then he shivered, looking down at the ground. “Collin? Are you ok? What did they do to you?” I quietly asked, edging closer to him and then he dropped to his knees, covering his face with his hands, and distressing me to no end.

Rushing to him, I knelt down as well. Taking hold of his wrists, I gently pulled his hands away from his face. Reluctantly, however, he let me do so – and when I could see his eyes he tears were brimming. Eyes which were a faded gray-green color – washed out, as I suspected the same could be said for his soul.

“Aren’t you happy to see me?” I prompted, feeling self-conscious because I had the impression he didn’t want me, or anyone else, around. Without a word of response, Collin suddenly wrapped his arms around me, holding me close to his person as he proceeded to bawl his eyes out. In comfort I held him – the man was a basket case, just like I figured he would be.

The question was – what the hell had happened that would make him this way?

Once the man had cried all his tears, he then kissed my neck, drinking in deep my scent as he did so. This, per usual, sent shivers down my spine – how I loved it when he did that! Pulling away from me, he now dried his eyes and then shrugged.

“Sorry to be such a case” he apologized but I just sloughed off apology. The guy had been through hell, so what should I except? “You look well, Sierra – actually, you look gorgeous” was his compliment, and a heartfelt one but it made me laugh. I was travel worn and stressed and pregnant. How would Collin feel about that?

“Thanks, but I’m sure I look like road kill” I laughed and to this he smiled.

“If that is the case, then you are the most beautiful piece of road kill that I have ever seen” he teased and so I slapped him in the arm. “How are you feeling? And how’s the little stowaway?” Collin now asked but I could only blink at him. “You are pregnant, aren’t you?” was his prod and so now I blushed in embarrassment.

“Uh-huh – but how the hell did you find out?” I wanted to know.

“Aidan had told me” was his response and so you could have knocked me over with a feather. Collin was strictly off limits to Aidan! Granted, I didn’t know everything there was to know about The Brotherhood, but I did know that because Aidan and Collin were related, then this meant during Collin’s Censure it had been forbidden for Aidan to have contact with him.

And hadn’t I asked Aidan if he’d seen Collin? I had, but naturally Aidan dodged the question every single time I had asked.

No wonder!

Wanting to move beyond the pregnancy thing, and the disturbing way in which it had come to pass, I changed the subject.

“What’s with the long sleeves?” I now began to interrogate him. Even the damned cuffs were buttoned up tight. “And with the jeans? I’m ready to frigging shed clothes and you are dressed like Nanook of the north!” I taunted, reaching for a sleeve so I could unbutton the cuff but quickly he snatched his arm away.

Hurriedly getting to his feet, Collin now stalked of several paces to then stand with his back to me. Hands stuffed in his pockets, I understood what this meant. He was on shaky ground and thus extremely insecure about – whatever was troubling him.

“There are things about which a man cannot speak” was his extremely formal response as he now executed a famous about-face, quickly changing lanes. He was squarely in the one where he’d get a stick up his ass – and there it would stay.

Feeling drained and in no mood for a fight, I released a long, low breath.

“Ok, I understand” I fibbed, since I didn’t understand at all – but would go to work on Eric instead. “I’m really feeling punky, so – I’m going to go find something to drink and take a load off. Wanna come with me, handsome?” I tempted him but he just shook his head. Well, didn’t that make me feel like something the cat dragged in, was my disgruntled thought, but whatever. “I’ll be up at the house. I’m happy to be with you again, Collin – I love you, you know” I tacked on, going for the kill and it almost worked. Almost – Collin nearly turned around but then pulled back.

Shaking my head I then spun about and went off in search of refreshments.

Finding my way back, when I entered the house I didn’t see anyone, and so wondered if Eric had just dumped my bags on the porch and then split. As I was about to rush out the front door, I heard him bellow at me, though.

“Sierra, in here” Eric called and so stopping I then changed direction and headed towards his voice. Slipping into what was the kitchen, I saw Eric sitting at the table. I also saw a Member who was leaning up against the counter – but this one didn’t scare me at all. It was Finney!

In a heartbeat I rushed to Collin’s cousin, throwing my arms around him.

“Oh thank God you are here!” I exclaimed with tears in my eyes as I looked up at him. The two men exchange a curious look.

“I never had that affect on women before, lass” Finney remarked as he gave me a hug.

“Yeah, well – you aren’t pregnant either” I now freed the cat from the bag, looking to each man. Their reactions were varied, I noticed. Eric was thinking assassin-spawn, I could tell, and Finney was just outright delighted. Naturally, a child was a rare gift in this Time After.

“Well, congratulations, lass!” the big hulking Irishman told me, planting a kiss on my cheek.

“Thanks – I was worried about that when I got the picture that Collin was in no man’s land” I told him as I now got off my feet and sat down at the table. “What are you doing here, though?” I asked, furrowing my brow. “I thought Collin wasn’t AFA any more.”

“Strictly speaking, no – not actively” Finney explained. “And neither am I – I resigned my commission so I could care for my cousin.”

“Collin is on… pension… from the AFA” Eric clarified and so slowly I got the picture, but what I wanted to know was what had happened to Collin and so I just asked.

“What’s wrong with him? What did The Order to do him?” I inquired but neither man was inclined to spill.

“Nothing, lass, beyond the Reconditioning” Finney spoke up. “I think its best that Collin tell you himself, in his own time.”

“Great – I’ll be dead before then!” was my complaint, knowing just how damned stubborn Collin could be. In this he and his brother were exactly the same.

“Water?” Finney now offered in a shameless play to divert my attention. “There’s ice tea as well” he added.

“Tea, otherwise I am going to nod out” I mumbled and then started looking around the little kitchen. As with most safe houses, there would be solar power and storage batteries – just enough to run a few small appliances and lights for at night. I suddenly felt very alone, though. Eric wasn’t much company this was a fact, but I would feel even lonelier when he left. Thank God there was Finney, though – he could talk up a storm, although he seemed rather distant and troubled himself.

The tea was a godsend, and nice and cold, with ice, even. Sipping it I sat there in silence with the two men, just waiting for Collin to mozy on up to the house.

If he would at all, I wondered after a goodish amount of time had passed. Eventually he did, though, popping in through the door and then stood there with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

“Thank you, Eric” Collin now remembered his manners and thanked the Colonel for delivering me, as if I were a package.

“You’re welcome, my old friend” the Colonel said in return along with a nod. Shifting from foot to foot, Collin was undecided if he should sit down or not – but he finally did.

“I’m sorry I was rude, Sierra” came his next offering, this one an apology.

“There’s nothing to apologize for, Collin – you’ve been through a lot, after all” I waved it off but he just shook his head. “And I didn’t mean to get pushy” I returned like in kind. “I just care is all.”

“That’s no excuse for me to not be a gentleman” he grumbled, leaning back in his chair as he released along, low breath. “I… you might not want to stay here, Sierra. I’m not the man I once was.”

“Dunno, you seem that same to me” I declared. “Bitchy” I added with a grin and so this won me a black look from Collin. He still had some fight in him and this gave me a lot of hope.

“Yeah, well…” he mumbled and then sat up, unbuttoning his cuffs. “You might as well get all the facts before you commit to staying” was his take and so showing me his wrists, I now gaped. Scars could be seen there and so I sucked in my breath.

“Did you… you know, try to…you know?” I fumbled, wanting to ask if he’d tried suicide but didn’t know how.

“No – that would really buy me a one way ticket to hell,” he grumbled, “and I don’t need any help on that front” the man stated and now he unbutton his shirt. Removing it, Collin then slightly twisted to one side and so I could there see another scar. I just wasn’t getting it, though.

“So… uh… who did that to you?” was my timid inquiry and his answer just confused me even more.

“No one” was his simple response. Reaching a hand to lift up his bangs, he waited but I had to lean forward to see – and sure enough, there were faint scars there as well.

“You know, I guess I am stupid, but – I don’t get it, Collin” I snipped as I sat back in my chair, pouting.

“Ankles are the same, love” he then completed the set, and thinking about it for a moment – I got it, but my answer had to be wrong. The notion was just absurd! But Collin had said no one had done that to him, hadn’t he?

“You said no one did that to you” I began in a low voice. “Did you perhaps mean no man?” I just had to ask and now Collin whipped up his head to look at me. I wasn’t sure if he was on the same page as me, but there was someone wandering around this world on two legs who I was fairly certain was no man. And who I was certain was devil’s spawn.

“When I said no one, I meant no one” was his staunch assertion. The injuries would be consistent with crucifixion, but that was an insane notion, and if Collin said no one did that to him then – stigmata?

Letting out a long, low whistle, I just shook me head.

“So, now you know why I dress like a monk” Collin concluded as he drew his shirt back on, but this time didn’t bother to button it up. And just what was there about me when I was pregnant that I would get so horny? I wondered in dismay, my eyes linger on Collin’s chest. Apparently too long since Collin now cleared his throat to get my attention.

“Well, you are still the most handsome that man I’ve ever laid eyes on” I told him the truth. “I could not care less about a few damned scars, Collin – honest. Are you really that vain? Good grief, and Adonis by any other name is still an Adonis, Collin!” I just had to put in my two cents and this seemed to break the ice, everyone chucking, even Collin who offered up a beautiful smile.

“Do you want me around here?” I asked in return, biting my lip and hoping to God he did not say no. “After all, I’m pregnant so its a given that I’m gonna be a bitch” I laid out. “And once I give birth, you know, the kid will keep you awake all night, you’ll have to put up with crying, diaper changes, colic, croup… are you up for that?” I asked, and so looking down he rubbed his chin under the pretense of thinking hard about it. “And its going to be a boy so you need to get back in shape, you’ll have to keep up with him you know” I bullied and now Collin could not stop laughing.

“Take her away already, will you please” he continued laughing. Obviously he did not mean it, though, but I scowled at him none the less.

“Well, if you want me to stay, then you better go put on some shorts and a t-shirt, I don’t do monks” was my threat and so grinning he pushed his chair back from the table.

“Here less than an hour and already I find myself being pussy whipped” was his bleak determination as he walked around the table to deliver me a long awaited kiss. We each indulged ourselves in it, with my being unable to resist reaching inside his shirt to run a hand over his chest. The man tried to stifle a groan, but was less than successful.

“I love you, Chiquita” the man whispered in my ear and then as he stood straight said, “Hodad will make his entrance in a few moments.” Placing a kiss on my forehead Collin then disappeared from sight, slipping through the archway.

“Hodad?” Finney asked with a curious look and so I just shrugged.

“A mythical surfer from a Klaatu song” I explained with a sigh as I slumped down in my chair. “What’s your problem?” I asked Eric who had a rather disgruntled look on his face.

“Carrying another man’s child and you…” he began but then let the thought languish.

“You know, Colonel – you don’t have a fucking clue about my relationship with Collin, or with his brother, for that matter” I laid out the facts. “So if I were you, I’d just zip it.” Before Eric could get ugly, Finney wisely stepped in.

“She’s right, lad” Collin’s cousin took my side. “Sierra is the best medicine I could have ever hoped for my cousin. He just displayed the most spark of life we’ve seen since his deliverance. The man can only get better from here on out, with Sierra’s help.” Eric didn’t have a lot to say to this, but he did nod in acceptance.

With a mental sigh of relief I waited for Collin to make his appearance – as the man that I loved and as the man who I was determined to help regain some semblance his former self.

It was the least I could do for him, for me, for his immortal soul – and for his brother who loved him so.

Almost! I thought with pride, making a vain attempt to suppress a burgeoning smile. As quick as those lizards were, Luc could just about execute a sneak attack and snatch them.

Almost.

Then again, the lad had was just about to celebrate seventh birthday.

Off he went in pursuit of the lizard. Not willing to give up his goal of catching it, Luc now shifted gears into the challenge of the chase.

Leaning back against a boulder warmed by the late afternoon sun, I shut my eyes. Spring in the desert felt like paradise, I considered with a sigh. Sierra had nodded off, her head in my lap as she slumbered away, and I couldn’t help but think, it doesn’t get much better than this, Collin O’Reilly. With that thought another sigh of pure contentment escaped me, but this one somehow managed to wake the sleeping beauty. Stretching and yawning, the woman at first glanced up at me through sleepy eyes but then was quick to glance about the vicinity. We were out aways from the house, along a wide wash which cut through the parched desert hardpan.

A perfect spot for the hunting of reptiles, naturally.

“Where’s Luc?!” Sierra blurted out, suddenly on alert as she sat up, demanding to know where her son had gotten to. So much for relaxation, I bemoaned – time for drama. “Collin?” was her impatient prod as the woman now scrambled to her feet.

“Calm down, will you?!” I snapped. “The boy is chasing lizards; I’m sure Seamus has him in his sights” I tried to reassure her, but it was an assurance which fell flat. The woman had been suffocating the lad, but how could I fault her? In her mind her fear was very real – and in all reality, there was no guarantee that my brother Aidan wouldn’t at some point coalesce from the desert dust, stepping in to rightfully claim his son.

After all, he had already done that once with his Firstborns, the twins Kaden and Kiran. That was long ago, though – or so it should seem as such, at any rate. To me, however, it felt as if it were only yesterday, the pain of our parting, that of Aidan and myself, being as poignant at present as it had been way back then.

Shivering though it was quite warm, the horrifying memory of my experience now crept up on me. The one I had experienced after my deliverance from Reconditioning by the Hand of The Order for the Renouncement of my Oath. Although the Reconditioning was nothing to sneeze at, either. A cold sweat broke out to ensconce my body and so running a shaken hand over my eyes I let it linger there. A little too long, apparently, for now I felt Sierra take hold of my hand, gently coercing me to lower it.

“You ok?” the woman inquired with grave concern in her voice, eyes. Woos, I berated myself but then somehow was able to coax the offering of a smile.

“Yeah, just feeling a little drugged by the sun” was my bald-face lie and so in challenge Sierra narrowed her eyes at me.

“Uh-huh. Don’t lie much, either, huh?” she called me out with that sexy pout of hers and this time when I smiled, it was genuine. As I reached out a hand to touch her cheek, our Hallmark moment was interrupted by the exuberance of one little boy. Bounding into view was Luc, hands wrapped around a creature, of course. The boy was always hunting something, a consideration which disturbed me, sadly enough. Like father like son and Luc most certainly was Aidan’s son.

Even if the lad had no clue who my brother Aidan was beyond being an Uncle whom he had never met, and much less the fact that it was instead this man who was his true father and not me.

“Ma! Da! Look!” the lad chirped as he skidded to a stop before us with a rather handsome collared lizard. “I caught him!” How he reminded me of Aidan when my brother had been a boy! Mostly in looks, however, for Luc was far more gregarious than my brother had ever been. Luc had his mother’s coloring, and although he had the same intense eyes as Aidan, their hue was the traditional sea-gray of the O’Reilly Clan and not Aidan’s darkly-hued malachite.

“Well look at that!” his mother beamed with pride for it was amazing that so young a child could catch one of those lightning-fast critters. Getting to my knees I rested palms to thighs, smiling at my son, for that was what this nephew of mine was to me, the child whom I had raised from the time he was but an infant.

In my heart-of-hearts, Luc was my son.

Aidan was just the sperm donor, as far as I was concerned.

“Well done, Luc” I praised him, but now for the caution I knew that I was expected by his mother to impart. “You had your Ma worried, though – what have we told you about staying within our sight?” I asked of him but he just shrugged, a gesture which made me bite my tongue so I would not burst out in laughter. How Aidan always hated when I would do that! I thought in sheer amusement, and here was his offspring mimicking a gesture the boy had acquired from me.

“Uncle Finney was watching” he said and then quickly skated right on by the reproach. “Wanna pet him?” Luc now prompted, extending to me the lizard. That wasn’t exactly my idea of a pleasant sensation, caressing the scaly reptile, but how could I refuse? Reaching out a hand, I stroked the creature twice on the head before Sierra came to my rescue.

“Can I hold him?” his mother requested, holding out her hands but Luc was unsure.

“He’ll get away from you” was his staunch determination but with a dour look from me he then relented and so handed off the lizard to Sierra. His mother nearly did lose the reptile during the transfer, almost getting bit, but she nicely recovered. Marveling over the beastie, the woman talked to it as she held on, and watching her made my heart blossom with warmth. Just when had I fallen so completely in love with her, I wondered? Sure, I had always had the hots for this spicy little Latina number, and from day one, but Sierra was like my Mira had been. While I wasn’t looking, she had stole my heart, one hundred and ten percent.

Catching motion out of the corner of my eye, I now saw my cousin emerging from the brush, materializing was more like it and just why was everything this day reminding me of Aidan? My brother also had a penchant for popping up out of thin air – one rather disconcerting habit of his.

Bending to one knee, as Aidan would have, Seamus joined us. After all, removed from his Brethren or no, my cousin was still very much Brotherhood.

As was I, I was forced to concede.

“Luc said you were watching him?” I inquired of Seamus since I had a hunch that although he was looking after Luc it had not been in plain sight. He only raised an eyebrow in question. “That’s what I thought” I grumbled and then gave the lad my attention. Luc hadn’t lied but like his true father he sure the hell omitted a lot of things. First counting to ten so I would not lose my temper, I then prompted, “Luc? What have I told you about worrying your Ma?”

“Finney was watching me” he reiterated with a little too much bravado. “I knew he was there” the lad then tacked on, and although I didn’t doubt this was Truth, his mother wasn’t going to be thrilled by that assertion. Looking up from her inspection of the lizard, Sierra was now paying close attention. Luc was Aidan’s son and it had been crystal clear from a very young age that he had inherited the same eerie animal senses which his father possessed. However, the lad was far too young to yet be wholly relying on these.

“That’s not the same thing, Luc – you should understand this” was my censure.

“I’m sorry, Da” the lad was then quick to apologize. Then turning to his mother he begged her forgiveness as well. “I’m sorry, Ma – I didn’t mean to make you worry.” His remorse was genuine, though, and so Sierra nodded in acceptance.

“Ok, son – just never forget what we’ve told you, ok?” she reminded him as a tear managed to pool in the corner of one eye. She was ever in fear of Aidan walking out of the desert and taking Luc from her. Sadly, the woman wasn’t alone on that account – however, we were almost out of the woods in that regard. Once Luc turned seven, then Aidan would not longer have and legal claim to the lad. “You can’t be too careful, Luc – you always have to be on alert” was her gentle scolding.

“I am, Ma – all the time” he tried to reassure her as she now handed him back his lizard.

“Go on, put him back where you found him – Finney will go with you” she instructed her son who took it as an order and so was on his feet in a heartbeat. “It’s time to go back to the house anyway, I’m ready for dinner and I’m sure you are too.” With a smile designed to win her over, Luc made his mother melt.

“Keep a careful eye on him, Seamus” I instructed my cousin who now got to his feet as well.

“Round the clock, cousin” he assured me with a wink and then the two were off. No sooner were they out of sight, then Sierra did what she would always do.

The woman broke down and cried.

“He’s a boy, Sierra” I tried to remind her. “Luc is going to try and get away with stuff; you know that’s how kids are. He’s not a infant anymore, Chiquita, nor even a toddler.”

“Yeah? Well the one time he’s not paying attention or he’s trying on new ways to outwit Finney, that will be the day when Aidan appears out of thin air to kidnap my son!” the woman hissed.

“He’s my son, too, Sierra,” I evenly returned for I loved Luc as if he was my own flesh and blood, “but we have to let him grow. We can’t keep him in a cage, and we certainly cannot forever shelter him.”

“Is that why Finney schools him in the Ways of The Brotherhood?” the woman snapped and here we go again, I thought in despair. How many times were we going to have this conversation?

It was for Luc’s safety the reason why Seamus was schooling Luc and training him in Brotherhood fashion – not just because it was his heritage. Although that certainly was part of it – Luc was my brother’s son and Aidan was Mr. Brotherhood himself. Offspring of Members belonged to the Arm which their fathers belonged, and Luc had a right to his heritage. Besides, it was Law that a child be given Brotherhood schooling if it was available and could be afforded – regardless where the child resided.

This I could never tell Sierra, however, and should I try to talk reason to her about this reality? No way – it was more fight than I was inclined to take on. Even if I myself did not agree with all that was Brotherhood, at least I was able to acknowledge that the best opportunity for Luc to prosper in this Time After was to be prepared for every and all things, the physical as well as the acedemic. If this meant Brotherhood style mentoring courtesy of my Elite-Assassin cousin, then so be it.

“We are not having this conversation” I decided and then got to my feet, dusting myself off. In the bat of an eye, though, the diminutive pit bull now confronted me.

“We have to have it sooner or later, Collin!” the woman made known, stomping her foot in expression of her displeasure. “Where will Luc fit in with training like that? The AFA won’t take kindly to him!”

“Yes, and neither will the Blackguard” I added with a chopping motion of my hand. “Perhaps we should inquire of the Unspoken?” was my rather darkly sarcastic suggestion. “You can have this conversation Sierra, but I don’t want any part of it” and with that I turned round to head back towards the house. I wasn’t quick enough, though – Sierra caught hold of my arm, using all her weight to stop me. I could have kept going, she being just the midget that she was, but I was tired and again was suddenly feeling unwell. Putting on the brakes I spun about to face her.

“We can’t stay out here forever, handsome” the beauty now tried a different tact, offering me an irresistibly shy smile.

That wasn’t going to work, though.

“Well, I can” I grumbled in return, feeling another episode coming on – the kind that was inescapable. Drawing a hand across my eyes as the world around me began to grow dim, I held my breath and prayed that this time it wouldn’t bring me to me knees. Wrong again, O’Reilly, I thought in dismay as I felt my knees give way beneath me. To add to my chagrin the woman took hold of my arm, helping to ease my dissent. What kind of man had I become? An invalid and a coward, that’s what kind, I went and answered my own question.

Once on my knees, waiting for the episode to run its course, after my vision cleared I saw that Sierra was now kneeling before me. Pity was in her eyes, which did nothing short of totally trashing what remained of my ego.

“You’re right, Collin” the she now made it even worse by kowtowing to me. “I’m sorry, I was a bitch” was her apology and admission all rolled into one, and a rather demurely delivered at that, no less. She would play it whatever way she had to, and did this make me angry? To a degree, but Sierra sincerely cared about me, my well being. However, she also held grave concern for her son. Luc wasn’t being raised like a wild animal or anything, but during his formative years here in exile the boy did not have the benefit of interacting with other children.

Unlike his brother and sister, Kaden and Kiran.

They lived at The Order with their father and had other children with whom to play and learn vital social skills. Although who knew if it would matter to Luc? He was so much like Aidan it wasn’t even funny. And even though Aidan had been raised, like myself, in a large Irish Catholic family, he was far removed from ever having been accused of being a social butterfly. He preferred to romp and roam the woodlands of southwester Connecticut, where we were born and raised. At one with nature, then as now, I wistfully considered of my beloved brother.

“Sierra, I don’t even know where I belong” I told her in a low voice. “So how am I to know where Luc belongs? He’s as much an outsider as are you and I.”

“Why don’t you get more involved with work?” was her simplistic suggestion. That would have been the wisest option, I understood, but I was reluctant to offer the AFA anything more than just enough effort to earn my keep. At present I was merely a consultant to AFA High Command, having long ago resigned my commission of Commander-General. At least, I had resigned – the Staff of Generals saw it in a rather different light, however. I was considered to be on pension with option for reinstatement of my commission, and for this reason I still received perks from the AFA. Its Wardens perhaps being the biggest benefit my little family received. These equivalents of The Brotherhood’s Elite-Assassins were ever close at hand – unseen as they patrolled the vicinity where we at present resided in what could be called self-imposed exile. If Aidan did decide to come and claim Luc, we’d at least have a heads up thanks to the Wardens. And if Sierra felt secure in her fantasy world, that the Wardens would prevent Aidan from spiriting away Luc from us, then that worked for me. For myself? If assassins from The Order showed up on our doorstep then I was going to slit my own throat and just be done with it.

Releasing a weighted sigh, I held Sierra’s eyes, lending consideration to her suggestion.

“I think we both understand, my dear, that I am unable to hold down a full time job” I laid out for her as I now struggled to my feet. “C’mon, it’s starting to get creepy out here. Let’s just get back to the house, have a nice family dinner and pretend like everything is right with the world, hmm?” I offered up my own suggestion. Biting her lip while she knelt there with her arms wrapped about her, Sierra eventually nodded in acceptance. I then extended a hand of which she took hold and so helping her to her feet, I now pulled her to me in a fierce embrace.

“I love you, Sierra, and I’m sorry for all I’ve put you through” I expressed, but then reproached myself when the woman looked up, glaring at me. “You know what I mean” I mumbled and then tried on a smile. “C’mon, let’s make like we never had this conversation” I decided and then taking her hand in mine we started back.

“I love you too, Collin” she returned, slipping an arm around my waist. “I had a nice day today – maybe we can make it an even nicer night?” was her hopeful tease as she dropped her hand to squeeze a butt-cheek. Laughing under my breath I could not help but smile.

“What you see in this old goat here I will never understand” I muttered, shaking my head. After all, I was old enough to be Sierra’s father – and then some. My best days were now seriously far behind me and in all honesty I would have preferred to just grow old and die, getting it over with as quickly and as painlessly as possible. However, I had Sierra and her wellbeing to think about, and Luc as well – not to mention recovery of the Cup which The Order had secreted away. It was in this capacity I acted as a consultant to the AFA, and to the Blackguard as well. All angles I would work to see the Cup wrested from the Hands of The Order before they did the unthinkable with It. That they had yet to use the Cup of Christ spoke to great unrest and strife within The Order’s Council of Priests and their High Council.

As we arrived back at the house, there was a hitch in my step as soon as I saw a vehicle out front. Sierra on the other hand looked downright eager. Was I being set up? I wondered as I cast her a sidewards glance. No, the woman had been pining away for company was all, and now, apparently, her wish had been granted.

Rounding the corner as we came upon the porch, the sight I saw caused a lump to rise in my throat so that I had no other choice but to stop in my tracks. I wasn’t the only one – Sierra did the same, desperately grabbing onto my arm for this was thoroughly unexpected company indeed. Along with Seamus and Luc, on the porch I saw my old friend and comrade Eli, who was now an AFA Commander, having received a promotion for babysitting me, I supposed. His presence wasn’t disturbing for he frequently checked in on my family, but rather instead, and to my complete dismay, I saw that in his company was Amanda, my estranged daughter.

Who had been living with her husband Ryan, and my brother Aidan, in the Province of The Order and Its City State of Zion.

Her presence invoked a million questions at once and there was no other way to know why she was present except to have speech with her.

Which, however, I was uncertain I should venture.

As hard as I had tried to put Aidan out of my mind and heart, it had been a struggle most days and here was his niece, fresh from The Order and bearing what news?

Swallowing hard, I took a deep breath and then pressed on, practically dragging Sierra along on her feet. I might have been a broken man, but I still had some sense of ego, and therefore a needed to put on the best show of pride as I could muster.

One that was doomed to falter, or so was my growing suspicion.

Stopping just short of the others, I at least did not forget my manners.

“Amanda” I said in greeting with a proper bow, Brotherhood, notably, but merely one out of respect for her being a woman. “What brings you slumming?” I was unable to stop myself from asking and then understood that acrid remark required apology. “Forgive me, that was uncalled for” I recanted and then moved beyond it. “Good to see you again, Eli” I spoke in salutations to my friend. Eli nodded but otherwise held his tongue, allowing me to decide the direction of this encounter. My old friend understood that I needed to find my own footing otherwise there would be no bargaining with me.

And something was in the offing, it was clear.

“So, Luc, you have met another family member” I now addressed the lad, motioning him to come join us, more for my comfort than for his.

“He’s a beautiful boy, Collin, Sierra – you are very lucky” Amanda lauded, smiling warmly at Luc as he passed by, but what did she mean by lucky? Amanda should have had a million kids by now.

“Da, how come I didn’t know I had a sister?” Luc asked innocently enough of something that was anything but innocent. After all, Amanda was not his sister but rather his first cousin.

“That’s a tale for another day, Luc” I told him as I slipped my arm around his shoulders.

“Why’s Ma upset?” he now wanted to know and Gracious God Above here come the questions! I thought in anticipation. In this he was very unlike Aidan, who had been sullen and quiet as a boy. And why had that been? Because our father had demanded that we listen and not speak, that was why. However, this son of Tristan Kael O’Reilly had had a hard time accepting his old man’s edict. I kept right on asking questions and prattling on thus getting whacked upside the head by my old man – a lot.

With a weighted sigh I took Luc by the shoulders, turning him towards me.

“This is business” I told him so he would understand. Seamus had been schooling him and so early on had made the distinction for the lad. After all, Luc needed to learn the difference if he was to defend himself against his own kind. We O’Reillys made no allowance for family when it came to conducting business, or doling out Censure, I recalled with an onset of anxiety. “I want you to go with Finney, maybe the two of you can down some rabbits or quail for dinner” I commanded and so with a nod he obeyed. Orders he could take – we had all seen to that, even if at times he would, by a degree, skew the interpretation of said orders.

“C’mon, lad – we’ve got our work cut out for us” Seamus prompted. “More mouths to feed, I will need your help” he said with a wink and so with that, Luc left my side, but not without a lingering look at his mother.

Once my cousin had led away Luc, I was able to relax a bit. At least my nephew would not have to listen so some rather ugly family bickering.

“And you are here, why, exactly?” I directed at my daughter, and none too politely at that. Brushing past her, I walked up onto the porch to park my butt down in the glider – before I fell down. Sierra, however, kept a respectful distance. She hadn’t gotten along any better with Amanda than I had.

My daughter didn’t answer right away, however – probably battling with that temper she had inherited from me. Holding her gaze, however, I found my heart aching. She had turned into a truly gorgeous woman of exceptional beauty and grace. Even though she had long ago made discovery that I was her biological father and not my brother Aidan, I had a strong hunch she still viewed me like I was nothing more than average everyday chiggers.

“Does my brother want something?” I assumed, otherwise why else would she have been allowed to journey here?

“Aidan sent me to check on his son’s progress” she explained and so Sierra now turned white. Before her mouth could start running off, I beckoned her to join me.

“Sierra, come” I commanded her, and if it came out sounding like I was calling my dog then, oh well. There wasn’t really any etiquette book for this type of encounter. Patting beside me the seat of the glider, I now softened the order and so she obeyed, sitting her cute little butt down. As she leaned up against me I drew my arm around her shoulders, giving her a reassuring squeeze. No one was going to tell me what to do, not Eli, not Seamus, not The Order nor the AFA, and certainly not my daughter.

Eli, who was leaning up against the door frame of the entrance, had his eyes riveted on Amanda. Was this because he suspected violence? No, instead it was clear that he was smitten with her – and had been from the day he had first laid eyes on the woman, back when the AFA IntelliCore base in Monument Valley had been under my command.

A lifetime ago, it now seemed.

“As you can see, your young cousin is growing like a weed” I stated the obvious. “He is healthy, and happy. Please, give Aidan our best and tell him Luc’s education is on track. Seamus gives the boy high marks across the board. You are welcome to stay for dinner and the night – you can leave in the morning.”

“You misunderstand” Amanda countered as she now came closer. “Aidan has sent me here to remain and become one of Luc’s guardian, in his continued absence” she explained and what was this happy horse shit?

Sierra now tugged on my arm, wanting to speak but smart enough to know that she had damn well better ask first. Squeezing her hand where it lay on my arm, I sought to comfort her, as well as quell the storm brewing in my own heart.

“Won’t you miss your husband?” I prompted and now she hung her head, a distressing gesture. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to look at me.

“He is Dead to The Order” the woman revealed and so now Sierra gasped, unable to contain herself.

“Ryan? He’s dead?! How?!” Sierra exclaimed, pain in her voice, and although I had not been a big fan of Ryan, he was a first rate doctor and herbolgist, as well as an honorable man.

“Shhh, Sierra – calm yourself” I soothed. “Death has multiple connotations within The Brotherhood, and does not necessarily pertain to a biological state of being” I informed her and then gave my attention back to Amanda.

“There was an… insurrection of some sort, I guess, for lack of a better word” my daughter explained. “Aidan had him Banished from The Order – to where no one knows.” This was a mind blower beyond belief. Since I had been out of the game, and therefore not associated with my brother or his world, I had no real sense what was going on within the Realm of The Order. Pretty much because I just plain did not care – I did not ask, and unless it pertained to my work, then no one clued me in. I had made it abundantly clear how I felt about The Order.

“I know you, Amanda – you would not have come here freely, not without a fight” was my summation. “And yet, here you are. Excuse me if I find it hard to believe that Aidan would send his little girl to make sure his brother wasn’t filling up his son’s head with a bunch of bunk” I put in my two cents.

“Luc is my cousin, why should you think that I wouldn’t want to meet him?” she argued. “Although it seems Aidan’s concerns hold some validity since you have failed to tell Luc that you are not his true father” was her attack and here was the seed of her discord. She, too, had been lied to all her life, until eight years prior when she found out by chance that I was her father and not Aidan. “Was this born of your desire to play tit-for-tat with your brother?” Amanda wanted to know, and no – it wasn’t. I loved my brother and so would knowingly do no such thing.

“It would be too complicated to explain to so young a child” I countered in defense. “What would you have me tell him? Oh, by the way, Luc, your real Da signed off on my Censure, just so you know what a great man he is?!” I growled and then got to my feet, but Sierra was on hers just as quickly, taking hold of my arm to keep me back. Good thing, too – since now I spied tears in Amanda’s eyes before she quickly looked away.

“Yeah, I know – hard to believe Aidan could have done such a thing” I spoke up, feeling like a prick for having said what I had. “Well, sorry to burst your bubble. Uh, Aidan gave you no message for me?” I now asked, finding it hard to believe that he would have sent her here without communicating something personal in nature. Why I should expect any such thing I had no idea. After all Aidan hadn’t tried to make contact with me during the past seven years, so that pretty much told me right there and then that my brother no longer held any love in for me in his heart.

If he ever had at all, that was.

“No, Collin – no message” my daughter confirmed. “He did ask me to return this to you, though” she said and then slowly, cautiously, Amanda withdrew from around her neck a silver chain, and I did not need to see the rest of it to know what it was – and so here was my brother’s message.

Backing up a step or two, unable to stop myself from doing so, I was certain I must have turned white.

It was none other than my own necklace with its black-and-white enameled pendant – one half black, the other half white. It was the mirrored-twin of the one Aidan always wore. This was the one I had given Sierra once upon a time, to safeguard for me.

“Why did Aidan have this?” I asked Sierra, wondering how it came by way of my brother.

“I gave it to him, after I went to live at The Order” she revealed. “I told Aidan that it would remind him of how much you two still needed each other.” To this I could only blink – at every turn the woman would amaze me.

Amanda took off the pendant to then hold it in her outstretched hand but I refused to take it. Thankfully Sierra came to my rescue and accepted it for me, tears in her eyes as well. This was a bond between Aidan and I, what the necklace represented – one of the few heart-felt gifts my brother had ever given me.

Together in birth, together in life, together in death, forever together, Aidan had said that summer solstice day, the day of our birth. Notably the birthday right before I had agreed to join The Brotherhood and Its Order.

That was it – the memories came flooding back to me in an unstoppable deluge. Crashing over me in a maelstrom of pain, happiness, sadness and all points in-between, the wave brought me to my knees. In a flash Eli was at my side, taking hold of my arm.

“Get Finney” Eli ordered Sierra but I fiercely shook my head as I held onto him for support, so I at least would not go spread-eagle and lose what little dignity I had left.

“No, Eli – it will pass” I croaked in a hoarse voice, uncontrollably shaking I was embarrassed to realize. Looking up I saw that Sierra was now beside me, on her knees, trying her best to comfort me. A nice gesture, but it just made me feel even more like a woos than I already did.

Taking my wrist, Sierra turned my palm upwards so she could coil the necklace in it. She then wrapped her hands around my own, closing it around the pendant. The woman understood how I felt about my brother, regardless what had transpired.

However, my acceptance of this symbol did not necessarily mean unmitigated forgiveness on my part.

Not yet, anyway.

“Welcome to my world” I said to my daughter, offering up a wan smile but what did it matter?

In less than half a heartbeat I went down for the count.

It was too cute for words, I thought as I watched Collin lying there in bed with my son. Luc had asked permission to go protect Collin. My son understood that for his Da to miss a meal meant that he was must have had a head-throbber, as Collin referred to his headaches. So now my man wasn’t the only one who was slumbering away. My little Member could only keep his six year old eyes open just so long. Into bed Luc had crawled and now Collin was sleeping there with one arm draped over his brother’s son.

You just can’t bring yourself to refer to Luc as Collin’s son, can you Sierra? I chastised myself, biting my lip as I watched my two boys. No matter how you sliced it or diced it, Luc was irrefutably Aidan’s offspring. A double edge sword this was – for us both, I knew, Collin and I. I had never heard Collin recount so many stories of Aidan from their youth spent together as I had after Luc was born, especially the older my son grew. Collin marveled over the way Luc looked just like Aidan had when he had been a boy. Whether this was his own recollections or from having seen photographs I never asked, but I was of a mind it was from memory. Collin never forgot a thing, and certainly never a face.

Quietly backing out of the room, I then gently shut the door. It would do no harm for Luc to sleep with his Da. They each needed the other. That day Luc had had a disturbing glimpse of adult behavior, which was to not tell the whole truth. By omission or otherwise, what we adults did or didn’t tell children for the purpose of sparing them pain was nothing short of a lie.

And so Collin and I had both lied to Luc about his parentage, and by omission. From day one we should have told him, even though he was too young to understand that Collin was not his father. So we fudged the truth by having Luc call Collin Da, not using the word Father. A technicality, that.

What was the hurry, though? I remembered thinking at the time, but as the days passed they went by in the blink of an eye. Besides, the first year or two was fraught with the struggle to bring Collin back to himself. Physically his recovery was swift, but it was rather his soul that had been mortally wounded. So much so to the point I had been greatly troubled when I found out that there had been an unspoken suicide watch on the man. Well, anyone who knew Collin should have understood that being as Irish Catholic as he was, suicide just wasn’t an option. A one way ticket to hell, he would call it.

However, one thing I did know was that nothing was immutable, nothing was static, and so at the time had agreed the suicide watch was probably not such a bad idea. Luck favored the prepared, after all – which once upon a time had been a favorite saying of Collin’s.

And which was also a saying favored by his brother, Aidan.

Who knew what went on in Collin’s mind, not to mention in his heart – but when Luc was born? Little by little Collin worked his way out of his shell, just like a reluctant tortoise. How he took such pride in the child! So the minor detail that he wasn’t Luc’s biological father just kind of got lost in the shuffle.

Greater Good, I supposed one could call it – a flavor all our own in Collin’s self-imposed exile.

And now here it was, Luc’s paternity was staring us right in the face and making demands to be addressed. Come the morning I would have a lot of explaining to do to my young son.

Making my way through the house I returned to the front porch where everyone had gathered after one very civil dinner. Having Collin’s daughter with us complicated things and made me feel downright uncomfortable.

“How’s he doing?” Finney inquired as soon as I emerged from the house into the cooling of the desert night.

“Sleeping away right along with his Attendant” I grumbled. “Did you teach Luc that? To Protect his Uncle?” I interrogated Collin’s cousin as I plopped myself down on the glider next to Eli. Wrapping my arms about me I waited for an answer. The thought of my son becoming an Elite-Assassin or even just an Assassin made me seethe with anger.

“Guilty, I suppose” Finney confirmed but then shrugged. “The lad has natural talent, Sierra – he soaks up Brotherhood Ways like a sponge.”

“You mean, he’s his Father come again, don’t you?” was my complaint followed by a weighted sigh, but the man was right. It was what it was and if there was one thing I understood, then that was you could not deny genetics. “And what on earth are we going to do with you?” I grumbled, glaring at Amanda as I now turned my discontent upon Collin’s daughter.

“Whoa, lass – not so hostile!” was Finney’s harsh reproach, leaning forward in his chair. “Amanda is Family” was his typical Brotherhood reminder and why did that sound like family a capital F?

“Be that as it may, Collin doesn’t need any reminders of just who put him in his present state!” I exclaimed. “No offense, Amanda – but you know what I mean. Collin looks at you and he thinks of Aidan, and when he thinks of Aidan he thinks Order – pretty simple equation there.”

“It wasn’t her, lass – it was the pendant” Finney corrected me and yeah, right again. Collin saw that pendant and then he lost it, but I wasn’t sure the real reason why. Aidan had a pendant just like it, I knew, but what it truly meant between them was still somewhat of a mystery to me. “Amanda was used as a means by which to deliver a message, that’s all – a conveyance Aidan was willing to let go, his niece meaning so much to him.”

“Way back when Aidan had banished Ryan, I wanted to leave The Order” Amanda made known. “Aidan’s not the same man he was, Sierra. I… don’t have any idea what is going on in the Council Chambers of The Order, or with the Council of Priests, but whatever it is, it takes up every second of his time. When I would see Aidan it was brief and always seemed distracted.”

“That doesn’t sound like Aidan” Finney returned, glancing at Eli.

“From what I know of Aidan from his brother, I’d have to agree. I’ve heard enough about Collin’s brother across the years to understand that distraction isn’t the norm for him” Eli made his own contribution and what could I say? The Aidan I knew had a singleness of mind and distraction was no part of that man’s world – or at least, it never had been.

“Well, you guys can go on playing guessing games all you want,” I told them, “but trying to suppose the mind of Aidan is an exercise in futility” I decided and then moved on to matters of a more immediate concern. “This place is too small to accommodate another person, so if Amanda is going to stay, then we need a bigger place.

“I can move to the stable” Collin’s cousin offered but I just brusquely shook my head.

“No, I want you close at hand” I refused, concerned for my son’s safety and an Elite-Assassin in the same house was worth twenty outside. “Eli, do you think you can sweet talk AFA High Command into relocating us?” I asked but the man just held my eyes. “Aw, c’mon, Eli! Don’t make Collin have to go through Eric – you know how he hates that.” With still no response I just mumbled something unladylike and slunk down in my seat. Eli was so like a Member at times it would thoroughly weird me out.

“Did they have a falling out?” Amanda asked, just being nosy, I knew – the woman still loved gossip, it was clear as day.

“Not really – Collin just hates to rack up debt” I complained. Anytime time we needed something, Collin was required to put in a requisition with Colonel-Major Jones. Items which were not considered part of Collin’s pension were put on a tab, and Collin would then have to work it off. This wasn’t what mostly bothered him, though – what did was having to rely on Eric for everything. The Commander-General in Collin died hard, I had to admit – and so relying on a man who used to be subordinate to him took a lot of getting used to for Collin. He still had trouble with it, though, even all these years down the road.

Whelp, I understood that in order for me to get Collin to fill out a req’ form for more spacious accommodations, then I was going to have to give the man some seriously good head. After all, that’s what Collin was at the end of the day – a man and so like any woman worth her weight I would use my feminine ways to get what I wanted.

“Why Collin needs to work at all I don’t understand – he’s well off” the little witch tempted me with a tasty lure.

“How so?” I reflexively rose to the bait, my curiosity getting the better of me, and so Amanda shrugged.

“From what I heard, Collin’s Ledger balance has grown, tremendously” she told us. “Collin’s Asset Manager has done an excellent job for him, investing in his absence. My father could be living the good life, his Ledger balance is so far into the black.”

“Did you spend all your time at The Order eavesdropping?” I put to her, knowing how Aidan disapproved of her doing so. Since she did not answer, I thus had mine. “You know, I am exhausted. You people can sit around and shoot the breeze, but I’m going to bed. Amanda, you can sleep in Luc’s room until we get a bigger place. Our bed has room for Luc in the meantime” I yawned, now getting to my feet.

“Thank you, Sierra,” she said but then added, “I’m sorry to be an imposition.”

“No worries – Luc is thrilled to have a sister” I complained and then briefly ran a hand over my eyes. “I’ll… I’ll sort that out tomorrow. Collin and I need to discuss it first. Luc needed to find out sooner or later about Collin not being his real father. Now’s as good a time as any, I suppose. G’night” I excused myself to everyone and now the men got to their feet, bowing to me, after which I went inside the house.

After washing up I then slipped into bed with my men, snuggling up behind Collin. Just when he had pretty much gotten his life together, our past popped up to haunt him. Being as good with words as Collin was, though, I was certain he would find an eloquent way to set things straight with my son.

As traumatic as the day had been for Collin, it was even more so for me. Dinner had turned to talk of my other children, Kaden and Kiran – and so I soaked up the news like a sponge. However, it was also like a knife being driven up into my heart. How I missed my kids! I thought in dismay. Both were now nine years old, going on ten – I just could not imagine it.

When Amanda whipped out her Palm to show me pictures, it brought tears to my eyes. Kaden looked just like his father – so handsome a boy! And Kiran was tall – having already surpassed her brother in height. She was going to be a heart breaker, no two ways about it – one with long legs it was already obvious. Kiran took after her father in that regard since I was decidedly short.

Both were headstrong, but in different ways, Amanda had told us. Kaden defied Aidan left and right, wanting nothing to do with learning the skills to eventually become an Elite-Assassin like his Father. The young man was far more interested in horses, but had also taken an interest in commerce, of all things. Much to the dismay of Aidan, of course. Kiran, on the other hand, wanted so much to do that which Kaden shunned, but being a woman? Well, she was pretty much shut out of everything Brotherhood. That Arm of The Order did not endorse female Members, after all.

I had a hunch that if things didn’t change in that regard, then one day Kiran would go running off to join The Way where she would be accepted with open arms.

Releasing a weighted sigh as I thought about my twins, Collin now began to stir. I hadn’t meant to wake him but apparently I had done just that.

“Chiquita” he spoke in a hushed voice as he turned over, drawing an arm around me. “Did I miss anything good?”

“Only dinner” I told him with a smile, one made visible by the light of a lantern drifting in through the partially open door.

“Sorry, looks like its a triple-n” he chuckled, our code for what we had dubbed a no-noogie-night.

“Well – for the foreseeable future, too” I was sorry to inform him. “I gave Amanda Luc’s room” I told him, a perfect prelude in asking him to req’ new accommodations for us. He didn’t respond, however, but instead just released a long, low breath. “Well, I’m not kicking Finney out” made clear.

“Why not? He’s Brotherhood” was his poignant reminder. “Members absolutely thrive on the outdoors.”

“Yeah? Well, you’ll just have to fill out a req’ for new quarters” I told him. “Where’s your PDA?” I asked, not having seen the last one Eric had brought him for a long time now. He did have his Palm from The Order, amazingly enough – but he kept that secreted away from my prying eyes. Every so often I would see Collin with his Palm, looking at it in contemplation. As soon as he would notice that I had noticed, then he’d quickly ferret it away. Was it any wonder then that I was worried Members from The Order just might come knocking on our door to demand we hand over Luc? However, I had a hunch that Collin never turned on the device, but rather instead just thought about it.

With no answer from Collin I knew there would be no more talking that night. As I turned over to go to sleep, Collin wrapped his arms around me. Now wasn’t the time to pressure him about a new place to live. We had a more stressful issue to deal with come the morning – that of coming clean with my young son, or at least talk about how we should go about tell him and what we should say.

When I awoke the next morning, Collin was gone, per usual – he was still pretty much an early bird, even after all these years. I didn’t role out of bed until well after the sun was up, but this morning I had a little boy tugging on my arm, and it was barely light outside.

“Ma, c’mon, get up” Luc pestered me and so focusing my bleary eyes I blinked at my little boy.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” I mumbled with a yawn as I turned over.

“I don’t know” was his simple yet disturbing answer and so now I sat bolt upright.

“What do you mean, honey?” I needed clarification, patting the edge of the bed as in invitation to climb up, but he didn’t budge.

“I’m afraid” were the next disturbing words out of his mouth and that was it. I was up and out of bed.

“Where is everyone?” was my next question in the round as I tried to make myself presentable – which meant looking more like a mother and less like a whore. “Did you tell your Da?” I asked but Luc was now adamantly tugging on my arm.

“No – Da went hunting with Uncle Eli and some of the Wardens” he told me. “Uncle Finney’s out front on the porch with Amanda, though.” Ok – there wasn’t anything to be done for Collin, he had protection, but what about me and my son? Finney was only one Elite-Assassin!

Hustling my butt out of the bedroom, I made a beeline for the front porch.

“Finney?” I asked as soon as I emerged. “What’s going on?”

“Good morning, lass – got company coming” he returned, motioning with a wave of his hand for me to sit and feeling weak in the knees I did just that. I prompted my son to hop up beside me on the glider and so he obeyed. Amanda was sitting on the edge of the porch, and the stuck up little witch didn’t bother to greet me, I took note. Then again, she had always viewed me as pond scum anyway.

“Who? Do you know?” was my casual inquiry, trying very hard to not give the appearance of being concerned, but what I really wanted to ask was if it was Aidan.

“Aaron” Collin’s cousin told me and so now I got really freaked out. How the hell could my little boy sense the approach of that Jesuit? All this aside, though, Aaron’s timing was thoroughly bizarre. He was not a regular visitor by any stretch, having popped in to check on Collin only a handful of times, and those visits had all been early on in our exile, as Collin himself had dubbed our existence. We had not heard a peep from this Priest of The Order in so long that I was hoping he had just fallen off the face of the earth – or had gone back to hell which was where I was pretty sure he had come from in the first place.

“Whose Aaron?” Luc now asked, inquiring minds and all he was such a little sponge.

“An old friend of your Da’s” I told him, trying on a smile to go with it but my son wasn’t fooled. He could tell when adults were worried about something. Taking my hand in his, he squeezed it in comfort.

“Don’t worry, Ma – I’ll protect you” my little Member assured me and so I just blinked at him.

“Why do you think I need protection?” I asked before thinking and my son gave a simple, honest answer.

“You’re scared” Luc announced and so now I looked to Finney, who was watching our exchange with great interest, along with Amanda.

“Not really, honey – I’m just not fully awake yet” I fibbed, for I did feel fuzzy in the head from getting woken up out of a sound sleep. My son narrowed his eyes at me though, not buying it, but he knew better than to disagree with his elders. “Why after all these years, I wonder?” I put to Finney who seemed thoroughly nonplussed by our unexpected, and uninvited, guest.

“Brotherhood knows no bounds” was his pat Brotherhood response, of course, one which did not do a whole hell of a lot for me. Amanda, however, was quick to nod in agreement with Finney – but I just narrowed my eyes at her as I bit my tongue, and hard. Otherwise I was going to say something that would most likely start a fight.

“Did Collin know company was coming?” I tested, unsure of what was going down – and Collin could be extremely unpredictable in his logic and reasoning. Not to mention that he could be as tight lipped as any true Member.

“He didn’t lass – at least, not before he left” the Irishman informed me, which made me feel better by some degree. I didn’t want to think that Collin had headed for the hills and left me and my son behind, but it was a possibility. What had happened to him all those years ago, the incident afterwards, brought on by his liberation from Censure carried out by the Hand of The Order. It had profoundly changed Collin, the stigmata event, and had left the man deeply scarred. Both physical and emotional the changes had been and persisted to this day.

Sitting there in silence we waited – and waited. What did the demon do? Stop for breakfast? And when I was about ready to make a less thant polite comment, I could then hear the faint sound of a horse snorting and then a hoof grazing a rock. Blinking like an idiot, I now could not believe my eyes. Rounding the last corner of the goat path, emerging from behind the cover of a huge palo verde tree, was Aaron Michael Gallagher, walking beside a palomino stallion. He was apparently in no great hurry, taking his time. He was carrying his own pack, curiously, and suddenly he reminded me of Aidan. Equines came first – before people, even, and so for the last leg of his journey, Aaron was giving his mount a break.

To think he had come all this way on horseback was interesting for we were truly in the middle of nowhere. Unless he had been down in Copper Canyon, visiting the Blackguard – which was not all that far from our location. For some reason this consideration left me feeling ill at ease. I didn’t want to believe that a man as nice as Antonio Abruzzi would consort with this demon, one who was wrapped up in a good-looking package but Aaron didn’t fool me.

Not in the least.

As the harbinger of doom drew near, he now offered up in greeting a heartfelt smile, one I knew was meant for all present, excepting me. Since the day we had met, Aaron and I rarely exchanged words, but the mutual loathing between us could hardly be ignored.

Finney was now on his feet, stepping off the porch in preparation to greet a fellow Member. One thing I had always thought odd about the priest was that he seemed oblivious to women. Man of God or no, a man was man was a man. Never in all the years I had know him had I caught him casting side glances at me, or any woman for that matter – and it was nearly impossible for your eyes to not be drawn to Collin’s daughter, whether you were a man or a woman. She was one serious knockout.

“Aaron Gallagher!” Finney called out as he got to his feet. “A sight for sore eyes – where have you been all these years?” he wanted to know as the two men now closed the distance between them to share a fierce embrace.

“Righting the wrongs of others, Seamus O’Reilly” the devil’s minion plainly announced, making me want to seriously hurl. I would have been happy to, but since I had yet to eat breakfast, I was adamantly opposed to a bout of dry heaves.

It suddenly came to me, as I watched the two men, that Aaron didn’t seem the list bit surprised to see Amanda.

How curious.

“Sierra, a pleasure to see you again” the wolf in sheep’s clothing now greeted me with a smile – one full of fangs, if he had had them, that was. Bowing to me, he then turned his attention to Amanda. “And what an unexpected surprise to see you, Amanda” he now addressed Collin’s daughter, but she only nodded once – otherwise not inclined to say anything. Although she probably disliked the demon, based on Aidan’s reserve, the woman looked happy to see another Member, at least. “And who have we here? This can’t possibly be Luc, now can it?” Aaron then concentrated on my son, crouching down as he visually inspected the boy.

My son, not forgetting his manners, got up off the glider and then bowed to Aaron. It was so cute to behold – that was, if it hadn’t disturbed me to no end. I had little desire for my son to become Brotherhood, but such was his destiny – like as not and I certainly had no say in the matter. I was just his mother, after all.

“You probably don’t remember me, you were very little when we last met” Aaron spoke in a voice that reminded me, again, of Aidan. Both men had an interesting quality of voice, and I truly believed this was the deadliest weapon in each man’s arsenal.

“I do” my son now surprised us – but how could that possibly be? Luc had barely become a toddler the last time Aaron had paid us a visit. Before the Member could begin his Inquisition, I was up off the glider.

“Honey, why don’t you and Amanda go see if you can find your Da?” I put to my little boy who was clearly reluctant to obey. “Amanda?” I then tried to get Collin’s daughter to back me up, and although she was at first hesitant, the woman then complied. Adult conversation was about to take place and it was not for the ears of a six year old.

“C’mon, Luc – I’ll race you” Amanda told him as she got up, extending a hand, but he was still undecided. Obedience won out, since he knew not to disobey adults, and so my little boy finally gave way and the two made their exit. Not without one last lingering look over his shoulder, of course, before they disappeared around the side of the house.

“He is a very handsome lad, Sierra” Aaron now complimented me as he got to his feet, but my manners had strayed so I didn’t say a thing. “How is Collin faring?” he asked Finney, now getting down to business. I knew Finney’s answer would be way different than mine – after all, I knew Collin in a way his cousin could not, me being a woman, of course. Collin’s insecurities went deeper than Finney could have ever imagined. Insecurities which had become obstacles for Collin, effectively turning a once active and vital man to a pillar of stone.

“If you were truly his friend, then you’d be around more often to know” I offered up my two cents, glaring at him.

“Sierra” Finney scolded me, since I was being rude to our guest, and so now in exasperation I threw my hands up in the air.

“Well it’s the truth!” I was pleased to point out.

“Sierra is right, Finney” the priest surprisingly agreed, effectively shutting me up. There wasn’t much I could say to that, after all. “My prolonged absence was unavoidable, I’m afraid.”

“How did you know where to find us?” I suddenly asked because my family had not exactly been stationary – we had moved several times since Aaron had last paid us a visit.

Disconcertingly, though, the Member did not answer. And I was of the mind that it had nothing to do with him being secretive. Rather instead his Truth would likely be far stranger than fiction.

“Forgive her, Aaron – we don’t often get visitors” Collin’s cousin apologized for me. “Why don’t you go inside and get refreshed while I get your horse settled in, eh?” was his suggestion, which was no suggestion at all because he was already leading away the palomino stallion.

Leaving me there alone with the Beelzebub.

“Uh, yeah – c’mon in” I invited Aaron, albeit with reluctance.

“Thank you” the demon returned, remembering his manners at least, even if mine were still somewhat in remission. Entering the house, I pointed him in the direction of the bathroom then I made my way to the kitchen to wait. Sitting there at the table I tried to reel in my emotions before they could get me into serious trouble. Collin held a great respect for this Member, and he also regarded Aaron as a close personal friend. It would win me no brownie points with Collin should I openly shun Aaron during his visit.

After a few minutes Aaron entered the kitchen and it struck me odd how he never seemed travel worn – a detail I wondered if anyone else had ever noticed. The man could travel one mile or a hundred and have looked no worse for the wear. You would never see him covered in layers of desert dust, and he would not look the least bit fatigued or weary, or even just plain relieved to reach the trail’s end.

“Water?” I now offered, trying to be as polite as possible.

“Yes, Sierra – thank you” the Member accepted with a nod as he now sat down at the table. When I got up to fetch water, I could feel his eyes upon me and so was thoroughly creeped out. “You still don’t like me” was his shrewd observation. I had to bite my tongue, though, to keep myself from saying something that would get me in trouble. Not then, perhaps – but I was sure it would trickle on down to Collin who would take issue if I hadn’t treated his friend with respect.

“Collin has been through a lot – I’m just protective of him is all” I tried to cover as I set the glass of water down in front of him on the table. It was a shame we were all out of strychnine, I thought, and then had to bite my tongue, again – but this time so I would not laugh.

“Then you and I have this much in common, at least” was his sensible Brotherhood determination – but I wasn’t interested. Aidan did not like this Member, and so I knew he must have had a damned good reason why. Not that Collin’s brother ever had shared this with me, of course. However, Aidan would stiffen every time he laid eyes on Aaron; it was impossible not to notice. “When did Amanda come to stay with you?” he now began his interrogation but I wasn’t about to take part. I’d let the men deal with those questions, since I was just a woman and was expected to keep my nose out of their affairs. Business, personal and especially spiritual.

“You should wait for Finney or Collin” I brushed him off as I sat back down, slumping in my chair as I made wary observation of him. “By the way, just an FYI here, but – uh, we still haven’t told Luc” I let him know, needing to make sure he didn’t slip up before I could explain to my son about his Da not being his Father.

The priest had no comment however, which was rather interesting indeed. Something told me he knew everything there was to know about me and my little family – and just how he should come by the knowledge was one question I wanted answered, and in earnest. It was like the priest had a frigging crystal ball.

“All things in due time” was his traditional, noncommittal Brotherhood determination. One which neither voiced approval nor disapproval.

“You know, I’m just gonna sit here and keep my mouth shut” I told the man, Lucifer, or whatever he was.

“That painful to be nice to me, eh?” Aaron now laughed under his breath, and for some reason this sent an icy chill up my spine. Every time I had been in his airspace and we’d lock eyes, I got a sense that Aaron had a shit load full of of secrets he wasn’t telling, with some of the juicier ones being about yours truly.

And so I tended to tread lightly where this Member was concerned.

Thankfully it wasn’t long after that Finney joined us, and then the focus was taken off me. They stayed to safe subjects while they waited for Collin to arrive – and when Collin finally did show up, with Eli in tow, the glee to be seen in Collin’s eyes was undeniable. How he had missed his friend! Now I felt like a bitch because my wish had been that Aaron would stay out of our lives until the end of days.

And preferably even longer than that.

Obviously, mine was a selfish desire – and as I watched the two men engage in a heartfelt embrace, my heart fell right down into the pit of my stomach. Who was I to deny Collin the friendship of this… this… whatever he was?

“Uh, where are Amanda and Luc?” I asked, tugging on Eli’s sleeve.

“Down by the wash” the WardenOps officer told me, lending me his attention for a moment.

“Thanks, Eli – I think I’m gonna go join them” I excused myself, notably faced with zero opposition. The men did all bow to me as I hurriedly made my way out back. Once outside I dried my eyes as I walked down to the wash to sulk. That was normally a happy place for me, since it was where Luc liked to hunt lizards, but this day I just wanted to cry my eyes out.

I sought out a boulder favored by Collin when he was feeling antisocial, which was still, regrettably, a somewhat common occurrence. Apparently my son had the same idea for as I rounded the corner there I saw him and Amanda.

And she was regaling him with stories about life at The Order.

Now I was seeing red. Was she purposely trying to lure my son with tales of The Brotherhood? Had Aidan put her up to this? I knew in my heart, though, that Aidan would never do any such thing.

He’d just show up and do that himself.

“Luc!” I called out, snatching his attention away from his cousin.

“Ma, are you ok?” my son now asked, momentarily putting aside his interest of people and places far away. Taking a deep breath, I nodded in response but he only narrowed his eyes at me – he wasn’t buying it but since he didn’t sense any danger, he let it go.

As I joined the two, I leveled Collin’s daughter a long look of scathing reproach.

“How come we never go anywhere, Ma?” my son wanted to know, asking the first of many questions to come I knew. Finney was schooling Luc in the Brotherhood Tradition, so it was time to see how much my son had learned.

“We can’t afford it, Luc” I told my little boy as I crouched down in front of him, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “Especially now that Amanda is with us – we need a bigger house. Your Da will have to work harder just to procure that for our family.” There. Amanda could not say squat to that, I thought with smug satisfaction – and if she dared bring up Collin’s well-off Brotherhood Ledger I would deck her myself.

“No one can afford to visit us, either?” he was quick to ask in return but then looked to Amanda. “Did it cost you a lot to come here?” and, oh great – I thought in exasperation. The kid had a sharp brain, as sharp as his father – nothing ever got by Aidan either.

“Collin’s brother paid for my passage” she told him and now my jaw hit the ground.

“My Uncle Aidan?” Luc asked, looking back and forth between us.

“Are there Wardens close by?” I turned the questioning right around and so Luc nodded, pointing to the south just on the other side of the wash. Although I couldn’t see them, Luc had really keen senses, just like his father, and could tell when others were present. It was an eerie ability for a boy his age, but as Collin would say, like father, like son. “Honey, I want you to go spend some time with them so I can have a talk with Amanda, ok? Tell them to make sure they have you back at the house by lunch time” I told him, and even though he was unsure, he nodded and then happily went off to join them. He loved spending time with the Wardens, naturally, learning all he could from them.

“Do you make a habit of letting AFA Wardens babysit my cousin?” Amanda dared question my judgment and now I glared at her.

“And you became his mother just when?” I snapped at her. “I don’t give shit why Aidan sent you here, but Luc is my son so you better just back off!” I hissed. “What the hell do you think you are doing anyway? You can’t just start talking to him about The Order, or Aidan for that matter!” To this the woman leveled me one very black look.

“Collin isn’t his father” was her bone of contention, delivered in a low voice, as a reminder that I wasn’t doing the same. Luc’s parentage, though, brought out very strong emotions in me which refused to be quelled.

“Collin and I will tell him when we decide to tell him – not when you think we should” I informed her in a controlled tone. “You just show up here on our doorstep, turning our world upside down, and you want to drag a little boy under the bus along with the rest of us?” I accused her. “For the love of God, Amanda – Luc is only six years old!”

“He is almost seven, Sierra, and one is never too young for the Truth” was her uppity comeback, looking down her nose at me as if I was a commoner. How I wanted to slap the shit out of her!

“I don’t know how many times I need to say it, but we have every intention of telling Luc that Aidan is his Father” I reiterated, striving to keep the volume in check. “You need to keep your nose out of this, Amanda – there’s too much going on right now. Collin and I were going to talk to Luc, today, but now that Aaron has popped up out of nowhere? Telling Luc will just have to take a backseat – whether you like it or not” I told her the way it was, and was also about ready to tell her to if she didn’t like it then I could arrange to have her ass shipped right back to The Order.

“Luc has a right to know he has a brother and sister – not a pair of cousins!” she rolled right over me, not letting it go. “Kaden and Kiran know they have a brother” the woman told me, which wasn’t that much of a shock, I supposed. The Brotherhood was all about Family, after all – but I also had a hunch that Aidan used Luc as a kind of threat to try to keep his headstrong Firstborn son in line. This wouldn’t be so far fetched after hearing Amanda’s accounts of Kaden and Aidan butting heads left and right.

“Are you deaf?” I now just got plain rude. “What Luc is told or not told isn’t up to you to decide. Look, I understand that this is a touchy topic for you, too, because you had been lied to about your parentage” I now tried to commiserate with her. “This thing with Luc is a whole different creature, and for reasons you aren’t aware. And even if you were, you could not even begin to understand the implications. So don’t let your ignorance just up and bite you in the ass, Amanda, because I can assure you – it will.” And with these words spoken, I now turned tail and headed back towards the house, feeling like a caged animal.

Instead of going to the house itself I went to the stable. There I could effectively hide until lunchtime, or until someone came looking for me. Not likely any one would miss me, though – I was pretty much a fifth wheel that day, having been displaced by the arrival of our guests. The timing of which seemed so much a coincidence it was impossible to view it as coincidence. Would Collin be blind to this? Probably – the man hid with his head in the sand most days, and reality, to him, was but a distant dream.

A dream from which, hard as he may try, could not escape – and was suddenly nipping at his heels, and in earnest.