Flesh is Weak

The gallows are set and deeds endure

The afternoon sun was beaming onto Bariqiel as he was laying in one of the hospital beds in base. Asia was slowly healing the wounds on the man while I sat on a chair next to him. Bariqiel was tired from the fight and watched me with caution before he winces as Asia begins healing his wing stumps. He turned his face to me before he said gruffly.

"Thank you for the rescue."

A smile smirk crossed my face.

"Glad to help."

Bariqiel winced again before Asia reassured him.

"I'm sorry for the pain but they will get infected if I don't do this. Considering the amount of wounds your lucky to be alive sir angel."

Bariqiel winched again glaring at my smile smirk.

"You really are his son."

My smile smirk grew.

"I am and still find that funny."

Bariqiel wasn't amused but sighed in relief as Asia healed the stumps fully. He leaned backward against his pillow before his square head looked at me.

"Considering I'm not in shackles and your nurse is healing me I should be grateful that your mother is shining through here and not him. How and where is she?"

I looked at him and heard the admiration that Bariqiel had for Nomie.

"She's dead."

Bariqiel blinked at the news. His eyes were fully on me.

"How? If it was him I will."

I shook my head.

"My dad loved her and would never do that it was the Clans. They launched an attack against us when we returned to Japan earlier this year. It killed Mom along with injuring Dad and me."

Bariqiel looked at me for a lie and saw none. Asia was healing another wing when Bariqiel face took on true sorrow.

"She was the one who got Shuri to accept my date request. I'm sorry Alex."

He and my mom must have been close.

"It's alright. You didn't know."

Bariqiel was silent as Asia finally finished healing the man before making her doctor's recommendations.

"You need to rest for a few hours good sir and shouldn't do anything strenuous or you might reopen wounds. I'm sorry I can't do anything about the wings."

Asia looked helpless there while Bariqiel shook his head at Asia.

"You did what you could madam and that's more than enough. Thank you, Holy Maiden."

Asia was pleased to hear her title and I teased her.

"You're going to be famous again Asia. I saw what you posted on DevilTube recently."

Asia humphed.

"I believe that there should be first aid instructions easily available for people if they can't reach a doctor."

I smile smirk.

"I am not contesting that. It's better than what Irina has made. I doubt that many will want to click on a channel about curated Bible verses considering our current user base."

Kuroka had deleted the channel three times until Issari said she would make it safe and non-harmful. That had apparently happened as the channel was still up. Asia was kinder than me on that.

"I am a subscriber of said channel and yet I agree there. You haven't made one yet."

That got a chuckle while Bariqiel was confused by the exchange.

"I'm fifty-fifty on making a channel. I will however subscribe to yours."

Asia shrugged and prepared to leave.

"I appreciate it. I plan to release videos consistently while making them as easy to understand as possible given what I have heard about devil society."

Bariqiel was looking at us like we had been speaking Welsh. I was about to start an explanation for him when my hair suddenly stood up feeling electricity building in the air. Asia felt it too and moved just in time to miss getting hit by the door. Issari was the first person through, and she was trying to calm the second. Akeno was wrath incarnate as electricity danced in her hands as she glared at her father. Bariqiel went wide eyed seeing his daughter and I saw Akeno getting ready to throw a lightning bolt at him. I threw myself in front of Bariqiel just in time to make Akeno hesitate before she growled.

"Move Lex! It's time he gets what he deserves for her!"

I don't move and Issari was begging Akeno to calm down.

"Senpai he's your father! Let him explain…"

Akeno threw Issari out of the way. Issari landed on a bed thankfully and oofed as Akeno powered up a bolt.

"He lost that right when I spent all those years alone on the streets! He never tried to find me or claim me then! He has never cared about us and left her to die to the bastards! Move Lex or else!"

I didn't and glared down my cousin while Bariqiel was gaping like a fish.

"Keno you promised me that you would listen to him."

Akeno growled at me.

"I will do it, Lex!"

I move and grabbed the hand placing it next to my heart. My hair tingled and stood straight up but I continued to stare down Akeno.

"Let him explain or else."

That pissed her off further.

"No you will teach me how to make them and he will tend her grave till the end of time."

My face took on a sneer.

"You never will get that. Kill me now if you want because I'm not ever going to share that. I saved your father from death at said place."

Akeno was ready to embrace her rage. She got ready to power up a bolt and froze when Issari said something.

"Senpai I will leave you if you don't give him a single chance to explain. I love you and if it turns out he didn't do what you told me he did you will regret it for the rest of your life. Please let him explain."

Akeno froze as her purple eyes turned to Issari and they showed how much that hurt.

"Isa."

Issari came over and grabbed Akeno's hand.

"Please do this for me and him. I love you and don't want to do that."

Akeno finally stopped her lightning. Her face shows the hurt.

"Isa please don't."

Issari took over taming holding her waifu. The tension breaks as the two whisper a few things to each other. Akeno looked at the floor, but hints of the rage were still there.

"One chance. That's all."

Bariqiel who had watched this looked at his bed sheets.

"You should have let her do the deed."

That shocked everyone but me as Bariqiel continued.

"I did fail them and deserve death. I left the light of my life and my precious daughter to face them without me there to protect them."

The shame was overwhelming for the man.

"I failed and lived every single day wishing it to be my last. I truly deserve death and if my suffering ends at my daughter's hands for what I did I willingly take it."

Akeno was shocked into silence by the confession. Her wide eyes looked over my shoulder at Bariqiel.

"Why were you not there for mommy and me?"

Bariqiel was silent looking at the edge of the medical bed.

"I left because you tore part of a wing on your favorite stuffed bird that Suzaku gave you the year before and I went to get it repaired."

The blood ran out of Akeno's face hearing that and a memory hit her as Bariqiel continued.

"I was getting us ready to leave Japan to our new home in Australia. I thought I'd be gone for only ten minutes to the local town. When I tried to return, I hit area seals not there before. I had to break my way through and by the time I was done the house was destroyed and Shuri was dead. I searched in desperation for you but couldn't find where you went. When I finally found something and tracked you down to a port nearby I was immediately attacked by Clansmen and Youkai. They chased me off and I tried desperately to get back into the country several more times that day to look for you. Each time I tried they knew exactly where I was. It was only two weeks later that I finally found a way into Japan and started looking again. Your trail was gone by that time and I couldn't stay long. The Clans and Youkai found me quickly each and every time I tried a new search. I tried baby I tried with everything I had! I never could find you after that day!"

Bariqiel was weeping at the end as Akeno looked at her father and trembled. She looked at her hands and now looked ready to break down herself. Issari held her waifu and Akeno finally wept realizing what she had almost done. She pushed past me knocking me to the floor and charged to Bariqiel before engulfing him in a bear hug weeping out in pure shame.

"You didn't leave us because we were weak good for nothings! Oh, I'm so sorry Daddy!"

The two hugged each other and wept together. Issari looked on with Asia and I as the two wept. Akeno snuggled deeper into his arms while still crying.

"I forgive you, Daddy!"

The two kept crying and were joined by Issari hugging her senpai. I was told thank you by Shuri for doing this. Before she entered a machine in the ward right next to them. Baraqiel jumped feeling Shuri while Akeno looked so ashamed at the machine babbling out it as Asia watched in amazement.

"I'm so sorry I wanted to do that to daddy mommy! Forgive me!"

Shuri softly chimed inside the machine and Bariqiel looked at the machine with fervent hope like my dad had his tablet.

"Ri is that you?"

The pure desperation made the machine chime twice. The two stare at the machine with Akeno translating the chimes.

"It's me Bar. I am here now with you both again. You can thank our hero the Omnissiah for this and more."

Bariqiel looked at the machine then me rapidly. Akeno kept crying holding onto her dad while Issari hugged her senpai and her future father-in-law. Asia turned her gaze from the machine to me and whispered to me as I got off the floor and inched toward the door.

"That's why you all believe that machines have spirits. The long dead enter them yet it's not by necromancy. How?"

The scientist in Asia was in full force and I gently pulled her out of the room to explain.

Conner, Paula, Ravel, Kuroka and I discussed our battle plan for Kokabiel. We need to launch this soon and lay the bait. Ravel had asked Paula how many Vanguard Skitarii we had now.

"Fifty with twenty being new recruits who are learning their weapons."

Ravel turned her eye to me and I got the question.

"I have eleven of them ready to go. Six anti-air and five gun/melee servitors."

Ravel did the math as Conner prepared his part.

"I'll release the kill order and everything we have gather on Kokabiel during the upcoming vote. That should be more than enough to get him declared rogue and splinter his party. I will make a hole in his network for you to issue your challenge and your name."

Kuroka started her bit.

"Red and I will extend the scheme to the local area and include cracks to let them in nya."

Ravel continued the math while I do my own part.

"I will call up my devil Skitari to reinforce your men, Paula. I will break up the potential fight on their side and will need you to do the same for your people."

Paula nodded her head and committed.

"We will not cause any problems. I and the others who understand will stamp that notion out of our forces."

Ravel finally came out of her tactical thinking.

"We have twenty thanks to Trina. With servitors and robots, we will have another sixteen. So, we will have a total of eighty seven for our ground forces not from the peerages."

It's nowhere near enough for just his cadre. I ask the Machine God to convince the Shinto to let Kokabiel and his cadre into Japan for the trap. He quickly said they agreed and they would help contain the fight. I give him a thank you before I consider our last problem.

"How many exorcists and mercs does he have left Conner?"

Conner thought that out.

"Less than a hundred."

We can burn through them easily and the hard part will be Freed. We however do have options for reinforcements and its then a light bulb flicked on.

"Conner you said that you have the full code book for Kokabiel's system? Can you modify orders with it?"

The man frowned.

"I can what of it?"

I smile smirk.

"We can possibly send his loyalist cadres against the DMZ while I let slip to the Satans via my dad the announcement that Kokabiel has been declared rogue and the attackers are his."

Conner and the others looked at me with surprise. Ravel had a single blood droplet fall from her nose before she cleared it up as Conner grinned.

"That's cunning. We can easily do that after you reveal yourself and he issues an order as our computers are faster than his."

I smile smirk further as stagnation fucks over someone else for a change. The others close in as we prepare to make the battle plan.

That proto plan was prepared and the time for us to spring it was next week on Monday or Tuesday afternoon. Paula went off to prepare her people and Conner was silent for a moment before he committed something.

"Kala and I will help here."

Ravel continued refining the plan as I nodded my thanks to Conner.

"You don't have to fight if you and Kalawarna don't want to if she gets back in time."

Conner thought that out before he shook his head.

"She will be back soon, and we can do medical stuff. I'll fight if needed but I'd rather not."

I take the support and Conner considered what they can do as Ravel came out of her planning state.

"I will need more skulls for a full view of the area. I would also like one or two operators to give me more eyes for this."

I nod.

"We have a stockpile of them and I'll have our two new rangers help you. I'll ask Rias to have Kiya help Azura this weekend with inventory as I still need to make several new items that Kiryuu convinced me of. Roka."

Kuroka rolled her eyes.

"Let me guess more fake birds nya."

I smirk feeling some of my tension melt away.

"No mice this time."

I explained to them the idea with the bombs. Ravel nodded adding it to the rough plan while Conner grinned toothily as he teased a groaning Kuroka about drones. That teasing continued as the two left the command center leaving Ravel and I alone. I was broken from making my long to do list by the feeling of an arm looping around mine. I looked up into the face of a grinning Ravel. She then pulled me into a gentle kiss that had a smile on it. When we broke my Grand Planner let a lusty look cross her face.

"I promised we would have a bit of fun together Greg. The others agree I should have some time alone with my Red King~"

Ravel then pulled me into another kiss that set the tone for the next hour. When I finally got out of the room I was in a slight haze wearing a goofy grin. Before I blinked away the haze and started on the long list of things I needed to do today.

The sun was shining into the shop class as I entered. Hetvia was standing in front of her five robots and I noticed that Mr. Sparkles now had a deep silver stripe on his chest and back. I raised my eyebrows and Hetvia explained.

"It helps the others see where he is."

Mr. Sparkles said that he would have the robots ready for the trap. I give him a nod.

"Be as brutal as you want to Kokabiel's people. Especially to his likely second who has orange hair and seven wings."

The robots all tweet in acknowledgment before the two veterans begin to tweet at the others making battle plans for them. Hetvia joined them in zero and ones stopping temporarily to tell me.

"The final robot is waiting for you and his partner on the builder. I'll try to have two more made as fast as possible."

Said robot was standing silently as Rias looked up at it with her right hand on the chassis. She was staring at the unlit visor as I came up behind her and put my arm around her. She leaned on me, and turned her sea-green eyes on me. We stood silently together before Rias said something.

"I heard we are getting ready for him."

Her voice was worried and I pull her closer.

"We are."

Rias looked at me before she took my hand.

"I'm not running away from him. I am going to be the one who kills the holy sword user for what he did to Mura."

I really don't want her to do that yet I promised to support her in whatever she wants.

"I will never ever control you, Rias. I'll support you regardless like I said I would."

Rias smiled and patted her robot.

"He won't get me with Aaron helping to protect me."

Said robot slowly woke up and its head turned red like Rias's hair. The robot takes two steps forward before he looks at his new claws and tweets that he will never leave Rias's side on the field of war. Rias hugged her familiar and the robot hugged her back. The three of us stay together till Rias says she needs to make ward stones with Kuroka and Issari. Aaron followed after her with his feet clunking and I feel less worried for my redhead seeing Aaron close by.

More weapons and armor are made in the armory with Shirone on my lap watching me make along with Kiya and Azura. I'm building more power packs for our las guns while Kiya asked me various questions about the weapons displayed on the walls. His eyes settle on a las gun.

"Those are really laser guns?"

I swung making more packs and shrugged.

"They are. You want to learn to shoot?"

Kiya shrugged and he looked at Mittelt's new Exitus rifle.

"Not really but I saw what Rias-chan did with her gun and I will ask her to make a rune like that for my gear."

I swing again and Azura frowned.

"Lasers? How can guns be effective they only shoot a single lead ball at a time?"

Kiya and I looked at the pureblood with dismay as Kiya voiced it.

"That was over a century ago Az. Guns are much more advanced than that now."

Azura was in disbelief as I swung again and said.

"Las guns are even more effective than current guns. They can blow through different types of cover and multiple people if you set them to certain modes. They have no recoil and are easy to learn. You can even overcharge the power pack and turn that into a grenade if your in trouble."

Kiya looked at the guns again while Azura was still in disbelief. I stopped making packs and prepared for chainswords as I glanced at the two pawns.

"Please count every single thing in this room. I need a number on what we have and how much more I have to make this weekend."

The two nodded and then started counting at the robes. Shirone put her tail on my arm as I started quaking continuing to make chainswords. Shirone squeezed tighter and I looked at my kohai. Her yellow eyes looked up at my red and she doesn't back down on her unspoken order. I set the hammer down and Shirone purred in glee as Kiya and Azura counted.

The sun was slowly setting as I walked towards the first of our two prisoners. In the medical ward, Asia was talking amicably with the now awake magician with her robe hood down. I recognized who this person was.

The woman looked from blue eyes beneath long red brown hair towards me, and froze feeling my energy leaking out. She's older than what she is supposed to be. Her face showed a half-Asian and half-Caucasian with a small scar near her nose. Asia wasn't intimidated by the pressure and I put that down to her being the granddaughter of the last Red Dragon Emperor.

"Please lower it Meredith has been nothing but cooperative."

Meredith still shook from the pressure, and I feel her for the threat. I looked at her head and there was no crown. I pull the pressure back slightly but still watch Meredith Ordinton with wary caution.

"Considering that she was helping Kokabeil's likely second in command my caution is warranted Asia."

Meredith flinched looking to her stump then me with new fear. Asia looked me straight in the eye.

"She did so unwillingly and was tricked into working for them. I would eventually like you to teach me how to apply your bionics."

My red looked directly into Asia's green, and it showed how I won't do that for this mage. Asia narrowed her eyes at me while Meredith was trying to make herself smaller.

"You took her arm. Give her a new one."

Asia dragon growled there and after Issari's many I'm not intimidated.

"She is a prisoner and nothing more. I will not help a future threat."

Asia's growls kicked up in frequency and intensity.

"I told you that she was…"

I cut in.

"She might have been but at the same time Asia she could have something that would brainwash you and make you into her greatest advocate. She's a prisoner and nothing more."

Meredith flinched before her blue eyes looked at me whispering loud enough for me to hear.

"How?"

That confirmation made me angrier and that made Asia the same for the other reason. I looked at this threat while Asia was still pissed at the insinuation.

"She is an innocent person who was forced to help them! Are you really that petty because of your knight's injury that you would make up an excuse like that? I thought you better than that!"

I don't have pity for this mage and for Tyrant.

"I'm not that petty. I am simply a pessimist who is beyond paranoid and was proven right here. No bionic until she can answer my questions without lying or attempting what she can do. You're a wonderful person Asia but for true threats I'm not."

Meredith was now tearing up and stopped Asia's next attack.

"He is right to fear me madam nurse. I could have done that to you."

The pure shame that was in Meredith's voice made Asia stop growling. I looked at the magician and saw her unasked question.

"I know because you stand in front of a champion of a god. Do you have Tyrant?"

Asia froze hearing that and Meredith now had her blue eyes on the floor.

"I do."

Asia was horrified by the admission and backed away from Meredith. She was about to apologize for her mistake but I looked at her and shook my head.

"You couldn't have known and you're not his champion. Our shared goal is the protection of the world from anything that threatens it."

Meredith was completely beaten down here.

"I don't use it. I know that means nothing to you now that you know."

I eye her before putting myself between Meredith and Asia.

"You will remain here till I have a cell made for you. Asia please leave."

Asia looked ready to protest for Meredith. Yet Tyrant must be worse here because she fled the room leaving the door slightly open. I caught sight of the castallan that I had mentally summoned outside the room. We are down a robot for the plan because of my mistake and kindness. My glare at Meredith was hard and the woman was silent. Before her eyes looked up into mine as I saw a clearly tortured soul. I was still stone cold and Meredith didn't try to bargain or anything else to make this better for her. I quickly pulled out the anvil making her jump. I made then slapped a new collar on her neck. This one was worse than her former one being a modified psyker collar that was used for executions. Meredith didn't fight me as I snarled at her.

"You try your gear on anyone here that collar will go off and be worse pain than anything you felt from the last one."

The hurt on Meredith's face along with the understanding was equal. I left the room leaving the hand cuffed magician to think on my threat. Outside the room I ordered the castallan to escort Meredith to her new cell when I had it made and to guard her. The robot tweeted in acknowledgment of the orders before taking up position outside the room to keep people away. I saw Asia nearby shaking. Her face was covered by her short hair.

"I'm sorry…."

I stopped her.

"I don't want you to apologize for being a good person Asia. I have restrained her and we will move her to a cell here at base later."

Asia bowed her head before she lifted it again with pure pain on her face.

"It was still not appropriate for me to do that. I had a flashback of the many times with the church when they did the same thing to prisoners. I didn't want that to repeat here since this place and everyone here has been so good to me. I can't help or stop this strange desperate need to help everyone regardless of everything and no one has ever been able to explain why. I hurt every single time that I can't help people."

I now understand how hard this is for Asia as the pain on her face was barely hidden and intense. Asia suddenly looked at me with a face full of hope.

"Does your patron know why I'm like this?"

If there is anyone who deserves answers it's Asia.

"He does. Your grandfather was the Crimson Dragon of Righteousness. You are what he and I call a social dragon because of that. The pain is because of your dragon self-wanting to hoard. Now please tell me why you were so scared of Tyrant in there?"

Asia was amazed at the revelation.

"Tyrants's last wielder was Josef Stalin."

Oh fuck. That revelation left Asia and me silent for a few seconds before she asked to explain her condition. That was done as we moved towards the now official prison area where we were keeping Mirana.

Asia left me halfway through building Meredith's cell promising to speak to Issari soon. That gecko owes me lunch for being her wingman as Asia was now very interested in the other. After the new cell was made along with two others with hard dedicated sensors and knock out devices I prepared to talk with the next prisoner. Mirana was reading a book on her makeshift bed, and she looked at me with her grey eyes over the book top as I entered the cell. We watched each other before I said to her with no uncertainty.

"You say that you and Heaven want peace and that you believe I can bring an end to the Great War. It won't have a chance of being over until Kokabiel is dead. Help us with a battle soon and I will get my father along with the rest of the Satans to push for peace."

Mirana put the book down and was silent before she nodded.

"I will assist you. My experience can help many people if they are willing to listen."

I kept the door open, and Mirana got up off the bed and exited the cell. She and I moved towards the barracks and once there we meet Kuroka. My queen pulled Winter's Touch out of a pocket and gave the sheathed sword back to its owner. Mirana attached the blade to her hip and bowed before I said something.

"Give me your sizes and I'll have armor made for you."

Mirana accepted that and she proceeded to give me said sizes. Mirana then gave a half smile before she entered the barracks. I was considering how we are to place emplacements tomorrow for maximum killing fields and how much power we would need.

Two hours later after making the new power generators the moon is starting to peek through a window nearby. As I was getting ready to head home I stopped hearing a song I know well playing. I turned to it and peeked inside the chapel.

The chapel was packed with people from the Legio sitting on chairs that we had managed to salvage here in the building. I saw nearly the entirety of our human Skitarii members here along with Asia, Mirana, our two fallen next to their partners with their black wings out, three other people, and finally Akeno sitting with Bariqiel near the back of the room. Asia was watching Issari like a hawk and now seemed very down bad by what she saw in the other social dragon. Mirana was silently listening in a corner of the room while watching something with a raised eyebrow. The room was listening to Issari who was behind a podium with her charismatic personality out in full force teaching a lesson about the Machine God and our Cult Mechcanicum.

I amused myself with a thought that Issari was a perverted female Lorgar. I caught sight of what Mirana was watching with several other people. They were looking at Neri and her family in shock. My maid was listening near the front of the room next to her husband with Alaric in her lap. The two adults were looking at the cog with different emotions. It was love for Neri and the beginnings of it for her husband while Alaric was silently bouncing up and down in Neri's lap.

At the back of the classroom near the door Akeno had her arms holding onto Bariqiel's right arm while Bariqiel was looking at Issari and the cog and skull trying to make sense of what he was hearing. I entered silently and took a seat next to Bariqiel who turned his head slightly towards me.

Akeno didn't acknowledge my presence but Bariqiel did.

"This is strange it's like his teachings yet isn't."

We all watched on as Issari continued her lesson.

"We don't have to feel like we are nothing and that everything in our lives is pointless. Each and every one of us is a humble cog that makes some part of reality work as the greatest of blessed machines. It may not be obvious what that role and purpose is but improvement upon oneself often makes that purpose clear. Flesh is and will always be weak in all things, but that weakness like all others life makes or creates for us can be overcome and broken. With each weakness we break and reforge into strength, we take another step closer to the dreams we all thought were once impossible. To the dreams, we once had that we have left behind. All it takes for this is a single choice."

The room was silent for a moment before more of the exorcists joined the faith at that moment with the new believers looking at the cog as if reaching a new revelation. This revelation seeing also included a fallen. The two-winged woman gazed at the cog hard and deeply before tears suddenly started forming. Her blue eyes looked at the symbol and we all witnessed something that had everyone in the room gasping loudly.

On each of the woman's wings, a feather started turning from black to silver before it began to slowly spread. The woman let tears down her face staring at the cog now with pure love while the humans along with Neri and her husband all stared at the growing numbers of silver feathers in awe. Several humans who had been open-minded but not sure about our ideas flipped over to the faith from that alone. Asia and Mirana continued to watch the color changing feathers with Bariquel and Manakel in shock. Issari smiled ultra wide and pointed out to everyone including a now bouncing more than ever Alaric.

"Man is all of us. Regular humans, fallen angels, devils, or the many others on our planet it doesn't matter what we are. We are all the children of humanity who should be working and lifting together in harmony as a machine. Yet also like a machine we can break. In our fights against evil we remove rusted and broken cogs that seek to see our great machines break and fail. We shall not fail. For the machine is immortal so long as we its many cogs protect it from evil."

The room looked at each other contemplating things showing Issari was beyond good at this. The meeting started to break up with Manakel asking questions to our first angel believer while she was smiling wide. People filtered out of the room while I gave a look at Akeno who answered the question.

"I'm sorry for not listening to you Lex. Daddy and I are going to reconnect properly."

Bariqiel broke from looking at the silver feathers and was keen for that before he gruffly said.

"This is the second time I have been near a being like you."

I look at Bariqiel with a cautious eye.

"Being like me?"

Bariqiel looked at the other angels who were leaving the room with their partners then back to the cog before he elaborated.

"A Champion of a deity that heals like you do. I didn't recognize that fact till Akeno told me your story. I am not sure why you both attracted the attention of deities."

Bariqiel went into melancholy.

"He was the greatest person I had ever met here on earth. It was sad when he passed at Fauld totally."

So it was Saint George. I am not surprised given that Bariqiel was almost a great seraph in strength he had to have been around for a while. Bariqiel eyed me again and his square head was now focused on me.

"Many compared him to the son that father always wanted. He wasn't that but he embodied what father stood for."

Wait a minute was he saying that Saint George was this reality's version of Jesus? Akeno reached that conclusion too.

"You knew Jesus!"

Bariqiel smiled shaking his head in fondness.

"He preferred the name Ollanius over that name but yes I did."

Ollanius! I was dumbfounded there while Bariqiel continued with his smile now gone.

"I was there for his death. I tried to help him in that fight yet nothing I nor the other angels there did anything to it. Oll was the only one who could hurt the beast and it was a true tragedy when he passed. Father said after it happened that his path was at its end too early because someone was missing. He didn't elaborate on that and I wondered if Father was dead inside after Oll passed."

Do gods suffer in return losing a champion? Considering that was my main thought while Bariqiel was still in his own sadness.

"I fell because I wanted to utterly destroy the beast that had taken my best friend rather than Michael's plan to preserve it. I was attacked by my former comrades as soon as I fell and then during it something happen that enraged me further. Ascalon was somehow lost by them. It was Oll's sword and a symbol of heaven yet they somehow lost it not even ten minutes after his death. The rage that they would further dishonor the man who was Father's champion and the best warrior of heaven like that made the fight worse before I fled for Grigori. That rage only started going away when I met your mothers. They nursed me back to health after I was injured here in Japan before the ban and both were exactly like Oll. I never liked your father Alex because he was the very thing that had taken Eden away from paragons like your mother and Shuri. After I lost Shuri, Nomie became my light on earth helping me get by. It was because of her that I didn't vote for Kokabiel at the last minute on the council of cadres despite my resentment returning full force thinking I could finally get revenge on Heaven for Oll. That vote is probably why he tried to kill me."

Bariqiel had truly been Ollanius's best friend. I could see why he would have felt that way about the Void Dragon being preserved. That my mom was what held him back from voting for Kokabiel was a miracle. Bariqiel was silent looking at the cog. He continued being silent as Akeno hugged her dad and I ask him.

"Will it be enough to destroy his hopes? Him trying to kill you?"

Bariqiel replied.

"It will be more than enough. He went against his own public stance, trying to interfere in another cadre. Akeno has told me your plan and while I disapprove of it and you both fighting it will draw him in. What do you need me to do?"

I explained to him what our plan was with Bariqiel listening carefully while every so often looking at the cog. Finally Bariqiel left to do his part of the plan while Akeno looked on worried. That worry only went away when Issari came over and hugged Akeno dragon purring. The two prepared to leave for the night only for Asia to jump them near the door. I heard the purrs jump in frequency and talking turning to silence as I continued thinking about the revelations of Ollanius and Tyrant made today.

When I returned home that night with the moon high in the sky peering through the windows here. I was beyond tired and slowly made my way to our bedroom. I crawled into bed past the snoring queens. Just as I was entering the warp I saw Murayama's former hand and that set the tone of my dreams that night.

Sunday morning began with getting Mittelt and having her tinker with the base power generators in the power room while I made said las emplacements. The exact number of of them was decided when Ravel entering the room with a bewildered Trina. The head of my guard was focused on me and the orange sky as the sun was rising behind me thanks to the window I was in front of. Trina was silent and I saw the unasked question.

"Yes, we are topside. The machine you came through can do instant travel between the top and underworld."

Trina didn't understand how but she proved why she was my devil captain.

"Lady Ravel said you have orders for me and my men milord?"

I nod and set down my hammer.

"I have possible orders."

That confused Trina further before I elaborated.

"I am preparing to fight against a dangerous enemy in the Angel of the Stars. He has targeted my betrothed Lady Gremory and thus has earned an eternal enemy in me for that and my top side organization for another reason. I would like you and your men to help in this coming battle."

Trina was beyond confused why I was asking and not demanding. Ravel watched me out of the corner of her eye while Trina voiced the confusion.

"We don't have to help?"

I shake my head.

"As you swore to look after me and mine so I swore to look after you and yours. I won't force your men to fight something you didn't sign up for. I am asking because my levy have that right as warriors to choose to do this."

Ravel was still confused before Trina took on a face of determination.

"My men stand ready to serve the Lord of Iron who gave us back what we long wanted. He who didn't forget us like so many others did! How can we be his Iron Skitarii if we don't help him when he has given nothing but kindness to us and asked so little! We will fight!"

Her declaration was loud and clear. Despite that I still insisted to her.

"Ask each man this question. I don't do what other Lords or Heirs do. I will only take willing volunteers for this fight."

Trina looked me dead in the eyes.

"They will fight for you milord. They and I would follow you wherever and whenever. We would follow you against anything."

That settles it and I half smile.

"I will have you get with Ravel and my alpha prime topside."

Trina was about to say something when Paula entered the room, having been near the door watching.

"I will bring my opposite up to speed. Together despite everything we are we will have One Vision and One Purpose. We will be Iron within and Iron without against his dark star."

Trina was in shock and bewilderment at being this close to an exorcist. Ravel led the two away out of the room while explaining the odds to Trina. Mittelt who had been listening in finally said something when the trio were gone.

"I'll snipe at the fight."

I looked at her in amusement.

"You don't have to. You can help Ravel run skulls and…"

My pawn immediately shot that down.

"I'm helping. You have lived up to your promises to me that I can do whatever I want in your peerage. I want to help on this field too. I owe him payback for abusing my depression."

I take the support.

"I have a new rifle for you. Koriel has been blazing through the last few sections of the reader and we might be able to do a pull at the end of summer."

Mittelt nodded before she and I began our work again.

Putting up emplacements fell to Murayama, Mittelt and I. The three of us were setting up the emplacements on the front side of the school with mechedendrites extending up to the roof as the Skitarii mingled behind us. That was too kind a word with nearly my whole levy of twenty was up here. The only one not here was watching Orthan. The seventeen devils watched the exorcists in distrust in their own group on either side of the courtyard. Several exorcists looked at the bionics with naked longing. Two came over to me and two devils mistook their intention as they moved. They however came go a halt as the lead exorcist man softly asked.

"Can those limbs work for us regular humans too?"

That stopped my devil guards who were dumbstruck by the question. I looked over my shoulder to the humans as Murayama looks my way.

"They can work for anything and anyone that shares the human form."

The answer brought tears from the exorcists before one said desperately.

"Please make one for my uncle monsieur! He was a loyal warrior of the church and lost his leg against vampires. They have given up trying to help him!"

Both sides were silent and watching, including Trina and Paula who were with their second in command. I remember that Vasco was not here to stand up for the exorcists as they were abused and stuffed away to be forgotten after sacrificing everything for the church.

"I will make limbs for the wounded in the covenants that the churches have. Your uncle will get his limb back."

That made the woman weep in pure joy and the man patted her on her back. The woman sniffed away tears before the two turned to look at the devils who had been about to attack them.

"You and the others are welcome to talk with us. We are to be comrades against a corrupt monster and you also serve the Omnissiah."

That broke the ice that had formed as the devils looked at the humans and vice versa. I tell my devil people as I install another emplacement.

"At some point today make your way to the infirmary here for the flesh back above the limb. You don't have to be here if you don't want to. I will not think less of brave warriors if they don't want to fight here."

The devils were silent upon learning this. Before the regular forces truly began mixing with one another as a devil woman moved to talk to the human woman who had begged for her uncle. Murayama scooted near me as the two of us finished putting up this emplacement. She whispered in my ear that the Queens wanted me to be with them tonight. I told her I will try to be there. Murayama sighed softly before she kissed my cheek going back to her next emplacement.

In the command center that afternoon Kiya and Azura are standing besides Rias as they gave me the final tally of our armory.

"Three hundred armors and robe sets, two hundred las guns, sixty of the boltguns and a thousand bolts, one hundred fifty swords, one hundred mice bombs, three hundred power packs, and two hundred grenades."

Ravel noted that tally down on her cogitator. Kiya was ready to fight.

"I'm ready Rias-chan! I can fight on the front line and…."

Rias cut in kindly for her pawn.

"You can fight in the back Kiya-kun. You made multiple mistakes when we sparred yesterday. You are ok with a sword but not good enough to fight a six winged fallen in melee. Shoot with your bow and that's all."

Kiya was let down by that.

"I just want to help Rias-chan. We need everyone here for this and I want to show you I'm not a waste of pawns."

Rias left her cogitator, and she pulled her pawn away as the two started talking quietly. The count was more than I had hoped for and I wouldn't have to do a massive amount of building on Monday. Rias and Kiya break up from their talk before Rias came over to give me a kiss.

"Kiya-kun and I will be sparring for the rest of the day. I'll see you tonight Greg"

I returned the kiss and was not worried.

"He has a good senpai. I'll see you tonight, Ria."

Rias smiled and moved toward the door. Kiya got ready to follow after her. Yet he stopped and then grabbed a startled Azura. The pureblood yelped as she was dragged by Kiya who promised to help her training on a sword and speed.

Ravel and I glance at each other amused at the two before we talked about the current version of our battle plan.

After two hours of planning Ravel practically kicked me out of the room to study terrain allowing me to go to the armory to make gear. I again passed the Chapel of the Machine God and saw something unusual.

Inside the chapel was all of my levy topside crowded around Neri who was holding a happy Alaric. I heard the devils asking multiple questions to my maid with each one answered by her with her pink eyes up and not bowed. The questions continue coming and Neri replied to the final one.

"We are all equally important cogs in reality. This lesson taught to me by him and the deity I now follow is not the first. The first lesson was that flesh is weak. We each can overcome that and it takes faith to make that first step. There is never pain with him and I love that I have this now."

The nineteen devils were silent. They looked at their returned limbs, Alaric's leg and then to the cog and skull before they returned to asking questions to Neri about our Cult Mechcanicum. I silently left them to finish my task.

It was only after nine thirty and I was beyond hurting from making more packs, bolt shells, and bomb mice that I was found by Murayama. She shook her head before dragging me home. Inside our room I lay with the queens around me as we all relaxed on the bed. Laying there with them made me worry that we would lose this. I will lose these wonderful people that had repaired a broken me. That worry and fear followed me into the warp despite them being there.

That night I again had another dream about the alien. I watch helplessly from a hanging cage as beaten people are marched up the ramps of starships in chains by the Slauth. This ghastly parade continued unopposed before I heard something that made my blood chill from several gleeful Slauth underneath my cage. They said they had finally found a perfect farm world for their race. This knowledge made me pale in horror before a bell was wrung Then the scene changed to show the bound and gagged queens being devoured one by one whole by an extra large Slauth who was always grinning in mockery. That image replayed itself over and over again before my eyes until the early morning hours.

Monday morning began for an exhausted me with a meeting in the cafeteria. They eyed me across the table and I asked starting us off.

"It went well?"

Baraqiel nodded slightly.

"We quashed the coup attempt in my cadre quickly and kept my survival secret."

Baraqiel was gruff this morning.

"I have held my people back on attacking Kokabiel and his cadre with the promise of vengeance through you. We will be ready to help you in the fight. You are sure servants of the Shinto won't attack us when we show up to help?"

I nod while enjoying a rare donut.

"You will be left alone as my deity and the Shinto are close. How many do you have?"

Baraqiel looked and shrugged.

"We have a hundred fifty now after the coup. Of those thirty are two-winged, a hundred are four or six-winged and my second with nineteen others are eight. We are however all veterans of the Great War."

I jotted that down on a cogitator for Ravel while Bariqiel enjoyed a coffee that Maéva had given him. At other tables were humans, devil, or the former fallen woman who I learned was named Valoel eating or chatting happily with each other. Valoel and her girlfriend were talking up a devil woman with teal hair who was blushing furiously at their table. All the while Mirana watched this from a corner of the room. Bariqiel was silent before he asked me something.

"This Noosphere. Are we fallen allowed on it?"

I drank my own coffee and then shrugged.

"As long as you're not hurting the devil or human users yes. You want a cogitator?"

Bariqiel softened his face seeing something. I looked that way to see Akeno, Issari and Asia enjoying food together. The trio were smiles and extremely close and I could hear purrs from over here. Bariqiel finally answered my question.

"I would like one. I have missed too much of my little girl's life and I want to get to know her again. She told me about her thing on this Noosphere and I want to show her I care. The dragon is a problem I intend to solve soon."

I felt lightning flow in Bariqiel's hand, and I shrugged.

"She's like me too. She does love Keno and the harem is theirs not just Issari's."

That stopped Bariqiel. He looked at Issari and Akeno happy together and he sighed.

"I will try with her."

I did warn Bariqiel.

"Make sure your people are wearing the badge. I don't want us to kill them by accident while in the heat of battle."

Bariqiel sighed again.

"We will put the badge on our shields. You really think that you can get him and Heaven to end the Great War?"

Considering everything and that the Machine God had finished the minor points of the Brave Saint system on Saturday.

"I believe so. We only need one more thing on the devil's side. Got to love noble family rivalries."

Bariqiel frowned.

"What do you need there?"

I take a drink of coffee.

"Unless you have dirt or something else on the Uvalls I don't think you can help."

Bariqiel snorted.

"What sort of thing are you looking for?"

My eyes fell on four newly arrived people. Rias, Ravel, Shirone and Murayama. They saw me and were collecting up food at the food counter manned by Maéva, Neri, and the two rangers.

"Something that will make them vote for the New Kings Faction permanently or even just for one vote."

Bariqiel grew smug.

"Just inform the head of the family you can get his family's house sword back."

That made me blink owlishly while Bariqiel now was very smug.

"I have the sword. A legacy of my prior head. She took the sword during one of the many battles of the Great War."

That could be it.

"What do you want for the sword?"

The answer was easy to see.

"I want to know what Akeno is like now so I can be the father I should have been in the last decade."

We were joined by the four with Shirone taking my lap and the others my sides, Rias on my left with Murayama next to her and Ravel on my right. I bumped Rias when she was here and explained the situation to her. Rias eagerly began telling Bariqiel about her queen now and I tell Ravel about the sword. Shirone continued sitting on my lap with her tail wrapping around my waist before she started eating as another person joined our table. Xenovia sat next to Ravel and her face was pure hope with a smile smirk that I like. I caught Irina taking a seat next Issari along with Kiba and the five started talking. A look between Ravel and Xenovia was made before Ravel whispered to me.

"Yes or no on her Greg?"

I give her a counter whisper having thought this over.

"She gets a chance."

Ravel nodded to me and Xenovia. The smile that crossed Xenovia's face built something between us and she it seems has her pet name for me.

"My Beloved."

I wanted to deny that name but Xenovia smiling so beautifully and not being her normal ice queen self stopped my protest. It instead led me to ask.

"May I see them?"

Xenovia brightened and extended her hand to mine. I take it and that showed me the possible future for the two of us.

That view of them for the first time showed my possible son and daughter standing to the left in front of a massive red palace with an older elegant and beautiful Xenovia. Cesario was almost a pure copy of me eyes and all. The only thing from Xenovia that Cesario had was a single stripe of blue hair over his right eye. My possible son wore Martian red robes that had silver mixed in them with the emblem of an unknown place over his heart. His face showed he was beyond proud of himself for whatever it was he had done with his sin clear to see. Luana was so different from her brother. She had Xenovia's hair and mine mixed together on a woman that was clearly a knight pilot based on her clothes. Her eyes were a mixed red-brown and she too was beyond proud of whatever she had done showing the sin again.

I understand now why Xenovia loved these two possibilities. As I gaze at the sight Cesario suddenly became clearer and then focused on me. He smiled wider than ever and winked at me. Before returning to his prior proud stance.

I looked again at the palace behind them to see a massive family with the queens at the back of the crowd overlooking a huge horde of blurry-faced young adults. They are all looking at me with pride and love. Many were wearing the robes of tech-priests while others like Luana wore military uniforms or combat robes. One of my kids was wearing what looked like it an old-fashioned naval uniform of red complete with a goofy feathered hat and a mechanical parrot on their shoulder.

I have so many questions about all of them but I remember that this is only one possible future and it's not guaranteed. Yet the pride and love that was sent my way by the crowd followed me as the vision broke.

Xenovia let go of my hand and the two of us looked at each other. Only a few seconds had passed and I gave her a committed nod before she beamed wider and started eagerly chatting with Shirone. Rias was still talking to Bariquel who was taking notes while Ravel takes my other hand whispering in my ear.

"We want you to spend most of today with us. Just in case."

Her blue eyes told me she understood if I didn't do that as I told her softly.

"I will do four more hours here with extra rounds and packs then I'll be there."

That pleased Ravel and she squeezed my hand. Bariqiel finished talking to Rias then engaged me in talks for a cogitator and then to refine his part of the battle plan. Ravel, Rias, Bariqiel and I spent the rest of breakfast discussing that plan before Bariqiel left to prepare his cadre.

My four hours of work were spent making as many power packs and bolter shells for our forces as possible. I was preparing to leave the armory when I received a text. It was Jeanne telling me that they had cleared Portugal and Spain along with the lower half of France. The trio of rangers were moving to the northern half of the country.

On the way to the teleporter, I passed the gym and glanced inside the room. Inside Paula and Trina were both discussing things under the last basketball hoop with their seconds like they were long-lost friends. Paula would every so often glance toward a large group of her veterans who were practicing firing bolters with dummy bolts. Trina would do the same to the center of the gym where the veteran human Skitarii not doing that were sparring with Trina's original people and a surprise. Trina had somehow convinced fifteen more former veterans to join the newly expanded guard yesterday. Despite the wary glances these devils would give the humans there was no resentment or anger from either side of the Vanguard. At the back of the gym was a small group of the few new human recruits we had gotten yesterday with Mirana giving tips to them in swordplay. Mirana gently corrected two trainees on their sword grips before she moved to the next lesson.

This sight killed some of my doubts before I continued on my way home

At the house I caught sight through the kitchen of Maéva and Neri sewing together something on the dining room table. Alaric was sitting on his mom's lap eating fruit while he watched them. My eyes fell on my biggest fan, and I thought of the world Kokabiel wants. One with mountains of bodies that include children like Alaric. I picture those piles of bodies rotting away as flies rose to the sky unending. So much was at stake if we failed. Yet I would die a million times before that happened and my determination grew again.

With this thought I moved towards the stairs. I caught sight of Katase and Thoron on the other side of the kitchen talking to each other while holding hands and grinning. As I approached the stairs and glanced at our workout room to see Kiya and Azura. Azura was watching Kiya intently as he was lifting weights while she was on a treadmill. There was a bright red blush on Azura's face watching Kiya it grew bigger when Kiya lowered his current weights huffing out.

"Iron within Iron without."

He raised the weights again with Azura now ultra red but running faster and more determined. I turned from the workout room and looked to the right.

In the living room was Issari and three of her four. They were all enjoying a movie together with Kiba on the left, Akeno on the right Issari in the middle and Irina sitting on Issari's lap leaning against her chest. The quartet continued watching their movie and I saw Asia enter the room from the back entrance to the family room. The nurse sat on Kiba's right and that promotes a growl from Issari. That makes Kiba blush red before Asia teased him further with her own growl. Akeno joined in on teasing the blonde as his blush grew worse along with Irina.

At the top of the stairs I caught sight of Hetvia, Kiryuu and Mittelt all talking about something at the entrance to the library. They were deep in whatever that talk was and didn't notice me as I passed them. It was at the end of the hallway at my door that I heard hushed voices.

I opened the door to see everyone from the queens waiting for me on our bed. They all looked my way before smiles crossed their faces. Those smiles and the belief in them that we would win settled my final doubts. I moved to the bed and joined the five of them for these moments of peace before tomorrow.

On Friday evening at a manor house of the Baels, an unexpected thing happened. The head maid who was doing inventory for the manor discovered that they were short several Phenex tears. This discovery prompted a now badly panicking maid to quickly order more or there would be hell to pay for her should the Lord and or worse the Great King learned this.

The seller arrived at the manor within the hour and sold the tears to that maid before she was quickly pushed off the manor's doorstep. Despite the pureblood's clear hatred of her, this seller walked down the cobblestone path with a spring in her step and a happy smile on her face. The pawn had been given no time limit for this job or any of the others she had been given as her new king continued to prove to be the complete opposite of her prior one. The sound of leaves rustling from the forest surrounding the manor made her stop and listen to them.

This noise brought back old happy memories of youth with her family as they enjoyed nature together. Those memories made this pawn decide to make a detour. She slipped off the stone path and onto a well-worn forest trail. As she walked deeper into the forest the wind in the trees continued to make its melody. It was only when she was passing by an old rundown hunting lodge that she heard something that broke this noise. She heard a faint noise that sounded like a voice. This pawn followed it in curiosity before close to a cracked window on the structure she stumbled upon a gathering inside. As she drew closer the low rumble of voices inside dimmed before another voice began to tell a story.

This story and its results left the gathering and the pawn in awed silence. In the growing shadows of the trees Mira finally faced the question she had been putting off. As she thought about what the apparition had said she suddenly reached a revelation. It came down to and was only ever about choice. Gregor Astaroth and his deity had chosen to protect them. Now because of one choice she and the others now could once again make hundreds of choices long denied to them by Riser and Yunabella. This includes giving Mira the choice to deny them forever if she wants. She didn't owe them or anyone else anything just as they hadn't them or this person.

Mira at that moment found her answer. She would choose to be like their hero. She would choose to believe fully in him along with his and now her God because it was her choice made by her free will. Mira felt a warm blanket-like feeling surround her along with hearing a pipe organ playing the beginning of a song in her ears. It was with that feeling and that sound that Mira entered the run-down building scaring the gathered people.

They got ready to run from the intruder only to freeze as they made a declaration to the room.

"I follow the Machine God and Omnissiah in all things. Just as I will follow you who is their speaker who has shown me multiple new truths."

The intruder was looking at something while saying this. The gathering glanced at it to before the once-silent room exploded with noise. A chant started as the landslide picked up speed once more as purpose was found at last again for many.

Over the next three days the new speaker made it to multiple other shadow gatherings across two territories as Mira was making tear sales to the nobility. At each well-hidden gathering the speaker told her tale to them. The gatherings of reincarnated believers and a few iron-limbed veterans new to the groups listen to this tale in wonder.

At the end of the tale the speaker made a proclamation to each of the gatherings. She told them that the Omnissiah was fighting for a new future for the world and all who shared it. Yet he could not make or win this future alone as all people great and small powerful and not were needed. This future he fought for would be one of eternal light. An always expanding tide of never-ending dreams old and new reaching up to the stars and eventually beyond them. This vision of that future and the miracle tale burned white hot and brightly in the hearts and minds of the gatherings. It helped the speaker be accepted by more and more groups as their new leader. The gatherings started folding themselves into this new forming cult.

This Cult of the Cog.