Rise of the Nephilim (17 page)

Jude’s reverie at listening to Leo’s description of life in the ancient Mediterranean regions and the quibbling of the team entrusted with its care was broken by Prometheus’s call to reconvene the proceedings. Disappointed, Jude and the party returned to the central area to meet with the three members of the outcast group.

“We are ready to begin,” Prometheus stated. “If you will follow us, we have a room specially prepared for the parlay.” He took the lead and motioned them to the other side of the stacks. Along the wall of this section of the large vault ran a row of metal and glass doors. Jude looked left and peered inside as they passed, but all he could glimpse through the windows were a smattering of office and laboratory equipment, the uses of which were lost to him. Prometheus stopped near one of the doors and moved aside to allow Hephaestus to open it.

The laboratory displayed a duality of soft white plastic and gleaming chrome that was a testament to its sterility. The central feature of the room was a retrofitted dental chair surrounded by electronic equipment. A knot of wiring snaked from the command center, comprised of a desk with multiple screens situated next to a small bank of computer servers, to a helmet affixed to the head board along with several other miscellaneous sensors.

“Don’t worry,” Hephaestus reassured Jude after spying the apprehension creeping up on the man’s face. “It isn’t as scary as it looks.”

“What is it, exactly?” Jude asked.

“It’s a device I’ve been toying with to help expand human consciousness,” the man replied, as he began booting up the machines around him. “It should temporarily project your mentality onto the universal plane.”

“
Should?
” Eric asked incredulously. “Do you mean you don’t know whether it works or not?”

Hephaestus laughed, “Well, the theory is sound. It’s based off of our own technology, after all, and I’ve manufactured most of the necessary parts myself. The primary unknown is human physiology. It’s so drastically different from our own that a few extrapolations had to be made. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to test it. Eva is the only human that has visited us here, and Leo would destroy me.”

“What do you think, Leo?” Jude looked to his travelling companion to gauge the situation.

Leo laughed and patted Jude’s shoulder. “It’s true. I would. Don’t worry so much about the chair. Hephaestus is a fantastic engineer.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “In fact, he’s one of the Architects.”

Jude gasped and gave Hephaestus a startled look. “Really? Do the other Grigori know that?”

Hephaestus kept performing his checks, but continued to respond, “Not at all. I’ve kept my identity a secret all these millennia, because the last thing I ever wanted was to be worshipped. Our original goal has been misappropriated by zealots, regardless of how good their intentions may have begun. Humans shouldn’t suffer because of our own politics.”

Eric broke out in exasperation, “So you
do
know how to make weapons to fight the Nephilim!”

Hephaestus gave him an annoyed look, “I know you are a soldier, so it’s hard for you to understand, but I am staunchly against propagating weapons of war, especially the ones I know how to build. They would change your world forever or wipe it out completely. We have done well enough in the past keeping them in check while also allowing your kind to pave their own path.”

He finished his diagnostics and gave the machine a fatherly pat, “Now, Mister Sullivan. This procedure is non-invasive. I haven’t anticipated anything in my designs that would cause you any bodily harm, so don’t be afraid. The only other course of action I could recommend is to somehow convince a Grigori emissary to come here and take control of your friend, if Mister Strauss is up for that.”

Behind the auburn-haired scientist, Eric vehemently shook his head. Jude sighed and finally capitulated, allowing himself to be strapped into the chair. The apparatus itself was comfortable enough, thankfully. Jude began to relax, as Leo and Hephaestus methodically attached EEG and EKG sensors to him.

Satisfied with the preparations, Leo stepped back to toy with the displays, while Hephaestus lowered the helmet over Jude’s head. A plastic shield hovered over his eyes; the inner side was covered with LEDs and a mass of unidentifiable circuitry. Hephaestus snapped it in place, and the world plunged into darkness. His only connection to the outside world became his voice and his ears. He opened his mouth to ask what the electronics were for, when he felt the prick of the needle in his jugular and the simultaneous hiss of an injection gun. He gasped, as he felt the foreign liquid being forced into him hit the walls of his veins.

“What the hell was that?” he asked in a panic, struggling against his bonds.

Hephaestus shushed him and squeezed his arm. “It is merely a proprietary blend of sedatives and hallucinogenic compounds I have concocted to aid the process. Just calm yourself and allow the chemicals augment your perception of reality. Leo, please start the program.”

In a few seconds, the LED display behind the visor shimmered to life and began tracing complex fractal patterns in front of his eyes. He swore he could feel the inoculation burning its way through his circulatory system. His salivary glands dried up, turning his tongue into a veritable Sahara. He managed an arid gulp, as the light show began inducing a trance-like state. He felt as if the time between each blink grew longer and longer. The vibrant rainbow of color overloaded his visual sense so much that everything faded to gray, then black.

He was still aware of his surroundings, however, paralyzed and blind as he had become. He could still hear the conversation of the people in the room. He could even pick out each individual voice. Every vibration of the mens’ vocal cords into the bass region of the auditory spectrum felt as if they stretched and kneaded the very fabric of space-time around his head.

Hephaestus’ voice crashed like a cymbal, sending an oscillating wave up Jude’s spine. “It looks like he is ready. Prepare to begin Phase Two. Are you ready, Prometheus?”

“Let’s go ahead and see if this works,” Jude vaguely heard the older man say.

A whirring sound came to life and drowned out all other outside noise. The reverberations in his mind reached a fever pitch, as the contents of his entire brain expanded beyond the confines of his body and wink out of existence.

He slowly gathered the outlying pieces of his consciousness together, reaching critical mass and igniting like a star born from its dusty accretion disc through sheer force of will.  He felt as if he had been placed into sensory deprivation, but his senses seemed to have also melded into one giant indistinguishable wave of input, unbound by the limitations of his physical form. The overwhelming inundation of data almost made him mad.

Focus, Jude.
Something he perceived to be a voice floated out to him through the static.
You can filter out what you need, if you focus on what you want to pull out of the spectrum.

Who are you?
He managed to project out through the ether.

He received an answer.
It is Prometheus. I am right in front of you. Try to see me.

Jude concentrated and worked on isolating the visible spectrum of light to find a foundation to build upon. Slowly, the flash and turmoil around him calmed, and he was able to make out the world around him. He reached out ahead of him with his mind and searched for Prometheus. He detected an amorphous energy signature ahead of him that seemed to pulse in a different manner than the universe around him.
I see you.

Good.
The entity replied.
Follow me closely, and we will meet with the Grigori high council.

What happened to me?
Jude asked.

Prometheus explained.
We are artificially projecting your consciousness into the higher dimensions similar to a hologram. The effect will only last as long as the machinery is running, though, so don’t worry about any ill effects.

Besides going crazy…
Jude thought to himself ruefully.

Thoughts and speech are also indistinguishable in this form.
Prometheus interrupted.
Be mindful of that when we approach the others.

If Jude had had a face, it would have been bright red.
Right… I’ll try to remember that.

Jude soon found he could traverse the fabric of the universe relatively easily in his current state, so he quickly learned how to keep up with Prometheus. As the two travelled, Jude became more and more aware of his surroundings. He could see the Earth coming into focus beneath him. He could hear the roar of the magnetosphere and the solar particles impacting the electromagnetic shield it deployed. He could feel the onslaught of near massless neutrinos, as they penetrated the planet
.
It was as if the universe had been laid open for him.

In what felt like no time at all, the two approached a spot high above the atmosphere, where a conglomeration of shimmering massless bodies similar to Prometheus had collected. Prometheus slowed and began communicating with the assembly in the same sing-song language he had heard Leo and Emily use before. Unlimited by his anatomy, however, the haunting song now sounded like an orchestra playing along all imaginable frequencies. Jude wondered if this way of communication was indigenous to the Grigori, or if they had invented it after their ascension.

The exchange lasted for an indeterminate amount of time. He was having trouble measuring its passage in this form. The conversation eventually switched to English, as Prometheus turned the floor over to him.
This is the human Inanna contacted, Gabriel. He wanted to speak with you himself.

Jude felt the scrutiny of the gathered host on him.
Yes, I was Inanna’s companion. She came alone to help combat the Nephilim threat and died because of it. Neither she nor Emily, her host, deserved that. I know your philosophy or religion, whatever it is to you, doesn’t permit you to get involved directly with the affairs of men, but what will happen if Azazel and his followers subjugate mankind? Won’t that mean you have failed? Your own inaction directly inhibits our development. The world already has some idea of your existence after the attack in Geneva, so the experiment has been tainted, anyway. You don’t have to raise an army, but you can help us fight back. Please, help us fight.

The luminescent entity Prometheus had identified as Gabriel moved closer to Jude.
We understand your concern, human. Inanna was foolish to allow herself to become entangled, but her death at the hands of a heretic is unforgivable. We agree we must intervene this time to maintain balance, even if it means consorting with prodigals like the Aspides.

Prodigals?
Jude countered. He would have been furious, if he had been in his physical body.
They are the ones protecting us! Do you even know one of the Architects is down there?

The chorus erupted at his outburst.

What is the meaning of this?
Gabriel demanded.
How dare you blaspheme so in our presence?

He speaks the truth.
Prometheus interjected.
Our comrade, Hephaestus, has been hiding his true identity all this time. I have protected his identity at his own behest.

This is a lofty claim, Prometheus. This matter will have to be investigated further.
Gabriel transmitted to him frankly.
In the meantime... any that wish to volunteer may do so without consequence. That is all I can offer you at this time.
Gabriel paused for a second, as another Grigori rippled upward from the planet and settled beside him. It sang lowly.
You two need to return to your people, now.
Gabriel warned.
I believe you may have some unwanted visitors soon.

Prometheus shifted, peered downward, and began to move rapidly away from the congregation of Grigori, ignoring Jude. Jude tried to keep up, but his experience with this type of incorporeal mobility made his speed sorely lacking. He watched Prometheus disappear ahead of him toward the surface of the planet, leaving him wondering just what was happening. Suddenly he felt an inexorable tug, as if he were tied to some tether that was being dragged behind a semi-truck. His consciousness once again distorted and twisted as if through a cosmic straw before winking out of existence.

Jude gasped for air and struggled against his restraints. All he wanted was to be free of his helmeted prison and touch the ground again with his own two feet. Alarms were sounding from the monitoring equipment, as he experienced a sudden bout of panicked tachycardia. He was already beginning to feel himself fainting from the stress on his body, as each breath became harder and harder to find.

The high-pitched whine of a set of defibrillator paddles hummed amid the confusion, before he felt their cool metal faces on his chest and side. He braced himself for the shock, as it coursed through his body, causing his back and shoulders to arch involuntarily for a split second. The jolt of electricity was just enough to force his wildly racing heart back into a steady rhythm. Tears of pain stung his eyes, but the haze in his brain cleared, as the influx of sweet oxygen returned to his blood stream.

“Get me out of here,” he coughed weakly. “And get me some water.” Someone was already loosening his straps, and the headgear was being lifted from over his ears. Eric and Eva stood beside him gazing in awe. They looked as if they were afraid to touch or speak to him, lest he break like some fragile porcelain figurine.

“Are you okay?” Eric asked carefully. Leo helped Jude sit up, while Hephaestus packed away the helmet and other equipment. Prometheus was already gone from the room. “Did it work?”

Jude rubbed his chest, where he had been shocked. “I don’t know. I didn’t get a definite answer. I think some of them will decide to help, though, if they deem fit to see past their own pretentious ideals.”

He smacked his dried lips and reached out for the glass of water Artemis brought him. He took a long draught from it and released a satisfied sigh.

“Jeez,” Eric responded in disappointment. “You would think that after three hours, they could have given you something more definite.”

Jude stared at him, incredulous. “What do you mean? It must have been only fifteen to twenty minutes, tops!”

Hephaestus laughed, “Your friend Eric is right, Mister Sullivan. You were on the chair for a while. Adjusting to your new surroundings took much longer than you imagine. Time is also so… different… when you are out there.”

“No kidding,” Jude said. He was glad to be back in his own body. He hadn’t been at all prepared for what he had experienced. He looked around for Prometheus, but his extra-dimensional travel companion was not in the room. He suddenly remembered the warning the representative Grigori had given them. “Hey, Artemis, did Prometheus mention where he was going?”

She shook her head and tilted her head toward the door. “He looked as if he was going to the security room. Why?”

“It was something one of the Grigori said,” he replied. “Maybe it’s nothing. Could you take me there, anyway?”

She gave her consent and waited for him to climb down off of the chair and regain his balance. They walked out of the laboratory and turned to follow the row of doors back the way they had come. The second to the last entryway on the right displayed a small placard, indicating that it was indeed the security room for the small facility. They could see Prometheus inside worrying over a small bank of monitors.

“Is everything alright?” Jude asked cautiously, as they entered.

“Not at all,” Prometheus relayed, his brow furrowed deeply. “I see maybe twenty unidentified intruders just outside our perimeter, and it’s only a matter of time before they find their way in.”

“Damn,” Jude cursed bitterly. “Is there an escape plan?”

“Not anymore,” Prometheus murmured. He pointed at Jude, “You are going to the armory with your companions. It’s one of the most secure locations here. Artemis, take them there and report back to me.”

Artemis gave him a quick salute and pulled Jude back out into the bunker, before he could object.

“Is there any way we can help?” Jude finally protested. “Don’t just toss us into some closet and forget about us!”

Artemis stopped and gave him a long, hard look with her dark eyes. “I know you’ve had some experience fighting Nephilim, Mister Sullivan, but we are in confined quarters. Any attempt to combat them here could mean certain death for you. Please stay back, while we handle the situation.”

Jude relented and allowed himself to be shepherded back to the lab. Artemis gave the others a quick briefing on the situation upon their return. Eric did the same as Jude and jumped at the chance to lend a hand, if needed. Just like she did with Jude, the huntress waved away his offerings, citing the power differential between him and any Nephilim bent on harming him.

She ushered everyone but Hephaestus back to the middle of the vault, where the ornate meeting table resided, and led them down another pathway through the depository. At the end of the path, they came upon another wall of the structure. All Jude saw was a tall display case filled with different types of swords, including a Roman gladius and an Ottoman scimitar. Artemis opened one of the lower doors and fumbled around near the back of a shelf.

After a few seconds, she seemingly found whatever latch she was searching for, because Jude heard an audible click and heard her give a satisfied grunt of approval. He watched in interest, as she easily slid the cabinet to the side. Behind it was a thick metal door with an electronic lock. She quickly punched in a twelve digit code and pushed the door in.

They filed into a room filled from top to bottom with various sized guns and other weapons. Eric automatically hovered over to an MP5K submachine gun and began checking its condition. He looked over at Artemis in defiance. “I may have to stay here, but I’m not going to sit around without a gun in my hand.”

“Fair enough,” she capitulated, as she slung a large shotgun over her shoulder. Its drum magazine looked formidable. She caught Jude staring at it and smiled. “It’s military issue – fully automatic.” She picked up a couple of pistols and slipped them into hip holsters she had strapped on. She tossed another rifle to Leo, who had been discretely donning his own weaponry.

“Leo, you’re going too?” Jude questioned in alarm. “Aren’t you bound to that body?”

“It’s too dangerous!” Eva gasped, as she grabbed his shirt to stop him. “You could be killed!”

Leo cupped his wife’s cheeks with both hands and looked lovingly into her eyes. “I can’t let them get to you, my love, and I can’t abandon my comrades. I still have enough power in this old body to fight.” He gave her a deep kiss for reassurance. “I’ll be right back, I promise.”

He popped a magazine into his assault rifle and nodded his readiness to Artemis. She looked back at Eva, Eric, and Jude. “Don’t open the door until one of us comes to get you. Now, be safe.”

The two hurried out of the armored room. Artemis reset the door, and they hurried to meet up with the other
Aspides
. Eric paced the floor impatiently, while Eva wept quietly in the corner.

“This sucks!” He said with exasperation. “We should be out there on guard duty.”

Jude shrugged and tried to remain hopeful. “Maybe they won’t find us. It seems like the vault is pretty hard to get into, unless you know how.”

As if determined to prove him wrong, a resounding boom echoed across the length of the bunker, loosening bits of dirt and concrete. Jude took a peek outside through a carefully hidden viewing portal, as the pounding continued. He could faintly hear the patter of the
Aspides
running to cover the main entrance and shouting strategy amongst each other.

The banging ended with an explosion accompanied by the sound of twisted metal scraping across the floor. The sound of gunfire erupted upstairs mixed with the screams of the combatants. Eva soft sobs escalated to a wail, as Jude and Eric held tightly to their weapons.