Fallen 1: Berlin

Chapter VII: The Enemy's Face

"Sage!" Someone called out Sage's name above the somber melody of the Ash Pub as she entered the warm cavern and let her eyes dart across the space in front of her. There were few people in the Pub but it was early. Some were having what looked like dinner while others just sat around with their drinks amidst their conversations.

Sage turned to the bar area where Austin, one of her friends, was waving at her. Sage smiled and waved back as she made her way through the sitting area to the bar. Her eyes widened when she noticed that her friends were overly dressed for the pub. When she got home, she went for a quick shower and got herself comfortable in a pair of jeans, a black blouse and some low-heel shoes. She tamed her stubborn locks into some form of bun and applied a little makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes and the stress lines on her forehead. 

"Finally, she shows up." Austin got up and went to hug, Sage. He smelled so heavenly that Sage wanted to remain there forever. When he moved back, he touched her cheek and frowned. "You look like you've been through a lot."

Drat! The cosmetics lady assured Sage that the makeup kit she bought could even conceal the darkest soul. 

Sage gave Austin the biggest grin she could master and said. "I have some good news!"

"Hey, love." Martine came forward and placed a kiss on her cheek. "We've missed you." She said as she made puppy eyes and pouted at Sage while she rubbed Sage's shoulders lovingly. "Robert, that ass-wipe, has been working you to the bone."

"Y'all know my situation. It's not like I could walk away." Sage said as Phoebe reached for the tumbler of beer and handed it to her.

"We were planning on raiding Robert's office and kidnapping you for the week." She wiggled her eyebrows at me. "How are you holding up anyway?"

Sage sighed as she accepted the tumbler while everyone went back to their stools and turned to her like she were the special of the day. She grinned at her friends excitedly and said. "I have a new job."

"What!" they all exclaimed at the same time.

That was followed by a string of questions bombarding Sage backwards and forward until she had to yell out. "One at a time?"

"Did you quit?" Phoebe asked her and Sage was not even given a chance to answer when Austin asked.

"Where do you work now?"

"I--" Sage started but Martine quickly asked.

"How did Robert take it?" 

"Hold up!" Sage held her hands out and when they all kept quiet, she started answering the questions. "I didn't quit, I was scouted."

Martine and Austin looked at each other because they knew a lot about scouting talent.

"Then you must have made quite the impression." Martine laughed as she sipped her wine.

Sage gave a pensive nod as she recalled the incidences that attracted Berlin's attention. "Yeah, I poured coffee and whipped cream on his very expensive car then after that he saved me from getting brain damage. I completely mind-boggled him." 

Austin choked on his beer. "What? Robert tried to abuse you again? I thought we talked about this?"

Austin was very protective of Sage. Right after Sage started working for Robert and she didn't know that he threw things across the room, he once struck her with a file on her arm and it left a mark. Sage recalled going out that night with her friends and Austin noticed it. He was ready to go to the police and get him arrested but Sage knew how rich Robert was and he would have bought his freedom then make the rest of her life a living nightmare. Austin then made Sage promise that the next time something like that happened, she would come to him and they would find a way to make Robert pay. 

"I am no longer working for him, remember?" Sage assured the angry Austin, quickly patting his hand to try and calm him down.

"Well..." Martine suddenly mused as she played with her drink. "If you are free of Robert then that means he is game." She turned to Austin and they exchanged knowing smiles.

"None of you are doing anything to Robert!" Sage suddenly announced then sighed and said. "I barely came out of there unscathed. I'd like to keep my skin intact, thank you very much."

"You're no fun." Martine sulked but she let it go. "So, where are you now?"

Excitement buzzed within Sage's body as she started describing her new office. Her friends were in awe because they all knew about the GB group and none of them ever thought of working there.

"So, the boss of GB group scouted you himself?" Phoebe blinked at Sage in surprise. "And now you are working there?"

Sage nodded. "They have amazing facilities."

"Congratulations, Sage! I am so happy for you." Martine pulled her into a tight hug that threatened to cut off her air supply.

Sage grinned as Austin picked up his drink and made a toast. "To new beginnings and better working environment."

"New beginnings and better working environment!" Sage, Phoebe and Martine agreed as they toasted.

"So, why are you three dressed up like you are going somewhere afterwards." Sage asked her friends and she saw that Phoebe even applied makeup that day. 

Martine dug into her clutch bag and produced a small ticket. "Because we are. Some hot shot professor is in town and one of our agency's artist is performing in the afterparty. I got you access as well." She handed Sage the ticket and Sage's eyes almost rolled out. Martine and Austin were in the entertainment industry and their agencies, though rivals, were quite popular in the city. They had good artists that were known across the globe. 

"Martine! Why didn't you tell me earlier? I would have dressed up too."

Martine cringed lightly. "I have seen your wardrobe girl and nope, none of your clothes would do..." She reached from the black bag beside her and handed it to Sage. "The afterparty starts at midnight, so we have plenty of time to turn you into a princess before then." 

"Martine..." Sage's eyes softened as she looked up at her friend.

Martine rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Don't do that, Sage..." Sage couldn't help it but pull Martine into a hug. "Oh, come on, Sage. We are best friends and we have always been here for you. If it weren't for your stubborn ass, you would have been better off a long time ago. You just had to have it your way, huh?"

Sage grinned up at her. "I needed to do this on my own and I knew you cheered me on silently but I'm am grateful for your silent presence in my life."

"We love you, Sage. We are always going to be here for you no matter what." Austin hugged them from behind and placed a kiss on Sage's and Martine's foreheads.

"I love you guys!" Phoebe threw herself in the mix and the four of them chuckled happily together as the night blazed on.

                                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How is the scenery up there, Kerry?" Berlin talked on his earpiece as he walked beside Professor Dorian towards the hall where everyone was meeting for the after-party after the fancy dinner. Any other person who saw them together would think they were friends enjoying a good conversation but Berlin was there to make sure that no one was murdered that night. He read the controversial articles various groups wrote on the papers and the internet. A lot of people were against what the professor was doing. Some even took to the streets to protest and vandalized the front of the hotel where the professor was residing. Berlin didn't expect anything less because this was a life-changing action...and at the back of his mind, he couldn't help but think that it was the reason why War was there in the city. 

"Everything is clear, sir." Kerry's voice came through.

"Giles, how are the perimeters?" Berlin contacted the next agent.

"The perimeters are clear, sir." Giles said.

Berlin gave a nod and turned to Professor Dorian. "I hope you got what you wanted to achieve in my city, professor."

Professor Dorian smiled tightly and said. "It is a working process but I feel I am in a lot more danger than I was last week. Do you know how many pharmaceutical companies have contacted me in the last two weeks in order to capitalize on this? Not to mention all the death threats I have been receiving via email. Some even called me the messenger of death!"

Berlin smiled grimly. Oh, people didn't know a messenger of death even if they met him in the streets! His name was War and he was loitering in the around the city posing as a human, calculating and perfecting the grandest exit for mankind. "It will not come to that."

"I wish you would protect me for the rest of my days. You are far more than your reputation, Berlin." The professor said and when Berlin looked up at him, there was a light there in his eyes that told Berlin that the professor was scared for his life.

There must have been something that happened this time because Berlin was sure this was not the first time the professor was given death-threats. He stopped and asked him. "What have you seen?"

The professor dismissed Berlin's concern with the wave of his hand. "Nothing to be concerned about--" Berlin touched the professor's hand to stop him from moving forward towards the doors where the after party was taking place.

"It is my job to be concerned. Now, you need to tell me what has happened." Berlin said. 

The professor sighed and rubbed his hand across his face. "When I was in the army, there was a fellow scientist that worked with me in various projects, including this one of the vaccination. Our objective in the beginning was to end human suffering but that was when I realized that power could make you do things out of character. It just so happened that during the tests, somehow the vaccination enhanced several abilities in the human body. I knew the component that made them this way and quickly wrote a report to eliminate the component from the vaccine. However my fellow scientist thought to capitalize on this by weaponizing the vaccination. Instead of making a vaccine, he thought to make an ability enhancer. I tried to oppose but was kicked out of the place, shipped back home and no longer had the military support for my work."

Berlin's eyes widened. "Then what happen?"

"I mean, if you recall the accident in the north where over a hundred soldiers were killed in a supposed 'ambush', that was no ambush. That..." The professor looked around then lowered his voice. "That was where the experiments were first done and the subjects developed all sorts of abilities. However the abilities were too much for them and so many of them went insane and started killing each other. An order from above was issued and the entire laboratory was bombed. Everyone died including all the scientists of that project. No one was allowed to ask questions because if you did, you would wake up dead the next morning.

"However, last night, I received an email from the scientist who was presumed dead in that ambush and he asked to meet with me because there is some information that he has and wants to share with me." The professor sighed and said. "I don't know if it is a trap or if it is true but one thing is for sure, it is a very dangerous game they are playing."      

Berlin could smell a trap a mile away. Through out his existence on earth, Berlin had jumped from one form of security or military program to the other and he had seen all there was to see. If what the professor was telling him was true then someone was looking for that particular component the professor was able to remove from the vaccinate and render it de-weaponized. If he was the only one who knew what it was, this meant he could be a target to the people who would want to create this invaluable serum that could alter the humans' DNA and make them superhuman. 

Berlin wondered if this was what the Power foresaw in the humans' future and that was the reason why they needed to be eradicated. Berlin had seen very intelligent beings across the galaxies with technology advancements that would baffle anyone. Humans were very intelligent as well but they lacked focus and greed for power blinded them from the bigger picture. Because they couldn't trust each other with the knowledge, their technological advancements and knowledge were fragmented and lacked detail. If only they were able to put the greed aside and work together, they would have advanced a lot more. 

"How many of you knew about the component?" Berlin asked him.

"We all knew about it but only I knew how to eliminate it or return it to its original strand." The professor replied. 

"It's a trap." Berlin assured the professor. "If you get there, they would either kill you and torture you for the information about the component you removed from the vaccination."

The professor nodded rigorously. "That much I thought but...I can't help but think that may be it is also a warning. If powerful people get a hold of that project, they would be unstoppable."

"Not without you." Berlin assured him. "If they can't have you, they'll eliminate you."

Berlin was not the person to deter away from his plans but if what the professor was saying had any truth in it then there could be a power struggle that was yet to take place. Berlin hated being powerless because when he was in the elite team, he had the full blueprint of everything in his mind. Now, all he could do was connect the dots very slowly. What the professor was saying could very well be the reason why War was the first horseman to be brought by power. This meant that the vaccination was not yet a threat or else, Conquest would have arrived first. 

"Power struggle." That was definitely it. Berlin was sure of it. It was the first clue as to why War was there in the city.

Everything flared from within Berlin as he felt the presence of the spoken about male somewhere in the sea of people in front of them as they entered the hall of the after-party. Berlin's senses expanded, the tendrils slithering across the room trying to pinpoint where War was and why he was there. Berlin did a quick scanning of the people inside. Most of them were businessmen and scientists. Some came with their husbands and wives. There were far too many people in that hall for War to try anything. After all, he was still anchored to the Power's authority. He couldn't act on his own until a command was issued. 

If War, that meant one thing....

"Professor Dorian Knightley..." A voice drawled behind Berlin and the Professor and Berlin felt a hot flash got through him as he turned to the emerald eyed male standing with his hands clasped behind them. He was in a clean expensive tux that made him stand out.  

He gave Berlin a full grin but his eyes were grim, dark and calculating. Berlin knew this male because he was in the second elite platoon of guardians. He was always second best to Berlin and his troop but now that Berlin was out of the way, he took their position.

"Hello, I don't think we have met." The professor looked at the male who chuckled softly.

"Call me Seoul." He said as he extended his hand towards the professor. "I am Berlin's acquaintance."

Berlin didn't expect anything less from the Power. Seoul, also known as Angelus, was the best there was in the Skies. He had a troop that adapted well in whatever situation they found themselves in. One side of Berlin's mouth quirked up. However, they were never as good as his team. Angelus must have been thrilled to take Berlin's place as the elite team. Unfortunately it was on temporary basis. Berlin was going to claim back his reputation. 

"It's been a while, Seoul." Berlin said tightly.

"It's been too long. I see you are doing quite well for yourself." Seoul's eyes ran up and down Berlin's body then he smirked. "Lost a little bit of weight I see."

"Gained it in muscle mass instead." Berlin said sarcastically. 

Seoul hummed lightly and turned to the professor. "Congratulations on your seminar, Professor. It was indeed informative--" He reached the breast pocket of his jacket and produced a card. "My employer is very interested in your work and would like to speak to you about...long-term investments."

Berlin felt a growl emanating from the pits of his stomach but someone touched his arm and his guardian went berserk within him. He was surprised he could contain all that power inside without alerting the humans surrounding him. Though he was not as powerful as War and Seoul at that moment because of losing his position, his wings and his weapons, the power he had was still enough to leave a crater on earth. 

"Stay out this, Maxiel." The second person said.

War.

Berlin turned to him and he had a grim look on his face.

Berlin wanted to punch something because he knew the protocol. If he wanted to return home, one day, he needed to stay away from War, Angelus and his troop. 

Berlin gritted his teeth as he took a step back and allowed Angelus to walk away with the professor. He turned to War and shook away his hand. "You are mobilizing the power struggle, aren't you. It is the reason why you are here and not your sister."

War took one of the wine glasses from the passing waiter and sipped it lightly. "I told you to stay out of this, Maxiel. If you stand in my way again..." His eyes flashed with fire that snapped and crackled. "I will destroy you."

Berlin smirked. "You could try but I'd hate to disappoint you. The last thing I want right now is to send you back to the Skies broken and bloody."

War drained his wine glass and placed it on one of the cocktail tables. "You've always been quite the bully, Maxiel. I can't wait for the day you are put in your place." He sighed and straightened his jacket then smiled as he laid his eyes on something he liked. "Excuse me while I go and entice the apple of my eye tonight."

Berlin rolled his eyes as War brushed past him through the crowd towards the stage where there was a singer entertaining the people with his impressive tones. Berlin turned to see War making his way towards a woman in a pretty royal blue dress. Her head was bobbing lightly to the live music and on one hand she held a champagne flute while the fingers on her other hand lightly tapped on the table to the music. 

Berlin never took War as the social type but this was a sight to see. War moved around the woman and must have said something interesting because the woman's head shook in a chuckle. He extended out his hand to her and when she accepted, War placed a kiss on her knuckles before his eyes snapped up and caught Berlin's.

Berlin became concerned because he knew the look War had. He had seen it a million times to know that he was on to something. As he escorted the woman towards the dancefloor, Berlin caught sight of her face.

"f*****g hell..." he found himself muttering in dread.

War escorted Sage to the dancefloor and wrapped one arm around her slim waist as he pulled her close to him. War was a charmer, add the celestial effects he had and Sage had nowhere to escape. Berlin watched helplessly as War enticed Sage, making her laugh and giggle as she danced with him. She was the envy of the dancefloor, everyone else watching them and contemplating on how perfect War look. 

The saying was true, death always came wearing a brand suit. No one knew what fate had install for them and how the soldier carrying out that fate was right in front of their noses. However, even amidst all that confusion, Berlin couldn't help but see how beautiful Sage looked that evening in her dress. She looked happier, something he didn't see when she accidentally poured coffee on his windshield or when she was almost struck down by a box file. 

Berlin gritted his teeth, caught between following Angelus to find out why he wanted to speak to the professor or marching to that dancefloor and break Sage away from the male who would be responsible of the extinction of her race. 

He needed Nebraska, Bucharest, Cairo and Ottawa to learn of the new platoon that had taken residence in his city and they needed to know the soonest.