SOMEWHERE IN HEAVEN

Diane looked at the silver angel sword. It felt heavier than normal as she gripped the hilt. Gabriel was currently in a meeting with Archon about something he'd come up with and was currently getting him to walk over to where she was currently at.

The door opened and the two men walked through. Archon spotted her and in that exact moment, Gabriel ran out and sealed the door.

The Archangel let out a dry laugh.

"So," Archon said, "this was your plan all along."

"No," Diane replied. "It was Gabriel."

"And you went along with him?"

"He threatened a mortal's life."

There was nothing said as the two looked at each other.

"It doesn't have to be like this," Diane said. "I don't want to do this."

"Then why'd you remember?"

"I-I'm sorry?"

Archon thrashed his arm and pointed at her.

"Everything was fine until you started poking about! I was doing a brilliant job and then, suddenly we're on Red Alert because of you! You made me look like a fool!"

"How'd I do that?!"

"Because I was the one who took your memories!" Archon confessed. "And when you started remembering, all the angels in the other Buildings started taking notes and telling me what a horrible job I did!"

"And how's you doing a crap job my fault?!"

Then, his words sunk in.

"Y-You're the one who erased my memories?"

"Yes," he said, stating as if it was something she didn't know (which she hadn't).

The sword suddenly felt lighter.

She laughed. Archon looked at her, confused.

"What's so funny?"

"It's just..." She shook her head. "Two thousand years. Gone."

"That was the whole point."

"So you keep saying," Diane said. "But you know what, while studying the different mortals I'd sometimes see Strategists walk amongst them, studying them. And their energy is...different. Strategists are not Archangels, but they're not lower-rank angels either."

"Until now," Archon added. "I'm the first Archangel Strategist."

"Exactly," Diane said.

"I beg your pardon?"

"See, Strategists may not be Archangels...but their power is right below them."

"I don't understand. Why are you telling me this?"

Diane smirked. Not the kind of playful smirk she'd given Cal. It was the kind of smirk that told Archon she had something up her sleeve.

"I've been told countless times that my memory has been wiped. But you know what I haven't heard?"

Archon watched as the angel sword she held changed color. It was no longer sterling silver, but pure gold.

"How did you do that?" he asked.

"My powers," Diane said. "No one ever said anything about whether or not my powers were taken away."

Archon quickly formed a sword for himself as Diane charged. Both swords clashed. A brutal, sharp sound was heard throughout the room.

"You do realize that the golden sword is a myth right?!" Archon said. "Gold swords don't kill Archangels."

A surge of energy bubbled within Diane. The angel used it to blast him back. The Archangel fell to the ground and looked at her, stunned.

"Well then," she said, twirling the sword, "guess we'll find out then."

⤠⤟

Michael burst out of the office he was being kept in. He ran around the various hallways until he saw Gabriel, who looked terrified.

"Brother!"

Michael threw him against the wall.

"Where is Diane?!"

"They're preoccupied at the moment."

"GABRIEL!" The Archangel's voice boomed.

"They're in the room with Archon."

Michael's eyes widened. He pushed his brother away and ran toward the angel.

The Archangel had failed them once, he could not fail them again.

⤠⤟

There was nothing but the sounds of pure pain. Diane and Archon had been going back and forth. Blasting each other to the walls. Throwing physical punches. Archon had sliced Diane's arm. The angel bled for the first time. She cried out and kicked him in the leg. She'd gotten a few good hits at Archon. At this point, both were releasing all their hatred and rage toward each other.

It wasn't exactly a fair fight with him being an Archangel. He overpowered the angel, but only a bit. She could hold her own.

The two angelic beings continued to fight until Diane had finally had enough. The plan was to get close enough, form a dagger, and stab him in the middle of his chest, where the Core was.

Every Archangel had a core. It's what made them, them. Their sole purpose. The reason for their very being.

Diane wanted to make sure it perished by surviving the battle.

At this point, Michael had figured out where they were and unsealed the door. He watched as Diane and Archon hashed it out. He materialized a sword of his own and joined the fight.

"Michael?!"

"Michael!!!"

"Shut up!" he told them both. He dragged his sword in between theirs and pushed them apart. Their swords fell to the ground.

"Look at you two! Is this really what it's come to?! Fighting to the death?!"

Diane didn't know how to reply, and judging by the looks of Archon, he didn't know how to either.

"Look. Let's just think about this first."

"You're right," Archon agreed. Michael sighed in relief.

"Thought about it and I've already made up my mind!"

He pushed the other Archangel aside and lunged toward her, picking up his sword. In a split second, Michael came to a decision. He grabbed the fallen golden sword and lunged forward.

Diane stared wide-eyed at the scene.

Archon stopped and looked at his chest. There was a pool of blood seeping through his white vest.

Michael pushed the sword deeper until it hit the Archangel's core.

No sounds were made but Archon's mouth opened as a white light shined through it. A loud boom was heard and Archon was no more. Michael dropped the golden sword and looked at Diane. She was just as shocked as he was.

"Did I just...?" Michael couldn't find the words.

"No," Diane said, firmly. She picked up the sword and stood up straight. "I did."

His face fell.

"Diane—"

"It's okay Michael," Diane told him. "You did nothing wrong."

He shook his head.

"Michael, you did nothing wrong. I did this," she repeated.

Michael finally understood what she meant.

"Yes," he said. "You're right."

A few moments later, Gabriel opened the door.

"Has it been done yet?"

Michael and Diane glanced at each other.

Diane held up the sword.

"Yes."

⤠⤟

Cal was worried. It'd been a little less than an hour since Diane had left. But the Jedi Knight couldn't help but ponder if the angel had gone through with it.

"Relax kid," Greez said, coaxing him. "Grab some seat, she'll turn up."

Cere and Merrin said nothing and watched the redhead ruffle his hair out of stress.

"Diane!" he yelled. "Where are you?!"

"Right here."

Greez and Cal were startled. If Merrin and Cere were, then they didn't show it. Cal noticed that the sword was gone, and Diane looked much happier.

"Did you...?"

Diane saw as the light in his eyes started to dim. She shook her head. Technically it was true but as far as Heaven was concerned, she was deemed the 'Archangel Killer'.

"So," she said, changing the subject. "Where to next, Cal Kestis?"

He smiled and walked up to the holotable. Every planet came into view and he beckoned her to join him. She walked over and stood beside him, staring at the planets with admiration. BD joined them and hopped from Cal's shoulder to Diane's.

"You tell me," he said. "Anywhere in space, where do you wanna go, angel?"

Diane looked at him and smirked.

END OF PART ONE