Kharma stood in front of the enormous window in the living room of her San Francisco penthouse. It was just two short days since her appearance on the battlefield and she'd fully expected to hear from her brother.

He had not disappointed. He'd been yelling at her for the better part of an hour while she'd watched the lights blink on all over the city.

Finally, she turned to face him. "Michael, just stop. If you had a heart, your blood pressure would be through the roof." Then, just to be a brat, she gave him the pouty face he had never been able to resist.

It worked and he pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry, sis. I'm just worried about you. Father has given you an impossible task and you seem determined to make it even harder," his melodic voice surrounded her and, as she always did when in the presence of her oldest brother, she relaxed.

"You know I had to do something outrageous to get his attention. It's the only language he understands."

"But to hand him a defeat in a battle that he would have won without your intervention, and then to challenge him? In front of his generals and the Northern King?" Michael shook his head and sighed.

"I have to do something, Michael. Lucifer is on a self-destructive path! He's doing everything he can to bring about the prophecy." Kharma felt the frustration well up in her again. She'd had this same argument with her Father. They were His creations, after all. You'd think he'd want to give them more of a chance.

"It's going to happen one way or another -- sooner or later. It's been spoken and the Second Coming cannot be stopped."

"What about free will, Michael? If Lucifer is orchestrating all of this, manipulating the movements of the Kings, how is that not interfering with the prophecy?"

Michael stilled, and she felt satisfaction. It was the same argument that she presented to Father, which is why she'd been allowed this opportunity.

"But, Kharma... you know Luci will be furious. Best case scenario he'll walk away and continue his path."

"And worst case?"

Michael's countenance fell and he couldn't meet her eyes. "He'll hurt you... maybe even destroy you like Uriel."

The pain that shot through her at the mention of Uriel was intense. That event had caused a split amongst the heavenly hosts, and resulted in nearly half of them being cast from their Home, including Kharma herself. She had played a part by taking Uriel's flaming sword and his necklace, thereby making him vulnerable. But she had never thought Uriel would die... she'd just wanted him to be brought down a peg. Of all the brothers, he was the most arrogant and had been especially dismissive of her.

When Luci had brought his sword down on Uri, Heaven filled with a light so blinding that every angel had been flattened. A roar filled the air and when she'd finally looked up it was to see Father holding the destroyed body of her brother. Lucifer was stunned and crawled forward, only to have Father flick his hand in his direction.

That flick had hurtled every creature who'd helped Luci in his plans straight to earth.

Kharma straightened and threw her shoulders back. It had taken her several millennia to gain Father's forgiveness, a privilege that Lucifer would never experience. It had turned him against her, but she was sure that it was no where near the level of animosity he'd had towards Uri.

"That would never happen, Michael. Lucifer may be angry with me for repairing my relationship with Father, but to permanently destroy me? He knows he could never live with that."

"Kharma... don't you see that punishing himself through extreme acts is the exact goal right now? Why else would he be trying to bring about Armageddon?" Michael put his hands on Kharma's shoulders and pinned her with those chocolate brown eyes. "He'll be cast into the fire for a thousand years once he's successful. Please... don't underestimate his desire for self-destruction."

Kharma bit her lip and felt just a moment's hesitation. Yahweh had warned her that she was on her own -- that he would not send protection. Even Michael was only here to warn her, he wouldn't be able to protect her from the potential consequences of facing down her most volatile brother.

But he was also the brother she knew best, one she'd studied for nearly seven thousand years now.

Returning the stare, Kharma flashed her most confident smile at Michael. "As always, Michael, you and Father underestimate me.  You forget that Luci and I were always the closest. From the moment I was spoken into existence, we were inseparable. While the rest of you ignored and dismissed us, we walked all of Creation together, sharing our deepest thoughts and desires."

Kharma began pacing around the room, touching various artifacts and pieces of art - each a gift from Luci. "We know each what'll make each other angry, what'll make us laugh..." she picked up a small sculpture and sighed at the memories it brought. "I know his favorite smells, sounds, and tastes."

"What does all that have to do with stopping his plans for World War III?"

Kharma chuckled as she sat the figurine back down. "Because, of all the things I know about Luci, I know the one thing he can never turn down... a wager with his little sis."