Page 9 of Metatron

“Hell has become aware of your planet’s existence and is coming to strip it of its resources.”

“Like you.”

“Hardly.”

“You just said you were going to harvest souls.” Stated with finger quotes.

“What we do won’t harm the planet, unlike Hell, which will literally take everything; mineral, animal, water.”

“In other words, they want to start the apocalypse, which is why you’ve come seeking Templars because you need us to fight the forces of evil.”

“Actually, we’ll need to recruit as much of humanity as possible to fight back. Although, ideally, your planet will have the means to nullify the risk before Hell arrives.”

“Where is it supposed to show up? Is Hell tunneling its way up in only one area or many?” I imagined a machine boring through the earth to the surface, releasing a torrent of fiery demons.

“Hell will be in the spiral arm of your galaxy shortly. Soon, it will be visible by your telescopes.”

“Wait, Hell is an asteroid?” Duh, kind of made sense if Heaven was in space. Still… super unexpected at the same time.

“Perhaps, at one time, it began as a rock, but over time, it has evolved into something much larger than that. The more planets it devours, the more immense it becomes, making it ponderous but mighty.”

“Damn, that’s a lot to take in,” I muttered, planting my hands on my hips and chewing my lower lip. “Guess I’d better start brushing up on my Bible passages, which appear to have left quite a few bits out. Like the fact angels came from space. Are you an alien?” Would he smite me for asking? Guess we’d find out.

His lips twisted. “By your world’s definition, yes.”

“But you’re also known as angels because you’ve been here before. People remembered you and gave your kind a name.”

“They didn’t give it to us,” he replied, his tone frosty. “We’ve always been angels.”

Testy, testy. I continued with my questions. After all, my agnostic side demanded it. “I’ve seen the pictures. God’s angels have white wings. Those who’ve fallen are usually gray or black. I’ve never heard or seen them teal-colored.”

Disdain curled his mouth. “Ah yes, because humanity all share the same color of skin and hair.”

I pursed my lips at his rebuke even as I continued questioning. “You said Heaven isn’t nearby. If that’s the case, how do souls get to it when they die?”

“They haven’t. Not yet at any rate. Somehow after the seeding, your planet got forgotten, its shepherds lost. Given the number of disciples who died, the suul has accumulated so much it made Eden the most valuable deposit I’ve ever seen.”

“In other words, Earth is swimming in the souls of dead people.” My nose wrinkled. “Kind of gross.”

“Suul is a valuable resource used by God for creation.”

His choice of words struck me. “As in an actual god who makes stuff?”

“Do you repeat everything people say?”

I’d never wanted to slap someone more. “I’m going to guess that the moment you realized we were a fountain of souls you notified this god.”

“It is my duty to report at regular intervals and if we come across anything of interest. A lost flock would count.”

His choice of words caused me to bristle. “We are not sheep.”

“The correct term is disciples.”

“But not everyone believes in your god. Some worship many.”

“There is only one. How can you be a Templar and not know that?” he accused, and I had to admit, “I never really believed in the religion part of being a knight. I am dedicated to making sure the monsters can’t hurt anyone.”

“At least at your core, your cause remains noble, making you suitable for the task ahead.” A begrudging admission.

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