This
is a stand-alone story that fits pretty much anywhere in the Voyage timeline.
Another one of those stories whose origins I cannot explain.
Sharon H
~<<>>~
"I quit," Mike
tossed down a battered and bent halo onto the pristine white desk of the Head
of Operations of Angelic Protection Services, a distinguished looking older
angel known by all as simply Paulie.
Paulie picked up the halo
and tilted it sideways, sighing at the damage. "Mike, this is the fourth
halo in as many weeks. You have to be more careful. Supply is not going to be
happy when you request a replacement," Paulie said sadly.
Mike snorted, most
un-angelically. "I'm not requisitioning another. I told you, I quit. I
can't keep doing this."
"Mike, you can't quit,
you and Ritchie are the best in the Agency. What are the newbies going to think
if one of my top Guardian Angels walks? It's hard enough to recruit as it
is."
But Mike was unconvinced. He
eased himself up on the edge of Paulie's desk and perched on the corner.
"I'm tired of all this, Paulie. Been doing this for what, two hundred
years? They all die sometime. You know how I lost this one? Submarine. BOOM! An
explosion and the whole crew was history. Over a hundred people, good men, just
gone. When I think of all those families—it breaks my heart and I can't keep
doing this. Ritchie feels the same way."
Paulie looked up at the
angel, gazing into Mike’s amber hazel eyes. "He does?" Paulie asked
weakly.
"Sure. Did you know
Ritchie’s charge was the executive officer of that submarine? You gave me the
skipper. Both were lost in that explosion. Ritchie took it hard. The exec was a
nice guy. Ritchie really liked him. The Skipper died trying to save his men.
There just wasn't anything we could do for them. The boiler just blew. It just
happened so fast."
"I know, Mike, listen,
just because you lose a charge doesn't mean you should just up and resign.
Think about it. Think about the Agency. If I lose you and Ritchie I'll have a
devil, I mean, a hard time replacing you. You two are the best. Beside what
would you do? The captain's been your charge for what, thirty five years? Same
thing with Ritchie. Let me hook you up with another Navy man. You should see
the roster, lots of new blood coming in, great opportunities," Paulie was
excited just talking about it. For a second he saw something twinkle in Mike's
eyes but then it was gone.
"Paulie, I want to go
back," he said quietly. Paulie stared.
"No, Mike, you can't
mean that, think about what you're saying!" Paulie exclaimed in horror.
"Paulie, I do know what
I'm saying." Nervously, Mike ran a hand though his dark curly hair.
"He means it, Paulie.
We both do." A second voice chimed in, a voice just a bit deeper than
Mike's.
"Ritchie, no, Rich,
please don't do this. The two of you are the best. I can't lose you, I just
can't," Paulie wailed, covering his face with both hands.
"Paulie, I'm sorry. I'm
with Mike on this. I just can't do this anymore. Two Guardian Angels couldn't
save one submarine."
"But Ritchie,"
Paulie began, only to have the agent hold up a forestalling hand, his blue eyes
brimming with sympathy.
"Paulie, it's already
decided. I'm going back. They've already picked out a family for me."
Ritchie shoved his hands into the back pockets of his white trousers, rocking
back on the heels of his white shoes.
Now the head of operations
stood up, wings flared high in anger. "You already requested a transfer?
You went over my head to the Department of Reincarnation? I'll have your wings
for this!" Paulie shouted. Mike reached over and laid a gentle hand on the
department head's arm.
"We both did, Paulie.
Three months ago. We just didn't have in our hearts to tell you."
Paulie sat down, defeated.
His halo seemed to have a lost a bit it its shine and the broad, powerful wings
seemed to droop in despair. A sad angel is a sad thing indeed.
"Alright you win.
Ritchie, how much longer till you go?" the older angel asked dejectedly.
"The new mother is in
her last month of pregnancy. As soon as she goes in to labor, they'll call me
in. I'm sorry, Paulie, I didn't want it to end like this. The exec was a good
man. He lived well and died bravely, trying to protect his best friend. You
know he and the skipper graduated together? I'd like to be like him, someday.
To look death in the eye and not think of myself. When you're immortal, you
have a different view of things."
"Yes, Ritchie, it's all
in the files. Listen; go on, I'm sure you have paperwork to do. I want your
final report in my desk before the end of the day. I'll put you on suspended
duty until your transfer comes through."
"Thanks Paulie, you're
the best." With that Ritchie spread his elegant white wings and lifted
off, papers and files just barely affected by the back draft of his take off.
Paulie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "What about you? I
suppose you want to go back too?”
"Well, kinda of. See,
Ritchie and I have a plan."
"A plan?" Paulie
repeated weakly.
"Yeah, a plan. See,
they way we figure it, Guardian Angels work so hard, and you've been such a
great boss, we thought we would make it easier on you. Ritchie and I signed up
for the Buddy Program."
Paulie just stared at Mike.
"The Buddy Program? You want to share one Angel?" Reincarnated souls
who signed on with the Buddy Program usually came back reincarnated as
brothers, more often than not as twins. A bond that close joined the two on a
deep level and as a result, only one Guardian Angel needed to be assigned to
the pair. Since the two watched out for each other, it made the assigned
angel's job easier.
"We think it's only
fair, since you'll be short handed. There's just one trick," Mike said.
Paulie arched one bushy
eyebrow. "What's the catch?"
"Since Ritchie got his
family picked out before I decided what I wanted to do, I can't come back as
his brother. I have to wait."
"Since you're so set on
this maybe I can help. If you can't be born into the same family, maybe I can
arrange for you to go to the same school or something? John in the Faith and
Destiny Department owes me a favor."
"Would you, Paulie,
that would be great! Listen I have to get started on my own paperwork, I'll
talk to you later. Thanks again, pal."
Mike jumped off the edge of
the desk, tool two bounding steps and spread his wings. He sailed upwards and
soon vanished into the clouds. Paulie only shook his head as he reached over
and picked up the white and gold phone that suddenly appeared on the edge of
his desk. "Reincarnation please," he said into the receiver. A few
second later the line was picked up.
"Reincarnation."
"David, I need a favor
from you," Paulie began.
"You want the family
name Ritchie’s been assigned to. You want me to pull some strings and get Mike
born into the same family?" David, the head of Reincarnation said.
"Something like
that," replied Paulie.
"Sorry pal, no can do.
Family and Bloodlines already has the family tree on this marked out. There's only
one son born into this family, so unless Mike wants to come back as a girl . .
."
"No, Mike would never
forgive me for that. Since we can't get them into the same family, can we set
them up in the same part of the country so they meet at school or something?"
"Looked into that
already. The problem is that all the births in the Chicago area have already
been taken. The best I can do is a family in Rhode Island."
"Rhode Island!? You've
got to be kidding!!" Paulie exclaimed. This just wasn't his day.
"Don't get you feathers
in a knot, hear me out. If we put Ritchie in Chicago, and Mike in this family
from Rhode Island, we can get John to pair the two of them when they get to
Maryland."
Paulie wrinkled his brow in
confusion. "Maryland? How does Maryland figure into this?
"Didn't they tell you?
They wanted to come back as Navy officers and serve on a submarine together.
That's what made finding a suitable family so hard. Brothers can't serve
together on the same ship anyhow, not since the Sullivans. This is actually the
best solution if they want to serve together under the Buddy Program."
"Well, if that's the
only route we have than do it. Oh, Dave, one more thing,"
"Anything for you
Paulie," Dave replied, his smile clear in his voice.
"What are the family
names? The least I can do is keep up with their families as they grow up."
"Sure thing, Paulie.
Lets see," Paulie could hear the sounds of papers and files rustling.
Finally Dave came back on the line.
"Here we go, Family
names, for Mike and Ritchie, that would be…lets see, Crane and Morton,
respectively."
Paulie grinned. Crane and
Morton. Sounded like a good paring. He hoped things would work out.
Thirty-five years later . . .
A bullet whizzed over Chip
Morton's head, reminding him, as if he had forgotten, that they were no longer
in friendly territory. He glanced over at the dark haired young man, clutching
a rifle in both hands as he squeezed off another shot.
"Come on, we're sitting
ducks here. Can you walk?" Lee Crane asked, casting a worried look down at
Chip. Morton rubbed at his ankle still sore from the fall he had taken a few
moments before.
"I thinks so," the
blond said finally.
"Come on, let me give
you an hand. After this, I'd better get a little more respect from you, as many
times as I've played guardian angel for you on this trip," Crane said with
a twinkle in his amber hazel eyes.
Chip scowled. "Guardian
angel for me? I think you're mistaken buddy. You must be thinking of all the
times I've pulled you six out of the fire."
Lee got an arm around Chip's
shoulders and helped the blond to his feet."My six? Now who's delusional .
. ."
The two friends disappeared
over the ridge, debating the finer points of who saved who and when.
Standing dead center in the
path, a lone Guardian Angel stood, wings spread wide in a defensive posture,
guarding their retreat. Again.
End
srh