To dance among falling stars
Michael stood, staring out at the darkened sky, watching the storm clouds gather. It was going to be a terrible night to be out, and he was certain that he would remember it, but he couldn't figure out why. He looked down at his wrist, looking for his watch, but was surprised by what he found. Funny black lines were snaking out beneath his skin, coiling, and moving of their own accord. he pulled his shirt off, seeing the lines snake around, moving beneath his skin and coursing through his entire body. He stared into the mirror, watching in horror.

the lines rippled and started to form artistic patterns, things he'd never conceived of before, but felt perfectly natural. The patterns finished their weaving, and then he felt the hottest pain he'd ever felt in his life. The lines burned their way through his skin, crawling to get to the outside, almost screaming to reach the surface of his skin. The agony burned through for nearly an hour and then the pain was gone. He was horrified to look at the mirror and see the lines stil finsihing their work, but he didn't feel the pain from it.

He felt the pain shift to conscious awareness, he kenw it was happening but he seemed to just be disregarding the pain. He finally felt the awareness cease, and he realized that the lines had finished their work and had carved his skin into intricate patterns of designed he couldn't begin to fathom. He didn't like where this was going, and he wasn't truly sure what it was. Lightning flashed outside, and in that flash of lightning he saw a man standing on the ground outside with similar markings running the course of his body, but his were inked in color, and he was older, much older.

The flash ended and michael rushed outside to talk to the man, but he was gone. Michael looked for nearly ten minutes before he went back inside. His head throbbed, and then ceased, the pain shifting almost instantly to an awareness, yet not a pain. He smiled at himself in the mirror, pulling his shirt back on and crawling into bed.
It would all be gone tomorrow ...

To dance among falling stars
Michael went home, and was gently surprised by the absence of both Peter and John. He was alone and it was time to sleep. He laid down in his bed, unsure of what to think of the day. Peter couldn't be a killer, not the Peter he knew, his best friend. This day was not getting any easier, and he was sure tomorrow was going to be harder. His days always seemed to be like that...
He pulled his shirt off, sliding into his bed quietly, pulling the covers over his face and relaxing into slumber. He smiled to himself as he started sleeping.

He woke up standing in the middle of a garden, a bright place that felt like he was standing on the top of a mountain, the air was so thin. There were two people milling about, taking care of the plants. They were beautiful plants, things he'd never seen before. He walked over to a flowerbed, bending over and smelling the flowers. It was such a vibrant, sweet smell, something he'd never smelled anything quite like. Now he was sure he wasn't making any sense, as the garden around him started spinning. the last thing he saw was a man in a white suit standing over him, shaking his head sadly.

He awoke again inside a small room, with the man in the white suit standing over him. The man helped him sit up and sat down next to him.

"Where am i?" Michael asked.

"That's a complicated question."

"No, it's really not..."

"Well, your body is asleep in its bed in your apartment. Your mind is drifting in the endless immaterium of dreams, but your soul is what matters, and it's in a very special place, a place where not many of the people from your world can go."

"Where am I?" He asked again forcefully.

"You are in the house of dreams. The home of the Creator and his orders. I am Ashrem, Knight of Friends and keeper of the Black Gate. You have all ready met my brother Abbodai, the Knight of Sorcery and the Keeper of the White Gate."

"Who knighted you?"

"The Creator knighted me a very long time ago."

"How long?"

"I came into service about the middle of your bronze age."

"How?"

"I was leading an army in my home and i found the way to the celestial armory and there i met the Creator, there i took my vows of service and joined his army, leading mine to victory and ensuring peace for my world for an age. And i rode out with his knights during the second age of my world toddo battle for good once more."

"How can you live so long?"

"Those bonded knights who serve the Creator are tied to his essence, bouynd to him from the moment they take their vows to the day they are slain in combat. We CAN die, but age or infirmity will not claim us."

"Why am i here?"

"Glad to see you found your way to the important question my young friend. You have been selected for this age to be the Lord Commander of the Earth, master of its celestial armies and Keeper of its Gate."

"Huh?"

"It pains me, but your world is coming into darkness, and the world as it stands will not survive that storm, so the Creator has started to dispatch his people to your world, and has started awakening old alliances and friendships in order to make sure that your world does not fall into the lingering darkness. You have been chosen to protect your world as the master of its armies."

"This isn't possible."

"Which part of it isn't possible?"

"All of it!"

"Very well, but your world will fall without a leader." And the man in the white suit stood, walking from the room. Michael awoke in a cold sweat, unsure of where he was, or what was going on around him....

To dance among falling stars
MIchael stared at her..trying to figure out where she fit into everything. The dream kept flashing in the back of his mind, and now this information about Peter. Peter couldn't be a killer, it wasn't something Michael would accept...something he could not accept. He stood, turning away from her.

"Michael, what's wrong?"

"I can't believe that Peter did this. It's not possible. The person who did this must have looked like Pete, but it can't be him. I've known him forever."

"Have you ever seen his hands?"

Michael turned, looking at her. "No, he's never taken his gloves off around me and i have never pried into the accident."

"Then you haven't seen the bones."

"What are you talking about?"

"Indeed, what are you talking about?" A third voice added quietly. Both Michael and Jenna turned to look at the man, Jenna visibly backing away. He was tall, broad shouldered and smiling, the long coat hanging from his shoulders, covering his frame.

"Sir, i don't believe this conversation belongs to you."

"Fair enough, Michael, i acquiesce to your request for my departure." The man turned, the coat swirling around him.

"How did you know my name?" Michael asked as an afterthought.

"For me to answer that question is to invite me to stay."

"But..."

Jenna leaned over to him. "You have to make him go away. He was at my parents funeral with Peter and another man, they seemed to be talking about something. I couldn't get close enough to hear what was going on."

"So, do i stay or do i go?"

"You stay, for now..."

"Very well then." The man sat down across from the two of them, Jenna having pulled in close to Michael for support. She was definitely on the verge of freaking out.

"My name is Abbodai."

"Abbodai? What kind of name is Abbodai?"

"Abbodai is the name i was given a very long time ago by a person who pulled me out of a very nasty predicament. He showed me how fucked up I was and brought me back towards being a person."

"Uh-huh." Michael was about to blow this guy off, this night was getting worse than the day. First the biology test, then the blackout, then this.

"My young friends, I offer a piece of advice. Let this day pass into tomorrow without further incident. You are both tired and neither of you is quite certain of what is and is not. Relax, take the rest of the day off and come at tomorrow with a bright and refreshed perspective. The burdens of tomorrow will come at their own pacing, you should deal with the burdens of today."

"Interesting advice, i think i'm going to take you up on it." Michael smiled softly, realizing that this was probably a good time to go home and get some more sleep. "Jenna, we can talk some more about this tomorrow. My head hurts, i really don't feel like hanging out here, and i think we both need to calm down just a little bit."

"All right, Michael, but you were warned, that's the best I can hope to do."

To dance among falling stars
Michael woke up to the whirring sound of a blender, sitting straight up, covered in sweat again. Hey looked into the small kitchen, seeing John mixing up something in the blender, Peter sitting next to him, writing something down.

"Hey Mike." John said quietly, turning the blender off.

"John, what are you doing here?" Michael stood, pulling his shorts on.

"Easy, you had a falling down fit outside Taylor Hall, I just made sure you got back here and got some rest."

"I did what?"

"You got real dizzy and stumbled. You weren't real coherent, i managed to get you back here before you completely passed out. You kept mutter something about the Law, and i wasn't real interested." John was a good guy, reliable, dependable, but always holding things back. It always felt like he was keeping secrets, and Michael wasn't a real big fan of secrets.

"I see."

"Peter got back about an hour ago, and he and i have been shooting the breeze since then. I called all of your professors and let them know you had a sudden case of ill, and that you'd be around tomorrow to catch up."

"Thanks John."

The Phone rang quietly, and Michael walked over and answered it.
"Hello?"

"Michael, you have to get out of that house, now." The voice was hushed, but was definitely female.

"I'm sorry, what?" He looked over at Peter and John.

"Peter is plotting you harm. You have to get out of there now. It's for your own good. Meet me at the Moonshot Cafe."

"Okay..." He set the phone back down, hanging it up.

Peter looked up at this time, his eyes boring softly into Michael. "What's wrong?"

"Wrong number."

"I see."

Michael started putting on a shirt, and grabbing his shoes. "I need to get some air, i'll be back later."

"All right, take care, call if you need anything."
Michael stepped quietly out of the apartment, walking down the flight of stairs. He passed an elderly man on his way, nodding and smiling once. He thought he recognized the man, but wasn't entirely sure.

He walked over to the Moonshot, realizing he had underdressed for the evening.

(Back at the Apartment)
The knock fell softly across the door, the wizened hand rapping softly from the outside. John opened the door, letting the man inside.

"Greetings boys, i trust you are playing nicely?"

"Yes, Sir." Both John and Peter said quietly, bowing to the man. Peter and John sat back down, sipping their blended drinks.

"So what can you tell me of the boy?"

"He's confused, but the Good doctor has confirmed what both John and I have suspected. He is the keeper."

"Very good, gentlemen, this bodes fortunate for the rest of the world."

"Then we still have time?" John asked quietly.

"My son, there is always more time than you think there is, but always less time than you think there should be."

(The Moonshot Cafe)
Michael walked in, seeing the girl sitting a table waiting for him. She beckoned him over, and he sat down across from her.
"My name is Jenna, and your name is Michael."

"A pleasure to meet you, Jenna." Michael smiled softly at her.

"Peter is trying to kill you."

"Why would Peter try to kill me?"

"Because that's what Peter does, he kills people."

"What?"

"Here, take a look at this." Jenna reached into her purse, opening her wallet and handing Michael a picture. It was of Jenna, two younger brothers, and her parents...and someone else in the background. Michael stared closely, realizing the face. It was Peter.

"This picture was taken three years ago, when Peter mysteriously showed up on our doorstep, alone and cold on a Christmas eve night. My Parents took him in, letting him share our home. I awoke in the middle of the night to find the house ablaze and Peter walking through the flames, smiling as he waded through the destruction."

"Wasn't he getting burned by the fire?"

"No, he was ignoring it completely, just wading through it, pulling people into the flames. There wasn't anything i could do but watch as my little brothers were burnt alive."

"I can't believe this..."

"I heard Peter and Doctor Jones talking this afternoon. They have something planned for you, something sinister, something evil. You have to get away."

"I can't just leave, i have responsibilities..."

To Dance among falling stars
Michael walked into the building, heading up the first flight of stairs towards his classroom. He had biology at 9 a.m. and it was currently ten minutes till. He lingered in the hallway, turning the corner. He felt his jaw drop slightly, his cheeks flushing slightly.
It was her...the girl from his dream. She was shorter than he was, probably five foot six. She had long blonde hair and soft brown eyes. She noticed him, but didn't really acknowledge as she walked into his class room.
He shook his head, trying to shake the cobwebs loose, following her in. He sat down, waiting for Doctor Jones to arrive, trying not to stare. Doctor Jones walked in five minutes early as always, smiling as he handed back papers.

"All right my little darlings, we've had a lovely few days in preperation for this test, and now its time to prove to me, and to yourselves that you aren't stupid. I hope you all do well, and i hope you've all studied."

Michael's throat started to close off. He had somehow forgotten that this test was today! Doctor Jones handed him the test first, moving down the row and passing the remaining tests out. He couldn't even remember what the test was about.

He stared nervously at the clock, starting to work on the test. The questions weren't even making sense to him.

What is the first tangent of the theorem of Absolute Law?


He heard the voice inside his head..
The First tangent of the theorem of absolute law is that the law is universal and applies to all. To embrace absolute law is to subordinate yourself to those around you and those who you rule. The Law is applied equally to those who are governed by and those who govern with it.


Who wrote the first copy of the doctrine of absolute law?

And Again..
The first copy of the doctrine of Absolute law was handed to the Prophet Cole by the Unnamed One in The Year of Broken Promises.

"Time is Up!" Doctor Jones voiced bombastically, his smile never leaving him. He collected the tests, Michael absentmindedly handing it to him, unsure of where the time had gone. He walked out of the classroom, his eyes unable to focus on anything. He managed to make it downstairs before the room started spinning.

"Michael?" John said quietly, trying to get his attention. He started to wobble, but John caught him, holding him up. "MIke?"

"John?"

"Come on, let's get you to bed, you aren't in any condition to be out and about today." John walked him back to his room, calling the rest of his professors and letting them know that michael wasn't going to be able to make it for the rest of the day.

Meanwhile, back at Taylor Hall...
"Michael shows remarkable potential." DOctor Jones said quietly.

"Agreed, he is the most remarkable one that i have seen in a very long time." The voice was terrible, filled with wrath and anger, sorrow and venom filling every word.

"We shall have to watch him very closely, to see if he is the potential trigger."

"As always, Doctor, we are in complete agreement."

"Betrayal will be a terrible lesson for him, i hope he can withstand it. I'll make the preperations from my end, you just be ready on yours."

Unbeknownst to anyone, there was someone observing this exchange. She had heard the raspy, terrible voice, ducking and listening. She wasn't sure what they were talking about, but they weren't planning something pleasant for someone named Michael.

Things were spiralling out of control, and she had no way to slow them down. She moved quickly, ducking back around a corner as she heard footsteps.

"Oh and Peter?"

"Yes Doctor Jones?" She heard the voice quietly. It was more normal, but still undeniably the same person.

"Make sure you keep up the good work with your class, wouldn't want anyone to fall behind."

To dance among falling stars
The wheel turns and the world changes. The world screams in angiush at the darkness falling across it, and there are so few left who can affect the course of things that will come, things that must come. The time is now, and the war flares up again, coming from antiquity and threatening to crush the entirety of human consciousness underneath its armored boots...

"A world that wants peace is a world that is prepared for war." The thought echoed through his head. He stood in the streets of a city, a city he hadn't ever been to, looking up at the clouds. He could see shapes dancing in the clouds, great forms that cast shadows on the ground beneath them, things that can not be, things that should not be...
He sat up from his dream...swaet pouring down his face.

"I hate that dream..." He rolled out of the bed roughly, walking to the bathroom. He turned the faucet, running the cold water. he felt the cold water run across his fingers...letting the calm flow through him.

"Mike?"

The unexpected voice made him jump, smacking his hand against the facuet.

"Peter, you shouldn't scare the hell out of people like that."

"Sorry Mike, i saw the light on and i wasn't sure what was going on."

"It's all right, Pete, just don't do it again."

Funny, Mike hadn't remembered turning on the light...

Later that morning, Peter and Michael sat together eating breakfast at a small park across from Taylor hall, the Building which housed the Science Department of the University of Ravensport, a small University in Massachussets. They both had reasons to be there, though quite different.

Peter was a tall young man with straight black hair and hard, green eyes. He was wearing a black button down shirt with matching slacks and long black gloves. Michael couldn't think of a day when he had seen Pete without his gloves. From what he had been able to gather, Peter had apparently burnt his hands at an early age, and the scar tissue was frightening to look at. No one saw his hands, and he slept with his gloves on.

Michael was different, shorter than Peter, with short cropped blonde hair and plain blue eyes. He was dressed in a white shirt, with the same black pants that Peter wore. They were almost the same size, and took every opportunity to borrow each other's clothing. It wasn't an issue, it was simply something that was.

"So, you still having that same dream?" Peter asked him quietly.

"Yup. I still don't understand it. I'm standing in the midst of this city i've never been to, never even seen. There are these crazy people everywhere, it's a war. I see people hacked to death in front of me, and i have a sword of my own and am fighting. I look around and there are people that i feel that i know, but i haven't ever met them."

"Am I there?" Peter asked quietly, munching on a biscuit with a sausage patty in it.

"I don't think so, but the whole thing is so fucking out of whack i don't even really think i am there. Not until it happens..."

"Until what happens?"

"There i am standing with this girl behind me, protecting her i think, when this monstrosity comes directly at me, swords drawn."

"Monstrosity?"

"It was twelve feet tall with four arms, each one holding a huge sword. They must have been six or seven feet long."

"Jesus, man...you might want to lay off the pizza before bed."

"So it kicks the sword of my hand and bats me out of the way, stabbing the girl through the chest with its sword, throwing her at me. It walks towards the both of us, It's sword drawn, it brings the blade down at me..."

"Dude, you seriously need to consider laying off the pizza before bed time."

"And then the whole world flashes white and i'm sitting in this garden, having tea."

Peter pulled up his tape recorder, the one he took all his notes with. "Note to Self: No More Pizza for Michael after the hours of 8 P.M."

"And that's abotu the point i wake up with a case of the screaming willies."

"Verry Interesting." Peter said quietly, a passable impersonation of sigmund Freud.

"We better get inside, Doc Jones will make my life suck if i'm late to class." Michael said, rising to his feet.

"Concur." Peter nodded, grabbing his bag.

"See you at lunch."

"Later, Mike."