Power of Light!

By John McClain

Ed Williams represents a modern-day Joshua, whose faith will lift him to spiritual heights that most only imagine, his willingness to believe beyond what he can see and understand will propel him on a path filled with challenges, ranging from political pressures and corporate espionage to teenage drama, and unpredictable questions he will face from his wife. As he perseveres, his faith will open up a journey into the spiritual dimension that is unparalleled. His commitment to faith will place him in the middle of a spiritual battle that will draw the ire of demonic schemes in which he will stand as a human warrior with spiritual ability beyond the natural while walking as a beacon of light to those in his life. He will be assigned guardian angels that have specialized abilities and have served great spiritual leaders for millenniums.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886546286

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Power of Light!

John McClain

Copyright © 2023 John McClain

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-88654-627-9 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88654-628-6 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

The Beginning of All Things…Faith!

Revealing Darkness

Weapons and Plans

The More I Seek You, the More I Find!

People, Pawns, and Schemes

Plans and Failures

Deception within Deception

Inner Workings of Evil!

Seeking to Devour

The Revelation of Things!

Wisdom, Application, and Belief!

Warfare in the Clouds

Shifting and Moving

The Influence of Thought and Choice

Warfare in the Heavens

Escalations and Consequences

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Preface

The early morning, the weather was humid. Sitting on the deck, Ed relished the mild temperatures as he scrolled through the pictures of this parents, wishing they were still living. His only vivid memory was, as a two-year-old, the smile of his mother sitting in the front seat as she sang to him. The bright lights followed that moment. His grandmother's voice was the sound that roused him from his dream of watching angels as they flew gracefully around. He cried out, Mama! Papa's voice answered, telling him his parents went to live with God. As Ed grew, his recurring dreams of angels continued. His grandparents always listened to him describe them. He reflected on how they always placed their hands on him, gently telling him he was a blessed little boy. He remembered their touch had soothing energy. He could never remember them discouraging him from speaking about his dreams.

They always listened, never questioning him. Around age twelve, he stopped sharing with them, thinking it was weird. Faith! Papa always expressed how faith was important to the success of men.

He returned to his journey of the past, remembering high school, specifically being on the basketball team with his friend Willie, his companion since middle school. Willie's talent had destined him a path to the NBA. Ed recalled Willie hated away games, and in their senior year, Willie decided the IT world was his future.

Ed smiled, reminiscing on the first time he saw Sophie at freshman orientation, he mused at her energy, petite size, and how beautiful she was until…their first conversation. That's when he learned quickly her personality was much bigger than her physical stature. He knew then he was hooked.

Flipping to the last picture of his grandparents' photo album was Mom and Papa, which he affectionately called them, ending his journey from the past. The catalyst for this reflection began when the pastor talked about the life of Joshua, a champion of faith. Ed now questioned his faith. Taking a deep breath, Ed sat in reflection, his desire to be a better man, husband, and father burned deeply within but mostly how he could impact the world.

Chapter 1

The Beginning of All Things…Faith!

The four archangels together were a rare sight, placing the enormous importance of the Father's will. Michael exhaled slowly, stating, This undertaking is complex.

Uriel replied, It surprises me you would make such an observation, having seen the wondrous power of the Father, knowing that history is rich with examples of how his ability to use the humans has manifested.

Michael responded, This is intriguing for someone who has not been shaped by the furnace of affliction. He must walk in a time where the information age is thriving with misinformation and half truths.

Gabriel, with some exasperation, sighed. Free will, it is our greatest and most taxing variable. He continued by saying, The complexities of it intensifies when humans such as Ed have this type of mantel.

Michael responded, Perplexing is the human's view of grace.

Uriel reminded everyone that the demons use their adept knowledge of grace to shade lies into a heavenly truth. Raphael reminded them that spiritual rules still applied to the demons, and they could not violate them no matter how they obscured the truth. He continued, It is the humans and their judgment that make our task challenging. This human in which the mantel has been placed will not differ from the ones the Father has chosen in the past.

Titan stood as the pride of Cainden. The geographical location of the city placed it on the edge of being considered in the South with the touch of Northern influence. The company's semicentral location within the North American continent was ideal for travel. The name Ed Williams was hallowed in the hallways of the building. His near genius IT status was well-known.

Clarity…, Ed thought. It was his guiding principle in defining his success. The series of messages that his pastor had been teaching over the last few months on faith had caused cracks in this paradigm… God's divine purpose? Ed now struggled with the vagueness of this religious view in his thought process. A man of detail, Ed thought. They were his assurances that he'd left no stone unturned. But Pastor's messages left Ed with too many questions. As a little boy, his grandmother's words echoed, God works in mysterious ways.

The demon hurled its darts with joyous contempt as Ed fought the uncertainty of doubt and fear created by the demon's hellish blitz. Purpose…my purpose? What could it be? Ed said softly after reading through the book of Joshua a second time. The last few days, Ed had been fervently seeking detailed answers through prayer and study. The result of his longing birthed a sense of awareness of the presence of unseen beings that had an inkling of familiarity, like he'd seen them before. Angels…was the only way he could describe it, remembering his grandfather talking about feeling the spirit as detailed questions now raced through his thoughts of how feeling the spirit applied to his faith.

Successful faith, he thought, how do I define it?

The words of Papa reverberated in his thoughts, Obedience to the word of God is the best act of faith a man can display.

What is my calling? Ed rolled the question around, needing answers. His thoughts flashed to Sophie. Seconds later, she walked in. After the brief conversation about dinner, she left. Ed remembered all the times this insight happened. He'd always passed it off as knowing the habits of his family. Details…, he thought. Willie always joked that Ed had OCD when it pertained to details.

The twins Sara and Sam often commented that he was clairvoyant. Ed always reflected on their light-hearted teasing as it reminded him of past times on his grandparents' farm as he and his grandfather worked in the barn. He remembered telling him the rope that held the pulley was about to break. His grandfather gently lowered the heavy tractor tire only to have the rope snap and the large tire fall gently to the floor. The rope gently slid through the pulley wheel and settled gently to the floor. Incidents such as this happened occasionally. It now dawned on Ed that his grandfather never questioned him but gently complied and, rubbing the top of his head, said, That's my boy!

These type of incidents, like yesterday on his drive to work as he was behind a large truck deciding to pass, he saw the truck abruptly swing to the left lane before he did. However, when he blinked, the truck was still in the right lane. He waited. Seconds later, the truck did just what he'd saw moments earlier. More recently it happened as he was reviewing documents. One specific document he saw Willie ask for it. Moments later, Willie requested the document. Rubbing his eyes gently, he whispered, Daydreams, nothing more than daydreams.

He heard the voice or sound in his head, Visions and dreams. Ed thought, How real are they?

The first step!

World Corp was one of the top five listed in Global Leaders magazine. Hensley Weathers smiled as the dial tone indicated the end of a satisfying phone call he'd just received from the secretary of one of the executive vice presidents. He thought, I can finally move on from the small-time business I'd been working for with marginal recognition. I should be among the giants of the corporate world! he shouted. Entering the downtown hotel lobby, he swiped the metallic key card over the black box to the left of the elevator. This allowed access to the third floor, the new location of World Corp. As the elevator doors opened, a beautiful brunet stood center as her shape and image appeared directly in front of Hensley. The intoxicating scent of her perfume subtly washed over him. Hensley felt himself relax. The fragrance was soothing. Her voice gently jolted him back into focus. She extended her hand, welcoming him as they exited the elevator. The second receptionist directed him to the large glass conference table inside an oval-shaped conference room. He sat at the table. Another brunet placed a glass tray with a crystal carafe filled with coffee and condiments. Hensley suppressed the smile and thanked the young lady.

As the young lady moved away, the scent of her perfume pulled Hensley into a dreamlike state again. Mr. Weathers! he heard his name being called loudly. She asked again, Is there anything else I can get you?

Hensley smiled at the young lady, responding, No, I think I'm okay. Sipping his coffee, waiting for the meeting to begin, the young lady returned and informed Hensley, The meeting will now be conducted via telephone conference. She positioned a small star-shaped flat object directly in front of him on the conference table.

The box came to life as the deep voice from the speaker said, Good morning, Mr. Weathers. I must ask for your forgiveness for not being able to attend the meeting in person. Events have prevented me form arriving there on time. I am currently flying over the Eastern United States at this moment.

Impressive, Hensley thought.

Your job is simple, the voice continued. You will be World Corp's new security network president. Hensley smiled at the title president. The voice from the speaker phone continued, Your first assignment will be to coordinate and establish guidance for World Corp's new venture into financial securities. The company we have chosen to provide services is Titan Industries.

The young lady returned as if she had received some unseen cue and sat in the chair next to Hensley with a large leather folder. The voice from the speaker sounded again, My secretary has the contract ready for your signature. The young lady removed several documents and placed them in front of Hensley. The voice then stated, This is our offer if you decide to take the position.

Listening to classic opera, Hensley relaxed in his lounger. He raised the glass of bourbon, breathing in the aroma, took a sip, and waited for the burn. Exquisite! he thought as he dangled the key from the Mercedes S-Class sedan as part of his signing bonus. His phone rang. The number read World Corp. The young lady he'd met when hired greeted him. He thought she was beautiful, and her voice was sweet.

After the quick exchange of pleasantries, she informed Hensley, Weekly updates would be required on the progress of the plan.

Hensley indicated he understood. He began to disconnect the call when he heard the young lady's voice call his name. Placing the phone on speaker, he replied, Did I miss something?

She replied, Sir, I have the names of the Titan representatives you will be in coordination with. Your team is assembled per your instructions and will meet with you at nine a.m. tomorrow.

Hensley hit the call button. Erica answered. He immediately began to give her instructions on the new people they would work with and the strategy they would employ. Erica listened as Hensley went on about how they needed to send a message about how important he was as the president of this project. Rolling her eyes, Erica responded, Yes, sir.

Second, he continued, We cannot afford to make mistakes, and timeline is of the utmost because of finical deadlines for World Corp. Hensley then paused and said in a condescending voice, Do we have an understanding?

Erica had grown irritated, thinking, Does this idiot not remember that I have been briefed by the support staff at World Corp?

Hensley pulled up the file sent to him on Titan Industries, reading the bios of each executive. Ed Williams, he said to himself. Interesting, I've heard his name before. He conducted a Google search of Ed, and a long list of accomplishments and accolades flooded the screen. Hensley smiled, thinking, This guy is no lightweight, and I do love a challenge.

Erica fought back the frustration of being trapped in working with Hensley and decided that if she just exercised more patience, the opportunity would come to break away.

I should not take him lightly. His reputation in the IT world is not shabby. Hensley scoffed. Still, he is no match for my brilliance! Calling Erica again, he asked, Have you read the files on the people we will deal with?

Yes, I have, Erica answered.

Well! What do you think? Hensley asked.

I won't know until I meet them, Erica responded, pushing back the exasperation she was feeling.

In a condescending tone, he said, Spit out, then do some digging.

Will do, Erica answered, then asked, Will there be anything else? before disconnecting the call.

Shell games!

The shadowy shapes puzzled Ed. There was a gray haze like a curtain that only allowed him to see movement with vague details. Ed woke from what felt like an extremely deep sleep. The details of his dream replayed in his thoughts. Sophie was still sleeping. He thought about what her diagnosis would be if he told her what his dream was about. He chuckled to himself. She would say something like stress or anxiety. Watching his wife sleeping, he turned his gaze to the ceiling. Legends, he thought. Biblical legends would call them visions. Ed had always been a dreamer, but the visions he saw were never something he could have imagined. The words of Sunday's message about faith replayed through his thoughts. Numbers…factual information had always been part of his makeup as a software engineer, but now faith…this was outside the paradigms that felt safe for him. He whispered, This is going to be interesting.

The war room hummed with energy. The archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel entered. The chosen eight stood ready to receive last instructions. Each guardian had been selected for their unique specialties and combat skills. Their training had been intense and grueling, forcing the eight to wonder why they'd been put through the crucible of agony. Raphael and Uriel had been unyielding. Each guardian now possessed an awareness that had been sharpened to precision, maximizing their skills for their mission.

Their angel ability to use stealth, lightning speed, and weapons had been pushed to the breaking point by the archangels. Shadow, the spymaster's ability to faze his appearance to match the environment. Silver, one of two female guardians specialized in infiltration and close combat. Hades, the muscular guardian was the most powerful of the team, a master at wielding double swords. Tor, who was the master tactician. Tess and Striker had been chosen because they resembled teenagers. Silas was the master at changing his appearance instantly. His ability to shift from stealth to combat was unmatched by the others. His ability to blend in as human was uncanny. Only Shadow possessed better covert skills than him. Tye, the captain, the critical thinker chosen for his leadership, who would one day become an archangel.

This assignment mirrored the history of biblical giants and would be woven into the fabric of modern times. The human chosen to carry this mantel would become a beacon of hope for many and source of impediment for the wicked. Michael then read the proclamation declaring Tye and his team assigned to the human Ed Williams.

Uriel detailed the will and mind of the Father. He did so with an elegance that assured all present that the outcome would be no simple task. He spoke of Joshua and his faith and belief. Tye could hear the words echo as Uriel stated, This season's been long in waiting for a man to display this level of faith and the willingness to believe in the divine will and purpose of the Father above anything else. Uriel ended his discourse, then respectfully bowed to Michael, who provided final communication guidance.

The task ahead!

Shadow's assignment was the most complex. He was to be the key source of intelligence, observing and reporting demonic machinations. If discovered, Shadow knew survival was slim. The team understood this as well. Michael explained the small contingent of guardians assembled was designed to reduce their tactical footprint, minimizing indicators they knew of the plot the underworld was planning. Uriel orally catalogued the assault of evil since the creation of man, and their determination remained unshaken. They have honed their craft in using man's thirst for knowledge and power.

The silence was surreal, realization among the eight that they were instruments of an evolving strategy. Michael broke the silence with final instructions. He delivered each word with sobering clarity. The eternal plan of the Father's will was beyond even what he could imagine. Raphael's assessment of failure was even more sobering as he spoke of the strict guidance the guardians must adhere to. He then stated, The human actions will be the unknown variable because he has free will. But! The archangel paused. He was purposely allowing his words to sink in for effect. The challenges the human will face require precision and coordination that leaves no room for deviation from the divine will set forth this day. It may require sacrifice. His calling would change the lives of many and expose the tendrils of evil on a level that will topple corrupt men and cause change in governments influenced by evil.

Execution

As the team arrived, they did so one by one. Silas arrived on the Greyhound bus carrying A ruck sack. Hades arrived at the keep in stealth, posted atop, and watched. Tor, Striker, and Tess arrived at the regional airport as a father and two teens. Tye and Silver exited the cab. The sun dipped below the horizon as they stood at the end of the block from Ed's home. Silver reached out with her ability to sense the surrounding area. She said one word, Clear.

Tye and Silver stood along the inside of the privacy fence in Ed's backyard. They were fully armored in their battle gear. Hades joined them and remarked, I think we're overdressed for the barbecue as humans would say!

Tye remarked, Seems that way.

They watched as Ed flipped steaks on the grill. Hades commented, Nothing unusual about him, is it?

Tye said, He is tall.

Hades turned to ask Silver her thoughts, then she was focused as she watched the human. He decided now might not be a good time for humor.

Unable to resist any longer, Hades asked Silver, Heard any good jokes lately?

She remarked, Focus, Hades.

Ed thought, Feels like I'm being watched.

He turned, looking in the area the guardians stood. Hades remarked, You don't think he can see us, do you? Silver held up her hand, stopping Hades's question.

Ed thought, Did I just see or hear something? He blinked. Sophie exited the through the glass doors and called Ed's name. He quickly turned back to the steaks on the grill.

As Sophie approached Ed with the empty plate, she asked, Where were you just now?

Ed thought, Better keep one to myself.

Tye thought, Leading this group will be a challenge, as concern rose. He then decided the Father knew best, and he dared not allow himself to question the Father's plan. He smiled to himself and said, But he does seem to have great sense of humor, as he thought about the parable with the ass.

Tye briefed the tactical plan for protecting Ed and his family by providing precise detail of the city. He concluded the archangels would provide more guidance when needed. Right now we must keep our presence as inconspicuous as possible until such time we have to make our presence known.

The prince of the city, Deagar, watched the chaotic behavior of the demons. They were growing restless. His normal cadre of demons had been doubled by the prince of the region. More lieutenants came with the increased forces, siting quietly, watching the mixture of medium- and low-level demons. The predictable skirmishes erupted as expected, sending one lieutenant scrambling to quell the skirmish before it erupted into an all-out battle. The plan was in place. All the humans had to do was to succeed on their part.

Deagar sighed at the fact that centuries of success had only garnered him a position over this medium-sized city in which nothing of importance ever happened until now. The sound of the long drawl of the lieutenant continued with instructions from the prince of the region. He heard his name called. Deagar snapped his head around, facing the lieutenant, annoyed that his thought process was interrupted. The lieutenant talked as if victory had been gained already. Silence! We've achieved nothing! Deagar yelled. Fools! Deagar's voice thundered through the stronghold.

The lieutenant simply stepped to the side as other demons scampered into every safe place they could find, trampling over one another. Deagar proclaimed, This task is not a forgone conclusion. Success will require employment of the usual tactics of the past to assure victory.

Tye and Shadow conducted the first recon of the city in stealth. They spotted four demons flying toward an abandoned twelve-story building at the far edge of the city. Shadow commented, Looks like we found out their stronghold, as the demons entered the building and more flew out.

There was a loud, thunderous voice as Tye commented to Shadow, You think so?

Deagar spoke in a low rumble that any angel who interfered with his plan would be eliminated. The lieutenant took a step out of the range of Deagar's sword and reminded him that attacking guardians would draw the attention of the archangels. Deagar felt his anger rise as his eyes turned red, emitting smoke. The lesser demons continued to cower in terror, knowing that Deagar could strike out at any moment.

Ed prayed, asking for guidance crucial to his faith. He fought the questions of uncertainty and the unknown; he wanted answers to his visions. He knew the answers he sought required him to trust the unseen. The words of Pastor Ken had confirmed this. He felt the conversations were one way as his grandmother's voice echoed in his thoughts, The mysteries of God's will sometimes require us to wait for answers to manifest themselves. Ed shifted his prayer back to asking for increased understanding of faith. As the sun slowing began to show its rays over the horizon, Ed felt no closer to resolve when these long nights began.

The choice to be

Ed's IT ability ranked him as one of the top network and software engineers in the nation. His ability placed him on an exclusive list of consultants contracted by the US government when validating high-security network systems. He and his team routinely ran simulations that would test the security of federal agencies. The by-product of this cooperation afforded him clearance levels that would go well for him if he desired to start his own company. Sophie often called him an education junkie even though she possessed a doctorate degree in psychology. Sophie worked for a few years in the psychology field until she had the twins. Even though Ed encouraged her to return to her profession, Sophie's reply was that the kids were her profession now.

Exiting the elevator, Ed's assistant, Cindy, followed him into his office for their brief strategy meeting for the day. She placed the thin stack of documents in front of him. The bold letters centered on the documents read World Corp. Ed picked up the document and began reviewing the security schematics. He paused long enough to thank Cindy. She replied. When should I schedule the first meeting?

Ed replied, You know my schedule. Just let me know when. Continuing to review the schematics, he noticed odd anomalies that seemed out of place for network security designed to provide active defensive measures for corporations the size of World Corp. These unexplained details were subtle. Ed somehow knew there was more to this. World Corp had cleverly embedded them into the system Ed realized they would be missed by the techs in the basement, although his handpicked team he called Galaxy most likely would catch it.

Ed continued making annotations on the notepad, marking the page location of each symbol. Reaching the last page, he realized it was pattern engineered into the plan. He'd never seen this type of pattern in a network diagram before. Puzzled, his need for details now had been piqued. The requirements World Corp was asking for in this plan was an oddity he'd never come across. Glancing at the note pad, it formed a sequential line of numbers. He walked to the small fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. Ed decided to wait for World Corp engineers to provide guidance on the structure of the system. Deciding to wait until he could answer these questions, he would hold the plans for now except for Willie seeing them.

Willie reviewed the plans, placed them on Ed's desk, and remarked, Man, it's been a long day. I think I'm gonna hit the gym and take it to the house.

Ed responded, I'll see you tomorrow, flipping through the plans for one last look. He glanced at the wall clock and reviewed his notes one more time on the World Corp schematics before calling it a day. There was something in his thoughts that prompted him to look for something out of the deeper. He scanned the plans once more. A vision flashed before his eyes. Ed paused, then refocused, continuing his search for the unfamiliar script when the visions flashed again. Closing his eyes, he waited to see if the visions would happen, nothing. After a few moments, he said out loud, Maybe it's time to wrap the day up. Logging off his laptop, the thoughts of visions and dreams now teased him. He wondered when the answer would come.

Sophie's cell phone sounded with Ed's tone. After viewing the message informing her he would be home shortly, Sophie's analytical skills ran on overdrive as she reflected on the last few weeks. Ed's focus was somewhere else, spending long hours reading late at night. He was never a big talker; she sighed in frustration, feeling as if she could provide him with solutions. However, she knew coaxing him to talk would only make him feel she was analyzing him. She pushed back the feeling of being shut out, deciding to give him space to deal with whatever he was experiencing. She said softly, He'll talk about it when he's ready. She smiled, reminiscing on the psychology courses they had together. Ed always said he took them to get close to her. She knew he'd really taken them to analyze psychological study of the human element and technology.

The lesser demon was posted to guard the World Corp symbols in the plans and held fast in using darts of doubt on Ed. He decided that his attack would be swift the next time the human began to focus on the symbols. Silver, Ed's sentinel, watched in stealth, keeping her presence hidden. She watched the demon, waiting. Ed settled into the drive home. The World Corp schematics ran through his thoughts. Clarity? It was the one piece of the puzzle he needed to complete the details. The symbols reminded him of some type of demon hunter movie. What are they? he pondered. Some type of markers? World Corp coding? Digital fingerprints? How would he explain it to the team? The questions would surely come up. Team Galaxy was his handpicked group of techs that worked at Titan. Cho, Manny, Ben, and Seth and Ted were considered the best. They would dig to find out what the symbols meant. Ed thought, I'm not ready to get them involved yet.

The evening passed as normal. Ed dozed sitting next to Sophie as they watched one of the weekly TV dramas she liked. Ed released a loud snore. Sophie chuckled, woke him, and said, It's time for bed, baby.

Ed stood and extended his hand as they walked to the bedroom together. Sophie prepared the bed as Ed completed his nightly prep. Tucking himself in, Sophie dimmed the lights and headed to the bathroom. Ed fell asleep quickly, vaguely feeling Sophie kiss him. After some time, the visions started again, still no visible clarity of the beings. He woke feeling frustrated at the randomness of their appearance and his inability to control when they happened.

Arriving in the office before anyone else, Ed began his morning routine. However, today he had the sense he was not alone in the office. There was a presence he was positive. The demon watched as Ed began to review the network schematics, wondering what the human was looking for. He decided to watch. There was nothing specific he could report to the prince of the city. The possibility was strong he would be accused of slacking. He then decided that he would not report anything. After all, humans did not understand the powers of demons as he did, and only important demons such as him would be assigned to this detail instead of the pathetic demons who kissed ass.

In stealth, Silver watched, knowing the demon who was oblivious to her presence. The telepathic communication between her and Tye had been ongoing since the discovery of the demon. She was confident that she could take the demon out before he knew what was happening and shift back to stealth without ever being noticed.

The office buzz centered on the news of the signing of the multimillion dollar account generated excitement of bonuses and raises. The president of network security was scheduled for a round of meetings to finalize the contract details. Ed asked Cindy what the buzz was about. Cindy explained that the World Corp's network president was like a male diva on steroids. Ed smiled, then responded, Never heard it that way before.

Cindy smiled, then warned Ed jokingly, Be prepared for a wild ride, winked, and left his office.

Willie completed his review of the World Corp plans, released a long deep breath, then sighed. Perplexing!

Ed stood and walked to Willie's side of the office, then surmised, Surely they know questions will be raised, don't they?

Willie now took another deep breath and responded, We'll just have to wait and see, my brother.

The lesser demon who was assigned to guard the World Corp symbols assaulted Ed with a barrage of darts, flooding his thoughts with doubt. The guardian Silver could only watch when the demon attacked the called one. She kept her presence hidden to eliminate being detected. As he drove home, the World Corp schematics danced in his thoughts, reminding him of some type of demon-hunter movie. What are they? he pondered. Some type of markers? World Corp coding? Digital fingerprints? How would he explain it to the team? The questions would surely come up. Team Galaxy was his handpicked group of techs that worked at Titan. Cho, Manny, Ben, and Seth and Ted were considered the best. They would dig to find out what the symbols meant. Ed decided, I'm not ready to get them involved yet.

With the angel's ability to speak telepathically, she informed that the demon was oblivious to her presence in stealth. The telepathic conversation between her and Tye had been ongoing since the discovery of the demon. While in stealth, she was confident she could destroy the demon, shifting from stealth and back into without being detected.

The buzz in the office garnered excitement in signing a multi-million-dollar account with World Corp and generated excitement of bonuses and raises. The president of network security was scheduled for a round of meetings to finalize the contract details. Ed asked Cindy what the buzz was about. Cindy explained that the World Corp's network president was like a male diva on steroids. Ed smiled, then responded, Never heard it that way before.

Cindy, Ed's longtime assistant, smiled while telling him jokingly to be ready for a wild ride with this contract.

Willie completed his review of the World Corp plans, released a long deep breath, then sighed. Perplexing!

Ed stood, walked to Willie's side of the office, then surmised, Surely they know questions will be raised, don't they?

Willie now took another deep breath and responded, We'll just have to wait and see, my brother.

After reviewing the contract, Willie placed his signature in the approved area under Ed's signature. He reflected on how many times they'd completed this process over the years. However, this one had a strange vibe to it. The plans would now go to the legal team for final review before Galaxy would begin writing the security protocol. Ed again experienced another vision. The World Corp symbols appeared in the blink of an eye, then vanished. Willie, looking at the screen, had no reaction. Ed decided he would keep what he saw to himself. Silver caught Ed's deliberate nonreaction. The demon glared at Ed. Silver placed a hand on one of the small daggers in an X pattern across her chest. Ed moved his hands close to the virtual keyboard just beyond the illuminated area on his desk. His eyes were closed when his phone vibrated. Breaking his concentration, it was Sophie. He answered with, Hey, babe!

Sophie replied by asking him what he'd like for dinner.

Where are the twins? he asked.

Sophie responded, What would you like that must be cooked using the kitchen appliances?

Well, in that case… Ed laughed. Surprise me, I just have to tie up a few loose ends, then Ill be on my way.

Ed started the shutdown protocol that prompted an automatic security scan and alerted the night shift that the main office was wrapping up. Cho looked at the bank of display monitors illuminate to a soft green hue. Every so often one monitor would change to blue momentarily, then back to green. Ben remarked, The active defense is working more than normal.

Manny replied, Yeah, maybe it's just me, but these attacks seem to have increased when World Corp became our clients.

Cho laughed. Could be. After all, they are a multibillion-dollar company who has a stake in just about every market you can name, so I say the hackers are after them, not us.

In the hotel, the World Corp techs, like clockwork each evening, launched a series of small attacks on the Titan servers to test their defenses. Ed entered the four-story Titan parking lot. He smiled. The black Mustang sitting in the designated parking space backed in. Engaging the auto start, the sound of the tuned dual exhaust came to life. His smile grew wider as the low rumble of the dual exhaust echoed off the walls of the half-empty parking area. He pondered about how Sophie always remarked that he behaved like a ten-year-old boy when it pertained to that car. Ed subtlety pressed the gas pedal. The response from the tuned 5.2 L 526 hp V8 (GT350) was instant. Shifting into gear, he made a quick exit from the parking lot, entering the maze of traffic. He added slight pressure to the accelerator. The V8 responded. The sound of the dual exhaust rumbled louder as the fuel flow increased. Viewing the digital speed indicator numbers rapidly increase, he immediately backed off the throttle and quickly scanned his rearview mirror, expecting to see blue and red lights at any moment. None came, and he settled in for the drive home.

The demon assigned to guard the security protocol again wrestled with the question of reporting what transpired. He scolded himself loudly, I am not weakling! as another demon who tormented him with what-ifs vanquished. He heard the demon snicker as he laughed. The demon demanded the harassment be stopped. Laughter flooded the air as they left the area. One demon, however, sat patiently as the demon guarding the schematics settled back into his post and spoke in a hissing voice, You will be promoted to medium level, but you cannot show weakness!

The turmoil on what should be done swirled in the demon's thoughts to where he began to look around while tightening the grip on his weapon. Panic began to swell. He screamed, Silence!

The demon laughed loudly, then commented, You are weak!

Responding, the demon hissed, I am here because of my strength! He then punched the demon as the fight commenced.

Arriving home, Ed entered the kitchen. The aroma of dinner was music to his massive hunger. Sara greeted him with a big hug, the ultra daddy's girl, the man to which all men in her life would be measured by. Sara was the same height as her mother, five feet three inches. Sam, her twin brother, an inch shorter than his father, was laid-back walked in, and seated himself at the bar and gave his customary greeting of Hey, Pops.

Ed, reaching over, gently squeezed Sam's neck and responded, Hey, man, how's that computer project going?

Sam, like his father, loved to work with electronics and would spend as much of his free time as possible in what Sophie termed the boys' room. I figured out how to program the house system to recognize more than one individual voice. I just need to make a few more tweaks. Sam was not your typical computer geek. He sported a preppy look.

Sam detailed his plan as Ed listened. He then asked if Sam had enough computing power in the house network. Sam responded, Not sure yet. Still have some details to work through.

Okay, boys, Sophie said with a stern voice, holding back a smile, enough shop talk.

Sara added, It's time to eat.

Walking to the dinner table, Sophie reminded Sara no electronic devices at dinnertime. Sara vigorously protested that her parents needed to modernize with the times on the rules, only to hit the unyielding wall of no, as Sam called it. As the prayer and blessing of the food ended, Sara asked again about a car. Ed's response was to raise an eyebrow. Before he could answer, Sara responded, I know. I know you'll consider it this summer.

Sam winked at Sara and whispered across the table, I told you what the answer would be.

As Sophie placed the last dish into the dishwasher, Ed moved behind her and whispered, Now can I have my favorite meal?

Naughty man, whispered Sophie. She turned and kissed Ed before ducking under his embrace.

The keep sat on the opposite end of the city to the demonic stronghold. Tye stood looking at the highly polished armor lined up in each of the guardians' weapons hold. In Silver's hung an unfolded pouch. In it eight pearl-handled blades were placed in individual pouches. In Tor's area, the war scythe stood in the pedestal stand. In Hades's area additional swords. Shadows held only one medium-length sword with a pouch of throwing stars. Silas's a sword and handheld crossbows and blow darts. Tess and Striker additional swords. What looked so beautiful, Tye mused, was deadly for the demonic forces. Tye hoped these weapons would not be required, but hope in this situation was a luxury he could not afford to rely on. The map of the city hung on the opposite wall of the weapons hold, the demonic stronghold marked with a circle like a gateway to the city. Shadow was now looking for an opportunity to infiltrate.

Tye completed the tactical review of the city, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each location. He was aware the demons were masters at exploiting their advantages in numbers and folding the darkness around them, called shadows, for low-light areas. Tye's team had been given specific tasks and rules of engagement not to intervene in any situation outside of the mission they'd been assigned.

Flying over the city, Tor continued the tactical assessment, noting that the demon's behavior was normal if that word could be used. He noticed as lesser demons dashing in and out of homes of unbelievers reeking havoc. His sense of frustration made him seem helpless that he could not engage. Angels fought the overwhelming desire constantly to intervene. Moving on their own accord was forbidden outside the prayers and faith of the humans. It was known these willful acts by angels interrupted the predestined plan for some humans and hindered the work of spiritual growth for others. Tor sighed, wishing there were no limitations for this mission. He knew Ed would battle the fine line of choice. The angels' love and adoration for the Father, however, was always the catalyst that afforded them the ability to stay the course because they'd witness the greatness of his will manifested before man was ever created.

As the evening grew late, Ed began his evening routine of seeking the purpose of his calling. Reflecting on the visions, he realized they happened more frequently and lasted longer each time. Still unable to distinguish specific details that would provide answers to his questions motivated him to spend more time working on his personal relationship with God.

The one detail he'd come to comprehend was the vague images he'd experienced. The shadowy beings were locked in some type of never-ending battle. My purpose? he wrote on a pad sitting on his lap. His grandfather's voice echoed, Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Ed reflected on the confidence his grandfather always displayed in his voice. As he grew and left for college, his grandfather told him trust in God would always be the beacon to guide him through dark times in life.

Ed glanced at the clock. It was much later than he realized, and he needed to be on his game in the office especially with the World Corp account. Sophie snuggled closely into his side. Ed sighed deeply. She began caressing his chest in slow circles. Ed pulled her in tight to his side and kissed her on the forehead. Sophie's soft tone always melted Ed. You know I am here for you?

Yes, I do, he responded.

What's troubling you? she asked.

Ed considered for a few moments and responded, There is nothing troubling me. He said softly, Just working some thoughts out.

Taking the last sip of coffee, Sophie asked, "So how are you going to destroy the environment today? Bombarding the atmosphere with your toy or battleship-like aircraft carrier