Defending Heaven: Earth

By Chad Nichols

"IF OF BLOOD, THEN BY BLOOD" and yet no one and nothing said a word". If this means what Shephard thinks it means then he may lose his wife and daughter's love forever. Shephard fights to save his grandson from the Anti-Christ movement as his final mission to save the earth is more than he and his team can handle. Will Shephard succumb to evil and live eternal life as a slave in Hell? "There are more con's in this mission than pro's, and we are greatly outnumbered". Will EARTH be destroyed by evil and all that is good be enslaved by it? The final piece to this trilogy is not what you think. Brace yourself!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350901849

Book preview

I

HE’S OUT! I screamed as he hit home plate, but the umpire called him safe. I stood up and walked back and forth, frustrated in the stands.

The umpire just turned to me and said, You are in Heaven now Shephard, everyone is safe. I smiled at him and realized that it was just a game up here and there was no competition, no exorbitant salaries, political speak, or even a need for it. Yes, we were all safe in many ways up here. I was watching all the greats play that I had only read about or heard stories of. Ruth, Williams, Kennedy and Paige to name a few. It was amazing to see such greatness play the game of baseball. This was truly Heavenly to say the least. Kennedy hit a double off the fence in left field. I watched as he dusted himself off from his picturesque slide into second base.

Williams was at the plate laughing as he yelled to Kennedy, Hey blue eyes, get ready to touch home plate because I’m about to launch this one to Heaven’s Gates!!! Kennedy smiled as he took his lead off second. As I sat amongst friends from the past, laughing and catching up on stories over the years, I overheard a conversation behind me. I cocked my head to get a better listen.

He sure has a big mouth, one of the voices snickered.

Another said, yep, I bet he was an asshole when he was alive.

I could not understand who would or ever could speak like that in Heaven, but I had to see it for myself. I slowly stood and as I turned one of the men hurriedly stated, Oh crap, now we’ve done it.

I turned my head around first, then my body. I saw Sutter sitting with a group of men. He looked at me and smiled with that smile of his, standing there with his tongue hanging out. His hands were on the shoulders of two of the men and one behind him began to stand. A smile and a peace came over me.

TEAM, I exclaimed!

It was my team!!! EZ, Mike and Taylor. They were smiling and I dove in the pile to hug each one of them.

I can’t believe you guys are here, I said with excitement. When did you get here? I looked them over from head to toe. You guys look amazing! Then I stopped and backed up. All-natural right? You guys died natural deaths please tell me this is true, I questioned?

They all smiled and EZ said, Yep, it’s been that long brother. It’s good to see you again. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I sat there and stared at them to soak it all in. Something wasn’t right though. What was I missing?

WAIT!! Where is DJ? I asked.

The guys laughed and began to tell the story about how they were Defending Heaven for a while to clear their feathers of the sins on Earth in order to come to Heaven pure. They told me how each of them had some gray feathers, with some peppered black throughout their wings. But DJ, he had a ton of them. Big Mike then spoke up.

He is still working on his, but he should be along shortly, he joked as they all laughed along.

Taylor then told the story of how they all patrolled the Heavens together, and DJ would constantly bitch about the story of a Defender that was needed. He wanted to know who this legend was. Taylor explained how DJ was upset that this guy had more gray and black feathers than he did, and that the Arch’s wouldn’t tell us anything about this guy.

Did they ever tell you who it was, I asked?

Taylor answered, No, they just said, In time gentlemen, in time."

I looked at Sutter and laughed hard. Sutter began to laugh too, and we both just stared at the guys. I saw them look back and forth at me, then Sutter. Big Mike started to point at both of us back and forth.

You two know who it is, don’t you? he asked. Sutter came over and rested his arm on my shoulder as we both just smiled. Sutter then made a windmill type movement with his free arm and pointed directly at me. The guys couldn’t believe it.

Wait a minute. They told us of a legend that was needed. A legend that led armies, killed what he thought was a human, almost got ostracized from the Heavens (more than once) and pulled the heart from the Devil himself. They told us of a Red Feather. The only one of its kind to ever appear in the wings of a Defender or any angel for that matter. This was you Shep? You didn’t have a chute malfunction, did you? You were taken, weren’t you? Taylor said, suddenly realizing the defender that was needed, was me.

My smile turned to a calm as I thought of all we went through. What my team went through that day when my life came to a sudden stop…literally. I clinched my lips tight, looked to the ground and nodded my head.

Let’s take a walk gentleman. I will tell you all about it and get you up to speed.

We walked for what seemed like days as I told the guys of our battles. We talked about what cut my chute on that infamous day. I told them of the Suhtan and cleansing the evil blood. I told them of every letter my daughter wrote me and the unknown battle that unfolded with Blaine. We talked and they were full of questions as Sutter was filling in anything that I had forgotten or would leave out. They heard stories of Juice and his family. How we met and how he ultimately served his role in helping us defeat the devil. The guys listened to every word. I told them how Jacob vowed his very soul to protect mine and bring me north for that very chance to defend Heaven.

And that is it in a nutshell guys. Did I leave anything out Sutter?

Sutter shook his head and stated, No, I don’t think you did, before blurting out, Oh, The Red Feather.

The guys stood silent and stared at me. They were waiting for an explanation to the Red Feather but held quiet as I hesitated.

The Red Feather … I took a deep breath, looked them all in the eyes and began.

The Red Feather haunted me in my life as a Defender. It was the only color other than black, gray, or white ever had by a Defender. I was the only one that has ever come to the Defender’s post with a vibrant color in his wings. I looked to the past and tried to find the sin that would be so great as to turn my feather a color that no Defender had ever seen on his back. It wasn’t about the sins of my past, but rather it was my unwillingness to forgive. I had never forgiven my father for his history with me, and in the end, we exchanged words that were hurtful. Then when my tongue came silent, I could see the disappointment in his eyes. I never forgave him. I carried that anger for years. The Red Feather signified forgiveness that was mine to give if I chose, unbeknownst to me. Finally, after defeating the Devil and all his evil something was bugging me. It was him, my father. I flew to Earth and had one last fight with him at his grave. SCREAMING at him, asking why he did what he did? At the end of that tirade a peace came over me as I sobbed in my hands. I forgave him, and at that moment my Red Feather was taken from me. This was the final feather I needed to clear for my path to Heaven.

A tear rolled down my cheek and dropped onto my open hand. The guys stood silent as to give me time. I looked up at them and smiled.

I’m glad you guys are here. I missed you.

II

We sat around for days just talking. We talked about the guy’s families and their kids. We talked about how much trouble I got into and the chances I took at the Defender’s post. The guys couldn’t believe my stories but hung on to every word as I told them. I smiled at all the tales of their kids and how they grew to what they are now. I was proud. It was amazing to have them here, but I hated that they were absent from their families. There comes a time in all our lives that life as we know it ends. We all know that part is coming. We just question what is next, up or down? Or are we forever suspended in eternity not evil enough for Hell, nor pure enough for Heaven? I get it now. Knowing what I do now……it’s real.

We were all planning to go to another baseball game. The guys were hoping to see certain players and Sutter was joking whether there was any beer at the games, knowing there wasn’t. We laughed at him as he reenacted downing a cold brew. From cracking the can open, to dramatically guzzling it down with his head turned all the way skyward. It was just what we needed, and it seemed like old times on Earth.

We had just turned to walk to the ball field when I heard the name Isaiah, come from behind me. I turned and a young man stood approximately fifteen feet from us. I looked at him and his eyes seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place him.

It’s Isaiah, he stated again.

The guys were now walking to me, and Sutter took the lead about six feet in front of me just staring at this young man. I started to walk slowly toward him with question in my eyes, not of mistrust but of wonder. I stopped in front of him and shook his hand.

Hello Isaiah. Have we met?

He stared at me and said, Yes. You wanted to know my story if I ever made it up here.

I hesitated and I was certain my face looked puzzled. He then made the face of the lost souls that were in The Grays, and my eyes opened wide.

THE GRAYS, I shouted!

He began to laugh, nodding his head very deliberately. I knew you would recognize that face, he stated excitedly.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME ISAIAH? YOU MADE IT BROTHER!!!! I grabbed him and gave him a huge hug. This makes me so happy, I exclaimed.

I couldn’t believe he was here and that he remembered who I was, and that I truly wanted to know him. I saw Sutter approach with his head on a swivel looking left and then right, and back left again. I watched as he was pounding his fist into his hand.

Hey Isaiah, is my favorite guard up here? asked Sutter. He then began laughing out loud as he picked this young man up and bear hugged him, bouncing him up and down. It was quite a sight to see, considering the extreme size difference between the two men. I told the guys to go to the game without me and I would meet up with them in a minute.

I looked at Isaiah and said, Walk with me.

We walked into a garden of flowers that was unlike any I have ever seen. The beauty in Heaven is beyond words and imagination. I have concluded that the best thing to do is just accept it and enjoy it. Don’t try to understand how…it just is.

We began to walk as I told Isaiah how proud I was of him. He smiled but it was with reservation. We came upon two benches in the garden, and I motioned for him to sit. We sat across from one another, and he sat with his hands folded, staring at his feet.

I hesitated and finally said, Come on Isaiah. This is Heaven. We need not worry anymore. We are forgiven. He smiled again and stood as he began pacing.

He reluctantly said, I know Shephard, and I am happy and truly humbled. I never thought I would be here. I never thought I would have the chance. He continued, Until you came to The Grays. I just sat there, staring at him. He was pacing as he laid it all out.

It was you that gave me hope. Your confidence and leadership. The way your men trusted you and the way the Arch’s trusted you was nothing I had ever seen before. You gave me purpose being the brigade commander of The Grays. It meant something to me. Heck Shep, you saw the look on everyone’s faces up there. We were lost souls. We were eternally locked in question in our minds. It was with your visit; I knew God was with me and he would keep me safe. I no longer feared my future. He paused briefly.

My Story? You said you wanted to know my story.

He hesitated again.

Shep, I was a Marine combat medic. I was embedded in the TEAMS with you guys. I was in before you became a SEAL. I joined just before the cut off in age, so I had a late start. Before that, I gave my life to the Lord when I was in my early twenties. I was a preacher. I walked the path Shep. I was on a mission to save as many corrupt souls as I could. I truly believed in the word of God, but I never felt fulfilled. So, I joined the Marine Corps. I felt called to save lives and souls. He stopped pacing and took a deep breath.

We were on a mission in the jungle. Smack dab in the middle of nowhere. It was supposed to be cut and dry. Slip in undetected, paint the high-profile target and then call for an airstrike. Everything went as planned until the extraction he said as his voice got louder. "We were on our way to the rendezvous site when we were ambushed. Shep, we were in the firefight of our lives. They were everywhere. I SWEAR TO YOU THAT OUR POSITION WAS