Immolation Ex: The Knower (COMPLETED)

Chapter V

A tall, very handsome African-American man stood as the three human spirits and their Angel companion appeared in the white room.

"Can someone please tell me what the heck is going on? Am I in some sort of hospital? Mental hospital?"

"Buddy, you are not going to believe it even after you hear it. I'd sit back down on that fluffy white sofa for a sec longer if I were you." Danny walked up and patted Bass on the back. "What's your name?"

"Carter...the name's Carter. Okay, can somebody tell me what is going on? Did someone slip me a mickey? Some acid, maybe?"

Everyone could see Carter was disturbed as he nervously looked around at the strange people surrounding him in the impossibly empty white space of First Heaven.

"I am...uh, was a Staff Sergeant in the Army deployed over in Afghanistan, apparently. I remember floating up and seeing some insurgent asshat running away from my body. There was blood and bullet holes. He must have come up from behind and popped me and my spotter with an AK as we were trying to setup a vantage spot on a building. Then, the next think I know, I was floating toward this golden cloud, following some glittery being, me and a bunch of other guys and gals. I thought I might have been going to Heaven. Suddenly, I was yanked away from the cloud and brought here." Carter looked around with his large arms outstretched.

"Carter, if you give me a few moments I can answer all of your questions."

"Please. I am close to losing it, if I haven't already," he said, sweeping a hand around the empty expanse.

Michael proceeded to tell Carter the same story about Holok and the sealing of Heaven. When he was finished, Bass had relaxed somewhat. The angel bowed formally just as he did to the rest of the group.

"Carter, this life is the latest in several lifetimes of a very old soul. Your soul. An Original Human Soul of Creation. You were brought into the universe directly by God's hand. In one of your lifetimes, you were known as Bass Reeves, a brilliant detective and an excellent marksman. These abilities you possess are so embedded in your soul they can never be burned away."

"You are telling me I am some Original Soul that doesn't remember who I am...but, I do," Carter wondered aloud.

"Correct, you remember this life. But, in the late 1800's, you were a U.S. Marshall. The first African-American deputy west of the Mississippi. You spoke several Indian dialects and at the end of your career, you had arrested over 3,000 wanted criminals. Some of which, I hate to inform you, are now Grigori working for Holok. You are an excellent marksman and your detective skills are exemplary. This is why you are so desperately needed for what I am proposing," the Archangel said.

"Carter, it makes perfect sense that you became a sniper." Dustyn said with respect.

"I know your name is Carter, but, can I call you Badass after your old name? That has to be the coolest nickname ever," Danny asked.

Carter gave Danny a once-over as if he was trying to decide whether or not the large Asian man with a redneck accent was serious. A very difficult task in and of itself.

"Hmmm...technically, I have had a whole bunch of lives and it seems I probably could be just about anything. What the hell...Badass it is," Carter said.

"Do I get a cool nickname, Danny?" Dustyn asked with a bit of excitement.

"Yeah, how about text-messaging sausagewaxer."

"Nevermind."

Angel walked away wiping tears from her eyes. Michael just shook his head once more.